Champ Games - Gorf Arcade (2600)

[Thomas Jentzsch]

31 minutes ago, johnnywc said:

TJ @Thomas Jentzsch stepped in to help in 2013 or so (don't remember exactly when) and we started from scratch and worked on the colors and added in alternating scan line shifting to reduce the flicker:

I hardly remember.

31 minutes ago, johnnywc said:

Since the sprites are flickered on every frame, you can see that the colors of the characters change dramatically depending on what background color the square is (white, black, or the cycle color).

To reduce the color change (a bit), one could change the sprite color, depending on over which background square they are displayed. But that would most likely require at least a DPC supported kernel.

31 minutes ago, johnnywc said:

Anyway, maybe one day we'll pick it up again - I loved playing Archon back in the day!  

Same here. Fingers crossed!

[Bomberman94]

Archon would be a great addition to the 2600 library of games - I loved playing it on the C64. Game was unique and combines strategy with action elements. Graphics of the 2600 pictures shown were already really great - only would change the style of the text at the bottom. 

[doctorclu]

7 hours ago, johnnywc said:

Anyway, maybe one day we'll pick it up again - I loved playing Archon back in the day!

 

I'm really surprised the 2600 had the ability to do what you showed in the pictures.   Not in complete disbelief of a 2600/VSC (a true one) running a full game of Archon, but seems it would certainly go be beyond the limitations I'm used to seeing for sure.

[+johnnywc]

20 hours ago, Thomas Jentzsch said:

I hardly remember.

  me neither, time really flies by!  

20 hours ago, Thomas Jentzsch said:

To reduce the color change (a bit), one could change the sprite color, depending on over which background square they are displayed. But that would most likely require at least a DPC supported kernel.

Yes, I think the Boom! kernel that @cd-w wrote would work great hear as it can update sprite and color for up to 9 or 10 (maybe even 11 with CDFJ+) sprites alternating like the 96-pixel routine, so each character's color could be set individually based on the background color.  

20 hours ago, Thomas Jentzsch said:

Same here. Fingers crossed!

🤞  I would definitely want to see if we could acquire licensing for Archon - does any body know who holds the rights?  I think is was Freefall back in the day (I remember the animated logo at start up  ).

18 hours ago, Bomberman94 said:

Archon would be a great addition to the 2600 library of games - I loved playing it on the C64. Game was unique and combines strategy with action elements.

Agreed, it's one of my favorites! 

18 hours ago, Bomberman94 said:

Graphics of the 2600 pictures shown were already really great - only would change the style of the text at the bottom. 

Thanks!  The text on the bottom was done to fit in 48-pixels since at the time that was all I knew for text routines.   A DPC version using the ARM could use the 96-pixel text routines I use in all my other games so we could use the classic Atari 8-bit font (although I would probably squash it down to 6-bits because of the 2x wide horizontal resolution of the 2600).

14 hours ago, doctorclu said:

 

I'm really surprised the 2600 had the ability to do what you showed in the pictures.   Not in complete disbelief of a 2600/VSC (a true one) running a full game of Archon, but seems it would certainly go be beyond the limitations I'm used to seeing for sure.

Using fastfetch and the alternating scanline flicker routine can make for some outstanding graphics (see Boom! for an example).  Certainly something that advanced would be much more difficult to do without the ARM chip assisting with data prep before the frame (although TJ's rewrites were all assembly so it's possible).

It'll be fun to find out!  

[+Nathan Strum]

1 hour ago, johnnywc said:

I would definitely want to see if we could acquire licensing for Archon - does any body know who holds the rights?  I think is was Freefall back in the day (I remember the animated logo at start up  ).

Probably still Free Fall. There's contact info here, and they openly encourage licensees (for "contemporary platforms" anyway). But that site hasn't been updated since 2008.

 

The last ones (listed) to have licensed Archon were React Games. But they don't claim to own it - they're a development studio. The link for their version Archon goes nowhere.

[+Karl G]

On 1/17/2023 at 12:52 PM, Nathan Strum said:

Probably still Free Fall. There's contact info here, and they openly encourage licensees (for "contemporary platforms" anyway). But that site hasn't been updated since 2008.

 

The last ones (listed) to have licensed Archon were React Games. But they don't claim to own it - they're a development studio. The link for their version Archon goes nowhere.

FWIW, I sent an email to the info at freefallgames.com address about a month ago inquiring about permission to do a 7800 version of the game, and did not get a response. The email didn't bounce either, though. My developer resume is a bit sparse, so maybe someone with a more proven track record might get a reply if that email is still active, though. I've personally moved on to trying my hand at a sci-fi variant inspired by Archon instead, but I'd love to see what you guys could pull off for an Atari 2600 version of Archon.  🙂 

[Albert]

Gorf Arcade is now available in the AtariAge Store!

 

https://atariage.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1272

[+MrBlackCat]

Excellent!  Ordered.

In 82/83 my father got us a Vic-20.  The two games we got were Omega Race and Gorf.  I would say Gorf is the only game my father really ever played and it was addictive to him.  Almost every day for a months he would play it after he got home from work.  I still have Vic-20's, but he hasn't played anything in decades, but when I explained to him that people today are still making games for Atari consoles he was really surprised... I told him that even the Arcade version of Gorf was being made he said he wanted to come by and try it to see what it was like.  I will be setting up the ColecoVision, Vic-20 and the Atari, as well as the Arcade version on the ALU, side by side so he can relive the old and try the old new for the first time in almost 40 years. (he is 80 now)
Thank you all for all the effort into games like this, can't wait to play it.

[+wavemotion]

Just want to add to the chorus on this one... Gorf Arcade is a BRILLIANT conversion to the 2600. You will not be disappointed - my favorite home conversion (the Colecovision was my previous best version prior to this).

[+johnnywc]

4 hours ago, MrBlackCat said:

Excellent!  Ordered.

Thanks for the support!

4 hours ago, MrBlackCat said:

In 82/83 my father got us a Vic-20.  The two games we got were Omega Race and Gorf.  I would say Gorf is the only game my father really ever played and it was addictive to him.  Almost every day for a months he would play it after he got home from work.  I still have Vic-20's, but he hasn't played anything in decades, but when I explained to him that people today are still making games for Atari consoles he was really surprised...

What a wonderful story, thanks for sharing!  I was always intrigued by the Vic-20 and looked forward to playing Omega Race at the local Service Merchandise in Massachusetts when my mom would drag me and my brothers out shopping around the holidays - good memories!  

4 hours ago, MrBlackCat said:

I told him that even the Arcade version of Gorf was being made he said he wanted to come by and try it to see what it was like.  I will be setting up the ColecoVision, Vic-20 and the Atari, as well as the Arcade version on the ALU, side by side so he can relive the old and try the old new for the first time in almost 40 years. (he is 80 now)

Awesome - I hope your Dad has fun playing Gorf Arcade!  Do you have an Atarivox for the voice taunts?  

4 hours ago, MrBlackCat said:

Thank you all for all the effort into games like this, can't wait to play it.

You're welcome, have fun!   

[+johnnywc]

Champ Games is proud to announce that Gorf Arcade has been nominated for three awards for the 5th Annual Atari Homebrew Awards, including Atari 2600 Best Homebrew, Best Graphics and Best Music and Sound! 😊 

 

 

Congratulations to @Nathan Strum for his nomination for Atari 2600 Best Graphics!

 

 

Congratulations to Bob Decresenzo @PacManPlus for his nomination for Atari 2600 Best Music & Sound!

 

If you haven't already, please head over to the official awards thread and cast your votes for your favorite Atari 2600, 7800, 5200/8-bit, Jaguar and Lynx games!

 

 

A big thank you to James and the @ZeroPage Homebrew team for hosting the event and congratulations to all of the other nominees!  

 

 

[ColecoGamer]

I pre-ordered both Gorf and Boulder Dash for the Atari 2600 from the Atari Age store. I still want Elevator Action and Turbo; both look fantastic! Keep up the excellent work!

[+johnnywc]

3 hours ago, ColecoGamer said:

I pre-ordered both Gorf and Boulder Dash for the Atari 2600 from the Atari Age store. I still want Elevator Action and Turbo; both look fantastic! Keep up the excellent work!

Thank you!  I know Al is busy getting those orders filled very soon.   We're hoping to have Elevator Agent (aka Action) released in late Spring/early summer and Turbo Arcade in the fall. 🤞

 

Thanks for the support!

[Albert]

Just now, johnnywc said:

Thank you!  I know Al is busy getting those orders filled very soon.  

Yeah, this is going to be my life for the next month. 

 

 ..Al

[+SpiceWare]

Looks like Video Game Critic will be reviewing Gorf Arcade sometime in the future.

 

Based on his review of Namco Museum Vol 1 for the Playstation, I probably don't want him to review Draconian 

Quote

Bosconian is a ho-hum space shooter where you fly freely around a scrolling screen while destroying green space stations composed of pods.

 

[+johnnywc]

19 minutes ago, SpiceWare said:

Looks like Video Game Critic will be reviewing Gorf Arcade sometime in the future.

 Hoping for something better than that D- he gave to Conquest of Mars! 🤞 (although he did re-review it once I added in visual cues for the laser gates stage and he upped it to a B-   ).

19 minutes ago, SpiceWare said:

Based on his review of Namco Museum Vol 1 for the Playstation, I probably don't want him to review Draconian 

 

Maybe if he plays it a bit he'll gain a better appreciation for the game.  I know I did and the 2600 version is awesome, especially with the digitized sound!   

[+SpiceWare]

On 3/29/2023 at 4:11 PM, johnnywc said:

Hoping for something better than that D- he gave to Conquest of Mars! 🤞

congrats, well earned!

 

 

[+sramirez2008]

10 minutes ago, SpiceWare said:

congrats, well earned!

 

 

Indeed! 

 

Btw, IMO he nitpicked Medieval Mayhem. 

[Thomas Jentzsch]

6 hours ago, sramirez2008 said:

Btw, IMO he nitpicked Medieval Mayhem. 

Why? He rated MM A-.

[CaptainBreakout]

Champ Games stuff is dope.  Don't care what VGC says for anything from them. It's all unbelievable quality.

[+GoldLeader]

2 hours ago, Thomas Jentzsch said:

Why? He rated MM A-.

Gotta be a Typo!  That "+" is right next to that "-" ... He clearly hit the wrong one!   

[+sramirez2008]

10 hours ago, Thomas Jentzsch said:

Why? He rated MM A-.

I know. I thought he could have easily given it an A, but that's just my opinion and I realize that now I'm nitpicking.

[+Nathan Strum]

1 hour ago, sramirez2008 said:

I know. I thought he could have easily given it an A, but that's just my opinion and I realize that now I'm nitpicking.

One good nitpick deserves another.  

[+SpiceWare]

1 hour ago, sramirez2008 said:

I know. I thought he could have easily given it an A, but that's just my opinion and I realize that now I'm nitpicking.

 

He gave Atari Warlords an A+. For Medieval Mayhem he appears to have had 2 issues, resulting in an A-

• "When you throw a fireball it tends to leave at a random angle, and this prevents you from firing it with surgical precision as you could in Warlords."
• "My friends complained that the paddle direction feels like it should be reversed for certain players, and I've noticed that too."

 

For the first issue he's apparently not familiar with the arcade version, which I cover in my blog post Research:

 

Quote

I've decided to play Warlords in MacMAME today to get some ideas on how the game dynamics should work. An example of what I'm researching is what happens when a fireball is released:
 

 
A fireball is only released perfectly straight (up or sideways) when you are nearest an edge of the screen. When you're at the corner of your castle you'll release at 45 degrees. Anything between will be released at a different angle depending on how far you are from the edge.

 

 In 2600 Warlords the ball can only travel in 8 directions:

• up
• up-right (45°)
• right
• down-right (45°)
• down
• down-left (45°)
• left
• left-up (45°)

 

and the up/down/left/right are only immediately after a captured fireball is released they always switch to one of the four 45° directions when they bounce off something (shield, castle, king, and even the edge of the screen). So 2600 Warlords could not match the arcade's release directions.  Medieval Mayhem supports 32^* directions, so was able to match the arcade.

 

 

 

The 2nd issue is specifically with the upper castles, where the player controls the direction via the difficulty switches.

 

 

^* In the Research blog post I mention the fireballs could travel 16 directions. A week later this was increased to 32 directions, as covered in Fireballs revamped.

[Albert]

4 minutes ago, SpiceWare said:

For the first issue he's apparently not familiar with the arcade version, which I cover in my blog post Research:

Did you ever point this out to him?

 

 ..Al