Spectrum Computing

I woke up today very optimistic.

I still think we have a chance and Match Point will win.

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue Jun 12, 2018 6:58 am I woke up today very optimistic.

I still think we have a chance and Match Point will win.

I'm actually worried you're right!

MM fans, I urge you not to be complacent, we've had late surges before.

I keep meaning to review Manic Miner on Spectrum 2.0, but keep chickening out because I struggle to express why I like it so much.

One thing that I find interesting is that the other systems felt the need to copy the Speccy graphics (are there many other games like that?). It just doesn't work if you tart it up, I'm thinking of the Amiga version.

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue Jun 12, 2018 6:58 am I woke up today very optimistic.

I still think we have a chance and Match Point will win.

What's wrong with Myth then (also on 3 votes at time of writing)?

I've not played either, but I think Myth looks pretty damned good and I'm no tennis fan.

Out of sheer curiousity, I decided to play Mr Weems And The She Vampires for the first time, as the screenshot here looked fantastic and I was expecting it to be an interesting Gauntlet clone. Well, I was severely disappointed. I don't think I gave it any more than five minutes before switching off. An amusing concept for a game, but really, it doesn't look good in action or play that well.

R-Tape wrote: ↑Tue Jun 12, 2018 8:03 am I keep meaning to review Manic Miner on Spectrum 2.0, but keep chickening out because I struggle to express why I like it so much.

One thing that I find interesting is that the other systems felt the need to copy the Speccy graphics (are there many other games like that?). It just doesn't work if you tart it up, I'm thinking of the Amiga version.

On the odd evening where I have a bit of time to myself, I like to boot up RetroPie (using an image crammed with lots of ROMs that I got off a torrent, it just makes life easier). I've recently been going through some of the 1990s takes on the classic retro games, and Space Invaders on the PlayStation 1 is a typical example of having a highly iconic retro game ruined by throwing on some unnecessary stuff. There's certainly no need for that background, it's highly distracting. I just don't think you can beat the original, it's got that look and there's no point trying to give it a modern visual twist.

Yes, Match Point is totally winning.

Personally, I've voted for Movie.

WIWC wrote: ↑Tue Jun 12, 2018 8:56 am Yes, Match Point is totally winning.

Personally, I've voted for Movie.

My second option, another great game.

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Tue Jun 12, 2018 8:12 am I just don't think you can beat the original, it's got that look and there's no point trying to give it a modern visual twist.

The same goes for ports to the other 8bits at the time, they all try to look exactly like the Speccy. Perhaps I mainly have the C64 in mind here, but that's rare isn't it?

As much as I realise Manic Miner is a classic, iconic and groundbreaking game in its day, I voted for Match Day 2. It is a game from my time with the +2 that I remember waiting to be released, and which I definitely was not disappointed in when I got my hands on it, played it for hours and hours. Also many good memories of playing it with friends due to the two player mode which astounded us at the time. A game that I really rate and a defining one of my childhood computer years.

Dark wrote: ↑Tue Jun 12, 2018 3:13 pm As much as I realise Manic Miner is a classic, iconic and groundbreaking game in its day, I voted for Match Day 2. It is a game from my time with the +2 that I remember waiting to be released, and which I definitely was not disappointed in when I got my hands on it, played it for hours and hours. Also many good memories of playing it with friends due to the two player mode which astounded us at the time. A game that I really rate and a defining one of my childhood computer years.

I'm surprised Match Day II isn't doing better. Hey, if we had this poll at my school at the time, Match Day II would wipe the floor with everything else, including Manic Miner.

R-Tape wrote: ↑Tue Jun 12, 2018 11:56 am The same goes for ports to the other 8bits at the time, they all try to look exactly like the Speccy. Perhaps I mainly have the C64 in mind here, but that's rare isn't it?

It's not that rare. Often cheap ports didn't bother to redo the graphics to better fit the target machine.
If I was going to port to the C64, I might try widening the screen to 40x16 to get rid of the fat borders.
I was going to say that redoing the graphics would be sacrilege, but then I remembered the 256 color PC port which I think is a perfect upgrade.

Tennis is more than a game, it's a SHOW:

https://youtu.be/2MbxD-0BDpM

https://youtu.be/-mBjjHEA2Pk

https://youtu.be/eBzvwUOQHLo

https://youtu.be/45Mn9rOuA1I


Think about it...

I'm very sad that I couldn't vote for Mutant Monty.

Me too, actually. It’s crap in a funky skillo sort of way but I have some fond memories of it. Is it the game with craziest inertia on the speccy?

Not a good season for Jon Ritman.

WIWC wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:19 pm Not a good season for Jon Ritman.

If Manic Miner didn't exist, I think we'd see Match Day II leading this.

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:21 pm If Manic Miner didn't exist....

..then there would be no Match Point, Match Day II or Myth.

Fact.

R-Tape wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:11 pm

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:21 pm If Manic Miner didn't exist....

..then there would be no Match Point, Match Day II or Myth.

Fact.

:=/

Alright, if Manic Miner began with a different letter...

Jeez, only 1 vote for match day..and that was me.

PeteProdge wrote: ↑Thu Jun 14, 2018 1:21 pm
If Manic Miner didn't exist...

Oh, the irony....

Ok, ok, I surrender!

Still can't relax until it's certain...

Yeah, it's as exciting as erm, the final count in Eurovision song contest!

Well, what a surprise that wasn't.

Manic Miner dominates the polling. 50% of votes have gone towards it, 20 of you picking this game.

With such support, second place is really far away, and it's Mercenary in that position, with 4 votes.

Joint third place - 3 votes each - Match Point and Myth.

Joint fourth place - Micronaut One and Movie, 2 votes each.

Then in fifth, all the ones with a single vote each: Marauder; Match Day; Match Day II; Maziacs; Metabolis and Moron.