Author | Lightnews

Prototron

@prototron.bsky.social

59 followers 48 following 220 posts

Hobby retro gamedev, VHS rental days fan, musician, beat 'em up aficionado, martial arts film buff, 90s game magazine worshipper, metal guy, cat guy. Glasgow, Scotland Website - http://prototron.weebly.com YouTube - http://youtube.com/@prototrongames

prototron.weebly.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · Nov 27

Here are the official Google Drive links for my two games.

Other hosts have out of date builds, so always DL from here to ensure the latest versions.

Double Dragon: Legacy (PC)
shorturl.at/ZM4L0

Final Fight: Enhanced (Amiga)
shorturl.at/3YBoO

More info:
prototron.weebly.com

#GameDev #BeatEmUp

7 22

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 7d

Definitely a slice of fascinating history. Short lived as it was.

1 1

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 7d

Home businesses is where it may have been a winner, but I think Clive wanted to kit out Gordon Gekko with a few hundred thousand.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 7d

Been on a bit of a QL kick lately. It's an interesting machine for its unrealised potential alone.

Odd that there were a few third party GUIs designed for it, but no internally developed ones at Sinclair. ICE & JAM look decent as GEM-likes, but I can't see it conquering the 80s corporate world.

2 2

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 10d

Back to my ZX Spectrum game soon, so looking at one of the sprites.

Considering other memory arrangements, because the current method (I) takes 6 loops of the draw routine, but possible alternatives (II/III) take less. The RAM saving may be buggered tho, but IMO space is easier to find than speed

1 3

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 13d

Was tempted to get Double Dragon Revive, but I think I'll take a pass.

I'm just not a fan of that "sparkly" style of combat where it looks like a firework goes off every time you hit someone, and special moves have neon demons or whirlwinds coming out the player's bum.

I'm a simple pixel guy.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 13d

I've worked in film, so I know how much effort it takes to make even a small production.

That doesn't stop me really wanting a Caulfield produced documentary for the Amstrad CPC family. There's a rich history there, with many interesting people to interview (maybe not Sugarman himself though).

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 14d

There's a genuine case for the ZX Spectrum being the greatest computer of all time, and it's really down to two things:

Simplicity and accessibility.

A no frills system = an easier learning curve, and the low price made it available for all. Anything more would compromise those two.

Also, charm!

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 15d

I follow most retro games YouTubers. There's a fine selection of wonderful people making amazing content.

In saying that, there's about 2 or 3 that I just didn't like the vibe of (inc this one), and each of them has since had controversy attached. Grifting sensationalists wreck it for everyone.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 15d

40 years of the NES.

The games library is unsurpassed, with so many classics running on that little lunch box. The mappers took it beyond its original specs, but I find that innovative rather than deceptive.

It does (annoyingly) often get presented as some VG messiah that saved the world, though.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 20d

Very nice read.

Horace was one of the first Speccy games I played, and I got the others soon after. The recognisable personality was a big part of it.

If Horace is the Spectrum's Mario then it's a shame he's locked away in controversy, but there's something to be said for not saturating the brand.

Intermission: The Horace trilogy

In all their 16k glory. I hardly collect games, but this time I wanted to acquire physical copies of the three original Horace games fo...

oldmachinery.blogspot.com

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 21d

I'm 48 today.

I keep waiting for the swing to the Right that apparently comes with age, but I still hate racists and phobes and I still love old games.

Maybe next year I can qualify as a garbage human.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 22d

Looks good. Thanks for the link.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 22d

Is there a database for Amstrad CPC game bundles?

I had many back in the day (Durell Big 4 was one of them), but I can't find much info on others bar some expired ebay listings.

I'm positive my copies of Who Dares Wins II, Spindizzy, and 3 Weeks in Paradise were from compilation packs.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 22d

If AI is as good at generating porn as it is writing code, then this should be interesting.

Personally, I'd rather it just got Amiga registers correct...for once.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 26d

For me, Tron Legacy felt disconnected, as it ditched all the references to I/O, Bits and Cycles.

if Ares is just a big dumb CGI fest with a great score then I'll be happy, but it would have been cool to see GPU powered light cycles, update corruption, or mute programs with broken ASIO drivers.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 27d

Absolutely true.

Reposted by Prototron

Displaced Gamers @displacedgamers.bsky.social · 27d

Ridley, Kraid, and Mother Brain Life Support slow down! But why?

Let's do a performance dive to answer this question and also find out why scrolling seems to lag when Samus is flipping through the air... but in reality does not!

Part 2 of Metroid Lag - youtu.be/1oCE-hYT3LY

NES Metroid - Lag of the Bosses and Scrolling Jitters - Metroid Lag Part 2

YouTube video by Displaced Gamers

youtu.be

3 12 34

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 27d

The past three game history videos I've watched are from Americans, and they cover the home computers which were popular here in the UK.

It's very nice to be included when discussing global events, although describing the Amiga as a European computer is kind of weird, but also kind of true.

1 2

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 27d

It's hard to describe just how much I love Super Probotector / Contra III.

It's top 3 Super Nintendo gear for sure. Such amazing imagination in the level design and boss battles, and that's on top of the incredible graphics and music.

Konami and Capcom were on fire back then!

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · 29d

Looking through an Argos catalogue from 1987 is unearthing some deep-buried memories.

It's not the toys. It's the carriage clocks, lighters embedded in bricks of marble, ornamental ashtrays, crystal hedgehogs, and various other sideboard adornments.

Just need a squirt of Pledge in the air.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · Oct 7

It's the ten year mark of when i wrote my first line of code. I was 38 years old. Only done two games, but they took about 4 years a piece so not bad going.

Got plans for 4 more on Speccy/CPC- another beat 'em up, a platform game, Metroidvania, and RPG.

Just proof of concepts for Amiga FNO. Phew!

1 1

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · Oct 6

I honestly don't remember any malicious playground wars over different gaming systems, and it was always cool when a pal had something that you didn't. I hoovered up anything that I could get to play, and it made some fond memories trying different computers.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · Oct 2

Cauldron was one of my favourite Amstrad games!

Nice spooky atmosphere, gameplay variety, and great graphics. Some unavoidable hits and inability to change direction mid-jump are really the only negatives I have, but otherwise it's fab!

#Amstrad #RetroGaming #Z80

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · Oct 1

I wish Casio would do a re-run of all their game watches from the 80s, because they are being sold for upwards of £400 on eBay.

If they can still manufacture the F-91w after 36 years with practically zero change to the design for £12, then they can do the game range again and charge £60 a pop.

Prototron @prototron.bsky.social · Sep 30

Some delicious budget stuff!

None were spectacular, but I had fun with all of them. Last Ninja 2 was probably my fave.

I'd say they were worth even less than the asking price. £4.99 would have been fair.