Retro Video Gamer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... HwOhcB_PA# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=a8HwOhcB_PA#)!

A new platform game for the Atari 7800 with the Expansion Module this game was inspired by the Sega classic Wonderboy and stars Bentley Bear from another classic arcade game, Atari's Crystal Castles.

Yet another game from the brilliant Bob DeCrescenzo this title is really shaping up to be the best platformer on the console.

Looks good so far, but clearly needs some more work. Like why does he have a health bar and then lose a life as soon as he is touched....?

Looks great, i see your point fella... Maybe the bar is glitched at the moment?

It's a very early Beta, he knocked this up in just a few days I believe!!!! 

This is fantastic.  I've been following this on AA and I've been quite impressed with Bob has done. 

The parallax scrolling is just superb.

Quote from: "Minerals"Looks good so far, but clearly needs some more work. Like why does he have a health bar and then lose a life as soon as he is touched....?

Why does "Wonderboy?" ... and "Super Mario Bros.?" (in the form of a timer) ... and "Scrapyard Dog?" (also in the form of a timer) :)

It acts as a mechanism to keep the player moving.  In both a positive and negative way (positive in the way that it awards bonus points at the end of a level for the amount of time left, and negative in a way that if you take too long you die).

That being said, I think I need to decrease the reduction time in my health bar - it's moving too slow.

Thanks, guys for the compliments also.
Bob

As one of the Admin here I would like to welcome you to RVG Bob, it's brilliant to have you here.

I am a massive fan of your work and have reviewed a few of your games here in the 7800 reviews guide and for Atari User magazine too.

Look forward to seeing / hearing more from you!!!! 

Thanks, man - I really appreciate it.

Bob

fantastic work done, here, really is great to see brand new Ip's on these classic platforms, really great stuff and absolutely adore the parallax scrolling, something you don't see on these platform to often, any chance of a shadow of the beast port?..lol.

Quote from: "Greyfox"fantastic work done, here, really is great to see brand new Ip's on these classic platforms, really great stuff and absolutely adore the parallax scrolling, something you don't see on these platform to often, any chance of a shadow of the beast port?..lol.

Well somebody was doing an A8 port so I am sure it's possible!

There is an update to this with new roms on AA:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/199637-work-in-progress-bentley-bear-crystal-quest/ (//http)

Quote from: "TrekMD"There is an update to this with new roms on AA:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/199637-work-in-progress-bentley-bear-crystal-quest/ (//http)

Thanks for the heads up!

This game really is looking and sounding fantastic!

There is an interview on Microsoft's site about Bob's Windows Phone development with mentions to his retro stuff:

http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/From-ret ... evelopment (http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/From-retro-game-programming-to-modern-day-Windows-Phone-7-development)

New video!!!!!  8)

I can't wait to see this released!  Of course, we need the XM out first!

this little gem is wonderful..really nice stuff..and for some reason feels very fresh..sorta like a found again treasure of a game..really good stuff.

This is exactly the kind of game the 7800 needed back in 1986

Quote from: "The Laird"This is exactly the kind of game the 7800 needed back in 1986

Agreed!  Of course, now someone is complaining on AA why it is that we are getting this game made for the 7800 instead of the regular arcade-type games.  The person complaining doesn't want NES-type games on the 7800.  Can't please everyone! 

Since discovering the whole Homebrew scene, as it were, really been amazed at what folks managing to get out of Atari 8 Bit hardware, 1st Space Harrier, now this.

Feel the entire Atari 8 Bit range sadly so often ignored by likes of RG magazine  (as is the ST!) in favour of the same old formats and topics, so discovering threads like this are a god send.

Quote from: "Rogue Trooper"Since discovering the whole Homebrew scene, as it were, really been amazed at what folks managing to get out of Atari 8 Bit hardware, 1st Space Harrier, now this.

Feel the entire Atari 8 Bit range sadly so often ignored by likes of RG magazine  (as is the ST!) in favour of the same old formats and topics, so discovering threads like this are a god send.

I have been saying myself for ages now, it took a lot of pushing and shoving to get them go ahead with the ST article and it went down a storm so I was pretty pleased - especially as it was my very first article for RG!!!

The worst thing is that we have all this great Atari homebrew coming out and it rarely features in TMR's homebrew section.

Whilst there has been some fantastic pieces in RG of late and yes, they've done hardware feature on Atari:800XL, Jaguar etc in past (and they have to appeal to mass market etc), it's just so damn frustrating to see the A8+ST range over looked so often.

I know Amiga had superior versions of so many ST games in terms of colours, sound etc, but that does'nt mean ST version should be ignored (3D often faster) and i'd hope that magazine would be trying to broaded horizions, ie think you know:Dropzone, Encounter, Rescue On Fractulas, Elktraglide? then why not try the A8 versions.

Also showcasing the A8 homebrew would (hopefully) open peoples eyes to just what the hardware was capable of-All too often the A8 got poor conversions (Arkanoid, Green Beret), but from what i read at the time, A8 programmers thin on the ground (Firebird wanted to do Elite on A8, but could'nt find programmers), so RG has a chance to adress history here.

Unfortunately, it appears that development for this game has been stopped as Bob has decided to retire from making games.  It is sad to see Bob leave the homebrew scene since he has been one of the most prolific 7800 homebrewers.  He has made the code for his games freely available, so here's hoping that someone else will pick up where he left off and finish this game for the XM.  From the last update it appears as if the game itself was done and only sound remained as the final thing to add. 

Quote from: "TrekMD"Unfortunately, it appears that development for this game has been stopped as Bob has decided to retire from making games.  It is sad to see Bob leave the homebrew scene since he has been one of the most prolific 7800 homebrewers.  He has made the code for his games freely available, so here's hoping that someone else will pick up where he left off and finish this game for the XM.  From the last update it appears as if the game itself was done and only sound remained as the final thing to add.

I was reading this earlier, gutted is not the word!  :'(

Quote from: "The Laird"

Quote from: "TrekMD"Unfortunately, it appears that development for this game has been stopped as Bob has decided to retire from making games.  It is sad to see Bob leave the homebrew scene since he has been one of the most prolific 7800 homebrewers.  He has made the code for his games freely available, so here's hoping that someone else will pick up where he left off and finish this game for the XM.  From the last update it appears as if the game itself was done and only sound remained as the final thing to add.

I was reading this earlier, gutted is not the word!  :'(

That is very possible.  I really hope Tep or one of the other guys does finish this game, if only to honor Bob's work. 

Good news!  Tep already said that he'll finish the game!  Since it is only music that is missing, he said it should not be to difficult.  He's actually looking for music for the game now with the idea of using the Yamaha chip on the XM.  So, if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to share!

A case of good news/bad news. Great to hear the game is still going but sad to hear about the departure of Bob.

Good to see this is being finished, but I do hope there will be more improvements beside adding music. A few people including me had posted and made suggestions to get this project to become a truly great jump' n run when Bob quit... the potential is there. If it stays like this it's still okay, but not what it could have been and certainly no Mario-equivalent for the 7800. :/

Quote from: "108 Stars"Good to see this is being finished, but I do hope there will be more improvements beside adding music. A few people including me had posted and made suggestions to get this project to become a truly great jump' n run when Bob quit... the potential is there. If it stays like this it's still okay, but not what it could have been and certainly no Mario-equivalent for the 7800. :/

Well, Tep said he'd finish it.  Maybe he'll be open to making additional changes.  Time will tell.  For now, though, he's mentioned the music only but perhaps he hasn't seen all of the comments that were being made.

I thought I'd share this AA post (//http) from Bob here as he is looking or some help and maybe someone here can offer it. 

After purchasing some hardware, and writing some programs, I am raising the white flag on going from instrument->Pokey data.  Being that I am unable to figure out how to use RMT (or whatever the acronym is), I am looking for someone to take on creating the music for this game.

Ideally, I'd like to use the Pokey.  These are the individual tunes that are needed:

- Title Screen
- Level 1 (Forest)
- Level 2 (Sky)
- Level 3 (Mountains - inside and out)
- Level 4 (Castle - top level)
- Level 5 (Castle - deep inside)
- Level 6 (Hidden level, multiple environments)
- Finish Level
- Kill Boss
- End Game

Anyone willing to take on this project, please PM me.  Of course, you will get a mention in the manual, a free cart, and part of whatever proceeds come in from the sale of the carts (the same way PAC-MAN-RED is for doing the graphics).

Thanks,
Bob

This video was just posted showing level 2 with music!  Enjoy!

[align=center:oyyua6oj]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU1ucfI-BmY&feature=youtu.be[/align:oyyua6oj]

That is utterly superb! Gorgeous use of colour, impressive parallax scrolling and appropriate music.

If only the Atari 7800 had this game at retail in 1986 

Quote from: "The Laird"That is utterly superb! Gorgeous use of colour, impressive parallax scrolling and appropriate music.

If only the Atari 7800 had this game at retail in 1986  :)

Quote from: "TrekMD"

Quote from: "The Laird"That is utterly superb! Gorgeous use of colour, impressive parallax scrolling and appropriate music.

If only the Atari 7800 had this game at retail in 1986  :)

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the only additional hardware that this game used was a POKEY chip?

Quote from: "The Laird"

Quote from: "TrekMD"

Quote from: "The Laird"That is utterly superb! Gorgeous use of colour, impressive parallax scrolling and appropriate music.

If only the Atari 7800 had this game at retail in 1986  :)

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the only additional hardware that this game used was a POKEY chip?

I believe it also takes advantage of the extra memory offered by the XM and the Yamaha chip.

Looks like a fun game! Love the music too 

Laird, I just confirmed the reason for the XM with this game is sound-related.  Here is what Bob posted on AA:

Bentley Bear is still an XM game for the sound.  The 256K boards are for the bank-switching.   They can be used with or without the XM, depending on their application.  (i.e. Bentley Bear wouldn't be able to use the RAM on the XM because I'm using that area - $4000-$7FFF - as ROM for the sprite graphics).

Bob

Just sound then, so it could actually play on a normal machine if it had a POKEY cart like Ballblazer or Commando, very impressive.

Quote from: "The Laird"Just sound then, so it could actually play on a normal machine if it had a POKEY cart like Ballblazer or Commando, very impressive.

Except sound also uses the Yamaha Chip.  POKEY alone won't handle that.

Thanks for the kind words, guys :113:

Actually, the only thing I will be using from the XM is the Pokey at $450.  As stated above, I can't use the memory (don't really need it here anyway), nor will I be using the HSC or the Yamaha.

Synthpopalooza is doing an excellent job converting the music for this, and we only have background music for 3 levels and the 'defeat boss' music left.

I may release a NON-XM version, which has sound effects, but no background music.

I'm actually working on another arcade port at the same time...
Bob
[size=80]Charge... attack... shoot... kill... destroy...[/size]

Cool!  Thanks for the update.  How about releasing a cart that looks for POKEY and provides the background music.  Something like what was done with Beef Drop?

Hey!

You mean between to choose TIA and Pokey?  Unfortunately, I have about 32 bytes left in ROM code space. (Nor would I have any space left in the banks after all of the Pokey music has been added).

Having two sets of sound drivers + data  for them would require much more space than I have.

Bob

Quote from: "PacManPlus"Hey!

You mean between to choose TIA and Pokey?  Unfortunately, I have about 32 bytes left in ROM code space. (Nor would I have any space left in the banks after all of the Pokey music has been added).

Having two sets of sound drivers + data  for them would require much more space than I have.

Bob

Great to see you hear Bob.

I think what Trek is saying is - would it be possible to release a version that just has a POKEY chip in the cartridge like Ballblazer, Commando or Beef Drop?

Actually, no.  What I'm saying is something like Beef Drop VE.  The cart uses TIA sounds but the games does search for a POKEY chip.  If there is no POKEY, TIA is heard.  If the POKEY is detected, then POKEY sound works.  So, the Beef Drop VE carts should work with the XM because of that functionality.  Not being a programmer, I have no idea whether or not this is an option for Bob.  Rather than do two releases (XM and standard), could one release be done that would recognize the presence of the POKEY chip on the XM.  If I understand what he says, though, this can't be done because there isn't enough memory left to do it.

This was released right? or is it still in production? , Just browsing through some old posts today and had a keen eye on this to see if it was out?

There was a limited released done by Bob.  I have a copy I got from him.  More are coming, however. 

great stuff..maybe you should do a video or two on the game alone with some photos of the cart and box art, when you get the time of course

I have a lose cart.  When the game has the full release, I believe it will have box/manual.  Here is the picture of the cart...

[align=center:u9y0pe6u](http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag160/TrekMD/RVG%20Images/Atari780013_zpsef9a90d8.jpg)[/align:u9y0pe6u]

Looks very professional, I must say..great what these guys are doing today , thanks for sharing these Trek..I love to see stuff like this.

Looks nice, I need to get a copy when they do the full release!