Showing posts with label Other STuff Out There!. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Other STuff Out There!. Show all posts

Friday, March 17, 2023

A book all about Atari ST demos



Democyclopedia - The Book!

There is a brand new book in the works all about the Atari ST demoscene and it's written by ST Survivor (aka STS) who I'm sure you will remember being interviewed a few years back? This book is based on his blog which alphabetically documents more ST demos than you could shake a stick at. The French book was released last year and when I recently heard that the English version was finally available to pre-order... Yeah, you know that I just had to have it!

The book is hardback of a beefy A4 size which I'm very happy about - gotta be big to exhibit the beauty of the ST demoscene! The release date is May and published by Cote Gamers (they of Iceblox Plus and Toogle and other goodies).

Click on the link below to find out more information and online ordering. Why not take a look at his blog whilst you wait for the book version to plop through your letterbox. Congrats Sebastien - I can't wait for mine to arrive!!






A few words from the man himself

"My love for ATARI ST demos started a long time ago in 1994 or so. Back then I joined a democrew called NLC first as the main editor of the Frenck ToXiC MaG and then as a pixel artist. Around 2015 I started writing a blog called Democyclopedia that is dedicated to ATARI ST demos. I decided to sort all effects alphabetically as well as I added my own favourite demos, a tribute to all pixel artists and some personal articles.

As I reached more than 150 articles and thought this was the end of it, a friend suggested I should turn my work into a hardcover book, this is how I came to work with publisher CotÈ Gamers. The 250-page French edition was released last summer and it was indeed more successful than I expected! We are now working on delivering the English edition within the next months but preorders are already open, so go for it! -STS"




Saturday, April 17, 2021

50 ST games you have to play


A new Atari ST book!

I know, I know, I'm late to the party for this new goodie - a brand new book by non-other than Karl Morris to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Atari ST. A flabbergasting 50 games are featured along with segments for point & click games, Jeff Minter, how to emulate an ST, YM2149 chip. Oh, and I particularly enjoyed the Ad Breaks!

Karl begins with a heartwarming dedication to the passing of his friend and fellow Atarian, Curt Vendel. An introduction then begins to offer an extraordinary insight into the entire era of just what makes the Atari ST everything we love: from its early years, the people, events, stories, hardware, technology, and specifications. I found this to be a fascinating glimpse into the mid-80s and something that I'll probably read a number of times over the years.

Wanna see what I'm talking about? Of course, you do so here's a photo of the page with ST specs...


Arghh, somebody's broken up my beautiful Atari ST in pieces!!


Get to the games!

Okay, you all know how much I love my Atari ST, and this is my era of "Atari" so, I was expecting only good things and the book does not fail to impress. Starting with the earliest, we have the timeless classic Time Bandit to begin his 16-Bit gaming journey. Later, there are beauties like Operation Wold (Arcade Conversions), Dungeon Master (Adventures), Backlash (shoot 'em ups), Supremecy (Strategy), Vroom (Sports) and much more.

But wait, not only is there the usual selection but also a raft of games traditionally ignored, which was a lovely surprise. I was pleasantly shocked to see greats like Sentinel, Corruption, Masterblazer, Beyond Zork, Stardust, Backlash and Lode Runner. Karl is obviously a guy who loves to play Atari and that shines through.

Hang on, I didn't see Resolution 101!! (Okay, I'll stop that now! I don't want to be one of those people lol)



The book has a number of cool ads and this ad for Defender of the Crown is one of my faves...!


Same old same old?

We've seen dozens of magazine articles and books so this had to offer something extra special. Thankfully, this is a book that is well-made with a chic style and presentation that is nothing short of excellent. The writing style is engaging and from a perspective that is both insightful and fun to read. Content is both predictable and unexpected so it doesn't fall into the trap of featuring the same old games we've already seen a million times. You know what I mean!

Each of the games is presented in a format that I really admire rather than defaulting to a meaningless Top 50 chart show. All are split into segments of genre which makes finding what you need a cinch. I also liked the layout with photos of title screens, box art and other tidbits displayed as a funky GEM window. Ad Breaks feature often and are a nostalgic reminder of how the Atari ST magazines once captivated our imagination. Love it!!

It doesn't end yet! Check out these lovely stickers and fridge magnets (which my wife loves!)...



The other books and goodies by Zafinn are magnificent - I feel like a BIG kid on Christmas morning!


The CryptO'pinion?

I think you can already guess how thrilled I am to own yet another Atari ST publication. I've found it to be an enjoyable read which I'll return to time & time again. However, the AtariCrypt website failed to get mentioned, but I can forgive Karl because he managed to get Atari Legend's website wrong - twice!! (Oops, I'm so sorry Maarten lol!). 🤪

But seriously, this is the bee's knees and for a meagre €35 it's incredibly good value for money. Sadly, I believe the available stock is running low so now is the time to act if you want a copy. My sincere gratitude to Karl for holding onto a copy for me over the last few months - I love the extra goodies, especially the fridge magnets!!

Come on folks, grab yourself a copy of this wonderful new Atari ST book from the Zafinn Books website.


Wednesday, October 07, 2020

Into The Vertical Blank



The boys are back in town!

If you love retro gaming, especially using the world's best 16-bit computer, then check this out... Jeff, from Into The Vertical Blank, has recently released two video compilations featuring a ton of Atari ST games - Photon Storm, Rainbow Islands, Stunt Car Racer, Sideways, Scooby-Doo, Fire And Ice, Oids, James Pond, Bubble Bobble and lots more.

But hold your horses, there's also a hefty wedge for the often-overlooked Atari STe!! Stuff like Rock 'n' Roll Clams, Asteroidia, Uridium, Prince of Persia, No Buddies Land and other (Atari STe) upgraded titles.

I have really enjoyed watching both videos because the presentation is fast and fluent; ie, they don't drag on with overly long clips! This means you get to watch many different games within a short period of time. I also enjoyed the varied range of games too, along with the fact the Atari STe was used whenever possible. Yep, I hope there are more in the pipeline!

Both videos are on YouTube but don't forget to check out their excellent website with ST games, Podcasts and more.

Friday, September 04, 2020

Electrons From Acorns


My old mate Stuart, aka the Elk of STatariART, is working on a new diskmag which he's developed using GFA Basic. We're already at issue three which features a nifty user interface, a silly letter (that you shouldn't read) and lots of superb medium-resolution artwork (I'm looking forward to more pics in the future).

Content is low, but steadily increasing now that the groundwork for the magazine structure is improving. He hopes to release a disk monthly, which is ambitious, to say the least, with a plan to recreate that community vibe from the 90s. So, you're invited to contribute whatever you like and have your say. Come on and get involved. :-)

EFA issue #3 can be downloaded from over on the Demozoo website and I invite you all to check it out sometime over the weekend. Here are a few sneaky screenshots to tease you into clicking on that download link. Oh, I also asked Stuart why he's even making an Atari ST diskmag in the 21st century, here's what he had to say...

Hey Steve! First, can I say thank you to the Crypt for picking up my new diskmag thing - I appreciate it cos I know how busy things are down in the fiery depths of the undead Atariverse! Here's a bit of background about me and how I arrived at the idea of doing this diskmag thing for the ST.

My name is Stuart Johns but I go by 'the elk'; my passion thereby being Public Domain, specifically creating artwork and music to contribute to the PD scene. I started out in computing back in 1983 when my folks bought an Acorn Electron and it got me hooked into the 8-bit world. Come the late '80s and we upgraded to a C64, but I soon replaced this with a Miggy and it was on that machine that I began to fiddle around in Deluxe Paint and ProTracker.

After these beginnings in the '80s and '90s amongst Acorns and Commodores, it wasn't actually until 2016 that I got my first ST machine! When I was younger, a musician friend of mine had an ST and I had always been intrigued by them. The chance to get one at a good price came up and I grabbed it. I immediately fell in love with it; not just the aesthetic but the way it worked and of course the MIDI side of things.... and Degas Elite... I mean what can I say? True Love!

It's always been important to me that people use the stuff I am creating as a truly public domain resource - I encourage people to reuse it and change it themselves without any credit to my original work. But I am always trying to find new ways of getting the art out there. The EFA diskmag idea was borne and the Atari ST seemed like the perfect way to springboard this. I wish I had got an ST back in the day instead of the miggy, but it's all good... it just means I have a lot of catching up to do!

That brings me onto the EFA diskmag as it stands. It's up to issue 3 (that being released on September 5th, 2020) and I am coding it in GFA Basic on my STe. The first two issues were extremely bare-bones, but with issue 3 I see a bit of an evolution - sub-menus, structure, cleaner coding for displaying pictures and even displaying text files within the mag itself - with a good deal of help from folks over at the Atari-Forum.com (what is probably simple coding to most folks lol).

So I see issue 3 as a foundation issue. I admit that content is thin, but I feel there is a structure to move forward with and hopefully, people will email their letters, thoughts and pictures (PI2 format please). I will hopefully be doing some interviews and such as time goes on and also looking at the ST itself as a vehicle for PD art and music. Everything starts from something, right?

- EFA diskmag Issue #3 screenshots -





Thursday, November 14, 2019

Atari Legend



It's Hollywood time!

I'm taking a quick break from my Super Pack adventure to share something very special. Well, it's only special because of one reason - but I'll let you guys decide what that is!! Atari Legend has a FANTASTIC YouTube channel run by Maarten Martens. Oh, there is also a crummy website too, apparently... I've never seen it! (heh sorry mate)

Anyhow, it shocked me to discover that many ST users don't know about his amazing channel. I love Maarten's silly sense of humour which is equally matched by his video production skills. Everything always comes together for great entertainment. So I hope you will enjoy this video as much as I have enjoyed taking a small part? Hang on, what did I just say?

Okay, I shall now be heading back into the depths of my Atari Super Pack adventure... Wish me luck!!

Monday, August 19, 2019

Ironman Challenge III



Running The Gauntlet!

A couple of years ago, I asked Mike (of The New Retro Show) to play some Atari ST games. An alternative selection that I knew would push this bloke to his limits - it was especially fun watching him endure Fire And Brimstone!!

Two years is long enough, so I challenged him to a third "Ironman" video which he agreed to! So I picked games from the PD/Shareware scene, four platformers and three conversions of arcade classics: Clod Hopper, Crapman, Frogger, Hector vs The Mutant Vampire Tomatoes From Hell, Hoog, Space Monsters and Winglord.

I would like to thank Mike for this fun challenge, which I have really enjoyed. Oh, and this video is actually an early screening just for Atari ST gamers and it will not be made public until this Wednesday!! One more thing... Mike, I've got some cool (and cruel) ideas for a fourth challenge if you're interested? Go on, I dare ya!

  
Three belters: Winglord (Atari STe), Crapman and one of the latest games released for the ST, Frogger!

 
Hoog is one mightily impressive jaw-dropping platformer and Clod Hopper feels so authentically 8Bit.

 
Hector... must be one of the best titles ever and who doesn't love a fantastic conversion of Panic?

Friday, August 09, 2019

Volume 3: Return Of The Borders!



Return of the... book

How time flies, it was only last October I remember giving Marco's planned project a Crypt-push and today (YES) it became a reality. After several days of resentfully watching many ST nutters flaunt their Trilogy collection, I finally have my own copy!! Yup, this morning I received that familiar brown parcel which I excitedly opened.

I've just had a flick through and love what I've read so far, I'm sure to enjoy reading it properly over the coming weekend. If anyone missed out on the support & funding of this project, then don't despair because you can still purchase any or all three volumes. My gratitude goes out to Marco and everyone involved in this hiSToric achievement!!




And you thought this book was just about demos? Yeah, it's Jeff Minter!!


Stardust is one of the best 16-Bit games ever released and a divine Atari STe release.


Say hello to Jan, one of our amazing Patreons!! Hello Milhouse :-)


Iron Soldier is outstanding, what a game that was/is. I wish I still had my copy...


I love Scavenger so I'm really looking forward to reading this interview.


I cannot afford one but that doesn't stop me from loving the Atari Falcon!

Sunday, July 07, 2019

Amazine Weekend!



It's time for a good read

I've not been feeling too good over the weekend so I've sadly not been able to play, record or write for my favourite Atari ST website. (Yes, this one!!) Typical though, isn't it? After being at work all week, I get myself a dose of the dreaded man flu. Let me tell you, women, there is nothing worse than this illness. Scientific fact.

As I've not been in the mood, I just popped over to Fujiology and grabbed a random diskmag. I love reading these - when I get a chance - and the ST has so many to choose from. In the end, I downloaded Amazine #4 by HMD which is probably one of the most short-lived magazines ever? I wonder what happened to No.5 /etc?

Amazine #4 begins with a fantastic intro by Animal Mine - which has jaw-dropping fx. The magazine itself is displayed using medium resolution so it looks gorgeous and is very easy on the eyes. (I remember my old flickery SC1224). Inside are all kinds of information relevant to the early 90s which is both incredibly interesting and also a shame, especially when you see various productions that never got finished - Yuppies Land. I also enjoyed the interviews and then seeing who topped the leaderboard for best artist, musician and more. Geeky fun!!

Sometimes I wish I could be ill more often so I can take the time to relax with a good diskmag. The ST has such an impressive library, covering a wide range of topics and interests. I enjoyed this one: it's interesting, funny, geeky and something today's youngsters will probably never appreciate. Check out these screenshots...


I love megademos but they can be spread too thin with fillers. I prefer dentros myself!


I love the GUI and how it pushes the pages across... Looks cool in ST Medium resolution too!

What? Fuzion are dead?? Right, come on guys, own it - who killed the Fuzion boys??


This was an interesting and sobering read and I would have enjoyed Yuppie's Land...

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Faster Than Light: The Atari ST



Kick back and enjoy another Atari ST book

Jamie Lendino of ExtremeTech has released a book dedicated to the world's best 16-bit computer. I've only just got the digital edition tonight but I've enjoyed flicking through some pages and to say I'm impressed would be a huge understatement. This is seriously good stuff. Heck, even my little website gets a mention which is mind-blowing.

Faster Than Light is crammed full and covers many different topics: from the history and range of different computers plus the various uses we got from this incredible beast. The book is available on (your local) Amazon store right now for less than a tank of fuel!! I'm buying the paperback edition and I hope you ST nutters do the same.


  
  


“Power Without the Price.” Every Atari fan remembers that slogan from the 1980s as the rallying cry for 16-bit computing in the form of the Atari ST. This groundbreaking computer brought previously unimagined power to the home user for the first time—and transformed an industry or two along the way.

Author Jamie Lendino offers a fresh, vital look at the history of the Atari ST, guiding you from its inauspicious genesis at the centre of a company known for its gaming consoles to its category-defining triumphs in music, desktop publishing, and video gaming. And he doesn’t stop there: He then leaps to the present to pull back the veil on the thriving software and mod communities that aren’t just keeping it alive today but taking it to places its creators never could have imagined.

Whether you’re a longtime devotee who wants to relive the magic of the machine that unleashed the wonders of Dungeon Master, Time Bandit, and Starglider, an intrepid DIYer on the hunt for new ideas and resources to take your homebrew system to the next level, or a newcomer hungry to learn the ins and outs of one of the most important computers ever created, this book will get you there just as the ST did its long-ago digital pioneers: Faster Than Light.

Monday, February 04, 2019

TOS Legends



Turrican?!!

It's funny the things you find when surfing the waves of the interweb. Today, I somehow ended up finding TOS Legends by Sébastien Claret. From the moment I booted it up, I was gobsmacked because it's absolutely fantastic and something every Atari ST guy will surely adore? Mac/PC downloads are available or you can play inside a web browser.

Check out these screenshots below and then grab the download from Sébastien's own website.



This is what happens when Turrican invades Rick's world!


But that damn boulder still chases lol


Hang on, everything changed! Where have I seen her before? Hmm...

Friday, December 14, 2018

Ballerburg for mobile phones

[This video shows the wonderful Atari ST game because I have no way to record direct off my phone!]


An ST classic goes mobile

Let me start by saying that I never play "mobile" games. However, I was in my car bored stupid (it didn't take very long) and I remembered that Eckhard Kruse's Ballerburg has been remade by a company called DonkeyCat. Well, to say I'm blown away is an understatement because this classic mono game looks and feels very authentic.

The gameplay is as you would expect with wind, angle and speed to decipher. So choose your kingdom and get blasting cannons over the mountains! Okay, I admit that I prefer the Atari ST original but this mobile game is jolly good fun. Waste no more time and get on your chosen App Store and download this mobile artillery action (both iOS and Android).


ST DOWNLOAD & SCREENSHOTS -