New Tempest game in the works for Atari 8-bit

[adam242]

I beg to differ. Some of the greatest chiptunes of all time were featured in the soundtracks to NES games. Very memorable tunes. Love or hate, there was nothing else quite like them before or since.

 

Perhaps. But I'm not talking about Super Mario Bros or Contra or Castlevania or Megaman. I mean the generic hyper techno that seems to accompany most games these days. I can do without it, and appreciate it when the coders give me the option to turn it off.

 

Personal taste. Everyone has an opinion.

[peteym5]

Hey guys

 

Since you seem to have this game almost finished, just release in (when it's finished!!). On cart, with everything on it. If it's good enough, people will buy it. Screen shots and video's will give an impression of what's different/better. Heck, we bought the improved version of Pac Man, why wouldn't there be a market for an improved Tempest Whatever (as you can see, I'm neither a game player, nor did I ever get what you're supposed to do in TE).

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

 

I am not sure how many copies of Pac-Man Tep392 actually sold. I do know he was releasing beta versions for download so people can test and report any problems. We release it to a few trusted beta testers, but won't do it publicly unless it is still in its very early stages. Right now I am in the process of getting Venture onto the market and developing a Role Playing /Adventure type game on the Atari 8-bit. Once Venture has passed all the beta tests, I will be focused on the next Tempest.

 

Like Tempest Xtreem, I am considering an executable version for download that is limited, see what I can fit into 64K. I figured out ways to make routines more compacted so this Tempest Executable will probably be more than just a demo.

[Andromeda Stardust]

Perhaps. But I'm not talking about Super Mario Bros or Contra or Castlevania or Megaman. I mean the generic hyper techno that seems to accompany most games these days. I can do without it, and appreciate it when the coders give me the option to turn it off.

 

Personal taste. Everyone has an opinion.

Mute the TV and plug your CD, cassette, 8-trak, vinyl records, or *cough* ipod *cough* (if you were born after 1990) into the stereo system while you play your games?

[adam242]

Mute the TV and plug your CD, cassette, 8-trak, vinyl records, or *cough* ipod *cough* (if you were born after 1990) into the stereo system while you play your games?

 

You're missing my point. The games would have no sound effects then... The only soundtrack a video game needs is the noises of lasers being fired, dots being eaten, jumps being made, things blowing up, maybe the occasional little jingle of a bonus being collected. I generally prefer to have no music while I'm gaming.

 

Peace.

Edited May 21, 2013 by adam242

[carmel_andrews]

Re: digital download

 

You're looking at the problem the wrong way round KJ/Peteym

 

One Idea would be that you put out a 'cutdown' or reduced content/PD version of this updated 'tempest' game as digital download and offer anyone who downloads the PD version a discount on the full (paid for) game

 

That way at least you are not 'losing customers' you are actually encouraging them, since you are giving them a taste of what they are buying and also offering them a discount on the full version

 

You are entitled to your atitude ofcourse but that approach won't win many customers

[+Stephen]

I agree 100%. I downloaded Line Runner for FREE - full version of the game. I also purchased the game the same day and have a nice sealed cart for my collection.

[8bit-guy]

I agree 100%. I downloaded Line Runner for FREE - full version of the game. I also purchased the game the same day and have a nice sealed cart for my collection.

 

Did the same with R Reality !

[mimo]

I find it really funny how people can use someone elses IP and then get all protective about the content they produce.

Pot kettle and black are a few words that come to mind

[+Stephen]

Bollocks - I misread the 2nd question in the poll. I thought it asked if I would like to see this version ported to the 5200, to which I replied no. I would like to see the 5200's original Tempest ported to the 8-bit though as I do not keep my 5200 hooked up.

[+Philsan]

I agree 100%. I downloaded Line Runner for FREE - full version of the game. I also purchased the game the same day and have a nice sealed cart for my collection.

Did the same with all GR8 Software games!

[ZylonBane]

A Digital Dowload Will NEVER be available.

 

So just analog download then, eh?

[+Stephen]

So just analog download then, eh?

Look - we all know digital is better, it's a scientific fact

[carmel_andrews]

I find it really funny how people can use someone elses IP and then get all protective about the content they produce.

Pot kettle and black are a few words that come to mind

 

 

 

 

 

Why Kettle only black....Why not Green Like mine

[tep392]

Look - we all know digital is better, it's a scientific fact

 

I've always been an analog guy.

 

[+Stephen]

I've always been an analog guy.

 

Oooh - I'd sure like to listen to some of my vinyl through that!

[snicklin]

Look - we all know digital is better, it's a scientific fact

 

It is when it comes to joysticks!

[peteym5]

The Atari 8-bit versions of Tempest I am involved with use the 8 directional Joysticks. If this 5200 version is ported, will probably need to be adapted to use the standard joystick. I am not aware that an analog joystick made for the 8-bit.

 

I did discuss the ideal of having an option to play the game without the music with KJMANN12 and is being considered. Have to figure out how to make it happen. Not sure if its possible to have the RMT player to just do the sound effects encoded with a song without playing the song itself. The other option is just have a song with just sound effects. The Sound Effects are done through RMT.

[Creature XL]

The Atari 8-bit versions of Tempest I am involved with use the 8 directional Joysticks. If this 5200 version is ported, will probably need to be adapted to use the standard joystick. I am not aware that an analog joystick made for the 8-bit.

 

I did discuss the ideal of having an option to play the game without the music with KJMANN12 and is being considered. Have to figure out how to make it happen. Not sure if its possible to have the RMT player to just do the sound effects encoded with a song without playing the song itself. The other option is just have a song with just sound effects. The Sound Effects are done through RMT.

 

It's perfectly possible with RMT, check out "HAR'em" and press "m" to toggle music on/off

[peteym5]

We will be going forward with the next Tempest after a few months after Venture is out. We are going to focus on one game at a time.

 

I spoke with KJMANN12 about disabling the music, he needs to modify the RMT files he sent me to include a blank track so only sound effects play. The way it is currently set up, it needs the song playing to play the sound effects.

[fibrewire]

You could record music on a cassette tape. Too bad the tape isn't fast enough to stream music like Avery's video player

[Creature XL]

I spoke with KJMANN12 about disabling the music, he needs to modify the RMT files he sent me to include a blank track so only sound effects play. The way it is currently set up, it needs the song playing to play the sound effects.

 

Do you mean "track" or "songline"? Using a blank looping songline is the way "HAR'em" disables music and allows Sfx.

At least I am 95% sure. Havent looked in the code since month and the current game is not in the state where I should care much about music/sfx

[ZylonBane]

You could record music on a cassette tape. Too bad the tape isn't fast enough to stream music like Avery's video player

 

Uhh... cassette tapes are by definition fast enough to stream music.

[+SoulBuster]

Uhh... cassette tapes are by definition fast enough to stream music.

 

Depends on if the music is stored analog or digital. Analog, yes, digital, has anyone tested it?

[+pboland]

The Atari 8-bit versions of Tempest I am involved with use the 8 directional Joysticks. If this 5200 version is ported, will probably need to be adapted to use the standard joystick. I am not aware that an analog joystick made for the 8-bit.

 

I did discuss the ideal of having an option to play the game without the music with KJMANN12 and is being considered. Have to figure out how to make it happen. Not sure if its possible to have the RMT player to just do the sound effects encoded with a song without playing the song itself. The other option is just have a song with just sound effects. The Sound Effects are done through RMT.

 

What about the ability of using the driving controller? This seems like the most logical way to control the game Tempest. I believe atari 8-bit computers can use the type of controller. Just a thought.

[ZylonBane]

Analog, yes, digital, has anyone tested it?

 

Ignoring for the moment that storing music digitally on an Atari cassette would be ridiculous since the Atari can play the analog track directly, you should know perfectly well that asking if the Atari can play back a digital music stream is meaninglessly vague, because you specified nothing about the encoding format or quality. What you surely meant to ask was what's the maximum sustainable error-corrected digital bitrate that the Atari could read from a cassette tape.