timdu Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 As part of the celebration of the 100th print issue of the 2600 Connection, I am happy to report that we are getting very close to completion for the cartridge release of Mean Santa. I would like to acknowledge and thank John Harvey , a.k.a. propane13, for his excellent programming work and skills on this project. Please check out the youtube video of Mean Santa More info soon. thanks Tim Duarte 2600 Connection, editor / publisher issues 1-50 http://2600connection.atari.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 As part of the celebration of the 100th print issue of the 2600 Connection, I am happy to report that we are getting very close to completion for the cartridge release of Mean Santa. I would like to acknowledge and thank John Harvey , a.k.a. propane13, for his excellent programming work and skills on this project. Please check out the youtube video of Mean Santa http://2600connection.atari.org Hee hee! It looks fun! I can't wait to see more on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Dogs Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Cool! I will be getting one. Why does Santa turn into a dog on the last few levels of the video? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 Why does Santa turn into a dog on the last few levels of the video? I was wondering that as well. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroovyBee Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 You've never heard of Weresanta? Tut! Tut! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+thegoldenband Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 I think Santa is almost invisible (he's become sort of a dark speck -- maybe a lump of coal?), and one of the reindeer is trailing him at a fixed distance, a bit like Fire Truck or Thrust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timdu Posted August 10, 2009 Author Share Posted August 10, 2009 Ooops... just noticed that! Santa is supposed to be there... he is not showing up in the video for some reason. I will look into this and perhaps see if we need to make a new video. My apologies. Tim Cool! I will be getting one. Why does Santa turn into a dog on the last few levels of the video? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
videogametrader Posted August 11, 2009 Share Posted August 11, 2009 Ooops... just noticed that! Santa is supposed to be there... he is not showing up in the video for some reason.I will look into this and perhaps see if we need to make a new video. My apologies. Tim Cool! I will be getting one. Why does Santa turn into a dog on the last few levels of the video? do you have a release date for this game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timdu Posted August 12, 2009 Author Share Posted August 12, 2009 We do not have a definite release date. We originally hoped for July 1. I would imagine if all goes well, we should be able to release the game on or around Oct 1 - just in time for the Christmas season. -Tim p.s. As for the missing Santa in the video in the "dog" levels, we are looking into making a newer video. Not sure why that happened. Perhaps when YouTube compressed the video down, it rendered Santa nearly invisible, but he *is* there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 IMO you should delay the game a bit. Great stuff! Make sure that you get the transitions between screens right (constant framerate!). And IMO Santa should hit the chimney for entering the house, not only the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartkitten26 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I bet lots of people will buy this when it's released Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I'd really like a copy of this game. How would I go about making sure I get one?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 The video looks like you might be losing sync when you change screens. Are you jumping from vertical bank directly into the vertical blank of the next screen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Propane13 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Wow; I didn't know this thread was actually active until last night. I will definitely look into the sync loss issue-- I still have a few bytes to spare (though not many) The issue is that it's an 8K game, and it's swapping banks for each kernel, and I think some timing is off. On my TV, it didn't look too bad, but on the video, it definitely is noticeable. I'll see what I can do-- probably by just adding a few JSR's to the right subroutines should fix it. For landing on the chimney-- well, actually, it's a good idea in principle, but the chimney is actually supposed to be an obstacle. In original designs of the game, Santa would land on the roof, and then walk over to the chimney and jump into it. But, I'm out of graphics (PF drawn from RAM access + multicolor player sprite, plus a couple of calculations during the kernel), so I was never able to complete that portion of it. In play-testing, it seems to make the game too easy if you can just land on the chimney-- so, that's kind of where the decision came in to have it work like it does. Anyway, I'm on the thread now, if there are any questions. -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nathan Strum Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Looks good. I'd suggest adding the dog (or banana peels) much earlier - like the second house. Simply running through and collecting things doesn't offer any challenge, unless you add some sort of countdown timer (Santa has to get out of the house before the parents/kids/dog wake up, or before the cops arrive, that sort of thing). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Looks good. I 2nd Nathan's suggestion; at least on medium/hard difficulty start adding banana peels/etc. earlier. And add a timer. Also, add something that gives the sense of motion when there are no houses on the screen - it looks like Santa is just sitting there for no reason for a few seconds after coming out of a house; there's no illusion of flight until the next house shows up. My 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+SpiceWare Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 (edited) Also, add something that gives the sense of motion when there are no houses on the screen - it looks like Santa is just sitting there for no reason for a few seconds after coming out of a house; there's no illusion of flight until the next house shows up. Some trees would be nice - various sizes w/taller trees being obstacle of some sort (especially if they were close to the house). Edited August 13, 2009 by SpiceWare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Propane13 Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Thanks for the feedback. To be honest, I do need to say that I'm starting to get pretty restless just to have this wrapped up. Most of you likely don't know, but it's been over a year-long project, and I've put a few other things on hold for this. It's been noted on these forums before that the last parts of a project are the hardest, and now I believe it! Code space is filled, and at some point you find yourself having to start making add/drop decisions for features, or re-work bankswitching to port code from one place to another in order to make more space. It's been fun, but man, I will be very glad when it's over. With that being said, I will definitely take a look at suggestions and see what I can do. I'll try to get some free time to solve the vertical synching issue first, and then look at other suggestions. For the timer suggestion, I should note-- there's a timer running in the background during the game (purposely not displayed). If you beat a mode, you'll get to see your completion time, like the old Activision games, so you can brag about it, or try to beat it. So, the point of the game is a race against the clock! As for other concerns-- I need to say that the video does not show some things on purpose so that you can experience them for yourselves. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions-- let me see what I can do. The main goal is to make the game fun, so anything I can do to that end will definitely be looked at. -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
videogametrader Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 We do not have a definite release date. We originally hoped for July 1. I would imagine if all goes well, we should be able to release the game on or around Oct 1 - just in time for the Christmas season. -Tim p.s. As for the missing Santa in the video in the "dog" levels, we are looking into making a newer video. Not sure why that happened. Perhaps when YouTube compressed the video down, it rendered Santa nearly invisible, but he *is* there. If you get it out by the end of the year, you will qualify for nomination for the Odyssey Homebrew of the Year. www.odysseyawards.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_Larson Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Looks really cool. I love the premise of the game too. To be honest, I do need to say that I'm starting to get pretty restless just to have this wrapped up.Most of you likely don't know, but it's been over a year-long project, and I've put a few other things on hold for this. Yea I know what you mean - it's hard to stay motivated. But there's no real rush either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Propane13 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 The screen is now stable, and I'm out of ROM space. -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 (edited) Looks interesting. The hardest part is always to decide when the project is finished. There are always more possibilities and possible optimizations... Good luck on finishing this title! Simon Edited October 7, 2009 by Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devin Posted October 10, 2009 Share Posted October 10, 2009 The screen is now stable, and I'm out of ROM space. -John Excellent! I hope this is out before X-Mas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timdu Posted October 10, 2009 Author Share Posted October 10, 2009 Just an update for you... we have a final game binary and as of today Oct. 10, we have proceeded with starting production of the first 100 cartridges. Each game will be numbered 1 of 100, 2 of 100, etc. The game will include a manual and a box. It is a plastic DVD style case... but thicker... it holds a 2600 cartridge quite nicely. I will have more info shortly on the actual release date, but we are hoping for Nov. 1 Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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