Midway Arcade -> Atari 2600 port

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

 

This time I picked the oldest bunch of Midway Arcade games that never officially made it to the 2600.

 

And the question is again: Which of these is the most desired for the Atari 2600?

 

Greetings,

Manuel

[Brad2600]

Is it possible to post links to screenshots/info about these games? It might make voting easier, since I've never seen/heard of these games.

 

[SteveW]

I've never heard of a single one of those, unfortunately. Could you possibly provide links to KLOV.com maybe?

[Haydn Jones]

Could you possibly provide links to KLOV.com maybe?

 

I am doing it now.

 

Haydn

[Brad2600]

Amazing Maze

Datsun Z80 Zzzap

Tornado Baseball

Checkmate

Desert Gun

Dog Patch

Guided Missle

Laguna Racer

M-4

 

[Nukey Shay]

Just type the name in KLOV's searchbar

 

Most of them are similar in gameplay to existing titles.

 

 

Amazing Maze

 

Datsun 280 Zzzap

 

Tornado Baseball

 

Checkmate

 

Desert Gun

 

Dog Patch

 

Guided Missile

 

Laguna Racer

 

M-4

[Haydn Jones]

Amazing Maze

Datsun 280 Zzzap

Tornado Baseball

Checkmate

Desert Gun

Dog Patch

Guided Missile

Laguna Racer

M-4

 

I just noticed as i wad about to submit, you had done it, this is just for the hell of it tho

 

Haydn

[Brad2600]

 

Well I was bored so I thought I'd help out anyway.

[Haydn Jones]

Datsun 280 Zzzap was called Midnight Racer, which looks a lot like Night Racer on the 2600, i was playing around hacking that recently, so i might try to hack a 2600 version of Datsun 280 Zzzap, to see if i can.

 

But my vote is would be for M-4, but i just want to see you try Amazing Maze sorry

 

Haydn

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

 

Datsun 280 Zzzap was called Midnight Racer, which looks a lot like Night Racer on the 2600, i was playing around hacking that recently, so i might try to hack a 2600 version of Datsun 280 Zzzap, to see if i can.

 

That would require not too much work I think. First you'd probably have to switch it to Joystick control, so you can add shifting gears and brakes. Then adding the guy giving you the starting flag would also be a cool touch.

 

Greetings,

Manuel

[Haydn Jones]

That would require not too much work I think. First you'd probably have to switch it to Joystick control, so you can add shifting gears and brakes. Then adding the guy giving you the starting flag would also be a cool touch.

 

I am proberly better starting with something a bit simpler then, just doing the graphics, and leave the complex stuff for a while.

 

Haydn

[tillenterprises]

I'd like to see a home port of Satan's Hollow or Bubbles

[NovaXpress]

If people wanted a primitive game that they've never heard of, there are already many options.

 

If M1 was turned on its side it could probably be programmed pretty quickly. That's a good 2-player game.

[vdub_bobby]

If people wanted a primitive game that they've never heard of, there are already many options.

 

If M1 was turned on its side it could probably be programmed pretty quickly. That's a good 2-player game.

I don't think you would need to turn it on its side. Probably could get it in 1K, too.

[NovaXpress]

I just hear tales of how much easier things are when the objects move horizontally.

 

Really, all of these games suck. None of them were hits, so there's no nostalgia value either. If you want a Midway game, theres' great latter-day stuff like Space Zap, Timber, Lazarian, Robby Roto, Wacko, Domino Man and the magnificent little-known Crater Raider.'

 

Still hoping Satan's Hollow and Kick-Man already exist somewhere.

[sku_u]

Datsun 280 zzzap has been done already. It's called night driver.

 

Honestly, Laguna Racer and M-4 are the only 2 that look even remotely interesting.

[vdub_bobby]

If M1 was turned on its side it could probably be programmed pretty quickly. That's a good 2-player game.

Really, all of these games suck.

So, which is it?

 

It would be easier if it was horizontally aligned instead of vertically - but it would certainly be possible to do it vertically and, if you are making a port, might as well be as faithful as you can, when you can.

[NovaXpress]

I got some nostalgia for M-4, it was the game in the lobby of the theatre where I saw Star Wars 15 times. Aside from that, it really doesnt fill a hole in the 2600 library at all. But that's the one I voted for because I'd certainly be playing it.

 

Has anyone else ever even seen this game in the wild?

[Marc Oberhäuser]

Couldn't see a single game of interest for me...

[Flojomojo]

I've never heard of a single one of those, unfortunately. Could you possibly provide links to KLOV.com maybe?

Same here. I guess we're past the point of diminishing returns when geeks like US don't even know the obscure games being referenced.

[minorleagueguy]

...I bet these would all look great on the Vectrex...

 

minorleageguy

[NovaXpress]

I don't get the voting. Amazing Maze is Maze Craze so what's the point?

 

Maybe try a classic Sega poll next? I vote for Eliminator.

[+batari]

I agree that these games suck. The only good games to come from Midway back then were Gunfight and Sea Wolf... Maybe Manuel should do those? Wait... never mind.

 

Seriously, how about some pre-79 Atari/Kee games? There were some good ones that were never done (AFAIK) like Fire Truck.

[sku_u]

...I bet these would all look great on the Vectrex...  

 

minorleageguy

 

I agree. I think this are better suited to the Vectrex for the most part.

 

I had a chance to try all these out today. M-4 is the definite best of the lot and would be the one I would probably buy if it made to to cart form o the VCS.

[Cybergoth]

Hi there!

 

I don't get the voting. Amazing Maze is Maze Craze so what's the point?

 

Amazing Maze has two players entering the maze on opposite sides of the screen. It's your goal to find the exit on the other side faster than your opponent. There's even a little bit of strategy involved: While you have to find your own way, you can also have an eye on the other guy and memorize his path, so once you meet each other, you can quickly finish your way.

 

Is this how 2600 Maze Craze works? I admittedly never really played it...

 

In general I know that those early Midway games look very simple, but it's always interesting to see some spiced up homebrews based on simple basic principles. Also these are ideal beginners projects.

There's two homebrew cart releases available with Pong variants, so why not trying these as well?

 

Maybe try a classic Sega poll next? I vote for Eliminator.

 

Hm... I don't find one from Sega, but MAME lists a game called Eliminator from Gremlin, is it that?

 

Greetings,

Manuel