Cassette 50
Cassette 50 is a compilation of games published by Cascade Games in 1983 for multiple 8-bit home computers. It was promoted based on the quantity of games included, all of which were programmed in BASIC and were of poor quality. According to the instructions, "the games will provide many hours of entertainment for all the family at a fraction of the cost of other computer games". The compilation was heavily advertised in home computer magazines. Buyers received a Timex digital calculator watch with each purchase.
In an interview, Matthew Lewis, the author of Galaxy Defence, said he wrote the game when he was 14 and submitted it in response to a small, anonymous ad in a local newspaper. He was paid £10 for his game, but he had to give up all rights to it. Galaxy Defence took 12 hours to code and the graphics were done by his father, Ernest Lewis.
Content
The games featured differed depending on the platform, all of which were written in BASIC. Some like Star Trek and Maze Eater appeared on all versions. Others like Lunar Lander were ports or clones of very early or popular games, while others were sourced from independent developers. Some games that had the same title were entirely different depending on which version. Some games also had playability issues.Acorn Electron / Commodore 64 / Dragon 32 / Oric-1 / Oric Atmos / ZX81
AttackerBarrel JumpBlack HoleBogglesCannonball BattleDerby DashDo Your SumsDynamiteExchangeForce FieldGalactic AttackGalactic Dog FightGhostsHangmanHigh RiseInfernoIntruderIvasive ActionJet FlightJet MobileLunar LandingMaze EaterMotorwayNimNoughts and CrossesOld BonesOrbitterOvertakeParachutePhaserPlanetsPlasma BoltPontoonPsion AttackRadar LandingRatsRocket LaunchSitting TargetSki JumpSmash the WindowsSpace MissionSpace SearchSpace ShipStar TrekSubmarinesTankerThe ForceThin IceTunnel EscapeUniverseThe games Exchange and The Force, although listed on the inlay, are missing from the Acorn Electron version, meaning only 48 games actually appeared on the cassette. There was a second release of the Dragon 32 version which had different versions of some of the games. Tunnel Escape on the C64 version is credited as such in the game's inlay but is credited as "Escape or Bust" in the actual game.
Amstrad CPC
3-D Maze AttackerBackgammonColony-9CrapsCreepy CrawleyCylonsDay at the RacesDragona MazeDraughtsDungeon AdventureDynamiteEvasive ActionExchangeFantasy LandFighter CommandFireman RescueGhosts Handicap GolfHangmanHigh RiseHopping HerbertInfernoIntruderJet FlightLunar LanderMaze EaterMotorwayNemesis IVNoughts & CrossesPlanetsPlay Your Cards RightPontoon BetRally 3000RatsRush Hour AttackRoyal RescueSitting TargetSolitSpace BaseSpace MissionSpace Pod RescueSpace ShipStar TrekThe Kings OrbThree Card BragTimebombTruckingWhirly- ''Yamzee''
Atari 8-bit
AttackerBaby Chase!Barrel Jump!Black HoleBogglesCannon Ball BattleDerby DashDefend the FortressDo Your SumsDynamiteExchangeGalactic AttackGhosts HangmanHigh RiseInferno!Intruder!Ivasive ActionJet FighterJetmobileLunar LandingMaze EaterMotorwayNimNoughts and CrossesOld Bones OrbitterOvertakeParachutePhaserPlanetsPlasma BoltPontoonZion AttackRabbit RaidRadar LanderRatsRocket LaunchSea Alert Sitting TargetSki JumpSmash the WindowsSpace MissionSpace SearchSpace ShipStar TrekTankerThe ForceTunnel Escape- ''Universe''
BBC Micro
AttackerBarrel JumpBlack HoleBogglesCannon BallDerby DashDice ThrowerDynamiteExchangeForce FieldGalactic AttackGalactic DogfightGhostsHangmanHigh RiseInfernoIntruderIvasive ActionJet FlightJet MobileLunar LandingMaze EaterMotorwayNimNoughts and CrossesOld BonesOrbitterOvertakeParachutePhaserPlanetsPlasma BoltPontoonPsion AttackRadar LandingRatsRocket LaunchSitting TargetSki JumpSmash the WindowsSpace MissionSpace SearchSpace ShipStar TrekSubmarinesTankerThe ForceThin IceTunnel EscapeUniverseThe game Dice Thrower is mistakenly displayed in the inlay as "Do Your Sums".
VIC-20
Balloon DodgerBank RaidBomberCupid's ArrowDerby DashDo Your SumsDustman DanExchangeFlesh EatersForce FieldGalactic DogfightGolfGrid Racer HangmanHousesIntruderJet FlightJet MobileKnight OutKrazyLite BikesLunar LanderMaze EaterMeteoroidsMinotaur's TreasureMole HoleMotorwayNimNoughts & CrossesOne Armed BanditOrbitterPanAttackPlanetoidsPlasma BoltPontoonRadar LandingSentinel-1Ski RunSkull CastleSoccerSpace SearchSpaceshipStar FallsStar TrekSubmarinesSuper Hi-LowSuper VadersThin IceThree Card Brag- ''Turtle Bridge''
ZX Spectrum
Alien #27Alien Attack #10Attacker #49Barrel Jump #48Basketball #3Blitz #42Boggles #9Bowls #33Breakout #5Cargo #28Cars #22Cavern #25Crusher #6 Cypher #46Dragon's Gold #36Field #35Fishing Mission #43Frogger #4Galaxy Defence #45Inferno #38Jet Mobile #47Labyrinth #15Laser #26Lunar Lander #11Martian Knock Out #8Mazer Eater #12 Microtrap #13Motorway #14Munch #32Muncher #1Mystical Diamonds #44Nim #39Orbit #31Pinball #24Race Track #17Raiders #34Sketch Pad #41Ski Jump #2Ski Run #18 Skittles #16Solar Ship #20Space Mission #50Space Search #37Star Trek #7Stomper #23Tanks #19Ten Pins #21The Race #29The Skull #30Voyager #40The number with the '#' symbol represents the order in which the games appear on the tape.
Star Trek is shown in the cassette booklet as Startrek and Jet Mobile as Jetmobile.