those we left behind

My Gaming Timeline Part 2 - The Arcade. (1970's)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:29:00 +0000

I thought I would eschew the usual canon of arcade games (who doesn't know Asteroids, Space Invaders or Galaxians?) and post some images that evoke my time at the amusement arcade (specifically Drayton Manor Parks Amusement Arcade).

In order of appearance here - Boot Hill, Periscope, Killer Shark.

Images courtesy of;
http://www.arrse.co.uk/lamp-sandbag-ii-tall-story-strikes-back/110328-old-arcade-game.html

http://www.pinrepair.com/arcade/shark.htm

http://www.yourprops.com/-Killer-Shark--Arcade-game-from-JAWS-original---screen-used-movie-props-Jaws--1975--prop-14799.html

My Gaming Timeline Part 1 - The Binatone TV Master Mk IV (1977)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:18:00 +0000

It occurred to me this morning that I have been playing videogames for 35 years now. It is officially my longest and most expensive habit / hobby, and I would like to celebrate that fact in the form of a series of postings that will chart, in chronological order, the highlights of 35 years of gaming.

First up, 1977 and the Binatone TV Master MK IV.

In all its tangerine orange glory. The Binatone TV Master MK IV was a TV miracle, giving you 4 games in one reasonably sized console (roughly the size of a PS1, but shaped like a wedge of cheese). The 4 games were Football, Tennis, Squash and Squash Practice. They were, in reality, variatons of PONG, or carbon copies, but no less enjoyable or addictive. A game for the whole family! There was little 1 player option, the console was geared toward the multiplayer experience, and was arcade perfect in its translation. But it would have taken something special to ruin the purity of a port of PONG to the nascent home gamer.

For more information;

http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=3&c=1035

Stacy Adams 'Pussycat a Go Go'

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Go Go Dancing to 'Psycho' by The Sonics

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:57:00 +0000

Pierre Henry - Psyche Rock (1967)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Cosmocorps2000 on youtube

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:32:00 +0000

This is the work of Cosmocorps2000 on youtube. You really should check out their clips, with a mash up of vintage fashion and library music par excellence (John Cameron, Piero Piccioni), it's a mildly psychedelic experience.

Resident Evil 6 trailer!!! (2012)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:20:00 +0000

I posted about the 'no hope left' site yesterday. Its purpose, quite simply, was to announce this (and good grief it looks amazing - Leon & Chris in the same game!!!);

No Hope Left

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:29:00 +0000

Whatever could it mean? A reveal is planned today;

http://www.nohopeleft.com/

Solicitation for The Walking Dead #96 (Image/Skybound, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:21:00 +0000

THE WALKING DEAD #96story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN
APRIL 18
32 PAGES / BW / M
$2.99
THE ROAD TO ISSUE ONE HUNDRED STARTS HERE AS "A LARGER WORLD" CONCLUDES!
Will Rick's community join the network? Will they enter into an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity – or has Rick ruined that for everyone? Has he now made more, deadlier enemies for them to deal with?

Solicitation for The Boys #65 (Dynamite, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:10:00 +0000

THE BOYS #65

40 pages FC • $4.99 • Mature

Written by GARTH ENNIS

Art by RUSS BRAUN

Cover by DARICK ROBERTSON

The showdown between Butcher and the Homelander turns out to be something neither of them expected, as all Hell breaks loose in the Washington skies and MM teaches Hughie one last Secret History lesson. One story ends and another begins, as Over The Hill With The Swords Of A Thousand Men reaches its bloody conclusion. Over 30 pages of story and art! The Countdown begins! Only 7 issues to go!

The Art of The Annual - 1979 to 1984

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:48:00 +0000

All Annual images are courtesy of the marvellous tonystrading site - go there for an exhaustive covers gallery;

http://www.tonystrading.co.uk/galleries/annuals/

Today, it's 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 & 1984...................

First up, 1979

and now, 1980

1981

1982

1983

and finally - 1984

Solicitation for The Walking Dead #95 (image, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:39:00 +0000

THE WALKING DEAD #95
story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art / cover CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN
MARCH 28
32 PAGES / BW / M
$2.99
"A LARGER WORLD" CONTINUES
Rick and his group are welcomed into a new community, led by a new charismatic leader. Rick has experienced this before. Is this the beginning of a new era of peace for Rick and the others... or is this man every bit as dangerous as The Governor?

The Art of The Annual - 1978

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:57:00 +0000

All Annual images are courtesy of the marvellous tonystrading site - go there for an exhaustive covers gallery;

http://www.tonystrading.co.uk/galleries/annuals/

Today, it's 1978...................

Review - The Walking Dead #92 (image, 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:46:00 +0000

Needless to say - SPOILERS!!!

The 'letter hacks' pages have a comment from Sina Grace (Editor) noting that there were 12 issues shipped in 2011, which I believe is testament to Adlard and Rathburn's professionalism and dedication. Kirkman managed to get 12 issues of story out but sometimes (especially in the middle of the year) it felt stretched a bit thin, meandering, nothing to really move the story along.

It's good to see that the final issue of the year comes good, with some sharp dialogue, some movement in the story, and some action - both against undead and living.

This issue marks the build up to the 'larger world' storyline that is due to kick off in the next few issues, and is probably initiating something that will roll into the landmark issue 100.

So what was good about this issue? In order;

The Abraham / Michonne team-up.

The fact that Abraham & Michonne got some decent scenes - they have been sidelined too long.

Some decent action sequences, well realised by Adlard and Rathburn.

The dialogue - snappy, sometimes funny, but it was always to the point and gave the issue purpose.

Less Rick, less Carl, less monologues.

An interesting new character introduced, with a great nickname.

A fantastic cover - one of the best yet.

Issue #92 ends the year in fine style, and sets up 2012 in a good way. I am more excited now about this series than I have been for months.

The Art of The Annual - 1977

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:39:00 +0000

All Annual images are courtesy of the marvellous tonystrading site - go there for an exhaustive covers gallery;

http://www.tonystrading.co.uk/galleries/annuals/

Today, it's 1977...................

Paul Starr (1964)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:21:00 +0000

This was the pilot for a TV puppet show, in the vein of Thunderbirds, that never reached full production status. 'Paul Starr' (a name very much of its time - he sounds like a 60's crooners stage name), had the vision, but didn't match the technical brilliance of Thunderbirds. In 'Paul Starr', the suspension of disbelief is nowhere to be found - its some models on strings being guided by human hands. In Thunderbirds, the stage sets, modelling and the handling of the various ships and vehicles allowed you to believe that what you were watching was almost real. Some of the puppets themselves have that faintly eerie quality that the TV marionettes had at the time (like Stingray and Fireball XL5 and Supercar - some downright disturbing puppets in some of those shows).

More here;

http://www.candlelightstories.com/2011/01/24/paul-starr-1964-science-fiction-puppet-series/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janey_Scott

http://homepages.tesco.net/~space.patrol/SpacePatrol/After.htm

The Art of The Annual - 1976

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:06:00 +0000

All Annual images are courtesy of the marvellous tonystrading site - go there for an exhaustive covers gallery;

http://www.tonystrading.co.uk/galleries/annuals/

Today, it's 1976...................

Solicitation for The Boys #64 (Dynamite, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:07:00 +0000

THE BOYS #64

32 pages FC • $3.99 • Mature

Written by GARTH ENNIS

Art by RUSS BRAUN

Cover by DARICK ROBERTSON

Still reeling from the events of last issue, Hughie follows his boss to Washington DC, where the US military struggles to throw a ring of steel around the Capitol. Meanwhile, MM’s research finally bears fruit, but with all Hell breaking loose will his discoveries come too late? Billy Butcher goes off to meet his destiny, in the penultimate part of Over the Hill with the Swords of a Thousand Men.

Courtesy of http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/12/12/garth-ennis-garth-ennisesque-comics-at-dynamite-march/

The Art of The Annual - 1975

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:24:00 +0000

All Annual images are courtesy of the marvellous tonystrading site - go there for an exhaustive covers gallery;

http://www.tonystrading.co.uk/galleries/annuals/

Today, it's 1975...................

Preview of The Walking Dead #92 (Image, 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:20:00 +0000

9 page preview at IGN;

http://uk.comics.ign.com/articles/121/1214476p1.html

The Art of The Annual - 1974

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:03:00 +0000

As Christmas approaches, TWLB is casting its eye over that Christmas instituition - the Annual. From 1969 to 1984, we will be looking at some of the best examples of Annual cover design, and how tastes and fashions changed through the years. Some Annuals are evergreens (like the Dr Who series), while others are around for one year, never to return....

All Annual images are courtesy of the marvellous tonystrading site - go there for an exhaustive covers gallery;

http://www.tonystrading.co.uk/galleries/annuals/

Today, it's 1974...................

The Last of Us

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:59:00 +0000

and check out the speculation here;

http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/121/1214518p1.html

Solicitation for The Boys #63 (Dynamite, 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:41:00 +0000

Shipping: February, 2012

Everything comes to a head at once as Frenchie and the Female take on Team Titanic, Maeve and Annie have a heart to heart and Hughie comes face to face with the reason he joined the Boys in the first place. Vought-American are suddenly ready to parley, but with the White House in new hands and the Homelander's plans finally kicking in, is Butcher in any mood to listen?

See here;
http://www.dynamite.net/htmlfiles/viewProduct.html?PRO=C72513018402306311

The Art of The Annual - 1973

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:27:00 +0000

Today, it's 1973...................

Super Jaimie - the Six Million Dollar Man Toy - in a French press advert (the 70's)

noreply@blogger.com (those we left behind) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:23:00 +0000