Part 2 of Jeff Minter's History of Llamasoft Published 140
Tmuk writes "The second part of Jeff Minter's Complete History of Llamasoft has just gone up over at The Way of the Rodent. Straight from the man himself, it's a fantastic read after the previously Slashdot-covered first part. Enjoy!"
Anyone know where to find Llamatron? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Anyone know where to find Llamatron? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Anyone know where to find Llamatron? (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.medwaypvb.com/llamadloads.htm [medwaypvb.com]
Re:Anyone know where to find Llamatron? (Score:3, Interesting)
Slightly complicating the fact was that nobody (not even Jeff) has the source to those games anymore, so they had to write them based on playing the emulation versions, and some of them didn't bother to play for long enough (like their version of Ancipital, w
Re:Anyone know where to find Llamatron? (Score:2)
Source??
Many of those games were written in very primitive assemblers or in machine code directly (no usable assemblers in the early days of the C64)
Re:Anyone know where to find Llamatron? (Score:3, Interesting)
I remember when he was at the alternative party in 2003 and arranged/permitted everyone who was there a free download of special version of gridrunner++(afaik he had done the same thing at some other small party/convention).
man, that was just awesome of him.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Commodore 64 anyone? (Score:5, Informative)
Info and images here [ign.com].
Targeted advertising? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Commodore 64 anyone? (Score:2)
Get a Gamecube - his latest psychedelic shooter Unity is soon to be released.
Bound to be a trip, but to be honest, this seems like a wasted opportunity - imagine a Minter title on Xbox or PS2, where it could draw audio from your own CDs and munge the graphics in time. The GC is the one modern console that doesn't offer this possibility, which is a shame. Then again, maybe Jeff'll turn out a separate game with this functionality, and I'm sure Unity will be a blast. One of my strongest gaming memories is
Re:Commodore 64 anyone? (Score:1)
No fanboyism, just technical details. One description of what can be done can be found in the readme for Dolphin, the PC Gamecube emulator.
Re:Commodore 64 anyone? (Score:2)
Re:Commodore 64 anyone? (Score:3)
Gridrunner++ especially is heinously addictive.
Re:Commodore 64 anyone? (Score:2)
Attack of the mutant camels was a direct clone of the AT-AT walker game on for example the Atari 2600 console.
There are a few more examples of his games not being original in concept I think.. He usually came up with rather twisted variations tho.
Does any one around actually own a working PET (Score:3, Interesting)
I have played only a couple of time on a tabletop aracade , wonder why they got phased, I for one would like to play on one today too( maybe with fancier graphics with alpha blending and all !!)
PET therapy works
Re:Does any one around actually own a working PET (Score:2, Funny)
You knew that was coming.
Re:Does any one around actually own a working PET (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Does any one around actually own a working PET (Score:3, Interesting)
And tabletops are common in the arcade-rebuilding industry. We're all nostalgic for that old form factor. Still, only ancient games get made that way. Nothing modern. IMHO, I'd love to try that myself - make a fun little top-down 3d four-player console-style arcade game. Maybe a simple Combat-style tank game with an FPS-style weaponspread, and then build a dece
Re:Does any one around actually own a working PET (Score:5, Interesting)
When it's on, you've got to wait for ages for the game to load from the cassette, and the keyboard is completely nonstandard. Doesn't use ASCII (PETSCII instead), has characters in a completely weird layout, and you have to press the keys really hard (especially the T key on my machine, which doesn't work too well anymore. Try typing LIST with a recalcitrant T).
My favourite game on this was a game called Pickup, where your cursor has to run around a lab, picking up spilled chemicals. If you mix the chemicals you lose them. Another cool game was Canyon, where you fly a jet in a scrolling, and narrowing canyon. Finally, there was a demo called Flight, which was a small animation of the moon rocket being launched from earth, coasting in space for 3 days, and landing on the moon. It climaxes with a small astronaut stepping out and playing a round of golf.
Re:Does any one around actually own a working PET (Score:1)
You don't need to!! Just type li followed by the symbol that looks like and upper right corner -which is used as a wildcard kind of thing. I did this back in 1979 so you need to check...
thanks (Score:2)
Re:thanks (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Does any one around actually own a working PET (Score:1)
My girlfriend has one, the old one with the calculator style keyboard (and its not a recent buy, she got it when that machine was 'hot')
I'll have to do with a collection of VIC20s, C64s and Amigas
Its a nice collection but we are lacking a C128 still (not interested in the C16/Plus 4, tho I have a Plus 4 somewhere I think)
Jeff is the man... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Jeff is the man... (Score:3, Interesting)
Winamp? (Score:1, Funny)
Nullsoft (Score:2)
This is a great read for those around 35 +/- 5yrs (Score:5, Interesting)
Some of us followed different paths, but I guess if you're in that age group and reading slashdot, there's a very good chance you've probably had many of the same experiences, thoughts and memories that Jeff Minter shares...
Yep, he nailed it. (Score:5, Interesting)
Going from Basic to changing memory locations to assembly language was one of the best times I have ever had with computing. This article brings all that back as though it were yesterday.
Damn good stuff.
Re:Yep, he nailed it. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Yep, he nailed it. (Score:2)
Re:Yep, he nailed it. (Score:2)
Graphics mode (Score:2)
The minimalistic BASIC did really lead into a machine code mindset, but didn't have the built-in assembler that the BBC had.
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:1)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:1)
I think sprite graphics modes are the same as background graphics modes, i.e. they offer the same (dis-)advantages with regard to either colour "mixing" or resolution. (However, sprite/background modes needn't match.)
I really don't think hires graphics suffered from this limitation, though.
Am pretty su
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
The problem is very rare on the C64 because any programmer with a bit of a clue would be using a sprite to prevent this.
By default, the VIC-II chip could produce upto 8 sprites, but with a bit of trickery, 64 sprites was no real problem.
Those sprites could be used in 2
Re:Graphics mode (Score:1)
Yes, of course; I was just fumbling for a way to describe these hires colour-clashes, rather than pointing out that it's what happens in C64 games. If you were to, say, plot a few graphs in different colours, you probably wouldn't be using sprites... but yes, apart from the hardware sprites and scrolling that similar computers often lacked (even when they had higher resolutions and a lar
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
Kinda like the Atari 2600 has some really nice feel, and everything tends to be 60fps, but it's a bit of a bear to code for....
Late to post this, but (Score:2)
- base 2 & 16 notation and basic mathmatics
- understanding of the differences between ROM, RAM and memory mapped I/O registers. (Controllers, graphics and sound chips)
- assembly language
- making the basic abstract leaps between the math and the game elements. (The t
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:1)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:1)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
10 FOR A=49152TO49152+5:READ B:POKEA,B:NEXT
20 SYS 49152
49152 DATA 169,0,141,32,208,96
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
Re:Graphics mode (Score:2)
In theory it is the same, but assembler is a bit easier on the old brain though! e.g.
LDA #0
STA $D020
RTS
Is easier to understand than the previous DATA statement, and being able to use labels etc. rather than writing patches (to avoid messing up target addresses) is really useful. Actually, I found labels more useful than mnemonic translation (e.g. as in a monitor program) since it made code more flexible.
Re:Yep, he nailed it. (Score:2)
Damn, it looks like we'll end up talking about 8-bit micros to our shrinks. "You see, doc, a friend
Re:Yep, he nailed it. (Score:2)
Which was a matter of sticking in the Simons basic cartridge (or load a cracked version from tape or disk)..
But the standard basic was limited and if you wanted to do anything usefull on a C64, assembler was a must..
Even with an extended basic, assembler was still a must if you wanted any performance.
So hmm.. it may have helped a bit, but not that much I think.. It helped the availa
Performance, (Score:2)
The VIC had about half the resolution the C64 did, so that means have the DMA graphics memory access. Faster machine.
Demos (Score:3, Insightful)
I really liked assembly on the 8-bit machines. Learned two core things that stick with me to this day:
(1) all computers really do is add numbers together and move them around, and
(2) the computer does exactly what you tell it to.
Number 1 was a biggie because it made the link between the nifty things like graphics and sound and numbers make some sense.
Number 2 is evident to this day.
Re:Demos (Score:2)
The analog domain (speed of transmission, cross-talk etc.) probably intrudes more these days (on new hardware anyway), and often some hardware "features" are not fully documented. Sometimes when I tell a certain sound chip "stop playing that note". It says "no!" (argh).
Even the C64's assembly language has a number
Well... (Score:2)
The sound chip one I agree with.
Point being that we are generally the problem with computers more times than not. Secondary point being, the first point has a *lot* to do with which computer and software you actually choose to use.
We both are sitting at the extremes on this. Hardware faults aside, I do b
Re:Well... (Score:2)
Re:This is a great read for those around 35 +/- 5y (Score:2)
Let's see, wouldn't POKE 1524 place a char in the center of C-64 screen?
Cool article...
ARTICLE TEXT (Score:1, Informative)
6
Back in college, we finally had enough knowledge to begin making simple games. And simple they were . to the point of being ludicrously primitive by any reasonable standards. But they were our games that we had made ourselves, and there was something immensely satisfying about playing a game with your mates and knowing that it had come entirely out of your head.
I remember writing a realtime version of those Star Trek games that were popular at the time. In mine, instea
Llama obsession? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Llama obsession? (Score:5, Funny)
(I remember Maxis as having an obsession with camels, can't picture anything llama related in any of their stuff but it has been a _long_ time since I had my hands on any of their games).
Re:Llama obsession? (Score:2)
Re:Llama obsession? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Llama obsession? (Score:1, Interesting)
Watch it. Read the opening credits. I'm pretty certain this is where they all get it from.
Apple used to be one of the Llama companies too in their Newton days - Llama references popped up all over the place because almost all of the Newton team were big Monty Python fans.
Re:Llama obsession? (Score:2)
And "Learning Perl", likewise, has always had a Llama on the over, and is therefore referred to as "the llama".
Can't be a coincidence
pcformat (Score:1, Informative)
Great but (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Good times (Score:2)
Loader? I had to use a set of switches to get it into ram... how do you mean rom??
Those were the days... (Score:3, Funny)
Ah, I remember going to those parties at AWRE as well, though I must be a good few years younger.
"we're taking you to a christmas party at the atomic base"
"waaahhh, dont wanna glow in the dark!"
Whee (Score:2, Interesting)
Damn, I wouldn't know how much of my time Jeff managed to steal with his silly but amazing games.
Re:Whee (Score:2, Interesting)
Ah well, guess a +1 delightfull option is lacking eh?
Great stuff. Brings back memories... (Score:1, Interesting)
We probably had the strangest computer room in England as well. I think it used to be a drama room, and the floor had a sort of pit in the middle with wooden steps up to the edge. The PET's were dangerously balanced around
Re:Great stuff. Brings back memories... (Score:2)
I sometimes get upset with myself that I never got beyond the BASIC stage on either the Atari 8-bit (which had a fantasic version of LOGO with turtles that looked like turtles...) or the C=64 (which had all these cool sprite and character set editors from Compute's Gazette).
ZZAP!64 rocked...it was so much better than the stuff I could get in the USA. I cherished my 1 or 2 imported copies to the Nth degree...
Re:Great stuff. Brings back memories... (Score:1)
Dang remix.kwed.org being down! :-(
jeff minter & curry (Score:5, Funny)
Content of an email I sent to my friends last year, after an event.. well, read:
I just had a fantastic night out. The main attractions were (as the title suggests) Mr Jeff Minter, and some curry.
For those of you who didn't know (or don't care) Jeff Minter is the genius behind games such as Andes Attack, Traxx, Gridrunner, Attack of the Mutant Camels, Revenge of the Mutant Camels, Hover Bovver, Tempest 2000, the incomparable Llamatron (best shoot-em-up ever) and my favourite game title of all time, Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time.
The evening started badly for me as I found myself alone at a bar, stone cold sober, stood by the man himself. I swiftly ordered their strongest lager and engaged in what I describe as 'small talk'. A few seconds later Jeff acted like most girls do when I attempt this and desparately sought rescue from random passers-by, eventually finding an event organiser and fleeing towards a Commodore 64 running one of his games.
I should mention, I found out about this by accident. I discovered something advertising curry for a tenner, which in Nottingham is a good deal, even without Jeff Minter thrown in for free. He was the ingredient to make the night perfect. Hero worship, and all that.
Anyway, things kicked off and there were 3-4 hours of general questions from the audience, scripted questions from one of the event organisers, and lots of responses and general rambling from the man himself.
Here are some of the quotes I found highly amusing. Non-Jeff-Minter-Fans, stop reading now
Unmitigated honesty about his own games: "Andes Attack itself was a pile of wank"
After revealing he wrote Gridrunner in just 7 days, "The best week's work I ever did in my life"
On the camels in Attack of the Mutant Camels, "The graphic of the camel looked like two chubby men in a camel suit" (followed up with "Camels just aren't that shape")
After being asked about the complex storyline in one of the cassette inserts for one of his games, "I just like to write bollocks"
Describing how Nullsoft apologised for nicking his feedback technique, "What they didn't apologise for, was stealing my bastard llama as well" - some resentment apparent there.
On hearing that Tempest 3k won CES Game of the Show award, "I'm like, Fucking hell!"
A games company tried to sign him, having obviously done their homework, "They said, 'We'll give you a llama on initial signing, and an option on a yak after six months" (he's since acquired two llamas anyway).
Responding to the question 'Why didn't you just blow it all in the '80s?', "I had nothing to blow, having no beasties at that time" - his continual
references and innuendos to beastiality were comical in the extreme, although I confess I lacked the guts (and indeed, the interest) to ask
whether he'd actually gone that far. He does own at least one (maybe three) sheep (one is 16 years old and called Flossie), a goat, 2 llamas and a dog.
Describing how The Artist Formerly Known As was once interested in some of his work, Jeff described Prince, "He was a very weird geezer actually" - pot, kettle, etc?
Some other random utterances: "Bugger me!", "Yay, have that you bastard", "I'm still no bloody graphic artist", "It gives me a stiffy just thinking about it" (this one in regard to some hardware he's got arriving soon), "I love llama liquid", "My sheep is throbbing", "For total headfuck convenience"
There were some others, but in retrospect they just aren't funny outside of the context they were uttered (not that I'm claiming the ones above were).
Some other interesting info: He's never seen Monsters Inc (amazing given his fur fetish), his favourite film is Bladerunner, and, in a fine quote indeed, "There's nothing wrong with fucking sheep"
Obviously the lager was hitting me hard (not least because I was hitting the lager hard) so when the quiz came about I was in no state to answer it. One question was memorable though: "This is the sound of a Nubian Goat, but what is its problem" - followed by what one must indeed presume is the sound of a Nubian Goat with a problem.
In case you care, its problem was that it was in heat. I leave you with that image.
Re:jeff minter & curry (Score:3, Informative)
> (one is 16 years old and called Flossie)
Actually, Flossie died in September last year.
Re:jeff minter & curry (Score:1)
At the time of writing of the above (i.e. before September last year), she was still going, albeit only just.
She will be mourned by many.
My brush with Minter... (Score:2)
I've also got a photograph of him autographing an Atari Jaguar(!) game console while on a Jaguar promotional tour in Southern California.
As if anyone cares. But where else am I going to share these little tidbits of detail?
Re:What? (Score:2, Informative)
I have to wonder what you were expecting, if you found it disappointing. If the game's called "{Attack,Revenge} of the mutant camels", how can you be disappointed to find a game involving killing camels? The clue's is the title, one would have thought...
Minter is all about the GAEMEPLAY baby..and llamas (Score:1)