Comments for The Joy of Sticks http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk New developments and old inspirations in Atari ST gaming. Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:25:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Oid Buy that for a Dollar by StickHead http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/19/oid-buy-that-for-a-dollar/#comment-287 StickHead Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:25:20 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=907#comment-287 Why am I not surprised that the Reverend's levels were rock solid? I'd love to read your take on Oids, Matty. I'll look forward to that one. Why am I not surprised that the Reverend’s levels were rock solid?

I’d love to read your take on Oids, Matty. I’ll look forward to that one.

]]> Comment on Oid Buy that for a Dollar by Matty http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/19/oid-buy-that-for-a-dollar/#comment-286 Matty Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:54:11 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=907#comment-286 Oids is a cracking game, one I keep meaning to do an article about... sometime. I think Stuart Campbell put up some levels he'd designed for it for download a while ago, they were absurdly difficult. Oids is a cracking game, one I keep meaning to do an article about… sometime.

I think Stuart Campbell put up some levels he’d designed for it for download a while ago, they were absurdly difficult.

]]> Comment on Feeling Nosy? by StickHead http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/15/feeling-nosy/#comment-285 StickHead Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:38:48 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=902#comment-285 Super Sprint, IK+ and a non-budget release of Bubble Bobble are top of the list, but there are plenty more. I need to slow down for a bit though, I've spent too much recently! I'd love to have a serious crack at Choas Engine one day. I think I'm a bit better than I used to be! Patience is definitely key with that game. What have you been playing recently? Super Sprint, IK+ and a non-budget release of Bubble Bobble are top of the list, but there are plenty more. I need to slow down for a bit though, I’ve spent too much recently!

I’d love to have a serious crack at Choas Engine one day. I think I’m a bit better than I used to be! Patience is definitely key with that game. What have you been playing recently?

]]> Comment on Feeling Nosy? by Bubble Beast http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/15/feeling-nosy/#comment-284 Bubble Beast Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:26:43 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=902#comment-284 Oh yes I see it now, third one down oopps! I have no such recollection of being held back, just many (many) hours of fun. We should attempt to complete it together one day. I'm glad to see that I'm not too far of the mark with the game suggestions. I guess you'll be trawling the auction sites for them. Are there any other games that you are desperate to include in the Core Collection? Oh yes I see it now, third one down oopps! I have no such recollection of being held back, just many (many) hours of fun. We should attempt to complete it together one day.

I’m glad to see that I’m not too far of the mark with the game suggestions. I guess you’ll be trawling the auction sites for them. Are there any other games that you are desperate to include in the Core Collection?

]]> Comment on Feeling Nosy? by StickHead http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/15/feeling-nosy/#comment-283 StickHead Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:15:27 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=902#comment-283 The presentation on all Bitmap Brothers game is excellent, but technical achievements in graphics and sound lose their value over time, whereas the gameplay's importance never diminishes. Time has not been kind to Xenon 2. Chaos Engine <em>is</em> in the core collection! I used to love playing that with you, though I always felt I was holding you back more than helping. :D EftPoRM is a shoo in thanks to the art direction alone; New Zealand Story makes it thanks to its close association with the Bubble Bobble games; Flood makes it on merit of the chicken (when trying to fire the flame thrower, so that's a yes; and Nebulus, though brutal, is a JMP game, so also a yes. The presentation on all Bitmap Brothers game is excellent, but technical achievements in graphics and sound lose their value over time, whereas the gameplay’s importance never diminishes. Time has not been kind to Xenon 2. Chaos Engine is in the core collection! I used to love playing that with you, though I always felt I was holding you back more than helping. :D

EftPoRM is a shoo in thanks to the art direction alone; New Zealand Story makes it thanks to its close association with the Bubble Bobble games; Flood makes it on merit of the chicken (when trying to fire the flame thrower, so that’s a yes; and Nebulus, though brutal, is a JMP game, so also a yes.

]]> Comment on Feeling Nosy? by Bubble Beast http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/15/feeling-nosy/#comment-282 Bubble Beast Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:17:04 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=902#comment-282 Ah, I agree, but the music and background graphics of Xenon II, so maybe not the gameplay, just watch and listen! Here's another Bitmap Brothers game - Chaos Engine! Would that make it? (There's a theme developing here!) Other thoughts (non Bitmap Bros. related) - Escape From the Planet of Robot Monsters? New Zealand Story? Flood? Nebulus? Any of those worthy of the Core? Ah, I agree, but the music and background graphics of Xenon II, so maybe not the gameplay, just watch and listen! Here’s another Bitmap Brothers game – Chaos Engine! Would that make it? (There’s a theme developing here!)
Other thoughts (non Bitmap Bros. related) – Escape From the Planet of Robot Monsters? New Zealand Story? Flood? Nebulus? Any of those worthy of the Core?

]]> Comment on Feeling Nosy? by StickHead http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/15/feeling-nosy/#comment-280 StickHead Sun, 18 Sep 2011 10:09:09 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=902#comment-280 I know, I know! They don't pop up for sale very often, but as soon as they do (and at the right price) they'll have pride of place. I find the avatar in Gods to be too slow and clunky, which I guess wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the brutish difficulty and agility of some enemies. It looks and sounds great, though. I think Xenon 2 is one of the most overrated games for 16-bit computers; slow moving, fragile ship with a huge hitbox versus tiny, fast enemies = frustration. The way the designers add challenge with unpredictable unavoidable attack patterns add to the frustration, too. Magic Pockets is pretty cool, I enjoyed the demo. But again the Bitmaps sacrificed fast movement for huge sprites. Push Over is great. It has that thing that all great puzzle games have: Curvy Colin the Quaver dog... no, seriously, I mean the moments were you are totally stumped and have a epiphany and suddenly you feel like the cleverest person in the world. I know, I know! They don’t pop up for sale very often, but as soon as they do (and at the right price) they’ll have pride of place. I find the avatar in Gods to be too slow and clunky, which I guess wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t for the brutish difficulty and agility of some enemies. It looks and sounds great, though. I think Xenon 2 is one of the most overrated games for 16-bit computers; slow moving, fragile ship with a huge hitbox versus tiny, fast enemies = frustration. The way the designers add challenge with unpredictable unavoidable attack patterns add to the frustration, too. Magic Pockets is pretty cool, I enjoyed the demo. But again the Bitmaps sacrificed fast movement for huge sprites.

Push Over is great. It has that thing that all great puzzle games have: Curvy Colin the Quaver dog… no, seriously, I mean the moments were you are totally stumped and have a epiphany and suddenly you feel like the cleverest person in the world.

]]> Comment on Feeling Nosy? by Bubble Beast http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/15/feeling-nosy/#comment-279 Bubble Beast Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:23:45 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=902#comment-279 Where, oh where is Super Sprint or IK+? Would some of the other Bitmap Brothers games Gods, Xennon II or Magic Pockets get a look in? Really great to see Push Over in the core. I must do those last 5 levels one day!! Where, oh where is Super Sprint or IK+? Would some of the other Bitmap Brothers games Gods, Xennon II or Magic Pockets get a look in?

Really great to see Push Over in the core. I must do those last 5 levels one day!!

]]> Comment on Feeling Nosy? by StickHead http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/15/feeling-nosy/#comment-278 StickHead Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:48:01 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=902#comment-278 I should warn you that I have fifteen Doberman Pinschers hungry for Gnome flesh in my home. I should warn you that I have fifteen Doberman Pinschers hungry for Gnome flesh in my home.

]]> Comment on Feeling Nosy? by gnome http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/2011/09/15/feeling-nosy/#comment-277 gnome Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:56:25 +0000 http://thejoyofsticks.co.uk/?p=902#comment-277 Fantastic stuff, just fantastic. Now, uhm, excuse me as I get back to developing some burglary skills, would you? Fantastic stuff, just fantastic.

Now, uhm, excuse me as I get back to developing some burglary skills, would you?

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