The long-lost classic Mikie finally arrives on the 8-bit Atari platform, thanks to the efforts of Krzysztof “Vega” Góra and a team of collaborators. Originally introduced in the late 1980s for systems like the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad, “Mikie” is set in a school environment.
The initiative to bring Mikie to the Atari began as a personal project for Góra, who drew inspiration from his previous work on the Bomb Jack series. Utilizing code from the BBC Micro version of the game, Góra significantly enhanced the graphics and music to deliver an experience that surpasses the original.
Góra acknowledges the contributions of his team, including Kaz for graphics, Miker for music and sound effects, Mono for technical support, Saberman for testing, Giann Velasquez for feedback, and Misha for suggestions. Their collective effort ensured the successful realization of the Atari version of “Mikie.”
Reflecting on the development process, Góra explains, “The game uses 128KB on Atari, allowing for more colourful graphics and music pieces, and faster drawing object animations.” He describes the technical aspects, such as using the ANTIC 4 graphics mode and implementing changes to achieve different colours in each row.
Regarding the music, Miker shares, “The pieces for the game were created over time, with contributions from 11 musicians. I aimed to stay true to the original while adding my own touch to match the Atari experience.”
Despite limitations in the BBC code structure, the team managed to deliver a visually appealing game. The game is now available for Atari fans, requiring 128 KB RAM and a PAL system to run.
Fans can find the game in the official game archive, available in XEX and ATR versions. Góra asked the community to report any errors for better troubleshooting.
Source: Atari
