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Hi! question about the Atari - Jr. Pac-Man discovered!


FrauBlucha

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I don't understand a negative fuss about this.

Whether it is a proto or a homebrew doesn't make too much difference because it isn't like we were going to get to buy the proto anyhow.

Be happy there is a new game available and not only that,

but one hell of a good looking port as well! ;)

April fools or not, great work on the game and sign me up for a CIB NOW!

That box looks as good as the game! :cool:

Edited by Phantom
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Pac-Man-Plus (Bob)...Excellent, incredible work as usual. Once again, thank you for sharing this with the community. I am definitely interested in a cart if/when a reservation and/or sale list is generated.

 

The file Bob graciously shared with us works fine in MESS. If you believe it is running too fast that is because you have the respective difficulty switch in the 'B' position.

 

To change it, simply load the ROM and once the game is displayed, press "Tab" and arrow key down to "Dip Switches", press enter and set the respective dip switch to A using the arrow keys.

 

Hit Tab to exit that screen and press F3 to power cycle the system being emulated.

 

The only problem with it in MESS is the color palette - Inky is the wrong color...Hopefully someone will update the driver to the latest palette colors that have been made available.

 

-Trebor

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Pac-Man-Plus (Bob)...Excellent, incredible work as usual. Once again, thank you for sharing this with the community. I am definitely interested in a cart if/when a reservation and/or sale list is generated.

 

The file Bob graciously shared with us works fine in MESS. If you believe it is running too fast that is because you have the respective difficulty switch in the 'B' position.

 

To change it, simply load the ROM and once the game is displayed, press "Tab" and arrow key down to "Dip Switches", press enter and set the respective dip switch to A using the arrow keys.

 

Hit Tab to exit that screen and press F3 to power cycle the system being emulated.

 

The only problem with it in MESS is the color palette - Inky is the wrong color...Hopefully someone will update the driver to the latest palette colors that have been made available.

 

-Trebor

If you can post the latest a7800.c file from MESS here I can update the NTSC pallete.

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Thanks Guys! :)

Below is the most current version. It has my graphics in it, removes the April Fools message, and although they aren't enabled, the beginning of the first intermission (You won't see it yet).

 

So when are we getting the updated version with the new eyes.

It's below :)

 

So is this a WIP rom, or is it close to final?

it looks AWESOME by the way.

Thank you :) It is only missing the intermissions. I will try to attempt some of the changes Kurt mentions below, but some of them won't be possible (at least with my knowledge). I may add a few things of my own in there ;)

 

- I couldn't make out a difference between the "slow" and "fast" player setting... do the difficulty switches really work?

Yes, this definitely works. You can only use it while starting a game (like the left switch for the starting lives)

 

- The scrolling could be a bit more "smooth". Look at how they did it in the arcade version... it starts out slowly and then gets faster.

I did actually see that, but it's too variable for the 7800 (at least with what I know). I actually had to re-write the kernel (like I did with Super Pac-Man) because there were screen jumps from me figuring out when to scroll everything, and moving the screen and all of the object while still doing the normal processing. Too much processor time was being taken. :( I will give it a try, though.

 

- The music is lacking some kind of "envelope" to the notes, such as each note starts out loud and then decays. At least the bass notes do this in the arcade version, as far as I know. I know that Atari also didn't do it in the 2600 version, but the sound chip definitely is capable of doing it, as you can see in games like "Smurf's Rescue" on the 2600.

hmmm. I took the sounds directly from the 2600 port... I'll have to look into this.

 

- The sounds seem to be slightly off. As far as I know, the sound when Jr. eats a big pellet is louder in the arcade version than for a small pellet. In your version, it's softer. Also, the sound when a toy destroys a power pellet seems to be off. This should be the typical "Wakka Wakka" sound as known from the original Pac Man. I found this sound to be fairly well replicated in the 7800 version of "Super Pac Man", maybe it could be improved here as well. And the sound when eating a monster in the arcade is only a short "bwoop" (going up once), not a "boo-woo-woop" as in your version. :-)

I will fix the big-pellet sound. I will also attempt to fix the Monster eating and the toy destroying a pellet. :)

 

Thanks!

 

I also may hold some kind of request where the person who can translate the intermission 'songs' to Atari code will get a free cart and a mention in the manual that will be created. The intermissions are a*lot* of work (much more so that previous games) and I want to concentrate on the graphics.

 

Here is the .a78 bin, which is compatible with emulators, and the raw .bin which will work for the CCII and the new banking scheme that Mitch posted in this thread a while back.

 

Obligatory Cart Pic:

post-1787-1238626162_thumb.jpg

 

Bob

JRPAC_78.A78

jrpac_78.bin

Edited by PacManPlus
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For you CC2 owners here's a new banking file that Chad created for us to do testing with. HSC is enabled. :)

Probably want to wait till tonight to try it when Bob posts the latest versions. ;)

 

Mitch

Hmmmm, the HSC doesn't work with the current bin. Is it suppose to?

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For you CC2 owners here's a new banking file that Chad created for us to do testing with. HSC is enabled. :)

Probably want to wait till tonight to try it when Bob posts the latest versions. ;)

 

Mitch

Hmmmm, the HSC doesn't work with the current bin. Is it suppose to?

 

Just tried it and it works fine for me. You did select HSC as the startup file as well as using the new banking file, correct?

 

Mitch

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Thanks Guys! :)

Below is the most current version. It has my graphics in it, removes the April Fools message, and although they aren't enabled, the beginning of the first intermission (You won't see it yet).

 

So when are we getting the updated version with the new eyes.

It's below :)

 

So is this a WIP rom, or is it close to final?

it looks AWESOME by the way.

Thank you :) It is only missing the intermissions. I will try to attempt some of the changes Kurt mentions below, but some of them won't be possible (at least with my knowledge). I may add a few things of my own in there ;)

 

- I couldn't make out a difference between the "slow" and "fast" player setting... do the difficulty switches really work?

Yes, this definitely works. You can only use it while starting a game (like the left switch for the starting lives)

 

- The scrolling could be a bit more "smooth". Look at how they did it in the arcade version... it starts out slowly and then gets faster.

I did actually see that, but it's too variable for the 7800 (at least with what I know). I actually had to re-write the kernel (like I did with Super Pac-Man) because there were screen jumps from me figuring out when to scroll everything, and moving the screen and all of the object while still doing the normal processing. Too much processor time was being taken. :( I will give it a try, though.

 

- The music is lacking some kind of "envelope" to the notes, such as each note starts out loud and then decays. At least the bass notes do this in the arcade version, as far as I know. I know that Atari also didn't do it in the 2600 version, but the sound chip definitely is capable of doing it, as you can see in games like "Smurf's Rescue" on the 2600.

hmmm. I took the sounds directly from the 2600 port... I'll have to look into this.

 

- The sounds seem to be slightly off. As far as I know, the sound when Jr. eats a big pellet is louder in the arcade version than for a small pellet. In your version, it's softer. Also, the sound when a toy destroys a power pellet seems to be off. This should be the typical "Wakka Wakka" sound as known from the original Pac Man. I found this sound to be fairly well replicated in the 7800 version of "Super Pac Man", maybe it could be improved here as well. And the sound when eating a monster in the arcade is only a short "bwoop" (going up once), not a "boo-woo-woop" as in your version. :-)

I will fix the big-pellet sound. I will also attempt to fix the Monster eating and the toy destroying a pellet. :)

 

Thanks!

 

I also may hold some kind of request where the person who can translate the intermission 'songs' to Atari code will get a free cart and a mention in the manual that will be created. The intermissions are a*lot* of work (much more so that previous games) and I want to concentrate on the graphics.

 

Here is the .a78 bin, which is compatible with emulators, and the raw .bin which will work for the CCII and the new banking scheme that Mitch posted in this thread a while back.

 

Obligatory Cart Pic:

post-1787-1238626162_thumb.jpg

 

Bob

You....................... are......................... awesome...............................PERIOD!

 

 

 

:lust:

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Awesome! It's always great to see yet another fantastic arcade port materialize on the good old 7800. It really is the King of arcade ports.

 

...and I WANT one of those carts! :D

 

Sign me up on any future list. Jr Pac was always my favorite pac game, and now, with this release (and the incredible Pac man Collection already on cart), as well as Super pac in development, the 7800 just became the de-facto system to go to for playing home ports of all the Pac games.

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Thanks Guys! :)

Below is the most current version. It has my graphics in it, removes the April Fools message, and although they aren't enabled, the beginning of the first intermission (You won't see it yet).

 

So when are we getting the updated version with the new eyes.

It's below :)

 

So is this a WIP rom, or is it close to final?

it looks AWESOME by the way.

Thank you :) It is only missing the intermissions. I will try to attempt some of the changes Kurt mentions below, but some of them won't be possible (at least with my knowledge). I may add a few things of my own in there ;)

 

- I couldn't make out a difference between the "slow" and "fast" player setting... do the difficulty switches really work?

Yes, this definitely works. You can only use it while starting a game (like the left switch for the starting lives)

 

- The scrolling could be a bit more "smooth". Look at how they did it in the arcade version... it starts out slowly and then gets faster.

I did actually see that, but it's too variable for the 7800 (at least with what I know). I actually had to re-write the kernel (like I did with Super Pac-Man) because there were screen jumps from me figuring out when to scroll everything, and moving the screen and all of the object while still doing the normal processing. Too much processor time was being taken. :( I will give it a try, though.

 

- The music is lacking some kind of "envelope" to the notes, such as each note starts out loud and then decays. At least the bass notes do this in the arcade version, as far as I know. I know that Atari also didn't do it in the 2600 version, but the sound chip definitely is capable of doing it, as you can see in games like "Smurf's Rescue" on the 2600.

hmmm. I took the sounds directly from the 2600 port... I'll have to look into this.

 

- The sounds seem to be slightly off. As far as I know, the sound when Jr. eats a big pellet is louder in the arcade version than for a small pellet. In your version, it's softer. Also, the sound when a toy destroys a power pellet seems to be off. This should be the typical "Wakka Wakka" sound as known from the original Pac Man. I found this sound to be fairly well replicated in the 7800 version of "Super Pac Man", maybe it could be improved here as well. And the sound when eating a monster in the arcade is only a short "bwoop" (going up once), not a "boo-woo-woop" as in your version. :-)

I will fix the big-pellet sound. I will also attempt to fix the Monster eating and the toy destroying a pellet. :)

 

Thanks!

 

I also may hold some kind of request where the person who can translate the intermission 'songs' to Atari code will get a free cart and a mention in the manual that will be created. The intermissions are a*lot* of work (much more so that previous games) and I want to concentrate on the graphics.

 

Here is the .a78 bin, which is compatible with emulators, and the raw .bin which will work for the CCII and the new banking scheme that Mitch posted in this thread a while back.

 

Obligatory Cart Pic:

post-1787-1238626162_thumb.jpg

 

Bob

 

That label is awesome :)

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Yeah, new homebrew of this game especially is welcome and all, but seriously? Getting really fucking tired of April 1st "is it a homebrew or a proto" every GODDAMN YEAR. Think of some new joke, or don't do anything at all.

Wow, wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? If you don't have something positive to contribute, how about staying the hell out of the thread?

 

..Al

 

Oh, I think it's a fine homebrew idea, and it looks damn good. I'm all about new 7800 games! But it gets really old going through the exact same motion every year. What's wrong with saying "Oh hey, here's this badass homebrew that's coming along, get hype?" Why does it have to involve phony forum accounts, days of people all expecting it to be just another joke, and oh, hey, it usually is.

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Yeah, new homebrew of this game especially is welcome and all, but seriously? Getting really fucking tired of April 1st "is it a homebrew or a proto" every GODDAMN YEAR. Think of some new joke, or don't do anything at all.

Wow, wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? If you don't have something positive to contribute, how about staying the hell out of the thread?

 

..Al

 

Oh, I think it's a fine homebrew idea, and it looks damn good. I'm all about new 7800 games! But it gets really old going through the exact same motion every year. What's wrong with saying "Oh hey, here's this badass homebrew that's coming along, get hype?" Why does it have to involve phony forum accounts, days of people all expecting it to be just another joke, and oh, hey, it usually is.

It's called 'having fun', which is what playing video games is suppose to be.

 

Allan

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What I have noticed is that when someone says they are programming something new and post the rom people nitpick it to all hades many not even thanking that person for working so hard but I have yet to see anyone do that here instead saying how happy they are to be able to play the game, how much they want a cart and not even proposing improvements (yet) even though they know it's a homebrew vs a proto. Regardless of which it was someone did work very hard and homebrew authors do it more so for the love of gaming and don't pull much if any profit after you factor in time, labor, experience required. It also still makes the game just as unique and not copied, plus it has the added bonus of us getting something new for a system many have forgotten about or put aside (which is the only difference I see besides it not coming from a big company). It's an awesome and personal gift to our community imo.

 

 

Oh, I think it's a fine homebrew idea, and it looks damn good. I'm all about new 7800 games! But it gets really old going through the exact same motion every year. What's wrong with saying "Oh hey, here's this badass homebrew that's coming along, get hype?" Why does it have to involve phony forum accounts, days of people all expecting it to be just another joke, and oh, hey, it usually is.
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Oh, I think it's a fine homebrew idea, and it looks damn good. I'm all about new 7800 games! But it gets really old going through the exact same motion every year. What's wrong with saying "Oh hey, here's this badass homebrew that's coming along, get hype?" Why does it have to involve phony forum accounts, days of people all expecting it to be just another joke, and oh, hey, it usually is.

It certainly has not been done every year. The last time this was done was with Q*bert for the 7800 in 2005. That was four years ago. Last year three real 7800 prototypes were released on April 1st. In 2006 and 2007 there were no AtariAge April Fools' gags.

 

..Al

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Oh, I think it's a fine homebrew idea, and it looks damn good. I'm all about new 7800 games! But it gets really old going through the exact same motion every year. What's wrong with saying "Oh hey, here's this badass homebrew that's coming along, get hype?" Why does it have to involve phony forum accounts, days of people all expecting it to be just another joke, and oh, hey, it usually is.

 

Dude, I rather deal this (and enjoy a new game to boot!) Rather go to the Toon Zone forums, where the forums get ungodly amount of spam threads and posts on April Fools' Day.

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Oh, I think it's a fine homebrew idea, and it looks damn good. I'm all about new 7800 games! But it gets really old going through the exact same motion every year. What's wrong with saying "Oh hey, here's this badass homebrew that's coming along, get hype?" Why does it have to involve phony forum accounts, days of people all expecting it to be just another joke, and oh, hey, it usually is.

It certainly has not been done every year. The last time this was done was with Q*bert for the 7800 in 2005. That was four years ago. Last year three real 7800 prototypes were released on April 1st. In 2006 and 2007 there were no AtariAge April Fools' gags.

 

..Al

PWNED :!:

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Oh, I think it's a fine homebrew idea, and it looks damn good. I'm all about new 7800 games! But it gets really old going through the exact same motion every year. What's wrong with saying "Oh hey, here's this badass homebrew that's coming along, get hype?" Why does it have to involve phony forum accounts, days of people all expecting it to be just another joke, and oh, hey, it usually is.

It certainly has not been done every year. The last time this was done was with Q*bert for the 7800 in 2005. That was four years ago. Last year three real 7800 prototypes were released on April 1st. In 2006 and 2007 there were no AtariAge April Fools' gags.

 

..Al

 

I stand corrected. It only FEELS like every year!

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