Retro Gamer is the only magazine in the UK that’s fully dedicated to the halcyon days of classic gaming. If you’ve ever fondly blasted away at the Bydo Empire in R-Type, swung Bowser by the tail in Super Mario 64, or navigated all 20 levels of Matthew Smith’s Manic Miner, then this is the magazine for you. Created by a dedicated team of experts, Retro Gamer’s mission is to deliver constantly engaging and passionately written articles that cover a wide range of subjects. We offer our readership in-depth looks at classic games and franchises, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the software houses from yesteryear, and one-on-one exclusive interviews with industry veterans such as Archer Maclean and Hideo Kojima. Stylish, entertaining and beautifully presented, Retro Gamer is the ultimate guide to videogaming’s rich and diverse history.
THE RETROBATES • WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE METAL GEAR SOLID MOMENT?
LOADING….
THE FIRST CONSOLE WAR ENDS • Atari acquires Intellivision in a surprise deal
Watch what you do
High alert
Paul Murphy • A quick chat with the founder of Ninty Media
THE LATEST NEWS FROM DECEMBER 2007
NEWS DECEMBER 2007
CHARTS
Guzzler • IT’S NO ROBOCOP
THE IMPACT OF METAL GEAR SOLID • KONAMI’S METAL GEAR SOLID INFILTRATED THE PLAYSTATION IN 1998, POPULARISING A GENRE WITH ITS BLEND OF TACTICAL ESPIONAGE ACTION AND CINEMATIC STORYTELLING. FROM CLONED BROTHERS AND CYBORG NINJAS TO EXCLAMATION MARKS AND CARDBOARD BOXES, RETRO GAMER DECODES THE MULTITUDE OF WAYS THAT HIDEO KOJIMA’S GAME LEFT ITS ENDURING FOOTPRINT IN THE SNOW ON THE GAMES INDUSTRY
HEROES AND VILLAINS • THE KEY CHARACTERS OF METAL GEAR SOLID
REMARKABLE INNOVOTIONS • HOW METAL GEAR SOLID STOOD APART FROM ITS PEERS
STEALTHY BEDMATES • THE GAMES THAT SNAKE’S CAPERS INFLUENCED
REMARKING METAL GEAR SOLD • SNAKE SNEAKS ONTO THE GAMECUBE
ICONIC INVENTORY • THE MOST MEMORABLE TOOLS IN SNAKE’S ARSENAL
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND ENJOY GREAT SAVINGS!
THE MAKING OF Booty • YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM! RETRO GAMER FINALLY CATCHES UP WITH JOHN F CAIN, CREATOR OF THE FINEST PIRATE BUDGET GAME ON THE ZX SPECTRUM. FROM THE ISLE OF MAN TO THE HIGH SEAS, THIS IS THE ENTERTAINING STORY OF BOOTY. ARRR!
Conversion Capers • HOW DO BOOTY’S DIFFERENT VERSIONS STACK UP?
Brining Booty Back • RETRO GAMER CHATS TO SALVA CANTERO ABOUT HIS RECENT BOOTY REMAKE
Bootiful Tips • SHIVER ME SPRITES, IT’S RETRO GAMER’S GUIDE TO NEGOTIATING THE BLACK GALLEON
Batman • ULTRASONIC ACTION
THE EVOLUTION OF GANUTLET • WHEN ATARI ADAPTED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS FOR THE ARCADES WITH GAUNTLET, IT POPULARISED FOUR-PLAYER CO-OP GAMING AND PAVED THE WAY FOR A SUCCESSFUL FRANCHISE. BOB FLANAGAN, MIKE HALLY AND JOHN ROMERO EXPLAIN HOW THE SERIES EVOLVED
STAGES OF EVOLUTION: COOL CHARACTERS • THE LOW-DOWN ON GAUNTLET’S HEROIC ADVENTURERS
STAGES OF EVOLUTION: AWESOME ADVERSARIES • NOTABLE NASTIES FOUND IN THE GAUNTLET SERIES
STAGES OF EVOLUTION: MEMORABLE MECHANICS • FUN FEATURES OF THE GAUNTLET GAMES
STAGES OF EVOLUTION: RELATED AND REMARKS • GAUNTLET’S PREDECESSOR AND ITS REBOOTS
Twin Famicom
THE MAKING OF TRON • EVER WISHED YOU COULD BE IN LIKE FLYNN AND ENTER A VIDEOGAME? LEAD PROGRAMMER AND DESIGNER BILL ADAMS TELLS US ABOUT PUTTING ARCADE GOERS ON THE GAME GRID
DISCS OF TRON • HOW AN ABORTED MINIGAME BECAME A WHOLE OTHER COIN-OP
IT’S ALL IN THE WRISTS • WORLD RECORD HOLDER DAVID CRUZ OFFERS TIPS TO BEAT THE EVIL MCP
Barbarian II • BIGGER DOESN’T MEAN BETTER
ULTIMATE GUIDE: STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI • WITH ITS EPISODIC NATURE AND PLENTIFUL ACTION, RETURN OF THE JEDI SEEMED LIKE A PERFECT FIT FOR A...