TURMOIL Atari 800 vs TI99/4A

[@Pjvenom1985]

Really enjoyed this "Vs" series Lee well done and well played. Looked a simple but fun title!💥🚀🕹🍀

[@Tetlee]

@@Pjvenom1985 hey happy you enjoyed them Patrick, they were fun to do so might do more down the line. Maybe some Spectrum v BBC Micro 🙂

[@marcgoesblindgaming2076]

Wow that was pretty close, Both versions look great to me, Really enjoyed you doing these comparison videos, Would love to see you do more In the future maybe between some other systems, I know you've inspired me To do something similar in the future, I just won't be using original hardware unfortunately And I've already started to play a game on 4 different systems and have noticed I have a extreme biassed And I know when I put that video out That the best Version may not necessarily win 😂 I also didn't know anyone who had An Atari Back in the day I think it's such an American thing, I know they like to go on about their video game crash Which we most definitely did not experience in the UK 😂

[@Tetlee]

Ah cheers for that Marc, really chuffed you enjoyed them, they were super fun to do and for me at least it's nice and easy to do a two system battle, any more and it's awkward as I have different systems on different screens etc. I might do another round robin battle in the near future between the ZX Spectrum v BBC Micro, that will be easy as can download games to those two so no limits on which games I own. Hey I never thought I would inspire you in any way, haha, will really look forward to seeing what you have come up with buddy. I'm sure will be super entertaining 😁 I also didn't know anybody that owned any Atari apart from the 2600, they must have been far less common here, maybe not as much as the TI99 it though, seems I was in a very small party there😄 Thank God we didn't have the videogame crash over here, good times right through the 80's for us! Oh and nothing wrong with a bit of bias, that just shows our love of the systems we grew up with😉

[@retrosnipe]

Yes! Absolutely do more comparisons on other systems. I've really enjoyed watching these ones. I don't own turmoil yet on 2600 but it's high on my hit list.

[@Tetlee]

@@retrosnipe yep the 2600 version is just as fantastic as these, barely looks any different tbh. Cracking game! Glad you enjoyed the series, might do similar with Speccy v BBC Micro sometime soon.

[@retroimportgamer513]

What a game!😍 Very close this one Lee, the 800 looks very similar to the 2600, both versions look great, like Sean said I think the sound on the Atari was better but wouldn't say no to either of these ports👍

[@Tetlee]

@@retroimportgamer513 yeah I think I mentioned before the Atari800 version looks almost the same as the 2600 one, so you have yourself a cracking version there. Yep thr Atari has the more exciting sounds no doubt about it, but overall the TI99 homebrew is a stellar bit of programming. There's something about this game I just really enjoy😎

[@PeBoVision]

I was blown away the first time I booted up the 4A cartridge, and saw the attempts that were made (most highly successful) to duplicate the muticoloured ships of the 2600 ( a forté of Atari's GTIA chip and its on-the-fly scanline-chasing screen construction). Even the 'cutscene' gradients are duplicated to outstanding effect considering the TI'S 16 fixed colours. Definitely a cartridge that I am glad I purchased,even though being a true 'casual' game of the era it is taken out for only 5 minute spins at a time, but it is always a frenetic and fun 5 minutes. I'm curious...never having played any version except the TI, are the controls the same on the Atari. Moving up and down on the screen is nearly instantaneous making it a challenge hit to the right row when needed. Always wondered if that's a game feature or a peculiarity of the TI version. Makes me a little sad that this is the last in this series. I love seing my 4A compared favourably to other systems one-on-one. I find that in Multi-system comparisons, where dozens of versions are compared, they ALL get lost in the shuffle. This series, and Floppy Deep Dive's alphabetical title comparison of the C64 vs AtariXL, have been wlidly entertaining, by keeping the fight one on one.

[@Tetlee]

I wish I could have bought more TI99 homebrew carts(Flying Shark especially) but it works out so expensive shipping to the UK, glad I got this one though as I really love Turmoil for some reason and I suspect my Atari will be moved on at some point so its fab I have it on TI99 now aswell. Absolutely fantastic addition to the TI99 library as it's so different to everything else. I would say the TI version controls exactly the same as the Atari port, so what you describe is indeed just how the game plays. I'm chuffed you enjoyed the series, there would have been more but that's all the pairs of games I have on these systems. I have a multicart for the TI99 but not the Atari800 as that's more tricky due to the flap, also not buying more Atari at present. It's interesting what you mention about other comparison videos, that's the very reason I thought people might not be interested in this series as I'm only comparing two systems as opposed to whole host. The fact you liked it being a battle of two systems was a huge bonus to hear. I liked it as both systems had a similar life cycle in terms of when they released and their endings, except of course the 800 continued with the 800XL range so had a far larger library of games. I might be tempted to do another battle, but this time between the ZX Spectrum and BBC Micro, that would be easy as have options to download games to both of those. Something for a bit down the line perhaps.

[@PeBoVision]

@@Tetlee Flying Shark added a new title to the TI's rather anemic schmup libbrary. Aside from War Zone II (my personal favourite in the genre, competing readily against Xevious on other syetems) TI vertical scrollers serve to highlight it's lack of hardware scrolling, and original era coders inability to side-step that deficiency. Even Data East's Mission X (their answer to River Raid) is difficult to endure because of its jerky scrolling, and it was the best of the time. Don't get me started on Tigervision's gawdawful Espial, which is a nightmare on every metric. So Flying Shark (and indeed Rasmus himself) was a long overdue addition to TI game library. But War Zone II scratches that schmup itch quite nicely as well. If it makes you feel any better, it is cheaper (and much faster) for me to order TI carts from Germany for delivery here to Canada, than ordering from the USA, despite the fact that US sources are sometimes only a few miles away. If the shipping doesn't kill me the duty and taxes certainly do. So I feel your pain...Collecting outside of the country of origin can hurt. (I lucked out and found a Peripheral Expansion Box, with 32k, RS232 and two half-height floppies locally. Gotta love pick up via subway and tram! Luckily, my original era cart collection is pretty well complete (minus Milton Bradley's Gamevision Carts, Funware's Video Vegas,and 3 or 4 Databiotics carts, I have everything that is available, so my only remaining purchases are current homebrew's. (I used to let them go by and just download the .bin files, but I missed out on the Pitfall cartridge a few years ago, and promised I would not let that happen again. Anyone reading this with a TI-Pitfall cartridge to sell, feel free to get in touch - ditto for Video Vegas. I'm working with a limited retirement budget these days, but some things must be prioritized above food. (Shelter & electrics always on top to house and power the TI)

[@Tetlee]

@@PeBoVision You know I'm pretty sure none of the vertical shooters were released here in the UK, sadly I have never seen any of them for sale here, would have loved to have picked up War Zone 1 & especially II. Think I've mentioned before but by the time I bought my Speccy in '87 I think we'd bought just about all of the TI99 games that released here in the UK, I remember reaching a point where there were no more new releases which was sad, but I suppose at least they were sold later than it sounds they were in the US which gave us chance to gradually buy them all(we didn't bother with any of the educational stuff). I'm still sad about Flying Shark as I adore that game on the Speccy, but the TI99 version is even better and even has slightly less difficulty which is a blessing in its own right. Such a shae we don't get proper packaged homebrew like you get on other systems, imagine TI99 Homebrew with professionally printed manuals and quality boxes, ah that would be a dream. Oh I have today ordered my very first(and likely only) homebrew game for the Videopac so I'm excited for that to arrive🙂

[@PeBoVision]

@@Tetlee Although I am in North America, I too remember the advent of Ti's software dearth...far earlier than even you... In September of '83, it was quite literally Ti-software available in EVERY computer store on Monday, to being reduced to a single store in the basement of a bank tower by Friday (and he was just selling-out existing inventory). And I live in Toronto, the largest city in Canada...Videopack software remained available for a few years in the local Phillips warehouse store, but TI software dissappeared in a single week. Switching over to an 800XL was like Christmas with the plethora of choices available everywhere I looked. (and of course all of my Atari owning friends sharing their well work cartridges - which was the reason I went Atari instead of Commodore.)

[@Tetlee]

@@PeBoVision we lived close to the UK distributor and they kept things going for quite a few years after that. Guess we were lucky there😊

[@SEGAZombie]

Really enjoyed this little series you have put together shame it's come to an end, both versions of this game looked great and played great too it was very tight between the 2 systems in the end

[@Tetlee]

@@SEGAZombie cheers Scott, really happy you enjoyed it. Might do something similar with Speccy v Beeb at some point as it was great fun to do. Hope you had a great weekend at Blackpool👍

[@Gold2thGaming]

Out of the comparisons so far the me is the closest,Ti 99 vs arcade next 😂enjoyed that mate

[@Tetlee]

Haha, TI99 would thrash the Arcade versions all day every day, and twice on a Sunday😆 Glad you enjoed them mate, might do something similar with Speccy v Beeb a little down the line, that could be fun.

[@Gold2thGaming]

@@Tetlee I was going to Say vs my 3090 but TI99 would thrash it 👊🏻

[@retrotap]

Never heard of this one before, reminds me of a space invader and tapper mashup 😂 looks fun on both systems mate, might see if I can pick up the 2600 version.

[@Tetlee]

@@retrotap yeah you'd do well with the 2600 version buddy as it's almost identical. Cracking little game, simple enough but just has that satisfying gameplay to it. Have fun in Blackpool mate, wish I was going.

[@retrotap]

@@Tetlee I'm not going this year mate 😭

[@Tetlee]

@@retrotap ah same, lets hope there is some other opportunity for a meetup, hopefully less far than Blackpool. I keep telling Jace we need a Hardcore 44 get together 😁

[@retrotap]

@@Tetlee that would be amazing. Failing that it's beers at mine 🍻

[@allanmailer4540]

I wholeheartedly agree with your scoring on this one. The TI sprites were a bit nicer looking and the overall look is surprisingly good in comparison to the Atari version. The TI colour is again surprising as the TI has a colour palette of 16 to choose from V the 128 or 256 colours of the Atari depending on if it was an earlier CTIA or Later GTIA model. You definitely can't beat the Atari for arcade style sounds, I know a lot of folk bang on about the C64 SID chip.....but I'll take Atari spot effect over them any day. I've got 13 homebrew games for the TI on cartridge at the moment as well as Turboforth, Extended Basic suite 2.7 and Extended Basic fun all on cartridge also. I'd love to add more but am kind of reticent to order based on the last experience.....Turmoil would definitely be on the shopping list now. Great vid as always Lee, keep them coming

[@Tetlee]

Yep the Atari is certainly capable of some cracking sounds with its Pokey chip, underrated. Chuffed I I took the plunge on the TI99 Turmoil cart as I've missed so many great ones(I will forever regret missing Flying Shark), I think I've mentioned before that I'm not sure if the Atari will stay with me long term so it's great to have one of my favourites from there on my trusty TI99. Isn't it a shame we don't get nicely packaged homebrew on the TI99 as you find on the other systems? Would love that, carts in a nice professional box together with manual. I just ordered my very first(and probably only) homebrew for the Videopac BTW, more on that when it arrives 🙂 My next Vs battle series will likely be Speccy v Beeb, that will be super easy for me to do and should be fun with the right selection of games.

[@allanmailer4540]

@@Tetlee Look forward to seeing the Videpac homebrew. The Speccy V Beeb might not be as straightforward as a lot of folk might think.....Speccy Sabre Wulf is nicer to look at than it's BBC counterpart.

[@tootyuk]

Colours defo pop better on the TI not sure i like the more "zoomed" in look though think i prefer the atari display area, great vids Lee, enjoyed them!

[@Tetlee]

Ah cheers Stu, really happy you enjoyed them, shame I didn't have more pairs of games but will probably do something smilar down the line at some point with maybe Speccy v Beeb. Hope you had a great weekend in Blackpool.

[@Alsarcade]

Love the sound effects on this game, very arcadey 😎👍

[@Tetlee]

Yeah the sound effects are great, especially the Atari version, really makes it. Cheers for watching Alex.

[@ArttuTheCat]

TURMOIL looks absolutely retrospectively brilliant 😺👍🕹️. The sound effects are absolutely pawsome on both Atari 2600 and TI/99 😺👍🕹️. Both of the console versions are so amazing, i'm definitely gonna give the purrfect score 10/10 😺👍🕹️. Also, your retrospective channel deserves the purrfect score 10/10 😹😺👍🕹️.

[@Tetlee]

@@ArttuTheCat haha cheers Arttu, you in your vacation yet buddy? 🐱👍

[@ArttuTheCat]

@@Tetlee No, i meowed back to work this week 😹.

[@Spare_Ombres]

Nice you’re doing some retro gaming, love that, did give you a follow too :)

[@Tetlee]

@@Spare_Ombres yep my channel is 90% about retro gaming. Welcome along and thanks for the sub my friend🙂👍

[@retrogamesrevived1189]

I gotta be honest and say i slightly prefer the Atari version. I think its the sound that gives it the edge, it sounds amazing on the Atari 👍

[@Tetlee]

@@retrogamesrevived1189 yep definitely agree with you there Sean, the sounds from the Atari are definitely more exciting. Whoever did the TI99 homebrew did a fab job though and thrilled to have it. Cheers for watching mate.

[@bundjohn]

Haven’t heard of this game before but both versions looked good to me!

[@Tetlee]

@@bundjohn I only discovered it a couple years back. Brilliant game if you like these type of simple shooters. Have a great weekend mate👍

[@KingMikie1]

i love the atari sound👍contraversial but i also i like the motion on the atari✌✌ i only ever seen the TI in John Menzies, Courtgrant computers (small independant) and i think Tandy?... sure Tandy sold them?

[@Tetlee]

Haha nothing controversial there buddy, very fair comment. Hmm Tandy, can't remember if they ever sold the TI99, we bought ours and all of the games for it from a town local to us and a shop called Parco Electronics who were the UK distributers for the TI. Seems we were lucky to have them close by. Cheers Mike.

[@KingMikie1]

@@Tetlee yeah might have been tandys own brand im thinking of? they did have a few brands in there though but i cant be sure. great to see one though i forgot all about them 👍

[@nerdygeezer78]

I think i actually prefer the Atari version in terms of colours, graphics, sound & speed

[@Tetlee]

Yep really down to personal preference on this one they're so close. Only thing for me that separated them was sounds, Atari wins out there. This was really just a bonus round.

[@davidretrogamesplayedbadly3533]

Think I've watched you play this before? Very frantic shooter. Think the TI-99 is my favourite version... so your wrong 😂

[@Tetlee]

You're correct Dave, I showed the Atari version before with a group video of Atari800 carts, the TI99 cart is a more recent pickup I hadn't shown before. Hey I'm glad you preferred the TI, music to my ears😁