Category: Uncategorized

  • Google Chrome App Store Will Open Soon..

    The Chromium Blog has a new story today about the Chrome App Store.    Here are the highlights: Developers can (and should) sign-up for a Google Web Store Payments Account (USA only right now) App Preview is now available so you can see how you app will look when the…

  • Flash CS5 + Project Panel + Developer View = Pretty good way to code

    I have been a Flash Develop devotee for that last 3 years. Even after I bought my Mac I made sure to install and keep Parallels updated as to not lose the feature-set I love so – Flex asset compile-time embedding, custom class and package recognition,  a unified project work…

  • Poll: What do you Think Of Google TV?

    [fppp_display_poll]

  • Mobile Web Games In HTML5 – Hit and Miss

    I have spent the first three days of this week working on a couple HTML5 games that will eventually make it into our book on the Canvas and will also probably show up here in some form or another (and maybe even in the various App Stores). I chose to…

  • Does The Droid-X Blockbuster OnDemand Commercial Make Sense?

    I have seen this commercial quite a few times and have always had a little “itch” in the back on my mind as I see it. I didn’t have much time to ponder this “itch” until this morning. I can’t find the commercial on-line (but I see it in online…

  • Tutorial: Turn Your Flash Game Into A Google Chrome Web App (beta)

    While the Google Chrome App Store will not be available until October 2010, you can still package-up your apps and test them as Chrome Web Apps.   Google has some extensive documentation on the subject, but we are going to slice it down and show you the easiest path to success.…

  • Atari Nerd Interweb Mash-up

    Here are some of the more interesting Atari related retro gaming related tidbits I found while trolling across the infobaun. The Classis Game Room HD Reviews Atari 2600 Video Olympics – The only way to play pong on the 2600! (literally and hyberbole). Who doesn’t like Ice Hockey Pong with…

  • The Future Of Web Games: The Google Chrome App Store

    1Up.com is running a story from GDC Europe about the Google Chrome App Store.   From the details provided, it looks like Google has a real winner on their hands.  Here are the highlights from the article. Google Chrome App Store Launch Date: October 2010 Supported Technologies: Flash, HTML5/JavaScript, C++ Installation:…

  • See It Quick: Actual Deleted Scene From Return Of The Jedi: Luke Becomes A Jedi

    I know this is totally off topic, but it will probably be removed very soon.   This is an actual deleted scene from Return Of The Jedi that shows Luke’s transformation into a Jedi.  It’s less than 1 minute and better than Episode I-II-III combined. Note: Try this link if the…

  • Space Gate Enemy Path Tutorial by Barnaby Byrne

    Barnaby Byrne (Aka Badger Manufacture) has just released is latest retro inspired Flash Masterpiece, Space Gate, at Odo Games. I was some impressed with the games and the intricate enemy patterns within that I asked if he would be kind enough to explain to our readers exactly how it is…

  • Featured New Flash Retro Game: Space Gate

    We are incredibly proud to present our first new featured retro Flash game on the re-vamped 8bitrocket.com: Space Gate by Barnaby Byrne (AKA Badger Manufacture). As the first ever sponsored game by the wonderful new portal, Odo Games (run by Richard Hoddinott), Space Gate is one of my favorite Flash…

  • Intel/TheGameCreators Game Development Contest (Dark Basic)

    Intel & The Game Creators (Dark Basic) has a new Netbook Game development contest.  Games must be written in Dark Basic.  First prize is $5000. The competition opens on 4th August 2010 9AM GMT. The closing date for entries is 3rd October 2010 at 12PM GMT. You can check out…

  • Help – Trackback spam

    We are new to the WordPress world. While 99.99% of everything in this new land is awesome, there a a few annoyances. The biggest is the literal flood of Trackback link spam from “viral marketing” and “affiliate workers”. We get dozens of track-back link spam to mostly (99%) complete crap…

  • RSS Feedburner Feed Fixed

    One thing we forgot when we moved the site was to update the Feedburner to point to the new site. I just remembered to do it this morning. Here is the new Feedburner RSS link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/8bitrocketcomBlog …which also happens to be the OLD Feedburner RSS link…go figure 🙂

  • Tutorial Mess : Please Help

    In our recent move, there was simply no good way way to move over all of our tutorials.  We altered the format so many times in 3.5 years, that moving them to something structured like Word Press was a huge problem. We have fixed as many issues “automagically” as possible,…

  • Does The Windows 7 Phone Open-Up Silverlight Games Development?

    Microsoft recently released the beta of the Windows 7 development tools, and Silverlight is big part of that release.   Silverlight can used in conjunction with the XNA framework which gives Windows 7 Mobile apps access to Xbox Live, among other features.  As well, (and as it should be), Windows 7…

  • Contest: Jay Is Games Casual Gameplay Design Contest #8

    Design a game that incorporates the theme Sandbox . It doesn’t have to be complex nor large in scope.  You may use any browser-based technology platform Due date: August 1, 2010 Contest Site: http://jayisgames.com/archives/2010/06/game_design_competition_8.php

  • Contest: Kongregate is going mobile

    Here’s your opportunity to contribute to the mobile world. Adobe and Kongregate are working together to bring you the Mobile Flash Game Contest with Adobe Flash, which we’re giving away nearly $30,000 in prizes! We are hoping to engage users with fun games as part of a rich Internet experience…

  • Contest : Flash Game License “Cell Your Flash Game”

    The rules are simple: submit a high-quality Flash game that can be played and enjoyed on Android 2.2 smart phones. You can enter a brand new game or port one of your existing games, and you can enter more than one game in this contest. By entering, you agree to…

  • Contest: Mochi Media – Mobile Gaming Contest with Adobe

    Mochi Media and Adobe are putting on a Flash game contest and extending through the fall. You may remember that Mochi was one of the first to develop a mobile site for Android with Adobe’s new Flash player. Well, this ‘Made for Mobile’ contest is for developers to create games…

  • Flash v. HTML 5 For Video? The YouTube API Blog speaks out

    Flash v. HTML 5 For Video? YouTube API Blog speaks out I have spent the better part of the last month re-teaching myself Javascript (the OOP type this time around) and taking a dive into the HTML5 canvas. Steve and I are working on a book about the canvas so…

  • The Retro Roms Blog – An amazing source to find new games for old tech

    I stumbled across the Retro Roms blog today. This is a great site that focuses on new games for retro hardware. It also has some great general posts on the subject. Here are a couple of the ones that kept me around longer than I have time for: Dr. Mario…

  • Strong Adobe CS5 Sales Show The Battle For Hearts And Minds Is Far From Over

    The Wall Street Journal is reporting Adobe sales at $905 million for the first part of this year.  Here is a nice quote: “…Apple’s stance does not yet appear to be deterring purchasers of CS5…“ What does this mean?  It means that the corporate buyers, the ones with deep pockets…

  • Apparenty, 360 “Natal” is Named “Kinect”, And Apparenty Someone Jumped The Gun On Talking About It

    It’s now official (maybe) that the Xbox 360 “Motion Control” device, once named “Natal” will be named “Kinect”, and apparently we are not supposed to know this yet. The USA Today game “blog” (column, whatever) went with a story about it today, that now looks like this: Oops. Someone jumped…

  • Mochi Creates Android Games Portal, Answers Our Burning Questions, Almost Makes Us Forget Apple

    Yesterday, Mochi Media announced a dedicated games portal for the Android phone, m.mochigames.com: “The site, m.mochigames.com will feature more than 25 games and will be available upon the release of Google’s next version of Android (“FroYo”) phones. The site features mobile-optimized versions of puzzle game Biomass, card game Magic Towers…

  • Flash 10.1 On Google TV, Chrome OS, Android Makes Apple Look Silly And Petty

    Adobe announced the Flash 10.1 Beta today, and then went ahead and told everyone why it is so awesome.   When Adobe is not on the ropes defending Flash from Steve Jobs’ shots below the belt, they are pretty good at explaining why Flash player 10.1 is so good.  Here are…

  • Why Google Rocks: Pac-Man in Google Banner (with co-op Ms. Pac-Man mode).

    Why Google Rocks: Pac-Man in Google Banner (with co-op Ms. Pac-Man mode). To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man, the awesome (even more awesome than ever) Google has magically placed a Javascript version in their home page banner. By clicking on the “Insert Coin” button you will start up a…

  • The internets is full of smart, beautiful people…actual complaints about the Google Pac-Man Doodle (edit)

    The internets is full of smart, beautiful people…actual complaints about the Google Pac-Man Doodle (edit) The Google Doodle will only be live as Pac-Man for the next few hours(approx after the Champions League Final Tomorrow). I read a few blog entries on the anniversary celebration and some of the comments…

  • Google Chrome Web Store: Finally, A REAL Place To Sell Flash Games To Consumers?

    Maybe I’m the last to find out about these things, but The Google Chrome Web Store looks like the first really promising way to monetize web apps written in Flash, HTML 5, Silverlight, etc.  It appears to work on the sample principle as the iPhone store, but make apps available…

  • Virtual Pinball , An LCD Cabinet: My Pinball Dreams (Nearly) Realized?

    I love pinball, and the last few years virtual pinball games like Pinball Hall Of Fame: The Williams Collection has satisfied some of my thirst for classic, kinetic, pinball action. However, there is nothing better than standing-up and playing a real pinball machine. However, the days of pinball machines are…

  • Listen to Steve Woita On The Retronauts Podcast!

    This comes via Gaming After 40.  Frequent 8bitrocket.com visitor, Atari veteran, Flash game developer, Steve Woita talks about his work at Atari Games/Tengen on the the latest Retronauts podcast.  It’s great to hear his voice, and hear is take (as well as his colleagues) on his time at Atari Games.…

  • Apple in Anti-Trust Violation?

    I read a small blurb in the local newspaper today (The Daily Breeze – yes, that’s the actual name of the paper) that states Apple might be in anti-trust violation over the rule that only Apple tools can be used to create iPod, iPad applications. This is a facet of…

  • Random Thoughts: Should Google Buy Adobe?

    Here is a random thought I had this weekend:  Should Google buy Adobe?  Will they buy Adobe? Here is why I ask.  I appears to me that Google is the odd man out when it comes to development for its’ own mobile platform.    Microsoft is going proprietary with their Windows…

  • The Myth Making Of Nolan Bushnell: The Malcolm McLaren Of Video Games? Updated:

    For many years, I naively believed that Nolan Bushnell invented the modern video game.  I be lived he created the first video game company (Atari in 1972), I believed he created the first home video game (Atari Pong), and the first cartridge based game system (The Atari 2600). I believed…

  • 8-bit YouTube Retro Video Interweb-Mashup

    8-bit YouTube Retro Video Interweb-Mashup A few people have sent over video links in the past couple weeks. I decided to take a look through YouTube for other various 8-bit, game/pop-culture and other 8bitrocket style videos for today’s mash-up. First up is a Lego / 8-bit mashup (sent  by Alan…

  • Nolan Bushnell once again is part of Atari!

    Nolan Bushnell once again is part of Atari! It seems that Atari co-founder and all-round 70’s icon of arcade amusement and fun (think Pong, Atari 2600, Asteroids AND Chuck E. Cheese) has been re-added to the present day Atari’s board of directors. Gamesutra has a nice article about this interesting…

  • Jeff at DRUPALCON Monday

    I will be attending Drupalcon tomorrow for one day to give a short presentation. My day-job used Drupal to create a new site that has been very successful and I am going to lock-step with my Open Source brethren for a day and let the LAMP/DAMP soak into my bones.…

  • Ace The Super Villain’s Alloy Tengu 2 DX Featured on the Yo Yo Games Site

    Ace The Super Villain’s Alloy Tengu 2 DX Featured on the Yo Yo Games Site No, it’s not a Flash game, and it isn’t even playable in a web browser (yet), but The Yo Yo Games site (the makers of Game Maker Software) have featured the fun cool,  scrolling blaster…

  • Awesome Content Aware Fill Function in Photoshop CS5

     Awesome Content Aware Fill Function in Photoshop CS5 This is such a cool function. This will certainly make the jigsaw puzzle and dress-up game makers excited at the possibilities! All kidding aside, this is why Photoshop costs $799!

  • 8bitrocket Aprils Fools Interweb Mashup: April 1, 2010

    8bitrocket Aprils Fools Interweb Mashup: April 1, 2010 – Slashdot adds chat roulette features to it’s discussions! – Where does Topeka end and Google begin? – Giant sea creatures invade Yahoo news – The absolute best use for an iPad – as the screen in an arcade cabinet – An…