Kevin

@yuberus
127 Followers
71 Following
319 Posts
Science writer + video game collector and historian. Guy behind Atari Archive on YouTube. Also dotes on his cats.

A new adventure begins! Cornucopia was lost in all forms until recently when a version for the "Classic Quests" series in DOS turned up.

This one is going to be long and complicated, which right from the start gives the player a spellbook and a giant map to explore.

https://bluerenga.blog/2025/01/11/cornucopia-1982/

#retrogaming #adventuregame #videogames #textadventure #interactivefiction #dos

Cornucopia (1982)

The first moment I was absolutely gleeful in Cornucopia was when I opened a spell-book in the starting area. >OPEN BOOK Opening the spell book reveals :- detect magic spell; dispel magic spell; …

Renga in Blue

A sampling of the misadventures from the All the Adventures project, 2024:

https://bluerenga.blog/2025/01/01/2024-retrospective/

Includes deep analysis and history of wild artifacts like an adventure game for Bally Astrocade, and the earliest known Italian and German adventure games.

#videogames #adventuregames #textadventures #interactivefiction #german #italian #french #history

2024 Retrospective

So I fully intended to post about one more short game to finish 2024, and while I found something short, it turned out to be uniquely bad in an unusual way, making for a longer post than expected. …

Renga in Blue
I learned from File 770 (https://file770.com/) that Donald Bitzer has died. Dr. Bitzer was the computer scientist who developed PLATO for the University of Illinois back in the 70's. It was a prototype for modern computer networks, so of course we snuck in to play DnD type games on it. Thanks, doc!
File 770 - Mike Glyer's news of science fiction fandom

Mike Glyer's news of science fiction fandom

File 770 - Mike Glyer's news of science fiction fandom

All the Adventures returns to Brian Cotton, the first text adventure author published "professionally" in the UK.

Goblin Towers is unusual in that it seems to be inspired by Zork, rather than Adventure or Adventureland.

https://bluerenga.blog/2024/12/20/goblin-towers-1981-1983-1986/

#retrogaming #adventuregames #videogames #textadventure #interactivefiction #c64 #commodore

Goblin Towers (1981, 1983, 1986)

This is the second game of Brian Cotton, after Catacombs (1981). Maybe. I say maybe, because this game is quite a bit simpler; while we’ve had authors write a “beginner game” afte…

Renga in Blue
Today’s Atari Archive delves into the history of two June 1982 releases: the smash hit Defender, which sought to bring home the monstrously popular coin-op game, and Chopper Command, Activision’s fairly blatant but more straightforward clone.
https://youtu.be/RsWHav1U3lQ
Defender & Chopper Command: Atari Archive Episode 70

YouTube
In the new Intellivision Archive, we look into the histories of three games published around November 1980 that represent some of the high points of their respective genres. Likely the finest soccer, educational and gambling games available at the time, and certainly some of the most notable for quite some time after.
https://youtu.be/80Nv-gnRHo4
Word Fun, NASL Soccer, Horse Racing: Intellivision Archive Episode 4

YouTube

you know that quote that's often (erroneously) attributed to Shigeru Miyamoto -- "a late game is late until it releases, a rushed game is bad forever"?

well. turns out a trans woman game dev was the one who said it. huh.

https://www.acriticalhit.com/solved-miyamoto-quote-late-game-bad-forever

Solved: If Miyamoto Never Said His Most Famous Quote, Who Did? – A Critical Hit!

"A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad" is a quote often attributed to Miyamoto, but where's it really from?

A Critical Hit!
It's time for an Imagic show, as the company debuted its first three games in April 1982! Trick Shot and Star Voyager have interesting, rarely told histories on display here (including details of the numerous computer pool games of the 50s and 60s) and Demon Attack? Probably one of the best-selling VCS games of all time, so certainly a lot to talk about there. https://youtu.be/HaolkoR6syo
Demon Attack, Star Voyager, Trick Shot - Atari Archive Episode 68

YouTube
If you’re in Virginia, come out to Fredericksburg November 18! I’m giving a talk at Reclaim Arcade about the challenges and history of converting coin-op games to home consoles at 3pm that day. https://facebook.com/events/s/atari-archive-with-kevin-bunch/308032032032917/
Son turned 2 today and finally has the patience to watch the entirety of My Neighbor Totoro, I call that a victory