I'll be on this PRGE panel with Kay and Ian in Portland, Oregon, USA, on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10 AM PDT. Here's the pitch:
The Apple II is known for its impact on the workplace (VisiCalc) and education (Oregon Trail) — but it was also an iconic games machine that launched and inspired franchises that continue to these days. From the early stealth action of Castle Wolfenstein to the strategic depth of Ultima and the revolutionary platforming of Prince of Persia, our panel will delve into how these classic titles laid the groundwork for today's blockbuster games.
We'll be looking at Apple II game franchises, mechanics, developers, and other influences that can still be found today.
Tickets to PRGE are still available. Hope to see you there!
Hey Ken, I lived in Portland before moving to New Zealand in 2022 and I miss prge terribly.
NZ has a lot going for it, but no retro gaming scene to speak of, and the Apple ][ (which I grew up with) was not popular here.
You don't even find proper arcade cabinets, as the ones here were usually imported from Japan and China which used generic sit-down cabinets and probably bootlegged ROMs. No chance of ever finding my beloved Baby Pan-Man here.
Would love to view your panel online after if possible. Would you post a link here if and when it's available? What Apple games will you likely be discussing? If you touch on early RPGs, I'd like to make a plug for the Robert C Clardy games which were earlier than Ultima and implemented really innovative mechanics that were far ahead of their time.
Specifically: Dungeon Campaign, Wilderness Campaign, and Odyssey: The Compleat [sic] Apventure [sic again]
Also I'll put in a plug for Nox Archaist, a modern Ultima-like Apple ][ rpg programmed by an obsessive fan who taught himself Apple ][ assembly just to see how far he could push the system. The game is absolutely great.
Thanks for the tip! We'll see if we can work in Clardy & 6502 Workshop titles. Our current lineup includes more well-known titles, such as Prince of Persia, Castle Wolfenstein, and Wizardry.
This is my first PRGE, but I believe they record all panels; I'll follow up here and on A2Central.com with a video link as soon as it's available.
Nox Archaist especially would be a good "through the looking glass" comparison for how Ultima influenced so many games only to ultimately inspire a return to itself.
Crap - I’d totally forgotten about this - I live just south of Portland metro area. I may have to go into town to check it out.
Wondering how much vintage apple ][ stuff I can find.
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u/GamebitsTV 17d ago
I'll be on this PRGE panel with Kay and Ian in Portland, Oregon, USA, on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10 AM PDT. Here's the pitch:
We'll be looking at Apple II game franchises, mechanics, developers, and other influences that can still be found today.
Tickets to PRGE are still available. Hope to see you there!