Sensible Software

Graham Humphrey · 21 January 2005, 10:34

Whatever happened to them anyway? Are they still going or not? It would be a shame if they're not as they wrote some of the best Amiga games ever (I don't think you need me to tell you what they are!). The last thing I remember them doing was Sensible Soccer on the PlayStation.

ant512 · 21 January 2005, 11:10

They were bought by Codemasters, who went on to release Cannon Fodder for the Game Boy Color. In other developments, their Mega Drive games (Cannon Fodder, Megalomania and Sensible Soccer) are going to be released as one of those direct-to-TV jobbies. It will, apparently, have two controllers.

John Hare is currently working with the Bitmap Brothers to port some of the Sensible games to mobile phones (mobile version of Java, presumably).

Graham Humphrey · 21 January 2005, 11:36

At least they weren't bought by EA I suppose.

22 January 2005, 04:10

Are bitmaps active? Their website isn't updated for years and it says thay are still developing chaos engine and gods for GBA which apparently isn't the case. Crawfish interactive was doing them until going bust.

Graham Humphrey · 22 January 2005, 11:29

The Bitmaps are still going - I bought this Retro book not so long ago (full of articles from the retro section of GamesTM magazine) and there is an interview with them. They are apparently developing something at the moment, can't remember what it is though.

IFW · 22 January 2005, 15:48

You can develop real time games using Symbian, or Windows Mobile in C++ and assembly no need them to be crap like Java games normally are since you can use the system to its full potential.

StarEye · 23 January 2005, 22:33

I think Bitmaps Brothers are developing Speedball Arena, which is supposed to be a online version of Speedball. Let's hope it's better than Speedball 2100.

Peanutuk · 23 January 2005, 22:55

A good sight all about Sensible Software during and after can be found here. Some interesting interviews regarding the sale of Sensible and the demise of certain titles.

Graham Humphrey · 24 January 2005, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarEye

I think Bitmaps Brothers are developing Speedball Arena, which is supposed to be a online version of Speedball. Let's hope it's better than Speedball 2100.

I must admit I really don't see the problem with Speedball 2100. It's basically Speedball 2 with different graphics - the gameplay is exactly the same.

Shoonay · 24 January 2005, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarEye

I think Bitmaps Brothers are developing Speedball Arena, which is supposed to be a online version of Speedball. Let's hope it's better than Speedball 2100.

Let's hope it get's released first...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Humphrey

I must admit I really don't see the problem with Speedball 2100. It's basically Speedball 2 with different graphics - the gameplay is exactly the same.

Haven't played the full version (still downloading from eDonkey

), but as i remember the demo version, i played some years ago it is REALLY similar to [SpeedBall 1]

Same tiny "playfield", nicely felt characters moves, etc...

StarEye · 24 January 2005, 16:56

While the gameplay in Speedball 2100 stayed the same (honestly can't remember, I'll give it another go), the messy graphics ruined the playability. Speedball 2 had "better" graphics, imho.

Graham Humphrey · 25 January 2005, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarEye

While the gameplay in Speedball 2100 stayed the same (honestly can't remember, I'll give it another go), the messy graphics ruined the playability. Speedball 2 had "better" graphics, imho.

I agree with you about the graphics - perhaps they "felt" wrong - but I bought it for £10 a few years ago and played it lots - certainly got my money's worth. Although I probably wouldn't have bought it if my Amiga Speedball 2 still worked.

Anubis · 25 January 2005, 18:04

One time I screwed up a game (put the wrong disk while making a copy, as it was not labeled) and I still can't find the game I've deleted.

It was very simillar to Sensible Soccer, just it was basketball. Very same great game play, as I just tried it, and went for making a copy of the game.

Any ideas?

BippyM · 25 January 2005, 18:16

Tip Off?

Peanutuk · 25 January 2005, 18:28

Kick Nick Faldo's Face Off ?

JohnnyWalker · 25 January 2005, 18:41

Quote:

While the gameplay in Speedball 2100 stayed the same (honestly can't remember, I'll give it another go), the messy graphics ruined the playability. Speedball 2 had "better" graphics, imho.

Exactly right. Also the fact that it is, by today's standards, an incredibly limited game! I remember reading an interview with Eric Matthews and he was talking about all the things they wanted to put into the Amiga version, but couldn't (pitch invasions, and other cool stuff) and what we got with '2100' was the EXACT same game!

The version I tested while I worked at Sony didn't even have a multiplayer league option! That's something that could add longevity to the game AND is incredibly easy to program. It was shocking the lack of imagination that went into Speedball 2100, they could have really done something special.

Even the new screenshots look like nothing special. They need to take the idea and expand it further.

Anyways, whatever happened to Eric Matthews? I always felt (rightly or wrongly) that he was the brainchild behind a lot of the really cool stuff the Bitmaps did.

Also: Why on earth don't Sensible release Sex N' Drugs N' Rock N' Roll through their website?! They could sell it very easily these days, without fear of publisher meddling.

Anubis · 26 January 2005, 19:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by bippym

Tip Off?

I'm not sure. Players looked more sensible soccer or cannon fodder alike.

But I might be wrong about that.

Game speed was also fast, simillar to Sensible Soccer.

21 January 2005, 10:34	#1
Graham Humphrey Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Age: 37 Posts: 11,167	Sensible Software Whatever happened to them anyway? Are they still going or not? It would be a shame if they're not as they wrote some of the best Amiga games ever (I don't think you need me to tell you what they are!). The last thing I remember them doing was Sensible Soccer on the PlayStation.

22 January 2005, 04:10	#4
oldpx Posts: n/a	Are bitmaps active? Their website isn't updated for years and it says thay are still developing chaos engine and gods for GBA which apparently isn't the case. Crawfish interactive was doing them until going bust. Last edited by oldpx; 24 January 2005 at 01:21.

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21 January 2005, 11:10	#2
ant512 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: California Posts: 964	They were bought by Codemasters, who went on to release Cannon Fodder for the Game Boy Color. In other developments, their Mega Drive games (Cannon Fodder, Megalomania and Sensible Soccer) are going to be released as one of those direct-to-TV jobbies. It will, apparently, have two controllers. John Hare is currently working with the Bitmap Brothers to port some of the Sensible games to mobile phones (mobile version of Java, presumably).

21 January 2005, 11:36	#3
Graham Humphrey Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Age: 37 Posts: 11,167	At least they weren't bought by EA I suppose.

22 January 2005, 11:29	#5
Graham Humphrey Moderator Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Age: 37 Posts: 11,167	The Bitmaps are still going - I bought this Retro book not so long ago (full of articles from the retro section of GamesTM magazine) and there is an interview with them. They are apparently developing something at the moment, can't remember what it is though.

22 January 2005, 15:48	#6
IFW Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: ... Age: 52 Posts: 1,838	You can develop real time games using Symbian, or Windows Mobile in C++ and assembly no need them to be crap like Java games normally are since you can use the system to its full potential.

23 January 2005, 22:33	#7
StarEye Zone Friend Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Norway Age: 46 Posts: 987	I think Bitmaps Brothers are developing Speedball Arena, which is supposed to be a online version of Speedball. Let's hope it's better than Speedball 2100.

23 January 2005, 22:55	#8
Peanutuk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The North, UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,082	A good sight all about Sensible Software during and after can be found here. Some interesting interviews regarding the sale of Sensible and the demise of certain titles.

24 January 2005, 16:56	#11
StarEye Zone Friend Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Norway Age: 46 Posts: 987	While the gameplay in Speedball 2100 stayed the same (honestly can't remember, I'll give it another go), the messy graphics ruined the playability. Speedball 2 had "better" graphics, imho.

25 January 2005, 18:04	#13
Anubis Retro Gamer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Underworld Age: 51 Posts: 4,058	One time I screwed up a game (put the wrong disk while making a copy, as it was not labeled) and I still can't find the game I've deleted. It was very simillar to Sensible Soccer, just it was basketball. Very same great game play, as I just tried it, and went for making a copy of the game. Any ideas?

25 January 2005, 18:16	#14
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 48 Posts: 9,355	Tip Off?

25 January 2005, 18:28	#15
Peanutuk Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The North, UK Age: 44 Posts: 1,082	Kick Nick Faldo's Face Off ?

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