Monthly Archives: August 2011

Book Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Posted on August 31, 2011 by 8bit_admin

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is the the best book about video games you will read this year.  However, this is not a history book, nor is it a personal narrative.  Instead, Ready Player One history lesson in 80′s … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Reviews | 3 Comments

Mid-Core Update: Wikipedia, And A Mid-Core Life, 8bitrocket.com Update

Posted on August 29, 2011 by 8bit_admin

WikiPedia Just when we thought we had put a cap on the whole Mid-Core thing, we’ve had two interesting developments in that area in the past week.  First, back in 2008 there was a group of loyal readers who made … Continue reading →

Posted in Mid-Core Gamer | Leave a comment

We Use Xtra Normal To Make A Sub-Par Video About Flash Games And Intellectual Property

Posted on August 27, 2011 by 8bit_admin

Here is our first attempt at using xtranormal to make a video.  This was obviously inspired by this video we posted a couple weeks ago.

Posted in diatribe | 10 Comments

Jamie Lendino Of PC Mag Admits To Loving The Atari 800

Posted on August 26, 2011 by 8bit_admin

Today, in an article named Steve Jobs: End of an Era Jamie Lendino uses the editorial good will created by Steve Job’s resignation to wax nostalgic about his days with his Atari 800.  It reads a bit like an 8bitrocket.com piece. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Taito is going after unlicensed Space Invaders re-makes

Posted on August 25, 2011 by 8bitjeff

The news has been filled recently with game companies using legal means to go after trademark and copyright offenders who infringe on classic and retro intellectual property. The latest to come across our news feed is that Taito (now part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atari Nerd | 8 Comments

Update: Atari is *not necessarily* Targeting Hobbyists

Posted on August 24, 2011 by 8bit_admin

Yesterday we posted a story about Atari targeting a German maker of 8-bit software, and the owner of atari2600.com.    The atari2600.com complaint was real, and the owner of the site has relinquished his rights to the name. However, the it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atari Nerd | 2 Comments

Legend Of Grimrock : Dungeon Master For The 21st Century

Posted on August 24, 2011 by 8bit_admin

OK, here is a really promising upcoming RPG for the PC/Mac/iOs named Legend Of Grimrock.  It’s by a set of four Finnish game vets, and it looks like a must-play for fans of classic computer RPGs like Dungeon Master.

Posted in Atari ST | Leave a comment

Amazing! Learn The Basics Of Programming With Codeacademy!

Posted on August 23, 2011 by 8bit_admin

I just saw this today. Codeacademy is fantastic!  It’s an interactive learning tool for non-developers, kids or anyone else to learn program using JavaScript. Using Codeacademy reminded me of using my Atari 800 back in 1984 and 1985.  Back then, … Continue reading →

Posted in HTML 5 Canvas | Leave a comment

Atari Pulls Out The Lawyers And Threatens To Sue Hobbyists

Posted on August 23, 2011 by 8bit_admin

It can be argued (pretty heavily I might add) that Atari fandom is the only thing that has kept the Atari name from falling completely into obscurity.   Long before Infogrames changed their name to Atari back in 2003, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atari Nerd | 1 Comment

The 8bit Game: Digesting Bruce Lee By Datasoft Software (1984)

Posted on August 21, 2011 by 8bitjeff

Bruce Lee is an 8-bit computer platformer / beat-em-up that is fondly remembered by owners of almost any 8-bit computer system from the early 1980′s. The first version was programmed by Ron Fortier (with visuals by Kelly Day) in 1983 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atari Nerd, The 8-bit Game | 4 Comments

Video Fever: Classic News Report On Video Games

Posted on August 16, 2011 by 8bit_admin

This video on youtube.com is from the local ABC affilate where we grew-up, in Los Angeles California. I used to think that the local news was quite reactionary back then, but these reports are very even-handed, and really interesting. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

The 8bit Game: Digesting Zeppelin By Synapse Software

Posted on August 15, 2011 by 8bitjeff

Zeppelin was released for the Atari 400/800/XL computers in 1983 by Synapse Software. Synapse was a premier developer/publisher at the time for Atari Computers. Zeppelin was programmed by William Mataga, who was also responsible for such Atari 8-bit classics as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atari Nerd, The 8-bit Game | 2 Comments

Do You Plan On Having Friends?

Posted on August 10, 2011 by 8bit_admin
Posted in diatribe | 19 Comments

The One Thing That Saved Video Games

Posted on August 4, 2011 by 8bit_admin

I was thinking about this today. The *one* thing that saved video games was *not* – better graphics *not* – faster processors *not* – hardware scrolling *not* – in game music The one thing that *did* save video games? continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Atari Nerd | 10 Comments

The New Star Soccer 5 Beta Is Killing My Productivity

Posted on August 1, 2011 by 8bitjeff

In the history of all video / computer games that I have played, my list of “perfect 10″ games is pretty slim. These are games that I could play for hours on end. If I play a game for what … Continue reading →

Posted in 8bitrocket History | 6 Comments