Stay at Home Edition: Personal Computer Space Transactor 2001 (2017)
RetroChallenge 2017/04: Computer Space for the Commodore PET 2001
In 2017 I had a new toy and it was the 40th anniversary of the Commodore PET 2001, as well. So what may be more appropriate for RetroChallenge 2017 than to port Computer Space this time to the venerable PET? I always deemed it an interesting challenge to port an arcade game to a text only display, using nothing but the available characters. Could we do a free floating space shooter in PETSCII characters only and preserve some of the specific feel and attitude of the original game?
In the end, I (somewhat) succedded with a downloadable game for the PET 2001 (ROM 1 and ROM 2) and a special version for the C64. However, I actually deem the DEC PDP-1 to be the better gaming platform!
Have at least a look at episode 2, where we have a closer look at Computer Space and how early, CPU-less video games worked in general!