Elite, originally released for the powerful and expensive BBC Micro and subsequently to everything with a chip in it, was written, designed and programmed (back in 1984) by David Braben and Ian Bell. The game was originally published by Acornsoft. The Amiga version -published by Firebird- is being presented here for dark, personal reasons.
The aptly titled 8-bit Book 1981 to 199X (link) is the third and final book of the Golden Years trilogy by excellent indie publisher hiive books. It is thus complimentary to the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 books and, as expected, follows their template, though simultaneously changing and broadening their focus. The 8-bit Book, you see, covers over 200 games released for such diverse machines as the BBC Micro, the Amstrad CPC, the VIC-20, the MSX, the Dragon 32, the Oric-1, my personal favourite Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, the Atari 8-bits, Sinclair's ZX81, the Apple II and even the Sam Coupe. Not that the Speccy and the C64 are ignored, mind; far from it. It's just that only games that were missed from the previous books are dealt with. Oh, and don't expect any consoles in the book. This is all about the glory of the 8-bit micros.As is the case with the rest of the books of the series, each page of The 8-bit Book covers one game and presents it complete with all the relevant info you might care for, a description of the game and an eclectic selection of pictures covering everything from screenshots, to game boxes, to cartridges and loading screens. As for the accompanying text itself, it's very well written and higly informative, not only describing the game itself, but also (among other things) providing behind the scenes information, mentionig reviews of the era, sequels and even remakes. I guess that by having a look at the freely available ZX Spectrum Book you'll have a not-so-rough idea of what to expect.
The games covered range from well known classics like 3D Monster Maze, Elite and Miner 2049er, to platform specific hits such as Frak!, Get Dexter and TI Invaders, to less played versions of well known games such as Manic Miner for the Sam Coupe, to brilliant obscurities like Forty Miner and everything in between. What's more, The 8-bit Book has quite a few articles on games from every conceivable genre, almost equally covering all included formats and even sporting a few oddities that showcase the creativity and imagination of 8-bit developers.
Related @ Gnome's Lair:
The fact that this blog features a news post -and one that actually feels quite fresh too- should come as more of a shock than Lucasarts announcing its special edition of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge and calling it Monkey Island 2: Special Edition. The creatively named game will apparently appear on the PC, Xbox 360, PS3, iPod and iPhone sometime during summer 2010, and -like its predecessor- will most probably be a download only affair.
Also like its succesful predecessor (Monkey Island: Special Edition if you haven't figured that out yet) MI2:SE will feature a reworked orchestral soundtrack, complete voice over with the series' classic cast, interesting new graphics, the mandatory and still gorgeous classic mode in all its 256 SVGA glory, an alternative control scheme and a (revamped) built-in hint system. Impressively, Lucasarts seems to have actually taken fan criticism into account and will finally be providing the voice over option in both the classic and special edition modes!
What's more, a selection of glorious extras are being promised, with the in-game commentary by the game's creators (hoorah!) and the promise of never before seen concept art being absolutely mouth watering. And I quite like the new art style too! Even the new Guybrush looks fine and proper, though -to be frank- they shouldn't have tempered with Steve Purcell's amazing box cover.
So, uhm, why not head over to the official Monkey Island 2: Special Edition website and have a look? As for me I'll also be keeping an eye on those Mojo specialists.
Related @ Gnome's Lair:
It's been almost two months since I ordered my GP2X Wiz from Play-Asia and probably almost two months since I first started playing with it (yes, things do ship fast in our age and day), meaning that though no hardware expert I can finally provide you with a modest review of this lovely little handheld. But first let's cover the absolute basics. What is the Wiz? Well, it obviously is a handheld console. Less obviously, it represents the fourth generation of handhelds by Korean manufacturer GamePark, and is an open and Linux-based console. Just like its predecessors (GP32 and the GP2X variants) being open means the Wiz is a platform everyone can program for, without paying any licensing fees whatsoever; it is thus ideal for enjoying freeware, indie and emulated retro games. Exactly the kind of games this very blog enjoys covering, though admittedly some high-profile commercial releases can at times be also tolerated. Might look nice on the Wiz too, though not much has been made available yet.
What's more, the Wiz seems to be based on some pretty powerful hardware. It's roughly the equivalent of a Sony PSP, though some argue the Wiz is actually the more powerful device. Besides, it even comes with a touch screen and its battery easily outlasts Sony's. I haven't really measured how long one charge will keep the thing running, but it must be more than 7-8 hours. Possibly less when overclocked, which reminds me that overclocking is another nifty feature of the thing, that -impressively- is easily accessible.
Built quality is better than I expected and definitely above the original DS in feel, though not on par with the more expensive mainstream consoles such as the latest PSPs or the DS Lite. The screen on the other hand is brilliant and reminiscent of the shining beauty that was the tiny Game Boy Micro one. The main buttons feel great, despite their awkward and not particularly comfortable d-pad like placement. The shoulder buttons and d-pad itself also work and feel fine, in a machine that sports an overall smart, good looking and practical design, where everything, from the slot of the SD card to the stylus and the built-in microphone are easily accessible.
Although the Wiz does come with some rudimentary apps (such as a decent video player, a clock and a voice recorder), we all know it's gaming that matters. Of course it's quite early in the console's lifetime, but from what I've already seen gaming is indeed its strong point. Especially when we're talking retro gaming, as most emulators I've tried worked brilliantly, despite being mostly in their very early versions.
Classic arcade machines, the ZX Spectrum, the Amiga, the Atari 2600, the Game Boy, the Neo Geo CD and the Sega MegaDrive/Genesis have all been played to death on my very own Wiz and I really can't find fault. Controls, sound and sights are simply perfect. I'd even dare say that the Wiz screen makes classic games look better and sharper than ever. And let's not forget, that this is the only handheld absolutely built for playing classic adventures via ScummVM. I ran, played and enjoyed Elvira, both Monkey Island games and Beneath a Steal Sky without the slightest problem.
Now, as commercial games haven't been released yet, all I managed to try apart from emulators were some pretty impressive freeware indie games, covering everything from abstract shmups, to rogue-likes, first person shooters and retro remakes or ports. And keep in mind that -as mentioned- the console is still young and devs have yet to come to grips with. Oh, and there are almost daily releases of new software and updated emulators.
So, to wrap this short review up: is the GP2X Wiz worth the modest asking price? If you are interested in indie and retro games, that's a definite yes. More mainstream gamers might have to wait a bit and see if the higher profile games released for it will be to their liking... As a console it's a great piece of hardware though.
Related @ Gnome's Lair:
I could go on and write something really extensive about Digital: A Love Story and spoil it for you all, but I won't. I'm good and wise like that. Also incredibly handsome. Err, yes. Anyway. I'll instead (strongly) suggest you download Digital and play it yourselves. After all, it's a story driven affair with a healthy dose of cyber romance, that will definitely appeal to the average (thus exceptionally exceptional) Gnome's Lair reader. Download it here -for free of course- and don't forget to appreciate its retro, pre-Internet BBS atmosphere. 
Yes, time for another mention of a promising new site; this time it's all about Indie Game News. As you must have guessed it's all about indie games and their news, though admittedly this one comes with some extra bits bolted on. The site (or is it a blog?), you see, is designed to be a forum for indie publishers to talk about their games directly to gamers. A hub for developers to get together and talk about their games, future projects, and what goes on behind the scenes. Quite interesting, eh?
