Jonathan Thomas
@atariste.bsky.social
The Atari STE is quite a capable games machine, you know.
I'm supposed to be working on the core gameplay of Cavey Taxi for the Atari STE, but instead I've gotten caught up in creating this logo distorter for the high scores screen. 😄
Back to the game itself when I've got these demoscene urges off my chest!
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
Back to the game itself when I've got these demoscene urges off my chest!
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
January 24, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I'm supposed to be working on the core gameplay of Cavey Taxi for the Atari STE, but instead I've gotten caught up in creating this logo distorter for the high scores screen. 😄
Back to the game itself when I've got these demoscene urges off my chest!
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
Back to the game itself when I've got these demoscene urges off my chest!
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
Cavey Taxi for Atari STE - game is now booting from floppy and I'm working on mundane stuff like title screens and high score tables.
I tend to implement things *very* roughly before going back to refine them - this video illustrates this idea very well. 😄
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
I tend to implement things *very* roughly before going back to refine them - this video illustrates this idea very well. 😄
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
January 21, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Cavey Taxi for Atari STE - game is now booting from floppy and I'm working on mundane stuff like title screens and high score tables.
I tend to implement things *very* roughly before going back to refine them - this video illustrates this idea very well. 😄
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
I tend to implement things *very* roughly before going back to refine them - this video illustrates this idea very well. 😄
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
Coming soon to an Atari STE near you, with another one of those tasty hi-colour title screens that does a great job of showing off the STE's 4096 colour palette. 😄
#CaveyTaxi
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
#AtariSTE
January 18, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Coming soon to an Atari STE near you, with another one of those tasty hi-colour title screens that does a great job of showing off the STE's 4096 colour palette. 😄
#CaveyTaxi
#AtariSTE
#CaveyTaxi
#AtariSTE
Sometimes I get a bit bored of working on the game itself, and find myself going off on a bit of a tangent to add some demoscene-style magic into the mix. 😄
January 17, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Sometimes I get a bit bored of working on the game itself, and find myself going off on a bit of a tangent to add some demoscene-style magic into the mix. 😄
"Cavey Taxi" for Atari STE: activated scoring system and added notifications to indicate how many passengers are remaining to be picked up.
At this rate of progress, I'll be looking for help with YM music and digital sound effects soon - please let me know if you'd like to help!
#AtariSTE
At this rate of progress, I'll be looking for help with YM music and digital sound effects soon - please let me know if you'd like to help!
#AtariSTE
January 16, 2026 at 5:06 PM
"Cavey Taxi" for Atari STE: activated scoring system and added notifications to indicate how many passengers are remaining to be picked up.
At this rate of progress, I'll be looking for help with YM music and digital sound effects soon - please let me know if you'd like to help!
#AtariSTE
At this rate of progress, I'll be looking for help with YM music and digital sound effects soon - please let me know if you'd like to help!
#AtariSTE
2 minutes of gameplay from my upcoming Atari STE minigame "Cavey Taxi", running on real Atari STE hardware (with a badly calibrated modern monitor 😞).
Look how effortlessly this powerhouse of a retro system handles that 2-layer parallax scroll and particle system!
#AtariSTE
Look how effortlessly this powerhouse of a retro system handles that 2-layer parallax scroll and particle system!
#AtariSTE
January 15, 2026 at 4:07 PM
2 minutes of gameplay from my upcoming Atari STE minigame "Cavey Taxi", running on real Atari STE hardware (with a badly calibrated modern monitor 😞).
Look how effortlessly this powerhouse of a retro system handles that 2-layer parallax scroll and particle system!
#AtariSTE
Look how effortlessly this powerhouse of a retro system handles that 2-layer parallax scroll and particle system!
#AtariSTE
This is the latest build of the WIP Atari STE game I am now provisonally calling "Cavey Taxi".
Pick up passengers in a tight cave complex and drop them off elsewhere, fighting gravity, time and fuel consumption. With pretty parallax scrolling and particle systems.
What's not to like? 😀
Pick up passengers in a tight cave complex and drop them off elsewhere, fighting gravity, time and fuel consumption. With pretty parallax scrolling and particle systems.
What's not to like? 😀
January 13, 2026 at 8:50 PM
This is the latest build of the WIP Atari STE game I am now provisonally calling "Cavey Taxi".
Pick up passengers in a tight cave complex and drop them off elsewhere, fighting gravity, time and fuel consumption. With pretty parallax scrolling and particle systems.
What's not to like? 😀
Pick up passengers in a tight cave complex and drop them off elsewhere, fighting gravity, time and fuel consumption. With pretty parallax scrolling and particle systems.
What's not to like? 😀
Continued work on this upcoming minigame for the Atari STE. The gameplay is shaping up to be a bit Crazy Taxi-esque - pick up passengers and drop them off elsewhere in the cave without running out of time or fuel.
Still lots of work to do but coming along nicely!
#AtariSTE
Still lots of work to do but coming along nicely!
#AtariSTE
January 7, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Continued work on this upcoming minigame for the Atari STE. The gameplay is shaping up to be a bit Crazy Taxi-esque - pick up passengers and drop them off elsewhere in the cave without running out of time or fuel.
Still lots of work to do but coming along nicely!
#AtariSTE
Still lots of work to do but coming along nicely!
#AtariSTE
Score/status display starting to take shape (yes, the masking around the timer isn't yet finished...).
Working with hardware scrolling can be pretty mind bending at times. 🤯
#AtariSTE
Working with hardware scrolling can be pretty mind bending at times. 🤯
#AtariSTE
January 2, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Score/status display starting to take shape (yes, the masking around the timer isn't yet finished...).
Working with hardware scrolling can be pretty mind bending at times. 🤯
#AtariSTE
Working with hardware scrolling can be pretty mind bending at times. 🤯
#AtariSTE
Mockup of status display, including countdown timer, fuel remaining, score and high score. Hoping to implement this in the game in the coming days.
#AtariSTE
#AtariSTE
January 2, 2026 at 12:01 PM
Mockup of status display, including countdown timer, fuel remaining, score and high score. Hoping to implement this in the game in the coming days.
#AtariSTE
#AtariSTE
Fixed colour palette and added pixel-perfect collision detection with foreground. Ship spawns back to a safe point when it crashes.
All STE features except DMA sound on show here - Hardware scroll, Blitter and Enhanced palette! DMA sound to come soon to complete things. 😀
#AtariSTE
All STE features except DMA sound on show here - Hardware scroll, Blitter and Enhanced palette! DMA sound to come soon to complete things. 😀
#AtariSTE
January 1, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Fixed colour palette and added pixel-perfect collision detection with foreground. Ship spawns back to a safe point when it crashes.
All STE features except DMA sound on show here - Hardware scroll, Blitter and Enhanced palette! DMA sound to come soon to complete things. 😀
#AtariSTE
All STE features except DMA sound on show here - Hardware scroll, Blitter and Enhanced palette! DMA sound to come soon to complete things. 😀
#AtariSTE
First signs of gameplay in this new Atari STE project - joystick left and right rotate the ship and up activates the thrusters. Gravity pulls the ship downwards.
The particle system is looking really nice - there aren't nearly enough ST/Amiga era games with particle systems. 😀
#AtariSTE
The particle system is looking really nice - there aren't nearly enough ST/Amiga era games with particle systems. 😀
#AtariSTE
December 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
First signs of gameplay in this new Atari STE project - joystick left and right rotate the ship and up activates the thrusters. Gravity pulls the ship downwards.
The particle system is looking really nice - there aren't nearly enough ST/Amiga era games with particle systems. 😀
#AtariSTE
The particle system is looking really nice - there aren't nearly enough ST/Amiga era games with particle systems. 😀
#AtariSTE
Big thanks to
@zeropagehomebrew.com
for this exquisite award certificate and trophy for FASTER on the Atari STE!
(Amiga OCS/ECS version of FASTER is still in the works - please bear with me...😃)
@zeropagehomebrew.com
for this exquisite award certificate and trophy for FASTER on the Atari STE!
(Amiga OCS/ECS version of FASTER is still in the works - please bear with me...😃)
June 30, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Big thanks to
@zeropagehomebrew.com
for this exquisite award certificate and trophy for FASTER on the Atari STE!
(Amiga OCS/ECS version of FASTER is still in the works - please bear with me...😃)
@zeropagehomebrew.com
for this exquisite award certificate and trophy for FASTER on the Atari STE!
(Amiga OCS/ECS version of FASTER is still in the works - please bear with me...😃)
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: switched over to single pass (rather than 4 pass) rendering for car and scenery bobs, giving a noticeable increase in performance.
Further evidence for any existing doubters out there that this is definitely not a lazy port from the ST! 😄
Further evidence for any existing doubters out there that this is definitely not a lazy port from the ST! 😄
April 4, 2025 at 7:31 PM
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: switched over to single pass (rather than 4 pass) rendering for car and scenery bobs, giving a noticeable increase in performance.
Further evidence for any existing doubters out there that this is definitely not a lazy port from the ST! 😄
Further evidence for any existing doubters out there that this is definitely not a lazy port from the ST! 😄
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: currently adding in some features that had to be left out of the STE version because they were too CPU intensive. This depth-cueing effect on the ground/road surface is a good example.
I don't love everything about the Amiga, but I love the Copper! 😁
I don't love everything about the Amiga, but I love the Copper! 😁
March 29, 2025 at 9:32 PM
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: currently adding in some features that had to be left out of the STE version because they were too CPU intensive. This depth-cueing effect on the ground/road surface is a good example.
I don't love everything about the Amiga, but I love the Copper! 😁
I don't love everything about the Amiga, but I love the Copper! 😁
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: currently adding in bobs for top status display. Time digits will be hardware sprites.
As with the STE version that came before it, each new feature requires a load of optimisation work in other areas to hold onto that all-important 50fps framerate!
As with the STE version that came before it, each new feature requires a load of optimisation work in other areas to hold onto that all-important 50fps framerate!
March 28, 2025 at 2:41 PM
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: currently adding in bobs for top status display. Time digits will be hardware sprites.
As with the STE version that came before it, each new feature requires a load of optimisation work in other areas to hold onto that all-important 50fps framerate!
As with the STE version that came before it, each new feature requires a load of optimisation work in other areas to hold onto that all-important 50fps framerate!
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: Following much head scratching, the speedo in the bottom right has been switched from BoBs to hardware sprites, giving a nice performance boost and other cool benefits that I'll come to later.
I did say this would be no lazy STE->Amiga conversion. 😄
I did say this would be no lazy STE->Amiga conversion. 😄
March 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: Following much head scratching, the speedo in the bottom right has been switched from BoBs to hardware sprites, giving a nice performance boost and other cool benefits that I'll come to later.
I did say this would be no lazy STE->Amiga conversion. 😄
I did say this would be no lazy STE->Amiga conversion. 😄
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: copper sky gradient is now in, enabling reduced bitplane count in parts of screen for better performance. Still frame drops when screen busy but hoping to sort with optimisation.
Next up: status display and speedo, using a mix of HW sprites and bobs.
Next up: status display and speedo, using a mix of HW sprites and bobs.
March 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: copper sky gradient is now in, enabling reduced bitplane count in parts of screen for better performance. Still frame drops when screen busy but hoping to sort with optimisation.
Next up: status display and speedo, using a mix of HW sprites and bobs.
Next up: status display and speedo, using a mix of HW sprites and bobs.
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: still getting the right foundations in place to build upon.
Switched to interleaved bitplanes to allow single-pass bob drawing. Considering best use of Copper and HW sprites to maximise framerate.
Be assured: this is no lazy STE->Amiga conversion! 😄
Switched to interleaved bitplanes to allow single-pass bob drawing. Considering best use of Copper and HW sprites to maximise framerate.
Be assured: this is no lazy STE->Amiga conversion! 😄
March 21, 2025 at 4:45 PM
FASTER for #Amiga OCS/ECS: still getting the right foundations in place to build upon.
Switched to interleaved bitplanes to allow single-pass bob drawing. Considering best use of Copper and HW sprites to maximise framerate.
Be assured: this is no lazy STE->Amiga conversion! 😄
Switched to interleaved bitplanes to allow single-pass bob drawing. Considering best use of Copper and HW sprites to maximise framerate.
Be assured: this is no lazy STE->Amiga conversion! 😄
FASTER for #Commodore #Amiga - a new WIP 50fps racer being ported from the existing Atari STE version.
Game now playable with joystick. Lots of work left - HUD not implemented, no sound and tons of optimisation required to match the STE version. Very happy with progress though!
Game now playable with joystick. Lots of work left - HUD not implemented, no sound and tons of optimisation required to match the STE version. Very happy with progress though!
March 9, 2025 at 10:42 AM
FASTER for #Commodore #Amiga - a new WIP 50fps racer being ported from the existing Atari STE version.
Game now playable with joystick. Lots of work left - HUD not implemented, no sound and tons of optimisation required to match the STE version. Very happy with progress though!
Game now playable with joystick. Lots of work left - HUD not implemented, no sound and tons of optimisation required to match the STE version. Very happy with progress though!
FASTER for #AtariSTE is the winner in the Atari ST(E)/TT/Falcon Best Homebrew category at the 7th Annual Atari Homebrew Awards!
Thanks to all involved in the production of the game, along with the retro community for your support!
Download FREE from retroracing.itch.io
Thanks to all involved in the production of the game, along with the retro community for your support!
Download FREE from retroracing.itch.io
February 23, 2025 at 9:30 AM
FASTER for #AtariSTE is the winner in the Atari ST(E)/TT/Falcon Best Homebrew category at the 7th Annual Atari Homebrew Awards!
Thanks to all involved in the production of the game, along with the retro community for your support!
Download FREE from retroracing.itch.io
Thanks to all involved in the production of the game, along with the retro community for your support!
Download FREE from retroracing.itch.io
Reposted by Jonathan Thomas
Defender, #AtariST computers work in progress port from original source code https://youtu.be/9GMYvLaeg8k #atari #retrogames #retrogaming #arcade
Atari ST Defender WIP
This is a WIP port of Williams Defender to the Atari ST. No sound.Captured on the Hatari ST emulator. Smooth IRL, stuttering due to AVI capture.Original game...
youtu.be
February 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Defender, #AtariST computers work in progress port from original source code https://youtu.be/9GMYvLaeg8k #atari #retrogames #retrogaming #arcade
A question for #Amiga folk... I'm trying to create an ADF floppy image that will automatically load and boot a hunk executable stored on the same image. I've installed a boot block and have my Startup-sequence file in the S directory, but not sure what commands to use. Help!
February 5, 2025 at 3:33 PM
A question for #Amiga folk... I'm trying to create an ADF floppy image that will automatically load and boot a hunk executable stored on the same image. I've installed a boot block and have my Startup-sequence file in the S directory, but not sure what commands to use. Help!