Mark R. Jones

9 Jan 2025

My #RetroGaming highlight of last year was having these 2 videos made from my recollections in my book #LOADDIJDIJ by @SebsplaceYT Part 1: youtu.be/gHho_RuROdY?... Part 2: youtu.be/lhMitqFgswY?... They turned out really well & have been very popular! #OceanSoftware #ZXSpectrum

23h

What IS this WITCHCRAFT?🧹🧙‍♀️ #Wizball #ZXSpectrum #Commodore64 #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming #MartinGalway

16h

The finished version (v1.3) is now done & dusted & will be launched tomorrow (Tuesday) PM all being well. This is THE best version of #Wizball on the #ZXSpectrum! #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

23h

What IS this WITCHCRAFT?🧹🧙‍♀️ #Wizball #ZXSpectrum #Commodore64 #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming #MartinGalway

22h

Sound ON btw! (or you'll be b*ggered to know what I'm on about)

Here it is! V1.2 of #Wizball on the #ZXSpectrum. Many more improvements here including the original5 frame explosion has now been utilised for the 1st time& the Ying Yang invincibility graphic, cut from theC64 version, is now in gravious.itch.io/wizball-enha... #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

Imagine if you could hear the #Commodore64 & 16bit tunes from Wizball on the AY chip of a 128 #ZXSpectrum. Well... I JUST DID & the C64 was literally ASTOUNDING, the 16bit version was BRILLIANT!! You've got to hear these & you will at some point soon V1.3?? #OceanSoftware

And here I am with the man himself #MartinGalway, who wrote all the tunes on the #Commodore64 version of #Wizball #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

Here's the loading screen & 3 intro cameos I made for #Dingo on the #ZXSpectrum back in 2011. This was the 1st game I ever worked since #TotalRecall for Ocean back in 1991. It was great fun to work on & is avilable here: tardis.dk/wordpress/?p... #RetroGaming

timeextension.comOcean's '80s Classic Wizball Returns to Spectrum in Rebalanced and Restored 'Enhanced Edition'I'll come bouncing back to you

#Wizball #ZXSpectrum #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming www.timeextension.com/news/2026/10...

Update on #Wizball on the #ZXSpectrum - due to feedback there is going2be a version1.2 with even further improvements. Implemented so far is a re-definable HOLD & QUIT key plus my5frame explosion has been added-only frames 1,2,3were used. Best effect was frame 4&5. Now all 5 are in. It looks SO good

#Wizball #ZXSpectrum #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

As I'm in a #Wizball mood at the moment here's some history. Shown here is my 1st rough idea for a #ZXSpectrum ld scr, then a start of an attempt. Next is Simon Butler's sketch showing me how to change the art to landscape, then the original loading screen by myself. #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

I'd like to point out that 1 & 2 were attempted way before the fantastic art by Bob Wakelin had even been started.

Glad you've noticed the difference! I even got Leigh to change the redefine keys option. Original says something like 'left, right, down, up, fire'.Who EVER says it like that? No one. So it's been changed to 'up, down, left, right, fire'. Many time I inputted the wrong keys cos of that stupid order

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Here it is then- a new enhanced 2026 version of #Wizball for the #ZXSpectrum with many new features & game improving tweaks. I hope you all like it. Feel free to let us know what you think (be nice!) Many thanks to Leigh Ashton. gravious.itch.io/wizball-enha... #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

Let's see your high-score tables then! I'm crap at it (but I can now score more than I could on the old version). Who's better at #Wizball for the #ZXSpectrum than me? #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

Here's a short video of me playing the finished version of the enhanced, 128k only, version of #Wizball on the #ZXSpectrum. Full of various improvements - it has changed the game for me - now it's addictive & fun to play instead of being way too hard. It'll be launched tomorrow! #OceanSoftware

I really like that you can now see how many of the 9 lives your cat has used up and how many aliens are left on each level. Cat's have 9 lives dont they!!

Just been having a go on this, an enhanced & bug-fixed version of #Wizball on the #ZXSpectrum. Leigh Ashton has spent a month on this so far. No more flickery graphics or dodgy collision detection plus a parallax starfield among many other improvements. COMING SOON! #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

For the 1st time ever the #ZXSpectrum version of #Wizball has a working high-score table! #RetroGaming #OceanSoftware

My highest score ever on #Wizball on the #ZXSpectrum thanks to this new enhanced version that should be finished & released later today. So much more fun to play when you strive to beat your highest score & get your name on here #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

We've now got a full credits screen that mentions everyone that was involved with the game #Wizball #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming #ZXSpectrum

Here's a video showing the new version of #Wizball as it is at the moment. Leigh has all my original graphics that I drew for the #ZXSpectrum version so he's going to see if anything can be added as loads of them weren't used. #OceanSoftware #RetroGaming

youtu.beOcean Chiptune Composer Matthew Cannon - InterviewYouTube video by Will Harbison

#OceanSoftware artist Bill Harbison interviews Ocean Software musician Matthew Cannon. Well worth a watch! youtu.be/YDl2H7lXTRQ?... #RetroGaming #ZXSpectrum #Commodore64

Puppet of Vyvyan from the 80s tv comedy #TheYoungOnes used on the cover of Personal Computer Gamer from September 1984. #RetroGaming

Apparently Nigel Planer (Neil) put in a complaint about his depiction on this cover on the February 1986 issue of #YourSinclair magazine #TheYoungOnes #RetroGaming

I have just come back from a work walk to the #Bleaklow B29 Bomber Crash Site, #PeakDistrict www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/pla...

youtu.beThe Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love (Top of The Pops, March 19th 1964)YouTube video by The Beatles Performances

26 Aug

Never seen before - a run through of 'Can't Buy Me Love' by #TheBeatles for #TopOfThePops recorded on 19 March 1964. This take wasn't used in the broadcast as it nearly breaks down at 1:18 with #JohnLennon & #PaulMcCartney doing some silly dancing. youtu.be/vxQMu-BO_As?...

22 Aug

2 uncommon double page spread adverts from #BeyondSoftware, printed in 1984. #RetroGaming #ZXSpectrum #Commodore64

23 Aug

And here's yet another double page spread from #BeyondSoftware. I wonder how many of these they did in total #RetroGaming #ZXSpectrum #Commodore64

youtu.beBatman The Movie - Original Developer DEEP DIVE - Amiga 500 - Ocean Software Ltd 1989YouTube video by Will Harbison

20 Aug

Ex #OceanSoftware artist Bill Harbison's new video is now up - youtu.be/CpIVkm4YZU4?... #ZXSpectrum #RetroGaming

15 Aug

A #ZXSpectrum only game that wasn't advertised in any of the usual mags, no ads in Crash, Your Spectrum or Your Sinclair. The only time I've sent it advertised was in 1 issue of Your Computer from 1984. Even the advert doesn't mention what machine it's for! 'Stay Kool' from #BugByte #RetroGaming

14 Aug

Zaxxan advert and artwork for the #ZXSpectrum by #OliverFrey #RetroGaming

10 Aug

A 3rd set of sketches from early issues of #Crash by #OliverFrey that have been upscaled and coloured. #ZXSpectrum #RetroGaming

11 Aug

Here are the originals

10 Aug

More sketches from issue 1 of #Crash Sketches from early issues of #Crash magazine by #OliverFrey that have been upscaled and coloured. #ZXSpectrum #RetroGaming

11 Aug

Here are the originals

9 Aug

Sketches from early issues of #Crash magazine by #OliverFrey that have been upscaled and coloured. #ZXSpectrum #RetroGaming

10 Aug

Here's the originals

youtu.beChase H.Q. Why the C64 Port was a DISASTER and the Amstrad was SO different.YouTube video by Will Harbison

8 Aug

Ex-#OceanSoftware artist Bill Harbison's new video is now up #RetroGaming #ZXSpectrum #AmstradCPC #Commodore64 youtu.be/TAHzMPcKpyE?...

26 July

More #ZXSpectrum related adverts that were never (AFAIK) printed in colour #RetroGaming

26 July

Actually I prefer this version of the 'Tir Na Nog' advert with the image replaced with another with it looking like a real Celtic artifact that someone dug up with a metal detector #ZXSpectrum #RetroGaming

25 July

#ZXSpectrum related adverts that were never (AFAIK) printed in colour #RetroGaming

youtu.beWhen Your Heroes Let You DownYouTube video by Retrogames

25 July

This is worth a few minutes of your time youtu.be/zp1sFdlDRyc?... #UltimatePlayTheGame #Commodore64 #RetroGaming

youtu.beChase H.Q. How we RAMMED it ALL into a #zxspectrum in 1988 at Ocean Software #retrogamingYouTube video by Will Harbison

25 July

#OceanSoftware artist Bill Harbison's next video is now up - youtu.be/1pT6KOJFgMg?... #ZXSpectrum #RetroGaming

#ZXSpectrum related art looking super smooth & clean pt.3 - before & after shown. Both from Carnell's 'Wrath of Magra' #RetroGaming

Oops 2nd one is from 'Volcanic Dungeon'!

#ZXSpectrum related art looking super smooth & clean pt.2 - before & after shown. 1. Manic Miner 2. Maziacs #RetroGaming

#ZXSpectrum related art looking super smooth & clean pt.1 - before & after shown. #RetroGaming

If #ZXSpectrum artwork / adverts were made using real models, people, puppets etc instead of illustrations pt.11 1. Land of Ultimatum map 2. #OceanSoftware Xmas ad 3. The Boggit 4. Dark Sceptre #RetroGaming #UltimatePlayTheGame