RG18 Cover UK.qxd:RG18 Cover UK.qxd 20/9/06 17:32 Page 1 er gamer retro COMMODORE SEGA NINTENDO ATARI SINCLAIR ARCADE *
VOLUME TWO ISSUE SIX
Atari Lynx Power in the palm of your hand Ocean’s Robocop I’d buy that for a dollar! Bombs Away! Bomberman blasts back Little Computer People Creator David Crane interviewed
Retro Gamer 18 £5.99 UK $14.95 AUS V2 $27.70 NZ 06 Untitled-1 1 1/9/06 12:55:47 RG18 Intro/Contents.qxd:RG18 Intro/Contents.qxd 20/9/06 17:40 Page 3
Retro Gamer, ISSN number 1742 3155, is published monthly (twelve times per year) by Live Publishing at 1320 Route 9, Champlain, N.Y. 12919 for US$123 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Champlain, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Retro Gamer c/o Express Mag, P.O. Box 2769, Plattsburgh, NY 12901-1329.
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>Content v2.06
Desert Island Disks p16 Atari Lynx p24 Paul Drury talks to vector game god Peter Latimer looks at what happened to Atari’s Tim Skelly 16-bit handheld
Next Level Gaming p36 Robocop: The Future of Film Licences p40 Aaron Birch tries to find nice things to say Robert Mellor rounds up the home versions of about Sega’s ill-fated 32X Data East’s Robocop arcade game
Legend of The Last Ninja p54 A Brief History of Videogames Part 3 p60 Retro Gamer talks to the designer and Spanner Spencer completes his videogame programmer of The Last Ninja history, starting with the great crash of ‘83
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>Regulars Retro News p06 The latest retro news, including details on the latest Atari TV game
Back to the Eighties p08 A look back at what was happening in the Virtually Alive p32 gaming world 20 years ago this month Kim Wild reflects on the original God game, and Retro Rated p10 talks to its creator, David Crane Retro Gamer reviews the latest commercial releases. Plus, we round-up the best mobile retro games
Games That Weren’t p70 Frank Gasking takes a stroll through the gaming graveyard and uncovers a long-lost Ultimate title
Strange Games p72 Per Arne Sandvik looks back at some of the weirdest games ever released
Import Gaming p45 High Score p74 John Szczepaniak delivers the ultimate guide to Paul Drury talks to Paul Dean, holder of the import gaming and console modding Spy Hunter world record
Retro Scene p78 News direct from the retro community, including reviews of the latest scene releases
Retro Forum p82 Four glorious pages of reader feedback and Web forum posts
Retro Auction Watch p87 Richard Burton keeps his eye on eBay. Includes a look at a rare CPC prototype
p80 A Stitch in Time Retro Coverdisc p92 Paul Drury chats to Faye Lampshire about the A guide to running The Last Ninja games on finer points of cross-stitch, retro-style this month’s cover CD
Endgame p98 Old tin head draws another issue to a close
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Atari Flashes Back ‘Hackable’ version 2.0 in the pipeline
out there, you’ll also be able to of games, and more than a few ‘unlock’ the Flashback 2, enabling interesting hardware features, the the use of your own carts. Yes, Flashback 2 could be the perfect this is true 2600 hardware and comeback for Atari. In fact, the with a little resourceful hacking unit has already won plenty of (and warranty voiding – you’ve praise at this year’s E3, so the been warned), you’ll be able to future for this little box of tricks play other games, including is looking very bright indeed. Following the less-than-stellar celebration must surely include homebrew titles. This wasn’t We’ll have a full review of the reception of the first Flashback Activision’s Pitfall and River Road. possible on the original Flashback Flashback 2 (and hopefully a TV game, Atari has gone back to Both games make a welcome as the hardware was emulated. hacking guide) when it’s released its lucrative TV game lab and appearance along with 40 others, With such a promising line-up in August. masterminded a successor. As including several previously you can see from the picture, unreleased titles and a couple of Flashback 2 is going right back to hidden games that need to be the roots of the VCS with the unlocked (but there are no 7800 classic woodgrain look and a titled included this time around). couple of 2600-style sticks. It’s The unit also throws in a few already promising to be a huge homebrew games, solidifying improvement over the original Atari’s position within the all- Flashback, but what about important retro community. the games? This is starting to sound like >The games... This time around, Atari has the product we all wanted in the answered earlier criticisms by first place, and it doesn’t end > 3D Tic-Tac-Toe > Frog Pond > Ret. To Haunted House including some classic third-party there. Atari has made it possible > Adventure > Hangman > River Raid titles alongside its tried and for people to use their old > Adventure II > Haunted House > Saboteur trusted back catalogue. This controllers with the unit – and, for > Aquaventure > Human Cannonball > Save Mary makes perfect sense, as any 2600 all the hackers and homebrewers > Arcade Asteroids > Lunar Lander > Secret Quest > Arcade Pong > Maze Craze > Space Duel > Asteroids Deluxe > Millipede > Space War > Atari Climber > Missile Command > Thrust > Caverns Of Mars > Off the Wall > Video Checkers > Centipede > Outlaw > Video Chess > Combat, Combat 2 > Pitfall > Wizard > Dodge’m > Quadrun > Yars’ Return > Fatal Run > Radar Lock > Yars’ Revenge
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REGULAR | RETRO NEWS Feel the Give us two minutes and we’ll give you the retro world! Rage! Hidden gems revealed Last issue we came back from the hustle and bustle of E3 with news of Sega’s latest retro release: Sonic Gems Collection. Made up of classic Sonic titles, the collection was looking great – and now it’s even more appealing, as it’s believed that it will also feature a few non-Sonic Mega Drive titles. The extra games will come in the form of the legendary Streets of Rage trilogy, as well Messiah or Pariah? as the rather bizarre inclusion of Bonanza Bros. Sega has yet to make an official Nintendo runs for the courts comment on the news, but we expect more details very soon. Nintendo, not known for taking light gun. To add to Nintendo’s production line (our money’s on infringements on its properties already potent anger, the unit is Mario). The Generation NEX is lightly, is now eyeing up a new region-free to boot, meaning (currently) scheduled for a target – Messiah Entertainment. you can play any game from September release in the US for The US-based company, which any country. around US$59.99. specialises in ‘bringing games Nintendo representatives Coincidentally, another new back to life’, has come under have already stated to the press Nintendo legacy device has attack from Nintendo after that the NEX is in no surfaced lately, this time aimed the announcement of its way authorised by the at the GBA SP market. The Time new product, the company, so we can Machine hails from US company Generation NEX unit. only wait to see if the Guru Gaming, and is a special The NEX is, as you can NEX does manage adaptor that opens up the see, a NES-themed unit that to make it onto entire NES back catalogue for supports all existing NES store shelves, or if play on the GBA. By plugging software and Nintendo’s your handheld into the unit Capcom peripherals, jackboot you’re able to play original NES including stamps on games on the GBA itself, or you such items its smirking face can output the video to a TV, Hits PSP as the before it reaches much like the recent Pocketfami original NES the end of the from Gametech. More PSP retro action on the way
Capcom has recently announced two re- release titles for the Sony PSP. Mega Man Retro Reading 64 (Rockman Dash Hagane no Boukrnship in Japan) is a conversion of the 2001 N64 Brush up on your videogame history title, which is in turn a reworking of the original 1998 PSOne game Mega Man We’ve received a couple of Starting with the origins of Legends. The second title is the classic welcome additions to any retro the famous ‘Brown Box’, Capcom RPG Breath of Fire 3, which first gaming fan’s library this month. this is a recommended read came out on the PSOne in 1997. Both First up is a book for anyone for anyone interesting in titles are slated for an August release in who enjoyed the first part of our the history of gaming. Japan, though a Brief History of Videogames (RG We’d also like to mention Western release issue 16). Videogames in the an excellent reference book isn’t yet Beginning by Ralph H Baer of gaming hardware and software confirmed. (inventor of the first-ever in the form of The Encyclopaedia analogue gaming device and of Game.Machines by Winnie general gaming history guru) is a Forster. Covering everything from fascinating look at how today’s 1972 to the present day, the sections. There’s also information multi-billion dollar gaming book includes brief looks at all on game media types and a look industry began. In the book the major platforms and their at the birth of gaming. The Ralph tells his own story and games. Everything from the book is currently available from there’s a collection of unique Magnavox Odyssey and ZX81 to selected outlets, with the official documents and technical the Xbox and PSP is covered, all UK launch taking place at this drawings to accompany the text. in informative and attractive year’s CGEUK.
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More woes for Acorn and Sinclair, joy for FAST and Minter gets Zzapped. Welcome to July 1985…
he continuing company’s research and Mere months on commotion over development department through from the release of the CPC664 and Sinclair Research – the creation of a new company Sir Alan was readying the launch of its successor, and the potential designed specifically with these the business-orientated 6128 T takeover by Robert tasks in mind. Maxwell – rumbled on. With Worryingly for Sinclair had to call in Olivetti and the Yak attack Sinclair still losing money Research were reports in several merchant bankers to hopefully hand over fist, the need for a newspapers that the prospective concoct another rescue package An interesting development this takeover was becoming more deal could be wavering and on just a few months after the last month was the beginnings of a and more urgent. the point of collapse. This was one. The big question was would rift between Zzap!64 and regular With a lack of clarity regarding countered by a Sinclair company Olivetti want to throw more columnist Jeff Minter. In one of what exactly had been proposed, spokesman who insisted the money at Acorn by taking a Minter’s Llamasoft newsletters he as well as Sir Clive’s potential takeover should be done and bigger piece of the company, or wrote several unflattering position within the new dusted within the next two or walk away from the £10 million company’s structure, things three months. We shall see… it had already injected into looked extremely ambiguous and If that wasn’t enough, there the company? >Ahoy pirates! clouded. The latest development was yet more woe for the slap- Meanwhile, British Telecom, was that Sir Clive would headed genius when the makers owner of the Firebird and Rainbird The Federation Against apparently not be an employee of of Sinclair’s C5 fleet, Hoover, software labels, was believed to Software Theft (FAST) and Sinclair Research but would announced it had taken out a writ be in negotiations with Acorn with Guild Of Software Houses remain in charge of the for non-payment of £1.5 million in a view to a possible takeover of (GOSH) were very happy outstanding debts from Sinclair its software subsidiary Acornsoft. bunnies this month after a Vehicles. But Hoover was playing With Acorn looking to raise money new law was passed. the waiting game as it hadn’t any way it could, selling off this The Copyright (Computer actually served the writ and was and other subsidiaries seemed to Software) Amendment Bill simply making its existence be a likely course of action. More extended the copyright law to known as a way of pressurising Acorn-based drama next month… computer software and anyone Sinclair into action. In response, On a more successful note, caught pirating software could Sir Clive placed his fingers in his Amstrad revealed it was planning be hit with a £1,000 fine per ears and shouted, “la la la,” to release its CPC6128 in the UK title and even a spell in the commenting that until the writ in the autumn. Initially, it was set big house. OK, so this was was officially served it effectively to be a US-only release with the aimed more at the high- didn’t exist. Things were looking UK being introduced to the volume professional pirates murkier by the month for the enhanced CPC some time next rather than little Johnny in the once-great hardware developer. year. Although on appearance this playground – though FAST Not to be outdone in the was a good move for Amstrad, it still intend to hunt you down Was Sir Clive about to bid impending company meltdown was sure to rankle those who too. They haven’t forgotten farewell to the home computing sweepstakes, Acorn also had who’d just splashed out on a you copying Brian Bloodaxe industry he helped shape? another bad month. It once again new CPC664. for your mate Dave…
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REGULAR | BACK TO THE EIGHTIES
Nightshade (left) and Fairlight were to slug it out as the best-looking isometric adventure on the Spectrum
comments about the magazine reviewers are mutant).” Squat that was paying him money to down, man, it’s a free festival, write a column. peace and love… we don’t think… >Games watch Some of the venomous This irritation and displeasure remarks aimed at Zzap included: on Minter’s part seems to have “Reviews reading like they were been born from the less-than- Crash magazine’s roll-call of game reviews included five classics this written by 12-year-olds for 12- enthusiastic review of his latest month. Tir Na Nog follow-up, Dun Darach (Gargoyle Games), topped year-olds,” and, “They do rather software creation, Mama Llama, the percentage charts with a mammoth 97%, while Dynamite Dan come across as the sort of people which received a lukewarm (Mirrorsoft), Cauldron (Palace Software), Herbert’s Dummy Run who are so amazingly primitive,” response in the first issue of Zzap, (Mikro-Gen) and The Bulge: Battle For Antwerp (Lothlorien) all all topped off with, “Take the scoring 59%. Needless to say, the grabbed Crash Smashes. reviews with a pinch of salt (the Minter column in Zzap didn’t last On the flip side in Commodore land, sister magazine Zzap!64 had too much longer. not one but two Gold Medal winners with a sprinkling of Sizzlers as Another pairing to put up a a pleasant gaming garnish. Archer Maclean’s mighty Dropzone (US good fight were Ultimate and The Gold) and Entombed (Ultimate) bagged the Gold Medals whilst the Edge. Both companies were Sizzlers went to Rockford’s Riot (Monolith), Kikstart (Mastertronic), promising revolutionary new The Dam Busters (US Gold), Strangeloop (Virgin) and Gribbly’s Day graphics systems that would blow Out (Hewson Consultants). each other out of the water. To be fair, it was the computer press hyping and comparing the two graphics engines, but the anticipation was starting to mount. Ultimate had just developed the Filmation II system in readiness for its next release, Nightshade, whilst The Edge had its 3D Worldmaker graphics engine for the impending release Minter ripped into Zzap!64 in his of Bo Jangeborg’s Fairlight. Let Nature of the Beast newsletter battle commence! e >Top Five Charts (July 1985)
Amstrad CPC Spectrum Commodore 64 UK singles chart 1 Knightlore 1 Jet Set Willy 2 1 Way Of The Exploding Fist 1 Frankie Ultimate Software Projects Melbourne House Sister Sledge 2 Alien 8 2 Soft Aid 2 Dambusters 2 Axel F Ultimate Quicksilva US Gold Harold Faltermeyer 3 Beach Head 3 Dun Darach 3 Shadowfire 3 Crazy For You US Gold Gargoyle Games Beyond Madonna 4 Rocky Horror Show 4 Cauldron 4 Drop Zone 4 Cherish CRL Palace Software US Gold Kool And The Gang 5 Dun Darach 5 A View To A Kill 5 Elite 5 Born In The USA Gargoyle Games Domark Firebird Bruce Springsteen
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p Retro
Welcome to the Retro Gamer reviews section. Read on to discover the Ratedteam’s opinion on the latest commercial releases... p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p Bomberman Hardball
masses of options, with obstacles unplayable. And, despite being the In the first of our Bomberman double bill, the explosive like see-saws, conveyers, tunnels, core Bomberman mode, the battle hero lands on the PS2 for some party-game action holes and more, and uses the 3D game falls slightly short of the engine to present a tilted viewing mark. The camera angle doesn’t Developer: Hudson Soft p Format: PS2 p Price: £19.99 p Players: One-Four angle. There’s also a rather odd really work, especially when ‘Life Mode’, in which you can battles become hectic, making it way into the mix. Bomberman watch your Bomberman, hard to see what’s going on. This Hardball on the PS2 is perhaps Tamagochi-style, as he wanders is also a very multiplayer-oriented the culmination of this evolution. around his room. You can also game, make no mistake, and Hardball is a party game, pure use this mode to observe CPU- those with no gaming mates to and simple, and in what appears only games. play with will tire of Hardball to be an attempt to steal some Visually, Bomberman Hardball quickly. This fault is compounded of the thunder from the PS2 is a great-looking game, and the by the lack of PS2 four-player incarnation of Super Monkey Ball, bold and colourful style works support as standard, so you’ll this Bomberman title is packed very well. On the whole, all the need a multitap to make the most with mini-games as well as the games included are very of it. staple bomb-blasting action. enjoyable, and the golf and If you’re a Bomberman fanatic, Besides the usual battle mode baseball games are excellently or have the means (and mates) (with up to four players fighting it presented. Sadly, though, the for some four-player action, this out), Hardball features other tennis game lets the side down, is a great little game. And, at games, including tennis, golf and mainly due to the total lack of only £19.99, it’s hardly going to baseball (hence the Hardball speed when it comes to character blow the bank. Sometimes it’s the simple game name). The battle mode has movement, making it almost Rating: pppppppppp ideas that become hugely successful. Bomberman falls into this category, and the simple formula of blowing people up using bombs on a basic grid arena has made the title into a hugely popular game. But, over the years, Bomberman’s simplicity has been eroded, and more and more features have found their
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>Dyna-man Bomberman DS Bomberman started life in 1985 on the NES and was the The Semtex-slinging hero is back for some portable pyrotechnics brainchild of Shinichi Nakamoto (now Vice-President of Hudson Soft). Starting out Developer: Hudson Soft p Format: DS p Price: £24.99 p Players: One-Eight as a simple single-player will already know the formula game, the series would end here – control Bomberman and up spawning sequel after strategically plant bombs around sequel, and even expand into various mazes in order to blow up the party-game multiplayer blocks to reveal power-ups, while genre. Strangely, when taking out your enemies with well- Bomberman eventually arrived timed fiery blasts. Your bombs on European shores in 1991, start out as weak fizzles, but as the game’s publisher, Ubisoft, you collect various power-ups, you totally original additions to the renamed the game Dyna can create numerous and more mix. Of course, the game also has Blaster, which led many powerful explosions. Very simple a one-player Story mode, as well people to believe the English Right up there with the likes of but highly effective, and the core as the standard Battle mode in version was in fact a dodgy Sonic and Mario, Bomberman has gameplay is just as addictive as it which you have to fight waves of clone of the original game. appeared in a huge number of has always been. enemies and clear each level to Dyna Blaster was available for games on practically every progress to the next world. ST, Amiga and PC. But the platform you can think of – not Pick ‘n’ mix Some of the better features Dyna Blaster name didn’t last bad for someone who just likes to from previous games include the long, and from Bomberman II blow stuff up! Originally arriving As the series has evolved, it has ability to kick or throw bombs, onwards, the games bore the on the NES in 1985, and going gained more and more features and remotely detonate bombs on correct title. from strength to strength with and power-ups, many of which demand (great for setting traps). each update, the explosive hero is can also be found in this portable There’s also a shield option which now back on Nintendo’s payroll in outing. And the new abilities of protects your Bomberman from this DS incarnation. Gaming vets the DS are used to bring some explosions. These power-ups are applied automatically in Battle mode, and in Story mode you have a power-up list you can select from at any time using the touch-screen window, one of the first DS improvements. The DS version has a few other tricks up its sleeve. First is the dual screen. In all the Battle modes (of which there are numerous varieties), the playing be a little irritating at times, but area occupies both screens, this is no fault of the game. The creating a two-tiered effect with single-player mode does become the areas connected by tunnels. a little repetitive, though, This makes eight-player matches meaning that lone players won’t possible, and things can become get quite as much play out of the very hectic indeed. The game as those with DS-owning microphone on the DS is also mates – but it looks great, used, and game modes include sounds good and, more such variants as Voice Detonate, importantly, plays very well. If in which you need to shout you’re a fan of the cutesy ‘boom’ to detonate your bombs! pyromaniac then you’ll find this to But all these gimmicks play be one of the best versions of second fiddle to the major the series, and as Bomberman fits attraction of Bomberman DS – its so well onto the handheld format, multiplayer possibilities. Thanks we’d recommend the game to to the wireless connection option, anyone who has yet to sample its up to eight players can link up explosive delights. and engage in fast-paced battles. Rating: pppppppppp This is an excellent feature guaranteed to interrupt many a maths lesson. Bomberman DS is a great little game, and there are very few niggles you can pick out. True, the DS D-pad isn’t great and controlling your Bomberman can
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p EA Sports TV Game
The beginnings of the most lucrative football series ever are revisited in the latest TV game from Jakks Pacific
Developer: Jakks Pacific p Format: n/a p Price: £19.99 (one player), £29.99 (two player) p Players: One-Two names. This surge forward in real-world marketing made people rush out and buy the game in droves, as they could now play >32-bit FIFA as their heroes on the small screen. The result was a quality This version of FIFA 96 is footy game dripping with real based on the Mega Drive stadium atmosphere and two- game, but the same game was player potential. also available for a wealth of Sadly, the transition from the other platforms, including PC, Mega Drive to this TV game hasn’t Saturn and PlayStation. These gone well for FIFA 96, and the more powerful versions were version we’re left with here is a totally different animals, slow and clunky shadow of its boasting impressive 3D visuals former self. From the off, FIFA fans (thanks to a brand new will notice the lower-quality engine) and even commentary sound, with grating MIDI music from John Motson. EA also Last issue we reviewed the latest onto the top of the controller is replacing the original Mega Drive introduced new ‘Virtual Radica TV game, Sensible Soccer the battery compartment (which audio. You’ll then be hit with the Stadium’ technology, which Plus, which reproduced the Mega takes four AA batteries) and power sluggish menus that take ages to produced lifelike crowd noise Drive version of one of the switch, and there’s a dedicated respond to joypad movements. and featured more realistic greatest football games very well battery (supplied) for game saves. Once you do finally make it into camera angles. indeed. Continuing with the If you buy the more expansive the game, you’ll bear witness to a theme we have this new TV game two-player version (which we very slow and unforgivable port of more responsive. from Jakks Pacific. tested), you’ll also receive a the original, complete with shonky Both games feature all the This bundle is a very attractive second controller hardwired to the controls and unresponsive player original options and modes, such proposition for fans of EA’s main unit. As for the titles selection. In fact, the game crawls as cups, tournaments, leagues sporting titles, and comes locked included, FIFA will no doubt be along so slowly it almost borders and a wealth of edit options, so and loaded with Mega Drive the focus for many potential on unplayable. And the lack of if you have plenty of time you incarnations of footy classic FIFA buyers, so we’ll start with that. real player names hits the game can put the real players back in. 96 and ice hockey hit NHL 95. like a high tackle. What was once And, unlike the Sensible Soccer Both the versions featured are Own goal a major selling point has been unit, the EA offering has a battery fairly accurate reproductions of the ripped out, leaving players with backup for saving games and Mega Drive originals (with a few Taking the formula of the preceding initials rather than names (Eric edits, which goes some way to problems – more on this later), FIFA games, the 96 update Cantona, for example, is E.C.). making up for the mistakes. and the controller is designed to improved the series by adding a NHL 95, on the other hand, is There’s also the two-player mode, reflect the original three-button faster engine, better graphics, more a much better title, and although though you’ll need to fork out an Mega Drive pad, in order to keep player moves, more teams and – it also suffers from the same lack extra £10 for the privilege. the same gameplay feel. Mounted for the first time – real player of names and a little drop in Overall we’re left with a very speed when compared to the poor offering from Jakks, which is original game, it plays well a shame as we all have fond enough on the whole. It’s memories of entertaining FIFA certainly much more enjoyable matches. Having said that, it’s than FIFA. Graphically it looks also true that classic FIFA hasn’t fine, and the controls are much aged well, a fact that’s all the more noticeable after enjoying Sensible Soccer last month, which is every bit as fun as it ever was. If you’re a footy purist or not a big fan of FIFA, you’ll want to avoid this at all costs. If you’re a die hard FIFA veteran, you should still think twice about shelling out for it. Rating: pppppppppp
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p Mobile Reviews p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p Lemmings
Developer: iFone p Price: £5.99
about to buck that trend, for mobile phone Lemmings is as faithful and fun a version as you’ll ever see. The major difference between this and the game on the other platforms is, obviously, size. The lemmings are tinier than ever, due your way are lots of potentially bottom right and the number of to the small screen size of mobile deadly obstacles, yet your lemmings available and phones, and there are fewer of Lemmings have a number of percentage saved displayed to the them. There are also fewer levels useful skills. They can climb, left. The action takes part in the – the Amiga had more than 160 in gently float down to earth by upper part of the screen with the the original game, but the mobile opening umbrellas, bash their way fluid, fast-moving lemmings version has just 28, and 10 of through walls, block other looking familiar from previous So there you are, about to play those are in the ‘fun’ category lemmings, build, bomb, mine, and versions. But the music which runs God with the lives of a bunch of and can be completed with hardly dig down. By using the right through the game is so, so Lemmings who do everything in any thought. combinations of moves you’ll be annoying – we guarantee you’ll their power, it seems, to get The game itself, though, able to guide your lemmings quickly switch it off. It may be killed. But what a lovely change. remains furiously addictive. And to safety. faithful, but it doesn’t work. It’s Instead of helping them plunge to it’s heartening to learn that Although some of the early also a shame there are no original their deaths, you’re tasked with Morgan O’Rahilly, Chief Executive levels are far too easy, they do sound effects such as, “Let’s Go!” saving their lives. It’s a concept Officer of developer iFone, help reacquaint you with the Sound aside, this is a very that has endured for almost 15 previously worked on Lemmings game – and learn the control welcome addition to the fast- years and still appears fresh. Revolution. He understands the method. Thankfully, the latter is growing number of retro Java Lemmings first burst onto the Lemmings concept and the result easy to pick up: the 2, 4, 6 and games being ported to mobile computer scene in February 1991, is a very faithful reproduction. 8 buttons direct your cursor, and phones. Some add-on level the brainchild of Scottish 5 is used to select. The * and # packs are being planned too: developers DMA Design. Released Suicide watch buttons let you cycle through you can hear the cash register via Psygnosis, the game took the the different skills. Gamers ringing already. Amiga and Atari ST by storm For those few who are unaware of with mobile phone D-pads will Rating: pppppppppp before being converted to just the whole Lemmings concept, find controlling the lemmings about every computer platform you’re in charge of a posse of even easier. known to man. It swept the suicidal rodents who fall one by It can be unsettling not being >Mobile charts board when it came to awards one from a trap door in the able to use a mouse as was the and never seemed to score lower ceiling of each level. You have to case with the 16-bit versions. It What would you know? than 90 per cent in any guide as many of them as means that some of the levels Lemmings is currently topping magazine. Retro Gamer isn’t possible to an exit archway. In can’t be as complicated as you’d the mobile phone charts. Here like. But as you progress through are the top ten mobile game the game, the inability to move downloads, compiled by ELSPA. and click with a mouse works in the mobile game’s favour, turning 1. Lemmings Lemmings into an even more 2. Who Wants to be a Millionaire? wonderfully tight and tense fight 3. Tetris for survival as you frantically 4. Pub Pool thumb your way around the 5. New York Nights directional controls and try to hit 6. Tomb Raider: The Osiris Codex the right skill. 7. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory The graphics are detailed, well- 8. Space Invaders animated and crisp. The screen is arranged very well with the skill 9. Pro Bowling icons positioned neatly to the 10. Pub Darts
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Each level is distinguished only by different-coloured blocks. But the levels are well designed and Bubble Bobble the green and yellow Bub sprite is detailed – he looks very cute Developer: Taito p Price: £2.50 with his wide eyes. Unlike the versions of the In the original arcade game, Bub without Bob, there’s much fun to original game, which had static, and Bob were turned into be had. It’s still a deep and non-scrolling, full-screen levels, brontosauruses. Worse, their involving game which keeps you the size of mobile phone girlfriends were kidnapped by playing every step of the way. screens means scrolling is Baron von Blubba – but luckily Thankfully, the game detects inevitable. And while you don’t they were given the ability to which level you reached when always know where you’re blow bubbles. Armed with this you last played and lets you leaping to, this doesn’t great weapon of mass pick up where you left off, particularly distract from the destruction, they worked their making it perfect for dipping in action. Neither does the method way through 100 screens in a and out of. of control, which is simple and bid to win their true loves back. The graphics are basic at easy to pick up. For the price, But this time around, there’s best, a problem many Bubble it’s a bargain. no mention of Bob, and the lack Bobble versions suffer from. Rating: pppppppppp of a two-player option removes one of the biggest appeals of the game. It was an absolute joy to work in tandem with a friend to clear each of the levels of nasties – before nicking some of the goodies from under their nose. Without it, the game loses quite a lot. Bub’ll be thinking of you, Bob. But that isn’t to say the game is unplayable. Even p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p Tomb Raider: The Osiris Codex
Developer: Infospace p Price: £5 from activating levers and pulling and pushing boulders into position, to climbing ladders and careering down high wires. It’s refreshing to see how much intelligence has been used in designing the levels and puzzles so they constantly engage and never bore. It feels similar to Prince of Persia at times as you pull yourself up walls, dangle from ledges and jump over spikes hidden in recesses. You can play in Adventure, Is Tomb Raider a retro game? It we say it, it’s arguably better Arcade and Time Trial modes. The debuted fairly recently in 1996 than the Tomb Raider 3D graphics are all the same – on the Saturn and PlayStation, console games. everything is so brown. The brick and was an instant hit for You have the perfectly walls are dark brown, Lara wears The noise of a moving boulder developers Core Design and animated Lara searching for brown (must be the new black) and the ‘pfff’ of a bullet are publishers Eidos. The reason treasure in nine huge caverns, and the backgrounds are an ample enough audio. why we’ve chosen to review using brain and a smidgen of orangey-brown. It could just do This is a retro game through it is because The Osiris Codex is brawn. The levels are linear but with a splash more colour. Sound and through, and you’ll love it. a brilliant 2D platformer. Dare packed with puzzles to solve, is sparse too but perfectly so. Rating: pppppppppp
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Desert Island
Paul Drury talks to programmer and designer Tim Skelly, Disksuncovering his gaming credentials and his eight favourite titles
Tim’s confidence wasn’t from my early youth of walking misplaced. He asked to borrow past an IBM showroom somewhere the machine and used it to in Ohio, where I grew up, and I produced four games for this just loved the look of the machines. pioneering attempt at setting up the first Cyber Cafe, the most popular proving to be Mazebomb, which challenged the player to defuse a bomb through careful wire-clipping. Whilst the business never took off, it did convince Tim that this was something he wanted to be a part of. His interest in computers, though, was initially more to do with their visual appeal than their technological potential. “I have this vague memory
Tim Skelly – pioneer of vector graphics gaming and long-time industry campaigner
“ guy walks into a which we realised was a bar with an orange computer, attaches it to a little shoebox under his monitor and starts to play some arm,” begins Tim rudimentary games – Poker, Tic- A Skelly, but this isn’t Tac-Toe and the like. He began the start of a joke. It’s the start talking about this plan he had to of a career that saw Tim produce set up some kind of computer Rip Off, Star Castle and a string store where people would pay to of beautiful vector coin-op games play games. It all seemed very in the late seventies and early strange in 1977. I was really eighties, spend time at Sega and curious and wanted to find out Gottlieb, collaborate with Yuji more, but it was a toss up Naka on Sonic 2 and go mad at between hanging around or going Microsoft via a strange reworking to see Star Wars again. I stayed of the Dead Parrot sketch. But for in the bar, got into a conversation now, let’s get back to that bar… with him and thought, ‘This Unsurprisingly for a Star Wars fan, Tim based Star “The guy sets up this box, doesn’t seem too hard…’” Hawk on the famous Death Star trench run
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just given me my big break, but I great electron scatter, which was was still enraged. It was just an really cool, but they said we unconscionable thing to do.” couldn’t do it for Health and Safety reasons. I mean, this thing A star is born could blow up. “One night, I finally got Tim stood alone, with no hardware, everything stable enough so all software or mentor, angry but the graphics I’d plotted on paper also terrified that he simply were actually on screen. My boss, wouldn’t be able to deliver a Tommy Stroud, told me to ring product. Over 100 factory him when I’d got it working. It employees were relying on him to was pretty late at night, but I produce a game that they could rang him and he came rushing manufacture and therefore earn over and said, ‘This better be Is this photo the videogame equivalent of having your name the means to feed their families. good – I got out of bed with my above the credits? (Photograph by Mike Tappin) Many would buckle under such wife for this.’” pressure, but thankfully, Tim drew Mercifully, Tim can recall just I stared through the glass at based Cinematronics, which had strength from two sources. First, a how excited Tommy was when he the pillars of computers; felt just had considerable success with conversation with Tom Defante, saw the first functioning version the nice, cool atmosphere. It its version of Space War, invited who created the computer cockpit of Star Hawk. The game, which made some kind of lasting Tim for interview. read-out for the Death Star drew on the Star Wars trench impression on me.” “I met this guy, Larry assault in Star Wars, gave Tim run, was premiered at an arcade Back in the bar, Tim got Rosenthal, there and he showed some useful pointers. Secondly, trade show held at Alexandra friendly with the guys that me this bizarre contraption he’d and perhaps more fundamentally, Palace in the UK in 1978. As few emptied the quarters from the built for coding Space War in one of the tech guys had sneakily companies were showing new Pong machine and they passed on machine code. It was made a copy of the operating products, it attracted a lot of a copy of Replay, which contained intimidating, as I hadn’t done any codes before Rosenthal did his attention, though Tim remembers the contact details of all the coin- vector graphic work before, but I disappearing act. “He got a big the trip to London for more op manufacturers. He wrote off to thought I’d give it a shot, if bonus for that,” Tim recalls, and surreal reasons. all of the West Coast companies, they’d have me.” the relief can still be detected in “We were typical Yanks in as keen to leave his current state Tim returned home, assuming his voice. England – we rented a car and of residence (Missouri) as he was he’d been unsuccessful. So he Nonetheless, it was still an set off for Stonehenge! The to get into the industry. California- was pleasantly surprised when uphill struggle. Tim had to bash tourist book we had said we he got the call offering him the in raw hex code via a teletype job. But America isn’t called the machine, and because he didn’t Big Country for nothing and in have the luxury of a compiler or the four days it took him to travel even a printer, everything had to from Missouri to Southern be jotted down on yellow California, there had been big notepads. Those really were the changes at Cinematronics. early days. “When I got back there, I “Just writing code to get an found Larry had gone, the image on screen was tough. It machine for programming had was so low level – I had to turn gone… he’d taken everything, the beam on and off and make including the op codes for the sure it was positioned properly or hardware. There was nothing else the thing would explode. I there! He’d gone off with one of remember we tried stuff like the sales guys to start their own shooting the beam off the edge company, Vectorbeam. I know he’d of the tube and you’d get this
Tim’s prolific output continued with Star Castle and Warrior, both released in 1979
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could also find Woodhenge in a “I have this vague memory from my vulnerable to the deadly fire of the peat bog somewhere, so we particularly brutal super gun. Tim drove round for hours and ended early youth of walking past an IBM seems to have a penchant for up drifting onto an army base. showroom somewhere in Ohio, where I creating ruthless ‘boss’ characters We asked this Sergeant Major – Armor Attack, which appeared for directions, and he replied grew up. I stared through the glass at in 1980, features a helicopter in this great British accent, that hovers over the tank battle ‘Woodhenge? Nevah ‘erd of the the pillars of computers; felt the nice, you’re engaged in, ready to pick place!’ We fell for the Woodhenge cool atmosphere. It made some kind of you off from above. A quirk of gag, I guess.” the hardware, though, gives lasting impression on me” players an unusual heads-up. Cinematronics killed “We could draw objects off- my son! screen, so they could float on “I asked a friend to find a Castle master fully formed, but it meant you Star Hawk went into production translation of the word, ‘bonus’, could see this glow as the beam and its success single-handedly which I put in the game, but then By this time, Cinematronics had did its work, which gave you a saved Cinematronics. And that it turned out it had come from an bought out its rival, Vectorbeam hint of where the copter was was in spite of the fact that the employee of Atari, our main (perhaps to reduce competition, gonna come from.” cabinets were potentially lethal. competitor. I started to worry though Tim later reveals that Tim notched up another first “Hey, I said it was the early she’d given us something very there were more underhand when he put a co-operative mode days,” Tim explains, by way of different to sabotage us. At the motives at work). While visiting into Rip Off (1980). This unique an excuse. “Jim Pierce, a co- show, there was this really polite the new acquisition, based in feature, which allowed two owner of Cinematronics, had Japanese girl playing it and I Northern California, Tim was quite players to co-ordinate strategies designed the cab and it had nervously asked her, ‘Does that taken with a demo, which in a bid to protect fuel canisters this kind of forward hang that say “bonus”?’ She looked at me featured big snowflakes drifting from marauding space pirates, we didn’t pay much attention quizzically for a while and onto the screen, and the player’s had an unusual genesis. to. There were no joystick then said, ‘Hi, Bonasu!’ Thank ship shooting out from within a “My girlfriend at the time was manufacturers at the time so you, Jesus! It could have been series of rotating walls. a DJ in Kansas City and was you had to build your own, and so embarrassing…” “I felt there was something privy to all kinds of market our engineer made one out of a Tim’s great foresight was once interesting about those rotating research about an age group that steel pole attached to a steel again demonstrated when he rings,” Tim recalls. “And I got to was similar to that playing plate. There was no spring to produced the first one-on-one thinking, what if the player is on videogames. She told me the thing, just the weight kept it fighting game, Warrior, in 1979. the outside and this big ass gun about this research that said kids upright, and they could not be The game is widely regarded as is in the middle? We added were more interested in co- broken. We actually ran trucks the finest example of vector space mines, which worked their operating than competing and it over them – unbreakable. They game art – the beautifully drawn way out to attack you, and gave reinforced ideas I already had were so heavy we put bicycle and animated sword-wielding the gun knowledge of when to about doing a co-op game. That grips on them and kept them knights are complemented by fire. You could protect yourself by one decision made it – it wrote around in case anyone broke in. some truly exquisite backdrops not shooting everything… but itself after that.” They made great cudgels! and cabinet art. Tim agrees that there was always someone ready So having produced half a Unfortunately, they also made it was a high point in terms of to shoot your ass.” dozen hit games in just three great handles and this kid out aesthetics, but isn’t quite so The game was christened Star years, we can’t help but wonder in the field nearly pulled the enthusiastic about the gameplay. Castle and even made a cameo why Tim then chose to walk whole machine on top of “Someone pointed out, not so appearance in Ghostbusters away from Cinematronics. Was himself. After that, we had long ago, that it was actually a (though you’ll need to watch the there one particular reason? to start shipping them with very elaborate game of rock- widescreen version of the film to “Yeah, one main one – I was cinder blocks in to weigh paper-scissors. I think there’s a catch a glimpse). It’s an intriguing fired. Leaving aside my attitude, I them down.” bit more freedom than that, but if game of risk and reward – every knew a bit too much about how Thankfully, there were no you see the sword as a thumb, segment of wall destroyed brings the company worked. How can I actual fatalities, and Tim was then yeah, I can see the parallel.” you nearer to success, yet more put it… those guys, Tom and Jim, able to complete his next game, they had ways of hiding money. Sundance, the following year. It They’d purchased Vectorbeam was an unusual mix of Pong and ostensibly to buy out the Noughts and Crosses. Each competition, but the real reason player controlled a 3x3 grid, set was to get the patents on the at the top and bottom of the Vector technology, so that they screen, and fired ‘suns’ at their could personally get a hell of a opponent, who could open up a lot of money in royalties for every hatch and catch the shot to game shipped. I was there score. “Girls seemed to like it. I saying, ‘Hey, can I have a little don’t want to speculate as to bit?’ but was getting nothing, so why,” adds Tim, salaciously. the tension was high. I would Sadly, female gamers were in sometimes get these under-the- the minority back then, and the table cash bonuses from Tom of game wasn’t a roaring success, like £1,000, which at least kept though it did boast the forward- me in coke for a while.” thinking inclusion of Japanese No kids, he doesn’t mean the text when the game was Rip Off, Tim’s last game for Cinematronics, and Reactor, sugary drink, but then this was premiered at a Tokyo trade show. his first (and only) released title for Gottlieb California at the end of the
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seventies and it does help to Released in 1982, this explain his prolific game output. intriguing game centred around Tim’s impressive portfolio meant a volatile, expanding and rather >Don’t tell he had little trouble getting a new hypnotic reactor core, and post, this time at Sega, which was included yet another example at the time looking to get into of Tim’s pioneering work – it Vector games. Tim remembers his was the first arcade game to Mom… short time there fondly – great feature the programmer’s name salary, nice people and considerable on screen. progress on his first project for “I was very irritated that During his time at Gottlieb, feeling “pretty pissed off” after them, which he describes as programmers weren’t getting discovering another programmer was getting a bigger cheque than being a little like Tempest, the credit. It happens in all fields. I he was, Tim produced a collection of cartoons on videogaming, difference being that your ship didn’t have a problem negotiating loosely based on the format of the then hugely popular 101 Things had the ability to move in and it with Gottlieb because the to do with a Dead Cat. Tim explains the story behind the esoteric out of the screen, as clouds company came to me, but I did title, Shoot The Robot, Then Shoot Mom. rolled past majestically. need it written into the contract “It’s all thanks to Eugene Jarvis. I was in an arcade watching a “I was happy with how things for every game.” kid play Robotron. I noticed that he had wiped out all but one robot were coming along… until Two more ‘Skelly games’ were in the first wave. He still had one ‘mom’ character on the screen, Cinematronics sued me! It was produced for Gottlieb: Insector, a and rather than picking up mom and killing the robot to end the done just to annoy Sega, which colourful, creepy-crawly riff on round, he was blasting the hell out of her! If you know the game was using Vector technology it had Robotron; and Screwloose, a manic, well, as I obviously didn’t at the time, you know that Eugene built the patents on. We were all legal multi-directional shooter starring an ‘idiot mode’ into the game. That is, like in the old pinball and Cinematronics never got a a three-handed robot called Robop, machines, if the player was particularly bad at the first ball or penny, but I had to agree to never who resembled the unfortunate round, the machine would cut that player some slack. In the case of work on another Cinematronics offspring of Al Jolson and Dusty Robotron, if you shoot the characters you are supposed to rescue, game – fine! What did happen Bin. Both games reached the game assumes you are an idiot and makes things easier for though, was that Sega said, ‘Sorry, prototype stage, but became you. The kid I was watching obviously knew more than he should we’re going to have to let you go,’ casualties of the infamous have. Hence the title…” which was pretty awful for me.” videogames crash of 1983. “There was a glut of games Ram Man and almost none were getting out,” explains Tim. “A lot of Once again, Tim’s profile in the good games from some really industry meant he was immediately talented people just didn’t make contacted by Howie Ruben at a it. I don’t know about mine… I pre-Q*Bert Gottlieb. Tim decided guess both fell short of what to resurrect a concept he’d had they could’ve been and with so back with Cinematronics in San much competition, they weren’t Diego, and threw himself going to make it.” headlong into his first project for Tim suggests that anyone the company. Literally. interested should seek them out “We had all these shooting on MAME, which is where gamers games and I thought, ‘What the are perhaps most likely to find hell… Why not shoot your own his work. That said, the Vector head into something?!’ You technology used in Tim’s were the projectile. My original Cinematronic games was title was Ram-It, but it ended notoriously temperamental, so it’s up as Reactor.” unlikely you’ll find one of his
Every title was meticulously planned on paper, as this comparison between the Reactor design and the finished game shows
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early coin-ops still functioning his future plans, Tim expresses (although Archer Maclean has a an interest in returning to the mint Warrior cabinet in his games industry, perhaps through basement). You should also keep downloadable games, which in mind that many of the games return to the notion of videogame rely on an overlay, meaning their designer as auteur. He compares emulation on a modern PC only the current state of games tells half the story. You might be production to the studio era of better advised investigating the Hollywood, where a few several that were converted for companies dominated the the Vectrex. industry with products that were indistinguishable from each Sonic heroes other. We revisit the old chestnut of ‘Are games art?’ and he With the industry in turmoil, it enthuses about Tim Schaffer’s seemed to Tim that the whole ride new game, Psychonauts, which was over, so he was mightily shows there are still people out relieved to be invited to join there with the vision to try Incredible Technologies. This new something left-field and artistic. firm had been set up by an old We remind him of an interview colleague of Tim’s from Gottlieb he did in 1982, in which he and friends from Midway. It’s aim The 3D bonus stage in Sonic 2 harks back predicted imaging would become was to produce software for the to Tim’s first arcade title, Star Hawk “ever more realistic, with games PC and recently released Amiga. computer-matrixed into homes… Tim’s art background – he’d “You had to make art from Ex-parrot but we’ll always remember Pac- studied at the Chicago Academy of what you had. With such low Man fondly.” He laughs and Fine Arts at the start of the 70s – resolution, making really good With BOB gone and the parrot modestly mutters, “I wasn’t far meant he had a considerable realistic artwork was hard. deceased, Tim lost the plot – off, was I?” edge over many artists in the Abstraction gave me freedom.” “they drove me insane, then fired But it is perhaps appropriate business. He spent six years Tim’s offbeat attitude to me for being crazy!” – but his that we end up where we began, there as Art Director, combining a computer visuals and interest in mental health improved discussing the enduring supervisory role with some hard what makes games fun, led him considerably with the large pay- fascination with Vector games. coding, and contributed artwork to attend and speak at a number off and stock options that made “Yeah, they can be pretty to numerous projects, including of user interface conferences, him, for a time, “a mini-Microsoft mesmerising. The whole concept Championship Wrestling for which in turn landed him a millionaire.” Since 1996, he has of a light source rather than a Epyx, the stylish Three Stooges consultancy gig at Microsoft. He been self-employed as a Motion reflected image is pretty licence and the concept designs ended up getting hired and Graphic Designer and has powerful. You only get it when for MechWarriors – his influence was required to consult with produced several title sequences you’re sitting in front of a candle can still be seen in their the Utopia group, which was for movies and even a short film or a Vector game. Concentrate current incarnation. working on the Microsoft BOB of his own, Kane Kong. All of long enough and you can fall At the start of the nineties project. Tim takes up what he these can be viewed on his into a light hypnotic trance. It’s Tim returned to Sega for a year, describes as “a peculiar and website – www.designhappy.com. like staring into fire.” this time with the exciting but slightly embarrassing tale.” As we move on to chat about Long may they burn, Tim. e slightly daunting task of “The idea behind BOB came supervising the American and about because Windows was at Japanese artistic teams about to that time still really difficult for work on Sonic 2. ordinary families to use. The plan “That was an awful lot of fun was to create a Personal Digital – for me, at any rate. The stress Assistant that was like a little levels at that place were through character and I came up with the roof. Mark Cerny should get loads of sketches. They liked a lot of credit for pulling ‘Peedy the Parrot’ best. Within my everything together. He’d worked own group, I did modelling, with Yuji Naka in Japan and animation and work on social made it possible for Sonic Team interaction and eventually we got to come and work in the States. a demo together for the Consumer They were kind of barred from Electronics Show – you could talk working in Japan – bad boys! We in natural language and Peedy used to call them The Outward would respond. Microsoft BOB Bound Programme for Troubled was a great idea and a fantastic Japanese Youth.” product, but it really had to be Sonic 2 was launched to critical part of the Operating System to and commercial acclaim and is work effectively. Gates said no, usually cited as the pinnacle of the so it became this application series. Tim contributed a great deal that sat on top of the OS and to the project, both in terms of art slowed everything down brutally. and management, and can claim It became one of the more specific responsibility for the famous laughing-stock stories Tales of the parrot’s death are greatly exaggerated, as Peedy striking and surreal Special Stage. of the time.” is still fluttering around in the depths of Microsoft Office
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REGULAR | DESERT ISLAND DISKS >Tim Skelly’s Desert Island Disks
Robotron Tempest The best arcade game I’ve A great game and it ever played. I know things doesn’t hurt that it’s a are now much more vector game. Asteroids was sophisticated, but I still great, but Tempest had the love it. Everything is just colour vectors, which I so sweet. I knew Eugene worked with for a short Jarvis when I worked in time at Sega. Plus, the Chicago, though we were spinning shooter was never at the same inspired. It was that kind company. I pretty much of creativity that inspired sucked at it… well, not sucked, but I wasn’t great. Despite that, I just me to make the player the couldn’t stop going back for more punishment. projectile in Reactor.
Rip Off Street Fighter II My own game, I Again, not the perfect desert island game, but the play is so well know, but I think I balanced a monkey could easily take me on. This game marked a should have one on watershed in the industry and I loved playing it. The language of my island! Yeah, I the fighting game was know, I’m on my crystallised here. At own on the island Incredible Technologies and the single- we studied it for a player game isn’t fighter of our own, that exciting, but it’s Time Killers. Hmm, the game I’m most Time Killers, Rip Off – proud of and the one I enjoy playing the most. And there’s always is there a hidden that monkey to train. message there?
Indiana Jones and the Fate Doom 2 It whetted my of Atlantis appetite for the I also like The Infernal deathmatch, though Machine, but this is my I enjoyed the single- favourite Indy game. player game a lot. I Great writing and an all- was working at round fun adventure Microsoft when it game. I was always a came out and we huge fan of LucasArts. I found it very easy wanted to put more of to network things them on my list but I didn’t know where to stop. Dark Forces was up quickly. Oh, how we enjoyed those deathmatches. Screams of another LucasArts title I especially enjoyed. agony and glee filled the halls for hours.
Beetle Ju Golden Tee Golf One of my favourite This was the last game I worked downloadable games and on at Incredible Technologies – it’s certainly been a great just some artwork – but it’s time waster for a long time kept the company going for now. It’s not really a years, building a new version platform game, more a cell every year. The simple, intuitive maze game. It has these notion that a track ball is the cute graphics and an old closest analogy to swinging a time feel and I just find it golf club was the key. If I was really playable. Also, it reminds me that great games can be made on a desert island, this is by just one person or a small group of friends. That’s something I’d definitely one game I’d want like to see more of. with me.
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1989 heralded the arrival of ‘gaming on the go’. For the first time, people had the opportunity to take console gaming out of bedrooms and living rooms and onto trains, planes or wherever else they happened to be. Nintendo released a monochrome machine which was a lot of fun, but primitive in comparison to full-size consoles and computers. Atari, meanwhile, released a full-colour powerhouse of a handheld offering games comparable to anything else available at the time. But it was Nintendo’s GameBoy that came to define the first generation of handheld gaming. Peter Latimer looks at what happened to the Atari Lynx
olan Bushnell Working lunch interface, David Morse had creating software inspired by the founded Atari with provided business expertise, and role-playing game Dungeons & the vision of David Morse was CEO of growing Dave Needle had been the Janitor Dragons, but in recent years uniting leisure and software firm Epyx, Dave Needle (but was soon promoted to some elements in management N advanced had been working at Apple, and Senior Hardware Architect after had pushed the company towards technology, so it was natural he RJ Mical was looking for a new displaying a remarkable ability to arcade-style games, leading to wanted to see his games project after finishing work on a solve problems for hardware the resignation of the original machines in people’s living game. All three had shared a engineers). Morse had invited his founders. The change in direction rooms. But even as the Atari past as vital parts of the team two old colleagues to join him for may have jarred with the 2600 was making that goal a that originally masterminded the lunch to discuss the possibility of founders’ ideals, but it helped very lucrative reality, he was Amiga home computer before working on an exciting new turn Epyx into a company which already considering the next Commodore became involved. RJ project for Epyx. brought in $10 million per year at step: to let people enjoy that Mical had been responsible for Epyx had begun life as a its peak, and David Morse found same quality gaming experience the graphics library and user small company dedicated to himself leading a company which outside the home. In 1981 work began on the Atari 2200, a portable version of the 2600, but the available technology wasn’t up to creating a handheld console and many of the design concepts amounted to little more than an Atari 2600 with a handle. Some of the more promising ideas included built-in joysticks, and even a small detachable monitor, but none captured the spirit of Nolan’s vision and the project was cancelled, though one of the concepts eventually saw the light of day much later in the form of the Atari 2600jr. Along with its rivals, Atari returned to the task of creating the next generation of full-size games machines and the notion of a portable console seemed to have been forgotten - until a sunny afternoon in 1986 when three very significant industry figures happened to be eating lunch at a small cafe in Foster City, California.
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | ATARI LYNX
Some of Reagan Chang’s concept designs for the portable 2600, codenamed Atari 2200. (See www.atarimuseum.com for more sketches)
was ready to move up from collaborating closely on the next going to make Epyx a major player custom chip, Mikey, was creating games for other people’s Amiga but became frustrated by in the console market: the Handy. responsible for the four-channel machines to producing its own Commodore’s management style sound (each with an 8-bit DAC for console. When his son had asked and went their separate ways. Very Handy high-quality samples) and the him if he thought they could Now, though, the friends were video driver which permitted make a handheld console, he’d back together, and had just been It was going to be an 4,096 colours with 16 on screen known right away that Dave asked by a respected ex-colleague unbelievable console – full colour, at any one time (though a higher Needle and R.J. Mical were the if they would like to help him with hugely powerful graphics number was possible with clever right people to call. create the world’s first colour, and sound hardware, yet still programming). Needle and Mical had become handheld games console. In the small enough for people to easily Mikey also controlled the friends during the 1985 Summer 90 minutes that followed, napkins carry around. The Handy functionality which would allow CES at the Amiga’s unveiling. were used to sketch out various prototypes were, from a technical multiple consoles to be linked They had quickly grown to like ideas for the new machine. After point of view, almost identical to together, and managed the one another and discovered that lunch Morse left to secure capital what was eventually marketed as circuitry for reading data from they each complemented the for the new project, while Needle the Atari Lynx. Under the magnetic tape. Bizarre as it other’s skills and methods and Mical begin to work on a direction of an 8-bit 65C02, two seems now, the original design of perfectly. Soon they began prototype of the machine that was 16-bit custom chips co-operated this high-tech machine called for to maximise performance by each games to be loaded from tape. taking responsibility for different Before the project’s completion, aspects of a game. One, named that idea was unsurprisingly Suzy and running at 16MHz, was dropped in favour of cartridges, responsible for the blitter, sprite but its legacy meant that the rendering (unlimited numbers of console couldn’t directly read sprites were allowed) and from a cartridge – each piece of hardware scrolling, as well as data had to be copied into high-speed scaling, distortion system memory before it could and tilting effects. The other be accessed, just as if the ROM
Epyx had made its name on the Commodore 64, thanks to a number of top titles including multi-event sports games
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had been on magnetic tape. The gaming world, it was now under console had 64KB of on-board the control of Jack Tramiel who memory and the wafer-thin had a frightening reputation for cartridges were intended to hold ruthlessness and was blamed by up to 2MB of data. many for the Atari 7800’s failure. With its ability to link many Few at Epyx were keen on consoles together, multiplayer working with him – but with no gaming was at the heart of the other willing partners, and time new console. In the earlier Handy running out, Epyx signed a deal designs the connection had been in which Atari would manufacture via infra-red, but in the final Atari and market the hardware, while version a simple but effective Epyx would provide the software. cable connection was used Jack had acquired Atari in order instead. The original design also to wage war against Commodore allowed a single game cartridge in the home-computer market. to be passed from console to Believing consoles to be dead, console, meaning only one he’d cancelled all Atari’s gaming cartridge was needed no matter projects, but after being proved how many were playing. badly wrong by Nintendo’s hugely Unfortunately, when it became successful NES, he was keen to clear that games were going to place Atari back at the forefront of be larger than could be held in gaming. Handy seemed like the system memory, this plan had to perfect product to help him do be abandoned. just that. The destruction of Commodore could wait. Jacking it in The terms of Atari’s contract with Epyx were extremely strict Compared to anything else and Epyx simply wasn’t able to available in 1986, it really meet them all. In a typically seemed like Mical and Needle uncompromising move, Jack had triumphed. Epyx set about Tramiel decided to withhold an making the ambitious design a important milestone payment, Sega’s attack on the GameBoy may have been more below the belt, but reality and by 1987 the plan had sending Epyx into chaos. Lawyers Atari also targeted Nintendo’s handheld in its Lynx advertising campaigns proved to be much more than a became involved and in the end pipe dream – Handy was ready to Atari made a one-off payment to go into production. It was small Epyx in return for becoming the enough, affordable enough and sole owner of everything fully backed by Epyx’s strong associated with the Handy. The games development teams. It payoff couldn’t keep Epyx afloat seemed inconceivable that this for long, though, and with its one machine would be anything other serious project gone, the than outstandingly successful. company was soon declared But the previous two years bankrupt. Mical, Morse and hadn’t been kind to Epyx. A lot of Needle returned to that same cafe its success had been tied to the in California to sketch out ideas C64, and the C64 had peaked as for another innovative new a commercial games platform, project, leaving Atari with a piece taking Epyx’s profits with it. of technology that was going to Some poor business decisions, give it the same kind of head such as investing in VCR games, start on its competitors as the had made the situation worse original Atari 2600 had a decade and money was running out. ago. Or at least it would have, if Staff levels dropped from 200 to Atari had done anything with it. just 20, and one by one Epyx cancelled its projects until Handy Lynx unleashed alone was left, the only undertaking that could revive its It isn’t exactly clear why Jack fortunes. No longer having the Tramiel didn’t push ahead with resources to bring the console to the new console’s release. market on its own, Epyx began Possibly there were unpublicised searching for help. technical difficulties in finalising Morse contacted a number of it. It could also be that he was potential partners and top of the again following his often list was Nintendo, the biggest criticised wait-and-see approach, name in videogames, but holding out until he could be Nintendo had already begun work more sure there really was a on its own handheld and passed. market for handhelds. Or Atari was keen to point out the advanced features of the Lynx, Further down the list was Atari. perhaps he just couldn’t stomach which put it on a par with the home systems of the time Though Atari had once ruled the the notion that games for the
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | ATARI LYNX >Keeping it real
Anyone who’s ever worked in the computing industry knows that the aim isn’t necessarily to give your customers what they want, it’s to make them think you’ve got what they want. And at the unveiling of the Lynx, system creators Dave Needle and RJ Mical took that concept pretty far. Mical revealed in a 1989 EGM interview that a small number of people had been invited to view the new console behind closed doors, each signing a non-disclosure agreement before the demonstration began. The lucky invitees were taken to a private room where the seemingly complete and fully functional console was sitting on a table. Rather ominously, a lead was coming from the console that appeared to connect to something outside the room, though nobody seemed to notice. In actual fact, Needle and Mical were in the next room, surrounded by computers and large electronic components, all of which were required to do what the Lynx was eventually going to do. The marketing department were in on the scam and had agreed that each time a client wished to move on and see another game demo, they would press a secret button which brought a light on in the next room, signalling Needle and Mical that they needed to feed the not-quite-complete Lynx prototype with another very-complete-looking game. The arrangement worked well until the light in the secret room started flashing on and off continually. Needle and Mical couldn’t figure out what they were meant to do and poked their heads out - only to see that one of the invitees had discovered the secret switch and was trying to figure out what the damn thing did. Luckily, no damage was done as the scam wasn’t really a scam – Needle and Mical were demonstrating exactly what the Lynx would be capable of when finished and had simply wanted to show the console as close as possible to how it would work in its final form. But even so, if Sony calls you in to become an early development partner for the PlayStation 3, make sure you check behind the curtains before signing anything.
new console could only be 1.5 deep, the Lynx wasn’t going developed using Amiga to slip too comfortably into a shirt computers from his bitter enemy pocket. Besides its powerful Commodore. Whatever his games engine, the Lynx contained reasoning, it a few more neat features which wasn’t until the summer of 1989 made it stand out, like the option that Atari finally showed off the to flip the screen upside down, new console. Following the fine enabling left-handed players to Atari tradition of uncreative use the console as comfortably as naming, it was unveiled as ‘The right handers. Unlike the Portable Color Entertainment GameBoy, the screen was also System’. It had been three years fully backlit, making play easy in since that initial lunchtime the poorest lighting conditions, meeting - but in September and could be used vertically for 1989, and with a much cooler games more suited to long, name, the console finally began narrow playfields (most notably, appearing in US stores: The Atari Klax). Developers and games Lynx had arrived. players alike were impressed. Priced at just under US$200, Besides the Lynx itself, the the Lynx wasn’t cheap - but then, package contained the highly Many Lynx titles included multiplayer support, allowing you to despite the delays, it was still a acclaimed California Games, a ‘LynxUp’ with like-minded mates seriously powerful piece of carrying case, power adaptor and hardware. The original box ComLynx cable to connect to wasn’t quite that simple. For all high-powered AA batteries proudly announced that the other Lynxes. After years in its strengths, the Lynx had some bought just four hours of gaming console fitted easily into the gaming’s wilderness it looked like serious drawbacks. (rechargeables managed only 90 hands of “adults OR children”. Atari had a product that would That backlit screen looked minutes!). Atari released a And while that’s certainly true, at create and then dominate a whole great but drained batteries at an battery pack which could be almost 11 inches long, 4 wide and new section of the market, but it unforgivable speed. A set of six attached to a belt and provided
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20 hours’ worth of power from six D-sized batteries. But not many people wanted to walk around with six large batteries stuck to their waist. Another problem was the Lynx’s rather cheap finish. Jack Tramiel’s Atari was famous for cutting every corner possible, and the Lynx was no exception. To save on production costs the Lynx was made out of cheap, transparent plastic and then painted grey. After long periods of play the paint would inevitably begin to rub off, leaving huge marks on a console people had paid around US$200 for, or in the UK, a whopping £200. Thanks to a steady supply of Master System ports and Mega Drive conversions, Atari’s track record didn’t help Sega’s Game Gear effectively drove the last nail into the Lynx’s coffin either – many retailers felt that Atari had proved an unreliable and lacked all the hardware- match the star appeal of Super somewhat smaller, sleeker unit business partner in the past and driven graphical effects that Mario and Tetris. which was of a higher quality, refused to stock the new made the Lynx so impressive. but actually cheaper to console. Even when willing But the battle was about more The war begins manufacture. Battery life had retailers were found, Atari had than powerful hardware. been improved slightly and difficulty in keeping up supply – Nintendo’s console was much Though the first round of the stereo sound added, plus there in 1990, manufacturing targets cheaper and lighter than Atari’s, handheld war went to Nintendo, was now an option to turn off were missed by 50% due to was small enough to fit in a coat Atari was far from done. It tried the screen while a game was wrangling with Casio over the pocket, needed fewer batteries to bring some familiar names to paused, saving precious battery price of Lynx LCDs. All these and could run much, much the Lynx by releasing a series of power. Taking full advantage of things were significant but there longer on a single set. Nintendo first-class arcade conversions rising tensions with Iraq, Atari was one more problem, one that had the finances to market its including Klax, Ms. Pac-Man and backed the relaunch with some had the potential to be truly product well and meet demand – Rampage. It seemed to be great war-inspired games like fatal. The 18-month delay had even when people wanted a working. The Lynx remained a Blue Lightning and Steel Talons. cost Atari its head start Lynx, often they could only find long way behind the GameBoy It scored a PR coup by sending because by 1989 Nintendo was GameBoys. Perhaps most but was gaining momentum. For 60 Lynxes to recreation centres joining the handheld race with crucially of all, Nintendo had once, Atari seemed to be used by US troops serving in the the launch of the now- automatic licenses to the most capitalising on its successes. first Gulf War, taking every legendary GameBoy. popular NES games and its Tetris The Lynx was relaunched with a opportunity to remind people On the face of it, Atari had pack-in became the GameBoy’s new look and 50% price cut how great it was that the troops, little to worry about. Nintendo’s true killer title. While some of (though now with no included all of whom could buy Lynxes at console was monochrome, the early Lynx games were game or accessories). It had cost price, had easy access to powered by an inferior processor excellent, Atari had nothing to been redesigned into a American (rather than Japanese) gaming technology. Atari wasn’t living up to its promise of killing the GameBoy, but did finally seem to be within striking distance of once more becoming a significant player in the games industry. The success didn’t last, though, as another company was about to enter the handheld market; a company with greater resources than Atari could ever hope to draw on. Defeat and surrender
1991 saw the launch of Sega’s Game Gear. It bested the GameBoy technically, though it was no match for the Lynx. But like Nintendo, Sega had a large back catalogue of recent hits to The smaller, sleeker, cheaper Lynx 2 gave the help sell its console. Atari system a much-needed shove, but the GameBoy struggled to keep up. The had already sewn up the handheld market quality of Lynx releases remained
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | ATARI LYNX
“1991 saw the launch of Sega’s Game Gear. It bested the GameBoy >Lynx trivia technically, though it was no match for the Lynx. But like Nintendo, The top ten things your probably didn’t Sega had a large back catalogue of know about the Atari Lynx (even if recent hits to help sell its console. you’ve read the rest of the article) Atari struggled to keep up” 10. The system’s creators visor to make it easier to play considered the sprite engine Lynx games in the desert. they created for the Lynx to be 5. The Lynx’s serial port is high but Atari, who had been designed in 1986, it wasn’t until up to 30 times more powerful directly compatible with unable to persuade third-party 2001 that a dedicated handheld than the one they created for MIDI data, so it’s perfectly developers to work on Lynx was released which the Amiga. possible to attach and read data titles, couldn’t match the unambiguously outperformed it. from a drum machine or marketing or release schedules The Lynx offered Atari a huge 9. The Lynx game Steel Talons synthesizer. Why you’d want to of Sega and Nintendo. Gradually, advantage over the competition inspired Atari to file a patent is another matter… the Game Gear overtook the Lynx which it was never able to relating to helicopter games as distant second to the exploit. When people were most which “include a user-selectable 4. In terms of clock speed, the GameBoy and it became clear excited about the Lynx, Atari zoom, horizontal and vertical Lynx ran faster than any other that Atari’s machine wasn’t going couldn’t supply it. And when ground avoidance, and an videogame system that had ever to survive. Advertising was people came looking for autorotation model.” been made at the time, suspended as Atari began handheld versions of the most including full-sized consoles. abandoning the Lynx in order to popular games, none of them concentrate all efforts on were Atari titles. Instead, almost 3. Such were Atari’s dwindling developing the new full-size all of us chose the GameBoy as manufacturing capabilities that console that would turn out to be our first handheld. Why? Partly the Lynx was initially only its final games machine. battery life, partly size, but most launched in New York and Originally there were hopes that of all, just like iPods today, it Los Angeles. the Lynx would be boosted by didn’t much matter whether it an ability to interact with the was the best of its type or not – new console in some games, but the GameBoy was widely 2. Though nobody knows for by the time the new machine available, cleverly marketed sure, the discovery of pink and was ready, the Lynx had already and extremely fashionable. white pastel-coloured Lynx been forgotten by most. Without the resources to build a prototypes may suggest that Production ceased in 1995. similar profile, Atari never Atari was considering launching ‘his and hers’ versions of Although the Lynx was stood a chance. e the handheld. 8. Though no game ever took full advantage of it, the Lynx’s hardware allows up to 16 Lynxes to be connected together for the ultimate in multiplayer gaming.
7. While its CPU is the same type as found in the C64, the Lynx’s version runs four times as fast (and has a range of powerful custom chips to call upon). 1. The Lynx is famed for being oversized, but it never needed 6. After supplying Lynxes to to be. The concept of handheld troops serving in the first Gulf consoles was new, so focus War, a marine wrote to Atari groups were organised to see asking if he could have a sun what size people thought they should be. They saw big prototypes and small prototypes, and unanimously preferred the larger ones! So the Lynx was designed to be much bigger than was necessary because that’s what the public seemed to want. The were around 100 games released for the Lynx, so it wouldn't be too difficult to collect them all. These four carts, though, are Ironically, it was its size that fairly rare and would take some tracking down later put many buyers off.
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>Homebrew interview
abandoned commercially for quite some time, and you never owned one when it was still supported. So why did you decide to start writing games for what most considered to be a dead machine?
CF: It’s definitely just the love of the hobby for me. I’ve been an Atari fan since the 2600 was released over 25 years ago, and the Lynx is such a cool and easy- to-use piece of hardware. I hated Like many of Atari’s later products, to see it die before its time. games developers were only just Another attraction is that on an discovering the Lynx’s power when older system like the Lynx it’s still Look out for Carl’s upcoming version of it was written off commercially. So feasible for one person to develop the ‘lost’ one-on-one fighter Ultravore once again it’s fallen to an entire game. I usually look for homebrewers to breathe new life help on the graphics, but contrast RG: If someone wanted to take up the Lynx work you’ve been involved into the machine and discover this to contemporary systems programming the Lynx, where in, which would it be? what the hardware is really where it’s nothing to have 20 should they start? capable of. Carl Forhan is at the people working on a single game. CF: I’m very proud of Remnant since forefront of that effort, having That’s not practical for something CF: Unless you’re already an that’s the most complicated game I rescued and finished some titles with only a tiny niche of support. assembly expert, I’d recommend wrote start to finish. It was the first which never saw their commercial writing some small programs in C game I wrote that occupied more release, as well as writing some RG: How difficult is it to develop for using CC65 (http://cc65.org), then space in ROM than RAM, so I had to impressive original titles. Carl the Lynx? testing with Handy. There’s learn how to swap chunks in and out. creates his games under the label absolutely no cost to do that much, On the other end of the spectrum, I’m Songbird Productions and took the CF: Lynx development is becoming and sites such as really proud of CyberVirus since that time to talk to us about all things easier all the time, thanks to some www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/By was a ‘lost’ game that had been on Lynx-related. really good C compiler support and te/4242/lynx have some examples everyone’s wish list, and I’m glad I the availability of a near-perfect of source code you can use to start was able to rescue the game and add Retro Gamer: When did you first Windows emulator called Handy your own game project. some new features and missions. discover the Atari Lynx? (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ dystopia). I do own an Amiga, RG: What kind of volume of trade RG: What are your plans for the Carl Forhan: I actually had no idea which was the original developer does Songbird do on original Lynx future of Songbird and Lynx Atari was still producing games station for the Lynx. Having said releases? gaming? consoles after the 5200 until I ran that, I rarely fire it up any more, across some Internet sites talking since WinUAE is such a good CF: It’s definitely a small market CF: I have two Lynx games on the about the Lynx around 1994. I emulator for the Amiga. The Lynx these days. I’m happy if I sell one horizon – one is Ultravore which is bought one in about 94 or 95, but chipset itself seems very stable and hundred copies of a new game. I another ‘lost’ game that needs to Atari was basically done with the robust. There aren’t many fatal wish it was more like five be finished up, and the other is a Lynx by then, except for a couple flaws you have to work around, hundred, but I’ve never come close port of a J2ME game I wrote about of retro releases around 1997. and it really is a short process to to that… two years ago for some mobile get a couple of sprites moving on phones. People can check on my RG: By the time Songbird came the screen. RG: If you had to select one latest projects and catalogue at along, the Lynx had been project to represent the best of all http://songbird-productions.com.
Remnant (left) and CyberVirus, two of Carl’s most popular Lynx homebrew titles
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | ATARI LYNX >Eight great games
Considering Atari’s limited resources and lack of third-party developer support, the Lynx offered a surprisingly wide range of quality arcade conversions and original releases. Here are eight well worth seeking out
Rampart Chip’s Challenge It’s hard to classify this Melinda’s your dream girl, and medieval war game. You’ll need she’s agreed to let you join her to plan strategically when computer club, as long as you choosing your home castle and first prove yourself worthy by placing the cannons. Then it’s risking your life against bombs, pure shoot-em-up as combat fire, traps and more – a small commences. After the battle, price for finding a lady who when it’s time to repair your appreciates how sexy a hobby castle, the gameplay becomes Tetris-like. But the classification’s not computing is. Though the story’s flimsy, the game’s anything but. 144 important – all that matters is that this original game is highly mazes to puzzle through – moving blocks, setting traps, avoiding danger. playable, slickly presented and well worth checking out. If you can It’s not about high scores, as you have infinite lives. It’s about being connect to another Lynx for a two-player game, all the better. smart enough to complete all the levels, and it’s fiendishly addictive.
Blue Lightning BattleWheels The war isn’t going well for the Countless games have taught us allies. In fact, it’s going so that in the future sport will be badly that you’re the only all about killing people. person left who can test the top BattleWheels is no exception. secret ‘Blue Lightning’ plane – It’s 2019 and you’re taking part that test being to see whether in a life-jeopardising battle in you can use it to single- car and on foot. It isn’t the handedly win the war. The most easiest game to familiarise famous game of this type, Afterburner, never appeared on the Lynx, yourself with, but its sheer depth makes learning it worthwhile. but it’s no big loss as Blue Lighting is superb. The fast-paced action, Excellent graphics, outstanding sound and the opportunity to link up with the speed and detail of the 3D landscape, make this a great to six consoles for multi-player action should put this right at the top shoot-em-up which deserved to sell thousands of Lynxes. of your Lynx shopping list.
Klax RoadBlasters Comparisons to Tetris are inescapable – The world’s been devastated by but rather than repeat that game, Klax a nuclear holocaust, but have takes the falling-block concept and creates the few remaining survivors something original. There’s more variety seen the folly of war and made than in Tetris – the basic aim is to line up up? Of course not, which is why three similarly coloured blocks in a row, you’re at the wheel of a heavily but specific missions such as ‘Build a armed car, ready to destroy large X’ or ‘Get three diagonals’ keep the everyone who isn’t you. Driving gameplay fresh. One reason the Lynx fared games have always been popular. Violent games have always been so poorly against the GameBoy was that it popular. RoadBlasters takes both and gives you a driving game where didn’t have Tetris. Big deal. It had Klax. you can spend your spare time killing the competition. Very fast and And Klax is just as good. extremely playable.
Paperboy Lemmings It might look like sleepy The fact that Lemmings was one suburbia, but this is no ordinary of the final commercial Lynx neighbourhood. It’s home to the releases is sad. Not because it’s rudest people, the most reckless a poor game, but because it drivers and the stupidest showed just how great this pedestrians you’ll ever see. But, console could be. It’s a puzzle when you’re the world’s greatest game where you need to guide paperboy, it’s all in a day’s work some lemmings safely past a as you faithfully deliver the paper to your customers (and smash the number of obstacles towards the exit. It sounds like nothing, but windows of those who don’t subscribe). Paperboy appeared on plays like nothing else. With excellent sound and wonderful graphics countless systems but never felt more comfortable than on the Lynx – (especially the cartoon-style opening sequence), Lemmings is a fitting it’s pretty, it’s simple and it’s fun. epitaph for the Atari Lynx – but one which came much too soon.
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VIRTUALLYVIRTUALLY ALIVEALIVE
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION OF A REAL LITTLE COMPUTER PERSON
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FEATURE: SOFTWARE | VIRTUALLY ALIVE
WHILE THE SIMS AND ITS VARIOUS SEQUELS SELL IN THEIR MILLIONS AND HAVE TAKEN UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN THE CHARTS, THE FIRST TRUE PROGRAM TO SIMULATE HUMAN LIFE WAS ACTIVISION’S LITTLE COMPUTER PEOPLE, RELEASED ON THE COMMODORE 64 IN 1985. KIM WILD REFLECTS ON THE ORIGINAL GOD GAME, AND TALKS TO DAVID CRANE, ITS DIVINE CREATOR
“ ear fellow coax him into doing so. at the time, all was not lost as programmed into the system researcher,” began For those who have never Activision created a special corresponding with the the game blurb. experienced the charm of Little machine for this exact purpose. personality type and mood of the “We’re happy to Computer People, the game was “You could send your broken character at that particular time. D welcome you to incredibly innovative for its time, disk in for the staff to repair,” “The result was awesome,” the Activision Little Computer offering a virtual-life program recalls David Crane. “The says Crane. “Without ever People Research Group. We’ve that pre-dates The Sims by 15 machine read the LCP’s ‘brain’ seeming to repeat himself, the suspected for quite some time years. Loading up the program parameters, including his look, LCP would convey his needs, that there was something living would reveal an empty house, personality, and preferences and desires, and thoughts to his inside most computers. But we soon entered by a man and his wrote them to a factory-new owner.” The intelligence of the didn’t know who, what or how dog. While the LCP would have diskette. Many LCPs were programming ensured that it many there were. After years of his own personality and go restored in the ‘Activision became hard to predict what research, hard work and creative about his own routine, you’d still Hospital’ for grateful users.” would happen next – even for the speculation, we invented what need to make sure he was well game’s creator. “It was so finally became the turning point looked-after. The larder had to Queer as folk complex that I was as much in in this arduous investigation: be kept stocked with food and the dark as anyone as to what House-On-A-Disk…” water, and dog-food deliveries One of the main selling points of he’d do next.” I vividly remember the first needed to be organised. You LCP was the promise of a unique In order to develop more of a time I presented the Little were also required to look after person on every single copy relationship between the player Computer Person living inside your LCP’s emotional needs by produced and this was genuinely and the LCP, a communication my C64 with his very own encouraging him to make phone implemented by the system was implemented so that House-On-A-Disk. I was calls, leaving presents in the programmers. Activision it was possible to type in absolutely transfixed with this form of books and records, personalised every disk during commands or comments. living being who seemed to ‘petting him’ in his favourite manufacturing and Crane created Sentences could be in the form of have a personality and way of armchair and even playing basic unique personality and mood questions, suggestions or life unlike anything I’d seen card games. My guy loved parameters to make each person requests which evoked various previously. The game became nothing more than exercising in truly different. Every disk was reactions, assuming he listened something of an obsession and his front room, playing classical given a unique serial number to you at all. The basic card it would be common to leave the pieces on his piano (all in-game which specified all the LCP’s games (consisting of Card War, machine on for days at a time to music was created by Russell personality factors (the Anagrams and 5-Card Draw keep tabs on what my LCP Lieblich) and playing games on character’s ‘brain’ was stored in a Poker) could be played with him would do next. My fascination his tiny computer. Failure to look 256-byte block on the disk). An which further enhanced the with him became infectious, with after your LCP would lead to Activision staffer was given the illusion of life. But the card family and friends also becoming sickness – he’d turn a shade of job of creating at least 10 games nearly didn’t make it, as absorbed by the antics of the green and spend most hours variations of each thought from Crane explains: “The card game seemingly intelligent character lying in bed. Constant neglect anger, sadness, starvation and logic was almost lost due to lack and his dog. But eyebrows were without food or water would near-death to concerns of food of time. I’d always wanted to play raised when he only took a result in the LCP’s untimely supplies. The letters from the LCP games with the guys, but giving single shower during his lifetime, demise, which meant being left to the player would then be them interactivity and a brain despite all my best attempts to with an eerily empty house! But based on the 100+ phrases took all the time I had.
Once in the house, your LCP takes a little time to explore his strange new surroundings
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Entertain your LCP with a card game and he may be more receptive to your piano playing requests
Fortunately, Steve Cartwright was indifferent to the human viewer. that next level. Activision bought >Life on other between games near the end of Rich raised some development the project, not as a finished planets the LCP development. I took time capital and hired an east-coast game for publishing, but as a to put a card-playing interface developer, James Wickstead starting point on the first Although David Crane has no into the game and gave Steve Design Associates, to realise this interactive Sims-type product.” knowledge of versions other some parameters to work with. concept. The programmers and Initially released on cassette than the C64 and Amiga, the He managed to code the card designers at Wickstead, many of tape for the Commodore 64, the game did indeed appear on a games in a few weeks and we whom have gone on to make superior disk version soon number of other formats, with were then able to interface his other contributions in the followed and was entitled The the Apple II, Atari ST, Amstrad code into the final product.” videogame business, refined the Little Computer People Discovery CPC and Spectrum receiving concept and developed the look Kit. This included The Little LCP in some form. Atari ST Signs of life and feel of the Pet Person as Computer People House-On-A- magazine ANTIC reviewed LCP well as the house he lived in. At Disk Research Software (a copy of in February 1987 giving it 86 So how did this innovative this point, Rich tried to find a the original two-and-a-half-storey out of 100. Your Sinclair program come about? “Rich publisher for the Pet Person. He house used by the research reviewed the Spectrum version Gold, described as an engineer, had no takers. The product was team), The Computer Owner’s in April 1987 and awarded it artist, designer, writer and not deemed marketable, and no Guide to Care of and 9/10, with Sinclair User offering cartoonist, had the idea to create publisher wanted it. Activision’s Communication with Little up the same score. Crash what he called a ‘Pet Person’, President, Jim Levy, thought Computer People book containing magazine was less enthralled, along the lines of the ‘Pet Rock’ there was enough of interest in instructions for your new friend, a marking the game 5/10 for of the 1970s,” recalls Crane. the concept to bring it to me for special edition of Modern lacking long-term appeal. “This was to be a non- an opinion. What I saw was not Computer People Magazine (a LCP has also appeared on interactive, fishbowl view into the a Pet Rock, but the beginnings of full-colour publication on the the PC as part of the life of an artificial life form that an interactive simulated life form. culture of LCP plus their habits), Activision C64 15 Pack. As the went about his daily activities I offered to take the project to and an authroised Deed of title suggests, this is a collection of classic C64 Activision games (including Park Patrol, Hacker and LCP) running under emulation. One advantage with this disc is the added ability to generate a new LCP, so should you kill your little friend off (how could you!), you can start again without being left with a useless empty house.
The Amiga version looked great, but the core game remained largely the same
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FEATURE: SOFTWARE | VIRTUALLY ALIVE
Ownership for your house. This into his game. It’s a shame we founding of the entire third-party up in the morning he might be kind of attention to detail really were never able to follow up on videogame business. Almost brushing his teeth while you’re helped to develop the some of those ideas.” everything we touched in those brushing yours, and so on. personalities of the characters. LCP sold well enough, but the days could be construed as a Wouldn’t it have been fun if he Crane agrees: “As the project huge amount of money ploughed precursor to something on the scolded you for waking him up neared completion, some very into the product during market today. So rather than go in the middle of the night, and creative people in the marketing development (and the cost of there, I simply acknowledge that spent the next whole day and sales side of the business acquiring the property in the first I took the first baby steps toward grumpy from lack of sleep?” developed the ‘cover story’ about place) meant that sequels were the simulation genre when I As for my character, why the miraculous discovery of little not a financial reality. The added human-like interactivity to wouldn’t he ever take a shower people living in computers developers had planned to sell Little Computer People.” even upon command? “You only everywhere. That story was the new houses as add-ons, and went wrong in trying to ‘get him finishing touch that tied all the there was even the possibility of Agenda bender to do’ something. One of the development work into a neat an entire apartment complex of most human qualities I gave the little package.” Little Computer People all Like many games, there are LCP was the ability to ignore you. Following the success of the interacting with each other, always features that never make The state of the art of English C64 version (Zzap!64 magazine though none of these additions it into the final product due to language parsers in gaming at awarded the game an ever materialised. time or technical restraints. Were that time was the text adventure unprecedented 97%), the game The idea of add-ons to there any such issues with LCP? game (like Zork). In these games appeared on the Commodore expand the lifespan of a game is “There were many interesting you could give a verb/noun Amiga in 1987. The 16-bit very similar to what we see tasks surrounding his going to command such as: Kill Dragon. If version offered very few today with The Sims and its bed (bathing, changing, the game understood the enhancements other than a numerous expansion packs, sleeping) and his getting up in command it would respond. If not cosmetic overhaul, but was which just goes to prove how far the morning (teeth brushing, it would do nothing. So it didn’t programmed with additions in ahead of its time Little Computer dressing, etc). In a moment of take long for a player to learn mind. Much like the C64 version, People really was. But how does weakness I decided to have the the game’s entire vocabulary. In each disk was created to spawn Crane feel about the idea that LCP live on a six-hour schedule, your case, your LCP was probably one unique LCP. “It was during Little Computer People spawned so the player could enjoy these a very messy personality who felt the Amiga development that we The Sims? animations during the day. After he needed only a yearly shower, brainstormed many of the future “Well, I’m often asked if I feel the game was released I took it soon after moving in, and enhancements we wanted to add I created the Sims genre with reconsidered – it would have was not compelled – either by later,” explains Crane, “including LCP. The fact is that as a founder been much cooler to have the need, desire, or your prodding – gene-implemented program of Activision, the first third-party guy live on your schedule. If you to shower again for a long time.” hooks that would allow these developer of videogame booted him up at night he would Thank God we don’t have future add-ons to be imported cartridges, I was a part of the be sleeping. If you booted him smell-o-vision. e
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Next Level Gaming:
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FEATURE: SOFTWARE | NEXT LEVEL GAMING
After failing to hit the bullseye with the Mega-CD, Sega went back to the drawing board. The result was the 32X, another add-on device designed to beef up the ageing Mega Drive, giving it a full 32 bits of power. Should you have been 32Xing? Aaron Birch find s out…
ith the Mega-CD so, with that in mind, the many late-night board meetings, Gaming shame failing to designers started work on a 32- Project Mars was conceived. The revolutionise the bit console. This new system final unit, branded the 32X, was The 32X was indeed a promising console market as would be cartridge-based, designed to fit into the cartridge system, and prior to the unit’s W planned, Sega ditching the CD format that had slot of the Mega Drive, launch Sega announced that desperately needed to find a burned Sega so badly, and piggyback-style, giving the many developers had signed up way of combating the strong- would be little more console a mighty boost of for the ride. Giants such as selling SNES. Despite arriving than an enhanced Mega Drive power. Thanks to the addition of Konami, Capcom, Acclaim and late, the Nintendo system was (codenamed Project Neptune). twin 32-bit RISC CPUs, Domark were interested in closing in fast on the Mega But this would change polygonal graphic capabilities, developing titles for the new Drive, and Sega was in danger drastically during development, additional PCM audio and 512KB platform, and the proposed of losing its controlling position. and it was ultimately decided it on-board memory, the system launch titles were very exciting. Something needed to be done, would be a much better idea to was now much more powerful, Games like Virtua Racing, Star and soon. create an add-on for the with around 40 times the Wars Arcade, Super Space The production team’s goal existing Mega Drive, rather than processing power of the bare- Harrier, Super Afterburner, and was simple (in theory at least) a new standalone console. After bones Mega Drive (if the adverts even the PC classic Doom were – to create a system more all, punters would surely prefer were to be believed). What’s announced. Sega’s usual witty powerful than the SNES. In fact, to buy a cheap upgrade over more, the 32X was also able to advertising campaigns fired up, a system boasting twice the an expensive new system, enhance the capabilities of the and the marketing machine power of the Nintendo machine wouldn’t they? Mega-CD. All this from an ugly rolled on at full pelt. But, during would be very nice indeed. And After much deliberation and plastic mushroom… all this, people couldn’t help but
Some of the early games to grace the 32X. Clockwise from top left: Star Wars Arcade, Doom, Virtua Racer and Virtua Fighter
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Compare and contrast – Mortal Kombat II on the Mega Drive (left) and 32X
wonder… where was Sonic? No version, and the potential killer intro, speech and more detailed making it something of a special Sonic game was evident on the app that was Doom was bug- graphics. But the game itself title, and a little more collectable new system, and as the Sega ridden and had to be played in was pretty much the same. Even than most. mascot was such a crowd puller, an itsy-bitsy window even a the poor music from the 16-bit The promised versions of people asked why he wasn’t on low-end 486 PC would snigger version was still evident in the Space Harrier and Afterburner the launch bill. Sega promptly at. But Star Wars Arcade was ‘improved’ edition. duly arrived, and, as promised, silenced any concerns and excellent and a definite bonus Virtua Fighter was another of were virtually arcade-perfect. informed fans of Sonic the for the system. Sega’s bit hitters and the 32X Both were infinitely better than Hedgehog 4. This would be a What about the other launch reproduced the arcade version the Space Harrier II and After totally new departure for Sonic – titles? Basically, they didn’t very well, if a little pixellated and Burner II titles that had already a full 3D experience with lush arrive in time for the unit’s slow. Still, all the characters and appeared on the Mega Drive, but visuals. Some images were even launch. And when other games stages were included, and it was at a time when Sega wanted to leaked to the public, further did arrive, things didn’t really an excellent showcase of the show how powerful its new toy exciting Sega’s followers. improve. Most games were 32X’s power. Another good advert was, these crusty old arcade When the 32X eventually woefully short of their ‘32 times for the system was BC Racers, a titles were just too basic to arrived, it shipped with a more powerful’ claim, and very Mario Kart wannabe (featuring make anyone stand up and handful of launch titles few Mega-CD 32X titles made it Chuck Rock and family) that shout ‘Wow!’ including Doom, Metal Head, onto the market, further utilised the enhanced sprite- Another bizarre release for the Virtual Racing Deluxe and Star damaging the already-stricken handling capabilities of the unit. 32X was Blackthorne (also called Wars Arcade. Promising games CD unit. FIFA 96 was also impressive, and Blackhawk). This Delphine- indeed, but the excitement It’s wasn’t all doom and boasted rotating camera angles inspired platform adventure was would only last for a short time. gloom, though, and there were a and improved graphics over the more than a little similar to As Virtua Racing was also few memorable titles. The 32X Mega Drive original. The actual Flashback and saw you as a available on the Mega Drive version of Mortal Kombat II was game engine was also tweaked, shotgun-toting hero fighting (albeit in a streamlined, less much more faithful to the arcade resulting in a better interpretation against an evil army of Orcs. The impressive form), this took some original than the standard Mega of the beautiful game. And, it game had previously appeared of the shine from the 32X Drive version, with a proper was only released in Europe too, on the SNES, but the 32X version
It may have been sans Sonic, and not quite what people were expecting, but Knuckles Chaotix was still a very enjoyable spin-off
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FEATURE: SOFTWARE | NEXT LEVEL GAMING
had improved graphics and Saturn rising slightly better audio. Following these brief With Sonic MIA, and no real big >Extra seedy distractions, people started to hitters available for the system, remember Sega’s big promise – the 32X was already on the way Sonic the Hedgehog 4. This was to the gaming scrapyard. This As we’ve mentioned briefly, the 32X didn’t only boost the power of surely going to be the 32X’s situation was only worsened by the Mega Drive, but could also be used in tandem with the Mega- killer app, a game that could do the rumours of several new CD. Only a few 32X Mega-CD titles made it out, though, and these for the system what the original systems soon to arrive on the included Night Trap, Fahrenheit, Corpse Killer, Slam City with Scottie did for the Mega Drive. And with scene, including Sega’s own Pippen, Supreme Warrior and Wire Head. As you may have already the promise of a 3D adventure, Saturn, which didn’t exactly guessed from the list of games, the extra power of the 32X was people just couldn’t wait. But endear Sega to the loyal fans employed to improve the quality of FMV movies, producing a clearer, wait they would… and wait… who’d already shelled out for the crisper, larger image. The actual games themselves were hardly and wait. 32X. The gaming public started to altered, with a few tweaks here and there. Again, it was something In fact, in a rather shocking lose faith in Sega, and the of a wasted opportunity. turn of events, Sonic never made company was seemingly happy to it to the 32X. That’s not to say go on about its business, ignoring the licence missed the 32X its all-important consumer base. completely, though. Realising This was compounded by inter- that Sonic was shunning his fans departmental squabbling, with and wanting to make things Sega Japan constantly thrusting right, the hog’s co-star Knuckles the Saturn to the front of its jumped onto the 32-bit scene priorities. Because of this, the with a new friend in tow – 32X was practically dead in the literally. Kunckles Chaotix was a water long before it was taken off Sonic game, only without Sonic, the shelves. Game releases were and it was 2D, not the much- thin on the ground, and with the The ‘controversial’ Night Trap on the Mega-CD (left), and the hyped 3D adventure people had ominous Sony PlayStation already enhanced 32X version been promised. This no doubt being hinted at in the press, the put a lot of people off, but it days of the Mega Drive were well than a straightforward blaster, the lack of a Sonic title, it’s no really shouldn’t have, as the and truly over. and certainly not comparable to surprise that the 32X was game was actually one of the Further games were released, Star Wars Arcade. doomed from the very more interesting and enjoyable with Spider-Man: The Web of Fire So, almost as fast as it had beginning. Not only was the 32X Sonic-related titles. As Knuckles, being the last American 32X arrived, the 32X was royally under-supported but it was also you befriended a new character release. On a par with the Mega- ditched by fans. Of the entire overpriced – £150 for an add-on called Chaotix. This purple CD version of Spider-Man (some production run (around 500,000), was simply too steep. Rubbing beastie was bound to Knuckles would say it’s even better), it only two thirds of the consoles even more salt into the wounds, by an invisible elastic band of was a fitting title for the US were sold. As with the Mega-CD, the console came packed with sorts. Using the two market to end on. Over in the key reason for the 32X’s no games, and many owners interconnected buddies, you had Europe, the 32X’s last release downfall was the lack of decent found they needed to buy a new to work your way through was DarkXide, a 3D space- software support. There were AV cable in order to use the 32X puzzle-filled levels, using the combat title programmed by simply not enough good games with their Mega Drives. springy bonds to catapult David ‘Elite’ Braben and featuring for the system, and hardly any Was it worth it? No, not by a Knuckles and Chaotix up walls, some impressive visuals. It’s also of them really produced 32-bit long shot. Even standout games over jumps and more. Switches worth a respectable amount of performance. Many games were like Star Wars Arcade and needed to be pressed by both money to collectors (around mere cosmetic updates, and Knuckles Chaotix couldn’t save it, characters, and there were £150-200), as it was only some were so poor they defied and only the most single- plenty of special graphical released in Europe. But sadly, belief. Add to that Sega’s own minded, hardcore Sega fans effects on show. the game itself was little more people arguing over projects and should have bothered. e
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To many, Robocop is a masterpiece of modern cinema, blending trendy 80s ultra-violence with stinging social commentary. Ironically, considering that the film takes wide swings at consumer culture and corporate greed, Robocop spawned numerous spin-offs – action figures, comics, cartoons, pinball tables and even a theme-park ride. But most will remember Ocean’s videogame, as it dominated the software charts throughout 1989. Retro Gamer revisits one of the most successful movie licences ever
he 1987 cinema little chance of seeing the film release of on the big screen. And besides, Robocop probably would you really want to? passed you by. Burdened with one of the most T Justifiably rated stupid titles in movie history, it 18 for strong bloody violence, sounded like something Troma your average Retro Gamer would churn out. The Running reader was probably still in full- Man looked much better, and time education when it opened, that even had Arnie in it. and unless your were an early But then the film was developer with a poor excuse released on video and it seemed for a moustache, there was very to catch fire over night. Suddenly every schoolboy wanted to see this violent sci-fi movie. Some of the older kids in the fifth year (you know, the ones who rode to school on a 50CC) had seen it and were thrilling youngsters with tales of toxic waste meltdowns and exploding extremities. Copies on tape were passed about, allowing the under age to finally see what all the fuss was about. Robocop was suddenly massive. The film’s cinema release certainly hadn’t passed Ocean by. Not one to miss a potential lucrative movie licence, the Brit publisher had snapped up the If you couldn’t get to see the 18-rated movie, Ocean’s rights to Robocop early on. It phenomenally successful could be argued that Ocean videogame was the next simply acquired any movie best thing rights that were in the offing,
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FEATURE: SOFTWARE | ROBOCOP >Stainless sequels
Having made back its limited US$13 million budget many times over, a sequel to the original movie was quickly rushed into pre- production. Robocop 2 was released in 1990, and Ocean naturally had the home versions ready to ship at the same time. Never one to innovate for the sake of it, Ocean’s Robocop 2 followed the same path as before, mixing action with puzzles, though there was more emphasis on platform-jumping the second time around In a clever piece of cross promotion, Ocean’s game promoted the (with Robo doing a very good Super Mario impression). The video release, and the video featured a trailer for the game game’s design wouldn’t win any awards, but Ocean’s commitment to the cause certainly would – the title appeared in time for and just struck lucky with excellent arcade game for its Christmas 1990 on almost every platform imaginable. Robocop, the year’s biggest home versions. Ocean’s eagerness to coincide with the film’s opening caught it sleeper hit. Whichever way you The arcade game (designed out with the delayed release of Robocop 3. The film was originally look at it, Ocean’s timing was by Yoshiyuki Urushibara) was a scheduled for a 1991 release, but Orion Pictures went under absolutely impeccable. Tying in side-scrolling shoot-em-up, with during post-production, so the completed film sat on the shelf for with the video release, the a couple of shooting-gallery over two years. But Ocean had the game ready to roll, and put it Robocop game hit the major sub-games thrown in for good out anyway in 1991. This time around, Ocean finally broke the 8-bit machines at precisely the measure. Ocean’s 8-bit versions mould with a vector 3D game for 16-bit computers (the 8-bit right time. Having seen the film loosely followed this successful computer and 16-bit console versions were once again a mixed on video (or at least heard all template, mixing a series of ‘on bag of 2D gaming styles). Games based on the Robocop vs about it, scene by scene, from patrol’ shooting levels with first- Terminator comic followed, and a next-gen console game appeared an excitable friend), kids person scenes, puzzle-solving in 2003, but none have managed to top the excellent Robocop 3 naturally wanted to jump in sections and the requisite boss for the Amiga (pictured below). Robo’s metal boots and clean battles. It worked so well that up the mean streets of Old pretty much every subsequent Detroit themselves. The game Ocean film licence would follow immediately hit the number one the same formula, though many spot and stayed there for the would argue that Robocop did it best part of a year. first and did it best. Ocean’s game appeared on a Your move, creep variety of computers and consoles, so whichever machine Robocop also invaded the you had tucked beneath your arcades, courtesy of Data East. telly, there was almost certainly In a somewhat bizarre twist, a version available for it. But Data East discovered that Ocean which were closest to the coin- had already attained the rights op, and which best recreated to Robocop. As a result, Data the feel and style of the movie East had to sub-license the that kick-started the whole rights from Ocean, then Ocean craze? Robert Mellor finds out was allowed to plunder the over the page >>>
Ocean added a photofit scene, in which you had to quickly ID Robo’s killers before the time ran out
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Original arcade version Sinclair Spectrum
Commodore 64 Amstrad CPC
Spectrum the Spectrum’s capabilities, this impossible to make it through hybrid of the other 8-bit port isn’t actually that much fun the drug factory on level five releases, containing a colour It was clear from the beginning to play. before the clock runs out, after scheme akin to the Commodore that Ocean wasn’t interested in which players face the equally and sprite designs not unlike making a direct copy of Data infuriating task of beating ED- those on the Spectrum. The CPC East’s arcade original, instead Commodore 64 209 with their bare fists. That version is satisfying and very opting to blend together action aside, the C64 version is playable – for once, Amstrad sequences from the coin-op Though not featuring nearly as undoubtedly the best of the 8- owners were not short-changed with puzzle elements and much speech as the 128K bit releases. when it came to a major variations in a style that would Spectrum version, the C64 coin-op conversion. become a hallmark of Ocean release more than makes up for movie licences. that with the definitive version Amstrad CPC In addition to the side- of Jonathan Dunn’s title-screen Commodore Amiga scrolling sequences featured in tune, boasting a much deeper In similar fashion to the other 8- the arcade, photofit sections are and menacingly resounding SID bit ports, the incarnation found An arcade-perfect port was implemented, as is a first-person chip arrangement. The in-game on the CPC changes the game expected from the Amiga, and shooter with players having to score is great as well, with dynamics by introducing several while this wasn’t achieved, apprehend a criminal holding a Ocean formulating its own new sub-games. The sound is Ocean’s effort certainly hostage. Overall, this version compositions rather than superb, featuring just as much didn’t disappoint. provides mixed results. Flawless imitating those found on the speech as the Spectrum, right Graphically it can’t compare presentation (including lots of coin-op, while graphics are down to the listing of the three to the glorious-looking coin-op speech) and Jonathan Dunn’s bright and clearly defined. The prime directives before the start version, but to the delight of well known 128K title music are difficulty setting, meanwhile, is of each new game. Jonathan arcade fans, Ocean decided to offset by an overly tricky of a more sensible nature, Dunn’s title music is present retain the level design from the challenge and some very making for a playable and once again, as is the in-game original rather than redesigning similar-looking levels. Despite enjoyable experience – though score found on the other the side-scrolling sections and being a great demonstration of some people still swear it’s versions. Visually, this game is a adding extra puzzle sections. On
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FEATURE: SOFTWARE | ROBOCOP
Commodore Amiga PC (EGA version)
Nintendo Entertainment System Nintendo GameBoy
the downside, this rendition is successful attempt to capture the shooter bearing little largely successful and provides saddled with an obtrusive border essence of the coin-op. Opening resemblance to its masterful a nice little interpretation of the that wastes too much of the with an embarrassing recreation coin-op (or the film, for that coin-op. The graphics are – playing area, along with of the arcade machine’s attract matter), Data East turned out a obviously – monochrome but rather tinny music and a mode, the game itself isn’t much rather pedestrian Nintendo packed with detail, while the disappointingly weak recreation better. Despite the quick pace of gamepak. Controls are music is excellent throughout of the arcade machine’s attract the scrolling, play proves both cumbersome, with the addition of (and is actually the version mode. Even more criminal is the boring and frustrating, with a ‘block’ action further confusing used in the famous Ariston TV fact that the Amiga version is sticky and unresponsive controls, matters. The graphics aren’t commercial). identical to the Atari ST edition, plus end-of-level baddies that particularly cinematic and an The gameplay is perhaps a raising the notion that while it’s take an eternity to defeat. incredibly grating interpretation tad sluggish, and the game is good, it could and should have Interestingly enough, Data East of the film’s main theme almost impossible to complete been great. took it upon itself to release a accompanies the action. But (as you only had a single life!), second PC port aimed squarely general presentation isn’t bad, but, overall, Robocop on the at the American market. Despite featuring comic-style cutscenes GameBoy is far more enjoyable PC improved EGA graphics, this is and adequate backgrounds, than Data East’s own effort for little better. though this is more Robocop the the NES. It terms of looks and Producing a convincing crappy TV series than Robocop design, it’s very close to the interpretation of the Robocop the classic movie. And what Spectrum version, and was arcade machine on a late-80s- NES exactly are allthose attack dogs probably ported direct from the spec PC was always going to be doing in the game? Spectrum as both machines use an uphill task, but Ocean did at The NES version is the furthest the same Z80 processor. least try. removed from the arcade Released in 1990, this was the Saddled with ugly CGA original, which is very surprising GameBoy last version to appear, and graphics and paltry PC speaker as it was actually produced by proves to be a fitting swan-song sound, the IBM port is a major Data East. Deciding to start from Limitations of the handheld not to one of the most successful disappointment and the least scratch and design a platform withstanding, this translation is movie licence deals ever. e
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | IMPORT GAMING
have included several RGB explanatory guides on this month’s coverdisc. Alternatively, you can modify a UK machine to run at 60Hz and have no region lockout. This is useful since it removes the worry about mains adaptors/ >Import transformers, ensuring TV compatibility. It can also prove much cheaper than having a foreign system shipped over. Also provided on the coverdisc this month are a series of easy- to-follow photographed guides that allow anyone with basic soldering skills to modify various consoles. For the more complex Serious retro enthusiasts enjoy good games, machines, we have included two different guides for your perusal. Gamingregardless of which country they come from. There are also general guides Unfortunately for many avid gamers, playing these for things like fixing an N64 pad games means moving into the daunting world of and re-bending the pins on cartridge connectors. importing. John Szczepaniak pulls on a pair on soldering If all this sounds complicated gloves to bring you the ultimate Retro Gamer importing and completely alien, then fear and modding guide for consoles not, because we’re going to guide you step by step through the incredibly easy process of veryone should a squashed image. Basically, any modification, and the same is experiencing games the way their import. It’s as older machines bought in the UK applicable the other way around. developer intended. But best of simple as that. will run in PAL 50Hz mode, which If you buy a foreign machine all is the fact that import games Whatever your is slower than American and you’ll need either a replacement are often cheaper than local E favoured genre or Japanese systems that run in power supply (which can be games, thanks to lower prices console, if you enjoy playing NTSC 60Hz mode. The fact bought from most electronics abroad, the stronger pound and console games, you simply must remains that America and Japan stores) or a step down the advent of online shopping. import at least some of your have it better than countries in transformer. You’ll also need to Different methods will suit games in order to have access to Europe or places like Australia have a fairly modern, RGB- different gamers, so read carefully the best the gaming world has to when it comes to console compatible TV in order to connect and work out which one suits offer. But there is a catch. gaming. To a degree, this has the system. All TVs bought within you best. Games bought outside of your been fixed since the launch of the the last five years should work, While every effort has been regional territory probably won’t Dreamcast, with some games but not all old machines are easy made to cover as many methods work on your native gaming allowing you to choose a faster to hook up – go to www.ntsc- as possible, this guide is limited machine, because companies 60Hz option, though this sadly uk.com for a good TV guide on by space and so further reading intentionally engineer their doesn’t apply to retro systems this subject. We cannot stress is always recommended before machines and games to be and games. enough, though, that there is no making a major purchase. This incompatible with each other, in Finally, there’s the constant better way to play videogames month’s CD has several links to order to maintain an iron-fisted problems with delayed release than with a dedicated RGB signal. various websites that look in grip on regional markets. Luckily dates (the UK has to wait on It is the only way to truly enjoy infinite detail at a variety of though, this lockout security can average over six months for games, and for this reason we further importing subjects. be easily bypassed, allowing you games to be released), botched to deflate these regional price localisations, poor cover art, and, balloons by legally importing in the worst cases, triple-A titles cheap games from abroad. This is that aren’t released in the UK at especially useful for those games all (such as Mario RPG). The that wouldn’t otherwise be sold solution to all of these gaming where you live, as many great ailments is importing. games simply aren’t released in the UK (and often the rest of Import-ant information Europe), so importing is the only way to play them. There are various options Pre-Dreamcast games sold in available to those wanting to the UK also run in the dreaded play full screen games and/or PAL 50Hz format, meaning they import titles. One is to buy an not only run noticeably slower import machine that, as standard, than American and Japanese will play foreign games and work games, but also have appalling at full speed. Most American black borders at the top and cartridge consoles will run You’ll find dozens of console modding guides on this month’s coverdisc, bottom of the screen, resulting in Japanese cartridges with a minor all kindly supplied by Pete Grimes and Lawrence Wright
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SNES: US/JPN machines will play each others’ games with a slight >Console modification. If you have a UK system, you can either use one of the myriad of adaptors that are modding available or mod it so that it can switch between regions and Hz (see coverdisc). The reason we add The following rough guides are written a switch instead of hard-modding for prospective UK import gamers it, is because some games (such as Super FX chip titles) will suffer from glitches when running at a >Nintendo connector edges for each type of different speed, while other titles pin configuration. check the speed and won’t work at NES: This is perhaps the earliest Thankfully, playing foreign all if it’s been altered. Be warned console to feature lockout. games on a locally bought, that, regardless of which method The only bypass complications frontloading UK NES is easy, as you’ve used, some games will be experienced here are down the mod available for this system tricky to get working – an example The now redundant NES to the sheer variety of methods is perhaps the simplest to of this is the infamous Mario GameKey – useless in light of the ridiculously easy NES that are available. perform – you just need to cut a RPG. For maximum compatibility, mod available The Famicom is exactly the single metal pin (see coverdisc). it may be best to have both a same as the NES, with one In most cases, this mod will also PAL and NTSC console. pin connectors are identical. But exception – a smaller 60-pin fix the NES’ blinking light Because there are so many, playing foreign games in the UK connector, and therefore smaller problem. At one time, there was examining every SNES adaptor is is tricky and, in all honesty, cartridges, compared to the NES’ a cartridge adaptor that allowed beyond the scope of this article, dedicated gamers will be better 72 pins. This difference makes American games to be played, but ask around and remember off importing an actual machine. the crossover between East and but these are now obsolete. that results can vary, particularly For those simply wanting to West slightly tricky. Buying the This mod won’t fix the with games that use special chips play one or two foreign games, original old Famicom is also not problem of the smaller Famicom (Starfox, Yoshi’s Island etc). the quick-fix method is a cartridge a good idea, as it can’t be run on carts, though. Some early US NES adaptor. Be warned though, that a UK TV without modification – games actually came with a Nintendo 64: As with the SNES, the games will still run in the but the sleeker AV model is fine. Famicom adaptor built-in, which US/JPN machines will play each slower 50Hz. This method also The simplest and cheapest was used by Nintendo to alleviate others’ games when slightly isn’t 100% reliable, since Nintendo method is to buy a Famicom Clone, demand for games when modified to accept the different regularly updates its security. If such as the recent NeoFami by production was low (allegedly, shaped cartridges – the actual you opt for this method, be sure GameTech (sold at Lik-Sang). These Stack Up always contains this). are compatible with modern UK TVs The carts can be opened and the and often come with a 72 to 60 pin adaptors freely used, but finding adaptor, allowing US/UK games to them is an unlikely and imprecise >Handheld be played on them. Adaptors can lottery. Again, it’s far easier to go also be bought for around £5 online and buy a Famicom pin online. In Brazil, it’s common to adaptor for about £5. find certain Famicom clones that Those lucky enough to own a hacking have both 60- and 72-pin top-loading NES will know that cartridge slots, making them there is no regional lockout, genuinely universal systems. These allowing for easy US/UK game Importing for handhelds is much easier adaptors aren’t really needed in importing. A small amount of as they come with a built-in screen and Brazil though, since some of the these systems were released in no lockout. The DS, GB, GBC, GBA/SP, carts produced there have two PAL regions. e-Reader, Game.com, Game Gear, Kids Gear, Lynx, NeoGeo Pocket/Color, PSP, Virtual Boy and Wonder Swan/Color don’t use region protection on any of their games, so you can import both the games and systems, and at much cheaper prices. Be warned, though, that machines that require mains charging, such as the SP, will come packaged with a foreign power adaptor. The only handhelds known to use regional lockout are the NEC PC Engine GT (JPN) and Turbo Express (USA), as well as the Sega Nomad. This is because they are actually just portable versions of the larger TV-based PC Engine and Mega Drive, so they retain all the security. There’s no easy way to bypass the Nomad’s security (though there is a 50/60Hz switch available), but just like its bigger console brother, early Mega Drive/Genesis games will work fine. There is a mod you can perform to remove the PC Engine’s portable lockout, but the unit has to be totally disassembled to do this, so it’s not recommended. The famed Famicom-adaptor-in-a-NES-cart, which can be Alternatively, you could just buy the Japanese GT – they offer a found in a few American NES games greater range of games and most of them use minimal text.
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | IMPORT GAMING
to buy the latest Plus 3 N64 you can play any region of game Passport adaptor, otherwise later and you can run those bargain games such as Sin & Punishment bin games bought locally at full will not work. You’ll also find that speed. Be warned that this the newer the N64 game you want regional mod is perhaps the most to import, the more likely you are difficult of all to do, because of to run into trouble, and some the different hardware variations, games require specific Action but the rewards are well worth it. Replay-style passwords. For the On the coverdisc you should find adaptors to work you need to plug at least two different methods, as a native game into the back of well as links to more. Be sure to them, and it has been reported do some extra research before that certain import titles require attempting this mod! a specific game to be attached. There is also the slight risk that Dreamcast: There are a variety of you could lose your saved data. different methods, including A benefit of buying an actual chipping and a bizarre one that NTSC system is that it can be involves removing the battery, RGB modded to present an ultra- but the easiest is to buy a PAL sharp image, which many claim console and use either a boot gives these older games a new disc or the Action Replay disc lease of life. (and a free AR demo that came The fabled and rare Datel CDX cartridge, used with an issue of DC-UK also >Sega to play imports on a PAL Mega-CD Master System: For the most part, Mega-CD: There can be some Again though, some games (mainly there is no regional lockout on this confusion when importing for this FMV) will not work due to the system. Some later games won’t system, due to the hardware timing issues between systems. work on systems from different variations. There are, however, This is another system for which regions though, such as Street two fairly simple solutions, you will only achieve maximum Fighter II from Brazil. All Japanese though neither of them is perfect. compatibility by having multiple SG-1000 Mark III games require a The first is to buy a CDX adaptor regions of system or playing the converter, though you have to cartridge, released exclusively in CDs on an emulator such as Gens. build these manually. As there are PAL territories and not to be very few import-only games, the confused with the machine of the 32X: Technically, there is no easiest option is to buy a cheap UK same name. Most normal games regional lockout here, and region system and then mod it to achieve will work correctly with this, but is decided by the Mega Drive 60Hz speed, as well as RGB. FMV games won’t. Some have system being used. However, timing issues – for example, the some games won’t run correctly Mega Drive: Regional lockout for US version of Night Trap is with a different Hz speed. In all the Mega Drive is software- not impossible to play on import. honesty, there were so few games hardware-based. This means that Most FMV intros will also skip, released for this system that it’s early games that lack regional causing them to be unwatchable, not really worth importing for. security will run on any Mega Drive though gameplay is often The UK system also has some system, while some later games unaffected (Sonic CD is an nice exclusive titles, like DarXide, will suffer from problems (such as example of this). Sound can also which RG reported on in issue 13. Streets of Rage 3). Interestingly, be fuzzy or distorted. many games have multiple The CDX cart is rare and Saturn: Perhaps the system that’s languages built-in, and will switch commands high prices, so an worth importing for the most, to the region of the system they’re easier and cheaper method is to since it died prematurely in the running on, like Mercs, for example. simply patch the games to suit West, but went on to receive In general, it seems that games your region. There are a few some of the best Saturn titles released during and after 1995 programs available for this, with around in Japan (especially if you feature additional security that the latest and best being ConvSCD are a shooter fan). There are two causes problems. To correct this (www.retrodev.com, and available main methods of importing. The you can either purchase an Action on last month’s coverdisc). To easiest is to buy a Datel 5-in-1 Replay cartridge that can bypass patch an import game you simply cartridge. These can be used for the security, or install a region rip it to your PC hard drive, then additional saved data, Action and Hz switch in the hardware. load the program, select the ISO Replay cheats, 1MB RAM Be warned that each model of the and ask it to patch the game for expansions, 4MB RAM expansions system will require a different the desired country (JPN/USA/UK). and the playing of import games. kind of modification (again, these The whole process is automatic. This method is incredibly useful are included on the coverdisc). In Afterwards, you just burn all the for games that require the extra truth, the Mega Drive isn’t an previously ripped files, and you RAM cartridges to work. Games essential system to import for should then have a game patched will still play in 50Hz though. since the majority of great to work on your region of system. A better, though more difficult, From top to bottom: examples Japanese games made it over to This is beneficial since the option is to install regional and of Japanese, American and UK the UK. The 60Hz system mod is originals can then be kept in Hz speed switches to a PAL cover art for the same game. indispensable, though. pristine condition in their boxes. system. This has two advantages: Which do you prefer?
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works). Be warned that some played in the UK because of the games won’t run with this colour frequencies intrinsically method, such as Rent-A-Hero tied into the coding for the No.1 which requires an NTSC machine. The 5200 is NTSC RF- system otherwise the screen out only, meaning you’d need to glitches terribly. Some games like have someone mod it to either Ikaruga will also only boot up in composite or better, then connect 50Hz when used with common it to an NTSC-compatible TV. boot discs such as Utopia and Interestingly, the 7800 is the only AR. The Utopia disc can be system with a security lockout, downloaded off the net free and which is strangely missing from easily burned. Look around and the European PAL version. NTSC decide which boot disc is best games will still glitch when suited to you. For UK gamers, a running, though, due to the PAL system is recommended due region-specific coding. to the cheap console and game prices, the high level of compatibility and the fact that >NEC most UK DC games have a 60Hz The NEC consoles are another A rare and expensive HuCard adaptor that allows Japanese option. Coupled with the many wonderful series of systems to games to be played on a US machine. At £100, you’re boot discs, these factors make import, hampered only by the better off buying a cheap system somewhere the PAL system the best overall many name changes and choice – easier and cheaper than hardware models that muddy the recommended. Power adaptors require this card typically have buying an NTSC system and waters. The PCE and TG16 play are easy enough to replace, enhanced graphics and sound, chipping it. NEC HuCards – tiny slabs of while the AV cables work well on but the card will only work on plastic that resemble credit cards. modern TVs. This would allow systems that can accept Japanese The Duo and various other CD- you to play the much larger HuCards. Some games (such as >Atari based add-ons and hybrid range of Japanese HuCard games Popful Mail) claim to be The Atari 2600, 5200, Jaguar and systems also play what are as well as all Duo games from compatible with the Arcade card Jaguar CD all do not have any known as Duo games. both regions. USA HuCards won’t in order to reduce loading times, intentionally implemented Surprisingly, the PC-Engine did work on it, though. Those but will run without one. When regional lockout, which is highly receive a limited release in desperate to play both regions buying a Japanese Duo system commendable. The Jaguar works France as part of sales testing. of card can either buy a rare be sure to buy one of the later very well and has been Rare, overpriced and PAL, these adaptor that allows Japanese models, since the earliest models confirmed to correct the output should be avoided entirely. games to be run on a US require different cards for of whichever game it’s running, Anyone seriously considering system, or simply obtain an different CD games. Be warned no matter what the region. This importing these gems from NEC American TG16 (which are fairly as well that a Duo-R only has means no TV problems should take the plunge and buy cheap today). one control port, meaning a whatsoever. The earlier systems, a foreign system. Buying a USA TurboDuo multi-tap will be needed for though, run into trouble due to But which one? That depends instead is fine, since it allows all extra-player shenanigans. their coding. As explained by Mat entirely on what you want to use the card and Duo games to be Allen, the 2600 is the only it for. A Japanese PCE requires played as well as the majority of console where the region of the RGB modding to run on a UK TV. Japanese Duo games, but there’s >SNK game determines the output For maximum compatibility, both a slight problem when it comes Much like the Atari systems, rather than the other way with games and TV sets, a to Japanese Arcade Duo games. A machines developed by SNK have around. Many NTSC games will Japanese combined system such very small number of Arcade Duo no regional lockout on them. Any display the wrong colours when as the TurboDuo comes highly games were released that require region of game will work on any an Arcade HuCard (which boosts NeoGeo system, be it AES, MVS the RAM) attached in order to or NGCD. The AES is the work – such as the ridiculously commercially released, more expensive shooter Sapphire: expensive system; MVS runs the Ginga Fukei Densetsu. Titles that arcade boards and is cheaper
The Japanese Duo-R plays JPN HuCards and all Duo CD games, but only has one control port
Do not be put off by scenes like this – most mods are relatively easy to do for anyone with basic soldering experience, and the guides are detailed
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | IMPORT GAMING
Loading times on the original hardware are atrocious, and many >Please note would advocate emulation for playing the CDs. They are While every effort has been made identical to their cartridge to ensure that all information counterparts, albeit with vastly contained here is accurate and up improved audio. There are a few to date, there is the chance that CD-exclusive games, though the some of it might have become cartridge systems have been far outdated, or may not work better supported. perfectly with your specific piece A few mods are available for of hardware or software. different NeoGeo systems, with Companies constantly update their varying difficulty levels. Extra regional lockouts, making it caution should be taken due to difficult to give definitive guides the extremely high prices of for all systems. these systems. A visit to Everything contained here has www.neo-geo.com is also been found to work in the strongly recommended for all majority of cases, and all methods your NeoGeo needs. given are only suggestions. Overly The NeoGeo MVS, a collector’s item which obscure, imprecise or complicated is more affordable than the AES techniques have been omitted. All though doesn’t look as nice; the far more affordable pricing >Sony information provided assumes that NGCD is a CD-based NeoGeo and the ability to manually select There’s a plethora of ways to play further reading will be done on system and comes in two things like language, blood imports on an original any given subject. When in doubt, different models. The AES had a level, etc (it plays the original PlayStation, from boot discs and check and ask. Most forums are limited release in Europe, but arcade games, after all). The many easy-to-install mod chips, happy to provide importing like the PC Engine, you may as general rule is that all games to the now infamous pen-with-an- information. As well as this, be well go all the way and buy a available for the AES are available open-lid trick. Most mod chips sure to check with the store where JPN/USA system from the start. for the MVS, and in some cases are easy to find with a little you are buying import devices. Depending on which region of there are even a few exclusive searching, and generally speaking Retro Gamer takes no AES system is used, the games MVS-only games. MVS games can they’re all good. Be sure to also responsibility for any damage will select a different language be converted to run on the AES, buy an RGB SCART cable to incurred during the attempt of any and censorship level though. There are also MVS-to- ensure a colour display. There has such modifications, so if your automatically. Due to the action- AES converters, but they have been talk about newer PSOne Saturn starts emitting black smoke based nature of these games, a been reported to be fairly releases not working with some or sets your trousers on fire, we’re Japanese system is highly unreliable. The downside to the chips, though this hasn’t been afraid we can’t help! recommended. The language MVS is that it tends to be an the case with any of the models Finally, some methods won’t cause any problems and open system with visible tested by RG. The new, described in these pages require you’ll be able to enjoy the components, though it’s possible remodelled PSOne has had the use of ‘mod chips’, which may games as they were intended – to find console-ised versions. several internal design changes in not be legally sold in some with full blood levels and other The NGCD system was meant an attempt to prevent mod chip countries, including the UK. We risqué content. to be an answer to the high installation, so use a boot disc. strongly advise you to check the But most NeoGeo collectors prices of the AES, and again Again, be sure to double-check laws where you live. will recommend an MVS due to there’s no regional lockout. before taking the plunge. >>> Composite RGB
Here we see the images produced by composite and RGB signals, on a regular Famicom and Famicom Titler respectively, highlighting the difference in quality
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>Great import-only games In order to whet your appetite, here are a select few titles released in Japan or the US that can only be played in the UK by importing B-Wings Earthbound Famicom, JPN SNES, USA With literally hundreds The total antithesis of most of the RPG clichés that people hate, of exclusively Japanese Earthbound is a breath of fresh air for anyone who has grown tired Famicom titles available, of the genre. Funny, surreal, light-hearted and filled with genuine trying to list a few of feel-good moments, the good ones is this is one of the difficult. Many greats few examples of a like Getsufuu Maden, genuinely timeless Moon Crystal and Layla classic and an RPG are practically unknown that breaks many of to Westerners. But B- the so-called ‘rules’. Wings is something that It was also created more people should investigate, being a rather special Famicom-only not by a traditional shooter. What makes it so enjoyable is its unique weapon system of games designer, 10 different wing configurations, each of which is useful in different but a Japanese situations. Visually basic, but with solid gameplay. copywriter.
Goemon games Yu Yu Hakusho Super Famicom, JPN Mega Drive, JPN/Bra While only the first was released in the UK, in a heavily butchered A truly phenomenal, form, a further four were released in Japan for the SFC. All of them simultaneous four- are wacky, crazy player beat-em-up, and incredibly Yu Yu Hakusho is good fun. Without strongly reminiscent doubt, this is one of Guardian Heroes of the best series and is clearly one to come out of of the titles that Konami and the inspired Treasure’s titles are worth later creation. importing. Apart Highly enjoyable in from the third single-player as an instalment, all can over-the-top and zany anime-styled brawler, it’s unstoppable in be completed four-player mode and one of the best multiplayer experiences easily in Japanese. available on the system.
Rent-A-Hero No.1 Popful Mail Mega Drive, JPN Sega CD, USA RaH is a typically bizarre Japanese RPG from Sega, often described A brilliantly funny game, based on the Falcom original and as the B-movie equivalent of gaming. Cheesy, hilarious and just developed by Sega, Popful Mail was localised by Working Designs plain weird, this is unique game that should have been released in and is regarded as one of the best games ever released for the Sega the UK. It plays like a mixture of an RPG and a beat-em-up, and has CD. Not surprising interesting features since it mimics the such as opening bank expert design of accounts and making Wonderboy: deliveries. It starts Dragon’s Curse. with you donning a Alongside battery-powered Snatcher, Sonic superhero suit then and the Lunar battling your father games, this is one who’s dressed as of the definite Godzilla. Says it reasons to own all, really. the system.
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Dracula X Chii no Rondo Sin and Punishment TurboDuo, JPN Nintendo 64, JPN Despite its high price tag, this is This fantastic Treasure still the ultimate Castlevania game shooter really should have before it was reinvented with been released abroad, but Symphony of the Night. Two thankfully is easy to selectable characters, branching import due to the massive pathways, massive bosses, fluid amounts of English control and multiple endings – not dialogue present. Make to mention some astounding sure you have the latest aesthetics – make for an Plus 3 Passport Adapter in unforgettable experience. Perhaps order to play it. Other an overused choice, but Chii no Rondo is a game every Castlevania notable niche mentions on the N64 include Wonder Project J2, fan simply has to play at some point. Dezaemon 3D and Neon Genesis Evangelion 64.
Princess Crown Metal Slug Saturn, JPN Saturn, JPN There are countless Japan-only Saturn games, and again it’s tough A commonly referenced choosing only two. Princess Crown is often overlooked by the but still excellent game. importing community in favour of more action-packed games due to Despite the high price its cutesy graphics. But for tag, and the need for a anyone who loves large, RAM cart, this Contra- colourful and fluidly animated style side-scrolling sprites, there’s no better game. It shooter is an absolute plays like a side-scrolling joy to play, backed by adventure with light RPG some of the smoothest overtones and hack ’n’ slash 2D animation ever seen. While the sequels are available cheaply on combat. A massive and highly other formats, this initial version is still a favourite among fans. enjoyable import. Well worth tracking down.
Panzer Bandit The Divide: Enemies Within PlayStation, JPN PlayStation, USA The PSOne is similar in a way A highly enjoyable to the Famicom in that it has Super Metroid clone an ocean of poorly that surprisingly works documented, though excellent, very well in full 3D. Japan-only games. Panzer Created by fans of the Bandit is listed here not only Nintendo classic, the because it’s a button-bashingly inspiration is clear to good brawler that blatantly see, from the energy- copies Guardian Heroes, but tank health bar to also because no list is complete without a highly obscure and rare power-up and opening-stage music. This is one title from the USA game to salivate over. While the West became obsessed with crude that has been criminally overlooked and ignored, though thankfully polygon games, Japan received beautiful gems such as this. can be bought cheaply today.
Tokyo Bus Guide D2 Dreamcast, JPN Dreamcast, USA A great deal more fun than Creepy and it may sound – there’s a cerebrally definite innate joy to be disturbing survival had from leisurely driving horror set in the people around Japan’s snowy Canadian main city. The complete wastes. The opposite of Crazy Taxi, the combination of task here is to follow the having to hunt for rules of the road, indicate food to survive, a unique combat engine and also the increasingly correctly, remember to close doors and announce the next stop, not depraved goings on make this one of the Dreamcast’s most to mention keep to the all-important time schedule. A game that has atmospheric titles, and one that sadly never reached the UK. Instead to be played to understand its charm. we had Blue Stinger…
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FEATURE: SOFTWARE | THE LAST NINJA
These vengeful eyes will be unmistakable to many. They belong to Armakuni, The Last Ninja, star of System 3’s phenomenally successful series of games. If you somehow happened to miss out on these classic titles the first time around, let Retro Gamer enlighten you. To tie in with this month’s coverdisc, and to celebrate the mobile phone version soon to appear on the new Play It Mobile label, we spoke to Last Ninja designer Mark Cale and programmer John Twiddy
he Last Ninja was puzzles and notoriously tricky originally released jumping sections, the game is way back in simply stunning. 1987 for the Thanks to the success of the T Commodore 64, game, a sequel was inevitable and later ported to the Apple II, and The Last Ninja 2: Back with PC, Atari ST, Amiga and others. a Vengeance was released in Selling in huge numbers 1988 on most major formats. worldwide, the game was a Taking place in modern-day New massive hit and a critical York (as Kunitoki managed to triumph. This wasn’t surprising, teleport you through time, the as the amazing isometric cad!), this chapter is considered graphics, excellent mix of by many to be the best in the combat and puzzle solving, and series, improving on the amazing music (by Ben Daglish original’s graphics and and Anthony Lees) couldn’t fail gameplay to produce a to impress. There really was smoother experience with better nothing quite like it on the C64. animation and environments. If you were expecting a clone of Puzzles are also a little more Data Soft’s Bruce Lee then you’d elaborate, with switches and certainly be surprised – other types of trickery added to pleasantly, of course. the mix. You even have to make As lethal ninja Armakuni, your trusty nunchukas out of a your goal is to infiltrate the pair of toilet chains, and the fortress of the evil shogun, New York cops can shoot you Kunitoki, in order to avenge the dead with a single shot. deaths of your fellow clan Following the release of Last members. Your journey takes Ninja Remix (a minor reworking you through wastelands, of Last Ninja 2 on 8-bit mountains and idyllic gardens, machines, and a welcome right into the depths of the release of the original game on fortress itself, and finally to a 16-bit systems), the third one-on-one showdown with chapter appeared in 1991, and And so begins Armakuni’s vengeful quest, in one Kunitoki. Filled with combat, upped the visual ante even of the very best games to grace the C64
more – but sadly it wasn’t thing of gaming legend, and the received quite as well as the isometric adventures of Armakuni first two. Going back to its roots and his fight against the evil in ancient Japan – with Armakuni shogun Kunitoki still endure to once again on the trail of the this day. All three games are still evil Shogun – Last Ninja 3 is as enjoyable as ever, and we’d more akin to the first game. But highly recommend any self- while it boasts better visuals, respecting retro fan to give them the gameplay isn’t quite as a go. But before you dip into the clean-cut as the first two and disc and fire them up, why not technical trickery takes centre discover the story behind the stage. It’s still a very good games? Retro Gamer recently game, though, and of course the interviewed both Mark Cale and music (this time by Reyn John Twiddy to find out more Ouwehand) once again pushes about the original series, the The first two games were published in the US by Activision, the SID chip to its limits. long-awaited Last Ninja 4, and which commissioned very different cover art The trilogy has become a the new mobile phone version…
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>Mark Cale interrogation Straight-talking System 3 boss Mark Cale came up with much more than just the idea for The Last Ninja…
Retro Gamer: You’re credited as you just go punch, kick, move, RG: There’s a rumour you a designer on the original Last punch, kick, move… The whole offered Ben Daglish a Mercedes Ninja. Presumably you came up idea was to solve a series of as payment instead of cash. Is with the characters and the back simple but realistic adventure that true? story, as well as the visual style puzzles. What we were and gameplay… essentially trying to do was MC: No, that’s full of shit. As far take the square cursor blob as I’m concerned, Ben Daglish is Some versions of Last Ninja 2 MC: Basically, the whole idea – from Adventure on the Atari 2600 a very talented musician, and it’s shipped with a throwing star the whole concept – was mine. and turn it into a fully interactive a shame he didn’t go much and a ninja mask, as well as the map and handbook The vision of The Last Ninja as 3D adventure. further with his music past the an isometric adventure was Amiga. I think a lot of people wanted, and some of the stores something I was very passionate RG: Although you were the boss live in the past, with all the refused to stock it. If you look at about. Obviously, the machines of System 3, would you say you myths and the mysteries, and it today, Health and Safety back then weren’t powerful were pretty hands-on? they come up with a lot of certainly wouldn’t allow us to do enough to create fully 3D games, stories. Ben was a very small what we did back then. so an isometric viewpoint MC: Hands-on then, hands-on part of the overall project, and seemed to be the right solution now. Pretty much all content it’s a shame people have to go RG: What was the idea behind to move away from the standard goes through me. I’m a very around and spread stories and the special box sets? side-scrolling platform games. passionate gamer myself, and rumours and bullshit. We wanted to do something a I’ve always looked at everything MC: As lots of people were bit different, something that from the view of a consumer. RG: Did the content cause any waiting for Last Ninja 2, we would really capture the problems? Back in the 80s, decided to do two packs – the imagination. And there really is RG: Ben Daglish and Anthony ninja was like a dirty word, standard pack and a limited- no better subject matter than the Lees’ music for the game is and nunchukas were cut out of edition pack. And it was just like idea of controlling a ninja, a great. Were they given any films. Were there any problems in Japan, with people queuing up spiritual warrior. pointers or were they just told it like that? around the block to try to buy a was a ninja game and went off copy before the shops opened. RG: So the plan was always and wrote the music? MC: We had no issues like that We still have the photographs. to fuse together different at all with the game’s content. gaming elements? MC: We gave all the musicians The only real problem we had RG: Last Ninja 2 was a massive a feel as to what we wanted. was with Ninja 2, where we gave success then, but there must MC: Absolutely. We wanted to We had some pieces we felt away shuriken stars in a limited- have been pressure to try to top combine an arcade experience were appropriate and gave edition box set, with a mask – the original. Is this what made with adventure elements. So it these to the various musicians unfortunately the shuriken ended you choose to open things up wasn’t like Double Dragon, where as a guideline. up a little bit harder than we with a modern city setting?
Last Ninja 2 followed The Terminator route, with Armakuni travelling through time and ppearing in a random location – a bandstand in New York’s Central Park
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FEATURE: SOFTWARE | THE LAST NINJA
we didn’t do so well. We sold about 3 million with that one. >Web of intrigue
RG: Tell us about the new mobile There’s a dedicated shrine to version. Is it a remake? Armakuni on the Web. Originally established by Kai MC: It will be a remake of the Spitzley in 1997, The Last originals, but obviously we’re Ninja Archive (http://lastninja. looking to improve the graphics. lemon64.com) features news, There’s a lot more we can do with reviews, walkthroughs, a mobile than we did back then. downloads, rare artwork, an active forum and more. It’s RG: And what’s happening with also home to The Last Ninja the fourth Last Ninja game? Is it Engine, a PC utility that still in development? lets you create your own Armakuni adventures with and formed his own company MC: We’ve scrapped the fourth the same look and feel as with Mev Dinc, which he game. I felt it wasn’t the C64 original. consequently left to rejoin representative of the market. For Meanwhile, for more System 3. He provided technical Last Ninja 4, I think you need to information about the new support for Last Ninja 3, but by do something that recreates that mobile phone version of no means do we feel that Ninja 3 kind of ‘wow’ factor of the The Last Ninja, visit Play It’s was the best of the series. original game, and in my mind it official site at www.just wasn’t good enough to wear that playit.com. RG: What do you feel went wrong badge – so why cash in on a with Last Ninja 3? great name? We may as well leave it as it is. MC: When working with such talented people as John Twiddy RG: Will there ever be a and Hugh Riley, there was fourth game? always a certain amount of magic Ninja 3 is perhaps best remembered for its amazing and things just flowed. With MC: There will definitely be a animated intro, surely the finest some other developers, they fourth game. It’ll either be a on any 8-bit machine were always trying to escape the retro version with updated nemesis of the past. I think the graphics but the same gameplay, MC: We always thought we had programmers on Ninja 3 were or something that’s going to be a great game on our hands, but always trying to outdo John an epic, like a Final Fantasy we never dreamed that the Twiddy, rather than make a great game but with a more arcade original game would be as game. It wasn’t as good as it feel. What would your readers successful as it was. This game should have been. expect from Last Ninja 4? I’d be was number one all over the interested to know that, because world, and at the time caused a RG: How did sales of the sequels sometimes you can’t recreate huge stir for what was a cottage compare to the original game? the past. industry. For the sequel, we wanted to place a spin on things MC: The original Last Ninja sold a so it wasn’t just the same as huge amount of units – I think it what had gone before. That’s reached 4 million on the C64. why we decided to shift the Ninja 2 came out right at the setting to New York, a typical point when the C64 was at its metropolitan hustle bustle-type most successful in terms of sales, city. It provided us with a and sold 5.5 million copies. If different graphical style and feel you take that into context, it’s to the game. estimated that around 20 million C64s were sold, so one in four RG: Last Ninja 3 featured a C64 owners bought the game. different development team. Was That was quite an achievement. this a conscious decision to Some people argue that Ninja 2 shake things up a bit? was the best of the three games, and I tend to agree with that. MC: No, it wasn’t. At that time, When the third one came out, the All that now remains of the fourth Last Ninja game John Twiddy had left System 3 Amiga had really taken off and is an Xbox packshot and a few screens
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working on the C64 version, so >John Twiddy interrogation there was a certain amount of discussion about ideas for the game. Atari ST and Amiga John had a hand in all three Ninja games, particularly the first versions were done as well, and two titles which he coded for the C64… we were sort of involved in those too – supplying source code and things like that – but in reality Retro Gamer: Did the isometric they were done by other viewpoint cause you any programmers. Co-ordinating it was programming problems? difficult, because in those days the code was very different. It’s JT: Yes, it did. In the early days not like you were writing in C. of computing you became used to doing everything in X RG: Can you recall what and Y, then suddenly there was happened to the versions of The height to think about with Last Ninja for the Spectrum, jumping and stuff. But it wasn’t Amstrad and Atari 800 that were that difficult because the advertised but never released? viewpoint is essentially 2D - it’s a cheat, really. JT: I can’t exactly remember. I know several versions were RG: The combat was very simple started but I don’t think they ever but it worked well. Did you ever got anywhere. They weren’t Steady now, steady now… The infamous jumping think of changing it, or adding sections from the original Last Ninja cancelled as such, but maybe elements to it? they were too challenging for reasonably challenging. So I suggested the modern setting, as the programmers. JT: What happened was that we have to admit I was the one there was only a certain amount produced loads and loads of responsible for making it so you could do with ornamental RG: The Last Ninja is widely different animations with lots of precise. I thought it looked really gardens and stuff like that. So regarded as one of the best C64 different weapons, then found we naff to be standing in mid-air, not once we took it to New York it games ever. Do you still feel couldn’t actually fit them all into on a stone, and so I thought it gave us quite a bit of variety. proud to be part of that? the Commodore 64. So what we would be more realistic to have ended up doing was trying to you fall in. I gladly accept now RG: The original appeared on the JT: I do, actually. Obviously at the create a sort of subset of all of that the jumping sections were C64 and a couple of other time I was very proud of it, and the animations to give a too tough, because when I went platforms, whereas the sequel I’ve been amazed by just how reasonable number of moves with back and tried it again years later cropped up on just about every much of a name it made. When I a reasonable number of weapons. I found it impossible! format going. Was it difficult to look back at it, having played it manage all the ports? on an emulator, I’m not quite sure RG: We seem to remember an RG: The game was very difficult why it was so spectacularly early Last Ninja screen in a throughout. Was this a conscious JT: With Ninja 2, Mev Dinc was received. I don’t know. I guess all magazine which showed design decision, or did it just working on the Spectrum version the right elements came together different weapons… work out like that? at the same time as I was at the time. e
JT: That’s right, though I JT: Because the graphics took up think that was probably mocked a lot of memory, we were very up [laughs]. concerned that we didn’t have quite enough screens – it varied RG: Many people remember the between 16 and 25 on each horribly difficult jumping sections, level. So we wanted to make like crossing the stepping stones certain that it took a fair amount right at the start. Can we blame of time to get through the you for that? individual screens.
JT: [laughs] Yes, I suppose you RG: Following the success of the can. I have to admit that Mark first game, how did you approach always kept complaining that it the sequel? was too pixel perfect, and the reality was that I found it quite JT: Each time you have to make it easy to finish the game, but I bigger and better and more The New York setting allowed graphic artist thought you had to make it sophisticated. Thankfully Mark Hugh Riley to create more varied screens
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ABRIEFHISTORY
PART3
By 1982, Nolan Bushnell was safely distanced from his once great Atari – peddling pizzas as a way to lure children into his gingerbread arcades – leaving a directionless corporate entity to re-educate its staff on the intricacies of heartless profiteering. Before OFVIDEOGAMESthe power suits came close to realising their own ineptitude, they had shown the broad side of a shovel to the back of Atari’s head and were busy burying it in a shallow grave. But it didn’t take long before a couple of perceptive apprentices would see the devastating market shakeout as a new opportunity. In this final instalment, Spanner Spencer charts the history of videogames from the spectacular videogame crash of 1983 to the release of Sony’s irrepressible PlayStation in 1995…
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | A BRIEF HISTORY OF VIDEOGAMES
fter the ROM which the Vectrex did beautifully cartridge revolution, – a clone of Atari’s arcade everyone and his stomper called Mine Storm was sister wanted to built into the system. Only A board the around two dozen games were proliferating console bandwagon. released for the Vectrex during Management at Mattel was its working life, yet they were initially unwilling to go up unique enough and of sufficiently against Atari and poured its high quality to generate an active resources into the handheld following that’s thriving today electronic games line. This proved more than ever. to be massively popular and, by Atari finally made it around to 1980, the company felt confident the VCS update that Nolan enough in its status within the Bushnell had suggested in 1978, industry to have a bash at in the shape of the ill-fated 5200 console production – and so the console. Developers were so Intellivision was born. unhappy with the controllers that Rather than go head to head they actively tried to stop the with the big boys, Mattel steered unit from going to manufacture away from arcade games and until improvements were made. aimed towards the sports- Ray Kassar (Atari’s CEO) ignored simulation market base it had their pleas and pushed ahead built up with the handhelds. with the unsatisfactory hardware. Before long, Mattel had licensed Despite its obvious technological every conceivable sport from its improvements over the VCS respective leading association, (remarketed as the 2600 after the luring a whole new range of 5200’s release), it cost more and gamers who would otherwise looked worse than its closest have to go outside and play rival, the ColecoVision. those sports for real. Coleco still had one or two Taking a step back from Ralph fingernails left after the market Baer’s established concept of troubles in 1978 and was just playing games on a TV set was managing to hold on by following the unique Vectrex system from Mattel’s example – cashing in on General Consumer Electronics the profitable, if short-lived, (taken over by board game giant handheld craze. Coleco’s deft use This 1980s ad family are clearly delighted with their new Vectrex arcade system Milton Bradley, which distributed of the handheld market raised the unit across Europe). Released enough money for it to develop a at the 1982 CES show, this console capable of playing arcade- something spectacular to find its Nintendo of America especially so distinctive console sported a quality games. Sideline markets of way onto the shelves. It couldn’t – and while all the console built-in, portrait-oriented 9in tabletop games and third-party afford to compete with Atari for jockeys were queuing up to vector display allowing for a software made the company a the big-name arcade licences, but license the gorilla, Coleco was the distinctive, clear definition not very alluring business partner for Coleco seemed adept at picking one to bag it with the promise of found in raster-based graphics. Its coin-op manufacturers wanting to out lesser-known, highly playable taking the title to multiple only real shortcoming was a lack maximise on licensing revenues. titles that made superb home formats. Coleco’s deal was for a of colour, so designers returned When the ColecoVision was conversions, all the while six-month exclusive licence, and to the time-honoured idea of released in 1982, the 2600 building excellent relations with the first home version was to be screen overlays. already had a back catalogue of coin-op developers. the flagship release packaged Naturally, any vector-based over 100 games and Mattel had Despite the Donkey Kong with its brand new console. console would have to supply its ‘sporting’ corner of the market phenomenon that had hit the Shrewdly, it held off any third- Asteroids-style games if it nicely wrapped up, so the arcade world, Nintendo was still a party ports to the 2600 or wanted to make the living rooms, newcomer would have to do relatively small company – Intellivision, using Donkey Kong
Much to Atari’s chagrin, an expansion module was available that enabled the Colecovision to run the massive back catalogue of VCS games
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to establish its machine before As of 1982, Atari defector a fast turnaround of code. With a horrendously jerky and the screen cashing in on the franchise. Activision had surpassed its old deal like that, he would cash in flickering so bad the ghosts would premier as the fastest-growing even if the game bombed. evaporate for most of the game. Pac-Man chokes company in American history. Due to the preordained Still, 7 million cartridges left the Desperate to reclaim its title, success that anything with ‘Pac- shelves in April 1982 before word In 1981, an Atari executive called Atari wasted absolutely no time Man’ written on the box would of its comprehensive unplayable- Joe Robbins had entered into a in churning out the most eagerly bring, the drunken lemming ness spread. This kind of legal settlement with Namco, awaited home console game of working the controls in Atari’s perfunctory trash was becoming swapping his company’s cow for a all time – the 2600 version of head decided it should indicative of videogames in handful of Japanese magic beans. Pac-Man. In an effort to hasten manufacture 12 million cartridges, general, and not just from Atari. Although the apparently duff deal production, development was even though market research had The industry was so proliferate cost him his job, he would later farmed out to programmer Tod suggested there were, at most, 10 that manufacturers were turning be venerated when one of those Frye with the promise of royalties million 2600 units in use. out anything and everything as beans grew into the rights to a being paid on manufacture – Frye’s Pac-Man didn’t chomp, it long as it was shaped like a game home version of Pac-Man. rather than sales – if he provided sucked. The stilted animation was cartridge, and the more junk they >Monkey business
As the ColecoVision boxes were of merchandising licences by had successfully taken RKO the long line of licensees being sealed and the this time, were likewise Pictures to court claiming the (including Coleco) it had warehouses stocked, a Tiger instructed to discontinue all image and story of King Kong to bullied out of business. Electronics employee saw the marketing of Donkey Kong and be over 40 years old, and Nintendo was also offered Donkey Kong arcade machine produce an immediate account therefore in the public domain, the choice of claiming either on a trip to Tokyo and decided of all profits from the title, or all so it could remake the movie damages or the licensing fees it would make an excellent face harsh prosecution. without buying any rights. Universal had collected from licence for one of Tiger’s But the Japanese company The case quickly fell apart and Tiger Electronics. They chose to handheld games. did not back down so easily. Its Universal were ordered to pay take the latter – publicly But instead of asking legal associate for Nintendo of legal fees and lost revenues embarrassing Universal Studios Nintendo, he mistakenly America, Howard Lincoln, had not only to Nintendo, but to for its trouble. approached Universal Studios, proven himself very capable owners of the King Kong when it came to licensing copyright, for permission to agreements and could see no produce a portable version of its reason why reason Nintendo arcade game. The perplexed was accountable to Universal lawyers at Universal undertook a Studios. For one thing, he had copyright search, uncovered no been very cautious about the reason why Tiger could not be agreement with Coleco and granted a licence to produce a written a clause absolving King Kong game, and approved Nintendo of any liability from it. Tiger then set about using legal action brought about by their new licence to make a third-party licences. handheld version of Nintendo’s Universal was furious that Donkey Kong arcade machine! some upstart Japanese company The search also brought had the temerity to say no to Universal to soon discover the them, and began throwing its new agreement Coleco had with many legal toys out of its Nintendo to license its Donkey gargantuan corporate cot. On 29 Kong title. After a brief stint of June 1982, it filed a suit against decidedly inadequate research, Nintendo for infringement of its the studio demanded that Coleco copyright ownership of King immediately cease all use of the Kong by virtue of agreement Donkey Kong franchise as it with RKO Pictures, producers of clearly infringed on their the original 1933 movie. ownership of the title, character Universal then proceeded to and story of King Kong. contact all Nintendo’s licensees Panicked by the awesome legal and threaten them with similar weight of Universal bearing legal action if they did not down on the eve of the immediately discontinue their ColecoVision’s launch, the association with the games console manufacturers made a manufacturer – and most of rash agreement to pay royalties them promptly did. to Universal on its forthcoming When the case went to court, Donkey Kong revenues. Lincoln hurled a legal barrel at Nintendo, who had made Universal that knocked it clear around US$180 million from off its lofty platform. It Despite Universal’s chest-beating, Nintendo delivered the coin-op and set up dozens transpired that in 1975, Universal a hammer blow to the studio in the courts
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | A BRIEF HISTORY OF VIDEOGAMES
Famicom; if the 7800 failed, it had Nintendo’s machine to fall back on. Atari couldn’t lose. Kassar, who was still being dogged by accusations of insider trading after selling his Warner stock, had a tiff with Nintendo after seeing Coleco’s new home computer, the Adam, playing a version of Donkey Kong at its launch. Coleco owned the videogame rights, but not the home computer rights, which were Atari’s. By the time negotiations were back on track, Kassar had jumped from Atari before he was Pac-Man on the 2600 was a rushed travesty. The rot was beginning to set in… pushed, and the licence agreement never happened. turned out, the more consumers ground – did an elaborate tap same devastation, though the Atari had been decimated by they turned off. dance on the minefield that American manufacturing standstill the previous Christmas washout But Atari’s big guns were not had become the videogame after the 1982 Christmas sales and the new CEO, James Morgan, concerned, as Steve Ross, head industry. People stopped buying bloodbath certainly didn’t help rationalised the company with a of Warner Communications (Atari’s games. Completely. keep customers interested, and chainsaw. Thousands of jobs parent company), had made a To be fair to Warshaw, the the square eyes of the world’s were lost and the business went deal with Steven Spielberg to industry had been struggling all gaming community turned toward from occupying 49 buildings to bring his irksome little alien E.T. year, though its troubles were the increasingly affordable home just four. to the 2600. He promised somewhat masked by the computing market. Coleco faired equally badly. Spielberg in July of 1982 that the immense wealth of the controlling The Japanese market was Arnold Greenberg was planning to cartridge would be on the shelves corporations. The decline in dominated overnight by the still launch his home computer for Christmas. The whole deal, arcade spending coupled with the burgeoning Nintendo with the brainchild, the Adam, when the including a guaranteed US$25 demand for newer, more release of its Famicom console in line of soft toys the company had million royalty cheque from the expensive machines meant the 1983 (for details about this recently purchased took the toy game, was a sweetener designed small businesses who kept a system, see Retro Gamer Issue market by storm. Cabbage Patch to temp Spielberg into making coin-op in the corner had 16). Bearing in mind its Kids were a massive hit, and films for Warner. stopped turning a profit – and rid difficulties breaking into the US At the end of July, when the themselves of their machines. arcade scene, Nintendo decided 2600 development team at Atari Software companies were rushing to contact Atari to help establish heard they had to have an E.T. arcade conversions and producing its new console internationally. game out for Christmas, none of substandard in-house Ray Kassar was approached with the programmers would touch the developments – planting a seed an offer to sell the Famicom project. Ray Kassar fell back on of doubt in people’s minds as to under the Atari label everywhere his buddy Howard Scott Warshaw the worth of home consoles – except Japan. What Nintendo to get the hopeless venture under and as competition for licences didn’t realise was that Atari was way. The pair had a very amicable became fiercer, the price of developing the 7800 console history, as Warshaw’s previous cartridges rose in direct (successor to the 5200) at that games (Yar’s Revenge and Raiders proportion to the declining very moment. If it had the licence of the Lost Ark) had both been quality of the games. Several to sell the Famicom as well, it excellent sellers. An undisclosed large suppliers of videogames would effectively own the agreement was reached and began reducing, and even competition – if the 7800 did Warshaw wrote the game in cancelling, their orders. well, it could destroy the under five weeks – no small feat. In December 1982, Atari But Warshaw’s E.T. was so bad, it suddenly back-pedalled on its actually caused the videogame predictions for a 50% sales industry to implode. increase in the fourth quarter, By some miracle, Atari putting out a revised estimate of managed to make good on Steve 10-15%. The now infamous Ray Ross’s loopy promise and have Kassar sold a chunk of his E.T. on the shelves for Christmas. Warner stock only minutes before Inexplicably, he ordered his announcing Atari’s anticipated minions to manufacture 5 million financial problems, causing a units straight off the mark – this panic on the Stock Exchange that was an unheard-of quantity for an led Warner’s value to drastically untested game, and the few that plummet, further decimating the actually sold were soon returned. videogame business. The shoddiness of the game – destined to save the industry, yet Surviving the fallout surmounting to nothing more than dropping a badly drawn The Japanese (and European) Unfortunately for Atari, few gamers were stupid alien dwarf into holes in the markets didn’t suffer quite the enough to answer E.T.’s call for aid
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Following the fallout in America, Nintendo and Sega quickly entered the home console market with the Famicom and SG-1000 systems
despite offering a free Kid to electronics division completely. notes required to keep the to go it alone. anyone who bought a Magnavox, despite giving birth company afloat were too much Nintendo of America’s ColecoVision and a game together, to the whole industry, never for Warner, which decided to cut President, Minoru Arakawa, its gaming market was lost. managed to recapture its former its losses. Atari’s consumer games decided to rename his machine When Coleco rushed the Adam glory. The G7000/Odyssey2 division was sold off to none the Advanced Video System to the shelves, it was riddled initially sold well across Europe other than Jack ‘Darth’ Tramiel in (AVS), a little more in keeping with problems and the majority of and in Brazil, but its follow-up mid-1984. Tramiel had just been with established Western trends, the astronomical profits garnered console, the G7400, was so short- pushed out of Commodore for his and attempted to release it at the from Cabbage Patch Kids were lived that for over 10 years ‘business’ practices, and wanted 1985 January CES. No one went squandered trying to keep the collectors weren’t even sure it had to use Atari to jump-start his new near the Nintendo stall, for fear computing division afloat. Within existed. Eventually, this Holy Grail line of powerful, affordable home they might catch some kind of two years, both gaming and doll of collectable consoles began computers. The coin-op branch fatal videogame disease. Arakawa sales dried up, and Coleco was turning up across Europe, but was sold off to Atari’s former realised the unit must be touted set adrift. very few dedicated software titles business partner, Namco. In the as something other than a Mattel were perhaps the only for this machine were ever made. space of 12 months, the entire videogame system. For the July company with the potential to In 1983, while so many other videogame industry had show, the AVS was dubbed the survive the crash, and would have companies were pulling out and vanished, and all that was left Nintendo Entertainment System, done if it hadn’t been for poor shutting down, Sega decided to was a black hole of avarice. and was given a back seat to two marketing decisions. The enter the home console fairly superfluous peripherals (a Intellivision performed well in campaigns with the SG-1000. Due Rising sun light gun and a moderately terms of game sales, but in an to Nintendo’s stranglehold on the interactive robot) so it could be effort to compete with the home market, this advanced The Famicom had tried and failed sold as a new toy, rather than a downwardly spiralling cost of system never found a foothold, to enter America via the Atari videogame. Interest picked up. hardware, Mattel absorbed and only made it off Japanese route just as suppliers had Next he took the product to significant losses in order to put shores as far as Australia started lynching anyone launch in New York, the its machines into the shops. The (distributed by John Sands) and mentioning the words ‘video’ and notoriously difficult entertainment more it sold, the greater those New Zealand (distributed by ‘game’ in the same sentence, and capital of America, and offered a losses, and by the time Coleco’s Grandstand Leisure). it was 1985 before Nintendo once risky sale-or-return option to ugly dolls were of no more interest Naturally, things didn’t sit still again tried to spread the word of suppliers for the Christmas to kids, Mattel had dropped its at the tumultuous Atari. The its gospel. This time, it decided season. This was a bold move
After successful debuts in the East, Nintendo and Sega respectively launched their NES and Master System consoles throughout the rest of the world
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | A BRIEF HISTORY OF VIDEOGAMES >Nintendo’s insecurity system
In an effort to control its game really only one console to undoubtedly file when Tengen appeared before a judge, Atari system and retain its prestigious develop for – the NES. Nakajima released its unauthorised NES Games claimed that the Rabbit image, Nintendo was very strict approached Nintendo and asked games. Atari Games was poised program was written in a with its licensing agreements. for a special licence that to steal the NES system out from different language to the 10NES Licensees were only allowed to precluded the five-game, under its creators. and only reproduced certain produce five NES games a year exclusive stipulation, since he By this time, Nintendo was no elements of the security system and couldn’t port those games to was the only way Nintendo stranger to the legal system and to allow functionality and other systems for two years after would get access to Atari’s coin- filed a countersuit against Atari interoperability of its games. their initial release. op library. Nintendo refused, and Games for breach of contract. It Although the NES console To enforce these policies, the Nakajima accepted the standard also approached retailers and hardware was not protected by NES console was fitted with a licence anyway. warned them they would be open any copyrights or patents, the security system called the 10NES But for almost a year prior to to legal action if they continued 10NES system (and its code) program. The base unit had a taking a Nintendo licence, Atari to stock Tengen products. Since was. Nintendo showed the court master chip that sent a random Games had been attempting to Nintendo was considerably more how the Rabbit program code to the cartridge’s slave reverse-engineer the 10NES of a meal ticket for the shop reproduced aspects of the 10NES chip, fitted during manufacture, program in the hope of owners than Tengen, most code that were not necessary for which returned an initialisation circumventing it and gaining complied without consternation. interoperability and brought to key and allowed the game to access to NES customers without This knocked Atari Games off light Atari Games’ illegal play. Whenever a third party the restraint of the exclusivity guard and left it with a huge acquisition of the 10NES source developed a new game, Nintendo policy. For quite some time, Atari backlog of expensive inventory code from the copyright office. would take that game, put it in a Games’ attempts to break the code while the case found its way Atari Games did not dispute cartridge containing a 10NES chip were unsuccessful, until it was around the slow court system. the claims against them and the and sell it back to the developer finally cracked by the lawyers, When the case finally court ruled in favour of Nintendo. who could then market it. This rather than the engineers. system meant Nintendo gleaned Atari submitted a false profits on manufacture, rather application to the copyright than sale, of third-party software. office requesting a copy of the 10NES code for an upcoming Power of Tengen lawsuit Nintendo had supposedly filed against it. This When Warner sold Atari to source code was then used to Namco, the new owner soon write Atari Games’ own version decided the deal was not as of the security program, dubbed lucrative as it had hoped and the Rabbit. Before manufacturing offloaded the old coin-op division any non-licensed games, Atari onto one of its American-based Games filed suit against employees, Hideyuki Nakajima. Nintendo for improperly using Nakajima then formed the Tengen its patent to create a monopoly, branch of Atari Games through demanding US$100 million which they could produce home damages in return. videogames. The 2600 had seen It’s unlikely that Nakajima better days, the 7800 wasn’t ever expected Nintendo to pay Tetris spelt double trouble for Atari, with the courts ruling making any headway and Sega up. This suit was a meant as a that Nintendo owned the console rights to the game and wasn’t selling licences for the pre-emptive strike against the that Atari had breached Nintendo’s licensing contract by Master System, so there was injunctions Nintendo would releasing unauthorised NES games
and could easily have been the but had also established unable to achieve any impact cap in Russia a mathematician downfall of Nintendo of America. throttlehold licensing contracts with the new machine, and after working at the Moscow Academy Sales were good – though not with most third-party developers two years of disappointing sales of Sciences had been inspired great – but more significantly, prohibiting them from Sega took the product back to by ‘pentominoes’ to create a most shops decided not to return programming for other systems attempt better market penetration computer game on the Computer their unsold stock, and kept it on while under agreement. The dire itself. European and Brazilian Centre’s Electronica 60 system the shelves. Nintendo had begun shortage of Mark III games while trading turned out to be (not dissimilar to the PDP Steve resuscitating the industry. the Famicom was getting its excellent, as the Nintendo’s Roberts had written Spacewar Sega, meanwhile, followed its boots firmly under the table advertising drive had been less on). His name was Alexey SG-1000 Mark I and Mark II meant international markets aggressive there than in the US. Pajitnov and his game was consoles with the new Mark III, a would be Sega’s only hope. Officially sanctioned Master called Tetris. technologically superior machine The Mark III was cosmetically System clones are still on sale in The name Tetris was derived to the NES, which had undergone redesigned into the Sega Master Brazil to this day. from the game pieces that drifted market tests in Japan and was System, and toy giant Tonka was down the screen called deemed ready for global sales. enlisted to handle the US launch The Mathemagician ‘tetrominoes’ – geometric shapes Nintendo’s few months’ head and distribution. It would have consisting of four squares start had not only seen the been an uphill battle regardless, While the NES was showcased at connected orthogonally. With the Famicom invade Japanese homes, but Tonka seemed unwilling or the July CES, just over the ice help of 17-year-old Vadim
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rights dependent on a back fact that the system was actually hybrid 8/16-bit processor (NEC payment for licences he had a computer, as dictated by the marketed the PC Engine as a 16- already sold. This was just as Japanese name Famicom (Family bit console, although it actually both Mirrorsoft and Spectrum Computer) and the presence of used two 8-bit processors with a Holobyte sublicensed what they an expansion slot. Nintendo’s 16-bit graphics chip) and went thought were their rights to the assertion (backed up by the down a storm in its native Japanese market. Mirrorsoft sold Russians) was simply that neither country. It was renamed the the Japanese PC and coin-op Mirrorsoft nor Spectrum Holobyte TurboGrafx-16 for the Western rights to Atari Games (formerly ever actually owned the rights market, and was released in 1989 the arcade division of Atari), they subsequently sold. Before to a fairly indifferent reception. As while Spectrum Holobyte sold the the trial had even properly often happened, the translation exact same licences to an begun, Judge Smith deemed from East to West did not dictate entrepreneur called Henk Rogers Nintendo’s case to be so strong similar market trends, and NEC of Bullet-Proof Software, who was they would certainly prevail, and failed to sufficiently answer the Alexey Pajitnov, the man behind closely affiliated with Nintendo. Tengen was forced to remove its aggressive advertising campaigns Tetris, the most popular Infighting began between the cartridge from sale. of Sega and Nintendo. videogame ever created two Mirror Group companies, and When Nintendo finally secured Many of NEC’s major game Big Bob Maxwell personally its rights, it was already 1989 and successes in Japan were RPGs, and Gerasimov, the game was ported settled the dispute by siding Tetris came at just the right time converting them to English was too to the IBM PC and soon spread with Mirrorsoft. And now that to become the flagship for its mammoth a task, so poor-quality around Moscow. Atari Games owned the Japanese next revolution. Incidentally, titles began slipping through just The PC version migrated as far rights (or thought it did), it went Alexey Pajitnov never made a to shore up the games library. as the Institute of Computer on to sub-sublease the coin-op penny on his controversial game Within two weeks of the Science in Budapest where it was rights to Sega and the console until all rights sold by ELORG TurboGrafx’s CD-ROM attachment converted to the Apple II and and computer rights to Bullet- reverted to him in 1996. By that appearing in the shops, Sega had Commodore 64. It was the Proof. Phew! time, he was living in America and stepped up the competition with Hungarian versions that Robert Bullet-Proof’s Henk Rogers had formed the Tetris Company, the first true 16-bit console, Stein, president of English realised that no one yet owned and finally began collecting on dubbed the Mega Drive. software house Andromeda, saw the handheld rights to Tetris and licences for the most popular Since the days of the Master on a visit to Budapest. He made flew out to ELORG to make the videogame ever made. System, Sega had built up a huge immediate moves to become deal himself. To help his case, he arcade following with its excellent involved at the ground level. presented them with his new NES New ages coin-op titles, which now had the Tracking down the game’s version of Tetris. ELORG was designer was no small task, so adamant it had never sold any The market was finally stable, Stein decided to begin selling such licence. Rogers explained and the world wanted licences for Tetris before he the complicated paper trail by videogames once again. The actually owned them. Initially, he which he had come to purchase industry reached the same point sold computer game rights to the rights from Atari, and not it had been at in 1982; people Mirrorsoft in Europe and only negotiated the handheld were crying out for great games, Spectrum Holobyte in America – license he had set out for, but by but losing interest in the two companies both owned by bringing Nintendo into the available systems. pension-pilferer Robert Maxwell. dialogue, also obtained the NEC (in association with Russia was still new to the worldwide videogame rights. Hudson Soft, a software computer business (especially the Atari Games could not publish developer for the NES from games industry) and copies of home videogames under the Atari Hokkaido) was the first to appear Tetris were handed around quite name, as this was now owned by with a next-gen machine – the PC freely, although these were – Jack Tramiel, so the Tengen Engine (no relation to IBM). technically speaking – pirate banner was created for the home Released in late 1987 in Japan, copies, including the different market (following Nolan Bushnell’s this hot new machine housed a versions now appearing in lead, Tengen is a word from the Hungary. In Soviet Russia, private Japanese strategy game Go, industry was not allowed and the meaning the centre of the board). only means by which software Tengen was ordered to could be exported was through a immediately recall its videogame Government organisation called version of Tetris that had just Elektronorgtechnica, or ELORG. been released to exceptional After tracking down Pajitnov, sales. Big Bob once again decided Stein flew to Moscow to finalise to get involved. Using his media- arrangements. Unprepared for the empire connections, he tried to intricacies of dealing with the draw both the British and Soviet Soviets, Stein wound up coming governments into the fray, and away without any of the rights he reportedly received a personal had already sold for the computer message from Mikhail Gorbachev games that were hitting the telling him “not to worry about shelves at that very moment. these Japanese” – which turned Stein threatened to make an out to be bad advice. international incident out of the When the whole debacle went whole thing, so ELORG agreed to to court, Atari Games based its ‘A New World from Russia’… ‘official’ versions of Tetris were released allow him the computer game claim to the NES Tetris on the for every popular format of the day
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | A BRIEF HISTORY OF VIDEOGAMES
promise of appearing in homes. the same price as the To try to break Nintendo’s forceful competition’s consoles. But in control over third-party terms of commercial costs, the developers, Electronic Arts was prices were quite acceptable and drafted in for the Mega Drive’s Neo Geo became well established opening games. in the arcade. EA founder and CEO, Trip It had been apparent for many Hawkins, had never entered into years about how closely related Nintendo’s strict licensing the commercial and home agreements as he felt the NES videogame scenes were, with was unable to do justice to EA’s arcades setting trends that impressive computer games. By console manufacturers would the time the final scores were in then invest in for the home and Nintendo was dominating the market. Capcom, a small but market, Electronic Arts had successful coin-op developer, missed the 8-bit boat and was could trace the majority of its keen not to do the same with the successes to just two engineers: new 16-bit scene. Tokuro Fujiwara and Yoshiki Either by coincidence or Nintendo’s masterstroke was to bundle the Okamoto. Between them, the pair design, Sega approached original GameBoy release with Tetris… used a friendly sense of struggling campaigners Atari competition to create some of the Corporation (the old consumer the company’s first big mistakes. In response, Sega released the most successful arcade titles of division now owned by Jack But its next endeavour would Game Gear (effectively a portable the 80s (Commando, Ghosts ‘n’ Tramiel) with an increasingly more than take the pressure off – Master System), and Atari acquired Goblins, 1942…). familiar offer: did they want to the return of the handheld. the Lynx (developed by ex-Amiga When Okamoto reportedly saw handle international manufacture It had been a good 10 years engineers at Epyx, who left the Technos’ Double Dragon II, he set and distribution of a new since handhelds last captured the company once dealings began with his team to the task of creating a console? But Tramiel’s ruthless imagination of the gaming Atari). Despite its hefty price tag, sequel to the moderately nature clashed badly with the community, mainly in the form of the Lynx was the superior system, successful one-on-one beat-em- Japanese frame of mind, and single-game, fixed-display devices though Atari’s poor reputation and up, Street Fighter. negotiations quickly fell part. such as Mattel’s LED portable lack of advertising made for a He had the notion of simplifying After their abortive dealings with sports titles and Nintendo’s Game tragically short lifespan. the control system while Tonka, Sega decided there was & Watch series, invented by Even the PC Engine was maintaining the enjoyment of no option but to handle overseas veteran engineer Gumpei Yokoi. redesigned into a nifty handheld fighting games by way of an ‘attack’ business personally. It was Yokoi who was about – the PC Engine GT (TurboExpress button. All that was required to The system sold well to take up his old sword and lay in the US) – that, due to the slim make the characters perform internationally (though Japanese siege to the industry he had storage format used by the impressive combinations was gamers remained loyal to helped create with a new, cheap, original console, was able to play pounding on that single button. Nintendo), making headway on efficient handheld console called standard PC Engine games. Its When the game was debuted the strength of the Sega arcade GameBoy. Nintendo had held small screen, poor battery life at a trade show, it appeared that conversions and EA’s sports titles. back its recently acquired Tetris and lack of support made for the Street Fighter had made more of It would be fully two years before licence as a pack-in game for this quick failure of an otherwise an impact than Okamoto thought, Nintendo answered the 16-bit ideally suited system, which went excellent idea. and received more than a few challenge with the release of the on to become the most popular complaints that this sequel “was Super Famicom/SNES, which in games console to date (for more The coin-op’s not Street Fighter!” The name was hindsight, many see as one of details, see Retro Gamer Issue 9). second coming changed to Final Fight for its 1989 release, and became the In 1990, the console competitions new yardstick by which all took a unusual slant when scrolling fighting games were software developers SNK released measured. But the idea of a its first attempt at hardware – a continuation to Street Fighter was 24-bit console which was to cater not dropped, and a new for both the arcade and the approach that retained many of home. The Multi Video System the elements from the first game allowed arcade owners to switch was adopted. The hook this time between games very easily would be to fixate players with without any modification to the finding the hidden moves for the cabinet, and the powerful system very different international allowed for large, colourful, fighters. The huge amount of flashy arcade-style games. SNK design work that went into Street tried to bring the system into Fighter II: The World Warrior paid people’s homes as the Neo off, and in 1991, for the first time Geo, using the exact code as since Pac-Man, arcade operators the arcade machines. were lining up row upon row of The enormous price tag identical machines, and people meant that only flamboyant were falling over each other to While Nintendo was reluctant to introduce a new machine arcade junkies could afford either get into the arcades. This would that would supersede the NES, Sega revealed the first 16- the base unit or its cartridges, be a licence that console bit console in the sleek shape of the Mega Drive many of which were practically manufacturers would stand in
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front of blue fireballs to obtain. release of the technologically dropping the price of the SNES to market as there was apparently In 1991, Sega made a superior SNES, and when it finally match the Mega Drive, Sega were no prize for third place, and it concerted push to put Mega came along in late 1991 with a ready and further reduced its was then that the two leading Drives into people’s homes. The much larger price tag than the system to practically cost price. contenders both suddenly cost of the console was dropped Mega Drive, many avid Nintendo As Sega pulled ahead, revolt realised their machines needed substantially and a new game fans decided to take a chance on began in the ranks of Nintendo’s what the TurboGrafx had had for that had been developed by a this spiky blue rodent they had third-party developers. Acclaim some time: CD-ROMs. young designer named Yuji Naka been hearing so much about. To was the first to make games for (of Phantasy Star fame) to keep the pressure on, Sega the Mega Drive while also Nintendo PlayStation? combat Nintendo’s mascot, Mario, pounded out a constant stream developing for Nintendo, casually was packaged with the cheaper of quality titles while Nintendo approaching Nintendo and telling Sega was first off the mark by machines. That new game was users were left waiting for them how business was going to partnering itself with CD experts, Sonic the Hedgehog. Shigeru Miyamoto’s annual be from then on. Other software Sony. Together they designed an Nintendo had kept its fans Christmas delight. When Nintendo houses quickly followed suit. add-on CD drive for the Mega waiting too long for the Western made an effort to catch up by NEC decided to pull out of the Drive with the wonderfully >The JAMMA standard
As the US videogame industry hardware interconnection – collapsed, the rest of the world including the monitor, cabinet and kept going as best it could controls – could be decided upon. without the enormous infusion Previously, the ancillary control from America. systems of an arcade machine – The arcades were suffering such as joysticks, buttons, audio badly, as the influx of new devices, coin mechanisms etc – games that set the trend for the were hardwired to the game’s lucrative home market slowed to printed circuit board in the factory a crawl. Operators needed new (or botched together by machines to keep up consumer adventurous DIY arcade hacks) interest – once people stopped and were intended to remain in going into arcades, there was no place. The new JAMMA standard way to inform them about hot attached all the cabinet features new products. to the game board by way of an Although manufacturers of edge connector, so a simple, coin-op machines often had their straightforward swap-out of the own standards for wiring, buying circuit board by a member of staff a new game generally meant was all that was required to replacing the whole cabinet, install a new game. which severely increased the unit This new system revolutionised cost. Rewiring an existing cabinet the worldwide arcade industry, and replacing the game and it can reasonably be surmised components was not impossible, that JAMMA kept the wounded but your garden-variety arcade arcade videogame market on life operator was hardly in a position support until public industry to be able to do this, making returned toward the latter half of them very nervous about their the 1980s. next investment during such volatile times. History repeating This unsystematic approach to cabinet wiring also created a lot There was still some turbulence of servicing problems, as repairs, on the arcade floor, mainly from spares and augmentations had no Sega, which had seen uniformity – after a year or two in considerable success with its non- the field, an arcade game could standard machines – principally in The same year as the JAMMA forum was organised, Sega was pushing become effectively irreparable. the form of hydraulic cabinets like cabinet designs to extremes with games like Space Harrier The Japanese Amusement Hang-On and, particularly, Space Machine Manufacturers Harrier. These were considerably As the years have progressed beloved arcades are returning to a Association (or JAMMA) decided to more popular with players than since then, arcades have veered state of collapse for exactly the take control of the situation and with arcade operators. Not only more toward graphically realistic same reasons as before, only persuaded many of the big name were these deluxe machines more simulators than games, and JAMMA is no longer waiting in the manufacturers that it would be in costly to run and took up the unique cabinets are now wings ready to bail out the short- their best long-term interests if space of three to five uprights, beginning to dominate once sighted, avaricious coin-op they helped the arcade owners to their inflated purchase price again. But this time, these aren’t developers. Enjoy your arcades keep things fresh at their end. In meant breakdowns lost arcades simply non-standard uprights, but while you still have them, as it 1985, they organised a forum considerably more revenue than a hefty, dedicated and wildly looks as though history is about whereby a standard for arcade faulty JAMMA system would. expensive monsters. Our once- to repeat itself.
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FEATURE: HARDWARE | A BRIEF HISTORY OF VIDEOGAMES
One of the most important killer apps ever released, Sonic the Hedgehog blasted the Mega Drive into the stratosphere
esoteric name of Mega-CD. The SNES CD-ROM drive never Nintendo also entered into a materialised, and Sony’s wrath collaboration with Sony to design was brutal and swift; its world- the SNES CD-ROM drive, project beating videogame console – that name… wait for it… PlayStation! could have been Nintendo’s if not Nintendo, which had been for its arrogant duplicity – once cagey from the start about again remodelled the ever- allowing another company changing, turbulent and inherently access to its technology, asked cruel videogame business. Sony to announce the new SNES A new generation of gamers, drive at the 1992 CES, which it inaugurated in 1995 by Sony, will proudly did. The next day, soon be in the perfect position to Nintendo announced it was continue this endless story (which instead going into partnership will undoubtedly contain as much with Philips to develop the scandal and bloodshed as ever). SNES drive, publicly and It will never be ‘game over’ for wantonly humiliating Sony. the industry, as old systems are The head of the project’s revived and worshipped by the development at Sony, Ken same players who spend billions Kutaragi, was furious and every year on new technology. But petitioned the board to allow him perhaps we could pause our to develop the drive into a beloved games every so often, or standalone unit and create a offer up an extra credit in next-generation machine that remembrance of the programmers, would square up to the SNES. moguls and visionaries who With some trepidation, Sony fought to entertain us through approved the PlayStation project. our youth. e
Our story ends with the release of the original Sony PlayStation in 1995. To date, over 100 million PlayStations Capcom kicked the lulling arcade industry back into life with the have been sold worldwide, and that figure is soon to be release of Final Fight and Street Fighter II eclipsed by sales of PlayStation 2…
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Frank Gasking exh umes another three games that were subjected to a cruel premature burial, including a Sega licence gone wrong, a failed conversion of a C64 classic, and a rather startling ’ Ultimate finding… games that weren t
ingredients locked in the larder. surfaced. Even Rare’s website added to what was already a Cookie The ingredients escape, though, states that Cookie was only ever fantastic conversion all round. bringing out various nasties with released for the Spectrum. So how did Cookie manage BBC Micro, Ultimate, 1984 them. Charlie has to stun his Cookie programmer Paul to escape the dungeons of ingredients with flour bombs and Proctor recalls, “I did the BBC Ultimate/Rare? GTW attempted knock them into the mixing conversion as one of my first to contact Dick Greening to find When thinking of lost Ultimate bowl, whilst ensuring the nasties games – it contained all the out more, but couldn’t track him games, first on the list is the are thrown into the trash. elements of the original Speccy down. Paul wasn’t sure how the infamous Sabreman adventure Cookie’s existence was a game and was fun to play!” game sneaked out: “I can’t Mire Mare. But unreleased C64 shock to all, especially the We’d have to agree with Paul remember why it was never conversions of Lunar Jetman and Stairway To Hell website that he turned in an excellent released – maybe Ultimate Solar Jetman have been (www.stairwaytohell.com), which port, with good use of colour thought it was slightly dated recovered, and now another has a page dedicated to to enhance the graphics, while since it had Sabre Wulf out on long-lost Ultimate game has recovering lost BBC Micro titles. the classic gameplay was the Speccy by then.” So with remarkably risen from the grave Regular visitor Dick Greening left untouched. other Ultimate BBC titles (or should that be trash can)… caused shockwaves by As an added surprise, the released it still remains a Cookie on the BBC Micro. contributing the unreleased (and game also featured musical mystery why Cookie was Originally released for the complete!) disk image of Cookie treats composed by none other canned, but crucially the game 16KB Spectrum in 1983, Cookie in 2002. Remarkably, no official than Martin Galway – a find in can now be enjoyed as places you in control of Charlie BBC Micro version was ever itself. Great renditions of Food originally intended. A fantastic the Chef, who keeps all his thought to exist until it Glorious Food and other jingles discovery for the Beeb!
The BBC version of Cookie is a very credible port of the Spectrum original (right)
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REGULAR | GAMES THAT WEREN’T Sanxion Fire and Ice GBA, Thalamus Interactive, 2001 Sega 8/16-bit, Graftgold, 1993
Following on from last month’s Following the immense success of Sonic Putty, yet more titles were the Hedgehog, colourful character- planned from Thalamus based platformers began flooding the Interactive. Acquiring a big name early stage, the demo didn’t market. It quickly became difficult to such as Thalamus had many really push the GBA far, sort the good from the bad, but advantages, one of which was featuring ripped graphics from Graftgold’s Fire and Ice succeeded in the ability to access its old back the C64 version (but lacking the rising above the rubbish. Designed by catalogue. Plans were certainly original split-screen display) to Andrew Braybrook and originally made to do just that, by porting demonstrate how the parallax released for the Amiga/ST, Fire and Ice classic C64 titles to the layers could be incorporated starred ‘Cool Coyote’, whose mission GameBoy Colour and Advance. onto the GBA. There was no was to battle through different levels in One such title was Sanxion, Sanxion theme conversion, but order to find and destroy an evil wizard. to be developed for the an accurate cover of another of Soon after its home computer GameBoy Advance as a Rob Hubbard’s classics, the release, Graftgold set its sights on the burgeoning console market. revamped conversion of the theme from Lightforce. Finally Teaming up with publishers Renegade, the pair approached Sega for classic C64 horizontal shooter by there wasn’t much to play or see permission to produce Fire and Ice on its platforms. But, to their horror, Stavros Fasoulas. “The GBA apart from a controllable ship Virgin had beaten them and pitched the game conversion right under market had become saturated that could be sped up and their noses! There was major uproar, and after many negotiations there with licences and tie-ins, and slowed down, just like in the was no choice but to let Virgin publish the game. Renegade and Virgin competition became increasingly original game. It was merely eventually came to agreement on the Master System release… but fierce,” recalls Designer/Producer the beginning, and would strangely it never happened. Andy Roberts, “so we decided to have greatly improved during Graftgold’s Steve Turner is unable to shed much light on the dip into the Thalamus back full development. situation. “As far as I remember, we finished Fire and Ice on the Master catalogue instead.” But problems began before System and I thought it was published by Virgin. We were certainly A day was initially spent the game was properly started. paid, but I can’t remember getting any royalties.” brainstorming ideas for the It was found that interest in The game didn’t sit on the shelf for long though, as TecToy came in game, where updated features original product was and snapped up the rights to release the game… in Brazil! For were born such as new deteriorating, especially on the Europeans, the Master System version of Fire and Ice never saw the weaponry, bonus sequences GBA, and licences were light of day. But SMS Power (www.smspower.org) have archived (with rainbow-styled backdrops), becoming one-way traffic. As a TecToy’s release so people could see what it was like. Using the same special racing stages, end-of- result, Sanxion was put on hold engine as Superman, this was a flawless conversion by Darran Eteo level baddies and a new two- indefinitely. The game was never (code), and John Lilley (graphics). The proposed Game Gear version player link-up mode. There were pitched to any other company, would have been roughly the same. also to be the obvious and work was eventually moved The Mega Drive version wasn’t so lucky, with Renegade failing to enhancements to graphics, to other projects. Sanxion was find a backer. Although 100% complete, the game was dropped. sound and presentation to bring seen as too much of a risk to Making matters worse was the fact that the Mega Drive version (coded the game right up to date, take and was sadly cancelled. by Andrew Braybrook) boasted vast improvements including better whilst leaving the original Thalamus Interactive never scrolling, layered backdrops and other visual effects. Mega Drive users gameplay intact. had the chance to re-release any certainly lost out, as did Graftgold, which was denied a stab at the Jon Wells was assigned for of its back catalogue. Sanxion lucrative 16-bit console market. The game’s cancellation ultimately the conversion and, as with GBA came close, but not close contributed to Andrew leaving the games industry for good. Hopefully Putty, spent two weeks working enough… The video clip on the one day the Mega Drive version will surface and Andrew’s hard work on a small test demo whilst coverdisc is a small indication of can finally be enjoyed and appreciated. other projects went on. In its what could have been.
Sanxion for the GBA was never developed beyond To see Cool Coyote in action on the Master System, this promising tech-demo by Jon Wells visit the GTW section on this month’s cover CD
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In the 80s, if you considered yourself a digital artist but only had an 8-bit game console at your disposal, you were fated to starve. Console graphics applications never became the new sliced bread, despite the efforts of the limited but fun Mario Paint. They seem like a feeble idea, but throughout the history of videogames, few stones have been left unturned. Per Arne Sandvik looks at what lies beneath…
ario Paint had a Ready steady scrawl! NES is in no way a simple task. own limitations, among them the few advantages A board game is in itself lack of actually being able to over the drawing Let’s have a look at exhibit A: relatively limited. You can climb feel a die in your hand or draw games released on Pictionary – The Game of Video up those ladders and slide down a picture for other people to M the 8-bit consoles. Quick Draw. By combining those snakes as much as you guess. The problem is, when Firstly, it was released on the Pictionary and the NES, Software want, but there’s no way you you combine the two, you’re Super Nintendo so could take Creations added all the fun of can jump over barrels and knock not left with the best of both advantage of a richer palette and finger-painting with boxing monkeys down at the same time. worlds – you’re stuck with all better hardware. It also had a gloves on to all the fun of being The parts don’t move unless you the drawbacks. mouse. You may not know this, frustrated and bored. And still it move them yourself. What you Let’s have a look at the first but painting a beautiful still life managed to make room for some can do is add elements from of the two different game modes with the blocky NES controller gameplay straight out of a Game outside the board itself, like the NES Pictionary has to offer. In feels very similar to trying to & Watch. original Pictionary did when it regular mode, you don’t actually sharpen a banana using an It has to be said that introduced a pad of paper and draw anything. You roll the die, old banana. converting a board game to the a pencil. And the NES had its move along the board, then play one of four mini-games. These are all so simplistic they could have been ported from a digital wristwatch, and in fact two of them are. For each box you move across a room or ball you collect, a square disappears from a side panel, revealing a line- drawing on a black canvas. When the time runs out, you guess what the picture is. Some are simple, like ‘pyramid’ or ‘moon’, but most are cluttered angular messes, and you’ll find yourself wasting half the available time squinting and tilting your head until you realise the answer is ‘bullseye’, Pictionary was part of the NES not ‘Western Scandinavia’ ‘Power Play’ series, which after all. sounded a damn sight more interesting that it actually was But the other mode is the
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REGULAR | STRANGE GAMES
Neo-cubism
Win, Lose or Draw from Hi Tech Expressions is somewhat easier to control. That is, if you’re some sort of Etch-A-Sketch wizard. Etch-A-Sketch, the Rubik’s Cube of drawing equipment, never left much room for gracefully applying delicate lines. Unless you were shooting for an abstract masterpiece, you’d be best off drawing a box from a head-on perspective. The same cumbersomeness can be found in Win, Lose or Draw. Sure, drawing Domark later released the game a lorry is somewhat feasible, but for home computers, though once obstacles like ‘rock and roll’ why anyone would want to use or ‘shoofly pie’ rear their crudely it to show off their shiny new drawn heads, you may as well Amiga is another matter tape a piece of paper to your telly and take it from there. really tricky one. Here, you and This game was obviously your friends move from square created by a committee. The to square on the board and are television show and board game presented with a black screen on which it is based were both upon impact. This is the canvas successes in the US, and it was you are to express yourself only a matter of time before through. You receive no businessmen found themselves instructions as to what to draw, so you’d better prepare a hatful of alternatives before you start. You control the cursor as you would a car in a top-down view racing game, directing it with the Win, Lose or Draw on the Commodore 64 – play-along-at-home fun left and right buttons. This is a rubbish way to draw anything, drawn to the brave new world of challenges are in fact unsolvable. and, to make matters worse, videogames like drunks to a Neither version of the game is your ‘race car’ has a choke rotating slab of kebab meat. As very enjoyable. Like Pictionary, problem and will jump randomly is the case with every other Win, Lose or Draw handles with forward at the slightest touch of game created by a committee, all the grace of a circus the A button. Unless your Win, Lose or Draw is absolutely strongman suffering from an crinkled little paper slip said riddled with kickin’ rad-to-the- inner-ear infection, and it’s too ‘horizon at open sea (slightly out max slang. But just as a tiger obvious that board games, of level)’, you’re in for a world can’t change its stripes, especially ones involving of trouble. calculator-brained executives drawing, have no home in a can’t form a hip expression to console. If you want to play a save their lives. Win, Lose or board game, buy the real version Draw is no exception to this which allows you to have some rule, and one of the entertaining fun without working your fingers aspects of the game is playing to the marrow trying to draw a to find out if you can find a convincing top hat. Those things exclamation older than ‘swell’ or even let you play with more than one more absurd than ‘hairy’. one other person at a time. The game was also This could be changing, ambitiously adapted for the though. With its pressure- Commodore 64. Presented with sensitive screen and wireless even steeper technical network opportunities, the limitations, the creators opted to Nintendo DS may become a great throw out the drawing aspect way to play Pictionary with altogether and focus on the several others. Of course, this guessing. While the C64 couldn’t sort of get-together would result offer much in the way of detail, in about £300 of hardware the stick figures are usually expenses. Perhaps the wheel has comprehensible enough. But a already been perfected and bizarre problem arises when videogame systems should stick some of the answers are too to what they do best: blue long to be entered or even hedgehogs running at breakneck With over 500 picture puzzles, the fun could last all of an hour! displayed, so a number of speeds and robotic gladiators. e
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1UP HIGH SCORE THE STORIES BEHIND THE SCORES
Topping the Spy Hunter high-score league is Paul Dean with a score just shy of 10 million. With the help of a well-placed oil slick, Paul Drury stops him in his tracks and asks him a few questions…
Lethal Enforcer, one-shot kills of bathroom pit stop without a enemy cars to minimise debris on cache of extra cars to sacrifice? the road, a non-aggression policy “You can’t. You have to suffer,” on curvy or icy roads, and he winces, as if still recalling the judicious use of oil on water to gruelling ordeal of all those take out the malicious Dr Torpedo hours without a toilet break and during the boat sections, to name just one Coke and a hotdog to “ here’s nothing more a few – until the game became see him through. “You just have cool than James as servile as Miss Moneypenny. to put it out of your mind.” Bond,” enthuses “It’s a game of risk Exhausted, but ecstatic at Paul Dean, management. You have to be getting his name in the Guinness T explaining his careful with only six lives in Book of Records, Paul walked devotion to Spy Hunter. “Just to total, but it does plateau around away from the machine for good. step into his shoes, even for a 800,000 and once I’d perfected “I retired after that game. It had few minutes…” the strategies, there was been so long and very stressful. I Paul spent more than a few nothing it could throw at me I said I’d come out of retirement if minutes in 007’s shoes – 11 and couldn’t handle.” there was any competition, but a half hours to be precise, on 28 So Paul sat down at the there wasn’t.” Paul Dean, the world’s June 1985, amassing a cool cabinet in the Huish Family Fun And there still isn’t, two premier Spy Hunter 9,512,590 points and setting a arcade in Upland, California on decades later. In fact, no one world record that still stands that day in June, and – with his has even come within 10% of proud of his enduring record and today. And there’s something friend and mentor Phil Britt, who his score and cracked one occasionally checking the rather Bond-like about the story had recently been crowned million points. Internet for any challengers. behind that score… daring deeds, Player of the Year, at his side Then unexpectedly in 2003, he intrigue, villains, the hero spurring him on – Paul turned in End of the road? came across a news story, fighting against the odds and a marathon performance on a declaring a new Spy Hunter triumphing in the end, even if he game that it simply shouldn’t be Though his days playing games World record, yet strangely doesn’t quite get the girl. possible to marathon. The competitively had ceased, Paul omitting his own score. His sense But, just as James had to camaraderie is touching, as Paul remained involved with arcade of injustice grew when he found attend spy school, Paul put in describes how Phil used a few gaming, working for a chain of his score had been removed from many hours of concentrated effort white lies to get the best out of pizza parlours called Little the official Twin Galaxies before he became a spymaster. A his protégé. Caesars and installing Street scoreboard and replaced with the regular player since the game’s “He kept telling me that Jeff Fighter cabinets in their 123 considerably lower 832,620 launch in 1983, his practice Peters, the Twin Galaxies referee restaurants during the early turned in by one Mark Little. regime became two hours a day, for our area, was on the phone, nineties. He even managed to “I tried to find out why my Monday to Friday, in the months saying there was some guy in sneak his own beloved Spy score had been pulled, but Twin leading up to the Guinness Alaska who was only a few Hunter machine into one pizza Galaxies is a big organisation and Tournament in 1985 where he’d million behind me. It was a joint, but confesses that “no-one I’m just a little guy with no achieve his record score. He clever trick and really pushed could really get the knack of it.” money. I wasn’t getting any developed a range of tactics – a me on.” Paul continued to live in answers, so I had to set up a ‘see-saw’ pattern of slowing down I can’t resist asking the Riverside, California, in the home website to try to get my voice and speeding up to avoid the inevitable bladder question. How he grew up in, which he shared heard. Basically, Mark Little said double-barrelled gun of the exactly could he make a with his father, still intensely my score was impossible and
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challenged me to repeat it, but I score was indeed genuine. The had a fall at work in 2001, which whole affair is documented on left me with nerve damage in my his website www.spyhunter back. I can’t sit for more than half 007.com, the one good thing to >High-score an hour or walk far because of come out of all the controversy. my injury.” He’s once more in contact with Things quickly grew ugly. Paul fellow players from the old update had to contact people who’d days and, with his score witnessed his score nearly twenty reinstated, can again call years previously and could verify himself the rightful Spy Hunter The world of records never sleeps, so it, but still he failed to get World Champion. recognition and thus was forced One last question. Having as this column is now six months old, to threaten the involvement of the spent so many hours playing Spy we bring you news from the high- Attorney General on the grounds Hunter, I wonder whether the scoring front… of disability discrimination. Peter Gunn theme tune that plays “At that point, I had no choice throughout the game is so Mark Robichek’s Frogger record, but to make it a legal matter. lodged in his head that he’s featured in RG issue 14, was It was unfortunate. I’m a nice forever cursed with hearing it as finally beaten after standing for guy and it was a terrible thing the background music to his life? over 20 years. The new champ is to threaten.” “Actually, I have that tune on Donald Hayes, who turned in Thankfully, the powers that my site and play it back to 589,350 and can now add this be at Twin Galaxies relented myself at least once a week,” amphibian scalp to the eight world before medical certificates were Paul confesses. “It reminds me of records he already holds. required and accepted the that time in my life. Such a great Not content with setting a new testimonies of Jeff Peters and time. You can’t go back, but you Galaxian high score last year, Gary Phil Britt that Paul’s ‘impossible’ can have your memories.” e Whelan (RG issue 13) has his sights firmly set on topping one million points, thus claiming a Twin Galaxies bounty of US$1,000. He’s so far achieved 689,080 and with his performances now approaching the three-hour mark, he’s even been forced to upgrade his vintage Donald Hayes is the new Frogger champion, having camcorder in preparation for topped Mark Robichek’s recording the big one. 23-year-old record Meanwhile, Tony Temple (RG issue 15) comes ever closer to toppling the Missile Command tournament record. His current high score of over 1.4 million fell just a few hundred thousand short. “I was literally 10 minutes away from beating Roy Shildt’s score,” Tony explained, the pain still palpable. “But then the voices start in your head, saying ‘nearly there, don’t screw up’ – I became tense and was firing off stray missiles from my hands were shaking so much.” Both Gary and Tony will endeavour to keep the British end up at the CGEUK in August, which this year welcomes Twin Galaxies founder Walter Day and Billy ‘Perfect Pac-Man’ Mitchell, along with numerous other high-scoring heroes including Perry Rodgers, featured last month. “I hope we can get loads of British classics players down to Croydon and send the Americans back across the Atlantic after a sound digital smacking,” added Gary, with typical Mancunian diplomacy. It’s a unique opportunity to meet and greet the players and very probably see new world records set. Plus you can witness this Paul’s amazing Spy Hunter score graced the pages hapless reporter conducting Garth Crooks-style post-game of the 1986 Guinness Book of World Records, along interviews, posing such philosophical masterpieces as, “So, why did with a legion of other high-score heroes you die?” See you all there, then.
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Retro The latest news and reviews from the retro gaming community Scene of 35,000,000 on a single credit. He’ll be joining other record CGEUK Update breakers, and trying to officially The very latest show news beat Matthew Preece’s record live at the show. Also making an The upcoming Classic Gaming even more reasons to scoot on appearance at the show is Doris Expo UK is growing better and down to the show on August 13th. Self, who previously held the title better with each passing day, it First up is the announcement of the world’s oldest gaming would seem. As if the plethora of that Stuck in D’80s will be in champion. 80-year-old Doris was events and attendees wasn’t attendance, with Ben Daglish and pipped at the post back in 2003 enough already, new Mark Knight (aka madfiddler) by a 72-year-old gentleman who announcements are providing performing a live and unplugged achieved the record score on Depthcharge. But Doris aims to acoustic set. Attendees to the Ben Daglish will be playing Back in Time gigs will know that regain her rightful place with her an acoustic set this is definitely not to be missed. chosen title of Q*Bert at this There will be even more year’s show, under the watchful Fairfield Halls, Croydon, South record-breaking at the show with eye of Twin Galaxies referee London. The show runs from the addition of Nick Hutt, who Walter Day. 10am to 7pm. For the latest unofficially broke the Space Classic Gaming Expo UK takes details and ticket information, Harrier world record with a score place on Saturday 13 August at visit www.cgeuk.com. Great Scott! ColecoVision Return to Adventureland
Retro gaming publisher Retro- including Pirate Adventure, Invaded Soft (www.retro-soft.co.uk) has Voodoo Castle, Ghost Town and Brand new homebrew struck gaming gold recently and Adventureland (the first signed a deal with graphic commercial computer game, The classic alien-bashing arcade also have the adventure guru Scott Adams. released on the Apple II in 1978) shooter Astro Invader (Stern, chance to destroy The deal (which excludes are available, and can be found 1980) has been faithfully ported the mother ship. existing fans’ sites) has granted at www.download-trader.com. to the ColecoVision by The finished game made its Retro-Soft the exclusive licensing With big-name signings like this, homebrewer Scott Huggins. The debut at the recent Oklahoma rights to the original Retro-Soft are certainly port, which is reportedly a Video Game Expo, and you can Commodore 64 incarnations of becoming a publisher to keep flawless conversion of the order it online from AtariAge many of Adams’ creations. Titles an eye on… original game, packs in all the (www.atariage.com). action seen in the classic arcade title. In the game you have to fight off wave after wave of invaders, seeing how long you can survive the onslaught. The aliens are stacked up, Tetris-style into columns, and when a column is full, the wave descends to attack. If you’re lucky, you may
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REGULAR | RETRO SCENE Stranded Developer: www.cronosoft.co.uk p Format: Spectrum 48K p Price: £2.99 (tape) p Players: One
blobby character called Moosh. last level you reached. Graphics The aim is to guide Moosh to are basic, as you’d expect, but the exit, which sounds simple very colourful. Having endured so enough – except that each time many monochromatic titles you step onto a tile, it towards the end of the disappears into the cold Spectrum’s commercial life, it’s vacuum of space below. As a great that the Speccy scene result, you need to study each programmers are flooding their The games industry is currently recently found the code gathering level before play in order to games with colour. Sadly there’s suffering its usual summer cobwebs in his attic. After work out the best route. To no music, only the odd spot drought, but Cronosoft refuses to knocking it into shape, it’s now complicate matters, later levels effect here and there. let the sunshine stop it from available for the bargain budget feature conveyor belts and Stranded is another solid becoming the UK’s premier retro price of £2.99. Blimey – these moving tiles, making your job release from Cronosoft. It doesn’t publisher. The first of several days you can barely buy a pint that much more difficult. push the Spectrum in any way, summer releases is Stranded for for that! Stranded features 32 static but will keep puzzle fans the Spectrum. Originally written The game is a puzzler in levels, and a password system thoroughly entertained. back in 1989, author Bob Smith which you control a strange that allows you to return to the Rating: pppppppppp Iron Sphere
Developer: Cronosoft p Format: Amstrad CPC p Price: £1.99 (tape) p Players: One
Iron Sphere from Cronosoft is a so you’ll also need to find similar-looking game to Stranded, batteries to top up your reserves. and brings some interesting Iron Sphere is an intriguing puzzle action to the Amstrad. game, and despite its apparent Taking control of the eponymous simplicity, is an addictive and Iron Sphere, your goal is to compelling title with definite ‘one traverse a seemingly never- more go’ appeal. It’s certainly no ending maze while avoiding traps looker, but it has the all-important and picking up diamonds. Don’t gameplay and clever level design. let the simple premise put you The pause button is a problem, off, as this is deviously though, and after pausing the challenging stuff. game your ball also stops, Using the direction keys (or negating the challenge of the joystick), you have to move the constant motion. It’s also a little ball around the various screens tricky when you teleport or change without falling off the track. But screens, as often you just don’t when your ball is moving, it won’t have enough time to see where stop until you change direction you’re ball appears and lose a life. (or hit pause), so you’ll need to Overall, though, Iron Sphere think quickly. You’ll also have to is a great little game, and for avoid bombs, cracks and arrows the bargain sum of £1.99 you’ll that push you in different acquire an addictive new puzzler directions. To make matters worse for your trusty CPC. your power runs down constantly, Rating: pppppppppp
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Back in Retro Gamer issue 15, Paul Drury men tioned the work of Faye Lampshire in his Screenplay report, with the promise of more details in a future issue. Not one to renege on his word, Paul chats to Faye about the finer points of cross-stitch, retro-style
>Ao what exactly Stitch in motivates someone to spend 70 hours a week, needle and S thread in hand, reproducing videogame images in intricate cross-stitch? “I’d had a rough couple of years,” explains Faye. “In 2000, I had problems with the boiler and the roof in the house I was living in. Then in 2001, there was lots of “I’ve always been a fan of beat- As we leave Faye hassle at work. And in 2002, I em-ups, ever since… ooh, Way of conscientiously stitching away on changed gender. My mother Timethe Exploding Fist, right up to the an image of King from Art of started me off doing cross-stitch as memory tests they’ve become now. Fighting, we enquire if she does a form of occupational therapy.” I mean, come on, 70 moves? To indeed find such a labour As is typical of the ancient Cross-stitch artist Faye my mind, the classic age is that of intensive activity therapeutic. craft of stitching, Faye’s first Hampshire, busy at work the 2D games of Capcom and SNK “Most of the time I do, but efforts featured the traditional on her latest piece. Can – Street Fighter, Fatal Fury/King of sometimes I don’t and what birds and flowers, but soon, as a you tell what it is yet? Fighters, Vampire Hunter/Vampire makes those moments worthwhile devotee of anime and video- Saviour/Nightwarriors, Samurai is the finished product. There are games, she was looking for new Indeed. With each picture Spirits… ah, such great days…” times when you sit down and source material. “I just wanted to taking several hundred hours to After much positive feedback think, ‘This isn’t joining up. Why do something different. I had all complete (Faye can do 100 following the Broadway exhibition, isn’t it joining up? Where did I go these game images and wondered stitches an hour, and with 256 Faye is currently working hard wrong? Do I need to fix it? Can I if there was a piece of software stitches per square inch, you do preparing for her next show, leave it…?’” that would let me take them and the maths…), serious dedication is which this time will focus on SNK Faye pauses, before stitch them.” required. The huge amount of fighters taken from the Art of summoning up a fitting analogy. Thankfully, Faye found such a time and effort involved also Fighting, Fatal Fury and Samurai “You know that mini-game on package in the handy Jane explains why the pictures aren’t Spirits games. We wonder Wario Ware with the totem pole Greenoff’s Cross-stitch Designer, for sale and she doesn’t take on whether she has ever considered and you have to chop the middle which could produce a pattern to commissions. “Unless you’re ‘going retro’? bit out? You fall into a rhythm – work to, with lines between each talking well into three figures,” “I’ve done some small images dum, dum, dum. When it’s going pixel. There was still the task of she adds, with a wry smile. from Galaxian and Donkey Kong. If well, that’s what stitching can be deciding on colours and I had the time and material, I’d like – you look up and think, ‘Is appropriate threads, not to Screen test really like to do the map of Jet Set that the time?’ What’s your high mention the colossal effort of Willy, or perhaps Son of Blagger.” score on that, by the way?” e stitching the picture. Faye The fruits of Faye’s labour were educates us on the awkwardness first shown to the public at a of petit-point stitching (which she Screenplay:SD event last summer, uses for greater detail), held at the Broadway cinema in misbehaving metallic threads, the Nottingham, and such was the confusing number reference interest and admiration shown for system for silks, and the these unique “cover versions”, as trickiness of getting a good edge. she describes them, she put on a It occasionally feels like she’s full exhibition as part of the main talking a foreign language and the Screenplay Festival held earlier this whole process sounds incredibly year. Entitled Capcom Cross-stitch, complex. Is this something the show featured a collection of anyone can do? characters from the Japanese “Oh yes,” she assures us. “All developer’s illustrious beat-em-up you really need is reasonably back catalogue, including Chun-Li, good eyesight, the ability to count Cammy and Sakura, some in their Besides beat-em-ups, Faye has a strong interest and a large amount of patience.” cute ‘super deformed’ style. in retro gaming, as this recent piece shows
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REGULAR | RETRO SCENE >The Capcom Cross-stitch Gallery
Sakura Cammy
Chun-Li and Cammy
Chun-Li Morrigan
Ibuki
Capcom Cross-stitch photography courtesy of Jon Jordan
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The
RetroLet us know what you think about Retro Gamer Forum, or anything else retro...
article touched on with its give me that Apple rubbish either! was capable of much more than mention of Space Invaders and Commodore was the best and people give it credit for, and 3D Tunnel Vision. Go to there’s no denying it! there were enough models for a www.commodore.ca/download/ Michael Braisher, via email full-blown feature – so we’ll see. download.htm to look at the Now take some deep breaths… PET arcade and strategy games RG: Whoa there Michael, you’re on offer. preaching to the choir! We’re also Porting the games to an very fond of Commodore and its Name that game original PET (or using the WinVice systems, and we agree that the emulator) shows just how ace the Commodore PET was a very There’s a mystery arcade game PETs were. More so when you impressive machine. It’s true it I’m searching for – it could be on consider they also had line MAME, but I haven’t seen it. I outputs, the first PCs to do so. played it around 1986 or 1987, When using my PET I could see give or take a little. It opened up very definite glimmers of the VIC- with martial arts-themed 20s, C16s and C64s to come. characters – I believe you had to Commodore for Another thing – IBM nothing, rescue a Princess – and was President! Commodore was the first to side-scrolling, a bit like Jackie release cheap, desirable, Chan’s Action Kung Fu. I As the kind of guy who bows at fashionable, networkable, remember at the very beginning the altar of most things personal machines which you there were green raised platforms Commodore, I think the time is could save your work on at of land, like rice steppes, and ripe for a PET article. This the office then take the data Bengal tigers leapt at your machine could do much more home to play with on your slightly big-headed kung-fu hero. than accounts, as a previous RG home Commodore! And don’t I believe it had a Japanese name http://from.the.retro.forums This month we wanted to know what your most memorable and triumphant boss battles were. Which bosses gave you sleepless nights? And which battles have lodged in your mind as the greatest-ever gaming clashes? Here’s what you had to say... ID:
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on the marquee, and it was at a Last V8 that did it. I really liked movie theatre here in the US. Not the pop art-style covers that CONTACTUS much to go on but vague Mastertronic ran for a few of their information. If you can locate MAD games – I thought they were this game, it would be greatly very innovative. I wondered if you email: appreciated – so much so that I’d planned to ever do a feature on be indentured to Retro Gamer for interesting and unusual box art feedback@ seven years. from the 8-bit era? Maybe there’s retrogamer.net James, via email not enough material for a whole article, but surely there must be RG: We had a good look for this enough for something? snailmail: title, and to be honest, we On a related note, one of Retro Gamer couldn’t put a finger on it. We my favourites from the Live Publishing suspected at first it might have aforementioned MAD games was Europa House been Tiger Road, but after Master of Magic (like The Last V8, Adlington Park playing it we were left stumped. it had superb music but was a Macclesfield Jackie Chan’s Action Kung Fu does much better game). I think I have tigers in, though, as well as remember the inlay promising SK10 4NP big-headed heroes… that this was the first in a series We’ll leave this open to the series – Wizardry 8 – and of RPG games in this style. I Master of Magic, we’re fairly anyone out there who can put a according to the Law of don’t remember seeing any certain the series was cut shortly name to the game. If you know, Diminishing Returns it should be others, and wonder if any other after its debut outing. please drop us a letter or email at least eight times worse than games in this series saw the light at the usual address. the original. It’s not. It’s one of of day. the best RPGs I’ve ever played. I J, via email Treasure in the attic think Sirtech deserve some Wizards and V8s recognition in your pages for RG: The Wizardry series is a Hi there. I thought it was about creating a franchise that, against strange one, really. Although it’s time I sent a letter, since I’ve The arrival of Retro Gamer on my all the odds, both started and a series with its own army of been reading Retro Gamer since doorstep is turning out to be a ended strongly (despite the ups fans, it still remains unknown issue one, and I have to say that highlight of every month. It’s a and downs in the middle). I can’t by the majority of gamers. For it’s a great magazine that keeps brilliant magazine, absolutely think of another series that has this reason alone it may be improving with every issue. brilliant. I’m writing with a couple lasted about 20 years and not worth covering at some point in Anyway, enough of that – I just of suggestions of things I’d like become something of an the future, if only to raise thought I’d send you some to see in future issues. embarrassment (Ultima, I’m people’s awareness. photographs of some retro gear I Firstly, I started at issue eight looking at you…). MAD’s cover art was indeed found while recently clearing out so tell me if you’ve done this Secondly, your feature on the striking – Spellbound was a my loft. The items are a Sam already – but were you planning Commodore 128 started me particulate favourite... “If I had a Coupé, an Opus Discovery One to run a feature on Sirtech’s thinking. Not about Commodore hammer!” There’s definitely a Disc Drive, A Sega Light Phaser Wizardry series? The reason I ask or anything like that – but about feature there, and it would make for the Master System, and a is because I’m currently working computer game box art. It was an interesting change to articles Centronics Wafadrive. my way through the last game of the picture of the cover of The on Japanese box art. As for My brothers and I had to
in space – I loved that too. But question – what’s happened to with what seemed like no the stand-out part of the fight Rare since? pattern at all! Phew… was the final chase to release the Master Emerald from the ID:
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2) How many times are you RG redeux? asked the above question? 3) Have you have read/covered Love the magazine – I devour the novel Lucky Wander Boy by every page. I live in Dallas and DB Weiss? A great read for any we receive our copies a few retro fan. months late. I especially enjoyed 4) Why don’t you just call it soccer the recent Retro Treasure and and make it easier on us Yanks? Retro Passion features, and would Robert Holdridge, via email like to see more articles like these as often as possible. I’m a Thanks for the letter, Robert. To 40-year-old father of two, answer your questions in turn: swamped in diapers with a stay- Sadly, there are no plans to at-home wife. I don’t have the release or reprint issue one, so chance to play games these days, besides eBay, there’s no way of but I plan to catch up… obtaining of an issue at the eventually. But ‘plugging in’ within moment. And yes, if we only had the pages of Retro Gamer, and a a pound for every time we were few other lesser American asked that… As for Lucky Wander share the computers in our but not the original mouse. magazines each month, gives me Boy, we’ll have to dig that one house. A ZX81 was the first, The Sam and the Sega Light a similar satisfaction. out. The excerpt on the book’s followed by a Spectrum 48K then Phaser I expect still work, but as I have some questions: site (www.luckywanderboy.com) a Spectrum +. After that, my they haven’t been turned on for a 1) I’ve been able to obtain every is certainly worth a read. brothers lost interest in long time I don’t think I’d want to issue except number one. Is As for football, the clue’s in computers and started playing try. Anyway, it’s been a pleasure there any way to obtain a low- the name, really. You play it with games consoles like the talking to you. res scan or photocopy of this with your feet, and you use a Atari 2600 and later the Sega Stuart Ashcroft, via email issue? Better yet, any plans to ball. Football. Besides, we were Master System (hence the Light reprint issue one? there first ;) Phaser). Now, of course, they’re RG: Some nice finds there, all into the Xbox and PS2. Stuart. Isn’t it great when you I never lost interest in finally get around to that tedious computers, and in 1991 I was task of cleaning out the attic, given a Sam Coupé for my only to find you have some birthday by my Gran and my golden oldies hidden up in the Uncle. I thought it was an rafters? It’s amazing how many excellent machine – no way was people write in to tell us of these it just a super Spectrum. I must excellent discoveries, which begs have used it for about five or six the question… just how much years. I also still have the MGT retro gold is hidden up in Lifetime Drive which I used as a people’s attics? If you discover a second drive for the Sam, and an long-lost retro stash lying around original Sam Mouse Interface, in your loft, get in touch.
it remained unbeaten I knew I double air-fireball throwing, ID:
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REGULAR | FORUM Star Letter
Want to grab yourself a quality piece of retro- gaming merchandise? Each month we’ll select our favourite letter – one that makes us smile or think – and the winner can select one of our retro-themed T-shirts for free…
in Karlsruhe we’ve recreated an storehouses filled with abandoned Banned aid arcade featuring 50+ classic arcade machines still do exist. For I’ve just finished reading your machines to the confines of arcade machines and a number of us, it’s a race against time to save latest issue, which is as excellent adults-only arcades, where they pinball machines – all fully and restore as many of these as ever. I’m always somewhat suffered a short and lacklustre life operational, of course, and set to classics as we can before the behind the times as it takes between slot machines and sleazy free play! Machines include owners decide to clear out their weeks for the magazine to arrive entertainment before disappearing Frogger, Pac-Man, Asteroids, Gun storage, irretrievably destroying here in Germany, but I wanted to almost completely. Some machines Fight, Joust, Missile Command, little pieces of videogame history let you know how delighted I was found temporary shelter in bars or OutRunners, Space Harrier, and that we all love so much. to read a new instalment of the restaurants, but by the early 1990s many more. There are other Ralph, via email Arcade Hunt series. I can assure the sight of an arcade machine machines, such as the East you that all your German readers had become a rarity. It’s no German Polyplay, waiting in RG: We’re well aware of the are green with envy given your surprise, then, that without a storage as we’ve run out of space various bans imposed on recent discoveries, as the story of viable arcade culture, videogaming to display them all. I’d like to contemporary games by the the German arcade is a very sad never really went mainstream in invite all your readers to stop by German government, and the one indeed. Germany (the thriving home – admittance is free, but small almost zero tolerance when it While we enjoyed playing computer scene notwithstanding). donations are most welcome. comes to violence in titles, but Galaxian and Scramble just like To keep the history of Those unable to travel to we had no idea that this other kids around the world in the videogames from being forgotten, Karlsruhe may have a look at censorship has been going on for early 1980s, the exciting new a group of enthusiasts created our webpages at http://retro so long, affecting even the most world of arcade videogames was Retrogames e.V. in 2002, a non- games.info (sorry, German innocuous releases of the past. lost forever in 1985 when a new profit organization dedicated to language only). We like the sound of your Law for the Protection of Minors in the preservation and promotion Even though there are no project, Ralph, and we’d urge any Public was introduced. This law of videogame culture in Germany. arcades left in Germany to track European retro gaming fans to effectively relegated videogame In our hands-on museum located down, almost-forgotten drop by as a show of support.
ending of the first game where without warning, Ganon on you had to race to the church to horseback leaps from a painting stop Le Chuck from marrying to attack, followed by a mad Elaine. The ending to the sequel scramble with bow and arrow to was equally good, if a little take him down. Pure genius. strange, as you find out that the demonic Le Chuck is actually ID:
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REGULAR | AUCTION WATCH
It’s Vectrex month in Auction Watch, as we look at a veritable feast of vector graphics, remarkable headgear and extortionately priced games. Richard Burton shows you how to empty your bank account in five easy steps…
he MB Vectrex is impressive-looking piece of one of those quirky headgear that simulated colour consoles that 3D graphics in games by means everyone liked the of a spinning coloured wheel that T look of but not inserted into the goggles. Each 3D many got around to purchasing. It game came with its own was hugely underrated in the UK interchangeable wheel, and once and these days it’s fast becoming the game was up and running one of the most sought after retro each eye was sent a different gaming consoles. Interest in image resulting in the 3D effect. Vectrex items is on the rise, and The goggles matched the scanning so are the prices. speed of the Vector monitor and The machine itself could set you tricked the eyes into ‘perfect’ 3D, back anywhere between £50 to even creating colours on a black £100, depending on its condition. and white monitor with the aid of But due to poor sales, lack of the colourised wheel. The only remaining two 3D game releases out making it an instant rarity and availability and the fact that they drawback was that there were only up for grabs – Crazy Coaster 3D, a sure-fire future collectable. only had relatively short sales three games officially released for an interactive roller coaster The Protector package itself periods, some of the the rarer and the device. Luckily for 3D Imager simulation, and Narrow Escape 3D, came complete with the cartridge, more exotic games and add-ons owners, one of these games came a fast-paced shoot-em-up played screen overlay, instructions and have amassed bumper prices. complete with the package, Mine out in passages and tunnels. a special presentation box. It was One piece that’s high on the Storm 3D. Our considerably well-off Brit strictly limited to just 100 copies, ‘would love to have’ list of every So how much will these rare managed to land Crazy Coaster 3D and each Protector cartridge was Vectrex collector is the extremely goggles set you back should you with a sturdy bid of £547, but just individually numbered. Needless elusive and very exclusive 3D be gagging for a pair? Well, when missed out on Narrow Escape 3D to say, a tidy sum was bid and Imager, MB’s attempt at recreating the dust had finally settled after with his American nemesis winning the seller is now £165 better off. a 3D gaming environment. two bidders engaged in a UK and out with a bid of £561. Very nice...e Released only in the USA and even US bidding war, the UK eBayer So that’s one pair of goggles then in small numbers, this is the reigned triumphant with a final bid and two 3D games for £2,200. >CDTV proto one item that is sure to cause of just over £1,092. What next? How about every sweaty palpitations and a flurry of OK, so you’ve donned your officially released Vectrex game A machine that certainly bidding whenever it’s spotted. goggles, now you need 3D games. ever made – all 27 of them – requires a brief mention is the The 3D Imager was a rather Luckily, the same seller had the including the three 3D games all amazingly rare Commodore on one lovely compact cartridge? CDTV CR (CD500) which This officially licensed product appeared on eBay Germany doesn’t have the rarity appeal of recently. Apparently, this the individual packaged games, prototype follow-up to the but it still sold for a very original CDTV (CD1000) was reasonable £81. produced in such small What can there possibly be left numbers (primarily for testing to have in the Vectrex world? How and development) that only about a brand new limited edition six machines are known to game? Alex Herbert decided to still exist. This might explain produce his own Vectrex game, a the breathtaking £1,497 it Defender clone called Protector, and finally amassed for its proud released it just over two years seller. Thanks to RG reader ago. Three short weeks after its Garry Wright for pointing this release, the entire stock had sold one out to us.
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>Extra!
Tucked away on eBay UK in April was a grey CPC464 came together. processors. In the production We know that this anaemic- version the processor was a CPC464. Nothing special there, except looking machine is a prototype, Z80, whereas the prototype CPC that this one happened to be a grey- but what makes it so different features a 6502 processor. coloured prototype. Unassuming in from other CPC464s to warrant When Amstrad set out to appearance but rich in history, this that label? Well, just about make a home computer it saw everything actually. As the how successful the 6502-based CPC proved to be a very rare curio and incredibly alert will have spotted Commodore 64 was and an important part of Amstrad’s past. by now, the casing is light grey. basically said “We want Richard Burton takes up the story… This is what most obviously something like that.” Sir Alan differentiates the prototype from employed a couple of graduate the real production machine and engineers who set about ot having heard of featured two motherboards and a these initial attempts at designing the machine. The pair let alone seen this different processor. moulding the CPC casing are told the industrial designers machine before, So we decided to have a sniff known as ‘first shot’ plastics. what keys they thought they the slightly around to try and find out more The injection moulder would would need on the keyboard N anonymous about this oddity. With the help make a tool for the casing and and, in parallel, the cabinet/ looking grey Amstrad CPC464 and boundless knowledge of then run off some early samples keyboard was designed. This offered up more questions than Cliff Lawson at Amstrad, a in order to test the tool. lead to the grey plastic casing. answers. It was listed as a software engineer who joined Initially, the injection moulder The cabinet/keyboard was prototype of the more colourful the company in 1984 and who would just be loaded with any ready but the electronic/software official release, but what has had a hand in almost every plastic chips that happened to designers were suffering delay made this machine particularly computer the company has be to hand, so the casings were after delay. Eventually the intriguing was the fact that it released, the story behind the often cream or grey. Later, designers decided to call it a Amstrad would specify the exact day and absconded, leaving livery and then buy in plastic Amstrad with a nicely tooled chips to produce the required casing ready for production but colour scheme. no 6502-based PCB design or software to go into it. Duel processor By a rather roundabout route the technical director at So that’s the outside dealt with, Amstrad got in touch with a but what about the inside? guy called Roland Perry, a Well, for starters it’s got two Cambridge graduate who was motherboards, one stacked on apparently recommended top of the other. It was built in as someone who “knows a bit such a way that the upper board about computer design.” That connected to the lower by the turned out to be something of same 40 pins as the final chip an understatement! Roland would, so the lower board is later became the namesake for effectively the final production a series of Amsoft’s own version of the CPC motherboard software titles! and the upper board simulates Amstrad asked Roland if he the ULA (Uncommitted Logic could co-ordinate the design Array) chip. of a computer to fill the void. The auction listing also Conveniently, he knew of a The super-rare Grey Arnold was sold with the original user manuals pointed towards a difference in few other Cambridge graduates
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a major concern back then. Amstrad also ran a software testing competition for the new owners of the prototype CPCs. There was a £50 reward to anyone who could find a bug in Locomotive’s firmware. No reward was ever paid out, which is a testament to the quality of Locomotive’s software. Lost and found
The prototype listed on eBay Take a close look at the bottom of the motherboard – you can make out the Gate Array Simulator wording must have originally belonged to one of the software development who had gone on to form tooled so Locomotive had to launch of the machine so that houses. From there it somehow hardware and software make the software work with there would be an immediate fell into the hands of one lucky companies – Mark Eric Jones the pre-defined layout, which is software base from day one. seller, Nick Spencer. of MEJ Electronics, and why that funny ‘|’ key is used The developers were sworn to Nick originally bought this Richard Clayton and Chris Hall to access external commands – secrecy when given the prototype machine for just £5. When the of Locomotive Software. He a little pointless, but it’s a machines because the logic board auction had finally run its quickly got in contact with them. function nonetheless. effectively exposed the ULA course, the impressive final bid Locomotive already had a So what were the prototypes design. The machines weren’t was for £620, which sent the BASIC interpreter and it mainly going to be used for? Development supposed to be ‘let out’ because machine winging its way to its produced Z80-based word is the quick answer. The lead they could have been used new home in Madrid, Spain. The processing machines. time on producing custom- to clone the CPC design – a exact number of prototypes left MEJ Electronics did the electronic masked chips, such as the ULA in nightmare scenario for Amstrad, in existence is unknown. Amstrad design for Locomotive. Both the CPC, was many months, but which was attempting to break apparently purged its archives a companies told Roland Perry Amstrad needed to have a supply into the computer market for the while back and dumped several they could put together a of software titles available on the first time. The ULA was always of the machines and the BASIC home computer in six day of the CPC’s launch. So, the clever bit of the Amstrad CPC accompanying paperwork in a months, but only if it was a during development, just 50 and cloning it would have been skip. Those lucky bin men…e Z80 processor and not 6502- prototypes were built with a Gate based, so they could re-use Array Simulator board fitted in existing equipment. place of the final ULA whilst it So Amstrad agreed to ditch was still being manufactured. the 6502 design and have a Some of the prototypes Z80-based home computer were used internally at Amstrad instead. It’s incredible to think for testing and development, but that in just six short months MEJ as soon as the firmware/BASIC designed the electronics and was working, the machines Locomotive honed the software were sent out to the main UK that made the Amstrad CPC464 software houses. The idea was the machine we all know and that they could port existing love today. C64 and Spectrum titles to the As for the pre-existing CPC or cultivate new software keyboard, these were already to coincide with the official “The exact number of prototypes left in existence is unknown. Amstrad apparently purged its archives a while back and dumped several of the machines and the accompanying paperwork in a skip”
The production line CPC464, with its familiar dark grey casing and coloured keys
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RetroCoverdisc This month’s coverdisc is a bit of a belter – quite literally. We’ve teamed up with Play It to offer you the complete Last Ninja trilogy, one of the best- loved series of games ever created. The CD contains the original 8- bit ROMs plus a Place the coverdisc into your CD/DVD drive and Click on one of the Last Ninja covers and the selection of emulators step it should start automatically. If not, select Run step ROM files for that game will appear in a from the Start menu and enter d:\retro.exe window on your desktop (turn over for a guide you can use to run the (assuming that d: is the letter of your CD/DVD to running the emulators). If you wish to 1 drive). After a brief pause, the Last Ninja menu 2 access the usual RG coverdisc browser, simply games on your PC or will appear. click the CD icon in the top right-hand corner. Mac – loading instructions are included over the page. And to help you on the road to vengeance, we’ve included a guide to completing the first two stages of the classic original…
Some of the programs are provided as Many programs are stored in zipped archives, step executable files and these will run or install step so you might need an archive manager like straight from the disc. If a setup wizard WinZip, which is under the Utilities browser appears, simply follow the onscreen prompts tab. Extract all the files from the archive 3 then wait while the files are copied to your 4 using the Extract feature and place them in hard drive. an empty folder, then run the executable file.
Problem solving COVERDISC HELPLINE If you’re having a problem with a particular program on our coverdisc, please 01625 855051 view the help file in the program for assistance. You might also consider [email protected] visiting the website of the program author for further help. Otherwise, email (Monday-Friday 10am-4pm) [email protected]. Helpline for coverdisc problems only If you’re having problems with the CD, first check it isn’t dirty or scratched. CDs can be cleaned by holding them under the cold water tap and gently rubbing the silver side with a tissue. Dry it carefully with another tissue. DISCLAIMER Some of the programs on the Retro Gamer disc interact with your PC on a If the disc still doesn’t work, it may be faulty. Faulty discs should be fundamental level. We strongly advise you back up your personal data before using returned to Retro Gamer, Live Publishing International Ltd, Europa House, the disc. Due to the way the Retro Gamer disc is compiled, Retro Gamer, Live Publishing International Limited and/or any associated company and/or individual Adlington Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK, SK10 4NP. We’ll replace all cannot take responsibility for damage to your PC or otherwise arising from use of the coverdisc. You use the programs on the disc at your own risk. genuinely faulty discs.
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REGULAR | COVERDISC The Last Ninja Dojo If you’re having trouble making it out of The Wastelands, or you’re hopelessly lost in The Wilderness, let RG guide you along the path to true enlightenment >The Wastelands >The Wilderness
(on the tree) and go back for the drill). At the first crossroads head key. Head back in a south- north-east, then go east at the westerly direction, then go north- following junction to grab the west and grab the smoke bombs glove (which can be used to pick you find in the corner (you get up the rose elsewhere in the three of these at a time). Now level if you wish). Now keep From the start, head south-east carry on and cross the swamp by Don’t worry about that locked going until you see a flashing then south-west. You’ll see a rock jumping from log to log. door – you can’t get through it. item on a rock – touch this and with a shining item on it – this is Head north-east, then go Instead, grab the claw from the you’ll start to glow. This magic your sword, so grab it. Head south-east after the shrine. Grab right-hand lion statue and head power is timed, so you need to south-west and jump across the the apple on the tree (apples south-east. Keep following the be quick. Head north-west then river (if your emulator has a save award extra lives), and head path until you reach a cliff wall. west, and cross the river. Now go state or snapshot option, you may east and grab the shuriken. Equip the claw, unequip any north-west to find another want to save before you try). Return to the previous weapons and climb up the wall swamp. Jump across, then run Once over the river, head south- crossroads, then head north-east by running into it. Continue and north-east into the bamboo west and follow the path until you until you reach the dragon’s lair. jump over the chasm, then thicket and grab the staff (see find a dead warrior lying on the To pass this beast you need to grab the apple from the second the bottom screenshot below). floor. Grab the nunchaku from his knock it out with smoke bomb. cave. When you reach the brick Quickly head south-east and run belt and head onwards. Ignore Stand exactly where indicated in wall, carefully climb down by past the fire-breathing statues (if the key you see for now and keep the screenshot below and throw walking backward (with the you stop glowing, you’ll need to going. You can use the Buddha a smoke bomb at the dragon. If claw equipped) towards the go back and touch the magic shrine to see what item you need you’ve done it correctly, he’ll right side of the wall (see item again). If you make it past, to grab next – unequip your slump down and fall asleep, screenshot below). you’ll move onto the next level – weapons to kneel in front of it. leaving you free to wander past Now head north-east and Palace Gardens. You’re on your After the shrine, grab the pouch and on to the next stage. cross the river (you know the own now, young grasshopper…
>Kung fu fightin’ Combat in The Last Ninja may seem tough at first, and you’ll take more damage than you give out to begin with. But with a little practice you’ll soon start to figure out how to become a killer assassin. One of the key things to remember is the pros and cons of weapons. Some weapons are better against certain foes that others, especially when it comes to speed. For example, if your foe is using Your trusty sword can be found Climb down the wall as atop this rock. Don’t leave The the staff, which is slow but powerful, then switch to the speedy shown here to reach the Wastelands without it! nunhaku or sword and you’ll drop him before he can attack. Bear in ground safely mind that this speed affects you too, so using a staff against a fast foe isn’t a good idea.
>Ninja tunes The Last Ninja coverdisc menu music was supplied by Chris Abbott of www.C64audio.com. Track 1 is an original SID recoding of The Wastelands, composed by Ben Daglish. Track 2 is an extended remix Stand in this exact position of the same track performed by Instant Remedy. Track 3 is a remix of The staff is hidden in and throw a smoke bomb to Palace Gardens, composed by Anthony Lees and performed by Gareth the bamboo thicket as make it past the dragon Dolloway. shown here
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>Emulate the C64 >Emulate the Spectrum
step Unzip the WinVICE archive to an empty folder on your desktop. The folder step Run ZX32 from the coverdisc. Press F9 and select the Input tab. Here you contains executable files for several Commodore machines. To emulate the can choose which joystick will be emulated using your PC cursor keys Commodore 64, simply double-click x64.exe and wait for the Commodore (and 0 to fire). Last Ninja 2 supports both Kempston Interface and Sinclair 1 BASIC screen to appear. 1 Interface so select either of these.
step To load a game, select Autostart Disk/Tape Image from the File menu and step You’re now ready to load the game. Select Open from the ZX menu select one of the C64 game files. The game will then load automatically. and locate the Last Ninja 2 file from the coverdisc (LN2 Spectrum.tap). When you need to flip the disk, select File/ Attach Disk Image/ Drive 8 and The game will load in a few seconds. Press the fire button to 2 select the second disk. 2 begin playing.
step To run the emulator full-screen, first select Double Size from the Options step To toggle between windowed and full-screen mode, press F4. For a menu. You can now toggle full-screen mode on and off by pressing Alt+D. clearer full-screen display, you can remove the scan lines by pressing F9 If you have any trouble loading the games, make sure you select Options/ and selecting the Display tab. Now change the Screen Drawing option 3 True Drive Emulation. 3 to Normal.
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REGULAR | COVERDISC >Emulate the Amstrad >Emulate the NES
step Unzip WinAPE 32 into an empty folder and run WinAPE32.exe. When the step Run the Jnes executable and choose a folder to unzip the files into. When Amstrad Plus screen appears, press 1 on the numeric keypad to select the files have been copied across, run Jnes.exe to launch the emulator. To Amstrad BASIC. Press Ctrl+F1 and select LN2 Amstrad (Side 1).dsk from toggle full-screen mode on and off, press Alt+Enter. Select Options/ Video 1 the coverdisc. 1 to change the full-screen resolution.
step To load the game, type in CAT and press the Enter key to display step To load Last Ninja 2, click File/ Open and select LN2 NES.nes from the the contents of the disk image. Type RUN “LASTN” then press Enter. coverdisc. The game will now load instantly. You can pause emulation The game will now load. You can toggle full-screen mode on and off at any time by pressing F2, while F1 will close the emulator and return 2 by pressing F10. 2 to Windows.
step WinAPE 32 maps the movements of a CPC joystick to your PC’s step By default, Jnes maps the NES D-pad controller to the cursor keys, numeric pad cursor keys (with Num Lock off). Key 5 acts as the while button A is mapped to F and button B is mapped to D. A and primary fire button, so after the game has loaded you’ll need to S are Start and Select respectively. To change these keys, select 3 press 5 on the numeric keypad to begin. 3 Options/ Input.
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Buy and sell retro items in our classified Mini Retro Mart ads section For Sale Shining Force (for UK Mega Drive) – boxed Nochex welcome. Email Wanted Edge magazines for sale – issues 6-24, with instructions, very good condition. £25 [email protected] The Shadow SNES game wanted – will £3.50 each including p&p. Contact via + £1 insured P&P. 07840 819253 or email pay reasonable price, preferably with email at [email protected] [email protected] for Sonic Pocket and Fatal Fury for Neo-Geo instructions. Doesn’t matter if it’s un- photo/details Pocket – £12.50 each with postage, boxed. Email [email protected] Load of brand new retro t-shirts for sale – unboxed in plastic case. PayPal and still packaged etc and include Atari, Pac- Slimeworld (for JPN Mega Drive) – boxed Nochex welcome. Email Three Game Gear games wanted – Sonic Man, Space Invaders, Sinclair 48K and with instructions, excellent condition. £3 + [email protected] Blast, Dr Robotnik’s Bean Mean Machine, more. £6.99 each, RRP £19.99! Email £1 insured P&P. 07840 819253 or email and Tails Adventure. Email [email protected] for a full list [email protected] for Retro Computing and Gaming – great [email protected] photo/details items for sale at Atari Centipede (Atari 2600) and Road Riot www.binarymemories.co.uk. Sega, Misc 4WD (SNES) for sale – both games are Valis 3 (for JPN Mega Drive) – boxed with Nintendo, PC, Amstrad, Amiga, retro I’ve been making games in a retro style unboxed and are £3.00 each. Please email instructions, excellent condition. £8 + £1 computing items… for the last month – download the results [email protected] for more details insured P&P. 07840 819253 or email for at www.whatwecreate.co.uk [email protected] PENGO tabletop arcade game (Taito) – Retro titles – Nintendo (PAL & NTSC), photo/details good condition and full working order, www.videopac.org – the world’s best Sega, 3DO, Vextrex, Atari, Intellivision etc. great retro gaming, very cool. £600. Videopac support website is based in the Call Rob on 07973 552398 Street Fighter birthday limited edition Contact Tim on 01442268819 UK. Covers, reviews, news and forums. pads – £35 each plus £5 postage. Four in German option available ToeJam & Earl (for UK Mega Drive) – a set. PayPal and Nochex welcome. Email Astro Boy GameBoy limited edition! – boxed with instructions, good condition. [email protected] translucent red GameBoy with design of To advertise on £20 + £1 insured P&P. 07840 819253 or Osamu Tezuka’s greatest characters! Rare! this page, fill out the email [email protected] Sonic Tenth Anniversary birthday pack Contact [email protected] for online form at for photo/details (Jap) – £25 with postage. PayPal and price and pictures www.retrogamer.net
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>>>Endgame<<<
Robocop defeats the final boss, ED209, with a flurry of shots from his Cobra gun
Cut to OCP HQ. Dick Jones grabs the Old Man, but Robo can’t respond due to ‘Directive 4’
The Old Man sacks his second in command and the directive is cleared
Unlike the rousing climax to the Hyped up on baby food, Robo takes aim and movie, Robocop on home computers opens fire on the former OCP boss spluttered out, offering little more than a cursory congratulations message. But on Data East’s otherwise lacklustre NES version, there was a fine animated ending
The blast sends Jones flying backwards. Game over – thank you for your co-operation
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