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 THE FIRST GAME YOU’LL PLAY ON THE ATARI 2600+

LOADING…

ACTIVISION ACQUIRED • Microsoft finally completes gaming’s biggest acquisition

Random Access Memories

DRACULA RETURNS • AN OFFICIAL ADVENTURE IS HEADING TO THE GAME BOY COLOR

COMPETITION • WIN A SWITCH OLED AND SONIC SUPERSTARS*

Confession time

RetroTink 4K • Mike Chi talks us through his incoming upscaler

THE LATEST NEWS FROM APRIL 2007

NEWS APRIL 2007

CHARTS

Krillys • SCRAMBLE HITS THE ORIC

INSIDE THE ATARI 2600 • ATARI’S SEVENTIES CONSOLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SMASH HIT WITH PLAYERS, BUT ITS UNIQUE HARDWARE AND SEVERE LIMITATIONS POSED A NOTORIOUSLY TRICKY CHALLENGE FOR DEVELOPERS. WE SPEAK TO CODERS PAST AND PRESENT TO EXPLAIN JUST HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS

UNDER THE HOOD • TAKE A PEEK AT THE MOTHERBOARD OF ATARI’S CLASSIC CONSOLE

ANATOMY OF A PITFALL! • HERE’S HOW DAVID CRANE MADE CLEVER USE OF THE CONSOLE’S CAPABILITIES TO CREATE THIS GRAPHICALLY IMPRESSIVE GAME

FLICKER FACTOR • WHAT’S BEHIND THE FLICKERING SPRITES YOU SEE IN SOME ATARI 2600 GAMES?

EXTRA CHIPS • COULD ADD-ON CHIPS PUSH THE ATARI 2600 EVEN FURTHER?

TIA DECLASSIFIED • HOW THE ATARI 2600’S GRAPHICS CHIP DIFFERED AROUND THE WORLD

THE MAKING OF THE ATARI 2600+ • ATARI RECKONS ITS FUTURE LIES IN ITS PAST SO, AS WELL AS RELEASING RETRO-INSPIRED GAMES, IT’S GONE ALL-IN WITH A MODERN-DAY RECREATION OF ITS BEST-LOVED CONSOLE. BEN JONES, CREATOR OF THE ATARI 2600+, REFLECTS ON A JOB WELL DONE

ATARI ADD-ONS • THE PERIPHERALS AND GAMES AVAILABLE AT LAUNCH

2600+ ALTERNATIVES • HOW TO PLAY ATARI TODAY

The Perfect Christmas Gift SUBSCRIBE TODAY

THE MAKING OF ANCIPITAL • RIGHT-MINDED COMMODORE 64 GAMERS ALREADY KNOW JEFF MINTER IS THE GOAT, SO OF COURSE YOU WILL WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE TIME HE MADE HIS OWN 8-BIT GOAT SIMULATOR

GROOVY ROOMS • FIVE ANCIPITAL LEVELS TO MAKE YOU WONDER WHAT JEFF WAS ON

GOAT STIMULATOR • HOW ANCIPITAL HELPED START TWO CAREERS IN THE GAMES BUSINESS

Chase HQ • THE POWER OF A V8-BIT ENGINE

The Map Makers • AS VIDEOGAMES MOVE INCREASINGLY INTO THE DIGITAL AGE, PHYSICAL MAPS, LIKE SO MUCH ELSE WE DISCOVERED INSIDE WONDROUS GAME BOXES, ARE FAST BECOMING A RELIC OF THE PAST. RETRO GAMER LOOKS BACK AT SOME OF THE FINEST AND TALKS TO THE EXPERTS AND ARTISTS BEHIND THEM

Map-Tastic • FIVE OF OUR FAVOURITE PHYSICAL GAME MAPS

The Map Collector • RETRO GAMER CHATS TO MAP COLLECTOR BILL ANASTASIA

What’s In The Box? • WHAT OTHER TYPES OF GOODIES DID WE USE TO LOVE?

Keeping The Flame Alive • RETRO GAMER TALKS MAPPING WITH FRANCESCA BAERALD

THE MAKING OF PARASOL STARS THE STORY OF BUBBLE BOBBLE III • PARASOL STARS IS A CULT ENTRY IN TAITO’S BUBBLE BOBBLE SERIES AND IS DUE TO BE RE-RELEASED FOR MODERN SYSTEMS. DESIGNERS KATARU UCHIMURA AND HARUO...