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Domain: stairwaytohell.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to stairwaytohell.com.

Comments · 8

  1. Re:The olden days by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1 · on Ask "The Fat Man" George Sanger About Music and Computer Games

    4 tracks? Sampled sound? Luxury! Extravagance! Decadence!

  2. Gameplay is key; not graphics by alexbfree · · Score: 1 · on What's the Importance of Graphics In Video Games?

    Graphics are a bonus but totally not required. I have seen so many terrible games with great graphics (mostly movie spin-offs).

    Download a copy of BeebEm (BBC B Emulator) then go download Repton 3. This is a great example of a great game with poor graphics (mainly due to its age).

    This is still one of my all time favourite games (I've been playing it on and off for over 20 years!) because it has good puzzles and to be a good player you have to have good timing and your wits about you.

    The graphics are very simplistic (3 colours!) but good enough that you can recognise things.

    In the modern era, my favourite game is Portal. The graphics are reasonable, and do take advantage of graphics cards, but certainly not at the level of Crysis.

    They got it right by doing lots of user testing (check out their "developer commentaries" to learn more)

    So, stick with it. If you get the gameplay right, that's all you need.

  3. Re:Closer to a BBC Micro. by Billy69 · · Score: 3, Informative · on Ceefax Turns 30

    Indeed. This page makes interesting reading for any BBC micro fan. The paragraph after the first table mentions the use of Mode 7 and Teletext. It also mentions the BBC micro teletext adaptor

  4. Re:It's 1984 Again! by Scorchio · · Score: 1 · on You Run the Smear Campaign

    Reminds me of the hours I wasted playing GB Ltd, although this dealt with running the country after the election.

    I always seemed to end up with riots across the country, somehow.

  5. Re:Irons at the ready by Scorchio · · Score: 1 · on Woz OK's Apple I Resurrection

    Sadly, I missed all the fun the first time around, as manufacturers came around to the idea that kits weren't necessarily the best way forward. I'm reminded of the Acorn story, where a "malfunctioning" kit was returned, only to find it had been glued together, not soldered.

    Anyway, I was inspired during a university course where we wired together (networked and singing!) Z80 based computers, and one of these days I'll get around to making my own at home just for the heck of it. I've been saying that many, many years now, but hey - one of these days...

  6. Acorn? BBC? by chiller2 · · Score: 1 · on Re-Opened Computer History Museum Explored
    The museum does not seem to cover much history outside of the USA. Although understandable as it is a US site, it would have been nice to see some of the excellent machines produced by Acorn Computers (UK) from 1979 to ~1997 featured.

    What am I talking about you might ask?
  7. Re:Annihilation issues? by Tet · · Score: 1 · on Beta Ogg Vorbis Firmware For The Neuros [updated]
    Now, the problem I have is that I own three of these, Acorn Electrons. Can I simultaneously use an Electron and Positron, or am I going to end up annihilating something?

    I think you're safe. I too had (actually, still have) an Electron. I also had the Micro Power Positron game. So far, I haven't annihilated anything (well, apart from a few alien invaders anyway).

  8. mars lander by RV.eq.VFG · · Score: 1 · on Mars Failures: Bad luck or Bad Programs?

    They could improve the chance of sucess by using pre-written well established software. I recommend "Mars lander" availiable on the acorn electron introductory cassette