Wolfgang Kierdorf of "Retro is the new black" youtube channel is reviewing a rare kind of Falcon 030, which was donated to his channel: The combination of a Rocke Tower and the rare Falcon Speed PC card by German company SACK "capable" of running Windows 3.1.
Just in case you hear an incredibly unsympathetic AI voice as video narrator please switch to the original language on youtube (lovely English with German accent)
Both hardware items are hard to find these days. They were like the highend stage of expansion for the machine in the German Atari market, maybe until the Centurbo Cards appeared. The Rocke Tower had a very high standing in the community because of its smart design and quality. And the Falcon speed was one of the most advanced PC cards on Atari.
Ironically, the once strong wish in the Atari user base for catching up with the oh so wonderful PC world by using tower cases, external keyboards (and PC applications) turned around again mostly. At least to my impression retro computing people seem to prefer the classic cases again and are not particularly fond of using Windows 3.11 either. Finally, justice!
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Bare with us while we play with your nostalgia nerve for a little bit here: the very oldskool-platform-friendly Nordlicht party goes into its 13th installment this year - and while doing that, it also took the opportunity to revive an old Nordlicht tradition: changing the party place for reasons.
If you ever wondered what the Fried Bits / SILIConvention / Kindergeburtstag 2000 party place felt like and/or wanted to revisit that special venue spirit - Nordlicht has you covered this year.
The infamous swedish corner at one of the Fried Bits parties - don't ask, we won't tell.
The party known for having a very constant Atari scene attendance (as well as Atari XL/ST/Lynx/Jaguar productions that constantly have been released there over the years) now finally ended up where the whole Bremen demo party thing started in the first place: Bürgerzentrum Obervieland, home of so many Fried Bits and SILIconvention stories nobody dares to tell you.
Here's a quick list of motivational (also: non-paid, we do ads for free here!) sentences to join the party:
- If you are in the vicinity and/or want to meet some of the orga team members liable (well, "indirectly", our lawyers told us to tell you) for above mentioned stories, be there!
- The perfect place to dump your old Atari stuff you did and were/are to afraid to release - just enter the very handy gravedigger compo; and don't fret, people have seen worse in that compo, "someone" personally made sure of that.
- Visit the outskirts of Bremen!
- Train your "social skills" on C64 and Amiga people!
- BBQ!
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Takes place July the 25th to 27th 2025! - [tbd]
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Welcome to this little trip down the memory lane, but maybe not only!
Back in the 90s there was this habit of having a list of web links on web pages. This used to be very helpful to quickly find related websites, even more so in small specific communities, as the Atariscene.
The first remarkable link page I remember was provided by the ACF Design Team. It must have been 1996, that I discovered this page with its numerous links to Atari ST sceners and groups. For me it played such a central role as a starting point to the Atariscene related internet, that I still remember the old URL in parts today, 30 years later :-)
Agent-t's ACF logo - a classic
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Read more: In the Spotlight: Atariscene Link pages - over the decades
The GemTos party productions that were already available as Youtube video can now also be properly downloaded on Demozoo. The party itself is taking place this weekend and we hope to be able to provide some insider's knowledge from participants at a later stage.
🔗 GemTos productions on Demozoo
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Chipmusic songs created with version 3 of the Julian Nevo's (aka Targhan) awesome Arkos tracker from the CPC demoscene are now replayable on Atari ST.
The tracker is an open source multi platform tracker (Windows/Linux/Mac) targeting all things AY/YM: Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Atari ST, Oric and others and version 3.2.6 has been released few days ago in April 2025.
Ggn enhanced his Arkos 2 player recently, so that some ST related people (well, Doclands is!) can now use this tracker in version 3 to create YM tunes for Atari ST productions. Some examples for productions using Arkos Tracker music are:
- PONG_CRK by Overlanders (Atari ST, music by Doclands)
- LovelYM by KÜA and SMFX (Atari ST, music by XiA)
- Quantum Leap by SMFX (Spectrum QL, music by 505)
There are several advantages of the Arkos replayer replay since a while, such as a very low cpu time footprint (0.5 to 3 scanlines, depending on the modus operandi). There is also a sid voice timer effect implementation (based on routines by Grazey/PHF and Abyss & Tao/Cream), overriding the pure YM/AY standard sound design landscape of Arkos tracker coming with the ST replay.
🔗 Arkos tracker 3 replay for ST by ggn
🔗 Arkos tracker hompage by Julian Nevo
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Laoo/New Generation just published version 0.6.4 of his Lynx emulator on Github, which currently builds on the Windows and MacOS platform, but is supposed to work in Wine as well.
Minor fixes and improvements:
- more accurate opcode/operand fetch timing
- making bootrom HLE emulation more compatible
- new feature: sprite dumper (Debug->Sprite Dump, and 'dumpSprites' lua command)
- corrected default values for the attenuation and panning registers.
- adding lua libraries of string, os, math and table
- stability fixes
The Poland based group New Generation has become well known for their blasting Lynx demos during the past years. Maybe the emulator is part of the secret.
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Rajah Lone has updated another of his tools - Iphigénie:
Changes in the 1.5 version:
- mod: GFA source code revamped, with more english names for readability.
- mod: preferences window revamped.
- fix: more explanations in the HYP guide.
- fix: Drag&Drop for IPH and LOD files on the main window for loading.
- fix: VA_START and ARGS for IPH and LOD files.
- del: HYP guide file call routine removed.
- fix: latest routine to get environment $HOME value.
- fix: use of clean revamped EXIST() instead of old Fopen() trick.
Iphigeńie is an accessory (.ACC) that comes very handy when experimenting with or even navigating inside the Atari Falcon sound/DSP matrix jungle. I remember to find it useful in different recording constellations, even in maxYMiser/SPDIF/Sample recording context. Configurations can be saved and loaded.
Very practical, too - you can lock/unlock/reset the DSP, e.g. after watching a demo to keep on working with clean settings. The tool comes with a coupe of presets and .LOD-files. Both ST-Guide and BubbleGem help. Source code is available.
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In a world dominated by the latest technology, there’s something uniquely captivating about the machines of the past, especially for those who see them not as relics, but as valuable tools for creativity and nostalgia.
For 19-year-old musician and vintage computing enthusiast James Norris, the Atari ST represents more than just a vintage gaming system; it’s a bridge to a world of music production, gaming history, and personal discovery.
I first met James a few months ago when he reached out to ask about getting some Atari STs repaired.
What began as an interest in retro gaming, with fond memories of titles like King’s Quest and Doom, evolved into a deeper connection with the Atari ST platform, known for its powerful MIDI capabilities and legendary library of arcade classics. From the unique challenge of finding vintage hardware to the thrill of exploring its creative potential, James shares their journey into the world of retro computing, the beloved Atari ST, and how this retro powerhouse continues to shape their music production and gaming experience today.
Join us as we delve into James's story, their setup, the challenges of working with vintage tech, and the creative projects that keep the Atari ST a beloved part of their daily life.
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- Written by: Tronic
The revision party from the past weekend had a couple of Atari surprises in the Oldskool music competition.
First up was a 100 Hz maxYMiser track from Dubmood of D-Bug using STe PCM sounds for drums.
The second track was an Akros Tracker 3 tune by Doclands of the Overlanders, a plain 50 Hz ST composition.
Both of them have been ripped/converted and added to the SNDH archive.
Try our brand new SNDH player, we're crossing fingers it will work!
💾 Download "Had to submit something (might as well be this thing) by Dubmood" at the SNDH site
💾 Download "Private Investigator 4Me! by Doclands" at the SNDH site
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So last year at GEMTOS I was told by the French Atari sceners I should attend Revision and as such I decided to do so.
505 asked me if I wanted to write a report for Atariscne.org and of course I said YES.
Please note that all my comments and views are my personal ones.
My very first Revision, in the meanwhile I knew that Prodatron (SymbOS CPC) was already arriving on Thursday so I also left on Thursday.
Wearing my ABBUC "Tour-Kutte", an initiative of our ABBUC president after I mentioned that we didn’t have sweaters and I was planning to go to several events.
All Atari related events mentioned on a sweater, that deserves a thumb up when you are ready to leave Belgium at 05:00 in the morning. (mandatory eye-bags)
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Ever wondered how Atari 800 game developers were able to create such great games in the 80s on such limited hardware? Apparently a Cross Assembler was used to help out here: The Atari CAMAC Cross Assembler. It was running on a hardware named "Data General MV/8000".
Recently, some historical interested people rebuild the development enviroment using an an emulator and managed to assemble the Atari classic DIG-DUG, as they say, the first time in more than 40 years and apparently, just like (some of) the development was done back in the 80s.
If you like, have a cup of tea and enjoy ;-)
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- Written by: 505
Matosimi keeps on working on his Atari XL/XE tools. With SwSprEd there is now an online sprite editor for Atari 8-Bit computers so you can easily transform your public transport waiting time into a proper home computing event :-)
Features:
- everything can be controlled by mouse quite conveniently + lot of keyboard shortcuts available as well (see in app Help)
- can be zoomed within browser w/o any issue – could be handy for anyone who’s sight is not that sharp anymore
- your data is stored in local storage (you do not loose your work if your browser hangs or tab gets closed)
- flipping, shifting, copy/paste
- undo/redo
- animate
- several export and import options
- ability to edit sprite of width from 4 up to 24 pixels (1 to 6 chars)
- save/load to *.swspr binary file
The program is said to work hand in hand with his previously reported Atari Fontmaker.
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Polish developer Vega, known for his quality conversions of Bubble Bobble, Bomb Jack and others, has published a preview of a promising conversion of the classic Street Fighter II game. It is planned as cartridge for stock 64 KB machines with musics by Miker. There is a gameplay video available in the related Atari-age thread.
Even in this early stage, the gameplay looks way better than the unfortunate ST version from 1993 (not to mention the 4-floppy-disk-swapping horror).
🔗 original forum thread on Atari-age.com
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Which took place from August 12th to 14th August 2022.
A very very very non-realtime report!
2025 heads-up!
CiH here,
I wrote a series of Sillyventure reports over some years, none of which have been published before now. There was an idea to revive Maggie for another one-off issue. This would need articles written for it, including party reports. That might still happen *sometime*. There was also an intent for SMFX Mag to take these articles instead, which didn’t happen.
Still, we have our chance now, as this and other reports a bit later on, stumble, blinking into the harsh 2025 daylight. I can confidently predict that there WILL be an SV Summer 2025 report. Possibly written in a half-realtime sense, maybe.
Anyway, I hand you over to my 2022 counterpart for his write-up of the only demo party that averted a 9/11 re-enactment by disgruntled Amiga sceners, the Sillyventure Summer 2022 Edition, in the tall building known as Olivia Star!
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Read more: A very delayed Sillyventure Summer Edition 2022 party report.
Well, this isn't exactly "news", but it might have been under the radar of some people out there: using a 3D printer and a mouse kit (basically mouse "innards") it's now possible to build your own wireless USB mouse with strong Atari vibes!
The possibilities are endless: use it as your daily driver on your Firebee, use it on your ST via an USB mouse adapter, connect it to your KVM and control your fleet of Atari machines (using aforementioned USB mouse adapters). Okay, not exactly endless, but the coolness factor is there. I built a few of these back when the STL came out, and they serve me well until today.
(There are even other logo options available, which, according to site policy, we won't mention)
🔗 Get the mouse kit the enclosure is based on
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In 2020 ATARI started reviving a series of classic games creating new Berzerk: Recharged, Quantum: Recharged, Caverns of Mars: Recharged, Asteroids: Recharged, Centipede: Recharged, Black Widow: Recharged, Breakout: Recharged, Gravitar: Recharged, Missile Command: Recharged and Yars: Recharged.
Last year coin-op manufacturer Alan-1 signed an agreement with the fuji shaped company to bring most if not all recharged games back to arcade. Yes, 50 years after Pong ATARI is back to where it all started! Of course one could question the interest in some of the recharged games but the first one to be hosted by a great looking cabinet is Asteroids Recharged and please don't tell me you wouldn't love to play this!
Funny thing in my opinion is that when we were teenagers we would roam arcade halls with eyes wide open watching beauties that we would not enjoy at home. Decades later and now that hires or even 4K graphics are well installed in houses I feel like going back to arcade and play simple but fun games especially if you can play with a friend, I mean a real friend not another anonymous online player.
Should you have a few thousands euros or dollars you would like to get rid of you can also buy your own cabinet from Alan-1!
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Retro HQ's James Boulton/SainT of Jaguar GameDrive fame and co-author of an Atari ST emulator of the same name - yes, now you have to guess which name that could be - can't shake his Atari ST roots apparently.
For reasons unbeknownst to us he started to port Dragon's Lair videos (with audio) to our beloved ST - in fullscreen. And as if to make things even more mouth watering, with 4096 colors (supposedly 16 colors per display line) while still having CPU to spare for "game logic" (not my words, mind you, a mere citation).
This might be an unpopular opinion, but the author of this little news piece for one is excited to see this game in fullscreen glory. Heck. Fullscreen.
And as any sensible and self-respecting Atari ST programmer nowadays, SainT developed his own dev hardware in the process (which seems to be UltraDev-light-ish by the looks of it and is planned to be open source). Of course he did.
Doubly yummy then.
🔗See that fullscreen extravaganza for yourself (on a microblogging platform that shall not be named)
🔗And while he's at it: new dev hardware!
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So it seems that the current ATARI owners have decided to give a new life to most of their classic games, I guess we should not complain, right? Following Missile Command Delta and I',Robot here comes Breakout Beyond! The game will be available shortly on all modern platforms and this includes the new VCS.
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Steem SSE v4.1.2 R17 was released today for Windows and Linux.
Featuring the following changes:
- Fix palette timing on "Max" border size
- Fix buffer check on medres rendering
- Fix refactoring error in RS232_CalculateBaud()
- Make MIDI out timer optional
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- Written by: Tronic
Today, the trio of mOdmate, Evil and Jade released "Songs in the Key of YM" - a very impressive Atari ST music disk. The demo was two years in the making and features about 3 hours (61 tunes). Every track has been manually edited in native Atari trackers, the covers are made note-by-note, no automatic tools or emulation.
The creative process was partly overshadowed by mOdmate's disease but the team coped with it and the production morphed into a presentation of mOdmate's musical legacy. You will find mOdmates original compositions as well as many tracks by authors he admired on different systems. One can say, the sound design is exceptional, the YM never got that close to the Pokey or SID chip before. He was putting a lot of work into the details of these mostly unpublished songs and was surely looking forward to release these significant creations one day.
mOdmate decided however, that the demo should be released posthumousely. So, here we are.
You will find a very long scrolltext with background information and perspectives of mOdmate's Atari music friends (and also included as a separate text document for old eyes).
The demo is slightly enhanced on STe, TT and Falcon machines with three extra tracks using PCM instruments. It appears to work quite well on anything from an old 1985 ST with 1 MB memory to a Falcon 060. But as always, no guarantee.
Enjoy!
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- Written by: 505 and evil
