Commodore Format

22/06/2024

🩷 Remembering Andy Dyer, Commodore Format's original staff writer who has tragically died:

Commodore Format’s first staff writer, Andy Dyer, has died at the age of 57. Sally Meddings reported the tragic and unexpected news on a page for Future Publishing’s former sta…

21/06/2024

It is with incredible sadness and such shock to have to report that Andy Dyer, Commodore Format’s first staff writer, died this week.

He was a deeply funny and hugely loveable man, and a brilliant writer.

We will miss you so much, Andy.

30/10/2023

🕵️ NEW! A chat with Sam Manthorpe, author of The Detective Game

❓The crazy way he coded his earliest games (without a C64!)

🍉 The movie that really inspired the game’s quirky cast and story

👌🏻 What came next, including the “forerunner to Lemmings”:

After about 15 minutes of wandering the wood paneled corridors of McFungus mansion, you hear a scream. On the landing, Cynthia Sludgebucket has been squashed by a falling piano. It’s a stay a…

29/10/2023

🎃 NEW! With Halloween approaching, we asked Dan Tootill to tell us more about his love for a game with “an air of death about it”…

Dan Tootill remembers a game with “an air of death about it”… With Halloween approaching, what could be more fun than recalling one of thoseCommodore 64 games that gave me the cre…

19/05/2023

NEW! How We Made Commodore Power magazine

🕹️ A chat with Rik Henderson

👀 His time on Your Commodore and relaunching as YC

💪 Going it alone, producing a new mag on his Dad’s computer

😭 Why Commodore Power only lasted 3 issues

😍 And, of course, his time as a commentator on Gamesmaster!

Rik Henderson on Your Commodore, Commodore Power and his part in GamesMaster.

18/05/2023

💣 NEW! Power Pack 35 long read

💥 Unusually, CF was scooped to the exclusive of a Lemmings demo - but there was nothing usual about the suicidal rodents’ long walk to the C64.

👀 Read about two versions that self destructed and one that made it to the exit:

Three full games One demo One utility Unusually, CF was scooped to the first glimpse of C64 LEMMINGS by Commodore Force – but there was nothing usual about the suicidal rodents’ long wa…

27/04/2023

🕹️ NEW! Power Pack 34 long read

🔥The story behind the chaotic development of Shellshock

🕷️ Arac: a super weird spidery adventure

👾 Invision and EA’s Pinball Construction Set uncovered

Get the goss on July ‘93s tape here

Three full games Part three of Corya Three sprite demos Four full games are really three-and-a-third. Corya is the popular text adventure’s final chapter. SHELLSHOCK We’ve touched on Be…

19/03/2023

🕹️NEW! Power Pack 33 long read (June '93)

⭐️The tapes get patchy from now on, but there are still some good games and interesting stories.

🤡 Hear from the author of the PD game that has its roots in early '80s USA (and wasn't meant to be PD).

🌊 Plus, Water Polo!

Commodore Format Power Pack 33 retrospective, featuring Water Polo, ATA, Snackman and Corya Part 2. Plus, Sprite Demo.

01/03/2023

🕹️NEW! POWER PACK 32 LONG READ

🚀May '93 had classic Thrust leading the tape, but there was more: we talk here to CF's Jason Finch about sprite editor FROST (and how it got that daft name).

🤓Plus, we've found hidden messages in the Multi Hack code:

Commodore Format Power Pack 32, with Steel, Corya Part One, Thrust, FROST and Warren Pilkington’s Multihack

10/04/2022

Hi! Neil here. I make Commodore Format and if you like it you'll probably like my Substack too.

On Bang! Retro to read now, free:

🕹 Bad Influence! - the story of the official magazine

👾 Grange Hill The Computer Game revisited

💣 CPC Attack! magazine profile

https://t.co/ZPvJeRHIGv

UK videogames culture from the '80s and '90s. Click to read "Bang!" by Neil Grayson, a Substack publication. Launched 18 days ago.