Monthly Archives: May 2010

John Russell Fulton: Isn’t Artistic Talent Supposed To Jump A Generation?

Posted on May 30, 2010 by 8bit_admin

I can’t draw to save my life.  Neither can Jeff.  While be both can do a bit of  “abstract” work practical art has pretty much escaped us.  However the rest of our family has all kinds of talent in spades. … Continue reading →

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R.I.P. Gary Coleman And 80′s Portrayals Of Video Games

Posted on May 29, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Gary Coleman died yesterday at the age of 42.  He was best known from his role on the TV show “Different Strokes”.  It was sad to see him go, as he never really appeared to achieve that he set out … Continue reading →

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Is The HTML 5 Canvas A Gateway Drug For Flash?

Posted on May 28, 2010 by 8bit_admin

When I was 13 years old I wanted an Atari 800 computer. I wanted it to play all the great computer games I saw on the shelves at the local computer store, HW Computers, and because it came with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Flash Game Development, HTML 5 Canvas | Leave a comment

Game Design Inspirations: Some childhood 70′s non-electronic games and books

Posted on May 26, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Game Design Inspirations: Some childhood 70′s non-electronic games and books Growing up in the 70′s Steve and I didn’t always  have access to electronic and video games. It was 1981 before we had our first 2600, and before that we … Continue reading →

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Would A Basic Book on HTML 5 Canvas Games Interest You?

Posted on May 26, 2010 by 8bit_admin

While we are in early talks with some publishers about a book on building games the HTML 5 Canvas, I’d like to know: Would this interest you?  Unlike “The Essential Guide To Flash Games”, this book would take a more … Continue reading →

Posted in Flash Game Development, HTML 5 Canvas | 1 Comment

Geometry Attack: First Found Game Made From The Essential Guide To Flash Games Book?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Yesterday we were alerted to this game, Geometry Attack. It appears to be the first game made from the games from our book: The Essential Guide To Flash Games. However, this is not a complaint. The whole point of the … Continue reading →

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The internets is full of smart, beautiful people…actual complaints about the Google Pac-Man Doodle (edit)

Posted on May 21, 2010 by 8bit_admin

The internets is full of smart, beautiful people…actual complaints about the Google Pac-Man Doodle (edit) The Google Doodle will only be live as Pac-Man for the next few hours(approx after the Champions League Final Tomorrow). I read a few blog … Continue reading →

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Why Google Rocks: Pac-Man in Google Banner (with co-op Ms. Pac-Man mode).

Posted on May 21, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Why Google Rocks: Pac-Man in Google Banner (with co-op Ms. Pac-Man mode). To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man, the awesome (even more awesome than ever) Google has magically placed a Javascript version in their home page banner. By clicking … Continue reading →

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Flash 10.1 On Google TV, Chrome OS, Android Makes Apple Look Silly And Petty

Posted on May 21, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Adobe announced the Flash 10.1 Beta today, and then went ahead and told everyone why it is so awesome.   When Adobe is not on the ropes defending Flash from Steve Jobs’ shots below the belt, they are pretty good at … Continue reading →

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Mochi Creates Android Games Portal, Answers Our Burning Questions, Almost Makes Us Forget Apple

Posted on May 21, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Yesterday, Mochi Media announced a dedicated games portal for the Android phone, m.mochigames.com: “The site, m.mochigames.com will feature more than 25 games and will be available upon the release of Google’s next version of Android (“FroYo”) phones. The site features … Continue reading →

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Google Chrome Web Store: Finally, A REAL Place To Sell Flash Games To Consumers?

Posted on May 20, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Maybe I’m the last to find out about these things, but The Google Chrome Web Store looks like the first really promising way to monetize web apps written in Flash, HTML 5, Silverlight, etc.  It appears to work on the … Continue reading →

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Essential Guide To Flash Games Chapter 13 Part 1. Modified BasicScreen and new ImageButton class

Posted on May 19, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Essential Guide To Flash Games Chapter 13 Part 1.  Modified BasicScreen and new ImageButton class The Essential Guide To Flash Games only contains 12 chapters, so what is chapter 13? Chapter 13 and beyond will be additions to the book … Continue reading →

Posted in Essential Flash Games Book | 1 Comment

HTML 5 Canvas: Using Processing.js To Develop Canvas Apps

Posted on May 18, 2010 by 8bit_admin

This weekend, a friend of mine named Mike Foti noticed my pained expressions when I was talking about the HTML 5 Canvas, and he decided to help salve some of my injuries from my first few tests by pointing me … Continue reading →

Posted in HTML 5 Canvas, Tutorial-HTML5 Canvas, Tutorials | 2 Comments

GameDev.net Gives The Essential Guide To Flash Games 4 Gs!

Posted on May 16, 2010 by 8bit_admin

GameDev.net has reviewed The Essential Guide To Flash games, and has given it 4 Gs!  Here is a good quote: “The level of the book starts off quite simply. While it might help to know a bit of computer programming, … Continue reading →

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EGM Magazine Spring 2010 Review: EGM Returns In Stunning Fashion

Posted on May 16, 2010 by 8bit_admin

I was never a huge fan of EGM magazine.  Its’ name was too close to Electronic Games, and it always appeared to be written for a generation of gamers just beyond my grasp.  However, with few options, I subscribed in … Continue reading →

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HTML 5 Canvas: Creating Gaudy Text Animations…Just Like Flash! (sort of)

Posted on May 15, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Since I have not posted anything about the Canvas in a few weeks I wanted to show some of the experiments I’ve been working on. Everyone knows that animating text in Flash is very easy and has been around since … Continue reading →

Posted in Tutorial-HTML5 Canvas, Tutorials | 1 Comment

Retro Scan: Original Atari ST Action Interview with Jeff Minter (1988)

Posted on May 13, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Retro Scan: Original Atari ST Action Interview with Jeff Minter (1988) A couple weeks ago I was hunting around in Steve’s garage and found the May 1988 issue of ST Action magazine. I scanned in the review of Dungeon Master … Continue reading →

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Virtual Pinball , An LCD Cabinet: My Pinball Dreams (Nearly) Realized?

Posted on May 11, 2010 by 8bit_admin

I love pinball, and the last few years virtual pinball games like Pinball Hall Of Fame: The Williams Collection has satisfied some of my thirst for classic, kinetic, pinball action. However, there is nothing better than standing-up and playing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atari Nerd | 1 Comment

The Essential Guide To Flash Games: The Infomerical

Posted on May 10, 2010 by 8bit_admin

I believe this speaks for itself.

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Fixed Stand-Alone Flash Player 10.1 Will Be Not Be Released Until The Final Version Of 10.1 Player

Posted on May 8, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Earlier this week I found out (and tested) that Adobe had fixed bitmapData.hitTest() in the latest RC2 version of the Flash Player.  However, the stand-alone player delivered with CS5 was not updated.  This means that you still have to test … Continue reading →

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Listen to Steve Woita On The Retronauts Podcast!

Posted on May 6, 2010 by 8bit_admin

This comes via Gaming After 40.  Frequent 8bitrocket.com visitor, Atari veteran, Flash game developer, Steve Woita talks about his work at Atari Games/Tengen on the the latest Retronauts podcast.  It’s great to hear his voice, and hear is take (as … Continue reading →

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Retro Game Disasters: Super Breakout On Xbox Live Arcade Game Room

Posted on May 6, 2010 by 8bit_admin

I love playing retro games, but sometimes those retro games simply do not translate to modern platforms.   A very good example is the Super Breakout arcade game (originally designed in part by Ed Logg).  Super Breakout is one of my … Continue reading →

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Adobe Fixes bitmapData Collision Detection issue in Flash layer 10.1 RC2!!!

Posted on May 5, 2010 by 8bit_admin

I’ve had an open issue with Adobe for the past 6 weeks that was so grievous, I did not even want to talk about it openly: Flash Player 10.1 crashed to the desktop when trying to run the game Flak … Continue reading →

Posted in Essential Flash Games Book | 4 Comments

Apple in Anti-Trust Violation?

Posted on May 5, 2010 by 8bit_admin

I read a small blurb in the local newspaper today (The Daily Breeze – yes, that’s the actual name of the paper) that states Apple might be in anti-trust violation over the rule that only Apple tools can be used … Continue reading →

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Random Thoughts: Should Google Buy Adobe?

Posted on May 4, 2010 by 8bit_admin

Here is a random thought I had this weekend:  Should Google buy Adobe?  Will they buy Adobe? Here is why I ask.  I appears to me that Google is the odd man out when it comes to development for its’ … Continue reading →

Posted in diatribe | 1 Comment