Popular Post TIX Posted October 22, 2019 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2019 (edited) Well I think this deserves a new topic !! (and a new avatar) !! This is much more than my previous sprite hack.. Moon Patrol was one of my first attempts in hacking, doctorclu helped me get started and I was hooked, I drew literally hundreds of buggies until I settle in the design I considered the best it can be in the limitations of the original game. So I released it and moved along.. but it doesn't leave my mind, I continued to draw assets of the game as I tried to learn how to hack the playfield to incorporate them.. In the rate I was learning I calculate it would take me 10 years to do it But then coder extraordinaire playsoft stepped in providing advice, tools and in many cases altering the code to fit in my crazy ideas !! We worked together in the past weeks to bring you the best 8bit version of Moon Patrol ! Done: new mountains backdrop new moon city backdrop new starting base new title screen new tanks, mines, lives left, moon plant, rocks (all playfield graphics) new colors bug fixes introduced by the new buggy and I'm sure I forget something.. It's a dream come true for me !! Enjoy Moon Patrol redux.xex revision1> arcade font + title screen layout + progress bar: Moon Patrol redux (revision1).xex revision2> changed title screen layout: Moon Patrol redux (revision2).xex revision3> selectable control scheme: Moon Patrol redux (revision3).xex revision4> MANY changes: Moon Patrol redux (revision 4).xex Edited November 19, 2019 by TIX 45 13 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
+cjherr Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Very, impressive! Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376161 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 (edited) @TIXI haven't tried it, yet, the screen shots alone and your description are enough to know it looks like and probably is everything I could wish for in an A8 Moon Patrol. 8&16K cartridges of classic arcade games was just never quite enough for the original developers to get the most out of the Atari and games closer to the arcades back in the day, and later on with larger formats just a lack of market penetration kept games at a minimal, if made at all, due to budget and time restrictions. Thank you and all others who improve the old games or make entirely new versions or ports that surpass the originals, if we got the game at all. Do you have any thoughts, if much more improvement is possible, to revisiting and reduxing Pole Position? If not as much could be done as was with Moon Patrol, at least adding previous improvements to one of the Pole Position hack that have multiple tracks to choose from? I can still settle for what you've already done with it, if I could get more tracks to choose. Currently I'm desperately torn between playing your hack with the improved sprites, and the Pole Position X hack with all it's new tracks. Edited October 22, 2019 by Gunstar 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376191 Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Now this is really a cut above all the other hacks, great work! I wish something could be done about the font, though. Keeping the original feels lazy and really out of place compared to the rest. 3 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376222 Share on other sites More sharing options...
xrbrevin Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 another winner! thanks ? 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376230 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarland Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Fantastic!! Amazing job! Thank you so much. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376278 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, www.atarimania.com said: Now this is really a cut above all the other hacks, great work! I wish something could be done about the font, though. Keeping the original feels lazy and really out of place compared to the rest. For the first 20 years of owning and using my Atari 8-bit, I felt this way, but since then, in my nostalgia for the A8, I have come to admire the classic 8-bit default font. I now find it more out of place not to have the classic Atari font for playing an Atari version of a classic arcade game, especially since I consider the original port to the A8 a classic in it's own rite now (maybe even more so to those who may have only ever played the Atari home version-not me! Just saying!). It's the way a game on the Atari 8-bit "should" be now, if you get my drift. Especially if it's the original core code, as an homage to the original Atari 8-bit port, of the arcade game, that @TIX (and others) are using and striving to improve and reach closer to the arcade version, because the port wasn't quite up to par of what the A8 computer can do given every advantage, vs. the arcade, originally. For what ever reasons: memory, time, budget or even lack of professional artists, all of the above, back in the day. I guess it's a sort of "full circle" concept. Of course when all is said and done, this version is out there now, so TIX can do the arcade font and put that out there too, if he wants and we can all be happy with our favorite. Edited October 22, 2019 by Gunstar 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376327 Share on other sites More sharing options...
oracle_jedi Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Very nice looking upgrade, thanks! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376330 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 (edited) @www.atarimania.com Just so you know I've taken it to heart and put my money where my mouth is, so-to-speak, I own the Xenophobe cartridge from Video61 that has not yet been released as an image, and though I have the means, and it's relatively easy, I still have not used the arcade font made available to those who could prove ownership to splice with the image of my original cartridge. Though I might one day, if the rom image is released to the community and someone does an incredible hack of it like this one. Edited October 22, 2019 by Gunstar 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376359 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACML Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Well done!! 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376360 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwilove Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 If someone could provide a video showing the levels and graphic changes - that would be nice to view. If games could easily be hacked to change/improve upon the graphics thereof. I think there would be a certain hit list - we all like to see done. Something like - Sea Dragon - this really could do with a change to a higher res mode - Antic4. So I can imagine this is far too much work - but - maybe - it'll take a real fan of this game to make available a level designer (for new levels) - then making the change to Antic4 a possibility then? Blue Max, Basically games that are still very playable - that could do with some kind of upgrade to it's graphics. I think Paul can make changes to Snokie easily? That it's graphics (and level layout?) can be changed - if someone was keen enough to get involved with that? That improvements can be made to it - if you're willing to put the time and effort into doing that. Maybe this game could serve as a test case - for the start of a series? Next candidate could be Super Cobra - which could be revamped in so many ways to be a vast improvement. With 2020 soon upon us - it'll be nice to see some kind of Miner 2020'er or 2019'er if it can be retweaked into a fun version. The graphics would have to be done well so that it's not an awful change but some kind of positive upgrade? Harvey 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376374 Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Don't take my comment too seriously, I really like this new version. The thing is, though I love the Atari font, I don't think it has its place in modern productions or updates of arcade games such as this one. If you want to go the extra mile and have all the resources, why stop halfway through? This is just me rumbling anyway, don't pay too much attention... 6 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376390 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaz atarionline.pl Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 1 hour ago, kiwilove said: If someone could provide a video showing the levels and graphic changes - that would be nice to view. You are there welcome, Harvey! 8 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376429 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrekMD Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Fantastic! 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376433 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 (edited) Not exactly what I was hoping for as far as a starting base, but I still have an imagination to fill in the gap. I do love the title screen though, the higher res moon buggy image, makes it look like a shot from a distance, compared to the in-game buggy, and it definitely helps my imagination see the lower-res buggy in a better light, it very recognizable, especially once it's moving and you get the illusion of three tires. My VGA converter/scaler also makes it ALL look wonderful with upscaling to 1024x768, 3D comb filtering, anti-aliasing and adaptive real-time de-interlacing so nt "jaggies" while things are on the move horizontally, with no lag! With the new background graphics and other new touches, I think the Atari has achieved "best 8-bit version" again, even though it's a "redux" and not a from scratch remake or improved port from another 8-bit. I saw most of it as I made it to point L, the second time around on champion mode. Congratulations @TIX and all who helped you! Edited October 23, 2019 by Gunstar 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376467 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjlazer Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Very nice job!!!! I really think it looks good. 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376570 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yautja Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Superb! Hope you can change the classic font for something more futuristic. - Y - 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376600 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIX Posted October 23, 2019 Author Share Posted October 23, 2019 (edited) Thanks for all the encouragement guys ? 7 hours ago, kiwilove said: If games could easily be hacked to change/improve upon the graphics thereof. I think there would be a certain hit list - we all like to see done. Basically games that are still very playable - that could do with some kind of upgrade to it's graphics. That is exactly the type of games I'm targeting ! I'm getting (admittedly not a lot) negative reactions of the type 'don't mess with the classics' .. but who cares !! I just love the games and all that good vibe I get from them, I have so much energy and so little time to dedicate to this hobby that it hurts Edited October 23, 2019 by TIX Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376668 Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 TIX, I'm sure a number of people would love to know how you ended up getting an Atari computer in Greece. Was it a big seller there? Was any Greek software produced on the Atari? 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376730 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfollowell Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Excellent job! The music is definitely a lot slower in this version that in the original arcade and the 8-bit versions, but there may be a good reason for it. Still, with the exception of the slow music, the gameplay and the game is much improved by your changes. Thanks for all your hard work! 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376748 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Looks impressive, initial reaction from the stills was "is this VBXE?" The vehicle looks somewhat smaller, does that make it a bunch easier? 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376752 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIX Posted October 23, 2019 Author Share Posted October 23, 2019 1 hour ago, www.atarimania.com said: TIX, I'm sure a number of people would love to know how you ended up getting an Atari computer in Greece. Was it a big seller there? Was any Greek software produced on the Atari? Well it was an import from Germany, my father brought it home from a trip ! The VCS 2600 was very popular in Greece, but the 8-bit series was eclipsed by the Commodore and Spectrum machines.. I'm sure it was sold in Greece too but I didn't know anyone owning one at the time Also I'm not aware of any Greek software produced for any of the classic machines.. Sadly my Atari has died a couple of years back, and I gave it away (also my C64 and Spectrum) 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376761 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Nice effort, thanks to all involved! Just one question, why the moon is so green (at least on PAL machines)? ? 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376764 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nezgar Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 3 hours ago, bfollowell said: The music is definitely a lot slower in this version that in the original arcade and the 8-bit versions, but there may be a good reason for it. The video was recorded on a PAL machine. I played it last night on my real hardware NTSC machine, and the music plays as fast as I always remember. So it's just the normal 16.7% slowdown any game will exhibit on a PAL machine that is synced to VBLANK. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376834 Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Alexander Posted October 23, 2019 Share Posted October 23, 2019 Thanks so much from the Atari Xegs Cart by Cart Podcast. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/297535-moon-patrol-redux/#findComment-4376955 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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