Jeff Minter’s Akka Arrh - coming 2023 (Steam/Switch/Xbox/PS)

[FunktionJCB]

Atari just announced that a reimagined version by Jeff Minter of the "rare" prototype Akka Arrh is coming in 2023.
The announced platforms include PC/Steam, Switch, PS5/PS4, and Xbox One.

More details (and a trailer) can be found at Atari's website:
https://atari.com/products/akka-arrh

Here's the Steam store page for the game:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2005680/Akka_Arrh/

[Jonpachi]

So, you're a turret in the center and rotate around and shoot stuff? Ohhh-kaaaay.

[m.sniffles.esq]

So, you're a turret in the center and rotate around and shoot stuff? Ohhh-kaaaay.

From the trailer and copy, I'd say twin-stick-tower-defense would be a fair description.

[Lander]

The search ranking of the original prototype sunk like a rock in light of the announcement, but there's a Lost Media Wiki page with some handy context for what this game was originally.

The prototype seems neat, particularly how it mixes zoomed-out zone bombing gameplay with zoomed-in direct fire defense. It looks like the reimagining blurs the line between those two states and lets you shoot directly into the outer field, which doesn't seem as interesting on first blush.

The Minter style is clearly alive and well though. Give us a ring... It's for you!

[SavagePencil]

I was struck by the potential of this game after exploring it a bit on Atari 50. It clearly needed massaging on the difficulty curve, but conceptually I could see where it was going. I'm intrigued by Minter's take on this. In many ways it inverts the Tempest formula he's been perfecting for the last 30 years.

[dark]

The trailer looks cool. Interesting to see Minter working with Atari again, I had thought there might have been some bad blood between them due to previous lawsuits and complaints by Atari against Minter. Something ridiculous like Minter was infringing on their IP by... doing some stuff that was reminiscent of Tempest 2000 (aka old work he had done, but that was controlled by Atari from an IP standpoint).

[m.sniffles.esq]

More info for those who want it

----

Unrelated, I am starting to wonder about this seeming bottomless barrel of money that nu-Atari has. I mean, they released a console (and original software for said console) that failed. That ends most. Yet, they keep chugging along (and still releasing titles for the failed console...)

[Warp_Rattler]

The trailer looks cool. Interesting to see Minter working with Atari again, I had thought there might have been some bad blood between them due to previous lawsuits and complaints by Atari against Minter. Something ridiculous like Minter was infringing on their IP by... doing some stuff that was reminiscent of Tempest 2000 (aka old work he had done, but that was controlled by Atari from an IP standpoint).

It's briefly mentioned in the article m.sniffles.esq linked, but Atari had a problem with TxK and blocked it from hitting platforms other than the Vita on the ground that it was too similar to T2K. What's probably old news to Minter enthusiasts but something that I just learned in the past month is that Tempest 4000 is pretty much TxK updated and with Atari's blessing, so presumably that's where they patched things up.

The Minter renaissance of the past several years has me really wishing for a Tempest 3000 remake/rerelease on modern platforms, but I suspect that's just a foolish pipe dream at this point. Then again, if scrapped Atari prototypes from the 80s are being dusted off for release in this day and age...

Unrelated, I am starting to wonder about this seeming bottomless barrel of money that nu-Atari has. I mean, they released a console (and original software for said console) that failed. That ends most. Yet, they keep chugging along (and still releasing titles for the failed console...)

I was browsing the Atari website after looking at the page for this game, and noticed that for many of their titles, the Atari logo is prominently displayed alongside the Switch, and Xbox, and Steam logos for platform availability. I was surprised to learn that their console had actually been released (and been out for a while, apparently). And it's... not too dissimilar to the Steam Box platform Valve was pushing for a while, and was a pretty dismal failure? It's sort of interesting that Atari seems to be actively pushing the fact that this works as a computer as well, but that prompts the more important question of, why not just buy a computer (or a console)? But yeah, weird that there seems to be so much money behind these odd products. Then again, isn't that just very... Atari?

[m.sniffles.esq]

And it's... not too dissimilar to the Steam Box platform Valve was pushing for a while, and was a pretty dismal failure?

Well, the very big difference between the VCS and the Steam Box is that Atari actually produced the VCS while Steam never produced a Steam Box (there were only 3rd party ones). Meaning Atari actually lost a shitload more money even though they have a shitload less. Thus, making the whole thing even more mysterious.

I mean, I could dig into exactly who the brand/company consists of from a fiscal standpoint nowadays. But at this point, I think it's safe to assume there are some pretty deep pocketed angels funding the whole endeavor. So I guess my real question is 'why?' Squeezing out moderate sales based around nostalgia doesn't seem like a real viable long-term thing

[Warp_Rattler]

Well, the very big difference between the VCS and the Steam Box is that Atari actually produced the VCS while Steam never produced a Steam Box (there were only 3rd party ones).

You're right--Valve's financial commitment was minimal in that regard. I feel bad (not really, but) for the different computer manufacturers that bought into the project and then were left holding the bag when Valve decided it was a pretty lackluster idea and just quietly let it die off (until they realized they could salvage some ideas for the Steam Deck). I guess in that sense, Atari at least seems to have a bit more faith in their platform, for whatever reason. But yeah, what a strange project. I'd like to see someone involved with the design/development explain just what user demographic they had in mind when they were designing this. Even just catering to retro nostalgia doesn't quite seem to explain all of the details.

[Jonpachi]

Is there really an “Atari” corporation though? I thought it was just a dead brand label like how Hasbro will put “Kenner” on retro-style action figures. I assumed this is just a label that keeps passing between owners. Didn’t Infograms have it at one point?

[m.sniffles.esq]

Didn’t Infograms have it at one point?

They still (sorta) do.
However, Infograms now has a 'partnership' on the brand with Icicb Group (which is probably the brand's biggest sugar-daddy) a blockchain, banking, hotel/casino, medical, investment, anything else that makes money corporation out of Dubai.

[bigbadboaz]

What's up with the ridiculous name, anyway?

[cawley1]

I'm not sure, but while Atari (at the time) were being dicks about TxK, since Wade Rosen became CEO he has really embraced what made Atari great in the early 80's, taking it back to it's roots, and I am guessing it was him becoming CEO that has build the bridge that had led to Jeff Minter working with them.

Akka Arra is apparently a loose abreviation of 'Also Known As Another Ralston Hally', who was a designer at Atari at the time.

[Lander]

Specifically, Mike Ralston and Dave Hally were the Atari guys who made it. The full sentence is 'Also Known As Another Ralston Hally production'.

Minter's presence is new, but I guess you could also construe it as the call of some exotic ruminant.

[SuperPang]

What's up with the ridiculous name, anyway?

It's the sound Jeff Minter makes when he cums.

[Fingolfin]

Very cool news!
Akka Arrh adapted by Jeff Minter.
Sounds good to me!

m.sniffles.esq’s description of “twin stick tower defense” seems spot on: it’s a bit lacking polish but the Atari 50 prototype is fun (I think I get it or am getting it…kind of).

The prototype feels like a combo of Simon (large quadrant sections that need to be kept track of so the memory component aspect), Rampart with much faster pace and much flashier graphics and a weird/funky take on Star Raiders combat screen/sequences for when enemies get inside the outer quadrants. Akka Arrh is greater than the sum of those parts but could still use some polish.

Very much looking forward to Minter’s take on it.
Perhaps a twin stick magic ox spacecastle tower defense shooting game?

Regarding deep pockets at Atari, among other sources of revenue it’s not hard to imagine some good money from Ready Player One (2018) as well as from the original Blade Runner (1982) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017) helping to fill Atari’s coffers via initial licensing deals and then subsequent royalties.

@ Jonpachi

“Atari” today is Infogrames: Infogrames Interactive (which also includes Hasbro) bought Atari and then eventually changed its name to Atari.

If you were named Infogrames, wouldn’t you change your name to Atari?

[Lander]

Man, all this Corporate Murders and Assassinations shit does my head in.
You can barely tell who's wearing who's skin anymore, grisly!

[bigbadboaz]

Well, it ain't a new phenomenon by now, that's for sure. At least "Atari" seems to have passed into hands that actually know how to handle it at this point.

[FunktionJCB]

The game recently received a release date.

It's out on February 21.

[m.sniffles.esq]

Just to rectify some of my talking out of my ass, specifically:

I mean, they released a console (and original software for said console) that failed.

Upon perusing their site, pretty much everything seems to be sold out. The only that seems to be still available anymore is the console and controllers. But the console that runs Debian from a usb stick, and all the $100 game cartridges are gone (edit: my bad, the $1000 box set is still available).

In other words, when I said it failed, I didn't have any idea what I was talking about, and was stating impressions I had as fact. Sorry.

[bigbadboaz]

No, I do believe it failed, and that's evident in how much mindshare (zero) there is for the thing.

Pretty sure they announced the termination of the product line not long ago. The fact that something gone and no longer in production isn't in stock is neither surprising nor indication that it succeeded.

Besides, I wouldn't put it past them to have simply pulled the remaining product from availability upon ending the product run - some weak-ass play at saving face. Could be this stuff is the new gen of Atari product destined for a landfill.

[FunktionJCB]

The game is out now on various platforms.

Here's the link for the Steam version:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2005680/Akka_Arrh/

[m.sniffles.esq]

It's a very odd game...

It sort of eases you into one mode of play (slow, chain building)--then suddenly--around level nine, switches gears to a chaotic Tempest-esque spin and shoot.

I really dislike that bomb and shot are on the same button (tap and hold), as when things get hectic, very often the opposite of what I intended gets registered (usually firing a bullet when I intended to use a bomb). I'm guessing this is so the game works with the Atari console's two button controller, but I wish you could change it.

I've only played for about 30-40 minutes, so I haven't figured the whole thing out. But my initial impression is that it's very much a sibling to Space Giraffe, in that it's a game that enjoys fucking with you. From setting one up one thing then forgetting about it a couple levels later, to introducing entirely new mechanics with a 'blink-and-miss' flash of text explanation, to reversing your controls when you "go downstairs" (which I guess kind of make sense. Kind of...).

So--much like that game--since it's designed to be off-putting, there's going to be a getting acquainted period before I give any real assessment. Besides, any game that goes from "MAX Chain!" to "SUPER MAX Chain!" to "Jesus and Mary Chain!" is going to be impossible to completely hate...

[bcass]

You can set it to use 2 different buttons for bomb / shot in the pause menu.

[FunktionJCB]

I really dislike that bomb and shot are on the same button (tap and hold),

You can set it to use 2 different buttons for bomb / shot in the pause menu.

Yeah, even Jeff himself recommended people do so, he plays with them as separate buttons:
https://twitter.com/llamasoft_ox/status ... 6895608832

To quote that post:
«By default the game uses one fire button for shooting (tap for bomb, hold down for bullets). I personally prefer to play with 2 separate buttons. You can set that option in the pause menu.»

Since I had read that, it was the first thing I did, even before starting the game.

And yes, m.sniffles.esq, a chain combo level called "Jesus and Mary Chain!" is officially the best one I've ever seen in a game.

[Necronom]

It sort of eases you into one mode of play (slow, chain building)--then suddenly--around level nine, switches gears to a chaotic Tempest-esque spin and shoot.

Hmmm, that's exactly what the original did...and to my knowledge players disliked during the tests of the original machine.
I thought the original game was good for a spin from time to time but far from being a masterpiece like Yar's Revenge or Robotron.
I wish Atari would price this a bit more competitively.

[m.sniffles.esq]

You can set it to use 2 different buttons for bomb / shot in the pause menu.

That's certainly helpful, thank you.

Man, the whole upstairs/downstairs thing is sort of laughably busted. They should have really have the upper floor clear after you "go downstairs". As-is, because there's six things coming at you from six different directions--and at very small distances apart from each other--something gets through, you go downstairs to kill it, get kicked back up, then have to go immediately back down because the next thing got through before you even got your bearings. Kill it, get kicked back up, then the next thing gets through. Then the next, then the next...

And unless I'm missing something pretty essential, it really seems like it's supposed to work in this manner. I'm unsure how anyone could have thought it was anything but annoying.

Edit FYI: Also, I've been playing on my commute via Switch and if you're trying to decide between versions, I would NOT recommend Switch if planning on playing undocked. The majority of the screen is empty space, the main popcorns are small and dark colored against an equally dark and like-colored background, and on-screen text is mostly too small to read. Just a pretty bad portable game all-around.

[cave hermit]

Downloaded the Xbox version today, made it a bit past the halfway mark on a run just now.

It's definitely one of those arcade games that can get me into "the zone".

The downstairs mechanic really does feel quite tacked on, and seems to be there vestigially from the original Atari prototype. It's more or less just a punishment room for the player if you fail to be vigilant with defenses.

I quite like the main turret defense gameplay. It feels somehow minimalistic and maximalistic at the same time.

[m.sniffles.esq]

I quite like the main turret defense gameplay. It feels somehow minimalistic and maximalistic at the same time.

It really is a neat idea, I just wish the game implemented it a bit better and tried to strike more of a balance between the defensive bombing and offensive shooting. As it stands, there's only really a couple levels before it decides to unleash hell on the offensive side.

I will say that everything about the game improved once I got it home and docked it. It's really not designed to be a Switch/Steam Deck title at all

I wish Atari would price this a bit more competitively.

It's priced exactly the same as Tempest 4k at $20. If you look at the other nu-Atari titles, they're all at $10. Which leads me to believe they're doing a 50/50 point split with Llamasoft, and don't wish their end to be diminished in any way.