Day 70 - chalk one up for the little guys!

As I write this, mega-documentary From Bedrooms To Billions is on the verge of achieving its funding goal, and therefore being completed.  This is great news for all retro gaming fans, as I'm sure it will be a very interesting watch.


Where does that leave me?  Hopefully, exactly where I was before.  I'm under no illusion that I have a difficult task ahead of me, and with that project being at full steam ahead, I'm conscious that it may cause me a few problems.  For instance, it's possible that people are involved with that project and may not want anything to do with a "rival" project.

See, I know you. I know you want to read about this just as much as the big names.

That's fair enough.  When I set out on this venture, I was well aware that it would be impossible to get everyone I wanted.  Even some of the big names are likely to remain elusive.  However, I think that my book will be different enough that it will still be worthwhile.


For example, From Bedrooms To Billions is focusing on a longer timeline than I am.  Sure, I'll expand in either direction if needs be (or should I say, if it's relevant), but I'm focusing more firmly on the programmers from the 8-bit computer era.  I'm not going to be looking at the PS1, or the SNES... in fact, I'll probably only be touching on the Amiga and Atari ST.

This looks like it's happening. Should be a good watch.

Also, From Bedrooms seems to be looking at the video games business.  I'm not.  I'm concentrating squarely on the programmers and their games.  If I get the odd story about things that happened within companies then that's great, but I want to talk to the people who made the games about the games they made, along with stuff like how they got into programming.


So I reckon the differences between the two projects are easily enough to make mine more than worth pressing ahead with.  If I can get hold of them, you'll see lots of names in my book that you won't find in most others, if any.  I want to talk to the person who made that great-but-obscure game.  I want to talk to the person that made a career of creating games that were good, solid entertainment but that may not been in the public eye.  Who made Bounder on the Commodore 64?  Who made Turbo Esprit on the Spectrum?  I know, and you know, but do they ever get the recognition they deserve?


This is where the lesser-known names will get to shine.  This is where we will hear the stories of the unsung heroes.  They were all our Gods - that status is not merely reserved for the big names within the industry.