«Mikie» comes to Atari 8-bit computers | Download
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Following the critically acclaimed release of Cyborg Warriors, Atari 8-bit enthusiasts can now enjoy the colorful and original game Mikie thanks to the team led by Krzysztof "Vega" Góra (Poland).
Originally developed by Konami in 1984 under the title “Shinnyushain Tooru-kun,” “Mikie” became a popular game in arcades. The protagonist is a young man who seeks to woo Mandy, the most attractive girl in school, by traveling through various environments while collecting hearts to complete sentences and avoiding the enemies that get in his way.
According to Vega, the idea of converting Mikie came to him in 2008, when he finished the Atari 8-bit version of Bomb Jack (Tecmo, 1984). Although it was initially intended to be the next conversion from C64, the project was halted and seemed to have failed. However, Góra decided to take up the challenge again at the end of January this year, using the BBC MICRO version as a prototype.
The conversion process was quite a challenge, as there were no sources available for the game. "Vega" had to unravel the entire game code bit by bit, using the previous experience gained from the recent port of "Cyborg Warriors."
As for the technical details, “Mikie” requires a minimum of 128KB of RAM to run – making it ideal for an original Atari 130XE computer. This decision was made to take full advantage of the platform’s capabilities, allowing for a significant improvement in graphics, music and game speed. ANTIC 4 graphics mode was chosen, as it offers a resolution of 48x30 characters to maximize screen space while minimizing changes compared to the original version.
The color palette is managed by changing the color registers per row, allowing a wide chromatic variety in each scene. In addition, all images are stored as bitmaps, which makes them easy to modify in PC graphics programs.
Music and sound effects, created in Raster Music Tracker, are played at every VBL interruption, providing an immersive listening experience. Of note are the covers of arcade tunes such as "A Hard Day's Night" and The Beatles' "Twist and Shout."
The conversion team included Krzysztof "KAZ" Ziembik for graphical improvements and Michael "Miker" Szpilowski for music and sound effects. Jerzy "Mono" Kut also helped solve problems during development, as well as Zbigniew "Saberman" Zieliński, Giann Velasquez and Michał Kołodziejski who provided ideas and suggestions for optimizing the game.
The arrival of “Mikie” has generated a wave of expectation in the Atari 8-bit community, which can now enjoy a classic arcade title with all the improvements and the love of enthusiasts dedicated to preserving and expanding the legacy of our beloved platform.
Mikie for Atari 8-bit computers
Download | 54 kBRequires an Atari computer with 128 KB of RAM and PAL video system.
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