ST/Jaguar port releases for sale at AA

Saturn · August 05, 2016, 19:19:27 PM

Anyone plunking down the dinero for these games? I'd be all over them but the timing is unbelievably bad for me. Looks like 16 are up right now with more on the way once 'completed.' The ST ports thread says more are complete but are apparently going to be revisited for some possible tweaks.
Al says they're made with all new parts-including the pcb boards from my understanding. Seems to be a good deal at $45 USD each and can upgrade to clear cart shell for an additional $10 while supplies last or until more come in.
That works out to $720 for all 16 with regular cart shells or $880 with clear shells.
That's a lot of jack but worth it and I intend to buy in fully to support what's been done here and hopefully get a little return to those deserving for the effort. Playing these on a Jaguar minus the Skunkboard will be fun. (don't get me wrong, I love my Skunkboards, but the "real" thing is a bonus) Just hope Treasure Island Dizzy makes the cut. Can't get that one to work in VJ, Skunkboard or as a CD.

Greyfox · August 05, 2016, 21:39:08 PM

I'm all for enterprise on producing products that are new and exciting but this is an over priced cash in brought in on a day 1 concept to capitise on such an opportunity to produce a one to one standard port over with minor extras of MP3 remixes or version been implemented into the final product, they are fully aware of collector elites that will have no choice but to purchase these from day as part of a complete collection, I'm not slandering the indivuals themselves but very much calculated money spinner here, which seems to be fine with those willing to part with their cash for software that can be played natively on orignal hardware from which it's been ported from. The likes of C. Jones are self proclaimed hipocrites as well as slanderous trolls when it suits themselves ,it goes unignored by many with fear that they won't get any new warez from team Reboot.

If they had of created brand new IPs with help from the community of artist , musicans as well as their own coding talent could really push the envelope and release worth while purchasing exclusive homebrew titles that would fit the comercial bill rather than others work from the past and chargin $45 for it is a bit of a travesty to be honest. Now I know people will see this are a trolling post, but believe me I've no intention of causing conflict, I'm simply giving my opinion and bears no personal judgment to those mention or were they can be purchased. I would simply think that exclusive and orignal games being produced would be far better than an emulated routine to run ST code on an Atari Jaguar.

Saturn · August 05, 2016, 22:04:58 PM

Damn, those are some great points. I try not to pay too much attention to all the bs that goes with the Jaguar people. Anything I find insulting I just let go. Have for 20 years with the exception of a few epic battles. I'm assuming that some of that $45 was to cover costs for the new boards, chips and shells with some going to the original authors. Maybe that's naive on my part but I always look & hope for the best in people.

I'm glad you posted, it's definitely food for thought.

tomwaits · August 05, 2016, 23:59:40 PM

Has there been any mention of money going to the original authors/publishers? Or whether they even have legal permission to sell these? They're basically just old Atari ST retail games hacked to run on the Jaguar's 68000, right? Seems to be much closer to piracy than 'homebrew'.

Greyfox · August 06, 2016, 00:07:13 AM

Yes of course they would be able to break it down on the cost of board, casing and chips etc. but I can't grasp the concept of port exsisiting computer titles other than a release on another format to which they've officiously seen an opening to do so, I don't criticise the skill set involved to doing this, it's clever reverse engineering of one platform to another, but by doing so regardless of royalties being paid on a mass production level they are profiting from what started as "see if it could be done" theory has now become a way to get paid for doing so, which in itself is enterprising and brings with it a selection of titles that wouldn't be possible without that reprogramming.

I'm sure there are titles out there that were completed and unreleased on both the Atari ST, Amiga (if possible) being finally brought to the masses as either rom dumps for free for use on a skunk board or with the possible of producing a cartridge version of such titles I think would fair better with the justification of purchasing them if the collector desired, a lot of avenues to be explored right there, but I can't help but feel that the release of old games just doesn't seem right or what's the point? Other than to charge money for which is exceptible to many, others will differ and with the ST library been in the thousands I can see them doing a lot more of these pretty much for the next couple of years. The unfortunate beast that is the Jaguar community, never has there been such self harming to its followers begs how this is all been done in such a professional manner is something of a paradox lol.

But you have the choice whether to buy into it or not but better have deep pocket from both the privilege and limited numbers.

Shadowrunner · August 06, 2016, 00:39:07 AM

I can see everybody's point here. For the hardcore Jag fan it's great getting new games for the system. Legally though, it's pretty questionable. As for the cost, I understand the parts are expensive and there's work involved but it does seem a little high.

I doubt I will buy any of these just because of the cost but it doesn't bother me that they are doing it. I still think it's a neat idea in any case.

Greyfox · August 06, 2016, 01:03:02 AM

Cjones has made the ports availed for free if you have a skunk board etc, but he's now a business man with no smart arse remarks these days to those that oppose him and hasn't replied to anybody with concerns to what they are doing wonder why that is? Hmm?

Again as I posted its an opening to grab some exclusive bucks from the diehard fan, the order page on the forum is 3 pages worth with simple statements of " PM sent" etc, so they know there on to a winner, but without real validation of source Devs being approached regarding permission could deem this highly illegal, now although a lot if the games are abandonware now, there are titles in the list still very much owned by an existing ip holder. But it will either draw attention or it won't, the Atari Jaguar isn't known for drawing huge crowds of interest, like the NES etc..so I think it's a case of let's hope for the best, do the limit run and leave it at that, this is the reason for it as if it wasn't I'm very sure they've have no problem of finding a new supplier of cases,chips and boards to keep the gravy train rolling.

rush6432 · August 07, 2016, 15:38:41 PM

Its straight up piracy and selling of things they didnt create. Of course their defense will be

"well we dumped the loaded game contents that was in ram to a file and then ported that content".

They're probably riding this as their wave to freedom here as the content wasn't the rom that was included it was the data the rom loaded into the emulated ST system ram. All they did beyond that was intercept audio/video calls and patch them into one of the many jaguar audio engines out there. and patch in samples. Its a GIANT pile of hack

Whats really funny is that they stated that if anyone had made cart copies of these hacks that they would stop doing them, only to turn around and make them for profit themselves.. WTF....

Its really high time people take a look around and see what these guys have been about the entire time.

But if they feed you a few shitty hacked ST ports to look the other way, the cycle keeps on going...

People will buy the item regardless if its legal or not it seems and dont have to worry about legalities of the issue since they aren't the ones selling it. However, the tables turn when you go to resell your copy you bought to someone else. You are now selling pirated/illegal content...

zapiy · August 09, 2016, 09:49:58 AM

It's a double edged sword for me personally. I have no issues with people porting games. Let's be honest this porting of games is not exclusive to the Jag, other systems see plenty of ported games.

There is a legal question in the porting of games and one I tend to be blind too. However I think we as a whole need to acknowledge the copyright owners and perhaps be more mindful of what we buy into.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cryptic33 · August 15, 2016, 15:42:19 PM

I thought I had commented on this before. Oh well nvm.

I had said that I was somewhat reluctant to pay such a lot of money for games ported from a 16-bit system as I don't feel this is making the best use of the Jag's abilities. However, because Gauntlet 2 has been made to work with the teamtap, I did the unthinkable and ordered it along with R-type. Can't see me buying any more but the pull of 4 player Gauntlet on the Jag was just too much to resist. "Warrior needs food"!

Saturn · August 15, 2016, 16:00:42 PM

I played R-Type via Skunkboard and man, is that one hard game. If the option to cheat w/ unlimitied lives wasn't available, I'd not have played as much as I did. May load it up at some point again and memorize the patterns. It'd be cool to be one of the first to post completing it

Cryptic33 · August 15, 2016, 20:46:47 PM

Quote from: Saturn on August 15, 2016, 16:00:42 PM
I played R-Type via Skunkboard and man, is that one hard game. If the option to cheat w/ unlimitied lives wasn't available, I'd not have played as much as I did. May load it up at some point again and memorize the patterns. It'd be cool to be one of the first to post completing it

Yes, I had read that R-type was hard but looks amazing on the Jag. I played it in the arcades donkeys years ago, hence the enthusiasm now. Gauntlet of course is a pure classic and not many games utilise the teamtap so it is a must. I look forward to seeing your high scores with R-type, good luck!

rush6432 · August 15, 2016, 23:22:42 PM

if you guys really want these i could be convinced to burn a few cart copies probably... you wont get label from me and you'd have to supply parts (donor cart)

Saturn · August 15, 2016, 23:51:05 PM

Damn, I knew I shoulda bought that 35 Cybermorphs lot on ebay from Kevincal.

What about the BJL mod? I have 7 Jags that need it and no resource. Please let me know if that's possible, thanks

rush6432 · August 16, 2016, 00:43:20 AM

Quote from: Saturn on August 15, 2016, 23:51:05 PM
Damn, I knew I shoulda bought that 35 Cybermorphs lot on ebay from Kevincal.

What about the BJL mod? I have 7 Jags that need it and no resource. Please let me know if that's possible, thanks

Why BJL on 7 jags?

I have a bjl Cartridge i made for a one or two people a while back that plugs in. its basically a plug and play solution but you have to make your own cable.