Atari ST - 2016

Pole Position

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Genre: Racing - Formula One
Year: 2016
Language: Machine Language
Publisher: [no publisher]
Controls: Joystick
Distributor: -
Players: 1
Developer: [n/a]
Resolution: Low
Licensed from: -
Programmer(s): Thomas, Jonathan
Country
Graphic Artist(s): Thomas, Jonathan
Software: English
Game design: Namco
Box/Instructions: English
Musician(s): [n/a]
License: PD / Freeware / Shareware
Sound FX: Thomas, Jonathan
Serial: —
Cover Artist(s): —
ST Type: ST, STe, STe Only
MIDI: —
Version: [WIP Sep 2016]
Dump: Download
Number of Disks: 1 / Double Sided
Dump format: ST
Protection: —

OTHER VERSIONS WITH THE SAME TITLE (3)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This version requires 1MB and Blitter. Even if the title screen says August 2014, this is a later Work in Progress September 2016 release.

INSTRUCTIONS

I've spent much of this time trying to carve out some spare time to work on this project, 
with very little success. So rather than drag things on for a further unknown period of time, 
I've made the difficult decision to publicly release the work-in-progress version of the game 
immediately. Even though it's unfinished and a bit buggy, I'm hoping people will gain some 
kind of interest and enjoyment from it.

So here's what's in the disk image:

Auto-booting STE conversion of Atari/Namco's Pole Position arcade game (just insert disk 
and boot machine);
Requires STE, 1 Meg and joystick (only tested on Steem, assumed to work on real STE but 
tell me if not!)
Game mechanics are virtually complete - rolling demo, qualifying session and race session 
are all in;

Uses reverse-engineered game logic from original arcade game;
However, high score table, some graphical niceties and all sampled sound from the arcade 
version are missing;

Basic YM engine sound and some other beeps are present;
Makes use of STE blitter chip to provide a smoother frame rate;
Over 16 colours on screen (probably around 24-28);
Uses software sprite scaling (uncommon in ST games) to draw cars and roadside objects.

Controls - press fire on joystick to start game, up to accelerate, down to brake, left/right 
to steer and fire to toggle lo/hi gear.

Ignore the "August 2014" date on the booting screen - this build is representative of much 
more recent progress.

Feel free to play the game, distribute/upload the disk image, write reviews, reverse 
engineer, capture videos/screenshots, ask technical questions - whatever really. As with 
most ST stuff nowadays, this has been a hobby project with no commercial value, so I can't 
really think of any type of usage that I'd object to!

TRIVIA (7)

Origins

Based on Namco/Atari 1982 coin-op. Unofficial version.

Conversion - Atari 2600

Conversion - Atari 5200

Conversion - Atari 8-bit

Sound

Features digitized sound fx at 12.5KHz (stereo)

Graphics

Features up to 23 colours on-screen simultaneously (in-game)

Hardware

Supports Blitter
Supports STe DMA sound
Supports STe palette