Space Taxi – Atari 8-bit conversion from the Commodore 64 game

Max Headroom 2025.04.30 3 min read

Atari fans are in luck, as Andrea Cucchetto (Italy) has managed to convert the popular Commodore 64 game “Space Taxi” for Atari 8-bit computers, with lovely graphics, challenging gameplay and even digitized voices.

Cucchetto, known for his contributions to the Atari scene with titles such as “Circo Bianco” (1987), “Hypnotic Land” (1992) and “Conquest of the Crown” (1994), decided to resume his passion in 2013. After releasing the disc version of “White Circus”, he set himself an even bigger challenge: converting “Space Taxi” for Atari.

“Space Taxi” was originally created by John Kutcher in 1984 and was noted for its digitized voices and addictive gameplay. Although it seemed like a daunting task due to the technical limitations of the Atari 8-bit computers compared to the C64, Andrea plucked up the courage and began the challenging project.

The first obstacle he faced was resolution. To ensure at least five colors per screen, he opted for a lower resolution but managed to increase it using programming techniques such as DLI (Data Line Switch). As he progressed in the game’s development, Cucchetto encountered the problem of the lack of memory available for moving sprites. However, it opted to use a hybrid mode of characters and bitmaps in tiers with many sprites. This approach allowed him to simplify the movement of objects without compromising the quality of the game.

Finally, after overcoming numerous challenges and obstacles, the Atari 8-bit version of “Space Taxi” was almost ready. However, one key element was missing: digitized voices. Fortunately, Filippo “Philsan” Santellocco (Sweden) and Janusz “Shanti77” Chabowski (Poland)—known for their version of “Bosconian” for Atari 8—collaborated with code to create the speech samples in the proper format.

The result is an exciting game that combines the classic gameplay of “Space Taxi” with the enchanting graphics and sounds of Atari 8-bit computers. The game runs on machines with NTSC/PAL standard and at least 48KB of memory; but 128KB of RAM is recommended to enjoy digitized audio.

In addition to its exciting gameplay, this version offers a variety of options to adapt the gaming experience to your preferences. The menu allows you to choose between different game types, each with its unique difficulty level and style. Similarly, you can try all 24 levels in a single round. Also, if you have the skill and determination to overcome all the stages, you will be rewarded with access to the “Mystery Screen”.

The game runs well on any real 8-bit Atari machine with at least 48 Kb – like a standard Atari 800. Similarly, it runs on 1200XL, 600XL with RAM expansion, 800XL, 65XE and 130XE equipment.

As the Atari community continues to grow and evolve, it’s exciting to think about the possibilities ahead. What other classic games could be resurrected on Atari 8-bit computers? What new creations and innovative projects are in development?

Download: Crazy Taxi

Translated from: Atari 8-bit revives with the release of the version of “Space Taxi” (atariteca.net.pe)