Latest news with #TomChristie
The Courier
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
The best games from Dundee's ZX Spectrum in 1990 - as beloved Speccy entered 'twilight era'
The end was nigh for Dundee's ZX Spectrum in 1990. The home computer produced by Dundee Timex workers was nearing the end of its commercial life after Sega and Nintendo burst on to the scene. Did it go out with a whimper? The Spectrum of Adventure author Tom Christie says there was still gas in the tank. 'By now, programmers had learned how to squeeze every scintilla of power out of the machine's creaking processor, and it seemed hard to believe that any original games were still to arrive for the famous system at this late stage,' he said. 'And yet, somehow, game designers were still able to come up with the goods. 'While the ZX Spectrum may no longer have been cutting-edge, it could still boast a vibrant, highly creative, and community-driven gaming scene, with a dedicated fan base across the UK and beyond. 'This was something of a twilight era for these early computers, but the gaming scene remained active and imaginative, with some surprisingly inventive games.' Tom has chosen 10 classic games to arrive on the platform in 1990. These include the popular SimCity and the brilliant Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge. How many of these games can you remember? Turrican was one of the most hotly-awaited titles of 1990. The shoot 'em up released by Rainbow Arts won big with magazine awards. It involved blasting through five alien environments. 'The game boasted huge levels which invited players to go exploring rather than encouraging them to complete each stage in a linear way,' said Tom. 'The mutant warrior hero was robust enough to handle anything thrown at him.' The tagline was: 'Never forget: shoot or die'. Crash magazine described Turrican as 'one of the best Speccy games seen this year'. The long-running Sim series all started here with SimCity. Tom said: 'It's easy to forget that this game appeared on the Spectrum in a hugely ambitious port released by French company Infogrames. 'All of the classic options were there. 'As mayor, the player had to balance their communities between different zones, while having to keep citizens happy with reliable services. 'The game was just as addictive on the Speccy as it would be on other platforms.' The city management game cost £9.99 on release. Your Sinclair's magazine review stated that the game was 'beautifully simple in concept and hangs together perfectly.' Tom said Activision produced something quite original with Time Machine. The player takes on the role of an eccentric scientist who must 'manipulate history' through five different time zones. Tom said: 'Professor Potts is cast adrift in time, and his every decision can have vast implications – for instance, failure to safeguard a species of clever little mammals will mean that the human race never comes to evolve. 'The game certainly wowed the reviewers of the time, with Sinclair User noting that Time Machine was an absorbing and innovative game. 'It also highlighted its excellent mono graphics.' The game cost £9.99 on release. Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge was a highly playable racing game. There was even a two-player head-to-head mode to race against a friend. Tom said: 'It was a big hit on later systems so Spectrum owners may well have been surprised by how well the game translated to their computer. 'Gremlin Graphics were long-time veterans of the Speccy. 'The third-person perspective works well with smooth gameplay throughout. 'The racing retains the excitement of the game's more powerful versions.' Crash magazine said it was 'one of the best two-player car simulations around.' This puzzle game was heavily hyped by publisher US Gold. Tom said the game played 'like an inspired cross between Thrust and Asteroids'. He said: 'The player has control of a spaceship which must nudge spheres – each of them containing a shape – into each other with force and momentum. 'If the spheres contain identical shapes, they will disappear on impact, but if the shapes are different then smaller spheres will be produced which must also be dealt with. 'It may sound simple, but in execution it could be maddeningly difficult to master.' Crash magazine described E-Motion as 'frustratingly addictive'. And now for something completely different… Were you a fan of Monty Python's Flying Circus? Tom said: 'One of the most surprising game licenses of 1990 was an adaptation of the surreal 1960s sketch show that immortalised the dead parrot. 'Published by Virgin Software, the game was based on Terry Gilliam's bizarre animations – only now repurposed as a sideways-scrolling shoot 'em up.' Reviewers were as impressed as they were mystified. Sinclair User commented: 'There's enough gameplay to keep you engrossed even if you don't know what the hell's going on.' The Spectrum tape included a free Mr Gumby badge. Gremlin Graphics' famous mascot Monty Mole was back in 1990. This was the sixth title in the series. Monty was given a Hollywood-style makeover in this superhero-inspired platformer. He was faced with five different alien environments to tackle. The hapless mole had been called upon to save an alien planet from disaster. Hidden rooms were craftily positioned on each level. Sinclair User said: 'It offers a stiff challenge, full of colourful graphics.' Super Off-Road went down well with gamers at the time of its release. The game was published by Virgin Games. It was endorsed by professional off-road racer Ivan Stewart. Tom said: 'The arcade original had been a brightly-coloured affair. 'Meanwhile, the Spectrum version was monochromatic, making it occasionally difficult for players to keep track of their car. 'That said, the game was never less than fast-moving or addictive.' Your Sinclair agreed. They said it was 'the best super sprint-type game ever seen on the Speccy'. The Last Ninja series had a huge fan following on the 8-bit systems. Tom said System 3 Software produced something special with this Remix edition which was an updated version of Last Ninja 2 from 1988. He said: 'Using an isometric view, the player can employ ninja fighting skills against enemies, improvising weapons and gathering useful items as they go. 'With brilliant stylised backdrops and an atmospheric playing environment, this was a real treat to explore.' Crash said the game was a clever arcade adventure with appealing graphics. Rainbow Islands was a classic platform game. Players could fire rainbows that had multiple uses: to act as weapons, create makeshift platforms, or collect items to increase their score. Tom said: 'Arguably one of the most perfect arcade conversions ever released, Rainbow Islands first hit the coin-ops in 1987. 'Ocean Software brought it to the Speccy in 1990. 'The Spectrum version retained the large, colourful sprites of the original, along with flawless scrolling and excellent in-game music. 'The expansive multi-level worlds also carried over from the arcade version.' The game won several awards from the trade press at the time. 'Rainbow Islands was the kind of game that saved the best for last,' Tom said. 'It showed that the revered Speccy still had life left in it even at this late stage, which is why – even all these years down the line – retro gamers are still enjoying these titles.'
1News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- 1News
Chiefs clear way to finish top, but it's not all bad for Crusaders
Fresh from being steamrolled in the second half by the Hurricanes last weekend, the Chiefs did just that to the Crusaders in Christchurch last night to put themselves in pole position to qualify as top finishers of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season. The Chiefs failed to score a point after the break in Wellington but in Christchurch, after conceding close-range tries to Tom Christie, Scott Barrett and Anthony Shalfoon to go to the halftime 19-10 down, the visitors went on a spree via Damien McKenzie, Leroy Carter and Wallace Sititi to run out 35-19 victors. "We rolled up the sleeves and just went through the front. We were patient enough to wait for the opportunity," said Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan told media afterwards. "I think there was Chiefs rugby at its best. There were lots of pleasing things today, but some still some work-ons. We didn't get everything perfect, when you play the Crusaders, you got to understand that that will be the case. We're not going to get everything your own way. "The reality we just kind of got beaten up last week and that didn't sit well with anybody. We knew we had to stand up physically, both sides of the ball. That's something that the Chiefs pride themselves on.' The Chiefs are now on a bye week, with matches against Moana Pasifika (home) and the Highlanders (away) rounding out their regular season. They will be strong favourites to win both handsomely, although an Ardie Savea-inspired Moana Pasifika could ask some difficult questions. Should they follow the form guide and qualify top, they will likely face the Blues or Hurricanes in a quarter-final. Knowing they failed to fire a shot in the second half will make this defeat for the Crusaders, who have now lost to the Chiefs both home and away this season, more difficult to swallow. "It was a bit of a lesson, how we respond now will be critical," said Crusaders coach Rob Penney. "How they were able to go through us particularly at the back end, they were pretty ruthless and we weren't able to counter it. We were just a little bit below where we needed to be…we were still making too many tackles. They're notorious for going hard after halftime - we expected it but weren't able to combat it." However, for the Crusaders there may be a silver lining. Should the top six – the Chiefs, Brumbies, Crusaders, Reds, Blues and Hurricanes - maintain their positions during the remaining three rounds, the red and blacks will host the Reds in the first knockout match. They have already beaten them 43-19 in Christchurch this season and will be confident of doing again to progress to the semifinal which could represent a trip to Canberra to face the Brumbies, their final-round opposition. Under this year's post-season format, the highest ranked losing team after the first round progresses to the next, albeit with the loss of hosting rights. Assuming again that the top six maintain their positions, the first-round knockout matches would look like this: Chiefs v Hurricanes, Brumbies v Blues and Crusaders v Reds. If the home sides won those matches the fourth-placed Reds would progress to the next round as 'lucky losers'. That would create this semifinal format: Chiefs v Reds and Brumbies v Crusaders. The key for the Crusaders, should they win both knockout matches, is that under this format they would avoid New Zealand-based opposition until the grand final in Hamilton – a repeat of the 2023 showdown which the Crusaders won. It is a formula they would probably happily accept if offered it right now.
Daily Record
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Film and TV locations across Stirling in the spotlight thanks to local author
Film and TV locations across Stirling are in the spotlight at an event this week thanks to local expert and author Dr Tom Christie. Dr Christie is a cultural historian specialising in film history, popular culture, and digital humanities. His latest talk, 'Lights, Camera, Stirling', is a presentation about filming locations throughout Stirling and Stirlingshire. At the event in Legends Coffee House at the Wallace Monument, on Thursday, April 24, the local author is going to be talking about some of the more unexpected movies and TV shows to have been filmed in the area - including a few weird and wonderful stories along the way. A spokesperson said: 'The city of Stirling, and the wider county of Stirlingshire, have long been favoured destinations when it comes to location filming for cinema and television. 'This presentation will take a look at some of the productions which have been filmed in the area over the decades, from big-budget Hollywood movies to independent features - a few of which might just surprise you. 'Ranging from sci-fi and fantasy through to thrillers and historical dramas, Stirling continues to be an increasingly popular location for film-makers worldwide. This presentation will explain just why the region has become so beloved of directors and audiences alike.' The event takes place tomorrow (Thursday) at 7pm at Legends Coffee House. Entry is by donation, and will help to support the work of Stirling District Tourism in the area. Doors open at 6.30pm with tea/coffee and biscuits included in the admission. To book a seat in advance visit:
