Case study

Space Jockey: an exact-ROM Atari 2600 disassembly

A labeled and commented 6502 assembly listing reconstructs Space Jockey, US Games' first Atari 2600 game from 1982, and sets the TIA read base so it compiles to the exact 2K ROM image. An assembler switch selects NTSC or a PAL listing taken from the Carrere Video release, whose changes to vertical blank timing and colors are documented. Header notes discuss the origin of its horizontal positioning routine, and comments label obstacle attributes such as shot and firing flags.

Targets: Game
Category: Independent reconstruction cases
Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
Sources reviewed: 2026-11-09
Evidence class: C3 notes only

Copy as Markdown View JSON Cite

Evidence

Observed: No code found behind the entry URL.
Scope: Notes
Checked: 2026-11-10

How evidence classes are assigned

Requirements & limits

Prerequisites: A 6502 assembler and vcs.h version 105 or later.
Testing evidence: Compiles to the exact ROM image; the PAL listing follows the Carrere Video release, where speeds and sound frequencies were not adjusted for PAL timing.
License: No licence stated on the project page.

Cite

BibTeX

@misc{space-jockey-atari-2600-disassembly-case,
  title = {{Space Jockey: an exact-ROM Atari 2600 disassembly}},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.qotile.net/minidig/disassembly/space_jockey.asm}},
  url = {https://www.qotile.net/minidig/disassembly/space_jockey.asm},
  urldate = {2026-11-09},
  note = {Awesome REA entry: \url{https://awesomerea.org/resources/space-jockey-atari-2600-disassembly-case/}}
}

Plain text

Space Jockey: an exact-ROM Atari 2600 disassembly. https://www.qotile.net/minidig/disassembly/space_jockey.asm (accessed 2026-11-09). Awesome REA entry: https://awesomerea.org/resources/space-jockey-atari-2600-disassembly-case/

Useful? Star Awesome REA on GitHub2.4k

About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.

Report an outdated entry Suggest a translation fix