RG15 Cover UK.qxd:RG15 Cover UK.qxd 15/9/06 15:56 Page 1 retro gamer COMMODORE • SEGA • NINTENDO • ATARI • SINCLAIR • ARCADE * VOLUME TWO ISSUE THREE Super Mario! The N64 classic slams onto the DS Star Wars X-Wing versus Dark Forces MSX Appeal The machine with a million faces Kick Off Mania Dino Dini’s footy classic Retro Gamer 15 $12.99 USA $13.99 Can V2 03 Untitled-1 1 1/9/06 12:55:47 RG15 Intro/Contents.qxd:RG15 Intro/Contents.qxd 15/9/06 16:17 Page 3 <EDITORIAL> Editor = Martyn Carroll ([email protected]) Deputy Editor = Aaron Birch ([email protected]) Art Editor = Craig Chubb Sub Editor = Rachel White Contributors = Simon Brew + Richard Burton David Crookes + Jonti Davies Ashley Day + Paul Drury Andrew Fisher + Frank Gasking Craig Lewis + Per Arne Sandvik John Szczepaniak+ Dan Whitehead Chris Wild + The Boy Warde <PUBLISHING & ADVERTISING> Operations Manager = Debbie Madden Group Sales Manager = Linda Henry Advertising Sales = Danny Bowler Accounts Manager = Karen Battrick elcome once again believe that it’s important to of the MSX computer range, delve Circulation Manager = to the hallowed cover today’s retro releases, be it into the history of Delta 4, Steve Hobbs hellohalls of Retro a commercial remake, sequel or developer of many fine adventure Marketing Manager = Iain "Chopper" Anderson Gamer, and Volume compilation. Of course, we will games, and complete our journeys Editorial Director = W Two Issue Three of draw the line at some games, and through the Star Wars and Star Wayne Williams the best retro magazine around. you won’t find reviews of any of Control universes. We also launch Publisher = Robin Wilkinson It’s been a busy month and Sonic the Hedgehog’s new 3D a number of new regular features, we’ve been hard at work adventures for example. But, new and we’re especially keen to hear <SMALL PRINT> cramming in even more features, 2D versions that contain the same what you think of these additions Distributed by news and reviews. retro gameplay will very likely to the magazine. Personal contact Comag, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE, England. Tel: 01895 444055. We’ve also been keenly make it onto our pages. But, that details are over on the left, or Fax: 01895 433602 following activity on the RG said, if we find something you may prefer to post feedback No part of this magazine may be reproducedforum, orand have noticed that a interesting, then we think you will on our busy forum. stored in any form whatsoever without the prior written consent of Live Publishing Intnum Ltd.ber oThef readers disagree with too, so why not allow us to Enjoy the magazine! views expressed herein are not necessarilyour cov etherage of modern PC and indulge you? opinion of the Publishers. console titles. While we take the Right, on with the show. This martyn carroll Live Publishing Int Ltd points raised onboard, we also month we uncover the mysteries Europa House editor Adlington Park Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 4NP, UK Tel: 01625 855000 Fax: 01625 855071 ISSN: 1742-3155 <LIABILITY> Subscription prices Whilst every care has been taken in the production of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for theUK: £71.88 (12 issues) accuracy of the information contained herein.Europe: £77.00 (12 issues) Rest or world: £83.00 (12 issues) 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. q 3 q RG15 Intro/Contents.qxd:RG15 Intro/Contents.qxd 15/9/06 16:17 Page 4 >Content v2.03 Japan Happy Play Noise p24 MSX Appeal p28 Our man in Japan takes a look at SNK’s Ashley Day looks at the creation of the first legendary home console formats gaming standard Delta 4-Eva p48 Mobile Arcade p54 Chris Wild talks to Fergus McNeill, the man David Crookes discovers the joys of mobile behind Delta-4 Software phone gaming Next Level Gaming p66 Abandonware: Gone but not Forgotten p72 Andrew Fisher looks at the enhanced games Aaron Birch delves into the controversial world available for the Commodore 128 of abandonware, and asks “Is it legal?” q 4 q RG15 Intro/Contents.qxd:RG15 Intro/Contents.qxd 15/9/06 16:17 Page 5 >Regulars Retro News p06 Two pages of the latest retro news Back to the Eighties p08 A look back at what was happening in the gaming world 20 years ago this month The History of Star Wars Videogames p42 Retro Rated p12 Dan Whitehead completes his tour of the Star Retro Gamer reviews the latest commercial Wars gaming universe game releases Retro Revival p20 A look at The Elder Scrolls RPG series Desert Island Disks p36 Paul Drury talks to Atari Lynx/Jaguar programmer Eric Ginner Killer Apps p82 The 16-bit footy classic that was Kick Off... Games That Weren’t p84 Frank Gasking takes a stroll through the gaming graveyard Control & Conquer p58 John Szczepaniak talks to Star Control creators, Strange Games p86 Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford Crazy product placement in videogames... Retro Scene p90 The latest news from the retro scene, plus our Screenplay 2005 festival report High Score p94 This month we talk to David Palmer, holder of the Star Wars Tournament world record Retro Auction Watch p99 Richard Burton keeps his eye on eBay Retro Forum p102 Global Gaming p78 Reader feedback and Web forum posts John Szczepaniak scours the globe in search of thriving arcade, console and computer scenes Retro Coverdisc p106 The contents of this month’s cover CD Endgame p114 Another issue draws to a close q 5 q RG15 Retro News.qxd:RG15 Retro News.qxd 15/9/06 16:30 Page 6 Gunstars Reloaded The definitive side-scrolling shooter returns After reviving many classic properties already, Sega looks set to continue the trend with the resurrection of Gunstar Heroes. It’s been revealed that Sega has recently registered the title ‘Gunstar Super Heroes’ as a trademark, making a huge hint that the epic and much admired Treasure blaster is due to make a return to our screens. best possible impact on the the game will appear on, but we The original game first gaming world, with Gunstar strongly suspect it will be a appeared on the Mega Drive in Heroes perfectly demonstrating the handheld release for the GBA or 1993 and was an instant hit. team’s talent for creating mind- even the DS. Rest assured, as Pushing the Mega Drive to its blowing blasters, and arguably it’s soon as we get more information, limits, the game made usually the best game on the Mega Drive. you’ll know about it. smug SNES owners look on in Quite what the new release will green-eyed jealousy as the game have in store isn’t known as Sega performed more technical trickery has yet to comment on the news. and jiggery pokery than people Will it be a sequel to the original? thought possible on the Sega’s Will it be a remake of the original little black box. Frantic action and game, or will it be a totally an army of massive bosses different game with full 3D populated this side-scrolling graphics like the recent Altered shooter, and the two player co-op Beast update (let’s hope not eh?) was just bliss. Treasure made the It’s also not clear which platform Sonic Overshadowed Rival to take up the mantle Following on from our story last Shadow the Hedgehog, month about Sega’s online Sonic will be a 3D platformer that survey, it does seem, for the time takes place in a very Sonic-esque being at least, that Sonic will be world, complete with the stepping out of the limelight. At a usual roller-coaster courses apparent at the moment, but recent gaming event, Sega and loop-de-loops. But, from the footage we’ve seen, officially announced that the next don’t expect this to be adventure, meaning we’re expecting more gameplay Sonic game will not star the blue Sonic with different clothes, oh that bopping foes along the lines of Sonic spiky one, but will instead place no. Shadow has some new tricks on the head is a Adventure, only with munitions one of his rivals, Shadow the up his sleeve, most noticeably a thing of the past. Quite and a much darker attitude. Hedgehog, at the helm. bloody great gun! Yes, Shadow’s how much this will change The big question still remains The new game, currently titled packing some serious heat on his the core Sonic formula isn’t really though – where’s Sonic? q 6 q RG15 Retro News.qxd:RG15 Retro News.qxd 15/9/06 16:30 Page 7 REGULAR | RETRO NEWS Jet Set Go! Miner Willy takes to Important happenings in the retro world the tracks Back in Retro Gamer issue 12 we hinted that the next Miner Willy game for mobile phones might just be a Mario Kart style racer. To tell you the truth, we knew full well that this was the case, but our hands were tied until the deal had been done. Well, said deal has been done, and Jet Set Karting will be appearing on mobile phones towards the end of the year. Details are a little thin on the ground at present, but we gather you’ll be able to choose one of Capcom Classics Confirmed several characters from the game besides Willy, and the tracks will all be based Retro collections spark serious head scratching around locations in Willy’s mansion.