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21-459: The XEGS release was backed by new games, including Barnyard Blaster and Bug Hunt , plus cartridge ports of older games, such as Fight Night ( Accolade , 1985), Lode Runner ( Broderbund , 1983), Necromancer ( Synapse Software , 1982), and Ballblazer ( Lucasfilm Games , 1985). Support for the system was dropped in 1992 along with the rest of the 8-bit computer line, the Atari 2600 , and

42-507: A bimonthly magazine, within a year it had gone monthly. By Christmas 1983 the magazine was 148 pages, but in 1984 Antic saw advertising sales drop by 50% in 90 days. The Antic Software catalog, bound into each issue, contained public domain software , re-released products from the Atari Program Exchange after it folded, and original titles. It helped the company avoid bankruptcy, and in 1985 it started II Computing for

63-498: A fancy new game system for about $ 150 . The answer was, 'You can keep the computer, give us that game machine!" In May 1987, Atari's Director of Communications, Neil Harris, updated the online Atari community by outlining this plan, noting that the XEGS was intended to further the 8-bit line by providing mass-merchants with a device that was more appealing to their markets. The XEGS is a repackaged Atari 65XE home computer, compatible with

84-569: A hot idea to serious Atari computer users. But just think about it. If you were afraid of computers or don't have the foggiest idea what to do with one, you'd have absolutely no interest in an Atari 65XE—even if it could play great games. However, you'd probably have no compunction about buying a great video game system, the XEGS, as a new addition to the family entertainment center." In 1988, he wrote in Antic magazine that, to switch between light gun and joystick games, active XEGS gamers are frustrated by

105-447: A play on typographical error ) was used to verify that programs were typed in correctly that generated set of check-sums for different portions of the lines of code, but it didn't help users find exactly which line had the error. TYPO was later succeeded by TYPO II , a smaller, faster program that generates a checksum two letter code for each Atari BASIC line entered in a program. By comparing each line's checksum with that printed in

126-641: Is a boxing video game developed by Sydney Development Corporation and published by Accolade in the United States and by U.S. Gold in the United Kingdom . It was initially released in 1985 for the Apple II , Atari 8-bit computers , and Commodore 64 . The game includes both a single player mode and multiplayer mode. It includes the ability to customize the player's boxer. In total, there are five boxers to beat. The Atari 8-bit version

147-472: Is based on the 8-bit computers but is incompatible with their software. After Jack Tramiel purchased the company, Atari Corporation re-released two game consoles in 1986: the Atari 7800 , which had previously been released in a brief test run in 1984; and a lower cost redesign of the Atari 2600 . Atari conceived the console in a plan to increase the company's console market share while improving sales of its 8-bit home computer family which had started with

168-636: Is the first light gun produced by Atari, and it is also compatible with the Atari 7800 and Atari 2600. The system can use Atari 8-bit computer peripherals , such as disk drives, modems, and printers. Atari sold 100,000 XE Game Systems during the Christmas season in 1987, every unit that was produced during its launch window. Matthew Ratcliff called the game and computer combination "a brilliant idea", which "has been selling out almost as fast as toy stores can get them in". He said, "The XEGS may not seem like such

189-457: The Apple II . Antic started selling games and application software under the name Antic Software after the Atari Program Exchange was closed by Atari, Inc. The Antic Software catalog was bound into issues of the magazine and included former APX titles. In 1985 Antic began ST Resource , a section of the magazine devoted to the Atari ST line. In 1986 it began STart magazine for

210-409: The Atari 7800 . In 1984, following the video game crash of 1983 when Atari, Inc. had great financial difficulties as a division of Warner Communications , John J. Anderson of Creative Computing stated that Atari should have released a video game console in 1981 based on its Atari 8-bit computers and compatible with that software library. The company instead released the Atari 5200 , which

231-726: The 7800 version 80% in 1989. This article about a boxing video game is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Antic (magazine) Antic was a print magazine devoted to Atari 8-bit computers and later the Atari ST . It was named after the ANTIC chip in the 8-bit line which, in concert with CTIA or GTIA , generates the display. The magazine was published by Antic Publishing from April 1982 until June/July 1990. Antic printed type-in programs (usually in Atari BASIC ), reviews, and tutorials, among other articles. Each issue contained one type-in game as "Game of

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252-433: The Atari 400 and 800. Providing a "beginning computer" and "sophisticated game console" in one device, was thought to convince more retailers and software developers to support the platform. Matthew Ratcliff, who had been contributing editor for Antic magazine , recalled that "Atari executives asked the heads of several major toy store chains which product they'd rather sell—the powerful 65XE home computer for about $ 80 , or

273-569: The Month." In 1986, STart magazine was spun off to exclusively cover the Atari ST line. Its main rival in the United States was ANALOG Computing , another long-lived magazine devoted to the Atari 8-bit line. Multi-system magazines COMPUTE! and Family Computing also served Atari 8-bit owners with type-in programs. Starting in 1984, the catalog for Antic Software was bound into issues of Antic . NASA programmer Jim Capparell

294-571: The computer. The daughter magazine would outlive its parent by about a year. When Antic ended, it continued as a section of STart , appearing in six more issues. A magazine for the Amiga , the primary competitor of the Atari ST, was published from 1989 until 1991 under the name Antic's Amiga Plus . The last issue of Antic was June–July 1990. All told, 88 issues and a "Best of" book were published. A utility called TYPO ("Type Your Program Once,"

315-462: The existing range of Atari 8-bit computer software and peripherals , and thus can function as a home computer . At a more premium US$ 159 (equivalent to about $ 430 in 2023), it co-existed with the Atari 7800 and remodeled Atari 2600, and was occasionally featured alongside those systems in Atari print ads and television commercials. The XEGS shipped with the Atari 8-bit version of Missile Command built in, Flight Simulator II bundled with

336-401: The keyboard component, and Bug Hunt which is compatible with the light gun. As the XEGS is compatible with the earlier 8-bit software, many games released under the XEGS banner are simply older games rebadged. This was done to the extent that some games were shipped in the old Atari 400/800 packaging, bearing only a new sticker to indicate that they are also compatible with the XEGS. The XEGS

357-406: The need to continually re-plug their devices and power cycle the system, due to the system's lack of autodetection, which is complicated by its awkwardly downward slanting ports. He said " Barnyard Blaster and Bug Hunt could have been just a bit smarter" by including the simple routine that he was forced to write and publish as a workaround. Fight Night (1985 video game) Fight Night

378-449: Was Accolade's third best-selling Commodore game as of late 1987. Antic described the Atari 8-bit version as "entertaining, frustrating and not just a bit silly (which is one of its strengths)". The magazine concluded that " Fight Night' s primary function is to involve you and make you laugh, not to precisely mimic the action in a boxing ring. It de-brutalizes the sport, which is a point in its favor". Computer and Video Games rated

399-521: Was an early Atari 8-bit computer owner. He quit his job on 15 January 1982 to found a magazine covering the 8-bit systems. On-Line Systems , Broderbund , and Synapse Software agreed to purchase advertising in the new publication, and Capparell's staff distributed the first issue of 30 pages at the March 1982 West Coast Computer Faire . The first issue of Antic was published in April 1982. While it began as

420-511: Was released in a basic set and a deluxe set. The basic set includes only the console, and a standard CX40 joystick with a grey base to match the XEGS rather than its original black. The deluxe set consists of the console, the CX40 joystick, a keyboard which enables home computer functionality, and the XG-1 light gun . The keyboard and light gun were also released separately outside North America. This

441-498: Was republished on cartridge by Atari Corporation in 1987, after the release of the Atari XEGS . It was followed by an Atari 7800 port in 1988. Rick Teverbaugh reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World , and stated that "The game could have been much better. The graphics are good and it is possible to create your own characters and save them to disk for future use. My only question is why would you want to?" Fight Night

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