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Author Topic: Qb Special Edition - Announcement
Andrew Davie
Atari Pro

Member # 214

posted 01-16-2002 09:17 AM     Profile for Andrew Davie   Author's Homepage   Email Andrew Davie     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Now that the contest for the Qb labels is over, I have everything needed to start shipping the Special Edition. Consequently I have emailed all those on the preorder list (who are guaranteed a copy) with an offer to purchase.

The offer includes the following specification...


Contents of the special edition are

1) A custom-made wooden box. This box was produced for me, to my
specification, by a local sheltered workshop (at great expense, I might
add). I decided that it would be A GOOD THING (tm) to support these guys by
giving them some work. They've done a fine job - and although not terribly
sophisticated in design/style, I'm quite pleased with the results. Each box
is hand made, and comes with squares of Tasmanian woods affixed to the top
(Huon Pine, King William, etc) representing the tableaux of the game during
play. Boxes are individually numbered from 1 to 100.

2) A CD-ROM containing
a) Multiple binaries of QB during development
b) Archive of emails/messages related to the deveopment of the game
c) Multiple source-code snapshots of the game
d) Actual final source code, in buildable form, of the game as used
for the special edition (not available elsewhere)
e) Archives of the [stella] list, related to the game production
f) Tools required for Atari 2600 development (pending approval by
copyright owners)
g) Copy of Z26 Atari 2600 emulator and full source code - allows
binaries to be played on PC
h) Images of all the labels from the Qb competition

3) A manual containing
a) Fully commented hardcopy printout of the game code
b) Retro-style game-blurb done by an 'industry veteran' (not me!)
who actually did this stuff professionally back in the early '80s!
c) Post-mortem of the game development, and a personal history of
the game.

4) Hand-numbered and signed cartridge containing an individually
serial-numbered binary of Qb. This binary is a special release, having some
minor visual improvements and refinements which are not present in the
regular edition. Each cartridge binary has the serial number as part of the
ROM image, so all 100 are unique. The cartridge comes with a label as shown
in the competition, and each label is hand-numbered (1-100). I will sign
the label if you request it (though I think it would look better without my
signature). If you'd like me to sign the box/manual, that's fine - just
ask.


If you have previously been told you are in the top 100, then you should have received an emiail from me. If you have NOT, then your position is in danger, and you should contact me (adavie@taswegian.com) as soon as possible.

Cheers
A


Posts: 108 | From: Tasmania | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
-^Cro§Bow^-
Atari Pro III
Collector of Atari/Sega Antiquities

Member # 6

posted 01-16-2002 10:06 AM     Profile for -^Cro§Bow^-   Email -^Cro§Bow^-     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Got my order in!!

#74 Come to me!!!....
hehehe..

Great work David can't wait to see the label in the flesh..

-^Cro§Bow^-
Champion Knight to the Childlike Empress
-^KOF^-
Knights of Fantasia
Ivory Tower, Fantasia


Posts: 878 | From: Ivory Tower | Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged
Blackjax
Atari Pro

Member # 29

posted 01-16-2002 01:09 PM     Profile for Blackjax   Author's Homepage   Email Blackjax     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I know it's -way- too late to try to get one of these now, but can you post some pictures for us to drool over?

Great game btw, didn't play it until the label contest and got hooked instantly!

Want to know about prototype roms?
Visit System Failure - http://sf.victoly.com/


Posts: 138 | From: Chicago, IL | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
Andrew Davie
Atari Pro

Member # 214

posted 01-20-2002 11:33 PM     Profile for Andrew Davie   Author's Homepage   Email Andrew Davie     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Blackjax:
I know it's -way- too late to try to get one of these now, but can you post some pictures for us to drool over?

Great game btw, didn't play it until the label contest and got hooked instantly!



Producing the Special Edition has been an interesting experience for me. The logistics of arranging 100 cartridges, boxes, a label competition, manual artwork and writeup, etc., CD production and communicating with people on the preorder list has kept me really busy. Really busy. Just handling emails alone is taking hours per day.

There are few things I've learned, and a few things I'd have done differently. But overall, things have gone pretty smoothly.

The dropout rate (people who preordered but declined to purchase when the time came) has been very low (just 4), but the number of people responding AT ALL has probably only been about 70%. This is good for those who are on the preorder list, but haven't been made an offer yet. I haven't tallied the numbers exactly, but it appears to me that there will be 10 or so additional positions freed up (after accounting for all current orders), so if you thought it was too late - it's not!

I am offering the Special Edition at a flat-rate $60 (that includes insured economy-air delivery to anywhere in the world), for those curious as to the price.

The cartridges all arrived this morning (all 100!) from Randy Chihfield of Hozer Video Games. I wholeheartedly recommend Randy - his build quality appears excellent, he was most accomodating with regard to my requests, and the cartridges arrived on-time and safely. I've taken a snapshot - this is the last time that all 100 special edition cartridges will be seen in the same spot! Note the small sticker on each - this is because each is individually serial-numbered in the ROM itself, so they have to be identified for insertion into the correct box.

David Exton (the label genius) is doing a bit of line-art for the manual, too, so once that is ready the boxes will start rolling out the door. That should be at the end of this week. I am staggering delivery (in the order of payment received) as materials and funds roll in.

Cheers
A

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Andrew Davie ]


Posts: 108 | From: Tasmania | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
-^Cro§Bow^-
Atari Pro III
Collector of Atari/Sega Antiquities

Member # 6

posted 01-21-2002 12:52 AM     Profile for -^Cro§Bow^-   Email -^Cro§Bow^-     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Hehehe...

Excellent!

So..um...which one is number #74?

hehe..just kidding...Glad to see you got them all in.

BTW: if each one is internally serial numbered...where is this at? On the rom..in the rom code? What?

-^Cro§Bow^-
Champion Knight to the Childlike Empress
-^KOF^-
Knights of Fantasia
Ivory Tower, Fantasia


Posts: 878 | From: Ivory Tower | Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged
Andrew Davie
Atari Pro

Member # 214

posted 01-21-2002 01:36 AM     Profile for Andrew Davie   Author's Homepage   Email Andrew Davie     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by -^Cro§Bow^-:
Hehehe...

Excellent!

So..um...which one is number #74?

hehe..just kidding...Glad to see you got them all in.

BTW: if each one is internally serial numbered...where is this at? On the rom..in the rom code? What?



Serial numbers are IN the ROM code. Thus, I did 100 different assembles to generate 100 ROMs for Randy, emailed them all to him, and he burned 100 ROMs, one from each binary file. Thus, all Special Edition cartridges are different in the binary contents.


Posts: 108 | From: Tasmania | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
liveinabin
High Atarian
Activision charity, please give generously

Member # 573

posted 01-21-2002 05:11 AM     Profile for liveinabin   Email liveinabin     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
YAY! which number is mine? Artwork's done and beaming up, scotty.

"My smile is stuck, I cannot go back to your frownland"


Posts: 1736 | From: Brighton UK | Registered: Oct 2001  |  IP: Logged
MattyXB
High Atarian

Member # 15

posted 01-21-2002 05:42 AM     Profile for MattyXB   Author's Homepage   Email MattyXB     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I wish one of the 100 is mine, but I was to late, so I get none of them.

Will someone give me his place?

Matthias

My Atari 2600 VCS Website! Have fun.


Posts: 1060 | From: Berlin, Germany | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
liveinabin
High Atarian
Activision charity, please give generously

Member # 573

posted 01-21-2002 05:58 AM     Profile for liveinabin   Email liveinabin     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Andrew, if you're going to do that jigsaw puzzle properly, start with the edge pieces

"My smile is stuck, I cannot go back to your frownland"


Posts: 1736 | From: Brighton UK | Registered: Oct 2001  |  IP: Logged
ATARIPITBULL
Atari Pro III
Get to close to my Atari and I'll bite your ASS!!

Member # 88

posted 01-21-2002 09:19 AM     Profile for ATARIPITBULL   Email ATARIPITBULL     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I'm on your list, just not on your top 100 so I hope some how that I can get one of those special editions!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

ATARI, WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO


Posts: 706 | From: Allen Park, MI | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged
The Night Phantom
Atari Pro II
BWA HA HA HA HA!!!

Member # 74

posted 01-21-2002 05:03 PM     Profile for The Night Phantom   Email The Night Phantom     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by MattyXB:
Will someone give me his place?

quote:
Originally posted by ATARIPITBULL:
I hope some how that I can get one of those special editions!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Good luck to you both! I know I won't be of any help to you—I'm claiming my copy!!! BWA HA HA HA HA HA!!!


Posts: 349 | From: the shadows | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
-^Cro§Bow^-
Atari Pro III
Collector of Atari/Sega Antiquities

Member # 6

posted 01-21-2002 05:17 PM     Profile for -^Cro§Bow^-   Email -^Cro§Bow^-     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Cool!

Okay so if each rom is internally coded...then do you have the serial number being displayed when the game comes up somehow?

I would think you must be in order to even bother putting it into the code. Unless your doing this also to prevent the "Everyone somehow has a copy" pirating that could occur? So unless they knew where to make the change then you would know about dupes.

Well..either way, excellence all the same and I can't wait to get it!

BTW for anyone wondering...I chose #74 on purpose and not because I was #74 on the list.

-^Cro§Bow^-
Champion Knight to the Childlike Empress
-^KOF^-
Knights of Fantasia
Ivory Tower, Fantasia


Posts: 878 | From: Ivory Tower | Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged
Andrew Davie
Atari Pro

Member # 214

posted 01-21-2002 08:58 PM     Profile for Andrew Davie   Author's Homepage   Email Andrew Davie     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by -^Cro§Bow^-:
Cool!

Okay so if each rom is internally coded...then do you have the serial number being displayed when the game comes up somehow?

I would think you must be in order to even bother putting it into the code. Unless your doing this also to prevent the "Everyone somehow has a copy" pirating that could occur? So unless they knew where to make the change then you would know about dupes.


The serial number is not displayed. It is just an internal difference in the ROM. It's not really there for piracy prevention - though I will be probably be able to tell, if the binary appears elsewhere, which unit it originally came from.

You have to understand, though, I put it there because I'm a perfectionist. I thought it would be nice to have 100 UNIQUE binaries, one for each of the special edition units. And that's what I've done.

Those on the preorder list but not in the top 100 - good news - a 2nd round of offers will be going out shortly and I expect that everyone waiting should be able to get a unit, if they wish.

Cheers
A


Posts: 108 | From: Tasmania | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
Bloated Monkey
Jr. Atari Fan
Non-recovering addict

Member # 926

posted 01-21-2002 09:08 PM     Profile for Bloated Monkey   Author's Homepage   Email Bloated Monkey     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
I remember seeing a picture of what the box would look like, but I can't find it now. Is that still around somewhere?
Posts: 10 | From: Houston, TX | Registered: Jan 2002  |  IP: Logged
Albert
Admin

Member # 3

posted 01-21-2002 09:13 PM     Profile for Albert   Author's Homepage   Email Albert     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Why, as a matter of fact, yes.

Qb Box - Picture 1
Qb Box - Picture 2
Qb Box - Picture 3

Enjoy!

..Al


Posts: 2880 | From: Austin, TX | Registered: Jan 2001  |  IP: Logged
Thomas Jentzsch
Atari Pro III
THRUST and JAMMED maker

Member # 45

posted 01-22-2002 03:22 AM     Profile for Thomas Jentzsch   Email Thomas Jentzsch     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew Davie:
The serial number is not displayed. It is just an internal difference in the ROM. It's not really there for piracy prevention - though I will be probably be able to tell, if the binary appears elsewhere, which unit it originally came from.

As Andrew will also know, by comparing two special edition ROM dumps, it would be an easy task to find the different byte(s), and perhaps even fake the numbers.

But why should somebody do so? The "special" doesn't come from those internally changed byte(s) but from the package. And that will be very hard to fake.

Have Fun!
Thomas

*** Every bit is sacred ! ***


Posts: 676 | From: Mainz, Germany | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
jahfish
High Atarian
Leader of AtariForce HQ Wall City French Sector

Member # 12

posted 01-22-2002 08:35 AM     Profile for jahfish   Author's Homepage   Email jahfish     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
i chose #71 because it was the year i was born ...

jah fish

(the french deejay with the sunnywale console)
------------------

Ancient Technologies Art Research Institute
"protect your audiovisual environment"


Posts: 1485 | From: berlin, germany | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
-^Cro§Bow^-
Atari Pro III
Collector of Atari/Sega Antiquities

Member # 6

posted 01-22-2002 10:52 AM     Profile for -^Cro§Bow^-   Email -^Cro§Bow^-     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Then Jahfish and I were on the same thinking...

That is also why I chose #74...that was the year of my arrival to this day and age.

I figured that I wouldn't be the only one with the year of birth idea for the cart serial number. And I also figure most of us were born in the 70s...so I wanted #74 before it was too late.

Can't wait to actually get our carts!!!...hehe..

-^Cro§Bow^-
Champion Knight to the Childlike Empress
-^KOF^-
Knights of Fantasia
Ivory Tower, Fantasia


Posts: 878 | From: Ivory Tower | Registered: Feb 2001  |  IP: Logged
Rhindle The Red
Atari Pro III
Just another face in a red jumpsuit.

Member # 51

posted 01-23-2002 01:28 AM     Profile for Rhindle The Red   Author's Homepage   Email Rhindle The Red     Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Well, i just pulled my name off the list (with precious little time before it was pulled for me), so one of you bastards* out there are getting one thanks to me.

Now, don't you want to send me something nice as a way of thank-you?

No?

*sigh*

Ah, well....

*(Just kidding with the "bastards" stuff.) 

[ 01-23-2002: Message edited by: Rhindle The Red ]

--
Philip R. Frey
a.k.a. "Rhindle The Red"

"...and there is Rhindle, the Red Dragon, who is the most ferocious of all."


Posts: 692 | From: Rochester, NY | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
jahfish
High Atarian
Leader of AtariForce HQ Wall City French Sector

Member # 12

posted 01-23-2002 02:00 PM     Profile for jahfish   Author's Homepage   Email jahfish     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
crosbow and fish .... two clever dudes!

jah fish

(the french deejay with the sunnywale console)
------------------

Ancient Technologies Art Research Institute
"protect your audiovisual environment"


Posts: 1485 | From: berlin, germany | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
jahfish
High Atarian
Leader of AtariForce HQ Wall City French Sector

Member # 12

posted 01-23-2002 02:10 PM     Profile for jahfish   Author's Homepage   Email jahfish     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
my alternative was atari's year of birth, in case 71 was gone .... maybe that one is still free.

other possibilities:

99: the pre-millenium cart

83: the crash cart

64: the chevy impalah cart

50: the midlifecrisis cart

...



Posts: 1485 | From: berlin, germany | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
rick weis
Atari Pro

Member # 626

posted 01-23-2002 02:57 PM     Profile for rick weis   Author's Homepage   Email rick weis     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jahfish:
crosbow and fish .... two clever dudes!

make that 3 clever dudes (#63) for me!!

Take Care,

Rick


Posts: 192 | From: washington | Registered: Oct 2001  |  IP: Logged
Andrew Davie
Atari Pro

Member # 214

posted 01-24-2002 12:26 AM     Profile for Andrew Davie   Author's Homepage   Email Andrew Davie     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
The 2nd round of offers for Qb Special Edition has just been posted. These are the people who were on the list of preorders, but who were not in the first 100. Some positions had hopened through dropouts and my decision to serve all people before allowing multiple purchases for individuals.

Currently there are 65 confirmed purchasers to whom cartridges have been offered (this includes a couple of multiples). There have been 7 dropouts - people who have decided not to buy.

There are about 32 people who have NOT responded to the round 1 offer. As orders are confirmed, I will randomly select those places and replace them. It looks like everyone wanting a Special Edition Qb will get one, which leaves me very pleased. If there are one or two left over at the end, I will probably eBay them.

One other thing, I have been asked if I will put a list of names-># on the 'net, and I think I will do that, to encourage the openness of the process and to reassure everyone that everything is above-board.

Cheers
A


Posts: 108 | From: Tasmania | Registered: Jun 2001  |  IP: Logged
MattyXB
High Atarian

Member # 15

posted 01-24-2002 05:42 AM     Profile for MattyXB   Author's Homepage   Email MattyXB     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
Now I am very happy, I have reserved my QB Special Edition. Yes, yes, yes, I get one too. I will send the money as fast as I can.

The number is first not so importend for me. If the 78 is free I will it, but if not, the best is I get a Special Edition. As others say, my was birth 78. But only the game is importend, not the number.

Thanks to all who don't want it anymore, or don't reply to the E-Mail. Now I get one. 100 times thanks too all.

Matthias

My Atari 2600 VCS Website! Have fun.


Posts: 1060 | From: Berlin, Germany | Registered: Apr 2001  |  IP: Logged
ATARIPITBULL
Atari Pro III
Get to close to my Atari and I'll bite your ASS!!

Member # 88

posted 01-24-2002 03:26 PM     Profile for ATARIPITBULL   Email ATARIPITBULL     Send New Private Message   Edit/Delete Post   Reply With Quote
YES!!!!!!!!!!, about seven people or so did not want to pay for there copies of QB, so I am now getting my special edition QB game. LIFE IS GOOD.

ATARI, WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO


Posts: 706 | From: Allen Park, MI | Registered: May 2001  |  IP: Logged

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