Defender
News, coverage and analysis tracking Defender across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Starforce - A fantastic 1980s Arcade shooter is coming to the Amiga AGA via Acidbottle
Developer Acidbottle is bringing the 1980s arcade hit Starforce to the Amiga AGA platform. The project utilizes modern AI tools alongside the Scorpion Engine, aiming to replicate the original gameplay mechanics, including the Greek alphabet-themed stages and a two-level weapon system. A new soundtrack is also in development.
Bitmap Books’ new 408-page arcade history celebrates 120 classic coin-op games and the people who made them
Bitmap Books has released a new 408-page hardback titled 'The Arcade 1971–1999: The Stories Behind Classic Coin-Ops, Told by Their Creators.' The book features 120 classic arcade games and details their development through interviews with the people who made them, including notable figures like Nolan Bushnell and Toru Iwatani.
Defender (Williams) - 1980's scrolling shooter by Williams Electronics for arcades is getting an Acidbottle Amiga port
Developer Acidbottle is creating a new horizontal shoot 'em up for the Amiga, aiming to faithfully recreate the classic arcade game Defender. The project started in the Godot engine on PC and is now being translated to the Amiga using AI tools and the official arcade source code as reference. An early alpha build is available for testing on high-end Amiga setups.
How to become a golden age arcade machine collector and repairman - Reader's Feature
This reader feature details a personal journey into collecting and repairing 1980s arcade machines, starting with early games like Seawolf and Space Invaders. The author recounts acquiring various cabinets, the challenges of repair, and the vibrant UK retro arcade scene, highlighting the community and passion involved in preserving these classic machines.
A retired Microsoft engineer is training an AI to master Robotron: 2084, an incredibly difficult arcade game about a…
Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer is training an AI to master the notoriously difficult 1982 arcade game Robotron: 2084. Plummer, also known for creating Windows Task Manager and 3D Pinball, sees Robotron as a pure stress test of real-time decision-making. The project involves a live training dashboard showcasing the AI's progress and analysis of the game's underlying design principles.
