Steve!

It's all in the name!

I love trolling through the STs archives looking for anything to entertain this old man I've become. Not only games, but anything - just look at sections of my website like Software(s) and Other STuff Out There.

I’ve found a program called (wait for it) Steve, and being the owner of such a cool name, I thought it was funny. The name stands for ST EVent Editor, a multi-function program that does just about everything we dreamed of back then: Text, Graphics, Database, Desktop Publishing, and Computer-Aided Instruction.

ST Event Editor was developed in 1989 by Primož Jakopin, a Yugoslavian (wow, that takes me back), whom I had to contact. He still has an active website, which shocked me, but not as much as finding out that the manual is available to download. Wanna know a little more before you click the links below? Here ya go...

"STeve - ST EVent Editor - is a general-purpose software tool that can handle text, pictures, data records, full pages (in DTP mode) and computer-aided-instruction units. It has been designed to get the most out of the ATARI ST range of computers - to be as fast as possible, to save as much space as is feasible and last, but not least, to be easy on the eyes. Processing of Mega-byte files, containing hundreds of pages with text and graphics, makes sense with STEVE. The program comes from Slovenia, a small country in the northwest of Yugoslavia, situated between the Adriatic Sea, the Alps, the Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula."

STeve seems to be all things to all men, but it’s surreal seeing something like this today. Using it is complex, so check out the online manual, especially the keyboard commands. The potential is massive, and I can imagine how it was used back in the day - read "The usage of STEVE" in the interview linked below.

Let me know if you boot up STeve, and what you think of it. My greetings to Primož for his time over the months since the summer - I enjoyed hearing his fascinating stories, ST program, and hiSTory.

Here are lots of links for more about Primož and the ST EVent Editor...

• AtariCrypt interview with Primoz: https://www.jakopin.net/papers/memoirs/On_STEVE_en.php
• His website: https://www.jakopin.net/primoz/
• STeve's manual: https://jakopin.net/steve/STEve_Reference_Manual.php
• Demozoo download: https://demozoo.org/productions/194056/
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primož_Jakopin
• Other Atari ST software featured here: https://ataricrypt.blogspot.com/search/label/Software

ZOG

Grab your joystick!

During my time away (wow, that made me sound like a criminal), I was enjoying videos by many YouTubers - ugh, I hate that expression. People like Trusty, PJ Neiland, and the Vertical Blankers have released several amazing Atari ST videos. Click on those links and take a look, but remember to come back!

Into The Vertical Blank released a video about different ST shooters. One of which was called Zog by Chris Lloyd (designed using SEUCK by Palace Software). That acronym stands for Shoot 'Em Up Construction Kit. Now, one thing I did pick up from their video was his American pronunciation of SEUCK. I can't speak for all ST nutters over here in Blighty, but I pronounced it as a dirty plughole sound effect: Schhhh'uck!

Ah, it was just a few of us crazy fools over here? Damn, let's move on quick...

Frantically bashing the fire button like a madman, hoping not to die!

Am I getting old and slow?

Chris released Zog in 1990, and it appears to be his one and only shooter 'em up. The gameplay is typically simple; a vertical-scrolling shooter with nothing flashy or fancy, but this is homebrew stuff we're talking about. The docs are pretty thin on the ground, but perfectly explain the gameplay: shoot everything that moves. Even shoot the stuff that doesn't move. And that sums up this perky little shooter very nicely.

As with any similar game, we are positioned near the bottom of the screen with the nasties coming into view at the top. Shoot, dodge, and blast everything you can whilst trying not to die. Points are awarded for successfully killing the enemies, but you only get three lives, which isn't nearly enough. Thankfully, an extra ship can be earned every 10,000 points. If... you... survive... long... enough!! lol

Our ship(s) manoeuvre spritely, but that doesn't mean avoiding the bullet hell is easy. Well, certainly not for me, thanks to my old man's reactions. Fortunately, Zog supports two-player mode, which is absolutely superb!! Another cool thing is the use of autofire, and I loved this little 'cheat' a lot - if I'm honest.

Right then, it's got to that point when I stop waffling and show another screenshot...

With two gamers playing at the same time, things improve drastically!!

Aesthetics

Visually, this is neat considering it isn't commercial, and reminds me of Frenetic. I've played a few games developed using SEUCK, but none blew me away. However, this looks good, and the scrolling is smooth(ish), albeit with a reduced screen size. Enemy sprites move predictably, making their way across your screen briskly as the landscape scrolls - a positive testament to the ability of this underrated development tool.

There is no title music, and all sound effects are the traditional zaps and zings you've heard before. These YM effects are good, but a decent background chiptune would have been a much better option.

Steve, stop complaining because this is public domain! Sheesh, that idiot. Hey, it's screenshot time...

A message you see a lot. Argh, if only the gameplay was better optimised...

The CryptO'pinion?

Let's be honest, I doubt anyone will bother downloading this game anytime soon. There are already many ST shooters like Lethal Xcess, Flying Shark, SWIV, Goldrunner, and Xenon. Heck, maybe even Chopper X. Well, maybe! However, Zog was released into the public domain, so with that in mind, I enjoyed it.

Beware, this is one tough cookie. No matter how I try to avoid the enemy bullets, I end up hitting them. Far too easily, I might add. Which is hardly entertaining, is it? Having said that, ZOG is a totally different game as a two-player shooter, and the duel hoard-blasting is fantastic - like it was meant to be played this way.

I'm gonna rate this a respectable 75% for duel-gaming. However, knock off 10-15% if you're hammering that fire button alone. That's it - play with a mate, or look at one of the others I've already mentioned.

• What, you disagree with me? Then get it downloaded from Atarimania and let me know what you think in the comments below? 

• Finally, go and check out Atari Legand for a ton of other SEUCK games listed.

The beST Game Ever

There can be only one

I hate questions like, what's your favourite game? An impossible question to answer because it doesn't take into consideration the genre or even my mood at that moment. Plus, my answer changes daily! However, people still ask me, which is understandable but also quite infuriating. Or am I in a grumpy mood?!!

Possibly!! Yet I'm actually wondering what my favourite Atari ST game is. We have a ginormous library, so how can I answer? Here goes: I'm ignoring ratings. I'm ignoring genre. I'm ignoring my mood. I'm ignoring everything to make this the most pointless article ever. Wait, it's wrong to pick Dungeon Master, right?

NO!! I cannot choose that because it's the game everyone automatically plumps for. Rightly so, but...

Anyhow, what about Defender of the Crown? What about Stardust? What about Rogue? Then there is Prince Of Persia, Gauntlet II, Joust, Magic Boy, Borodino, Zero-5, Stunt Car Racer, Speedball, Populous, Golden Axe, Time Bandit, The Secret Of Monkey Island, Death Chase, The Pawn, Rick Dangerous, Hostages, Kult, Resolution 101, Stormlord, Midwinter, Hunter, Legends Of Valour, Carrier Command, Mr Do! Run Run, Captain Blood, North & South, Starglider, Oids, Escape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters, Turrican, and Out Run.

The list goes on and on and on... (I was joking about Out Run!)

So, with my back against the wall and a loaded gun held against my empty head, the dreaded question is asked. It demands an answer. I'm starting to sweat. What game might come out trumps? Well, after great thought (honest) I've made my decision - knowing full well this is a pointless venture that makes no sense.

Nobody will read this rubbish website, so I'm perfectly safe from ridicule.

I've done it and picked the best Atari ST game.

Do you wanna know what it is? Really, are you that bored? Right, scroll on...

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The CryptO'pinion?

I have picked Domark's Shadowlands as the best Atari ST game. Not only was it ahead of its time, but it was created, designed and produced to near perfection. It offers the player a fascinating, atmospheric, and captivating world to explore. What, you disagree with me? There's a shocker!! Am I that wrong?

I don't care, but click the above link to read my review. Hang on, can I change my mind? ;^)

Yes, this was silly and a pointless waste of our time. Regardless, if you had a gun held to your head and forced to make that dreaded decision, what Atari ST game would you choose? It can be absolutely anything except Dungeon Master. I'm eager to hear your thoughts, so let me know in the comments below.

Enjoy whatever you play. STay Atari.

Downloads for: Floppy Disks | Hard Drive

The title screen is superb and nicely animated too, which this screenshot fails to show!

The opening level outside is quite lame, but don't enter the dungeon without looking around first...

Once inside, the game perfectly introduces you to the lighting, puzzles, and monsters.

The first baddie is this fella, but don't worry because he's really easy to kill.

Another baddie and some pick-ups too. Hang on, is that a key I see?

Replaying this game again, from scratch, is proving to be fantastic. What an adventure!!

Make sure you read the manual. There are more than enough helpful hints to get you started.

Worm

I got worms!

Every so often, I come upon something so ridiculous it's weirdly enjoyable. Well, I've found an absurd kids' game called Worm. Oddly enough, the big kid within me still found it very amusing. Worm was developed by Craig Graham of Data Uncertain Software and is a public domain release. The title screen says it was released in 1991, but the game files are time-stamped 1989 on my floppy disk, so who knows. Maybe a default?

The story is that we're a worm called Ooey Gooey, who is on a mission to save the world from an unnatural disaster. Yep, we have been invaded once again by monsters that threaten our existence. These creatures have taken the worms' eggs, so it's our job to rescue them (hey, do worms actually lay eggs?).

I've just googled it, and worms do indeed lay eggs!! On that note, we need to see some screenshots...

The title screen oozes a professional presentation easily on par with the Bitmaps ;)

There is a designer to create your own levels. Look what I've started making. Hmm..!

Let's play

There are 25 wacky levels, and using the joystick, Ooey can crawl along the ground, ledges, and other objects looking for eggs. This isn't exactly mind-blowing, is it? There are some located in high areas, and worms cannot fly, so how can we grab 'em? Well, it's a good job Ooey has a hidden gadget - a helicopter pack! This is actually pretty cool, and he uses it to reach the dizzy heights no worm was ever designed to see.

Don't be too quick to rush off and collect the eggs because there are other items for points and helicopter fuel. Also, there are power-ups like extra lives, invulnerability, and ice, which can freeze enemies. Once all the eggs are collected, we are whisked into the next room to repeat the task on a tougher level.

Interestingly, the main menu has a scroller but it's incredibly lame!! However, it does mention about a possible cheat code "Craig Loves Andrea". Perhaps it's for the high score table or maybe a key combo? I didn't have any luck but YMMV. Let me know in the comments.

And that's about all there is to this bizarre game. It's dead simple and enjoyable in a terrible way...

Leave the title screen alone, and you get to view the instructions.

The evil eyeball looks drunk!

The CryptO'pinion?

To be honest, there's not a whole lot to this game, and its design feels very amateur with crude aesthetics. I admire what Craig tried to achieve, but the sprites are too big, and there is a bunch of truly dreadful collision detection. Sadly, this spoiled what might have been silly and childish, but fun.

Regardless of my whining, it's still enjoyable and worth downloading, especially if you have kids, who you want to punish for spending all your money and ruining your life. Whaaaaaaat did you just say?!! Weirdly, I actually found the concept humorous and enough to warrant writing about it. You should play this game.

You can find Worm over at Exxos' excellent Floppyshop archive (GAM-3341)