Spectrum namedrops...
Spectrum namedrops...
I was talking to a guy at work today and naturally, the ZX Spectrum cropped up, he said his brother was friends with Andrew Onions at University and through him he was given a signed tape of 3D Tank Duel for playtesting.
I told him to find it!
Anyone else had similar 'funny you should mention' events?
I told him to find it!
Anyone else had similar 'funny you should mention' events?
Re: Links to Speccy greats
Namedropping Speccy programmers FTW..!
Next time someone goes on about meeting some film star, I'll just recount the time I got my copy of Ant Attack signed by Sandy White..![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
Next time someone goes on about meeting some film star, I'll just recount the time I got my copy of Ant Attack signed by Sandy White..
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
My Speccy site: thirdharmoniser.com
Re: Links to Speccy greats
And there's a better thread title!
- 5MinuteRetro
- Manic Miner
- Posts: 767
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:21 pm
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Hmm... I can't manage a Spectrum namedrop but, when I was a tech hack back in the mid-2000s, during a PR gig I once shared a London Eye pod with Mr Biffo of Digitiser fame. I was actually a bit starstruck.
Retro stuff, real quick
YouTube: http://bit.ly/5MinuteRetro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/5MinuteRetro
YouTube: http://bit.ly/5MinuteRetro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/5MinuteRetro
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Back in 2000ish I discovered that I lived literally round the corner from none other than Woodster, the legendary Speccy emulator coder! I sh*t you not, that was probably the best thing to happen that day.
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
The author of Super Crap Invaders and Scumball2?
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif)
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
A few years' back I met a couple of knowledgeable speccy chaps at the Play Expo at Blackpool. One had an intimidating physical presence and mad eyes, the other a funny bald bloke. I think they were called Jared and Codename something...
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
One of my mates is still very close friends with Mark Haden who programmed Metal Army. Used to go out boozing with them back in the 90's. Mark also worked for with Follis/Carter at Gargoyle Games/FTL for a while too.
ZX Spectrum Reviews REST API: http://zxspectrumreviews.co.uk/
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Back in 2000ish I discovered that I lived literally round the corner from none other than Dunny, the legendary Speccy emulator coder! I sh*t you not, that was probably the best thing to happen that day.
- Ast A. Moore
- Rick Dangerous
- Posts: 2641
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:16 pm
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Damn those sock accounts. Ban them, I say! Ban the lot of them!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
Oh, hi, Mark, by the way.
Every man should plant a tree, build a house, and write a ZX Spectrum game.
Author of A Yankee in Iraq, a 50 fps shoot-’em-up—the first game to utilize the floating bus on the +2A/+3,
and zasm Z80 Assembler syntax highlighter.
Author of A Yankee in Iraq, a 50 fps shoot-’em-up—the first game to utilize the floating bus on the +2A/+3,
and zasm Z80 Assembler syntax highlighter.
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Back in 2000ish I discovered that I do not literally round the corner from none other than Woody, the legendary Speccy emulator coder! I sh*t you not, that was probably the best thing to happen that day.
So far, so meh ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Used to live near gasman and spud, then when I realised it I moved away.
Robin Verhagen-Guest
SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
SevenFFF / Threetwosevensixseven / colonel32
NXtel • NXTP • ESP Update • ESP Reset • CSpect Plugins
- PeteProdge
- Bugaboo
- Posts: 3585
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:03 am
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Have met gasman on one of those old comp.sys.sinclair meets in north London around 2003 or 2004, something like that.
Happily dealt with a customer complaint from Jon Ritman while I was working at an online technology retailer. (He was in the right, my colleagues did not think so, *sighs*)
Using RealProducer - which gives you an idea of how old this anecdote is - I captured the bits of E4's Thumb Candy that had Matthew Smith in it, and forwarded these RealPlayer clips on to his friend who had asked me to record them especially for Matthew.
Sat in between the Oliver Twins at Spectrum35, where I also met Jim Bagley and was in spitting distance of Jonathan Cauldwell and Rick Dickinson.
Now and again I speak with Iain Lee live on his late night talkRADIO show, had a chat about the ZX Spectrum days about a month ago when I was last on.
I'm friends with comedian Jon Pearson, who is one half of the Silicon Nights YouTube channel. I'm also friends with another comedian, Laura Monmoth, who put together the LGBTQZX show.
Back in 1983 I discovered that I lived literally round the corner from none other than Ryan Lambie, who would go on to become a DenOfGeek.com writer, penning quite a few articles on old ZX Spectrum games. I sh*t you not, that was probably the best thing to happen that day.
Happily dealt with a customer complaint from Jon Ritman while I was working at an online technology retailer. (He was in the right, my colleagues did not think so, *sighs*)
Using RealProducer - which gives you an idea of how old this anecdote is - I captured the bits of E4's Thumb Candy that had Matthew Smith in it, and forwarded these RealPlayer clips on to his friend who had asked me to record them especially for Matthew.
Sat in between the Oliver Twins at Spectrum35, where I also met Jim Bagley and was in spitting distance of Jonathan Cauldwell and Rick Dickinson.
Now and again I speak with Iain Lee live on his late night talkRADIO show, had a chat about the ZX Spectrum days about a month ago when I was last on.
I'm friends with comedian Jon Pearson, who is one half of the Silicon Nights YouTube channel. I'm also friends with another comedian, Laura Monmoth, who put together the LGBTQZX show.
Back in 1983 I discovered that I lived literally round the corner from none other than Ryan Lambie, who would go on to become a DenOfGeek.com writer, penning quite a few articles on old ZX Spectrum games. I sh*t you not, that was probably the best thing to happen that day.
Reheated Pixels - a combination of retrogaming, comedy and factual musing, is here!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
- PeteProdge
- Bugaboo
- Posts: 3585
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:03 am
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
And just half an hour after posting that, my Facebook comment to a certain figure on the Spectrum scene is screenshot and used as a basis for today's Register article on a certain piece of Spectrum-related hardware. Blimey.
Reheated Pixels - a combination of retrogaming, comedy and factual musing, is here!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
EDIT - moved to miscellaneous, some idiot started this thread in Brand New Software.
To be fair, I'd probably side with a Speccy hero whatever the issue was. "Broken coffee cup holder on your PC sir? absolutely, I'd be head over heels to send you a new one".
It sounds like you did ask "are you the Jon Ritman?"PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:49 pm Happily dealt with a customer complaint from Jon Ritman while I was working at an online technology retailer. (He was in the right, my colleagues did not think so, *sighs*)
To be fair, I'd probably side with a Speccy hero whatever the issue was. "Broken coffee cup holder on your PC sir? absolutely, I'd be head over heels to send you a new one".
Cripes! The only bits of facebook I get to see are things kicking off.PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:12 pm And just half an hour after posting that, my Facebook comment to a certain figure on the Spectrum scene is screenshot and used as a basis for today's Register article on a certain piece of Spectrum-related hardware. Blimey.
- PeteProdge
- Bugaboo
- Posts: 3585
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 9:03 am
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Heh, didn't need to, it was all through email and I could tell it was him!R-Tape wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:18 pm EDIT - moved to miscellaneous, some idiot started this thread in Brand New Software.It sounds like you did ask "are you the Jon Ritman?PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:49 pm Happily dealt with a customer complaint from Jon Ritman while I was working at an online technology retailer. (He was in the right, my colleagues did not think so, *sighs*)
Yeah, I see where you're coming from, but he was actually in the right and I was one of the few people in the department for whom technology is a passion.
Yeah, although I'm a rarity in trying to keep things civil, as evidenced in that screenshot.R-Tape wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:18 pmCripes! The only bits of facebook I get to see are things kicking off.PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:12 pm And just half an hour after posting that, my Facebook comment to a certain figure on the Spectrum scene is screenshot and used as a basis for today's Register article on a certain piece of Spectrum-related hardware. Blimey.
Reheated Pixels - a combination of retrogaming, comedy and factual musing, is here!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
New video: Nine ZX Spectrum magazine controversies - How Crash, Your Sinclair and Sinclair User managed to offend the world!
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
That "Jon Ritman, Legendary ZX-Spectrum Coder" signature was the giveaway.PeteProdge wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 4:22 pm Heh, didn't need to, it was all through email and I could tell it was him!
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
OK, this isn't really Speccy-related, but: I met the lady who did the at some of the voices of the Lemmings.
I was working in Dundee doing general IT support, and regularly visited a small company which I'm sure was called Medical Instrumentation. I got to know them pretty well, and one day one of the ladies there mentioned that her son worked at a company nearby ... DMA Design. Her name was Mrs Johnston, and her son was Scott Johnston (who wrote the classic Hired Guns). I can't remember the exact store, but one day he'd asked her to record a few phrases for one of the games they were working on, something to do with little men falling off cliffs ...
I emailed Scott years later, just to say "hello" to him ... and his mum![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
I was working in Dundee doing general IT support, and regularly visited a small company which I'm sure was called Medical Instrumentation. I got to know them pretty well, and one day one of the ladies there mentioned that her son worked at a company nearby ... DMA Design. Her name was Mrs Johnston, and her son was Scott Johnston (who wrote the classic Hired Guns). I can't remember the exact store, but one day he'd asked her to record a few phrases for one of the games they were working on, something to do with little men falling off cliffs ...
I emailed Scott years later, just to say "hello" to him ... and his mum
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
I worked in Chichester with Adrian Fosberry of AGF fame.
- Mike Davies
- Microbot
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 10:11 am
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
I worked for Lovefilm, which was acquired by Amazon along with an independent video streaming development company called PushButton. Amazon merged these two companies to form Amazon Development Centre London (in 2012), and the head of PushButton became our managing director. Someone called Paula Byrne. The top-floor lounge/eating-area had two MAME cabinets and a cocktail table MAME console, which was nice. Turns out our managing director is fond of retro games too.
Only after I left Amazon did I realise that Paula Byrne worked for Melbourne House back in the eighties, and then switched to Telecomsoft/Firebird/Rainbird (https://www.filfre.net/2015/06/kaos/), and led the management buyout of the software arm from BT. http://birdsanctuary.co.uk/sale/2/
It's my loss that my anger around the cultural toxicity of Amazon got in the way of getting to know Paula.
Only after I left Amazon did I realise that Paula Byrne worked for Melbourne House back in the eighties, and then switched to Telecomsoft/Firebird/Rainbird (https://www.filfre.net/2015/06/kaos/), and led the management buyout of the software arm from BT. http://birdsanctuary.co.uk/sale/2/
It's my loss that my anger around the cultural toxicity of Amazon got in the way of getting to know Paula.
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Neat (and a shame). It sounds like she went some way to improving the workplace atmosphere at least.
While I've got you - I'm sure LoveFilm owed me a disc in the post before it shut up shop, I had 'La Famille Belier' on my high priority list. Could you look into it please?
While I've got you - I'm sure LoveFilm owed me a disc in the post before it shut up shop, I had 'La Famille Belier' on my high priority list. Could you look into it please?
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
I used to work in a computer shop in Harrogate and for a while was friendly with Ed Hickman. He wrote a few DK Tronics games like Appple Jam and Zig Zag (and some Amiga titles too) He had a rather nice Porsche!.
Also in the shop on a regular basis were the Twighlight boys (also called Atronic and some others!). They wrote Mega Twins and DNA Warrior for the Speccy, amongst others - possibly even WWF?? (and some Amiga games..)
Top Fact: The initial high scores on Elf (the Amiga Game) included several initials, one being PJ - which was me!! They told me they would add me for giving them good deals and letting them use my NEC Multisync 3D monitor to test Alfred Chicken for the Gameboy.
Also in the shop on a regular basis were the Twighlight boys (also called Atronic and some others!). They wrote Mega Twins and DNA Warrior for the Speccy, amongst others - possibly even WWF?? (and some Amiga games..)
Top Fact: The initial high scores on Elf (the Amiga Game) included several initials, one being PJ - which was me!! They told me they would add me for giving them good deals and letting them use my NEC Multisync 3D monitor to test Alfred Chicken for the Gameboy.
Paul Jenkinson | The Spectrum Show & other stuff!
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Some time around 2005 I took part in a hackathon in London where you had to build and present a tech project over the course of a weekend. I ended up teaming up with a couple of folks who were building a website called UNdemocracy, which scraped the PDF-ridden UN website and presented the information in searchable form. It was only after the event that I realised one of them was Julian Todd of Fat Worm Blows A Sparky fame...
- 5MinuteRetro
- Manic Miner
- Posts: 767
- Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:21 pm
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
Sounds a bit daft but I've literally just remembered that one of my good mates in the late 80s/early 90s was Fred O'Rourke: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=999. I remember one weekend heading up north somewhere with him to visit the offices of Teque. I was pretty awestruck by the presence of Peter Harrap and Shaun Hollingworth. They probably thought I was a bit odd.
We parted ways when he headed somewhere up north and I headed to London. I tried to contact him a couple of times since but came to nothing. Perhaps he thought I was a bit odd too.
Ho hum!
We parted ways when he headed somewhere up north and I headed to London. I tried to contact him a couple of times since but came to nothing. Perhaps he thought I was a bit odd too.
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Ho hum!
Retro stuff, real quick
YouTube: http://bit.ly/5MinuteRetro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/5MinuteRetro
YouTube: http://bit.ly/5MinuteRetro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/5MinuteRetro
Re: Spectrum namedrops...
I went to college with Julian Todd, author of Fat Worm Blows a Sparky. Nice guy. Studied more than I did.