Atari 8-bits revived with the release of the “Space Taxi” version
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Atari fans are in for a treat, as Andrea Cucchetto (Italy) has managed to convert the popular Commodore 64 game “Space Taxi” for the Atari 8-bit computers, featuring charming graphics, challenging gameplay and even digitized voices.
Cucchetto, known for his contributions to the Atari scene with titles such as "White Circus» (1987), «Hypnotic Land» (1992) and «Conquest of the Crown» (1994), he decided to return to his passion in 2013. After releasing the disc version of "White Circus", he set himself an even bigger challenge: converting «Space Taxi» for Atari.
«Space Taxi» was originally created by John Kutcher in 1984 and was noted for its digitized voices and addictive gameplay. Although it seemed like a daunting task due to the technical limitations of the Atari 8-bit computers compared to the C64, Andrea gathered his courage and began the challenging project.
The first hurdle he faced was resolution. To ensure at least five colours per screen, he opted for a lower resolution, but managed to increase it using programming techniques such as DLI (Data Line Switching). As he progressed in developing the game, Cucchetto encountered the problem of a lack of available memory for moving sprites. However, he opted to use a hybrid mode of characters and bitmaps in levels with many sprites. This approach allowed him to simplify the movement of objects without compromising the quality of the game.
Finally, after overcoming numerous challenges and obstacles, the Atari 8-bit version of «Space Taxi» was almost ready. However, one key element was missing: the digitized voices. Fortunately, Filippo "Philsan" Santellocco (Sweden) and Janusz "Shanti77" Chabowski (Poland) - known for his Atari 8 version of «Bosconian» - collaborated with code to create the voice samples in the proper format.
The result is an exciting game that combines classic Space Taxi gameplay with the charming graphics and sounds of the Atari 8-bit computers. The game runs on NTSC/PAL-compliant machines with at least 48KB of memory; but 128KB of RAM is recommended to enjoy the digitized audio.
In addition to its exciting gameplay, this version offers a variety of options to tailor the gaming experience to your preferences. The menu allows you to choose between different game types, each with its own unique difficulty level and style. Likewise, you can try out all 24 levels in a single round. Plus, if you have the skill and determination to beat all the stages, you'll be rewarded with access to the "Mystery Screen."
The game runs fine on any real 8-bit Atari machine with at least 48Kb - such as a standard Atari 800. It also runs on 1200XL, 600XL with RAM expansion, 800XL, 65XE and 130XE machines.
As the Atari community continues to grow and evolve, it's exciting to think about the possibilities ahead. What other classic games could be resurrected on the Atari 8-bit computers? What new creations and innovative projects are in development?
Space Taxi for Atari 8-bit computers
Download | 66 kBIt is worth noting that John Kutcher himself has approved the free distribution of this version for Atari.
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