The History of Ocean Software by Retro Fusion by Chris Wilkins - Kickstarter (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/47744432/the-history-of-ocean-software-by-retro-fusion?ref=home_location)
I backed them :)
Quote from: Gryzor on 18:27, 02 December 12
The History of Ocean Software by Retro Fusion by Chris Wilkins - Kickstarter (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/47744432/the-history-of-ocean-software-by-retro-fusion?ref=home_location)
I backed them :)
The project has been funded! :D It's a shame that I couldn't back it as I don't have a credit card. :(
I hope that Chris can offer some additional copies of the book for sale.
Yeah, can't wait. Of course it's going to be something like 8 or 9 months, but oh well.
Btw, you could have paid by Paypal, I think, which also accepts bank accounts, not only plastic...
I bet if you contact him (the sooner the better) he'd arrange something for you!
Quote from: Gryzor on 20:44, 16 December 12
Btw, you could have paid by Paypal, I think, which also accepts bank accounts, not only plastic...
I bet if you contact him (the sooner the better) he'd arrange something for you!
Believe it or not, Kickstarter doesn't accept PayPal either! :( I'll try contacting Chris and see if there's anything he can do.
Oh yeah, you're right, probably because it puts a hold on the funds you pledged - it doesn't charge you I think, just reserves the money. And Paypal can't do that...
If you ask him, let us know :)
Rats, was completely unaware of this.
Would have backed this. Looks like it's gonna be a damn good read too. :)
Tee-hee, love your avatat Shaun!
Hopefully he'll have some extra copies...
I would have gone for the option with a custom Gryzor drawing from the original artist, but I found it too expensive :(
I pledged so will get my copy :)
Quote from: Nich on 13:37, 16 December 12
I hope that Chris can offer some additional copies of the book for sale.
Hey Nich, did you ever contact him regarding additional copies for sale, and did he respond? :)
Quote from: Shaun M. Neary on 13:09, 23 December 12
Hey Nich, did you ever contact him regarding additional copies for sale, and did he respond? :)
I tried to contact Chris through the form on the Retro Fusion website, but I haven't received a response. :(
Quote from: Nich on 14:09, 23 December 12
I tried to contact Chris through the form on the Retro Fusion website, but I haven't received a response. :(
Unfortunate, as like yourself, I'd really like to get my hands on a copy of the book.
Maybe he's just taking a break for the Christmas. I might try drop him a message on the kickstarter site.
Will let ya know if i get anywhere. :)
ping him on facebook, usually quite active there.
Quote from: khisanth on 21:08, 23 December 12
ping him on facebook, usually quite active there.
Believe it or not, i'm one of the few people who isn't on facebook. Got rid of my account back in February.
Scourge of sociality.
Facebook is very useful as a communication medium and when setup right is VERY social!
I will ping him and enquire :)
Regarding Credit Card Issues, I was advised that you now get a Visa Card which you can get from the Post Office which could work as a Disposable card. I don't know what other countries are doing or if it's available, though I was going to look into this more as a means to combat Internet Fraud which I was a victim of just recently. ???
Unfortunately Chris has been silent on the KS project page, too, where a few people (myself included) have been asking how to pay for additional postage costs. Maybe he's been taking a break...
@CP/M, that's a prepaid card, and always a good way to be safe. But, more expensive than a regular credit card...
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the interest in the book - I will after the Christmas period put the book up for pre-order on my Retro Fusion site (Retro Fusion (http://www.retrofusion.me.uk)) so if you would like a copy then please do pre-order on there. I will only be doing one batch of these in all likeliness so please do get your order in :)
I am planning an event in May and hope to bring many of the Ocean gang along - take a look at the site for more info : Revival (http://www.revivalretroevents.com) - be good if you can come along. Bob Wakelin, Mark Jones, Jim Bagley, Gary Bracey and Bill Harbison already confirmed. Martin Galway and Jonathan Dunn also likely to be there and I plan to get many more. They will be happy to sign all things Ocean.
I will keep coming by here to give you guys updates - thanks for your support on this and Merry Xmas!
Cheers, Chris
Thanks for stopping in, Chris and keeping us posted.
Have a good Christmas :)
Hey Chris, so nice to see you here!
If you happen to visit again, do let us know how we can pay for the extra postage! Someone told me you sent out emails on the subject, but I got nothing...
Hi there,
Was gonna wait for the financials to sort themselves out as it takes 16 days after the Kickstarter finishes, so the funds have not arrived yet. I will then send out a survey to the pledgers to double check what people have pledged for and I hope during this time to verify the postage to make sure the book (and I) are covered.
Hope you all had a good retro XMAS day :-)
I have put 3 products up on my site - http://www.retrofusion.me.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=virtuemart&Itemid=25 (http://www.retrofusion.me.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=virtuemart&Itemid=25)
UK order, European order and rest of the world.
These items are for pre-orders for the book - which I hope to have done by late Summer.
Thanks.
Can't wait. Hopefully it won't be later than late August -it'll make a fine gift for my birthday :)
Pre ordered mine! Can't wait now. :D
Guys, the event in May that I am organising is coming along nicely.
Site is : Revival (http://www.revivalretroevents.com)
Confirmed Ocean guests to the Revival event in May are as follows so far : Paul Hughes, Gary Bracey, Mark Jones, Bill Harbison, Simon Butler, Philip Trelford, John Palmer, Bob Wakelin.
There are many others as well, as well as arcade cabinets, pinball machines and retro consoles and computers. We are hoping for over 1,000 attendees each day.
Can any of you guys make it?
I am also looking for someone to do me an event 'New' Amstrad game - who could I talk to? I have the Spectrum and C64 already covered :)
It looks the book is already available here (http://www.revivalretroevents.com/index.php/shopping/revival-books), these are the contents:
[attach=2]
Sure that i will enjoy, but... as i imagined, again pissing over the CPC. Come on!!! Even in other platforms is considered that the CPC versions of Gryzor and Renegade are wonderful, why did not they get an interview with the CPC Master John Brandwood? >:(
Yeah... the CPC always draws the short straw, which is a shame, especially when retro people are involved in such a project.
Oh well, I was an early Kickstarter backer nonetheless.
Anyone received theirs yet? Last I heard, the aim was to get them out for late November.
Nothing. No mail about shipping too.
I emailed about a month ago (to Chris' credit, he mailed back pretty promptly) to chase it up.
Basically it took longer than expected to track everyone down to interview, and late November was the expected date.
Maybe early/mid December?
I *think* it was moved to late December, however I think one of his updates showed some printed books?
[EDIT] Ah no, but he's got a proof: The History of Ocean Software by Retro Fusion by Chris Wilkins » A flick (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/47744432/the-history-of-ocean-software-by-retro-fusion/posts/670634?ref=activity)
Hah, early January for me then, postal service in Ireland is woeful during christmas period.
Might make it in time for my birthday though :D
New update: The History of Ocean Software by Retro Fusion by Chris Wilkins » The Book — (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/47744432/the-history-of-ocean-software-by-retro-fusion/posts/683025)
He's got the books from the printer, got the boxes, started shipping them next week :)
Yup! Got the mail yesterday. Just in time for Christmas and all :D
Last time I got something with that Ocean logo on the cover at Christmas time was back in 1990! :D
Hah! Good point! :D Though eBay has filled in that blank for me :)
So - thanks for your patience guys. I did speak to John Brandwood but he was a little to busy with life to take part. Mark Jones Jnr was interviewed who did the graphics for Gryzor, Arkanoid and Renegade. I also interviewed Simon Cobb who coded Hunchback 2 for the Amstrad and Street Hawk.
There is a nice break out box of what Jon Woods and Dave Ward thought of Alan Sugar and Amstrad as they were involved in the launch of the console with Burnin' Rubber. There are references to Amstrad in the book and screens where appropriate - like an image of the Amstrad version of Cabal by Jim Bagley, Chase HQ (best version) graphics by Bill Harbison, Miami Vice Loading screen by Dawn Drake etc - so the Amstrad is a big part of the Ocean story.
(http://www.amberwebservices.co.uk/screen1.gif)
(http://www.amberwebservices.co.uk/screen2.gif)
Got to say, the PDF looks ace, though I haven't read it - waiting for the print version to drop in the mail. I'm old-school like that :D
Looks nice from the flip book at least... :)
No PDF for me as I narrowly fell short of the kickstarter end date. :(
Dying for the print copy to arrive though. :)
Damn, it didn't arrive before New Year's. Oh well, something to look forward to...
Quote from: Gryzor on 20:06, 31 December 13
Damn, it didn't arrive before New Year's. Oh well, something to look forward to...
It has seven days to make it to me for my birthday! :D
Aaaaand mine just arrived here in Dublin, Ireland!
Just in time for your birthday then :)
Good read so far. I dunno why I thought it would come with a download as well. Would have liked to continue reading it without taking it with me and risking damaging it.
BUT GET THIS...
My wife, who is a business teacher also wants to have a read of it, to read of the company's history, starting up, buying out other companies, budgets back then etc. :D
Got it past week,looks excellent. Can't wait to finish my current book!
@Shaun: the best retro-related books are also great business books. Get her On the Edge, the Commodore book - exquisitely balanced.
Does somebody has a link to the content of the book (inventory or so) to be able to see what's actually in it?
Here you go:
[attachimg=1]
Thanks mate! You are better than an encyclopedia ;)
Well, an encyclopaedia doesn't have screen capture capabilities :D
Not yet ;D
i have bought the ocean history book in PDF format. The main annoying thing is that the book is mainly focused on the C64 and the spectrum.
Sorry to say it, but those 2 computers have done a flop (Amstrad has killed those 2 computers in the french market). The CPC got a furious celebrity here, and to be honest the ZX spectrum sold in France in 150.000 pieces.
Just to give you the selling numbers just in France, 1.200.000 Amstrad CPC were sold here.
The C64 has been suicided by the CPC too in France ahah......
Other than that, it's pleasant to read :)
Yeah, too bad indeed, but then again I knew it was going to be that way when I backed it...