|
Astro Arcade. By Astrovision. Astro Arcade, The Professional Videogame System that gives you four-player capability, three built-in games, a calculator, and these new cartridges. Coloring Book with Light Pen; even the young can make beautiful pictures. The Wizard has a dungeon of surprises for you. And if you're still hungry for excitement, how about the Munchie game? Astro Arcade. The home entertainment sensation that's a personal computer too. [See us at Booth 940]. |
|
Astrocade Promotional Video (Circa 1982). Video created by Astrovision, Inc. Video published to BallyAlley.com on July 7, 2006. This is a five-minute promotional video for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. It was created in late 1981 or early 1982. I'm not sure how it was originally distributed, as I don't think that this ever aired on TV in this full form (although 30-second commercials similar to this video were aired). This video was captured from a VHS tape in the Bob Fabris Collection. In this video, a prototype version of Solar Conqueror is shown, not the released game. Also, Music Maker and Bowling are shown here, but neither was officially released on cartridge by Astrocade, Inc. I've transcribed this entire Astrocade promotional video, which you can read here. If you took one of America's leading videogames and added three built-in games, four-player capability, a three-octave music synthesizer, 256 color variations, a built-in calculator, and a BASIC program (making it a personal home computer), you'd have Astrocade, The Professional Arcade, with a never-ending library of coin-op-quality exciting games. Challenge The Incredible Wizard and his creatures in their treacherous dungeon. Slip through magic doors, outmaneuver the super monster, and if you shoot the Wizard, you'll experience the tremor of the entire dungeon as his magic wavers. In Space Fortress, you command a lonely outpost, in a galaxy far, far away. An alert sounds, and suddenly you're being attacked by alien ships in all directions. You destroy some, but they keep coming, faster and faster. It's positively addictive! Galactic Invasion pits you against alien ships diving at your missile launcher from every direction. They peel off from their formation (singly, or in teams or two or three). The more aliens you destroy, the more their reinforcements attack. Astrocade Pinball has everything but a slot to collect your quarters. Thumper bumpers, kicker targets, drop targets, even real flipper-action that catches the ball and rolls it back-and-forth so you can aim wherever you want. There's no easier way to learn about computers than with the new Astrocade BASIC system. The plug-in cartridge, with built-in audio tape interface, converts your Astrocade into a personal computer that you can program yourself. The complete self-teaching instruction book will help you learn programming while you create electronic music, video art and computer games like these [shown on screen]. The following games are new releases from Astrocade's never ending library of home video games: Solar Conqueror challenges you to dominate the galaxy. Conqueror solar systems while avoiding asteroids, and enemy spaceships that try to foil your efforts. Speeding comets test your flying and shooting skills. And the Space Warp shuttles you to new solar systems and more challenges. Astrocade Bowling, it's like actually being at the alley. The game has all the action, sounds and excitement of the real thing. Direct your ball with as much hook as you want. Make strikes and spares, but watch out for splits and gutter balls. It can be played alone or by up to four players. And scoring is kept according to official rules. Music Maker lets you play your favorite songs and compose your own electric music. It has a three-octave range, plays three-note chords and has an automatic tempo setting. Music Maker sounds like a real organ and plays right through your own television speaker. The musical notes are displayed on your TV screen. One hand control enters the music, and the computer automatically plays it back. Music Maker contains an audio cassette interface to allow you to record and store all of your musical arrangements. Astrocade's Pirate's Chase, dares you to scoop up as many gold coins as you can carry. But watch out; the pirates are on your trail! How much of the treasure can you collect before Long John Silver collects you? Artillery Duel will let you take your military positions, set your cannon and fire at your opposition. You'll even need to allow for wind and elevation while aiming and firing. Cosmic Raiders takes you into deep space, where lies the alien sector, Larkin. Your mission: recover energy sources that have been seized by the evil Larkins. Radar and a superior guidance system will help you avoid the attacking kamikaze ships. The Energy Stars are near the Larkin Command Ship and you must retrieve them before you leave the sector. This year, look forward to more excitement, more challenges and more fun with Astrocade, the home entertainment sensation. A 1.1GB, 1080HD version this Astrocade Promotional Video video can also be watched and/or downloaded from the Internet Archive: Note: When this video was originally added to BallyAlley.com in 2006, it was for download as a 55MB, 5:22 minute MPEG file. It was a low quality video (the version on YouTube is preferred), but for archive purposes, the low-res video is still available for download from BallyAlley.com here. Click here for stills from this low-resolution video. |
|
Astrocade Overheating! Video created by Nice and Games. Video published August 23, 2010. The Astrocade is a really nice console, but it does suffer from overheating problems. I experienced these for the first time recently when recording gameplay of The Incredible Wizard. Was really lucky, actually. Since I was recording, I can now show what the symptoms of overheating look like! Hope this video is not too boring and is useful to someone! Thanks for watching! |
|
Bally Arcade/Astrocade Real Hardware Timing Test. For the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. Video created by BallyAlley. Video published May 18, 2018 I created a real hardware timing test using real Bally Arcade/Astrocade hardware. Two programs are run that use clocks which can be used for timing real Bally Arcade hardware versus emulation. One program, Goldfish Demo, is written in machine language. The other program, Grandfather Clock, is written in BASIC. This video can be used to test how the emulation speed is for Astrocade emulation. Each program is run for three minutes. Bally Ellerson's "Grandfather Clock" running under BASIC: 1) Real Hardware - Bally BASIC: 1 Minutes = 1 minute in real time. 2) Real Hardware - AstroBASIC: 1 Minute = 38 seconds in real time. Bit Fiddler's Goldfish Demo running on real hardware: 1) Real Hardware - Goldfish Demo: 1 Minutes = 1 minute in real time. This video is broken into several parts, to make viewing it easier for those interested in only certain portions of this video. 0:00 - Overview of Time Testing Process 0:06 - Goldfish Demo (Cartridge), Running and Overview of Time Testing Process 3:29 - Grandfather Clock (Bally BASIC), Program Running for 3 Minutes 6:50 - Grandfather Clock ("AstroBASIC"), Program Running for 3 Minutes 9:02 - End Credits I hope that this video allows comparing real hardware versus emulation easier for those that don't have astrocade hardware. |
|
Bally Astrocade Console Review. By Slaughter's House Live. Video created by Jason Slaughter. Video published February 1, 2012. "This is a quick overview of the Bally Astrocade. Enjoy!" This is a great review of the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. The video includes the history of the system, pictures of the hardware, gameplay footage and much more. If you are just learning about the Bally Arcade for the first time, then watch this video and you'll have a great idea of what the system has to offer users, both in 1978 and now. |
|
Bally Astrocade Hand Controller Inside Look. By Arcade USA (William "Willie" Culver). For Bally Arcade/Astrocade Video published September 17, 2013. What is inside that cool looking Bally Astrocade controller? I did find the potentiometer used in this controller is a 50k linear taper pot, so would be fairly easy to replace if need be. |
|
Bally Home Library Computer System Overview. Video created by Gamester81. Video published on Sep 21, 2010. The Bally Home Library Computer was released by Bally in 1977, and only available through mail order. The system would later change its name to the Bally Astrocade. |
|
Blue Ram Hardware Expansion. By Perkins Engineering. Hardware Overview. For the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. Video created by BallyAlley. Video published May 18, 2018 The Blue Ram expansion was created by Perkins Engineering. It was first released in 1980 as a 4KB RAM expansion for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. The Blue Ram was originally meant as a stop-gap upgrade until Bally released the add-under (AKA the ZGRASS) keyboard/upgrade. When the add-under was never released, the Blue Ram became one of three available RAM upgrades for the Astrocade. Here is some additional information about the Blue Ram from the Bally/Astrocade Game Cartridge and Hardware FAQ: "The Blue Ram plugs into the 50-pin connector on the back of the Astrocade and expands the programming capabilities of the Astrocade. Available either fully assembled or as a kit, it was originally released in June, 1980 as a 4K unit. Over the next couple of years the memory capacity increased, so several different versions exist (4K, 8K, 16K and a small handful of 32K versions). Several confirmed accessories for this unit were released, including: keyboard, printer interface, modem interface, EPROM burner and BSR controller. The Blue Ram could be switched into a mode that simulated a cartridge; several of the third-party game cartridges were programmed using this unit and either the Machine Language Manager cartridge or the Blue Ram Utility." This video covers the Blue Ram in detail, including explanations of how the extra hardware, such as the Blue Ram keyboard, plugs into the ZIF socket. Details of how the three toggle switches (Range, Mode and tape I/O) work are also provided. Without examples, it's hard to get a clear idea of what the Blue Ram can be used for by a user. Short videos of ten different pieces of software are shown that require a Blue Ram and are written in either Blue Ram BASIC or machine language (or a combination of both). The ten videos that are shown after the explanation of the Blue Ram hardware are: 1) Four Blue Ram BASIC (BRB) games by WaveMakers (Mike Peace): 1. Gate Escape 2. Monkey Jump 3. Outpost 19 4. Wack-A-Mole 2) Two other BRB games: 5. Astro Zap, by George Moses 6. Snake Snack, by Ken Lill. 3) Two Perkins Engineering products: 7. Blue Ram BASIC 8. Blue Ram Operating Guide (by Ken Lill) 9. Blue Ram Utility 4) Programs for External Hardware: 10. Plotter Drive Program with Space Shuttle and Robot - By Leroy Flamm Some of these programs, if used from the UltiMuli Multicart, are also compatible with the Lil' White Ram that was created by Ken Lill and Michael White. The Blue Ram Hardware Expansion video can also be watched and/or downloaded from the Internet Archive: |
|
Happy everything for everyone from Nice and Games!!! Video created by Nice and Games. Video published December 18, 2010. Happy holidays 2010 to everyone even if it isn't the holiday season for you! Just happiness for all! And Astrocades too, but, that is actually less likely than happiness. Which is a darn shame. In this video, "NiceandGames" applies Christmas decorations to an Astrocade with and plays an Astrocade-related song. |
|
S-Video Upgrade Kit Installation for Bally Arcade and Astrocade. Video filmed with Canon Powershot SX60 HS camera. Video created by BallyAlley. Video published April 17, 2017. This video explains how to install the s-video upgrade for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade that was released in 2007 by 8-Bit Domain. This kit is no longer available new, but sometimes you do see them come-up for sale as used items. This video is made up of four segments. In the first segment, I use my Canon Powershot SX60 HS to shoot video of my Astrocade's RF output (before the installation of the upgrade). I show the built-in game Checkmate and the calculator being used. Next, I show how to install the s-video upgrade, which requires no soldering at all. The third segment shows the s-video output on my 13" TV. I play a game of Cosmic Raiders to give an example of what you can expect with the s-video upgrade installed. Finally, the fourth segment of the video shows five still pictures that show greater details of the kit and close-ups of parts of the kit's installation. The S-Video Upgrade Kit Installation video can also be watched and/or downloaded from the Internet Archive:
|
