Tempest Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 I'm happy to announce that I am now able to post my review of Astro Chase for the Atari 2600. While the original owner of the prototype does not want it to be released, a second prototype was recently found with more versions possibly coming. Permission was also granted from the current copyright owners to post the rom, so enjoy(?) this long lost Atari 2600 game. http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/astrochase/astrochase.htm Astrochase (10-25-83).bin 9 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moycon Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 I remember this great looking game on my friends Atari 5200. We only had the cartridge and from what I recall could never figure out how to play the game. Sure did look nice though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 15, 2022 Author Share Posted February 15, 2022 38 minutes ago, moycon said: I remember this great looking game on my friends Atari 5200. We only had the cartridge and from what I recall could never figure out how to play the game. Sure did look nice though. That sums it up nicely. It's a good looking game that's no fun and too hard! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bfstats Posted February 15, 2022 Share Posted February 15, 2022 Anytime a previous "vaporware" title makes an appearance, it is extraordinary. Thanks to the copyright holders and to you, Tempest, for evaluating and posting. Great stuff! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintagegamecrazy Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 This is so cool to see! I love seeing prototypes unearthed long thought to be lost. The Atari 5200 one is such a pretty game but is kind of boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ever2600 Posted February 16, 2022 Share Posted February 16, 2022 Wow! I loved this title on the 800/5200 and other platforms. Never knew there was going to be a 2600 version?! Thanks for the info and the share!!! Tempest, coming through again! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 I'm seriously having trouble figuring out who actually was going to publish Astro Chase for the 2600. I've seen ads from both Parker Bros. and First Star saying that the 2600 version was going to be available soon. My gut says First Star was going to publish it themselves, but it would make more sense that Parker Bros would have bought all the home cartridge rights rather than just for the Atari 8-bits and 5200. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 On 2/17/2022 at 1:01 AM, Tempest said: I'm seriously having trouble figuring out who actually was going to publish Astro Chase for the 2600. I've seen ads from both Parker Bros. and First Star saying that the 2600 version was going to be available soon. My gut says First Star was going to publish it themselves, but it would make more sense that Parker Bros would have bought all the home cartridge rights rather than just for the Atari 8-bits and 5200. I think the VCS version was to be released by First Star. The proto is in a First Star cart and the announcement on the Parker Brothers ad says it will be coming soon by First Star: http://www.atarimania.com/pubs/hi_res/pub_astro_chase.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 3 hours ago, Rom Hunter said: I think the VCS version was to be released by First Star. The proto is in a First Star cart and the announcement on the Parker Brothers ad says it will be coming soon by First Star: Actually the proto is in a Telesys case. Alex was doing games for Telesys as well so he was probably just using whatever he had laying around. Even First Star themselves used multiple types of cases for Boing!. There actually is another version of Asto Chase that surfaced just recently (a mid level WIP) that was in a PB case and came from a former PB employee. More on that one as soon as it's dumped. I agree though, I'm almost positive First Star was going to release Astro Chase themselves. It all depends on how you read that ad. Is it that the other versions were coming soon FROM First Star or were they coming soon from PB and BY/LICENSED BY First Star? It also depends on if PB had the ALL the home cartridge rights or just for the Atari 8-bit/5200. If they had all of them then they would have released it for the 2600, C64 (cart), and Colecovision. First Star only released Astro Chase on disk and tape, but that was probably due to manufacturing costs. There's really no way to know unless we find someone at FS to ask. I've got feelers out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Tempest said: Actually the proto is in a Telesys case. Alex was doing games for Telesys as well so he was probably just using whatever he had laying around. Even First Star themselves used multiple types of cases for Boing!. There actually is another version of Asto Chase that surfaced just recently (a mid level WIP) that was in a PB case and came from a former PB employee. More on that one as soon as it's dumped. I agree though, I'm almost positive First Star was going to release Astro Chase themselves. It all depends on how you read that ad. Is it that the other versions were coming soon FROM First Star or were they coming soon from PB and BY/LICENSED BY First Star? It also depends on if PB had the ALL the home cartridge rights or just for the Atari 8-bit/5200. If they had all of them then they would have released it for the 2600, C64 (cart), and Colecovision. First Star only released Astro Chase on disk and tape, but that was probably due to manufacturing costs. There's really no way to know unless we find someone at FS to ask. I've got feelers out. You're absolutely right: it's a Telesys cart, which indeed makes sense coming from Alex Leavens. Scott Stilphen did research this as well: http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/unreleased/unreleased.html#astrochase For me it's still not 100% clear. First Star did release the C64 cartridge version and even this Max-A-Flex cartridge version: http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-astro-chase_356.html Edited February 18, 2022 by Rom Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 It says right there that PB licensed Astro Chase for the 2600 and possibly the Colecovision. So the C64 cartridge version WAS released? I've only ever seen the disk version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 14 minutes ago, Tempest said: It says right there that PB licensed Astro Chase for the 2600 and possibly the Colecovision. So the C64 cartridge version WAS released? I've only ever seen the disk version. Me too, but the ad states that it's 'now available': http://www.atarimania.com/pubs/hi_res/pub_astro_chasev2.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 18, 2022 Author Share Posted February 18, 2022 6 minutes ago, Rom Hunter said: Me too, but the ad states that it's 'now available': Well we all know that doesn't really mean anything. The Atari 2600 game Meltdown has a huge ad stating that it was 'now available' but we all know it wasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 13 minutes ago, Tempest said: Well we all know that doesn't really mean anything. The Atari 2600 game Meltdown has a huge ad stating that it was 'now available' but we all know it wasn't. True. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 On 2/18/2022 at 11:06 AM, Tempest said: So the C64 cartridge version WAS released? I've only ever seen the disk version. No...First Star never ended up releasing any cartridges for the C64. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 im not in love with it. is it kind of like sinistar? I also dont quite understand it yet too though. Its also frusterating that video game world is big on private collectors gatekeeping stuff. the big thing here is you released it and thats a major kudos to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 5 minutes ago, chewy said: im not in love with it. is it kind of like sinistar? Not really. Basically you just fly around and shoot those white squares (mines) that occasionally appear and try to hit the earth. You can shoot down enemy ships and go through those force field generators, but that's not required. It's kind of dull in my book, but then again I've never liked the game. 6 minutes ago, chewy said: Its also frusterating that video game world is big on private collectors gatekeeping stuff. the big thing here is you released it and thats a major kudos to you. The funny thing is that it never used to be that way. Up until the mid 2000's everyone was sharing the new protos they found, but then they suddenly became 'an investment' and that's when the hording started. I just hope that these people who won't release the protos are at least backing them up so they're not lost forever if the worst happens. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 14 hours ago, Tempest said: I just hope that these people who won't release the protos are at least backing them up so they're not lost forever if the worst happens. They're all in good hands, trust me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 20, 2022 Author Share Posted February 20, 2022 36 minutes ago, Rom Hunter said: They're all in good hands, trust me. Most are, some I don't know who owns them now. That complete version of Hard Head that popped up on ebay several years back for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 (edited) 7 hours ago, Tempest said: Most are, some I don't know who owns them now. That complete version of Hard Head that popped up on ebay several years back for example. AFAIK that one is somewhere n Poland (Kozibroda13). Edited February 20, 2022 by Rom Hunter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 20, 2022 Author Share Posted February 20, 2022 42 minutes ago, Rom Hunter said: AFAIK that one is somewhere n Poland (Kozibroda13). Are they a member here on AA? I'd love to ask them some questions about the prototype even if they don't want to release the rom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted February 21, 2022 Share Posted February 21, 2022 It’s been a few years so I don’t recall for sure, but I don’t believe he was a member here, at least not at the time that he won the auction. However, the member here who sells the Channel F multi carts is from Poland so if you wanted to track the buyer down, he would be a good place to start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted April 29, 2022 Share Posted April 29, 2022 On 2/18/2022 at 11:06 AM, Tempest said: It says right there that PB licensed Astro Chase for the 2600 and possibly the Colecovision. All indications seem to be that the VCS version would've been published by Parker Brothers as opposed to First Star, had it actually been released. http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/unreleased/unreleased.html#astrochase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifershalo Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 wow, nice discovery, those stories of videogames archeology are always fascinating !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Living Room Arcade Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 (edited) 2 Years Later I just saw this! Thank you, @Tempest, for releasing this! And for writing your detailed game review! Many of the Atari 2600 protos lack game instructions, and I often print out your reviews and use those as the game instructions! Simplified Instructions: Defend Earth! Earth appears in the center of the gameplay area. The gameplay area is bigger than your TV screen, so you can fly around and check out all the celestial wonders, but keep an eye on Earth! In each level, there will be 8 animated Space Mines moving towards Earth. You must shoot and destroy 'em. If even one Space Mine touches Earth, the game ends! The counter at the bottom of the screen tells you how many Space Mines remain to finish the current level. Enemies will try to destroy you. Blast 'em! It's okay to bump into planets and the edges of the gameplay area, just don't bump into enemies or you'll lose a life. Also, watch your fuel. For detailed instructions, please see @Tempest's detailed game review here. Your ship The Earth Other Planets a Space Station? Enemy Ship Space Mines (Animated) Sample Information Display (During Gameplay) 8 Space Mines Remaining* / 03 Your Lives Remaining 00915 Your Fuel Remaining 00100 Your Score Left Difficulty: Turn on/off music *After the game ends, Space Mines Remaining will be replaced by the Game Variation (01-24). @Tempest Are my simplified instructions, above, correct? BTW, there appear to be 24 Game Variations. Do you have any information about what these game variations are? Edited April 2 by Living Room Arcade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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