Gamenerdery

My archive of video-game related odds & ends from around the web var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-16164465-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}

[gamenerdery]

In things that are astonishing and amazing - this is Unknown Realm, a brand new CRPG (in the tradition of those from Origin, SSI or Interplay) under development for the best 8-bit Microcomputer ever built.

They're currently in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign to help fund it to the end - and whilst you'll be able to grab it digitally for your PC or Mac, the coolest part is the custom cartridge for the C64 edition.

Yes, there's been plenty of cartridge games developed in the last few years, but none requiring their own custom one to fit it all in!

Well worth a look if ask me! :)

[gamenerdery]

There may not have been an Asteroids 2000 like there was with Defender or Tempest, but Rebooteroids certainly comes close to being that modern day equivalent for the humble Jaguar.

Was lucky to play a preview build a few months back, and it's one of the more fun takes on that arcade classic I've seen in ages.

If you're a Jaguar owner… seriously consider putting the cash aside for it. If you've got friends who are? Maybe subtly suggest that they should get a hold of it ;)

[gamenerdery]

For yonks now, I've been wondering what the heck is the next project from Llamasoft.

And know we finally know.

I love that only Jeff Minter could be the type of developer to tackle the infamous Polybius urban legend, and only in the way that he could.

So, I guess this means I have to put a PS VR setup on my shopping list? And of course… when does that shiny PS4 Pro come out…

[gamenerdery]

Hit and Run Baseball by Scan Software - C64.COM

C64.COM is a C64 site dedicated to just about everything that is connected to the Commodore 64 (C64). Get your favourite games and demos here!

I've not actually checked this out yet (I'm not really a big fan of baseball - either physically or in videogame form), but I actually think this is rather cool to see.

A C64 game which didn't sell all that well (allegedly under 100 copies) has finally been released out into the wider world for all to enjoy.

Retrogaming or retrocomputing isn't just about enjoying games which you liked ~20-30 years ago, but also the appreciation of the growth of an artform, of the works of people.

Just because these games are old, it doesn't necessarily mean that they should be forgotten - and that's something which seems to be less important these days what with the increasing number of games out there with "essential" server-side components out there.

[gamenerdery]

It’s unintentional but it sends a strong message of how we view our culture, how we consider our works. How we decide what’s important. Elsewhere, with little exception, smaller works are ignored in the main. Go big or go home is financial suicide for most people entering videogames but when it’s the only way to get heard?

An excellent bit of this piece about influences.

I know with my own bits and pieces of game creation - they're all influenced by things I've grown up with, or mechanics that I've found interesting or what not.

We all have our influences on our works, and I think it's foolish to dismiss those works which are smaller, which don't shatter the mold or don't set the world ablaze.

How can the next generation of creators grow if you're applying these restrictions, this gating on what is and isn't remembered.

[gamenerdery]

Time for another one of my #RobPlays series - and this week, a new challenger enters the metaphorical ring, as after some lengthy amount of time… I've finally gotten my trusty 48k ZX Spectrum modified for composite/AV output, and that means it's time to take a look at some games!

The first episode in this case is of the Spectrum port of hit Atari 2600 racer, Enduro!

As usual, it's been captured from the hardware, and watchable at 50fps (as any good game captured from a European/PAL system should be).

Don't forget to go subscribe to see more, and share this around if you enjoyed it so others can catch it too!

[gamenerdery]

I always love seeing developers talking about how they made their old games.

In this case, it's the legendary David Crane talking about how he handled the development of Grand Prix on the humble Atari 2600.

If you happen to be interested in the technical side of developing old-school games, this is totally worth a watch in my eyes.

[gamenerdery]

Press Play On Tape Podcast Ep 11- Acorn

Insert tape, rewind to start, press play and listen to our special guest, Rob Caporetto, give a master class in all things Acorn and the BBC Micro! Listen carefully, as we assure you that you’ll learn something new – we definitely did! The honor of sel...

I was invited onto the Press Play on Podcast to have a chat on something that ain't talked about too often in retro circles: Acorn's 8-bit machines!

So grab the episode, sit back, and enjoy!

[petscii]

BUBBLE BOBBLE

[gamenerdery]

Wicked PETSCII art version of Bub and Bob from Bubble Bobble. One you need to subscribe to in my books - so you can see more rad interpretations like this!

[gamenerdery]

Some more footage of my current WIP game "Backfire" - showing off the shiny new background art, along with the redrawn enemies.

I'm not 100% happy with some of them, but I'll be evolving the ideas based on what I have here, instead of using simple geometric shapes as I had previously.

[tinycartridge]

Towerfall Ascension, DLC coming to Vita next week ⊟ 

I have been jealous of everyone who gets to play this multiplayer archery combat game on PS4 (and Ouya too, why not) for a while, so I’m super thrilled to see it coming to Vita as a cross-buy game.

This version has ad-hoc multiplayer on Vita (so local wireless) and multiplayer via PlayStation TV as well. Hopefully I can figure out some way to play this with people! I’m not ready to teach my 2-year-olds about shooting arrows at people!

CHECK OUT Tiny Cartridge's Holiday Gift Guide

[gamenerdery]

I'm kind of excited for this news. I quite dig Towerfall: Ascencion on Steam, and I think the action is going to fit the Vita nicely.

Plus adhoc play? Might actually be really handy to go up against folk, because doing so on Steam isn't always convenient ;)

[gamenerdery]

If I had to create an award for the best 8-bit related discovery of the year, then the release of the work-in-progress version of the first attempt at a follow-up to the legendary Atari 8-bit computer game Star Raiders would easily take the runner up spot,

I've only given it a brief play through so far - but compared to the rebadged version of The Last Starfighter (plug for my review of it ;p) which was eventually released, this certainly feels amazing.

I can only hope that they are able to recover the source so it can be improved and tweaked to make it perfect.

I'd easily be covering that if it were the case!

If you want to know more about the history, the latest episode of the ANTIC Podcast contains an interview with the author which contains a lot of tasty tidbits.

Well worth checking out if you ask me.

[gamenerdery]

If there's one thing I love - it's pieces of media which cover obscure games on 8-bit microcomputers.

Which is something that Terrible Old Games You've Probably Never Heard Of delivers in spades. Covering lots of 8 & 16-bit games from the 80s (and early 90s), it's certainly got my interest (enough to have backed it when it was being written).

Certainly cannot wait to get my copy delivered… any day now… ;)

[ultrace]

What? Another text-based Apple II game? Yes, but don’t dismiss it so quickly. This game, Interactive Fantasies’ Space from 1979, is a decidedly different beast than the primitive text adventure I discussed a month ago. While the entire thing is text-based, this isn’t really a text adventure at all. Rather, Space formally ushers in the start of the age of computer simulations. Don’t be fooled by the harsh-contrasting black-and-white text; this game is a technological marvel for the time.

Space offers six different games to choose from. On the surface, most of them are simplistic, consisting of single-step decisions from one turn to the next. But what makes it such a novel experience is how the game ties all of these separate elements together to create a cohesive (albeit small) slice of futuristic life. You start by generating a character, whose D&D-style attributes and physical characteristics are assigned totally at random. You have a limited number of years in which to “train” this character’s statistics (assuming you decide to keep them at all.) Most of my characters had several disadvantages and not a single one got by without at least a warning of being an “inferior product” by the program. (Observe the physical examination of Levarius, shown here in the third picture.) Once you have a character you think you can live with, you select one of six branches of the military for your compulsory service term of at least three years. 

If your character survives that term (hardly a guarantee), you can attempt to re-enlist if you qualify or retire out for the civilian life. Once militarily retired, there are five options: the do-or-die First Blood (in which two characters (including two of your own if you’re playing solo) battle to the death in order to absorb the belongings of the loser; Defend, where you serve as the administrator of a colony under attack, trying to save it; Explore, where you set out to explore strange new worlds, survive against unknown dangers, and bring back materials for wealth; High Finance, which puts you in the shoes of an intergalactic stock market dealer; and Trader, where you captain your own ship out into the stars, ferrying passengers and goods in the ultimate space experience. Trader was the only one of these I could not play, since it starts with the experience of buying your own ship, which requires wealth that I didn’t have time to accrue in the other sub-games.

There was an expansion pack for this game, Space II, also released in 1979. Not only does it possibly qualify as the first add-on of its type in gaming history, but it brings two additional story scenarios for your characters to undertake. The graphics for these games are non-existent and even the interfaces may be a no-frills affair, but they offer some pretty fun diversions. The fact that they offer in-depth character creaton and retention from session to session may be taken for granted today, but it was a great leap for the time and sets the stage for some fine adventures provided you’re willing to use a little imagination.

[gamenerdery]

Space. That's it. Just Space. No subtitle. Nothing.

I always love the titles of games in the early era - and the simplicity of this one is incredible. Especially considering the possibilities it offers by comparison… at least as an early simulation.

I think I want to check it out at least…

[indieshmups]

Spellrazor [PC] (In Development)

“Rogue meets Defender/Robotron/Berzerk…Spellrazor is an arcade game with (believe it or not) 27 unique fire buttons and a single directional stick used to guide the ‘Adventurer’. Peculiarly, there is no aiming. Aiming is automatic, meaning that positioning and choice of spells are critical.”

[gamenerdery]

This one looks rad as all heck. There's a demo in the link, I didn't get a chance to play it yet, but I think it's gonna be awesome!

[gamenerdery]

Just a quick-o plug for the latest of my 8-bit (with the occasional 16-bit) retro gameplay vids. This one is of the classic pipe assembling puzzler Pipe Mania (or Pipe Dream if you're over in the USA).

Like a lot of people (as I'm sure is the case), my initial introduction to this one was the version which shipped as part of the Windows Entertainment Pack back in the day, so it's a relief seeing how my favourite little 8-bit happens to handle it.

For more of these, go check out the channel - http://youtube.com/c/hellfire64

[gamenerdery]

This is the rather odd Drak - an odd Australian adventure game written for the C64.

Kind of an odd one, because most C64 adventure titles tend to be of the old-school text variety (with optional static graphics in each room).

While there may have been more advanced ones released (Maniac Mansion and Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders are prime examples), but by comparison, Drak stands oddly independent - mixing joystick controlled movement of your character, with a text parser reminiscent of the older Sierra adventure titles.

By comparison, it's fairly quick to complete, taking about 10 minutes if you know exactly what you're doing, and in classic 80's gaming tradition - all you get is a return to the C64's READY prompt for completing it.