martyn carroll
@martcarroll.bsky.social
Writing words about videogames since 1997. Contributor to @retrogamermag.bsky.social
Join Ocean Software and look like Morten Harket on the red carpet at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. Wonder how many bedroom programmers started dreaming big when this ad appeared in mags in 1987?
September 5, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Join Ocean Software and look like Morten Harket on the red carpet at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. Wonder how many bedroom programmers started dreaming big when this ad appeared in mags in 1987?
Nice little time capsule I spotted today in the one-screen cinema in Aberystwyth
April 16, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Nice little time capsule I spotted today in the one-screen cinema in Aberystwyth
Britsoft’s finest Rare was incorporated as a company on this date 40 years ago. According to the doc on Companies House, it was called Chameleon, then The Stamper Group, before they finally settled on Rare. Here is the firm’s very first logo.
April 16, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Britsoft’s finest Rare was incorporated as a company on this date 40 years ago. According to the doc on Companies House, it was called Chameleon, then The Stamper Group, before they finally settled on Rare. Here is the firm’s very first logo.
I'll see your Metroid Prime 4 and raise you...
March 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I'll see your Metroid Prime 4 and raise you...
Did you know that Stephen King’s novella The Mist inspired Half-Life? You did? But did you know that there was an actual computer game based on The Mist, released in 1985? I wrote about it for a magazine article published a few years back, which you can read online.
The making of Stephen King's The Mist: "It's kind of hard for a text adventure to be scary"
Tales from the Retro Crypt – Chapter One
www.gamesradar.com
March 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Did you know that Stephen King’s novella The Mist inspired Half-Life? You did? But did you know that there was an actual computer game based on The Mist, released in 1985? I wrote about it for a magazine article published a few years back, which you can read online.
I've written a few pages about PS1 classic Dino Crisis and its big-ass lizards in this issue. On sale now
Just a reminder that the latest issue of Retro Gamer is in stores now. It features a PS2 feature, 32-page book of the best PS2 games, a double-sided poster and much, much more. Don't miss it.
www.magazinesdirect.com/az-magazines...
www.magazinesdirect.com/az-magazines...
March 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I've written a few pages about PS1 classic Dino Crisis and its big-ass lizards in this issue. On sale now
> GO EBAY
> GET TREASURE
A 'holy grail', awarded as a competition prize to promote the 1988 Level 9 adventure game Lancelot, has surfaced on eBay.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26717938...
> GET TREASURE
A 'holy grail', awarded as a competition prize to promote the 1988 Level 9 adventure game Lancelot, has surfaced on eBay.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26717938...
March 11, 2025 at 8:43 AM
> GO EBAY
> GET TREASURE
A 'holy grail', awarded as a competition prize to promote the 1988 Level 9 adventure game Lancelot, has surfaced on eBay.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26717938...
> GET TREASURE
A 'holy grail', awarded as a competition prize to promote the 1988 Level 9 adventure game Lancelot, has surfaced on eBay.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26717938...
Reposted by martyn carroll
The PlayStation 2 is 25 years old today! Sony's highly anticipated second system launched on 4th March 2000 in Japan, and eventually became the best-selling home console of all time. Retro Gamer 270 will be available next week, and we'll be celebrating the PS2 and its fantastic library of games.
March 4, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The PlayStation 2 is 25 years old today! Sony's highly anticipated second system launched on 4th March 2000 in Japan, and eventually became the best-selling home console of all time. Retro Gamer 270 will be available next week, and we'll be celebrating the PS2 and its fantastic library of games.
Sad news: programmer Don Priestley, best known for his cartoon-style games like Trap Door and Popeye, passed away late last year after a short illness. One of Don’s friends shared the news on a Facebook comment. RIP Don (1940-2024), your games shine on.
February 26, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Sad news: programmer Don Priestley, best known for his cartoon-style games like Trap Door and Popeye, passed away late last year after a short illness. One of Don’s friends shared the news on a Facebook comment. RIP Don (1940-2024), your games shine on.
Alien, the Italian edition 👍
February 7, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Alien, the Italian edition 👍
Reposted by martyn carroll
Your Sinclair, Amiga Power Legend And "Funniest Living Englishman" Jonathan Nash Has Died.
Your Sinclair, Amiga Power Legend And "Funniest Living Englishman" Jonathan Nash Has Died
"The only person I was ever prepared to write with"
www.timeextension.com
January 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Your Sinclair, Amiga Power Legend And "Funniest Living Englishman" Jonathan Nash Has Died.
Reposted by martyn carroll
Well this is rather lovely Readly has awarded us for being the most-read gaming publication of 2024. Thanks to everyone that enjoys the mag.
January 16, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Well this is rather lovely Readly has awarded us for being the most-read gaming publication of 2024. Thanks to everyone that enjoys the mag.
Reposted by martyn carroll
Just before 2024 ends, we thought we'd take a look back at our covers for the year. Which was your favourite, and what would you like to see on future covers? Let us know, and we'll see you in 2025!
December 31, 2024 at 9:28 PM
Just before 2024 ends, we thought we'd take a look back at our covers for the year. Which was your favourite, and what would you like to see on future covers? Let us know, and we'll see you in 2025!
"This looks like the sad lad of the pack..."
As PlayStation turns 30 today, let's remind ourselves of this bold prediction by C&VG in 1992.
We may laugh, but the mag was talking about an early prototype PlayStation. Still, it's clear to see that NO-ONE saw Sony coming #PlayStation
As PlayStation turns 30 today, let's remind ourselves of this bold prediction by C&VG in 1992.
We may laugh, but the mag was talking about an early prototype PlayStation. Still, it's clear to see that NO-ONE saw Sony coming #PlayStation
December 3, 2024 at 8:35 AM
"This looks like the sad lad of the pack..."
As PlayStation turns 30 today, let's remind ourselves of this bold prediction by C&VG in 1992.
We may laugh, but the mag was talking about an early prototype PlayStation. Still, it's clear to see that NO-ONE saw Sony coming #PlayStation
As PlayStation turns 30 today, let's remind ourselves of this bold prediction by C&VG in 1992.
We may laugh, but the mag was talking about an early prototype PlayStation. Still, it's clear to see that NO-ONE saw Sony coming #PlayStation