Joffa speaks... sort of.
I was looking through my archives today to search for some images, and found this psydo-interview I done with a certain Jonathan Smith. It reads as follows** (with editorial tags), and was featured in Micro Mart late 2006 or early 2007, from what I can make out:
///Introduction///
This week, Shaun has a few words with famed Speccy programmer Jonathan Smith.
///Header///
Joffa speaks
///Body copy///
Jonathan Smith, an ex-programmer for the likes of Ocean software, is about to make a return to the 8-bit world with two new games in the pipeline. In what could be the greatest come-back since Lazarus, the demo of his game Saucer for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum has certainly caught the eye of many, including me. It was certainly quite exciting news when the electronic publication ZX Shed exclusively previewed it. And subsequently, there is great anticipation on the World of Spectrum forums about it, but creating something new for the machine is something that has been at the back of his mind for quite some time, ?over the past few years I have toyed with the idea [of writing a new game], but never quite got round to doing anything about it? he exclaimed.
Jonathan (who is better known as Joffa) certainly has quite a portfolio of games to his name, but his first release is fondly remembered, ?apart from the usual messing with BASIC, I started developing games in my bedroom, whilst at 6th Form College. My first commercial release was for Ocean Software - a ZX Spectrum game called Pud Pud. This was around Summer 1984. Wow! Was it really that long ago??, and from these humble beginnings, Joffa went to work in-house for Ocean software and next worked on the game Kong Strikes Back, ?I had the pleasure of working along side Nigel Alderton, of Chuckie Egg fame on that? he recalls, ?This 48k game was an unofficial conversion (rip off) of the arcade game Mr.Do's Wild Ride?, he said. Shortly after this, he worked on an arcade conversion for Ocean, Hyper Sports, published under the newly acquired Imagine label (Ocean released all of its early arcade conversions under Imagine). ?It took about four months to produce this sports simulation, in the days when programmers also did their own graphics and sound. And the inlay instructions?, Joffa pointed out. ?I'd almost finished the game (the pole vault event was coded but had to removed because of lack of memory) when a freelance programmer appeared out of the blue with another completed Spectrum version. Apparently one of the Ocean's directors had commissioned the project out of house. This guy was 'paid off' and his version shelved?, he mused.
Joffa hasn?t just programmed for the Speccy though. When asked what other computers he has created software for, he replied, ?Only the Atari ST on the computer side. I did a little bit of demo stuff on the Amiga - though this never saw the light of day? and when games consoles came into fashion during the early-mid 90s, ?I also produced games for various consoles; the Megadrive, Super Nintendo, GameBoy and GameBoy Advance amongst others?, he said. So, what of his plans now? ?I have a few ideas I'd like to kick around. I'm thinking of creating a sequel to an old Spectrum game of mine called Firefly. The working title is Buzzsaw?, he said also hinting ?I haven't anything planned for any other hardware just yet, though the SAM Coup? looks quite interesting.?
Joffa ended the Q+A by revealing how his new Speccy game will be released, ?Saucer will be a Cronosoft release - so I assume there's going to be two releases. One cassette based and one for emulation (at a reduced price)?, he said, before getting back to work, whilst the Speccy world eagerly awaits the final product.
To find out more about Joffa?s previous games, visit myweb.tiscali.co.uk/frobush/ or keep an eye on www.cronosoft.co.uk for further announcements about the games Saucer and Buzz Saw.
///IMAGES
pudpud.png
kong.png
sport.png
///CAPTION
Three of the earliest commercial games that Jonathan Smith was involved in?
///IMAGES
saucer.png
///CAPTION
And Joanthan?s latest outing for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum
**Typos included, for authenticity.
///Introduction///
This week, Shaun has a few words with famed Speccy programmer Jonathan Smith.
///Header///
Joffa speaks
///Body copy///
Jonathan Smith, an ex-programmer for the likes of Ocean software, is about to make a return to the 8-bit world with two new games in the pipeline. In what could be the greatest come-back since Lazarus, the demo of his game Saucer for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum has certainly caught the eye of many, including me. It was certainly quite exciting news when the electronic publication ZX Shed exclusively previewed it. And subsequently, there is great anticipation on the World of Spectrum forums about it, but creating something new for the machine is something that has been at the back of his mind for quite some time, ?over the past few years I have toyed with the idea [of writing a new game], but never quite got round to doing anything about it? he exclaimed.
Jonathan (who is better known as Joffa) certainly has quite a portfolio of games to his name, but his first release is fondly remembered, ?apart from the usual messing with BASIC, I started developing games in my bedroom, whilst at 6th Form College. My first commercial release was for Ocean Software - a ZX Spectrum game called Pud Pud. This was around Summer 1984. Wow! Was it really that long ago??, and from these humble beginnings, Joffa went to work in-house for Ocean software and next worked on the game Kong Strikes Back, ?I had the pleasure of working along side Nigel Alderton, of Chuckie Egg fame on that? he recalls, ?This 48k game was an unofficial conversion (rip off) of the arcade game Mr.Do's Wild Ride?, he said. Shortly after this, he worked on an arcade conversion for Ocean, Hyper Sports, published under the newly acquired Imagine label (Ocean released all of its early arcade conversions under Imagine). ?It took about four months to produce this sports simulation, in the days when programmers also did their own graphics and sound. And the inlay instructions?, Joffa pointed out. ?I'd almost finished the game (the pole vault event was coded but had to removed because of lack of memory) when a freelance programmer appeared out of the blue with another completed Spectrum version. Apparently one of the Ocean's directors had commissioned the project out of house. This guy was 'paid off' and his version shelved?, he mused.
Joffa hasn?t just programmed for the Speccy though. When asked what other computers he has created software for, he replied, ?Only the Atari ST on the computer side. I did a little bit of demo stuff on the Amiga - though this never saw the light of day? and when games consoles came into fashion during the early-mid 90s, ?I also produced games for various consoles; the Megadrive, Super Nintendo, GameBoy and GameBoy Advance amongst others?, he said. So, what of his plans now? ?I have a few ideas I'd like to kick around. I'm thinking of creating a sequel to an old Spectrum game of mine called Firefly. The working title is Buzzsaw?, he said also hinting ?I haven't anything planned for any other hardware just yet, though the SAM Coup? looks quite interesting.?
Joffa ended the Q+A by revealing how his new Speccy game will be released, ?Saucer will be a Cronosoft release - so I assume there's going to be two releases. One cassette based and one for emulation (at a reduced price)?, he said, before getting back to work, whilst the Speccy world eagerly awaits the final product.
To find out more about Joffa?s previous games, visit myweb.tiscali.co.uk/frobush/ or keep an eye on www.cronosoft.co.uk for further announcements about the games Saucer and Buzz Saw.
///IMAGES
pudpud.png
kong.png
sport.png
///CAPTION
Three of the earliest commercial games that Jonathan Smith was involved in?
///IMAGES
saucer.png
///CAPTION
And Joanthan?s latest outing for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum
**Typos included, for authenticity.
Post edited by Shaun.Bebbington on
Comments
Well, I had a word with joefish at the time, about him using the "Buzzsaw" name, and he agreed to give me 75% of the royalties on the profits from his game.
Too bad he'll be giving it away for free :grin:
He shouldn't be playing with the big boys then, should he?
He might teach them a lesson in humble generosity ... or something.
What? Like someone giving away a 20 year old game that isn't selling anymore just to butter people up by making out it's a festive gift?
I can do that!
I just hate everyone so can't be arsed!
So ... release your stuff out of spite!
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
And I would inform joefish that "Buzzsaw" (Firefly II) was originally developed on the Atari ST by myself and artist Chas Davies circa 1991 (c) Special FX Software Ltd.
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
That's just great that is!
You showed me those demos of yours ages ago and told me never to mention them or pass them on - and I agreed to your demands.
Now. Now. Now you are mentioning them all over the place and threatening me, ME, with legal action!
I blame Bebbington for this!
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
go ring up claims direct :D oh yeeerrrr!
more like STD demo with that big crab :p
early as in before lunch today ? hehe
there are so many games that weren't out there though.. or games I bet never saw the light of day.. I wonder how many codemasters etc have that are locked in safe.hehe
Very clever!
No, it did actually exist (though not my quick mock up) and it was much smaller. It was a metallic battle tank-like robot crab with springy claws and articulated legs that I never did get working right!
I was put on GameBoy Mr.Do! instead. And then made redundant.
But the extended version with extra goodies will be a Cronosoft cassette.
Yum!
That sounds fabulous! I so love Firefly and would have loved to have seen this as a sequel. Still, there's more than enough time to get it underway!
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
Now, this would be a great find. I wonder if it'll ever turn up.
...probably not, but you never know.
My games for the Spectrum: Dingo, The Speccies, The Speccies 2, Vallation, SQIJ.
Twitter: Sokurah