Crash Annual 2018

I was originally going to mention this in an addendum to a post I'm writing for tomorrow, but I thought it deserved a post of its own, so...

Available right now from Fusion Retro Books is the Crash Annual 2018. A 120 page hardback featuring news, reviews and features on subjects relating to the popular 1980s 8-bit computer, the ZX Spectrum.

Not showing the cover 'cos I know some folk aren't opening their's

'til Xmas and don't want it spoiled. Seems a bit daft to me, but you

know what geeky folk in their 40s and 50s can be like. Tch, eh?

The original Crash magazine was published from 1984 to 1992 and this book continues from where it left off, with the same look, the same variety of articles and some of the same people involved, bringing it bang up to date with the latest goings on in the thriving Speccy community. It's almost like it never went away, and well worth a look if you used to read it back in ye olden times or you've got a thing for retro computer systems. There's Oli Bugs in it and everything.

The book is the result of a recent Kickstarter campaign, but is available to everyone from the Retro Fusion Books website for the reasonable price of £15. There are also a few copies left with the Kickstarter perks for an additional tenner.

It's obviously way too late to order a copy and expect it to turn up in time for the 25th, but a Spectrum's not just for Christmas, is it? 

Order a copy here.

...and if the Spectrum wasn't your 8-bit of choice back in the day, then you may like the news that there's a Zzap!64 Book planned for next year for the Commodore lot.

So, "why are you mentioning this annual here, Malcolm?" I definitely don't hear you ask. Because my Zombo Spectrum game is reviewed in it for one thing, (incidental review related tip : use the version of the game in the Mint Choc Chip folder if the key pressing thing is annoying you), and the post I'm writing for tomorrow regards matters of a related nature.

Interested? I'll see you here tomorrow then. 

The Unofficial Zombo's Christmas Capers (ZX Spectrum Game)

He's back, and this time it's Christmas! Zombo returns in this brand new completely unofficial game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum! Now featuring 76% less game-breaking bugs than the first game in the series!

What's that you say? You can't be bothered fiddling with emulators? Now you don't have to, as it comes bundled with a version that'll run on your PC without having to set anything up!

THE PLOT

Centuries of overwork and stress have finally taken their toll - Santa™ has suffered a psychotic break and gone missing from his workshop in North Renfrewshire. The Government™ have tasked Zombo™ with tracking down Mr. Claus™ and retrieving the gifts for all the good little boys and girls™. Luckily, the naughty list is rather long these days, so he only needs to find a total of six presents.

GAMEPLAY

You must retrieve 6 presents and defeat the end of game baddy to win. Colour coded keys are scattered around, as are several other items, some of which are useful, others of which are not, but there's a Shootybang 2000™ somewhere which'll probably come in handy, (please bear in mind that the Shootybang 2000™ can only fire horizontally).

CONTROLS

• Kempston Joystick
• Sinclair Joystick
• Keyboard 

Q - Up

A - Down

O - Left

P - Right

SPACE - Fire
H - St. Bernard's Watch (Pause)

3 - Instantaneous Death Button (Quit Game)

ALT and F4 - Exit bundled emulator

BADDIES

Killer Sprout - Bounces, requires 1 shot to kill.

Yellow Snowman - Moves erratically, requires 1 shot to kill.

Nutcracker Soldier - Moves vertically, unkillable.

Scrooge-Elf - Moves horizontally, unkillable.

Killer Xmas Tree - Follows player, requires multiple shots to kill.

Zip file includes the instructions and mock inlay shown above, tzx, tap, z80 and sna files, PLUS a version you can run straight away without setting anything up! Just extract the files, click on "Zombo's Xmas Capers.bat", (or "Capers.exe" in the 'PC' folder), and you'll be up and running. You can even use your favourite control pad by selecting 'Kempston' from the options. However, please note that this version does away with the loader, (but if you want to see what that looks like, click here).

TO DOWNLOAD ZOMBO'S CHRISTMAS CAPERS, CLICK HERE!

But that's not all! I've also updated the original Zombo game to include a new Mint Choc Chip flavour! What's that I hear you say again, (thus confirming I'm either psychic, insane, or have surreptitiously bugged your home)? What the hell am I talking about? I'll tell you what the hell I'm talking about... It now comes with a built in emulator just like Christmas Capers, and the 'teleportation' bug feature has been removed for ease of play. How d'ya like them artichokes?

The original Vanilla version is also still there for the masochistic among you.

TO DOWNLOAD THE FIRST ZOMBO GAME, CLICK HERE!

Zombo and Zombo's Christmas Capers are completely unofficial, not-for-profit fan-games by Malcolm Kirk.

Programmed in Jonathan Cauldwell's Arcade Game Designer.

Zombo™ Rebellion A/S, © Rebellion A/S.

Created in conjunction with the 2000AD MESSAGEBOARD ADVENT CALENDAR 2016™.

Zombo For The ZX Spectrum

You've read the comic, you've bought the action figure, now play the brand new game for the ZX Spectrum!

Not a dream! Not an imaginary thing like what someone does for a joke or something! This is the real thing - an actual thing that you can download right now, right here.

Artwork by Henry Flint

FEATURES

• Predefined keys!
• The ability to fire in two different directions - left and right!
• Roughly ten whole minutes of semi-challenging gameplay!
• Random teleportations into different areas, becoming trapped in the scenery for all eternity!

More stuff from the comic. © 2015 Rebellion.

THE PLOT

When Flight 303 crash-lands on the proto-sentient and highly lethal deathworld known as Chronos, it does not bode well for the surviving passengers. Only one well-mannered zombie/man hybrid can save the day. He is Zombo, the result of a top secret Government™ experiment to create the ultimate soldier or weapon or something. Trust your Government™.

GAMEPLAY

You must rescue 6 survivors and defeat the secret end of game baddy to win. Colour coded keys are scattered around the planet, as are several other items, some of which may help, others of which may not, but there's a gun somewhere which'll probably come in handy. However, please bear in mind that the Shootybang 2000™ can only fire horizontally. To fire vertically, you'd require an upgrade to the Shootybang 3000™ and that's not available to you within this game.

CONTROLS

• Kempston Joystick
• Sinclair Joystick
• Keyboard 

Q - Up

A - Down

O - Left

P - Right

SPACE - Fire
H - Pause

3 - Instantaneous Death Button (Quit Game)

BADDIES

Killer Space Fruit - Bounces, requires 1 shot to kill.

Killer Space Scorpion - Moves erratically, requires 1 shot to kill.

Killer Mutant Space Hillbilly - Moves vertically, unkillable.

Killer Space Zombie - Moves horizontally, unkillable.

 Killer Rogue Death Shadow - Follows player, requires multiple shots to kill.

WHY HAVE YOU MADE A ZX SPECTRUM GAME ABOUT ZOMBO?

Because the plot of the 2000 AD comic strip is exactly the sort of bizarre premise that a lot of those old 8-bit games used to have, and I knew there was software available that meant that I could if I wanted to, (in this case, Arcade Game Designer by Jonathan Cauldwell). Add to that the strangely British sensibilities and twistedly nostalgic pop culture references, and a slightly buggy game for the Spectrum just seemed a perfect tie-in.

Zip file includes the instructions above, tzx, tap, z80 and sna files, and a mock cassette inlay. You'll need a Spectrum emulator to play, but you should have no trouble finding one of those online.

TO DOWNLOAD THE GAME CLICK HERE!

This is a completely unofficial, not-for-profit fan-game by Malcolm Kirk.

Programmed in Jonathan Cauldwell's Arcade Game Designer.

Zombo™ Rebellion A/S, © Rebellion A/S.

Incidentally other, older, official spectrum games based on 2000ad properties are available from HERE and  a recently rediscovered Judge Dredd game by Virgin games is available HERE.

Splundig Vur Thrigg, as they say on Quaxxan.

SEPTEMBER 2015 UPDATE :

To view the walkthrough mentioned in the comments CLICK HERE.

To see a game map CLICK HERE.

For an infinite lives poke CLICK HERE.

To see a retro advert for the Zombo action figure/toy thing, featuring Tharg The Mighty, alien editor of 2000 AD,  CLICK HERE.

DECEMBER 2016 UPDATE :

Now includes Zombo in Mint Choc Chip flavour, (essentially a bugfixed version which removes the 'teleporting').