Page 44 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #5

've heard it said that some of the easiest games to program for
I any game system are those that fall into a few narrow categories:
shoot-'em-ups, paddle games, and platformers. Though still difficult to
design, create, and program a homebrewed game, at least you have
the comfort of looking at what's been done before you begin. It's con-
venient to examine what's worked and what hasn't.
But what of those creations that define new genres of homebrew
programming?
This issue's column takes one more look at the Atari 2600 and some
of the recent releases that DON'T fall into any easily definable genre.
Rather than settle for what's been done in the past, these programmers
tried - and succeeded - in bringing something new and never-before-
seen to the classic system.

Stella Sketch drawing.
By Bob Colbert Using a clever bit of bankswitching,
you can sit and doodle all over the screen
Platform: Atari 2600 and your drawing will remain there until
Genre: Drawing program you either erase it or turn off the system.
Released: 1997 It's easiest to draw with the joystick or
mouse, and it takes a bit of practice to
Who needs paper and pencil when draw anything with the driving paddles,
you have this bit of fun from Bob Colbert, which are still spotty at best. However,
best known for other efforts like the puz- using the driving paddles is a real hoot
zle game Okie Dokie (reviewed last is- and really gives the feel of playing with
sue). the classic red plastic children's drawing
Stella Sketch was designed and re- toy.
leased by Bob on cassette tape for use Which, sadly, brings us to why this
with the Starpath Supercharger. Once program is no longer being distributed.
loaded into your system, Stella Sketch Stella Sketch is no longer available
turned your Atari into an easy-to-use ea- after Ohio Arts, manufacturer of the Etch-
sel! Using either a joystick, Atari or Amiga a-Sketch, demanded it no longer be dis-
mouse, or a pair of Indy 500 driving pad- tributed, claiming that the program was
dles, Stella Sketch allowed you to create too close to infringing on the copyright of
your own masterpieces on the TV screen. the original. You may be able to find the
You use the selected controller to move BIN floating around on the Web and Bob
an on-screen cursor, which draws a line has said that he may re-release the pro-
wherever it goes. (Though one game gram in the future after a bit of re-
variation allows you to use the button to programming.
"pick up" and "drop" the point so you
don't leave a continuous line.) Pushing Bob Colbert has a website at:
the Reset button causes the game screen http://members.home.com/rcolbert1/
to "shake," effectively erasing your latest

Video Time Machine Look at your game system. It’s just across and the Space Invaders will march
by Chris Cracknell sitting there, playing games. Well, it's as Times Keeps On Slippin'. Setting the
Platform: Atari 2600 time to get serious! Time to put that bit of clock is simple enough by using the joy-
Genre: Real-time clock application frivolity to work! stick.
Released: 1999 Chris Cracknell has designed an Atari Since there's not much point in having
program that turns your 2600 into a real- it running 24-hours a day (can't play any
time clock! That's right, plug this into your games and the bills would be murder),
system and turn your television set into I've found the best use of this cart is to
the biggest digital clock in the house. have it running at parties or any other
The program keeps accurate time and social gathering. It's a sure show stopper
shows it in either a 12-hour or 24-hour and it beats having everyone walk into
military time display. The time has a the kitchen for a glance at the clock over
scrolling rainbow effect that's very inter- the stove. Besides, my kitchen clock
esting to look at. doesn't feature Ms. Pac-Man at
What makes this program even more 11:00 p.m.!
fascinating is the classic Atari characters
that race along the top and bottom of the Chris Cracknell has a website at: www.
screen. Every 10 minutes, the upper hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.htm.
characters change and the bottom ones
change on the hour. Mr. Do may walk
Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 44