What is RGCD?
RGCD (Retro Gamer CD) initially started as a retro-gaming CD-based discmag that I first published pretty much single-handedly back in 2006. Growing as a collective (and in popularity), over the next few years we released a further four issues before real-life finally caught up with me and I unfortunately no longer had the time to compile and edit the magazine in 2009/10.
Although the magazine side is still very much something I'd like to return to in the future (although perhaps in a different format), since 2009 RGCD has evolved into a games development team and retro publisher, concentrating on the Atari STE, PC and C64 platforms.
I recently started this blog due to the frustration of not being able to easily edit the out-of-date RGCD website. Over the coming months (or perhaps years), I'll be posting news on our projects and recommended indie and homebrew releases here (hopefully together with some of the old RGCD crew) whilst our web guru completely revamps the old site.
Released in 1993, the Commodore Amiga CD32 lacked the necessary marketing power, system specifications and third party support to compete against the hugely successful Sony Playstation and it's commercial life was cut short when Commodore filed for bankruptcy in 1994. However, being Commodore's final foray into the home computer/console market the CD32 still has a loyal retro-gamer fanbase, including our editor, James Monkman.
In all, the CD32 received less than 200 official game conversions during it's brief lifetime - but thanks to the release (or perhaps leak?) of Commodore's CD32 developer kit, dozen's of self-made compilations and conversions are now available from various sources on the net. However, many of these are hosted on illegal ROM sites and others are either non-working conversions or feature embarrassing start-up script errors (such as missing assigns that result in unnecessary 'insert disk B' messages during play). Out of those tried and tested, few feature CD inserts and even fewer specify if the game requires any additional non-standard CD32 hardware such as a keyboard or mouse to play.
This little sub-section of the RGCD site is our alternative solution - tested CD32 conversions available for download in .iso format with 300 DPI CD cover art and additional requirements listed (where necessary). Although starting out with a modest selection of games, we are in the process of converting and testing dozens of others in collaboration with other CD32 enthusiasts, all of which will eventually be listed on this page.
http://www.rgcd.co.uk/