Atari VCS/2600 Super Football - 77-9 ScottithGames 2022-11-27 | An excellent (pseudo) 1st-person perspective of the game, and easily the best version of football for the system, though aside from the excellent graphics, it's still less-than-super as far as being realistic to the rules of football (only 5 players per side, no stopping the clock, no running out of bounds, no runbacks on interceptions, no safeties, etc). This is a 16K SARA "SuperChip" game by Star Raiders creator Douglas Neubauer. Here's a strategy article I wrote about the game: ataricompendium.com/archives/articles/super_football.htmlThe video illustrates how to apply my strategies.
Atari VCS/2600 Merlins Walls (Ebivision) - complete walkthrough ScottithGames 2021-06-03 | Atari Compendium has scans of the manual, as well as maps for every level and additional information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/manuals/vcs/vcs_manuals.htmlhttp://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/maps/vcs/merlins_walls.htmlhttp://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/vcs/26merlinswalls.html
Atari VCS/2600 Escape from Supercade (Ebivision) - complete game and max score ScottithGames 2021-05-30 | Complete game showing all 8 levels and the maximum score possible.See the Atari Compendium high score page for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/high_scores/high_scores.html
Imagic documentary - The Making of Atlantis ScottithGames 2021-03-10 | Back in 1982, the PBS show, Enterprise, showcased Imagic in one of their episodes. This is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the more well-known game companies during the 'golden age' of video games. It features such luminaries as Bill Grubb, Dennis Koble, Brian Dougherty, Jim Goldberger, Michael Becker, Rob Fulop, and Brad Stewart.See the Atari Compendium website for my interviews with Imagic designers:Dennis Koblehttp://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/interviews/dennis_koble/interview_dennis_koble.htmlMichael Beckerhttp://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/interviews/michael_becker/interview_michael_becker.htmlRob Fulophttp://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/interviews/rob_fulop/interview_rob_fulop.htmlBrad Stewarthttp://www.ataricompendium.com/archives/interviews/brad_stewart/interview_brad_stewart.html
Atari CED in-house promo - 1983 new releases ScottithGames 2021-02-10 | Similar to the "2nd Half 1983" in-house promo on my page here, and likely done by the same firm - Realtime Video Productions. This tape features VCS/2600 and 8-bit home computer (600XL) games planned for release in the 3rd and 4th quarter of 1983. Games shown:VCS/2600Pole Position (prototype - mountains get garbled half-way in the video, when the score jumps from 5k to 31k.)BattlezoneDig DugMoon Patrol (prototype version #136)JoustCookie Monster MunchAlpha Beam with ErnieBig Bird's Egg Catch (has different keyboard overlay)Sorcerer's ApprenticeSnoopy & the Red Baron (prototype - Score counter keeps running!)Pigs in SpaceAsterix and Obelix test walking animationAsterix ObelixMario Bros.Xevious600XLPole PositionMs. Pac-ManDig Dug (5200 version shown)Joust (planned for 1st quarter 1984 release)PengoJungle HuntMoon Patrol (prototype - different rover)Donkey Kong Junior (planned for 1984 release)Millipede (planned for 1984 release)Robotron: 2084 (planned for 1984 release)
Atari 8-bit Clowns & Balloons (Datasoft) - slowdown glitch ScottithGames 2021-02-05 | • BUG: The game will sometimes slow down right before the score counter shows 50,000. You’ll clear a screen of balloons and suddenly the music will start playing slower and the balloons will move slower. If you can clear this screen of balloons, the game will revert back to normal speed. On rare occasions, the game may completely freeze up! The only key that will have any effect is the RESET key. {Greg Bendokus and Scott Stilphen}See the Easter egg entry at Atari Compendium for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/a48/a48clownsandballoons.html
Atari 8-bit Pooyan (DataSoft) - scoring counter glitch ScottithGames 2021-02-05 | The score counter becomes corrupted when you reach 1 million points. In my game, the score counter was 998,350 when I hit 3 consecutive balloons (with meat) for 2,800 points (plus another 200 for shooting a balloon). The first balloon hit (400 points) bumps the score counter to 998,750. The next 2 balloons hit (800 and 1,600) is where the glitch occurs. The HI SCORE counter only counts the next balloon (worth 800 points) and freezes at 999,550. The 1UP counter appears to drop down to 991,151, and then starts incrementing again when the 200 point balloon is shot. Score should be 1,001,150 at this point. The 1UP SCORE counter continues to increase as more balloons are hit, but again glitches when the counter approaches 1 million. At 999,951, I hit a balloon worth 200 points and it again drops down to 910,151. The round ends with the score at 911,301 and when the next round starts (a bonus round), the counter shows 11,301 (the “9” is dropped)!See the Easter egg entry at Atari Compendium for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/a48/a48pooyan.html
Atari 8-bit Spy Hunter (Sega) - bump glitch ScottithGames 2021-02-05 | There's a rare glitch where if you bump an enemy car, you'll immediately changes places with it and crash!See the Easter egg entry at Atari Compendium for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/a48/a48spyhunter.html
Atari 8-bit Super Zaxxon (Sega) - graphics glitch ScottithGames 2021-02-05 | Rare glitch where the colors will change and the speed of the game may also increase.See the Easter egg entry at Atari Compendium for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/a48/a48superzaxxon.html
Atari 8-bit Super Zaxxon (Sega) - dragon glitch ScottithGames 2021-01-14 | If you can evade the dragon’s fireball long enough, it’ll disappear, at which point the game “hangs” because you can’t kill the dragon and it won’t fire another fireball.See the Easter egg entry at Atari Compendium for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/a48/a48superzaxxon.html
Atari VCS/2600 Jungle Hunt longplay ScottithGames 2020-11-26 | Footage of a complete game, showing the world record score of 90,480. There's no audio due to a recording issue. Check out the Atari Compendium website for the current Atari VCS/2600 world records:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/high_scores/high_scores.html
Atari VCS/2600 and 5200 commercial - Kangaroo ScottithGames 2020-11-02 | Port by General Computer Corporation of the 1982 Sun Electronics arcade game that could have been better. There's no opening animation, intermissions, or boxing ape, and the 3rd screen doesn't have the branch that breaks (from too many monkeys hanging from it). GCC basically "phoned in" this one.
Atari VCS/2600 Mario Bros. - score counter rolled at 1 million ScottithGames 2020-06-01 | Rolled the score counter by point-pressing Slipice.
Atari VCS/2600 Dig Dug - longplay ScottithGames 2020-05-15 | Footage of a complete game, showing the world record score of 3,315,000. Check out the Atari Compendium website for the current Atari VCS/2600 world records:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/high_scores/high_scores.html
Atari VCS/2600 Super Breakout - ball through paddle glitch ScottithGames 2020-05-10 | • BUG: Cavity - The captive balls are brown and flicker, which allows them to sometimes pass through a brick and even your paddle (videos #1 and #2). According to programmer Erik Mooney, “The ball isn't really going through the paddle or brick, but rather *around* them. Notice that each time it happens is synchronized with a collision with the left wall. It's going two frames deep into the side wall before detecting the wall collision. By the time it's back out of the side wall another two frames later, the vertical position of the ball has finished passing the paddle/brick. It takes *four* frames for that to happen (the paddle is four lines tall) which is why it doesn't happen out in the open; i only happens if the ball spends two frames digging into the side wall and two more frames coming back out, so it never trips a collision with the paddle/brick.”See the Easter egg section of Atari Compendium for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari VCS/2600 Super Breakout - ball through brick glitch ScottithGames 2020-05-10 | • BUG: Cavity - The captive balls are brown and flicker, which allows them to sometimes pass through a brick and even your paddle (videos #1 and #2). According to programmer Erik Mooney, “The ball isn't really going through the paddle or brick, but rather *around* them. Notice that each time it happens is synchronized with a collision with the left wall. It's going two frames deep into the side wall before detecting the wall collision. By the time it's back out of the side wall another two frames later, the vertical position of the ball has finished passing the paddle/brick. It takes *four* frames for that to happen (the paddle is four lines tall) which is why it doesn't happen out in the open; i only happens if the ball spends two frames digging into the side wall and two more frames coming back out, so it never trips a collision with the paddle/brick.”See the Easter egg section of Atari Compendium for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari VCS/2600 Venture (Coleco) - first 100k point game ScottithGames 2020-04-30 | Footage of a complete game, showing the world record score of 104,400. Check out the Atari Compendium website for the current Atari VCS/2600 world records:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/high_scores/high_scores.htmlSee the Atari Compendium website for more information:http://ataricompendium.com
Atari 8-bit Joust - unknown sound ScottithGames 2020-04-28 | • An unknown sound effect occasionally plays during an egg wave when you earn an extra life (video #4). The exact reason for it is unknown. It could be the result of 2 different sound effects playing at the same time. See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Joust - disappearing graphics ScottithGames 2020-04-23 | • BUG: If there are several enemies flying along the top of the screen, the top half of their character will disappear when they touch the top (video #8). The same thing happens to either player’s character.
Atari 8-bit Joust - ostrich cant leave ScottithGames 2020-04-14 | If you’re killed, there will be times where your ostrich will keep bouncing back-and-forth between 2 ledges several times before it finally exits the screen.See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Joust - egg glitch ScottithGames 2020-04-14 | If 2 eggs are next to each other, on the small ledge to the right of the gap, the left egg will keep shaking since it’s trying to move away from the other egg.See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Joust - gap trick #2 ScottithGames 2020-04-14 | It’s possible to go through the gap while moving straight down, if a hatched enemy is right next to it.See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Joust - gap trick#1 ScottithGames 2020-04-14 | The “gap” trick from the arcade version also works here.See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Joust - Pterodactyl trick ScottithGames 2020-04-14 | It’s possible to kill the Pterodactyl from behind! This is not mentioned in the manual.See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Joust - Pterodactyl bug ScottithGames 2020-04-14 | If you kill a Pterodactyl at the same time the last enemy is killed, the Pterodactyl will come back to life!See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari VCS/2600 Popeye (Parker Brothers) - scoring glitch ScottithGames 2020-03-24 | • BUG: Get 8 or more hearts, and then die. Once you start your next life, go RIGHT off the ledge, then LEFT to the spinach. Brutus should be right behind you. Immediately get the spinach and hit Brutus and your score will become 115,120! If you do it again (on the 4th screen) your score will become 114,110.See the Atari Compendium's Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari VCS/2600 Popeye (Parker Brothers) - graphics glitch ScottithGames 2020-03-24 | • BUG: Get 8 or more hearts, and then die. Once you start your next life, go RIGHT off the ledge, then LEFT to the spinach. Brutus should be right behind you. If you hesitate before getting the spinach and you punch Brutus when he’s jumping up, he’ll bounce around and his graphics will become a column of distorted graphics.See the Atari Compendium's Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari VCS/2600 Popeye (Parker Brothers) - wrap-around glitch ScottithGames 2020-03-24 | • BUG: Get 8 or more hearts, and then die. Once you start your next life, go RIGHT off the ledge, then LEFT to the spinach and stand next to it. Brutus will come over, jump up, and stand right next to you. He’ll then walk over to the right side of the screen (move away from the left edge at this time) and keep going, eventually wrapping around! After a moment, he’ll walk back through the left side, wrapping back around to the left. The PAL version will show noticeably less color between both wrap-arounds. See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Mr. Do! (Datasoft) - EXTRA monster glitch ScottithGames 2020-03-01 | When trying to trigger an EXTRA monster ghost, sometimes the EXTRA monster will eat the apple twice and then continue normally.See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Mr. Do! (Datasoft) - EXTRA monster ghost ScottithGames 2020-02-29 | Under a certain circumstances, if the EXTRA monster and 1 remaining Alpha monster are pursuing you (with the Alpha monster in front of the EXTRA monster) and you kill the Alpha monster as it’s about to eat an apple, the EXTRA monster will try to eat the same apple, except it won’t be able to and will remain a ‘ghost’ (video #2). The apple is still there and can be pushed or dropped (either by you or monsters), but the ‘ghost’ might still be able to kill you if you try to push the apple from the same side the EXTRA monster approached it. If the apple is dropped, it will break and disappear but a flattened EXTRA monster ‘ghost’ will keep falling and continually wrap-around the screen from the bottom to the top! This will go away if you lose a life or clear the scene.See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Mr. Do! (Datasoft) - Alpha monster glitch ScottithGames 2020-02-29 | On rare occasions, an Alpha monster won’t attack when you stop moving, and will instead go back-and-forth.See the Atari Compendium Easter egg section for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Colecovision Donkey Kong - proof of no kill screen with 16K version. ScottithGames 2020-02-11 | RUMOR: It’s believed once you reach level 97 on the 16K version, Mario will instantly die when the counter turns over to 00000, but this doesn’t happen. I played the game to level 97, using the ColEM emulator, which is the footage shown here (filmed off an LCD, which is why the quality is terrible).
Atari VCS/2600 Space Invaders, variation 4, difficulty B - 11,210 ScottithGames 2020-01-26 | Rolling the score on this variation.
Xonoxs 1983 commercial - Chuck Norris Superkicks and Artillery Duel ScottithGames 2020-01-08 | This is one of Xonox' "double-ender" cartridges. It's gray with a yellow and blue label, and there are openings on either end of the casing with one of the games on each side. This commercial is for the Atari VCS/2600, Colecovision, Commodore VIC-20, and Commodore C-64 versions.
WNEP 16 video vault - 1982 video game fad ScottithGames 2019-03-26 | Local news story from 1982 on whether video games were just a fad. Games shown:Galaga (Midway)Ms. Pac-Man (Midway)Pac-Man (Midway)Congorilla (Orca)Space Battle (Mattel Intellivision)Tempest (Atari)Monaco GP (Sega)Super Cobra (Stern)(unknown game to left of Super Cobra)Asteroids (Atari)Battlezone (Atari)Challenger (Centuri)Vanguard (Centuri)(unknown game to right of Vanguard)
Odyssey2 COLD CASE! - longplay ScottithGames 2019-02-21 | COLD CASE! is based on Activision's Frostbite for the Atari VCS/2600. This is a new game from Rafael Cardoso - his 19th for the Odyssey². This is an 8K game that includes an 8-page manual. The game also features PLUS graphics for Philips Videopac+ G7400 owners. A production run of 100 copies is planned, and each cart will be numbered (owners list).The Game: An evil king has set his sights on ruling the Arctic and placed a curse upon the people of the North Pole, blocking all their igloo entrances and transforming the fish into killer king crabs. The king will only lift the curse if the people pay him tribute. Enter local hero Tom Snow to the rescue! He has a plan to break the curse! It involves jumping on all the floating ice blocks and changing their color from white to blue. The first time he accomplishes this feat, a magical scepter will appear before the igloo entrance. Once he picks it up, if he can change the color of the ice blocks again, the curse will finally be broken!The object of the game is to help Tom Snow unblock igloos by jumping on floating blocks of ice. Be careful to avoid these deadly hazards: killer king crabs, grizzly polar bears, the subfreezing water, and the rapidly dropping temperature.See this website for more information and to order a copy:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/classifieds/o2carts.html
Texas Instruments TI-99/4a Bigfoot (Milton Bradley) longplay ScottithGames 2019-02-10 | Game was played on a 99/4a computer with a FlashROM cart and 32K expansion module, showing a possible world record score of 43,380. There's no onscreen timer, but you get more points the faster you cage Bigfoot.Great game. Someone needs to make this for the Atari VCS!
Atari 5200 RealSports Baseball - home run glitches ScottithGames 2018-12-17 | • BUG: When you hit a home run and you have a man on 1st or a man on 1st and 2nd, your batter will run to 1st base and stop and wait until the man on 1st reaches 3rd base. See Atari Compendium's Easter egg page for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 5200 RealSports Baseball - poor computer AI ScottithGames 2018-12-11 | The computer AI doesn’t always make the best decisions. If there’s 1 or more runners on base, many times an infielder will get the ball and instead of tagging out a runner for an easy out - even if the runner is right next to them) - they’ll simply throw to a base to get the lead runner out.• BUG: The ump starts calling out before the ball even touches the catcher. Plus the runner's lead foot doesn't touch home plate first, his other leg does.See Atari Compendium's Easter egg page for more information:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/easter_eggs.html
Atari 8-bit Pole Position - 3-car crash ScottithGames 2018-11-12 | It’s possible to take out 2 cars when you crash.
Atari 8-bit Pole Position - finish line glitches ScottithGames 2018-11-11 | • BUG: You never actually reach the start/finish line at the end of the race. You also will finish the race even if you crash right before the finish line!
Atari 8-bit One-on-One (Electronic Arts) - 24-second shot clock trick ScottithGames 2018-11-07 | • BUG: When playing against the computer, it’s possible to tie up your opponent after they grab a rebound, preventing them from getting past the free throw line and resulting in a 24-second shot clock violation. There’s an area on either side of the free throw line where if you stand still when the opponent is next to you, they won’t move away.See the Atari Compendium's Easter egg page for more info:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/a48/a48one-on-one.html
Atari 8-bit Mediator (English Software Company) - puzzle solutions ScottithGames 2018-08-22 | Atari 8-bit Mediator (English Software) - puzzle solutionsThe game features several puzzles that have to be solved in order to complete your mission. You might have to return to each puzzle more than once, each time returning to your ship to fly back to the top of the screen to shoot saucers (each time you solve a puzzle, you'll have to shoot more). The puzzles are as follows:"Them Bones, Them Bones, Them Dry Bones"Shoot the tree so that it falls over the creek. Cross the creek and pick up apples, bringing each one back to the left side of the screen. Shoot any trees the ship might drop down. When you gather enough, a skeletal horse appears. Lead it across the creek to the left side of the screen."Turning Turtle Is The Only Way To Travel"Hop across turtles and logs to reach the island. Climb up the tree and throw apples at your horse before it dies (hold the button down longer to throw it further). When it's eaten enough, it will become whole and come over to you, and then mount the horse and go to the right side of the screen."The Hills Are Alive"Gather as many horns from the treetops, and then tap different patterns on the chimes to kill the approaching hill monsters. When you've killed enough, the hut in the lower-right corner will open."A Steamy Situation For A Hotfooted Hero"You must kick the hot coals into the pool to drop the water level enough to reveal the hidden exit."Those Nasty Spiders And Snakes"Shoot the torches in the order shown to open up the doorway and then enter it."A Time To Reflect... A Time To Die?"Shoot the torches on the left side to affect the false mediators and open up the left doorway. Once inside, move around and shoot to open up the right doorway. Go over and enter the right door and then shoot the upper-right to drop it and end the puzzle."Face To Face"A simple picture matching puzzle, but you have to solve it quickly. When done, be sure to exit through doorway NOT marked "EXIT".You go back to your ship for the last time. Fly back up to the top where the bases are. This time you only have 3 shots to use. You must shoot both the doomsday machine and the saucer to complete your mission. If you fail to shoot both, the machine will activate and destroy everything and the game will end.
Commodore 64 Quest for Quintana Roo (Sunrise Software) - level 3 ending ScottithGames 2018-08-18 | After you solve level 3, you’ll get an extra life and a code that can’t be used, after which the game will continue. The meaning of the code is unknown, since entering it does nothing, and when you beat level 3, the level simply repeats (there's no level 4). In other versions (Atari VCS/2600, 5200, 8-bit computer, Colecovision), the code is "37 W", but in this version, the "W" is a graphic that appears to be a small representation of the cobra snake graphic that appears on the map vault!
Colecovision Quest for Quintana Roo (Sunrise Software) - level 3 ending ScottithGames 2018-08-17 | After you solve level 3, you’ll get an extra life and a code that can’t be used - 37 W, after which the game will continue. The meaning of the code is unknown, since entering it does nothing, and when you beat level 3, the level simply repeats (there's no level 4).
Atari 8-bit Quest for Quintana Roo (Sunrise Software) - sound glitch #2 ScottithGames 2018-08-08 | If you are poisoned while placing a rock in the map vault, the tune that normally plays will be stuck on a note that will play constantly. If you survive the poisoning long enough, the sound glitch may correct itself.
Atari 8-bit Quest for Quintana Roo (Sunrise Software) - sound glitch #1 ScottithGames 2018-08-08 | If you are poisoned while placing a rock in the map vault, the tune that normally plays will be stuck on a note that will play constantly.
Atari 8-bit Quest for Quintana Roo (Sunrise Software) - level 3 ending ScottithGames 2018-08-08 | After you solve level 3, you’ll get an extra life and a code that can’t be used - 37 W (see picture), after which the game will continue. The meaning of the code is unknown, since entering it does nothing, and when you beat level 3, the level simply repeats (there's no level 4).
Activision - Atari VCS/2600 commercial - Crackpots ScottithGames 2018-08-08 | Kaboom variant that has you fighting off insects crawling up the side of a building by dropping flower pots on them. Although the graphics are nicer, crrawling bugs don't offer the same frantic danger that falling bombs do. Simply another case were Activision remade one of their popular games. Scoring over 75,000 points got you a "Crackpots" patch by sending proof to Activision.
Atari 8-bit Alien Hell (Syncro, Inc.) ending ScottithGames 2018-07-28 | There’s a dark maze (down at the 2nd ‘4-way’ intersection, and then left) where a large “dragon” will randomly attack you. The green crystal will allow you to mark where all the walls are. To use it, simply bump into the walls and they will light up. Note that you’ll have to move diagonally in parts of the maze. If you leave the room and re-enter, the maze will be completely dark again. To beat the game, you need to exit the maze on the left side, at which point you’ll see the ending screen (see picture) with your final rating.For more information, see the Easter egg section of the Atari Compendium website:http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/easter_eggs/a48/a48alienhell.html
