8 replies to this topic

[davidcalgary29]

Could anyone give me a complete list of the Williams arcade games that were released (either by Williams or another company) for the 8-bits?

Thanks!

[Callipygous]

I can only think of the obvious ones - Defender, Joust and Robotron. I think Sinistar was rumored but not released. Hmm -- Stargate was also NR, but the proto is available.

[ZylonBane]

Kind of sad that the 2600 actually got more Williams ports than the 8-bits.

Anyone else here played Zone Ranger? That proves the 8-bits could have done a dead-perfect version of Sinistar.

Little-known fact about the computer version of Defender... it was actually written on an Apple II! That sure explains why it uses none of the Atari's special graphics features.

[El Destructo]

Off the top of my head:

Williams games that are available for the 8-bit:
Defender
Joust
Robotron: 2084
Moon Patrol (Irem developed, Williams branded)

Williams games that are not available for the 8-bit:
Stargate
Bubbles
Mystic Marathon
Blaster
Inferno (prototype)
Splat! (prototype)
and all the later-era games: Smash TV, Narc, Mortal Kombat, etc.

[Callipygous]

@zylonbane

Yes! Good point about Zone Ranger. I am not sure why Sinistar was cancelled, but no proto has surfaced. Might have been during the chaotic times and just never got started. It is on the master list according to DP. However, Atari 800 Defender is considered the best version of the era. Its true that the programmer, Steven Baker, did an unpublished Apple II version as an exercise. He might have used some logic from the Apple game, but didn't he have to use Atari graphics ( Antic modes etc) in the game? Later Atarisoft released an Apple II version, Not sure if thats Baker's or not.

@el destructo
Right! Forgot about Moon Patrol. I'll have to check but I don't remember Atari crediting Williams the same way they did Nintendo (which was labeled on all the Donkey Kong carts). Stargate is available at B&C. I have never played it but is supposed to be a finished proto - also by Steven Baker.

[ZylonBane]

Callipygous said:

Atari 800 Defender is considered the best version of the era.

Which is sad, really, because it has so many flaws and shortcomings. Zero use of player/missile graphics or DLIs. Lots of flicker in the animation. Wimpy sound effects. Many of the enemies don't even look right (the basic Lander being the most egregious example).

And check out this quote by the author--

Steve Baker said:

I still have my T-card with 5200 STARGATE.... Its exactly like the standup arcade machine...

I think anyone who's played the unreleased Stargate ROM (yes, that's the one he's talking about) can attest to how far off this statement is.

It's a damn shame the guy behind DropZone never got the chance to do an official Defender or Stargate port.

[Tempest]

Quote

Callipygous wrote:  
Atari 800 Defender is considered the best version of the era.  
Which is sad, really, because it has so many flaws and shortcomings. Zero use of player/missile graphics or DLIs. Lots of flicker in the animation. Wimpy sound effects. Many of the enemies don't even look right (the basic Lander being the most egregious example).

Actually I like the 400/800 and 5200 versions of Defender. I've played many other more "authentic" versions on various systems, yet I always come back to this one. I think you're being a bit harsh.

Quote

And check out this quote by the author-- Steve Baker wrote:  
I still have my T-card with 5200 STARGATE.... Its exactly like the standup arcade machine...  
I think anyone who's played the unreleased Stargate ROM (yes, that's the one he's talking about) can attest to how far off this statement is.

Actually I did a short interview with Steve a few months ago. I asked him the same question and he seemed to think that he had a later version of the game. He said he would dig it out some time in the future when had the time.

Tempest

[Avram]

Apparently, Archer McClean DID write a version of Defender and has also written an updated version of Dropzone. There's more information in a U.K. magazine called Retro which I'll dig out and post once I get back to Ireland

[video game addict]

Avram That avatar ROCKS man!!