The story behind the first Colecovision adult games (BUSTin-Out series)

 Hi folks,

Last night i was doing some cleaning on one of my hard drives and found an old text that Daniel Bienvenu (now aka Amy Marie "Purple" Bienvenu) sent me on December 12, 2000 (yup, 21 years ago) about a cheat code for any BUSTin-Out games...Holy crap! Completely forgot about this! But right after, a flooding of memories when Daniel, Marcel Thériault and me were having discussions about doing an adult game for the Colecovision on Yahoo Messenger.

So many (good and stupid) ideas came out of these conversations until Marcel send us (Dan & me) some pictures of one of his girl friends (Julie) and that what inspired us to make the very first adult game for the Colecovision! (Thanks Julie for inspired us).

 So Daniel started coding to see if the pictures would display on the Colecovision (remember, it was 2000 and not so many tools existed and Daniel all made his own tools!). We took black & white pictures as these took less space than a color pictures. Daniel was the coder and i helped with finding pictures that could look good with the help of one of his tools (CVPHOTO and CVPHOTOC). The first "ROMS" were actually pictures of Julie and some Playmates and until version 0.4, these Roms were unplayable as we couldn't move the paddle since it was just to see how the pictures were displaying (too bright or too dark or too pixelised).

As you can see, some are too dark, too bright or some too pixelised. If we had the tools that exists now, things would have been much different but that was then, we did what we could. But for 2000, this was indeed a great effort. 

We didn't wanted to do a porn game or anything explicit or smutty, just something exotic/erotic like the magazine Playboy. But since the screen of the Colecovision was only 256 x 192 pixels, that didn't leave to much details so we took only women which we could see from the head to their belly-buttons so that left seeing their natural busts (now you know why it's called "BUSTin-Out") ;)

What i don't remember is how many Volume 1 we made & sold but it sure wasn't a 100 copies. Here's the original cover for Volume 1:

 And this was the cartridge label for Volume 1:

But since we couldn't fit many pictures into a cartridge, Dan had the idea of making a serie of volumes and put a reference dubbed "collect'em all!" which he took from the Pokemons (catch'em all), so after making volume 1, Volume 2 came out right after:

And as for Volume 3, i don't ever remember doing a cover for this edition and i have no picture(s) in my database, but at least i do have the cartridge label:

 All cartridges, boxes (VHS), covers were either made by us to sell to members of the C.C.J.V.Q. or was made and sold by John Dondzilla for the rest of North America/Worldwide. At one of the C.C.J.V.Q. meeting (March 24, 2001), Dan & me we signed a couple of BUSTin-Out while having fun (and goofing around):

In case some of you didn't know, Dac-Man was Daniel very first game published!

And no...Dan didn't pinch my ass if it's what you're thinking...just me goofing. ;P

So if anyone of you has a copy signed by both of us, these are the rarest ones.

But that's not all, we even wanted to make a newer series called "Super BUSTin-Out" which instead figuring real women, we were going to use Hentai-type (but nothing smutty) girls from the waist up and in color this time. But with the poor success we had with the previous serie, we just did two different labels. The first is a Pre-Super BUSTin-out featuring a girl in bikini:

 But this was done before we wanted to use cartoon girls and if you did read the label, it states "(BUSTin-Out Volume #3)" which was also before we made the other Volume 3 label. So this label is a sort of in between projects (Volume 3 & Super BUST-in Out). After this label, this was the one we were going to use for the first Super BUSTin-Out:

 And again, still states "(BUSTin-Out Volume #3)" as we were not sure if we were going to release Volume 3 or Super BUSTin-Out !! There is a ROM of Super BUSTin-Out that exists but it's only a demo of the title screen:

 Click "HERE" to download the ROM.

After this project, Dan & me worked on another game and that one was a hell of a success. Just a hint: it's the non-official sequel of Space Fury. ;) I think Daniel released the ROMS not long after when we "retired" the BUSTin-Out project. He released Volume 1 to 3 and also a Volume 0.5. 

A couple of years later, someone at CollectorVision asked Dan if they could re-release all three volumes of BUSTin-Out and redone the covers:

And i would bet this was the guy who asked to do these re-editions:

 I'll give you some hints: this was his first C.C.J.V.Q. meeting on November 10, 2001 and has been a long time partner (still is) of CollectorVision and is the owner of the only prototype "Energy Quiz". Can you guess his name ? ;)

So if anyone of you want's a copy (or all three) of BUSTin-Out, then i invite you to buy them on the site of CollectorVision. Oh and almost forgot! The cheat code for any BUSTin-Out ROMS (Volume 0.5, 1, 2 or 3) - (original French text from Daniel):

Truc pour voir toutes les pitounes
dans BUSTin-Out Volume #1 et #2:

Quand tu démarre le jeu. Tu vois la fille, tu entends le son de mon logo.
Tiens la touche correspondant à # (ou * si tu utilise VirtualColeco) jusqu'à ce
que tu entendes un bruit après que la musique soit terminée.

Au menu, tu fais 5 pour enter dans le mode de visualisation.

Ça marche pour tous les BUSTin-Out ce truc là... et c'est le seul truc!

And here's the English translated text:

Trick to see all the girls
in BUSTin-Out Volume #1 and #2:

When you start the game, You see the girl, you hear the sound of my logo.
Hold the key corresponding to # (or * if you are using VirtualColeco) until
that you hear a noise after the music is over.

On the menu, you press 5 to enter the viewing mode.

It works for all the BUSTin-Out that's out there... and that's the only code!

So hope you have like the story and have fun folks! :)

The "Beyond" Game Module for the Colecovision

 Hi folks!

I finally revealed what was the "Beyond" Game Module project i was working on since end of May 2021. But this project is way much older as between 15 - 20 years ago, i had a discussion with Daniel Bienvenu (now AKA Amy Purple) that it was real easy to connect a game console (say...the Intellivision) to the expansion port of the Colecovision or any device that has an A/V output. I don't remember much of the conversation but that still "stucked" in my head since then.

Now past May (2021), the idea resurfaced so went to get all my old schematics, datas, etc. and began to make the "AV-to-CV" adapter. After an hour, it was finished. So a couple of days later, i tested it with a Jakks TV P&P Ms.Pac-Man:

Sorry for the hand, just blocking the "AV-to-CV" adapter (for now). And right after that, i've tried out a Famicom clone (or aka Famiclone) with the Pac-Land cartridge:

Took those pictures on May 31, 2021. So the AV-to-CV adapter works! But with this, you can plug any game console or device with AV output (DVD player, Camera, etc..). After that, i was thinking...could this be really useful ??!? Huummmm....good question. So i've put this aside until November, when i saw someone by the name of Robb Alvey on the FB Colecovision Lunatics group, which he has posted Retropie images called the CVPie...wait....why not use a real PI and plug it in the CV expansion port ? OK i know...why do this when you can use it as a standalone device ? Well first, you can play Megacart games and SGM (Super Game Module) games with the CoolCV emulator by Oscar Toledo (aka Nanochess). I've always wanted to buy one of these SGM but the last time, they sold like hot cupcakes on the fly and buying one on UPAY...are you nuts ??? Some sellers are asking over $800!! Really!! I'm not a money-tree damnit!! So have to wait for the next batch of SGM (if any will be made). 

But Robb gave me an idea...a great idea in fact! Plugging an actual PI on the CV so i could play Colecivision games (even if i have an Atarimax Ultimate SD cart) but also SGM games (and even ADAM games too). But...why stop there ? A Pi with EmulationStation (let's call it by it's all-well known name: Retropie!) can emulate so many game consoles and systems! And not only that...Arcade games, old computer games, electronics games...etc!! So was born the "Beyond Game Module"...so to speak because at first i wanted to call it the Ultimate Game Module but "Ultimate" was already used for the Atarimax cart and also the Colecovision Flashback conversion kit (The Ultimate Colecovision Flashback). The next name was "Infinite Game Module" but after rethinking of it...can't ever be infinite because of space on a Micro SD card or USB key...so scratch that name. 

But if you ever saw one of the Disney Toy Story movies, the you must know the catch phrase of Buzz Lightyear "to infinite and...beyond!".....beyond ? Beyond!! That's it! Playing new games and game consoles, etc... is expanding "beyond" what the Colecovision can do. So i finally found the name of my new game module: the Beyond Game Module!

So on December 4th, 2021, i reveal the first pictures of the Beyond Game Module on FB Colecovision Lunatics group: 

And after a few days, here's the final splash screen of the Beyond Game Module:

I was going to show it off January 1st, 2022 but since i cought the ?&?**$@ Omnicron virus, had to wait another 5 days so now, January 5th, i have finally shown the Beyond Game Module. Here's the video of the BGM when i plug it and boot it on a Colecovision:

And here's a video showing which games systems and electronics games i've put on the Micro SD card: 

As for now since it's still a work in progress, i can play these:

* Colecovision Games with Megacart & SGM games (& also ADAM games)

* Sega SG-1000 Games

* Atari 2600 games

* MSX & MSX2 games

* TI99/4A Games with Speech Synth.

* Many Classic Handheld games (like Coleco Pac-Man tabletop)

* Entex Adventurevision games 

* Entex Select-A-Game (all 6 games)

* Arcade games (about 185 Golden age games- the best ones!)

* Löve (my OdySim - need to modify it to make it work)

* Arcade hacks (like Donkey Kong Xmas and Halloween)

* Vectrex games

* And also Atari 7800, NES and SMS games.

I will eventually put more like Intellivision, Magnavox Odyssey2, Bally Astrocade, Channel F, Game Boy, etc. Always dreamed to expand the CV and now this has come true (and for less than $100!!). ;)

Here's some more pics: 

The next post will be how to make your own PI-to-CV connector (schematics, part list, etc), which is simply the AV-to-CV adapter. This will be my gift to all Colecovision fans to celebrate the 40th anniversary! 

Until next folks, take care and have fun! =)

- Sly DC -

Numskull Quarter Arcades are AMAZING!!!!

 Hi folks!

Been quite a while i have posted anything because me and my kids had enjoyed summer (sun, warm temperature, nature, etc...my best season!) and now...Autumn has started....snif....Well at least for now it's not cold like in Winter (hate that season...). 

At the end of summer, i have brought my first Numskull Quarter Arcade (or NQA for short) which was Ms.Pac-Man from someone living in Quebec city for $120 CND. At that price, i couldn't resist! And after i have brought Ms.Pac-Man...all the details that the Numskull team had put in it...this is AMAZING!!

It's like having your very own Arcade cabinet at home but 1/4 of it's original size...just look at the picture, can you tell the difference ? Hell NO!! Just lloking at the picture, you can't tell if it's actually an original full size cabinet or the Numskull 1/4 size cab! Even the guys at TNT Amusement were amazed by the details for the Pac-Man NQA:

 After 4 days i've brought my Ms.Pac-Man NQA, i have found a hidden mode called "test key and sound". Check the small video i've made:

Posted about this hidden mode on AtariAge (https://atariage.com/forums/topic/255982-mini-arcade-alert/?do=findComment&comment=4896981) and asked if anyone this also works on other NQA's and....no one answered my question !?!

Well after 2 weeks discovering that hidden mode, i felt that my Ms.Pac-Man was "lonely" so i've bought another NQA:

So now i have the "Pac" couple! :D And a couple of days ago, i have bought this one:

It's still hasn't arrived but should be delivered by the end of this week...can't wait! After, i will buy these two:

And after, this one (which is one of my favourite games):

After that, have to wait for Numskull to release new ones (like Space Invaders & Qix!). If anyone you know love retro arcade games, any of these NQA 1/4 scale is a great gift!

I will do another NQA post in a near future (before the end of this year that's for sure!). I won't make reviews of these NQA since there are sooo mmaannyy on Youtube but 99% agrees that these are amazing and i concur with them. Buy one or all of them before they are sold out! (I mean it!) ;)

Merging blogs into one

 Hi folks!

Many of you has followed me on some of my blogs like Love M.E.S.S., Love M.A.M.E., Love M.E.G.S., RCA Studio II Database and especially, OdySim: The Magnavox ODYssey SIMulator blog.

As time passes, i sometime don't post for a short but more for a long time (2 to 6 months) and since there is not much anything going with the RCA Studio II (and Chip-8), i finally decided to merge all the blogs into one accept the OdySim blog. Maybe in the future the OdySim might be merged with this one but who knows..?!

So bookmark this one and delete the old ones, and watch from time to time for new posts! :)

- Sly (merged) DC -

P.S.: I have put a brand new banner which includes the 3 old blogs (Love MEGS, Love MESS/MAME and the RCA Studio II Database) but also the banner of my very first web site (Sly DC Domain's) and my old faithful web site (Phoenix Video Game Classics). 

It's been now 25 years i've been "SURFING" the internet since 1996 (HA! Who remembers saying "surfing" ?!)...Oh man! 25 years ?!??! (Crap....now i feel old).

- Sly (old surfing dude) DC -

Hanimex HMG-7900 Manual scans

 Hi folks!

I have finished scanning all my Hanimex HMG-7900 game manuals (at 600dpi) of my collection. In the lot, i have 6 manuals in English and x3 in French.

There is not much information regarding the Hanimex HMG-7900 or it's clones and even less scans for the game manuals so it was about time that i finally scans those. Also, i also uploaded other scans (not by me) that i have found on the net over the past 20 years.

Some are English version or French version of the ones i've scanned and there is a few in Hungarian. Plus, there is also pictures of French cartridge labels (small pics).

So enough chit-chat, go here to check out the new section: Hanimex HMG-7900 Manuals & Scans

In search of Puckman...

 Hi folks!

I don't know if some of you remember playing Pac-Man in the arcades in 1980-1 ? Well, after 40 years...maybe some of you have forgotten or were too young or even not born (for those who were not born before 1981, you missed the greatest arcade generation!)

Well i did play Pac-mAn back then but the very first Pac-Man arcade i've played was called "Puckman" (yup...PUCKman, not Pac-Man). Here's a picture of the cabinet:

Now that's the one i've played and remember!

Long story short, these cabinets...errr...rather the marquee in particular, was sometimes the object of vandals as they removed a part of the letter "P" to make an "F" and that story is as old as this cab. And because of this, these cabinets were removed in the following months.

But thing is, this particular cabinet has a unique artwork which was made by the company Willis Industries Inc., as many still put this as a "bootleg" (in fact, it is a bootleg as the artwork was not endorsed by Namco). But the artwork, who made it ?

Now that's a great question! Usually since "bootleg" artworks were not endorsed by major companies, Willis Industries never published who were the authors just in case of a lawsuit, but the artwork on this cabinet was signed by the artist, check this out:

 P.PEAK ! Errr....to many of you, that doesn't ring a bell but to some (at least old as me or older) who played and collects Exidy arcades like Death Race, Alley Rally and Score (plus Spiders from Mars) were done by the same man: Pat "Sleepy" Peak.

There is almost no information regarding this author but he was well known for the artwork he made for Exidy and he did some great artwork, especially for the 70's as many arcades back then had simple artwork. But let's go back to the main subject: In search of Puckman.

I'm not looking for an original cabinet as these are very, very limited now since some people gotten the idea of scrapping the artwork and repaint the cabinet yellow and putting the all well known Pac-Man artwork that everybody knows. That's a real shame as i find this Puckman artwork "unique" (as all Pat's artwork), but rather i'm looking for anyone who has one with the proper sidearts, marquee and bezel (not the CPO as it's very easy to replicate).

 

 The marquee

Marquee and bezel (also CPO)

...and the sideart. 

So if anyone has this cabinet and the original artworks (marquee, bezel & sidearts), could you PPPlease take (center front) high definition pictures, pretty please ??!!!!! Because i want them to be preserved for historical purpose and i have a project in mind in the future.

So now, just need to wait and see if my call will be answered one day (hopefully before i die).

--- Sly "Waka, waka...peeououou...plok!" DC ---

The Gakken Compact Vision TV-Boy is now emulated!

 Hi folks!

The Gakken Compact Vision TV-Boy is now emulated (at last 6 months ago) and thanks to tanamの日記.

 

He finally made an emulator called the "yaTVBOY" which seems to run all 6 games pretty good but the problem is finding the roms. He made the emulator available with a binary fine called "hello.bin", which is a small demo of "Hello World!" (heck, the first homebrew for the Gakken TV-Boy!) so at least you can try the emulator until the roms will be available. ;)

You can download his emulator HERE.

And if you are curious, you can follow his work for the Gakken TV-Boy emulator and many others projects he working on on his blog: https://tms9918.hatenablog.com/

And if you want to see a screenshot of each games, go HERE 

Hopefully that a member of the MAME/MESS team will communicate with him add add the source code in a future version of MAME. :) 

Game on folks! :)

- Sly -