Monthly Archives: December 2010

Happy Winter Solstice

Posted by stiggyworld on

Sadly, low cloud prevented a good view of the Lunar eclispe but the bright red skies on the drive to work this morning certainly made a change from the drab greys of late.

So, if today is shortlest day, that means that from tomorrow, Summer is on the way…woohoo :-) Currently, temps are hovering around -9 to -15 in the evening so a bit of sun would be most welcome .

Wrap up warm, it’s nippy out there! Of course, if you’re reading this from warmer climates…you lucky folk :-)

Retro Gaming: Cannon Fodder Xmas edition

Posted by stiggyworld on

Sensible Software’s Cannon Fodder is one of those quintessential classic games that every Amiga owner has either owned, played or at least heard about and that no right-minded retro gamer should be without it in their collection (including the excellent 3DO version).

Released just before Christmas of ’93 it seemed that the floppy disks were a permanent resident inside my A1200 and weren’t ejected until the postman delivered my Christmas edition of Amiga Format (#54).

Not only a brilliant magazine (and a collection of magazines that I won’t part with) but the cover disk contained a very special edition of Cannon Fodder dubbed ‘Cannon Soccer’. This was a two level Christmas edition of Cannon Fodder which also played homage to Sensible Software other great hit, Sensible Soccer.

So, with Christmas approaching and feeling like a bit of festive retro gaming I thought I’d fire it up again and…head out with my fellow grunts and blow stuff up…o.k, well maybe not that festive then :-)

My copy of AF is looking a bit dog-eared now and sadly the cover disk is long gone but I managed to track down an .adf file edition for use with WinUAE.

A quick scan through  magazine instructions just to refresh my memory…yep, shoot everything :-)

This special Christmas edition contains two levels, ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘It’s snow time!’

Now Cannon Fodder can be a one tough game in the later stages, but this Christmas edition is rock hard…or i’m loosing my touch!

Right here we go…(Sensible Soccer) pitch invasion.

I bet the footy player wasn’t expecting gun totting defensive formations!

..and I wasn’t expecting a bazooka carrying goalie!

The second levels starts off a little easier with only a few natives to deal with.


..but soon hots up with helicopters, bazookas and gun turrets..Run away!

War is not fun, but Cannon Fodder Christmas edition certainly is!

 

 

Radio Times Christmas Edition 2010

Posted by stiggyworld on

…and not only have I got the latest Retro Gamer Magazine to plow through but I’ve just got the bumper Christmas Edition of Radio Times. Ok, so i don’t actually get chance to watch that much TV during the holiday season but in my book, no Christmas is complete without my RT!

Coffee, RT, pen and the DVR remote…oh Jingle Bells Jingle Bells :-)

Last years blog post – http://stiggyblog.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/bbc-radio-times-christmas-edition-released/

Retro Gamer Magazine #84 Christmas Edition.

Posted by stiggyworld on

Although it’s been out for a few day’s,  I’ve just got my mitts on the latest edition of Retro Gamer Magazine #84 thanks to Curstie and her Saturday morning shopping expeditions.

As soon as I saw the cover it made me smile. Firstly, it’s a Christmas cover, secondly, it’s painted by the legendary Oliver Frey and thirdly, it harks back to the days of classic computer magazines of the eighties such as Crash, Commodore User and my favorite Zzap!64

There was much talk on the RG forum that there wouldn’t be a Christmas cover but it was all a ruse :-) Gaz and co. have come up trumps with this one so thank you very much!

And here’s that classic Zzap64 cover from 1985 side by side 25 years on :-) Love it!

I’ve only had chance to have a quick peek but it’s looking like a bumper issue with lots of great content to look forward too including a review of R3play, behind the scenes of the classic Amiga Shooter – Banshee, a look back at Ocean Softwares ‘The Untouchables’ (Brilliant on the C64 and Spectrum) and much much more all wrapped up in Christmas bunting.

And finally…after 84 issues, a look back at one of my most favorite games – Stunt Car Racer on the Commodore Amiga.

..and what’s that in the bottom right of the page..Wooooooohooooooo, they’ve used one of my images. Sure it’s only a the size of a postage stamp but who cares. RG (and especially Craig) thank you so much…you’ve made my Christmas :-)

Here’s my original blog post – http://stiggyblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/retro-gaming-stunt-car-racer-cbm-amiga/

New netbook tablet has arrived.

Posted by stiggyworld on

After a brief delay due to recent weather conditions my new netbook/tablet has finally been delivered. Unfort, i’ve only had chance to make sure it’s working before being whipped back in to the box until Christmas day morn!

Although a very brief play with it, it’s all looking rather good. Super fast, a touch screen that actually works a great portrait ebook reader.

Just got to wait a few more weeks before i can really take it for a test spin.