Recently we here at Donnell decided that despite our deepest hopes and dreams, floppy disks just aren't gonna make a comeback. So we got around to the nasty business of making certain that they had been thoroughly deleted from the system (they had). In the course of this job, I discovered an old friend. Below the Root, babies. Based on the book by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, it translated into an enormously satisfying video game. I played it for hours on my Commodore 64 and WON (unlike, say, Q-Bert) and lo and behold here it was at Donnell. I was thrilled. If any of you have an old Apple computer, invite me over sometime. We'll break out the joysticks and give it a whirl. It even has the map!
But if you wish to get that old-timey computer interface into your life a different way, I've found that there's a way to make your blog look like a Commodore 64 interface. Everybody say it with me! LOAD, "*", 8,1 and return! If I didn't love you all so very very much I might be seriously tempted to do this. Though, if I'm going to be honest, it would be cool for about 3 days. Then the blue would start to get to me. Thanks to BoingBoing for the link.
By the way, I've also found that children's picture book author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka shares my love of 80s arcade games. Examine the evidence. He found this place where post-it notes could create a Donkey Kong image and he's also the one responsible for that Q-Bert image I linked to. Bravo to you, sir.
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By: Betsy Bird,
on 4/29/2007
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Debt I'll Always Owe Commodore 64, Jarrett Krosoczka, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Donkey Kong, 80s Arcade Games, Below the Root, Q-Bert, Add a tag
By: Betsy Bird,
on 2/28/2007
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children's Music, The Debt I'll Always Owe Commodore 64, Add a tag
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Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Debt I'll Always Owe Commodore 64, Jarrett Krosoczka, Zilpha Keatley Snyder, Donkey Kong, 80s Arcade Games, Below the Root, Q-Bert, Add a tag
5 Comments on Y'all Are Lucky I Love You, last added: 4/30/2007
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Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Children's Music, The Debt I'll Always Owe Commodore 64, Add a tag
I leave all info regarding children's music to my esteemed colleague Warren at Children's Music That Rocks. Last week the children of New York were on some kind of a break (Spring? Late Winter?) and the joint was hopping. As a result, I never had time to see what Warren had posted in his free time. As a result, I haven't seen until now his posting on the children's album ComputHer. How cool is this album? Says Warren:
With an almost fanatical loyalty to computer systems of yore, ComputeHer, aka Michelle, has created an album of hyperdanceable tunes using an old Game Boy, a Game Boy Camera, a Commodore 64, an Apple IIe, an Atari 2600, an old Nintendo, a couple of Texas Instruments educational games, and a keyboard here and there. She goes all out and issues her CD, Data Bass, in a 5 1/4 in. floppy sleeve to the delight of us oldsters.Awesome.
1 Comments on Hope They Do Something With the Mario Theme, last added: 2/28/2007
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OMG. Below the Root. I haven't thought of this book in ages, not since I was twelve, but when I saw the title, I had an instant, intense flashback to how great it was to read it. How could I have forgotten?
I had no idea there was a video game, though. Wish I'd played it instead of Q*bert. I fell off the edge so many times that I still have a fear of high, stacky block places.
Funny enough, Q-bert was about the only video game I was actually any good at. Unless you count Castle Wolfenstein. And, yes, both were played on the Commodore 64.
But let's not get started talking about the hundreds of hours spent (wasted) playing these games. Oh, to have the time back!
Wasted? I think not! Why, as a result of the countless hours spent before the monitor I am now able to bowl in the Wii with aplomb. How could that possibly be considered a waste?
Below the Root was both a great book (series, really - there are two or three more, right?) and a really fun video game.
Our new computers only take flash drives so we also said bye bye to floppy disks. But we do have converter station where you can put your stuff on disk onto a flash drive. We haven't had too many complaints yet. . .