Pitstop II (Epyx, 1984)

Written by Stephen H. Landrum and Dennis Caswell for the Commodore 64.

Converted for the Atari 8-bit computers by Lloyd D. Ollman Jr. for Synergistic Software.

Converted for the IBM-PC compatibles by Lauren Guimont for Synergistic Software.

Converted for Apple II by Ivan Manley, R. Clardy and D. Stinnett for Synergistic Software.

Also converted for TRS-80 Color Computer, but no credits are known.

Published by Epyx in 1984, except Apple II and TRS-80 CoCo versions in 1985.

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INTRODUCTION & GAME STATUS

Doing a comparison of Pitstop II always felt to me like the last resort - such an obvious choice of a C64 classic to tackle, that it wouldn't even make sense to compare it. However, thanks to the Reset64 magazine's request for a racing game comparison for their now to be the final issue, I took the chance to do a comparison of both Pitstop games, just to see how they compare against each other. Although the first Pitstop comparison ended up as the last comparison to be written for, and (still to be) published in the Reset64 magazine, I decided to release the two Pitstop comparisons on the blog almost back-to-back, just to get it done.

FRGR #17: Elfmania (Renegade, 1994)

Developed by Terramarque:
Main programming by Antti Toiviainen and Jani Askolin
A.I. programming and supervision by Stavros Fasoulas (uncredited)
Graphics by Antti Kallioinen
Music by Aleksi Eeben
Sound effects by Ville Hyvönen

Published by Renegade Software for the Commodore Amiga in 1994.

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INTRODUCTION & GAME STATUS

It's time to exploit this blog's Finnishness once again, by doing another review of an old Finnish game. This summer's selection is the last game ever to be published with any notable input from the C64 legend, Stavros Fasoulas, and simultaneously, the first and only game to be published by Terramarque, who would later join forces with Bloodhouse of Stardust fame to become Housemarque - the oldest still active Finnish game developing company, who turns 30 years old exactly today, on the 19th of July, 2025.

Pitstop (Epyx, 1983)

Developed and published by Epyx for Atari 400/800, ColecoVision, Coleco ADAM and Commodore 64 in 1983.

Atari 400/800 version designed and written by Action Graphics.

ColecoVision & ADAM version by the Connelley Group and Action Graphics: Programming by Richard Ditton; Sounds by David Thiel; Graphics by Action Graphics.

Commodore 64 version written by Jamie Faye Fenton.

(Credits taken from Colecovision.dk)

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INTRODUCTION & GAME STATUS

I have to start this entry with a sad note. This comparison was originally written almost two years ago for the 16th issue of Reset64 magazine, which at that time was still in all appearances going strong and healthy. All sorts of real life events for the Reset64 staff were behind the initial delay, but then, a series of more or less unfortunate happenings started ringing the bells of doom for the magazine, with people stepping down from their roles in the magazine and even a death of a beloved member. So, in the end, issue 16 is still to be released, and is in the works by the remaining people. I asked for, and received permission to publish this comparison whenever I felt like (due to my personal scheduling problems) from the original editor of the magazine, who goes by the handle Unkle K at the Lemon64 forum, so I decided to dedicate this entry to all the current and past people at Reset64, and I hope to see the final 16th issue some day soon. Now, onto the comparison itself.

Just about 42 years ago, the happily straight-forward genre of racing games would be disturbed by the release of a game that would introduce something other than driving a car into the mix. The game, Pitstop, was the first to bring in actual pit stops into racing games, but of course, this was received with mixed reviews. In hindsight, the racing part of Pitstop probably could have been better, seeing as Pole Position was still considered the yardstick, but at least it was different, and became successful enough to have a sequel.

Another SPECIAL video on FRGCB's YouTube channel!

Just so this special occasion wouldn't escape you readers out there, here's a little notification about the new special video just published on the FRGCB YouTube channel.

No more than five years after the first "n00b's look" video, the same friend who borrowed his Videopac G7000 to get looked at for a video, borrowed his Sharp MZ-700 to get the same treatment. While I have tried the MZ-700 out through emulation a few times, the real thing is a different beast entirely to handle. So obviously, this is a much longer video, because computers with cassette drives are a bit more complicated to use than cartridge-driven consoles. I just didn't realize, how much more complicated the MZ-700 would actually be, because my experiences through emulation weren't very memorable.

Insector Hecti in the Inter Change (HiTEC Software, 1991)

Designed by PAL Developments

Amstrad CPC and Sinclair ZX Spectrum versions:
Programming and music by David Spicer
Graphics by Jason Brashill

Atari ST and Commodore Amiga versions:
Programming by Glenn Williams
Graphics by Stoo Cambridge
Amiga audio by Howie Davies

Commodore 64 version developed by Digital Design:
Programming by Dave Saunders and Nick Taylor
Graphics by Ashley Routledge
Music by Jeroen Tel

All versions published by HiTEC Software in 1991.

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INTRODUCTION & GAME STATUS

As I was finishing off the previous comparison of Yogi Bear, I realized that HiTEC Software is one rather well-known game publisher from the turn of the 1990's, which I haven't really featured on the blog so far. For good reasons, I might add, because most of their output were sub-par and not even funny in their blandness. So, I took a quick look at their entire catalogue and found that they had one game that was more commonly well thought-of than others, and it was this game, which doesn't even know how to spell itself. The title screen says Interchange, the cover art says Insector Hecti in the Inter Change, and there are some occasions, when it's Inter-Change. I suppose it is whatever you feel like it should be.

Yogi Bear (Piranha, 1987)

Designed and programmed by Dalali Software Ltd., and published for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and Sinclair ZX Spectrum by Piranha in 1987.

Music for the Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC versions by Matt Gray (uncredited).

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INTRODUCTION & GAME STATUS

The May break is over, so it's time to hop back onto the comparison blogging saddle. An easy fall back into blogging is what prompted me to do this cult classic from Piranha, and the fact that there was only one game prior to this one starting with the letter 'Y' in the comparison archive. Also, this has also been in my to-do list for a few years now.

The Train: Escape to Normandy (Accolade, 1987)

Developed by Artech Digital Entertainments, Inc.
Designed by Paul Butler and Rick Banks.

Commodore 64 version:
Programming by J. Stuart Easterbrook and Lise Mendoza
Graphics by Grant Campbell
Music and sound effects by Paul Butler

IBM-PC version by Dynamix, Inc.:
Programming by Greg Rose and Lincoln Hutton
Graphics by Tom Collie and Connie Braat
Sounds by Bryce Morcello

Amstrad CPC & Sinclair ZX Spectrum versions:
Programming by Nick Wilson
Graphics by Imagitec Design Ltd.
Unknown credits: Mick Hanrahan, Barry Leitch, Gavin Wade and Adrian Ludley

Originally released for the Commodore 64 in North America by Accolade in 1987, and for the IBM-PC compatibles in 1988. European distribution, including Amstrad CPC and Sinclair ZX Spectrum versions by Electronic Arts in 1988.

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INTRODUCTION & GAME STATUS

Along with the other thematic changes to the blog's calendar, I'm also trying to unravel the mess that is the combined list of old requests and games that are still logical and relatively easy to do before taking my next break and moving on to focus more on the 16-bit games. Today's entry had actually been sitting in the wishlist for some years, so whoever wished for this one back whenever, here's to you.