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Topic: Astrocade


In the News (Thu 16 Feb 12)

  
  Bally Astrocade - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Astrocade used color registers, or color indirection as it was often referred to then, so the four colors could be picked from a palette of 256 colors.
This allowed the Astrocade to support any number of "sprites" independent of hardware, with the downside that it was up to the software to re-draw them when they moved.
The Astrocade was one of the early cartridge-based systems, using cartridges known as Videocades that were designed to be as close in size and shape as possible to a cassette tape.
en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Bally_Astrocade   (1483 words)

  
 Bally Astrocade -- Facts, Info, and Encyclopedia article   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
The Astrocade was an early video game console and simple computer system designed by a team at (Click link for more info and facts about Midway Manufacturing) Midway Manufacturing, the (Click link for more info and facts about videogame) videogame division of (Click link for more info and facts about Bally) Bally.
The Astrocade used color ((computer science) memory device that is the part of computer memory that has a specific address and that is used to hold information of a specific kind) registers, or color indirection as it was often referred to then, so the four colors could be picked from a palette of 256 colors.
The Astrocade was one of the early cartridge-based systems, using cartridges known as Videocades that were designed to be as close in size and shape as possible to a (A cassette that contains magnetic tape) cassette tape.
www.absoluteastronomy.com /encyclopedia/b/ba/bally_astrocade.htm   (1647 words)

  
 Bally Astrocade   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
The Astrocade used color registers or color indirection as it was often referred to so the four colors could be picked a palette of 256 colors.
The Astrocade was one of the early systems using cartridges known as Videocades that were designed to be as in size and shape as possible to cassette tape.
The controllers for the system several types of control mechanisms: the controller shaped as a pistol-style grip with trigger on the front; a small 4-switch/8-way joystick was placed on top of the and the shaft of the joystick connected a potentiometer meaning that the stick could be to double as a paddle controller.
www.freeglossary.com /Astrocade   (1478 words)

  
 Bally-hooooo!   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
Games on the Astrocade are referred to as "cassetridges" and are approximately the same size and thickness as an audio cassette.
It's been said that the Astrocade uses arcade hardware, in much the same way that the Dreamcast was introduced to arcades as the Naomi.
The Astrocade may have been impressive back when it was first released, but these days, it finds itself on awkward middle ground.
grblitz.overclocked.org /bally.htm   (814 words)

  
 4Reference || Bally Astrocade   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
The Astrocade was an early video game console designed by a team at Midway Mfg., the videogame division of Bally.
The line could then be read out to the screen at a more leisurely rate, while also interfereing less with the CPU who was also trying to use the same memory.
The ZGRASS unit sat under the Astrocade and turned it into a "real" computer, including a full keyboard, a math co-processor (Floating Point Unit), 32k of RAM, and a new 32k ROM containing the GRASS programming language (sometimes referred to as GRAFIX on this machine).
www.4reference.net /encyclopedias/wikipedia/Bally_Astrocade.html   (1478 words)

  
 Bally Alley - The Newsletter for Astrocade Users
text - Once you are programming the Astrocade a bit, and setting up a screen, you may find that this sheet that I created for personal may come in handy.
The Bit Fidder's Corner is an Astrocade machine language programming tutorial that ran as a series of serialized articles in the Arcadian newsletter in 1983 and 1984.
This tutorial complements that cartridge, but has a general focus so this information can be used without reinterpretation by Astrocade assembly programmers, or those wishing to learn about the machine.
www.ballyalley.com /ml/ml_docs/ml_docs.html   (412 words)

  
 [No title]
Astrocade MESS Emulation Keyboard Mapping FAQ Version 1.2 - Last updated - February 12, 2002 This FAQ was created and is maintained by Adam Trionfo Important Note: This version of the FAQ is for use with MESS 0.37b13 (the latest beta).
Emulation of this keypad works correctly with the MESS Bally Astrocade emulator, but it isn't easy to use, and must be figured out through trial and error (since MESS comes with no Astrocade documentation).
This FAQ presumes that you have a Windows machine and are using the most current beta of MESS (0.37b13).
www.ballyalley.com /faqs/astrocade_mess_keyboard_faq.txt   (656 words)

  
 Bally Astrocade   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
The Astrocade used color register s, or color indirection as it was often referred to then, so the four colors could be picked from a palette of 256 colors.
Bally Alley - The Newsletter for Astrocade Users Bally Astrocade newsletters, documentation, ads, letters, promotional reading and manuals in pdf format.
Bally Astrocade Gamepics Offers a selection of Astrocade game screenshots.
www.serebella.com /encyclopedia/article-Bally_Astrocade.html   (1654 words)

  
 Astrocade Intro
Meanwhile, some subscribers were interested in producing their own material for sale to 'Astrocade owners as a number of third-party vendors sprang up and produced games, utilities, and memory additions.
Nitron bought all of Astrocade's inventory, and contracted to purchase parts, burn chips, assemble units, and sell them back to Astrocade, who would sell the product to retailers.
In the event, Astrocade went into final bankruptcy in 1984, and Nitron was next in 1985.
www.videogamearchive.com /emu/ast_top.htm   (1041 words)

  
 Inside the Astrocade Catalog
I was recently lucky enough to acquire a mint condition Bally Astrocade catalog, copyrighted 1982.
It's a fascinating document, not only for the artwork and screenshots of all the first-party titles at the time, but also for the several pages showcasing games that were never officially released.
The Astrocade never really caught on, and many collectors don't even own one now (I think the funky controllers probably turned a lot of people off).
stageselect.com /News/NewsViewer.aspx?newsid=885   (282 words)

  
 Bally/Astrocade Ads   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
This is the only magazine ad for the Astrocade that I know of, apperantly printed in 1983.
It seems that the markiting people were unable to make a final decision on the name plate to be used.
All Astrocade labeled units I've seen (3 at this time) have had the pixel font label used on the first page.
www.alteeve.com /~lance/Ads.html   (175 words)

  
 [No title]
The Astrocade version had small changes in the internal BIOS to display the longer name on the built in menu screen.
On the Astrocade the Bally logo was removed but the badge spots are still there.
Astrocade Basic Either version has the audio cassette interface built into the cart its self.
www.steverd.com /faqs/BALLY.TXT   (3729 words)

  
 Incredible Wizard, The, Bally Astrocade
Never being much of a contender in the fierce video game console war (or "wor", ha ha), or at least not here in the States, the Astrocade ceased production a couple of years later, Montgomery Wards is also dead, and I don't feel very good either (har!).
There was also far less flicker than the Atari 2600 port (granted, the Astrocade was a more powerful console, but I'm just pointing out the obvious), although I don't know how the 5200 port of the game compared, since I've never played it.
Games like this for the Astrocade kind of make you wonder what kind of contender Bally could have been if they spent a lot more on television and print ads and all.
stageselect.com /games/game.aspx?gameid=10838&fromint=1   (484 words)

  
 Bally Alley - The Newsletter for Astrocade Users
When Bally bailed and sold the Arcade to Astrocade, we also started up the Datamax company which produced the wood grain formica UV-1 versions of Zgrass with essentially the guts of the commercial videogames Bally was producing with the chipset.
Make sure to take a look at them on the Astrocade message group, under the Files section (as a reminder the group's URL is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ballyalley).
There definitely is more on this topic to be discovered before I am satisfied, but Bally Alley's target is the Astrocade, and chasing all the spin-off's of the machine will quickly make the job of documenting the Astrocade heavy indeed.
www.classicgaming.com /ballyalley/ballyalley/uv-1_computer.html   (2596 words)

  
 Ozyr's Astrocade Instruction Archive
Note: All games titles, company names, and instructions are owned by their respective company and are not affiliated with this Web Page in any way.
Astrocade - The Bally Home Arcade, released just after the Atari 2600, was far ahead of its time.
Bally sold out to Astrovision in the later years, who renamed the system to Astrocade.
www.ozyr.com /bally/bally.html   (224 words)

  
 The Acorn Emulation Page - Bally Astrocade   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
The archaic 1978 Bally Astrocade was a home video game system later withdrawn after being trounced by competition.
The System ROM had 4 games built into it; Gunfight, Checkmate, Calculator and Scribbling, as shown in the screenshot below, that could be selected to play on the system.
The Astrocade could also take cassette shaped cartridges which were inserted whilst it was turned on to load other software.
acorn.cybervillage.co.uk /emulation/bally/index.htm   (132 words)

  
 Retroputing - Preventing the Fossilization of Classic Computers
The Astrocade (or Bally Arcade) was first introduced by Bally in 1978 and sold it to Astrovision, Inc (later Astrocade, Inc) in 1980.
Ward's Astrocade: Ward's version of the Bally Arcade.
Heat Sink Mod: If you own an Astrocade, better than not you will have a chip failure.
www.particles.org /astrocade/astrocade.php   (138 words)

  
 Reproducing a Classic Kiosk: Bally Astrocade   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
These will become the side panels for the control area.
After looking at the photo, measuring the Astrocade (10.5" depth roughly) I went with a 14" depth and a 2" front panel.
Cut two "wedges" at a 10" angle with a front side 2" high then 10 degree upward for a top side of 14" long.
www.atarimuseum.com /articles/phillyclassic/kiosks/astrocade/ac2.html   (298 words)

  
 Bally Alley - The Newsletter for Astrocade Users   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
This is a backup of the Astrocade Discussion Group.
Read and participate with what other people in the Astrocade community are doing.
Complete 2001 Backup - Backup of the Astrocade Discussion Group for 2001.
www.ballyalley.com /misc_docs/discussion_group/discussion_group.html   (62 words)

  
 OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : HISTORY / detailed info
The same year, the company changed its name - and the system name - to Astrocade.
After that, Astrocade tried to keep the system alive and marketed it as a video game console for several years.
In 1985, the game consoles market crashed and finally, the Astrocade company closed their doors and the Astrocade system disappeared.
www.old-computers.com /history/detail.asp?n=22&t=3   (218 words)

  
 Bally Astrocade   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
This particular Astrocade is in unused condition in the original color display box, enclosed within the original cardboard shipping box.
This is an example of the packaging and cartridge style for the Astrocade:
Here's the BASIC Add-On for the Astrocade that allows it to be programmed like a computer.
www.computercloset.org /BallyAstrocade.htm   (100 words)

  
 CVG Nexus: Home Systems: Collectors
Calahan, Pat - 2600, 5200, 7800, Arcadia 2001, Astrocade, Colecovision, Intellivision, Odyssey
Mazurowski, Daniel A. "Smed" - 2600, 5200, 7800, Astrocade, Colecovision, Intellivision, Odyssey
Taylor, Charles E. "Rick", IV - 2600, 7800, Astrocade, Channel F, Colecovision, Vectrex, others.
home.hiwaay.net:8000 /~lkseitz/cvg/nexus/nexus.cgi?Topic=HCollectors   (786 words)

  
 Bally Professional Arcade/Astrocade Console Information
They re-introduced the system in 1981 as the "Bally Computer System", which came with a free Basic Programming Cartridge.
In 1982, they changed the system name to "Astrocade" and continued production until about 1985, when it was discontinued after the video game crash of previous years.
Due to the bitmap structure of the system, this allows for 4 colour settings, however, by dividing the screen with a left/right boundary control byte, 2 sets of colours could be used on the 1 screen.
www.consoledatabase.com /consoleinfo/ballyastrocade/index.html   (599 words)

  
 Bally Astrocade stores that sell games, systems, controllers and more for Bally Astrocade page 3
Bally Astrocade stores that sell games, systems, controllers and more for Bally Astrocade page 3
The Astrocade was the final model in an evolution of systems that started out as the "Bally Home Library Computer".
The Astrocade featured a unique controller and some very early home console games like "Football" and "Star Battle".
www.vgstores.com /sys/bastro-3-rating.php   (140 words)

  
 Astrocade System
The Astrocade was actually just the Bally home entertainment system after Bally sold it to
failure looming overhead, in 1982 it was renamed simply as "Astrocade."
The Bally Astrocade is exactly the same as the Bally Home Arcade.
www.playerschoicegames.com /astrocadesys.html   (343 words)

  
 Bally Alley - The Newsletter for Astrocade Users   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
Welcome to Bally Alley, one of the precious few web sites dedicated exclusively to the Bally Astrocade computer/console.
This place is a treasure trove of information for all Bally Astrocade owners, users, programmers or collectors.
If you are not familiar with the Astrocade (and you use the machine), then you should read this heat warning, otherwise sit back and take some time to explore this site.
www.classicgaming.com /ballyalley/index.html   (135 words)

  
 1000Graphics.com - Internet Resources: Games: Video Games: Console Platforms: Bally Astrocade   (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-21)
Bally Alley - The Newsletter for Astrocade Users - Bally Astrocade newsletters, documentation, ads, letters, promotional reading and manuals in pdf format.
Bally Astrocade - Newsletter for Bally Astrocade users.
Bally Astrocade Gamepics - Offers a selection of Astrocade game screenshots.
www.1000dictionaries.com /opendir/index.php?browse=/Games/Video_Games/Console_Platforms/Bally_Astrocade   (72 words)

  
 Galactic Invasion - Bally Arcade (Astrocade)
Each ship is piloted by a highly skilled captain capable of maneuvering with incredible agility.
Connect the hand controls by inserting control #1 into the first jack on the back left side (as you face the front of the Astrocade).
From left to right, the jacks connect to players 1, 2, 4 and 3.
www.ozyr.com /bally/b2011.html   (666 words)

  
 OLD-COMPUTERS.COM ~ System links
Astrocade Discussion Group > Go there if you want to meet other Astrocade fans
Franck's Astrocade site > Francks programmed the Atrocade part of the MESS emulator.
You can find here technical info like Astrocade schematics, commented BIOS source listing and color table...
www.old-computers.com /MUSEUM/links.asp?c=712&st=2   (88 words)

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