Menu          

Latest files

Nearest parties

Commercial

Subscription

News

2009-02-25

A new Graph2Font v3.8.6.4 has released

2008-12-22

How it works? There are embedded files: 7z.exe and 7z.dll in the Deflater 7z v2.4 program. They are unpacked into the working directory of def7z, a batch file is created and run to build the archive. Next, the redundant bytes are cut and *.DF7 file is being created, ready for unpacking by INFLATE.ASM routine by Fox! This crazy way has been invented and realised with scripts by Eru and Fox, my job was only to transform it into Windows executable file.

2008-11-30

A new Mads 1.8.4 has released.

2008-11-29

Grzybsoniada meeting date: 29-31 V 2009.

2008-11-29

New Graph2Font v3.8.6.3

2008-11-10

The coder Urchlay has announced his new program Fujichat. FujiChat is a simple IRC (Internet Relay Chat) client for Atari 8-bit (400/800/XL/XE) computers, based on the uIP TCP/IP stack (by Adam Dunkels). It uses a SLIP connection to talk to the outside world, and supports a subset of the IRC commands available in full-featured clients. Only 48K of memory is required.

2008-09-22

Artax has released Apple II emulator for 8-bit Atari. Main goal of the program was... to see Hobbita game on Atari. I will not write anythong more, I'm knocked off my feet... Download: emulator + games: Hobbit, Myteryh and Spy vs. Spy. Longer article at Kaz site (polish only).

2008-09-16

A file selector has been added to sapemu. The new version is available for download.

2008-09-07

Now we know the date of next, the 10th Forever party. The event will be hold on 13-15 of March, us usually (for some time) i Somer-Merina Club, Trencin.

2008-08-25

A new version of TIP Animator 2.3 has been released.

2008-08-24

Please feel invited to see Głuchołazy 2008 photos taken by Mowny and me. For mere formality I remind you that photos from Krap are already available for some time.

2008-08-13

New program has been released - TIP Animator by TeBe/MadTeam. The animation is done as a difference between the following movie frames. Only the first one is full - following frames are saved as vertical data of picture, based on the differencies in the pictures content.

2008-08-10

Yesterday on the August 9th, 2008 in the church dedicated to Holy Mary in Ostrów Wielkopolski, a neverendng love has been oathed by Dorota Czajka and Waldemar Pawlaszek (usually known as Laoo/NG). All the best, birdies!

2008-07-18

Only in a week a third edition of copy party in Głuchołazy by Ryszard Mauserberg will be hold. Please remember, that event place has been moved. New copy party address is Zespół Szkół w Głuchołazach (School Complex in Głuchołazy), Kolonia Kaszubska street nr 2. If someone needs a bit better place for rest his bones that common sleeping room, he would like to hear, that there is a PTSM hostel in the Complex (Polish Youth Hostel Association, associated partner of International Youth Hostel Federation). Entry fee is 30 zł (women and children, as always, enter for free). Competition rules, list of willing participants may be found on the official website. To feel the taste, see photos from Głuchołazy 2007.

2008-06-19

If there was a meeting on weekend (e.g. PLatariada 2008), today there must be photos from it. By KrupkaJ, of course.

2008-06-16

According to the International Herald Tribune news, legendary palace of Montezuma (english) has been unearthed in Mexico City. The exploration is still in progress and we do not know if there were any artifacts known from the game Montezuma's Revenge found. For now, the dark room known from the game has been found. Perhaps the map of the palace, already created by Peter, would be helpful for the scientists.

2008-06-02

New image converter for TIP and HIP formats with converted image preview TipConv. Available options are: three different modes of automatic image resize, separate palettes for conversion and display, saturation adjustment and more. More on program page.

2008-06-02

A new version of Mads 1.8.2.

2008-06-01

A new version of Graph2Font 3.8.5.9.

2008-04-18

On April, the 12th, another edition of Atariada took place in Czech. As usual, new 51st issue of Flop Magazine appeared, including game Swapz by Fandal & PG. More in this issue: Forever 9 party raport by Zdenek Burian and raport from... old hardware shop in Tokyo, written by Fandal. First photos from Atariada were just published by Jan Krupka.

2008-03-17

Results and stuff of Atari competitions from Forever 9:

Demo compo:
1. 585 p. Jozin z Bazin - GPRS
2. 537 p. Recall - Resurrection
3. 403 p. Unexpected - MEC

Intro compo:
1. 605 p. Twirlee - Eru & X-Ray
2. 550 p. Fluid Chessboard - Raster/C.P.U.
3. 465 p. Outlaw - Fandal

Graphics compo:
1. 505 p. Neptune's Daughter - Powrooz/Laresistance
2. 493 p. Surfer's Dream - Kozyca
3. 462 p. Binary Celebration - Raster/C.P.U.
4. 448 p. Throne - Kozyca
5. 390 p. IMBAL - Dely

Music compo:
1. 522 p. I'm sure - Raster/C.P.U.
2. 483 p. High Tide - Born/LaResistance
3. 472 p. Funny - Lisu
4. 466 p. Samantha - Pin
5. 436 p. AOKI - Nooly
6. 361 p. Astrosphere - Kozyca
7. 302 p. XIXE - -XI-/Satantronic
8. 186 p. 30minutes - Elan

Update:
First photos by KrupkaJ.

2008-03-16

Today has released small joke-program Martial Arts vs. Modern Arts written by TeBe/MadTeam and Miker.

2008-02-17

A new ASAP 1.1.0.

2008-02-07

DLT Crew finished SpartaDOS X 4.41. What's new list, manual and download on project site.

2008-01-31

Famous Knight Lore game conversion from BBC Micro had been made. This really amazing project belongs to xxl, stRing, Emkay and Kaz. More detailed info, maps and manuals on atari.online.pl.

2008-01-03

This year Atariada 2008 party will - traditionally - take place in the Haná restaurant in Prostějov, Czech Republic, Saturday, April the 12th.

2007-12-30

Some new releases: Merry Christmas!, Cracktro 1987, MADS 1.8.0 and Graph2Font 3.8.5.6.

2007-12-08

xxl and TeBe/MadTeam released zXEmulator 1.0 - software emulator of the Z80 CPU, which also allows to run some games from ZX Spectrum 16K.

2007-12-02

A Jest Set Willy game has been ported from ZX Spectrum to XL/XE. The job is done by, of course, xxl. Update: Reload a file!

2007-12-01

A new version of Atari Commander 1.81 by Pajero/MadTeam.

2007-11-08

Most probably another Forever 9 is taking place in 14-16 March 2008 in Somer Club in Trencin/Slovakia.

2007-10-27

ABBUC Software Contest results:
1. Yoomp! - 421 p.
2. Crownland - 400 p.
3. Mule Wars - 366 p.
4. Speed up!! Gold Edition - 363 p.
5. Eckn - 334 p.
6. Game Harry - 264 p.
7. Sprite Engine - 238 p.
8. Chareditor to move in Font - 227 p.

2007-10-26

In Saturday, 27 X starting ABBUC JHV in Herten. Pictures from last year you can se here. In programm of this party is publication results of ABBUC Software and Hardware Contest.

2007-10-26

A new game by Eru, Fox, X-Ray and BeWu. "Yoomp! is an 8-bit Atari action game with some great features, including:
- three dimensional textured tube,
- lots of ingame items - additional lives, extra jumps, earthquakes, lightings and teleporters,
- outstanding stereo music with interactive stereo panning effect,
- on-the-fly adjustments of music or sound effects volume,
- 5 unique eye-catching background graphics,
- highly detailed antialiased ball with interactive shadow,
- 21 levels with increasing difficulty,
- great title and end-of-the-game screens (get there to see it!),
- hours of fun - a perfect run through the game takes over 20 minutes.

The game currently takes part in the ABBUC 2007 Software Contest, competing with other high-quality entries.

The game will be publicly available FOR FREE after the ABBUC contest results are announced."

Screenshots, movie and more on official site: yoomp.atari.pl.

2007-10-22

Mario Bros. 2007 - revised version of Nintendo game from 1983. Improved Code by Tebe/MadTeam, improved Graphics by Vidol and Tebe/MadTeam. Title music by stRing. Source included.

2007-10-20

On AtariOnline you can find Muffy's Dwie wieze (Two Towers)game tutorial (polish only). Game map by Peter is available here.

2007-10-05

After 5 years of work, news site www.ataritoday.com is closed.

2007-10-05

A new version of MacroAssembler Mads 1.7.8.

2007-09-07

A new version of tool for loading COM or ATR files via SIO2PC interface - R5. This is a "Refresh build" - I fixed several serial transmission and CPU load issues.

2007-08-11

New version of MyPicoDos 4.04 adds several new features (highspeed SIO for almost all disk drives, new "standalone" .COM versions loadable from DOS, larger file-selection window) and also fixes some bugs (APE PC-Mirror subdirectory problems, MyIDE density recognition problems). A complete list of changes can be found in the README.txt.

2007-07-30

Now you can see photos from polish party in Glucholazy by Nietoperek/Tristesse and Vidol. More soon.

2007-07-30

First photos from German Fujiama party 2007 in Lengenfeld by: Bernd, HardwareDoc, AndreasB, Wolfgang Burgera and atarixle.

2007-07-08

New game: Gangsters has been published. Idea and graphic: Fly, code: Premo, music: Poison. The game may be played with joystick or (preferably) light-gun. The game, abandoned in 2003 has been finished by Fandal (code) and Raster (fx sound).

2007-06-23

Video Board XE site has been just started. VBXE, created by Electron/Taquart, is a programmable, FPGA based graphics subsystem for Atari XE computers with its own 512 KB memory and blitter. It replaces standard GTIA, giving a possibility to use two 256-color palettes selected from 65536 available colors in Graphics 8 mode resolution. More info at project site, created by Izi (currently only in Polish).

2007-06-17

A new Mads 1.7.7 assembler.

2007-06-15

First photos from Platariada 2007 by Jan Křupka.

2007-06-06

After many years of keeping the mod in the snowdrift I've decided to publish the soundtrack written for the planned IK+ conversion. Goog listening wishes the Tristesse team.

2007-05-25

Nosty sales Arabish Atari 65XE on Allegro.

2007-05-25

Pajero/MadTeam has publish Total Commander ATR Plugin 1.5. Some fixed errors.

2007-05-17

A new Graph2Font 3.8.5.3.

2007-05-10

First relation from Grzybsoniada 2007 appeared, written by Sikor. Photos from the party by Dely, Mikey and Miker are here.

2007-04-30

First photos from Vintage Computer Festival Europe 8.0 by Krupkaj.

2007-04-30

New MadTeam's production: slideshow with Vidol's graphic from the Droga do Duplandu (A road to Assland). The idea came from Kaz from atari.online.pl.

2007-04-28

xxl published first results of his attempts to emulate ZX Spectrum games on Atari XL/XE. We can play Jetpac, Deathchase, Sir Lancelot and Phoenix already. The author still works on optimisation of the emulator.

2007-04-10

At the German Breakpoint 2007 party C.P.U. and Taos released a small Atari 8bit intro: Eine Sternengruppe.

2007-04-03

First photos from Atariada 2007 by krupkaj, Twh and mlp.

2007-03-29

The final version of the very best demo from Forever 8: The Shrine by La Resistance group, finally appeared. By the way there are new photos from the party, taken by: Mikey/NG, Krap, DJ Gruby/Oxyron (ex Cactus), and from the c64.cz.

2007-03-19

Results and stuff from Forever Reneg8:

Demo compo:
1. Shrine - Laresistance, 543 p.
2. W_hole - Animkomials, 378 p.
3. F8 - Grzybson/SSG, 252 p.

Intro compo:
1. Seawolf - Raster/C.P.U., 555 p.

Graphics compo:
1. Abyss - Powrooz/Laresistance, 561 p.
2. Before I sleep - Dely/Blowjobb, 512 p.
3. Virtuoso - Raster/C.P.U., 455 p.
4. Fighting Viper MKII - Krupkaj/JAY Soft, 365 p.

Music compo:
1. Shake your ass - X-Ray/Grayscale, 501 p.
2. Gear Up - Raster/C.P.U., 462 p.
3. Kurczar - Lisu, 395 p.
4. THC K.k.t - Pin, 378 p.
5. Nonsense song - Dhor/M.E.C., 338 p.
6. Disturbance - Miker/Blowjobb, 325 p.
7. Shorty noises - Elan, 285 p.

Realtime compo:
5. Ninjax - X-Ray/Grayscale, 358 p.
6. Ninja polo - Lisu, 341 p.

First photos from party. See below sites: Forever organizers, Thw, Krupkaj and Laoo pictures.

Update: Miker's photos.

2007-03-06

PSPAtari, an Atari XL/XE/5200 emulator for Sony PlayStation Portable by Zx-81 appeared in version 1.0.7. Changes in this version are: new, smoother render engine; save state dates are now displayed in the emulator window; fixed bug with keyboard mapping. Details, download (binary and sources, in the GNU GPL licence) on the Zx-81 homepage.

2007-03-04

On the atari.online.pl site another interview appeared. The author of the legendary Kolony game, Janusz Bień, has been interviewed by Kaz. Bień tells us about the circumstances of game creation, his past and present works, etc (only in Polish). Don't forget, that under the sign of atari.online.pl a continuation: Kolony 2106 is being created.
That's not all, Kaz has digged out another missing game from the past. Agony is the last, nonpublished (but finished) work from Lorien group, written in 1993. It's inspired by Mission and Draconus and - as other Lorien's works - is really well done. Of course the game is freely downloadable.

2007-03-01

Electron/TQA made available a demo movie showing his VBXE possibilities.

2007-02-28

New release of Atari XL/XE/5200 emulator for PlayStation Portable appeared. The PSPAtari emulator, maintained by Zx-81 is a PSP port of known Atari800. New in version 1.0.6: multiple keyboard mapping feature, help menu, bugfixes in rom file requester, screenshots and keyboard handler. Seek for an info on PSP Updates site.

2007-02-20

The principal of Junior High School no. 1 in Głuchołazy/Ziegenhals has agreed for Summer Copy Party organization. People, who still does care about Atari are invited to Głuchołazy/Ziegenhals, Poland on the 27-29 of July.

2007-02-13

The Fujiama 2007 takes place from 20th to 22th of July 2007 in Lengenfeld, Germany. Same location as last year.

2007-02-09

Nosty invites to his site (real3d.atari8.info) where he has presented his new idea: 3D glasses for 8-bit Atari. Available: interface schematics, descriptions, demonstration software.
English version of the site is ecpected soon, meanwhile everything is simple and should be understandable.

2007-02-05

Caverns of the lost miner is the new logical game for 8-bit Atari, written by by BAKTRA. The game is based on game "Lost miner" (for IBM/PC) and "Lost miner" is based on "Super Miner" (for ATARI by Byte nibbler).
The sources are included and the game is fully customizable. Enjoy!

2007-01-28

Flowers Mania wins in Kaz Compo 2006.

2007-01-23

Platariada will be held on 8 to 10 June 2007 in Ceske Budejovice (Budweis). More info here.

2007-01-20

Atariada, traditional Czech Atari meeting, will be hold on 31st March, 2007 in Prostejov, Czech Republic. Online visitors list can be found here.

2007-01-14

The atari.online.pl site goes back to life after holiday break. This time the review for the game Basil The Great Mouse Detective. Please feel invited.

2007-01-04

On the AtariOnline site a contest for the best game of last year has been announced.

2007-01-04

The AtariArea portal, Atariki and all the services available at the krap.pl domain have been suspended, the server is down for maintenance. The downtime is expected to be about a week.

2006-12-30

After almost two years of break, a work on the SIO2SD interface has been resumed. The device development is in the beta-test stage, it supports standard ATR and XFD from 90 KB up to 16 MB, allows the turbo transmission (currently up to 51200 kbps), emulates drives D1-D4. The whole project is maintained by Jakub Kruszona-Zawadzki. On the project's homepage you'll find all downloads: circuit diagrams and Atmel's software. We have mentioned about the projet in the past.

2006-12-22

After long break Czestochowa (Poland) is again place of Atari freaks' meeting. Grzybsoniada is party organised by Grzybson/SSG. It is taking place on days 4-6 May 2007. You can find more information at official site.

2006-12-07

A new game Sudoku Sweep. More info on atari.online.pl.

2006-11-30

After twelve years new version of Toms Navigator has been released. Added: support for drives 5-7 and 9; some minor bugs were fixed. Traditionally the program works under MyDOS.

2006-11-26

Photos from East 2006, last copy party by McMaster/SSG in Mońki/Poland.

2006-11-09

New version of mmSAP 1.4, a SAP player for GNU/Linux is available. New features:
- Playlist added (!),
- ALSA variant uses less CPU power,
- Four repeat modes,
- Bugfixes.

2006-11-01

A new MADS 1.7.5

2006-10-30

Thanks to Kaz from atari.online.pl we have now full ABBUC Software Contest 2006 results and stuff.

2006-10-29

New world premiere on atari.online.pl - new game, Scorpions v2.0 - reedition of old Scorpions game by xxl, Powrooz, with music from Jakub Husak.

2006-10-29

Polish Video of JHV (ABBUC) available Take a look here. The video is available in 5 (!) different languages. English, Polish, Netherland, Francais and of course German. All languages available in two different formats. Filesize from 14 to 55 MegaByte depending on filetype (mpeg, wmv) (length: 5:15 min) See sio2usb, flashing multijoy16, midi, ABBUC Bundesliga and much more.

2006-10-25

After 10 years of silence... a new Top Magazin 2006 by Kaisersoft was released.

2006-10-22

Carsten Strotmann, Raster/CPU and Matthias Reichl are winners ABBUC Software Contest 2006. More info soon.

Update: Light Up!.exe by MatoSimi.

2006-10-22

New game Colony 2106 announced on atari.online.pl.

2006-10-20

After a longer break in the activity, I'm inviting you again to weekly Sunday Radio UXA brodcasting. On the upcoming program 22.10.2006 we'll have two guests: Greg and Samurai. New feature in the radio is the song requester - now the playlist is set by you! Details on radiouxa.atari8.info.

2006-10-11

Pr0be and his company have finished and released the preview of a new game: Crownland - a platformer similar to Giana Sisters and Super Frog.

2006-10-09

On the atari.online.pl an updates' listing appeared - the summary of all games that have been added to the directory within last months. It's nice to see so many Atarians helping to improve the archive. Thanks to all and please continue supporting me.

2006-10-02

A new version of Ataridim 2.05 beta - tool for work with Atari disk image files XFD and ATR. More on Raster site.

2006-10-02

Beta SpartaDOS X 4.39RC has been released. This version supports up to 15 (A-O) disks with capacity up to 32 MB and 512-bytes sector size. Detailed changelog and files may be downloaded from the project's site: trub.atari8.info.

2006-09-28

A new version of Atari800MacX 3.4.2. New Features and Bug Fixes:
- Added pulldowns to the Media Status Window which allow the user to control machine type, screen scaling, screen width, and artifacting from there in addition to using the menus or keyboard,
- Added the ability for the emulator to remember what media was present (disks, cassette, and/or cartridge) when it quit, and restore them the next time it starts up. This is added as a checkbox to the Boot Media panel of the Preferences,
- Add the ability to enable/disable keyboard joystick emulation with the Cmd-J keypress (also in the Control menu), so that you can switch between the joysticks and normal keypresses easily,
- Added ability to control emulation speed from 10-300%, as opposed to either 100% or Full Speed. There is now a slider on the Atari panel of the Preferences,
- Added the Break key to the Function Key window, for those with International laptop keyboards which might not have had the other keys,
- Fixed bug where Mouse Emulation modes were not working properly,
- Fixed issue with International and Dvorak keyboards where Command key combinations were not being released properly, and keys were missed, or keyboard joysticks did not work correctly.

2006-09-27

The date of the biggest Slovak meeting: Forever 8 is now announced. The event will take place in Trencin, on the 16-18th of March, 2007. The party place is not certain yet. Entrance fee: 250 Sk. It is possible to sign up and book a mattress.

2006-09-27

New ASMA 3.1. We've got: 188 new sounds, new players: ASAP, mmSAP, SapEMU and ASMADB - online database with searchable musics, authors and playlists creating.

2006-09-18

There is a new version of xunzip 2.1 - a ZIP, TAR, GZ and TGZ (TAR.GZ) archives depacker. A bug that made impossible using options I, D, S has been fixed, and also xunzip supports timestamps since this version.

2006-09-15

Today's proposal: photos from events XzentriX 2006 in Seeshaupt/Germany and Buenzli 15 in Winterthur/Switzerland. Taken by Twh, some may remember him from Lato Ludzików 2002 CP.

2006-09-09

On Kaz's site you can find new graphics by Gonzo.

2006-09-05

The atari.online.pl seems to be the most active Atari site lately… Kaz made another interview, with Radosław "Karol" Karolak, an author of known Polish text game Professional Killers.

2006-09-03

Immoderated in reviewing and interviewing Karol "Charlie Cherry" Wiśniewski strikes again! This time he tells about the Inny Świat game, one of the few Role-Playing Games for Atari, and probably the only one Polish RPG. I must admit, that Karol has showed a way into another world so clearly, that I've been tempted for a longer play… I suppose, that RPG fans will be even more contented.

2006-08-30

Yet another review presented on atari.online.pl. This time Jarosław "Jar-eck" Bednarz has written about Lemmings-like games for Atari 8-bit. Our compy is probably the only one with so many clones of this game… And we all had crying, when the original game wasn't released for our beloved machine. :>

2006-08-29

The atari.online.pl site brings us another interview. This time Paweł Mikołajczak has been interviewed by Marcin "Stryker" Wojciechowski and Michał "Dracon" Garbaciak. Paweł is know as authos of some Atari XL/XE games: Helix, Zbir, Magia, Jaffar, Janosik. You may also look at Paweł's Illusion Games website.

2006-08-27

Release 4 of Memo Pad is ready for downloading. I fixed the bugs seen on Windows 98SE where the Atari font and the Open Recent files were failing to load. I have also added support for handling "drag-and-drop" files. To see the full list of changes and to download the latest release visit http://joyfulcoder.com/software/memopad.

2006-08-24

New mmSAP 1.2, small SAP player for GNU/Linux appeared. New version is forked into two variants: ALSA and SDL. Also preferences dialog added. More details and download on the mmSAP homepage.

2006-08-24

Today Kaz decided do remind us some articles from the former e-zin Wirtualny Komputer. The magazine were published in the years 1999-2002. One of the redactors, Łukasz Bubel, was (and still is) Atari fan, so there were some Atari and Atari games related articles. Now, thanks to atari.online.pl we can read them again (in Polish only). As a bonus we can find Łukasz's story for fantasy/RPG fans.

2006-08-23

The atari.online.pl site comes back to life after holiday rest. Gonzo started to work again and create some new Graph2Font pictures. Mainly still inspired by the summer rest, but we've got also some conversions from C64. Of course all are downloadable.

2006-08-22

Vega has released the last working version of Yie Ar Kung Fu. Last beacuse of giving up on some vicious error causing the game to lock up after players' presentation. Thus it's strongly recommended to run the game under emulator. Requirements: 320 kB of RAM, good joystick.

2006-08-21

Release 3 of Memo Pad, the ATASCII file viewer and converter for Windows, is ready for downloading. In this release I have added preferences for changing the format of the byte offset and byte values displayed in Binary view mode.

2006-08-21

Mads Assembler 1.7.4 released. This version includes really many changes, fixes and improvements.

2006-08-17

On the 1st to 3rd days of September the ByteFest 2006 will take place - a meeting for old conputers' users: Atari, Commodore, Apple, Amiga and even... Sharp MZ. The event will take place in the centre of Czech Prague. The presentations will be lead by - among others - Jan Krupka and... Wotnau!

2006-08-14

Luckily new, thirteen issue of Alive magazine appeared. The mag is targeted for ST(e) users, but also little atarians will find somenthing to read, I recommend event reports: Atariada, Noise, Atari Connexion, Outline, BFP. Not everywhere XL/XE appeared, of course, but every relation is interesting.

2006-08-14

Good news for all Raster Music Tracker fans. New version of this composer, 1.24 is now available. Changes includes bugfixess, new options, mouse-wheel support, bookmarks, changes in the main routine and new RMT Player 1.06. Of course there are some new songs too. Detailed changelog on Raster's homepage.

2006-08-12

Today we have the 25th anniversary of the IBM PC standard - the first IBM PC computer was introduced on August 12, 1981. The PC World site announced The 25 Greatest PCs of All Time ranking, made by it's editors. What's important: they look not only at IBM PC standard, but at the personal computers of really all time. What it has to do with Atari? Of course, it has something! The 14th place was taken by Atari 800, designed by great Jay Miner. Part game machine, part productivity enhancer, the $999 Atari 800 was the first home computer to feature a custom video coprocessor in addition to its CPU, which was the same 8-bit 6502 used in the Apple II.
The 7th place was taken by Commodore Amiga 1000, produced by Atari's biggest rival, but designed again by Jay Miner. And the very winner is Apple II. Detailed ranking in PC World's article: The 25 Greatest PCs of All Time.

2006-08-12

TeBe/MadTeam released two new versions of XL Paint Max. Version 2.5 is the generic version; version 2.6 is optimized for speed and has some extra functionality (ability to undo the undo), but is written for 65c816 CPU only.

2006-08-11

Another new Polish game we have! :D As it was announced before, Arkadiusz "ArSoft" Lubaszka and Michał "stRing" Radecki, respawned not long ago on the Atari scene, created new logic game - Klony. The game's gain is to clone cells with genetic material (very modern subject) and beat an opponent, who is trying to do the same. We need to pass 30 levels, randomly chosen from the 60 existing. Links: a story on atari.online.pl, the Klony game (in two versions: for DOS II+/D and for MyDOS, should work with HDD), map with all game levels, bells from the game, music from the game (in SAP format) and game movie trailer. Ough, there something for everyone!

2006-08-11

We all have holidays now; sun, lakes, seaside, girls... or wife, sometimes. But atari.online.pl site is working! There are some new stuff there.
Karol "Charlie Cherry" Wiśniewski done an interview with Arkadiusz "Gizmo" Łukszo. Do you remember such old games as Warsaw Tetris, Battle Ships and Ortografia? Yes, they have been done by Gizmo.
Thanks to the Mr.Bacardi and Homesoft, who unprotected the game, atari.online.pl contains the Inspector game in the original ATR format. And Michał "Grey" Michałowski has scanned the original instruction manual, so there is a full set (along with the game's review, published before) - we may say.

2006-08-07

A new XLPaint MAX 2.4

2006-08-07

After few hours our site is on again

2006-07-31

Full results from Głuchołazy 2006:

Demo:

1. Back to basics - Jaskier/Taquart - 215 p.
2. NAOS - Grzybson/SSG - 196 p.
3. Pisecna - Jaskier/Taquart, Sikor, Grzybson/SSG - 122 p.
4. Głazy - Sikor - 119 p.

Music:

1. GLU - Raster/CPU - 244 p.
2. Supersco - Scorpio - 186 p.
3. TNT - Poison - 171 p.
4. Fajnista - Scorpio - 165 p.
5. Buraczki - Pinokio/Tristesse - 149 p.

Graphics:

1. Monster - Vidol - 297 p.
2. Patience - Dely/Taquart/Blowjobb - 232 p.
3. Pinklown - Dely/Taquart/Blowjobb - 206 p.
4. Gothica - Mazi/SSG - 141 p.

You can download all the stuff from here (including Retrolution - music collection by Dhor and Flash from MEC group).

Another photos from party by Mikey/New Generation/Blowjobb.

Update: Krap photos.

2006-07-31

A bit delayed, stuff and photos from Fujiama 2006 in Lengenfeld.
There are also first photos from Głuchołazy 2006 by Jan Krupka.

2006-07-30

Meeting in Głuchołazy ends now. The event gathered few dozen of participants and it's hard to count or list them them. Our Czech ans Slovak brothers also arrived. There was a live show of Pasiu's turbo card - F7. And the competition winners are:
Demo compo:
1. Jaskier
2. Grzybson
3. Sikor
Music compo:
1. Raster
2. Scorpio
3. Poison
Graphics compo:
1. Vidol
2. Dely
3. Mazi

2006-07-22

California Extreme 2006 show brought us interesting interview with Al Alcorn - original designer of cult Pong game and co-founder of Atari. Al talks about Steve Jobs, who has been Atari's employee, before he created Apple.
There are more Atari corp. history related podcasts from this year's California Extreme on PodTech.net: The History of Atari, spoken by many legends of the videogame industry and Past, Present and Future of Retro Gaming, spoken again by Pong's creator - Al Alcorn.

2006-07-22

Charlie Cherry wrote another excellent game review. This time it's Inspektor - Polish decision game. In the game the player is CIA agent, Robert Brass, who arrives to the Poland soon after the fall of communism to catch dangerous terrorist, Ennio Baro. Unfortunatelly, the absurd mix of old and new makes the mission really difficult…
The game was written by Mariusz Jachimczuk and Jakub Husak and published in 1993 by Orkus. You may read the Inspektor review with complete solution on atari.online.pl.

2006-07-21

Copy-party in Głuchołazy is coming really soon, only week left... So if you want to participate in any competition and you don't have any possibility to deliver your entries, please leave me a private mesg. The entries may be delivered to the 27.07.2006, 11:00 am (CET).

2006-07-20

Kaz brought us another interesting interview. This time it's only a translation of interview Arno Weber took with Peter Liepa - author of one of the most killing 8-bit games: Boulder Dash. Polish readers are invited to the article on atari.online.pl, English readers may look at the original version.

2006-07-16

Grzegorz "G.K." Kończyk made some more movies from Atari XL/XE games. This time we can download movies from games: Alchemia, Alfa Boot, Aurum, Barahir, Darkness Hour, Droga Wojownika, Gold Hunter, H.E.R.O., Incydent, Kernaw, Magia Kryształu, Neron, Syn Boga Wiatru, Turbican, Uczeń Czarnoksiężnika. Please visit atari.online.pl for download.

2006-07-13

Brief compo rules - Głuchołazy copy-party.

1. Hardware.
All entries will run on the Atari XEGS with thr following config:
· CPU: 65c816,
· RAM: 1MB,
· Atari OS - version BB 01.02 - 10 May 1983,
· SOUND: STEREO,
· HDD: KMK/IDE,
· Sparta DOS X / MyDOS 4.50T, or SD816N initialiser from the partition in SPARTA format.
Each compo enty must run correctly on the given configuration - 1MB mode (with no separate Antic XMS access), stereo, IDE/KMK. There have to be at lest 3 entries and 2 authors for each compo category, otherway the competition will be cancelled. The entries have to be original.

2. General rules for INTRO/DEMO
The entry has to be in file version, there must be the possibility to change/choose used extra memory banks (with no digging in code - it may be a menu or separate config file). All calls to the disk only by "D:" device (not "D1:" in order to run correctly with HDD), memlo $2000, the entry must run under MyDOS, or Sparta X 4.x, or under initialiser (SD816.SYS) from disk in Sparta DOS format. During the loading the FloatingPoint/NewDevices area must not be used (in order to run correctly from HDD). All entries will be loaded from the Hard Drive - p nr 1;
· intro - categories will depend on the given entries and may be: 256B, 1kB, 4kB, 8kB, 16kB - it means the total entry size,
· demo - max 1088kB ram - please remember that it must run on the given configuration - p. nr 1.

3. GFX COMPO
· max 3 entries per author,
· all formats that may be edited on Atari 8 bit are accepted, additionally G2F is accepted,
· the entries may be in the Atari executable format - but in such a case the source is also nessesary.

4. MSX COMPO
SYNTHETICS:
· max 3 entries per author (COVOX entries are counted separatelly),
· all formats are accepted,
· the entries may be as source files or in the Atari executable format - but in such a case the source is also nessesary,
· suggested time limit - 3 minutes, longer tracks may be turned off by organisers.
COVOX:
· max 3 entries per author (SYNTH entries are counted separatelly),
· accepted all formats editable on Atari - MOD, NEO. Any new, proprietary format will be accepted, but the needed/related software must be available. The entries will run on the given config - see p. nr 1.

There is possibility to negotiate the compo rules, but please take them into consideration. All suggested changes will be discussed with all entries' authors (in the related category) - if there will be no possibility to get in touch with any of the authors - the rules will not be changed.

2006-07-08

We have now the details of summer party in Głuchołazy (Ziegenhals). The event will take place on 28-30.07.2006, party place: Junior High School (Gimnazjum) nr 1, Kraszewskiego street 30. The place will be opened from the 8 a.m., sleeping room with mattresses. Entrance fee: 30 zł (about 7,5 €). Compo rules will be announced soon.

2006-07-08

As Kaz informs us, a new game for XL/XE is to be released. This time Arkadiusz "ArSoft" Lubaszka (known from previous articles on atari.online.pl) and Michał "stRing" Radecki (formerly known as Tehno and as originator of that one horrible What are the melodies contest) are working on the Klony. This will be a conversion from the coin-ops' Ataxx game.
The game is announced to be released at the end of July or at least at August. While waiting we may download (from the atari.online.pl) and watch a trailer of the game, prepared for us by the authors!

2006-07-05

Michael Kalous released mmSAP - new SAP music player for GNU/Linux. Required libraries: libSAP 1.51,SDL 1.2.10, gtkmm 2.8.2. Features: all capablities (and drawbacks) of libSAP 1.51, simple GTK GUI, silence detector with automatic subsong. Source code is available.

2006-07-05

Some people know, that our team fellow, Pinokio, plays drums in a trash-metal groups. His current band, Retribution, has just released their debut CD, Made in Hell. The CD is published by the Empire Records and is available to buy from today with the current issue of THRASH'EM ALL magazine. Of course, there are greetings for the Atari scene on the CD inlet!
The publisher's decription says: the CD'c title, 'Made in Hell' tells for itself. The dense and superheavy music, with powerfull vocals, smashing guitar riffs and strong rythmics. RETRIBUTION is a new, raising star of Polish trash meatal scene!
For those more interested, there is official Retribution site (Pinokio is this one on the bottom of members' list), with some samples in MP3 available to download in the MUZYKA divison.

2006-07-01

The Advan BASIC programming language by William Graziano is now released as public domain. The release includes disk images (the main program, compiler, utilities) and full documentation in various formats (txt, pdf, doc). The program set may be downloaded from the respective site.
Update: there is also a competition announced for the best program written in Advan BASIC, the deadline is set to September 1st, details in the discussion on this subject on comp.sys.atari.8bit.

2006-06-30

After a player's career the time comes to become a coach and then a manager.
Kaz prepared second part of the soccer games' review, this time he writes about soccer managers in the article titled ...or it will be a draw. For all those curious: the sentence the better one will win, or it will be a draw came from the best Polish national team trainer in the history: Kazimierz Górski.

2006-06-30

A nostalgia for the past 8-bit times becomes more and more common. There is another retro project online: K64 El proyecto. K64 was an Argentinian magazine, dedicated to the wide range of 8-bit computers: Sinclair, Timex, TI-99/4a, Commodore, MSX, and of course Atari, published from 1984 thru 1989. K64 taught us the programming - say the project team. They want now to scan all issues and make them available online. The first issue is already online.
The site is in Spanish, of course, but Babel Fish translator handles it pretty well.

2006-06-29

Excitated with the looking for an alternative summer party place, we've almost missed really important date! Two days ago we had an anniversary. What? On the June 27, 1972, a fellow named Nolan Bushnell founded a little company - Atari. And so the game started...
The IGN site has prepared some memories about the Atari Corp., shared with us by Industry types and IGN editors.

2006-06-29

Not satisfied with your national team's apperance on Mundial 2006? Kaz has prepared for us a short review of football games available for our Atari (Americans call it soccer). First part of the review, titled The better one will win... describes the arcade games.
Do you know any other soccer game for 8-bit Atari? Drop us an info!

2006-05-27

We have now the demo written for Platariada meeting in České Budějovice. The Mysterion demo by Fandal & Poison (Frantisek Houra, Marek Pesout, Ivan Straka) announces upcoming new adventure game for Atari XL/XE.

2006-06-27

It's almost sure, that on the 28th-30th of July 2006 a copy party will be held in Głuchołazy (Ziegenhals)/Poland. The event, organised by Rysiek Mauersberg (should be known e.g. from Forever 2006) will take place in the Public Junior High School nr 1 on the Kraszewskiego st. 30. There is a discussion on this subject in the respective topic on the AtariArea forums. We will keep informing you about the subject.

2006-06-27

Mark Grebe released new version 3.3.0 of Atari800MacX - an Atari XL/XE emulator port for MacIntosh. The emulator is now a Universal Binary, and will run natively on Intel Macs. The program is under donationware license. Changelog:
- Updated to the 1.2.10 release of libSDL, which includes official Universal Binary support.
- Added new, realistic artifacting type. This produces much clearer text, and correctly varies luminance and displays player missile graphics in artifacted mode.
- Fixed bug which would not allow keys used for joystick emulation to be used to type filenames in Fullscreen UI.
- Fixed upside down printing of text in Epson and Atari825 Printer Emulators on OS X 10.3 and 10.4.
Details and download from the project's site.

2006-06-27

The past weekend Platariada - an Atari meeting took place in České Budějovice/Czech Republic. First photos from this small event have been published by Jan Křupka.

2006-06-27

Some time ago, there was Grand Prix Simulator game review on the atari.online.pl, where Kaz said sadly, that lazy developers gave a p*ss about our compy. So Gonzo decided to create title screen, which lacks in Atari version. It was possible to make it even more colourful with G2F, but I decided to keep the original feeling - he said. Now it's time to put the picture into the game. To continue the hossa Gonzo redrawn more CodeMasters' game graphics - All-Terrain-Vehicle Simulator and Dizzy, even with some animation. Now it's time to code the games themselves... ;) The second Dizzy graphics looks nicer with Blue/Brown 2 artefacting enabled in the emulator. The last picture is not conversion, but fully original Gonzo's art (however, the subject is not very original ;)). Along with the screenshots, the archive with Atari executables is of course available.

2006-06-25

AtariMagazines.com has added the full text of 21 more issues of Compute! magazine: Fall 1979 (the first issue!), January 1981, February 1981, March 1981, April 1981, October 1981, December 1981, February 1982, June 1982, July 1982, October 1982, November 1982, January 1983, March 1983, June 1983, August 1983, September 1983, October 1983, September 1989, November 1990, and December 1990.
Published from 1979 through 1994, Compute! was a multiplatform computer magazine covering Atari, Apple, Commodore, Texas Instruments, Timex/Sinclair, and other early personal computers.
Founded in 1996, the Classic Computer Magazine Archive delivers thousands of articles from Antic, STart, Creative Computing, Compute!, Compute II, Hi-Res, Creative Computing Video & Arcade Games Magazine, and Tandy Whiz Kids comic books.

2006-06-23

And we've got now, what should be expected. Gury announced another updates on his site. What's new (shortly):
- new change log system, allowing to detaily check of what has been added/changed/removed. Available for games and source codes libraries at the moment,
- games library updates,
- source codes updates, including: new subcategories, searching by publisher and computer language type possibility,
- PC files updates,
- another updates and fixes on the site. Details here.
For sure this is not an end, but rather an intro for much bigger changes… ;)

2006-06-23

Draco released new version of his SysInfo. The 2.11 - 23 June 2006 revison adds a feature of testing GTIA 16-shades graphics mode. As it's known, a number of GTIA chips are buggy and can't display this mode properly in some cases.
There is also a discussion about buggy GTIA chip on the AtariArea forums.

2006-06-21

A web-page atari.online.pl now has 2 years! We greet it and wish to KAZ more success!

2006-06-21

New Mads 1.7.3 is available. Changes:
- added ability to change .PROC or .LOCAL assemblation address with no changing the loading address,
- removed code optimalisation for macro-opcodes MWA etc. - it could force MADS into neverending loop,
- added .REG, .VAR directives, allow to define how the parameters will be transfered to procedures (.REG via the CPU registers, .VAR via variables),
- added .VAR directive, allows to declare variables in the .PROC, .LOCAL blocks, the declared variables are physically stored at the end of the block,
- extended .EXTRN directive syntax, e.g. EXTRN label1,label2,label3... TYPE,
- when no labels' declaration for MADS' software stack, default values of @PROC_VARS_ADR=$0500, @STACK_ADDRESS=$0600, @STACK_POINTER=$FE are set,
- added repeat_counter #, may be used substitutably with the .R directive,
- '^ not relocatable' error will appear when trying to relocate 'lda ^label' opcode,
- added support for public symbols for constants (C-ONSTANT) in the PUBLIC blocks,
- improved recolatiblity for .ARRAY tables, datas created with .STRUCT, parameters trensfered to procedures via constant #.

2006-06-18

Vidol noticed, that on the MadTeam's site an old version of Getris game was published, I don't know, how it could happen, an oversight or sth. If your links were pointing at the madteam.atari8.info site and GETRIS.ZIP file (e.g. from sites by Kaz and Vasco) - it was old version of the game. There is a correct version at Fandal's.
Now it's fixed, the correct file is GETRIS_OK.ZIP file on the MadTeam site, forgive me the mess. The last - corrected version has a "live", not static HighScore and fixed bugs reported by players. As a bonus, now there are sources of Getris in the archive.
New version of MADS, able to compile Getris sources soon.

2006-06-18

A second edition of Oberfränkisches Atari Meeting - 996 has been announced. The event will be held in Münchberg, Germany, on 9th and 10th of September, 2006. The party is targeted for all Atari hardware, from 2600 to Milan. The enter is for free, but one may leave a small donation for local YMCA division. Features and bonus attractions: bigscreen, Atari network, famous local beer, table-tennis, Muenchberg's Village Festival on Sunday will end the party. More on the event's site, you can see photos from the first edition.

2006-06-18

An Atari XL/XE emulation becomes possible on another piece of hardware. This time new version (v1.0.2) of Atari emulator for PlayStation Portable appears. PSPAtari is developed by ZX-81, based on the Atari800 2.0.2 source from Petr Stehlik. Changes in new version: added sound emulation, various render modes, code cleaning and bug fixes, new virtual keys. More details and download from MaxConsole site, feedback and discussion on MaxConsole forums.

2006-06-17

Gury did another pretty updade of his site. Damn, it's growing really fast. The changelog:
- updated game library, many amendtmends (mainly Polish games), bugfixes, fixed 'search by publisher' option,
- updated source cody library: amendtmends and fixes in Antic magazine division, added new division: Tajemnice Atari (the first time, people not speaking Polish may look at this great magazine's resources),
- updated software library with few utilities, and so on,
- updated hardware library, many amendtmends and new items,
- updated books library, many amendtmends and new items,
- others; detailed changelog.
As far as I know, next, much bigger update is planned this summer. Stay tuned! Wanna help? - browse through the libraries and tell us, what is wrong or missing.

2006-06-16

New verion of Memo Pad from Eric Parent is available. Changes in release 2:
- Fixed a scrolling problem that would appear when viewing files with more than 32767 rows or columns.
- Added a binary view mode.

2006-06-16

The what are the melodies contest on atari.online.pl is now ended. No-one managed to guess all tunes, but the highest score has been hit by Michał 'Miker' Szpilowski. Well, the mucician's ear, I may say. Full list of entries' titles is now of course available. What, sounds easy now, right?
Along with the contest also my little riddle is resolved, the tune, that no-one seemed to know comes from the Lemmingi game, it's called Elroy, composed by Sherlock/Orion.
Additional good news is, that Tehno, the compo's co-organiser comes back to Atari scene... Welcome home! As a bonus we may download unreleased Tehno's tracks, two made on Atari and two made on PC.

2006-06-14

New interesting article appeared on the Galu.info site - interview with Maciej Miąsik, the former programmer from L.K. Avalon, famous Polish softhouse. Mr Miąsik tells us about his former works (mainly PC games, alas, Atari is only mentioned), new projects (The Witcher - Wiedźmin which should be an international hit, when finished) and his fight against copyrights, DRM and big corporations. The interview was taken by Galu. You may also read about Maciej on his sites: Miasik.net and Copyfight.pl.

2006-06-14

At last, Vidol and me have ended the work on Nibbly, all noticed bugs and screwups have been fixed, so the game should not make unpleasant surprises to you. :)
Please play with joy at port #1, use colour PAL TV (in the NTSC system the msx speeds up, and besides, the VBL routine is a bit too long for NTSC, especially on the title screen). On the title screen one may enter a code directly from keyboard, the code is displayed under WELL DONE scroll after each finished level. Thanks to it one may continue the game from the last successfull ending point. After finishing the level, or any other situation, when any scroll appears, one may continue with FIRE button (on the title screen also Start may be pushed).

The game has 100 levels, designed by Vidol, few are from C64, but generally all are designed from scratch by Vidol (original C64 game has only 16 levels). The music is a SID music, played by SID2POKEY by Święty, there is five subsongs in it. The C64 version and SID music file included in the archive.

2006-06-13

Oshah has released updated ASAP plugin for foobar2000 player. The plugin is modified to work with version 0.9x of the player. Comments may be wtitten on Hydrogenaudio Forums.

2006-06-12

New, eleventh excerpt of Fading Twiligh - Atari scene music collection is out. This time with tunes from following musicians: 505, 7an, AiO, Alan Parker, Alchemist, Bart of Noise, Beast, Beatbox, Bodenstaendig 2000, C-Frog aka D-Vibe, Cedyn aka Goaman, Charon aka Quark, Conrardy Tim, !Cube aka Guyer, Djamm aka Keio aka Moonove, Dma Sc, Dump aka Nikom aka Cougar, Fabounio, Fxl, Gem Two, Jess, Juri, Kanewood, Lotek Style fka MC Laser, Marcer, Paranoid, Rubbish, Scavenger, Simon V. aka No More, Seabrush, Smith, Solo, Spaz, ST Mixes, Strider, Timbral, Ultra aka Ultrafex aka Candyman, VLX, Wire aka Oedipus, X-Ray.

2006-06-11

There is a possibility to organise a picnic with Atari background in the Warszawskie Szczęśliwice, on the second or third Saturday of September. So there is a chance to expose a number of computers with games, to show our favourite computer to the modern people, to promote Polish sites related to the Atari. The details will be known soon, but your help is neede to organise the event. Anythong you may want to say on this subject - please talk here.

2006-06-09

Today Van Eijk, the QuaST Party organiser, announced, that due to important reasons this year's event is cancelled! More informations and discussion about possible alternatives for the party on Atari Area forums (in Polish).

2006-06-09

Kaz from atari.online.pl made another exlusive interview. This time he talked with Kevin Scott from Outland Quest Software. Kevin and with his 'brother' Larry Scott made a number of games for Atari XL/XE and later for Atari ST. They are even still doing something, from time to time, for ST mainly. As a bonus, you may download all OQS games for ST in one archive. The OQS XL/XE games were reviewed in the earlier article (they are available to download too).

2006-06-06

Konrad 'Draco' Kokoszkiewicz released another, bugfixed version - 2.11 of his XL OS (also called DracOS) for 65c816 CPU powered Ataris. Changes in this version:
- Fixes in the routine initializing the RAM past the first 64k (HMS).
- Fixed the "last slot problem" in kmalloc(): when the last slot of the memory allocation table was being taken, the information about all remaining memory was lost, thus even after all the memory was released, the OS was able to "see" only the amount of memory that had been previously allocated.
- Fixed similaro problem in kfree(): releasing a block of memory, when the last slot of the memory allocation table was assigned to that block, caused garbage to be written into that slot instead of zeroing it. As a consequence, the allocation table information got corrupt.
- A fix in the routine handling fatal errors: now the ROM CRC error causes the appropriate message to be displayed properly.
- Bugfix in the memory initialization routine: the hibot pointer ($0296-$0298) was not initialized properly at warm start.
- The memory allocation table format changed. As a result the number of available slots (= blocks of memory possible to allocate) increased to 64 on the same size of the table.
- The table moved to the top of the RAM detected past the first 64k.

Along with the OS a new version - 0.33 of MultiBasic is released (for the 65c816 CPU only, too). Both available on Draco's homepage.

2006-06-03

Kaz from atari.online.pl and Tehno from former High Voltage group announced a new competition related to 8-bit Atari. As you may know, Tehno was a musician, co this time it's the music contest. You have to recognize 55 melodies from Atari games, some easy, some difficult…
To win you need to recognize all melodies and tell the correct game titles and you must do it first! The deadline is set to 15th of July, so if until then no one will send 55 correct answers, the prize - atari.online.pl T-shirt in chosen size - will go to the competitor with the highest number of correct titles.

2006-06-02

Memo Pad is a Windows ATASCII viewer and converter. It is named after the memo pad found on the Atari 400 and 800 computers. It was written to allow Windows users to read ATASCII files. Memo Pad displays the files using the same font used on the Atari 8-bit computers.
Memo Pad can also display ASCII files that contain a common end-of-line character. The common end-of-line characters are CR+LF used in Windows and DOS files, CR used in Apple II and MacOS 9 and earlier files, and LF used in UNIX files.
At this time Memo Pad does not support editing and is mainly for viewing files but it does have the ability to convert end-of-line characters and re-save the files.

2006-06-01

The mapy.atari8.info site brings you, Ladies and Gentlemen, another two maps.
The first one, for the "Inny świat" game was created by Charlie Cherry.
The second one, for the "Hektor" game was created by the author himself, Arkadiusz "ArSoft" Lubaszka. The game was mentioned on the atari.online.pl site, an interview with the author was also published there.
Another new map appeared on the Fly Software site, for the Beer Belly Burt In Brew Biz game.

2006-06-01

James Wilkinson released version 2.2 of Dis6502 - cross-disassembler for Windows. In the new version some bugs were fixed and so the program should now work under Windows 98 SE.

2006-05-28

XXL released the final version of Flowers Mania game, which fixes awaking flowers animation and some other bugs, also duplicate data removed. And for all those, who claimed the game too difficult and too fast, an easier version has been created. To get both versions, please download the archive.
For English readers we've prepared a manual for Flowers Mania, revealing the basic strategies. Thanks to Kaz/Rohar for permission of translating the manual from atari.online.pl.

2006-05-28

And Gury still like a bee around his site… He has just announced another huge update. Changes, additions and fixes in:
- game library, added new games, new descriptions and links,
- software library, including programming languages,
- hardware division,
- links division,
- fixed titles sorting (titles starting with 'the') in all libraries, duplicates removed, other small changes.
The work still continues!

2006-05-27

Probably most of you have seen the jindroush.atari.org site, the great source of various technical data about Atari XL/XE. Unfortunatelly, the author has left the scene and the site probably would be forgotten, but Gury fortunatelly has mirrored the site. Of course, hosting Gury's site, we took also the mirror, which since today may bo found under jindroush.atari8.info address. Of course it is still maintained by Gury.

2006-05-27

On the atari.online.pl site new game review appeared. This time it's Grand Prix Simulator review, with comparisons to the Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC versions, done by Charlie Cherry. There are also map and saves available for players.

2006-05-24

Pajero/MadTeam released version 1.6 of MagoTrans. The program was created with intention to copy tape cassetes to the executable file, but later many more functions have been implemented.

2006-05-24

Our maps' page has got new map by Charlie Cherry for the Grand Prix Simulator game.

2006-05-23

With a significant delay (because of many reasons) the Lotharek's raport from Picnic Party 2006 in Opalenica already appeared.

2006-02-23

We have mentioned Boštjan "Gury" Gorišek's site many times, reccomending his impressive and well ordered colection of links and informations about almost all, what is related to the Atari XL/XE. So, the bigger is the pleasure to inform you, that after problems with hosting and straing on various free servers, his page has found a harbour at us and until now it is available under official address: gury.atari8.info.
Naturally, there are also changes and news in the site contents: the libraries of games, programs and source codes has been expanded and updated again. Gury invites you warmly, to look, to browse and to cooperate. Welcome to the new home, Gury! :)

2006-05-22

Whoa! The little Atari has another, a tenth youth. A new game has been just released, done by Krzysztof "xxl" Dudek. Flowers Mania is conversion of a flash game. Music is composed by Miker/Blowjobb/NG and amazingly colourful graphic is done by Powrooz/LaResistance. The game is worthy seeing (and playing). It's likely to be said: Hello World, look, how the games for Atari should be written! And on the atari.online.pl site there is an interview with the author (in Polish), done by Kaz.

2006-05-22

The contest annoinced by atari.online.pl has been just resolved! The winner is Mariuszbox, who correctly guessed all game titles. Only six persons exceeded the number of 50 correct answers, so it wasn't easy. Congratulations!

2006-05-20

On the atari.online.pl site a second part of Rohar group's history appeared. This time Kaz and Zyga have revealed another their utility. JoySTick is the program that allows to simulate Atari XL/XE joysticks with Atari ST computer, using any of it's controllers. Additionally the program allows to save and replay the movement of simulated joystick. The program hasn't been fully finished (some bugs weren't eliminated), but it works, and may bee freely downloaded.

2006-05-17

Kaz announced a competitionn: three games for fifty eight games. What's the crux? You have to guess, from which Atari games the 58 figures on the picture are taken. This is not going to be easy! The prize: three original games on cartridges will go to the first person, who'll send to Kaz all 58 titles. If nobody manage to do this, the person who'ill guess most of titles will be a winner. The compo ends on June, the 15th.

2006-05-15

Our friends Kaz and Gury are keep working lately. Their site have been just updated:
- The atari.online.pl games database has been updated with Outland Quest Software games, also a nice description of it's games and programs is written. Besides, the site contents has been significantly expanded and fixed.
- Atari 8-bit Forever has been updated, the game division has been expanded (added games from Outland Quest Software, ANG Software, Page 6 magazine, expanded search engine), also many other various fixes and updates.

2006-05-14

TeBe keeps working and we've got new Graph2Font 3.8.4.5. Changes:
- added: color palette updating after PASTE usage in Move XY,
- fixed: Move XY (no more program memory wiping),
- fixed: UNDO in Move XY,
- improved and simplified: horizontal X position in EDIT PMG,
- options: CLEAR, FILL w EDIT PMG replaced with CHANGE key (option change with RMB),
- added: priority 0 handling in EDIT PMG for Pixel = 2,
- added: Multicolor PMG handling in EDIT PMG,
- added: BMP2PMG option under the SCREEN tab, allows to change bitmap graphics into PMG graphics,
- added: possibility to switch BAK-COL0..15 color underd ZOOM with the TAB key,
- fixed some reported bugs e.g. disappearing area limitations in MOVE XY and bug with EDIT CHARSET (ALT+H) using under ZOOM,
- added: possinility to change G2F color palette (VIEW -> PALETTE..), no changing palette parameters yet,
- improved: to-char conversion for graphics with graphic mode changes and ASM file creation for such a graphics (examples in the ..G2F\IRGENDWER directory),
- fixed: information about raster occurrence range in pixels in EDIT RASTERS,
- added: visualisation of such color changes in raster, which are continued in next scanlines, e.g. ..g2f\tebe\FinalBlow_C64_TeBe.g2f,
- added: possibility to read files with C64 charsets (*.64C),
- fixed: reading of G2F files with graphic mode change in each row,
- added: VERTICAL SCROLL graphics handling (VSC files), possibility to export them into XEX file with EDIT MAPS (Export -> as vscroll).

2006-05-12

Wow, we've got plenty to read lately. Nice, especially if we can carry out our compy and read on the fresh air :). So, what have we got?
- Report from Opalenica Picnic Party by Sikor - on the atari.online.pl site.
- Very interesting article about one of the mostly known games for Atari - Montezuma's Revenge, by Galu.
- Interview with Paweł "Unicorn7" Baran, author of the uknown game from 1993 - Perły Szeherezady, dome by Kaz from atari.online.pl. Of course, the game is freely downloadable.
And soon we will publish another raport from Opalenica Picnic Party, by Lotharek.

Update: Thanks to Gonzo, we've got also something to watch. Kaz published on his site screenshots from Iron Lord game, converted from C64 and improved with Graph2Font. Nice, don't you think? We've got also a comparison of the same screen look an various computers, in sequence: 8-bit Atari, Commodore 64 in the middle, lower PC, and on the bottom Atari ST and Amstrad CPC. Only the game is still missing.

2006-05-09

Lee Hanken released a portable ATASCII text file viewer for Windows. Atascii Viewer version 1.0 handles both Atari and Windows text files, supports scrolling, print-preview and printing. The program is licensed freeware. Downloadable from author or from us. Author asks for comments and feedback.
There is also online ATASCII viewer.

2006-05-09

Another interesting infos from atari.online.pl site. The site's team has digged commonly unknown version of Mózgprocesor, the most known Polish text adventure game. This rare item's owner, published by CAS (not by Mirage, as the most common version), was Arkadiusz „ArSoft” Lubaszka. Details in the Nowa wersja "Mózgprocesora" article.

2006-05-08

It's a good idea to look at the Infinite Game Music site. They are really the maniacs of the chipmusic. The site seems to exist since October 2005, they have released several music compilations, available for free download. We may there regularly see our scene musicians from Taquart/Greyscale: Greg and X-Ray. What's more, they are praised heavily. Just look at the compilation list. At first - congratulations for our friends. Our praises may be non-objective, but if even foreigners say:
- Featuring awesome music from composers such as Rob Hubbard, X-Ray, Koji Kondo and RushJet1 (...)
- Grzegorz Kwiatek is The Wizard of Grayscale, perhaps more known as Greg. A musician as good as Jean Michel Jarre, Trent Reznor or Koji Kondo (...)
I hope, the praises will encourage Greg to return to active composing. And meanwhile we recommend you weekly X-Ray's brodcastings.

2006-05-08

On the site - archive of Page 6 ~ New Atari User the 30th issue of this magazine appeared. Moreover, we have there a new article, the Atari XL/XE software library has been expanded, Atari ST software library has been announced, several another smaller updates have been done.

2006-05-08

The Czech meeting Atariáda Prostějov is ended. There was a lot of fun, as I've heared. On the party the new issue of Flop #49 magazine has been released, and new game: Astro4 Road (code: Fandal, music: Raster). The game expands the idea of Astro Road game and allows to have fun for up to four players (with MultiJoy interface), or two players simultaneuosly.

Update: we've got first bunch of party photos. And the second bunch - apart from the Atariáda, you'll find there photoz from other Atari meetings: Noise, Atari Connection, and not only.

2006-05-08

On the atari.online.pl site appeared another bunch of movies from atari games. Grzegorz Kończyk offers to us: World Karate Championship, Zorro, Rescue On Fractalus and [e]MWK made a short variation about Draconus game. Everyone willing is invited!

2006-05-04

On the atari.online.pl site appeared new, excellent (as usually) review of classical game for our Atari: Rescue on Fractalus. Have a nice reading. And playing, of course.
You may also want to take a look at Wikipedia, where few words about the game has been written.

2006-05-03

New on the atari8bit.org site: interview with Steve Meretzky, author of many text adventure games for Atari 8-bit, published by Infocom. The name tells you nothing? If you do like text games, or at leat s-f book, you have to heard about The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy. And maybe you'll be tempted to play the game, if you haven't done it yet?

2006-05-01

There is no account to give you yet (the participants are still sleeping and curing themselves of hangover), but there are first photos from Opalenica Picnic Party 2oo6. We'll immediatelly give you the info about the missing ones, so stay tuned.
Update: most of the party participants have appeared alive already, and some photos may be find here (the same as the previous ones) and here (by Rocky/MadTeam).

2006-04-30

HiassofT just published first, beta version of MyIDE Tool, utility for direct access MyIDE harddrive from PC (Windows, Linuks) and creating backups as ATR files. More information on the AtariMax.com forums. Source code available.
It's good to know, that similar tool - K2A - exist for a long time for KMK/JŻ harddrives, programmed by Epi/Tristesse. Informations on AtariArea forums, source code also available.

2006-04-29

The SquoQuo team has released the final version of their game Ms. Bulimia. There are both ATR and XEX versions in the archive, also the manual and fixlist.
Besides, the group re-released shareware game Let's Hop made in 1989.

2006-04-29

As it was promised, full set of programs by Arkadiusz "ArSoft" Lubaszko, with detailed descriptions, appeared on the atari.online.pl site.

2006-04-25

As probably everyone knows, on the next Saturday - 29 IV 2006 the Picnic Party will start (end on Monday, 1st of May). The party, as usual, will be held in Taklamakan Town's Culture Center. More infos, especially for those, which never have been to Opalenica are here - plan, how to arrive, etc. For sure we'll meet there: Adept, Dracon__, Lotharek, MacGyver, Mikey, Pajero, Piguła, Samurai, Sikor, Squard, Zina, probably also will arrive: Dely, Elc, Jaskier, Mazi.

In the agenda:
- a trip to the Old Lovomotives' Parade in Wolsztyn,
- moviedrunkers' night - 3 movies: Drowning by Numbers (Peter Greenaway), Night on Earth (Jim Jarmusch), Delicatessen (Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet),
- everyday's movie show (on cinema screen), including movies from previous parties!,
- camping fires, free grilled sausage.

2006-04-23

SquoQuo published final version of Shit Alpin 2005. Game was spread on BreakPoint 2005.

2006-04-23

New version of Mads 1.7.2 released. Changes:
- completely rewritten handling of pseudo-opcodes: REQ, RNE, RPL, RMI, RCC, RCS, RVC, RVS, SEQ, SNE, SPL, SMI, SCC, SCS, SVC, SVS,
- fixed working of .LINK directive for constant-address blocks,
- fixed reserved words testing (it's possible now to use names reserved for 65816 when using only 6502),
- changes in listing, now it displays information about bank number only when bank > 0,
- added support for macro commands MWA, MWX, MWY, MVA, MVX, MVY, ADD, SUB, INW, DEW (macros are no longer needed to handle them).

Update. On the massive users' request TeBe has added to Mads syntax definitions for a number of editors. You need only to re-download the archive with the program, in the SYNTAX directory there are definitions for following editors:
- Code-Genie 3.0,
- ConTEXT,
- Crimson Editor,
- EditPlus 2.11,
- PSPad 4.2.1.

2006-04-23

It seems that the atari.online.pl team felt the spring. There is new interview on the site, this time with Arkadiusz "ArSoft" Lubaszko (in Polish, of course). And it's not the end, Arek has donated his games and programs to publication, which we may expect soon. For now, the descriptions and screenshots look interesting.

2006-04-22

There is new big article in the atari.online.pl site - firt part of the history of the RohaR group (not very known group created by Zyga and Kaz), mainly about some programs they have once developed - programs for graphics conversion and file transfer between Atari ST and XL/XE. The program set may be of course downloaded and includes:
- AFTER czyli Atari Files TransfER - transfers files between ST and XL/XE with a simple cable, plugged into centronics port and joystics ports.
- Kameleon - converts ST and XL/XE graphics formats.
- Kangur - XL/XE graphics painter, that works on Atari ST. Unfinished bur working.
- Krokodyl - converts graphics to the 4+ format (graphics 12 based mode used mostly in games) and verifies it.
- Kondor - creates XL/XE discs images on the Atari ST. Similar to the MakeATR, written for PC.
- Kormoran - converts texts between XL/XE and ST.
The article and the programs are in Polish.

2006-04-20

The Atari 8-bit Forever site by Boštjan Gorišek is a huge and still progressing collection of information and links related to our XL/XE machines. The site grows day by day, but there are especially lots of news and updates this month (and this year). It's impossible to list them all here, so, in the name of the author, I'm enticing you to look and take a trip through theese pages.

2006-04-19

We're enticing you to download and try new game for XL/XE: Ms. Bulimia by SquoQuo. The game took fifth place in 96K game compo on the just finished BreakPoint 2006 copy-party in Germany. The game i a humoristic version of old good PacMan: a poor girl is pursued by the owful cooks…

2006-04-19

New version of HiassofT's MyPicoDos 4.04 has appeared. MyPicoDos is a disk init, which main feature is support for MyDOS subdirectories and large disks. It allows to run COM, EXE, BIN and BAS files. License: GPL. Changes in new version:
- added support for Turbo 1050, XF551 and 810 Happy highspeed SIO,
- added atariserver remote console support,
- fixed MyIDE density recognition problems,
- new "standalone" .COM version of MyPicoDos (can be loaded from DOS),
- in AUTO disk format mode the file status bit 2 is used to activate 16-bit sector links,
- APE PC-Mirror subdirectories are now handeled properly,
- changed screen layout so that the file display is 15 instead of 12 lines, added arrow indicators if more files are available by scrolling up/down,
- major code cleanup to reduce the size of MyPicoDos.

2006-04-19

In a spare time you may sometimes look at atari8bit.org page. It is not updated frequently (lately last month, will try to keep an eye on them in the future), but there are some things worthy a look. The speciality of the house are interviews with game authors and original game manuals. But not only. We are enticing you in the name of the authors.

2006-04-18

There are compo results from the just ended Noise Easter Party. There were several entries for the little Atari:

Realtime Coding compo:
1. 73 bytes (XE) - FewRect | Bob!k/c.p.u.

XL/XE Music compo:
1. 102 p. M47oorK4 | Epi/Tristesse
2. 98 p. T'H'R'U'S'T | Centy Brown

XL/XE Graphics compo:
1. 116 p. Glizda | Dely/Blowjobb
2. 97 p. Easter Night | Raster

XL/XE Demo compo:
1. 67 p. Rolo 9 | Animkomials

Full results and entries for all systems are available on the Noise homepage.

Update: there are first photos from Noise Demoparty.

2006-04-17

On the atari.online.pl a new division has appeared: Movie Chronicles. We can download and view several movies from famous Atari games, directed by Grzegorz Kończyk. For now we can see: Bruce Lee, Jungle Hunt, Miecze Valdgira, Misja, Montezuma's Revenge, Moon Patrol, Mouse Trap, Ninja, Preliminary Monty, Tarzan Of The Apes, Upior, Zaxxon. World Karate Championship and Zorro are planned, and maybe other ones too…

2006-04-14

On the 29 IV - 1 V 2006 a picnic party will be held in Opalenica. More details will be available after Easter. Persons, who haven't paid entrance fee on the account already, please hold and don't do it yet.

2006-04-14

This year a new party: Fujiama 2006, will take place instead of old ones: Unconventional and Schreiersgrün. Date: 21-23 of July, place: Lengenfeld.

2006-04-13

A 10th excerpt from the Fading Twilight - Atari scene music collection - has appeared. We can now listen to the about 600 tunes from the following musicans: Badsnail, Bartman, Blue Nun aka Ice eye, Bruce, Cals'n, Dave Crazy Q, Delos, Furax, Havoc, Jet, Eckhard Kruse, Luebke, Masterboy, Mad Max, Mikey, Tim Moldenhauer, Mr. Wrobel, Juergen Piscol, The Match, RedRibbon, Splash, Tao, Techno, White Ninja, Yerzmyey, Zaphrodd, Zuhl.

2006-04-10

Hello scene friends, so our dream becomes reality - Noise will happen in less than week! This is last reminder from us, we've got some additional information:

1. Prizes Yeah, as we promised, we've got sponsorship for the prizes so here you are! It's guaranted we can give you at least:
- 1 x 17"LCD,
- 2x 1GB MP3 players,
- 1xHDD,
- 1xDVD,
- 1-3 "small" MP3 players,
- 9x Eiffel v4,
- 1x external DSP clock 44.1 kHz for Falcon,
- Atari T-Shirts, Noise T-shirts, Atari cups, packs of 5.25" disks and some others atari souvenirs,
- and of course: cash!

Everything we've got from entrance fees will be used for winners! See Noise homepage for more info! As you can see a trip to Noise could be pretty profitable ;)

2. Security Don't fear to bring anything you want! We hired a professional security guys! They will guard our stuff all the time!

3. Additional goodies Believe or not but thanks to our sponsor we could arrange something you wont see at other parties! Free bowling and food on saturday! Yes, we plan not to only be closed in one hall but we think it would be nice to relax a little bit so we prepared this action for you! Again thanks to our sponsor!

4. Last info: Don't forget usual things (sleep bag, money, atari stuff, good mood ...) and don't hesistate to contact us in case of some problem! Tomorow we are going to update "Traveling" section (how to get at Noise from bus station, railway station etc) So, at the end, we'd like to invite you once again... remember this party is one-go action, there wont be any further Noise volume. We did all our best to make sure you wont bore and you just really enjoy our party. We set entrance fee at the lowest possible boundary (compare with this year's Outline -- 45/55 Euro vs 15 Euro!), we prepare many cool events and competitions so... it will be *really* worth to visit it. Don't miss this chance to meet with the folks from 8/16/32bit scene, the chance to see the best demos from all atari platforms, the chance to see some rare atari stuff and of course -- to meet a friendly guys and have a good time!

Regards, Your Noisy team. See you in Slovakia!

2006-04-09

On the atari.online.pl site there is a new interview with Maciej Czarnota, an author of Wyspa and Pięć gówien Eepcha games (only in Polish).

2006-04-09

New Mads 1.7.0 has shown up. Changes:
- fixed bug with too small number of assemblation processes,
- added suppert for pseudo-opcodes: JEQ, JNE, JPL, JMI, JCC, JCS, JVC, JVS (macros are no more needed to handle them).

2006-04-06

Noise - Easter Atari demoparty - next week!!!

The party will be held on the 14-18.4.2006 (Košice/Slovakia) - four days long!.

I ask everyone arriving to sign up the guest list, also all of those only sending compo entries.

The compos will be held for all three platforms: little Atari (XL/XE), ST/STE and Falcon 030/060

There is a possibility to book a VGA monitor or TV!!!

More details on: noise.atari.sk

Please welcome!

2006-04-01

The atari.online.pl says that a famous C64 game The Last Ninja will be at last ported to the little Atari. On the site there are screenshots from the game already and preview of the game. Game is converted by Gonzo.

2006-04-01

Epi/Tristesse and Trub in cooperation with Draco have developed NTFS filesystem driver for Atari XL/XE with JŻ/KMK IDE interface. Currently a test version is ready. Features:
- transfer 120 KB/s under 6502 CPU,
- transfer 150 KB/s under 65c816 CPU,
- native support for 512 KB sectors,
- works under Sparta DOS X,
- NTFS low-level formatting.
To be done:
- increased transfer rate,
- improved work under DracOS (still some problems),
- support for file system journaling.
Limitations:
- partition size up to 16 GB,
- no support for Acces Control Lists,
- no support for file/directory encryption and compression,
- lacks some more advanced functions.

2006-03-29

New version of TRS Desktop - 0.9c alpha - released. Fixes:
- new ramdisk driver - recognizes the CPU type (6502, 65c816) and automatically sets proper option,
- support for SIO/EMU users - fixed installation problems.

2006-03-28

New Mads v. 1.6.9. Changes:
- extended syntax for .ARRAY, .PUT
- added macros JEQ, JNE, JPL, JMI, JCC, JCS in the XASM.MAC file (..\EXAMPLES\MACROS\)
- added directives .PAGES and .ENDPG
- added directive .END which replaces other .END? directives
- -H switch replaced with -HC (generates header file for CC65)
- added new switch -HM which generates header file for Mads with label types sorting like CONSTANTS, VARIABLES, PROCEDURES
- added directive .RELOC which generates rolecable code in MADS' format
- added pseudo-opcode EXT and directive .EXTRN whoch allow external symbols declaration
- added directive .PUBLIC pwhich allows to public varables and procedures from the .RELOC block (public symbols)
- added directive .LINK which allows MADS' relocable code linking
- examples of relocale code usage ..\EXAMPLES\ TETRIS_RELOC.ASM and ..\EXAMPLES\ LIBRARIES\
- fixed parameters transfer into MADS' procedures (via apostrophe " ")
- fixed bug, that allowed to replace procedure address with address of structure defined datas
- extended syntax for .STRUCT, fields' names may be preceded with white spaces while declaring them
- multi-line comment characters /* */ may be now used without limitations.

2006-03-25

NeoTracker is a program designed for editing and playing music with 8-bit samples, that utilizes up to 1 MB of extended memory and COVOX expansion. Changes in version 1.6:
- *VBL jumps fixed (works now with DracOS),
- automatic detection of XMS-bank used by SpartaDOS X in the installer,
- clearing of memory before starting both tracker and installer,
- volume change in sample window bug fixed.

2006-03-23

On the 19th of March, on the Forever 7 copy-party in Slovakia, a pre-premiere show of TRS Desktop 0.9 alfa took place. Today we have the program for you - the installation version. Bonus pack contains also short anual in RTF format - in two versions: Polish and English. Minimal requirements are: Sparta DOS X, mouse, and Atari 130XE. KMK/IDEa interface or Sio2IDE recommended. Startup from SIO/SIO2PC may need a manual changes in the program configuration - in the case of not installing on D1: drive. Enjoy :) [Our gallery, previous news: 2005-10-15, 2005-12-15]

Update: alpha version is the alpha version only, so there is first bugfix, becouse the Desktop may has problems on some configurations. Please download the file again. The bugfix is done by Trub.

2006-03-20

New Graph2Font - v3.8.4.3. Changes:
- thce char inverse haven't been accepted, now it's acceped,
- added possibility to compress G2F file (Special -> Pack G2F file), with ZLIB library,
- improved colors edition in EDIT COLORS (graphics mode changes in each scanline are now accepted).

2006-03-19

We've got the competition results and - of course - the stuff from Forever 7 Copy Party.

Demo compo:
1. 554 p. BASH - Blowjobb
2. 419 p. Rolo 8 - Animkomials
3. 291 p. Rolo 7 - Animkomials

Intro compo:
1. 561 p. ERF - Eru & X-Ray
2. 508 p. Landfucker - Pr0be
3. 476 p. The Steam Train - Fandal
4. 423 p. Plastic - Raster/C.P.U.
4. 423 p. Chuck - Pr0be

Graphics compo:
1. 450 p. Death Lord - Powrooz
2. 422 p. Victory - Raster/C.P.U.
3. 380 p. Wally Race - Powrooz
4. 347 p. Borg Pirate - Dely/Blowjobb
5. 317 p. Dragon Paradise - Dely/Blowjobb

Music compo:
1. 488 p. Jatatap - X-Ray/Grayscale
2. 433 p. Three hundred thirteen - Raster/C.P.U.
3. 349 p. Meryb - Epi/Tristesse^O.S.
4. 329 p. Hooy (f) - Pin/Tristesse
5. 281 p. Gerappppaaa - Lisu

Wild compo:
1. 86 p. Naturix 7 - Raster/C.P.U. (download AVI file from atari.sk)
6. 67 p. TRS - Desktop - Tristesse (see in our gallery)

2006-03-19

Forever 7 Copy Party is ending now. There are first photos available, delivered by the Slight group. Stay tuned - more info soon! We are all waiting for compo rezults and the stuff.

2006-03-15

Electron is continuously working on his invention: VideoBoard XE. There is a technical specification available already. It is still very early version and has to be extended.

2006-03-08

Rumours, that were spreading around, just became truth. Forever 7 copy party will be held in the announced date, but in on the other place. The present location of the party place is the Somer Club building on the Gen. Štefánik street in Trenčin. Good point: it is much closer to the city centre and only about 200 metres from the railroad station. Bad point: the ordered night lodgings are far away from the party place. It is posible to order a sleeping lodge closer to the place, but it will be more expensive. The organizers say "sorry" for the situation, it's a pitty, that such a meeting cannot find a good, stable place. It's the seventh edition already and fourth location.

2006-03-05

Electron has announced, that his work on new Atari invention: Video Board XE is to be finished soon. The idea is based on the GTIA replacement with a new chip. As a result we've got:
- GTIA compatibility - only old PMG and so called GTIA modes don't work.
- Sprite blitter with it's own 512 KB of RAM. It generates sprites with sizes from 1x1 to 256x256 points in the resolution of 320x192, each sprite in 256 colors. Number of sprites is limited only with blitter effectiveness, at least it wil be 30 pieces with 32x32 size and 256 colors per frame.
- Programmable priorities for sprites and background. Simple sprite collision detection.
- Programmable x and y sprite positions with 1 hi-res pixel presision.
- Two programmable 256 color palettes - one for the playfield and one for sprites. The palette colors are chosen from the 65536 colors (Hi-Color RGB).
- Playfield colors map in 8x8 and 4x4 pixels resolution, for each such block a 1 of 32 color-sets may be chosen (all playfield colors are changed), it is also possible to scroll color map vertically/horizontally with 1 pixel precision.
- Ability to mix hi-res and color modes with appropriate definitions in the map of colors..
- RGB output for monitor/TV.

We may see as far: photo of the board in the compy and an example of the desplay screen. A discussion on the subject may be found in Polish AtariArea forum, or on English AtariAge forum or you may even write a comment here :) The cost of the parts is about 200-250 zł (50-60 €).

2006-03-02

XRay/Grayscale has created a background for his RadioUXA in the form of the page radiouxa.atari8.info. Broadcastings, that may be listened with the peercast software, contain mainly the scene music from various platforms (with the majority of Atari XL/XE), live interviews and author's voice. The nearest opportunity to see what is all the thing about next Sunday, March the 5th, from the 20:00 (8:00 PM) till the midnight. With our encouragement!

2006-03-01

We've got plenty of new games for our Atari, almost as in the ol'good times of Avalon. Today a new stuff has seen the light, this time by XXL. It is a logic game Scorpions. There's a topic on creating the game on the AtariArea forum.

2006-02-25

Getris - the final version, which does not need fixes anymore, now we, Vidol and me, can pick up another project, a inimitable one. :) In the ZIP there are two verions: packed and unpacked one, Getris has been packed with Fox' deflater with 50%.

Changes:
- added brick: reversed "L",
- msx changed from RAMA.MPT to Xray's REVENGE.MPT,
- improved High Score, now the list is scrolled, and there is more action on the screen,
- other, small fixes.

P.S. If you have a brick 'auto-rotate' in Getris, it means you have autofire turned on.
P.S.2 The Getris sources will be released with the new version of MADS, as it couldn't be assembled with the current one.

2006-02-23

New wersion of RMT 1.23 appeared.
* Changes:
- Improvements in MODule import function (with tone-portamento effect).
- Support for SFX effects.
"File - Export As - RMT stripped song file (*.rmt)" there is improved export dialog with "SFX support" checkbox. You can use instruments for sound effects in your programs - example is in "/asm_src/sfx/" directory.
- Better playmode switching to "Play from currently edited position" if song is playing with "follow song" already (Sounds aren't breaked).
- Some internal improvements.
(rmt_ata.sys,rmt_msx.sys,rmt_sap4.sys and rmt_sap8.sys system data files are included in RMT tracker executable).

* RMT routine changes:
- New option FEAT_SFX for SFX support feature. RMT routine is a bit longer and slower with SFX support enabled, so, enable it only if you will use RMT routine also for SFX effects (Coders, you have to use new rmtplayr.a65 and rmt_feat.a65).

* New song:
- Song "commando.rmt" (Commando - sack/cosine, 2003. original by Rob Hubbard) in "songs/sack_cosine" directory.
More on Raster's site.

2006-02-22

DalAce - Dallas Atari Computer Enthusiasts - is available here (including about 2 MB atari disk image archives).

2006-02-22

Hello, the game New Rally X for Atari8 has been released at very early development stage, few details are missing, but you can enjoy the movement and the music of the game. Please, check out AtariWare for more info, and forum thread for some feedback. Dont worry, we are Spanish speakers, but we can understand English...

2006-02-13

Now you can see Getris. Needs:
- Atari 130XE,
- Stereo,
- Color TV,
- Joy in port 0.

Handling:
- Start, Fire to play game,
- Option to High Score,
- Space - pause,
- Esc - return to title screen.

2006-02-06

Ladies and Gentlemen... Your highness! A traditional Easter party, dedicated for all Ataris is coming quickly. This time the tradition has to be fulfilled in Slovakia, You cannot be missing! Declarations according to your arrival to NOISE may be filled in the official partisans' participation list. I'm inviting you warml, in the name of organizers and my own one.

2006-01-26

XXL has just finished his long awaited game: Sudoku. Well, please download, try, and... tell us your opinions.

2006-01-25

Now we know dates of another two parties in Czech Republic. Atariáda 2006 in Haná restaurant in Prostějov: 6 may (photos from year 2000 and 2003) and Platariada 2006 in České Budějovice (Budweis) 23-25 june.

2006-01-23

Graph2Font 3.8.4.1 officially. Changes are just various fixes - smaller or bigger - whoch you know already, generally:
- after UNDO colors in EDIT PMG, EDIT COLORS window are updated,
- fixed greuscale BMP reading (Pixel=4x1),
- auto-sorting of the Atari color palette for loaded BMP files,
- drawing cursor size marking under right mouse button in ZOOM,
- in ZOOM and with EDIT PMG window on pressing 'G' key reads sprite/missile in the current line,
- in ZOOM and with EDIT PMG window on right mouse button activates marking of the cursor size = width of the current PMG object,
- fixed GRID in ZOOM,
- there's a possibility to point another color in CHG COLORS, but without displaing color palette,
- added possibility to change graphic mode in line for PIXEL=2 when GTIA=$40 -> PIXEL=4,
- fixed inverse creating in HiRes,
- fixed drawing in inverse, fixed INV files reading,
- fixed XEX files writing for GED-- when first lines are off,
- added resetting for CHANGE PMG settings - as it is done for CHANGE COLORS,
- added possibility to resetting PMG object with FF value (FILL).

2006-01-17

AtariMagazines.com has added the full text of 16 issues of Compute! magazine:
January 1982, April 1982, May 1983, July 1983, April 1984, May 1984, June 1984, July 1984, August 1984, September 1984, October 1984, November 1984, January 1985, June 1985, December 1985, and December 1989.

In addition, Kevin added an RSS feed that tracks the latest happenings at the AtariMagazines.com What's New Page.

2006-01-14

Sio2OSX is a peripheral emulator for the Atari 8-bit computers that allows the Atari computer to use an OSX based Macintosh as a disk drive, a cassette drive, and a printer. Sio2OSX peforms functions similar to APE on Windows based computers. Sio2OSX is a shareware program, and must be registered for full operation. The unregistered version of the program will run for 5 minutes before quiting, allowing you to verify operation with your hardware setup before purchase. More on members.cox.net/atarimac/Sio2OSX.html.

Update: Version 1.0 is available already.

2006-01-13

ABBUC folks decided to do another Software Contest. The prizes and rules are the same as in the previous edition - except of the deadline, of course. This year's ending date is the 15th of August. Polish coders have several successes in the contest already and we hope they will make another good show, along with Czech and Slovak guys. Slavonic Power, I may say. :)

2006-01-09

Paweł "Pirx" Kalinowski made an emulator of Chip8 & SuperChip8 for 8-bit Atari. Download. The author asks you for comments on the subject. Some informations on the Chip8 subject.

Update - 2006-01-15. There is the mature version of Chip8/SuperChip8 emulator available already.

2006-01-06

As Kaz informs, in the New Year a great update of the atari.online.pl site has been made. Currently there are 2649 games in 6466 files, the whole stuff takes 242 MB.

2006-01-03

A new ASMA 3.0. Added 128 SAP's, you will find 2006 tracks in the collecion

2006-01-01

A new game Reaxion, it's conversion from C64. More on AtariAge forum and www.cosine.org.uk.

2006-01-01

A new Atari 800 2.0.0. This release brings major source code clean up, numerous bug fixes and many great new features and important improvements. 98% of changes since last release have been made by Piotr Fusik - admire his dedication to Atari800 project while you will be browsing through the impressive list of changes below.

Run-time configuration (via the .atari800.cfg file) has been improved. All configuration options are now available in the User Interface. Remember to use "Save configuration file" when necessary.

If you are new to Atari800, press F1 and select "Emulator Configuration" to configure the ROM images. This can be easily done with "Find ROM images in a directory".

DISK_DIR, ROM_DIR, EXE_DIR and STATE_DIR configuration options are no longer supported in this version. You need to re-select our directories using "Emulator Configuration" -> "Configure directories".

Changes list here.

2005-12-31

I'm proud to announce the initial release of ASAP - Another Slight Atari Player. ASAP is a player/converter of Atari 8-bit music for modern computers. It provides high-quality, identical to the popular Atari800 emulator, emulation of the POKEY sound chip and the 6502 processor.

This release includes the following programs that use the ASAP engine:
* ASAP2WAV - portable command-line utility that generates WAV files
* WASAP - a tiny player for Windows
* in_asap - a Winamp plugin
XMMS plugin is under development.

Currently supported input formats are:
* SAP (Slight Atari Player) - a standard file format for playing Atari 8-bit music on modern computers. Samples and stereo are not supported yet.
* CMC (Chaos Music Composer) - a popular music editor for Atari.
* CMR (CMC Rzóg) - CMC with modified bass sounds.
* DMC (DoublePlay CMC) - CMC with 6502 routines executed at double rate of the original CMC.
* MPT (Music ProTracker) - another popular music editor for Atari. Samples are not supported yet.
* MPD (MPT DoublePlay) - MPT with 6502 routines executed at double rate of the original MPT.
* RMT (Raster Music Tracker) - new music editor for composing Atari music on a PC. Stereo is not supported yet.
* TMC (Theta Music Composer) - powerful music editor for Atari. Stereo is not supported yet.

More formats will be added in the future. Also, lack of support for stereo and samples is only temporary.

ASAP is free software distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License.

Please visit ASAP homepage, ASAP: http://asap.sourceforge.net/

Happy New Year!

2005-12-31

As say Zenon/Dial in this year you have a new Serious 17 (polish only!).

2005-12-19

Draco has updated his KMK/IDE interface driver. There are to download: newer version of IDE Bios 1.10 and a tools packet for Sparta and MyDOS (f.e. KMK/JŻ IDE Diag 1.2, FDisk II 2.3).

2005-12-18

New Mads 1.6.8 appeared. Changes:
- added new directive .PUT and extended syntax for directive

.GET (../EXAMPLES/MSX/MPT_PLAYER/MPT_RELOCATOR.MAC,
../EXAMPLES/MSX/TMC_PLAYER/TMC_RELOCATOR.MAC),

   lda:cmp:req 20
   ldx:ldy:lda:iny label

2005-12-18

New Graph2Font v3.8.3.9 appeared. Changes:
- improved charset edition, screen edition (ALT+S),
- added new JPG chars compression,
- file 'default.set' replaced with 'g2f.ini',
- added selection animations (Special..Flashing selections),
- maximal program optimalization for DLI interrupt,
- soft colors turning for DLI program (only when no changes in the first 8 scanlines).

2005-12-15

The TRS Desktop is still being developed - a bit delayed, according to the new features addons, and bugfixes. Well, it's a window-like product :). What's new:
- the number of allowed executables was increased up to the 100% of the Sparta DOS X limit (there are however two cases of programs not working under SDX, and working under GUI - f. e. FAFIK 1kB/ERU/X-Ray),
- the loader cleans the pages 5, 6 and RAM from memlo to memtop before execution,
- icon refreshment was speeded up twice,
- the congig files format was changed and now allows to change almost everything,
- additional icon menu,
- more colorful :),
- full custom instalator ... if we'll not figure out anything more
- the first test release should be available to the end of January :)

2005-12-15

The internet archive of the Page 6 / New Atari User magazine has been updated some time ago. What's new:
- a new look,
- added Page 6 issue 29,
- added Page 6 Discussion Forum,
- added More Music 1, More Music 2, More Music 3 and More Music 4 to the XL/XE Library.

2005-12-14

A new service, with the all-telling name has been created: Atari Page. It's author is Nailer. There are over 350 games for download from the site. The number of them is expected to be greater soon.

2005-12-09

Peter, with a help from Simi had updated the first level's map for the Twilight World game.

2005-12-08

Are you looking, dear Atarians, for an oldschool X-Mass gift? Just look at the gadgets from The 1982 Atari Club Christmas Catalog! I won't guess your choice, but I'm on this scarf and the hat...

2005-12-01

In spite of those, who know better, I was right again according to the winter meeting organisation. It seems, that there is demand for such a event, buy surely not in Opalenica. I've offered 6 possible due dates. Only 8 to 15 persons have a williness for participation. I admit: I was surprised, I've expected about at least 20-25 certain declarations. So, the Last 2005 subject is definitively closed. If someone still wants the party - has to do it by himself, good luck.

2005-11-20

At least, we know the date of the Forever 7 copy party: March the 17th-19th, 2006. This, probably the biggest in Europe, multi-8bit-party will take place, as usual, in Trencin/Slowakia. The event is organised by the ZX Spectrum group ZeroTeam, the Atari co-organiser is -XI-/Satantronic. You may expect the strong representation of Tristesse group there!
Update: On the official Forever 7 site there is possibility to to submit a wish to presence on the party. At the moment the Polish atarians are leading group. And we're sure - they still will be! :)
Update #2: Our band have been here already! Screen by Mikey/NG.

2005-11-18

A new version of MagoTrans 1.5 by Pajero/MadTeam. Changes:
Only for C:
- no program ending error,
- remembers directory path,
- decoding into CAS through AUDIO input.

2005-11-17

On grayscale.scene.pl has appeared my new music "Gwoopiesek", it's mp3, but it is my arrangement from my Atari melodies. I invite cordially and I salute.

2005-11-15

Who hasn't dreamed about an Atari XL/XE laptop? Benjamin J. Heckendorn also was dreaming about something like that... So he made it! His Atari 800 XE Laptop, except that it looks beautiful, has following features:
- size: 11 3/8" x 7 1/2" x 2",
- based on the Atari XEGS model,
- removable Compact Flash as "hard disk" with MyDOS 4.53,
- powered with NiMH battery pack and a charger,
- full sized keyboard,
- built-in joypads and joystick ports,
- easy cursor control,
- and a beautiful mix of wood grain and brushed aluminium!
I recommend you to see the photos and read "how it was done".

2005-11-14

New, fixed version of SD-Load - a SpartaDOS executable files loader. There are versions: one for 6502 and two for 65c816 - 8-bit and 16-bit.

2005-11-10

I was not going to develop DOS Control anymore, but the more time I have, the more frequently I think about the fixes From the ideas I come to the acts and so the next version (1.4) of a tool for DOS Control 2.xx - Sector Edit has seen the daylight. More details on the Dial's site.

2005-11-07

Now we can publish XunZip 2.0, by Epi/Tristesse and 0xF/O.S. - an entry for ABBUC Software Contest 2005.

2005-11-07

A new Mads 1.6.7 version.

2005-11-06

There are already photos from the first day of the Vintage Computer Festival 8.0 in California, which took place this weekend. Photos' author is Bill Kendrick. We recommend you a curiosity: Solaris running on the Atari 2600 ;). Also a working model of Babbage's difference machine is worthy a look.

2005-11-01

Another photos from JHV 2005. Authors: Bernd Herale, Ernest Schreures, Hartmut Flemming, Ruth Albus and WASEO.

2005-11-01

As clock strikes the hours, we use to say:
Oh, time is passing so fast - no, we are the passing ones.

Stanisław Jachowicz (1796 - 1857)

2005-10-31

S/XEGS RAMCART 128KB by C.P.U. This Atari XE/XL cartridge made by Raster & Bob!k / C.P.U. makes possible to load, keep and run most of existing Atari XL/XE cartridge games or other special software. It has memory 128 KB SRAM powered by Atari computer or by one small 3V battery when the computer is turned off. Info and complete production documentation: here.

2005-10-28

The results of ABBUC Software Contest has been just announced (at last). Here they come:

1st place: Cubico by Fandal, points: 383, prize: 500 Euro
2nd place: Monex by Mato Simi, points: 364, prize: 250 Euro
3rd place: Laser Blaster by Mato Simi, points: 357, prize: 125 Euro
4th place: Joe`s Adventure by Piotr Wisniewski, points: 337, prize: 75 Euro
5th place: Stroq by Carsten Strotmann and Winfried Piegsda, points: 323, prize: 50 Euro
---------------------------------
6th place: Cervi 2 by Raster / Radek Sterba, points 321
7th place: Xunzip 2.0 by Epi, points 309
8th place: Inglenook Rangier Puzzle by Florian Dingler, points: 266
9th place: Outside Adventure by Thorsten Helbing, points: 245
10th place: Französische Wörter 2 by Dieter Gretzschel, points: 234
11th place: Waseo Inhalts Kreator by Thorsten Helbing, points: 216
12th place: Fly over Floor by Thorsten Helbing, points: 203

As we may see, Czech and Polish coders have showed them... Slavonic Power. :)

2005-10-27

New versions of some already known programs: CP v.1.0, MagoTrans 1.3 and TAR v.1.2 have been released last days.
Update: TAR v.1.3.
Update #2: MagoTrans v.1.4.

2005-10-24

There are first photos (by Erik Kiemel and TXG/MNX from the JHV 2005 in Herten/Germany. The event was also noticed by the local press. There was also a celebration of the ABBUC's 20th anniversary. Our congratulations!

2005-10-21

A new version of Tar 1.1 by Draco.

2005-10-20

MatoSimi has published new version of his Monex v1.1 game. Changes:
- game now works on NTSC systems too - screen was bouncing (thanks to Randy Pearson for bugreport),
- fixed ingame-bug (thanks to Fandal for bugreport) which causes this: when you destroy tiles which are all in first (the most top) line, non valid tile is created (this tile will be corrected in next move),
- press SHIFT in titlescreen to see version info.

2005-10-15

As we know from the well informed sources, there is a progress in the work over TRS-Desktop: the GUI for Sparta DOS X and for the HDD users. As we know - such inventions have rather big hardwate requirements. Main features of the new software are:
* Maximal number of available desktops is 20 - each stored in the *.dsk file.
* Each desktop fully configurable, free icons placement, each shortcut runs the program stored on the HDD partitions D1:-D9:
* Separate workdir (D:) for each executed program, so EACH program works separately.
* Context menu, or - very popullar nowadays - window menu with configs and mostly useful things.
* ARCCLOCK support - current time is showed in the bottom left corner. R-Time8 is not supported for now.
* Support for: amigamouse, atariSTmouse (one-button mode) and Atari Trak-BALL - 2 buttons. 2-button mouse (trackball) emulation mode. Joy support for obvious reasons will not be implemented (there is an option - "write it by yourself" :)
* The Program runs both normal executable files and special desktop programs.
* The whole thing works in "gr8" mode, text is displayed in 80 column mode.
* The program is written in TURBO-BASIC with small machine code support - but it makes no troubles with the main nervous system - as it happens in the case of other this type leading products.
* With the standard SDX filesystem ramdisk presence is strongly recommended - preferably this one written for 65c816. The ramdisk driver recognizes the CPU type.
* Bluescreens implemented.
* The program is fully Grzybson-proof :) - I mean it will be distributed in the compiled version.

Authors: main program: Epi/Trs, Pin/Trs, help: Draco/ind. - sdx loader, Trub - cdplay, Xan/Trs - some icons.

2005-10-03

Another part of photos from East 2005, this time by Mikey/NG.

2005-10-02

Hi girls and guys!

We've got some surprises for you.

First:

We really enjoy visiting various demoparties and we like active sceners who also visit the same parties as we do. So, for this reason we decided to support this people who attended some of the our chosen party by LOWER ENTRANCE FEE!

We decided to offer lower entrance fee for all of you who attended (payed entrance fee) at these demoparties:

Outline 2005: 12 Euros (for keeping tradition)

QuaST Party 2005: 9 Euros (probably our most favorite party where we always meet the nicest people)

Forever 2e3 2006: 3 Euros (8-bit party where we meet the coolest Atari XE/XL, C64 and ZX maniacs)

As you can see the more present party you visit the lower entrance fee you get. Also please note if you want to visit both Forever and Noise you will pay FEWER money as at standalone visit of Noise party.

This privilege fee applies for one person only and for all four days of Noise party duration.

Second:

ALL the money we'll get from entrance fee will be used for (and only for) PRIZES in the each competition where the division will look as follows:

Falcon compos: 40% of overall the sum (for the first place we guarant at least 100 Euros)

ST compos: 20% of the overall sum (for the first place we guarant at least 50 Euros)

XL/XE compos: 30% the of overall sum (for the first place we guarant at least 80 Euro)

WARNING! In the each competition will be ofcourse more prizes by our sponsors... and this is not the end, we've got some surprises still hidden... stay tuned...

Your Noisy Team.

2005-10-02

First photos from East 2005. Party visitors: Dely, Laoo, Mazi, Miker, Mikey, Wilson. Organizators: Havoc, Grubshy, McMaster with Ewelina and Yezus.

2005-09-29

Mark Grebe has just released new version - 3.0 - of Atari800 MacX emulator, which is obviously the port of known Atari800 for Apple Mac computers. The main novelties are: printer emulation, OpenGL acceleration, extended documentation. The detailed list of changes, fixes and improvements is pretty long and may be found on the project's site. The new version is also released under new license: now the Atari800 MacX is donationware program. The MacOS X 10.2 is required, the 10.4 suggested.

2005-09-29

A new version of MagoTrans 1.1 by Pajero/MadTeam. Changes:
only for C:
- WAV to CAS conversion,
- CAS file information.

2005-09-21

A new Mads 1.6.5. Changes:
- added new switch '-3' that enables faster 3-pass (instead of 4-pass) assemblation,
- fixed declared structures processing in the MADS' memory, the appearance sequence has now no meaning,
- added possibility to join any number of listing lines into one row with the '\' sign.

2005-09-19

First photos from Unconventional 2005 by Carsten Strotmann.

2005-09-12

Dear sceners and friends of demoscene! We are happy to announce you the official Easter Atari Demoparty 2006 called Noise which will held, very untraditionally, in Slovakia! Our goal is to finally join both 8bit- and ST/Falcon-scene in one big party and support each competition with decent prizes like in the past...
More information you can find at our website, where you can tell us your interest, opinions and where you can find some basic facts about the party itself. The website will be regular updated, we're going to bring you information about each competition, party program, prizes for winners, travel maps etc... So, stay tuned and tell us what do you think! Your Noisy team.

2005-09-12

Retro ComputerDag in Apeldoorn/Netherlande is over. First photos from this party was published: by Mr Atari, Rene and Wolfgang Burger/ABBUC.

Update: Pictures from The Knagge Zone.

2005-09-12

Creaxin1 is new freeware PC Win9x tool. It make possible to create package of Atari programs/games, which will be stored in S/XEGS RAMcart 128KB by C.P.U. Title Creaxin1 comes from Create X in 1. It means this tool creates ROM image or Atari executable feeder program for X programs in one cartridge. More here.

2005-09-07

A new version of FDisk II 2.2 by Draco.

2005-09-07

A new version of Graph2Font 3.8.3.6 and Mads 1.6.4.

2005-09-06

The ABBUC has announced the full list of Software and Hardware Contest 2005 entries. This year two programs from Poland are included: Xunzip 2.0 and Joe's Adventure, both by Epi/Tristesse. In the hardware category the USB Cartridge is backed as the favorite. The full list may be found here and here. The conclucion will be in only 10 days on the Unconventional 2005 meeting!

2005-09-05

After another few months, we can see the second part of movie from Silly Venture 2004 by Dely. To be continued. Download from Azbest's ftp.

2005-09-04

Ekranownia site is updated. The games on letter "B" have been added.

2005-09-02

Last year McMaster said: the East party will not be held next year, but if you would like come, it will be. Now, his announcements came true. East Party will be held, although a bit earlier than usual: from September, the 30th, to October, the 2nd. The place remains the same: Mońki, near the Białystok, Poland.

2005-08-29

Jaskier/Taquart has just finished and published the final version of our beloved emulator Atari800WinPLus - version 4.0. This is the final of my year's work on perfectioning the emulator - as the author sais.

2005-08-29

A new utilities for KMK/JŻ hdd interface: FDISK II 2.1 (update!),KMK/JZ Diag 1.1 and IDE Bios 1.9. More info on Draco's site in download section.

2005-08-25

A new logical game by MatoSimi: Monex.

2005-08-22

On the 20th of August our fellow Cobra went married. We want to greet just married: Kasia Dąbrowska and Krzysztof Wężyk and wish them all the best. And we are waiting for them to visit next copy-party in the full squad. With the little Snake! ;)

Update: On the same day our copy-parties habitué: Vitek get married with Klementyna! All the wishes (and expectations...) are for this married too. :)

2005-08-22

RMT 1.21 tracker with enhanced mouse control etc. You can get it from the RMT website:
Changes in RMT 1.21:
- Enhanced mouse control:
  * Set cursor position in trackedit area, songedit area, instrument parameters / envelope / table area, info / speed area.
  * Octave selection by mouse (click to "OCTAVE x-y" text).
  * Volume selection by mouse (click to "VOLUME x" text). (Also you can turn on/off "respect volume" option there.)
  * Instrument selection by mouse (click to "XX: instrument name" text).
  * Envelope GO/LEN parameter setting area (click to mouse L/R button).
  * Table GO/LEN parameter setting area (click to mouse L/R button). (Areas' locations - see the screenshots.)
- New hotkeys:
SongEdit:
  * Enter ... Exit from SongEdit section.
  * Home ... Move cursor to first songline.
  * End ... Move cursor to last songline.
  * PageUp ... Move cursor 4 songlines up.
  * PageDown ... Move cursor 4 songlines down.
- New option in Config dialog (menu View - Configuration):
  * Don't use hardware soundbuffer (default is off).
  (Maybe it could help if you have some system sound related problems.)

2005-08-18

Peter has managed to finish the map for the Świat Olkiego game.

2005-08-17

Last time uncovered ones from lost game-cart prototypes for 8-bit Ataris: conversion of Sinistar, Williams Electronics's arcade hits. More info you find at AtariAge forum and at AtariProtos.

2005-08-16

A new, 7. beta version of Atari800Win PLus 4.0. Changes:
- changes in the "threaded emulation" option,
- removed problems with HELP, START, SELECT, OPTION and BREAK keys,
- small other changes in user interface,
- better installer,
- zlib library updated to version 1.2.3.
More on project site.

2005-08-15

Mr. V and ABBUC would like to invide all Atari and Classic Computer Fans to the Unconventional 2k5 as every year, also this time in Lengenfeld/Germany near the Czech border.

Date: Friday 16th September to Sunday 18th September.

Start is in the Night from Thursday to Friday, 00:00. If you arrive late in the Night from Thursday to Friday, please send us an E-Mail to uncon_(at)_strotmann.de.

Three days if creative computing, programming, games and competitions, barbecue and a lot of FUN! Some highlights:
* news on the USB Project
* presentation of the ABBUC Software competition programs
* new games and demos, Team Gaming, on our BIG CINEMA MOVIE WALL
* Computer Game Competitions
* Presentation: Projekt VolksForth, a unusual powerful programming System on Atari ST, Atari XL/XE, MS-DOS, Amstard CPC, Apple II, Apple 1 Replica, Commodore C64, C16, C116 Plus4
* Crash Course Training: Forth Programming
* C-One Reconfigurable Computer and Jeri Ellsworth presentation on the BIG SCREEN
* Live outdoor game (resembling an classic Computergame)
* even more we don't know today :)

ATARI 8Bit, but also ATARI ST, Lynx, Portfolio, Archimedes, C=64, PC Demo Coder, Amstrad CPC, CP/M, Gameboy and all hardware that is fun to play with. UnCon 2005 is open to all Systems (but bringing a PC with SCO Unix is a call for trouble Smile).

Entry to all three days is free.

We expect people from all over Europe.

2005-08-05

A new tune called Forever by our fellow BeWu/GrayScale appeared. The tuna has been writen as an entry for QuaST Party msx compo, but wasn't exposed. But, what's more important, BeWu just comes back! More detail on the GrayScale page.

2005-08-05

On the Peter's page some new maps appeared: Świat Olkiego (unfinished), Tarkus and the Orbs of Doom, Terminator and Upiór.

2005-08-02

Xebec's Demise has announced an interesting competition for the the players and Alternate Reality: The City game fans. You just have to gain the highest level with no cheating... You need to be registered on the Atari Age forum to participate. So, if You want to pick up chellenge please loook at the competition topic with rules, tips and current players ranking; and the general game topic. The documentation will make playing easier for the beginners.

2005-08-01

New beta 1.43 version of Atari++ emulator by Thomas Richter - Thor has been released. There are sources and win32 binaries to download. 1.43 is the current stable release. Please see the Atari++ official page.

2005-08-01

We have now most of the stuff from the QuaST Party 2005. It's almost everything now except Animkomials' demo, which works only with New Device storages. We'll upload it as soon, as the authors will send us fixed version, so stay tuned and check for updates.

There are also first photos and movies from our beloved party. We may see so far:
- photos and movie taken by Solo/NG and some photos by van Eijk - the organiser,
- photos taken by Krap, and the same contens in the ZIP archive,
- photos and movies by Messiah (widely known as Meśka), and the same contens in the ZIP archive,
- all photos taken by van Eijk - in high and low resolution,
- WAV files with the voice of Miker, recorded by Jad,
- additionally you may look at the gfx compo entries screenshots. Some of them are also available in the Graph2Font gallery.

Stuff from the party has appeared on the ftp.pigwa.net (old atari.art.pl) server. So, we can now reach photos and movies from the event and stuff from the compo, including the entries for mp3 compo. The winner tune of msx compo: Epi's Szczwany plan, originally in the neo format, is now also available as mp3 track.

Last updated: 2005-08-08, 19:01

2005-07-30

Live relation from Orneta. The compos of the QuaST 2005 will be performed in few minutes. From a well informed source we've got the list of compo entries. Music: Creature, Tanguage, Łańóś, Szczwany Plan; graphics: Senność, Heart, Flymeat, Oueeye, Atarian; demos: Grzybson Intro 6, Life2Back (Animkomials), Maze (Zelax) and Lamerz Attack 2 (Mad Lamer). The compo results and more information should be know soon.

Update: 2005-07-31, 2:02 - The competition results:

MSX Compo:
1. Szczwany Plan (Epi/Tristesse) - 313 p.
2. Łąńóś (Yezus/SSG) - 291 p.
3. Creature (Miker/bjb/NG) - 286 p.
4. Tanguage (BLB/Cobra) - 249 p.

GFX Compo:
1. Senność (Vidol/Autovidol) - 353.p.
1. Atarian (Dracon/TAQUART) - 353 p.
3. Rebirth (Born/LaResistance) - 344 p.
4. One Eye (Dely/Blowjobb^Taquart) - 326 p.
5. Flyheart (Dely/Blowjobb^Taquart) - 303 p.
6. Heart (Havoc) - 152 p.

Demo Compo:
1. Maze (Zelax) - 403 p.
2. Life 2 Back (Animkomials) - 248 p.
3. Grzybson Intro 6 (Grzybson) - 168 p.
4. Lamerz Attack 2 (Atari Lamerz Team) - 164 p.

Update: 2005-08-08

MP3 Compo:
1. Refuse (Bio-mech)
2. Algida returns to ibiza (Room 101)
3. Starlet 6 (French love)

2005-07-27

After a looong waiting we've finally awaited the update of the Atari.Online.PL site - one of the biggest services with games for Atari 8-bit. Today's update has been sponsored by letters Z, X, Y, V, W, U and digits 0-9. Also the page code has been improved a bit.
The update has became possible after Zyga had been found. The shocking circumstances of finding him among the Afghan Talibans has been described by Kaz.

2005-07-27

New Graph2Font 3.8.3.5 has been released. The changelog:
- added possibility to to turn the Grid on in Zoom mode (Ctrl+G), also possible: changing the grid color, size and transparency with the cursor keys,
- removed a bug with chars edition (ALT+S -> CHARSET),
- added new tab in main menu: 'Special',
- added a possibility to not using constant declarations in generated ASM files (Special -> ASM const labels [check/uncheck]), this option is set on by default,
- added optimalisation of saved PMG objects, eg datas of not used sprites are ignored,
- under 'Special' tab added new option: 'Memory location' which allows to set manually memory location for charsets, display memory, ANTIC's display list etc,
- added new switch 'Lock color' in the 'Edit Colors' window, which allows to block each-scanline-color-change detection, useful to force color change before the raster changes,
- in Preview=GFX added possibility to skip 'SELECT' option with ESCape key, in previous version there waa a need to change drawing mode.

2005-07-26

Jaskier/Taquart has served us a surprise before the QuaST meeting and has released new version of the well known emulator: Atari800WinPLus 4.0 beta 6. Changes:
- Added ability to process emulation in another thread, what should decrease bothersome sound playing breaks. Warning! Because both the Atari800 core and it's graphic shell are completely not adapted to the multithread work, this option is highly experimental! Becase of some unexplained problems in the fullscreen mode the emulation is always in one thread.
- Removed problems in color palette configuration (present since the previous version).
- The LABELS option i debugger is now able to read label files from the new X-Assembler and Mad-Assembler.
- Added support for 2 carts in AtariMax format.
This fixes deplete the list of known bugs, so we may expect the final version in a month and other features from the wishlist will be introduced later. More information on the project's page.

2005-07-26

Pasiu & Voy launched a new page about new, still being developed, turbo card for Atari XL/XE. It was facetious called New Unnamed Pasiu's Turbo until now, but it's new, temporary codename is Project F7. The card is almost independent computer with 65c816 CPU running at 14 MHz clock, that can take control over Atari circuits. The card is composed of:
- W65c816 processor,
- MCC - Main Card Controller: Clock Manager/Waitstate Generator, AtariBus Driver,
- MMU - Memory Manage Unit: RAM, ROM, HPU - Hardware Protect Unit.
- External expansion bus: Harddisk Controller.
The entire system is almost 100% compatible with the standard XL/XE. The project is still developed, so we may expect another ideas. More information and examples on the Project F7 official page (only in Polish).

2005-07-26

Hmm, I've found an interesting topic on the Atari Age. Did you know, that some arcade machines were based on the 8-bit Ataris pcbs...? For example look at this article:
This game (...) is basically an arcade cabinet with an Atari 600XL computer inside. There is additional hardware that controls the length of time that you may play the game.

2005-07-26

The Electric Escape site by Robert Jung has been strongly renovated lately - new design, register possibility etc. But, we are interested mainly in The Atari Bin section, when we may find the history of Atari corp. and lots of other curiosities. Worthy a look.

2005-07-24

There are only few days left to the QuaST Party 2005. The party will start on the closest Thursday night and it will end on Sunday. This meeting is a special event, because for most of us (and for me, too) it's the 10th anniversary of the first journey to a copy party. Yes, so many years has passed! That was the first chance to see our friends, known only from the snail-mail. That was great experience! Try to remind an impression during the premiere of the Overmind, Back to Life, Out of Time or Joyride, crazy compos: coins throwing, hand wrestling, the article in Bajtek magazine... It's only a pitty, that so many of those who had declared an eternal Atari loving, has withdrawn so easily...

At first I was going to remind you my photos from the QuaST '95. Unfortunatelly, most of them are missing. So, I suggest you to look at the - already seen - photos from last year, and recently shared photos from Radi.

2005-07-24

Our Czech fellow, Fandal has written a new game - Bombex. The game participates in the MiniGame Compo 2005. The most interesting is that Bombex takes only 1 KB. Download it and see, what can be packed in such a size.
Perhaps someone else would like to compete in 1 KB or 4 KB game?

2005-07-23

A new book came into market, a book that describes the history of the ancient conflict Atari vs Commodore. The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore book targets mainly on the Commodore story of course, but Jack Tramiel and the conflict thread are so significant, that the subject should be interesting for all historicians and hobbyists of the Atari corp.

2005-07-23

We want to remind you kindly about the deadline for the ABBUC Hardware Contest 2005 - a competition for the best harware/upgrade for the Atari XL/XE computers. The entries (hardware and documentation) have to be submited until August the 15th, 2005. The prizes are 500 euro and 100 euro, and pecunia non olet.
There's a bit more time to submit entries for the ABBUC Software Contest 2005 - a competition for the best utility or game for the Atari XL/XE. The deadline is set to August the 31st, 2005. The main prize is 500 euro too, and 250, 125, 75 i 50 euro for the subsequent places, respectively. Last year the winner was our fellow: TeBe/Madteam with the Dynablaster game.
Useful links:
- information on the ABBUC eV site,
- ABBUC Hardware Contest 2005 rules - in Polish, English and German,
- ABBUC Software Contest 2005 rules - in Polish, English and German.

2005-07-22

This is just plain weird, yet another update? - said Curt Vendel, Atari Museum site author, himself. Didn't I say so? ;) What's new this time: updates articles about Atari 1450XLD, Atari 1400XL and the Atari 1060 CP/M Add-On Box system.

2005-07-22

Kevin Savetz, known from the online archives of books and magazines (Atari Archives and Classic Computer Magazine Archive) set up a new site with books and handbooks related to the classic flight simulators. The FlightSimBooks.com page has started today with 11 fully scanned books (with the permission of their authors) dedicated to the flight simulators for such computers as Amiga, Apple, C64, IBM PC, Macintosh and of course Atari XL/XE and Atari ST. We can also find out many information about flying basics, flight technics and so on. All sorted by titles, authors, software and platforms, nothing more pleasant than just sit down and read.

2005-07-21

It's like some kind of madness with all those site updates lately. There are another documents available on the Atari Museum site! This time it's huge amount od data about Atari 1450XLD - many fresh PDF files in this subject! Original specifications, plans, documentations, technical datas. The authos says, it's not the end...

2005-07-20

And we have another July update: this time Atari 8-bit Forever site by Boštjan Gorišek has been updated. The games division has been massively extented (almost 1900 titles with screenshots and datas), the minor update has been done to the books division. Also the earlier updates (from April and May) are worthy a look, the changelog is too long to quote it here. I recommend you to take a look at the site, there are lots of interesting items and Boštjan announces another updates in the future.

Update: there are over 100 titles more in the games division, all with detailed data, additional links and screenshots. All screenshots are now in PNG format, instead of JPG. There are also some more minor changes in other divisions.

2005-07-20

After a short break there are new informations on the Atari Protos site. The site's main goal is to describe the prototypes of Atari games and programs and compare them to the final versions. What's new, then? New games: Animated Puzzle, Decathlon, Pitfall, Keystone Kapers, Kaboom!, Megamania, River Raid and Super Cobra. And new utils: Atari Basic, AtariWriter and AtariGraphics.

2005-07-20

Some new informations and documents from the history of our beloved corp. appeared on the Atari Museum portal.

AMY 1 is a digital, pipeline architectured, additive music synthesizer chip. There are 8 voices maximum assignable with a total of 64 harmonic oscillators, available in groups of two, for voice assignment. AMY 1 has 72 independent, piecewise linear envelope generators: 8 fundamental frequency envelopes and 64 harmonic amplitude envelopes.
A monster, not a music chip... that was to be placed in the Atari XE. Why it did not happen and what was it capable to perform, you may read in the article about Atari 65XEM There's also full AMY 1 documentation (in PDF format).

What else? In the article about Atari 1200XL there's a lot of information about Sweet 16 - as it was initially named (in PDF format).

2005-07-18

Our latest news are usually very 'musique', hmmm. On the Music.GameboyMall.com site two new tunes with Atari in title have appeared: Ras Atari (by Linde) oraz Atari Love Song (by Kashioboy). Theese are chipmusic songs: compositions using oldschool synths. Both tracks are in MP3 format.

2005-07-13

Not only Emkay experiments with new POKEY tones, Analmux does it too. Here we have the show of triangle waveform generated by POKEY: triangles.mp3. It's really triangles! The sound has been generated by Basic pokes. And here's this effect in the earlier Emkay's tune: violin triangles.mp3. The discussion on this topis takes mainly takes place on the AtariAge forum.

Update: Emkay asked for the notice, that because this tone genoration method (so called 'Hardsynth') does not use samples, the CPU usage is only about 5-7%, so it can be usen in games or demos. The replaing frequency is 50 Hz. There is also archive with tunes to be executed on the real Atari. Please notice: the sound may be not accurate on the emulators. Also POKEY emulation in RMT - according to Emkay's words - is not perfect, what makes impossible to use all it's features.

2005-07-12

Slovak coder Martin Šimeček - MatoSimi has released fixed version of his logic game Laser Blaster (we've been writing about the first version in may). The game was sometimes hanging on the real Atari, now the code is fixed. If someone plays it, please download it here or visit author's page.

2005-07-10

We've been writing already about Emkay's attempts to explore new, synthetic tones of POKEY. Now, there are more example tunes to listen. Two new tracks in MP3 format (recorded from the real thing of course): Turrican and Violin of Doom. Prepare not to listen to the composition, but rather to admire new, atypical sounds. There's a discussion on this subject in the respectice topic on Kohina forum.

2005-07-09

Fading Twilight is the multi-part music collection prepared by The Sirius Cybernetics Corporation (TSCC) group from the Atari ST scene. But the collection is not limited to ST(e) compositions, it gathers tunes from all Atari systems (VCS/LYNX/XL/ST/FALCON/JAGUAR) and also non-atari tunes written by Atari musicians. There is now nineth part of this collection, with over 1000 tracks. So, please load and listen to FADING TWILIGHT - excerpt nine.

2005-07-09

There is new, full version of KbMedia Player 2.40 - Japanese multiformat (circa thirty file types) player for Windows. Besides the most popular formats it plays many emulated chiptune music files, including Atari's SAP. It's also able to use Winamp plugins. It may be downloaded from the Kobarin page.
There is no English patch fot the moment (the program is only in Japanese :)), but there should be one in the future on this page, where such patches, created by VORC site team, may be found.

2005-07-08

Draco started new project: Multi BASIC. It's the new Basic interpreter (compiler is also planned), with features of Turbo Basic XL and Basic XE. But it's main feature (and requirement) is the 65c816 processor support. The 6502 version is not planned. There is 0.1 preview version to download (ATR file or ARC archive).
Multi BASIC features:
- compatible with Turbo Basic XL - it's programs may be loaded with load command,
- compatible with Basic XE - it's programs may be loaded with enter command,
- MB works with Sparta DOS X and DOS II+/D command line,
- many commands functionality extensions (eg sound supports stereo),
- MB uses 65c816 abilities (24-bit addresses and so on) and linear memory,
- new, proprietary commands.

2005-07-07

Richard F. Bannister has released Audio Overload in 2.0beta5 version. AO is chiptune player which supports many formats, including Ataris' SAP and YM. There are versions for the platforms: Mac OS X, Linux (32-bit and 64-bit) and Windows.
Changed: some engines replaced with new versions, CAB archive support, fixes in RAR depacker, some other minor fixes and improwments.
The player is downloadable from Bannister Software page. Windows version needs also mfc71.dll and msvcr71.dll files to be placed in the program directory or in the windows\system\.

2005-07-06

New maps on Peter's site: Fort Apocalypse and Mr. Robot.

2005-07-03

Our portal is now after a small lifting: banner is smaller, the font is bigger and the flags are now much nicer. Somewhere up there you see Hyde Park - you may use it as you wish. There are some new articles (only in Polish for now): reprints from Syzygy Magazine (copy party relations from the years '96 - '98) and game description written by Adept (Archon, Ghostbusters and others). More texts should be soon, English version is also planned.
There is also new division - bazaar with Atari hardware, where you may announce anything you want to buy, sell or exchange. Try it!

2005-07-03

New, 52nd number of MyAtari.net magazine appeared. It's February issue. What's in the magazine - party relations: MyAtari's 4th birthday and Alternative Party in Helsinki. You may also submit your nominations to the forthcoming annual magazine's awards.

2005-06-24

On the Peter's page some new maps appeared: Caverns of Eriban, Frank & Mark and Rycerz. So, there are 179 maps from 112 games so far.

Update:
Another 4 maps from Peter: Aurum, Electra, Fortress Underground and Master Head.

2005-06-20

We've almost missed this program. Some time ago a new colour JPEG decoder and viewer for Atari XL/XE appeared: CpegView 0.1. The program, based on the C64's Juddpeg by Stephen L. Judd and Adrian Gonzalez, has been written by Raphael Espino. CpegView works in three graphic modes:
- 80x200 in 256 colours: 16 colours x 16 levels of grey (APAC),
- 160x200 in 64 colours: 16 colours x 4 levels of grey (C15),
- 320x200 in 32 colours: 16 colours x 2 levels of grey (C8).
Effects may be seen in the gallery, the program may be downloaded from project's page. Source code is available too. Please visit also author's main page and take a look on his other projects.

2005-06-20

There is new thread at Atari Area forum relative to Quast Party 2005 voting system. If you are going to visit this party, we invite you to participate in discussion and polling.

2005-06-18

43 days before the event, this year's QuaST Party official page has been updated. The motto of the meeting will be but our wives, girlfriends nad lovers went for the commodore party :). The event will begin on Thursday, July the 28th, 6 pm, and will be finished on Sunday, July the 31st, midday (although Eijk - the organizer says the party will start on thursday, July the 26th and finish on Sunday, July the 29th...). Entrance fee: 40 zł (15 for the prizes, 25 for the organisation), voting in compos: cups + sheets (as it was last year).

2005-06-16

Dely/Taquart has just made first part of the movie from Silly Venture 2004 party available. Next parts, we hope, should be available soon.