Difference between revisions of "Kevin Thacker"

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(Created page with 'I am a big Amstrad fan having got my first Amstrad (a CPC6128) when I was 11 years old. (back in 1986) My father bought me a Firmware guide and in addition he had access to datas…')
 
 
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I am a big Amstrad fan having got my first Amstrad (a CPC6128) when I was 11 years old. (back in 1986)
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I am a big Amstrad fan having got my first Amstrad (a [[CPC6128]]) when I was 11 years old. (back in 1986)
−
My father bought me a Firmware guide and in addition he had access to datasheets, and this expanded my knowledge of the cpc quickly.  
+
My father bought me a [[Firmware]] guide and in addition he had access to datasheets, and this expanded my knowledge of the cpc quickly.  
  
−
In the beginning I spent a lot of time writing a sprite editor (now lost), converting games from tape to disc for friends at school, and converting pictures and music from the atari st.
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In the beginning I spent a lot of time writing a sprite editor (now lost), converting games from tape to disc for friends at school, and converting pictures and music from the [[Atari ST]].
  
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To convert music from Atari ST, I had written a disc reader in assembler which could read Atari ST discs, or anything with MSDOS format, and a 68000 dissassembler in BASIC. I would then convert the 68000 to Z80 asm by hand.
+
To convert music from Atari ST, I had written a disc reader in assembler which could read Atari ST discs, or anything with MSDOS format, and a [[68000]] dissassembler in [[BASIC]]. I would then convert the 68000 to [[Z80]] asm by hand.
  
 
Then I concentrated on writing documents for the CPC called "The CPC Guide". The aim was to present this using a hypertext/windowing system I had written (1994)
 
Then I concentrated on writing documents for the CPC called "The CPC Guide". The aim was to present this using a hypertext/windowing system I had written (1994)
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Following this I setup the first website documenting the Amstrad hardware called "The Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource" (1995) which is still open today. A lot of these documents are my own work, with other documents by other authors.
 
Following this I setup the first website documenting the Amstrad hardware called "The Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource" (1995) which is still open today. A lot of these documents are my own work, with other documents by other authors.
  
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During this time I developed a Amstrad emulator for the Amiga called A-CPC, which later became Arnold (for PC and Linux) and in addition
+
During this time I developed a Amstrad emulator for the Amiga called [[A-CPC]], which later became [[Arnold]] (for PC and Linux) and in addition
 
this helped discover more accurate information about the workings of the CPC and to help make other emulators better.
 
this helped discover more accurate information about the workings of the CPC and to help make other emulators better.
  
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In the past few years I have finally reached my long term dream of writing a game for the CPC after previously concentrating on unreleased tools/demos.
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I have released the following games and demos:
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* [[Stranded]] for CPC and C64 (a conversion from Spectrum)
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* [[Sudoku]] for CPC, Spectrum and PCW
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* [[Balloonacy]] for CPC (a conversion from C64)
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* [[Blue Angel 69]] for CPC, CPC+ and GX4000
 +
* [[Mayhem]] for CPC and PCW (a conversion from Spectrum) - See the CPC readme and PCW readme for lots of details of why and choices made.
 +
* [[Hexavirus]] for CPC, CPC+ and GX4000; including the first game with a Speedlock K7 1985 loader since 1992!
 +
* [[On the Spot]] for a web based set top box
 +
* A musical loader used in [[Pinball Dreams]]
 +
* various tech demos, 4096 colours etc.
 +
* Music conversions from ST: Big Alec, Mad Max, Count Zero, LAP
  
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Demos of these games can be downloaded at my website, or bought through Cronosoft.
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Unreleased:
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I have another game already in development.
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* I worked on an unofficial conversion of version of Repton 3
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* Many more. Maybe you will see them soon?
  
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I am actively writing a loader system to be used in demos and games and this will be released when it is done.
+
Please help!!!
  
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I plan to continue being active in the CPC scene for as long as possible.
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I am looking for a demo I made around 1990 which I shared with [[Warlock]]. The demo has 3 blue balls which grow and shrink depending on the volume of the played music (I think it was Warhawk music). At the same time the tape motor relay turned on/off and the disc motor flashed. It was a simple demo but I would love to see it again. If you find it send it to www.cpc-power.com!!!
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
My websites:
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* http://cpcfreak.cpc-live.com/ (Some of my games)
 +
* http://www.cpctech.org.uk/ (Technical information, CPCWiki is more up to date)
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[[Category:CPC scene members]][[Category:Active CPC Game Developers]][[Category:Sceners]]

Latest revision as of 15:25, 1 March 2023

I am a big Amstrad fan having got my first Amstrad (a CPC6128) when I was 11 years old. (back in 1986) My father bought me a Firmware guide and in addition he had access to datasheets, and this expanded my knowledge of the cpc quickly.

In the beginning I spent a lot of time writing a sprite editor (now lost), converting games from tape to disc for friends at school, and converting pictures and music from the Atari ST.

To convert music from Atari ST, I had written a disc reader in assembler which could read Atari ST discs, or anything with MSDOS format, and a 68000 dissassembler in BASIC. I would then convert the 68000 to Z80 asm by hand.

Then I concentrated on writing documents for the CPC called "The CPC Guide". The aim was to present this using a hypertext/windowing system I had written (1994)

Following this I setup the first website documenting the Amstrad hardware called "The Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource" (1995) which is still open today. A lot of these documents are my own work, with other documents by other authors.

During this time I developed a Amstrad emulator for the Amiga called A-CPC, which later became Arnold (for PC and Linux) and in addition this helped discover more accurate information about the workings of the CPC and to help make other emulators better.

I have released the following games and demos:

  • Stranded for CPC and C64 (a conversion from Spectrum)
  • Sudoku for CPC, Spectrum and PCW
  • Balloonacy for CPC (a conversion from C64)
  • Blue Angel 69 for CPC, CPC+ and GX4000
  • Mayhem for CPC and PCW (a conversion from Spectrum) - See the CPC readme and PCW readme for lots of details of why and choices made.
  • Hexavirus for CPC, CPC+ and GX4000; including the first game with a Speedlock K7 1985 loader since 1992!
  • On the Spot for a web based set top box
  • A musical loader used in Pinball Dreams
  • various tech demos, 4096 colours etc.
  • Music conversions from ST: Big Alec, Mad Max, Count Zero, LAP

Unreleased:

  • I worked on an unofficial conversion of version of Repton 3
  • Many more. Maybe you will see them soon?

Please help!!!

I am looking for a demo I made around 1990 which I shared with Warlock. The demo has 3 blue balls which grow and shrink depending on the volume of the played music (I think it was Warhawk music). At the same time the tape motor relay turned on/off and the disc motor flashed. It was a simple demo but I would love to see it again. If you find it send it to www.cpc-power.com!!!


My websites:

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