Bally Alley
What's New
September 20, 2024
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Added a link to the "Wizard of Wor" arcade game source code disassembly repository on GitHub.
On August 26, 2024, David Turner created a GitHub repository for this game. He wrote "This disassembly was started by myself a LONG time ago. There is much to write in this README file but it will have to wait as I have other obligations at the moment. It is a very rudimentary disassembly and the last update was about 2018. There is a comment that the code is "Verified working" but I haven't tested it so your mileage may vary. I hope to get back to working on this code but if anyone would like to contribute, create a branch and go for it. :-)"
- "Wizard of Wor" Arcade Game Source Code Disassembly
June 19, 2024
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Added a link to Tony Mokomen's GitHub account with his in-progress port of "Sokoban" that he programmed in 2024 for Blue Ram BASIC. Two versions are available, each with different levels.
The initial screen lets you choose the starting level, by moving the joystick left and right. Press the joystick button to start. Play is straightforward. Use the joystick to move your man, and if you get stuck on the level, press the joystick button to restart.
- "Sokoban" (Blue Ram BASIC)
June 14, 2024
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Added "Plastic Puzzle" by Fred Cornett from CURSOR 1, no. 1 (January 1980): 3.
This is a sliding 15 puzzle using the hand controller and knob to arrange 15 letters: A-O.
- "Plastic Puzzle" (Bally BASIC)
June 13, 2024
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Added "Electric Bill Analysis" by Fred Cornett from CURSOR 1, no. 1 (January 1980): 1-2.
This program utilizes the 'internal calculator,' which is capable of rendering an answer with 16-digit accuracy in the following format: NNNNNNNN.NNNNNNNN.
- "Electric Bill Analysis" (Bally BASIC)
June 1, 2024
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Added a Blue Ram BASIC mod of "3-D Forward Simulation above a Flat Plane," originally by Sebrees Computing (Tim Hays), with the mod by an unknown author.
This is a modification of the original Bally BASIC archive that includes six programs included with the "XY Tutorial," a document that demonstrates how to use the BASIC XY command, including achieving some rudimentary perspective.
- "3-D Forward Simulation above a Flat Plane" (Blue Ram BASIC)
May 31, 2024
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Added to the "Quadron" AstroBASIC program collection. This Tiny Arcade game from 1982 has now been archived from its original release on Tape 100. An AstroBASIC program listing has also been included.
"This game challenges you to defend a four-walled energy fortress by pursuing and eliminating four monsters who are slowly impinging on the walls and intend on breaking through. If a monster breaks completely through a wall (i.e. creates a 'hole' or space the width of a wall) the fortress is destroyed. You start the game with a complement of four fortresses. The game ends when all four have been destroyed."
- "Quadron" (AstroBASIC)
May 30, 2024
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Space Gauntlet" by The Tiny Arcade from Tape 10 released in 1982.
"You're at the controls of an interstellar cruiser patrolling a remote sector of the galaxy when you encounter the local inhabitants. These denizens of deep space don't 'cotton' to strangers and they arrange themselves into two columns, firing missiles and daring you to survive their deadly gauntlet. The longer you survive, the closer the two columns of alien nasties approach (making it more difficult to avoid their missiles). Exiting graphics and excellent play value."
- "Space Gauntlet" (AstroBASIC)
May 29, 2024
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Cruncher" by The Tiny Arcade from Tape 102 released in 1982.
"The action's like an old-time movie serial. A steel-spiked wall (the cruncher) slides in from the left, threatening to crush the life out of you. You must break off pieces of the right-hand wall in a desperate attempt to stay ahead of the cruncher. Features eight levels of play with wild music and sound effects."
- "Cruncher" (AstroBASIC)
May 24, 2024
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Added "Okiedada," by THADD*PRO (Tim Henson and David Dalke). This program was submitted to the "Arcadian" newsletter in July 1983, but it was not published.
Try to defend your city from falling meteors in this Missile Command-style game.
- "Okiedada" (AstroBASIC)
May 23, 2024
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Added "Floating Point Math" by Bill Templeton from CURSOR 1, no. 6 (July 1980): 46-47.
This program uses the internal calculator routine which is capable of rendering an answer with 16-digit accuracy.
- "Floating Point Math" (Bally BASIC)
May 22, 2024
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Added a Bally BASIC program from 1980 called "Life IV" by Matt Giwer. Paul Thacker typed in and archived this 300-BAUD program from a handwritten Bally BASIC program listing.
"Life IV" by Matt Giwer is a Bally BASIC program first advertised in ARCADIAN 2, no. 6 (Apr. 25, 1980): 56. It was originally available on cassette or open reel tape with documentation for $5.50.
- "Life IV" (Bally BASIC)
May 16, 2024
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Added an alternate version of the game "Star Siege" by The Tiny Arcade released in 1983. Included in the new archive is an AstroBASIC listing of this version of the game. This version was on a tape with "Cruncher."
- "Star Siege" (AstroBASIC)
May 2, 2024
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Viperian" by The Tiny Arcade from Tape 102 released in 1982.
"Welcome to the garden of vipers, from which there's no escape. Your sole hope for survival is to avoid the deadly bite of the king viper that slithers about the garden."
- "Viperian" (AstroBASIC)
April 23, 2024
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Added the "Gorf - Parts & Operating Manual" by Midway Mfg. Co. from February 1981.
This document covers the three versions of the arcade game "Gorf" (game #873; upright cabinet, #926; mini cabinet and #927; cocktail cabinet). Included are general instructions, control adjustment procedures, test display procedures, pictures and photographs of cabinets and assemblies, wiring diagrams and component layouts and schematics.
- "Gorf: Parts & Operating Manual."
March 14, 2024
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Added a link to the August 1983 issue of the "AstroBUGS" newsletter.
This issue has been online since 2004, but the link to it disappeared at some point, making the issue inaccessible.
- "AstroBUGS," August 1983.
August 15, 2023
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Added scans of both sides of the cassette for The Tiny Arcade's 1982 tape with "Astro Terror/Omega Valley."
- Astro Terror/Omega Valley (Tape Scan)
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Tunneller" by Astrogames from Tape A3 released in 1984.
On July 26, 2023, Paul Thacker wrote, "When I archived Tunneller from Dale Low's tapes, there was a wrinkle I wasn't aware of. There are actually two versions of the game. The previously archived version is the deluxe version, which is for one player only and includes a bonus stage. The standard version doesn't have the bonus stage, but does support one or two players.
- "Tunneller" (AstroBASIC)
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Added the instructions for Astrogames Tape A3. Included are instructions for "Star Wahs" (with a keypad overlay), "Tunneller" and "War Demonstration."
- "Astrogames Tape 3" Instructions
August 14, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Star Wahs" by Astrogames from Tape A3 released in 1984.
In 2023, Paul Thacker wrote, "It's a sequel to 'Wah's Revenge' on tape A1. [...] The complete version includes a title screen, an energy meter, and a scoring system. The war is still rather futile. The ships just keep coming until you run out of energy. If you can't win, are you only driven by revenge?"
- "Star Wahs" (Astrogames)
August 13, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC program "War Demonstration" by Astrogames from Tape A3 released in 1984.
Paul Thacker, on July 26, 2023, when this program was archived on the Bally Alley Astrocade discussion group, wrote, "It shows an alien attack on a city and isn't interactive."
- "War Demonstration" (AstroBASIC)
August 11, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Multi-Adventure" by Astrogames from Tape A2 released in 1983.
"Multi-Adventure" is made up of three sub-games: The Forest, Maze A-Changing Walls and Maze B-Invisible. When this program was archived on July 25, 2023, Paul Thacker noted "It is often said that a game console's greatest technical achievements come out at the end of its life cycle, when the market has already passed it by. Such is the case with one of the most impressive AstroBASIC games I've played, Multi-Adventure by Astrogames, from the end of 1983."
- "Multi-Adventure" (AstroBASIC)
August 10, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Night Bombers" by Astrogames from Tape A2 released in 1983.
"This is a fairly routine sci-fi game, in which bomber planes fly overhead and periodically drop bombs onto your city. You, the player, control a missile launcher and try to intercept the falling bombs."
- "Night Bombers" (AstroBASIC)
August 9, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Omega Valley" by The Tiny Arcade from Tape 101 released in 1982.
"This unique and colorful program simulates a 'multi-playfield' game that has you defending the three inhabited valleys of Omega Hydra 9 as eighteen invaders from beyond attempt to land. You fire the laser cannons at the descending creatures [...] while you're fending them off in one valley, they're continuing to descend unseen in the other two valleys. You'll have to constantly switch views among the three to keep the invading forces from landing."
- "Omega Valley" (AstroBASIC)
August 8, 2023
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I added alternate scans of the extra instructions for the game "Space Sleuth" by L&M Software from Tape 13 released in 1981.
These are three pages of extras for Space Sleuth. There is a small page that says "Private Questions," another that's "Rules and Explanations" and there is a stack of sheets that the player would fill out as the game is played. The "Private Questions" sheet has a piece of red cellophane stapled to it.
- "Space Sleuth" Extras (Alt. Scan)(pdf)
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Astro Terror" by The Tiny Arcade from Tape 101 released in 1982.
"The merciless Vultor warrior race have attacked on the outer reaches of the solar system at your lonely asteroid outpost. They hurl deadly destruction bombs and their terrifying robot command station at you. You must frantically punch in target co-ordinates and fire your deflector beam to stave off the attack. You'll have shields to protect you, but once their depleted your aiming will have to be flawless. Features intense non-stop action-- not for the easily distracted."
- "Astro Terror" (AstroBASIC)
August 7, 2023
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Added a new main version and two alternate versions of the AstroBASIC game "Meteoroids" by L&M Software released in 1981. The program's archive now also contains the AstroBASIC program listing, screenshots and a text version of the game's instructions.
- Meteoroids (AstroBASIC)
August 6, 2023
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Added scans of both sides of the cassette for L&M Software's 1980/1981 tape with "Bombardier/Meteoroids."
- "Bombardier/Meteoroids" Tape Scan
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Added a new main version and one alternate version of the AstroBASIC game "Bombardier" by L&M Software released in 1981. The program's archive now also contains the AstroBASIC program listing, screenshots and a text version of the game's instructions.
- "Bombardier" (AstroBASIC)
August 5, 2023
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Added the type-in Bally BASIC program listings and brief instructions for "Slot Machine and Perversion" by WaveMakers from Tape 4 released in 1980.
In Slot Machine: "The payoffs are automatically added to what you already have. If you lose all your money, pull trigger to play again. All jackpots $100 and up set off sirens and flashes."
In Perversion: "Note who was driven mad at the beginning, he or she is the victim and not the pervert. Use deductive reasoning to find the pervert. Have fun and a few laughs."
- "Slot Machine and Perversion" (Type-In BASIC Program)
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Added instructions for 1982's "Omega Valley" by The Tiny Arcade. This game was on Tape 101 with "Astro Terror."
"Seated at the console of Omega Hydra 9's defense command center, you are alerted to a massive invasion of the three inhabited valleys of your planet. Your mission is to prevent the descending invaders from landing on the floors of the valleys by zapping them from the laser cannon emplacements in the walls."
- "Omega Valley" Instructions
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Added an alternate version of the AstroBASIC program "3D Graphic Demo/Bit-Mapping Demo," a simple drawing program, by L&M Software released in 1982. The program's archive now also contains the AstroBASIC program listing and screenshots.
- "3D Graphic Demo/Bit-Mapping Demo" (AstroBASIC)
August 4, 2023
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Added the type-in Bally BASIC program listings and brief instructions for "Max and Horse Race" by WaveMakers from Tape 1 released in 1980.
Pull trigger to blast max. If your sights were on one of Max's weak areas you will blast a hole in him and destroy one of his systems.
- "Max and Horse Race" (Type-In BASIC Program)
August 3, 2023
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Added an alternate version of the AstroBASIC game "Alien Invasion" by L&M Software from Tape 14 released in 1982 with "Claim Jumper.' The game's archive now also contains the AstroBASIC program listing, screenshots and the game's manual.
"Alien Invasion" is an artillery-type as seen from a pseudo-3D perspective. Aliens move toward the player from the "back" of the screen toward the player's cannon at the "front" of the screen. The player sets the cannon's elevation which determines the range of the shot which must hit the oncoming aliens.
- "Alien Invasion" (AstroBASIC)
August 2, 2023
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Added scans of both sides of the cassette for L&M Software's 1982 tape with "Bit-Mapping Demo/Voice Narration."
- "Bit-Mapping Demo/Voice Narration" Tape Scan
August 1, 2023
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Added scans of both sides of the cassette for the "Michigan Astro Bugs Club, Tape #1."
- "Michigan Astro Bugs Club, Tape #1" Tape Scan
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Added "Michigan Astro Bugs Tape #1," a compilation of 13 BASIC programs by various authors released in 1983.
- "Michigan Astro Bugs Tape #1" (AstroBASIC)
July 31, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Space Sleuth" by L&M Software from Tape 13 released in 1981.
"In the year 2010, on board the orbiting space station which was constructed by repeated trips from earth by the United States space shuttle system. An emergency meeting of the Federation council has been called to decide the fate of all friendly allies against the dreaded Kufurriens, who's ruthless advances into friendly star space is of upmost concern."
- "Space Sleuth" (AstroBASIC)
July 30, 2023
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Added a demo of "Exitor's Revenge" by L&M Software that is probably from about 1982.
There are two different versions of this demo and neither provides gameplay. One has animation with a ship shooting enemies and the other has animation firing out at the screen.
- "Exitor's Revenge" Demo (AstroBASIC)
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Added scans of both sides of the cassette for L&M Software's 1984 tape with "Alien Invasion / L&M Software Demo."
- "Alien Invasion / L&M Software Demo" Tape Scan
July 29, 2023
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Added a demo of "Nautilus" by L&M Software that is probably from about 1982.
This demo does not include gameplay. It shows the title screen that is included on the complete game with a short animation of a submarine exploding.
- "Nautilus" Demo (AstroBASIC)
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Updated the archive for 1982's "Nautilus" by L&M Software. It now includes screenshots, BASIC listings, story background and a game review.
- "Nautilus" (AstroBASIC)
July 27, 2023
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Added scans of both sides of the cassette for L&M Software's 1981 tape with "Nautilus & Exitor's Revenge Demo / Bit-Mapping Demo."
- "Nautilus & Exitor's Revenge Demo / Bit-Mapping Demo" Tape Scan
July 26, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Coyote Roadrunner Desert Race" by L&M Software from Tape 10 released in 1981.
"This is probably one of the most unusual races you have ever seen! Coyote-Roadrunner Desert Race is a two player game with all of the excitement and thrill that a race can generate."
- "Coyote Roadrunner Desert Race" (AstroBASIC)
July 25, 2023
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Added scans of both sides of the cassette tape for L&M Software's 1981 games "Mind Bender/Space Sleuth."
- "Mind Bender/Space Sleuth" Tape Scan
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Mind Bender" by L&M Software from Tape 4 released in 1981.
- "Mind Bender" (AstroBASIC)
July 24, 2023
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Added scans of both sides of the cassette tape for L&M Software's 1981 games "Coyote Roadrunner Desert Race/Atom Smasher."
- "Coyote Roadrunner Desert Race/Atom Smasher" Tape Scan
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Atom Smasher" by L&M Software from Tape 10 released in 1981.
"'Atom Smasher' combines strategy, action and luck for two players. One game of Atom Smasher can take minutes or hours to play, depending on the amount of strategy used. [...] At the start of the game 36 atoms will be placed inside a reactor chamber. Each atom consists of a nucleus (center of atom), and four radioactive particles which are attached to the nucleus.
- "Atom Smasher" (AstroBASIC)
July 23, 2023
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Added "Bally-AHL Benchmark" (AKA: "Creative Computing Benchmark from 1984") by Matt Pilz (original version by David H. Ahl) from July 2, 2023.
This is a 1984 analysis of the performance of various computers and similar devices with BASIC.
- "Bally-AHL Benchmark" (AstroBASIC)
July 22, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Search & Destroy" by L&M Software from Tape 5 released in 1981.
"Dr. Oppenheimer, a nuclear physicist in our research and development lab, has suffered a mental breakdown. He has gotten control of our experimental nuclear sub, Dolphin, which has the capability to destroy the world. Your mission is to man the battleship Falcon and search sectors 1 thru 60. Unfortunately, for the safety of the world, you must destroy the Dolphin using depth charges. Be careful, we have information that Dr. Oppenheimer has mined the area and also has full use of powerful lasers capable of destroying the Falcon."
- "Search & Destroy" by L&M Software (AstroBASIC)
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Added four pictures of a "Bally Computer System Edition" custom controller for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade that was created by Mike ("doubledown" on AtariAge.com) in April 2023.
- "Bally Computer System Edition" Custom Controller
July 21, 2023
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Added a picture of a custom controller for "Space Fortress" for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade that was created by Mike ("doubledown" on AtariAge.com) in May 2023.
- "Space Fortress" Bally Arcade/Astrocade Custom Controller
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Air Raid" by L&M Software from Tape 5 released in 1981.
"Protect the city below from the enemy air craft which is firing upon it. The enemy air craft will make five passes over the city during each game. You must destroy the air craft as quickly as possible, thus allowing the enemy a minimum amount of time to fire upon the city."
- "Air Raid" by L&M Software (AstroBASIC)
July 20, 2023
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Added the AstroBASIC games "Secret of Pellucitor I and II" with a title screen by L&M Software from Tape 15 released in 1982.
"You are a soldier of fortune in command of the starship Zedra. A captured alien, while dying, has told of a vast silver treasure on a distant planet and given you the secret keys. Great riches lie in the prehistoric subterranean city of Pellucitar. You are hurried there, pushing the Zedra to all possible warp speed!"
- "Secret of Pellucitor" by L&M Software (AstroBASIC)
July 18, 2023
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Added three pictures of a custom controller for "ICBM Attack" for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade that was created by Mike ("doubledown" on AtariAge.com) in April 2023.
On April 8, 2023, "doubledown" wrote: "I decided to stick with the overall black & white look of the original Spectre Handle for this project, which also allowed me to incorporate some CPO text/artwork inspired from the Atari Missile Command cabaret arcade cabinets"
- "ICBM Attack" Bally Arcade/Astrocade Custom Controller
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Added the AstroBASIC game "Cosmic Saucer Battle" by L&M Software from Tape 2 released in 1981.
"Flying saucer invaders are bent on conquering the Earth. Star Fleet Command has given you and your co-pilot the task of halting their advances. Can you stop the saucers and their missiles in time?"
- "Cosmic Saucer Battle" by L&M Software (AstroBASIC)
July 17, 2023
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Added a picture of a custom controller for "Crazy Climber" for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade that was created by Mike ("doubledown" on AtariAge.com) in April 2023.
Mike wrote, "Its probably pretty safe to say that nobody has ever built a twin-stick arcade controller for the Astrocade before. But as the Crazy Climber port on this contemporary console is the only one which features a proper arcade control scheme, I felt I needed to build this."
- "Crazy Climber" Bally Arcade/Astrocade Custom Controller
July 14, 2023
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Added the instructions for L&M Software's games "Bombardier/Meteoroids" that came out in 1981 on Tape 3.
- "Bombardier/Meteoroids" Instructions
July 13, 2023
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Added the instructions for L&M Software's games "Search & Destroy/Air Raid" that came out in 1981 on Tape 5.
- "Search & Destroy/Air Raid" Instructions
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Added a scan of the "Soccer and Shoot Out" instructions from 1985 when the prototype game by Bally was released on a cartridge by Mike White.
- "Soccer and Shoot Out" Instructions
July 12, 2023
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Added "Search & Destroy" instructions that were revised by L&M Software in 1983.
Your mission is to man the battleship "Falcon" and search sectors 1 through 60 to destroy an experimental submarine called the "Dolphin" using depth charges
- "Search & Destroy" (Revised) Instructions
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Added a scan of the "Conan the Barbarian" instructions from 1985 when the prototype game was released on a cartridge by Dave Carson Software.
- "Conan the Barbarian" Instructions
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Added game descriptions for The Tiny Arcade's AstroBASIC Tape 101, "Omega Valley/Astro Terror" from 1982.
- "Astro Terror" Game Description
- "Omega Valley" Game Description
July 11, 2023
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Added an L&M Software Catalog with Tapes 1-6.
This is a two-page catalog with 12 original games for the Astrocade/Bally Arcade Computer System on six tape cassettes with graphic pictures which represent each game.
- L&M Software Catalog (Tapes 1-6)
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Added instructions for 1981's "Cosmic Saucer Battle/The Black Lagoon" by L&M Software from Tape 2.
- "Cosmic Saucer Battle/The Black Lagoon" Instructions
July 10, 2023
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Added "Exitor's Revenge" game ad by L&M Software for 1982's Tape 17.
"You are the commander of the underground MX missile, defense for the top secret facility, which is code named Akreon. This is where our first interstellar star drive is being constructed. You are alerted to the presence of an object coming in from outer space. You immediately recognize it as a battle star of alien origin. You take control of the MX system, positioning the launcher, firing the missiles and guiding them to target, destroying the warriors before they can radio important data to the enemy battle star. LOOKOUT!!! The battle star will fire back."
- "Exitor's Revenge" Ad
July 9, 2023
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Added "Nautilus" game ad by L&M Software from Tape 17, October 1982.
"The 7th fleet is engaged in the top secret mission, code named Akreon, the shipping of our first star drive engine to it's final destination. Presently the 7th fleet is moored just off the coast of Scorpion, a small island in route."
- "Nautilus" Ad
July 8, 2023
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Added a color, full-page ad for 1982's "3D Tic-Tac-Toe" by L&M Software.
- "3D Tic-Tac-Toe" Ad
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Added instructions for 1982's "Alien Invasion" by L&M Software.
- "Alien Invasion" Instructions
July 7, 2023
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Added pictures of the unreleased Viper Z-GRASS 2000 hardware that was up for auction on Ebay in September 2015.
- Viper Z-GRASS 2000 hardware
July 6, 2023
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Added four pictures, different from yesterday, of the console box and packaging for the Bally Professional Arcade Home TV Entertainment Center, The First Arcade Video Games for the Home by Bally.
- Box and Packaging for the Bally Professional Arcade Home TV Entertainment Center by Bally.
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Added a color, full-page ad for 1982's "Alien Invasion" by L&M Software.
- "Alien Invasion" Ad
July 5, 2023
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Added four pictures of the console box and packaging for the Bally Professional Arcade Home TV Entertainment Center, The First Arcade Video Games for the Home by Bally.
- Box and Packaging for the Bally Professional Arcade Home TV Entertainment Center by Bally.
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Added "Claim Jumper" ad by L&M Software. Also, the "Candy Man/River City Gambler" ads have been moved here.
- "Claim Jumpers" Ad
- "Candy Man/River City Gambler" Ads
July 4, 2023
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Added three pictures of the console box and packaging for the Bally Professional Arcade Expandable Computer System by Astrovision, Inc.
- Box and Packaging for the Bally Professional Arcade Expandable Computer System by Astrovision, Inc.
July 3, 2023
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Added a letter that accompanied a Tiny Arcade ad from Tom McConnell to Bob Fabris, the editor of the "Arcadian" newsletter. The letter is dated July 6, 1982.
Reading the letter gives a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes work that was required by these small companies to sell their games on tape for the Bally Arcade.
- Letter to Bob Fabris (July 6, 1982)(Tom_McConnell)
July 2, 2023
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Added a Tiny Arcade advertisement from 1982 with screenshots and descriptions of four cassette tapes.
This is a two-page advertisement that Tom McConnell, the programmer of The Tiny Arcade Bally BASIC and AstroBASIC programs, sent to Bob Fabris, editor of the "Arcadian" newsletter, on July 6, 1982. Included are descriptions for four tapes.
- The Tiny Arcade Advertisement
July 1, 2023
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Added a circa 1974 "Bally Alley" and "Bally Lane" four-page flyer for Compact Cabinet, Pedestal or Wall Style arcade bowling game.
"Played by 2, 3, or 4 players in competition or by a solo player, rapid action in continuous play takes in up to $12 an hour. And continuous repeat play is insured by true bowling performance and try-again appeal. Give players the thrill of sit-down bowling in compact space that wins a welcome in every type of location. Give your locations a game as permanent as any fixture. And give yourself record-smashing profits, year after year. Get BALLY ALLEY, BALLY LANE now."
- "Bally Alley" and "Bally Lane" four-page flyer
June 30, 2023
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Added thirteen pictures from the Astrobash 1983 event, an AstroBUG Bally Arcade/Astrocade User Group gathering that occurred in November 1983 near Brighton, Michigan.
"The party was scheduled for the third Sunday of September, but the gang started arriving at Don's house in trailers, motor homes and sleeping bags. And once they began setting up their computers and showing off their software, nobody wanted to go to sleep until Tuesday, when the last of them left."
- Astrobash 1983 Pictures
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Added an article called "Home Computers Spawn 'User Groups'" by John Teets from the Chicago Sun-Times, circa 1981 or 1982.
"A user [of the Bally Arcade] from Lake Villa, Ill., sent along several issues of the 'Arcadian,' a newsletter for an informal group of Bally owners on how it works, what they are doing with it and what they hope to accomplish. It is pretty impressive. His impassioned followup wasn't bad either, in the realm of unsolicited testimonials."
- "Home Computers Spawn 'User Groups'".
June 29, 2023
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Added an article called "Video Games," which is a system comparison published in the November 1982 of "Consumer Report."
This article chooses the Astrocade as the best game console choice of 1982 (versus the Atari 2600, Intellivision and Odyssey 2).
- "Video Games" (A Videogame System Comparison)
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Added the Bally "Fun & Brains" counter display, circa 1978/1979.
This is the plastic base unit of the Bally "Fun & Brains" counter display. The "Bally Fun & Brains Counter Display Set Up Instructions" show a drawing of the header card for use with the base unit, but that card is not shown here.
- Bally "Fun & Brains" Counter Display.
June 28, 2023
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Added three pictures of a Bally Arcade/Astrocade console displayed on a 1950's Admiral Super Cascade TV that were originally posted to the Astrocade Discussion Group by Matt Pilz on September 9, 2021.
- Bally Arcade/Astrocade Displayed on 1950's Admiral Super Cascade TV
June 27, 2023
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Added two pictures of an AstroBASIC homemade audio I/O switchbox built by Adam Trionfo in about 2001.
- AstroBASIC Homemade I/O Audio Switchbox
June 26, 2023
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Added "The Incredible Wizard" promotional poster by Astrocade, Inc., circa 1982.
"The Incredible Wizard is Here!" promotional poster for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade videogame.
- "The Incredible Wizard" Promotional Poster
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Added three Polaroid pictures of the Viper System 1 expansion system for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade.
These appear to be pre-production versions of the Viper System 1 with 32K RAM. One is the keyboard and memory expansion and two are close-ups of the RAM expansion.
- Viper System 1 Prototype Pictures
June 24, 2023
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Added an advertisement for the white version of the Bally Professional Arcade console from page 374 of the Montgomery Ward Catalog 1981 Christmas Wish Book.
This is the home video game your family has been waiting for. Years of research and technological know-how have put the Bally Professional Arcade at the top of the video game system class. The programmable console includes three built-in games [and] built-in storage under dustcover for additional videocades
- Bally Professional Arcade (White Console) Advertisement.
June 23, 2023
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Added an ad for the unreleased game "Munchie" by Astrocade, Inc. from 1981.
This is an ad for "Munchie," a "Pac-Man" clone that wasn't released by Astrocade, Inc. for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade videogame console. The game was eventually released by the Astrocade community as "Muncher."
- "Munchie" Ad
June 22, 2023
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Added a hi-res scan of the cover of "The Incredible Wizard's" manual.
This is a high resolution 1200DPI scan of the cover for the manual of "The Incredible Wizard" for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade videogame console. The one file in this archive is called "Incredible_Wizard_(1982)(Astrocade)(Manual_Cover)(1200dpi).png" and it is 89.6MB. The idea is that this large image file may be suitable to be printed as a poster.
- "The Incredible Wizard" - Hi-Res Scan
June 21, 2023
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Added Bally Professional Arcade (with the red cassette door) advertisement from a Montgomery Ward Catalog from about 1977 or 1978.
"Up until now you've had to go to commercial arcades to play certain video games. Now Bally, leader of arcade games, brings some of their most popular games into the home-- in a video console that we believe has the most advanced microprocessor on the market today. Compare the picture quality-- full figures appear on the screen. Direct-trigger hand controls have an 8-position switch to move characters in every direction. And there's authentic arcade background noise, too! The Arcade is a 3-function unit...2 games and a calculator are built right into the console. This machine will never become obsolete because it also has a cassette slot that accepts cartridges containing other video games that you'll want to have as they become available. Start your collection now with the cartridges sold below. Free membership to Wards Cartridge Club."
- Bally Professional Arcade (with the Red Cassette Door) Montgomery Ward Advertisement
June 20, 2023
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Added a Bally Professional Arcade ad from pages 236-238 of a 1970's Spiegel catalog.
"Bally. The identical games you play at arcades... now on your home TV screen (with controls for 4 players) [...] Bally Professional Arcade for $269.88."
The Bally Arcade is being sold beside the RCA Studio II, a Pong clone and Atari Video Pinball. Wow! With competition like that, we should all be using our next generation Bally Arcade 6 systems. One neat historical point of interest is that the box shown for the Bally Arcade carts are ones that I've never seen before and were never used. Neat!
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Bally Professional Arcade Ad (Spiegel Catalog)
March 7, 2023
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Added 1979's "Math Routines" by Sebree's Computing (Tim Hays) for AstroBASIC. This program was typed in and archived by Matt Pilz.
These routines are for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. This is a set of four math routines that Tim Hays wrote which create a Sine, Cosine, Arctangent and Square Root for Bally BASIC.
- "Math Routines" (AstroBASIC, 2000-BAUD)
March 4, 2023
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Added "Bally Arcade/Astrocade-Related Comments by Todd Johnson."
Todd Johnson, who created "Crown of Zeus," a BASIC game published in 1982 and 1983 in the "Arcadian" newsletter for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade, made a post in the comment area of a video called "A Real Computer? Exploring the Bally Computer System aka Astrocade." Paul Thacker and Adam Trionfo asked him additional questions about his time with the Astrocade. These comments are compiled in this document.
- Bally Arcade/Astrocade-Related Comments by Todd Johnson)
February 22, 2023
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Added two links to threads on the Astrocade discussion group and one video related to Dale Low's 1984 AstroBASIC game "Tunneller" from Astrogames' Tape A3.
- "Tunneller" (AstroBASIC, 2000-BAUD)
February 21, 2023
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Added Dale Low's 1984 AstroBASIC game "Star Wahs" from Astrogames' Tape A3.
"It's a sequel to Wah's Revenge on tape A1."
- "Star Wahs" (AstroBASIC, 2000-BAUD)
February 16, 2023
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Added links to 600DPI, color scans of the Bally BASIC type-in program called "Math Routines" by Sebree's Computing (Tim Hays) from 1979.
These routines are for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade. This is a set of four math routines that Tim Hays wrote which create a Sine, Cosine, Arctangent and Square Root for Bally BASIC. Full documentation is included.
- "Math Routines" (Type-In BASIC Listings)
February 15, 2023
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Added the complete Tape A1 by Astrogames, which includes the menu and all five programs: Wah's Revenge, Super Pac, Defense Professional, Metro Attack and 3 Voice Tune (Peter Piper). The only way to play Super Pac is using this menu system; there is no stand-alone version of this program.
- Astrogames Tape A1 (Complete) (AstroBASIC, 2000-BAUD)
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Added "Super Pac," by Astogames/Dale Low.
It's a Pac-Man clone with a randomized maze.
- Super Pac (AstroBASIC, 2000-BAUD)
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Updated archive of "Phaser Phun" by Dick Ainsworth from the AstroBASIC manual with a variant by Dale Low.
- Phaser Phun (AstroBASIC, 2000-BAUD)
February 14, 2023
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Added links to nine AstroBASIC games by Astrogames/Dale Low that Paul Thacker archived in February 2023 and four links to games that still must be archived. The links for archived programs lead to the programs archived on the BallyAlley Bally Arcade/Astrocade discussion forum on Groups.io. These programs will eventually be available as direct downloads from BallyAlley.com.
The nine links to the Astrogames programs that have been archived are Cavern,
Defense Professional, Lunar Lifeboat, Metro Attack, Peter Piper, Saturn Space Dock Plus, Star Wahs, Super Graphix (Test Version, Fireworks!!), and Wah's Revenge.
The four links to the Astrogames programs that have not yet been archived are Menu, Multi-Adventure, Night Bombers, and War Demo.
- Astrogames/Dale Low (AstroBASIC Download Area)
February 12, 2023
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Added Dale Low's 1984 AstroBASIC game "Tunneller" from Astrogames' Tape A3.
Use the joystick to move through the playfield and collect all the icons while avoiding the enemy. Once you've collected everything, exit the stage on the right side.
- "Tunneller" (AstroBASIC, 2000-BAUD)
February 11, 2023
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Added three games by Dale Low to the Astrogames/Dale Low download area.
In preparation to add the rare programs by Astrogames that Paul Thacker has archived, three games by Dale that were previously archived elsewhere on the website were added: "Control 30," "Pac*Man" and "Saturn Space Dock."
- Astrogames/Dale Low (AstroBASIC Download Area)
February 10, 2023
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Added an area for AstroBASIC software written by Astrogames/Dale Low.
Paul Thacker has recently archived some rare programs by Astrogames. They will be placed here. To start this area off with some programs, two games by Dale that were previously archived elsewhere on the website were added: "Maze Avenger," and "Metropolitan Attack!"
- Astrogames/Dale Low (AstroBASIC Download Area)
January 27, 2023
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Added the "Cursor Tiny Micro Computer News Services: One-Year Anniversary Letter" by The Cursor Group from 1980.
This letter informs potential subscribers of the newsletter of the "Special Introductory [...] subscription rate is $9.75 for six months."
- Cursor: One-Year Anniversary Letter
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Added "Cursor, Volume I Index: Issues 1-6 (January - July 1980)," by Cursor: The Tiny Micro Computer News Service (Fred Cornett).
This two-page index includes a list of: Articles, Classifieds, Hardware, Books and Products, Programs (Listed by Name and Author), Tutorials, Charts and Other Interesting Stuff and User Group News and Vendors.
- Cursor, Volume I Index: Issues 1-6 (January - July 1980)
January 26, 2023
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Added the 1979 Bally BASIC game "Munch" by Sebree's Computing (Tim Hays).
An ex-friend gave you a cookie with a poison raisin in it. You decide to eat this harmless looking cookie. (Until you croak after it’s too late.) Use the joystick to move your mouth around, press the trigger to munch away!! If you get more than 2,000 points, you win the game, if you’re not poisoned by then!!
- "Munch" (AstroBASIC, 2000-BAUD)
- "Munch" (Bally BASIC, 300-BAUD)
January 23, 2023
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Added the 1979 game, "Hit the Pedestrian!" by Sebree's Computing (Tim Hays).
"The game is pseudo-3D. The perspective is similar to '280 Zzzap' or 'Night Driver.' The pedestrians move toward the car and they each grow larger as they get closer."
- "Hit the Pedestrian!" (Bally BASIC)
January 21, 2023
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Added an AstroBASIC program called "Bally Snowflake" by Matt Pilz from 2022.
This AstroBASIC video art program produces an endlessly altering snowflake drawing. The variations it generates can create a real glistening look to them, even with speckled snow frosted across it at times!
- "Bally Snowflake" (AstroBASIC)
December 21, 2022
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Added a link to Palo Alto Tiny BASIC (Version 1).
This is the original version of Palo Alto Tiny BASIC as published in the May 1976 issue of volume 1 of "Dr. Dobb's Journal of COMPUTER Calisthenics & Orthodontia" magazine. The article contains the user documentation and the complete, annotated 8080 CPU source code. Bally BASIC is based upon this version of BASIC.
- Palo Alto Tiny BASIC (Article and Source Listing)
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Added a fixed version of "Star Trek" by Scott Waldinger. This game was advertised in ARCADIAN 1, no. 8 (Jul. 20, 1979): 68. It was fixed by Kevin Bunch on December 18, 2022.
This is a small "Star Trek" game written in Bally BASIC. The player fires at Klingons in different quadrants using short and long range sensors. This game has some simple graphics, which set it apart from many of the other "Star Trek" games of the late 1970s.
- Star Trek by Scott Waldinger (Bally BASIC, 300-Baud Format)
December 17, 2022
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Added pictures of Side A, Side B and the tape case spine for "Arcadian" Compilation Tape ATV2A by RMH Enterprises (Richard Houser) from 198x.
This cassette tape contains 22 Bally BASIC programs from Volume II of the "Arcadian" newsletter. There are fourteen programs on Side A and eight more on Side B.
- "Arcadian" Compilation Tape ATV2A (Pictures)
December 15, 2022
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Added 1981's "Falling Stars" by Super Software (Robert Rosenhouse).
"Radioactive meteorites are descending on a major metropolitan city. The city's only protection is a weak shield and your limited laser weapon (you are supplied with one gallon per round). Once an area of the shield becomes damaged, the city is vulnerable. Do your best to save the city for as long as you can."
- "Falling Stars" (Bally BASIC 300-BAUD Program)
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Added pictures of Side A, Side B and the tape case spine for "Arcadian" Compilation Tape ATV1 by RMH Enterprises (Richard Houser) from 198x.
This cassette tape contains 19 Bally BASIC programs from Volume I of the "Arcadian" newsletter. There are seventeen programs on Side A and two more on Side B.
- "Arcadian" Compilation Tape ATV1 (Pictures)
December 13, 2022
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Added two Bally BASIC type-in programs from 1983 and 1984 by Allen Skaggs called "Record Keeping" and "Big Six Gambler."
"Record-Keeping for AstroBASIC with Blue RAM Memory" can be used "to store and retrieve auto costs, home improvements, computer software, record albums, etc." "Big City Gambler for One" is modified from a program that appeared in "More BASIC Computer Games" by David Ahl.
- "Record Keeping" and "Big Six Gambler" (Type-In BASIC Listings)
December 12, 2022
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Added two handwritten Bally BASIC type-in program listings from 1982 called "Find Yogi" and "Ever Changing Cross" by Stanley Kendall.
This four-page document contains a typed letter to Bob Fabris and two BASIC programs: a game called "M-I - Find Yogi" and video art called "M-II - Ever Changing Cross."
- "Find Yogi" and "Ever Changing Cross" (Type-In BASIC Listing)
December 11, 2022
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Added the cassette tape insert with the Program Index for "Arcadian" Tape ATV2B released by RMH Enterprises (Richard Houser) in the early 1980s.
This cassette tape insert lists 20 Bally BASIC programs from Volume II of the "Arcadian" newsletter. There are twelve programs on Side A and eight more on Side B.
- Program Index for "Arcadian" Tape ATV2B
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Added "Micro Mind Reader" by D.K. Calhoun from 1979. This is a handwritten Bally BASIC type-in program listing.
The program is described in its BASIC listing as: "Think of a number between 1 to 31, and I'll tell you what it is.
- "Micro Mind Reader" (Bally BASIC Program Listing)
December 9, 2022
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Added the cassette tape insert with the Program Index for "Arcadian" Tape ATV2A released by RMH Enterprises (Richard Houser) in the early 1980s.
This cassette tape insert lists 22 Bally BASIC programs from Volume II of the "Arcadian" newsletter. There are fourteen programs on Side A and eight more on Side B.
- Program Index for "Arcadian" Tape ATV2A
December 8, 2022
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Added the cassette tape insert with the Program Index for "Arcadian" Tape ATV1 released by RMH Enterprises (Richard Houser) in the early 1980s.
This cassette tape insert lists 19 Bally BASIC programs from Volume I of the "Arcadian" newsletter. There are seventeen programs on Side A and two more on Side B.
- Program Index for "Arcadian" Tape ATV1
December 7, 2022
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Added "Using Arcadian Tapes/ATV2B - Enhancement Sheet" by RMH (Richard Houser) from the early 1980s.
- "Using Arcadian Tapes/ATV2B - Enhancement Sheet"
December 6, 2022
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Added a work-in-progress version of John Collins' 1980 Bally BASIC game called "Bally's Alley" that was typed-in by Paul Thacker in November 2022.
"An adventure game; one player. Game can last for days or weeks; can save at any point for restart; can go in nine directions; find the ten treasures and return to house; can only carry four treasures at one time. Each move subtracts a point. A magic word-sound-color will be helpful."
- "Bally's Alley" (Bally BASIC)
- Added the handwritten Bally BASIC type-in program listing and documentation for "Life IV" by Matt Giwer from 1980.
This is an implementation of "The Game of Life" from the early 1970's "Scientific American" magazine. Matt writes, "[Life IV] not only is it slow but addicting. I let it run overnight. [...] A machine language version is needed.
- "Life IV" (Bally BASIC Program Listing)
December 4, 2022
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Added a 600DPI scan of L&M Software's "Ms. Candyman" cartridge.
- Ms. Candyman (Cartridge Pictures and Scans)
December 3, 2022
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Added a 600DPI scan of L&M Software's "Sea Devil" cartridge.
- Sea Devil (Cartridge Pictures and Scans)
- Added Greg Bennett's October 2022 Sinclair ZX81 port of Bruce Jaeger's 1983 game "Cavern Quest."
This is a text adventure game that takes place in a large, randomly generated cave.
- Cavern Quest (For the Sinclair ZX81)
December 2, 2022
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Added "Bumble B Cruzer/Whatzit?" by Ken Lill on one Blue Ram BASICart. These are both Blue Ram BASIC games that require expansion RAM.
In "Bumble B Cruzer" avoid being shot by the "camera-looking" enemy while trying to get through the walls that are coming at you. You can shoot a very tiny hole in the wall. "Whatzit?" is a fast paced one player game. The object is to change all items from whatever color they are to white.
- "Bumble B Cruzer/Whatzit?" (Blue Ram BASICart)
December 1, 2022
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Added "Snake Snack/Cone Man" by Ken Lill on one Blue Ram BASICart. These are both Blue Ram BASIC games that require expansion RAM.
In "Cone Man," you move an ice cream cone to the left and right, trying to catch ice cream scoops that are falling from the top of the screen. "Snake Snack" is similar to "Caterpillar" except that you have a maze that you are going through. When you chomp up a bit, you get longer.
- Snake Snack/Cone Man (Blue Ram BASICart)
November 30, 2022
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Added "Bally BASIC Programmed Instruction Course Addendum."
This one-page addendum from April 1978 is for the first edition of the Bally BASIC manual. It is Form No. 0620-00304-0100.
- Bally BASIC Programmed Instruction Course Addendum
November 29, 2022
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Added a color scan of the grayscale one-page instructions for Sea Devil. This 4KB cartridge was released in 1983 by L&M Software. It was programmed by Andy Guevara.
This document is part of the collection of miscellaneous scans from the Astrocade collection of Allen Schweitzer that Paul Thancker added to Archive.org on December 11, 2021.
- Sea Devil Instructions
November 28, 2022
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Added a two-page scan of a typed version of the Football cartridge manual from an unknown source.
This document is part of the collection of miscellaneous scans from the Astrocade collection of Allen Schweitzer that Paul Thancker added to Archive.org on December 11, 2021.
- Football (Two-Page Typed Document)
November 27, 2022
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Added an alternate version of the Bally manual for the Tic-Tac-Toe/Amazing Maze cartridge. This one has no graphics.
- Amazing Maze/Tic-Tac-Toe Bally Manual (Without Graphics)
November 25, 2022
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Added "Art Show" by Tiny Arcade. This 1982 video art program is from Tape 103.
Michael Prosise, in his September 1983 review of this program in the "Arcadian" newsletter wrote, "ART SHOW is one of the finest graphic-display programs available for the Astrocade unit. It contains seven separate and most excellent, full-color graphic programs."
- "Art Show" (AstroBASIC)
November 23, 2022
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Added "Nitron Company Research" by Paul Thacker from November 2022.
According to Bob Fabris in "An Introduction to the BPA," "In 1982, Nitron [was] the principal supplier of hardware to Astrocade." This compilation of information about Nitron first appeared in a thread on the Astrocade discussion group called "Five New Bally (Nitron) Documents Uploaded.".
- "Nitron Company Research"
November 22, 2022
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Added four pictures of packaging for Edge Software tapes that contain BASIC games in a newly setup area.
The packaging is for these three tapes: "Dots/Mastermind," "Maze Race/Scramble" and "Secret Decoder/Lost in Space."
- Edge Software Tape Packaging
November 21, 2022
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Added Tiny Arcade's 1982 game "Vindicator" from Tape 103 and SuperTape II.
Dodge heat-seeking missiles and outdraw the sinister mechanoids as you seek to win back your planet.
- "Vindicator" (AstroBASIC)
- Added an updated "Tape Programs - Listing and Database FAQ." This update attempts to fix an error with two people with the last name Walpole.
This is a Microsoft Access database that lists most of the software for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade that was released on "tape."
- "Tape Programs - Listing and Database FAQ"
November 18, 2022
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Added "Caterpillar" by A.R.D. This game, from 1982, appeared on the Gamepack G1 tape.
It's a Centipede clone. Move left and right with the joystick and pull the trigger to shoot at the caterpillar and occasional spiders. You only fire when lined up with the spider or the head of the caterpillar.
- Caterpillar (AstroBASIC)
November 17, 2022
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Added five years worth of "What's New" archiving notes from 2017-2021. These have been moved to a separate page.
- What's New Archive (2021 - 2017)
November 15, 2022
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Added the 1982 AstroBASIC game, "Galactic Hitchhiker," by A.R.D. which appeared on the Gamepack G1 tape.
- Galactic Hitchhiker (AstroBASIC)
November 14, 2022
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Added "DMA Graphics: 'Rocket Loader'" by C.J. Anderson, a Bally BASIC program from Cursor 1, no. 4 (April/May 1980): 1-5.
This program loads graphics from a "tape." The graphics displayed are a spacechip "with its launching gantry, two blocks wide by 40 blocks high."
- DMA Graphics: Rocket Loader
- Added 11 pictures of a custom Bally Arcade Controller that was created by an unknown Bally Arcade user.
Nate Reeder, who posted the pictures to an Astrocade discussion group in 2021 wrote, "I bought a system recently that had a few items with it that I was interested in. One of them was a wood controller. I thought that it was going to be a piece of wood that was carved to be shaped like a controller. But it looks like someone decided to try to make [a] functioning controller.
- Custom Bally Arcade Controller
November 10, 2022
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Added the Bally BASIC program "Life Synthesis Model" by Fred Cornett from Cursor 1, no. 1 (January 1980): 6-8.
"Using the grid supplied, plot the location of your starter colony. Best results are obtained by keeping the cells in one area. After inputting the starter colony, the computer will search the complete field."
- "Life Synthesis Model" (Bally BASIC, 300-Baud)
November 9, 2022
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Added a Bally BASIC 300-Baud version of "Bagels," by Carl Morimoto. This was modified by Doug Shaeffer and was not previously archived in 300 baud format. The program originally appeared in Arcadian 2, no. 3 (Jan. 15, 1980): 24-25.
Bagels is a game in which a player, using logical deduction, predicts a given number. In this version, the number is a random 3 digits with no duplicating digits.
- "Bagels" (Mod) By Carl Morimoto and Doug Shaeffer.
November 8, 2022
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Added "Laser Battle" printout by Super Software (Robert Rosenhouse). This 1981 game is from Tape 10, Side 2.
In "Laser Battle," each of two players tries to destroy the other by piercing through his shield to destroy the other's weapon.
- "Laser Battle" Printout
- Added the 300-BAUD Bally BASIC game "Laser Battle" by Super Software (Robert Rosenhouse).
In Laser Battle, each of two players tries to destroy the other by piercing through his shield to destroy the other's weapon.
- "Laser Battle" by Super Software
- Added "Falling Stars" printout by Super Software (Robert Rosenhouse). This 1981 game is from Tape 10, Side 1.
Radioactive meteorites are descending on a major metropolitan city. The city's only protection is a weak shield and your limited laser weapon. Do your best to save the city for as long as you can.
- "Falling Stars" Printout
November 7, 2022
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Added the 300-BAUD Bally BASIC game "Boxes" by Doug Shaeffer.
Paul Thacker's February 21, 2022 archive notes for this game say, "Not related to Boxes by Dieter Heinerman. This is a version of the Dots And Boxes pen and paper game. While there are other Astrocade versions of that game (Dot-to-Dot and Claim Jumpers), as far as I can tell this version is original."
- "Boxes" (Bally BASIC, 300-Baud)
November 6, 2022
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Added the 300-BAUD Bally BASIC game "Tic-Tac-Toe" by Doug Shaeffer.
Paul Thacker's February 21, 2022 archive notes for this game say, "Original program as far as I can tell--not related to the versions by W&W Software, Scott Waldinger, or E. Schoo."
- "Tic-Tac-Toe" (Bally BASIC, 300-Baud)
November 5, 2022
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Added pictures of the front and back of the tape for "Awari" by Doug Shaeffer and 2000 A.D. by Ed Larkin (with any modifications by Doug Shaeffer).
- Awari and 2000 A.D. Tape Pictures
- Added pictures of Fred Cornett and Jim Terry buried by Bally Arcade RF shields.
The picture of Fred Cornett accompanied a piece of news in the May/June 1981 issue of "The BASIC Express" called "REPAIRS?" that said, "As you can see by the huge pile of RF Shields covering our illustrious leader, we've been doing huge quantities of Tune-Ups and Repairs!"
- Fred Cornett and Jim Terry with RF shields
November 4, 2022
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Added the 300-BAUD Bally BASIC game "Awari" by Doug Shaeffer.
Awari is an ancient African game played with seven sticks and thirty-six stones or beans.
Paul Thacker's February 21, 2022 archive notes for this game say, "This is an implementation of the [Awari board game.] I'm not aware of any other versions of this for the Astrocade."
- "Awari" (Bally BASIC, 300-Baud)
November 3, 2022
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Added pictures of the front and back of the tape for Star Wars/Cross Country Racer by Doug Shaeffer.
- Star Wars/Cross Country Racer Tape Pictures
- Added the 300-BAUD Bally BASIC version of "Star Wars" by Doug Shaeffer.
- Star Wars (Bally BASIC, 300-Baud)
November 2, 2022
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Added a picture of Fred Cornett and Jim Terry from the CURSOR Newsletter.
This is from page 83 of the Jan/Feb issue of the CURSOR newsletter. Jim Terry was Vice President of Operations for the Cursor Group. His full name is James A. Terry.
- Fred Cornett and Jim Terry from CURSOR Newsletter
November 1, 2022
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Added "Cross Country Racer" by Doug Shaeffer. This is a Bally BASIC game from the early 1980s.
Paul Thacker's archive notes for this game say, "Original program as far I can tell. Use joystick to steer left or right and try not to go off the road. Seems unfinished."
- "Cross Country Racer"
October 29, 2022
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Added two pictures of a Bally Arcade in a blue keyboard case that was created by Herb Weintraub in around 1980. The schematics for the keyboard were also added to the website.
This Bally Arcade upgrade uses the Key Tronic model L1696 keyboard.
- Bally Arcade in Blue Keyboard Case
October 28, 2022
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Added pictures of the tape for the Bally BASIC game "Air/Sea Battle" by an unknown amateur programmer.
- "Air/Sea Battle" Tape Pictures
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Added the 300-BAUD version of Air/Sea Battle for Bally BASIC by an unknown author.
This is a previously unknown amateur program. This game is like the Atari 2600 cartridge, but it is extremely slow.
- "Air/Sea Battle" for Bally BASIC (300-Baud)
October 27, 2022
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Added a flyer for the Rabbit Computer RX83 Flyer by Rabbit Computer, Inc.
This flyer was handed out to Bob Fabris at, I think, the Summer CES show in June of 1983. Bob was the the editor of the Arcadian newsletter (for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade) in 1983. He was extremely interested in the Rabbit RX83, as he felt he could provide software for this quite-limited machine.
- Rabbit Computer RX83 Flyer
October 26, 2022
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Added a Montgomery Ward advertisement for a blow-out sale on many game systems, among them is the Astrocade for $29.99.
This ad, from the bottom-right of page 6-A, is from the December 4, 1983 edition of "The Baytown Sun," a newspaper from Texas.
- Montgomery Ward Ad - Astrocade on Sale for $29.99.
October 25, 2022
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Added more information that has become available about The Bally Shrine website from the late-1990s/early-2000s. Thanks to Paul Thacker for finding most of this information.
Included is a screenshot of the website's main page as it is stored on the WayBack Machine when it was crawled on June 3, 2001; archives of The Bally Shrine as it was crawled with the WayBack Machine from 2001-2006; an archive of the Bally Shrine as it was crawled with the WayBack Machine on February 9, 1999; Google Usenet archives with posts by Charles Taylor from May 1999 and February 2001.
- The Bally Shrine - Additional Information
October 24, 2022
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Added a three-page printout of "The Bally Shrine" Website from 1999
The Bally Shrine was a website run by Charles Taylor in the mid-to-late 1990s. It is quite difficult to find any references to this website now and it has been gone since the early 2000s.
- The Bally Shrine Website Printout
October 22, 2022
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Added an ad called "Max Performs Magic" about the Datamax UV-1R ZGRASS Graphics System. It is from page 16 of "Back Stage," December 3, 1982.
This advertisement is for a third-party dealer called Miller: The Professional Video Source, located in New York, New York. I wasn't even aware that the ZGRASS system was sold via stores; I thought that they were mail-order only. This ad is part of the Bob Fabris collection.
- "Max Performs Magic" Ad
October 21, 2022
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Added some alternate versions of "Life" and "Nuke the @&#%$*" that were archived by Paul Thacker on March 21, 2022 and are available on archive.org. The archive includes audio files, as well as scans of the original tape.
Two programs for the Astrocade game console by Jamie Fenton (formerly Jay Fenton), published on cassette tape by George Moses Co. in 1982. There seem to be some minor, though unseen, differences between the programs archived here.
- "Life" and "Nuke the @&#%$*"
October 20, 2022
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Added a compilation of material created from Weekly Television Digest from 1980-1981.
This material was posted to the Bally Alley Astrocade Discussion Group on October 8, 2022 by Kevin Bunch. Kevin posted four pages of Weekly Television Digest With Consumer Electronics from 1980 and 1981. WTD was a trade publication that covered the television and consumer electronics industries, for video game-related coverage.
- Weekly Television Digest - Bally Arcade/Astrocade Material: 1980-1981.
October 19, 2022
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Added a letter and a high-quality picture of the Astrocade Point of Purchase Display Kiosk that was made by Santa Cruz Wire & Mfg Co. for Astrocade, Inc.
The photograph accompanied a letter sent on August 1, 1983 to Bob Fabris, the editor of the "Arcadian" newsletter. The letter states that "These displays were specifically designed to accept the Astrocade Professional Arcade system, and have been recognized throughout our industry as the top of the line in home computer/arcade merchandising displays.
- Astrocade Point of Purchase Display Kiosk - Picture of the Astrocade Kiosk.
- Astrocade Point of Purchase Display Kiosk - Letter from Santa Cruz Wire & Mfg Co.
October 18, 2022
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Added a high-quality pdf version of the 1982 cartridge catalog from Astrocade, Inc. usually referred to as "Astrocade: The Professional Arcade, More Games... More Fun... and More to Come..." Also added a link to the catalog on Archive.org that has the 34 300-DPI PNG files and the high-quality pdf created from these original catalog scans.
This is a 34-page, color catalog from 1982 of the cartridges available for the Bally Arcade/Astrocade game console, including ads for the unreleased cartridges: Bowling, Creative Crayon, Conan the Barbarian, Music Maker, and Soccer.
- Astrocade: The Professional Arcade 1982 Cartridge Catalog
October 17, 2022
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Added "Facts and Figures about the BPA: Facts and Figures about the Bally Professional Arcade and Computer Add-On." This 16-page document was published by Bally Consumer Products Division in about 1978. It is form FCPR-0-8008-0400.
"Bally's strategy was to produce a home computer in three steps, the first step containing practically all the software in the form of a TV game that would appeal to a mass consumer audience that will be expandable into a home computer. Second, with an additional purchase of our Bally Basic Cassette, the calculator keypad is transformed into an alpha-numeric keypad which enables you to write programs up to 1800 characters. We feel this to be the best way to familiarize the public with programming in the BASIC language. The third step will be the purchase of our keyboard add-on which will contain the complementary components to increase the unit's power into a complete home or business computer."
- Facts and Figures about the BPA Facts and Figures about the Bally Professional Arcade and Computer Add-On
October 15, 2022
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Added link to additional archived files for WaveMaker' game L.T. (Little Terrestrial).
Here are notes from Paul Thacker, "I've archived a commercial tape from WaveMakers--L.T. (Little Terrestrial). This is one of the rare attempts at a making a platformer on the system. Thanks to Nate Reeder for loaning this tape. I'd previously archived this program, including from the master tapes, but I hadn't seen this exact version before. And while the game itself doesn't seem any different from what I played before, there was in a fact a surprise--two bonus songs from Michael Peace. Riding White Horses was stuck in my head all day after I recorded it."
- L.T. (Little Terrestrial) on Archive.org
October 14, 2022
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Added a Bally Professional Arcade promotional newspaper-style catalog from NCE/Compumart Inc. printed in 1978.
This large-format, 16-page promotional advertisement in the format of a newspaper explains, in detail, the features of the Bally Professional Arcade and contains the entire manual for Bally BASIC. This must be an early promotional/catalog, as NCE/Compumart Inc. stopped carrying the Bally Arcade on December 1, 1978, as reported in ARCADIAN 1, no. 2 (Dec. 4, 1978): 1.
- Bally Professional Arcade Promotional Newspaper/Catalog
October 13, 2022
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Added the AstroVision/Bally 90-Day Limited Warranty Card.
This is the Bally Professional Arcade warranty registration card. It seems to have been used during a transitional period, as it is addressed in care of "Astro Vision." It is to be mailed to Bally Manufacturing Corporation
- AstroVision/Bally 90-Day Limited Warranty Card
October 12, 2022
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Added an Astrovision Inc. press release from September 1980. The title of the release is "Astrovision Acquires Bally's Consumer Products Division: New Marketing Drive Planned for Home 'Bally Professional Arcade.'"
This Astrovision Inc. press release from September 29, 1980 announces the re-release of the Bally Professional Arcade. This was sent by Astrovision to James Costello at Golden West Sales, Inc., who passed it on to Bob Fabris, the editor of the Arcadian newsletter. There are two additional pages included in this document: a letter to Bob from James and another one from Astrovision to James.
- Astrovision Inc. Press Release (Sept. 1980)
October 11, 2022
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Added "Bally Distributor Price Sheet" from June 1, 1978 by Bally Consumer Products Division.
Included are prices for Videocades in the Action/Skill, Sports, Education, Strategy and Functional Series, including several titles that were not released or were renamed. Also listed for sale is the audio interface, hand controls, Point of Purchase Display with Demo Videocade and the Arcade Demo. There are availability dates listed. Many of these cartridges were meant to be released in September 1978, although there are some handwritten notes that change these dates.
- Bally Distributor Price Sheet (June 1, 1979)
October 10, 2022
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Added "Bally Retail Price Sheet" from January 1, 1979 by Bally Consumer Products Division. This is a letter and price sheet sent from Bally Consumer Products Division to Wayne Dunning on March 9, 1979, after he made an inquiry to the company.
Included are prices for Videocades in the Action/Skill, Sports, Education, Strategy and Functional Series, including several titles that were not released. Also listed for sale is the audio interface, hand controls, Point of Purchase Display with Demo Videocade and the Arcade Demo.
- Bally Retail Price Sheet (January 1, 1979)
October 9, 2022
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Added "Bally Professional Arcade Point-of-Sale Action Display" flyer from 1978 by Bally Consumer Products Division.
"Seeing...is trying. Trying...is buying. The Bally Professional Arcade practically sells itself in this eye-catching, custom P.O.P. Display. Passing shoppers can't resist it, and once they try their hand at the Bally "magic," they want to buy."
- "Bally Professional Arcade Point-of-Sale Action Display" flyer
June 21, 2022
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Added "Astrocade Keypad Matrix" by MCM Design.
This document serves a dual intent; providing information to help an Astrocade user who wants to rewire an upgraded remote 24-key keyboard to be compatible as a substitute for the Astrocade built-in keypad or desires to strip down the keypad to repair a keypad matrix issue.
- Astrocade Keypad Matrix
Febuary 19, 2022
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This is the first update of 2022. Added "Perkins Medium-Res Mode: A Commentary" by MCM Design.
This document will give the reader a fundamental grasp of the Perkins medium-resolution theory of operation. Med-Res is a mode which is only available on the Perkins Hi-Res unit; the Astrocade chipset does not support it natively.
- Perkins Medium-Res Mode: A Commentary
What's New Archives
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