@level106.bsky.social
Full on retro gamer, nostalgia seeker, and dad joker.
I love to see the occasional retro port that refuses to go on certain enterprise PC's.
In the voice of Scotty in "The Voyage Home":
"It's got a serial port! How quaint!"
But, the bit I wasn't expecting: The GFX card is mini-DisplayPort ports. Argh! Quick dash to the store for two adapters..
In the voice of Scotty in "The Voyage Home":
"It's got a serial port! How quaint!"
But, the bit I wasn't expecting: The GFX card is mini-DisplayPort ports. Argh! Quick dash to the store for two adapters..
November 27, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I love to see the occasional retro port that refuses to go on certain enterprise PC's.
In the voice of Scotty in "The Voyage Home":
"It's got a serial port! How quaint!"
But, the bit I wasn't expecting: The GFX card is mini-DisplayPort ports. Argh! Quick dash to the store for two adapters..
In the voice of Scotty in "The Voyage Home":
"It's got a serial port! How quaint!"
But, the bit I wasn't expecting: The GFX card is mini-DisplayPort ports. Argh! Quick dash to the store for two adapters..
Replacement for the dead PC has arrived!
(Ex-lease business PC.. no RGB lighting. Just the way I like it.) 😋
Figured I'd try a Lenovo for the first time. Solid reputation with their laptops. I'm curious what curve-balls this change of brand might throw my way.
😉
(Ex-lease business PC.. no RGB lighting. Just the way I like it.) 😋
Figured I'd try a Lenovo for the first time. Solid reputation with their laptops. I'm curious what curve-balls this change of brand might throw my way.
😉
November 26, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Replacement for the dead PC has arrived!
(Ex-lease business PC.. no RGB lighting. Just the way I like it.) 😋
Figured I'd try a Lenovo for the first time. Solid reputation with their laptops. I'm curious what curve-balls this change of brand might throw my way.
😉
(Ex-lease business PC.. no RGB lighting. Just the way I like it.) 😋
Figured I'd try a Lenovo for the first time. Solid reputation with their laptops. I'm curious what curve-balls this change of brand might throw my way.
😉
That's almost the problem with modern retro programming:
We have too many options. 😄
Back in the day it was "We've only got CPU time to plot a circle. Maybe the equator and a couple of longitude lines if you don't mind it slowing down a bit."
Now there's more of that choice paralysis. 😊
We have too many options. 😄
Back in the day it was "We've only got CPU time to plot a circle. Maybe the equator and a couple of longitude lines if you don't mind it slowing down a bit."
Now there's more of that choice paralysis. 😊
November 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
That's almost the problem with modern retro programming:
We have too many options. 😄
Back in the day it was "We've only got CPU time to plot a circle. Maybe the equator and a couple of longitude lines if you don't mind it slowing down a bit."
Now there's more of that choice paralysis. 😊
We have too many options. 😄
Back in the day it was "We've only got CPU time to plot a circle. Maybe the equator and a couple of longitude lines if you don't mind it slowing down a bit."
Now there's more of that choice paralysis. 😊
..I'll also readily admit, that I really loved those circular flares on Thunderhawk, and want to see how you'd tackle similar routines to plot a planet. 😄
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
..I'll also readily admit, that I really loved those circular flares on Thunderhawk, and want to see how you'd tackle similar routines to plot a planet. 😄
Ah .. I think I know why I was fixated on polygonal planets..
I've watched this too many times over my life, I think.
haha
I've watched this too many times over my life, I think.
haha
November 22, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Ah .. I think I know why I was fixated on polygonal planets..
I've watched this too many times over my life, I think.
haha
I've watched this too many times over my life, I think.
haha
Just a question from someone who likes polygons:
Should the planet be textured? Or could it employ some spherical plotting routines? (Maybe with land / cloud polygons overlaid?) Could give you some nice ways to auto-generate many planet types. 😉 (Just thinking aloud..) 😊
Should the planet be textured? Or could it employ some spherical plotting routines? (Maybe with land / cloud polygons overlaid?) Could give you some nice ways to auto-generate many planet types. 😉 (Just thinking aloud..) 😊
November 22, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Just a question from someone who likes polygons:
Should the planet be textured? Or could it employ some spherical plotting routines? (Maybe with land / cloud polygons overlaid?) Could give you some nice ways to auto-generate many planet types. 😉 (Just thinking aloud..) 😊
Should the planet be textured? Or could it employ some spherical plotting routines? (Maybe with land / cloud polygons overlaid?) Could give you some nice ways to auto-generate many planet types. 😉 (Just thinking aloud..) 😊
I really wasn't sure what colours to use for my home-made joystick.
Then I thought of the dog-bone controller. 💡
Seems obvious now.
😎
Then I thought of the dog-bone controller. 💡
Seems obvious now.
😎
November 22, 2025 at 1:44 AM
I really wasn't sure what colours to use for my home-made joystick.
Then I thought of the dog-bone controller. 💡
Seems obvious now.
😎
Then I thought of the dog-bone controller. 💡
Seems obvious now.
😎
But but.. I like the duct tape mod! 😢
Or do you mean duck tape?
😋
Or do you mean duck tape?
😋
November 22, 2025 at 1:39 AM
But but.. I like the duct tape mod! 😢
Or do you mean duck tape?
😋
Or do you mean duck tape?
😋
Very nice!
Feels like just the right level of retro. 👍
Feels like just the right level of retro. 👍
November 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Very nice!
Feels like just the right level of retro. 👍
Feels like just the right level of retro. 👍
But but.. Helicoptero Fantastico has wheels!
😋
😋
November 20, 2025 at 11:15 AM
But but.. Helicoptero Fantastico has wheels!
😋
😋
It's much more fun to love a platform if you can love to hate it too. 😋 I got into making my post on the tweet-site, paste it here, add a few more words, paste it to threads, add a few more words, paste it to mastodon, and maybe add more words if I need to. ..Then do a corrective reply if needed. 😄
November 20, 2025 at 11:09 AM
It's much more fun to love a platform if you can love to hate it too. 😋 I got into making my post on the tweet-site, paste it here, add a few more words, paste it to threads, add a few more words, paste it to mastodon, and maybe add more words if I need to. ..Then do a corrective reply if needed. 😄
Blew up my home PC .. again. 🤔
Third time dead: logic board, power supply.. logic board again?
I've decided that this PC is unlucky, and I've ordered another.
The new one is an ex-lease.
It has ten cores — twenty threads.
First task: open twenty virtual C64's at once?
😄
Third time dead: logic board, power supply.. logic board again?
I've decided that this PC is unlucky, and I've ordered another.
The new one is an ex-lease.
It has ten cores — twenty threads.
First task: open twenty virtual C64's at once?
😄
November 19, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Blew up my home PC .. again. 🤔
Third time dead: logic board, power supply.. logic board again?
I've decided that this PC is unlucky, and I've ordered another.
The new one is an ex-lease.
It has ten cores — twenty threads.
First task: open twenty virtual C64's at once?
😄
Third time dead: logic board, power supply.. logic board again?
I've decided that this PC is unlucky, and I've ordered another.
The new one is an ex-lease.
It has ten cores — twenty threads.
First task: open twenty virtual C64's at once?
😄
You might think "That island infrastructure doesn't look much like Sim City". But that probably just means you haven't seen the C64 version, which looks really really similar.
Still a surprisingly engrossing game, despite the simplistic graphics. Deploy the killer lizard! 🦎
😊
Still a surprisingly engrossing game, despite the simplistic graphics. Deploy the killer lizard! 🦎
😊
November 18, 2025 at 2:19 AM
You might think "That island infrastructure doesn't look much like Sim City". But that probably just means you haven't seen the C64 version, which looks really really similar.
Still a surprisingly engrossing game, despite the simplistic graphics. Deploy the killer lizard! 🦎
😊
Still a surprisingly engrossing game, despite the simplistic graphics. Deploy the killer lizard! 🦎
😊
The Pyramid (C64)
There's a C64 version of The Pyramid. Doesn't feel like it has much code in common with the Speccy one, as they're using the full screen, and an entirely different set of aliens, which are sprite-sized. But the overall feel of the game is quite similar.
👍
There's a C64 version of The Pyramid. Doesn't feel like it has much code in common with the Speccy one, as they're using the full screen, and an entirely different set of aliens, which are sprite-sized. But the overall feel of the game is quite similar.
👍
November 13, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The Pyramid (C64)
There's a C64 version of The Pyramid. Doesn't feel like it has much code in common with the Speccy one, as they're using the full screen, and an entirely different set of aliens, which are sprite-sized. But the overall feel of the game is quite similar.
👍
There's a C64 version of The Pyramid. Doesn't feel like it has much code in common with the Speccy one, as they're using the full screen, and an entirely different set of aliens, which are sprite-sized. But the overall feel of the game is quite similar.
👍
The Pyramid (ZX Spectrum)
This was a time when it was okay for a shoot-em-up to just be a shoot-em-up. Enter a room, shoot anything that moves, use the gems to open up the next room, rinse and repeat.
There is an overly elaborate story on the cassette inlay, but that can safely be ignored. 😊
This was a time when it was okay for a shoot-em-up to just be a shoot-em-up. Enter a room, shoot anything that moves, use the gems to open up the next room, rinse and repeat.
There is an overly elaborate story on the cassette inlay, but that can safely be ignored. 😊
November 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM
The Pyramid (ZX Spectrum)
This was a time when it was okay for a shoot-em-up to just be a shoot-em-up. Enter a room, shoot anything that moves, use the gems to open up the next room, rinse and repeat.
There is an overly elaborate story on the cassette inlay, but that can safely be ignored. 😊
This was a time when it was okay for a shoot-em-up to just be a shoot-em-up. Enter a room, shoot anything that moves, use the gems to open up the next room, rinse and repeat.
There is an overly elaborate story on the cassette inlay, but that can safely be ignored. 😊
I really should take the time to play Lords of Midnight again properly. But finding time is usually the problem. 😊
So the game-play for the gif for the ZX Spectrum version came from The RZX Archive.
So the game-play for the gif for the ZX Spectrum version came from The RZX Archive.
November 12, 2025 at 8:23 AM
I really should take the time to play Lords of Midnight again properly. But finding time is usually the problem. 😊
So the game-play for the gif for the ZX Spectrum version came from The RZX Archive.
So the game-play for the gif for the ZX Spectrum version came from The RZX Archive.
Bubble Bobble (C64)
While I'm geeking out about cool loaders on the C64, "Bubble Bobble" on disk had a cool fuel-gauge type of thing that always impressed me. But you had to have the original disk. I don't think any of the hackers/crackers cared to replicate the fancy loader. 😊
While I'm geeking out about cool loaders on the C64, "Bubble Bobble" on disk had a cool fuel-gauge type of thing that always impressed me. But you had to have the original disk. I don't think any of the hackers/crackers cared to replicate the fancy loader. 😊
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Bubble Bobble (C64)
While I'm geeking out about cool loaders on the C64, "Bubble Bobble" on disk had a cool fuel-gauge type of thing that always impressed me. But you had to have the original disk. I don't think any of the hackers/crackers cared to replicate the fancy loader. 😊
While I'm geeking out about cool loaders on the C64, "Bubble Bobble" on disk had a cool fuel-gauge type of thing that always impressed me. But you had to have the original disk. I don't think any of the hackers/crackers cared to replicate the fancy loader. 😊
Lords of Midnight cassette loader (C64)
It must have been a few weeks since I mentioned the cool tape loader for Mike Singleton's "Lords of Midnight", which shows off its excellent 3D landscaping engine.
It's quite a mesmerising effect. I should have tried it back when I had access to weed. 😋
It must have been a few weeks since I mentioned the cool tape loader for Mike Singleton's "Lords of Midnight", which shows off its excellent 3D landscaping engine.
It's quite a mesmerising effect. I should have tried it back when I had access to weed. 😋
November 9, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Lords of Midnight cassette loader (C64)
It must have been a few weeks since I mentioned the cool tape loader for Mike Singleton's "Lords of Midnight", which shows off its excellent 3D landscaping engine.
It's quite a mesmerising effect. I should have tried it back when I had access to weed. 😋
It must have been a few weeks since I mentioned the cool tape loader for Mike Singleton's "Lords of Midnight", which shows off its excellent 3D landscaping engine.
It's quite a mesmerising effect. I should have tried it back when I had access to weed. 😋
Galaga (arcade)
A timeless arcade game, this one. Love the bug aliens and their curvy attack patterns. The idea of being able to get your ship captured and getting it back to wield the powerful double-ship is also inspired. 🐝
Ten out of ten. Would challenge-stage again.
😊
A timeless arcade game, this one. Love the bug aliens and their curvy attack patterns. The idea of being able to get your ship captured and getting it back to wield the powerful double-ship is also inspired. 🐝
Ten out of ten. Would challenge-stage again.
😊
November 9, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Galaga (arcade)
A timeless arcade game, this one. Love the bug aliens and their curvy attack patterns. The idea of being able to get your ship captured and getting it back to wield the powerful double-ship is also inspired. 🐝
Ten out of ten. Would challenge-stage again.
😊
A timeless arcade game, this one. Love the bug aliens and their curvy attack patterns. The idea of being able to get your ship captured and getting it back to wield the powerful double-ship is also inspired. 🐝
Ten out of ten. Would challenge-stage again.
😊
The Last Ninja 2 (C64)
I don't think local planning authorities give serious consideration to the health and safety concerns of time-travelling ninja's in their sewer systems. 🤔
I don't think local planning authorities give serious consideration to the health and safety concerns of time-travelling ninja's in their sewer systems. 🤔
November 6, 2025 at 12:58 AM
The Last Ninja 2 (C64)
I don't think local planning authorities give serious consideration to the health and safety concerns of time-travelling ninja's in their sewer systems. 🤔
I don't think local planning authorities give serious consideration to the health and safety concerns of time-travelling ninja's in their sewer systems. 🤔
Exactly! I wanna do Operation Wolf on the C64, Duck Hunt on the NES, and lots of Light-Gun games in MAME. The Sinden is close, but I think we can make something smart enough now to not need the white border. 🤔 I'll see if someone works out how to hack the G'AIM'E, or a new player enters the game. 😉
November 6, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Exactly! I wanna do Operation Wolf on the C64, Duck Hunt on the NES, and lots of Light-Gun games in MAME. The Sinden is close, but I think we can make something smart enough now to not need the white border. 🤔 I'll see if someone works out how to hack the G'AIM'E, or a new player enters the game. 😉
Yeah, the cheat for Monty on the Run is to type "I want to cheat" on the high score. It'll answer "yessum boss!" and the screen+border will turn grey.
Start the game — you're not invincible yet! — go to the second screen and collect the boat. The stompers will change, and you're now invincible. 😊
Start the game — you're not invincible yet! — go to the second screen and collect the boat. The stompers will change, and you're now invincible. 😊
November 5, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Yeah, the cheat for Monty on the Run is to type "I want to cheat" on the high score. It'll answer "yessum boss!" and the screen+border will turn grey.
Start the game — you're not invincible yet! — go to the second screen and collect the boat. The stompers will change, and you're now invincible. 😊
Start the game — you're not invincible yet! — go to the second screen and collect the boat. The stompers will change, and you're now invincible. 😊