Rare Retro Games Escape from Mt. Drash

 

 

Manufactured: 1983 for Commodore VIC-20 home computer.
Publisher: Sierra On-Line

Programmed by Keith Zabalaoui for Sierra, Escape from Mt.Drash is considered one of the most valuable if not rarest game ever released for the VIC-20.

The Plot
Imprisoned within a mountain by "Garrnintrots" your task is to escape the randomly generated dungeon mazes across 15 increasingly difficult levels and do so before the time runs out.  Along the way you must defeat a variety of monsters and collect gems to aid in your escape.

from the manual....
"Escape from Mt. Drash is a game of life, and unless you can prevent it, a game of death"

Rarity
Only 13 copies of the reported 3000 that were manufactured are believed to be in existence.  The game was published on Cassette tape and not the standard Rom Catridge. In addition, because of it's length the game required a memory expansion cartidge to be installed on the Vic-20, further limiting it's sales.

The first complete copy of the game sold on eBay in March 2004 for $3,605, in June 2009 a boxed copy without manual was sold on ebay for $1,875. December 2011 and again on ebay an unboxed manual and cassette sold for $676.

I wanta play it:
Vic-20 emulator in hand then hit this Peroxide.dk link page.

Mt. Drash article on "Ye Olde Infocomme Shoppe"
See all "Retro Game" posts

Dead or Alive 5 Character Wallpaper

Kasumi

 

Ayane

 

Leifang

 

Hitomi

After the last demented game wallpaper mashup, I am happy to announce that Alf the Helper is once again back on his medication and producing some fanmade Game Wallpaper that has some semblance to normality.

Having locked the little fellow in a room for a day without food or water, he hasn't let me down.  The fact he's gone off and produced 16 of these is... well... proof that a tight employee regime always gets results.

Dead or Alive 5 is the soon to be released (25th-28th September) fifth instalment in the DOA series by Team Ninja (if we ignore the volleybobble outings).  A debut for the series on the Ps3 and featuring guest appearances by members of Sega's Virtua Fighter Team.

The above wallpaper a selection from:
Ayane, Kokoro, Hayate and Akira DOA 5 wallpaper on Just Walls Blog
Kasumi, Christie, Tina and La Mariposa DOA 5 wallpaper on Beauty Re-rendered Blog
Hitomi, Sarah Bryant, Pai Chan, and Mila DOA 5 wallpaper on Rendered Bits Blog
Leifang, Bayman, Hayabusa and Helena DOA 5 wallpaper on Eyesurfing Blog
UPDATE! Dead or Alive Facebook Cover photos on Eyesurfing Blog

See all "Game Wallpaper" posts

Alf's Game Wallpaper Mashups

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From the demented mind of an obviously under worked employee of this blog, as featured on Just Walls .  May I take this opportunity to apologise to all concerned, but occasionally the little fella forgets to take his medication..... sorry!

 

(...i'll kill him!!)

 

Elderly: Alf!!!! get in here!!!

 

Alf's Game Wallpaper Mashups part 2

Bundle in a Box Deep Space

Due to popular demand and incredible tenacity, from  Kyttaro Games, the second instalment of the much loved "Bundle In A Box" series, available nowhere else in the known universe, for a limited time of only 14 days, supporting both PC and the Mac platform.......is here!!! :)

(crowd cheer and drum roll.....)

So without further ado, and having just arrived back from the....

Bundle in a Box Deep Space Website

....let's see what we got for just over .99c 

(virtual paper rustling....)

Death Ray Manta

By Rob Fearon

"Death Ray Manta takes what worked for Robotron, Llamatron and Geometry Wars and pulverses it into frequent cataclysmic explosions of rainbow colour." the elderly gamer preview

Space Giraffe

By Llamasoft

Jeff Minter.... Jeff Minter... Jeff.... Minter

The Wreckless

By Duct Tape Games

A single player space combat simulator, with a sixteen level fully voiced campaign and a simulator that lets the player create their own custom skirmishes.

Dark Scavenger

By Psydra Games

Filling the role of a powerful space traveler, you find yourself stranded on a mysterious planet in the company of three eccentric, yet resourceful aliens.  An adventure game that combines strategic turn-based combat and twisted, really really twisted dark humor.  

Armalyte

By Psytronik

The stunning Commodore 64 shoot -'em-up specially enhanced for the PC version by Trevor 'Smila' Storey and  brand new soundtracks by Chris 'Infamous' Bailey.
 

But That's Not All! :p

Not by a long shot...... paying above the average price (dictated by previous buyers on the site) and you  get 3 more excellent games, a selection of interactive Armalyte extras and in addition......

(drum roll.....crowd go silent)

for every 100 sales Kytarro games will add $10 to their Indie Game Dev Grant,  a way for people who like indie games not only to support the developers who have already finished something, but also help support those who are still trying to get a game made.

...the additional games???

Sol: Exodus

By Seamless Entertainment

Take on the role of ace fighter pilot and 2nd in command of the UCS Atlas as you search for a new home, battle a mysterious enemy, and rescue humanity from a fiery end in this visually stunning space shooter.

Miner Wars Arena

By Keen Software House

Take control of a mining spaceship, hack your way through asteroids, and crush your enemies in a fully destructible environment in this just released sci-fi gem.

Robot Riot

By Retromite

Puzzle and shoot through spaceships and their systems as vanguard robot ‘SLUG’. Raid vessels for your galactic debt collecting master in pristine pixel platformer perfection.

The EXTRA extra, but very, very important, not to be missed  bit

As an added bonus, all who purchase the bundle will get access to exclusive content for....

Droidcape: Basilica

Kyttaro Games’ own upcoming game for iOS and Android. The top 10 contributors will also get a free copy of the game itself upon release, whereas the Droidscape: Into the Basilica book will be made available as an unlockable extra.

Now if you'll excuse me, the vast expance of space awaits.......

Death Ray Manta the Preview, and the trailer

Death Ray Manta screen grab

DRM gameplay, ten levels in 2 minutes 11 seconds

From the twisted synaptic impulses of an apparently quite sane mr.Rob Fearon comes this soon to be released fully stripped down, fully customisable kaleidoscopic, psychedelic, psychotropic arcade shooter.

Death Ray Manta takes what worked for Robotron, Llamatron and Geometry Wars and pulverses it into frequent cataclysmic explosions of rainbow colour.

mr.Fearon sums it up quite eloquently..

  "Because blowing stuff up is tremendous fun. We've worked very hard to ensure that blowing stuff up is fun. Which is lucky considering the game is about blowing stuff up. Did we mention it's about blowing stuff up?"

Please Visit mr.Fearon's blog, for the full release details..minus the release details, but all will be revealed......
Get Death Ray Manta  listed on Steam

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Trailer, Preview

 

Promo Trailer

 

Successor to the 1990 title, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is the eight major release in the Tekken fighting game series.  Set for a staggered release on Ps3 and Xbox 360 between the 10th and 14th of September with a promised Wii U version due in December 2012.

The game will feature the largest Tekken roster ever with over 50 characters from the Tekken stable (see list on wikipedia and visit the official website for the full character bios), an all new Practice Mode called "Fight Lab", 3D support again a "first" for a fighting game, "Tekken Tunes" allowing for the selection of your own imported music tracks, "World Tekken Federation" an online stat board, and apparently the first stat tracking service created for a fighting game ever and then of course there's multiplayer for up to four players. 

"Big Bikini Bundle" featuring over 150 swimsuits, will be available as a pre-order bonus in addition to the "Snoop Dogg Stage" a combat arena featuring Snoop Dogg on his throne "flanked by two fly honeys", and additional early access to DLC characters.

Alf The Helper: Bahh... gimmicks...fanservice..!!!
Elderly: Alf!! wash your mouth out!!!

Off course ye old Tekken modes are still there including the two versus two tag rules seen in the original Tekken Tag Tournament along with Arcade, Time Attack, Ghost Battle and Survival modes. Like the DOA series the combat arenas are tiered with destructible elements. 

But in once sense I must agree with Alf, it appears all the extras have unfortunately overshadowed any realistic preview of precisely how good the gameplay is at present.  If your a Tekken fan you'll eat it up and have already most likely pre-ordered, for those new to the series wait for the strobe lights, crowd cheers and the standing ovations....if they ever come.

Official Website
IGN's Tekken Tag Tournament 2 wiki
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wallpaper on Just Walls

Alf The Helper: ahhh....no popcorn!!?
Elderly: No popcorn this time, but in sparing the expence of sending you on a cookery course, I've good news!
Alf The Helper: you have! good! and that is?  :)
Elderly: I'm waiting on the delivery of a popcorn augmentation device
Alf The Helper: Oh goody! a popcorn augmentation device.... what's that exactly?
Elderly: Wait and see little Alf, all will be revealed...
Alf The Helper: I'm so excited...
Elderly: You say that now.. I mean yes I know you are...
Alf The Helper: :)