Author Archives: Frank Gasking

Total results: 1213

Bombuzal

Bombuzal thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

A popular puzzle game on the Commodore 64, Bombuzal was also being arranged for conversion to the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC platforms, with work being arranged through Andromeda Software back in early 1988.

A contract was arranged with a developer called Matthew Kydd, who was friends with Nigel Critten – who is known today for creating some wonderful ZX Spectrum games such as BabyMan Vs Terminatots and many more. Nigel would help Matthew by doing all the graphics, and mentions that there was discussion of an Amstrad CPC edition as well. Continue reading →

In: Amstrad CPC, Reviews, ZX Spectrum | Tagged: , | Leave a comment

Stuntman (Unreleased, 1986) – A lost Palace Software game brought back to light

Stuntman (Unreleased, 1986) – A lost Palace Software game brought back to light thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

A lost Palace Software title from 1986 is not something you hear about every day. Stuntman appears to have been an ambitious project for its time, likely targeting emerging 16-bit platforms, but ultimately never seeing the light of day.

Gaming historian Kate Willært has done a fantastic job researching and documenting the story behind the game, pulling together a detailed and insightful look at what might have been. Continue reading →

In: Atari ST, Commodore 64 (C64), Commodore Amiga, News | Leave a comment

Monster Demolition and Vindicators – Atari Lynx prototype recoveries

Monster Demolition and Vindicators – Atari Lynx prototype recoveries thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

Two significant Atari Lynx prototype recoveries have been made thanks to the AtariAge community, and have been added to our archives as well as a result with prototypes of both Monster Demolition and Vindicators now available to explore.

Both titles were part of a large haul of Atari Lynx materials recovered via the AtariAge community yesterday. Monster Demolition provides a look at an early take on Rampage what would later be completely scrapped to make way for a more arcade accurate conversion, while Vindicators is represented by a much more advanced and playable build than previously seen. Continue reading →

In: Atari Lynx, News | Leave a comment

Dojin (1980) – Reconstructing a Lost Link Between Early Stealth and Horror

Dojin (1980) – Reconstructing a Lost Link Between Early Stealth and Horror thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

Some news about some fascinating work around a very early and largely lost Japanese home computer game called Dojin from 1980. Sitting between Manbiki Shounen (1979) and Nostromo (1981), Dojin is something of a missing link between early stealth and horror game design. Although the game was completed and shown at a festival at the time, it was never widely released and no original code is known to have survived. Continue reading →

In: News, Unknown | Tagged: | Leave a comment

IK+ Atari ST and Amiga prototypes and assets

IK+ Atari ST and Amiga prototypes and assets thumbnail
Posted: by Frank Gasking

Our next set of prototypes into the Games That Weren’t archive are a special set of IK+ prototypes for the Atari ST (and a possible one for the Amiga too), and graphical assets showing early differences and features not in the final game.

There are two prototype builds for the Atari ST, both of which contain what seems to be a blood dripping effect at the start which didn’t make the final cut from what we can see. One build seems to be quite a bit earlier, and features no music and hasn’t had fine tuning for the gameplay. You start with a red belt, even though you are on white belt – and the bonus games play after 1 fight.  Continue reading →

In: Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Prototype, Unused materials | Tagged: , | 1 Comment

Ragnov

Posted: by Frank Gasking

Ragnov is one of those early Amiga curiosities that gives a fascinating glimpse into the early days of a development team that would go on to produce other well known titles. Created by Softeyes, a Dutch team formed around 1987, Ragnov was their very first game project and an ambitious one at that.

At the time, Softeyes was made up of Reinier “Rhino” van Vliet and Pieter “TUG” Opdam on coding duties, Ramon Braumuller handling music, and Metin Seven contributing graphics and design. All members had roots in the demo scene, having moved over from the Commodore 64 to the Amiga. Continue reading →

In: Commodore Amiga, Reviews | Tagged: | Leave a comment