• The Dead Milkmen – Big Lizard in My Backyard Cassette (old crap from my attic)

    The Dead Milkmen – Big Lizard in My Backyard Cassette (old crap from my attic) By Jeff Fulton In 1988 – 1989 I worked at one of the worst record / tape / CD and video stores in the South Bay. The Wherehouse on Sepulveda was across the street from…

  • 1978 Close Encounters Trading Cards Sealed Wax Pack (old stuff from my attic)

    By Jeff D. Fulton The old stuff from my attic is a new blog here on 8bitrocket.com where I rummage through all of the various boxes of crap I have in the garage, attic, closets, etc and find things I never knew I had. Today I found a sealed wax…

  • RETRO: The Multi-Format, Throw-Back Video Game Magazine : Kickstarter

    [iframe frameborder=”0″ height=”380″ scrolling=”no” src=”http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/socalmike/retro-the-multi-format-throw-back-video-game-magaz/widget/card.html” width=”220″][/iframe] We here at 8bitrocket.com are huge fans of the UK based Retro-Gamer Magazine.   It is the one bright spot on the physical magazine landscape that is otherwise a dried-up and dust bowl of screaming previews and AAA me-too shouting.   We need more…

  • Atari 8-bit Computer Games Played with The Syzygy Company’s new Classic 2 USB Stick

    I received a review version the the new Syzygy Company’s Classic Atari 2600 stick a couple months ago. It was right as my mom was going in and out of the hospital, so I didn’t get a chance to review it them, but now I have a little extra time, so…

  • Gone Home : Is The Fullbright Company The New Infocom?

    I just finished ”Gone Home”, a new, indie, PC game developed by the Fullbright Company. At $19.99 (through Steam) it’s the most expensive PC game I have bought in a long time, and clocking in at just about 3 hours, the shortest. In “Gone Home” you play a young adult…

  • HTML5 Canvas (2nd Edition) Is Out, Goes Chinese!

    Our new edition of HTML5 Canvas is out, and it’s getting some good reviews.  We poured a lot of effort into this one to make sure it was updated for 2013.   We just heard from O’Reilly that they there will be a Chinese translation of this one too (there…

  • My “Lost Age Of The The Pizza Parlour” Gets An Honorable Mention in 43rd Annual Easy Reader Essay Contest

    A re-written version of my old 8bitrocket.com Eassy “The Lost Age Of The Pizza Parlour” was chosen as one of several “Honorbale Mentions” in the 43rd Annual Easy Reader Essay contest.   Now titled  “Pleasures Of The Pizza Parlour“, you can read the new version here : http://www.easyreadernews.com/73558/pleasures-of-the-pizza-parlor-el-porto/ -8bitsteve

  • Video: Chris Crawford On the “Good Old Days Of Games” From GDC 2011.

    We are finally back with something interesting.  Here is a link to a video Gamasutra just posted of a talk by Chris Crawford from GDC 2011 entitled “The Good Old Days Of Games”   We will have more updates here soon.  

  • Happy Mother’s Day

    I entered (and won) a local writing contest for Mother’s Day with the following story about my mom.    When she saw it today, she had no idea I even remembered what happened in 1975, much less would write about it.  I think I blew her mind. -8bitsteve

  • Coding By Google – AS3 to PHP with Simple MYSQL DB Query and Data Return Tutorial (Free Code)

    Coding By Google – AS3 to PHP with Simple MYSQL DB Query and Data Return Tutorial (Free Code)

    By Jeff Fulton (@8bitrocket on twitter) Coding By Google – AS3 to PHP with Simple MYSQL DB Query and Data Return Tutorial (Free Code) Here at Producto Studios, I use Google to look up code all day long.  Yes, I have written books on Javascript, Flash, Actionscript, and HTML5, but…

  • HTML5 Canvas Book Example Files

    HTML5 Canvas Book Example Files Just in case these are not just available yet on the O’Reilly Site http://www.8bitrocket.com/html5canvas/2nd_edition_examples_2_4_8_9_10.zip http://www.8bitrocket.com/html5canvas/2nd_edition_examples_1_3_5_6_7_11.zip

  • Random Game Idea : A Twitter Feed To Spark Your Imagination

    Over the weekend we were playing with Twitter Bots (why? Because.) and we created a Twitter account named @randomgameidea with a Twitter bot that tweets a randomized game idea every hour.  These ideas are completely random.  The bot uses an updated set of data that was once housed in our…

  • ATASCII Tile Sheets

    ATASCII Tile Sheets So, I have been knocking around the idea of making some games that mimic the old Atari computer aesthetic in both graphics and sounds.  These games will just be for fun and they will probably be just game starters – single level game to demonstrate or duplicate a game…

  • In Celebration of Day Against DRM (Fri, May 3, 2013) 5000+ titles 1/2 off including HTML5 Canvas 2nd Edition

                  In Celebration of *Day *Against DRM Save 50% on 5000+ Ebooks & Videos (Save 60% on orders over $100) Having the ability to download files at your convenience, store them on all your devices, or share them with a friend or colleague as…

  • The HTML5 Canvas Second Edition Has Been Released (Deal of the Day, 50% off)

      The Second Edition (so the 3rd book) I have written with my brother Steve, The HTML5 Canvas was released today by O’Reilly. If you are interested in this wildly popular subject (for tech heads), you can get the E-Book edition for 1/2 off by using the code DEAL on…

  • The Run Cycle – Boston Thoughts

    I was thinking about this while driving in this morning (I just saw that Colbert said something similar last night, but not exactly, so I’ll say it now). I am a runner, and I am constantly injuring myself just because I love the joy and freedom of sport. But, no…

  • Micro Tank Maze (From HTML5 Canvas 2nd Edition)

    Micro Tank Maze (From HTML5 Canvas 2nd Edition)

    A game designed to teach basic A.I. from HTML5 Canvas 2nd EditionClick image below to try the game.

  • Comprehensive List of Lucas Arts Titles Released for Classic Atari Machines

    By Jeff Fulton (@8bitrocket on twitter) To the majority of the public, Atari died in 1983 and is relegated to hipster t-shirts and trucker hats with ironic joysticks on them.  While 90% of the USA and 70% of the UK gamers were playing with their C-64’s, Nintendo’s, Spectrums, Amigas, and…

  • Corona: Updating Mobile Game Content in Runtime

    The Corona Labs Site has put up a tutorial I wrote on the basics of updating mobile content at run-time: Updating Mobile Game Content in Runtime Here is a brief summary: We take the green tank tile sheet. And use it to place and animation on the screen: Next we use ad…

  • HTML5 Canvas + Web Cam + Chrome = HTML5 Video Puzzle Of You! (Demo)

    We are finishing up an update to our HTML5 Canvas book, and I wanted to share one of new examples.   This one takes the Video Puzzle app from the first edition of the book, and adds web cam support.  It only works in Chrome right now.   You also…

  • Enthusiasts Plan Kickstarter Campaign To Buy Atari Assets And Run It Like It’s 1977 All Over Again

    The current company that holds the Atari brand and assets is filing for bankruptcy and planning to sell everything to the highest bidder   That fact is not as much news as an update to the “when will Atari go bankrupt again” section of the Atari entry on Wikipedia.  What…

  • Vectrex Regeneration + iCade: Proof That “Retro” Gaming Is Alive And Well In The Mobile Era

    I believe technology has reached the point where “retro” game collections can move beyond mere curious nostalgia, and truly return players to a specific time and place in their past.   I recently experienced something akin to this while playing Vectrex Regenerations on the iCade. Back in the summer of…

  • Book Review: Atari Inc. : Business Is Fun

      My review of the new book,  Atari Inc. Business Is Fun,  by Curt Vendel and Marty Goldberg is up over at Gamasutra.com Here is an excerpt:  Atari Inc: Business Is Fun  is an exciting, messy, sprawling tour-de-force that fills in a lot missing gaps for Atari fans worldwide.   The book reads…

  • Don’t be afraid of Windows 8 Desktop

    This (Windows 8 has problems, but it doesn’t deserve the dreaded Vista comparison)says that Windows 8 is only good for touch screens.   He is wrong. Windows 8 is just Windows 7 with new “window” dressing and a few new good features. The backup and app search are 10X better…

  • The Run Cycle – Running Sick After Christmas

    The Literal Run Cycle – Running Sick After Christmas The Day After Christmas Run is never an easy one. This year it was especially difficult because I have been battling a nasty sinus infection over the last week or so and I have not run for 10 days (and only 2 times…

  • The Literal Run Cycle #1

    Jeff Fulton (8bitjeff) This is a blog that usually deals with game design / programming, retro-gaming and other nostalgia.   It is not a fitness blog by any means, but since running and overall fitness is a big part of what keeps me going on a daily basis, I wanted…

  • Friday was a Tough Day for a Deadline, but HTML5 Canvas 2nd Edition Is Nearly Complete

    By Jeff Fulton (8bitjeff) Tough Day for a Deadline, but HTML5 Canvas 2nd Edition Is Nearly Complete There will be no Atari video game retrospectives this weekend on 8bitrocket. Far too many little ones will not get to experience their own version of the same thing, never have a chance…

  • Back on the re-hab trail…literally.

    By Jeff D. Fulton Back on the re-hab trail…literally. From June through July of 2012 I was cooking through a training plan that would have had me doing a personal record time for a 1/2 Marathon. The race was the Rock N Roll LA 1/2 and I was really looking…

  • A young Chris Crawford teaches the Magic of Atari 8-bit computer graphics (3 videos)

    By Jeff Fulton (8bitjeff) Way back when Atari was trying to capture home computer market share from the Apples and Commodores of the world, they created the first ever Evangelist Position in consumer software development. Chris Crawford was tasked with informing the world about the magical capabilities of the Atari…

  • Atari 400/800 8bit computer games released by Atari in 1981

    By Jeff Fulton (8bitjeff) Atari 400/800 8bit computer games released by Atari in 1981. Atari was still not on board with the 400/800 as entertainment machines (mostly because of cost), so only 4 titles were released, 3 arcade conversions and an Atari Program Exchange edu-tainment title.     Games in this video…

  • Retro Atari 8-Bit Computer Gaming – Commando for the XE Game System

    By Jeff Fulton (8bitjeff) Retro Atari 8-Bit Computer Gaming – Commando for the XE Game System Commando for the Atari XE Game system was supposed to be released in 1989 by Atari for the limited re-birth of the Atari 8-bit computer systems. Sculptured Software developed this game, Crossbow, Dark Chambers…

  • Atari 400/800 8-bit Games From 1980

    [iframe width=”480″ height=”360″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/h2dM3wjEqF0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen][/iframe] Most of these games were hold over releases from the 8-bit computer launch in 1979. Some might have been finished in 1979 but were not available until 1980. Includes the unreleased demo of “Saucer”. Check out the links to the AtariMania.com pages for these…

  • Retro Atari Lynx Gaming: Zarlor Mercenary

    By 8bitjeff (Jeff D. Fulton) One of the first games we had for the Atari Lynx was Zarlor Mercenary.   I remember purchasing it at the Manhattan Village mall in the B-Dalton Software Etc when they still sold Atari products (they even had a shelf of Atari ST and Jaguar games!).   Zarlor Mercenary is…

  • Video: Atari 8-bit Computer Games From 1979

      [iframe width=”480″ height=”360″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/cwbwM-J31Pk” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen][/iframe] When Atari released the 400 and 800 computers in 1979, they were afraid they would not be taken seriously, so they did not emphasized the game playing ability of their machines.    These first five games (Basketball, 3D Tic Tac Toe Video Easel,…

  • Things We’ve Learned The Hard Way #9 : Free To Play

  • We are looking for Paid Technical Reviewers for the 2nd Edition of The HTML5 Canvas book on O’Reilly

    By Jeff D. Fulton (8bitjeff) We are looking for Paid Technical Reviewers for the 2nd Edition of The HTML5 Canvas book on O’Reilly press. We have added about 150 new pages that need to be reviewed by 2-3 people with knowledge of Javascript and or the HTML5 Canvas. We’ll offer…

  • Today only, O’Reilly media is offering 50% off on all e-books

    Our Book Publisher, O’Reilly Media is selling all e-books at 50% off today only. They have a lot of great stuff, including our HTML5 Canvas Book. @OReillyMedia *Free to Choose* – Save 50% on ALL Ebooks & Videos #CyberMonday Only

  • Retro Atari 8-bit Computer Gaming – Arkanoid

    By Jeff D. Fulton – 8bitjeff What a pleasant surprise. Arkanoid for the Atari 8-bit computers is a very well made game. Note: My brother Steve and I owned pretty much every Atari game system and computer until the company closed in the mid 1990’s. Using emulation, I am going…

  • Retro Atari ST Gaming – Tempest

    By Jeff D. Fulton (8bitjeff) Atari UK released a lot of arcade conversions for the ST line of computers in the late 80’s.   Many of these were packed into “gaming” bundles sold at shops all over Europe and via mail order in the USA.   I am not sure…

  • What Was I thinking? The Existential Cognitive Dissonance Of Updating Old Code

    My new blog on Gamasutra: What Was I thinking? The Existential Cognitive Dissonance Of Updating Old Code “Updating old code, especially code I have not touched in nearly a decade is like a ride in a time machine.  A really crappy time machine that only highlights my mistakes makes me feel…