From Jeff Brace at VCF East: We have decided to move VCF East to April 12, 13 & 14. There was a significant number of people that were traveling to see the solar eclipse, which takes place on April 8 in the United States. If we didn’t move the date, then attendance would have been impacted significantly. Those dates are available at InfoAge and are now reserved. More details will be coming soon: The themes this year: Thanks!Jeff Brace VCF…
The latest issue of the Vintage is the New Old Magazine has been posted. Be sure and check out the complete rundown of the retro computing articles from November 2023 from a variety of authors in the retro computing realm. Vintage is the New Old Magazine(Volume 1 Number 3) is a full compendium of retro computing news for the past month. Produced and published by Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange, the Vintage is the New Old Magazine is a free…
From our friends over at Brutal Deluxe Software: Brutal Deluxe Software is proud to release Le manoir du Dr Genius (The Manor of Dr Genius) for the Apple II. Originally written by Laurent Benes, and published by Loriciels in 1983 for the Oric computer, we got their approval to release our Apple II port in both French and English languages. Enjoy one of the first French adventure software ever published @ http://www.brutaldeluxe.fr/products/apple2/drgenius/
Meme: a recursive or self-defining term (“meme” is its own meme) originated by Richard Dawkins in his 1976 book “The Selfish Gene”. He defined it as a cultural unit transmitted from person to person by imitation. Today this might happen via serial re-posting and liking. Memes are now a principal means of communicating ideas, entertaining, or making political or social commentary, particularly of the semi-humourous type, though they can sometimes have a very dark side. For instance… Trump and his…
As Apple II computing continues to evolve, it is the efforts of enthusiasts like Joshua Bell who continue to breathe new life into the classic machines, pushing the real world boundaries of what these vintage computers can achieve. The past few years have introduced the full scope of Joshua’s ongoing development of the Apple II Desktop, which is a testament to this desire to not only push the limits of the Apple II’s capabilities but to make the computer a…
If you are among those of us who grew up with the game Wizardry, then this release will be right up your alley. A2_4am and his Total Replay series of compilations now take us into a full on nostalgic journey of the classic RPGs on the Apple II computer with the release of Wizard Replay, a feature-packed frontend designed exclusively for the 8-bit Apple II. Not only does the compilation include the original Wizardy games, but it also includes…
The Ultima IV Remastered project, led by Sean Gugler, has reached a new milestone with the release of version 1.2.9. This update brings a set of fixes and additions that enhance the gaming experience for Apple II enthusiasts. Fixes in Focus One of the critical issues addressed in this release is related to the spell or peering gem not fully drawing Level 5 in Wrong. With this particular dungeon being difficult as is, the lack of a fully drawing level…
Kent Dickey has announced the immediate availability of the KEGS Apple IIGS Emulator Version 1.32. This latest release of Kegs includes the following changes: KEGS is one of the oldest and most developed Apple IIGS emulators available and is ready to run on Windows, Macintosh and Linux systems. You can download the latest version of the KEGS Apple IIGS Emulator at: https://kegs.sourceforge.net
Stories in this month’s blog: Ongoing Offers for User Group Members: AgileBits 1Password 8: 25% Discount Too many passwords to remember? 1Password 8 for Mac is a password manager that goes beyond simple password storage by integrating directly with your web browser to automatically log you into websites, enter credit card information, fill registration forms, and easily generate strong passwords. As an Apple user group member, you are entitled to get the new 1Password service at 25% below the normal $3.99(US)/mo. retail price. This subscription also gets…
PunyJam #4 has kicked off, providing a platform for text adventure enthusiasts to showcase their creativity. Hosted by Space Hobo, fredrikr, and johanberntsson, this jam challenges participants to craft engaging text adventures using PunyInform, a powerful and easy to use library built on the foundation of Inform 6. Key Details The Theme: Unraveling the Unknown In line with the spirit of interactive storytelling, participants are tasked with incorporating a particular theme into their games. At the beginning of each game…
A new alpha release of the Total Replay II gaming platform for the Apple II series computers is now available. This release addresses an issue with Formula 1 Racer demo which was crashing on the Apple IIgs. A2_4am, the developer for the Total Replay and Total Replay II platforms announced the release this morning on his Mastodon account. This is volume 2 of Total Replay, with a focus on sports and board games. This release features 47 Apple II games,…
Hello from Garrett’s Workshop! Just wanted to let everyone know that our model GW4201D “RAM2GS II” 8 MB RAM card for Apple IIgs is available for sale again: https://www.ebay.com/itm/256237573802 The card was unavailable for about two years due to the chip shortage, then we ran out after a lot of demand for our first batch in two years. We have been running our semi-automated factory, making more units, and we think that we can stay in stock for the foreseeable future….
Hello from Garrett’s Workshop! In the next day or two, we will be rereleasing our model GW4203B “RAM2E II” auxiliary/RAMWorks card for the Apple IIe. Just wanted to let everyone know who already owns a RAM2E II card from us, we have released an update for our GWRAM.SYSTEM utility enabling 16 MB capacity on 80% of RAM2E II cards sold! 16 MB capacity is not as compatible as 8 MB capacity, so use 16 MB mode carefully… RAM2E II will…
In the latest update to ProDOS Drivers, version 1.6 has been released, introducing significant enhancements to the FujiNet Clock Driver and the addition of a new “jumbo” clock driver, amalgamating various functionalities. This update, marked as a significant milestone, is a testament to the ongoing efforts of Joshua Bell to further the enhancements of the Apple II series computers in the software realm. Download ProDOS Drivers v1.6 FujiNet Clock Driver Refinements: One of the key improvements in this update is…
A2_4am has announced through his Mastodon account that the Apple II gaming platform, Total Replay II: Instant Replay v1.0-alpha.2 has been released. This platform presents a rich collection of 47 Apple II games, all conveniently accessible from a single bootable 32MB hard disk image. This release officially marks the arrival of volume 2 of Total Replay, with a particular emphasis on sports and board games. Download Total Replay II v1.0-alpha.2 The release, available for exploration and download on Archive.org, is…
A2_4am just announced some exciting news for Apple II gaming enthusiast! According to his posting on Mastodon, Total Replay v5.0.1 has just been released. This latest release of the Total Replay platform brings a staggering collection of 484 Apple II games to the platform, including 182 new additions since the previous version. The entire collection is conveniently playable from a single bootable 32MB hard disk image. Download Total Replay v5.0.1 The release, available for exploration and download on Archive.org, is…
Cupertino, CA – The original Apple Computer, Inc. company building sign, bearing the iconic rainbow logo, faced an unexpected outcome at the Bonhams auction, failing to secure a buyer despite its historical significance and ties to the early days of Apple. The exterior office sign, crafted from stiff foam and adorned with six vinyl-applied colors, stood at approximately 46 x 49 x 1 ½ inches, with a separate stem piece. Showing signs of wear, including slight peeling at some color…
CiderPress II, a specialized software tool tailored for managing disk images and file archives related to vintage Apple computers such as the Apple II series and early Macintoshes, is now available in its v0.3.0-dev1 iteration. This application is designed to run seamlessly on contemporary desktop and embedded systems. Key Functionalities: CiderPress II empowers users with a comprehensive suite of file operations for disk images and file archives, including but not limited to: listing, adding, extracting, importing, exporting, copying, renaming, moving,…
The wait is finally over for the latest issue of Call-A.P.P.L.E. Magazine. Packed with all of the usual good stuff from the Retro Apple world, this latest issue will be a fun read for all Apple II and Retro Macintosh fans. Just a few of the items included in the October 2023 issue include the following: A.P.P.L.E. Members will need to log in to access the magazine in its full 84 page glory. For non-members, Call-A.P.P.L.E. Magazine is available as…
Apple II enthusiasts now have the opportunity to relive the thrill of old school high-speed racing with the port of the Commodore 64 classic, Stunt Car Racer. This technical feat, executed by Patai Gergely, brings the adrenaline-pumping action of the original game to the Apple II platform. The machine requirement is any Apple II computer with at least 48K of RAM. Streamlined for Performance Adapting Stunt Car Racer for the Apple II required strategic choices to fit within the hardware…
