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 SPECTRUM ARCADE CONVERSION?
LOADING…
EVERCADE EXPANDS • We go hands-on with Blaze’s upcoming releases
IN MEMORIAM: BRETT JONES
Not my cup of tea
Back to the Eighties
Sunsoft • Yuichi Ochi on the return of Ufouria and more Sunsoft IP
THE LATEST NEWS FROM FEBRUARY 2008
NEWS FEBRUARY 2008 • FEBRUARY 2008 – When all your heroes are gone, your nights bring unpleasant dreams and a car crash seems like paradise to you, maybe it’s time to hit The Club? That’s how Nick Thorpe is choosing to interpret this old release schedule
CHARTS • FEBRUARY 2008
THIS MONTH IN…
Donkey Kong • ABRIDGED TOO FAR?
Inside THE SPECTRUM • IT’S ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC HOME COMPUTERS EVER MADE, AND IT’S BACK IN PLUG-AND-PLAY FORM. WE SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT TO FIND OUT WHY IT’S TAKEN SO LONG, AND GET A CHANCE TO GIVE OUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS AHEAD OF LAUNCH
road to ruBBer • OTHER COMPANIES’ ATTEMPTS AT HONOURING THE ZX SPECTRUM’S HARDWARE LEGACY
THe games • TAKE A LOOK AT THE TEN GAMES REVEALED FOR THE SPECTRUM SO FAR
retro games rewind • A LOOK BACK AT THE MACHINES RETRO GAMES LTD HAS PREVIOUSLY RELEASED
HANDS ON WITH THE SPECTRUM • WHAT KIND OF FIRST IMPRESSION DOES THIS NEW MACHINE MAKE?
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND ENJOY GREAT SAVINGS!
Mr Do!
THE MAKING OF Trivial Pursuit • IN 1986, A SMALL SOFTWARE HOUSE ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY LICENSED THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BOARD GAME FOR HOME COMPUTERS. IT CHANGED DOMARK – AND THE UK GAMES INDUSTRY – FOREVER
Conversion Capers • RETRO GAMER LOOKS BACK AT THE MAIN VERSIONS OF TRIVIAL PURSUIT
Trivial Sequels • THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF DOMARK’S TRIVIAL PURSUIT SERIES
QUESTION: WHICH FAMOUS 16-BIT DEVELOPER-TO-BE FIRST FREELANCED ON TRIVIAL PURSUIT?
Zaxxon • SUPER-CHARGED SCRAMBLE
THE RETRO GAMER GUIDE TO… PARKER BROTHERS • BY USING ITS CONTACTS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR AND FORMIDABLE MARKETING CLOUT, PARKER BROTHERS BROUGHT TITLES LIKE STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, SPIDER-MAN AND FROGGER TO THE ATARI 2600 AND ITS RIVALS. RETRO GAMER HIGHLIGHTS THE FIRM’S BEST RELEASES
LIVELY LICENCES • TOP PARKER BROTHERS GAMES BASED ON TOYS AND MOVIES
Aquarius
ULTIMATE GUIDE TARGET RENEGADE • THE CITY STREETS ARE NEVER SAFE FOR LONG, ESPECIALLY IN THE DELIGHTFUL-SOUNDING SCUMVILLE, WHERE IT’S KILL OR BE KILLED. JOIN US AS WE REVEAL HOW WITH TARGET: RENEGADE, OCEAN SOFTWARE RETOLD THE STORY OF A VENGEFUL VIGILANTE AND CREATED ONE OF THE BEST EVER 8-BIT BRAWLERS
CONVERSION CAPERS • IT’S A FOUR-WAY FIGHT FOR THE BEST VERSION
COMPOSER Q&A • GARI BIASILLO WROTE THE MUSIC FOR THE HOME-COMPUTER VERSIONS
TARGET: RENEGADE - WHAT NEXT? • THE HIT BRAWLER IS HEADING TO THE SPECTRUM’S SUCCESSOR
MEAN STREETS • THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SCUMVILLE
Factory Panic •...