Retro Compendium: A free ebook of Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum and retro gaming articles and listings

By Sean McManus

This free ebook compiles the articles I’ve written about The Amstrad CPC computer and 1980s retro gaming generally. Most of these articles originally appeared in Amtix CPC, while others are taken from Crash, my blog and website.

Someone once emailed me asking whether I had any listings they could type in for that authentic 1980s experience, so this ebook also includes my listings as they originally appeared in print. These type-in programs originally appeared in Amstrad Action, Amstrad Computer User, Amtix and Amstrad Addict. You can also download most of these programs on my Amstrad CPC disc.

With about 90 pages, this ebook includes:

1. Articles:
   • Can ChatGPT write Amstrad games?
   • Speech Synthesisers: an interview with Richard Hanson about Speech!
   • Top of the CPC Pops: pop music in Amstrad games
   • A report on the Retro Computer Festival 2023, including a review of the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge
   • Cassette 50: Bravely revisiting every game
   • Review and setup tips for the Picade arcade cabinet
   • Secrets from the Past: What are the hidden messages in ZX Spectrum game code?
   • Amstrad Action Christmas cover tapes reviewed
   • Goodbyeeee! The history of the Amstrad, as seen through the final issues of the major magazines
   • Behind the listings: A new article discussing my listings and how I got them published
2. Game reviews:
   • Get Dexter
   • Highway Encounter
   • Split Personalities (also known as Splitting Images)
   • Finders Keepers (the first Magic Knight adventure)
3. Listings:
   • Anaglyph Aliens
   • BAS Invaders
   • Fishtank
   • Alien Intervention
   • Wallbuster
   • SCNSV
   • Tortoise
   • Paclone
   • Digital
   • 3D Mapper
   • Piano Chords Tutor
   • Gribbet
   • Eye
   • Sprite Driver
   • ENVLIST
4. Tutorials
   • A very moving experience: Colour swapping
   • 6128 into 464 does go: Making 6128 programs work on a 464
   • Hacking the Further Adventures of Fred: A shorter version of my article about hacking my own game to improve its playability

Download this free retro gaming ebook

I am making this ebook free to download, but I would ask that you kindly consider joining my free newsletter list so I can keep you updated about my new creative projects, including articles and books about tech, coding and (from time to time) retro gaming. This ebook may be updated in the future with new articles, and I'll notify email list subscribers when that happens. I send a newsletter a few times a year and very much appreciate your support.

Download Sean's Retro Compendium

See also my book The Basic Idea, an Amstrad CPC programming tutorial which is now online in full, and my free Coding Compendium for tutorials on Python, Scratch, Raspberry Pi, and micro:bit.

About the Author

Sean McManus is a writer specialising in technology and business. His books include Mission Python, Scratch Programming in Easy Steps, Web Design in Easy Steps, and 100 Top Tips: Microsoft Excel.