Thanks to Ross Sillifant for bringing a number of unreleased Amiga game screens to our attention, we also spotted some early Silly Putty screens and thought we’d add them to the archive.
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Constructor
1991-1992 System 3
Platforms: Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and PC
Many of you will be aware of Constructor, the classic construction yard game developed by System 3 and released by Acclaim in 1997. Released on PC, and then later PlayStation and other platforms.
Pursuit Of The Pink Panther
1983 Roklan Corporation
Platforms: Atari 800 and Commodore Vic 20
One of the holy grail titles for the Atari 2600, Pursuit Of The Pink Panther was also due for release on the Atari 800 and the Commodore Vic 20. Being converted by Roklan Corporation at the time.
Preservationist and collector Ken Van Mersbergen (known to many as Dutchman2000) found a very early prototype of the Vic 20 title within the archive of a retired programmer who used to work for Roklan. Ken released the title late last year in 2019 on the AtariAge forums after dumping the eproms.
Before you get too excited, the prototype is extremely early, and just showcases a one screen demo. It sadly isn’t playable and nothing moves, and just seems to be testing out the graphic display at this stage. A shame, as the Atari game was an interesting looking title that could have translated well. At this stage, we are not sure if the game ever progressed any further than the demo you can see here.
However, it is yet another important piece of gaming history preserved, and wonderful to see a Vic 20 title added to the site as well. Below is a short gallery, showing the game and prototype cartridge (thanks to Ken) and also a download too.
Hopefully some day we will learn more about the development and from those behind it.
Download link:
Gallery
Joust full game released today after over 30 years
Games That Weren’t is proud to present the long lost AtariSoft conversion of Joust, which was due for release back in 1984. You can now download and play the game as originally intended.
It is with massive thanks to Ken Van Mersbergen for the amazing discovery of the source code and compiling the game into a form that can be played. Originally Ken had planned to first show the game at the VCFMW event in September, but unfortunately it has been cancelled – hence the earlier release on Games That Weren’t today. You can read more about how Ken came to find the game and preserve everything within the main page itself:
Enjoy!
Posted in: Commodore 64, GTW64 news Leave a comment
GTW64 update for July 2020
This year has certainly flown already (and the sooner its over the better), and it is time for another GTW64 update with a number of new entries and various page updates that have been added over the past month. Enjoy!
6 new entries added
Apocalypse, Early Days, Mad Mission, Mirage, Molar Madness, Sidewinder
28 updates added
Advanced Soccer Simulator, Alliance, C64GS cartridge titles, Catacombs, Circuit Man, Earth Mover, Escape From Colditz, Findit, Forestland, Habitat, Iron Hand, Living Dead, Make My Day, Mastertronic Loader 3, Mega Games, MegatanoÁ¯, Miner Willy Meets The Taxman, Mishun, Nighthunter, Orpheus in the Underworld, PHM Pegasus – Advanced Battle Disk, Race Drivin’, Rainbow Educational Software, Red Arrows, Shoot Out!, Slap Fighter, Thunder Hawk, Unknown Tony Crowther game
Posted in: Commodore 64, GTW64 news Leave a comment
Yves Grolet Amiga archives released
Yves Grolet, programmer on Amiga classics such as Agony and Unreal (so not the Epic game!) has recently archived and released remains of his Amiga hard drive and various floppy disks to the public domain.
These include the full sources for Agony and various other prototypes, and bits and pieces. People are free to do whatever they like with the sources, as long as it isn’t for commercial use.
A fantastic treasure trove which you should definitely check out:
https://m.facebook.com/yves.grolet/posts/1022286895865594
Thanks to @AmigaL0ve and Fabrizio Bartoloni for flagging up the release.
Posted in: Amiga, News Leave a comment
Vectrex: another lost redesign
Whilst doing research into one of the Vectrex titles covered in the Games That Weren’t book, there was a surprise in store when Gary Bergmann (Senior Electronic Project Engineer at Milton Bradley) put us in touch with Tom McDonald. Tom used to work in the model shop at Milton Bradley at the time of the Vectrex, working on models for the likes of Dark Tower and more.
The Vectrex had other redesign attempts to try and continue the platform’s life-span, but sadly didn’t make it. These included a Colour Vectrex, but also a Mini Vectrex – which the National Video Game museum famously acquired a prototype of back in 2018. There was even talk of a handheld colour Vectrex in the late 80’s that would sadly never materialise.
However, Gary mentioned that Tom had worked on yet another Vectrex redesign which would never see the light of day. A new casing intended to replace the classic dark grey shell that we all know and love.
Posted in: Bonus, Features, Prototype, Vectrex 2 Comments
