April 2016
April 2016 Newsletter FOREWORD By Captain Irata: "Your mission: to support your SPACE Club! So, BUY THOSE DOMs! Hoo-rah!"
anything things started have been made in 1979 or working again. What gives? 1980. I also now have a weird Well, about 5 minutes after I unit from mid-1982 that looks got off the phone with like a C014319, but has the support the modem gave out C017945 part number on it. again. Call them back, this No wonder it's been such a time we go ahead and get me project to sort everything out! new hardware, a new I'll bring some of these to the modem/router. So far so next SPACE meeting I'm able good! I'm hopeful that maybe to attend, you'll see what I my apparent DNS lookup mean. issues over many months were actually my modem Thanks, keep using that Atari, slowly failing, so that now I and come to your next SPACE might have the solid Internet meeting, Friday April 8, 2016. service I should have. That would be nice.
Last weekend my increasingly-unreliable home In Atari land, I've recently DSL Internet service finally obtained some additional, rare quit altogether. I spent variations of the standard several late nights pouring Atari 400/800 C014319 power Three members made it to the over all the administrative supply units, so my collection March 2016 SPACE meeting settings of the modem, the has grown some more. Do and that was two more than router, and the PC, all to no you know that the earliest the attendance at the February avail. The modem would not 400/800 power supplies were meeting. acknowledge my PC, the quite a bit smaller that the router, or any hard-wired rest? I had no idea! Even I had mailed the keys to Glen connection.. except for my when I purchased one online, in early February after I found OLD laptop PC that I pulled from a picture, I was still out my granddaughter was out of the closet. No sense surprised when it arrives going to state for dance. After whatsoever. Then the next because it looks quite similar, seeing an email from Steve morning I called up the phone it's just smaller in all Peck that he was under the company, and without doing dimensions. This unit would weather for the February Table ofContents
President's Corner: 1 Treasurer's Report: 1 Secretary's Report: 2 8-bit DOM Review: 3 Atari News: 3 Call for Articles 3 Final Thoughts 3
meeting, I had a bad feeling only seven paid up members under control and he will that Glen might be the only in March we really need to get donate time, money, and member that would be there. past due members back in the resources for that. Also, we do current column. That would have help with producing the That was exactly what also help with our DOM sales. ST DOMs, so that is not a happened, and after opening problem either. I will let Lance up for the meeting, he waited One of the topics discussed at answer any further questions until 8:00 PM for someone to the March meeting was one of the Club has about this topic. come but he finally gave up our out-of-state members and left. I felt really bad for taking on the production of The DOM Review is next right Glen, but really thankful that our ST DOMs. Glen and I after the Secretary's Report. he stepped up to help me out. have questions we need to Thanks for reading the article. Now, I hope everything will discuss about the feasibility of settle down and we can all get the cost to the Club about In the words of my favorite doing this. back to regular meetings. comic book artist… Glen, Steve Peck, and myself Please try to make the April had a short meeting in March, meeting and let's get back to and both Steve and myself making our SPACE meetings were able to catch up on our something to look forward to purchase of both ST and 8-bit attending. See you in April. DOMs.
EXCELSIOR!
8-bitDOM Review
BySteven Peck Hello, again! Welcome to another edition of the DOM Review. This time, since I was absent last month, there will be two DOMs reviewed. So, let's get started.
So, March turned out okay as the Club took in a total of $36.00 due to the sale of six DOMs for both formats. HELLO WORLD! Nolan still hasn't made it to a SPACE meeting since last August, so we haven't paid Welcome to the April edition February 2016 DOM: anything out for the web-site. of the Newsletter and the Side One I haven't had any contact with Secretary's Report! Nolan since, and with him The first program on Side One This time, I was at the being a second signer on our of the February DOM is the bank account, we need to Meeting, and only three of us Glucholazy 2K15 Intro Demo. consider what our needs were there: Glen, Greg, and It shows an animated tape going forward are going to be. me. We demoed the latest SD drive rendered so it looks like drive and it was stellar, to say it is running Atari software on We started out with a bank the least. the screen. There are various balance of $201.54 in March characters around the and ended with a balance of It loads quite fast and can rendering of the tape drive $237.54. If and when we hear store thousands of programs from famous Atari games, from Nolan we may need to and games. The membership plus there is a ticker in Polish. reimburse him $80.00 for the count is seven paid up at the web-site expenses for the last moment. This was an invite to a party eight months. on August 24-26, 2015. Of We can get new ST DOMs course, the party is over. But, So, let's put the last couple of soon, since our supply is it is still fun to look at. Some months behind us and get exhausted of them and we of the music on the demo going on the rest of 2016. With need more. Lance has got it includes the "Pitfall II: Lost
9 Caverns" soundtrack, and it Sound: picture called "Biased sounds like it is from the Sega Gameplay: 9 Decisions". This picture shows arcade version of the game. It a woman's face and there are 27/40 is a hoot! Great demo, but TOTAL: two places depicted in her here is my take on it. hair on opposite sides of her "Joystick Mastah" is the third face: Heaven or Hell. I guess The graphics are excellent, but title listed on Side One. All the picture is asking where I think that they could have you do is time the joystick you might like to spend been better, with less choppy button so you can press it at eternity. Interesting. animation when the tape reels the right time. It suffers in all are turning. What really stood categories, although I sort of SCORE: 9/10 out to me is the sound. The understand the gist of the music blew me away. It was game. Here is my take on it. Side Two: digitized and sounded great. Very pristine audio. But the It is so simplistically On the next side of this DOM, theme is great, too. Nostalgia programmed (although in we have the "Derengeracj" many ways, that is still a good (which, I believe, is the Polish works for me! thing however) that I think it word for "Degeneration") Anyway, here is my score for lacks intrinsic beauty in its demo. It is another party looks and animation. invite. It has a great looking this demo. However, it is a logical game. English text ticker, too. So, it does not need fancySCORE: schmancy graphics. I am It sort of "rolls" out to you like trying to be constructively it is popping out from the Graphics: 6 critical of it. Animation: 5 screen. The only thing I do not Sound: 9 like about it is that the ticker is Great premise, but needs hard to read. more "oomph." TOTAL: 20/30 Overall, this is great. I was The next program, called SCORE: enthralled by the presentation "3Plex", is a game like "Tetris", of the demo, and I am waiting or the Lynx puzzle game Graphics: 1 for other, even better demos "Blockout". The object of the Animation: 1 from Eastern Europe in the game is to match the colors Gameplay: 3 near future. 5 with the blocks on the screen. Sound: This game is fun. I liked the SCORE: 10/40 gameplay on it, as well as the TOTAL: music. It has a great looking Graphics: 9 The fourth program on this Animation: 10 title screen, too. side of the February DOM is a Sound: 10 It suffers a little bit in the music track called "A Sky Full animation, but that is not a big of Fanta". This music lives up TOTAL: 29/30 deal. Overall, it is a great to its name. I liked it and it puzzler. Here is my score on definitely has pizzazz and The next program is a puzzle flair. Nothing much else to game called "Jim Slide". It is, this game. say about it. in a sense like the game SCORE: "Deflektor". You have to slide SCORE: 8/10 the character, Jim, to the goal, Graphics: 7 deflecting off of objects to get Side One's last entry is a to your objective. If you hit Animation: 2
certain deadly obstacles, you The next program is Now , we go on the the March will need to start the level "Quarrion", a strategy game. It 2016 DOM. Here are the over again. It is a fun game was demoed in a previous programs in that disk: that presents a real challenge. DOM. In the game, you slide colored cubes around until Side One: SCORE: they match. "Rescue" is a 3D wireframe Graphics: 8 Then, if they do match, they animated demo showing a Animation: 8 disappear. I think that the spaceship under attack and Gameplay: 10 object is to not let the screen being destroyed by another Sound: 9 get too full of mismatched ship. The guy that escapes the cubes. I thought it was destroyed ship is then rescued TOTAL: 35/40 somewhat easy, but I do by friendly forces in space. that I did not play it all Then, it repeats. "Nordlicht Greeto" is another admit way to the game over demo, done in real time with the Surely, the 8-bit does have its blocky text and a screen. graphics limitations. But, I still checkerboard background. It is a really great game think the demo could have however. It has needed some more polish to This is, in my opinion, the best otherwise, music, good graphics, but it. Especially the sound. Great program in the February cool has a PAL issue on US Atari demo, though. Needs more, in DOM. The animation and computers. This is no person's my opinion. graphics are totally stellar and fault and I will not count that they do not miss a beat. issue as a detrimental scoreSCORE: changer, really. SCORE: Graphics: 5 SCORE: Animation: 8 Graphics: 10 Sound: 7 Animation: 10 Graphics: 7 Sound: 10 Animation: 6 TOTAL: 20/30 Gameplay: 7 TOTAL: 30/30 Sound: 8 "Space Panda Disco" is a dance track that is fast, has a "PasIntro", the next demo on TOTAL: 28/40 nice beat, and sounds pretty this side of the disk, is written I thought it was very in TurboPascal. It is done "Angry" is a NSFW (not good. well. It has fitting music and suitable for women) picture interesting and liked it. smooth animation. file on the DOM that shows a SCORE: nude cyborg I am wanting more and gave partially Sound: 8/10 this excellent demo high brandishing weapons. marks. Here are the results: I gave this picture high marks "Don't Play With Fire" is because I liked the graphics. another picture drawn on the SCORE: But, because of the nudity, screen. It shows a soldier with some people might take a dog brandishing a gigantic Graphics: 9 offense. Good pic besides. firearm. It is set in the future Animation: 9 and seems to be in the Sound: 10 SCORE: European wilderness around winter. TOTAL: 28/30 Graphics: 8/10
This pic is really good. I can graphics and a cool text ticker "The Great Escape" is based see it looking like the title really make the grade in this on the classic movie from the screen to an 8-bit game. It file. I overlook the PAL 1960s about one of the greatest looks that great. I tip my hat problems, but I do wish that war camp escapes ever to the designer. Kudos! the European programmers devised during WWII. would also make SECAM and SCORE: NTSC versions of their However, it lacks instructions software for compatibility and is hard to play. Great Graphics: 9/10 worldwide. graphics, animation, and sound, though. "Bomber" is a game that is SCORE: really the classic game SCORE: "KABOOM!" with enhanced Graphics: 10 graphics. It shows well, too. Animation: 10 Graphics: 9 Sound: 10 Gameplay: 5 However, "Bomber" is not as Sound: 7 fast as its ActiVision TOTAL: 30/30 Animation: 7 predecessor. It can also benefit from a joystick and paddle "Odin" is a picture showing an TOTAL: 28/40 controller scheme. metalllic android looking at a giant tactical thermonuclear "Chicken Dance" is a cute little That would make the game explosion destroying a city. experiment based on the better, but it is still pretty cool. classic polka dance by Werner It is good artwork, but I think Thomas. It uses very little SCORE: that it could look somewhat code to do what it needs to do. better. I really do like it, So, it takes up less memory. Graphics: 8 though, anyway. But, it lacks in graphics as a Animation: 9 result. Gameplay: 7 SCORE: Sound: 7 I am going to give this an Graphics: 7/10 honorable mention for TOTAL: 31/40 ingenuity. Because it really is "Beyond the Stars" a music smart programming. "Toy Swap" is a puzzle game track, has a nice drum beat. reminiscent of games like But, also it seems somewhat I will still score it. "Candy Crush Saga", for mundane at the same time. So, example. Move toys around it could be more. SCORE: on the screen and match toys to each other to clear them off SCORE: Graphics: 5 of the screen. Animation: 5 Sound: 6/10 Sound: 5 It is not bad. At least it beats "Candy Crush Saga". "Does Not Compute" is TOTAL: 15/30 another music track that is Side Two: upbeat, and that is a good "The Authoritative Star thing. It still can be better. Raiders II" is a looked over "Reloaded" is an animated program that was originally demo set to real-time SCORE: from Atari. It was animation. It has high marks programmed under the radar on everything. Excellent Sound: 8/10 by veteran Atari Games
programmer Aric Wilmunder. in the Final Thoughts at the Vault, visit the Steam page: If he would have had his way, end of this Newsletter. Thanks this would have been "SR2" for reading! ^_^ http://bit.ly/ instead of what was originally AtariVaultSteam "The Last Starfighter", which Atari News later became the classic game With the release of Atari that we know. SentbyMichaelCurrent Vault, gamers of all ages can relive – or experience for the It is a prototype that Atari® Bundles 100 Iconic first time – the titles that functions, but it is not fully Games with Release of Atari® comprise the foundation of complete. But, it is playable Vault, Available Now on the modern gaming industry. and has a lot of elements in it. Steam for PC Featuring games like Asteroids®, Centipede®, It looks more like the original Atari Vault Incorporates Missile Command®, "Star Raiders", but has some Contemporary Functionality, Tempest®, Warlords®, and graphical enhancements in it. Including Steam Global many more, Atari Vault Unfortunately, it was shelved Leaderboards, Multiplayer combines the nostalgia of before it came out. Capabilities and Full arcades and the Atari 2600 Controller Support with modern gaming Plus, the final program on this capabilities, including: disk is written by Glen, our NEW YORK – March 24, 2016 DOM Librarian, called Updated UI: A sleek selection "DocList". It is a document – Atari®, one of the world’s menu allows players to easily viewer that has the text on most recognized publishers search through the full how to play this version of the and producers of interactive collection of games, while "Star Raiders" sequel. entertainment, today preserving the retro feeling of announced the launch of individual titles. Thanks, Glen, for the effort in Atari® Vault, now available creating this viewer and the for download on Steam for Global Leaderboards: See how DOMs for the Club. You are a PC. The new title includes a scores stack up against players good egg, and I do like eggs! :) complete collection featuring from around the world, in real 100 of the iconic publisher’s time! Hold top scores across a SCORE: most popular arcade and multitude of Atari classics to Atari 2600 games. For the first become the master of a whole Graphics: 8 time, players can experience generation of video games. Gameplay: 8 these renowned games with Animation: 7 the benefit of current Multiplayer Capabilities: For Sound: 7 technology, including global the first time, square off leaderboards, multiplayer against other players from TOTAL: 16/40 modes, and full controller across the globe for the support. ultimate test of head-to-head Plus, special kudos to Glen skill in online and local Kirschenmann for his time in For a glimpse of what players multiplayer. writing the "DocList" can expect in Atari Vault, program. I think he needs to check out the launch trailer: Full Controller Support: pat himself on the back for Experience a new level of that one. :D http://bit.ly/ control playing with your AtariVaultVideo favorite controller. The touchWell, this concludes the DOM sensitive trackpad of the Review. I will catch you later To download and play Atari Steam Controller mimics the
original trackball, providing a new level of control for titles like Centipede® and Tempest®. Archive: View interactive galleries that show original, detailed packaging, arcade machines in 3D with 360degree views, and a wealth of historical press and advertising materials. “Atari Vault grants convenient access to some of the most memorable titles in gaming history, and in delivering these games in The next SPACE meeting their original state, it is is on Friday, April 8, 2016, introducing a new generation at 7:30 PM. of gamers to some of the very Westarting hope to see you there! first video games,” said Fred Chesnais, Chief Executive Final Thoughts in Officer, Atari. “It is our hope Closing that the same excitement people experienced in the BySteven Peck arcades and in their homes when these titles were first Well, what a month in March. introduced can now be It sure went fast. But, next embraced again, and that month, I am going to start newcomers can discover what something new in the SPACE made these titles so iconic.” Newsletter. Developed by Code Mystics, We are going to have a comics Atari Vault is discounted 15 page. I said that I was percent to $16.99 USD for a thinking about it. So, I will do limited time on Steam. For it. I am going to think of some more information on Atari things to illustrate about in Vault, visit AtariVault.com. the comics that I will write. I will write reviews on Join the conversation on Also, the Atari plaforms. It is Twitter at @Atari or “Like” time togameinnovate the the Atari Vault Facebook page Newsletter some more and at: bring it up to snuff. I think https://www.facebook.com/ that this will jazz it up. AtariVault. So, thanks for reading the Newsletter, and thank God for rapid-fire controllers. See you on April 8th!