Half A Century Of Type-Ins - This Week In Retro 220

This Week in Retro

We are joined by James (WhatHoSnorkers) to discuss a new video that shows how DMA Design reinvented the puzzle game, to remember the computerised Raleigh Vektar, and how it seems that 50 years have now passed since the very first type in game was released.

Whether you remember the Amiga, BBC Micro, Apple II, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, 16-bit consoles or DOS gaming; Pixel Addict shares your love of pioneering digital technology of the past. Visit https://www.addict.media/

You can see James having fun with type in programs at https://www.youtube.com/@WhatHoSnorkers

00:00 - Show Opening

03:10 - The Type-In Turns 50!
Story Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1kmabnb/perhaps_the_first_type_in_game_is_50/
Additional Link: https://altairclone.com/downloads/killbits.pdf
Learn About Checksums: https://atariprojects.org/2020/07/25/learn-about-checksum-programs-for-checking-type-in-programs-15-30-mins/
Thanks to Tom Halfhill: https://www.halfhill.com/

16:28 - It’s Not Street Hawk
Story Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/comments/1knk7vy/raleigh_vektar_mid_80s/#lightbox_cuts
Additional Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/cassettefuturism/comments/rpyk7l/vektar_bike_raleigh_1985/
Another Link: https://radicallyretro.tumblr.com/post/675581185126219776/the-raleigh-vektar-1985-the-first-computerized

30:55 - Dave's Housekeeping - News links found below

36:56 - Oh No, More Lemmings!
Story Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FTOySSAPo8

47:03 - Community Question of the Week

🏆Your monthly support helps us keep the retro news flowing!
https://www.patreon.com/thisweekinretro

🕸 TWiR Sub Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/thisweekinretro/

Follow your hosts!
Bluesky:
https://bsky.app/profile/davevelociraptor.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/jasoncompton.bsky.social

Youtube:
Chris - https://www.youtube.com/@005AGIMA
Jason - https://www.youtube.com/@jpcompton

Audio Podcast:
https://retroadventurers.podbean.com/

Subscribe to the audio version of the show!
📻 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-retro/id1526487568?uo=4
📻 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2OPQ3cADaB92E9SpRdTe5y
📻 Podbean: https://twir.podbean.com
📻 Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/show/5734337
📻 RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/TWIR/feed.xml
📻 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeekinRetro

This Week in Retro is a weekly roundup of the hottest stories from the world of retro gaming and computing, voted on by you, the listener! Hosted by Chris from 005 AGIMA, Jason from The Retro Adventurers and Dave. Edited by Duncan Styles.

Dave's Housekeeping Links:

Japan’s Game Preservation Society: https://www.timeextension.com/features/japans-game-preservation-society-is-safe-for-now-and-its-all-thanks-to-you

How Much To Beat Golden Axe?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Ou41OyHe8&list=PLViYSUcz2ufOKWfX3CEl_9SnoeKW6D7y2

Gail Wellington Passes Away: https://old.reddit.com/r/amiga/comments/1kp4b73/gail_wellington_commodore_software_products/

Mega Drive Metal Gear: https://h0ffman.itch.io/metal-gear-md

Desktop Korg Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wznr5qR-FcY

How An Ancient OS Still Lives: https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20250516-the-people-stuck-using-ancient-windows-computers

Dragon 32 Is A Prize: https://youtu.be/bG3bAkyr63A