Best Intellivision Chiptunes.

[zapiy]

Ok here is a new topic that will be an ongoing feature for each individual system so we can be more specific with the tunes we love on each system..

So first up is the Intellivision, this console has a pretty unique sound for me at least.

The below is taken from www.intellivisionlives.com

SOUND CHIP
The sound chip is a GI AY-3-8914. This chip contains three separate channels of sound, each channel of which can be individually controlled for frequency and volume. There is also a noise generator on the chip, which can be added to any of the three channels. All three channels are mixed, and fed to the sound output of the TV.


Others on here will be better placed to explain the differences between what the stock system does compared to a system connected to an ECS.. I believe its just an addition sound chip as above and therefore giving 6 channels..

So anyway i will post a few of my favs here and i hope you'll post a few of yours.. and discuss..

Christmas Carol is pretty awesome and not because the Dev is a member here lol..

http://vimeo.com/71569823

Snafu at the beginning of this video is pretty good but so are a few of the others in the video.

http://youtu.be/iF-mRp-VXr8

So whats yours?

[TrekMD]

One of my favorites is already in the video above, Thundercastle!  I think the soundtrack is awesome for that game.  The Intellivision can certainly produce some really nice tunes. 

[Nurmix]

Cool idea for a topic!
 

Obviously I'm an Intellivision fan, so yes, I like the sound of the sound chip.  I put a lot of Intellivision chip tune music in every episode of The Intellivisionaries.  Many of the tunes have been converted from other games / platforms to run on a music player for the Intellivision.

Correct, Zapiy... Adding an ECS (Entertainment Computer System) to your Intellivision gives you an additional sound chip, allowing for 6 part harmony (6 voices) + each sound chip has a noise channel as well.  There are a few games that take advantage of the ECS' additional sound capabilities (like Melody Blaster, Mind Strike, Scooby Doo's Maze Chase, and Space Patrol).  It would be nice if more games utilized it, but the installed base is pretty small, so homebrew games that do make it optional.  By the way, the ECS also allows you to connect 2 more controllers.  In fact, World Cup Soccer is coded to support that for 4 player action.

Now, back to some of my favorites... some that come to mind off hand are SNAFU, Thunder Castle, the end of game winning music for Sub Hunt, the end music to Shark! Shark!

And speaking of music, I plan to have David Warhol on the podcast soon to talk about music and sound effects programming on the Intellivision.  We just had Dave on the last episode (16) to talk about what he did for Thunder Castle.  He was one of the more prolific programmers and sound designers for the console, so it will no doubt be an interesting conversation.

[zapiy]

Thanks Paul, glad you like the idea for the topic. I hope others get involved also as I feel the music is what helps draw us into a game as much as the gameplay and graphics. Certainly in older games anyway.

Snafu was going to be one of mine.