8bit Strike: Online multiplayer for 8-bit computers

May 08, 2021 • Updated: Mar 17, 2025 - 11:22 PM

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8bit Strike is the name of this project to port the famous multiplayer game Counter Strike 2D (CS2D) to the Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64 and the Atari Lynx console.

As Anthony "8bit-Dude" Beaucamp recounts inthe project blog, the initiative started in 2019; and for half a year now it has had theSupport from Konstantinos "TIX" Giamalidis (Greece)in the development of graphics.

Just like in the original, the player will have multiple types of weapons at his disposal - including pistols, rifles, machine guns, grenades, bombs - as well as helmets and vests, among other items; to annihilate his enemies and rescue the hostages.

In addition, players can play against computer-controlled bots and - more interestingly - human opponents connected to any of the other platforms. As if that were not enough, the best players can take a place in the online player rankings.

While there is no exact release date for 8bit Strike, "8bit-Dude" claims that a first map is already available, dubbed "Dust2," and that TIX is preparing a second one, called "Aztec." The game's engine also already allows for placing bombs and rescuing prisoners.

"The game logics and assets are run on the server (Python script). This makes it very easy to "tweak" (to add new maps, new weapons, different game settings...)", Beaucamp says.in the AtariAge forum

Additionally, the game does not have an "offline" mode at the moment; however, its author plans to use the SD card.built into the 8bit-Hub-a networking device that plugs into the serial port of 8-bit computers- to store game maps, as the number increases.

As for the possibility of having versions for Android, Linux or iOS, Beaucamp points out that "it is possible to use the Argon emulator on these platforms. But developers need to add 8bit-Hub support (I have already offered to share the necessary code with them)."

Finally, it is stated that 8bit Strike will be compatible with theethernet cartridge dubbed Dragon Cart; which is why we assume that it will also be possible to enjoy it with the FujiNet device.

It should be remembered that Beaucamp is the8bit-Unity 0.4 driver, a cross-platform software development kit (SDK) for 8-bit computers such as Atari, Atari Lynx, C64, Apple // and Oric 1/Atmos.