advfan
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Posts posted by advfan
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Many thanks to everyone that has answered to the opening post. You have all been of great help.
As I said, in most cases it's clear what the preferred video mode is. Just a few cases left me stumbled. In Encounter's case, I prefer the blues of the sky in the NTSC version but then the bottom of the screen is somewhat dark. In PAL, the bottom is brighter, but the sky blues aren't as vibrant. That's why I needed help with identifying the original version.
You can see obvious NTSC-PAL color differences when running the german Ariolasoft-Axis Computerkunst intro.
In PAL the colors are fine, in NTSC they are hideous.
When switching to NTSC in Blinky's Scary School you get screen garbage.
And from what I remember reading, some games are unfinishable in NTSC due to the Hz difference (ElektraGlide or Last V8) and that's why I was surprised that those titles also got a US release.When changing from NTSC to PAL, most of the times the differences are not that big, it's mostly a change in colors and music pitch.
Ballblazer sounds like running in slow-mo if switched to PAL, especially if you just heard it on NTSC minutes before.So now I would love to hear your opinion for two other titles:
Thunderfox: Programmed in GB and in my opinion colors are better in PAL, but it got a release in the US in cartridge form. So best way to play it would be via the original GB release or if using a cartridge, setting all as if the cartridge would be from GB too.
Dropzone: Programmed by the God that is Archer Maclean. So a GB release, but I have to say that I prefer the color of the ground in NTSC (brown) than in PAL (kinda reddish). Opinions? Preferences?The only time where I have seen an NTSC release having better colors when switching to PAL is in Blue Max 2001. Where in NTSC the bottom is dark green, in PAL it's brown, and judging by the C64 version, brown is the intended color.
Of course when I mention 'better' it's just a subjective criteria and others may like it better the other way.
Btw, for display I'm using Altirra with default palette, aspect ratio preserved and OS screen only on a computer monitor, not a CRT or real hardware.
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In over 99% of cases games that were programmed in the USA look and play better when running in NTSC and the ones programmed in GB or DE look better in PAL. Sometimes it's also pretty obvious as switching between video modes cuts off graphics or it distorts the music speed.
But there are some cases where I would like to know which one is the original version and what do you consider is the best way to play that game.
Most of the Mastertronic releases that made it also to the USA (Action Biker, Despatch Rider, Crystal Raider, Last V8, Molecule Man, Panther) look and sound better in PAL, as they were programmed in GB, but what about Ninja, SWAT and Kikstart, which were programmed by Scultured Software who if I'm not mistaken were based in the US. Do you think those were done with NTSC machies in mind? Especially Ninja looks much better in NTSC.
Also, the games distributed by Americana that were done by Frank Cohen (Beer Belly Burt Brew Biz, Ollie's Follies, Scooter) or Ron Rosen (Nuclear Nick) didn't seem to have a release in the US and only in GB. How do you think they look and play best? I think they were also programmed with NTSC machines in mind.
And then there are two titles were I also have my doubts as if the original development machine was NTSC or PAL.
One is Gridrunner, which was released in the same year in both GB and USA. As Jeff Minter is from GB, I figure PAL is the correct way to play it.But my biggest doubts come with Encounter by Paul Woakes. Although he is from GB, the Synapse release is from 1983 while the Novagen release is from 1984, but because Novagen is already mentioned in the Synapse credits, I have absolutely no idea if it was developed on a PAL or on a NTSC machine. Any ideas?
I know this can be pretty subjective and some may prefer one video mode over the other or don't care at all, but I'm setting up a front end and I'm trying to set everything up the way it was intended to be played originally.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks.-
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Cloak of Death? I doubt it as it has graphics and you start already inside a house, but at least you start in front of steps.
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Hi,
while cleaning the house I found this device and before putting it up for auction on Ebay, I decided to post the info here as I think it will reach the Atari community better, which are the ones that have a better use for it.
It was last used around 1992-93 and I no longer have a Falcon or ST, so I cannot promise that it works. Therefore it's sold as is.
The item is boxed. The box has seen better times, mostly around the edges, but it's still OK. All instructions are in English as the ítem was ordered from the UK.
It has 4 stickers on it:
1. Atari Falcon 030 exclusive
2. Version 1.50 (with 64 grey levels, full true color stills, 16-bit stereo sound with animation)
3. RGB Version (Includes RGB Colour Splitter for full colour stills)
4. Includes True Paint, the True Colour Paint Package.
Contents:
RGB Splitter with cables attached
1 Videomaster for Atari ST/STE/Falcon
1 Videomaster for Falcon 030
Videomaster User Manual
ColourMaster User Manual
Disk Wallet with 3 True Paint disks
True Paint User Manual
If interested, please let me know offers via PM. I will try to post pics to the ones that contact me and will try to find out the shipping costs. I'm located in Spain and the box is somewhat large
(35cm x 22cm x 5cm). Feel free to ask for any additional info. Thank you.
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Hi.
On the US Ebay there is a seller (icbkr) that has 12 lots of original disks up for auction. There are no manuals or boxes, just the disks. There is nothing really rare, but some lots have some stuff where we don't have the disk version.
I just wanted to find out that there is no one else here planning to bid for the same items, so that we don't outbid each other on items that are being acquired for the same purpose by both parties.
I'm not interested in the physical possession of the disks, in fact, I would tell the seller to send them directly to Farb or another person that can create ATXs from them.
Auctions end some 33 hours after this post, so please let me know in advance if possible. Thanks.
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Matchboxes. A Memory match type of game, simple graphics, but easy to learn and also has a two player mode to encourage competition.
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There is a little known German adventure that had an English version published in the UK. Lapis Philosophorum - The Philosopher's Stone.
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Yes, from all the titles I listed, Anti Sub-Patrol was the only one were I could also find some graphical evidence of a box, so it's possibly the least rare one, but somehow, I have never seen a copy on Ebay.
Thanks for all the replies.
I would also like to mention that if any one reading this thread has an original copy of any of these games to consider lending it to the Preservation Project or if you have the necessary equipment, to make a flux dump of it.
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While searching Ebay and other venues to find original programs for Farb’s Atari 8-bit Preservation Project I have never seen any of these items offered for sale. In many cases, even doing a Google image search will only show a game screenshot but none for a box or another type of packaging.
This is different than Atarimania’s list of undumped software. In some instances you can download a file for it, but this file may come from a prototype, a beta or an unreleased program.
Will start with the letter A and add more in the following days:
Air Support – Synapse
All-Pro Football - Nexa
Anti Sub Patrol – Roklan
Aquatron – Sierra On-Line
Astron IX – Cosmi
Thanks for any info and help.
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So, what was the address of this guy again...?
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I have an original of Vol.7 and will send it to Farb.
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The Atari Preservation Project on this site is certainly interested in some of the titles, You'll get a PM soon.
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Or Farb. He also has knowledge about VAPI images and is involved in software preservation.
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Farb is already doing some hard work providing periodically torrents to the community. Although there are contributors, when it comes to dumping the titles, it's Farb who has the material and utilities to do so, so all the work falls on one person. And then he has real life work too.
I think it has been proven throughout these past months that this project is open to the public without asking anything for it. Some people do contribute by sending original software to be preserved (software that is returned, obviously), others do scan EBay trying to buy titles and having sent them to Farb, others send PDFs of manuals, etc.
And everything is made available to everyone once it has been properly preserved and thoroughly tested.
And I think that even more important than getting those titles into the hand of the public is to get those titles first, because without new material the project will die. So I think a little patience should be expected, especially because like Farb has mentioned, a big amount of new material came in and it has to be tested.
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Is there any difference between the original U.S. Gold European release and the one by Microdaft for the USA market? Did they change anything or just repackaged the game?
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To be really honest I only contributed 50% to Jumpman. The rest is Farb's amazing work.
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Hi,
many thanks for the information confirming that both Airstrikes were released on disk. I knew of the later titles like Chop Suey, Hijack, Mediator or Elektra Glide being released on disk, but for the earlier ones, even Atarimania doesn't have scans of the disk boxes, just an old ad. Google Images is of no help either.
As the UK market was mostly cassette based, I thought that maybe ES planned to release them on disk, but later decided not to do it because of monetary issues.
I also second the idea of the above member of posting pictures if possible. That way I xould have an idea of what to look for when searching Ebay for items to preserve.
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According to Atarimania there were at least three different versions released: an American, a British and a German one.
The American one seems to be on a black disk. Maybe the grey one is one of the others, although if I recall correctly, Ariola used to change the stickers when releasing EA games and put their name on it, but I may be wrong.
I tried to Google Image Ariola disks, but wasn't too successful with the disks itself, just the game covers.
Talking about EA, Worms is on your way.
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I could always ask Philip if you really want to know...
sTeVE
Hi,
any luck with this question. Were you able to contact that person?
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I could always ask Philip if you really want to know...
sTeVE
That would be great. We are looking especially for disk releases for Farb's Preservation Project and knowing about the availability/existence of those titles can help us save time when searching for new material to preserve. Any help is really appreciated.
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Has anyone ever seen older English Software titles like Robin Hood, Airstrike 1 and 2, Batty Builders, Stranded, Citadel, Dan Strikes Back, Diamonds, Hyperblast, Neptune's Daughters, Xenon Raid, etc. on disk?
In all these years I only come across the tape versions, but don't remember seeing any of the above listed ever offered on disk, no matter if on the different Ebays or other websites.
Sure, you can find those titles in the various Smash Hits compilations from the company, but it would be great to have those titles also preserved in their single release form.
I have seen ads on Atarimania where a disk version is listed, but I'm starting to think that maybe just a handful or less of those did get an actual disk release. Anyone here has those or has more information? Thanks for your help.
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In the case of Infocom ATXs, that's how those titles were provided to me. They are not copy protected -- I just haven't converted them to ATR yet.
This raises an question I've had that I wanted to solicit opinions on. Even for non copy protected disks, the ATX format preserves things like per track sector ordering. That information is not present in the ATR format. While it isn't necessary to make use of the image, I don't know whether it's worth preserving.
The question boils down to: is it worth keeping "preserved" titles in ATX format even if they aren't copy protected?
What does everyone think?
For the sake of uniformity, I prefer to have everything in the ATX format even if not absolutely necessary, but I may be biased, as I prefer to deal with the fewest amount of file types when using them for frontends, launchers and their modules.
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Don't think it fits the criteria but how I would have loved to see Law of the West for the Atari.
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Unicorns season: Prince of Persia for the A8!
in Atari 8-Bit Computers
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I would love to be able to play Pirates! on the A8. ?☠️