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[Moon Goon]

CandyBar for the Atari 2600

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    <strong>CandyBar for Atari 2600</strong><br/>
    <em>by Moon Goon</em><br/>
    <b><a href="http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=13761.0">Thread</a></b>
    <a href="http://www.esnips.com/doc/086b21d9-9141-40d7-a68d-2e6ba03acff8/TIGCandyBar">Windows/Mac/Linux</a>
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ATTENTION!  The Stella Atari 2600 emulator is included for Mac  Linux and Windows in the .ZIP file!

Stella-3.1.2_intel_10.6-macosx.dmg (.dmg is Mac)
Stella-3.1.2-win32.exe (.exe files are for PCs)
stella_3.1.2-1_i386.deb (.deb are Linux)

Open the CandyBar.bin file with the emulator once it has been installed!

UPDATE:  Here is the link for the final download
http://www.esnips.com/doc/086b21d9-9141-40d7-a68d-2e6ba03acff8/TIGCandyBar

It's a real Atari 2600 game folks.  Use the provided Stella emulator in the archive.  Also, read the manual.  No, seriously!

Since the nice folks at PANIC, INC. have already made the box art and mock-ups I decided to go with CandyBar.

http://www.panic.com/blog/2009/12/panic-retro-art/

I asked for their blessing and hope for a positive reply.  So far I've got a basic title screen and main game displaying on a real Atari 2600.  It pains me that my graphics will be different but their mock-ups are just too intensive for a regular 4k ROM Atari 2600 cart.

UPDATE: Got an e-mail from PANIC, INC. I think it qualifies as a positive response..

Hello,

THIS IS THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD.

How can we help, if at all?

-Cabel

[tipp]

Ooh, this looks like its going to be shnazzy. Reminds me of an Atari 2600 game where you're a chef and you have to make burgers. If only I could remember the name.
Edit: Oh that's right, it was called "Pressure Cooker."

[moi]

JAWESEOM

[Melly]

Those boxart pictures on the site are delicious.

People need to bring back the crazyness of old box art.

[moi]

As they say it's an art style that got lost. Take a look at all the Atari VCS cartridges, some of those boxes' art are crazy-awesome.

[Moon Goon]

A little more progress made.  Still haven't implemented gameplay.  Graphics definitely shaping up.  See more at AtariAge:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/165874-candybar-game-for-atari-2600/

[jfroco]

Excellent progress Moon Goon,

I'm gonna make a 2600 game as well. Good luck!!!

Best regards

JF

[Moon Goon]

Well, I've just added the custom score printing routine that uses the playfield to print out numbers.  Not fun.  I now have greater respect for whoever wrote the printf function in C

All that's left is to finalize game modes, sound effects and title screen music.  Oh, and the manual.  Never read one myself, but..

The CandyBar box read 8 games and I'm having trouble thinking of variations.  Here is what I've come up with for candidates so far:

1. Feed the icon (above the Chefs head) a certain amount of candybars.  Amount needed goes up each level.

2. Each color of candybar gives a different amount of score.  Say, blue = +1  white +5 and red -3.  The player must give the icon a specific number of points to progress.

3. The icon demands a specific sequence of colored candybars.  The sequence becomes longer each level.

Any thoughts about other possible gameplay variations guys?

[tipp]

Feed the icon as much as possible in the given time limit?
Resist feeding the icon as much as possible in the given time limit? 

[Moon Goon]

Feed the icon as much as possible in the given time limit?

Wow!  Unlike my semi-random posts you guys are actually intelligent and helpful!  That's a great game mode if I ever heard one!  Just adds an extra variable for the timer.  Shouldn't be too bad.   

[Moon Goon]

Okay.  I hope this is as close to the final iteration as it gets.  Not gonna declare final as feedback and show-stopper bugs may arise

Here is where you can download the latest version:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/165874-candybar-game-for-atari-2600/

GAME INSTRUCTIONS:
Press fire to start game. Once in-game left and right moves the Chef. Press fire in-game to pick up boxes of candybars. Each candybar box has a different point value: blue/lavender is 5 magenta is 1 and white is 10. The currently held candybar box is indicated on the bottom left-hand side of the screen. Feed the Hungry Icon above Chef to increase your score. When the score reaches a certain amount the level will increase. After each level the score resets to 0 and the Hungry Icon needs even more candybars to gain the next level. The screen palette shifts towards red as time runs out. Each level introduces new challenges such as less time and less predictable Hungry Icon behavior.

[Melly]

So, these are rom files? You should bundle an emulator with them for ease of use.

[Moon Goon]

Thanks for the feedback Melly!  I'll put a link at the first post for Stella:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/stella/

I'd just zip up a copy with the final ROM too.

With that out of the way any feedback on the game itself?

[Moon Goon]

Well, I'm going to call this one tagged 'n bagged.  After the compo I plan on making this a real one-off cartridge for myself.  Should be complete with real box, cart, manual and even shrink wrap and price tag.

It turns out I really like making real Atari 2600 games.  Who knows what's next?  I want to thank TIGSource for once again giving me a little direction and a lot of incentive to create!

[moi]

make very rare one-off games on cartridges and sell them on Ebay.