Norman...

...was feeling a little retro.

Just for a change from drawing I've been messing about with old computers, the Sinclair Spectrum to be precise (did any of you have or still have one of these?), as it was the computer of choice in the house I grew up in. I do love this computer, for I feel closer to understanding how it works than I do the magic box that I'm sitting in front of at the moment. It's limitations mean you have to use your imagination more and forces programmers to be more creative.

I always wanted to write a game, and I've entered it for the 2010 comp sys sinclair crap games competition, but against games like 'overtake the pope 2' and 'John Terry's Quest for the Golden Bra' it doesn't stand a chance.

It's based around my Norman character and has 10 levels, like Delia Smith's Boudoir and the Screaming Habdabs to name a couple. Fancy a game? If so here's what you do:

1-Download an emulator from http://www.worldofspectrum.org/emulators.html, I would recommend ZX Spin, just scroll down a bit.

2-Download my game from the crap games website, and check out the other great, sorry crap, games while you're there.

3-Open the game file with ZX Spin and you're away!

I've entered it for the crap games comp as it's written in Basic, so slow as hell, and the object detection doesn't work very well, so you have to hover over them. If you want, in the emulator, you can increase the emulation speed to say 7 or 14MHz to make it more playable.

If this tickles your fancy and you complete it before xmas, email me & I'll send you a substantial prize. All you would need to do is tell me what the ending sequence is (i'll know if you cheated ;))

None shall pass!

Sci Fi Art Now!

I received my copy of SciFiArt now today,& it looks pretty smart. The thing I like most is the mix of styles, from the more 'standard' realistic heavily airbrushed works to the livelier rougher exaggerated pieces. I've obviously betrayed my preference in that last sentence, but the important thing is that there's something for everyone. If push came to shove I'd say my favourites pieces were Nelson Evergreen's Built with a Smile and Jim Hatamas Falcon Guard, but I can honestly say I found most of the art very pleasing.

All good book shops and Amazon! 20 spond.

Estate agent

This guy could equally be presenting top gear. Only kidding, estate agents are the salt of the earth.

November Geoscientist

I posted the wrong cartoon earlier, if you saw it you're a lucky thing. This one is more apt that the weather, and is the one that appears in this months Geoscientist.

SciFi Art Now

Do you like Science? Do you like Fiction? Do you like Art? Do you want them NOW?

Then you want to get a copy of SciFi Art Now.

I've got a piece of work in it and it has some bloody good company. Edited by John Freeman , this is a great book bringing together pro and amateur artists work into a great edition.

It'll be out very soon, if not already. Details on the SFAN blog.