Pushing older systems to their limits

[ManekiNeko]

I've noticed a recent trend in classic gaming... people are designing and releasing games for the older systems that you wouldn't expect, including perfect ports of arcade games (Space Invaders Collection) and more complex software intended for later systems like the NES (Z-Adventure, a 5200 clone of Legend of Zelda). It's hard to say if people are doing this for the challenge, the fame, or the chance to prove the true abilities of their favorite consoles, but I've got to say that it's making the hobby a lot more exciting... those humble pre-NES consoles don't seem so humble when they're running complex puzzle games like Bounce and QB.
So, homebrew game designers, spill the beans. Just what drives you to take systems like the 2600 and ColecoVision to the next level?

JR

[opcode]

Good question... (and good to know I am pushing something to its limits) :D
Probably 20 years from now someone will be programming for the PlayStation and making games no one had thought would be possible.
I think there are too many factors in this trend to be completely listed. I find the game consumer is much more exigent today than it was 20 years ago, we do understand technology better, we have more tools today, we don't have such severe memory restrictions like before (there are 32KB VCS games coming out now)...
But there are more subjective reasons too, like we make games for fun, it isn't an obligation, we don't have time or budget restrictions.
And finally we have some personal motivations, like fame, fortune, girls, etc.
In my case, it was a childhood dream. I felt in love with videogames since day one, and I started thinking about programming something since day two... During the 80s and 90s I learned a lot about the ColecoVision chipset, and when I finally got to revisit it, I thought "those games don't take full advantage of this hardware. I can think about lots of improvements for each game".
I must agree homebrews are getting better and better. A few years ago most homebrews were just bookshelf stand, but it is rapidly changing. Now we have plenty of incredible homebrews. For example, I recently got a copy of Marble Craze, and still can’t believe how good it is. The game is definitively among the best VCS games ever, and the sound needs to be heard to be believed! :o

[CrazyImpmon]

Does that mean sometime in this decade a resouceful person would make a fully working PSO game for Atari 2600?

[Jeff-20]

I remember seeing the Hong Kong bootlegs for the genesis and NES. Games way out of their respective time frames! Mortal Kombat for the NES, Mario 64 for the Genesis. Something about this concept captures the imagination.

I was so impressed that they were keeping the systems alive.

Now, I keep making VIC-20 games. I feel as if I am avenging the system. If for nothing but to prove it is still relevant in the gaming world.

[vincewy]

Speaking of age of systems, I don't think Neo-Geo (1990) is much newer than NES (1986) and yet there're still games coming out, every year, that's 12 years in a row, 2003 will be the 13th yr for the system and there're at least 2 planned

New Power Instinct
SNK vs Capcom

[ManekiNeko]

VIC-20 games?! Wait a minute... you wouldn't happen to be Jeffrey Daniels, formerly of the fanzine Denial, would you?

JR

[slapdash]

VIC-20 games?! Wait a minute... you wouldn't happen to be Jeffrey Daniels, formerly of the fanzine Denial, would you?

Signs point to "yes"...

[qaotik]

Mario 64 for the Genesis.

What? Can anyone point me to a informative link cuz i couldnt find anything about it..

[zektor]

I love the Vic. What a great system is was and still is.

[Jeff-20]

Yes, I am the Vic guy. Give me an address and I will send you a tape of what I have been working on lately. Sorry the magazine fell away. I wasn't really doing a good job at it. Maybe I'll rent a page in Russ's slap-dash and do a mini vic section now and then!

The Mario 64 for the Genesis has been renames many times to keep up with the current mario series. It is actually just a SNES Mario clone. I have the rom but it is titles mario or something. The cart is probably labeled Mario Sunshine this year! ha ha! I will be overseas in January. I'll let you know.

[slapdash]

Yes, I am the Vic guy. Give me an address and I will send you a tape of what I have been working on lately. Sorry the magazine fell away. I wasn't really doing a good job at it. Maybe I'll rent a page in Russ's slap-dash and do a mini vic section now and then!

Well, now, that might present a problem, since Slap-Dash is on a hiatus that might last forever (I want to do one more issue, but have no clue who to send it to anymore; I can think of maybe 10 people off the bat, but that's maybe unless I want a lot of returned copies). Oops!

[KnightNo17]

Well, I would say, even with my limited knowledge, that this takes place even with the latest consoles. As programmers fully grasp the possibilities the games get better.

Otherwise the first game made for the PS2 would look like the last game made for the PS2 right?

Of course this is on a far smaller scale and certainly less impressive.

[ManekiNeko]

Jeff, may I make a suggestion? You need to go electronic. Start a Denial web site and distribute your games online. You'd save money and find a lot more people to play your games if they could download them and play them on an emulator.
Speaking personally, I dread the thought of having to dig the VIC-20 out of the closet, connect it to the television with all the necessary cables, and wait forever for the games to load from tape. Emulation speeds up the process and makes it far more convenient... you can run everything from one computer, and do it a lot faster.

JR

[Jeff-20]

Neko,
I understand your suggestion. I have a website, but I didn't put much up on it. I don't like my programs on an emulator. There are many small features not duplicated on the emulator (video chip tricks, actual atari joysticks and such).

Maybe I am crazy, but I really want people who actually have an old vic20 to appreciate it. I am not a big fan of emulators (still I use 'em). My programs are not worth playing on a high-end system. The charm is in the actual hardware. My stuff sucks on a PC.

[zektor]

I agree with the last emulator statement. I would rather try out the new games on a real Vic. I use emulators (except maybe the arcade emulators) really just to see how a game is before I buy it. I use Mess32 alot to check out how a Colecovision game that is not in my collection is, for example, to see how it is before I make a bid or buy it from someone local. DIg out that Vic and hook it up! :)