For sale? I can't recall seeing it available much. Sad to say, but I had all the games pirated back in the day (still have those copies). My favorites were Summer Games, Winter Games and World Games, but that's probably because I played those the most. I also of course played (and own) many of the other variations from other companies, both before and after, like Microsoft Olympic Decathlon (have that boxed for the Apple II), HES Games (which came out around the same time as Summer Games on the C-64), Activision's Decathlon, Track and Field, etc. It seems like the most popular platform for those types of games these days in the Wii, because that's a favorite home for mini-game shovelware.
Chris Kennedy wrote:
What can I say, Matt? Good review. Lots to cover. You hit the high spots. "I hope you didn't dry off yet" was a great line. Perhaps those with Summer Games experience will mention anything that was left out or needed more attention, but I say that this was a job well done. Summer Games was one of the games that I have on my "gotta check this one out" list for C64, but I never investigated it much via youtube, emulator, or otherwise. I guess it just got bumped up.
Summer Games and the whole Games series were high points on the C-64, right up there with games like Impossible Mission, also from Epyx. In fact, as of the earliest computer games companies (as Automated Simulations), Epyx probably peaked when the C-64 peaked, creating a wide range of memorable titles both for and that took great advantage of the platform.
Chris Kennedy wrote:
The only "Games" game I have previously played is California Games. Did it get the most pub? Perhaps there were more ports? For whatever reason, it's the one I heard about the most. I believe I first played it on IBM PC. A friend of mine later rented the NES version. Certain parts could get pretty addicting.
One thing that was really cool about California Games that seems like it would apply naturally to these other games was the fact that different people could specialize in different things depending upon their interest and then share their talent in a group gathering. One gamer might be really good at skateboarding while another could really tear it up at BMX. This helped keep the game interesting if a bunch of friends got together and played California Games. I am not sure if I ever quite got surfing...
I have the boxed Atari L y n x and a few other versions of California Games, though I'm a bit ashamed to say I haven't played it much. I always hear people go on and on about how amazing surfing was and how it was the best surfing game until the surfing games from the PS2 forward. I'd say California Games was perhaps Epyx's greatest hit and their most ported game, though sadly was probably also their last great hurrah before giving up the ghost around 1989.
Anyone have a boxed copy of Summer Games for C64?
For sale? I can't recall seeing it available much. Sad to say, but I had all the games pirated back in the day (still have those copies). My favorites were Summer Games, Winter Games and World Games, but that's probably because I played those the most. I also of course played (and own) many of the other variations from other companies, both before and after, like Microsoft Olympic Decathlon (have that boxed for the Apple II), HES Games (which came out around the same time as Summer Games on the C-64), Activision's Decathlon, Track and Field, etc. It seems like the most popular platform for those types of games these days in the Wii, because that's a favorite home for mini-game shovelware.
What can I say, Matt? Good review. Lots to cover. You hit the high spots. "I hope you didn't dry off yet" was a great line. Perhaps those with Summer Games experience will mention anything that was left out or needed more attention, but I say that this was a job well done. Summer Games was one of the games that I have on my "gotta check this one out" list for C64, but I never investigated it much via youtube, emulator, or otherwise. I guess it just got bumped up.
Summer Games and the whole Games series were high points on the C-64, right up there with games like Impossible Mission, also from Epyx. In fact, as of the earliest computer games companies (as Automated Simulations), Epyx probably peaked when the C-64 peaked, creating a wide range of memorable titles both for and that took great advantage of the platform.
The only "Games" game I have previously played is California Games. Did it get the most pub? Perhaps there were more ports? For whatever reason, it's the one I heard about the most. I believe I first played it on IBM PC. A friend of mine later rented the NES version. Certain parts could get pretty addicting.
One thing that was really cool about California Games that seems like it would apply naturally to these other games was the fact that different people could specialize in different things depending upon their interest and then share their talent in a group gathering. One gamer might be really good at skateboarding while another could really tear it up at BMX. This helped keep the game interesting if a bunch of friends got together and played California Games. I am not sure if I ever quite got surfing...
I have the boxed Atari L y n x and a few other versions of California Games, though I'm a bit ashamed to say I haven't played it much. I always hear people go on and on about how amazing surfing was and how it was the best surfing game until the surfing games from the PS2 forward. I'd say California Games was perhaps Epyx's greatest hit and their most ported game, though sadly was probably also their last great hurrah before giving up the ghost around 1989.
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Bill Loguidice, Managing Director | Armchair Arcade, Inc.
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Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.