Shaun.Bebbington

I have really fond memories of reviewing the game Thrust by Xype. If this could be patched to work with the Atari Flashback Portable then I would be extremely delighted. Many thanks, Shaun.

Thanks chaps. I'm rather curious about the Atari XE/XL simply because it didn't get much commercial support much after 1986 from what I recall, at least here in the UK, whereas the big publishers did support other 8-bits such as the Amstrad CPC, C64 and ZX Spectrum. And yet the Atari scene seems much more active than the Amstrad - unless I'm missing something. I'll be using some of the points here for an article I'm writing for a UK-published magazine, so if you don't want your comments to be used or referenced then please contact me or edit your posts appropriately. I will contact anyone if I plan to quote them directly to make sure that it's okay for me to do so. Many thanks, Shaun.

The question should work in any part of the world, and it is simply this: "What is the appeal of new 8-bit games?" - to clarify what I'm getting at, what I mean is, if you like new 8-bit games, why do you like new 8-bit games? Regards, Shaun.

That's very anecdotal. I've been writing about new games on old systems for a decade now - just because you have a drawer full of new 8-bit games does not mean that's the norm. Most people just like the nostalgia, reliving age-old arguments of this format is better than that, or playing the classics on a particular system. What I'm asking is what is the appeal of 8-bit games. I'm not interested in anything else other than this. So, why do you have a drawer full of newly published 8-bit games then? Do you collect them, or play them? To do worry about how good those games are? Or would you buy them anyway because it's something new on your favourite old system(s)? Regards, Shaun.

Yes, I see. For a colleague of mine, who wouldn't be working in IT today without owning a Sinclair ZX Spectrum all of those years ago, is somewhat bemused by new software - games or otherwise - for it. The Spectrum is extremely relevant to his career choice and his life, but he's not interested. It's too 1983 for him, and he wants the here and now. This is true. So, if a computer system is relevant to you and your life, you either want to own the original hardware as a collector, to look at, to preserve, but not to use, or you want to use the original hardware, but only 'play the classics', or use the hardware and see what new developments are out there, and how programmers are pushing the boundaries, or emulate for any of the reasons mentioned. Or, it's just old hat to you and regardless of how relevant the system might be, it's in the past where it's staying. Indeed, new games can only exist on new hardware for most gamers. Exactly my point. And yours was that if a system is relevant to someone, they'd automatically want to see the latest games or demos. This is clearly not the case. Retro computing and gaming comes in many guises. Err... okay. I'm not sure if I quite understand you on that point. Many thanks, Shaun.

No, apparently not. Most people just like the nostalgia, and only a minority like actual new games on old systems. Check out Retro Gamer's forums, amongst other places for evidence of this. Also consider that, if this was the case, the real-media games would sell more units than, say, 100 on a Commodore 64 - apparently the world's best selling single-spec personal computer. There must be more than 100 working C64s in the world? Regards, Shaun.

Something like "What is the appeal of new 8-bit software?" - so discuss. Thanks.

Hi All, What is the appeal of new games on old systems, like the Atari XE/XL and 2600? Discuss here or answer this question: http://www.facebook....51278334226747/. Thanks in advance! Shaun.

The PET was launched around the same time as the Apple ][, I'm affraid. Whereas Microsoft BASIC on the PET was by far away superior, and the 'all-in-one' PET is said to have influenced some later Apple machines, comparing the Apple 1 with the PET is a little unfair. A better comparison is between the KIM-1 and Apple 1, and the PET and Apple ][. It's very telling that they both ended up with the same BASIC anyway (more or less). The VIC-20 was launched in Japan first, as the VIC-1001. A true masterstroke on Tramiel's part. The Ultimax is basically a cost reduced C64. It was probably dropped because the VIC-20 was doing so well as an entry level machine, and, well, it had less RAM than the VIC. Plenty of machines were canned. The P500, and the P600/700 range and TOI, to name but a few. The C16 was only commercially available for a year, and was made to replace the VIC-20 as an entry level computer. Commodore soon realised that the C64 made an ideal entry level machine. Lets face it, 16K just wasn't enough memory by its' launch. From Bil Herd's FB page: " Yes I am from a relatively small group in Engineering that knows what it's like to work for Jack and then work at CBM without him. I was lead engineer on the last computer "ordained" by JT, see www.c128.com/C116 for details on the last JT machine." So, was the C16/116/+4/264 really post-Tramiel or not? The C128 sold around 5,000,000 units world-wide. Hardly a distaster. The C64 compatibility was useful too. Okay, so Commodore's marketting department were useless. The A500 rocks! Its' appearance is entirely subjective. And didn't the A500 have 512K as standard, whereas the A1000 had just 256K? My memory is a bit hazy here. The A600 was supposed to be the new entry level machine, and was therefore cost-reduced. It was between this and the C65, from what I understand. Yes, okay... but also the first computer system to have a CD-ROM drive *as standard*, and indeed set the standard in that respect. Err... I don't think anyone knew what to do with 16-bit computers in 1985. Bill Gates said - in 1989 - that Microsoft will not create a 32-bit operating system. But the Amiga in the UK and Germany (mostly) urinated all over the ST from a great height. This seems like your opinion rather than fact. Regards, Shaun.

$100,000 for MicroSoft BASIC was certainly cheap considering it was recycled for all of Commodore's 8-bits, of which around 30,000,000 units were sold. That depends when you consider the 30th anniversary to be. It was announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 1982; you may not have been able to buy it yet, but neither could you buy a Sinclair ZX Spectrum on 23rd of April 1982, when Sir Clive announced that 8-bit... but Speccy fans consider this date to be its' 30th anniversary. I personally consider the anniversary of the C64 and CBM/PET to be January. Regards, Shaun.

Yes it is, so we are still trying to make it much harder! Much harder? I was much rubbish at the first game :-| I can't imagine it being more difficult. Regards, Shaun.

Looking forward to an English tutorials please. Regards, Shaun.

This looks pretty damn impressive - what a find :-) I might chuck it onto the list for stuff to review. Regards, Shaun.

Most UK home-brew is Speccy stuff (generally speaking), though some folks in the UK do program other machines too. There was something mentioned by a group called... err... Cosine Designs or something for the Commodore 64. Remember where this 'home-brew in news-stand mags' all started - in the UK, and since 2002 by my reckoning. Regards, Shaun.

I can't get PETAri to work :-( Any help? Regards, Shaun.