Fixing the Atari 2600 E.T.?

TrekMD · January 06, 2013, 03:59:18 AM

Saw this and wanted to share it. Someone has hacked E.T. to address the complaints people have about the game. There are several versions you can download and try out.

Fixing E.T. The Extra Terrestrial for the Atari 2600

Flukesy · January 06, 2013, 17:33:03 PM

No link?

TrekMD · January 06, 2013, 17:39:42 PM

Did you click on the red text?

TL · January 06, 2013, 18:07:43 PM

Quote from: "TrekMD"Did you click on the red text?

Link works fine

Flukesy · January 06, 2013, 18:58:01 PM

Having trouble in tapatalk

TrekMD · January 06, 2013, 19:10:29 PM

Quote from: "Flukesy"Having trouble in tapatalk

Sorry, I'm not sure why.Â It does work fine within a browser, though.

zapiy · January 06, 2013, 20:59:43 PM

Try this http://www.neocomputer.org/projects/et

DZ-Jay · January 08, 2013, 17:51:20 PM

Quote from: "zapiy"Try this http://www.neocomputer.org/projects/et

That one works.Â I also use Tapatalk.Â Thanks!

Back on topic: is it really a "fix" if it changes the gameplay?Â I understand the collision detection hack, but altering the energy usage strikes me as changing the focus of the game.Â I don't think the point of the game was to "explore" as he suggests.

TrekMD · January 08, 2013, 18:02:36 PM

He posted versions that do not implement the change in energy usage.Â So, I guess people can choose whichever version they prefer.Â I prefer just the fix to the collision detection.Â

onthinice · January 11, 2013, 19:16:10 PM

Play it with a bag of Reeses candy and a can of Moutain Dew Code Red. The extra sugar gives you such a buzz. Helps any game actually.

Thanks for posting Trek! I am sure anything has to help the game.

TrekMD · April 17, 2013, 02:11:57 AM

Looks like the folks from PC World took notice of this hack of E.T. and they have an article online talking about it!

[align=center:30izszam][size=140]How hacking fixed the worst video game of all time[/size][/align:30izszam]

Saturn · May 07, 2020, 02:37:19 AM

I don't know if any more has been said about this in another thread but I recently stumbled onto a thread here:
https://atariage.com/forums/topic/242328-that-fixed-version-of-et-from-neocomputerorg-and-et-in-general/?do=findComment&comment=4164464
with the E.T._CompletelyFixed_Version2_Final.bin version for download from November 26, 2018.

I've grabbed Stella to give it a spin but more importantly, having it put on a cart to play on real hardware

I loved this game as a kid and can't wait to get my hands on this.
With all the fixes it's now perfect imo

Original page, link above not working properly:
http://www.neocomputer.org/projects/et/

TrekMD · May 07, 2020, 02:43:05 AM

I always enjoyed this game and this fixed version is better. Essentially it has the polish the original game needed and didn't get done due to the short time Howard had to work on the game. You need to show us the picture of the cart.

PS: First post is fixed.

Saturn · May 07, 2020, 04:13:01 AM

Yeah, the story on the original version is old news but had no idea so many 'final' revs had been completed until I heard of the thread at the end of one of 0ctav1us' videos:

https://youtu.be/GAdHwXTEaRY

I searched it out and pulled together some resources to make the cart happen. My 2600 is boxed up but I'll certainly dig it out to play this. Epic stuff

davyk · May 07, 2020, 08:40:49 AM

ET as a game was actually quite clever. It would have been the easiest thing in the world to do a Pacman clone or something similar. It's amazing that HSW didn't just do that given the time he had. It's a minor miracle that we have this game to even talk about.

For me, the collision detection rules on the pits/wells was the biggest (one could argue the only real) problem - they were extremely unintuitive. There is hack of the ROM that fixes that.

This guy is a huge fan of the game and it's hard to resist his enthusiasm for it.

https://www.randomterrain.com/atari-2600-memories-et.html