Pacman Advert from the 80s
Published April 14, 2011 | 
Atari PacMan game advert from the 80′s
In 1982, Atari Inc. released a port of Namco’s hit arcade game Pac-Man for its Atari 2600 video game console. Like the original arcade version, the player controls the titular character with a joystick. The object is to traverse a maze, consuming all the wafers within while avoiding four ghosts.
The game was programmed by Tod Frye, who was given a limited time frame by Atari to complete the project. The technical differences between the Atari 2600 console and the original’s arcade hardware—particularly the amount of available memory—presented several challenges to Frye. Given the popularity of the property, Atari produced 12 million units, anticipating a high number of sales.
While the port sold 7 million copies and is the best-selling Atari 2600 title, it was critically panned. Critics focused on the gameplay and audio-visual differences from the arcade version. Customers returned the game in large quantities. Initially, the port boosted the video game industry’s presence in retail, but has since been cited as a contributing factor to the North American video game crash of 1983. It was followed by Atari 2600 ports of Pac-Man‘s arcade sequels.
Info gleaned from Wikipedia
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Posted in Computers | 
1980s, 80's, arcade game pac man, arcade hardware, atari, atari 2600, atari inc, namco, pac man, pacman game, titular character, video game industry, wafers | 
Leave a commentAtari Console Commercial 1980s feat. Morecambe and Wise
Published April 13, 2011 | 
Atari Video Computer System Commercial1980s featuring Morecambe and Wise
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in. The first game console to use this format was the Fairchild Channel F; however, the Atari 2600 receives credit for making the plug-in concept popular among the game-playing public.
The console was originally sold as the Atari VCS, for Video Computer System. Following the release of the Atari 5200, in 1982, the VCS was renamed “Atari 2600″, after the unit’s Atari part number, CX2600. The 2600 was typically bundled with two joystick controllers, a conjoined pair of paddle controllers, and a cartridge game—initially Combat and later Pac-Man.
The Atari 2600 was wildly successful, and during much of the 1980s, “Atari” was a synonym for this model in mainstream media and, by extension, for video games in general.
In 2009, the 2600 was named the second greatest video game console of all time by IGN.
Info gleaned from Wikipedia
Apple computer advert from the late 80′s
Published April 12, 2011 | Apple computer advert from the late 80′s
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL; NYSE: AAPL; previously Apple Computer, Inc.) is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company’s best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film-industry software products; Logic Studio, a suite of music production tools; the Safari internet browser; and iOS, a mobile operating system. As of August 2010, the company operates 301 retail stores in ten countries, and an online store where hardware and software products are sold. As of May 2010, Apple is one of the largest companies in the world and the most valuable technology company in the world, having surpassed Microsoft. Continue reading
Amstrad Computer 1980s
Published April 7, 2011 | Amstrad Computer advert from the1980s
Amstrad is a British electronics company founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar. The name is a contraction of Alan Michael Sugar Trading. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1980.
During the late 1980s, Amstrad had a substantial share of the PC market in the UK. As of 2006, Amstrad’s main business is manufacturing Sky Digital interactive boxes. Amstrad was once a FTSE 100 Index constituent but is now wholly owned by BSkyB.
The company is based in Brentwood, Essex. Continue reading
Posted in Computers | 1980s, 80's, alan sugar, amstrad computer, amstrad cpc, amstrad pcw, cpc 464, cpc 6128, pcw range, sinclair computers, zx spectrum | Leave a commentAcron Electron 1980s
Published April 5, 2011 | 
Acron Electron 1980s
The Acorn Electron is a budget version of the BBC Micro educational/home computer made by Acorn Computers Ltd. It has 32 kilobytes of RAM, and its ROM includes BBC BASIC along with its operating system.
The Electron was able to save and load programs onto audio cassette via a supplied converter cable that connected it to any standard tape recorder that had the correct sockets. It was capable of basic graphics, and could display onto either a television set, a colour (RGB) monitor or a “green screen” monitor.
At its peak, the Electron was the third best selling micro in the United Kingdom, and total lifetime game sales for the Electron exceeded those of the BBC Micro. There are at least 500 known games for the Electron and the true total is probably in the thousands. Continue reading
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