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 STAR WARS GAME?
LOADING…
UPGRADING PERFECTION • Ben Jones on how PLAION is creating the ultimate Neo Geo
The FMV solution: The making of NFL Blitz for Game Boy – part 2
YOSHIHISA KISHIMOTO: 1961-2026 • THE CREATOR OF DOUBLE DRAGON AND THE KUNIO-KUN SERIES PASSES
Ping pong ding dong
The Tetris conundrum
Evercade Nexus • Blaze Entertainment CEO Andrew Byatt on its latest console
THE LATEST NEWS FROM DECEMBER 2009
CHARTS
THIS MONTH IN…
Lunar Jetman • LOVE IT TO THE MOON AND BACK?
THE MAKING OF STAR WARS ROGUE LEADER ROGUE SQUADRON II • ARGUABLY THE MOST ANTICIPATED GAMECUBE LAUNCH TITLE, ROGUE SQUADRON II COMBINED MISSIONS FROM THE ORIGINAL STAR WARS MOVIES WITH STAGES BASED ON EVENTS BETWEEN THE SCENES. THE SEQUEL’S DIRECTOR JULIAN EGGEBRECHT EXPLAINS HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER
BONUS CONTENT • THE ROGUE SQUADRON II UNLOCKABLES YOU SHOULD AIM FOR
STAND-OUT STAGES • NOTEWORTHY LEVELS FROM THE ROGUE SQUADRON SEQUEL
ROGUE SERIES • MORE ROGUE TITLES, THEIR INSPIRATION AND A SPIRITUAL SUCCESSOR
THE MAKING OF LEGO STAR WARS II THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY • AS WELL AS BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF ITS PREDECESSOR, LEGO STAR WARS II ALSO TAPPED INTO THE POPULARITY OF THE ORIGINAL MOVIES. DESIGNER JON BURTON EXPLAINS HOW THE HUMOROUS SEQUEL TOOK THE SERIES TO NEW HEIGHTS
IMPROBABLE MISSION • CHALLENGES BASED ON MEMORABLE MOVIE MOMENTS
MAKING A SCENE • OUR FAVOURITE CUTSCENES FROM LEGO STAR WARS II
USE THE FARCE! • MORE LEGO STAR WARS SATIRE FROM TRAVELLER’S TALES
SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND ENJOY GREAT SAVINGS!
THE RETRO GAMER GUIDE TO THE SINCLAIR ZX81 • THE ZX81 WAS NOT SINCLAIR’S FIRST HOME COMPUTER, NOR ITS BEST-SELLING. BUT THERE’S A STRONG CASE FOR IT BEING ITS MOST IMPORTANT. JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE ZX81’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY BY HIGHLIGHTING ITS KEY GAMES AND HEARING FROM THOSE WHO CHAMPION THE DIMINUTIVE MICRO
THE MONSTER MAKER • MALCOLM EVANS ON HOW THE ZX81 KICK-STARTED HIS SECOND CAREER AS A THIRTY-SOMETHING GAMES PROGRAMMER
THE FOOTBALL MANAGER • KEVIN TOMS TAKES US BACK TO THE EARLIEST DAYS OF FOOTBALL MANAGER, WHEN HE RELEASED HIS SIM FOR THE ZX81
THE ZX81 ARCHIVIST • SIMON HOLDSWORTH REVEALS HOW THE COLLECTING BUG LED TO THE CREATION OF THE ZX81 STUFF ONLINE ARCHIVE
Super Mario Bros • “JUST ONE MORE GO, NAN”
THE MAKING OF SKYFOX • IT WAS EVERY KID’S DREAM IN THE EIGHTIES: TO WRITE A HIT COMPUTER GAME, MEET YOUR HEROES AND GO ON TO ENJOY A CAREER IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT. FOR PHILADELPHIA RESIDENT RAY TOBEY, IT DIDN’T QUITE WORK OUT THAT WAY – BUT IT WAS A HELLUVA RIDE
TO THE STARS • THE HUGE SUCCESS OF SKYFOX INSPIRED SEQUELS, BOTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL
CONVERSION CAPERS • RETRO GAMER AIMS AT THE MAIN VERSIONS OF SKYFOX
FROM PROGRAMMING TO POLITICS • HOW THE IRAQ WAR CHANGED RAY’S...