#PA2034, Published by Atari Corp.
In this episode I cover one of several sports titles created for the Lynx, Basketbrawl, released for the Lynx in 1992. Included are statistics for the game and a run-down on how to play it, along with reviews and ratings, some fun facts and trivia, and some listener feedback about the game.
BASKETBRAWL VITAL STATISTICS
Release Date: Originally scheduled for release in December of 1991, according to this blurb on page 163 of the January 1991 issue (#30) of GamePro magazine. Basketbrawl was ultimately released to stores in May of 1992.
Initial Retail Price: Unknown.
Cartridge Information: 256kb mono curved lip-style cartridge.
Game Genre: Side-view 2-dimensional sports action game for 1 player, or for 2 players playing co-operatively using the ComLynx cable.
Screen Playfield Orientation: Landscape (horizontal).
Based On: Basketbrawl, originally released on the Atari 7800 in 1990.
Ports to Other Systems: Basketbrawl was also released on the Plex Arcade (2021).
Game Levels: There are 15 levels (5 matches, or “gangs,” of three games each), each accessible with a 4-letter code. The complete list of level jump codes can be found here.
Number of Players: 1-2 (with ComLynx support).
Packaging: Full-color standard-tab regular-size carton (5 3/8″ by 4 3/8″ by 7/8″). There was also a blister-pack released for Basketbrawl.
Instruction Manual: A 44-page (including front and back covers) stapled regular-sized booklet manual in monochrome, measuring the usual 4 7/8” high by 3 ¾” wide. This manual was written by Scott Rhoades. You can read an interview with Scott and The No Swear Gamer that was posted on the Atario.io forums; it can be found here. A single manual was released worldwide with parallel verbiage in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
BASKETBRAWL CREDITS
Developer: Hamilton and Associates.
Programmers: David Axt, John Hamilton.
Artwork: Jennifer Hamilton, Robb Mariani, Vu Nguyen.
Music: Matt Scott.
Producer: Craig Erickson.
Special Thanks: Steve Ryno.
Be sure to check out our partner AtariGamer.com to stay “Lynxed In” to all of the latest news about our favorite handheld gaming console!
LYNX LYNKS
Kieren Hawken’s 2019 book “The A-Z of Atari Lynx Games Volume 1”.
LYNX LYNKS
Information About Basketbrawl:
Atari Age title info/rarity guide for Basketbrawl
Atari Gamer title info/rarity guide for Basketbrawl
Digital Press title info/rarity guide for Basketbrawl
Wikipedia article about Basketbrawl
Moby Games article about Basketbrawl
Basketbrawl Level Jump Codes from Atari Age
Reviews and Ratings for Basketbrawl:
Preview in GamePro (US; Issue #33; May 1992; page 52)
Preview in Electronic Games Monthly (US; Issue #34; May 1992; page 129)
Review by The Review Crew in Electronic Games Monthly (US; Issue #35; June 1992; page 36)
Review in ST Format (US; Issue #40; November 1992; page 127)
Review by Robert A. Jung at AtariArchives.org (1992)
Review by Keita Iita at AtariHQ (1995)
Review by KasketDarkFyre at GameFAQs (2002)
Review by Matt Paprocki at Digital Press (2005)
Review by John Huxley at DefunctGames (2007)
Review by The Video Game Critic at The Video Game Critic (2012)
Review by Jon Mc at Atari Gamer (2018)
YouTube Videos About Basketbrawl:
Playthrough (World-of-Longplays)
1-Minute Review (Gaming Palooza Empire)
Playthrough and Commentary (NecroVMX)
Retailers Selling Basketbrawl:
B & C ComputerVisions: Bruce at B & C is selling Basketbrawl for US$7.95 (pack-in/bagged cart/manual combo) and for US$12.95 (NIB) through eBay under the user name MyAtari…check his online store on eBay for availability.
Best Electronics (last updated January 7, 2021; check website for availability): US$14.95 (CIB); US$12.00 (pack-in/bagged cart/manual combo); US$9.95 (loose cart).
The Gamesmen (Australia): AU$24.95 (CIB).
The Goat Store: US$14.94 (NIB).
Telegames (UK): £30.00 (including tax; listing does not include whether it’s a loose cart, cart/manual combo, or CIB).
Video 61 & Atari Sales: US$24.95 (NIB).
After-Market and Home Brew Lynx Titles Now Available:
As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Luchs Soft in Germany (prices include VAT but not shipping costs):
Alpine Games (€55,92)
Ejagfest Slideshow (€49,97)
Quadromania (€55,92)
Retro X-MASsacre (€44,02)
Space Battle (Single: €55,92)
Space Battle (Double: €74,96)
Unseen (€49,97)
Yastuna-The Alchemy of Cubes (€49,97)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Luchs Soft.
As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Songbird Productions in the US (prices do not include tax or shipping costs):
Alpine Games ($59.95)
Alpine Games Bonus Card ($49.95)
Biniax 2 ($49.95/$79.95)
Bubble Trouble ($69.95)
A Bug’s Trip Redux ($49.95)
Centipede ($49.95)
CGE 5th Redux ($39.95)
Championship Rally ($59.95/$89.95)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (Regular: $59.95)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (Black PCB: $59.95)
CyberVirus ($59.95)
CyberVirus: Lost Missions ($49.95)
Fat Bobby ($69.95)
Hyperdrome ($69.95)
Krazy Ace Miniature Golf ($69.95)
Lexis ($49.95)
Loopz ($59.95/$89.95)
MegaPak 1 ($59.95)
Othello ($49.95/$79.95)
Ponx (Regular: $39.95)
Ponx (Black PCB: $59.95)
Quadromania Redux ($49.95)
Raiden ($69.95)
Remnant: Planar Wars ($59.95)
SFX (Regular: $39.95)
SFX (Black PCB: $59.95)
SIMIS ($59.95/$89.95)
T-Tris ($49.95/$79.95)
unnamed ($49.95)
Xump: The Final Run ($49.95)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Songbird Productions.
As of the recording date, here are the after-market and home brew Atari Lynx titles available from Telegames in the UK (all prices include VAT):
Alpine Games (£55.00)
Breakout 2000 (£75.00)
Bubble Trouble (£49.98)
Championship Rally (£49.99)
Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure (£49.99)
CyberVirus (£49.99)
Fat Bobby (£49.99)
Hyperdrome (£52.98)
Krazy Ace Miniature Golf (£49.99)
Lexis (£49.99)
Lynx Reloaded (with Othello and MultoPong; £44.99)
Ponx (£39.98)
Raiden (£52.98)
Remnant: Planar Wars (£49.98)
SFX (£39.86)
SIMIS 5 w/Space Invaders (£49.98)
Sokomania (£52.98)
T-Tris (£49.98)
Click here if you’re interested in ordering from Telegames.
Resources for Atari Lynx Console/Game-Related Collecting Materials/Tools:
Resource: Game Boy Color cases for Atari Lynx cartridges from Joom.
Resource: 2 1/2″ coin storage sheets from Amazon.
Resource: Atari Lynx regular-size game carton sleeves from BuzzandBingosMoonCircus (eBay).
Resource: Atari Lynx custom game carton sleeves from RetroProtection.
Resource: Building a custom Atari Lynx game carton shelving unit from AtariGamer.
Resource: Atari Lynx II display stand in a choice of 3 colors from RoseColoredGaming on Etsy.
Resource: Atari Lynx I and II display stands (along with cartridge stands) from TelltaleShop on Etsy.
Resource: BennVenn’s drop-in LCD replacement kit (solder-type; includes screen plus AtariGamer.com’s 3D-printed screen bracket frame for the Atari Lynx II).
Resource: BennVenn’s drop-in LCD replacement kit (solderless-type; includes screen plus AtariGamer.com’s 3D-printed screen bracket frame for the Atari Lynx II).
Resource: BennVenn’s ElCheapoSD storage cartridge for Atari Lynx.
Resource: RetroHQ’s GameDrive SD storage cartridge for Atari Lynx.
“Thank You’s” and Other Lynks:
Antic: The Atari 8-Bit Podcast (Thanks to Brad Arnold, Randy Kindig, and Kevin Zavitz for the shoutout about The HandyCast in Episode 50!)
AtariGamer.com (Thanks to Igor for incorporating The HandyCast into his excellent website!)
The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast (Thanks to The Podfather himself, Ferg, for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in both Episode 151 and Episode 154!)
The Atari Jaguar Game By Game Podcast (Thanks to Shinto for encouraging his listeners to check out The HandyCast in Episodes 22 and 26!)
Curtis Herod (Cujo)‘s The Bl^ck Book v2 (Check HERE to see the now-expired Indiegogo campaign, where you can find out more about the book. And please consider purchasing Curtis Herod’s The Black Book v2 by emailing him at cujo86@gmail.com.)
Into the Vertical Blank Podcast (Thanks to hosts Jeff and Steve Fulton for “singing” about The HandyCast in Season 1, Episode 10!)
Please Stand By (Thanks to Zerbe and Ferg for helping to promote The HandyCast on several episodes of this fun-to-listen-to show, starting with Episode 60!)
The RCR Podcast (Thanks to the Retro Computing Roundtable: Paul Hagstrom, Quinn Dunki, Jack Nutting, and Carrington Vance, for highlighting The HandyCast in Episode 167!)
The Retro MacCast Podcast (Thanks to Retro MacCast hosts James Savage and John Leake for highlighting The HandyCast in Episode 475!)
Retro Video Gamer Forums (Thanks to Eugenio/TrekMD for helping to promote The HandyCast on his wonderful forums!)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks go to everyone who contributed feedback about Basketbrawl (and other games) for this episode: antique_gaming_road_show, Eugenio (TrekMD), James Galioto, killer_knauer, Bill Kendrick, Les Motherby, THE MOTHERSHIP, Scott Rhoades, Shinto, SneedyK, Scott Tirrell, and Bobby Tribble. I really appreciate your feedback!
Also, I would like to thank the Free Music Archive for the following musical artists and songs that were used in this episode under the Creative Commons License: “8-Bit Core” by Tagirijus (opening and closing theme music), along with “Culturez,” “Disrupter,” “Dynasty Dub,” “Shanking It Easy Dub,” “Solstice – Shack-Out,” and “Triumphant Dub,” all by Shaolin Dub.
Thanks also to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (Cassandra Peterson) for the “Oooh, let’s party!” and “Leaving so soon?” digitized speech clips captured from the Atari Lynx game Pinball Jam that are used at the beginning and end of each episode of The HandyCast.
I would especially like to thank Shinto for submitting his memories of various Atari Lynx games he’s owned in the past to The Atari Lynx HandyCast…they are greatly appreciated. And you should all check out Shinto’s wonderful Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast; it’s definitely worth listening to, even if you’ve never owned a Jaguar. You can find it here.
Many, many thanks also go to Zerbinator for his continued support. His encouragement and expertise are very much appreciated by me. You can find all of his fun-to-listen-to podcasts here, including my favorite, Please Stand By.
Finally, my thanks to the Podfather himself, Ferg of The Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast. His inspiration and dedication to covering every game cartridge ever made for the Atari 2600 (I think over 1000 of them!) is what gave me the courage to begin this podcast. Please, check out his don’t-miss podcast, even if you’re not an Atari 2600 collector; you should also visit his website here.
I hope you enjoy this episode of The Atari Lynx HandyCast. And please don’t forget to visit the official Atari Lynx HandyCast website by clicking here!
-Mark
Next Episode: “EPISODE 16: Robo-Squash”
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