Format: ACORN ATOM

Author: Kees van Oss

Year of Release: 2012

Publishing Label: Retro Software

Default Keys: Up A   Down Z   Left <   Right >   Jump SPACE

Joystick Supported: Yes (AtoMMC interface PORTB)

Cheats or POKEs:

SET INITIAL NUMBER OF LIVES & LEVEL SKIP:
Type the following at the BASIC prompt:

*LOAD "CH-EGG"
?#4591 = <nl> ; REM nl = No. of Lives
                REM (0-255 where 0==256)
?#43A9 = <sl> ; REM sl = Start Level-1
                REM (0-255)
LINK #2B00

CONFIGURE ACORN ATOM TO USE ALTERNATIVE COLOUR SCHEME:

?#B002 = 8

Emulator: MESS - Atom driver

BIOS images required:

Atom driver: atom.zip [CRC32 #3A172B91]

Emulator Platform-Specific Usage Instructions:

Install MESS and The Chuckie Egg Professional's Resource Kit.

Cassette Tape:
Load the wav/AtomicChuckieEgg.zip or uef/AtomicChuckieEgg.zip cassette image from the Resource Kit into the MESS Atom driver. At the BASIC prompt > type *RUN "CHUCKIE" and hit Enter to load Chuckie Egg.

Disk:
Load the dsk/AtomicChuckieEgg.dsk disk image from the Resource Kit into the MESS Atom driver. At the BASIC prompt > type *runme and hit Enter to load Chuckie Egg.

Notes: The Atom was the only Acorn machine which hadn't received a port of Chuckie Egg until this modern release. It is based on the reverse-engineered code of the original Electron port because of its simpler four colour MODE 5 requirements, which is in turn derived from the BBC 32K version that utilises MODE 2. Hence, the BBC 32K-specific gameplay skills mostly apply to this port too. Check the Gameplay section for more information. This title was first unveiled to a popular public reception alongside Anaglyphic 3D Chuckie Egg at the Homebrew Coding Geekend, a part of the In Da 80s event held at the Lass O'Gowrie pub in Manchester, on 16th - 17th July 2011.

Review: The Atom port's graphics are identical to the BBC 32K and ELECTRON releases, but the hardware limitations of the machine have resulted in the striking colour combinations, which are reminiscent of the DRAGON port. The level layouts have similarly had to be compromised in order to fit within the Atom's smaller MODE. There are only four colours in use, but this is adequate and the release does not suffer from any colour clashes - though it shares the slight flicker of the Harry sprite with its parent BBC 32K and ELECTRON ports. Most impressive, has been the inclusion of sound effects - the Atom hardware's sound capabilities are limited, and the main CPU is required to playback sounds which can negatively impact gameplay. There's no evidence of that here, thankfully. Most important of all, the classic Chuckie Egg gameplay has survived the transfer to this more limited hardware pretty much entirely unscathed. In fact, due to the reduction in size of the screens, this Atomic version is actually even more challenging than the BBC 32K and ELECTRON ports because it provides less space for Harry to evade the Mother Duck when she is released. This is a remarkable and long-awaited port that will provide any seasoned Chuckie Egg Professional with a significant new challenge.