Tag Archives: retro

Saddle Up for a Rootin’ Tootin’ Stream of Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist!

Howdy Partners!

Mosey on over to the Conversations with Curtis YouTube channel on August 9, 2024 at 12:00pm PDT for a live playthrough of the side-splitting classic, Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist!

This time Steve, Daniel, and I will join forces with the legendary Al Lowe as we wrangle up some laughs, dispense some prescriptions, and maybe even relive the glory (or shame) of Freddy’s gunslinging past.

But before we ride into Coarsegold, I just wanted to take a moment to tip my hat to the incredibly talented posse who helped bring this game to life. A huge thanks to the designers, artists, musicians, and programmers who crafted this dusty gem. It was such a fun group to work with and one of my most memorable times spent working at Sierra On-line.

So, whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a fresh-faced pilgrim on the digital frontier, join us for a heapin’ helping of nostalgia and side-splitting fun! Don’t forget to lasso those likes, subscribe for more, and hang on tight – it’s gonna be a wild ride!

Hope to see you there, partners!

Al Lowe plays Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist with game developers Bill Shockley & Steve Conrad!
https://www.youtube.com

Playing Jackbox Party Trilogy 3.0 with Daniel, Again!

Join me again as I play Jackbox Party Trilogy 3.0 with Daniel from Conversations with Curtis.

Wednesday August 7th at 12PM PDT.

I had so much fun last time, and I can’t wait to do this again! I still suck at these games but I’m going to try my best to finish ahead of Daniel. You can also join us and play via your PC or phone, so come on out and spend your lunch with us!

Bill Shockley & Daniel play The Jackbox Party Trilogy 3.0
https://www.youtube.com

Here we go again… and again… and probably again…

We still haven’t made it all the way through the darn game, despite our attempts to stay focused on the quest.

Originally Streamed on Monday, March 25th at 12:00pm PST.

Join me once again (if you haven’t already given up on us) as Steve, Daniel and I, conclude our visit to “The Information Superhighway®” and try our best to find out, “Where in Corpsman Santiago is Roger Wilco?”

Space Quest 6 developers play Space Quest 6 with Daniel Albu – PART 3
https://www.youtube.com

25 years since Chainsaw Monday

It’s hard to believe, 25 years ago Sierra Online closed its doors in Oakhurst California. It was an end to nearly a decade of my life spent with friends that helped shape the man I am today. During this time, we were the biggest PC gaming company in the world, all right here in our little mountain town of Oakhurst.

Cheers to all the survivors of Chainsaw Monday, February 22, 1999!

Chainsaw Monday
https://www.youtube.com

The stream continues…

Well, we didn’t make it very far… What is most embarrassing about the whole thing is, the first part of the game was programmed mostly by me. I couldn’t remember how to do anything and boy did Steve and Daniel sure let me have it. How in the heck did anyone figure out the Datacorder puzzle? I’m still trying to comprehend the logic.

We’ll be at it again on Friday, February 23nd at 12:00pm, but this time Steve will be at the controls. We are going to do as many of these dang videos as needed to conquer our last obus together.

Space Quest 6 developers play Space Quest 6 with Daniel Albu – PART 2
https://www.youtube.com

Stream with me!

The year is 2024, but the vibes are straight outta 1995 as my old Sierra pal Steve and I settle in for a live stream unlike any other. Both grizzled veterans of the gaming industry, our hair a touch grayer, our eyes a twinkle brighter, and our hearts brimming with nostalgia for the days of floppy disks and pixelated wonder. On February 16, at 12:00 pm PST, we’ll be revisiting our brainchild, the legendary Space Quest 6: Roger Wilco in the Spinal Frontier.

This isn’t just a playthrough; it’s a time warp. A chance to relive the golden age of point-and-click adventures, when every pixel held the promise of a chuckle, a gasp, or a face palm moment. Sure, the graphics might look a bit blocky by today’s standards, and the puzzles might require a hint of old-school logic, but “Space Quest 6” remains a testament to the enduring power of humor, heart, and a whole lot of digital duct tape. And for a a short moment, we’re not just the two old guys you see before you; we’ll be magically thrust back to our time in the old Sierra On-Line tin shed, starry-eyed and dreaming of pixelated galaxies, all thanks to the magic of a game we poured our hearts and souls into all those years ago.

Mark you calendars and join Steve Conrad, Daniel Albu, and your’s truly as we make our way through this great adventure game from the 90’s.

Space Quest 6 developers play Space Quest 6 with Daniel Albu!
https://www.youtube.com

That time I was famous… well, maybe not

This is happening…3.5 hours, I hope I don’t look like a blabbering idiot!

I talked with Daniel the day before my birthday last month. He had me rambling on and on about my glory days with Sierra Online. Daniel was just a kid growing up in Israel when I was working for the biggest PC gaming company in the world… right here in the little town of Oakhurst.

I’ll be hanging around in the chat during the premiere so if you have some time on Sunday, pop in for a bit and say hi.

A Conversation with Sierra Developer William R. Shockley (Space Quest 6 / Gabriel Knight 2)
https://www.youtube.com

Space Ace X RepliCade

Another favorite added to the collection! This was another log awaited treat that I’ve been waiting for for almost a year.

This Space Ace x RepliCade is a miniaturized 1/6th scale arcade accurate replica of the Cinematronics factory dedicated Space Ace arcade cabinet presented by New Wave Toys and features a fully playable Space Ace LaserDisc arcade game running on the Daphne emulator, a fully functional digital scoreboard with skill level indicator, HDTV connectivity with screen mirroring, and a replica LDV1000 Mini LaserDisc player prop.

Space Ace and Dragon’s Lair are in my top five favorite arcade games of all time. In my younger years, I would never have believed that I would one day own miniaturized version of these games. They both play exactly as the full size games I played in the past, with working coin door buttons and all features that made these games so much fun.

I spent more money than I care to admit, spending 50 cents per play that usually only lasted a few minutes. These replicas are incredible detailed, and will most definitely appeal to any retro gamer.

I can see a few more of these in my future as New Wave Toys releases new favorites that I can’t live without!

Dragon’s Lair X RepliCade Overhaul Edition

Another long wait is over!!!

I ordered this little beauty nearly a year ago, and it arrived a few months ahead of schedule. Dragon’s Lair was originally released in 1983 and was one of my favorite games growing up. I spent much of my limited arcade money on this game, as it took two quarters to play a game that usually ended in just a minute of play. Dragon’s Lair used laserdisc technology and animation from the legendary Don Bluth, offering greatly superior graphics compared to other video games at the time.

This miniaturized 1/6 scale cabinet features a control panel with authentic ball-top joystick and action buttons, a cabinet constructed from premium materials including wood, metal, and plastic, illuminated marquee and coin doors, high-resolution cabinet art reproduction on quality 3M vinyl overlays, and a LDV1000 Mini LaserDisc player replica prop with rear cab storage drawer.

It plays the original 1983 Dragon’s Lair LaserDisc arcade game running on Daphne emulator on a gorgeous traditional 4:3 aspect ratio 4.2-inch screen. This tiny reproduction has HDTV Connectivity with screen mirroring, amplified multi-speaker audio with volume control, USB controller support, a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery, an operator’s menu featuring dip switch settings and cabinet controls, and a fully functional digital scoreboard displaying players’ scores, lives, and credits.

Crazy right?

The gameplay on this little cabinet is incredible. Using the tiny joystick and buttons is actually pretty easy and the game is perfectly playable even at its small scale. I think it even plays better than my 3/4 scale Arcade1Up version I picked up last year.

New best friends!

Oh yeah, I also ordered a 3/4 scale cabinet from Arcade1Up last year which also arrived way ahead of schedule. I’ve been meaning to post up about the new arcade cabinet, but it’s much too heavy to bring out to my normal photo location on my patio bar. 🙂 I’ll post up more info on this beast later but now back to its little brother.

New Wave Toys has really hit this one out of the park, creating a small scale replica that is true to the original arcade version in both looks and playability. Adding a retro arcade fluorescent carpet pad and scale stool perfectly finished off the set.

Can’t wait to see what New Wave Toys comes up with next… Oh yeah, that’s right! I also ordered another Don Bluth classic “Space Ace” which hopefully will ship next month.