
Description
Curse of the Lost Miner is a simple platformer with features of a logic game for Atari 800XL or compatible computers and Atari 5200 console.
If you are a quick thinking person with nimble and practised fingers, Curse of the Lost Miner is a game exactly for you. Your goal is to guide the cursed miner through many dangerous caves, avoid deadly obstacles, and collect all diamonds in each cave.
This game was created for the AtariĆ”da 2015 event, where it was also presented. A prequel game named “Caverns of the Lost Miner” was released in 2007.
Original Edition
In the original edition of the game, your task is to break the curse of the lost miner by completing all 13 deviously designed dangerous caves. You have only four lives, but you can start the game from any cave that you have previously reached.
Underground Madness Challenge (U.M.C.) Edition
This edition has a scoring system and 27 caves to play (a remix of existing caves). Your task is to get the highest score. To maximize your score, you must complete the caves quickly and within a time limit, leave intact as many broken rocks as possible, and avoid losing lives.
After completing each cave, a screen that displays your score is shown. Every remaining second, every remaining broken rock, and every remaining life matter.
Controls
The key to successful playing is mastering the controls and understanding the game physics. Use joystick to control the miner. The original edition of the game provides a training mode with full description of the controls and a simple training cave. Never underestimate difficulty of this game and get some training first.
The Atari 5200 version of the game has a variant with alternate controls specially designed for the Atari 5200 standard controller.
Downloads
Binaries for Instant Gaming
Atari 800 XL | Original Edition | U.M.C. |
Segmented binary | culomin.xex | culomin_umc.xex |
Monolithic packed binary | culomin_mp.xex | culomin_umc_mp.xex |
Tape image | culomin.cas | culomin_umc.cas |
Bootable disk image | culomin.atr | culomin_umc.atr |
All Lost Miner games disk | flolomin.atr | |
Atari5200 | ||
Cartridge image | culomin.bin | culomin_umc.bin |
Cartridge image (alt. controls) | culomin_alt.bin | culomin_umc_alt.bin |
Source Code for Curious Players and Developers
The game is placed in Public Domain. You can download and modify the source code as you want. The game is written in the C programming language (CC65) with few assembler routines. You will need the CC65 toolkit to compile the source code.
Source code mega-package: culomin_src.zip
For Users of Data Recorders and Compact Cassettes
If you have an unmodified data recorder, download the tape images and boot with START+OPTION. If you have a data recorder with a turbo upgrade, download the monolithic packed binaries and convert them using TURGEN SYSTEM.
Playing in Emulator
If you don’t have Atari computer, you can still play Curse of the Lost Miner in an emulator.
Try Altirra for Windows or a multi-platform atari800.
Cave Editor
Cave editor (requires Java): clmeditor.jar.
Use the editor to create your own caves. The caves are stored in the levels.dat file.
Labels
Labels for 5200 cartridge, floppy disk, and compact cassette: clm_labels.pdf.
Color and grayscale designs.