• Review : Atari Haunted House – Wii : Plus Win A Copy!

    Note: This is the first a new series of articles where we review new games from a retro/viral/indie/web game developer/technical writer perspective.  Since we are not a game review site, we don’t want to review every game out there, but games that fit our perspective (retro evolved, retro remakes, indie…

  • Going Solo #7: The bright spots

    It has been a little over two full months since I left my cushy corporate job and decided to make my own schedule, manage my own projects and “make my own shit”. The schedule and project part is going great. I have two good projects in the can with two…

  • In-App Buyer’s Remorse : Will It Kill Mobile Games?

    My friend told me a story yesterday about an iPhone app that his young son loves to play.  It’s a virtual fish-tank.  You must use credits to feed your fish, and those are obtained by downloading “free” apps or by paying real money.  Some of those “free” apps have very…

  • 10 Reasons Why Flash Is Still My Favorite Game Development Platform

    Yes, we have been dabbling in HTML5 and even in Silverlight.  We have touched on Unity, Java FX and worked in Xcode for the iPhone.  However, after I tried the Flash CS5 IDE a few weeks ago, I realized that nothing has changed.  I still love Flash, and I can’t…

  • 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…

  • SPIL Games Thinks HTML5 Will Overtake Flash by 2012: An Interview

    “SPIL GAMES expect that by the end of 2012 at least 50% of all new games to be HTML5.“ -Scott Johnson, SPIL Games SPIL runs some of the biggest game portals on the planet (e.g. gamesgame.com).  As far as online web games go (mostly Flash) , their operation is MASSIVE:…

  • Atari 7800 Expansion Module + An Interview With Kurt Vendel

    Yesterday, Legacy Engineering announced a pre-order for their newest product, The Atari 7800 Expansion Module.  Pre-orders receive a  10% discount (for a limited time).  The Atari 7800 Expansion Module includes: Built in High Score keeping capability (compatible with approx 20 existing titles and any HSC coded games/programs in the future)…

  • An Interview With Electrotank’s Jobe Makar

    Jobe Makar is is one of the people who inspired 8bitrocket.com the most in the past 10 years.  From his multiple Flash game books, to his 100’s of games,  Jobe has reached a level of success matched only by a very few.   We caught-up with Jobe last week and…

  • AtariMania.com has full PDF editions of all Atari User Magazines

    The awesome, though seemingly under-appreciated site, Atari Mania, has hand-scanned (a lot of f***ing work I might add)  versions of the entire 43 issue series of the UK-based Atari User magazine. This is of special interest to USA-Based Atari 8-bit computer fans because just as the 8-bit range was dying here, it…

  • Top-10 Game Predictions for 2010-2011

    It’s prediction time again.  First, we need to run-down our 2009-2010 predictions and see how we did.  Here they are: 10. Microtransactions In Flash Games Will Struggle. Too many games, too few people willing to pay. The most successful service will be Mochicoins, but it will still struggle with quality…

  • A look at the IE 9 HTML5 Canvas Spec

    With much curiosity I took a look at the recently published IE 9 HTML5/CSS3 spec specifically to find Canvas support information. Its no secret that Steve and I are deep into a book for O’Reilly on the Canvas and IE has been a major sticking point as we progress through…

  • What ever happened to Steve Moraff?

    His name might not spark wild-eyed fascination with many retro gaming enthusiasts, but Steve Moraff was a little bit of a legend in his own time. When we first got a PC (non-Atari machine) in the early 1990’s, we jumped on the early CD-Rom craze.  The best use of CDs…

  • 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…

  • One Last Flash On The iPhone Update…

    An Apple rep called Jeff today to confirm Jeff’s business’s license and his participation in the iPhone developer program. Jeff asked him flat-out if they were “accepting Flash made apps” for the iPhone, and the rep told him “absolutely, yes”. So there you go.

  • 8bitrocket Indie Game Interweb Mashup – Monday, September 13, 2010

    Here is the old 8bitrocket Flash Indie Game Interweb Mashup reborn (ever so slightly) as an all-encompassing Indie-Game mashup. The focus is on Flash games development, but I will cover and will continue to cover all of the subjects that I am interested in: retro games, HTML5 and other game…

  • 10 Good Things For Game Developers About Flash Being Allowed On The iPhone.

    Adobe has restarted  working on their iPhone packager for Flash…again for CS5.  This pretty much confirms that Flash->iPhone conversions are allowed.    One wonders, why Apple made the change.  Was it because they could not single out Flash and allow other tech like Unity?  Was it because Flash apps performed…

  • Update: Flash Exported Apps Being Approved In The iTunes Store

    Word has come through that Flash exported apps using the CS5  iPhone packager are now being approved by Apple for the iTunes store.  Many of the apps have been waiting in the queue for months. This is good news for Flash devs, but maybe not so good news for iPhone…

  • Apple Appears To Have Relaxed Their Rules On The Flash iPhone Packager

    It appears that Apple has relaxed their rules on iPhone apps developed with Flash.  You still can’t run the apps in Mobile Safari, but it looks like apps made with the CS5  iPhone packager are now OK. The Wall Street Journal has the news. So what does this mean for…

  • The Forums Are On Fire!

    OK, maybe not “fire”, but we are getting as steady stream of posts now, which is really cool.  Thanks to all the new users who have come around and started participating.  It’s really starting to get fun. In case you have not looked, here isa run-down of all the forums…

  • Poll: What do you Think Of Google TV?

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  • Beta Forums Testing

    We are testing the new forums here: http://www.8bitrocket.com/forum/ Please test them out and tell us about any problems you might have. thanks, – Management

  • 8bitrocket.com Video Podcast Returns!!

    The 8bitrocket.com Video Podcast Returns!!  We cover the new 8bitrocket.com, The Game Ray Quest, the Flash version of The Great Giana Sisters, the Flash game Chain the pixel, plus the retro music stylings of The Icarus Kid!

  • 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…

  • Spil Launches $50K HTML5 Game Contest

    The Spil Group thinks HTML5 will surpass Flash on the web very soon, and they are willing to put money where their mouth is: specifically $50K! Here is a link the the article: HTML5 Mobile Game Sites and an HTML5 Developer Contest. Here is what you need to know: HTML5…

  • Atari Greatest Hits Finally Coming to the Nintendo DS!!

    I have been waiting for a good version of some Atari retro c classics to hit the DS for a while now. The old DS Atari pack is a pathetic POC, but this new one looks to make up for it and more! This $29.99 pack has about 50 games…

  • Commodore To Make PC in Classic Commodore Case: Pong Ball’s In Your Court, Atari

    It turns out, a company has bought the “Commdore” name and is planning to create a PC housed in a Commdore 64 case. that’s awesome. However, personally can’t buy one as it is simply against my Atari sensibilities to do so. However, if Atari would do the same thing, with…

  • 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…

  • (not) Royalty Free H.264 (Might) Boost HTML5 Video & The Canvas, But Flash Still Has A Chance (Analysis) : Updated

    Yesterday it was announced that MPEG LA, the patent holder for H.264 (MPEG-4) will “never” charge a licensing fee for video encoded as H.264 and delivered for “free” over the internet. What does this mean? Well it means that Firefox and Opera, two browsers that have so far held-back implementing…

  • Going Solo (from the corporate beast) #6 – The First Month

    Working at home and on your own without a corporate sponsor has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are that I am home every day and can work the hours I choose. I get to see my family much more than ever before and even a couple times a week…

  • More Games I Might Play Again (Flash Game Micro Reviews)

    Ahh, here I am, its a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Southern California, and I am in doors, playing YOUR games. God I hope they are good this time… Hikouki Tomodachi (FGD) (82% Retrotastic) – A very fun, and well done 1 or 2 player vertical scrolling blast-fest. Darts and Beer…

  • Vacation Game Brainstorm: Mark Twain was here…?

    So I’m on a short trip with my family on California Highway 49, in the Gold Country.  Specifically, we have been roaming Calaveras County, the very same county made famous by a certain Samual Clemons in his story the local Frog Jumping Contest. Now, there is a lot of history…

  • 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:…

  • Games I’ll Play Again #3 – Flash Game Distribution and Mochi Reviews

    I find it easier to get into my day if I play a few games first.  Digging through the Mochi Latest and Flash Game Distribution feed, here are some games that were good or bad enough for me to want to take a second look (at some ethereal unspecified future…

  • 8bitsteve Interviews Steven Levy, Author Of The Classic Computer Industry Book: “Hackers”

    Steven Levy is one of my heroes.  He’s genius author who has the rare ability of making technology subject not only palatable, but down-right fascinating.   He has written tons of great books, and written for magazines such as Wired and Newsweek. Steven Levy’s book, Hackers: Heroes Of The Computer Revolution…

  • Games I’ll Play Again 8/16/2010 – Flash Game Distribution and Mochi Reviews

    It would be easy to just go to the Mochi featured game list and hit those as they have been pre-screened for me. No can do, bud. That would leave out the wonderful world of games that don’t get much attention (most deservedly so). Today I will be going through some…

  • 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…

  • Games I’ll Play Again #1 – Flash Game Distribution Reviews

    Using the last few days of the Flash Game Distribution feed, here are a list of games that I played quickly and were interesting enough for me to want to play again. I have given each a quickie  grade based on my first impression.  Take the grades with a grain of…

  • Going Solo (from the corporate beast) #5 – A Valuable Lesson Learned

    I knew it was going to happen some time, but I didn’t think it would be so soon. I don’t want to give out too many details, but I just want to say that getting taken by a  client is no fun. I guess everyone must go through this, and…