Vinyl data

Vinyl data is the use of vinyl discs to store sequenced/encoded data rather than for simple analog recordings. This alternate use of the storage medium enabled the code of full motion videos (FMVs) and even simple video games to be stored in an analog format along with the soundtrack and sound effects. These vinyl data discs took two forms: the FMV-only Capacitance Electronic Disc (CED), and the program sheet. Uncommon even in the early 1980s when the practice was at its height, program sheet game data required that users record from the disc (typically a flexi disc like the Interface Age "Floppy ROM") onto an audio cassette tape which could then be used via the cassette port with microcomputers such as the BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Commodore PET, VIC-20, Dragon 32/64, ZX81, or ZX Spectrum.[1] The use of CEDs to store video game FMV data was even less common, and required the game console (typically an arcade machine) to select a section of the grooved track to read with its stylus at just the right time for the video to be displayed. The numerous limitations of these techniques (background noise, scratches, and other audio-fidelity problems)[1][2][3][4] contributed to their failure to receive widespread acceptance and video game data stored in this manner remains some of the most difficult to archive and preserve.[5]

List of vinyl-data releases

Rel. Rel. Title Game titles Label Notes Ref(s)
1978 Elektor Software Service 001 "Mastermind" Elektor Program sheet (1 game; 4 non-game apps) [6]
1979 Elektor Software Service 003 "Four-in-a-row"
"Surround"		 Elektor Program sheet (2 games; 3 non-game apps) [7]
1979 Elektor Software Service 005 "Battleships"
"Keyplay"
"Luna"		 Elektor Program sheet (3 games; 4 non-game apps) [8][9]
1979 Elektor Software Service 006 "Space Shoot-Out" Elektor Program sheet (1 game; 2 non-game apps) [10]
1982 First ZX-81 Flexisoft Disc "Othello" Your Computer Program sheet [2][11]
1982 ZX-81 VIC-20 Spectrum Games Flexisoft Disc "Galactic Hitch-Hiker"
"Antispace"
"Speedster"		 Your Computer Program sheet [12]
1983 Free Programs for ZX81 Spectrum BBC Vic 20 PET "Blockade"
"Blodhop"
"Robotchase"
"Dominoes"
"Supervade"		 Which Micro? & Software Review Program sheet [13]
1983 Camouflage "Flying Train" EMI Program sheet [14][15]
1983 NFL Football "NFL Football" Bally Midway CED [5]
1984 Free Programs "Stellar Run"
"Energy Fields"
"Galaxians"
"Fall Guy"		 Personal Computer Games Program sheet [16][17]
1984 The Thompson Twins Adventure "The Thompson Twins Adventure" Computer and Video Games/Quicksilva Program sheet [1][18][19][20]
1985 Discoflex "Wargame"
"Hypersports" (demo)		 MicroHobby Program sheet [21]
1985 Discolist "Eggscape - La Fuga Dell'Uovo" List Program sheet [22]
1985 Discolist "Epidemic" List Program sheet [23]
1985 Free Flexidisc of Games "Xbec"
"Climber"
"Bonus Game"		 Computer Gamer Program sheet [24]

References

  1. ^ a b c Arendt, Susan (19 June 2007). "Video Games Hidden in 80s Albums". Wired. Condé Nast Publishing. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b Bennett, Bill (June 1982). "All in the Groove". Your Computer. 2 (6). Sutton Publishing: 31–33. ISSN 0263-0885.
  3. ^ Smith, G. L. (August 1982). "Your Letters: Flexidisc Fan". Your Computer. 2 (8). Sutton Publishing: 13. ISSN 0263-0885.
  4. ^ "Watch the History of Video Games, Soundtracked by the Rap Songs That Sample Them". Spin. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b Off, Greg, ed. (April 2006). "Feature: The Secret Society of Game Preservation". Hardcore Gamer. 1 (10). DoubleJump Publishing: 30–31. ISSN 1936-2110.
  6. ^ Van der Horst, Bob W., ed. (December 1978). "Wereldprimeur - ESS: De Elektuur Software Service". Elektuur (in Dutch) (54). Elektor International Media: 12–14.
  7. ^ Van der Horst, Bob W., ed. (June 1979). "ESS: The Elektor Software Service". Elektor (50). Elektor International Media: UK21.
  8. ^ Greenwald, Will (30 March 2017). "The Wide World of Video Game Vinyl". Geek.com. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  9. ^ Van der Horst, Bob W., ed. (October 1979). "New Programs for the SC/MP". Elektor (54). Elektor International Media: 12–14.
  10. ^ Van der Horst, Bob W., ed. (October 1979). "I Played TV Games.... - Table E: ESS 006". Elektor (54). Elektor International Media: 37.
  11. ^ Wolpe, Toby (May 1982). "Editorial". Your Computer. 2 (5). Sutton Publishing: 1. ISSN 0263-0885.
  12. ^ Bennett, Bill (December 1982). "Games: Flexidisc". Your Computer. 2 (12). Sutton Publishing: 25. ISSN 0263-0885.
  13. ^ Rolington, Alfred, ed. (April 1983). "Free Programs for ZX81 Spectrum BBC Vic 20 PET". Which Micro? & Software Review. EMAP. ISSN 0262-673X.
  14. ^ Bunder, Leslie B. (April 1985). "Sieving Through The Biz". Crash (15). Newsfield Publications Ltd. ISSN 0954-8661.
  15. ^ Wolpe, Toby, ed. (August 1983). "News: From Punk to Programming". Your Computer. 3 (8). Sutton Publishing: 42. ISSN 0263-0885.
  16. ^ Anderson, Chris, ed. (February 1984). "Program Library". Personal Computer Games. 1 (3). VNU: 115, 119, 138. ISSN 0265-3486.
  17. ^ Anderson, Chris, ed. (March 1984). "BBC Correction". Personal Computer Games. 1 (4). VNU: 22. ISSN 0265-3486.
  18. ^ Metcalfe, Tim, ed. (October 1984). "Meet the Pop Twins!". Computer and Video Games (36). Future Publishing: 11. ISSN 0261-3697.
  19. ^ Carroll, Martyn. "Rock Star Games". Eurogamer. 29 January 2008.
  20. ^ Binnie, Steve (2014). The Sound Of The Crowd - a Discography of the '80s (3rd ed.). Lulu.com. p. 286. ISBN 9781326073589.
  21. ^ Gómez-Centurión, José I., ed. (16–22 July 1985). "Discoflex". MicroHobby (in Spanish) (37). Hobby Press, S.A.: 12–13. ISSN 9955-8653.
  22. ^ Ciardelli, Luciano, ed. (May 1985). "In Regalo: Discolist". List (in Italian). 3 (5). Edicomp, S.R.L.
  23. ^ Ciardelli, Luciano, ed. (June 1985). "In Regalo: Discolist". List (in Italian). 3 (6/7). Edicomp, S.R.L.
  24. ^ Hetherington, Tony, ed. (December 1985). "Fantastic Flexidisk". Computer Gamer. 1 (9). Argus Specialist Publications: 22–23. ISSN 0744-6667.