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markgbeckett.bsky.social
I am an academic, computational scientist, and research-programme manager, working in high-performance computing, though often found tinkering with 1980s 8-bit micros.
60 posts 46 followers 26 following
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Posts 16 Comments 34

Some #snowdrops heralding imminent arrival of spring.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Nicely written exploration of some good games for #JupiterAce, including mention of a couple of my own ports. youtu.be/DRMLR1nhe2g?... #retrogaming

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

Having disassembled Colin Dooley's port of #centipede for the #JupiterAce (and #Minstrel4D), and discovered an unused spider graphic, I've been working to restore the spider feature and (hopefully) fulfil Colin's vision for this great game! I will share a TAP version soon. #retrogaming

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

Sun is out for my final day in Lyon.

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

Some Lego dinosaurs to brighten up your Sunday! #DalkeithDinoTrail

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

Here are some #snowdrops to brighten up your Saturday.

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

A day late to say happy birthday to the #zx80. Sadly, I have never owned a ZX80, though do have a modern-day compatible #Minstrel2 – the power of a ZX80 without the #rampackwobble!

submitted 29 days ago • 0 comments

Does anyone in the UK have a tatty 1541 drive for free or cheap? Doesn't matter about the condition, yellowed, marked, switch holes, bit missing, not working, anything, I just need a case to rehome a 1551 that has cracks all over the case. I would plan to fill the holes, spray it dark grey etc.

submitted 32 days ago • 6 comments

Okay BlueSky Hive Mind - I'm looking for a Z80 I/O port map list for the Tatung Einstein TC-01 and am drawing a blank. Going to hit the Tatung forums later as well. Does anyone know where I can find one?

submitted 44 days ago • 5 comments

I have now finished my disassembly of Colin Dooley's version of Centipede for the #JupiterAce - github.com/markgbeckett.... I have made some interesting discoveries, as detailed in the README (see section on "Disassembling Centipede" for more info.

submitted 47 days ago • 1 comment

New blog post - first of the Mini VIC development logs. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/01/mini... Part one covers the story so far and the plans for the revisited design.

submitted 55 days ago • 2 comments

Great to see new games being produced for the #JupiterAce. GLDM Games has produced several ports of 80s classics, including this version of Tetriz [sic.] which supports the @tynemouthsw.bsky.social Minstrel 4th/ 4D joystick interface! gldm.itch.io/tetriz/

submitted 55 days ago • 0 comments

First run of #RunTheMonth for PCUK in the bag, despite some treacherous ice. runthemonthme.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/...

submitted 56 days ago • 0 comments

Have started to disassemble Colin Dooley's version of Centipede for #JupiterAce (or #Minstrel4D). Colin wrote the game on an actual Ace, entering hand-assembled hex code. github.com/markgbeckett... #retrogaming

submitted 60 days ago • 0 comments

Apparently it's Sunday today, so here is a new blog post - a look at some of the things coming up in 2025. blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2024/12/comi... 2024 didn't go quite as planned, so let's hope 2025 is full of 8-bit goodness.

submitted 62 days ago • 1 comment

Most mornings, I cycle the same ~10km to work, and am always suprised how many déjà vu moments there are. Same lollypop man says hello, same dog walker waves, same people at the bus stops, and even the same car pulling out of its driveway. See where I am going here?

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments