iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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The Centre for Computing History @computinghistory.org.uk · 14h

Catch Hannah on @camtechpod.bsky.social reminding you about this years Retro Fest! 🎮🚀👾 Book your tickets now: www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/77371/Re... youtu.be/NkRzB5ekD7E?...

youtu.be

Weekly News Drop - 2 October 2026

YouTube video by Cambridge Tech Podcast

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The Spaceshipper 🚀 @thespaceshipper.com · 20h

Happy birthday, Sci-fi Queen. 🥳 Sigourney Weaver has also voiced a spaceship two times (the Female Planet Express Ship in Futurama, 2002, and the Axiom from Wall-E, 2008).

Sigourney Weaver in The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026)

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Retro Computers @retrocomps.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Well, this is a curious artifact - this image was used to explain what a digital computer was to people who were used to human computers. (Source.)

Up top, the title "BASIC COMPUTER ELEMENTS: comparision between manual composition..." The top half illustrates manual composition: a whistling man carries loose paper marked 'incoming problem' to a desk, and leaves it at a 'Notebook'; the operator, with a 'Desk Calculating Machine' to his left, works with pen and paper; the man leaves, printed folios of answers in hand. Below a horizontal rule, page bottom, the title continues: "...and Whirlwind I Computation." An arrow pointing in states "problems to be done," leading to a box labeled Input Devices; Input Devices points to a broad system bus line. Next is Storage, which reads from and writes to the system bus. Next is Control; control reads from the system bus, and writes to all boxes in this diagram. Next is Arithmetic Element; it reads from and writes to the system bus. Last is Output Devices; it reads from the system bus and writes out "Results in Desired Form."

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I have tickets to see this at the weekend so I'll see for myself what the queues are like. It's probably too late for the real answer to the overcrowding: don't sell so many tickets.

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Iain Mew @superchartisland.com · 05/10/2026

Football Manager (by Kevin Toms) kicked off a whole genre in the early '80s. Football Manager (by Sports Interactive) is a modern institution. What happened in between and why was the name up for grabs? New post on Football Manager 2: www.superchartisland.com/football-manager-2

superchartisland.com

Football Manager 2 – “Extra training”

In Kevin Toms’s Software Star, released on his Addictive Games label in 1985, you run a games publisher. You name new games, decide how to promote them (including whether to lead with Hype or Hones…

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I think it was along the lines of "we've rented a video, you can watch it while we're out if you want". I am not sure of the exact timeline but apparently BBFC classification of VHS tapes only came in around 1985 so possibly it had no age rating on it at the time.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I watched Poltergeist at a birthday party, then my parents were out that evening and had rented me a video to watch: Alien. Couldn't sleep. The shadows in the corner might be a xenomorph, but can't check because there might be an evil popup clown under the bed.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It's #Caturday night and I just can't face up to it

A cat, asleep, covering it's face with it's paws.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Oh dear. I really should get my A1200 out of the loft and take a look, but I'm a bit scared about what I'll find 😀

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Cheating for #RandomGameSaturday with something that isn't really a game, it's Heather Couper's Starfinder for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron. Comes with an astronomy textbook. I like to remember that there were plenty of people in the 80s using their computers for things other than games.

The front of the clamshell case for Heather Couper's Starfinder for the BBC and Electron. The sub-title is "The Century Star Finder and Home Planetarium" and below that is noted that the program is by Ronald Alpiar. There is a picture of a telescope against a starry sky.

The back of the Starfinder case, it is purely text but has an ISBN number, a bar code and a price of £12.95. The start of the text reads:

This pack contains:
* a computer program tape which displays star maps of the sky
* a book all about astronomy
* full instructions for using the software with your micro

The Starfinder clamshell case folded out. To the left is the cassette tape, to the right is the 130 page astronomy book which includes a couple of pages on how to run the software.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I have a Prinztronic VC 6000 which I think is electronically identical to your Acetronic, they're both Dixon's brand names. The controllers look very similar, mine still have the stick bit but I need to open them up because they only work erratically.

An Acetronic Olympics cart plugged into a Prinztronic VC 6000 console. In the background the box for the cart, to either side the controllers.

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🎃Scarebrush 🎃Frightwood 🎃 @gamewhisperer.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Acetronic MPU 2000 repair thread

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RetroBytes(John) @retrobytes.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It finally happened after a surprisingly large number of months, I finished editing a video. The research and building of stuff for the video has been a lot of fun, even if it took far longer than I expected. youtu.be/qSgnDD83m-U

youtu.be

The History of Cray

YouTube video by RetroBytes

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More Fun Making It @morefunmakingit.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I got this amazing thing a while back and recorded my first impressions. I am stunned how good it is. Video is over on the @ready-player-two.bsky.social channel.

youtu.be

Retroid pocket 6 First Impressions

YouTube video by ReadyPlayer2

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Binary Dinosaurs @binarydinosaurs.co.uk · 01/10/2026

Massively chuffed to get a whole bunch of RML380Z manuals from Ash on Masotodon. Even when the machines I used at school were new I never saw a manual so this is great! Cheers Ash if you see this 😄

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

As this is doing the rounds on my feed currently, here's one I made earlier. #My9Games my9games.com/en/s/1dbe0ad...

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This Week in Retro @thisweekinretro.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A look back at episode 50 of our storied show from September 2021, for our monthly and annual supporters. www.patreon.com/thisweekinre...

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The Retro Collective @retrocollective.co.uk · 29/09/2026

Event: "Pubs, Programming and Panic: 40-ish Years of Shipping Games and Not Losing My Mind" Join Adrian Brown who will be sharing 30 years of games development experience, here at The Retro Collective. Taking place on Sunday 18th October. Book now: www.retrocollective.co.uk/view-event.p...

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Dan Tootill @dantootill.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Here is the complete "Doctor Who - Full Circle" set for your enjoyment. I'm not how if there was much value in trying to preserve these, but it was definitely something to do... #3DViewMaster 1. Doctor Who, Romana and K9, ready for lift off

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Iain Mew @superchartisland.com · 28/09/2026

After Ocean's conversion of Technos beat-'em-up Renegade, its arcade successor Double Dragon became a huge hit... and Ocean missed out on the licence. So in true Ocean fashion, they invented their own Renegade sequel instead. New post on Target: Renegade: www.superchartisland.com/target-renegade

superchartisland.com

Target: Renegade – “The skin-heads, the Beastie Boys, the bouncers”

Yoshihisa Kishimoto and Technos set some key standards in early beat-’em-ups with 熱血硬派くにおくん, Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun or, as it was known in the West, Renegade. Having launched Kunio-kun as the main…

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Iain Mew @superchartisland.com · 25/09/2026

EA Sports FC 27 is out today. To commemorate, here is a previously unpublished piece about my compulsive relationship with FIFA 18's Ultimate Team mechanics, and why I'm glad I stopped playing www.superchartisland.com/fifa-18

superchartisland.com

FIFA 18 and why I stopped playing FIFA games

I wrote this article for GameTripper in 2022, but it didn’t end up being published. I have made a few minor edits but have left largely as-was. It…

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Love this game, I own it on Steam, PS4 and Switch!

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Had a root around in the loft for #RandomGameSaturday and came across my Amiga copy of Sim City Classic. Love this game, many hours spent trying to find the ideal placement of city blocks.

Sim City Classic for the CBM Amiga Platinum Edition from Hit Squad (i.e. a budget label). The label states "Off disk protection" so it's a good job I still have the manuals.

The back of the Sim City box with some screen shots on the left and some paragraphs of description, the text begins: "The original city simulator"

Also pictured: the game manual; the Terrain Editor manual; the game disk; and the Terrain Editor disk.

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Mike Dailly ™ @mdf200.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Found this in my archives. It's the source of the "dino.exe" name that #GTA1 inherited (via it's DINO.BAT) It was listed as "Darrens Dino Game" Unless this was Attack! I have no idea what this game concept was.This would have been the demo that I drew the Isometric picture for that then spawned GTA

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GigerPunk @gigerpunk.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Am not coughing anymore so wondering if I'm safe enough (and able) to get to the hospital again to see Flo, it's been SO long I've been going out of my mind and I'm sure she has too. And I need to tell her about the GoFundMe, so she's not worrying about work/bills. www.gofundme.com/f/flo-and-rob

gofundme.com

Donate to Help Flo and Rob with Flo's Stroke Recovery, organized by Emma Leadley

Flo is an artist, sci-fi and fantasy writer and regular attendee at conventio… Emma Leadley needs your support for Help Flo and Rob with Flo's Stroke Recovery

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Sinclair Research @sinclairresearch.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The Jupiter Ace was launched this day in 1982. Happy Birthday, little plastic Forth buddy! #jupiterace

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Iain Mew @superchartisland.com · 21/09/2026

In 1980s Britain, snooker was enjoying a boom that began with colour TV. Several saw the Spectrum as a similar opportunity. CDS & Mike Lamb made a great game and brought in a world champion too, with lasting results. New post on Steve Davis Snooker: superchartisland.com/steve-davis-snooker

superchartisland.com

Steve Davis Snooker – “Colour wanted”

In 1969, the controller of BBC Two, one David Attenborough, had a bit of an issue. He had a few colour cameras, and a desire to put something unique on his channel that would maximise the use of th…

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Yes! My Dad used to take the whole family down to these in the mid-80s. It was at that Novotel that I first saw an Amiga, they held the ICPUG AGM there and members got a sneak preview of the machine.

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Kate - Mac Librarian @maccy.me · 19/09/2026

New Podcast Episode ! This time we explore Vintage Computer Festival Midwest! youtu.be/LamG412IQgA

youtu.be

Kate & Veronica - E02 - VCF Midwest 2026 - The Largest Vintage Computer Festival!

YouTube video by Kate and Veronica Podcast

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

We had people at the event from www.domesday86.com who are recreating the whole project to run on modern hardware, towards the end of the day I snapped this of them recording one of the disks we had (essentially a Greaseweazle for LV disks). So keep an eye on their site for news.

The DomesdayDuplicator in action, making a backup of the Volcanoes disk.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Today on #RandomGameSaturday I am a little sad that I can't afford a Switch 2 to play the latest Fire Emblem game, but I'm happy that I can play Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia on my #3DS whenever I want.

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Limited Edition box, the front has large pictures of Alm and Celica and a small picture of every thing included in the box.

The back of the Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia box, has screenshots and descriptions of the gameplay, Alm and Celica again, and further pictures of all the extras included in the box.

All the things included in the Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Limited Edition box (back to front, left to right): the game itself in a standard 3DS clamshell; an A4 sized Valentia Artbook; an audio CD of the soundtrack; three metal pin badges in a presentation box; an Alm Amiibo; a Celica Amiibo.

The CD sountrack opened up so the artwork is visible, both the case and the CD itself have sepia drawings of Alm and Celica. Below that the clamshell opened up showing the game cart and the instructions for downloading the manual.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Did you find it? It turns out there are many more disks than we have on the online emulator. There's a guy here who is using a Pi to emulate the video disk player, that has several I've not seen before.

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The Centre for Computing History @computinghistory.org.uk · 19/09/2026

A great start to today’s Domesday at 40 anniversary event! 👏🏼 We have heard talks from Chris Turner, Mike Tibbetts and Jardine Barrington-Cook. Our brilliant MC for the day is @delverie.bsky.social 🎙️ Looking forward to the rest of the day! #Domesdayat40

Jardine Barrington-Cook at the Centre for Computing History’s Domesday at 40 event. Standing at a lectern in front of seated people.

Mike Tibbetts, at the Centre for Computing History’s Domesday at 40 event, standing at a lectern reading notes. Standing in front of a TV screen showing an old photograph of a BBC Master Domesday system.

Chris Turner, at the Centre for Computing History Domesday at 40 event. Standing at a lectern in front of seated guests. A TV screen behind showing a web page.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I'm at the @computinghistory.org.uk for the Domesday at 40 event, celebrating the 1986 BBC Domesday Project (itself a celebration of 1086 Domesday Book).

Various original Domesday Project systems ready for action, we have both BBC Master and RM Nimbus available to use

A more recent system including both the original 1986 content and updated 2011 content used via a touchscreen interface

Stories sent in by people involved in gathering information for the Domesday Project in 1985 part 1

Stories sent in by people involved in gathering information for the Domesday Project in 1985 part 2

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Mr Benn @thebowlerhatman.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Here is the full packaging for the upcoming Mr Benn dvd release. All the cartoons have been restored & look Fabulous. There are loads of extras, including a cd of Mr Benn - The Music. We hope you love it!! Please pass the word...

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The Civitas Universe @thecivitasuniverse.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Working today on a BBSs to feature in my game. In this alternate universe @visitthecave.bsky.social's @retrocollective.co.uk was already a thing, and had its own BBS! I just need to figure out the old landline format for a phone based in Stroud,UK in 1989 🤔 #GlyphisIOBBSTheProxyTapes1989

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Computer Chronicles Revisited @deviledeggpress.com · 16/09/2026

It's the 40th anniversary of the Apple IIgs! Apple's Curtis Sasaki appeared in a September 1986 episode to demo EA's "Music Construction Set," which developer Will Harvey ported from his original Apple II version. www.computerchronicles.blog/computer-chr... #retrocomputing #apple #midi

computerchronicles.blog

Computer Chronicles Revisited 64 — The Music Studio, EZ-Track, Soundscape, the Apple IIgs, and the CompuSonics DSP-1000

The Computer Chronicles discusses MIDI music.

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Rhianna Pratchett @rhi.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Okay, starting a @thelongdark.bsky.social stalker survival run. I’m mostly an interloper player, which is technically the hardest mode since items are limited and the weather is worse. With stalker, the wildlife is more aggressive, but you get extra stuff, incl. guns.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

For #RandomGameSaturday here is Interdictor Pilot for the #C64. This is an aspirational game for me, I used to see adverts for it that made think it was a 'grown up' game. Fortunately an RRP of £17.99 meant it was well out of my budget, because I'm sure 13yo me would not have enjoyed it.

Interdictor Pilot from Supersoft for the Commodore 64. The cover has the game title in an LED-style font, below that a picture of the view from a sci-fi cockpit, two hands can be seen gripping the flight yoke, a button is pressed and the screen shows lasers shooting at a hamburger shaped spaceship.

The back of the Interdictor Pilot clamshell box. There are several headings, here I present them with a summary of the content of each section:

* A space flight simulation - once we thought even flying to the moon will be unlikely, but perhaps one day space flight will be common?
* The scenario - in 2131 the first Intergalactic War began, the Interdictor Mk 2 was built but over 78% of recruits were lost during training
* The simulator - a simulator was built so that pilots could learn to pilot the new Interdictor Mk 3 in a less risky fashion
* The program - with the aid of your Commodore 64 you too can learn to pilot the Interdictor Mk 3
* This is no game.

It's amusing to me that the plot of the game shares several elements with that of the movie The Last Starfighter which had released a few months before.

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This Week in Retro @thisweekinretro.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A wild week for retro Kickstarters, and a unique phone booth memorial opens its folding door. But first: Tron references, the big four-oh for the Amstrad PC1512 PC clone, a time capsule of Atari newsletters from Aug 1987, and Nelumbo's classic Lotus racing action. youtu.be/8lyKDPCZmEQ

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The Centre for Computing History @computinghistory.org.uk · 12/09/2026

We have opened up some more free pre-book tickets for tomorrow’s Binary Quilt event! Please book here: www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/77266/Op... Come see the Quilt in our Main Gallery, and join a workshop to make your own stitched square 🪡🧵

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Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️‍⚧️ @sharkabytes.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

The Apple IIGS can produce mind-boggling effects. The IIGS has become my new computer fascination. It's such an fascinating mix of specific audio and visuals bolted to a woefully slow processor.

A snap from The Bard's Tale with a battle screen. The party faces off against two skeletons with red eyes and glowing red ribcage.

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Rob Crowther @robertcrowther.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

I've played that version of The Bard's Tale! All three original games got released as a package on Android, the app was running the games in a IIGS emulator. I played it a lot on the tube on the way to work. Needed to remember to open a browser tab with the manual in before I went underground 😀

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The Centre for Computing History @computinghistory.org.uk · 10/09/2026

The Cambridge Festival Community Quilt is ready for display! 🧵 Join us this weekend at Stitch and Code, part of #OpenCambridge, to make your own stitched square and learn Japanese hitomezashi. Pre-booked tickets are sold out, but limited walk-ins are available. Image: @cambridgefestival.bsky.social

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Kevin Edwards ( Retro game developer ) @kevedwardsretro.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

My BBC Micro and Acorn Electron shoot 'em up 'Galaforce' is 40 years old this month. I was 19 when I started creating the game with help from former school friends Paul Proctor ( Artwork ) and Martin Galway ( Music /SFX ). I went to Superior Software in early 1986 and they agreed to publish the game

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