The hottest Retro Computing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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A Quick Update and a Request

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. A planned Plus poll was missed this month due to a scheduling oversight, and it will return next month.
  2. Eight issues of a Japanese computer magazine are available from 1990–1998, and help is needed to find the December 1990 and January 1991 issues.
  3. The publication is reader-supported and asks readers to consider subscribing to support the work.

Under the microscope: Unreal Tournament (Dreamcast)

Rings of Saturn • 43 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. Memory inspection and static analysis were used to trace how the Dreamcast port records and handles cheat input, revealing the exact code path and buffers involved.
  2. Cheats are implemented as six-button sequences matched against stored arrays (Up=0x01, Down=0x02, Left=0x04, Right=0x08) which then execute named cheat commands; four public codes were known but the game checks six sequences.
  3. Two previously hidden codes were discovered: one unlocks all tournament modes and all levels across multiple modes, and the other raises the player/bot limit so you can add more bots.

Vote for the January 2026 + Post Topic

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 23 Jan 26
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. A poll is open for plus subscribers to choose the January 2026 post topic, so readers can vote on what gets written next.
  2. The three candidate topics focus on vintage computing: a mouse, a CP/M helper program, and a flight simulator.
  3. Each option is shown with scans from old magazines, and more related articles are planned to follow soon.

Poor Person Software's Write-Hand Man

Computer Ads from the Past • 512 implied HN points • 01 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. Write-Hand Man brought Sidekick-style pop-up utilities to CP/M, letting users call up a notepad, phonebook, calendar, calculator, file viewer and a communications tool without leaving their main program.
  2. It used memory-saving and swap-to-disk tricks so it could run in 64K CP/M systems, but that made it slow on floppy drives and could conflict with some modem programs unless you had a RAM disk or hard drive.
  3. Poor Person Software was an obscure small company that sold the utility at a modest price and had its product enhanced by Technical Micro Systems to add H/Z19 graphics and extra features.

Komputerwerk

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 08 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. Komputerwerk was a Pennsylvania-based company from the mid-1980s that made tools for compiled BASIC; records conflict but it appears to be no longer active.
  2. Its flagship product, Finally!, was a library of over 100 named subroutines for compiled BASIC, with source code and documentation for tasks like array math, string trimming, sorting, charts, and system queries.
  3. They also sold Xgraf, an assembly-language graphics kernel for QuickBASIC that added extended graphics calls, screen packing, zooming, and file save/load/import features.
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Black Friday/Happy Birthday Sale 2025

Computer Ads from the Past • 256 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. Get 39% off annual plans for life if you buy a paid membership between now and December 8.
  2. If you prefer not to use Substack, you can support with one-time donations via Ko‑Fi, SubscribeStar, Cash App, PayPal, Liberpay, or Patreon.
  3. Gift subscriptions are available and on sale for the holidays, and subscribing helps support the reader-supported publication.

Vote for the November 2025 + Post Topic

Computer Ads from the Past • 128 implied HN points • 22 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. Vote on the topic for this month’s paid post; the poll is open for one week so act soon.
  2. The newsletter is running behind schedule, and last month’s paid post is expected to be published in a few days.
  3. The topic options are illustrated with vintage magazine images, and readers can continue reading for free or subscribe for paid access.

Salamander Software's Franklin's Tomb

Computer Ads from the Past • 384 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. Salamander Software was a collective run by friends from Sussex University, known for their Dragon charbusters like Night Flight and Franklin's Tomb.
  2. Their game Franklin's Tomb, part of the Dan Diamond trilogy, was a text adventure involving mummies, mazes, and a white rabbit. It had a split screen, save game feature, and clues for upcoming adventures.
  3. Reviewers praised Franklin's Tomb for its quality, engaging gameplay, and the need for exploration and puzzle-solving. The game utilized the full memory of the computers it was available on.

Disassembling Crossroads, part 2

Dan’s MEGA65 Digest • 11 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Retro Computing
  1. Disassembling retro games like _Crossroads_ helps us understand how they work. Tools like Ghidra make it easier to translate complex machine code into more readable assembly language.
  2. The process of disassembly involves examining machine code and turning it into something we can understand. With tools, we can learn how programs manipulate memory and control hardware.
  3. Using Ghidra can reveal important insights into game design and programming techniques used in the past. It shows how similar concepts apply to modern programming on systems like the MEGA65.