Start of a great weekend?

Hopefully, this is the start of a great four day weekend – Just got back from am early morning coffee run and spotted these two out in the wild.

It’s been ages since there’s been an Amiga feature in Retro Gamer magazine so hopefully some good reading whilst I wait for my stuff to transfer from my old iPhone to my shiny new model 5.

There’s still lots to do out in the garden this weekend but with the sun shining and spring in the air, its time to step away from the keyboard for a bit and get prepping for this years spring and summer crops.

And whilst the weather stays good we’re hoping to get some walking time in this weekend either monday or tuesday too so we’ll be pouring over the OS maps later and see what we can see.

Whatever you’re up to, have a good one.

iPhone powered Mame Arcade Cabinet

Fantastic idea for a home arcade machine here.

The builder has fitted controls from an iCade, an iPhone connected to a VGA screen via the Apple VGA adaptor and a novel idea to boost the sound. Run Mame and you have a pretty sweet arcade machine.

Further details and lots of build pictures can be found here -

http://ishamrock.com/post/31996377574/making-an-ios-powered-mame-arcade-machine

Vectrex Regeneration coming soon.

One of my favourite old school platforms has to be the MB Vectrex console and my favourite modern day platform has to be the Apple iPad. Mash them together as an app and I would be a very VERY happy man if I could play Vectrex classics on the go.

Guess what

Vectrex Regeneration

‘30 years ago, a totally unique games console was launched using vector – not raster – graphics. It had such an impact that games are still being made for the platform today. We bought our first Vectrex in 1982 and we still love it! Built by Vectrex fanatics for a new generation of gamers. Vectrex Regeneration. Coming soon to iPhone and iPad.

From the press kit -

For iPad and iPhone.

All of the original Vectrex game releases included with the app.

In app purchase of new Vectrex indie and Homebrew games – please please please can someone include VeCave.

Full retina graphics mode for you lucky iPad 3 owners.

Can be played on a larger TV thanks to AirPlay.

Two player mode using additional Ipad/iPhone.

Auto Fire mode – Fortress of Narzod would be bonkers with auto fire : )

Game Centre compatible for high score posting and competition.

…and the best bit

It’s….ICADE COMPATIBLE!

As you can tell, am rather excited about this release….and let’s hope they release it soon!

http://www.vectrexregeneration.com/

IMame port for Arcadie-Arcade

It appears my prayers have been answered and someone saw my previous arcadie-arcade YouTube video and responded with a port of iMame. This thing is outstanding!

More details on this soon as I literally can’t put this thing down.

Here’s a quick demo

Awesomeness!

Game Dock – kickstarter project.

Another exciting kickstarter project for iPhone/iPad gamers. Its a new dock that allows you to connect your idevice to a TV for large screen gaming and has two connection for physical games pads. Games that have iCade support are said to work with it and so I guess that this would include all of those lovely iCade supported emulators too?

A worthy cause and one that gets my donation. Let’s see if they can reach the fund total in time allowing this thing to go into production.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/500587227/gamedock-for-iphone-ipad-and-ipod-touch-devices

iOS retro gaming: Bomb On Pixel City

Speaking of big block pixels, this little gem of a game called Bomb on Pixel City is currently free on the Apple app store (for a limited time) and harks back to those vintage City Bomber type games you might have played in the 80′s….or yesterday if you’re a retro gamer

Look at the size of them pixels! I’m not a huge fan of native iPhone games enlarged onto an iPad screen but by doing so, those fat pixels look even better

I seem to recall a Vic-20 tape game I had called Blitz that was very similar to this and also the time I painstakingly transferring pages and pages of code from a computer magazine listing into my Commodore Plus/4 and vaguely ending up with something similar….although I dare say it was probably terrible.

The object of Bomb on Pixel City is to drop bombs from you aeroplane onto the city blocks below. You score points for hitting the tower block but lose points for hitting any resident housing – it’s only the naughty folk that live in the towers in this city then?

Letting one rip with a satisfying whistle.

Gradually your aeroplane will get lower and lower therefore you will need to take down the larger towers first or many pixels will suffer.

It’s not a good idea to hit the hospitals though, If not for moral reasons, you’ll lose points.

To gain a height bonus, you can try to hit one of the objects that float just above the tower blocks….like a flying saucer…..what city is this again?

After a few levels you’ll reach the bonus stage where you have to repeatedly bomb the missile launcher(s) and take out the radar dishes. You only have a limited amount of time so aim well.

Further into the game, some levels have gun turrets positioned on the top of towers which will try to shoot you down. By tapping on your aeroplane sprite you can engage the afterburners, launching you forward and helping you avoid the incoming fire…..or you get the timing wrong and rocket straight into them.

This is no time to enjoy the pretty colours pilot.

Bomb On Pixel City is such good fun to play and you’ve just gotta love those huge chunky pixels and bold colors, the authentic chip tune soundtrack and comedy effects. Simple, fun and engrossing. Get it now at he bargain price of zip before the offer expires….but to be honest, I’d buy it regardless.

IOS Gaming: Retro Game list

Here’s a great starter list that might be useful for all retro gaming iPad/iPhone owners.

http://www.applegazette.com/games/30-classic-computer-games-available-for-iphone-ipad/

I also hear that Atari’s greatest hits is now available for Android owners so if it’s the real old school classics like Battlezone, Centipede and Asteroids you want to play, it might be worth checking out one or two of the game packs or indeed the entire Atari collection.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.atari.mobile.greatesthits&hl=en

IOS Retro Gaming: Snake HD and Duck Hunt AR

Both of these games have kept me entertained today during lunch break and so on and at the moment are both being offered as free downloads via the Apple app store.

First up is Snake HD for the iPad.

Snake needs no introduction and is one of those classic games that excels because of its pick up and play nature to provide minutes or hours of fun.

The concept is simple – navigate the play area and eat the various objects on screen. The more you eat, the more points you get but the longer your snake becomes and ups the difficulty level because you have to avoid crashing into your ever increasing body.

This iPad version offers a superb vector graphic makeover and add touch control which work so well on this game.

Two modes are on offer. First there’s the classic mode with simple up, down, left and right control.

…and then there’s modern mode complete with those lovely looking vector graphics. Control has been changed so that the left/right button rotates your snake (er-hmm) through 360 degrees.

Add a coloured overlay and it’d pass for a Vectrex game

The second game today is Duck Hunt AR for the iPhone.

This is such a great port of the NIntendo classic game and not only adds tilt support – you aim you gun by moving/tilting you phone, but the dull blue background of the original NES game has been replaced by the live video being picked up by your iPhones camera. It’s quite surreal in reality and so funny when trying it out at work and had various colleagues in the background superimposed into the game.

Here’s a picture of my iPhone using my iPad.

After a while, I must admit, the game loses it’s appeal, but for it’s quirkiness and one to show your fellow retro gamers to raise a smile it’s definitely worth a look.

iOS Retro Gaming: Parsec

A friend of mine recommended this latest iPad game to me knowing that I was a fan of vector based arcade games and the MB Vectrex console.

His email simply read -

Aliens waves coming at you thick n fast, bullets flying everywhere all in stunningly lit neon vector graphics. Can’t put it down, need sleep, one more go!

The name of the game is called Parsec (not to be confused with th TI99a classic) and is available for both iPad and iPhone (with an Android version to follow soon).

My friend wasn’t wrong, this is one hellava good old school shooter that looks and sounds absolutely brilliant.

Here’s where it all starts, a simple menu giving you access to high scores and various game options including the ability to play your own tunes whilst in game – I’m thinking Xenon II ‘Megablast’ here.

The designers of this game have got the retro homage to classic vector games absolutely spot on. I’d hazard a guess that they are fans of so many Atari classics. It made me smile at the subtle additions like the 80′s high score counter sound FX and pixelised text font that’s been used.

Here’s the first of the 20 odd action packed levels.

Control of your ship is via touchscreen by moving your finger left or right. Your weapons fire automatically so there’s no need to mash the screen. It works really well for this type of game and your ships responds perfectly to your movement including those (frequent) times that you need to be quick to get the hell out of tight spots.

As you shoot down the alien craft, items such as point multipliers are dropped and if collected can increase your score x2 and x3. Likewise, many weapon upgrades, shields and other power ups can be collected too. Some of these including rapid fire, decrease/increase ship size, double and triple shot…plus combinations of these.

Picking up a glowing blue icon freezes the aliens craft for a brief moment allowing you to unleash hell….or take a breather.

For fans of the sub-genre, Parsec also contains lots of ‘bullet hell’ moments, although it’s very difficult to illustrate with a screenshot as i get shot to quickly before i’ve taken one.

A nod to Atari.

Level 10 and up against the first end of level boss. Can’t admire the neon lines for too long, need to keep moving…a lot!

Like many Apple app store games, you can see how your scores fair against local players around you as well as top scores from the day, week or all time.

Although I got top for the day, I’m nowhere worldwide

My thanks to GazT.