6 new Atari VCS/2600 games being released!

[stonic]

Six new games for the Atari VCS/2600 (http://www.digitpress.com/library/videosoft/videosoft.htm).

Six previously unreleased games by developer Video Soft went on sale today, Dec. 15th , courtesy of Jerry Lawson. Pre-orders are now being accepted, with carts to ship next month. This is the single-largest cache of unreleased prototypes being sold at one time! The games are limited to 100 copies of each, after which the ROM binary files will be released.

The games I'd consider complete are Genesis, Atom Smasher, and S.A.C. Alert. They could have used a few more days or weeks of polish, but are more complete in comparison to a lot of 3rd-party titles from back then (and I'm not even considering the Mythicon games :) ).

Depth Charge is complete for basically being half of a game. The half that exists is similar to Sea Wolf. The missing half would have been similar to Atari's Depth Charge or Sega's Sub-Scan. It would have been cool to see it completed, but unlike a market crash 'victim' like Atom Smasher, a change in company plans sunk Depth Charge before it was finished.

The Ghost Attack cart utilizes a menu program that was originally created for the Amiga Power-Play carts, and modified to run the 3 Ghost Attack prototypes separately. The first level is fully playable and after playing for a few minutes, it will auto-run the 2nd level. The collision-detection wasn't completed for this part, so there's no way to reach the 3rd part w/o running it from the menu. The 3rd part is playable but there's no ending (but some music for it is in the code).

Havoc is close to being complete, but after reaching the end (it cycles back to the 2nd screen where it runs forever).

With regards to the 3-D games, don't expect Avatar-like quality here :p the 3rd part of Ghost Attack and the 2nd screen in Havoc come close to pulling it off, but personally I think the resolution is too low with the games to pull off the effect convincingly. At least 2 other companies (one being Activision) either worked on or planned on releasing 3-D games, and didn't.

The packaging is similar to what was done with Tim Duarte's Mean Santa game last year (see the website for photos), and we’re offering free shipping to anywhere for those ordering the complete set :)

[Steve W]

Freakin' amazing. Good ol' Jerry Lawson and Mike Glass (for those of you who don't know, Jerry designed the first programmable cartridge based game console, the Fairchild Channel F, and Mike Glass was one of the more interesting programmers there - you can download the interview with Jerry from this page. (http://www.digitpress.com/cge/2k4_mp3/)) Jerry mentioned the ghost game in the interview, but I always assumed it was for the Channel F. It's so damn cool that these are finally getting out into the world.

Quick question... will these be limited releases, or will you make them available as long as people want them? It's just that Christmastime has my money pretty tight, and I'd like to know there's going to be some carts left when I can afford them.

And another thing... will these games come with red/blue 3-D glasses? Or would I need to provide my own?

[Steve W]

Damn, I just read the 'limited to 100 copies' part. I got so excited when I looked at the descriptions I totally blanked on scrolling down to look at the info. I'm an idiot. Sorry.

[4ever2600]

Ordered my set, can't wait to play these! Thanks Scott for bringing these to everyone's attention! You rock!

[jammajup]

Ghost Attack sure looks interesting,always good to see new work on VCS

[digitalpress]

I've been looking forward to this. Payment sent for a full set, thanks Scott!

FYI the cart doesn't discount the shipping automatically, maybe you could add a "bundle" option to the main page?

[Vectorman0]

Great stuff!

[Bill Loguidice]

Congrats! Any chance for more clarity on the completeness of each of the respective games?

[Mayhem]

FYI the cart doesn't discount the shipping automatically, maybe you could add a "bundle" option to the main page?
Yeah I was going to mention that too when I tested things earlier... if it's free shipping to the UK as well then it's a bit more enticing heh...

[darkwingduck13]

A kick-ass physical release AND a ROM release. You guys rock the house.

[Rom Hunter]

Excellent news.

Good to see that these games finally get released.

8)

[megasdkirby]

I'm all for this! Just need to wait until Saturday and, hoping some are still left available, I will pick them all up! :)

[rick weis]

just ordered my set. Thank you!

Rick

[God-Zilla]

Just ordered a few sets. Can't wait to get this. I LOVE video game 3d, it's one of my favorite things.

in my 'video game 3d' collection:

vectrex imager cib and all games cib
sms 3d glasses and all us sms 3d games and some tec toy ones that didnt make it out in the us.
3d famicom glasses and games
amiga 3d lcd glasses with the potato shooting game
i think i have all of the tomy 3d vfd handhelds
soon these 2600 games :)
jim power snes
victor maxx (what a piece of crap.)

sure would love to have the original 3d hover force :)
don't have the laseractive 3d glasses or
the atari st cyber-eyes

am I missing anything?

[Tempest]

Very cool, thanks for the rom descriptions. I'm looking forward to reviewing these once the ROMs are released.

Tempest

[tom]

Just ordered a few sets. Can't wait to get this. I LOVE video game 3d, it's one of my favorite things.

in my 'video game 3d' collection:

vectrex imager cib and all games cib
sms 3d glasses and all us sms 3d games and some tec toy ones that didnt make it out in the us.
3d famicom glasses and games
amiga 3d lcd glasses with the potato shooting game
i think i have all of the tomy 3d vfd handhelds
soon these 2600 games :)
jim power snes
victor maxx (what a piece of crap.)

sure would love to have the original 3d hover force :)
don't have the laseractive 3d glasses or
the atari st cyber-eyes

am I missing anything?

There's a UK game in 3D for Amstrad (maybe also ST), but I forgot the title.

[Mayhem]

There was one for the Vic20 and C64 as well called "3-Deep Space", came with the red/blue glasses too.

[God-Zilla]

cool! I never knew there was a 3d vic 20 game! I love me some vic-20.

[stonic]

There was Spectravision's Vortex for the VCS/2600, 400/800, VIC 20, and TI-99/4a. It was shown at the Winter 1983 CES, but AFAIK no copies have surfaced. More info can be found here:

http://www.digitpress.com/faq/vcsalt/cc_vcsalt.htm#vortex

This was to be the first in a series of 3-D games, which used the red/blue glasses.

[jammajup]

There was one for the Vic20 and C64 as well called "3-Deep Space", came with the red/blue glasses too.

Yep remember this well on Zx Spectrum
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0000035

[le geek]

Nice to see these getting released. :)

Cheers,
Ben

[digitalpress]

This is an amazing discovery and a unique opportunity to game collectors, players and historians alike. Because of its unique importance to this community, this thread will be one of those very rare "edited" ones. Note that it involves a very dear friend to both our community and our history (Jerry Lawson) and is being administered by one of our veteran editors ("stonic").

If you're not happy with this process, or the price, the distributor, the 3D technology, the behind-the-scenes details, the author of the games or this thread or anything else really, please discuss it in a separate thread.

And if I haven't mentioned it lately, I can't wait for MY set to arrive.

[God-Zilla]

Well said. I am very excited about these! :)

[rolenta]

Have these begun shipping yet?

[God-Zilla]

I too was just wondering on a general status update. The ordering page says they will begin shipping in January, does that mean they will start shipping on the last day of January or have they already started? :) I can't wait.

[4ever2600]

I'd also like to see a chart of 'what's sold and what's left' so we can guage how close we are to these being sold out... I would inspired to purchase a few more copies if we were close.

[bfstats]

Stonic,

This is great stuff! Anytime games previously thought to be vaporware are made available it's a breakthrough for the community.

One question: According to Atarimania, Jerry had said Scavenger Hunt was near completion as well, so I'm surprised it is not included with these releases. Any info?

[stonic]

I too was just wondering on a general status update. The ordering page says they will begin shipping in January, does that mean they will start shipping on the last day of January or have they already started? :) I can't wait.

I'm hoping to start shipping on Monday (the 31st), but the schedule might slip a week. Have patience :)



I'd also like to see a chart of 'what's sold and what's left' so we can guage how close we are to these being sold out... I would inspired to purchase a few more copies if we were close.

There's no "chart". The games are available, unless otherwise noted on the website.


According to Atarimania, Jerry had said Scavenger Hunt was near completion as well, so I'm surprised it is not included with these releases. Any info?

That information came from my conversations with Jerry (I provided Atarimania with that info). It's not being released because Jerry doesn't own a copy of it, and the whereabouts of the game's programmer is currently unknown.

[megasdkirby]

Oh wow, I almost forgot about this! :p

[bfstats]

Thanks for the info, Stonic. Order placed!

[4ever2600]

Learning patience......Must.....play......3D games.........

I suppose I can wait another week, I've waited for 30 some years... :)

[God-Zilla]

thanks for the update!

[lucifershalo]

hello,
any update
the shipping has begun?
thanks

[rolenta]

hello,
any update
the shipping has begun?
thanks

Yes, have these been shipped yet?

[stonic]

I too was just wondering on a general status update. The ordering page says they will begin shipping in January, does that mean they will start shipping on the last day of January or have they already started? :) I can't wait.

I'm hoping to start shipping on Monday (the 31st), but the schedule might slip a week. Have patience :)

All orders have been shipped as of today.

[megasdkirby]

All orders have been shipped as of today.

AWESOME!

These games are going to be super. :)

[rolenta]

Thanks, Scott.

[4ever2600]

Scott, you are awesome buddy! Thanks for the assist in getting these games to the public!! As usual, you come through with some remarkable items!!! - Daryl

[megasdkirby]

Question: will each game come with it's own 3D glasses? Or no matter how many games were ordered, only one pair of glasses will be given?

[rolenta]

I was leaving the house this afternoon and there was a package at my door, which I didn't open. I believe my carts arrived! Now I have to wait another three hours to see for sure!

[God-Zilla]

woohoo! Can't wait to see these! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Amiga forever :)

[rolenta]

Question: will each game come with it's own 3D glasses? Or no matter how many games were ordered, only one pair of glasses will be given?

Each of the 3D games has its own glasses

[lucifershalo]

Each of the 3D games has its own glasses

so clearly the box contents the games....
come on....tell us, first impression??

[soloman]

I just got my copies in today. Time to dust off the old 7600 and check them out.

[God-Zilla]

got mine in! looks great! Yes, each 3d cart comes with glasses. Enjoyed the manual with each game. Haven't had time to play 'em yet, but I am looking forward to it.

[stonic]

I look forward to reading some reviews of them. Just keep in mind these are unreleased (and often unfinished) prototypes :)

Game on! (as the man upstairs says)

[megasdkirby]

Hey Scott!

Were there any tracking added to the packages? I will be busy for the next few days, and I can give my brother the number so he can TXT me if it arrives. :)

[stonic]

Yep, tracking info is available for all orders. PM sent.

[lucifershalo]

can I also have my tracking number?
my paypal payment was from champagnecola@skynet.be

thanks

[stonic]

Video clips of each game are now available on the webpage.

http://www.youtube.com/user/VideoSoft2010

[4ever2600]

Hello!

After a good week of playing all of the new titles released by DP and VideoSoft, I went ahead and did a full review of all 6 titles for those who might want to know more about them from a fellow veteran gamer.

Please follow this link if you would like to read the reviews of the 6 new Atari 2600 games by VideoSoft, click on the 'Atari 2600' link on the column on the left and just click on the titles of the games:

http://www.digitpress.com/reviews/index.htm

Below if a brief summary of my experience with these games:

Of the three non-3D games, they claim that two of the three are completed. I consider all three of three non-3D games complete. The game, Depth Charge was supposed to also have a second level. This game can stand on its own as a completed game. You can make your own decision on this. All three non-3D games were fun. I enjoyed them and I will continue to play these games for quite some time.

As far as the 3D games are concerned, first and foremost Genesis 3D is a great little game. The 3D was decent, and it was in the same game play vein as Tempest. This is the only 3D game that was also considered completed. It has a decent replay value because it was challenging and fast-paced. It was a lot of fun to play the Ghost Attack 3D game. I really wish this title would have been completed back in the early 80s, but I'm really happy the fact that the people who put this together went ahead and made a menu driven 16k multi-cart and put all three levels on it for the sake of completeness. That made it worth the hefty price tag it carries. There is a little replay value with this title. The third 3D title, Havoc, would have been a great title had it been completed. Unfortunately due to the fact that you can only play this game once and have to reset it doesn't give it a lot of replay value. The 3D games are a really cool set of games/demos. They are more of a novelty set of games, something different and fresh.

As for the 3D effect, I find that if the room is dark and I sit approx 7 feet away from my 36in regular CRT TV, I can see the 3D effect. There are so many things that can play a factor in 'seeing' the 3D effect, (or messing it up) it's not going to work for everyone. Many things play a factor in getting the 3D effect to work properly. People's vision (or lack of), the type of screen you are using, CRT, LED, LCD, Plasma, Monitor. Brightness and contrast of the screen you are using, and the brightness in the room. It took me a while testing different things to get this right with the different games. So don't think of this as something that will work for everyone. Some people are going to try one title, it may not work for them and they are going to throw the game in their collection and say, "The 3D sucked, it didn't work". That's to be expected. If you aren't willing to try some different combinations, you may have issues. In all fairness, this isn't exactly Disney/Pixar's REAL3D that you see in the theatres these days. It was tricky to see the red/blue 3D in the theaters back in the 70s and 80s (I remember Creature from the Black Lagoon this way) but it did work.

The games come in a plastic hard shell case, close to the size of the original Atari boxes. They are accompanied by inserts and well documented instruction manuals. I actually kind of like the artwork used for these games. They have their own nostalgic look to them that sets them apart from other classic titles from back in that era.

Still, I believe these titles are absolutely worthy of any collector's shelf. I know that they are steeper in price individually as opposed to other titles, but purchased as a set, not so much. If you buy as a set it's the equivalence to buying a $35.00 game and paying $5.00 priority shipping, per title, (or $40.00 a title shipped.) Not that bad. If your budget doesn't allow for it, grab one or two or wait for the rom images to be released.

I would like to thank all of the people who made these titles available to the public possible after being buried for all these years. A find of this magnitude (c’mon SIX titles!!!) is a once in a lifetime thing. Especially considering that the people who programmed these titles, Jerry Lawson to name one, is a classic gaming icon and did a lot of good things for the CG community. These were the first 2600 titles to attempt a blue/red 3D effect and for the technology they were working with at the time, this isn't all that bad. As for the question of, "Why didn't they finish the other titles before they released them?" Who wouldn't have wanted that to happen? But that isn't as practical as it sounds, that alone could have driven the cost up even more and taken years more to release. I can appreciate it being released as the original author left it at the time. As far as I’m concerned, we got four completed games and two playable demos. I, for one, am a very happy camper. I purchased two complete sets: One for the collection and one to play.

[stonic]

Thanks for reviewing the games! I'll post more info soon about how they were discovered, and the details on their release, but I wanted to quick mention that Jerry Lawson is being honored at this year's Game Developer Conference (http://www.gdconf.com/) for all of his past accomplishments in the video game industry. Here's a nice article that Mike Cassidy of the San Jose Mercury News just posted today:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mike-cassidy/ci_17531389

There's also 2 articles from Black Enterprise magazine in the 'archive' section that feature Jerry in them:
http://www.digitpress.com/archives/

[stonic]

Those of us involved in the release of these cartridges wish to express our heartfelt sorrow and deepest sympathy to the Lawson family. Mr. Jerry Lawson passed away unexpectedly on April 9th, 2011.

The reasons for this project were two-fold -- to release new games for the classic gaming community, and, more importantly, to help Jerry benefit from sales of these games. Up until now, the arrangement with Jerry was for him to receive 50% of all profits. That arrangement will continue with Jerry's family, with the exception that 100% of all profits will now go to them.

[slapdash]

Classy. How is his family doing? I mean, I know not well, but have you spoken to them at all? Please pass on my condolences if you do.

[megasdkirby]

What!?!?!?

Oh man, what terrible news. I hope his friends and family are doing well. Like slapdash, please send me condolences to his loved ones.

Bummer news. :(

[stonic]

Since first being announced for sale (back on December 15th, 2010), half of all the cartridges have now been sold. Prices for the remaining games have been reduced by $5, in an effort to help expedite support for the Lawson family.

Although several people have requested copies of the game roms, the original plan was and is to release them as each game is sold out. However, there were several other items that I archived that I can start releasing (as per Jerry's wishes), now that we've reached the 'half-way' point in the Video Soft project. I started archiving some of Jerry's material back in 2007, and over the course of several trips, we managed to unearth and archive several unique things besides the 6 unreleased games. Some of these are of existing games, and some aren't games at all. Over the next few weeks+months I'll start posting them, but for now I'll start with a few photos showing the bulk of what we found:

http://www.digitpress.com/library/videosoft/prototypes1.jpg
http://www.digitpress.com/library/videosoft/prototypes2.jpg

[tom]

As usual from me, late condolences, bummer :-(


More unique things? Wow, I almost cannot believe it, this is just awesome. I cannot wait to read what you guys have found.

.

[God-Zilla]

wow :( Please pass on my sympathy love and condolences. I personally know how much this hurts and send all the positive energy I can.

[stonic]

Below are the roms for the 4K menus that were going to be used with the Power Play Arcade carts #4 and #5. The Power-Play Arcade Video Game Album is a fancy name for multi-cart. It was first announced in a June 1983 press release and was intended as a replacement to Amiga's planned Power Module. A proprietary chip would have allowed for a 32k ROM for games. Retail price was to be between $30-$40.

Cart #4 - A January 1984 press release announced agreement with Imagic, with Amiga to pay royalties for use of 5 of their games on Power-Play Arcade carts. The games were Atlantis, Cosmic Ark, Demon Attack, Dragonfire, and Star Voyager. This cart was to include the first 3, however the EPROM found only shows the first 2 listed:

Power Play Arcade cart #4 (www.digitpress.com/library/videosoft/power_play_arcade_4.zip)


Cart #5 - This one was to have 4 Joyboard games on it: Mogul Maniac, Off Your Rocker, S.A.C. Alert, and Surf's Up. An EPROM was found simply labeled as #3:

Power Play Arcade cart #5 (www.digitpress.com/library/videosoft/power_play_arcade_5.zip)

[MachineGex]

Stonic, the community owes you a big "thanks" for all the hard work you have put in. Also, it is very nice of you to support the family. Well done, you're a true gentleman!

[stonic]

Here are 2 prototypes for Surf's Up. The first is 4K and the second is 8K - both are different from the 8K prototype version that's been available for years (check out Atarimania.com to d/l that version). Both of these are earlier versions, as neither game can be started (pressing the fire button "resets" the waves).

Surf's Up prototypes (www.digitpress.com/library/videosoft/surfs_up_vs_protos.zip)

Jerry also had alternate versions of Atari's Defender and Missile Command.

The version of Defender (www.digitpress.com/library/videosoft/defender_vs.zip) is very interesting. Instead of showing "(c) 1982 ATARI" on the screen at startup, it shows "DEFENDER". Also, Bob Polaro's hidden initials ("BP") were replaced with "HA".

The version of Missile Command (www.digitpress.com/library/videosoft/missile_command_vs.zip) is the one w/o Rob Fulop's initials hidden in them, but it's not the same byte-for-byte as that released version.

[Tempest]

Any idea who HA could have been?

Also your Missile Command download link points to Defender