stardot.org.uk

I thought the illegal opcodes were more to do how the aliens were drawn, not so much to do with the explosions.

Have to go rummage around and see.

Do things like Planetoid and Snapper etc. work OK? I'm trying to think of games that tickle the 6522 - think Planetoid does that.

My memory not much cop these days, but pretty sure Asteroids was the first arcade game I laid my eyes on.

Didn't have much spending money in those days so I didn't waste much on it!

Yes ... not sure how this is going to work out.

Apparently there are going to be promises made about HQ being kept in the UK etc. but ... we'll see ...

Doesn't feel like there is going to be a happy ending.

Thanks, roland & dave. We can cross the shipping-to-NZ bridge when we get to it, so give me a prod when we get to that point. But definitely interested (and used to paying $$$s for stuff to get to NZ.)

Thinking I'm dragging things a bit off-topic (moi?) but are you meaning things like PWA? In which case, yes, Apple wants to make sure they get their 30% cut and "real" apps will be better than web apps. But on the other hand Google wants everyone using Chrome as the one-and-only web-browser (that's ...

Incidentally Mark I tried different web browsers but had no joy. You would think Chrome would be ok..... If this is on Apple devices then they (Apple) force every browser to use their web browser back-end. So it's not really Chrome: https://www.howtogeek.com/184283/why-third-party-browsers-will-alw...

roland wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:36 pm

please keep asking .... I want to know if I have to order 5, 10 or even more additional boards

Oh, you've convinced me then! Yes, please. No rush, and we'll have to sort out postage to NZ if you're OK sending it this way.

But ... you also need a Master Compact, an Electron, a B+64, and a B+128K.

Lardo Boffin wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:10 pm

Another reasonably priced book in virtually perfect condition.
Even has the original receipt.

That looks mint. I have my copy from BITD and it's a bit sad ... the glue in the spine and the paper quality not the best, I don't think. But I can still read it ... carefully ...

That's good news!

Maybe next year I can visit.

But if you don't fancy building anything, Mark @ Retro Clinic an excellent source!

Hmmm, 7 a.m., Sunday morning, after my wife's 50th birthday party (dear little COVID permitting, of course). I'm ticking the boxes of wanting (and able!) to be involved but that time isn't going to work (after a late night), but do remember I'm available to work on the LAMP/FAMP side of things, just...

Hmm, for me it's more a matter of reacting to the ball moving and making my fingers move the bat in the correct direction before the ball disappears!

fwibbler wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 08, 2020 7:51 pm

If I play the ZX Spectrum version instead, does that still count?

I'm still researching the Atari ST version - that's definitely easier ... but I'm still not getting on that hi-score table either!

:shock: I'm sure it wasn't this fast back in the day ... will have to dust off a real machine and see. Managed about 1500 after a few goes so don't think I'll be getting onto the high score table with this game, either! ](*,) Pretty sure I was playing this BITD and not the Atari ST version ... can't...

Heart says "want" but head says "look at all the other cool retro stuff gathering dust".

Looks impressive

It's my new alias and I've gotten good at games!

Congrats Ailasue

There was in fact, Space Pilot by the same author, Peter Johnson, written not long before DeathStar and using the same engine (or at least, very similar!). :oops: I think I might have just had my first senior moment and I'm not that old! There was a little voice in the back of my mind telling me I ...

To answer my own question, yes, have to build a little trap (with no diagonal escapes!) and lure him in there, and finally squish him. Managed it once for a pathetic 600 points which doesn't get me on the table at all. But at least I didn't completely miss this round. O:) Think I'll move onto Arkano...

I gave this one a go, but I can't figure out what I'm meant to do? A nasty appears and I try and squish him with a brick (like Pengo) but nothing happens. I re-read the instructions about trapping them but he just escapes diagonally? Do I need to make multiple layers of bricks to trap him? Best scor...

Edit: I should add, I did subscribe to Beebug for a year or two - their slim volumes were always interesting reading. I'm not sure how much I'd say they were important, but there was a feeling of belonging to something. +1 for Beebug ... not exactly a book but a great resource (along with The Micro...

There was never a BBC version (I don't think?) but if you liked Sinistar you might like Time Pilot:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Pilot

Yes, it was Wolf and Maria.

Can't remember the game being much cop! But I might have moved on by then & be thinking of the Atari ST version.

Lardo Boffin wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 1:53 pm

I’m a sucker for reasonably priced books.

I love reading (or at least skimming!) the old computing books - it was all so exciting and FRESH in those days. Now all "intuitive" GUIs and "AI" etc.

Or am I just hitting peak nostalgia

Looks nice & solid!

I'm trying to remember the controversy (without looking at the magazines or internet!)

Was it the blood & gore or the large-chested lady in the adverts (Maria?) Or is that Barbarian II?

Keyboard looks great.

Was that an add-on BITD? I remember there were add-on keyboards for the ZX81, so was this something similar for the Ace?

Or just something you've done yourself? Just curious!

I think it really depends on what you want it for. If the biggest set of games - go for the BBC B. If you want to explore what's different - well you need both! :D The Master is a better machine in terms of RAM and expandability (think I'm right in saying that) and it has DFS/ADFS built-in, as well ...

I've had a few more goes but failing to improve so far. Just trying to see how many levels I can get through, but at some point you do have to stop and kill a few beasties to give yourself a chance of eating all the cherries ... and it's my attempts to kill them off that end in disaster! ](*,) I do ...

Welcome, Dave.

BBCDave wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 19, 2020 12:27 pm

I enjoyed ploughing through the entire BBC User Guide

I've gone through a few BBC (and Spectrum and C64 etc.) books from the era - it was all a lot more exciting and new in those days.