RETRO3 Cover UK 29/03/2004 11:18 AM Page 1 ❙❋❙P✄❍❇N❋❙ ❚❏❖❉M❇❏❙•❉PNNP❊P❙❋•❚❋❍❇•❖❏❖❋❖❊P•❇❇❙❏•❇❉P❙❖•✠✄NP❙❋ * ❏❚❚❋✄I❙❋❋ * ❙❋❙P✄❍❇N❋❙ £5.99 UK • $13.95 Aus $27.70 NZ ISSUE THREE ❇❉P❙❖✄❇❙❉I❏❋❚ HIGH SCORE CALL 01625 850 565 8✏❈❏✄N❏❉❙P❚✎✄❙❏❚❉✄N❇❉I❏❖❋❚✄✠✄❙❋◗P❖ ❙❋❙P✄❙❋❏❇M ❉M❇❚❚❏❉✄❍❇N❋❚✄◗❊❇❋❊✄GP❙✄2004 ❇❙❉❇❊❋✄❇✄IPN❋ >SYNTAX ERROR! >MISSING COVERDISC? <CONSULT NEWSAGENT> ❉PMM❋❉✄❇❖❊✄❙❋❚P❙❋✄❉P❏❖✏P◗❚ 003 Untitled-1 1 1/9/06 12:55:47 RETRO3 Intro/Hello 31/03/2004 11:00 PM Page 3 hello <EDITORIAL> >10 PRINT "hello" Editor = >20 GOTO 10 Martyn Carroll >RUN ([email protected]) Art Editor = Mat Mabe Additonal Design = Roy Birch + Craig Chubb Wendy Morgan + The Beast Sub Editors = Katie Hallam + Rachel White Contributors = Aaron Birch + Anthony Buckley Richard Hallas + Paul Loughrey John Southern + Iain Warde Dan Whitehead + Kim Wild <PUBLISHING & ADVERTISING> Operations Manager = Debbie Whitham Group Sales & Marketing Manager = Tony Allen Advertising Sales = hello Linda Henry Accounts Manager = elcome to Retro Gamer we’ve done with our Gremlin’s retro gaming message board Karen Battrick issue 3. I’d be temped Greatest Hits collection. We’re while you’re there? Circulation Manager = Wto say Retro Gamer dedicated to making Retro Gamer Before I stop banging on, I’d Steve Hobbs Marketing Manager = mark III, because we’ve once bigger and better, so please keep like to let you know that Retro Iain "Angry" Anderson again made changes to the sending in your feedback. For Gamer will now be published on Editorial Director = magazine based on your reasons beyond our control, the a six-weekly schedule. This means Wayne Williams feedback. You asked for more reader survey failed to appear in there will be eight issues a year, Publisher = interviews, more in-depth issue 2, but we’re promised it will with issue 4 arriving on May Robin Wilkinson hardware articles and more be inside this magazine. Please 27th. I’m sure you’ll agree that <SMALL PRINT> ‘making of’ features. This issue take a few minutes to fill it out. this is a good thing. Until next Distributed by contains all of these and more. Alternatively, you can complete time, enjoy the magazine. Comag, Tavistock Road, West Many readers have asked for the survey online at www.retro Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE, original retro games on the gamer.net. And why not N❇❙❖✄❉❇❙❙PMM England. Tel: 01895 444055. coverdisc, and that’s exactly what contribute to the ever-popular ❋❊❏P❙ Fax: 01895 433602 No part of this magazine may be reproduced or stored in any form whatsoever without the prior written consent of Live hello Publishing Int Ltd. The views expressed herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publishers. Live Publishing Int Ltd Europa House Adlington Park Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 4NP, UK ISSN: 1742-3155 <LIABILITY> Whilst every care has been taken in the production of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information llo contained herein. **3** RETRO3 Intro/Hello 31/03/2004 11:01 PM Page 4 | ❙❋❙P✄❍❇❋❙* | issue three | insides | >insides 03 Acorn Archives p14 Repton Retrospect p22 John Southern takes a closer look at the classic Richard Hallas looks at the history of the range of Acorn microcomputers diamond-eating reptilian Hero Worship p56 Cronosoft Chronicles p64 Dan Whitehead casts a crticial eye over the Martyn Carroll talks to Cronosoft and discovers games based on our favourite superheroes gaming like it used to be Arcade at Home p78 1985 Advertising Gallery p88 Five members of the Jammaplus forums talk A selection of classic adverts from 1985, about collecting and restoring arcade machines including the Spectrum 128 promotional brochure **4** RETRO3 Intro/Hello 31/03/2004 11:01 PM Page 5 The Clone Wars p50 Anthony Buckley looks at the various methods used to prevent software piracy Gaming on the Go p70 Retro Revival p32 Kim Wild charts the history of handhelds, from The Retro Gamer team look at the next-gen Game & Watch to the Neo Geo Pocket remakes appearing in 2004 and beyond >Regulars Retro News p06 The newest old things in town Retro Forum p08 Your letters make us feel warm Subscriptions p98 Get the magazine delivered to your door Coverdisc p100 Retro Mart p109 The full coverdisc listing, including steps on Roll-up, roll-up, bargains galore how to play the Gremlin games on the CD Endgame p114 Signing off with a classic end scene **5** RETRO3 News 31/03/2004 10:09 PM Page 6 | ❙❋❙P✄❍❇❋❙* | issue three | retro news | The latest developments in the fascinating world of retro Retro on the Road Don’t miss this summer’s retro events There’s nothing like a bit of self publicity, so we’re more than happy to announce that Retro Gamer magazine is sponsoring this year’s CGE UK (Classic Gaming Expo). The event will take place on 24/25th of July 2004 at the Fairfield Entertainment Centre, Croydon. CGE UK is the brainchild of Chris Millard, retro gamer and hardcore hoarder of classic gaming collectables. Chris explained: “I originally wanted to put on a personal show simply to exhibit my own collection of hardware and software, but with the current growth and popularity of retro gaming, it soon spiralled into something much bigger.” Already, CGE UK has secured a number of exhibitors including the US toy giant JAKKS Pacific, the company behind the hugely popular Namco 5in1 Arcade Classics Console. Other attractions already in place include a personal appearance by the Oliver twins (developers of the classic Dizzy games) and an interactive workshop entitled ‘Learn how to build your own arcade cabinet’. Hopefully we’ll see you there. For the latest information in the run up to the show, please visit www.cgexpo-uk.com. This summer is once again shaping up to be a busy time for retro gamers. Two other key events include JagFest UK 2004 on the 12/13th June (www.uk.jagfest.org.uk) and RetroVision 2004 a week later on the 19/20th June (www.retrovision.org.uk). Some Fairfield is the venue for CGE UK dates for your diary then. Recurring Dream Sega’s doomed console alive and well? Are you dreaming? We think not! With a thriving fan base that seems only destined to grow, and sales of discarded or distributed amongst King of Fighters 2002 outstripping most Xbox titles in the Far East, nostalgic staff members. Sega’s Dreamcast console appears to be gaining all the momentum of a However, Sega’s operations speed train bound for re-launch city. Although long doomed in the West, outside of the Western world the delicate little machine stirs in its slumber and may well see a suggest an altogether different comeback, which would be incredible news for the multitude of gamers approach to the machine, with the recent release of a new Puyo Pop who delighted in the machine in its heyday. game on the Dreamcast. If Sega themselves release any further titles on On a recent visit to Sega H.Q. in London, it was suggested that the the machine, it could prompt third party developers to return to the failed console was little more than a bad memory for the publishing machine, and with enough support, we could all be stepping once more giant, a purge of all related marketing tat and themed memorabilia into the Dream Arena. **6** RETRO3 News 31/03/2004 10:09 PM Page 7 Bundle Blues Midway Dig Deep US gets a surprise hit More arcade treasures revealed Capcom US has Whilst there’s a lot to be said for the announced an exclusive curious appeal of bargain hunting, and bundle package for the the personal thrill of uncovering some Hyper Street Fighter II long lost gaming classic stashed title due in May. Marking behind a Cliff Richard album at the the anniversary of the local car boot sale, classic collections legendary fighting series, from the big publishers should always the compilation includes five classic versions of be welcome by any retro fan. Midway what many see as the beat-em-up that defined is well aware of this, and has the genre as we know it, and when released in consistently surprised and delighted the UK, will be packaged with the complete us over the years by slapping animated film, Street Fighter II: The Animated together the best of its old school Movie. Until releases on several ‘greatest hits’ recently, American style collections. Okay, so they’re gamers were bundled together on a single uncertain of a repackaged DVD, and they might release, but will have been tweaked slightly to in fact be getting account for the current generation the Hyper console’s architecture, and no, they collection won’t retail at less than a quid. But together with a they’re all there for your retro new PS2 pleasures, and they’re guaranteed to version of work if nothing else. Of our many Street Fighter favourites, Midway’s Arcade III: Third Treasures collection is pretty high Strike instead on the list, the most recent of the featuring some truly classic games animated like Gauntlet, Smash TV, Paperboy film. and over 20 more. Jealous? We Now the news that started as little certainly more than a wishful rumour has all are. but been confirmed, as the company announces the imminent release of Arcade Treasures 2. Although full listing details are sketchy at present, we do know that drug bustin’ splatter-fest NARC and the awesome Total Carnage are to be included. But the biggest and best news of all is that Mortal Kombat I and II are definitely part of the package.