advfan Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Has anyone ever seen older English Software titles like Robin Hood, Airstrike 1 and 2, Batty Builders, Stranded, Citadel, Dan Strikes Back, Diamonds, Hyperblast, Neptune's Daughters, Xenon Raid, etc. on disk? In all these years I only come across the tape versions, but don't remember seeing any of the above listed ever offered on disk, no matter if on the different Ebays or other websites. Sure, you can find those titles in the various Smash Hits compilations from the company, but it would be great to have those titles also preserved in their single release form. I have seen ads on Atarimania where a disk version is listed, but I'm starting to think that maybe just a handful or less of those did get an actual disk release. Anyone here has those or has more information? Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spookt Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I know they were often mentioned in print ads as being available on disk, but I don't recall actually seeing them. I did actively look for disk releases for a while a few years back but scored a complete zero. In the UK tape was much more popular than disk given the high price of the drives so perhaps there were few disk copies around to start with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djmat56 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I don't believe the older titles were ever releases on disk on their own. Its only around the time of Chop Suey, Mediator etc that disk versions became more common place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetboot Jack Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I could always ask Philip if you really want to know... sTeVE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
advfan Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 I could always ask Philip if you really want to know... sTeVE That would be great. We are looking especially for disk releases for Farb's Preservation Project and knowing about the availability/existence of those titles can help us save time when searching for new material to preserve. Any help is really appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
advfan Posted July 7, 2015 Author Share Posted July 7, 2015 I could always ask Philip if you really want to know... sTeVE Hi, any luck with this question. Were you able to contact that person? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetboot Jack Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 (edited) Not heard back from him yet, I have stirred the pot - will let you know... sTeVE Edited July 7, 2015 by Jetboot Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetboot Jack Posted July 7, 2015 Share Posted July 7, 2015 Philip says: "Yes we did on some of the Atari games. (Jet-Boot Jack included!)... I am looking at the Multi-Boot disk generator right now..." sTeVE 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cawley1 Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I can likely help out here with my English Software fetish! I own originals of Airstrike and Airstrike II on disk and know for a fact (I have pictures!) that at least Dan Strikes Back and Duellin' Droid were also available on disk. It would not surprise me if all of their games were available on disk, as up until around Elektra Glide when they started to use the (UK) standard plastic wallet. The disk versions of early English Software games came in a blue or gold slip cases with diagonal cut-outs on the front to accommodate the cassette inlay, which served as cover and instructions. Airstrike pre-dates the blue tape inlays, so I am assuming the same of the blue slip case, and is in a standard white disk sleeve with cassette tape inlay slipped in (it's in mint condition!), Airstrike II looks like it has become separated from it's blue sleeve over the years. The pictures I have seen of Dan Strikes Back and Duellin' Droid are both in blue slip cases. My disk version of Chop Suey is in a gold slip case, and I had and sold a gold slip case version of Elektra Glide as I already had the 'proper' disk version. Good luck hunting any of this down all these years later, as I can attest from first hand experience! PM me if you want the pictures...Thanks,Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morelenmir Posted July 25, 2015 Share Posted July 25, 2015 I can likely help out here with my English Software fetish! I own originals of Airstrike and Airstrike II on disk and know for a fact (I have pictures!) that at least Dan Strikes Back and Duellin' Droid were also available on disk. It would not surprise me if all of their games were available on disk, as up until around Elektra Glide when they started to use the (UK) standard plastic wallet. The disk versions of early English Software games came in a blue or gold slip cases with diagonal cut-outs on the front to accommodate the cassette inlay, which served as cover and instructions. Airstrike pre-dates the blue tape inlays, so I am assuming the same of the blue slip case, and is in a standard white disk sleeve with cassette tape inlay slipped in (it's in mint condition!), Airstrike II looks like it has become separated from it's blue sleeve over the years. The pictures I have seen of Dan Strikes Back and Duellin' Droid are both in blue slip cases. My disk version of Chop Suey is in a gold slip case, and I had and sold a gold slip case version of Elektra Glide as I already had the 'proper' disk version. Good luck hunting any of this down all these years later, as I can attest from first hand experience! PM me if you want the pictures... Thanks, Paul You could create a gallery here on the forum - that way the images would be preserved and available to as many people as possible. I am all but certain I had official copy of 'Robin Hood' once. I guess it could have been a repro/bootleg - it certainly came from a member of a cracking group - but as I recall the box was really plush, with a manual and the whole works. If I find it and the mould has not had its way then I will upload a scan. A disk version of one of the compilation tapes is also advertised on the back of the tape case - 'volume I' I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
advfan Posted July 26, 2015 Author Share Posted July 26, 2015 Hi, many thanks for the information confirming that both Airstrikes were released on disk. I knew of the later titles like Chop Suey, Hijack, Mediator or Elektra Glide being released on disk, but for the earlier ones, even Atarimania doesn't have scans of the disk boxes, just an old ad. Google Images is of no help either. As the UK market was mostly cassette based, I thought that maybe ES planned to release them on disk, but later decided not to do it because of monetary issues. I also second the idea of the above member of posting pictures if possible. That way I xould have an idea of what to look for when searching Ebay for items to preserve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avram Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Slightly off topic, but here's a short clip about Tim Huntington and the music for his first two games: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnsey123 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 I love the video above...it's surreal. How many other people had their mum playing a trumpet behind them while they were coding? Absolutely bizarre. You can't make this stuff up! Video introduced by that great TV Presenter and convicted sex offender Stuart Hall. Mental! If my mum had helped me with my programming the world would now be a wasteland ruled by kick-ass AI driven self-replicating battle robots. So, be thankful that my mum never learnt to play the trumpet. I think we dodged a bullet there, people. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 I've never seen that sort of combination in games before, surreal but brilliant. Mind you I think she should have made him a few bacon balms, more meat on a butchers apron! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high voltage Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 (edited) English Software and Thorn EMI were the first UK companies advertising in USA Computer/Video Games magazines (EG and such). I always wondered if it helped in some way. Edited July 27, 2015 by high voltage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.