Fun Little Review by Marcin Wichary of a 1984 Flying Video Game Called Sopwith

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Marcin Wichary reviews Sopwith, a 1984 flying video game that was never intended for public release, a fact its creator only discovered years later. The game’s unexpected availability and nostalgic gameplay have sparked fond memories and discussions among retro gaming enthusiasts about similar vintage titles and experiences with early computer programming.

https://kottke.org/26/08/0049463-fun-little-review-by-marc

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“The Circle Is Closing” – Duo Of Deals Establishes a “Clear Framework For Commodore And Amiga”

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Two new licensing agreements have clarified the complex ownership of Commodore and Amiga intellectual property, with Commodore International obtaining rights to produce software and documentation for Commodore’s 8-bit computers under license from Amiga Corporation, which retains rights to Amiga software, hardware designs, and trademarks. Additionally, Hyperion Entertainment will continue developing AmigaOS 4 under license, establishing a clearer framework that could pave the way for new hardware releases, including a potential reproduction of the Amiga computer alongside Commodore’s FPGA-based C64 Ultimate.

https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/08/the-circle-is-closing-duo-of-deals-establishes-a-clear-framework-for-commodore-and-amiga

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IBM I (OS/400) The Database Operating System

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IBM i (formerly OS/400) is a unique operating system developed by IBM since the 1980s, notable for integrating a relational database (Db2 for i) directly into its kernel, treating all system resources as objects rather than files. Its architecture includes a technology-independent machine interface (TIMI) ensuring software compatibility across hardware generations, and a Single Level Storage model that unifies memory and disk addressing, enabling efficient data management and high reliability. While deeply tied to specialized IBM Power hardware, the system provides a distinctive approach to application hosting, security, and workload management, exemplified by features like message-based error handling and a text-based 5250 terminal interface alongside modern web-based tools.

https://osadmins.com/en/ibm-i-os-400-the-database-operating-system/

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Proving Doom Can Actually Run on Anything, One Programmer Has Made a Working Build for Commodore 64

Programmer Steve McCrea has developed a working version of Doom for the Commodore 64, an 8-bit computer that predates Doom by over a decade and was not originally designed to handle such games. This port uses ray casting with variable floor and ceiling heights, elevators, opening doors, and visible weapons to simulate a Doom-like experience, with levels E1M1 through E1M8 completed so far. While not true 3D, the project demonstrates impressive technical feats on retro hardware, reigniting interest in the Commodore 64’s capabilities and classic game preservation.

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/proving-doom-can-actually-run-on-anything-one-programmer-has-made-a-working-build-for-commodore-64/

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“We Didn’t Want To Simply Revisit The Past For Nostalgia’s Sake” – Gremlin Graphics Is Being Revived As a Heritage Label

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Gremlin Graphics Classics, a new heritage label dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the games and legacy of the British developer Gremlin Graphics, is set to launch in October with involvement from founder Ian Stewart. The label, led by Allan Turvey of Midnight Brew, aims to celebrate Gremlin’s pioneering 8-bit era and support new projects, including a deluxe physical edition of the new Monty Mole game “Dreamtime Monty” for the Spectrum NEXT. Beyond mere nostalgia, the initiative seeks to honor the creative spirit behind Gremlin by collaborating with developers, archivists, and enthusiasts to inspire future generations while maintaining commercial sustainability.

https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/07/we-didnt-want-to-simply-revisit-the-past-for-nostalgias-sake-gremlin-graphics-is-being-revived-as-a-heritage-label

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Windows NT Got Its Name From One of Intel’s Failed X86 Replacements

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Windows NT originally got its name from Intel’s canceled RISC processor project, the i860, which was codenamed “N-Ten” (NT), the first target platform for the OS. Microsoft later retrofitted the “New Technology” marketing label to the NT name, but it was the Intel i860’s codename that truly inspired Windows NT’s designation.

https://www.osnews.com/story/145617/windows-nt-got-its-name-from-one-of-intels-failed-x86-replacements/

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Windows NT 3.1

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Windows NT 3.1, released in 1993, was Microsoft’s first fully 32-bit operating system featuring improved stability, security, pre-emptive multitasking, and a new NTFS file system. It was designed to be portable across various CPU architectures, but its high memory requirements, limited driver support, and difficult setup hindered widespread adoption initially. Despite these drawbacks, Windows NT 3.1 laid the foundation for all future Microsoft operating systems and influenced the decline of proprietary Unix systems.

https://dfarq.homeip.net/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-windows-nt-3-1/

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Maximum Overkill | OS/2 Museum

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The 1992 game Comanche: Maximum Overkill by NovaLogic uses a nonstandard DOS extender and an unconventional method to enter protected mode, which works on 386 and 486 processors but can fail on Pentium and later CPUs due to changes in how the Intel Pentium handles the writability of the CS segment in real mode. This subtle CPU architectural difference, combined with variations in system BIOS behavior, causes the original game to crash on some Pentium systems, especially after the first run, though patched and updated versions improve compatibility.

https://www.os2museum.com/wp/maximum-overkill/

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10 REM”_(C2SLFF4

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The article investigates the mysterious first line of the 1980 Exidy Sorcerer BASIC game The Wizard’s Castle, which contains a REM statement embedding machine code for seeding the pseudo-random number generator (PRNG). By analyzing the Sorcerer’s memory and instruction set, the author and collaborators reveal that the REM text is actually tokenized machine code stored in BASIC’s linked-list program memory, executed via the USR() function to seed randomness using the Z80 processor’s R register. This illustrates a unique, low-level technique to embed executable code in comments on early microcomputers, highlighting the interplay between BASIC and machine code in vintage gaming and software.

https://beej.us/blog/data/mystery-comment/

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PCjs Machines

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PCjs is a JavaScript-based project that emulates a variety of vintage computing hardware and software from the 1970s through the 1990s, including original IBM PCs, IBM compatibles, minicomputers, programmable calculators, terminals, and classic arcade games. It allows users to experience these systems and software directly in modern web browsers, featuring a rich library of historical programs, operating systems, utilities, and games such as Microsoft Word 1.15, Lotus 1-2-3, Windows 3.0, and Wolfenstein 3D. The project serves as a digital preservation effort, offering extensive documentation and open-source code for enthusiasts to explore and contribute to retro computing history.

https://www.pcjs.org/

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