PacManPlus Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Hi Guys: I'm currently working on a project lovingly called "Super Circus AtariAge", which (as you may have guessed) is a next step from Circus Atari on the 2600. Some of you may have seen an earlier version at the CGE. Screenshots are below, but the clown graphics will change (they are just place holders for now). I have asked someone to work on Clown Graphics for this project. This is what I plan on having: - Progressive mode (a'la Super Breakout) - Dual player *simultaneous* mode - Powerups that drop from broken balloons (a'la Arkanoid) - A bonus item (in the shape of the AA logo) that will rarely come out. - Possibly a bonus round of some sort At the moment there are no sounds, aside from the catching of a caught powerup. Here are the powerups: * 'D'rop - drops the balloons one level (although this can get very difficult very quickly) * 'S'low - slows the speed of the balloons across the screen * 'F'ast - increases the speed of the balloons across the screen * 'R'everse - reverses the direction of the balloons * 'T'op Line Gone - clears the top line. This will eventually give all the points for the remaining balloons on this line. * 'M'iddle Line Gone - clears the middle line of balloons. This will eventually give all the points for the remaining balloons on this line. * 'B'ottom Line Gone - clears the bottom line of balloons. This will eventually give all the points for the remaining balloons on this line. * 'P'layer - awards the player with a bonus turn. Any ideas to add / remove will be listened to. Points: Bounce = 1 point Bottom row of balloons = 10 points Middle row of balloons = 20 points Top row of balloons = 30 points Catching a powerup = 100 points Also, and this is very important, the only two controllers supported will be the driving controller and the joystick (a choice). Paddles unfortunately cannot be supported with this type of setup on the 7800. Believe me, I wanted paddles really badly on this. The joystick version is attached, please let me know what you think! 12 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Very cool! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069635 Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Laird Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 I love Circus so I am looking forward to this and I own driving controls Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069638 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyBee Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Also, and this is very important, the only two controllers supported will be the driving controller and the joystick (a choice). Paddles unfortunately cannot be supported with this type of setup on the 7800. Believe me, I wanted paddles really badly on this. There must be something obvious we've missed with paddles on the 7800. I'll investigate it further in the next week or two. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069643 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayhem Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 And here was me thinking this was a surprise GroovyBee production at CGE, inside it was PMP instead...! It had promise from the limited demo present there, although it was going a mite fast already heh... Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069645 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Oberhäuser Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Great! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069655 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLeaf Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 This is freaking awesome. My favorite 2600 game ported to the 7800 MUST. . . OWN. . .THIS. . . CART Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069661 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bakasama Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Not able to use paddles? I do recall that paddles need a pokey to be able to work in 7800 mode. Are you going to keep the splat sound from the 2600 version. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069666 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyBee Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Not able to use paddles? I do recall that paddles need a pokey to be able to work in 7800 mode. The issue occurs because the reading indicating the paddle position has jitter. I tried eliminating the software jitter with obvious WSYNCs but its going to require looking at on a scope to get to the bottom of it. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069685 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 How about adding the small platforms on the side that they can bounce off of when they hit it like in the arcade game? Or maybe not.. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069706 Share on other sites More sharing options...
potatohead Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 (edited) Re: Paddles. If it turns out that the stock hardware cannot do Paddles, maybe either a paddle controller mod (insert cap on unused pin), or some kind of adapter can be made. Publish the circuit, and let people either build it or not. Would be damn cool for a detect to occur, when the player picks paddle mode. If it doesn't see the paddle, or a stock paddle is connected, display the circuit needed, and a URL, where more instructions can be found. Paddle games are my absolute favorite. Edited August 10, 2010 by potatohead Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069720 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyBee Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 If it turns out that the stock hardware cannot do Paddles, maybe either a paddle controller mod (insert cap on unused pin), or some kind of adapter can be made. Paddles are fine in 2600 mode so its definitely a software/timing issue of some kind. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069727 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Dart Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 I've never much liked clowns, so I love Circus Atari.. and this looks awesome. The only suggestion I could make would be to add a bit of gore, or an option to enable gorier graphics. Nothing gruesome, just a bigger splat when you miss a clown. And having never owned a driving controller since I'm fairly new to the older Ataris, aren't they digital-only? Just curious, because I'm sure you could smooth out the movement in software... they have several positions internally, yes? Anyways, keep up the awesome work. This looks like it'll be another 21st century 7800 classic. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069750 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 (edited) Aha here's a vid of what looks like the actual arcade unit (as opposed to MAME) that shows the bouncing off the sides that I was talking about happening at around 1:03. Anyway, just a thought. No biggie either way Edited August 10, 2010 by NE146 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069758 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gambler172 Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Hi Bob I always loved CIRCUS on the 2600.Glad to see a better version on my beloved 7800 greetings Walter Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069883 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 (edited) I've never much liked clowns, so I love Circus Atari.. and this looks awesome. The only suggestion I could make would be to add a bit of gore, or an option to enable gorier graphics. A two player mode with the 2nd player shooting at the moving clown? Lots of people hate clowns. I'm really not much into the 7800, but I would buy this and dig out a 7800 to play it. (I mean the normal version, not the Klown Killer version) I'd build a controller to play it if necessary, but I have faith in GroovyBee's technical skills. Edited August 10, 2010 by BigO Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069888 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 (edited) Regarding Power-ups: Not sure how workable it would be but it seems interesting to me to use 'G'ravity to alter (increase or decrease) gravity temporarily. Edited August 10, 2010 by BigO Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069918 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLeaf Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 What's a good 7800 emulator to try this on? I'm using the Prosystem Emulator. Seems to work well. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069921 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyBee Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 What's a good 7800 emulator to try this on? For Windows use ProSystem. If you search the forum you'll be able to find 1.3e. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069922 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariNerd Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 The core base games that launched the 2600 system in it's infancy have always made some of the most compelling examples for reinvisioning. It seems only natural for the 7800 to be a primary playground. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2069957 Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectorGamer Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 Also, and this is very important, the only two controllers supported will be the driving controller and the joystick (a choice). Paddles unfortunately cannot be supported with this type of setup on the 7800. Believe me, I wanted paddles really badly on this. The joystick version is attached, please let me know what you think! I would think the driving controller would be the way to go then, right? Otherwise, has the speed of the game been slowed down to accommodate a joystick? Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2070073 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Joe Posted August 10, 2010 Share Posted August 10, 2010 OH MY GOD IVE WAITED MY WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS! Another CIRCUS ATARI I just can't believe it!! THank you so much for making this! 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2070074 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg2600 Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Bob, you are the man. As for the game, I tried MESS and Pro System 1.3e, and seems like the see-saw gets stuck a lot when I go to move side to side. PS: Pro System 1.3e is here Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2070105 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DracIsBack Posted August 11, 2010 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Any Cuttle Cart friendly builds for those of us who want to try on the real thing? :-) Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2070122 Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacManPlus Posted August 11, 2010 Author Share Posted August 11, 2010 Thanks guys! Ok, from the comments posted above, here's what I plan on doing: - Remove the 'Drop' powerup; it makes the game too hard (Progressive mode go bye-bye) - Add a powerup to increase the speed of the *player* (as close as I can get to the 'Gravity' thing) Heavier gravity, faster speed... sort of - Add second set of platforms (like the arcade) - More sampling of the driving controllers (to get the speed up) I am going to use Pokey for the sounds (which is why I haven't implemented any yet). BTW, did you know that the original Circus Atari used Vertical Position Tables (i.e. not calculated) for the vertical motion of the clown? I stole those exact tables and modified the first one (where you don't hit any balloons) only. Re: the paddles - the problem is the fact that we cannot measure the cap discharge accurately (i.e. by raster line) like the 2600 does. For this game (as an example), I have a DLI every 16 raster lines so the paddle discharge can only get checked 12 times; nowhere near enough to get an accurate reading. I need those 16 lines for the balloons. Re: clown graphic gore - I have asked espire8 for the clown graphics - let's see what he comes up with @Greg2600: What do you mean by 'stuck'? It seems to work for me ok... I'll post a Driving Controller binary soon. Thanks Guys! Bob 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/167421-super-circus-atariage-new-wip/#findComment-2070144 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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