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Roland Goes Digging
''Roland Goes Digging'' (in France, ''Roland fait des Petits Trous'') is a 1984 computer game for the Amstrad CPC series of home computers. It was distributed by Amsoft, on cassette tape for CPC 464 and Amstrad's proprietary 3" disk format, for CPC 664 and CPC 6128 users. The game was developed by regular Amsoft contributors Gem Software and featured Amstrad's CPC mascot Roland, who also appears in other games in the ''Roland'' series, such as '' Roland in the Caves'', ''Roland in Time'' and ''Roland in Space''. The game is a clone of ''Space Panic'', with the player guiding Roland along a series of platforms that are reached by ladders, all the while avoiding aliens that prove fatal if he touches them. According to the game's inlay, Roland is employed on a building site that is infested with these aliens and he has been "offered a bonus ... to clear the building of the space squatters". He does this by digging holes in the platforms, into which the aliens will drop, and then dis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amsoft
Amsoft was a wholly owned subsidiary of Amstrad, PLC, founded in 1984 and re-integrated with its parent company in 1989. Its purpose was to provide an initial infrastructure of software and services for users of Amstrad's range of home computers, the Amstrad CPC and, from 1986, the ZX Spectrum. Many people's first contact with software on an Amstrad home computer would have been an Amsoft title, as several titles were included in the sales bundles. History While developing its first home computer, the Amstrad CPC 464, Amstrad assessed that part of the success of its competitors' machines was the backing of a grown infrastructure of software and services. Being a newcomer to the computer market, Amstrad decided to artificially create this infrastructure for the launch of their own computers. In February 1984, Amstrad founded its ''Amsoft'' division headed by Roland Perry and William Poel who at the time were also overseeing the development of the Amstrad CPC 464 itself. Most prom ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roland (game Character)
''Roland'' is a video game franchise developed in 1984 by Alan Sugar, CEO of Amstrad, and Jose Luis Dominguez, a Spanish game designer. Named for Roland Perry, a computer engineer who worked for Amstrad, the idea was to have one recognizable character in a number of different computer games in a bid to have the Amstrad CPC compete with the ZX Spectrum and the Commodore 64. Games in the ''Roland''-series * 1984: ''Roland Ahoy!'' (by Computersmith) * 1984: ''Roland on the Ropes'' (by Indescomp) - a copy of the Spanish game ''Fred''. Roland had to collect bullets, treasures and maps while climbing ropes to get out of a tomb/pyramid. Some villains can be destroyed (skeletons, bats, mummies) while some can only be forced to change direction (ghosts) and some have to be jumped over (dripping poison, rats, scorpions). When the game ends, the end music is the Funeral March. The game was released for the Spectrum and the Commodore as well, and was later remade for the PC. * 1984: ''Roland ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC (short for "Colour Personal Computer") is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the ZX Spectrum; it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and the German-speaking parts of Europe, and also Canada. The series spawned a total of six distinct models: The ''Amstrad CPC 464, CPC 464'', ''CPC 664'', and ''CPC 6128'' were highly successful competitors in the European home computer market. The later ''464 plus'' and ''6128 plus'', intended to prolong the system's lifecycle with hardware updates, were considerably less successful, as was the attempt to repackage the ''plus'' hardware into a game console as the ''GX4000''. The CPC models' hardware is based on the Zilog Z80A CPU, complemented with either 64 or 128 KB of Random-access memory, RAM. Their computer-in-a-keyboard design prominently ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Computer Game
A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual feedback from a display device, most commonly shown in a video format on a television set, computer monitor, flat-panel display or touchscreen on handheld devices, or a virtual reality headset. Most modern video games are audiovisual, with audio complement delivered through speakers or headphones, and sometimes also with other types of sensory feedback (e.g., haptic technology that provides tactile sensations). Some video games also allow microphone and webcam inputs for in-game chatting and livestreaming. Video games are typically categorized according to their hardware platform, which traditionally includes arcade video games, console games, and computer games (which includes LAN games, online games, and browser games). More recently, the video game industry h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bugaboo (The Flea)
''Bugaboo (The Flea)'', later published in Spain as ''La Pulga'', is a video game written by the Spanish programming duo Paco Portalo and Paco Suarez for the ZX Spectrum and published by Quicksilva in 1983. It was later released for the Commodore 64, MSX and Amstrad CPC. The Amstrad CPC port was published under the name ''Roland in the Caves'' using the Roland character. ''Bugaboo'', besides being one of the earliest video games made in Spain, is one of the first computer games to include cutscenes. Its publication marked the beginning of the Golden Era of Spanish Software. A sequel was released in Spain by Opera Soft under the title ''Poogaboo'', made by Paco Suarez. Paco Portalo, the other member of Paco & Paco, left the project after the publication of the original game for the ZX Spectrum. The player takes control of a flea who has fallen into a cavern and must escape. Gameplay The game begins with an animation depicting Bugaboo, a small, yellow creature with two ext ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Space Panic
is a 1980 arcade video game developed by Universal. Predating Nintendo's ''Donkey Kong'', and lacking a jump mechanic, ''Space Panic'' was the first game involving climbing ladders between walkable platforms. The genre was initially labeled "climbing games", but later became known as platform games. A ColecoVision port by CBS Electronics was released in the winter holiday season of 1982. The original arcade game was commercially successful in Japan. It was an obscure release in North America, but a clone, '' Apple Panic'', became a top-seller for home computers. '' Lode Runner'' (1983) later put its own spin on climbing and digging, a lineage which eventually took on the name puzzle-platform games. Gameplay The main character can move along platforms and climb the ladders between them. The goal is to dig holes in the platforms and lure aliens into them. Hitting a trapped alien with the shovel knocks them out of the hole and off the screen. In later levels, two or more ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amstrad Computer User
''Amstrad Computer User'' was the official magazine for the Amstrad CPC series of 8-bit home computers. This monthly publication, usually referred to as ''ACU'' by its readers, concentrated more on the hardware and technical side of the Amstrad range, although it had a small dedicated games section as well. ACU History ''ACU'' ran from August 1984 to May 1992, producing 90 issues in total. Originally a bi-monthly Amstrad User's club newsletter titled ''CPC 464 User'', it was renamed to ''Amstrad Computer User'' when the CPC 664 was released in 1985. Its successor was '' CPC Attack'', which was launched in June 1992. August 1984 to April 1985 Amstrad Computer User started out as ''CPC 464 User'' (subtitled ‘The Official Amstrad Micro Magazine’) and the first issue was dated August September 1984 and was 32 pages long. Published by Amsoft, a division of Amstrad, the first couple of issues were not made available to the general public, but only to members of the Amstrad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amstrad Action
''Amstrad Action'' is a discontinued monthly magazine, which was published in the United Kingdom. It is about home computers from the Amstrad CPC range and later the GX4000 console. It is the first magazine published by Chris Anderson (TED), Chris Anderson's Future Publishing, which with a varied line-up of computing and non-computing related releases has since become one of the foremost magazine publishers in the UK. The publication, often abbreviated to ''AA'' by staff and readers, had the longest lifetime of any Amstrad CPC, Amstrad magazine, running for 117 issues from October 1985 until June 1995 - long after the CPC had ceased production and games were no longer available. History Published by Future plc, a company set up by Chris Anderson (TED), Chris Anderson (ex-''Personal Computer Games'' and ''Zzap!64'' editor). Launch Editor, Peter Connor, also an ex-''Personal Computer Games, PCG'' staff member, shared the writing duties with the only other staff writer, Bob Wade. Bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1984 Video Games
Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). * January 9 – Van Halen releases their sixth studio album ''1984'' (''MCMLXXXIV''), which debuts at number 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and will go to sell over 10 million copies in the United States. * January 10 ** The United States and the Vatican (Holy See) restore full diplomatic relations. ** The Victoria Agreement is signed, institutionalising the Indian Ocean Commission. *January 24 – Steve Jobs launches the Macintosh personal computer in the United States. *January 27 – American singer Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire during the making of the Pepsi commercial. February * February 3 ** John Buster and the research team at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center announce history's first embryo trans ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amsoft Games
Amsoft was a wholly owned subsidiary of Amstrad, PLC, founded in 1984 and re-integrated with its parent company in 1989. Its purpose was to provide an initial infrastructure of software and services for users of Amstrad's range of home computers, the Amstrad CPC and, from 1986, the ZX Spectrum. Many people's first contact with software on an Amstrad home computer would have been an Amsoft title, as several titles were included in the sales bundles. History While developing its first home computer, the Amstrad CPC 464, Amstrad assessed that part of the success of its competitors' machines was the backing of a grown infrastructure of software and services. Being a newcomer to the computer market, Amstrad decided to artificially create this infrastructure for the launch of their own computers. In February 1984, Amstrad founded its ''Amsoft'' division headed by Roland Perry and William Poel who at the time were also overseeing the development of the Amstrad CPC 464 itself. Most prom ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amstrad CPC Games
Amstrad plc was a British consumer electronics company, founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar. During the 1980s, the company was known for its home computers beginning with the Amstrad CPC and later also the ZX Spectrum range after the Sinclair deal, which led it to have a substantial share of the home computer market in Britain. In the following decade it shifted focus towards communication technologies, and its main business during the 2000s was the manufacture of satellite television set-top boxes for Sky, which Amstrad had started in 1989 as the then sole supplier of the emerging Sky TV service. Headquartered in Brentwood, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange from 1980 to 2008, the year when Sugar stepped down after 40 years. After acquiring Betacom and Viglen, Amstrad was broken up in 1997 but the name was soon revived when successor Betacom plc renamed itself to Amstrad plc. Amstrad was a FTSE 100 Index constituent up until the company was acquired by BSkyB ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amstrad CPC-only Games
Amstrad plc was a British consumer electronics company, founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar. During the 1980s, the company was known for its home computers beginning with the Amstrad CPC and later also the ZX Spectrum range after the Sinclair deal, which led it to have a substantial share of the home computer market in Britain. In the following decade it shifted focus towards communication technologies, and its main business during the 2000s was the manufacture of satellite television set-top boxes for Sky, which Amstrad had started in 1989 as the then sole supplier of the emerging Sky TV service. Headquartered in Brentwood, the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange from 1980 to 2008, the year when Sugar stepped down after 40 years. After acquiring Betacom and Viglen, Amstrad was broken up in 1997 but the name was soon revived when successor Betacom plc renamed itself to Amstrad plc. Amstrad was a FTSE 100 Index constituent up until the company was acquired by BSkyB in 200 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
