«Mafia» for Atari 8-bit: Cartridge version with improvements and more | Download
Update includes multilingual support and gameplay balance adjustments.
1 min read
views

Led by Drunkeneye, Mafia for Atari 8-bit moves forward with a beta version in CAR format, integrating English, Polish, and German into a single cartridge. This adaptation required memory reorganization, which may still lead to some errors that need fixing.
«Mafia» is a turn-based strategy game with RPG elements set in 1930s Chicago. Players assume the role of mobsters who, through robberies, extortion, and confrontations, seek to climb the ranks of the criminal underworld. They navigate an interactive map, employing various tactics to seize control of the city.Among the key improvements is a language selector at the start, allowing seamless access without the need for separate versions. The game is now fully joystick-controlled, eliminating keyboard dependency. Graphics for locations have been added, visible only when reloading an area or manually toggled using the Select key on the map.

Character starting attributes, such as brutality, have been adjusted to a balanced range of 10-35, ensuring fairer gameplay from the outset. Menu navigation has also been optimized: moving the joystick up/down adjusts values by one unit, while left/right changes them by 500.
The save/load system has been adapted for CAR format, though it is currently fully functional only in the Altirra emulator. This version is compatible with the Atarimax 1 MB Flash cartridge and is recommended to run with Atari XL/XE OS rev. 2, 64K of standard memory, and PAL mode. Drunkeneye has also considered a future NTSC version.
Despite these advancements, some bugs remain, such as a music playback issue during the player’s first turn. The developer encourages the community to share suggestions and bug reports via GitHub, fostering a collaborative approach to the game's development.
With this new cartridge version, the game expands its accessibility and enhances the potential for a smoother experience on Atari 8-bit systems. Notably, «Mafia» secured second place in the Atari XL/XE game competition at Silly Venture 2024 SE, earning a total score of 7,222 points.
Mafia CAR ver. for Atari 8-bit computers
Download | 1 MB
Please comment politely. Spam comments will be moderated. Thank you.