Froggie on 16k Sinclair ZX81

[dconflict]

I had the official FROGGER for the Timex Sinclair 1000... Loved it, and played it over and over.

[TheEPROM9]

Why buy films you have already got on tape. It's a lot cheaper to record from VHS.

[TheBladeJunker]

All things considered it at least gets the scale of the game field correct, I looked up the official Frogger for the Sinclair ZX81 and even though the frog sprite looks better he's just as big as the cars. Keyboard zone issues were conquered eventually in the early days I assume since most ZX Spectrum games have key remapping? I tried ripping VHS to AVI about 10 years ago and it didn't go well but it would likely work better now with modern software tools.^_^

[prulcan]

I just watch your video on different Channel as reupload or something with bad video quality, even description is the same. Video is probably recorded with camera and then uploaded on YT. But you already know that. This is i call the steeling.

[Starxxon]

Good theory about the keyboard matrix being the culprit. But it's probably because letters weren't commonly used as directional controls at the time, as most other 8-bit consoles either had joystick ports or dedicated arrow keys.

[SteveBenway]

@Starxxon Remember, this is from before most other 8 bit systems even existed, so there were no control conventions. The keyboard zones thing is real, but probably not the actual reason, as the number keys fall foul of it too. It's probably just because they have arrows on them.

[Starxxon]

@SteveBenway That's pretty much what I was trying to say, badly...(so you could see what it looks like?)

[Hindleyak]

Cool, a version of Frogger with tanks!

[killbotkillbotkill]

are you aware of ihippypuddle560 ripping and reposting this vid

[SteveBenway]

@killbotkillbotkill Thanks for the info. I flagged it.

[neojake999gamer]

This is a prime example of graphics versus gameplay!!

Also a prime example of what I demonstrate too in that rambling and trying to play a game just don't mix!! LOL!

I gotta say, I am really intrigued by this computer with all the stuff you are showing.

[SteveBenway]

@neojake999gamer In the UK, among a certain age group, this machine is legendary, and possibly one of the most important computer ever made :)

[zakkattakk89]

Froggie? ...

[SteveBenway]

@UKRetroGames WASD seemed a really odd idea to me at first, having cut my teeth with ZX'/. It was Far Cry that convinced me. I was very late to PC gaming.

Okay... that's just a weird joystick map :D

[paulpetroleum]

I ripped all my VHS to DVD, I especially enjoy the fact I still have the original trailers at the beginning of the tapes, feels like I've just borrowed it from Azad Video circa 1986 hehehe

[SteveBenway]

@paulpetroleum I pondered keeping the trailers myself, but in the end, I cut them out, as I only ever skipped them on the VHS :)

[laffer35]

Now this game actually looks quite fun to play, the first one you've shown for this system I could imagine myself actually enjoying.

[SteveBenway]

@laffer35 Yup, it's definitely one of the better games on the system :)

[MN12BIRD]

Dude this looks great! I have to ask you now. I have a 16K Sinclair NSTC and I was wondering if I could somehow download a WAV file of this game and load it into the computer with a line out from PC to the tape in on the computer? I don't know a thing about using these. So I wouldn't even know the commands to load a tape or anything. But would that be possible?

[SteveBenway]

@MN12BIRD It's possible to download .P files, convert them to WAV and then either play them from a laptop or burn them to a CD, and play that to the tape in on the Sinclair. That's how I did most of these games.

What may be in issue is the NTSC aspect. These games are running on a PAL machine, and I don't know if video timing is specific to the games and controlled by the software. Still, no harm in finding out :)

The command is simply LOAD ""

press newline, and hit play on the sound source.

[16plus4equals264]

A friend of mine had this on his ZX81 and we played it to death. It was probably what introduced me to 8bit microcomputer games.. Very good authentic version.

[SteveBenway]

@16plus4equals264 Definitely one of the most impressive arcade conversions I've come across for the machine :)

[lilacfloyd]

@UKRetroGames I've only just converted to WASD from arrow keys this year. I got fedup with changing the defaults settings everytime, so in the end my laziness won over my stubbornness.

[DLiberator78]

Hi Steve your comment about the Key 'Zones'. The ZX Spectrum had the same problem with Zones. This was an issue in BASIC and pressing several keys simultaneously in BASIC could not be achieved without using Machine Code PEEKs to grab a value for multiple key presses. I wonder if this is the case with the ZX81 and if the game was programmed in Machine Code would it still have this deficiency?

[SteveBenway]

@DLiberator78 In short, I don't know... but given that they seemed to get past most of the machines limitations by using machine code, I'd imagine it was possible :)

[Retr0Rewind]

This doesnt look that bad to say how old it is. Really good game for the ZX81.

[SteveBenway]

@Retr0Rewind Yup, good in it's own right really, let alone for a ZX81 game :)

[AtsumaKarin]

Looks like a good version of Frogger. :)

Not really sure what that vehicle in the middle is supposed to be, though.

You managed to get a grand total of: 1 Frog home safely, excellent gameplay there! ;)

I also prefer Frogger to Pacman, although I'd have to say it's a close call between the 2 versions I played on the Amiga, it's no contest otherwise. :D

Good SWILL! :D

[SteveBenway]

@AtsumaKarin I don't think I ever played either game on the Amiga, but in the arcades, Pac Man kind of annoyed me :)

[RetroGamerVX]

Lol@ Froggie is an x!

Wow, I did not know that about the key zoning, you learn something every day :o)...errm, ok I'll forget that

Yes, I'd just rip vhs to a hard drive now and leave it there :o)

[SteveBenway]

@RetroGamerVX The key zones bit is actually true, but probably isn't why they choose to use the number keys... as you can't use 2 of those at once either :)

[RetroGamerVX]

@SteveBenway Then it truely shall remain a mystery :o(

[pocketmego]

I noticed you had problems in the water area. I guess those floating barbells were hard to judge distance on. :D

But, all kidding aside, it isn't too bad as a Frogger game. Like you said it actually looks like Frogger. Versus Defenda...which looked...well just terrible.

[SteveBenway]

@pocketmego Most games on this look terrible, so for a game to look like the game it's trying to be is a major achievement :D

[mathowlett]

Have you tried the official Frogger game for ZX81 ? That's an odd beast !! Everything is HUGE !

[SteveBenway]

@mathowlett I haven't, though I've seen pictures :)

[wrestletube1]

Frogger looks quite impressive on the old ZX81 for the specs of that machine.

You know when you were talking crap about your intro the other day. I actually think it's alright as it does have the SWILL talking over it and your own in house production music so it should be OK even if you get partnership and it's improved.

[wrestletube1]

@wrestletube1 Approved sorry.

[SteveBenway]

@wrestletube1 You may well be right, but youtube tend to be rather arbitrary, and actually getting to communicate with a human being there, and one who actually reads what you've written... it's impossible, so I figure the fewer chances taken, the better.

[Fawltykog]

Not a bad version, at least 99% sure i played this on me olde ZX81 back in the day.

Keep 'em comin' Mr Benn. :)

[SteveBenway]

@Fawltykog I think this was one of the more popular games, back in the day. It plays really well, so it's entirely understandable :)

[Quimbyrbg]

I'm also not the biggest Frogger fan ever (despite making that Frogger clone :D), but this looks like a pretty solid version of it considering the limitations of the machine.

I am really quite liking your ZX81 videos, as I enjoy seeing how game designers work with less powerful machines to try and cram on a big name title. (Similar to how the handheld market used to be back in the 8bit era of portables with big name franchises getting a downsizing for the Game Gear or GameBoy)

[SteveBenway]

@Quimbyrbg Yes, seeing the ingenuity of the programmers is half of the fun with systems like this :)

[markvergeer]

There was a remake of this on the ZX 48K that sort of 'simulates' a very enhanced version of this using multiple screens. This original looks very good.

[SteveBenway]

@markvergeer Quite a few games were recreated on the Spectrum, usually with enhanced graphics. Surprisingly, not all worked out as would normally be expected. This was just an arcade port though, so there'd have been dozens of versions.

[ForViewingOnly]

Very interesting about the choice of control keys, I always wondered that myself.

The ZX81 really impresses me when it punches above its weight. Have you seen Manic Miner on it? It's a Miner miracle.

[SteveBenway]

@ForViewingOnly I've seen some video of it, but don't have it. Yet :)

[Polaventris]

Thats frogger alright. Very nice port indeed.

[SteveBenway]

@Polaventris Definitely one of the better, if on best, games.

[ReplayRetro]

i'm wearing my impressed face right now, loving the graphic of the frog on the pad when you make it across lol

this is better than i'd of expected really

[SteveBenway]

@ReplayRetro Despite it's limitations, there are a few really good games on the ZX81. I think this is one of them :)

[sinistermoon]

Looks great for the Sinclair! Excellent video, strange person!

[SteveBenway]

@sinistermoon It is, thanks, and yes I am :D