Page 1 of 2

Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 3:47 am
by RWAP
I just came across the following snippet in an old Sinclair User magazine (issue 20):

Genuine hi-res in space invasion

ODYSSEY Computing has achieved the remarkable feat of producing, with no extra hardware, a genuine high-resolution version of Space Invaders for the 16K ZX-81. Invaders offers superior graphics and allows one or two people to play and provides a choice of missile-firing and bomb-dropping rates. The result is an absorbing game which should satisfy trigger-happy space fighters. Invaders is from Odyssey Computing, Notts. It costs £4.95.


Does anyone recall this game at all (I know I don't) and do we know how they did the hi-res graphics? I can't find it on the web anywhere.

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:17 am
by BrunoFlorindo
I checked Simon's website and couldn't find any Publisher named Odyssey. Also, all the invader games that have been preserved by him are low-res. But you could try emailing him and ask. Simon has done for the ZX81 what Martijn has done for the Spectrum.

http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/genera ... herinfo/o/
http://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/

The ZX81 has several hi-res games that don't require any special hardware. It's a shame they never took full advantage of it.

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:46 am
by RWAP
No I checked Simon's site - although there is a big difference between that and the World of Spectrum - Simon's site does not indicate whether he has obtained the copyright holder's permission to distribute the games!!

That is why I do not link to it.

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:18 am
by BrunoFlorindo
Hmm good point. Never saw it that way. What I meant was that Simon has worked a lot in terms of preservation efforts, that's all.
Still, you could ask Simon about Odyssey. If that publisher was popular there should be at least one game from them available for download.

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 6:53 am
by RWAP
BrunoFlorindo wrote:Hmm good point. Never saw it that way. What I meant was that Simon has worked a lot in terms of preservation efforts, that's all.
Still, you could ask Simon about Odyssey. If that publisher was popular there should be at least one game from them available for download.
I commend Simon's efforts and hope others will contribute to this - I am doing similar for the SInclair QL software through the Sinclair QL Wiki although I am not making software freely available for download.

I would love a Java based Sinclair QL emulator, so that people can try out the games on the QL Wiki - I see that Simon also ported EightyOne to Java - I fear a QL port would be too much work!

As for Odyssey - yes, if that publisher was possible, then there should be at least one game available (not necessarily for download) - I have emailed Simon about this to see if he knows anything.

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:20 am
by RWAP
Hmm I have found a possible contender -

http://www.zx81.nl/dload/unsorted/hrinvadr.zip

There is also

http://www.zx81.nl/dload/unsorted/hrchess.zip

I can't get these to run on the Java emulator - not trieed the Windows ones yet....

Some more hi-res games I have found also - http://www.honneamise.u-net.com/zx81/zx81hres.zip

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:14 pm
by sirmorris
I think this might be No$'s invaders. It asks for SRAM at the start. The advert states that the program will run on unmodified '81s.

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:04 am
by RWAP
I agree - these are not the right versions.....

Hmmm...

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 4:08 pm
by Sibird
I have a mint copy of this

Re: Odyssey Computing - Invaders

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 9:01 pm
by RWAP
A great find - could you scan in the inlay and maybe dump the cassette for preservation?