«Ruff'n»: Another Masterpiece in Development for Atari 8-bit | Video
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Embark on an exciting journey with «Ruff'n», the latest development by Janusz "Shanti77" Chabowski for Atari 8-bit computers. This platformer and shooter pays homage to the Amiga classic «Ruff 'n' Tumble» (Renegade Software, 1994) while offering a fresh gaming experience.
In “Ruff’n,” players embark on challenging, action-packed levels of running, jumping, and shooting. Armed with a multi-projectile gun, you’ll take on enemies and obstacles, aiming to conquer each stage with precision and skill.The project dates back to mid-July 2023, when Chabowski showed a video titled"Another way to use the engine from Trax", which shows the early stages of development of the game. The Trax engine was repurposed to generate this side-scrolling platform adventure instead of its original use as a top-down shooter.
Initially dubbed “Unnamed Platformer,” the show quickly gained attention for its vibrant colors and fluid gameplay mechanics. In September 2023, Chabowski shared another “Ruff'n” video titled"Odyn1ec's dark vision of the world"This version used the same engine as Trax, but featured graphics by Jarek "Odyn1ec" Wyszynski.
Despite using the same map as before, the background graphics and sprites were new, drawn by "Odyn1ec." Chabowski noted that the darker aesthetic gave the impression of a completely different game.
Driven by a passion for innovation, Chabowski continued to refine Ruff'n, leveraging tools such as the Map/Font Editor (Antic 5) and Soft Sprite Editor to improve the game's visualization and performance. As the project evolved, it began requiring 128 KB of RAM to fully exploit the Atari's capabilities and ensure compatibility with NTSC systems.
"Ruff'n" was officially unveiled to the public during the Atari Homebrew Awards 2024, held on Saturday, February 24. Chabowski commented on the game's progress, saying, "I don't know when the boxed version will be released or when the final version will be available. It takes a lot of time to draw new levels and add details (fixes and new elements)." With each update, Ruff'n broke barriers, incorporating advanced features such as missile and sprite multiplexing for smoother animations and dynamic gameplay. Recent advancements have focused on optimizing graphics and introducing new elements, elevating the player experience to new heights.
He added: "Currently, there are 3 levels, which is a bit low in my opinion. I am constantly improving the editors and expanding the engine. As the classics say (e.g. Blizzard), the game will be released when it is ready."
Stay tuned as Chabowski reveals more levels and details, striving to deliver a polished gaming masterpiece worthy of Atari enthusiasts everywhere.
MORE INFORMATION
• "Trax" was the 8th finalist in the 20th edition of the Atari Bit Byter User Club (ABBUC) 2022 retro contest.
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