Play Expo - Exclusive Pre-Event Interview

Play Expo...what an event it will be!
We spoke to Andy Brown. Director at Replay Events Ltd, Owner of Console Passion Retro Games about the vision behind the Play Expo - EventCity, Manchester on 12-13 October 2013 , and his gaming passions and why gaming is so important to us all...


What are your roles Play Expo / Replay Events? 
Director, Event Coordinator and glorified stock room boy.

What's it like working for Play Expo / Replay Events? 
Last year I quit my job of 17 years to work full time on Replay Events so that should say something about it. Nothing beats getting up every day to do a job I love, I rarely feel like I'm actually working - I genuinely enjoy my working day. All-in-all I'd say I'm pretty lucky.



What motivates you to keep running events like Play Expo? 
Multiple reasons really. Each time we do an expo we are looking for ways to improve on what we did at the last show and that is a great motivator - to better our previous event. I get such a buzz at Play Expo; walking around and seeing thousands of people enjoy themselves makes me want to carry on doing this as long as I can. Plus I get to meet lots of video game celebrities.

What do you see for Play Expo in the future? 
I see the expo continuing to grow year-on-year. Each show we add new features, increase the number of systems on the show floor, have more exhibitors and as I just said generally improve on the previous year's expo. I personally would like to see more indie games and have some live link up Q&A sessions with industry legends from USA and Japan.

What is the best thing about your job at Play Expo / Replay Events? 
See previous answer - doing a job I love!

What video games and arcade games did you grow up with?
I grew up in Blackpool so I spent a lot of my childhood playing arcade games. We had huge amusements on the seafront and one of my fondest memories is playing Space Harrier Deluxe in Mr B's for the first time - £2 seemed like £200 in those days! I played anything and everything from Galaxian to Street Fighter and I’m lucky enough to own several arcade machines these days, Toobin and Operation Wolf being my two favourites. I’m on the lookout for an Outrun at the moment if anyone has one... I had home computers around me from an early age too. I was firmly in the Commodore camp from day one - I had a Vic 20, then C64 and Amiga so I played most of the well known titles on those machines but I was particularly partial to games containing a certain mole. We also flew the Sega flag in our house, my brother had a Master System and I had a Megadrive.

If you could be a videogame character who would it be? 
Miner Willy as that must have been some kick ass party he had in Jet Set Willy.


What is gaming all about for you?
Depends on the game/genre/generation. I like losing myself in modern games that have a good storyline - I am currently playing The Last of Us which is incredible. I also like the social aspect introduced by modern consoles - the Wii has some cracking multiplayer games which can really liven up a party. If I'm playing retro it's all about the nostalgia of that game. When I have a short gaming session it's invariably on a retro game that I played when I was a kid and I'm trying to beat my top score. Though I did accept a long time ago that I am actually pretty rubbish at games...

What’s your take on the console market and the arcade market these days as opposed to the beginnings in the 80s and 90s? 
Obviously very different, I think arcades are a thing of the past these days which is a shame as it's a very different experience to home gaming. I think the iOS and handheld markets of the past few years have brought about a whole new wave of creativity which we haven't seen for a while. I have nothing against AAA titles but often I am just as impressed by a game that I can download for 69p from the app store. The free rein that small indie games design teams today is very similar to the early days of games creation and that is a good thing IMO.


For more information and to keep up to date with the latest happening for Play Expo click the below to find out more and book your tickets:

http://www.playexpo.net/

http://twitter.com/replayevents

http://www.facebook.com/ReplayEvents

http://www.youtube.com/replayexpo

Our recent winner of the Play Expo competition - Catherine Cock sent us her picture of her winning tickets and her daughter playing with our TomyTronic giveaway and retro goodies.

GamesYouLoved would like to thank Replay Events for donating the tickets for this prize :) 

Games Generation - Animation Tribute - by Tomoboy Films

Gaming has evolved so much from the early beginnings of Space War!, Pong and Pac-Man to the heady arcades and consoles / microcomputers of the 80s.  

The theatre and entertainment of the medium also crosses many creative boundaries including writing, movie production, music and graphic design.

At GamesYouLoved we celebrate anything that continues to support this world where gamers of every generation can develop ideas to bring this generation of games to life.

When Tomoboy Films approached GamesYouLoved earlier this year they had a vision in LEGO they wanted to bring to life through the power of stop motion and a fantastic cinematic experience.

Over many weeks of development including changing the characters, soundtrack and overall story - Tomoboy Films crafted their video gaming video.

The result is now on YouTube for all to see here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8XCJnrRzPs 

We spoke to the creator to get his take on the process and experience

"I had great fun making this animation and it has been my most ambitious one yet! 

I really loved photoshopping, it took absolutely ages to do but it was nice to see some FX that wasn’t play-doh! If you want to see some of my Lego figures in this video then please check out my flickr photos (link) it helps a lot! Also I have my other Lego animations which are a bit older, on my youtube: (tomoboyfilms) link below."

For more info on Tomoboys Films check this out:

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80060649@N06/with/8830303264/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/Tomoboyfilms

The Bitmap Brothers - A THREE PART STORY (3)

Story three of three....

The Bitmap Brothers

Where Are They Now?

For those of us who grew up with PC, Amiga and ST gaming, the Bitmaps are one of those development teams (along with Gremlin, Psygnosis and Team 17) that are generally most remembered. Unfortunately Bitmap Brothers closed their offie in 2004. When asked ‘what happened?’, Mike Montgomery (Bitmap Bros MD) explained to Bit-Tech that such a creative company found it harder and harder to secure investment from distributors in order to compete with the current crop of big budget license games.

MM: I closed the company down...Mainly because I couldn't get any deals for original IP. It's a shame, but if you can't get money then you can't go any further. I've spent most of my money on developing ideas – I've got a whole drawer-full of designs, and some of them are hundreds of pages long – you go to a publisher with them, they read them and you do a bit more work and all of a sudden you've spent £300,000, and then you find there's no deal.

It seems the industry has changed to such an extent that multi-million budgets are now required for effective marketing and development for mainstream titles, meaning publishers are more reluctant to gamble on an original idea (IP).

All is not lost however because The Bitmaps are back. Aside from running Tower Studios (along with Jon Hare of Sensible Software)working on video capture work, MM has reignited the flame and released both Speedball 2 and Z on iOS and Speedball 2 for android, which is great news for us retro fans.

The downscaled economy of game development for mobile devices has allowed smaller developers to at last get their games ‘out there’ with lesser cost. Hopefully this will mean an indication of things to come with releases of other classic titles (Chaos Engine on my phone?!- yes please!), keeping the spirit of 16bit era gaming alive, as well as giving us ‘old skool’ gamers plenty to reminisce about.

Mike is now a director of Lightning Fish, making motion-controlled games. We met Mike at the recent Revival event and he signed our Speedball 2 packaging! 

Horse Racing RETRO fun! by Karl Hnat

When I was a kid growing up in the 60’s, pre the computer age we played all sorts of board games. Monopoly, Risk, Careers, Mine a Million, Cluedo, Formula One and many more. There was one game though that I  remember that was handed down from an old relation that had been around for years. The box was old and falling apart,  made of a heavy box board almost wooden from memory but maybe that’s me just getting old! The game was kept in a cupboard in the spare bedroom and we would play the game every now and then. The game was called Escalado which was a horse racing game, consisting of 5 or 6 lead horses and a track that was approximately 3 to 4 feet long . The game was played on a table and the track was attached at one end to a box with a ratchet handle that one of the players would turn. 

The other end of the track was attached to the table with clamps, keeping the track taught at all times. The horses were then placed on the starting line ready for the race to start. 

We would place bets on the horses with matches or old pennies and the bets were recorded on a betting slip that came with the game. The track was segregated into lanes and each lane had a series of wooden pegs placed on the lines to keep the horses from wandering and running in a straight line. As the ratchet handle was turned the track would vibrate and the horses would move up the track at differing speeds until one would eventually cross the line and be declared the winner. Every now and then a horse would fall of the table eventually resulting in the proverbial three legged horse. We had hours of fun playing this simple game, oh what a wonderful memory, where did all those years go!

Version shown from 1993

Review by Karl Hnat. Karl is the Managing Director of www.colourpoint.uk.com 

GamesYouLoved's Printing Partner which you can also find via our friends page

Dead Pixels - NEW Birmingham Gaming night - Weds 29th May

*** DEAD PIXELS ***

Retro gaming has become very popular in recent years. An exponential growth in technology has ensured that old consoles have achieved antique status and many of the old games are seen as classics. Games today are focused primarily on special effects, leaving game play in second place. In the past, games could not produce such stark effects, so they relied on game play to ensure that the player could get optimum time out of their purchase. Games like Street Fighter 2 and Mario Kart became instant hits thanks to the addictive game play they had to offer.

Sadly a lot of people disposed of their old consoles and games to upgrade to a more modern gaming system, however there is still a market for the classics. Dead Pixels is a night that will offer vintage video games and classic retro gaming. Play all your favourite games from childhood, fight with your mates like you are a young teenager again, just remember that the winner stays on!

The event will be held at Suki10c in Digbeth and will promise to be a dedicated retro gaming night not to be missed.


For more info on the event and evening:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/242768825868806/?fref=ts


And the Group page:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/242768825868806/?fref=ts

Sega Ultimate Console - Handheld pocket rocket!

Handheld gaming has long been immensely popular – ranging from the classic original game boy, to the super-fun Neo Geo pocket, or the kooky Nokia N-Gage – but in recent years, sales have fallen for handheld devices, leaving developers to ponder where it all went wrong. With the recent release of the PS Vita and 3DS, many have suggested that we have over-complicated gaming.

Do we really need touch screens, accelerometers and dual analogue sticks? 

Do these flashy features really add to the gaming experience? 



Welcome to the stage the opponent other handhelds, the Sega Ultimate – a simple, cheap handheld that plays a number of your old favourites. An interesting idea, but does it live it up to expectations? Read on...

This little baby is a Sega Megadrive packed into a very portable handheld shell, which is as stylish as it is robust. Packing a 2.8” screen that is bright and sharp, this handheld has you covered for every outbound excursion – but can also be hooked up to your TV at home for a more old-school feel.

The controls are simple, as you would expect to find on a handheld, but they are well made and offer good tactile feedback, so you can stay in control even in the midst of a Streets of Rage button mash frenzy. The speaker is surprisingly loud and clear, though I found myself using the headphone jack more often than not – especially on public transport.

Battery performance was excellent, giving you more than enough juice for your average day to day needs. A battery indicator lets you know how much you have left – a nice touch, and one I certainly wouldn’t have expected at this price point.

Another great addition is the SD Card slot on the back, which allows you to download more games if you’re not satisfied with the 20 that come pre-loaded (though the list has been selected with good taste, if you ask us).

Once turned on you are greeted with an easy to navigate 3-page menu. Two pages are full of Sega Classics, such as Golden Axe, Streets of Rage and Sonic the Hedgehog, while the next page is for your SD Card games. If you own the original titles and have tried emulating Sega, or any other old-school games, on your phone before, you will know that is a frustrating experience at best.

Equally, while the original is awesome for us RETRO gamers - Sega Ultimate console is a very good way to enjoy the games you loved from your childhood or share with your kids and friends, as something you can really afford to buy.

If you want to take the Sega experience out of the living room, or if you simply want to enjoy these classic games again without breaking the bank, The Sega Ultimate is right for you. This handheld packs a serious punch, and hasn’t been relieved from duty for even a minute here at GamesYouLoved.

Without a doubt, handheld manufacturers could learn a lot from the Sega Ultimate, which gets the important things right – great games, great portability, at a great price. 8.5/10

You can get the SEGA Ultimate from Funstock's website. GamesYouLoved viewers get 10% off the price by using the code: GYL10

Click here to buy:

http://www.funstock.co.uk/sega-megadrive-arcade-ultimate-portable-games-console?tracking=517a8acf7ac6a

GamesYouLoved - Interview with Stu Rankin, 'Pro-Harrier'

Space Harrier is up in the upper echelons of arcade gaming history.

Eye-bleedingly colourful, insanely fast Space Harrier takes you into a striking surreal dimension where you run at break neck speed, defy gravity at will, and blast at dragons, mechs and one-eyed woolly mammoths. Unlike the standard side or vertical scrollers of the time, Space Harrier's one of the first ‘into the screen’ games alongside the likes of Hang-On, OutRun and Afterburner.

It’s widely regarded as a technical milestone for gaming, using Sega’s legendary ‘System 16’ Arcade board and ‘Super-Scaler’ technology, handling more sprites and colours than anything else in the arcade at the time and its game dynamics have paved the way for countless other 3-D style and 3rd person shooters. Space Harrier is a classic.

It’s no wonder then that Space Harrier has such a large fanatical following with many keen to collect its various incarnations from arcade cabs through to modern releases for current consoles. There are a few though who should be regarded as super-fans.

These are the warriors of gaming that will not rest until they’ve mastered the game in all its forms. Dedicated to stepping into the ‘Fantasy Zone’ to thwart the armies of the demon Absymbel, ‘good and proper’, they are the battlers, the high scorers, the ‘pro-harriers’. Following a superb article submission GamesYouLoved were lucky enough to speak to one such ‘Pro-Harrier’, Stu Rankin, who holds the score record for Space Harrier on not just one, but 4  platforms and has a dedicated Space Harrier cab. GamesYouLoved collar Stu at a Retro Games Party event in April and we’ve just watched him nail a mini sit-down cab of Space Harrier twice in a row, making it look like a stroll in the park.

Space Harrier certainly isn’t that though. It takes the sort of skill and knowledge of the game’s dynamics that requires practice and is typical of old arcade games. We grab a beer and take the opportunity to ask him about his thoughts on what makes Space Harrier his favourite game, how he got so good, as well as gauging his thoughts about gaming in general:

GamesYouLoved
Space Harrier’s certainly considered a classic. What do you think sets it apart from other similar games?

Stu
The speed. It kind of gives you an adrenaline buzz, especially when things pick up in the later levels. When you've mastered it there's a feeling of accomplishment because it takes some skill. It’s not a case of just blasting wildly, you need to learn it and use the right tactics in order to get through.

GamesYouLoved

Would you say there is a certain pace or rhythm to it?

Stu
There are certain patterns, certainly- like learning the enemy movements and where certain enemies come up. From level 7 onwards the pace really picks up

GamesYouLoved
And there's 18 Levels so that's before halfway?

Stu
Yeah, it soon gets frantic. I have good days and bad days though. Depending on whether I can get into that groove or not- some days I might not even get past level 4! Even though Ive held 4 titles on Twin Galaxies, some days I can still really suck.

It IS a difficult game. GamesYouLoved I guess that's what makes those titles quite an accolade in gaming terms. There are other similar games such as After Burner.

GamesYouLoved
How different is Space Harrier to other games?

Stu
I’ve never been great at the System 16 racing games like Outrun or Hang On. I enjoy After Burner and I guess it is similar, but even though it’s a technically more complex game with weapon 'lock-ons', I think that can be a bit of a distraction and can actually do a lot of the work for you. With Space Harrier, you’ve got to point and shoot, although there is actually a slight lock-on in Space Harrier which people may not be aware of. As you aim for enemies you get a brief opportunity to lock-on. A lock-on is indicated with a chime or 'chip' sound, which you need to listen out for. This allows you to fire and keep moving and if you get it right, your shot will get enemies you've locked on to. With the right timing you can take down multiple enemies with one shot each. You can hear it *does the sound* 'chip-chip-chip'. Understanding this is quite important especially in the later levels.

GamesYouLoved
Space Harrier's been ported to pretty much most home platforms. Which is your favourite?

Stu
Sega Saturn. That was the first version I got where it looked pretty much arcade perfect. Up until then I'd had the Amstrad and Mega Drive versions, and for me the Amstrad version is probably as far removed from the arcade as you can get. I mean- it’s not even got all the enemies in it!

GamesYouLoved 
People cite the Master System as a notable version- from a technical achievement point of view.

Stu
Yeah, definitely I'd agree with that. It’s like a different game though. Some actually prefer the way the sprites are drawn than those in the arcade, but you've obviously got quite bad colour blocking issues. I'm not very good at that version though- so I'm not a fan. That’s cus of the speed- it’s quite difficult because it so slow.

GamesYouLoved 
Do they vary in terms of difficulty?

Stu
They've all got their own quirks and bugs, you have to learn the different mechanics and all that so, yeah they can vary quite a bit, especially in terms of speed. On the Dreamcast I got Shenmue purely so I could play Space Harrier. I'd heard it was available to play in the 'You Arcade' in the game itself. It took me 2 weeks before I figured out how to get to the 'You Arcade'. When I finally found it I spent a load of time just playing there. Anyway, I didn't even realise that with the Shenmue Passport you could go online. So I did. Just to have a look and sure enough- there I was; no.1 in Europe- for Space Harrier- I thought 'wow!'. But that was at the 50Hz setting, so I reset the game to play at 60Hz. The 10Hz made all the difference in speed. It was almost like a different game, and at that time I'd not really played the arcade version much, so I wasn't actually used to it. The difference there was that I was only no.3 worldwide, so had to keep practicing...

GamesYouLoved 
How long on average does it take for you to complete?

Stu
It’s not a huge game, maybe 20 minutes? Well, it depends which version but the Saturn and Arcade versions are roughly the same. It all depends on how you choose to play the game, because some of the bosses will be there until you destroy them, like Squilla or Salpedon (both dragon type bosses). Other enemies like the robots (called 'Dom') there's just a time limit on them, they'll come then go again so you just need to avoid their shots and survive. You could spend half an hour just 'Squilla dancing', as I call it, just dodging rather than straight out attacking- but that's a slow way to rack up points- you'd be there all night- but it is possible.

GamesYouLoved
So there's no record speed time?

Stu
Not that I know of, but that's not the point. It’s about high scoring.

GamesYouLoved
Space Harrier's a hard game. Having mastered it, are there any tips or tricks you could give to a novice like me that would make my pound coin go further? Are there any secrets?

Stu
Memorise the enemy locations, where they appear and what order. Don't stay still. Definitely don't back-track your movement- if you do, nine times out of ten you'll get hit. I’ve not found any real glitches or bugs to exploit. It’s pretty robust, but why cheat? Thing is, I got my Saturn in around '97 and I was playing it a lot. I might just be paranoid here, but and I noticed that if, for example, you play through to level 10 and you then make your first mistake and die, you can guarantee you'll lose another 2 or 3 lives in quick succession after that in the space of like- 5 minutes. Almost as if the game learns your style. I dunno if that's how it was programmed or I'm just being paranoid, it’s almost like if you hit a tree once- it'll definitely happen again straight away. I dunno if that's the programming or it’s just psychological. If you watch the guy 'Jodo' (current arcade world champion), he's got a video on You Tube that he's also submitted to Twin Galaxies and you can notice slight nuances with how he plays. Everyone's got their own quirks in play, but in terms of general advice, think about moving in a three dimensional plane- covering the screen in a sort of corkscrew or spiral motion with the flight stick. But practice obviously. If you really want to get good my advice is get a Saturn or better still; access to the original arcade cab and just keep playing.

GamesYouLoved 
You know the game inside out. What enemies are the hardest to beat?

Stu
Level 2- 'Ida' (the flying heads). The boss Barbarian in the middle surrounded by the Ida flying heads. Simply because they appear to move randomly. Hit one and they'll expand out almost certainly hitting you then they retract. The trick for maximum points is to try and destroy all the Ida heads before you take out Barbarian. The lock-on feature can also work against you here, you will usually find yourself locking onto and firing at the wrong thing. If you destroy Barbarian before taking out the Ida heads, they will increase their spin rate and it gets very tricky to dodge em. This is where a lot of people die. 

GamesYouLoved
What's with those one eyed Woolly Mammoths? What are they called?

Stu
(laughs) Erm- just 'Mammoths'. I actually feel a bit sorry for them- I try not to hit them. They're just collateral damage (we both laugh). Migrating Mammoths- wrong place, wrong time... with one eye... Unlucky!

GamesYouLoved
You have been telling us about reminiscing around theme of the old arcades and mention Ikari Warriors, Galaxian and Pac Man. Have you mastered any of these?

Stu
Not really. I love those games but I was 2nd year at high school when I remember going to an arcade on a particular holiday. I was used to playing games like Ikari Warriors on the home computer systems. I remember being with my grandparents and we found this place- I think it was called Brunswick?.. anyway it was like a cafe, and the magic there was that they sold cups of tea and coffee for like 5 pence- so they'd happily sit and have a cuppa while I'd go off looking at the games like. Really in those days - I was looking for the Star Wars cabinet, obviously. That was THE one. Sitting there, chuck a couple of credits in and there's Alec f*ckin Guiness behind you saying 'the force'll be with you'. Goosebumps! So, when walking down the prom in Blackpool- past the central piers and the other arcades- you'd keep hearing these sound effects, 'ahhhh' and 'Get Ready'- and I'd think 'what the hell IS that?' so I'd wander over to investigate. I see the name 'Space Harrier' and I'm into sci-fi, but at first I didn’t actually like it. It seemed almost too random. I'd think 'why's there a little guy running with a big gun, when it says Space Harrier', what's all that about?

GamesYouLoved
Other than the accolades on the Twin Galaxies site, are there any other bits of recognition you’re proud of?

Stu
That's it really. I love retro games. I love Sega. Who knows- it depends. I'm more of a collector now so I'm just happy building my collection. My real goal, like many retro gaming fans, is to get a Star Wars cabinet just for total nostalgia. 

GamesYouLoved
What are your thoughts on the more recent arcade follow-up to Space Harrier, Planet Harriers?

Stu
Looks cheesy as hell, but I’ve never seen it in an arcade so never had the chance to play it. From what I’ve seen online- the gameplay looks slower. It looks like your character's even more rail-roaded. It looks as though it does a lot for you. I could be wrong.

GamesYouLoved
If you could meet Sega’s AM2 team and Yu Suzuki, what would you ask them?

Stu
Could they acquire the rights back to make a new game? Sega owns it. The developers would just hand it all over and it’s a shame.

GamesYouLoved
Do you have any current gen consoles?

Stu
Nope

GamesYouLoved
What do you play now?

Stu
My Saturn. I do have a second hand PS2 which I got for Gradius 5. I like those games- Salamandar, Nemesis- although I'm not great at em. Gradius 2: Vulcan Venture, 'shoot it in the head' little quotes like that come to mind. I like stuff like that. I ended up getting the 3D Ages version of Space Harrier as well. Its ok- but again it’s a different game really. You've got some fancier weapons like lock-on lasers and flash bombs. They're good for a laugh, but as a purist player- I'd rather not use them. They just destroy everything- including land based objects you wouldn't usually be able to destroy. And generally it feels like a slower game. This is the thing with older games. They require perseverance to get the most out of them.

GamesYouLoved
You currently run Squillas Lair- a yahoo group for Space Harrier fans as well as a Squilla Facebook page. How are they doing?

Stu
It’s a bit of a niche thing so I wouldn’t say they’re massively popular but there's people out there who are like me and into it, so it’s good to interact a bit. The current arcade champion Phil Campbell who's also on Twin Galaxies, pops in every now and then even though he's not officially a member. He's obviously keeping an eye on me. I just keep kiddin him on, I keep sayin to him- 'you just keep watching your rear view mirror mate'. One day.

Interview at Retro Games Party - April 2013

GamesYouloved would like to thank, Stu Rankin, World Record Holder for Space Harrier for this EXCLUSIVE interview

Stu runs his own dedicated Space Harrier Page here:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Squilla/215525788515344?ref=hl

Also - dedicated Space Harrier Group here:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/squillaslair/