Wee Ninja - A great Mario style platformer for the Atari XL/XE and 5200 by Playsoft

Playsoft have released a number of games over the years, from Blowsub on the Atari 5200, to the Atari 8bit hack of Donkey Kong by Darryl1970. Well it's time for the Atari 5200 to get a new game announcement, as Playsoft has released the eagerly awaited high quality Mario styled platformer of 'Wee Ninja'. A game in which your character can headbutt blocks, collect power ups and even throw ninja death squares at enemies. To coincide with this news, provided below is the latest footage by Saberman.

Montezuma's Redux - 1980's Atari 8-bit Platforming classic, overhauled [Atari 5200 UPDATE]

Even more great retro gaming news for this week, as we have just learnt that TIX with the help of Paul Lay, has released an Atari XL/XE rom hack of 'Montezuma's Revenge', which overhauls the game giving it new lease of life. Montezuma was originally released in the early 80's for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, Apple II, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, IBM PC, Sega Master System, and even the ZX Spectrum and is still enjoyed by many to this day.

Galagish - A Galaga clone is still in the works for the Atari XL/XE and Atari 5200

We've featured Galaga on Indie Retro News a number of times already, there was the Atari 2600 port, the excellent demake on the Amiga by Pink and Fade One and then the more recent C64 release by Arlasoft. Well fast forward to today however and there's another Galaga game to come which I think you'll equally enjoy, and it's Galagish on the Atari XL/XE and 5200: An upcoming Arcade conversion by Gimmee99 that some have said is already better-looking than the C64 version, with better color, very fluid (NTSC), and very convincing audio (arcade-like) on game-start !

Rob 'n' Banks (Lock 'n' Chase) - An Atari 5200 to Atari XL/XE conversion by Homesoft

We've featured many different conversions on Indie Retro News from Mastertronic's classic Amaurote over to the C64 as an isometric view point, to Allan Turvey's brilliant Arcade to ZX Spectrum conversion of Joust. Well here we are with another great conversion, as if you remember playing Lock 'n Chase back in the day, you may be interested to learn that not only was it converted over to the Atari 5200 in September, but as of just recently you can also play the Atari XL/XE conversion by Homesoft. In light of this news, Saberman has done a new video giving us a first look at the gameplay!

Venture - 1981 arcade game Venture for the Commodore 64!

Here on Indie Retro News we do like hearing about Arcade games that have been lost and found, or more recent conversions over to systems such as the Amiga, Atari, Amstrad, C64 or ZX Spectrum. Well here we are with another fine story for all you retro gamers out there. As we have recently found out through Facebook that 'Venture'; a game originally released in 1981 as a fantasy arcade game that later appeared on the ColecoVision and then finally the Atari 2600 and Intellivision, has been converted over to the C64 by Donnie Russell!

Space Assailants 2121 - A New Atari 8bit and Atari 5200 Space Invaders clone!

We've seen lots of Space Invader variants over the years from Sprite Invaders on the C64, to our personal favorite from Pink/Abyss 'Tiny Invaders' on the Amiga. Well another Atari homebrew variation of Space Invaders has just appeared, and this one by Anschuetz is called ' Space Assailants 2121'; An Arcade like release which pits you against waves of Aliens avoiding all of the scrolling stars instead of dodging missiles shot by the Aliens themselves.

Bosconian ultimate - 1980's multi-directional scrolling shooter arrives on the Atari 5200

It's the Atari's turn for a great port, as we've just learnt that the 1980's Namco game of 'Bosconian', has recently appeared on the Atari 5200, which was previously ported over to the Atari 8bit by the same coder Shanti77. Currently available as 'Bosconian Ultimate' with all the latest patches included. This game is a multi-directional scrolling shooter arcade game with similarities to Star Control, it requires you as the space ship pilot to score as many points as possible by destroying enemy missiles and bases while also avoiding asteroids, mines and other such ship destroying objects.

Moon Patrol Redux 5200 Edition - An overhauled version of Moon Patrol for the Atari 5200

In 1982-1987, Irem with licensing by Williams released the fantastically enjoyable game of' ' Moon Patrol ' for the Arcade gaming community. A side-scrolling shooter that is widely credited for the introduction of parallax scrolling in side-scrolling video games, as you drove a buggy across a landscape, jumping over ditches and rocks while also shooting at enemies both above and in front made this such a great game to play.

Scramble - A cool retro shoot em up gets a fantastic Atari 5200 port

I was just thinking to myself could this day get any better, and going by the latest update on the AtariAge forums, it has! Welcome to 'Scramble'; a very nice side scrolling shoot em up Atari 5200 port of a game which was originally released way back in 1983 as Skramble developed by Darrell Etherington. This version developed by Playsoft, stays true to the original but features a smooth frame rate, great Atari 5200 graphics and top quality blasting action.

Altirra 2.90 - An 8-bit Atari computer emulator gets a BIG update

In light of the recent Atari news, we've also received word that the 8-bit Atari computer emulator 'Altirra ' is now at version 2.90 containing a number of updates such as CPU: 65C816 CPU speed can now be changed on the fly without a restart, default color presets have been updated, 16-bit surface option for low-end graphics devices, and much much more that can be read in the changelog below. As for the emulator itself, it emulates the Atari 400/800, 1200XL, 600/800XL, 130XE, XEGS, and 5200 systems with full, cycle-exact emulation of all documented hardware features under Windows.

New game arrivals on the AtariAge store for the Atari 2600, 5200, and 7800 consoles!

Do you have a stash of cash to spend and are a bit bored of playing the same old games on your 80's consoles? Then you might be interested to know that AtariAge is selling a bucketload of new games for the Atari 2600, 5200, and 7800 consoles. Games such as Anguna, Assembloids, Drive, The Gizzle Wap : the Strange Red Tree, LEM, Panky The Panda, Ratcatcher, Crystal Quest, Super Circus Atarage, T:me Salvo and even our personal favourite which we mentioned before 'Scramble'.

Donkey Kong - The Atari 8-bit Arcade hack is finally here!

In 1981 Nintendo released one of the most famous games of all time, and that game was ' Donkey Kong '. A game in which you played as Mario that must avoid obstacles across a number of platforms, with sometimes a hammer in hand to save a damsel in distress from a giant ape called Donkey Kong. That same game which many of us still enjoy to this day, appearing as a port on a number of systems has finally appeared as an overhauled Atari 8-bit version by darryl1970, with a number of tweaks and enhancements.

Venture 5200 - A rare gem appears in the wild and is now playable

Here on Indie Retro News we do like hearing about games that have been lost and found, and when it comes to the latest find on the AtariAge forums in regards to ' Venture ' on the 5200, we think this is rather special. You see Venture was originally released in 1981 as a fantasy arcade game that later appeared on the ColecoVision and then finally the Atari 2600 and Intellivision. However from our research it was supposed to appear on the Atari 8bit and Atari 5200 by Atlantis Games Group, but it looks as if it never did. So what has appeared in the wild is an Atari 5200 version.

Robbo - The Atari 5200's latest Atari XL/XE port that's in development

It is the Atari's time to shine this week, especially after the recent Donkey Kong hack overhaul, as the Atari XL/XE action puzzle game ' Robbo ' published by LK Avalon in 1989, is coming to the Atari 5200! Currently in development by tdididit, you control the robot Robbo, who, after being insidiously trapped, must travel through 56 different planets to escape!

Donkey Kong - Atari 8-bit Arcade HACK & Atari 5200 conversion updated!

Not long ago we mentioned Darryl1970's Atari 8-bit Arcade hack and Atari 5200 conversion of Nintendo's 1981 original classic ' Donkey Kong ', in which you played as Mario that must avoid obstacles across a number of platforms, with sometimes a hammer in hand to save a damsel in distress from a giant ape called Donkey Kong. Both versions were tweaked and enhanced including colour changes of the original classic. But just last month Darryl released the latest 7.4 version with even more improvements.

Donkey Kong - Atari 8-bit Arcade HACK is in development & Atari 5200 conversion released

In 1981 Nintendo released one of the most famous games of all time, and that game was ' Donkey Kong '. A game in which you played as Mario that must avoid obstacles across a number of platforms, with sometimes a hammer in hand to save a damsel in distress from a giant ape called Donkey Kong. That same game appeared as a port on a number of systems and it is the Atari 8bit version that is getting a hack by darryl1970 with a number of tweaks and enhancements.

Rainbow Walker - Atari 8bit classic gets an Atari 5200 conversion

Created in just 1.5 days by Wrathchild and noted as a conversion based on a top Atari 8-bit game, comes a new Atari 5200 port of ' Rainbow Walker ', which also appeared on the C64. First released way back in 1983, designed by Steve Coleman and published by Synapse Software. You play as a strange little creature called Cedrick, who hops on a dark and colourless rainbow as a goal to colour it and advance to the next level.

Blowsub - Destroy lots of subs in this Atari 5200 conversion

Originally for the Atari 8bit as a homebrew for this year's A8 New Year Disk, ' Blow Sub ' has been converted to the Atari 5200 by the same developers Playsoft and Harvey. Classed as an arcade game to reach an ever high score, you must manoeuvre your boat across the high seas, dropping depth charges on the subs below before they blow you up. What adds to the enjoyment of the game and requiring skill, is the fact that only the deeper subs will give you a high score and if you hit a mine, it wipes them all out in one go. Just watch for electric eels, or you could end up with a nasty shock!

Popeye - Atari 5200 arcade improvement and an 8-bit port!

Now here's a blast from the past and no it's not the Amstrad version of Popeye, but an arcade Atari 5200 improvement and 8-bit conversion to the original Atari 5200 arcade port of a Nintendo platformer by Parker Bros, released way back in 1983. In a similar vein to Donkey Kong albeit not as good, you play as Popeye and must collect hearts, musical notes and the letters H-E-L-P that the lovable character Olive drops from the top of the screen. But be warned, just like the cartoon, Brutus will get in your way with the help of the bad Sea Hag!