Wednesday 23 April 2008

Misspent Youth

About a quarter of a century ago I would have been spending quite a lot of my time playing with computers. My parents bought me one when I was 11.


As well as learning to program, I had loads of games. A lot of them were versions of the popular 80's arcade games, such as Pacman, Galaxians, Pole Position, and so on. One I discovered when I was about 15 was Lode Runner.

At first sight, this didn't look very good. Even in the 80s stick men were a little primitive. The idea of the game was incredibly simple - collect all of the treasure and avoid getting caught. You had no weapons, but you could dig holes. The guards would get stuck in these holes. Nevertheless, I remember spending hours playing it.

But that was a quarter of a century ago. In all that time, I don't think that I've ever thought about Lode Runner. So I was excited to find a free clone called xscavenger. I downloaded it on Sunday, and remembered why I'd enjoyed the game so much.

It's because each level is a puzzle. You have to put a lot of thought into working out how to do it. The guards are predictable, so it is possible to get them into places where they are stuck and can't get near you.


I've already spent some time getting to level 8. It's rather challenging - I'm not at all sure how I'm going to all that treasure, but I'm sure I'll work it out, because this game is seriously addictive...

34 comments:

Bee said...

FIRST!!

Bee said...

I’ve never been big on video games to tell you the truth but I remember one where this little dude was in a jungle and had to jump from vine to vine then run a mountain while borders fell on him… I liked that one.

Bee said...

I also rocked Ms. Pacman, Tetris AND SPACE INVADERS!!

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

I think that was Jungle Hunt

Brian o vretanos said...

I loved Joust - where you rode on an osritch. That has to be my all-time favourite.

Bee said...

YEAH! That was it! I never fell off the vines and jumped over tose boulders faster than you can blink!

Jean Knee said...

oh crap, I never played video games really until I got married and Drew and I tag team on area 51, and now the zombie game.

I suck at both but I still like them

Jean Knee said...

this is your misspent youth? tell us something good

Tracy Rambles On And On said...

I want Pacman and Miss Pacman to make a comeback. I loved them! Oh and I remember playing Pong on my brothers attari. I also remember my father saying "Technology these days is just amazing" while watching us. I can only imagine what he would say now!

Oh and there's a surprise on my blog for you all. All I'm going to say is "Send me my plane tickets!"

Jean Knee said...

I see you are sleeping

Jean Knee said...

11 th

Jean Knee said...

ha, Bee's sleeping too

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

Sorry to disappoint you, but I had a fairly uneventful childhood.

Tracy:

Yes, it's amazing how much technology has advanced, yet the old games are still fun, I suppose because people haven't advanced any.

Tracy Rambles On And On said...

Brian- I think that must be true. I still think like a 19 year old girl most of the time.
Although I read somewhere that the female mind stops maturing at 19 so the mentality you have then is what you'll always have. I wonder if there's any truth to that?

Dan said...

Braian you REBEL, you misspend your youth learning how to program.
Bad Ass Brian !!!!!!!

Didn't play the oldies much but I was addicted to Resident Evil.

Dan said...

Tracy
That my be the case for blonds :.)

Jean Knee said...

okay, so what about when you were a teenager? don't let me down Brian.

Bee said...

Dan, is that a booger on your nose?

Dan wouldn't thumb wrestle be because he was chicken!

Jean Knee said...

bawwk bawk bawwwwwk

Bee said...

YUP! He's yeller!

Dan said...

We did and I won !!

Bee said...

Nu-uh! Liar! You removed the napkin ring from your thumb!!

Brian o vretanos said...

Jean Knee:

Okay, I won't disappoint you.

Dan:

I'm shocked at your cowardice. You shouldn't have let yourself be bullied into doing something stupid by... a girlie!

Bee's Dark Side said...

(:-O
NAD HERE I JUST CALLED YOU A GENTLEMAN ON MY BLOG!!

I am no GIRLIE!! >:o[

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

I was hoping that no-one would notice the fatal flaw in my reasoning...

Dan said...

ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja
ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja
ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja
ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja
ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja
ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja
ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja
ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja
ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja ja jaaaa ja

Brian o vretanos said...

Νταν:

λυπούμαι, αλλά δεν καταλαβαίνω εσπανικά

;-)

Bee's Dark Side said...

Your Ubuntununu is here!!

Bee's Dark Side said...

It says it includes instant messaging........

I've asked you and jean knee to get an IM........

Just sayin'!

Jean Knee said...

I tried to do it Bee but it messed up somehow

but, here's good news--I think I have my paypal figured out,,yeees

Bee's Dark Side said...

Soooo you're gonna give me your password and account #? :o)

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

I've installed the new ubuntu on my laptop - Vista didn't last long ;-)

Currently working out how to get the wireless internet working again. Unfortunately it doesn't "just work"

Yes, I saw your email about IM, and it seemed to want me to install some Microsoft piece of sh*t. That I was going to have to pay for.

Priorities at the moment are getting wireless gubbins working, then setting up things so I can watch Emilia, then I'll have a go with the messaging thing...

Bee's Dark Side said...

Yeah, messaging is free. Weird.

Why did you say sh*t? Should we not swear on your blogus??

Cuz jean knee swears like a drunk truck driver who just ran over a possum!

Not me though. I don't swear.

Brian o vretanos said...

Bee:

Of course not! You can swear as much as you like!