Sinclair ZX Spectrum Stuff

My First Ever Commercially Published Game: Reckless Rufus.

'Course, when I say it was 'mine' I mean I did the graphics (and then had them mauled!!!). The game was based on a Commodore 64 game called 'Awesome Dude' - a name far too cringeworthy to be applied to a Spectrum game. The conversion, published by Alternative Software (at the time, neither the best, nor most prolific budget game publisher) was pretty damn good, rated as a Your Sinclair Megagame. I was mightily chuffed until I noticed that the programmer had decided to 'modify' my graphics ever so slightly. The panel was reduced to a single colour (Cyan), the cable running from 'Score' to 'Block' was made rather more square than I remember it, and an unnecessary squiggle was put in the top. I also had some background detail in the panel, such as a resistor sticking out of the case. And I designed a number font specifically for the scoreboard. And he used half his own enemy sprites instead of the ones I created. If you happen to have a Spectrum emulator (or even a Spectrum!), and you manage to track down a copy of the game (here, for example!), you will find most of the enemies are based upon circles. I guess that's all he could draw well... and as for the travesty of a 'dome-shaped sparky thing', shown in the top right picture (circled when you put your mouse pointer over the image), MINE WAS BETTER!!!

I suppose I shouldn't complain too loudly, as it was my first game, I learnt some valuable lessons and (for God's sake) I was only paid £250 for the lot!

Want to read the review? (Links to the website of the Your Sinclair Rock'N'Roll Years)

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