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An Atari 2600 homebrew is a homebrew video game designed for the Atari 2600 game console by third-party developers following the discontinuation of the 2600 by Atari, Inc. in 1992.
The 2600 (originally known as the VCS, or Video Computer System), is generally considered to be a very demanding programming environment, with a mere 128 bytes of RAM available without additional hardware.[1]
There is an active community of Atari 2600 homebrew developers[2][3] and there are currently over 100 homebrew titles in circulation.[4] Recently released homebrew game cartridges include K.O. Cruiser (a boxing game), Halo 2600, Duck Attack!, and a port of the 1981 arcade game Turbo, all released at the Classic Gaming Expo in July, 2010.[5]
History
The last game commercially released during the original production run of the Atari 2600 was Acid Drop, a puzzle game sold by Salu Ltd. in 1992.[6] The Atari 2600 was officially withdrawn from the market that year; three years later, developer Ed Federmeyer released the first Atari 2600 homebrew project, titled SoundX.[7]
Since then, over 100 homebrew games for the Atari 2600 have been released, many by AtariAge.
Types of homebrews
Original games
Many 2600 homebrews feature original concepts. Examples include SCSCIcide by Joe Grand (2001), in which the player acts as a hard drive read head picking up color-coded data bits as they fly past;[8] Oystron by Piero Cavina (1997), in which "space oysters" are opened and pearls collected to earn ammunition;[9] and Duck Attack! by Will Nicholes (2010), in which the player battles giant, fire-breathing ducks in a quest to save the world from a mad scientist.[10]
Ports
Many 2600 homebrews are unofficial ports of arcade and PC games that were popular during the 1980s but not ported to the 2600 at the time.
Examples include Lady Bug by John W. Champeau (2006), a port of Universal Games' 1981 arcade game of the same name;[11] Juno First by Chris Walton (2009), a port of a Konami's 1983 arcade game; [12] and Thrust by Thomas Jentzsch (2000), a port of a 1986 computer game originally designed for the BBC Micro and later ported to the Commodore 64.[13]
Hacks
A popular activity[14] among Atari 2600 enthusiasts is "hacking," in which existing ROM images are modified. Modifications typically include new graphics and game colors, but may also include more complex changes such as gameplay modifications and the ability to use a different controller (joystick or paddle controller) than the controller for which the game was originally designed.[14]
A popular hack target is the 2600 version of Pac-Man, in which hackers re-work the graphic elements to more closely resemble the arcade version.[15]
Re-imaginings
Several homebrew games have taken the basic concepts of earlier games, and expanded them with improved graphics or additional gameplay options. Examples include Warring Worms by Billy Eno (2002), which took the basic premise of Surround and added new gameplay modes, such as the ability to fire shots at the opponent;[16] and Medieval Mayhem by Darrell Spice Jr., a re-imagining of the game Warlords with enhanced graphics and additional gameplay options.[17]
Demakes
Another type of 2600 homebrew is the "demake," a port from a more powerful system to a less powerful system. Recent demakes include Halo 2600 by Ed Fries,[18] a 4-kilobyte game inspired by the Halo series of games.
Notable homebrews
In 2003, Activision selected several homebrew 2600 titles for inclusion in the Game Boy Advance version of their Activision Anthology: Climber 5 by Dennis Debro (2004), Okie Dokie by Bob Colbert (1996), Skeleton+ by Eric Ball (2003), Space Treat Deluxe by Fabrizio Zavagli (2003), Vault Assault by Brian Prescott (2001), Video Euchre by Erik Eid (2002), and Oystron.[19][20]
In 2005, SCSCIcide, Oystron, Warring Worms, Skeleton+, and Marble Craze by Paul Slocum (2002) were listed as the "Best 2600 Homebrew Games" in the book Gaming Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools by Simon Carless.[8]
Other 2600 homebrews that have received attention outside the homebrew community include A-VCS-Tec Challenge by Simon Quernhorst (2006),[21] Duck Attack!,[22] and Halo 2600.[23][24]
Creating homebrews
Creating a homebrew Atari 2600 involves many steps: learning the system specifications, writing the game (typically in 6502 assembly language, although a high-level BASIC assembler is available),[25] and creating the physical cartridge.
However, unlike later consoles, the Atari 2600 does not require a modchip to run homebrew cartridges; it will happily run any properly written program without checking for a digital signature or performing any other type of authentication.
Notes and references
- ^ Bogost, Ian; Montfort, Nick (2009). Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System. MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-01257-X.
- ^ Carless, Simon (2005). Gaming Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools. O'Reilly Media. p. 15. ISBN 0596009178.
As discussed earlier, the Atari 2600 itself has a vibrant homebrew scene oriented around such sites as Atari Age (http://www.atariage.com/ ).
{{cite book}}
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- ^ Gray, Frank (2010-07-25). "Ducks roam new game for old Atari". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved 2010-08-26.
- ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Atari 2600 Rarity Guide". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ "Classic Gaming Expo: AtariAge Announces New Games for CGE". Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Companies: Salu". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Rarity Key Explained". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Carless, Simon (2005). Gaming Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools. O'Reilly Media. p. 21. ISBN 0596009178.
- ^ Spice, Jr., Darrell (July 2, 2008). "Oystron review". Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ McGinnis, Jeff (2010-08-04). "Tech-savvy fans programming, developing on classic console". Toledo Free Press. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Lady Bug". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Walton, Chris (AtariAge). "Juno First - Final Version (Atari 2600)". Retrieved May 6, 2008.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Thrust+ DC Edition". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Yarusso, Albert. "Atari 2600 Hacks". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Atari 2600 Hacks: Pac-Man". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Warring Worms". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Yarusso, Albert. "Medieval Mayhem". AtariAge. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Bogost, Ian (August 1, 2010). "Halo 2600: Ed Fries demakes Halo for Atari". Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ Carless, Simon (2005). Gaming Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools. O'Reilly Media. p. 22. ISBN 0596009178.
- ^ Kohler, Chris (2005). Retro Gaming Hacks: Tips & Tools for Playing the Classics. O'Reilly Media. p. 378. ISBN 0596009178.
- ^ Doctorow, Cory (July 10, 2006). "New Atari 2600 game cartridge released". BoingBoing. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
- ^ McGinnis, Jeff (2010-08-04). "Tech-savvy fans programming, developing on classic console". Toledo Free Press. Retrieved 2010-08-04.; Gray, Frank (2010-07-25). "Ducks roam new game for old Atari". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved 2010-08-26.; Caylor, Bob (2010-18-08). "Atari revival". The News-Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help); "Interview: Will Nicholes". Kittysneezes.com. 2010-08-23. Retrieved 2010-08-24. - ^ Melanson, Donald (2010-08-03). "Former Microsoft VP brings Halo to the Atari 2600". Engadget. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
- ^ Beschizza, Rob (2010-08-03). "Former Microsoft VP brings Halo to the Atari 2600". BoingBoing. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ Quimby, Fred (2007-02-14). "batari Basic - a BASIC compiler for the Atari 2600". Retrieved 2010-08-27.