Retro Gamer

Retro Gamer is the only magazine in the UK that’s fully dedicated to the halcyon days of classic gaming. If you’ve ever fondly blasted away at the Bydo Empire in R-Type, swung Bowser by the tail in Super Mario 64, or navigated all 20 levels of Matthew Smith’s Manic Miner, then this is the magazine for you. Created by a dedicated team of experts, Retro Gamer’s mission is to deliver constantly engaging and passionately written articles that cover a wide range of subjects. We offer our readership in-depth looks at classic games and franchises, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the software houses from yesteryear, and one-on-one exclusive interviews with industry veterans such as Archer Maclean and Hideo Kojima. Stylish, entertaining and beautifully presented, Retro Gamer is the ultimate guide to videogaming’s rich and diverse history.

THE RETROBATES • WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE COMMODORE 64 GAME?

LOADING…

CLASSIC MICROS IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND • Pocket-sized versions of the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 are coming

Halcyon, interrupted

THE ULTIMATE C64 SLIM • A NEW C64C MODEL IS NEXT UP FROM COMMODORE

THEA1200 DELAYED • BAD NEWS: THERE’S A HOLD-UP. GOOD NEWS: FULL GAMES LIST REVEALED

PAC’S BACK

TEKKEN LEAVE

Superstars?

The ticket masters

MindFuel Games • Rare legends Steve Ellis and David Doak on their brand-new studio

THE MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY 1980 • Atari invades your space and computers get personal

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF JANUARY 1980

Pole Position • RACING INTO YOUR LIVING ROOM

THE LEGACY OF: THE COMMODORE 64! • THE COMMODORE 64 MAY HAVE RESEMBLED A VIC-20, BUT INSIDE ITS DRAB BEIGE CASE LAY AN 8-BIT POWERHOUSE THAT WOULD DOMINATE THE COMPUTER GAME INDUSTRY AND CREATE A LASTING LEGACY. JOIN US AS WE INVITE KEY FIGURES TO EXAMINE THE C64’S IMPACT AND ITS CONTINUED POPULARITY

Commodore Creatives

Commodore 64 ORIGINALS • TRAILBLAZING TITLES THAT ORIGINATED ON THE C64

THE C64 STUDIOS • DEVELOPERS THAT OWE A DEBT TO THE C64

THE CONVERSION KING • THE C64 WAS HOME TO SOME CLASSY COIN-OP CONVERSIONS

SIXTY FOUR NOT OUT • MODERN DEVICES THAT KEEP THE C64 BATTING

THE COMMODORE 64GS (GREAT SHAME) • REMEMBER THAT TIME COMMODORE TURNED THE C64 INTO A CONSOLE?

SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND ENJOY GREAT SAVINGS!

THE MAKING OF SWORDS & SORCERY • IN THE MID-EIGHTIES, COVENTRY-BASED PUBLISHER PSS RELEASED A NEW GAME FOR THE ZX SPECTRUM AND AMSTRAD CPC WHICH AIMED AT BEING THE CLOSEST EXPERIENCE TO A REAL RPG EVER SEEN ON A HOME COMPUTER. THIS IS THE STORY OF THAT GAME

IN FINE COMPANY • WHAT OTHER RPGS COULD ZX SPECTRUM OWNERS PLAY?

MISSING IN ACTION • WHAT HAPPENED TO THE OTHER CONVERSIONS OF SWORDS & SORCERY?

A WINNING CONCEPT? • THAT TIME WHEN A UNIQUE AWARD WAS BESTOWED

Bubble Bobble • SIMPLE FUN FOR EVERYONE

THE GAME PUBLISHING PIONEERS • GAMING IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, BUT IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES IT WAS A NICHE HOBBY, WITH BEDROOM CODERS SELLING GAMES VIA MAIL ORDER TO A TINY AUDIENCE. WE SPEAK WITH PIONEERING PUBLISHERS WHO BROUGHT GAMES OUT FROM THE FRINGES AND INTO THE HIGH STREETS

THE INNOVATORS • INTRODUCING OUR INTERVIEWEES

BEDROOMS TO BOARDROOMS • IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS NOTHING. THEN THE BEDROOM CODERS CAME ALONG…

AUTOMATA FOR THE PEOPLE • A QUICK LOOK AT OUR PIONEERS’ SOFTWARE HOUSES

TROBLE IN PARADISE • OVER MERE MONTHS, THE UK GAMES INDUSTRY WAS DECIMATED

UNDERDOG FOOTBALL GAMES • IS IT POSSIBLE TO ROUND-UP THE BEST FOOTBALL GAMES WITHOUT INCLUDING THE BIG FOUR – KICK OFF, SENSIBLE SOCCER, PRO EVO AND FIFA? THAT’S OUR AIM HERE, AS WE CELEBRATE THIS SUMMER’S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP BY FOCUSSING...