Game Killer
| File:Gamekiller.gif Gamekiller Screenshots | |
| Technical Info | |
|---|---|
| ROM | N/A |
| RAM | N/A |
| Hardware features | 1 Button |
| Manual | PDF: 00 pages |
| CRT ID | 00 |
| Programming | |
| Control Registers | $FFFF |
| $FFFF | |
| The registers are enabled by the cartridge button and are disabled on reset only | |
Game Killer article is far from complete and a real stub!
The adverts found for this rather rare cartridge which was only available in the UK as of current knowledge contain the words:
WARNING: It is possible that some of the games you own will not have all the levels and screens promised by the software houses. This could mean that you could send them back due to false information under the Trade Description Act.
and is somehow funny wording since the rest of the advert just mentions that the cartridge is a revolutionary survival kit, disables sprite collision and for the interesting part start your game where you want!.
The company behind this advert just renamed from Robcom to ROBTEK as the advert states. Robcom was previously selling modems mainly it appears and the change on the company name came with the introduction of the Game Killer cartridges if we can trust the adverts. Publisher Information at Amiga Hall of Light also notes ROBTEK as the company behind a few games and loosely collaborating with Mastertronic.
This article from Zzap! explains the cartridge is booting up with a changed reset screen playing a tune by Rob Hubbard and this excellent article at Commodore Zone about Rob reads:
In 1986 the company Robtek marketed a new product called Game Killer for the Commodore 64. It was a cartridge-based device that allowed gamers to cheat when playing certain games that contained sprite collision code. The cartridge would allow the sprite collision to be switched off, which in effect meant that you could complete a game because the in-game enemies could never kill your character!
Unfortunately it did not work that well as it was only useful for certain games due to the software method used.
Robtek asked Hubbard to compose the theme music for the software. It was the only commercial software utility that contained a Hubbard soundtrack and what a soundtrack it is! It’s actually a remix of some music he did for the Human Race (Mastertronic 1986).
It has a memorable chorus line, which you won’t easily forget, it’s one of those tunes that just seems to stay in your head even after all these years - I can still hear the tune now! As usual it complements the software well and is most appropriate.
Just the mentioning of a unique Rob Hubbard sound should actually make people really badly want to rip that ROM, no? Well, apparently nobody did so far.
| File:Run Issue 48 1987 Dec Gamekiller Ad.png Run Issue 48, 12/1987 |
The Zzap! article is also explaining the only functionality of the cartridge being achieved by
Notes
- Ahoy!
Missing
- All
Binaries
Capture_binaries_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar contains just the C64 binaries:
- MORE
Capture_all_rr.c64.org_2010-03.rar contains:
- MOST
Trivia
- NONE
Weblinks
- Game Killer at Commodore Info Page
- Nightfall Crew Blog found the Game Killer and Expert Cartridge
- Rob Hubbard Article at Commodore Zone mentions Game Killer here
- retroport.de
