Warren Pilkington
@zawtowers.bsky.social
IT person by day, former Zzap! 64 and Commodore Format contributor, Man City fan, F1, snooker, writer, poet, photographer and music lover at all other times.
https://www.zawtowers.org.uk/
https://www.zawtowers.org.uk/
Pinned
THREAD: Following the sad news yesterday that Peter Clarke, C64 musician and remixer, has passed away, I'd like to pay tribute to someone whom I had got to know well and a great raconteur of stories of his time at Ocean and elsewhere. Lots of great music too. Here goes (1)
If ever a game summed up what "Typical City" means to us Manchester City fans, this is it - setting a record as the first English team to lose to a Norwegian team in a European club competition. Bodø/Glimt were the better side.
That gamble against Bayer Leverkusen in November looks worse now.
That gamble against Bayer Leverkusen in November looks worse now.
January 20, 2026 at 7:37 PM
If ever a game summed up what "Typical City" means to us Manchester City fans, this is it - setting a record as the first English team to lose to a Norwegian team in a European club competition. Bodø/Glimt were the better side.
That gamble against Bayer Leverkusen in November looks worse now.
That gamble against Bayer Leverkusen in November looks worse now.
Excellent new video from @81632bitretro.com with a focus on the Atari Falcon.
January 17, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Excellent new video from @81632bitretro.com with a focus on the Atari Falcon.
The 6-2 streak at the Johnstone's Paint Masters snooker is finally over, thanks to John Higgins:
#MastersSnooker
#MastersSnooker
January 15, 2026 at 3:23 PM
The 6-2 streak at the Johnstone's Paint Masters snooker is finally over, thanks to John Higgins:
#MastersSnooker
#MastersSnooker
It happened! All eight first round games at the Johnstone's Paint Masters snooker ended up 6-2 all the way.
#MastersSnooker
#MastersSnooker
January 14, 2026 at 10:39 PM
It happened! All eight first round games at the Johnstone's Paint Masters snooker ended up 6-2 all the way.
#MastersSnooker
#MastersSnooker
I wonder what the odds are on the three remaining first round matches at the Johnstone's Paint Masters snooker finishing 6-2. It's been the only scoreline in all five matches so far.
#MastersSnooker
#MastersSnooker
January 13, 2026 at 4:46 PM
I wonder what the odds are on the three remaining first round matches at the Johnstone's Paint Masters snooker finishing 6-2. It's been the only scoreline in all five matches so far.
#MastersSnooker
#MastersSnooker
InterCity 125 klaxon!
(Just north of Stoke on Trent)
(Just north of Stoke on Trent)
January 10, 2026 at 9:51 AM
InterCity 125 klaxon!
(Just north of Stoke on Trent)
(Just north of Stoke on Trent)
Ah the halcyon days of Tony Wright off of Terrorvision being on Never Mind The Buzzcocks proclaiming "I don't know it - it's not metal!" #totp
January 9, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Ah the halcyon days of Tony Wright off of Terrorvision being on Never Mind The Buzzcocks proclaiming "I don't know it - it's not metal!" #totp
There's covering a song, and then there's covering all of Dream Theater's Octavarium, doing it justice. The pinned comment to this one should tell you all you need to know how insanely good this is.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2WU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2WU...
Octavarium // Full Band and Orchestra Cover
YouTube video by Andy | AV Engineer
www.youtube.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:56 PM
There's covering a song, and then there's covering all of Dream Theater's Octavarium, doing it justice. The pinned comment to this one should tell you all you need to know how insanely good this is.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2WU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2WU...
For the start of Football Week over on the Mastertronic Collectors' Archive, I take a look at the more obscure C64 MAD release Five-a-Side-Soccer.
Why was the speech the same as Slap Shot?
Why was the side spine like it was?
Review and answers:
mastertronic.co.uk/game-review-...
Why was the speech the same as Slap Shot?
Why was the side spine like it was?
Review and answers:
mastertronic.co.uk/game-review-...
Game Review: Five-a-Side Soccer (Commodore 64, Mastertronic and MAD) - Mastertronic Collectors Archive
Five-a-Side Soccer on the Commodore 64 is an indoor version of association football, complete with the ball rebounding off the walls, fouls, penalties and even fighting.
mastertronic.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 3:52 PM
For the start of Football Week over on the Mastertronic Collectors' Archive, I take a look at the more obscure C64 MAD release Five-a-Side-Soccer.
Why was the speech the same as Slap Shot?
Why was the side spine like it was?
Review and answers:
mastertronic.co.uk/game-review-...
Why was the speech the same as Slap Shot?
Why was the side spine like it was?
Review and answers:
mastertronic.co.uk/game-review-...
The merry go round continues. Are we hedging bets on how long this one will last, @leftback.bsky.social ?
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Chelsea: Liam Rosenior agrees to become manager
Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior says he
www.bbc.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 9:32 AM
The merry go round continues. Are we hedging bets on how long this one will last, @leftback.bsky.social ?
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Sadly, I am not surprised by this whatsoever. As a fellow passenger, I will always politely ask people to move if in the space that is wheelchair user priority *by law* because it's the right thing to do. As passengers, let's be kind and help out.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Wheelchair space rules 'not enforced' on London buses
Transport for London says it needs to do more so customers and drivers know the rules for wheelchair spaces.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Sadly, I am not surprised by this whatsoever. As a fellow passenger, I will always politely ask people to move if in the space that is wheelchair user priority *by law* because it's the right thing to do. As passengers, let's be kind and help out.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
English football: We'll sack a manager after a dispute with the hierarchy because we know best
Scottish fitba: Hold my beer. We'll break a club record for shortest managerial reign.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Scottish fitba: Hold my beer. We'll break a club record for shortest managerial reign.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Celtic sack manager Wilfried Nancy after eight games
Celtic sack manager Wilfried Nancy, with Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Rangers his sixth loss in just eight matches, with head of football operations Paul Tisdale also removed from his post.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 4:26 PM
English football: We'll sack a manager after a dispute with the hierarchy because we know best
Scottish fitba: Hold my beer. We'll break a club record for shortest managerial reign.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Scottish fitba: Hold my beer. We'll break a club record for shortest managerial reign.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
That was a let down for Manchester City today. Not taking chances and finishing the game off allowed Chelsea to keep believing, and them bringing on Liam Delap changed it. Gut wrenching to see that all unfold.
#MCICHE #PremierLeague
#MCICHE #PremierLeague
January 4, 2026 at 7:54 PM
That was a let down for Manchester City today. Not taking chances and finishing the game off allowed Chelsea to keep believing, and them bringing on Liam Delap changed it. Gut wrenching to see that all unfold.
#MCICHE #PremierLeague
#MCICHE #PremierLeague
In the second part of this small series, I look at Mastertronic re-releases on the Commodore 64 where the music scored much better than the game did, with the top 10 in terms of difference in ratings from Zzap! 64. Nice music, shame about the game part 2 is here:
mastertronic.co.uk/nice-music-s...
mastertronic.co.uk/nice-music-s...
Nice Music, Shame About the Game - Commodore 64 (Part 2) - Mastertronic Collectors Archive
Some Mastertronic C64 games had memorable music thanks to the SID chip, but the games themselves weren't so great as our series continues...
mastertronic.co.uk
January 2, 2026 at 3:08 PM
In the second part of this small series, I look at Mastertronic re-releases on the Commodore 64 where the music scored much better than the game did, with the top 10 in terms of difference in ratings from Zzap! 64. Nice music, shame about the game part 2 is here:
mastertronic.co.uk/nice-music-s...
mastertronic.co.uk/nice-music-s...
Brian the cat wishes you all a Happy New Year.
December 31, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Brian the cat wishes you all a Happy New Year.
December 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
In the second of this series, I look at Mastertronic Commodore 64 games that have had remixes of their SID tunes available on commerical and scene release CDs. Some excellent work to listen to here and showcases the C64 remix community.
mastertronic.co.uk/10-great-mas...
mastertronic.co.uk/10-great-mas...
10 Great Mastertronic Commodore 64 Remixes - Part 2 - Mastertronic Collectors Archive
A lot of music from Commodore 64 Mastertronic games were given the remix treatment. Here's part two our series looking at the best of them...
mastertronic.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
In the second of this series, I look at Mastertronic Commodore 64 games that have had remixes of their SID tunes available on commerical and scene release CDs. Some excellent work to listen to here and showcases the C64 remix community.
mastertronic.co.uk/10-great-mas...
mastertronic.co.uk/10-great-mas...
Superb work from @gamesthatwerent.com as ever - and if you ever wondered what Bombo would look like in its early guise of Rooster Booster (was Mark Greenshields haunted by the Paxo stuffing advert?) along with Sooty and Sweep 2, you've come to the right place.
Our final Commodore 64 update for 2025, with some huge recoveries including full unreleased versions of Sooty and Sweep 2, Thomas The Tank Engine 2. Protos of Paddle Mania, Rooster Booster, Spindizzy and Kick Off 2 + a lot more. Enjoy! (1/7)
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/12/gtw6...
www.gamesthatwerent.com/2025/12/gtw6...
December 22, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Superb work from @gamesthatwerent.com as ever - and if you ever wondered what Bombo would look like in its early guise of Rooster Booster (was Mark Greenshields haunted by the Paxo stuffing advert?) along with Sooty and Sweep 2, you've come to the right place.
For my last Commodore 64 game review of 2025, I take a look at Energy Warrior, a release on Mastertronic's short lived MAD X label. Is it a shoot-em-up worth the cash, or will you run out of energy playing it? Find out:
#Commodore64 #Masterrtronic
mastertronic.co.uk/game-review-...
#Commodore64 #Masterrtronic
mastertronic.co.uk/game-review-...
Game Review: Energy Warrior (Commodore 64, Mastertronic) - Mastertronic Collectors Archive
Energy Warrior on the Commodore 64 is shoot-em-up in which you need to fly your craft around the zones and stop the aliens from destroying your aura energy in each of the zones, with strategy and tact...
mastertronic.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 9:07 AM
For my last Commodore 64 game review of 2025, I take a look at Energy Warrior, a release on Mastertronic's short lived MAD X label. Is it a shoot-em-up worth the cash, or will you run out of energy playing it? Find out:
#Commodore64 #Masterrtronic
mastertronic.co.uk/game-review-...
#Commodore64 #Masterrtronic
mastertronic.co.uk/game-review-...
That will do nicely.
December 21, 2025 at 3:09 PM
That will do nicely.