TRS-80 HOLY GRAILS - Not in DP Guide!

[RangerG]

This message is for all five TRS-80 CoCo fans out there :) . There are two third-party games not listed in the DP Guide that were available in cart form. The first, Star Blaster by Micro Works, was the first TRS-80 CoCo third-party cart. I have known for some time that it was listed as available in cart form on Curtis Boyle's impressive CoCo game list, but I wasn't sure about it really existing. I contacted the original programmer (J. Kearney) and he was super nice. He sent me a scan of the magazine ad for the cart and some original cart art sketchings and assured me that it was sold. It was the only cart from Micro Works. The game is an Asteroids clone. Second, SpendTooMuchOnAtari on AtariAge bought of Ebay (for $4 - lucky guy) Katerpiller Attack by Tom Mix Software in cart form (a Centipede clone). This was listed on the Boyle list as tape/disc only. Both games are not in the DP guide and are rare cartridges for the CoCo. However, in CoCo collecting rare means hard to find and not neccesarily worth big bucks.

By the way, I collect TRS-80 carts and manuals. I was going for a boxed collection, but 90% of the boxes are either grey cardboard or generic plastic cases and they thus take up too much room. If you have these two carts or others in good condition with manuals, please email me and we can trade for NES or 2600 or $.

Take care,
RG

[digitalpress]

Very nice! If you have part numbers or any background info on the games please pass it along! Otherwise we'll hunt for some more info here.

Thanks for the info. It's good to know that no matter how complete you think you are, there are STILL MORE GAMES out there!

[RangerG]

Here are the screenshots and some info. for Star Blaster: http://nitros9.stg.net/starblaster.html

I have never seen the cart, but I'll check the ad to see if it has any numbers and the original programmer told me the carts were a different mold than usual CoCo carts. He emailed me a photo of the original sketch for the label. I will tell SPTMOA at AtariAge to fill you in when he gets the Katerpillar cart - it's in the mail to him in Canada. I believe both carts were not sold in Radio Shack stores and thus only through ordering out of Rainbow magazine (like many CoCo tapes and discs).
Take care,
RG

[philosophyst]

Hey Everyone!! I'm SpendTooMuchOnAtari from AtariAge and do have that Katerpillar Attack cart on the way. I will give any info I have when I get it so it can hopefully be added to the coco game list.

I don't spend too much on Atari anymore, so thought I would have my new name here represent my new interest.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Atari and always will. For some reason the Tandy is "making my monkey squeak" right now. Go figure! :)

[vintagegamecrazy]

Hey Everyone!! I'm SpendTooMuchOnAtari from AtariAge and do have that Katerpillar Attack cart on the way. I will give any info I have when I get it so it can hopefully be added to the coco game list.

Thanks man. That would be really cool to see some info on that. I don't particuarly like to play the TRS-80 but I think it is a neat system to collect for and I have over 50 games for it right now.

Keep up posted. :) :D

[RangerG]

One more thing - the Star Blaster cart did not come in a box. Just a ziploc bag and a simple instruction sheet (I have a photo of the instructions, but not the real thing).

Take care,
RG

[Emily]

Would anyone out there be even remotely interested in a mint, never before opened TRS-80 CoCo? I found it in ....some store im not telling you about(it is still sitting there now!) Ive been thinking of picking it ,up should I?

[vintagegamecrazy]

I'd actually be interested, but only if it's a model 3 or 4. I find version 2s all over the place and I can't play all of my games. I don't have any money right now but I have plenty to trade. Send me a pm with details.



Would anyone out there be even remotely interested in a mint, never before opened TRS-80 CoCo? I found it in ....some store im not telling you about(it is still sitting there now!) Ive been thinking of picking it ,up should I?

[philosophyst]

Thanks man. That would be really cool to see some info on that. I don't particuarly like to play the TRS-80 but I think it is a neat system to collect for and I have over 50 games for it right now.

Keep up posted. :) :D

I received the Katerpillar Attack cartridge in the mail and have just figured out that I don't think that pictures can be added to posts here at DP. Well, I am a happy member of both great communities so here is a link to the AtariAge website where there are scans of the cartridge.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=54832

[digitalpress]

I received the Katerpillar Attack cartridge in the mail and have just figured out that I don't think that pictures can be added to posts here at DP. Well, I am a happy member of both great communities so here is a link to the AtariAge website where there are scans of the cartridge.

http://www.atariage.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=54832

Much obliged!

Hey if you email me your name I'll be sure to credit you in any future publications where the TRS CoCo stuff is involved.

Awesome find.

[kraboomba]

since this topic is about the TRS-80, I found a complete one and some games at a yardsale for a couple of bucks and when I got home I noticed the demolition derby cart didn't look like the others. Instead of a regular label it has a little white sticker with:

"RADIO SHACK (R)
DEMOLITION DERBY (TM)
CAT. NO 26-3044"

I was just wandering if this was an instore demo or something.

Thanks
Lance

[YoshiM]

Would anyone out there be even remotely interested in a mint, never before opened TRS-80 CoCo? I found it in ....some store im not telling you about(it is still sitting there now!) Ive been thinking of picking it ,up should I?

Depends on the model for me. I'm looking for the original gray CoCo that had the chiclet keyboard and 16K Extended Color Basic. It was the first computer my family ever had and my Dad fried it when trying to piggy back an additional 32K onto it.

[RangerG]

Lance --

Is it printed like from an old dot-matrix printer? I have heard of two ot three others and most likely these were from RadioShack really late (1990-?). You asked for a cart and you got a generic label one. They are rare and interesting, but over on AA Videogameaddict couldn't get $5 for one on Ebay. CoCo stuff is just not collected by many (play a few games and you will see why). I collect it seriously, but I won't pay much for it. Nice find though!

Take care,
RG

[Wookie]

since this topic is about the TRS-80, I found a complete one and some games at a yardsale for a couple of bucks and when I got home I noticed the demolition derby cart didn't look like the others. Instead of a regular label it has a little white sticker with:

"RADIO SHACK (R)
DEMOLITION DERBY (TM)
CAT. NO 26-3044"

I was just wandering if this was an instore demo or something.

Thanks
Lance

I'm glad you asked that, since I've got the exact same thing and always wondered about it.
-Ron

[kraboomba]

thanks man.

Lance

[philosophyst]

It's been awhile but I finally found a Tandy system to test out that Katerpillar Attack cart and it works perfectly! I was at a sale this morning and picked up the original grey 16K Extended Basic model with a boxed joystick set for $6. :D Nothing else was with it but it seems to be in great shape and the controllers both work so I am a happy camper. I can only play a handful of my games though, most are for Model 3.

So, Katerpillar Attack does exist in cartridge form and is fully playable on the original CoCo.

[RangerG]

That's cool. The original programmer, J. Kearney, for Star Blaster made me a nice reproduction of it (for free). He burned the original rom onto an eprom and put it in a cart and sent it to me - very nice of him and it plays great.

[video_game_addict]

snip...

Luv the new name! LOL ;)

[sniperCCJVQ]

Someone needs a Coco3 ?

I have one for sale.

[philosophyst]

http://www.digitpress.com/index2.htm

Just saw this. A 10! Woohooo! :rocker:

[RangerG]

Wow - that's great that the list has been updated - thanks DP! There is one more game that I am pretty sure came out in cart and is very rare. 8-Ball was also released by Anteco (same one that released Katerpillar Attack). Curtis Boyle lists it as one of the few non-Radio Shack cart releases; however, I contacted him and there is no visual proof of the cart. I think listing it as rumor would be a good option.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Cool, I wonder how much more obscure stuff is out there for the coco?

[RangerG]

There is a Wico adaptor that hooks up Atari joysticks to the CoCo that is rare and is very useful (I have one + it is great for maze games like Megabug). Also, there is a third-party adaptor to hook up the Sega Master System lightgun to play two specific disc games for the CoCo3 - very cool and very rare (I have never seen it for sale).

[philosophyst]

There is one more game that I am pretty sure came out in cart and is very rare. 8-Ball was also released by Anteco (same one that released Katerpillar Attack).

I'll have to keep an eye out for that one, I'd throw down another $4 BIN for it.

Katerpillar Attack is my best and favorite ebay buy this year! I love coco stuff!

[vintagegamecrazy]

Keep it coming people! What else is out there for the coco? This gives me even more incentive to collect for this system!

While were coming up with so much stuff for the next update, don't forget the Trackball by Wico for the TRS-80 and also the one for the TI99/4A. Those need to make the next update.

Man Wico made some pretty awsome accessories back in the day! What happened to them anyway? Did they fold, or are they still around?

[philosophyst]

Man Wico made some pretty awsome accessories back in the day! What happened to them anyway? Did they fold, or are they still around?

I don't know much about the company itself but I do know my Wico's are all I play my 7800 with. Wico's are the best, never knew they made anything for the coco.

[vintagegamecrazy]

We need to add the following items to the database

8 ball game
wico joystick adapter
wico trackball
wico trackball for TI99
SMS Light gun adapter.

I would relly love to see these show up in the database, WICO is just too cool

LONG LIVED WICO!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

[vintagegamecrazy]

Now the database really needs to be updated. Looky looky what else just turned up on Ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50226&item=8139263664&rd=1

Quickshot Joystick, and I'm probably buying it too.

[Emily]

Sweet 8-)

[vintagegamecrazy]

I won the quickshot, I share my thoughts when it arrives.

[RangerG]

That quickshot was "professionally refitted"?. Will the next DP guide separate Dragon and CoCo?

[RangerG]

Hmmm - I take it back. That box pretty clearly shows it was sold as for the "TRS-80" and not a hack of some sort.

COOL FIND VintageGameCrazy!

You should check EbayUK and jot down the Dragon joysticks because there are at least 5 that I have seen before. Some are funky - actually the stock Dragons are pretty cool! I have an article somewhere about a U.S. joystick made specifically for the CoCo, but I have never seen the controller.

Take care.

[vintagegamecrazy]

Thanks RangerG I'll check out ebay.uk tonight. Keep me posted and let me know what else you can find. The TRS suddenly became quite cool to collect for, and while were at it lets try to confirm 8 Ball, and keep this thread alive. :D

[beamrider1984]

I guess I make six LOL

Anyhow, I noticed this thread and decided to add one more for the listing for TRS-80.

I have a cart called "Real Talker" by Colorware, Inc. It appears to be some sort of voice synthesis cart, but when I tried it out, it just kinda sat there, but did indeed work. I'm guessing I need some sort of special disk software to run it, which unfortunately, didn't come with it. :/

It has a really garish orange label on it, but no copyright date. I'm guessing around 1983...???
I have only seen this cart once in the past 19 years of collecting, so I kind of have a feeling it's pretty obscure.

Yet another for you guys to add! :)

Bill

[vintagegamecrazy]

Well I got around to trying out that Quickshot stick that I won on Ebay (finally) The stick is by far more comfortable to use than either first party sticks that Tandy released (man are those sticks aweful) it is just as easy to use as any other QS stick, unfortunately it doesn't really help out the game play quality much at all due to all around terrible game mechanics. If I ever use my TRS 80 again I will never use a first party stick again, so "if" you are into TRS collecting find this stick if you can, but for now enjoy these pics I took of the stick and the box (sorry I was not able to rotate them before I posted them).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/vintagegamecrazy/Dscf0233.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/vintagegamecrazy/Dscf0232.jpg

Joe or anyone else, if you want to use these pics or would rather me take new ones for use with the database just let me know.

[philosophyst]

I'm clearing out some stuff and have listed my TRS-80 items on eBay. This includes the Katerpillar Attack cartridge! :D

Here ya go.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5157508407&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT