I'm hoping this does well enough for them that they can commission more. I'm also hoping that more developers get on board with digging up their stuff - as it all deserves to be documented as thoroughly as possible whilst they're all still with us!
A superb look at a superb release! Highlighting the invaluable preservation and recording aspect of a title like this is welcomed as much as the release itself. Rather than a cursory look at just the games, seeing it presented in this way makes a big difference to understanding what a project like this is aiming for. And as a complete thought, Digital Eclipse have delivered, just as they did with Atari 50.
Yeah, I think the curiosity around it was the big draw for me. I was lurking in some vintage computing groups and reading their responses to the announcement a few months back, and there was loads of gnashing of teeth about it, not understanding that being able to play it is not the reason to go for it. I guess the lack of curiosity really confounds me sometimes - especially if it's a game you love! Though in my case, I got a lot more respect for it after working through the doco, and managed to get a lot better at the game too ;) Hoping that the Gold Master series gets a long and bright future, because there's so much neat stuff which could be covered if it's all preserved properly!
@@BeyondTheScanlines I think even for people who 'just' want to play it, the remaster looks to be a great way to do so, but for sure there will always be those who see this 'only' as a game because it has been released in this way, not being able to separate the documentary thread from the game, which is sad. We have to hope that enough people are like us and see the value in it, and as you say, that it leads to more GM releases like this. As someone who played this on the 800XL as a kid and fell in love with it, as well as marvelled at the technical nature of it, that aspect of things is way more important than the game at the age I am now.
Like you, I was intrigued by the announcement and felt like it was something I would certainly enjoy. It's incredible to see how much is in there - the commentary idea is fantastic, and the remastered games look really good. I did try to get an interview about this into Retro Gamer, but time was against me - hopefully I can still get it covered properly to keep people interested in this Digital Eclipse magic.
This seems to be a big step forward for retro gaming and video game history. Interactive and amazingly thorough! And I really echo your sentiment about the love for American-developed home computer games. Hope to see something similar for UK computer games eventually.
Before seriously sitting down with it, I could get to the gate, and always messed the timing up. Though I didn't touch on it, the emulation does have rewind support too, so if you fail that, you can just rewind back and try again! The bird gave me a lot of grief on the C64 FWIW, and unsurprisingly it's because it doesn't have a unique audio cue as in the Apple original. I love being able to appreciate the details like that as well.
Excellent summary Rob. I didn't realise the release was so comprehensive - lots of "but that's not all - there's also this" moments. I'm interested in how games are made and how the programmers worked around problems so I'll definitely pick it up for myself.
I definitely need to pick this up, despite never being a huge fan of Karateka back in the day. (We had a... perfectly legitimate copy of the A8 version!) Actually, no, that's not quite accurate; I really wanted to like Karateka, because I found its intro so incredibly striking and genuinely emotionally engaging, but then I found the actual fighting part so difficult that I just got frustrated with it. This seems like a prime means of learning to appreciate it a bit better. I hope these Digital Eclipse documentaries get physical releases like Atari 50. It'd really be something to build up what is effectively a "Criterion Collection" of classic video games and be able to have them on your shelf.
That was a similar experience to my own initially - the way the controls were squeeze into the Atari & C64 versions made it frustrating to play. But I think I got better (or got gud) from playing both the Apple II and Remastered versions, as when I grabbed that opening B-Roll of the C64 version, I managed to get all the way to the final fight, so I think it can be mastered. As for a physical, it's slated for a release through Limited Run at some point (no ETA on that), which isn't entirely optimal, but something!
Thanks for covering this brilliant release from Digital Eclipse. We need more interactive documentaries like this.
I'm hoping this does well enough for them that they can commission more.
I'm also hoping that more developers get on board with digging up their stuff - as it all deserves to be documented as thoroughly as possible whilst they're all still with us!
A superb look at a superb release! Highlighting the invaluable preservation and recording aspect of a title like this is welcomed as much as the release itself. Rather than a cursory look at just the games, seeing it presented in this way makes a big difference to understanding what a project like this is aiming for. And as a complete thought, Digital Eclipse have delivered, just as they did with Atari 50.
Yeah, I think the curiosity around it was the big draw for me. I was lurking in some vintage computing groups and reading their responses to the announcement a few months back, and there was loads of gnashing of teeth about it, not understanding that being able to play it is not the reason to go for it.
I guess the lack of curiosity really confounds me sometimes - especially if it's a game you love! Though in my case, I got a lot more respect for it after working through the doco, and managed to get a lot better at the game too ;)
Hoping that the Gold Master series gets a long and bright future, because there's so much neat stuff which could be covered if it's all preserved properly!
@@BeyondTheScanlines I think even for people who 'just' want to play it, the remaster looks to be a great way to do so, but for sure there will always be those who see this 'only' as a game because it has been released in this way, not being able to separate the documentary thread from the game, which is sad. We have to hope that enough people are like us and see the value in it, and as you say, that it leads to more GM releases like this.
As someone who played this on the 800XL as a kid and fell in love with it, as well as marvelled at the technical nature of it, that aspect of things is way more important than the game at the age I am now.
Like you, I was intrigued by the announcement and felt like it was something I would certainly enjoy. It's incredible to see how much is in there - the commentary idea is fantastic, and the remastered games look really good. I did try to get an interview about this into Retro Gamer, but time was against me - hopefully I can still get it covered properly to keep people interested in this Digital Eclipse magic.
This seems to be a big step forward for retro gaming and video game history. Interactive and amazingly thorough! And I really echo your sentiment about the love for American-developed home computer games. Hope to see something similar for UK computer games eventually.
Man, to echo your sentiment: I hope they keep doing work like this!
As long as it does the right numbers for them, then it should certainly be the case. *crosses fingers*
@@BeyondTheScanlines Any idea if this will get a physical release, or download only?
Physicals are planned, but it’s going to be through Limited Run, and it’s TBC as when that’ll happen!
Great coverage Rob. Going to have to get hold of this and see if I can beat it too. Never got too far as a kid, two fights was about it!
Before seriously sitting down with it, I could get to the gate, and always messed the timing up.
Though I didn't touch on it, the emulation does have rewind support too, so if you fail that, you can just rewind back and try again!
The bird gave me a lot of grief on the C64 FWIW, and unsurprisingly it's because it doesn't have a unique audio cue as in the Apple original. I love being able to appreciate the details like that as well.
Excellent summary Rob. I didn't realise the release was so comprehensive - lots of "but that's not all - there's also this" moments. I'm interested in how games are made and how the programmers worked around problems so I'll definitely pick it up for myself.
I definitely need to pick this up, despite never being a huge fan of Karateka back in the day. (We had a... perfectly legitimate copy of the A8 version!) Actually, no, that's not quite accurate; I really wanted to like Karateka, because I found its intro so incredibly striking and genuinely emotionally engaging, but then I found the actual fighting part so difficult that I just got frustrated with it. This seems like a prime means of learning to appreciate it a bit better.
I hope these Digital Eclipse documentaries get physical releases like Atari 50. It'd really be something to build up what is effectively a "Criterion Collection" of classic video games and be able to have them on your shelf.
That was a similar experience to my own initially - the way the controls were squeeze into the Atari & C64 versions made it frustrating to play. But I think I got better (or got gud) from playing both the Apple II and Remastered versions, as when I grabbed that opening B-Roll of the C64 version, I managed to get all the way to the final fight, so I think it can be mastered.
As for a physical, it's slated for a release through Limited Run at some point (no ETA on that), which isn't entirely optimal, but something!
Ah, a fellow Transformers collector? Did you get the new SS86 Ultra Magnus?