Dragster Homebrew???

[Rickster8]

So I've been playing some Dragster (Activision) on the Atari 2600 lately and it got me thinking. Do you think there is any-way to make a Dragster Homebrew for Intellivision? I know the shifting might be difficult without a joystick and instead using the disc, but it could work right? Actually not too sure you could pump the clutch using a disc. maybe you could if you attached an Inty Stickler to the disc? I think it might be possible.... 😏

 

THOUGHTS???

 

RR8 🍺

[First Spear]

Nice idea. I think you'd need some Pujals-like finesse on the disc, as shifting would be a combination of tapping and rolling the disc, whether voluntarily or accidentally. Maybe integrate the side buttons into the shifting mechanic.  

[mr_me]

Shifting is a push and release of the joystick.  The same can be done with the disc so I don't see the disc being an issue.

[Rickster8]

I think it can be done, the controls will be hard to get used to though, lol but it couldn't be worse than Mousetrap / Beauty and the Beast / Popeye / Lock N Chase...., etc.....  

[Rickster8]

Actually I believe Pole Position for the Inty uses the side buttons for low and high gears so something could be done along these same lines I would think??? 🤷‍♂️

[+DZ-Jay]

Here is a thought.  If you consider the game mechanic of pulling/pushing the Atari joystick as a compromise intended to simulate the actual mechanical action of shifting gears in a drag car; then you shouldn’t have to attempt to replicate it on the Intellivision.

 

I think it would be better to try to come up with a suitable mechanic that also attempts to simulate the gear shift — in whatever fashion that could be done on the Intellivision.

 

Here is the thing:  there is no gear shifting lever nor clutch on the Intellivision.  So you should start with the premise that realism is not your goal because — well, because it is a goal that cannot be met.

 

With that out of the way, just come up with something that is simple to follow, somewhat mechanical in nature, and that does not detract from the fun.

 

Nobody plays Atari’s drag race for the “realistic gear-shifting”; and probably nobody will choose to play an Intellivision version merely for how close you manage to replicate the push/pull joystick mechanic with the disc controller.

 

    dZ.

Edited December 13, 2022 by DZ-Jay

[+Psycho Stormtrooper- Rog]

5 hours ago, Rickster8 said:

So I've been playing some Dragster (Activision) on the Atari 2600 lately and it got me thinking. Do you think there is any-way to make a Dragster Homebrew for Intellivision? I know the shifting might be difficult without a joystick and instead using the disc, but it could work right? Actually not too sure you could pump the clutch using a disc. maybe you could if you attached an Inty Stickler to the disc? I think it might be possible.... 😏

 

THOUGHTS???

 

RR8 🍺

Dual controllers... with the dual adapter

And make the right disc into a small shift knob (or stickler as stated already).

 

That would work

[Morpheus]

29 minutes ago, Psycho Stormtrooper- Rog said:

Dual controllers... with the dual adapter

And make the right disc into a small shift knob (or stickler as stated already).

 

That would work

You mean this one Rog?

 

 

 

[+Psycho Stormtrooper- Rog]

Yep... thats it.

[8bitwidgets.com]

Yea if anyone wants me to make them one I can do it..   I went ahead and made a listing on ebay here

 

however if anyone wants me to make them one here I can usually do it for $10 depending on how far you are..  I'd just assume avoid ebay when possible with the fees and what not.   Just PM me anytime.  

 

When I get to making some intybasic games(tm) , I'd love to exploit this contraption too for game ideas.. 

[decle]

17 hours ago, Rickster8 said:

Do you think there is any-way to make a Dragster Homebrew for Intellivision?

Yes, it's possible, because providing you're happy playing the non-steering version of the game, it was done back in 2018... 😀

This port was built using the TAS spreadsheet of the game created by Omnigamer during the Todd Rogers cheating drama, so the behaviour of Bottom Gas mirrors the 2600 original.  Bottom Gas is primarily focused on the Intellivision's little brother, the Unisonic Champion, but it does include versions that will run on the Intellivision. 

 

The ROM and instructions for the game can be found here: bottomGas.zip

 

I also did an enhanced version that tried to answer the question "could the Unisonic Champion have been a viable system with some minor hardware differences?".  This was the result:

 

And here is the Intellivision ROM for that version: lilBroBottomGasUp2.rom

 

On 10/26/2022 at 4:10 PM, mdoerty said:

Will these work on original hardware?

Yes all the appropriate Li'l Bro ROMs should work in JzIntv and on the LTO Flash (or similar).

If you're interested in more details of the Unisonic Champion thought experiment you can find them here:

• https://forums.atariage.com/topic/273767-lil-bro-ii-a-better-unisonic-champion-simulator-for-the-intellivision/?do=findComment&comment=3944424
• https://forums.atariage.com/topic/273767-lil-bro-ii-a-better-unisonic-champion-simulator-for-the-intellivision/?do=findComment&comment=4025407

 

With regard to controls, the Unisonic Champion is even more challenged than the Intellivision:

Despite appearances there are only two buttons labelled "Yes" and "No" on each hard-wired controller.  The third, black button is directly connected to the CPU's reset pin, ready for the moment you rage quit when you realise what you just blew 150 dollars on in 1978. 🤔 There are no discs, joysticks, paddles, etc.  For Bottom Gas the controls are mapped as Yes = Shift and No = Gas, that's it.  On the Intellivision they map to Shift = 1, 2 or 3 on the keypad and Gas = 7, 8 or 9. 

 

I don't know if you'd call it playable, but it is an accurate port of the Activision original's gameplay.  If anyone wants to use Bottom Gas as the basis of a more fully fleshed Inty port of Dragster send me a PM and I'll share the CP1610 source code (sorry, the Unisonic Champion is too constrained to use IntyBASIC)  👍

 

Edited December 14, 2022 by decle