Documentos de Académico
Documentos de Profesional
Documentos de Cultura
KILLER APP:
STRIDER ZAKU
WHY CAPCOM’S MEGA DRIVE PORT
OF THE ARCADE HIT IS HAILED WE REVIEW THE NEW ATARI LYNX GAME. PLUS SUPER
AS A KILLER APP ON THE FIGHTER TEAM’S BRANDON COBB AND ZAKU’S DESIGNER,
16-BIT CONSOLE OSMAN CELIMLI, TALK ABOUT THE GAME’S DEVELOPMENT
All good things...
T
here’s no disguising the fact that it’s been a long time since issue three... a
huge amount of time has passed, actually. The sad news is that this is the
last issue of Retroaction—certainly, we need to take a break, at the least.
Times have hit the staff badly and the remaining skeleton crew have limped
across the finishing line. It’s been a long struggle I can tell you, and one, which
has taken its toll on all involved.
What happened? Well, the main problem can be traced back to the magazine’s
roots, back to 2008 when I had a plan to produce a quarterly retrogaming
magazine, full of great articles and content. Not only that, but the magazine
would be produced in PDF with a degree of interactivity never seen before:
hyperlinks, anchor links, bookmarks and more. This unique interactivity was
complemented by high production values. Alas, the high standard we set for the
content and design could not be maintained and timescales began slipping.
The decision to end Retroaction hasn’t been a knee jerk reaction either as
we’ve been dwelling over the future of the magazine for over eight months.
Indeed, issue four was on the brink of not being published at all, but there is so
much good stuff in here that it would be a shame—a crime, in fact—for it not to
see the light of day.
In this issue we have three great interviews: Kenz from Psytronik was only too
happy to discuss his software publishing company, Out-of-Print Archive talked
about their classic videogaming magazine preservation project and Super Fighter
Team discussed their new Lynx game, Zaku, as well as their publishing company.
We also have reviews of the finest independant retro games around: the PC
remake of Armalyte and the new Atari Lynx game, Zaku. Elsewhere, Strider is
given the Killer App treatment, Raid on Bungeling Bay is Retro Respected, ZX
Spin gets Emulator Profiled and more.
While it may be the end of Retroaction magazine, it isn’t quite the end of
Retroaction. The website continues to keep readers up to date on all the latest
news in the world of retrogaming, from new game releases, ezines, podcasts,
magazines, remakes, commercial remakes and much more. That’s not where the
website ends though as we plan to use the website as a home to Retroaction
Extra, a place where we can post our articles: ‘Retro Respects’, ‘Raiders of the
Lost Arcades’, ‘Emulator Profile’, ‘How to Cause A Complete Controversy’ and
more.
We’re completely open to contributing authors, too, so, if you would like to
contribute a homebrew review, article or feature then just let us know. A few
regular users use the forum to post news about new homebrew games, which I
have been eternally grateful for (thanks guys), but feel free to sign up for the
main website to post your news on the front page as well.
The magazine’s future may be uncertain at this time, but together we can
develop the website into a retro hub for news, reviews, articles, interviews and
more. This isn’t the end. This is just the beginning of the next chapter.
RETROACTION
EDITOR,
DESIGNER
Neil Reive
DEPUTY EDITOR
Gnome
CONTRIBUTORS
34COMPUTER
PART FOUR
WARRIOR
CaptainD
Duffman
Alan Leffingwell
8KILLER APP: STRIDER
Gabriel McGrath
24EMULATOR
EMULATOR PROFILE:
ZX
ZX SPIN
SPIN
PROFILE:
retroactionmagazine.com
twitter.com/retroaction
37RETRO
RETRO RESPECT:
FEUD
FEUD
RESPECT:
13KENZ (PSYTRONIK)
INTERVIEW
28SUPER FIGHTER
Retroaction © The Retroaction team, 2010. All
copyrights have been acknowledged and games TEAM INTERVIEW
are covered solely for educational and criticism
purposes. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form without our explicit
written permission. You are free, and
encouraged, to link to the original file for
download from our website. You may also use
pages for preview purposes. We have taken
great care to ensure that what we have
published is accurate, but cannot be liable for
any mistakes or misprints. Retroaction is an
independent publication and websites
mentioned are not affiliated to or controlled by RETRO RESPECT:
us. We are not responsible for the content of RAID ON
these sites or any changes made to them.
20 BUNGELING BAY 39OUT-OF-PRINT
ARCHIVE INTERVIEW
RETRO SCENE News from the world of retrogaming
Nreive interviewed in hardback release and promptly sold
out. The PDF comes in at 33MB and
Commodore Free can be found at the World of
Retroaction’s very own Editor/ Spectrum website. Enjoy.
Due to popular demand among
Designer, Neil Reive, was
some of the Amiga forums around
interviewed for issue 35 of
the net, and to help revive interest
Commodore Free. The interview in the Amiga retro gaming scene,
was pretty indepth and includes Underground Arcade decided to
such topics as Retroaction (of host an Amiga Game-Making
course), what is retro?, emulation competition. All the games were issue details
and more. The issue also has the The MSXDev’09 gaming uploaded to the competition server and download
usual Commodore content, news development competition came to a and are ready to download in LHA link.
and features. Available to close and the winners were or ADF format, complete with read Not only did
download in PDF, HTML, SEQ, Text announced. Dr. Pill from Infinite me files or instructions. Remember Out-of-Print Archive receive
and .DSK (C64 disk image). Go was the big winner, coming away that these games are unfinished. permission to work on all Hugh
check it out. with first place after gaining an Entries for this first (of many, we Gollner’s back catalogue of
83.3% score. Dr. Pill also achieved hope) Amiga Game-making videogaming magazines but they
the following category awards: Competition included X-Mas got an exclusive interview with the
www.commodorefree.com/
“Game with Best Graphics” (shared Disaster, Cornelius Saves man himself.
with Retaliot), “Best Music” and Christmas, Santa Montana, Dwarves Support magazine
“Most Original Game”. Menace from in the Iceland, X-Mas Syman, X-Mas preservation projects, not eBay
TNI finished as runners up and Glass Ball Factory, Sam and Max. scammers.
achieved the “Game with Better Big news at Out-of-Print Archive, Have you noticed that magazine scan
Gameplay” award. British Bob from as the first official release of DVD sellers seem to be breeding on
RELEVO Videogames came fourth videogming magazine back eBay? We have and are really getting
and picked up the “Most Polished catalogue is announced with the sick of it all. These magazines remain
Game” award. As mentioned, second issue of Mega Drive copyrighted to the original publisher,
Retaliot from Video Hazard shared Advanced Gaming, a fantastic whether they are still around or not,
the “Game with Best Graphics” with underrated magazine of its time. and they are definitely not “public
Dr. Pill. A full rundown of the Check out the MAG2 page over at domain” as one seller has laughably
winners along with in-depth scores OoPA for the content highlights, stated. The real kick here is that these
and game downloads can be found scans are not even the work of these
on the MSXDev website. sellers and the majority of them were
Andrew Rollings has kindly done by Mort at his own website at
released a free PDF version of his Zzap Zzuperstore and can also be
book The ZX Spectrum Book – found hosted around various magazine
1982 to 199x. The book, which preservation websites for free. So with
covers over two hundred of the the only cost being the blank DVDs,
finest ZX Spectrum games, was these sellers are making between
previously published at £5.00 and even up to £30.00 profit
www.hiivebooks.com/ with a limited on each auction.
DETAILS
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1989
Platform: Sega Mega Drive
I
n 1990 I was perfectly happy
Genre: Beat-’em-up with my little beige Commodore
64 and its multitude of 8-bit
games, but one trip into to a local
computer game shop changed that.
This computer game shop (home
computers being the dominant UK
gaming platform at the time) had a
certain sleek black console called a
Mega Drive on display. Import video
gaming was just emerging as a big
thing in the UK, and this Japanese
import machine was playing a copy
of a fantastic looking game called
Catching a lift with Urobolos Hiryu is a true expert in One of the more agile opponents
gymnastics and can perform some encountered in the game,
fine moves complete with jetpack
RETROACTION ISSUE FOUR SUMMER 2010 9
KILLER APP STRIDER
may also provide other useful power
ups like life gauge increases, limited
invincibility and an increase in the
size of the Falchion.
The game itself is staged like an
epic film, quickly moving from one
set piece to the other, from one
location to another, all carried out
to appropriate rousing incidental
soundtracks. Along the way, Hiryu
will fight the enemy in Russia,
Siberia and the Amazon, and face
memorable guardians. Hiryu
doesn’t just fight against the typical and the backdrops are simply rather than the European PAL speed
end-of-level baddies—he has to also wonderful, with some gorgeous of 50hz, and provides a much faster
face off against bosses in the parallax scrolling. The small paced game. One other minor
beginning and mide-points of each amount of sprite glitch—an difference with the Japanese version
level. The first real guardian occasional flicker of the main Hiryu is that Hiryu gives out a “puh” grunt
encountered is Urobolos, who character—is the only negative when he swings his Falchion. Yes,
appears when a group of Russian throughout, and even that doesn’t the cut-scenes are near impossible
delegates leap from their chairs to detract from the overall quality of to follow—unless you’re fluent in
form the frightful caterpillar type the game. The game is very Japanese—but the rest of the game
robot creature. The locations addictive, with fast paced action is in English. Moving on to play the
and set pieces also scenes—the unforgettable “running PAL version is quite a chore as it
play an important down the hill” sequence will get the moves noticeably slower than the
part in providing that heart pumping—rounded off with NTSC version. The saving grace for
great cinematic sleek, professional level design. the PAL version is that the player has
atmosphere to Strider, There are some sensational sound three chances to continue where
from the Russian effects and a menacing main they die off, which the Japanese
wastelands, to Siberia soundtrack throughout which, NTSC version doesn’t offer. In
and the antigravity blended together seamlessly, produce retrospect, the North American NTSC
section of the Ballog an incredibly atmospheric experience. version is the best of both worlds,
character’s airship. With soundtrack titles such as what with having the 60hz speed of
When Strider first came “Raid!”, “Siberian Tunnel”, “Big Run”, the Japanese version, along with the
out, it was regarded as “Gravity Unusual” and “Roaring” the English language cut-scenes.
the “killer app” for the programmers have produced tunes The early nineties truly were the
Mega Drive, providing with a distinctive FM synthesised golden days of gaming, what with
some awesome graphics, sound that sound great played on the emergence of the consoles and
a film quality soundtrack their own (yes, I’ve listened to them their arcade quality games. If you’re
and superb gameplay. on many occasions through the after some 16-bit nostalgia or just
All the fantastic graphical options menu). want to play a game which is a
effects from the arcade, Naturally, the Japanese NTSC classic in every way, then hunt out
such as the black out in version of the game runs at 60hz, an NTSC copy of Strider.
the power station on The game is very addictive, with fast
level two, are present.
The Hiryu sprite is big, paced action scenes rounded off with sleek,
detailed and moves well, professional level design.
RETROACTION ISSUE FOUR SUMMER 2010 10
REVIEW
ARMALYTE
Words & screenshots by Neil Reive
A
ll right, I need to get this Video Games’ Julian Rignall. Need
out of the way right now. I say more?
I’ve never played the But just what is this Armalyte
original Armalyte. Now that’s off all about? Well, on paper, it looks
my chest I can carry on. I haven’t like any other standard left to right
shouted loud about shoot-‘em-ups scrolling space shoot-‘em-up. Due
in the past, despite doing nothing to an alien invasion, you, and a
but playing the likes of possible second player, take a
Salamander and Nemesis in the spaceship through a long narrow
arcades during the 1980s. That’s level full of enemy ships, mini-
going back a bit and they may bosses and a final end-of-level
have been two player affairs, but I guardian, all in an attempt to
still have a fondness for a good old reclaim your outposts. Complete
classic shoot-‘em-up. the level and it’s onto the next
If you were lucky enough to one.
have owned a Commodore 64 then Normally, having moved on to
you may have came across a RPG and strategy games over the
rather spiffing shoot-‘em-up from years, I would stay clear of shoot-
Thalamus Ltd. That shmup was ‘em-ups, but for some reason I
Armalyte and was heralded as one volunteered to take this game on
of the best games of its type on and, I must say, I fell in love with
the C64 and with praise from the the genre all over again. The game
likes of Zzap!64’s Gordon absolutely oozes quality from
Houghton, Commodore User’s every pore.
Steve Jarratt and Computer and If you’re a fan of the original
Kenz’s ZX Specadore 64 Psytronik software has been featured in many publications, including Micro Mart and Retro Gamer
DETAILS
Words & screenshots by
Developer: Will Wright
Gabriel McGrath
Publisher: Br∅derbund
Released: 1984
Platform: C64 (other ports)
Genre: Shoot-’em-up
Developer: Cinemaware
Publisher: Cinemaware
Released: 1986
Platform: Amiga (various ports)
Genre: Strategy
RETRO RESPECT RAID ON BUNGELING BAY
“Defence network computer. It only appeared on three platforms, but its development
New. Powerful. They say it got
smart... a new order of directly led to the creation of Sim City, which led to
intelligence. Decided our fate in The Sims—the biggest selling PC game in history
a microsecond... extermination. I
was born after, in the ruins. MSX). But its development directly “base” between sorties.
Grew up there. Hiding from the led to the creation of Sim City, which In the case of Raid on Bungeling
H-K’s. Hunter Killers… built in led to The Sims—the biggest selling Bay, your base of operations is an
automated factories.” Kyle Reese, PC game in history. But hang on… aircraft carrier, in the middle of an
Terminator, October 1984. how did we get from “remote- ocean. Pressing fire will start the
“The War Machine. Directed controlled weapons of doom” to rotors, whilst pressing the joystick
by an Artificial Intelligence. Day virtual dollhouses? Let’s go back to forward starts your forward
and night, these factories churn 1984… movement. Left and right turns the
out an endless armada of remote- “The Bungeling Empire continues copter in the appropriate direction.
controlled weapons of doom. the course of war…” so begins the The fire button has dual roles, with
Their ultimate aim is clear: the RoBB game manual for the fast presses to fire the machineguns,
final destruction of civilisation as Commodore 64. And indeed, the and slow presses to drop one of nine
we know it.” Box art, Raid on Bungelings were a consistent foe in (replaceable) bombs.
Bungeling Bay, October 1984. early Broderbund games. In the The gameplay view is top-down
Twentyfive years ago, I was too Lode Runner series, you were and player-centred, in the style of
young to watch The Terminator in challenged to steal the Empire’s gold arcade games like Time Pilot. The
the cinema. But I was old enough to reserve. In Choplifter, you were world scrolls smoothly in eight
play Raid on Bungeling Bay on my tasked with rescuing hostages taken directions. You’ll fly over islands,
Commodore 64. Both were tales of by the Bungelings. And that game which are dominated by six factories.
“technology gone wrong”. Both used had many similarities with Raid on Each contributes to the Bungling
the memorable imagery of a robotic Bungeling Bay. Empire’s war effort by manufacturing
skull, with glowing eyes. And both Both titles feature a helicopter, parts for the enemy’s battleship.
were the first small step in a billion with strong momentum in its Your mission is to take each factory
dollar franchise. movement. Both feature a mixture of out, by bombing it repeatedly. In
No, Raid on Bungeling Bay never air-based targets to shoot with a some cases, the factory requires
got a sequel. There’s no massive machinegun, and fortified buildings more than nine bombs. This means
RoBB fanbase. And it only appeared to “bomb” from above. And both dashing to your carrier to refill, and
on three platforms (C64, NES and titles require the copter to return to returning to finish the deed.
Stealing bombs from the Your carrier. Your home Factory destroyed!
enemy’s airbase
Surrounded by enemy aircraft You’ve made the papers! Now that’s an ending!
T
he ZX Spectrum was one of
most famous 8-bit
computers of all time, so it
was only natural that we would
profile one of the best ZX
emulators around.
ZX Spin turns your humble PC Heels. Just why did we
into a high-powered ZX love the Speccy?
Spectrum—oh wait that should be Games, of course—lots
the other way around. Still, of them, and some real classics. time I’ve used ZX
despite amazing advances in So, to relive those heady days Spin, and for the
technology, few computers have of 8-bit excitement, we could most part it works
inspired the sort of love that the either try to buy an extant very well. ZX Spin
dear old Speccy seems to have, machine at a car boot sale, find a emulates a whole
what with its slow tapes, rubber bootlegged Russian model, or use range of Spectrum
keyboards, power packs that kept an emulator. Since the first two machines, from the humble 48K and disk (.dsk) format, can be
falling off, disk drives that used options have already been covered model to the +3 (3.0 inch disks— found all over the internet. You
disks no other computer could use in previous issues of Retroaction, why?!), through to 256-colour may have to check that the game
and insanely slow tape decks that I’ll tackle the latter. models. If you’re technically you’ve chosen is right for the
took a whole five minutes to load There are quite a few ZX minded, you can play around with particular model you’re emulating
Match Day 2, Taipan or Head Over emulators around, but for a long all manner of settings, including a at the time, but basically if you
debugger, but for me it’s enough choose the Spectrum +2 (128K,
From colour-clash to epilepsy-inducing loading screens, to be able to play the games and incidentally a game I owned
it’s all there if you want it (though games naturally again. Spectrum games, which many years ago), you should be
come in both tape (.tap and .tzx) okay with pretty much everything.
load much faster than they did with the old tape deck).
If you have fond memories of the
Speccy, you’ll get a lot of
enjoyment from the ZX Spin emulator.
With a simple drag and drop inducing
action, the games work well and loading
without any annoying adverts, screens, it’s
though the joystick emulation all there if
could be better, that’s something you want it
I’m sure will be addressed in (though games naturally load
future versions. The ZX Spin much faster than they did with the
emulator is very stable—I’ve never old tape deck).
had it crash on me, even running The five main functions of ZX while others are not so. The
under the troublesome 64-bit Spin are identified by five buttons ‘save current screen’ function
Vista—and with very few at the bottom left of the emulator enables you to save a
exceptions it has ran every Speccy window: pause/resume, open file, snapshot of the current screen, the surface of what ZX Spin can
game I’ve tried on it perfectly. start/stop tape, enable/disable either in .bmp, .scr or .gif formats. do and it really needs to be tried
From colour-clash to epilepsy- keystick and mute/un-mute There are great options available out to discover all its treats.
sound. There is also a in the recording menu, including If you have fond memories of
plethora of various other video and audio recording the Speccy, you’ll get a lot of
functions—some usual, capabilities, making it easy to enjoyment from the ZX Spin
record your gaming feats emulator. For those interested in
or favourite Speccy tune. emulating custom systems,
But this simply scratches creating videos of old games and
hacking through the hardware
setting the options are all there—
but for those who, like me, just
want to relive some gaming
memories with the minimum of
fuss, the program is set up to be
extremely simple to use.
T
he Atari Lynx was an
impressive piece of
hardware, that due to
some minor design-flaws failed
to set the world on fire. It only
managed a distant third place
during the first handheld
console wars, though, despite
its less than stellar sales and
handfull of released games,
strangely remains alluring to
this day. Oh, yes, and it's been
my all time favourite console
for years, so, uhm, good news
everyone! There's a new Lynx
game available: Zaku...
REVIEW ZAKU
Zaku is a horizontal shoot-'em-
up (or shmup) in the vein of Air
Zonk, that is easily the best genre
offering the console ever managed,
but more on that later. After all,
the first thing that impresses about
the game is its packaging and the
apparently amazing production
values. The box looks and feels
exactly like the ones the official
Lynx releases of yore used to
sport, comes complete with an recover the code of the Rarity 9 spectacular, but is definitely on par
excellent, full-colour, 30 pages long program. I love it. Really do. with the average Lynx game. Then
manual and—most impressive of As for the game itself, well, it is again, it's the graphics of the
all—a proper Lynx cartridge, unlike as mentioned a horizontal scrolling game that set it apart. They are
anything the homebrew/indie shoot-'em-up that plays quite a bit really impressive, sporting huge
community had produced so far. It like Air Zonk with a few extra sprites, vibrant colours, cartoon
is a proper Lynx cart. A proper 4 touches. Players fly from left to aesthetics, some intriguing 2D
meg Lynx cart, which, to be right while either avoiding or effects and, above all, top quality
honest, was quite a rarity even destroying a variety of surreal parallax scrolling. What's more
DETAILS
during the console's heyday. enemies and collecting power-ups. they are incredibly varied making
Then again, Zaku is far from an Zaku herself is a versatile little excellent use of the cartridge's 4 Developer: PenguiNet
ordinary game. It is a shmup with character. She can fly, charge up megs of memory.
a tongue-in-cheek plot, that's shots, use her rapid fire abilities, Admittedly, the genre Publisher: Super Fighter Team
actually amusing and that's even fire her back blaster and even use competition was never that great Platform: Atari Lynx
rarer in the world of video gaming, a devastating yet highly protective on the Lynx, but Zaku is by far the Weblink: zaku-lynx.com
let alone in the world of shoot-'em- personal force field; the clapping best shmup for the console, even
ups. Zaku, the game's titular shield. The game is quite tactical beating the venerable Zarlor Genre: Shoot-’em-up
heroine, you see, besides being as far as shmups go and most Mercenary. I'd say it easily makes
one of the few non-sexualized enemies, especially bosses and it into the top 5 Lynx games ever
gaming leads, is fighting against sub-bosses, require different released, and is a mandatory
shovelware, uninspired games and strategies to overcome them. purchase for all Lynx owning retro RATINGS
greedy publishers by attempting to Soundwise Zaku might not be gamers.
Graphics: 96%
Sound: 78%
Gameplay: 84%
Overall: 91%
A killer-app released 20 years
too late
F
ollowing on from the previous trap the rogue without too much
stories, this fourth part of the trouble. It’s then off to the Gunship
story involves some major where Gru is hiding out, before
changes to the plot and the way the tracking down Gor for a final
comic strip is written: Eagle readers showdown. With the successful
themselves were given the chance to capture of Gor, all the Dark Forces
appear in the stories. The author at are now contained within the
this time is unknown, although the electronic containment cube. The
artwork is recognisable as work by Warlord thanks them for their
Mike Dorey, who remained as Artist help, but Bobby replies that this
throughout the story arc. shouldn’t happen again. The
Upon returning to reality, following Warlord hopes that is the case
his epic win against the Dark Forces, and sends the two back to their
Bobby tries to get his life back to reality.
normal. However, Bobby and his best When the Warlord becomes
friend Martin can’t relax yet as the gravely ill, however, he brings
Warlord drags them both in to the Bobby back into the computer’s
computer’s realm. A weakened realm for an ultimatum. The
Warlord explains to them that the evil Warlord is dying and he tells Bobby
of the Nightmare Zone are imprisoned to put on the Warlord robes and
inside an electronic cube, except for replace him when he dies. Bobby
three who would not come peacefully. refuses and the Warlord passes
Gor, who Bobby faced in the second away, leaving Bobby trapped inside
test, and his brothers Gru and Gurrt, the computer realm. His only escape
are taken refuse in the game world of is by putting on the robes of the
Thunder Blade. The Warlord states Warlord and taking on the power of
that he is too weak to pursue them, the title. An audible crack echoes
and asks that Bobby and Martin hunt through the Warlords chamber; it’s
them down. Bobby and Martin track the containment cube of the Dark
down Gurrt in an enemy chopper and, Forces cracking. Feeling that he has
with their combined skills, manage to no choice, Bobby puts on the robes
RETROACTION ISSUE FOUR SUMMER 2010
COMPUTER WARRIOR, PART FOUR
and helmet of the Warlord and the of playing games for real with no THE GAMES
power that comes with it surges serious consequences. He makes the
through him. He quickly rushes over decision to continue as Warlord and Thunder Blade
to the containment cube, grabs it and let other players experience the
crushes it into tiny fragments. It is computer realm. Besides, with the Developer/Publisher: Sega
over and Bobby wills himself back to Nightmare Zone now non-existent, Platform: Arcade (with various ports)
his own reality. what harm is there? The players Released: 1988
Back in reality, Bobby reflects on would return home safely whether
One of Sega’s biggest arcade games of
his time in the computer realm and they win or lose. 1988 where you take control of the titular
ponders whether he is being too hasty Andrew Porter of Prestwich, ThunderBlade chopper in a third person
in abandoning the role of Warlord and Manchester is chosen as the first Eagle shoot-‘em-up. Taking place in an unknown
the opportunity to realise the potential reader to take part in Indiana Jones and location, the plot revolves around the fall
the Last Crusade, taking on the role of of the government and the rise of an evil
Indy in search of rare artefacts. dictatorship, who plan to take over the
Warlord Bobby explains to Andrew that country.
Using ThunderBlade’s guns and
the game is to be played for fun only,
missiles, you need to take out the
with a winner’s prize of a free copy of enemy’s tanks, helicopters, battleships,
the game and a loser prize of taking etc. The missions take place over four
home the experience of playing the levels, including war torn city landscapes,
game for real. Andrew progresses caverns, jungles, and aircrafts. The game
through levels one, two and three was ported over to most home computers
before winning the game quite Before he can deliver his first courtesy of US Gold.
comfortably. Warlord Bobby present, Dave is shot down on top of a
congratulates Andrew before sending rooftop by a shotgun-wielding gnome. Indiana Jones and the Last
him back home. One of his three lives is gone already Crusade
The next Eagle reader, Dave Dawson and it isn’t too long before Dave loses a
of Plymouth, is summoned by Warlord second. Following a further incident, Developer/Publisher: Lucasfilm Games
Bobby to take part in the Christmas the reindeers break loose from Dave’s Platform: Mega Drive/Genesis, Amiga,
festivities of Slay Ride. Dave takes on slay and he is sent pummelling towards Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64,
the ground and loses his last life. DOS, Game Boy, Game Gear, MSX, NES,
the role of Santa and needs to delivery
Sega Master System, ZX Spectrum
presents to every house in Happytown, Bobby commiserates Dave and is
Released: 1989
while fending off attacks from evil ready to send him back home when
gnomes and goblins with only a water two Dark Force creatures appear from There are various versions of Indiana Jones
pistol to defend himself. nowhere claiming Dave for the and the Last Crusade (two separate
Nightmare Zone. Bobby can’t believe version on the NES alone), but the comic
what is happening, but the Dark strip focused on the arcade adventure
Forces explain that there game from Lucasfilm Games. The game —
involving action and puzzle sections —
takes place over five levels, taking Indy to
Utah caves, a circus train, venetian
catacombs, Castle Brunwald in Austria, a
Zeppelin and the quest for the Holy Grail
itself.
The Sega versions received moderate
success, critically and commercially. The
various home computer conversions were
handled by US Gold, also with varying
success.
35
Slay Ride (fictional)
Turbo Outrun
Developer: Sega-AM2
Publisher: Sega
Platform: Arcade (with various ports)
Released: 1989
A
rather well known game
about different-shaped blocks
falling down the screen was
once described as “brilliantly simple,
simply brilliant”—or something like
that, anyway. That sentiment has
rarely been demonstrated quite as
well as Mastertronic’s classic game
Feud—a game that would seem to be
ripe for a remake, yet somehow no-
one’s ever seemed to be able to do a
good job of it. It was the first
release on their “Bulldog” label and,
while that was a worthy label for
budget games, perhaps they peaked
too soon—I don’t remember any
other game released by Bulldog
reaching quite the level of popularity
of Feud. Released way back in
1987, it’s still a much-loved part of
gaming history.
RETRO RESPECT FEUD
Coded by The Pickford Brothers This is done on a split-screen display Coded by The Pickford Brothers (who were involved
(who were involved in the creation of so you can, if you were sneaky
a myriad games for the 8 and 16-bit enough, spy on what your opponent in the creation of a myriad games for the 8 and 16-bit
computers and consoles), it was a was doing—of course, they can do computers and consoles), it was a game of elegant simplicity
game of elegant simplicity; you and the same to you.
your brother are wizards, have a bit On what seems quite a large how you could play the game, and a those days, scrolling game maps
of a feud going on, and try to kill game map you can find ingredients lot of scope for devious strategy; were virtually unheard of), the game
each other. Oddly enough this was such as Feverfew, Burdock, Ragwort reversing your opponent’s controls simply consists of gathering herbs,
one of the games that my sister and and Bog Weed (yes, Bog Weed)— when they are in a dangerous area is bringing them back to your cauldron
I played repeatedly—apparently, some easy to get to, while others are always great fun, and watching to create spells (once you had the
controlling warring siblings is good far trickier. Each combination of two fireballs and lightning strike the right combination of ingredients),
for real-life family relations. ingredients for a spell tends to enemy never gets old. and using those spells to inflict the
The game’s characters are the two require a lot of travel, and there can The graphics are very good, bold maximum effect against your
brothers, Learic and Leanoric, who be other dangers besides your and chunky to avoid the dreaded brother.
never seem to think that it would be brother to be avoided. Naturally, the colour clash, and the sound effects Ported to various other systems,
a good idea to just get along. You more powerful spells require more are okay. This definitely isn’t a game Feud for the ZX Spectrum alone
can play against the computer, but legwork and cunning to gather the that aims to wow you with aesthetics managed an estimated 180,000 sales
the real pleasure of Feud is playing necessary herbs—but the end result though; the focus is on game play, (an astonishing figure for a home
against another human (or in the is definitely worth it! which it has in bagfuls. Played in a computer in the late eighties). It
case of my sister, partly human). You have a range of spells—twelve flip-screen area (of course, back in remains a much-loved game and, in
in fact—to aid you or clobber your some ways, unequalled. Who would
hapless sibling: Teleport, Protect, have thought that gardening (well,
Sprites, Zombie, Swift, Freeze, searching a garden to gather herbs
Doppleganger, Invisible, Reverse, to create spells to blast your brother
Heal, Fireball and Lightning. Twelve into subatomic particles, which is
might not seem like a great deal but almost the same thing) could be so
there is a great deal of variety in much fun?!
38
RETROACTION ISSUE FOUR SUMMER 2010
Out-of-Print Archive is a
magazine preservation project
that restores classic
videogaming magazines back
to their former glory. We
caught up with the co-founders
of the project to discuss
magazine preservation,
scanning, editing and gaming...
OUT-OF-PRINT ARCHIVE
Retroaction: Can you please OSSM issues I had from back in the people would be able to enjoy these
introduce yourselves to our day, while also buying up missing issues classic video game magazines for many
readers? on eBay with the plan to scan the full years to come, since it can be
Andy De Wilde: I’m Andy De Wilde set. extremely difficult to find them on
(meppi), 33 years old and live in CW: I came into magazine preservation auction sites, and even then, storage
Belgium. several years ago after doing many quickly becomes a problem. As does the
Carl Williams: My name is Carl searches for Gamefan issues on Google volatile nature of magazines
Williams (triverse), I am 33 and living that I was missing (figuring eBay surely themselves.
in the great state of Arkansas (we can’t be the only source of this great The reason this site was created was
just got running water to most of the magazine). I have many issues of this due to the clashing of ideals as well as
state so that makes it great, ya’ll). great magazine, among many others the incompatibility of the vision behind
(and have been fortunate enough to be the site that we used to be part of.
RA: Tell us how you initially got able to get in contact with many of the Sometimes you just need to break away
into magazine preservation? people responsible-to name one would to realize your own dreams.
ADW: I first got into magazine be a disservice to the rest but you know CW: Yes, we officially opened the
preservation about three to four who you are). The road to today has “doors” on September 9th, 2009. This
years ago when I came across a been rocky but adversity makes us who is the same day that the Sega
partially scanned issue of the Official we are today. Dreamcast made its debut in North
Sega Saturn Magazine online; I Magazine preservation started for America and was very significant in the
believe it was issue 32. me at an early age, though not birth of Out-of-Print Archive itself. We
I thought to myself “man, I loved scanning. My father taught me from an have tried to turn adversity into
that magazine back in the day. Too early age to take care of my stuff but as something better for magazine
bad I don’t have more of these”. time went on (and about 7,000 miles preservation as a whole and think that
That same week, I came across a involving 13 moves over nine years or with OoPA, we are succeeding in many
couple of Mean Machine scans done so) resulted in some damage to my ways (the stats don’t lie, our readers
by Mort, which were a revelation to magazines. Scanning them and like what they see). The whole site,
me as I used to read the French preserving them digitally has quickly from day one is set up to put focus
Joypad magazine when Mean become a bit of second nature to me squarely on the magazines, where it
Machines was published in the UK. I (and following meppi’s lead, it is slowly should be, not on the member releasing
then realized that one of my becoming an art for me). it (though they are important also).
favourite magazines got its RA: Can you tell us what Out-of-
inspiration from Mean Machines, Print Archive is all about and the RA: The OoPA website looks
and so I became an instant fan. reasons behind it? fantastic and is arguably the best
Flash forward a couple of months ADW: The most important reason for preservation site design we have
and I had started scanning the four creating this site was to make sure that come across. Just how is the
OUT-OF-PRINT ARCHIVE
website put together and “we have heard criticism about the colour scheme, layout, or
has there been any
problems along the way? simply the fact that we used HTML and how archaic it is. To
ADW: Thank you very much. You
have no idea how much that means to
those naysayers, I must say, OoPA is so far, a resounding success”
us. The website has been created by
using good old HTML coding. What this threw everything else out. This process database kind of way so that it would
means is that it lacks the flash of went on from the beginning up until the be easy to find certain interviews,
certain other sites (pun intended), but very last day before the site went live. reviews, etc. Yet again, Carl came up
at the same time it gives us more CW: Thank you for the compliment with the idea of having the thumbnails
control over the little details, which we there; it really does mean a lot to hear link up to actual online articles as well,
have been able to tweak until they felt that people like the layout. OoPA came which just goes to show one of those
just right. to be after many, many messages small changes that had a great impact
It has certainly been a bumpy road between meppi and myself trying to for how the site works.
as the site had been worked on, on and figure out the best way to make it The idea to have online articles,
off, for just over a year before it “work” and the trials and errors that we which were readable to anyone at any
launched. The way we started off was encountered. It was a fun experience time, came from thinking about how a
that I would just started coding the and one that would never come to simple thing as a magazine in CBZ form
pages until I hit a brick wall and fruition had meppi not been so created hoops for people to jump
couldn’t for the life of me find a way to dedicated to it. through, if they wanted to read a
work out the problems a particular Things took almost a year of certain article. So we wanted to tear
design created, be it visually or of a planning and implementing various down that wall and make it so that
navigational nature. That’s where Carl ideas to get OoPA to the point it is now. anyone with a basic internet connection
came in. He took what was an average Sure, we have heard criticism about the would be able to enjoy the magazines,
looking fan site, looked at it from a colour scheme, layout, or simply the even the people using Dreamcast
different perspective and more often fact that we used HTML and how consoles to browse the web.
than not came up with ideas, which not archaic it is. To those naysayers, I must Naturally, due to the way bandwidth
only fixed the problem, but at the same say, OoPA is so far, a resounding works on both ends, we had to scale
time changed the foundation of how the success; we have readers spending two down the size of the online scans
site was put together. It was a meeting and a half plus hours reading content considerably, as well as having to select
of the minds. We kept what worked and here. That sounds like we are a success which pages we feature as we simply
to me. can’t put every single one online like
this.
RA: All right, own up, whose CW: The foundation was all Andy; he
fantastic idea was it to have each had things set up with beautiful artwork
magazine release accompanied by and design choices already laid out in
online preview content (reviews, his initial revealing so many months
interviews and features), and ago. I simply helped in pointing out
explain why it was thought of in the things I felt needed changed to either
first place? make it easier to navigate or look nicer
ADW: If I’m not mistaken, I think I’m (having heard from a lot of members of
to blame for that. At first we had the other sites and their feelings about
little previews at the bottom of each things also influenced some of the
magazine, but those weren’t linked to comments made).
full size pages. They were basically the The final design was the hardest to
prettiest looking pages from the get created though; we were in that
magazines, with lots of colourful phase of adding more things trying to
artwork. Then we would have selected figure out how to make it even easier.
articles from each magazine put up in a We learned rather quickly that less is
43
Gollner and Roger Kean to release the future that you can share with our scanned and put up on the site.
complete back catalogue of the readers? Further permission from CW: Yes, we are more than happy to
magazines that they published through other publishers, perhaps? accept magazine donations from
Maverick Magazines and Newsfield ADW: Well, work is certainly members (as of this writing, we are
Publications respectively [publications proceeding on getting more issues working with many members to bring
such as Mega Drive Advanced released from both Newsfield releases out that would otherwise
Gaming, PC Player, Zzap!64, Crash Publications as well as Maverick probably never be released). We enjoy
and more – ed.]. The reason why we Magazines. It just takes a bit of time hearing from members that enjoy the
think it’s important to involve the to get them looking just right in digital magazines, though, so if you have
original publishers in our attempt to from. As for permission from other time, come into the forums and
preserve their past work is because publishers, we certainly are in talks introduce yourself (though, remember,
we feel it’s the right thing to do. with one and are pursuing others as this is not a requirement).
When it comes down to it, they are well, but I’m not sure if it’s the right As Andy mentioned, we do try and
the ones who have the right to decide time to disclose any further details. maintain a certain level of releases
how their work gets treated. To One thing I can say is that if here at OoPA. We do what we can to
exclude them from this process would everything goes through, it will be a work with the person wishing to help
do a disservice to everyone who big change for us. And the way that out as much as possible so that their
originally worked on these magazines. this particular publisher’s work will be releases are as great as they can be.
If they feel that we can do it in a way preserved might be a bit different
that is satisfactory to them and in a than what you’ve seen from us in the RA: If a new user did want to help
way that preserves not only the raw past. scan old magazines, what settings
content, but also the feel and CW: Everything will be revealed on should be used (quality, DPI,
standards of the original version, then the OoPA news page and in the dimension, etc.)?
we know that we’ve done our job. forums. Other than this, I can’t ADW: A JPG quality of “nine” in
Naturally, it’s not always easy to comment at this time. Photoshop is preferred; other
get permission straight away or even programs sometimes use different
get into direct contact with publishers, RA: Can anyone contribute to settings. So I’d say a size of 1.5 to
as there are so many variables. Many OoPA? If so, what can they do to 2.5 MB for a JPG file with a width of
of them are also hesitant at first to help out? 1920 [pixels]. PDI at 300 always. As
work with people who claim to do ADW: Absolutely! We do reserve the for dimensions, the absolute limit is
something like this without wanting right to review scans to make sure a page width of 1280, but these are
something in return. that they are of a certain quality mostly exceptions. We prefer to
In the end, the only way to show before they get released. We also have at least 1440, or better yet
them who we are is to stay true to our don’t accept monetary donations of 1600 or 1920.
word and continue on the way that we any kind. We have no interest in CW: This is a good question. As far
set out when creating this site. gaining anything from the work we do, as scanning, it is best to use 300
besides the feeling that we helped in DPI (you may have to play with the
RA: With permission to release preserving a piece of gaming history. settings in your software to find this
various magazines, do you have The one thing we do accept for setting but most scanners are
any juicy releases/news for the donation is magazines, which will be default at 150 DPI). Some
47
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