The PBS Arts Off Book series investigates 8-bit art and music pop culture.
The “Evolution of 8-bit art” video is an audio and visual extravaganza, celebrating the genius of 8-bit artists and chiptune musicians.
[PBS Arts]
The Pop-Culture E-Zine
The PBS Arts Off Book series investigates 8-bit art and music pop culture.
The “Evolution of 8-bit art” video is an audio and visual extravaganza, celebrating the genius of 8-bit artists and chiptune musicians.
[PBS Arts]
Good old Bomb Jack. Could he have been the first ever bomb disposal expert in video gaming ? Perhaps he was. It doesn’t really matter, does it.
Released in 1984, our little hero garnered a cult following. He may have worn red spandex, but that didn’t stop us from pumping coins into his machine.
The premise of the game is pretty straight forward – collect all the bombs to complete a screen. Only one bomb at a time has a lit fuse. If you collect 20 or more of these lit bombs on a level, you get a bonus.
It’s not all easy going for Jack, he has to avoid various monsters and aliens that chase him around the screen. However, if you collect the powerball when it appears, it freezes the baddies for a short period of time, during which, you can kill them simply by touching them. There are other items to be picked up that give you additional bonus points or extra credits.
The game starts to repeat after Level 18. However, you will be too busy darting around the screen, collecting bombs to notice. Bomb Jack is one of those old games that invoke memories of playing it at the corner shop or fish’n chips store across your school. I know, it does for me. Most of my pocket money went into playing this game. It kept me out of trouble, which is always a good thing.
Graphics | It was 1984, so what do you expect ! |
72% |
Sound | As above ! |
70% |
Playability | Another typical arcade game from the early / mid 80’s – dart around the screen, collect stuff and avoid the baddies. Damn that’s a lot of fun |
85% |
Lastability | Well, the levels repeat after level 18, but who cares, this game oozes nostalgia. It is a great “pick up and play for 10 minutes” kind of game – which is perfect for us time-poor gamers |
85% |
Overall | This will not be the first game that comes to mind from the 80’s arcade era. But, if you do come across it, play it. It has the perfect mix of platform and puzzle fun. I guarantee it will put a smile on your dial. |
85% |
Manufacturer: Tehkan
Year: 1984
Genre: Single screen platform
Number of Simultaneous Players: 1
Maximum number of Players: 2
Gameplay: Alternating
Control Panel Layout: Single Player
Joystick: 8-way
Buttons: 1 [jump]
Sound: Amplified Mono (single channel)
“How would you like to to play Yu Suzuki’s full-body 1980s arcade games, including Out Run; take a dance challenge in Alex Rigopulous and Eran Egozy’s Dance Central 2; test yourself in a four-player version of Firemint’s Real Racing 2; and be immersed in a 3D display of Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s Child of Eden” – Sounds like a dream come true !
Gamers rejoice ! Game Masters is coming to town. The highly interactive videogame exhibition will be at ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) from 28 June till 28 October 2012.
As part of this exhibition, there will be a showcase of work from local and international videogame designers, with over 125 playable games (woohoo !) from the arcade era through to the latest consoles, PC and mobile gaming platforms.
Hold onto your hats, the list of games from world renowned game designers (from the pioneers to the contemporaries) reads like a who’s who of the videogaming industry.
Hit the Game Masters site for further event program details.
ausretrogamer will bring you live twitter feeds from the Game Masters exhibition. Get following now !
Event Details:
Event: Game Masters, The Exhibition
Venue: ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne
Date(s): 28 June – 28 October 2012
Ticketing: Event ticketing details
Full($22.00), Concession($17.50),
Child (Aged 4-15)($11.00),
Family (2 Adults & 3 Children)($60.00)
3 Session Pass Full($55.00)
3 Session Pass Concession($45.00)
Group (15 or more people)($18.50)
Group (50 or more people)($16.50)
Event trailer: Go here
Hands up if you like free stuff. I thought so. Well, if you are a video games player, you will be pleased to know that the Independent Games Festival 2012 is currently on at the Australian Centre of the Moving Image (ACMI), Federation Square, Melbourne. Admission is free and open daily, from 10am till 6pm. This festival will run till July 8, 2012.
Event blurb:
Hot on the heels of the 2011 exhibition and direct from the 2012 IGF in San Francisco, a fresh batch of the world’s best independent games arrives at ACMI. Come and play more brilliant new games for free.
Dubbed the ‘Sundance of the game world’, the annual Independent Games Festival encourages innovation in game development and recognises the best work of indie designers from all around the world.
Who would have thought, a game released in 1981 would still be played and enjoyed in this day and age ! It just proves that quality always trumps quantity.
This game has simple graphics and even simpler sound effects. But what it does have, is oodles of gameplay, and let’s admit it, that is the most important part of any game, retro or new.
Wizard of Wor is a timeless classic. Game play is simple – one or two players, known as Worriors, move around a variety of line-drawn dungeons (mazes), shooting the creatures that wander within. These creatures, or Worlings (Burwors, Garwors and Thorwors), are eliminated so that the player progresses to an even harder dungeon. On each of these levels, there are bonus monsters, called Worluks, and occassionaly, the Wizard makes a special guest appearance – see The Dungeons of Wor.
Each dungeon has different maze patterns, with escape doors that your Worrior can walk through to re-appear on the opposite side of the maze – this is great for when things get tough and you need a quick exit. Be warned though, the Worlings and Worluks can also use these escape doors !
The Dungeons of Wor:
Basic Dungeons – consist of short passages and long corridors.
The Arena – appears after the first bonus Worrior is awarded. The most difficult of the basic dungeons with an open central maze area.
Worlord Dungeons – Dungeons ‘8’ (and subsequent dungeons) are more difficult where the player is likely to engage the Wizard. In these dungeons, the player is addressed as “Worlord”
The Pit – the 13th dungeon appears after the second bonus Worrior is awarded. It is an entirely open area, with no place to hide and requires the greatest skill for survival. Eliminating all Worlings, Worluks and Wizard earns continued play.
If you doubt how good this is game is, I urge you to give it a try. Game play is simple enough for any player to pick up in an instant. Mastering it is another story. I do warn you though, once you enter the dungeon, it is difficult to stop – you will be hooked !
Graphics | Simplistic, but that doesn’t matter |
75% |
Sound | The tempo of the effects and droning music picking up as you are about to clear out the last Worling, gets the heart racing ! |
85% |
Playability | Easy to get into, you just move up – down – left – right and then fire. Sounds simple enough ! |
92% |
Lastability | If you clear out the Pit dungeon, then you earn continued play. You may find this exhausting and a bit samey, but rest assured, this is the game’s magic – you will want to keep on playing. |
90% |
Overall | If you do not have access to the arcade version of the game, then hit up the brilliant C64 conversion. WoW is a classic ! |
92% |
Manufacturer:Bally Midway
Year: 1981
Genre: Labyrinth / Maze
Number of simultaneous players: 2
Maximum number of players: 2
Gameplay: Either
Joystick: 4-way
Buttons: 1 (Fire)
I was contacted recently by RetroGamesCollector (UK) who asked if I would like to be interviewed in his new retro gaming collections feature, ‘Show us your collection’. I didn’t need any time to think about it – I jumped at the opportunity!
If you want to take a gander at the collection and read the interview, then head on over here
By Amadeus484
Written by: J.P. Hays
Hey there ! My name is J.P. Hays, more commonly known on the net as Amadeus484. I am an avid collector of all things vintage computing and gaming, and I also enjoy studying various topics on the subject of vintage computing. I also enjoy doing experiments on my vintage and modern computers. The following post is one of those experiments, done about 4 months ago. Presenting – “Exactly how compatible IS the PC compatible ?”.
[Read more…] about Exactly how compatible IS the PC compatible ?
If you are a Retro Gamer and are in the Seattle or Portland area, then you are in luck !
The SRGE (Seattle Retro Gaming Expo) and PRGE (Portland Retro Gaming Expo) have announced their respective event dates for 2012.
The Portland event will be at a new, larger capacity venue, the Oregon Convention Centre. The PRGE crew have also announced that 20,000 square feet of floorspace has been earmarked for an arcade area, called the Mega-Cade. This area will feature full-size video game and pinball machines. There is also an expanded exhibitor area and more speakers and panels lined up for the event. Last but not least, for the first time ever, PRGE and Ground Kontrol will host an after hours party, with free play arcade and console machines. The party is opened to all paid attendees (ages 21+).
Make sure you put these events in your diary !
Seattle Retro Gaming Expo
Date: June 16 – 17, 2012
Venue: Red Lion, Bellevue WA
Ticket information: http://www.jetcityretro.org/news/registration.html
Portland Retro Gaming Expo
Date: September 29 – 30, 2012
Venue: Oregon Convention Centre, Portland OR
Ticket information: http://retrogamingexpo.com/admission.php
Platform: PC-Engine
Format: HuCard
Developer: Hudson Soft / Irem
Released: 1988 (Japan) / 1989 (US)
Genre: Shoot’em Up
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Irem’s legendary side scrolling shoot’em up is regarded as one of the PC-Engine’s most accomplished arcade conversions. This was (and still is) the PC-Engine’s ‘killer app’. The game-play is simple, pilot your R-9 fighter to wipe out the evil Bydo Empire.
Your R-9 fighter is equipped with a small gun which can only shoot down the smallest of enemies without firing several shots. But, if you hold down the fire button long enough, you can load up your shot so it releases a massive burst of energy, eliminating all but the strongest enemies in its path. To assist in bringing down tougher Bydo enemies (and help you get further in this tough game), there are souped up weapons that can be collected along the way, like the diagonally firing lasers and the mega powerful circular red laser. When combined with the homing missiles and orbs that protect you, your R-9 becomes a Bydo blasting behemoth.
There aren’t enough superlatives you could use to describe how great this game is. From the music, to the graphics, the stage layouts, the enemies – they are all perfect in this coin-op conversion. Even the difficulty is spot on (it’s tough) ! This is as close to a perfect horizontally scrolling shoot’em up you can get on the PC-Engine. Do not miss it !
Graphics | As close as possible to arcade perfect. |
90% |
Sound | Your ears will thank you. |
90% |
Playability | Easy to pick up and play, but tough to beat and master. The difficulty is just right. |
93% |
Lastability | You will be playing this for years to come. All side-scrolling shoot’em ups are judged against this game. |
94% |
Overall | If you have a PC-Engine, this is your killer app. Go and get it ! |
93% |
April 23, 1982: Sir Clive Sinclair gave the world, the ZX Spectrum. This 8-bit wonder took the UK by storm. It proved so popular that it was in production till 1992. It celebrates its 30th birthday today. So, to you, the ZX Speccy, we wish you a happy 30th birthday. May you celebrate many more to come !
By the numbers:
Launch Date: 23 April 1982
Launch Price: £125 (16KB), £175 (48KB)
Dimensions: 232x144x30mm
Weight: 552g
Processor: Zilog Z80A (running at 3.5MHz)
RAM: 16/48KB
ROM: 16KB
Onboard Language: Sinclair BASIC
Display: 32×24 characters, 256×192 pixels
Colours: Eight available (plus seven variations)
Sound: Internal speaker (buzzing)
Interesting key technical component: The ULA (Uncommitted Logic Array) chip, aka: the ‘glue chip’, combines the functions of several chips and controls the I/O functions.
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