This is a topic bound to come up with a project like this. First off, let me just say that I am not one with dollar signs in my eyes. Like those that program games for old retro consoles such as Coleco or especially Atari consoles and sell a limited number of carts of their game, I too am a hardcore nut that way. Selling a game for a retro system is more like a novelty really. Adventure 2 for the Atari 5200 and Venture 2 for Coleco are my two favorites. Made by hardcore Atari/Coleco fans. Those 2 projects were not meant for profit. None the less, the UZEBOX poses an interesting opportunity. Both retro console fans and also indie developers that like old-school style 2d games have an actual console that is more accessible. Yes, one can still program for the old commercial consoles, however, because the technology is so old there are a lot of limitations. Atari games have to be written in Assembly, plus due to eprom sizes - the code has to be condensed down to 2 to 4Kb. For many hardcore Atari fans that have tried to program a game for the system, that has been their biggest bane and a lot of projects have been abandoned. To be able to write an 8-bit game in C is basically a Godsend. It still takes a lot of work and time, but is far more possible than producing a game on older hardware. Add to the fact that some companies (*cough* Nintendo) may not like having unlicensed 3rd parties make games for their hardware.. no matter how old it is.
With the UZEBOX, there are no limitations other than what is documented in the GPL. I would really like to see how this system evolves. It will be interesting to see if there should be an iteration that has game on cartridge capability. Also, as was pondered in another thread, if the design can also incorporate an ethernet port, then the possibilities and the coolness factor increases. I may just whip up an UZE version of my 2d multiplayer shooter. I mean, it's still one of those almost novelty type of things that only hardcore oldschoolers would go for. If you really want to make profit from a game - you'd write it for the newest concoles or if indie - xbox arcade or PC really.
Share your thoughts.
--Snow.
Making and selling games
Re: Making and selling games
I agree with you. Uzebox is a second opportunity for classic games.
We've already seen a tetris version for it. In a near future, I'd like to see ports from various old consoles like NES,
Master System, Atari or even PC classic games!! Mario? Sonic? Monkey Island??
And what about playing these old games through the Internet?? Can you imagine it??
I can't wait!!
We've already seen a tetris version for it. In a near future, I'd like to see ports from various old consoles like NES,
Master System, Atari or even PC classic games!! Mario? Sonic? Monkey Island??
And what about playing these old games through the Internet?? Can you imagine it??
I can't wait!!
Re: Making and selling games
If you have to use Uzebox's code in your game, than it is impossible to sell your games in the long run, even though the GPL let people sell for whatever ridiculously high price that they want to set. Because everybody will just download your games off the internet somewhere and save that to the new fanged cartilages they brought.
Even if you make your games proprietary, you will be overrun by those GPL games that everybody can download off the internet for free.
It is not impossible to make money though. It just require that you sell something else that's still valuable. Like your game development time. I am sure that since everybody either build or brought a uzebox, they might be willing to fund the development of new games. I think they called it the ransom model.(Courtesy of Libre Game Wiki, a free gaming encyclopedia I run)
Even if you make your games proprietary, you will be overrun by those GPL games that everybody can download off the internet for free.
It is not impossible to make money though. It just require that you sell something else that's still valuable. Like your game development time. I am sure that since everybody either build or brought a uzebox, they might be willing to fund the development of new games. I think they called it the ransom model.(Courtesy of Libre Game Wiki, a free gaming encyclopedia I run)
I run the Libregamewiki free as in freedom gaming encyclopedia.
I also have a personal game development website.
I also have a personal game development website.
Re: Making and selling games
Woa, the Uzebox can do neat things, but currently it cannot do sprites and even scrolling! Although with some smart coding on the kernel, I think there still enough juice to do it, albeit with a slightly reduced resolution. When the mega1284 comes out It will be a piece of cake.In a near future, I'd like to see ports from various old consoles like NES,
Master System, Atari or even PC classic games!! Mario? Sonic? Monkey Island??
Btw, I saw on Tigsource a cool concept of making port of games on older hardware. They call that a "Demake" and they are even running a competition!
Cheers,
Uze
Re: Making and selling games
This was something I was wondering about. Most of the old'skool systems, despite their limitations, had additional chips to accelerate things like sprites, tiling, and scrolling. In the uzebox's case, even with the additional resources provided by the 128, what are the logistics are creating a sprite engine/scrolling engine in code only? Even with ASM acceleration, would this be feasible and speedy?uze6666 wrote:Woa, the Uzebox can do neat things, but currently it cannot do sprites and even scrolling! Although with some smart coding on the kernel, I think there still enough juice to do it, albeit with a slightly reduced resolution. When the mega1284 comes out It will be a piece of cake.In a near future, I'd like to see ports from various old consoles like NES,
Master System, Atari or even PC classic games!! Mario? Sonic? Monkey Island??
Btw, I saw on Tigsource a cool concept of making port of games on older hardware. They call that a "Demake" and they are even running a competition!
Cheers,
Uze
Even if it were fast enough to do this, the code for the engine may eat up precious bytes on the CPU... hmmm... can't wait till I build this things to push it's limitations
Tho from the sounds of it, I will be waiting till SD support is added.
Re: Making and selling games
I know, I know... I was only dreaming!!uze6666 wrote:Woa, the Uzebox can do neat things, but currently it cannot do sprites and even scrolling! Although with some smart coding on the kernel, I think there still enough juice to do it, albeit with a slightly reduced resolution. When the mega1284 comes out It will be a piece of cake.
Demake?? hehe, some people are very imaginative...uze6666 wrote:Btw, I saw on Tigsource a cool concept of making port of games on older hardware. They call that a "Demake" and they are even running a competition!
Re: Making and selling games
I have seen some crazy stuff done on low-hardware. Take heart. The challenge of squeezing out every last drop of power/performance is part of the funekros wrote:I know, I know... I was only dreaming!!
Re: Making and selling games
Right on!The challenge of squeezing out every last drop of power/performance is part of the fun
Hehe, trust me, it's feasible . Look at the teaser topic I just opened.Even with ASM acceleration, would this be feasible and speedy?
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=22
Cheers!
Uze
Re: Making and selling games
Well I think.
First lets make SD and JOYPORTS than some open-manufacturing of hardware.
Small series of UZEBOXes... /preorders/
Than SDK...
Tools can be...
0.SD-CARD menu
1.Sprite Editor (http://www.tilestudio.sourceforge.net)
2.Map Editor (http://www.tilestudio.sourceforge.net)
3.Opensource MIDI sequencer
4.C distribution with sprite engine ,midi ,map ,gui etc etc (UZEBOX libraries) -> Or maybe VISUAL UZE GAME MAKER
5.Small batch of motherboards
6.Small batch of cases (OR FIND COOL PLASTIC CASE ON INTERNET)
7.Mascot like Sonic or Mario or Tux (2D GAME)
First lets make SD and JOYPORTS than some open-manufacturing of hardware.
Small series of UZEBOXes... /preorders/
Than SDK...
Tools can be...
0.SD-CARD menu
1.Sprite Editor (http://www.tilestudio.sourceforge.net)
2.Map Editor (http://www.tilestudio.sourceforge.net)
3.Opensource MIDI sequencer
4.C distribution with sprite engine ,midi ,map ,gui etc etc (UZEBOX libraries) -> Or maybe VISUAL UZE GAME MAKER
5.Small batch of motherboards
6.Small batch of cases (OR FIND COOL PLASTIC CASE ON INTERNET)
7.Mascot like Sonic or Mario or Tux (2D GAME)
Last edited by Tinctu on Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Making and selling games
A mascot would be funny. What could it be?Tinctu wrote:7.Mascot like Sonic or Mario or Tux
Compman