gamesthatwerent

gamesthatwerent, 5 months ago to random

Our second Christmas update sees a hugely important discovery from the disks of the late Archer Maclean. Before Dropzone, there were almost conversions of both Defender + Stargate for the #Atari. Full story + downloads: (Thx @Retro_Fusion 4 the disks)

https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2023/12/defender-and-stargate-discoveries/

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gamesthatwerent, 5 months ago to amiga

Our first Christmas update kicks off with the recovery of an #Amiga Codemasters platformer that's been lost for 30 years. #GTW is proud to present the full game of Stuntman Seymour, thanks to Ashley Hogg. We hope you enjoy it, and more to come tomorrow!

https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2023/12/stuntman-seymour/

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gamesthatwerent, 5 months ago to commodore64

Lost for 33 years, in May - we were pleased to announce the recovery of the original abandoned development of Total Recall for the #Commodore64. This had been on our list for a very long time: https://gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/total-recall-v1/

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gamesthatwerent, 5 months ago to random

In March, and thanks to David Crookes, we added four previously unpreserved #AmstradCPC games into #GTW, including two strategy and two action games by Angela Swinbourne:

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2023/03/crystal-x-amstrad-cpc-games-preserved/

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gamesthatwerent, 5 months ago to amiga

In February, #GTW preserved and released Bertie's Animal Kingdom - a late educational #Amiga 1200 release in 2000. Likely sold in very limited numbers, it was missing in action up until then. Thanks to musician Darryl Sloan, the disk version was saved:

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2023/02/berties-animal-kingdom/

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gamesthatwerent, 5 months ago to bapcsalescanada

In January, we investigated the lost #PC game Tir Na Nog - a famous 8-bit adventure by Gargoyle, with a planned update 10 years after from Psygnosis. After 2 years of development, it vanished as Sony scrapped many titles. We hope to find something soon:

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2023/01/tir-na-nog/

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gamesthatwerent, 5 months ago to random

Our friends at http://Atarimania.com have informed us of the recovery of an unreleased text adventure for the #Atari 400/800 called The Ronin which has been missing for 39 years.

https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2023/12/the-ronin-game-recovered/

gamesthatwerent, 6 months ago to commodore64

Gauntlet 3 on the #Commodore64 was complete, but not properly released - sneaking out only via an extremely limited run through the U.S. Gold Software Club. Thankfully, it means that you can get to enjoy the full game today:

https://gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/gauntlet-3/

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gamesthatwerent, 6 months ago to commodore64

After almost 30 years, Penguin Tower has finally been finished and released for the #Commodore64. A long journey for a great Bomberman clone that #GTW has been gently nudging the coder about finishing for some time. Thank you Jani!! ❤️

https://gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/penguin-tower/

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gamesthatwerent, 6 months ago to commodore64

Grubz is a stunning looking Worms clone for the #Commodore64 that first appeared around 2004 time via this early preview. Sadly the game may have been abandoned, though we hope the situation changes some day, and that it escapes the #GTW vault!

https://gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/grubz/

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gamesthatwerent, 6 months ago to bapcsalescanada

Secret of the 7th Labyrinth was a Wolfenstein/RPG hybrid set across 7 different themed labyrinths, and was due for release on #PC by MicroProse back in 1993. Disappearing without trace, only a few screenshots now seem to exist. Can it be found?

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2023/11/secret-of-the-7th-labyrinth/

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gamesthatwerent, 7 months ago to random

Our first ever #Dragon32 entry into the archives - we take a look at a very loosely Dr Who-inspired isometric title called Time Lord. Due for release by Incentive Software in 1986, but perhaps a bit too late for the platform. Does it still exist anywhere?

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2023/10/time-lord/

gamesthatwerent, 8 months ago to random

Games That Weren't are today proud to present: 'Survivor Run' - a #VIC20 game by Creative Software that has been missing for 40 years. An impressive and original title intended for release on cartridge, with changing markets preventing release.

More at: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2023/09/survivor-run/

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gamesthatwerent, 8 months ago to commodore64

Gamebase64 is an extremely important archive for the #Commodore64 , but is now at huge risk of losing its online presence due to the tragic loss of webmaster Steven Feurer. Please check our post for more details - but can anyone help or spread the word?

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2023/09/gamebase64-needs-you/

gamesthatwerent, 8 months ago to commodore64

Yet another surprise to kick-start the week, with recovery of Atarisoft's Typo Attack for the #Commodore64. Missing for 39 years, after cancellation due to Atarisoft closing, and one Games That Weren't had been hunting for a long time!

Check it out at: https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/typo-attack/

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gamesthatwerent, 8 months ago to bapcsalescanada

A big surprise to kick off the week at Games That Weren't, with recovery of a long lost and complete #PC #DOS conversion of Firebird Software's Thrust. Missing for around 35 years + it's existence not fully known - you can now finally play it!

https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2023/09/thrust/

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gamesthatwerent, 8 months ago to commodore64

Daffy Duck by Hi-Tec Software was once of the big #commodore64 holy grail titles for many years. It was finally recovered in full by GTW in 2015, which only feels like yesterday. Still gutted the ray gun didn't shoot though!

https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64/daffy-duck/

gamesthatwerent, 9 months ago to random

Sadly not much time for photos at Zzap!Live, but this one was very special to me.

I loved buying Commodore Format magazine every month as a kid, possibly even obsessed over it (see photo!), buying it right until the end. Finally met editor Steve Jarratt to say thank you! ❤️

gamesthatwerent, 9 months ago to random

Great news, but a reprint of The Games That Weren't book is now available for pre-order.

The Games That Weren’t chronicles 40 years of video game projects that never made it past ‘work-in-progress’. Discover more than 80 unreleased gems from the annals of gaming.

Pre-order your copy here: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/products/the-games-that-werent

According to Bitmap Books, shipments will be fulfilled in the order they were placed, starting on Monday 21st August 2023.

gamesthatwerent, 10 months ago to zxspectrum

As well as 16-bit, Creatures was also set for release on the #ZXSpectrum, featuring impressive preview screens in Your Sinclair. Sadly Thalamus dropping support for the platform would leave development in limbo. Thanks
@CommodoreFormat
for heads up.

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2023/07/creatures/

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gamesthatwerent, 10 months ago to amiga

Scavenger was created by author of Nebulus, John Phillips, showcasing an phenomenal shadow effect unlike anything seen before on the #AtariST and #Amiga. The collapse of Hewson saw John move to The Bitmap Bros, resulting in its cancellation.

https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2021/02/scavenger/

gamesthatwerent, 11 months ago to random

Gauntlet for the #NintendoDS sadly never got into gamer's hands. Although complete, it was deemed not financially viable to release. We discussed the game with some of those involved, in the GTW book. Thankfully it has since snuck out into the wild.

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2020/11/gauntlet-ds/

gamesthatwerent, 11 months ago to commodore64

Creatures 2 was a great #Commodore64 platformer from Thalamus in 1992. Conversions to #Amiga and #AtariST were never to be after reports of "coming soon". We've added a new entry for the 16-bit conversions in the hope that something can be found one day.

https://gamesthatwerent.com/2023/06/creatures-2/

gamesthatwerent, 1 year ago to random

Following the recent recovery of Total Recall V1 on the #Commodore64 - we today take a detailed look at the prototype, the story of its search and how it was found. Including highlighting of differences from the original Zzap!64 preview screens.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=BgvRnvnRma4