Millipede on the Flashback 2 - which v. did u get?

[Flojomojo]

I got the Atari version, even though the manual implies the unit is running the GCC version. Fine with me, since the Atari version is easier and doesn't have any problems with rolling the screen...Go here: http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/m...de/gccproto.htm to see the differences.

 

The Atari version:

 

The GCC version:

 

The screenshot on the Atari FB2 page shows the GCC version, too.

Edited August 16, 2005 by Flojomojo

[Feralstorm]

GCC version for me, which is too bad, since its picture rolls like a mother.

 

Maybe there's a connection here... does your Quadrun talk or not?

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I once tried to fix GCCs Millipede to display less lines. But I failed to get very close to 262, because the off-screen computing requires a LOT of CPU time.

 

Maybe the same happened here and they replaced it with the Atari version?

[Flojomojo]

GCC version for me, which is too bad, since its picture rolls like a mother.

 

Maybe there's a connection here... does your Quadrun talk or not?

912198[/snapback]

My Quadrun does not talk.

[Lord Helmet]

I got the Atari version...dammit. I was really looking forward to the GCC one.

 

Mine doesn't talk either.

Edited August 16, 2005 by Lord Helmet

[DEBRO]

I got the Atari version...dammit. I was really looking forward to the GCC one. 

I'm glad I got the Atari version. I like it better. Maybe because it was done in house at Atari and not out sourced to GCC.

 

I wonder if the rumors are true about this game. I read that Atari told GCC not to do this game because they'd be doing it themselves and GCC did it anyway as a means to show they were better than Atari's programmers.

[Lord Helmet]

The only reason I am mad is because I can play the Atari version any time because I won the cart. The FB2 is the only way to get the GCC version, since it can't be reproduced on cart (feasibly anyway).

[MetaFox]

Mine is the Atari version as well - and my Quadrun also has no voice.

[Zwackery]

I am a tad confused over the substitution of one version (Atari) for another (GCC). I wonder how this came to be and at what point it was switched, unless this means that the FB2s have multiple "chipsets"?

Edited August 16, 2005 by Zwackery

[Tempest]

I got the Atari version...dammit. I was really looking forward to the GCC one. 

I'm glad I got the Atari version. I like it better. Maybe because it was done in house at Atari and not out sourced to GCC.

 

I wonder if the rumors are true about this game. I read that Atari told GCC not to do this game because they'd be doing it themselves and GCC did it anyway as a means to show they were better than Atari's programmers.

912337[/snapback]

 

This is what I was told. Basically GCC thought that if they did a version that Atari would go with it rather than their own. Atari may have actually been considering just that, but complaints from the Atari programmers made them change their minds. I've seen some internal vax mails on this subject, it's all rather interesting.

 

Personally either version is fine by me, they're both pretty much the same. The GCC version is a titch harder and faster, so I tend to like it a little more.

 

So how did different people get different versions? Is there some hidden select that we're not seeing, or are the chips actually different? I'd find it hard to believe that the game was switched in the middle of the first run. You'd think they would do something like that between runs...

 

Tempest

[NE146]

Yeah I got the Atari version which gets me a little miffed because I for all this time was expecting the GCC version. And of course almost all of us already have the original game, so it was to be one of those bonuses on the FB2.

 

Oh well. It's the first run and that's why I only bought one (with the full expectation of buying at least another one). So hopefully by the time I plunk down cash for another one, all the issues will be resolved... (and maybe it'll be cheaper )

[Icculus]

Atari version here...i guess this is what happens when you ship a unit out fast- oh well, its such a great little unit ill probably buy another too when the issues get worked out

[OrionB]

My FB2 has the GCC version (which I can't play because the screen rolls) and no Quadrun voice. I'd be willing to trade it for one with the Atari version and working Quadrun voice (assuming there will be some among the non-Walmart FB2s when they show up next week). Anyone interested?

[geosteve]

I have the Atari version (although I have the GCC version ROM to play on my emu), I'm glad as I prefer this version. the screen is very stable and clear which keeps the game playable and enjoyable

[hookem]

I have the Atari version (and no Quadrun voice), which is fine by me because it is so playable. I kind of think it's neat, too, that we are discovering different variations beyond the Quadrun voice issue. So assuming that was fixed somewhere down the road, there are at least 3 different versions of the ROM.

 

If I had payed $199 instead of $30 for it, I might be a bit miffed. But at less than the price of many single PC or console games, I find it kind of cool, and look forward to picking another one up later and seeing what it has...

 

Seems like the GCC version is more rare. Here is my theory -

 

There were a few, maybe even several, different runs of the ROM. Like they do with other parts, they used them all, even though they weren't the same. Probably to save money.

 

As the games are so tiny, I'd even venture to guess that both the GCC and Atari version might be on all the ROMs, along with the other "hidden" games. Maybe only the menu was modified to load the more solid Atari version in one of the runs.

 

My guess is we'll be finding things for many months to come...

Edited August 16, 2005 by hookem

[Lord Helmet]

As the games are so tiny, I'd even venture to guess that both the GCC and Atari version might be on all the ROMs, along with the other "hidden" games.

912551[/snapback]

 

I was thinking that might be the case as well.

[SteveW]

I've got the Atari version, and no Quadrun voice. Bummer.

[Feralstorm]

No Quadrun voice (and GCC version as I said earlier) for me.

 

Definitely going to wait a while, then get another FB2, so I can get the fixed stuff.

 

wonder if any bug fixes are in the hopper for the jumpy new games?

[Lord Helmet]

So it looks like there are 2 versions out there so far:

 

No Voice with GCC Millipede

No Voice with Atari Millipede

 

I expect the voice issue was addressed (because Curt said it was) so we we will have one or both of the following:

 

Voice with GCC Millipede

Voice with Atari Millipede

 

Could there be 4 variations for collectors to pick up?

Edited August 17, 2005 by Lord Helmet

[Feralstorm]

If the poll is to be believed, GCC Millipede seems to be the rare one. Presumably it was swapped out early (earlier than the voice fix) for the Atari version (cause it don't roll)

 

I'd assume the Voice-fixed versions would either be all-Atari, or possibly all-GCC, Since Thomas said its not easy to fix the scanline number in the GCC version (and eliminate roll), Atari-Grames will likely decide it's cheaper to tweak the part of the manual that says "Alternate Millipede" than make sure GCC 'Pede works right.

 

Maybe PAL FB2's will have GCC Millipede?

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Maybe PAL FB2's will have GCC Millipede?

No big problem there.

 

But QA has to make sure, that is constantly displays an even number of scanlines, which it doesn't now. Else color loss will occur on PAL systems.

[jlh2600]

So mine rolls- on a better TV it won't? For those of you who have the GCC version that does NOT roll, what kind of TV do you have?

[Feralstorm]

I don't think its a matter of a "better" TV, but instead how it reacts to the signal from Millipede. You might actually be better off with an older TV with a nice vertical hold knob on it.

[supercat]

But QA has to make sure, that is constantly displays an even number of scanlines, which it doesn't now. Else color loss will occur on PAL systems.

 

Given that circuitry changes would be needed for a PAL 2600, how hard would it be to make the output of the color-phase counter be visible at address 7F? Then code could add an extra WSYNC when necessary before a VSYNC to ensure that there were always an even number of scan lines.

[sidcrowe]

What's GCC stand for? Who are they?