I was browsing Slashdot's Top Indie Games You Wouldn't Mind Paying For and came across GameBiz, an absolutely fascinating game that puts you in the role of a game developer. You get to create games and then market them on a range of platforms including the Amiga (the game begins in 1980). You can also make your own platforms! It's a freebie, so might as well try it out. I know it'd be fun to finally get to see how the Amiga would've turned out with proper management! If you do try the game, please let us know what you think. Click more to see the developer's blurb.

Pac-ManPac-Man fever! That's what I have now that I've started work on the Pac-Man chapter in the book I'm currently writing with Bill Loguidice, the acclaimed collector and game historian. :) As usual, I started off by reading the wikipedia entry on the game, which this time was actually extremely detailed and helpful. One interesting thing about the wikipedia article is that it claims that the game designer, Toru Iwatani, was not inspired by a pizza as the old story goes. The article cites a book called Programmers at Work: Interviews, which I unfortunately do not own. If anyone does have this book or has thoughts on this matter, please let me know!

Building on the platforms already impressive homebrew efforts to date, Dale Wick wrote in to tell me that the new ColecoVision mini-games cartridge compilation is now in stock. I already got my order in previously, but now it's available to everyone more easily. When you're there, be sure to check out the info on a second mini-games cartridge and get a sneak peak at early development on a game inspired by Coleco's never developed (but advertised) Dracula game. All the info here.

As you know, running a site such as Armchair Arcade takes money, and, while we'd still do this even if the Website didn't generate a penny to help offset our hosting and bandwidth costs, it's nice when something we offer does work. This brings me to our affiliate program with PlayFirst, publishers of fine small form games for platforms like the PC, Macintosh and Web. That's been by far the biggest hit of our modest efforts and we just wanted to take a moment to thank all the AA'ers who took the time to click on the links, play some of the games offered and make purchases of their favorites. It's very much appreciated! For those who haven't checked it out yet, click on over to PlayFirst with the following links:

Today I have a little treat for Amiga fans--100 Amiga Games in 10 Minutes by Laffer 35. Laffer has put together clips of 100 different Amiga games based on the top 100 list at Lemon Amiga. As Laffer suggests, if you don't like the techno soundtrack, feel free to play whatever you want in the background (preferably some classic Amiga mods or chiptunes!!) BTW, see the link above for the list of games used in the clip below. How many of these games do you remember?

NOTE: Link has been fixed. Now the music is 100% better! Don't you dare not listen to it. ;-P

Fancy PantsI just found a very fun Flash platform game called Fancy Pants Man that I thought you guys might like. It has a nice hand-drawn look that reminds me of doodles come to life and vaguely of Paper Mario. It also has catchy music to help you get through that last hour and a half of your 9 to 5. Enjoy!

One of the many aspects of gaming culture that tends to get ignored by the majority of critics is the game demo. No, I'm not talking about the "produkts" of the "demoscene" groups, but rather those programs that purport to offer users a "trial sample" of a commercial title. Who cares? Well, game demos have played (and continue to play) an intriguing and potentially vital role in the game industry--they expose gamers to new games, help sell game magazines, and might eventually become more important than the "full versions" they represent. Although I'm not prepared here to offer a full history of the phenemonon, I would like to mention a few important developments and hopefully raise some issues for discussion.

A programmer named Steve Riley (of Eureka3D) has posted the first of a planned 3-part series (have I started somethin'?) reviewing his 24 Years of Game Programming. The article starts off with the VIC 20, moves on to the C-64, and covers the various shades of early PC programming. Riley starts off with machine language, but gradually learns that high-level languages aren't so bad.

DEFINING PAST AND PRESENT GAME GENRES

Why past and present?  Certain game types, while still alive through the efforts of thousands of active hobby programmers, are no longer available in mainstream retail outlets and thus don’t knowingly exist to large portions of the game playing public.  Therefore, described in alphabetical order is what has been and what is still available.  Keep in mind, however, that one of the beauties of gaming is that many games don’t fit neatly into one specific category.  When example software titles are listed, only the publisher or developer is noted in parentheses, along with one of the systems or platforms the game appeared on.