+KylJoy Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 EDIT: Here is what I've completed so far: J-cards 2001 - 280 ZZZAP! - DODGEM.pdf 2002 - SEAWOLF - MISSILE.pdf 2003 - RED BARON - PANZER ATTACK.pdf 2004 - CLOWNS - BRICKYARD.pdf 2005 - STAR BATTLE.pdf 2007 - BALLY PIN.pdf 2008 - SPACE INVADERS.pdf 2009 - ASTRO BATTLE.pdf 2010 - DOG PATCH.pdf 2011 - GALACTIC INVASION.pdf 2011 - GALAXIAN.pdf 2012 - SPACE FORTRESS.pdf 2014 - GRAND PRIX - DEMOLITION DERBY.pdf 2014 - GRAND PRIX.pdf 2017 - THE INCREDIBLE WIZARD.pdf 2018 - SOLAR CONQUEROR.pdf 2019 - COSMIC RAIDERS.pdf 3001 - TORNADO BASEBALL - TENNIS - HOCKEY - HANDBALL.pdf 3002 - FOOTBALL.pdf 3005 - BALLY PIN.pdf 4001 - ELEMENTARY MATH - BINGO MATH.pdf 4002 - LETTER MATCH - SPELL 'N SCORE - CROSSWORDS.pdf 4004 - BIORHYTHM.pdf 5001 - AMAZIN' MAZE - TIC-TAC-TOE.pdf 5002 - BLACKJACK - POKER - ACEY-DEUCEY.pdf 5005 - ARTILLERY DUEL.pdf 6001 - DEALER DEMO.pdf 6002 - BALLY BASIC.pdf Original Bally version without interface 6004 - BALLY BASIC.pdf Bally version with interface MUNCHER.pdf Anyone know what the number for this release was supposed to be? Manuals 2001 - 280 Zzzap!, Dodge 'Em.pdf 2003 - Red Baron, Panzer Attack.pdf 2004 - Brickyard, Clowns.pdf 2005 - Star Battle.pdf 2009 - Astro Battle.pdf 2017 - The Incredible Wizard.pdf Well, I've found some Astrocade games in cassette cases in the wild. I know some came like this. For instance the DEMO cart as pictured: So, I liked the idea so much, I created cases for ALL of my old Astrocade games that came with the original folded paper manuals. Here are some images: To clarify, the inserts I made do not include the front image. The actual game manual from the original blister pack fits there: These are also designed for the text on the back of the case to align well with the angled windows. Let me know what you think. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballyalley Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Well, I've found some Astrocade games in cassette cases in the wild. [...] So, I liked the idea so much, I created cases for ALL of my old Astrocade games that came with the original folded paper manuals. [...] Let me know what you think. These pictures are very cool! For the tape cases, did you have to break off the small pieces of plastic that go into the holes of the audio tapes, or did you find cases that didn't have any of those little tabs? It would be cool if you shared the original files that you created for your cases; I'd love to add them to BallyAlley.com Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 That is a good idea. I will share the files soon. I'll make sure they are easy to print. For now I'm trying to figure out which originally released games came in blister packs and had those cool little fold-up manuals (or playbooks for football) and came in blister packs so I can get cassette case j-cards done for those first. "J-cards" are what these are called since they fold into the shape of a "J" to fit in the cassette case. Is there already a complete and clear list of those games that came in blister packs somewhere? As far as the tabs, I just clip/snip off the tabs in the cassette cases. I use something similar to these and it works GREAT: You have to clip them off in bites since the tabs are too long for the clippers to get all at once but it is pretty clean when done. I might smooth the area with my fingernail or a knife, etc. Here is what a clipped case looks like: Now, the reason it seems to me that there were games originally released in cases is that I've found some games in the wild in cases and the cases have no tabs at all. Check it out: That seems Bally Astrocade specific, but I cannot say for sure. Also, new cassette cases have little tabs that can mar the game carts a bit so be aware of that. The tabs are intended to hold a cassette tape firmly in place: I clip those out to avoid any issues. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glen's Retro Show Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Wow. Great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted December 14, 2017 Author Share Posted December 14, 2017 So, it appears that the following games were the ones released in blister packs:Title # Publisher Year280 Zzzap / Dodgem 2001 Bally 1978Amazing Maze / Tic-Tac-Toe 5001 Bally 1979Astro Battle 2009 Bally 1979 Bally Pin 2007 Bally 1979 Bally Pin 3005 Bally 1981Blackjack / Poker / Acey-Duecy 5002 Bally 1979Brickyard / Clowns 2004 Bally 1978Dealer Demo 6001 Bally 1980 Dog Patch 2010 Bally 1980Elementary Math / Bingo Math 4001 Bally 1978 Football 3002 Bally 1978Letter Match / Spell 'n Score / Crosswords 4002 Bally 1978Red Baron / Panzer Attack 2003 Bally 1978Seawolf / Bombardier 2002 Bally ???? Seawolf / Missile 2002 Bally 1977Space Invaders 2008 Bally 1979Star Battle 2005 Bally 1979 Tornado Baseball / Tennis / Hockey / Handball 3001 Bally 1978 Were there others? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glazball Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 Those look sharp KylJoy! If you share your files, I might just make those up myself. My Astrocade games are all loose and look pretty boring and black together in their storage box. It would be great to display them. Any chance you could make a full set and possibly one for the UltiMulti-cart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted December 16, 2017 Author Share Posted December 16, 2017 Any chance you could make a full set and possibly one for the UltiMulti-cart? I am planning on a full set. It'll take some time to get them all done. First I want to finish all of the games that came in blister packs. I also tried my hand at cleaning up scans of the manuals. Here is my first attempt: Before: After: I'm not an artist but I think I am getting the hang of Gimp. Since I made the manual and cassette J-card for 280 Zzzap! / Dodge 'Em I went ahead and put it together: Wish I had a nice cart for it! All of my prints so far are on plain copy/printer paper. My final prints will be on semi-shiny paper for a more finished look. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 That's f#ckin' awesome. Now we just need repro cart labels and we'll be all set! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Darrin9999 Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Very Nice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fandenivoldsk Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 Cool work - keep it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 Edit: More J-Cards added As promised... Here is what I've completed thus far for cassette tape case inserts referred to as J-cards. This set includes what I believe were the games originally released by Bally in blister packs with no box (or maybe in a cassette case) and what I've completed beyond that. These include the "Galaxian" and "Space Invaders" variants for "Galactic Invasion" and "Astro Battle", 2 versions of "Bally Pin", and 2 versions of "Grand Prix". This set also includes the "Dealer Demo" and a "Bally Basic" J-card. Bally Basic won't fit in a cassette case unless the cassette case is modified to allow for the led and maybe the data port. 2001 - 280 Zzzap!, Dodge 'Em and 2002 - Seawolf, Missile.pdf 2003 - Red Baron, Panzer Attack and 2004 - Clowns, Brickyard.pdf 2005 - Star Battle and 2007 - Bally Pin.pdf 2009 - Astro Battle and 2008 - Space Invaders.pdf 2010 - Dog Patch and 2012 - Space Fortress.pdf 2011 - Galactic Invasion and 2011 - Galaxian.pdf 2014 - Grand Prix and 2014 - Grand Prix, Demolition Derby.pdf 3001 - Tornado Baseball, Tennis, Hockey, Handball and 3002 - Football.pdf 3005 - Bally Pin.pdf 4001 - Elementary Math, Bingo Math and 4002 - Letter Match, Spell 'n Score, Crosswords.pdf 5001 - Amazin' Maze, Tic-Tac-Toe and 5002 - Blackjack, Poker, Acey-Deucey.pdf 6001 - Dealer Demo and 6002 - Bally Basic.pdf Let me know if you find any issues. Enjoy! More coming soon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted December 24, 2017 Author Share Posted December 24, 2017 Edit: Added 2005 - Star Battle Here are some manuals that I've cleaned up for the blister pack released games. They are double sided. To print them, I insert one piece of paper in my printer, print the front, flip the paper over correctly, and print the back side. Works pretty well for me. Here are what I've completed so far: 2001 - 280 Zzzap!, Dodge 'Em.pdf 2003 - Red Baron, Panzer Attack.pdf 2004 - Brickyard, Clowns.pdf 2005 - Star Battle.pdf 2009 - Astro Battle.pdf Enjoy! More to come soon. Please let me know if there are any issues since I've NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN some of the manuals and I expect some of the pages to be out of order. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 I added another manual and a few more J-Cards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 Now we just need repro cart labels and we'll be all set! I would attempt that. Which one should I do first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 I would attempt that. Which one should I do first? Take your pick. They're all equally likely to be pretty cruddy-looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted January 12, 2018 Author Share Posted January 12, 2018 So, check this out from Ebay: The game in the blister pack is inside a cassete-style box. So I guess that mystery is solved. They really DO come like that in blister packs. Do any of you have original cassette-type boxes that came with your Astrocade games? Any pictures? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 I re-printed some of the manuals and J-cards on glossy paper (I have an HP 2600n color laser and used color glossy laser paper) and I think they look much nicer. The glossy paper also does not allow the text/image form the reverse side to show through as much and, in my opinion, gives the finished item a more "manufactured" look. I'd like to know how they look on an ink jet with regular and glossy paper if someone tries some. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted January 30, 2018 Author Share Posted January 30, 2018 Deleted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballyalley Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 It's been awhile since I visited this Astrocade sub-forum. Stupid, me! I thought that I was following this topic, but I wasn't. Oops. Great work on these-- they're so damn cool! After looking at the picture from Ebay of the original Bally cartridge packaging with the cassette-like case with no "tape-clips," I re-examined some of the high quality picture of this type of case on BallyAlley.com. I don't know how I overlooked this before now, but it seems that, as "KylJoy" says, some of those carts of pictures online certainly already did come in a videocade case. Some of the online pictures show cartridges without cases, and some in cases. You can view the various pictures that I'm talking about here: http://www.ballyalley.com/pics/box_pics/bally/bally.html It's too bad that I wasn't paying closer attention to this thread. I have PNG and TIFF files of some of the Aastrocade manuals. I think it would be very cool to print these out for my personal collection. Is there anyplace online where you can buy quality empty cassette cases in bulk? Maybe I'll write a letter to Bally and ask for their huge collection of NOS "Bally Professional Arcade 'Videocade' cases that they keep in their back warehouse along with the broken-down slot machines and exercise equipment. Adam 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballyalley Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 Deleted. This must have been the post where "KylJoy" said that he would send me a complete printed collection of all of these inserts. Then he came to his senses. Adam 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted January 31, 2018 Author Share Posted January 31, 2018 LOL... I posted a label reproduction but decided to remove it. I didn't like it enough. Hey, if you can find any original game cases or cassette cases without the tabs let me know! I have struck out so far finding those in the original shape. But, Ebay is where I've bought quite a few pretty nice cassette cases that match the original Bally cases pretty well. The main thing I tried to match was the shape of the clear plastic and how it is angled where it meets the black plastic in the back. It is that funky-angled shape that you can see in some of my images. Also, that particular shape is why I made the images on the J-cards the way I did so as to fit just right into that space on the back of the case between the angled plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 Here is a J-Card for "The Incredible Wizard" which, I believe, was released by Astrocade, not Bally. Since it was released by astricade I incorporated the Astrocade logo and I'll do the same for other Astrocade released games. Hopefully it looks OK to folks. 2017 - The Incredible Wizard.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted February 5, 2018 Author Share Posted February 5, 2018 And here is my first attempt at re-creating something that never existed. Here is a blister pack manual for a game that never (as far as I know) came in a blister pack. But it works GREAT in a cassette case! 2017 - The Incredible Wizard.pdf Let me know what you think. Are these interesting to anyone? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballyalley Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 And here is my first attempt at re-creating something that never existed. Here is a blister pack manual for a game that never (as far as I know) came in a blister pack. But it works GREAT in a cassette case! Let me know what you think. Are these interesting to anyone? These are so damn cool! I like that you're using the original Astrocade manuals for the text and (especially) for the "screenshot." Adam 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KylJoy Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 See first post for updated J-cards. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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