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COMPUTER / VIDEO GAMES
Do any computer or video games stick in your memory? From me, here's 5, for brevity's sake:
1.) COMBAT for Atari 2600.
This is a very simple game. It came 'free' with the Atari. 2 Tanks, in a maze, shooting at each other, each controlled by either player ( or play against the machine.) Alternatively, 2 planes shooting at each other, with clouds as an option.
What's incredible was the game's flexibility. The maze could be varied, ad infinitum. Also, your tank shots could be straight, or ricochet – or even be guided, with a jerk of the joystick, at the end of their journey.
2.) 3-D MONSTER MAZE
The ZX-81 was a primitive computer, with blocky graphics, even using letters to define shapes. Nevertheless, 3-D MONSTER MAZE was a legendary game exceeding all description! The scene is set, by a strange, mournful clown
https://www.old-games.com/screenshot/1681-1-3d-monster-maze.jpg
( although, he might be a carnival barker, too! )
https://www.old-games.com/screenshot/1681-2-3d-monster-maze.jpg
You are in a 3 dimensional maze, being chased by a tyrannosaurus rex!
https://videogaming.fandom.com/wiki/3D_Monster_Maze?file=3D_Monster_Maze_-_Screenshot_-_Gameplay.png
A first person game, before the term was even coined, perhaps. Having such a monster, in a 3-D maze, on a primitive blocky computer, is incredible!
3.) DEATH CHASE ( ZX Spectrum)
Never owning a Spectrum, this game crossed my path more than a decade later. The game's incredibly simple – it could almost be a magazine listing. Nevertheless, it boxed well above its weight.
The game resembles Return of the Jedi's sky-sled chase, on the forest moon of Endor. You are on a motorbike, driving fast towards trees (very basic graphics), which you must swerve around, or be destroyed. A great game's instantly understandable. And, just like Combat, this game certainly ticked that box!
4.) MANIC MINER / JET SET WILLY
Both legendary games, Spectrum users in the playground raved about. Both also by Matthew Smith. Manic Miner's snapping toilets, and 1984/Big Brother boot, stamping repeatedly, being standouts. Jet Set Willy (which I played over a decade later) had dozens of rooms, encouraging players to create 'maps', to find their way through. An entire world made from 1's and 0's! The infinite lives poke, provided by a magazine, was vital, to finish the game. More effort than writing 'War and Peace' must have been required, for one person to write 'Jet Set Willy'.
5.) ELIXIR
This game eventually grabbed me, more than any other. You were a diminutive little man, shrunk down, in a chemist's laboratory. Like Jet Set Willy, it had dozens of rooms, which I spent ages, 'mapping out'. Again, an entire world made from 1's and 0's! Eventually, after shed loads of effort, I finished the game!
I haven't played computer games for decades, as hunching over the PC 'cricks' my neck, now! Nevertheless, memories of many more games spring to mind – Barrel Battle, Killer Gorilla, Snapper, 3-D Space Ranger, Mr.Eee! and plenty of others. But, I've bored you long enough.
WHICH COMPUTER / VIDEO GAMES EVOKE MEMORIES FOR YOU?
Phillip
If anyone else has got an alternative, or additional topic, please feel free!
Phillip
Phillip, thanks for the topic.
I;m not sure what it says about me but the first game that sprang to my mind was Frogger, that one where you had to cross a busy road without getting run over. From memory, I think I got run over quite a lot.
I also seem to remember one that involved a spitting Llama. I'm struggling to recall what the aim of that one was.
Steve - Yes, I remember Frogger. I also remember a Frogger rip-off, entitled 'Hedgehog' ! As regards the Llama, you might be remembering a guy named Jeff Minter. He wrote "Attack of the Mutant Camels", and maybe some Llama games, too. That was his trademark, I recall !
Phillip
Steve - Oh, and 'Dr.Who: the First Adventure' ripped off Frogger (as the 'The Prison' ):
Second game, in the following clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8tsAoncZkk
- along with several other rip-off games!
Phillip
I am very much anti-video games.
However, as a child I liked the graphics and sound effects of the arcade game 'Tempest'.
And I spent a summer playing Sonic in 1992. The addictiveness was enough to put me off games for life.
Matthew - Yes, middle-aged, video games aren't viable. Nevertheless, the graphics ( and sounds, particularly) gave certain games charm, without a doubt - as you say ( but in one's youth! )
I recall one very addictive game, too - and not in a good way. You'd lose, ignominiously. Then felt compelled to go at it, again - ad nauseam, thus wasting vast amounts of time.
Other games at least gave a feeling of achievement, without making you feel the need to drink from the poisoned chalice, over and over again!
Phillip
Considering how terrible i was at playing video games (my hand/eye co-ordination and reflexes just weren’t up to snuff) it’s amazing how many hours i spent playing them. My younger brother was way more into them than i was, and had Mattel’s Intellivision home gaming console and the Colecovision console too, so i would occasionally play some of the games on those.
Later, we went half-sies on a used Vectręx console and had some fun with that too. I think the vector-graphics Tank War game BATTLEZONE came out after the Vectrex Company went belly-up — a shame, because that game would have been ideał for that system. I mostly spent many hours playing a game called SPIKE and remember almost nothing about it now (I was smoking a whole lot of weed in those days).
b.t.
Considering how terrible i was at playing video games (my hand/eye co-ordination and reflexes just weren’t up to snuff) it’s amazing how many hours i spent playing them. My younger brother was way more into them than i was, and had Mattel’s Intellivision home gaming console and the Colecovision console too, so i would occasionally play some of the games on those.
Later, we went half-sies on a used Vectręx console and had some fun with that too. I think the vector-graphics Tank War game BATTLEZONE came out after the Vectrex Company went belly-up — a shame, because that game would have been ideał for that system. I mostly spent many hours playing a game called SPIKE and remember almost nothing about it now (I was smoking a whole lot of weed in those days).
b.t.
b.t. - Tank games & Star Wars-inspired games tonight, then! ( I name dropped a Return of the Jedi inspired game, and Steve's Llamasoft 'Attack of the Mutant Camels' is Imperial Walker inspired!
Phillip
The only thing i remember about SPIKE is that each round started with this brief verbal exchange between Spike and his girlfriend Molly, in their adorable/creepy robotic voices:
Molly: HELP. SPIKE.
Spike: OH NO. MOLLY.
I don’t remember what the characters looked like or its “storyline” or gameplay, NOTHING. But those five words are permanently seared into my memory banks :D
b.t.
Phillip:
I liked the vector graphics EMPIRE STRIKES BACK arcade game a lot — but predictably, i never lasted very long against those damn Imperial Walkers and soon got tired of spending 50 cents a pop for a few minutes of thrilling but frustrating action.
b.t.
Charlie was a pinball machine guy. Sometime in the mid to later 1970s he did play some video games at the arcades particularly one called asteroids. Also, there was a game with two Cowboys shooting at each other. You would only see their profiles, there were actual graphics, and you could make the bullets bounce off the ground and hit the dude on the other side. It was pretty cool because there would be this thud sound when the bullet hit the guy and he died.
And BT I am with you on the cost! $.25 for like a minute of fun playing asteroids. Waaaay to expensive! I mean it was like play once or buy a comic, sort of. That was my economic model in 1975!
Phillip, in the 6th Form I once had a go at the tennis game Pong (or something similar) but that's the only video game I've ever played as video games just never interested me. My local Tesco used to sell games and I was amazed at how expensive they were.
Chalrie here. They interest me. And I bet they fight off dementia and alzheimers and such. But I need TRAINING! Too many buttons on the Nintendo (whatever), worsening vision, slower reaction speeds… i get frustrated!
I would love to play FIFA 2026 or kill some Zekes or such. But i need a tutor!
Do flight simulators count? I enjoy flying IFR on the few PC simulators Ive used.
Phillip
I too was a Manic Miner fan, but on the Commodore 64, rather than the Spectrum. There were 20 rooms to complete and I couldn’t ever get past the Warehouse level (16, I think). I used to regularly get infinite lives on C64 games (without getting tedious, you disassemble the machine code, and replace each decrement (DEC) instruction with a no operation (NOP), once at a time. Once you find the routine that deducts a life, you can poke a substitute no operation and never lose a life). Unfortunately, even infinite lives couldn’t get me through this level and so I removed the sprite detection on miner Willy and ‘walked’ through the rest of the levels. As a consequence of this, I became far more interested in how the game code worked, than playing them, which kind of spoilt them. Still enjoy a game of the Donkey Kong, however.
As an aside, the C64 used the same CPU as the school’s BBC model B computers (the 6502). Despite writing several quite useful pieces of code four the school, I was strongly deterred by the various teachers/careers advisors from considering a studying/a career in IT. I would have been choosing O’level options at the time, and these people were getting paid to advise us…
DW (somehow even less interesting than before)
Steve
Yes, you’re likely thinking of one of Jeff Minter’s Llamasoft games. He did a few mutant camel games and sheep in space, amongst many others. He always had llamas featured in his games. Relevant to Matthew, he also coded several ports of Tempest over the years.
In the UK it was all about home computers whereas in the US console games seemed far more popular, which seems to have been confirmed by some of the comments so far.
b.t. I would have loved a colecovision, at the time, to play Donkey Kong. Even the plug-in cartridges weren’t too prevalent in the UK. Everything was cassette tape, and then disc. In some way lucky, as they were far easier to crack.
DW
For the school
Waaaaay back in the day I had a Commodore 64 and remember playing Football Manager (a basic version compared to today's version) that was mega addictive. I started on Saturday mid day and finished Sunday night with very little sleep. It actually made me ill and I had a splitting headaches for days after . I got rid of my commodore soon after that. A few years later I bought an Atari and played Sensible Soccer for ages ( not through the night) I would still love to play that. A few years ago in the 1990s a mate gave me his old Play Station and I got hooked on EA Sports FIFA , I even managed to get Scotland out of a World Cup section ( so not that realistic lol). Other than that I found computer games fascinating to look at but to complicated for me to understand so I haven't played a game in over 30 years other than Snake etc on my phone .
Colin - Nothing wrong with Pong. It was the ancestor of all video games! I suppose 'BLIP'/the Binatone game came first - but it wasn't like a proper tennis game.
Joe - You've reminded me of a game called Cowboy Shootout - great fun. You could even use cacti for cover!
Joe (2) - Of course, flight simulators count! I recall 'The Aviator' - an early flight sim, in which you flew over a suspension bridge:
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=c26373f3b23c5d40&rlz=1C1TEUA_enGB467GB467&sxsrf=APpeQnsOUpuSwLUGeNpHpfr2IIk4UzFD3Q:1792571340914&udm=2&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8cxpBkeIeqYwoCbfNVc4vKEzfJsZm6euHh2bPtNTAJBYD8HI5K-4_bUf9wsDMuQjv_eFSi-5G419ft8iXcLF-hTQQuCUCPCDQ78EfA_qNbE_8WL-Lt8ogmQckdXchlBRumdnVtkhhAMFyt3S-vRNVH488KiGgO4EyACoeLVALOA3P4KQeMCMPynsQssv-aZfsni8_qGg&q=BBC+Micro+games+%2B+the+Aviator&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjfuYnQ2MqXAxUCQEEAHfstB8wQtKgLegQIFhAB&biw=1093&bih=500&dpr=1.25#sv=CAMSURoyKhBlLTl3SjlWZm9DS0lKWjFNMg45d0o5VmZvQ0tJSloxTToOXzZMcWFZSjJtVHdQZ00gBCoXCgFzEhBlLTl3SjlWZm9DS0lKWjFNGAEwARgHILPKlLoCSggQAhgBIAIoAQ
As regards more modern flight sims, I was late to the party. I was playing Jane's US Airforce, when 9/11 appeared on the TV. I also remember I was listening to Steely Dan, at the time.
I loved the different planes, but their flight models weren't that different. I'd turn & burn in the Thunderchief F-105 (something it couldn't do in real life), just like in an F-16.
The more realistic Microsoft Flight sim, I lacked patience to fully grasp.
DW - I was hoping you'd 'tag in', as I remembered you as a C64 man, of good standing.
Your comments aren't boring, at all. I just wish I knew more about computing, to follow the intricacies. It was something I was always interested in, but never got fully involved in. The teacher assigned Computer Studies, at our school, knew nothing about it, exiting the class at the start of each lesson, after dishing out folders, so her obvious cluelessness wouldn't be revealed. I left the class, on request, in favour of Latin. A wise decision, in retrospect, as all but one pupil in 'O'-level Computer Studies failed, I seem to remember! My brother was far better at computers than myself (not comparable to your knowledge), but he, too, went in other directions.
I was partial to Kong games, too. The BBC's 'Killer Gorilla' was an absolute corker! The opening chords - der, der, der, duh...still echo in my mind!
I thought the Commodore 64 & Vic-20 were the coolest looking computers, myself not having them ( the grass is always greener! )
Phillip
Paul - A strong contingent for the C64 family, then - yourself, DW, and Steve, weren't you a Vic-20 man?
Phillip
I missed the Vic-20 Phillip ( it was probably to expensive for me at that time as well) but a friend had one and I remember being impressed by it at the time. He only had 2 games Crazy Kong and Starbase ( or similar)
Did anyone have any off those old handheld LCD games, not Gameboys types but games that flipped open that had a pre programmed game in them like Donkey Kong???. I saw one for sale locally for £200. Wow I gave mine away as well. Saying that they were fun
Paul - Yes, the Vic was a looker, without a doubt, and Kong games were solid titles! From the screen shots, Starbase looks good, with elements of Scramble, and other space games, all mixed into one!
In Scotland ( your turf), my brother-in-law's sister's son had an Oric-1. He had a game called 'Xenon 1', which I was very impressed with, at the time ( again, the grass is always greener! )
https://www.oric.org/software/xenon_1-105.html
It was like 'Phoenix', or the BBC's 'Eagle Empire'. As an adult, replaying it, years later, I don't think moving and shooting simultaneously was possible. So, maybe 'Eagle Empire' still had the edge!
Phillip
Paul - We had 2 little handheld games that displayed the time, and had a game, too. One was from Tandy. The games were very primitive, however, and not up to Kong standard!
Phillip
This is it, Paul:
https://handheldmuseum.com/Tandy/HoldUp.htm
Phillip
There are a few Kong ones, but not flip-screen:
https://handheldmuseum.com/Grandstand/KrazyKong.htm
Phillip
https://handheldmuseum.com/Grandstand/CrazyKong.htm
Phillip
I had a cheap handheld SPACE INVADERS game that was pretty basic but got the job done.
Also have fond memories of playing Pong on Christmas day with Queen’s “A Night at The Opera” and Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” playing in the background.
b.t.
Bingo!
https://www.google.com/search?q=flip-screen+handheld+Kong+games+&sca_esv=7e69963a3bb46de9&rlz=1C1TEUA_enGB467GB467&biw=1093&bih=500&sxsrf=APpeQnuzizh_QoLLm3o6LnSrj9VZpN1CiQ%3A1792582242536&ei=YqLYaqKhIKKChbIPjayQkA4&ved=2ahUKEwii2q-egcuXAxUiQUEAHQ0WBOIQ4dUDegQIBhAM&uact=5&oq=flip-screen+handheld+Kong+games+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIGZsaXAtc2NyZWVuIGhhbmRoZWxkIEtvbmcgZ2FtZXMgMgUQIRigAUjGeFAAWIV1cAJ4AJABAJgBwQGgAbcTqgEEMTguObgBA8gBAPgBAZgCFaACqBHCAggQIRigARjDBMICChAhGAoYoAEYwwTCAgUQABjvBcICCBAAGIAEGKIEmAMAkgcGOS4xMS4xoAekXbIHBjcuMTEuMbgHhxHCBwgyLTguMTIuMcgH0QGACAE&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#sv=CAMSWBozKhFpYy1fVUNpUTFQZXRBbTUxTTIOX1VDaVExUGV0QW01MU06DlZybS1uWnV3aUNfNnVNIAQqGwoEc3ZpbRIRaWMtX1VDaVExUGV0QW01MU0YATABUAUYByC_kKWqCQ
Phillip
I never really got into games on the computer, as we didn't have one until the late 90's. And we were late getting into the console games too; not until our sons were old enough to beg for one. Which, incedentally, got me hooked on Mario Bros; and later really stoked for Mario Kart.
Now arcade games were another matter. In college we (our usual gang of comic-music-game fans) would hit the mall arcade each weekend. Galaga was my game of choice, but also got a kick out of Burgertime (a little fellow running around building sandwiches while dodging pickles). Also liked
Spy Hunter", primarily because it used the Peter Gunn theme music in the game. Perfect.
Oh, and regarding Galaga- one summer in college my summer job was working as an attendant at a video arcade. After my shift I could take a bag of tokens and play all I wanted for free. Got pretty good at Galaga that way...
Redartz - That summer job really was a plum position! I'm surprised kids weren't queuing round the block for application forms, knowing the fringe benefits!
The BBC Micro had a Galaga rip off:
https://www.bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=54
Phillip
Phillip, I did indeed possess a Vic-20, with its epic 3.5k memory.
Steve - Glass half full, your Vic-20 had the equivalent of an entire three and a half ZX-81s under its hood!
Phillip
I too started with a Vic 20. Added a 16k ram pack before trading up to the C64. Poke-tastic!
DW
DW - Ram packs - ah yes, I remember them well! My brother's wobbly ZX-81 ram pack was guaranteed to detach itself, at some inopportune moment, resulting in a catastrophic crash!
Phillip
Going off at a tangent...
In one last Star Wars reference, at one point in '3-D Space Ranger' (one of my 'honourable mentions' ), you enter a 'trench' ( influenced by the famous Death Star scene, but different ), and fight your way through, before releasing a smart bomb ( or something.) The graphics may look rubbish now, but back in the early 80s, that 3D effect looked pretty good!
Goto 3.35, for the 3D 'trench':
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL-b1ENvdSs
Phillip
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