Another Year, Another Update

I really do plan on updating this site more than once a year, but sometimes life just seems to get in the way.  But enough of my whining, let's get down to it.  Today I offer you a glimpse into an alternate version of Defender for the Atari 400/800 that Atari may have been considering before releasing the version by Steve Baker that we all know and love.  We'll try and get more answers on the origins of this mysterious version in the future.

I know what you're thinking: "A whole year and you only reviewed ONE game?".  To this I say: "Yep".  Life has been busy for the old Master of Prototypes, but more reviews will be posted in the coming month or two.  Stay tuned.

Updates, Updates, and More Updates!

As Mark Twain used to say "The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated".  It's been a long time since our last update, but we're back with a whole new batch of protos for your eyeballs to take in.  

First we have not one, but two protos for Halloween, the famously violent game from Wizard.  Up next we take you to the core of Terra I with VentureVision's Innerspace (better known as Laser Gates).  Keeping with the spirit of the Olympics, we take you tack-side with a newly discovered PAL prototype for Track and Field.  We also take time to explore the Atomic Arena with Atom Smasher.

Next we take it down low with some interesting but non-playable prototypes.  Presented for the glorious adoration of your eye holes is the Golf Diagnostic cart, and Amiga Power Play Arcade series of cartridges.

What you want more?  Ok, how about a previously unknown Starpath game called Going-up???  We also take the time to deep dive into the Atari Peek-a-Boo prototype and discover what makes it tick (as well as how to play the darn thing!).  

Still not enough?  You're killing me here!  Ok take the curious case Missile Command, Defender, and not one but two Surfs Up protos.  All these protos are slightly different from the released versions and were found in the possession of former Video Soft founder Jerry Lawson.

What, you want blood from a stone?  Alright, take this review of Donkey Kong Junior for the Atari 8-bit. 

Finally we have two previously unknown children's games for the 5200: Astro Grover and Muppet Go-Round.

I Have The Power!

Whoops!  Wrong game!  Anyway enjoy the long lost Power Lords prototype for the 2600.  This prototype is very similar to the Colecovision version that was discovered a few years ago.

Mark of the Charlie Brown

Ok so the title sounds like a bad Hardie Boys mystery, but AtariProts is proud to present two prototypes.  One you've seen before, but the other is a new find.  

First we have Good Luck Charlie Brown and although we've had a page about this prototype for a long time, we now have some great new screenshots.  Second we have an all new prototype, Mark of the Mole!  This interesting game is based on the 1981 The Residents album of the same name.