Bill Loguidice's Blog, page 47
August 26, 2019
The Spooky Horror Sale – Up to 80% off great games on Steam!
The Spooky Horror Sale just launched in the Humble Store on Monday, August 26 at 10 a.m. Pacific time! The sale will be live through Monday, September 2 at 10 a.m.
Here’s the link to check out all the great Steam games!
Spooky Horror SaleThe post The Spooky Horror Sale – Up to 80% off great games on Steam! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
July 25, 2019
A Commodore VIC-20 running Adventureland with a Votrax Type ‘n Talk
This is just a quick demo of my Commodore VIC-20 with a VIC-1011A RS-232C adapter and serial cable chain running to a Votrax Type ‘n Talk text-to-speech synthesizer. The program is Scott Adams’ Adventureland from 1981 via a Penultimate+ cartridge. As with all the Scott Adams adventure games for the VIC-20, it just automatically works with the Votrax.
While this is not the most exciting video, as a fan of vintage speech synthesis, this is a big win for me, as I’ve struggled for years getting the right cable combination and settings to make the Votrax work. I now need to try it on some of my other vintage computers, including a Commodore 64 and Apple II (with Super Serial card), although I’m not sure it will be quite so automatic. I also need to find out if the VIC-1011A will work directly on a Commodore 64 (I believe that’s the case).
Anyway, hopefully you’ll enjoy seeing and hearing a little of this fairly unusual setup in action:
The post A Commodore VIC-20 running Adventureland with a Votrax Type ‘n Talk appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
July 24, 2019
Fortnite For Dummies Cheat Sheet – All the controls!
Wiley has posted the Cheat Sheet for my new book, Fortnite For Dummies, which is available wherever books are sold. You can check out the paperback or Kindle version on Amazon.
Fortnite is a complex game with incredible depth, which carries over to its control options. Whether you’re sporting a keyboard and mouse, a gamepad, or a mobile device, mastering one of the default control schemes on your favorite Fortnite platform can help you get the most out of your Fortnite gameplay. Click here for the Cheat Sheet and get to know all the controls!
Fortnite is great fun whether you’re battling, building, or watching!The post Fortnite For Dummies Cheat Sheet – All the controls! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
July 22, 2019
Pay what you want for The Humble Book Bundle: Puzzles & Puzzle Games by Lone Shark Games!
Here’s the link to check out the bundle and name your own price!
Get ready to scramble your brain. This puzzle and puzzle games bundle is our puzzliest bundle ever. It contains PDFs to print and play Lone Shark Games’s puzzle books and party puzzle games, featuring trivia, wordplay, logic, and crosswords. Products include The Maze of Games, the puzzle-packed Apocrypha Adventure Card Game, and the brand-new edition of Puzzlecraft: How to Make Every Kind of Puzzle. Plus, your purchase will support Maker Education Initiative and Khan Academy!
Plus there’s a big crossover with Lone Shark’s Puzzlecraft Kickstarter campaign. If you back this bundle, you’ll get half of a special code. Head over to Kickstarter and back the Puzzlecraft campaign running the same time as this one to get the other half of your code. Use both code pieces to get a special collection of giant crossword puzzles by puzzlemaster Mike Selinker.
Pay what you want. Normally, the total cost for the ebooks in this bundle is as much as $423. Here at Humble Bundle, you choose the price and increase your contribution to upgrade your bundle! This bundle has a minimum $1 purchase.
Read them anywhere. The ebooks in this bundle are available in PDF format, so they work on your computer, e-readers, iPads, cell phones, and a wide array of mobile devices! Instructions and a list of recommended reading programs can be found here.
Support charity. Choose where the money goes – between the publisher, Maker Education Initiative via the Tides Foundation, and Khan Academy via the PayPal Giving Fund. If you like what we do, you can leave us a Humble Tip too!
The Humble Book Bundle: Puzzles & Puzzle Games by Lone Shark GamesThe post Pay what you want for The Humble Book Bundle: Puzzles & Puzzle Games by Lone Shark Games! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
July 11, 2019
New book, Fortnite For Dummies, is now available!
My newest book, Fortnite For Dummies, is now available. I think it’s my best work yet! In the book, I cover all you need to know about the most popular free-to-play Battle Royale game of all-time. It’s available from wherever books are sold, including Amazon, where you can get it in a value-priced paperback or Kindle edition.
Fortnite For Dummies (2019)In its 288 pages packed with color and images, you’ll:
Build the best structuresScavenge and collect resourcesOutlast the competition
Play—and survive—in the game of Fortnite
Battle. Strategy. Survival. Fortnite has it all—and if you want to keep your gameplay going until the bitter end, this book is your Battle Royale. Assuming no prior knowledge of this popular game, Fortnite For Dummies takes you from registering for a free account to competing in your first match to building your best defensive structure, and everything in between! Who will be the last person standing? When you want to outlast the competition and make Fortnite yours, this book makes it easier than ever to come out on top.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Bill Loguidice (@bill_loguidice) on Jul 1, 2019 at 5:19pm PDT
Inside…
Install on any deviceCustomize your settingsGet to know the mapMaster your weaponsEnhance with premium itemsDiscover the battle passFind strategies for victoryUnlock creative codes
Thanks as always for the support!
The post New book, Fortnite For Dummies, is now available! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
Sega Genesis Flashback (2018): The Official Game List
What follows is the official game list for the 2018 version of the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback and Flashback Deluxe:
Sega Sega Genesis Games
Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
Alien Storm
Altered Beast
Arrow Flash
Bonanza Bros.
Chakan: The Forever Man
Columns
Columns III
Comix Zone
Crack Down
Decap Attack
Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine
ESWAT: City Under Siege
Eternal Champions
Fatal Labyrinth
Flicky
Gain Ground
Golden Axe
Golden Axe II
Golden Axe III
Jewel Master
Kid Chameleon
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star 3: Generations Of Doom
Phantasy Star IV
Ristar
Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
Shining Force II: The Ancient Seal
Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention
Shining in the Darkness
Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic 3D Blast – Flickie’s Island
Sonic Spinball
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog II
Super Thunder Blade
Sword Of Vermilion
The Ooze
Vectorman
Vectorman II
Virtua Fighter II
Acclaim Sega Genesis Games
Champions World Class Soccer
Judge Dredd
Data East Sega Genesis Games
Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja
Side Pocket
Super Real Darwin (Darwin 4081)
Warner Bros. Sega Genesis Games
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat 2
Mortal Kombat III
Sega Sega Master System Games
Alex Kidd in High Tech World
Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Alex Kidd: The Lost Stars
Dragon Crystal
Fantasy Zone
Fantasy Zone The Maze
Kenseiden
Kung Fu Kid
Phantasy Star
Psycho Fox
Putt & Putter
Snail Maze
The Ninja
Sega Sega Game Gear Games
Baku Baku Animal
Sonic Chaos
Sonic Drift 2
Sonic Triple Trouble
Super Columns
Tails Adventure
AtGames Bonus Games
Air Hockey
Bomber
Bottle Taps Race
Cannon
Checker
Chess
Fight or Lose
Hexagonos
Memory
Mr. Balls
Naval Power
Snake
Spider
Warehouse Keeper
The Sega Genesis Flashback Deluxe includes both wired and wireless controllers.The post Sega Genesis Flashback (2018): The Official Game List appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
July 10, 2019
Nintendo Switch Lite – It just doesn’t make sense
Nintendo officially unveiled details of their upcoming Nintendo Switch Lite, which releases September 20, 2019. While I personally primarily play my Nintendo Switch in portable mode, this new unit makes little sense, sadly.
First off, its $199.99 retail price is only slightly cheaper than the more fully-featured Nintendo Switch itself, which retails for $299.99, but can be sometimes be found for less, even bundled with a game. It’s important to remember that that higher price also includes the convenient Nintendo Switch dock, which the Lite obviously doesn’t even support. Again, I’m fine with no TV play, but the fact that you’re paying nearly the same price all-things-considered for less stuff is silly. Of course, the lack of features compared to the regular Nintendo Switch doesn’t stop there.
The Nintendo Switch Lite looks good and should feel more solid, but Nintendo did not go far enough.While it’s understandable that the built-in controls on the Lite lack the IR Motion Camera, what’s less understandable is that there’s no onboard rumble of any kind, particularly since battery life is only about 30 minutes longer than the regular Switch. While being slightly lighter at .61 pounds versus .88 pounds is a plus, in practical terms, that’s not a huge difference considering the lack of noticeably greater battery life. Finally, the screen is only 5.5 inches versus the regular Switch’s 6.2 inches, an important consideration for older eyes.
Sadly, there are few reasons why the regular Nintendo Switch doesn’t make considerably more sense.The one feature on the Lite that I do love and wish had been incorporated in the regular Switch from the beginning is a proper d-pad versus the Joy-Con’s stupid directional buttons, which are in no way a useful substitute in my opinion.
While I’ve been entertaining the idea of adding a second Switch into the house, I’ll just consider getting a second regular Switch, which clearly makes the most sense unless there’s some type of significant sale on the Lite. Otherwise, I’d much rather invest my “new hardware” money in the rumored Switch Pro, which will likely be the big product for Q4 2020.
The post Nintendo Switch Lite – It just doesn’t make sense appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
July 3, 2019
Activision’s Keystone Kannonball prototype from 1983 for the Atari 2600 to be finished as Dan Kitchen’s Gold Rush!
Dan Kitchen, author of some of the most advanced Atari 2600 games from back in the day (and who has worked on over 240 games in his career), recently posted on Facebook that he’ll be finishing up the previously lost prototype cartridge, Keystone Kapers II (1983), the sequel to his brother Garry’s well-received Keystone Kapers (1983). You can read more at Dan Kitchen’s website here and also sign up for his newsletter.
What follows is his original post on Facebook with the announcement:
“Hello All!
Dan Kitchen here! Some of you may know of my career at Activision in the early 1980’s as a Game Designer and creator of such 2600 classics as CRACKPOTS
, GHOSTBUSTERS, KUNG-FU MASTER, CROSSBOW and F-14 TOMCAT!
Last year I located a long-lost prototype cartridge of KEYSTONE KAPERS II which I started at Activision in 1983, just before the infamous video game crash. You can read about the prototype at the following link:
http://www.retrogamenetwork.com/…/atari-2600-prototype-key…
I’m now finishing the game and will release it later this year as a brand new Atari 2600 cartridge entitled DAN KITCHEN’S GOLD RUSH!. The game will be available as a cartridge in box complete with a poster and collectible GOLD RUSH Trading Card. You’ll also be able to earn three unique patches for achieving score plateaus, just like we did at Activision in the 1980’s.
In the game the player controls Kasey O’Kelly (the cousin of Keystone Kelly) as he runs on top of and through an Old West Train in search of stolen gold bars. He must find all the bars and return them to the Gold Car before time runs out. Each new level will present the player with a new train, new train cars and new challenges.
The video here shows all 47 train cars that will make up the trains in each level of the game. As you can see, some of the coach (green) and dining cars (red) are connected which will allow for game play inside and between those train cars. Additionally, colored hatches appear on top of some of the cars which allow Kasey to climb down inside those cars in search of the missing gold bars.
Be sure to visit my website www.dankitchengames.com and subscribe to receive updates on the upcoming release of the game.
Until then, Kasey and I will be working on the railroad!”
The post Activision’s Keystone Kannonball prototype from 1983 for the Atari 2600 to be finished as Dan Kitchen’s Gold Rush! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
Pay what you want for great PlayStation 4 games and more in The Humble Indie PlayStation REbundle 2019!
Here’s the link to check out the bundle and name your own price!
More awesome indie games for you. Cool off this summer with a bundle full of indie PlayStation titles! Uncover the horrors in Layers of Fear, awake from a deep sleep in The Talos Principle, and team up with friends for Zed-slaughtering mayhem in Killing Floor 2. Plus, your purchase will support GameChanger, Save the Children, Rett Syndrome Research Trust, and a charity of your choice!
Pay $1 or more. Normally, the total cost for the games in this bundle is as much as $239. Here at Humble Bundle, you choose the price and increase your contribution to upgrade your bundle! This bundle has a minimum $1 purchase. Redeem with PlayStation Network. All of the games in this bundle are available for PlayStation 4 and require an SIEA region PSN account. Please check out the full system requirements here prior to purchasing.
Limited Availability. Once keys run out for a tier, that’s it! Get these hot PlayStation titles while supplies last!
Support charity. Choose where the money goes – between the publishers, GameChanger, Save the Children, Rett Syndrome Research Trust, and/or a charity of your choice via the PayPal Giving Fund. If you like what we do, you can leave us a Humble Tip too!
The Humble Indie PlayStation REBundle 2019The post Pay what you want for great PlayStation 4 games and more in The Humble Indie PlayStation REbundle 2019! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
June 25, 2019
Get a Free For Dummies Book Just for Sharing!
Wiley is kicking off a cool new contest where you can get a FREE Dummies book, like mine—Fortnite For Dummies! All you have to do is share a video on Facebook or Instagram detailing how a specific Dummies book has changed your life. That’s all! Then you get to pick any Dummies book for free! At this time, only submissions from the US are being accepted.
To learn more about the contest, check out this link: Dummies.com/DummiesHelped
Fortnite For Dummies (2019) by Bill LoguidiceThe post Get a Free For Dummies Book Just for Sharing! appeared first on Armchair Arcade.
