Rob Crowther
@robertcrowther.bsky.social
Software Developer who likes retro games, non-retro games and American Football.
My first #RandomGameSaturday of 2026 is Matrix from Llamasoft. This is the VIC-20 version, back in the day I played this on the C64. The tenuous link to new year is I remember playing Gridrunner (which this is a sequel of) on the VIC-20 when on holiday at my Grandfather's house in Grange-over-Sands.
January 3, 2026 at 3:26 PM
My first #RandomGameSaturday of 2026 is Matrix from Llamasoft. This is the VIC-20 version, back in the day I played this on the C64. The tenuous link to new year is I remember playing Gridrunner (which this is a sequel of) on the VIC-20 when on holiday at my Grandfather's house in Grange-over-Sands.
This is interesting stuff. I found my Starglider 2 Amiga box just before Xmas, going to have to set some time aside to read the novella.
James Follett (1939–2021) was a gifted British science-fiction writer whose work spanned radio, television, films, and novels. In the 1980s, most games shipped with a brief backstory tucked into the instruction manual, but James went far beyond that.
🧵1/3
#Starglider #SciFiDay #ScienceFictionDay
🧵1/3
#Starglider #SciFiDay #ScienceFictionDay
January 3, 2026 at 1:02 PM
This is interesting stuff. I found my Starglider 2 Amiga box just before Xmas, going to have to set some time aside to read the novella.
Reposted by Rob Crowther
Were you fortunate enough to receive a Commodore 64 Ultimate this Christmas?
Connect with fellow new owners and enthusiasts in our thriving Discord community. Discuss configurations, classic games, tips, and more.
Join us: discord.gg/rH7BcFWBpW
Over 3k members worldwide!
#C64U #C64 #Commodore
Connect with fellow new owners and enthusiasts in our thriving Discord community. Discuss configurations, classic games, tips, and more.
Join us: discord.gg/rH7BcFWBpW
Over 3k members worldwide!
#C64U #C64 #Commodore
January 3, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Were you fortunate enough to receive a Commodore 64 Ultimate this Christmas?
Connect with fellow new owners and enthusiasts in our thriving Discord community. Discuss configurations, classic games, tips, and more.
Join us: discord.gg/rH7BcFWBpW
Over 3k members worldwide!
#C64U #C64 #Commodore
Connect with fellow new owners and enthusiasts in our thriving Discord community. Discuss configurations, classic games, tips, and more.
Join us: discord.gg/rH7BcFWBpW
Over 3k members worldwide!
#C64U #C64 #Commodore
Reposted by Rob Crowther
The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.
December 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The final Calvin and Hobbes, which appeared in papers 30 years ago today.
Happy New Year everyone! Let's all make it a good one!
January 1, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Happy New Year everyone! Let's all make it a good one!
Reposted by Rob Crowther
The LS-2 joystick is available to pre-order!
Upgrade your joystick game for your #Amiga #Atari #C64.
Give this a like and repost and help spread the word!
retrofrog.net/collections/...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF0a...
Upgrade your joystick game for your #Amiga #Atari #C64.
Give this a like and repost and help spread the word!
retrofrog.net/collections/...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF0a...
LS-2 Retro 9 pin Joystick for vintage computers
YouTube video by Retro Frog
www.youtube.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The LS-2 joystick is available to pre-order!
Upgrade your joystick game for your #Amiga #Atari #C64.
Give this a like and repost and help spread the word!
retrofrog.net/collections/...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF0a...
Upgrade your joystick game for your #Amiga #Atari #C64.
Give this a like and repost and help spread the word!
retrofrog.net/collections/...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF0a...
Reposted by Rob Crowther
This is true and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)
Just watched the new Knives Out and I think it's really important you know that the scene in the Seminary's Gym is filmed in the same place Rick Astley filmed the music video for Never Gonna Give You Up.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
I saw the window tracery and immediately made my friends pause the film so I could tell them.
December 30, 2025 at 4:21 AM
This is true and I was the only one on set excited about it (and playing the song on my phone to blank stares)
My last #RandomGameSaturday of the year is the Amiga version of Winter Games from Epyx. I tried to pick something vaguely Xmassy 😀
My box is a bit battered and bruised but the memories are still good. I liked the bobsled and biathlon events.
My box is a bit battered and bruised but the memories are still good. I liked the bobsled and biathlon events.
December 27, 2025 at 10:19 AM
My last #RandomGameSaturday of the year is the Amiga version of Winter Games from Epyx. I tried to pick something vaguely Xmassy 😀
My box is a bit battered and bruised but the memories are still good. I liked the bobsled and biathlon events.
My box is a bit battered and bruised but the memories are still good. I liked the bobsled and biathlon events.
Merry Xmas Everyone! I hope that you all get everything you wished for and have the best possible time.
December 24, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Merry Xmas Everyone! I hope that you all get everything you wished for and have the best possible time.
Reposted by Rob Crowther
Got a brand new #commodore64ultimate for xmas?
Try out this fun and ⛄️FREE⛄️ 1 or 2 player action snowball shooter xmas game!
badgerpunch.itch.io/snowdown
Happy Holidays from us at the badger hive 🕹️❤️
#c64 #c64u #commodore64 #retrogame #indiegamedev
Try out this fun and ⛄️FREE⛄️ 1 or 2 player action snowball shooter xmas game!
badgerpunch.itch.io/snowdown
Happy Holidays from us at the badger hive 🕹️❤️
#c64 #c64u #commodore64 #retrogame #indiegamedev
December 24, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Got a brand new #commodore64ultimate for xmas?
Try out this fun and ⛄️FREE⛄️ 1 or 2 player action snowball shooter xmas game!
badgerpunch.itch.io/snowdown
Happy Holidays from us at the badger hive 🕹️❤️
#c64 #c64u #commodore64 #retrogame #indiegamedev
Try out this fun and ⛄️FREE⛄️ 1 or 2 player action snowball shooter xmas game!
badgerpunch.itch.io/snowdown
Happy Holidays from us at the badger hive 🕹️❤️
#c64 #c64u #commodore64 #retrogame #indiegamedev
Reposted by Rob Crowther
It's time for some Simply Sterling Game of the Year Awards! It's a new video looking back at 2025 and picking my favorite games from the lot. Will Clair Obscur make it despite AI controversy? Let's find out!
Watch here: youtu.be/ELgU4iCkETo
Watch here: youtu.be/ELgU4iCkETo
The Simply Sterling Game Of The Year Awards 2025
YouTube video by Stephanie Sterling
youtu.be
December 22, 2025 at 1:46 PM
It's time for some Simply Sterling Game of the Year Awards! It's a new video looking back at 2025 and picking my favorite games from the lot. Will Clair Obscur make it despite AI controversy? Let's find out!
Watch here: youtu.be/ELgU4iCkETo
Watch here: youtu.be/ELgU4iCkETo
Reposted by Rob Crowther
Ocean's official game of the 1986 Super Bowl had you controlling tiny squares, and if you scored 100 points it would tick over to zero and make you lose. It was still a #1 in the UK charts though. My final new blog post of the year:
www.superchartisland.com/super-bowl-xx
www.superchartisland.com/super-bowl-xx
Super Bowl XX – “This is the owner of the Chicago Bears speaking”
In 1986, Scanatron released a Commodore 64 game called The Double, made by Paul Barnard and Peter Martin. Taking after Football Manager, it put more of an emphasis on placing yourself into English …
www.superchartisland.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Ocean's official game of the 1986 Super Bowl had you controlling tiny squares, and if you scored 100 points it would tick over to zero and make you lose. It was still a #1 in the UK charts though. My final new blog post of the year:
www.superchartisland.com/super-bowl-xx
www.superchartisland.com/super-bowl-xx
Reposted by Rob Crowther
I’m reminded of watching two old ladies ask a teenage goth for directions and she politely told them and when she was out of earshot one lady said “You know where you are with a goth”
Things are Terrible, but this isn't.
Be weird.
Be weird.
December 22, 2025 at 9:20 AM
I’m reminded of watching two old ladies ask a teenage goth for directions and she politely told them and when she was out of earshot one lady said “You know where you are with a goth”
It was very good, and surprisingly funny considering some of the subjects it touched upon.
The Delicate Art of Making Depressing Games"
The talk @thepixelhunt.bsky.social and I gave at @adventurex.bsky.social is now on Youtube!
We've been told it was good. You tell me. I don't have the strength to watch. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnM2...
The talk @thepixelhunt.bsky.social and I gave at @adventurex.bsky.social is now on Youtube!
We've been told it was good. You tell me. I don't have the strength to watch. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnM2...
Adventure X 2025 – Talk: Pierre Corbinais and Florent Maurin
YouTube video by AdventureX
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM
It was very good, and surprisingly funny considering some of the subjects it touched upon.
To celebrate getting my C64 Ultimate this week my #RandomGameSaturday is Uridium. This is not the copy I owned back in the 80s, I bought it on eBay so I could once again experience loading games from cassette tape! The game is so smooth and fast for a mid-80s home computer, I loved it.
December 20, 2025 at 4:33 PM
To celebrate getting my C64 Ultimate this week my #RandomGameSaturday is Uridium. This is not the copy I owned back in the 80s, I bought it on eBay so I could once again experience loading games from cassette tape! The game is so smooth and fast for a mid-80s home computer, I loved it.
My C64 Ultimate has arrived! (Note: cat not included) @commodoreofficial.bsky.social
A proper ring bound manual with BASIC programs, just like the old days! Looking forward to the evening when I'll have time to play with it properly.
#Commodore64 #C64 #C64U #Commodore
A proper ring bound manual with BASIC programs, just like the old days! Looking forward to the evening when I'll have time to play with it properly.
#Commodore64 #C64 #C64U #Commodore
December 18, 2025 at 12:34 PM
My C64 Ultimate has arrived! (Note: cat not included) @commodoreofficial.bsky.social
A proper ring bound manual with BASIC programs, just like the old days! Looking forward to the evening when I'll have time to play with it properly.
#Commodore64 #C64 #C64U #Commodore
A proper ring bound manual with BASIC programs, just like the old days! Looking forward to the evening when I'll have time to play with it properly.
#Commodore64 #C64 #C64U #Commodore
Reposted by Rob Crowther
Has anyone ever heard of a (UK?) journal called University Computing? Know where I could find archives? Long shot, but this paper could contain info that helps us open-source a remarkable operating system developed by the UK MoD in the 1970s and 1980s. Boosts appreciated!
December 17, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Has anyone ever heard of a (UK?) journal called University Computing? Know where I could find archives? Long shot, but this paper could contain info that helps us open-source a remarkable operating system developed by the UK MoD in the 1970s and 1980s. Boosts appreciated!
wintermute's STEAM REPLAY 2025
Check out my 2025 Steam Replay
s.team
December 16, 2025 at 7:35 PM
My #RandomGameSaturday is Valkyria Chronicles. I first bought it on Steam in 2015 but had enough trouble getting it to work well on Linux that I acquired this PS4 version a few years later. Also have it on Switch, because why not? I love the graphical style and presentation.
December 13, 2025 at 4:01 PM
My #RandomGameSaturday is Valkyria Chronicles. I first bought it on Steam in 2015 but had enough trouble getting it to work well on Linux that I acquired this PS4 version a few years later. Also have it on Switch, because why not? I love the graphical style and presentation.
My Zzap! The Legacy from Fusion Retro books has arrived! Love a bit of Dan Dare, and those are some familiar looking choirboys 😀
December 12, 2025 at 12:14 PM
My Zzap! The Legacy from Fusion Retro books has arrived! Love a bit of Dan Dare, and those are some familiar looking choirboys 😀
Reposted by Rob Crowther
Over 19,000 games have released on Steam in 2025.
Almost half of them have fewer than ten reviews.
Almost half of them have fewer than ten reviews.
December 12, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Over 19,000 games have released on Steam in 2025.
Almost half of them have fewer than ten reviews.
Almost half of them have fewer than ten reviews.
A few mentions of Marble Madness on the Amiga, which I loved when I got it but don't hear it mentioned much in retro circles these days.
Of course at the time I only owned two other Amiga games, so maybe some rose tinting on my recollections.
Of course at the time I only owned two other Amiga games, so maybe some rose tinting on my recollections.
In their 1986 Xmas Special, PCW asked games biz "celebrities" what were their eight favorite games. Respondents included David and Richard Darling of Code Masters fame, and the eponymous Andrew Hewson. Many of their answers will take you for a jog down memory lane.
December 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
A few mentions of Marble Madness on the Amiga, which I loved when I got it but don't hear it mentioned much in retro circles these days.
Of course at the time I only owned two other Amiga games, so maybe some rose tinting on my recollections.
Of course at the time I only owned two other Amiga games, so maybe some rose tinting on my recollections.
Played Chai today boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25...
Chai
An immersive game of combining tea flavours to make your perfect blend!
boardgamegeek.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Played Chai today boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/25...
I loved Uridium on the C64, the sense of speed coupled with the feel of weight thanks to the slight inertia of turning the ship was fantastic. This article is great too, touching on the deep roots of game dev crunch culture and also the commercialisation of the games industry.
In 1986, Andrew Braybrook made one of the UK's most acclaimed arcade-style home computer games of the mid-'80s. And he made it working to a 37-hour-a-week schedule. New post on Uridium:
www.superchartisland.com/uridium
www.superchartisland.com/uridium
Uridium – “Good zapping”
In 1988, Crash magazine interviewed Chris and Tim Stamper, previously of British home computer game titans Ultimate, and by then setting out as Rare. At one point, when talking about how busy they …
www.superchartisland.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:03 AM
I loved Uridium on the C64, the sense of speed coupled with the feel of weight thanks to the slight inertia of turning the ship was fantastic. This article is great too, touching on the deep roots of game dev crunch culture and also the commercialisation of the games industry.
It's Bring'n'Byte time at the @computinghistory.org.uk in Cambridge. Come along and buy some retro gear and help fund the museum.
December 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
It's Bring'n'Byte time at the @computinghistory.org.uk in Cambridge. Come along and buy some retro gear and help fund the museum.