Announcing the Sky Skipper Project!

OK gang, we've gone all out and posted a couple of new updates on the project website.

#1 - We've announced Rich @ TOG as the official artwork reproducer for the project - https://www.skyskipperproject.com/this-old-game-signs-on-to-the-project/

#2 - We discuss the backstory on how we got into NOA and the full details on access to Sky Skipper #00001 that we are using as the reference point to restore our games - https://www.skyskipperproject.com/our-day-at-noa/

Here we go!

SkySkipperNOA-24.jpg
 
Stoked!

Been following this project closely and can't wait to see the final results!!
 
Thanks but thats not what im looking for Ive seen that. Im wondering are there going to be pcb mods released to convert other boards for this game? I would think so as a graphics package is being repro'd for it. Will it be popeye pcb's if so? Im curious as to if we will be able to make one ourselves??

Its my understanding that only very few known popeye PCB's can be used for the conversion. So I strongly doubt that. Your best bet may just as well be to use an RPi. I also don't believe that the art package has been announced for sale to the general public.
 
Its my understanding that only very few known popeye PCB's can be used for the conversion. So I strongly doubt that. Your best bet may just as well be to use an RPi. I also don't believe that the art package has been announced for sale to the general public.

Thanks Chance - from what we know, you are spot-on. The conversion you're referring to requires a specific TNX-01 series daughtercard in order to make the early version Popeye board stack (TPP1 from how I understand it) capable of running Sky Skipper. I'm not sure how many of those daughtercards were ever produced and I'm sure if any made it out of Nintendo either in Japan or NA, their numbers are as low (likely much, much lower) as the almost non-existent TPP1 board stacks.

We don't have any visibility as to how many of the PCB sets that were in the 12 prototypes were true TNX-01 stacks and how many were conversion stacks - that information just hasn't presented itself and it likely never will at this point.

DuaneHawley said:
Thanks but thats not what im looking for Ive seen that. Im wondering are there going to be pcb mods released to convert other boards for this game? I would think so as a graphics package is being repro'd for it. Will it be popeye pcb's if so? Im curious as to if we will be able to make one ourselves??

Chance is correct - No announcement has been made around any artwork package being made available to the general public - we won't cross that bridge for a good while yet. Not sure about the PCB mod question.. we aren't planning on doing any of that work at this point, so it would be someone else taking that project on.

Thanks for your interest - would love to see you in Atlanta in June!
 
And I apologize up front for not updating this thread with more info... truthfully, I forgot about it getting everything else prepped for the reveal announcements. Your best bet is to subscribe to the site newsletter or follow us on Twitter, tbh.
 
This is so awesome. Cool to see mitchel in this reveal too! This story is so cool, awesome work!
 

Who actually needs Billy Mitchell there.
A cardboard cut out would do for pics,since he always wears the same tie and clothes.
Also the same stupid thumbs up.
 
Who actually needs Billy Mitchell there.
A cardboard cut out would do for pics,since he always wears the same tie and clothes.
Also the same stupid thumbs up.

Billy Mitchell wasn't at the expo specifically or for the sole purpose to be a part of the reveal. It is my understanding that his connections with Nintendo helped to get access to Sky Skipper 0001 which was vital to recreating the artwork and certain other parts of this project. He and Walter Day had some very nice things to say about the efforts that went into this build and I thought he definitely added to the presentation far more than a cardboard cut out would have.

I saw him interact with the kids and fans for 3 days straight over the course of the expo, and I bet he stuck that stupid thumbs up HUNDREDS of times as kids and adults (including my 11 year and myself) stuck the same stupid thumbs up beside him to have their picture taken with someone who really is a gaming legend and supporter of our hobby. Pretty sure he had a different tie and suit on each day.

He really is a class act and great guy. He is very self confident and outspoken, and that along with the way that he was portrayed as a bad guy in certain documentaries has earned him quite a few undeserved haters.


Sky Skipper looked FANTASTIC... enjoyed getting an opportunity to play this piece of history.
 
Awesome job guys! But I wonder why the insert coin sticker above the coin door is missing on the reproduced Sky Skipper when it is present on the upright cab shown on the flyer?
 
Billy Mitchell wasn't at the expo specifically or for the sole purpose to be a part of the reveal. It is my understanding that his connections with Nintendo helped to get access to Sky Skipper 0001 which was vital to recreating the artwork and certain other parts of this project. He and Walter Day had some very nice things to say about the efforts that went into this build and I thought he definitely added to the presentation far more than a cardboard cut out would have.

I saw him interact with the kids and fans for 3 days straight over the course of the expo, and I bet he stuck that stupid thumbs up HUNDREDS of times as kids and adults (including my 11 year and myself) stuck the same stupid thumbs up beside him to have their picture taken with someone who really is a gaming legend and supporter of our hobby. Pretty sure he had a different tie and suit on each day.

He really is a class act and great guy. He is very self confident and outspoken, and that along with the way that he was portrayed as a bad guy in certain documentaries has earned him quite a few undeserved haters.


Sky Skipper looked FANTASTIC... enjoyed getting an opportunity to play this piece of history.

I never had any interest in watching that movie.
I just think he looks and acts like a douche.
 
Very cool good work guys!

Is the plan to make the art available for purchase at some point or not?
 
Very cool good work guys!

Is the plan to make the art available for purchase at some point or not?
Well I was at the panel and Whitney showed off a prototype of an add in board to convert Popeye to Sky Skipper. I would assume the art would be sold after that is available. Richard Lint of this old game is the one who helped reproduce it.

If you want to try to find one of the eight lost boards you are looking for the code TNX-01 screen printed on the board set. Since the originals were factory modded to run Popeye it's time to look at those.
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