Finally manged to take pictures and write up a description of my retro man cave. It's a lenghty post so feel free to make a cuppa of Yorkshire tea and pull up a seat. My main Atari 8bit setup. 800XL with AVG and SysCheckII. I picked up the little Hyperkin controller over in the States for it, really responsive and makes a good joystick alternative. Above that is a 1050 drive and my as yet unexpanded 600XL. The tank like 800 is unmodded and I use that for playing my original cartridge collection. I was after a decent 800 for years until this one came along. Sometimes I just like to stroke its keyboard... The crystal xbox has coin-ops loaded on to the hard drive with a complete collection of xbox games along with various emulators. I use that for playing Atari 7800 games now. The little tabletop coin-op machine was a gift from my better half and has Pacman and Galaga on it, two of my favourite arcade titles. The pixel Pacman the other side of the crt tv is actually a USB lamp. My other 800XL, this time with an Uno Cart. It has a set of paddle controllers attached for playing titles like Arkanoid (one of my favourite A8 games). The STFM has been upgraded with a Gotek drive. I've got an STE but normally use the STFM for better games compatibility. Above the Atari's we have a Playstation 2 with a soft mod and hard drive attached. Alongside that is my Megadrive with Everdrive cartridge. Next up is my Amiga 500, again it has a Gotek installed. Main uses at the moment are playing Arcade Pool, Arkanoid, Kick Off and Sensible Soccer. My latest addition is TheC64 Maxi. This has surprised me with how much fun I'm getting playing the included games and some recent homebrews. It's hooked up via HDMI to the LCD tv, but I've got an hdmi-scart converter if I want that warm fuzzy glow from the CRT display. I have a The500 Mini on order for March release. That will let me play WHDload titles via USB. Even better is it already comes preloaded with some of my favourite games including Arcade Pool and Kick Off 2. Another newish system here, the Evercade VS. Lovely little retro style console that you can play console and arcade titles via retail cartridges. I've got a couple of carts now including Atari, Codemasters and Arcade collections. To the left is the handheld version that came out first, the Evercade and that will play the same games on the go. Hiding in the case next to it is my soft modded Sony PSP, my favourite handheld. Some awesome games especially when it comes to racing titles. On the top shelf is my small collection of 1:24 scale movie cars - 60's Batman, Knight Rider and Back to the Future. Next up, my main workstation that I'm typing this post from. It's a Dell i5 base that I picked up locally for under £100. It's connected to a lovely 24" Philips monitor. You can also see my USB joystick and saturn controllers for playing the various emulators I have on the PC. The shelf above the joysticks and microphone (for when I'm doing MS Teams work meetings from home) holds some more mini machines including a mini Pong unit, original Atari Touch Me and a really tiny 2600 with working controller and miniture display! There is also a small and very accurate Megadrive scale model to the edge of the photo. Above that we have my small collection of all my favourite original Megadrive games. More geekiness here. Various posters and arcade marques next to my complete collection of Atari Hot Wheels, a BatWing desklamp and my Darth Vader wax melter (yes, really). More mini arcade machines and some plug and play units including a complete Namco collection. The little arcade titles in the middle shelf next to the mugs are all hand made out of clay by a very talented artist down in England. I collect gaming keyrings and you can see some at the top on the pegboard along with a collection of gaming postcards based on a set of stamps that were released in 2020. Almost finished now! More keyrings on a pegboard along with the rest of my Pacman collectables. Also hanging on the wall are a few framed bits of art and my little homage to the ZX spectrum. And here is the majority of my computer and console book library. Quite a lot of these haven't even been read yet but I like being able to look at all the pretty pictures.... And just to show how geeky I really am, here is my Roy of the Rovers annual colleciton, all the way through the 80's and into the early 90's. They are bookended by my Roy Race statue and a handpainted subbuteo team in the colours of Melchester Rovers. That's all folks. Comments and mickey taking welcome
That is far too neat and tidy.. Sweet collection there, wish I had the space to show mine the love it deserves. You were not the only Roy of the Rover's reader, but I preferred Alf Tupper / Tough of the track more.
Thanks Paul, it's the spare bedroom and only me in the house so plenty of space. Alf Tupper was brilliant, there was an annual released on Kindle a while back, happy memories. Right now I'm halfway through a Billy's Boots book.
Congratulations! That's a very tidy and functional cave, also with most of my favorite machines and accessories like modern storage devices for each. Very well conceived and arranged spaces with everything ready for a game or a coding session. Virtually it's my goal as a retro cave, something I can only imagine for now... My studio is for work and retro stuff but only two super crowded and not organized desks at the moment. Too many monitors and crts, and two retro computers at a time can be installed and used. Most of the gear rests inside cardboard boxes... One day I'll have the time to tidy up and rearrange the room.
Thanks for the kind comments Alex. So, if you could only have two retro computers setup EVER, what would they be? That question open to everyone!
Computers for me would be the 800XL and Amiga 500. Surprised that the 500 would pip the ST, but I do use it more nowadays.
Al, That's such a swish set-up, mate. Far, far, far tidier than mine. Bev suggested tidying my set-up up... by chucking a rucksack of grenades in there. Where do we start - there's heaps of enjoyment there for every retro collector to find something to adore, play a while with and as Alex mentions, you've got all the mod cons necessary for quick boot-up times. I know where you are coming from when you mention things like "I just like to touch the 800s keyboard sometimes..." The battle tank is that sexy it just needs a tickle now and again and by all means - bash a cart in and have a good 20mins work out on say Pacman, Missile Command or Defender as that beaut was made to bring instant pleasure and gratification. I could wax lyrical for another 15mins but I've got a Guinness on the go and we've mates round so I'll sign off by just answering your final question and complimenting you once more on such a well-organised, presented and clearly much loved collection of some real classic computer and console class acts, mate. If only TWO could be kept and paid homage to, then that could only ever be the Atari 800XL and Oric Atmos - both things of limitless awe, timeless beauty and absolute wonder in mine eyes...
There's even something in the cave that Bev would like - an excercise bike That Atmos is a lovely looking machien. Enjoy the Guiness!
Two positions for two permanent computers only on my desks? Well, they must be the C64 and the Amiga 500, because they are the computers that actually I owned in my youth and they're also the ones that I know better when it comes to coding for fun.
I think that will be similar for many of us Alex. The machines we grew up with hold great memories. Have said before that I was never a fan of the C64 but since I've started playing about with TheC64 Maxi it really has grown on me. The amount of software still coming out for it is crazy good.
Yeah, the amount of software available for the 64 is virtually endless. Some modern demos or games are simply astounding. Many great things can be done with the XL/XE series too, probably comparable to the achievements many programmers did with the C64. The hw potential was very advanced when they were put on sale in the early 80s. The same could be said for ST and Amiga. You have to consider that at that time the time to market games was essential to selling as much as possible, even at the expense of the care and playability of a title. Nowadays some titles coded by real fans and skilled programmers and graphic experts often feature the best that it can be reached by the hardware. They have time and knowledge on their hands and no rush to get to the market first, before the competition or due to lack of budget for a porting from another platform. If you need advice for the 64, and I don't think you do, just ask.
Almost three years now since I posted this thread and as I look around it now, my goodness there have been a few changes to the machines in Al's Cave I'll need to take some proper photos or maybe even a video at some point. But in the meantime I've started collecting retro based (mainly) metal signs and they have now taken over most of the wall space here. Only three more to source and I'll be just about finished, here is the current work in progress. The main wall, a collection of various bits including model cars, Raleigh bikes, keyrings and Pac-Man. Wall 2 is another mix of Star Wars, Back to the Future and Simpsons stuff plus arcade signs and other bits Then we have the football and Neighbours section One of my favourite things is the custom canvas by Stoo Cambridge, showing Celtic score a goal of course. The Cowboy coffee print is by a local artist that I have a few pieces from. He's been kind enough to also gift me some little bonus items next to it, very cool. A couple of my latest addtions now. The Batmobile on the display stand is a replica of the original 1960's Corgi model, complete with missiles that fire (and then get lost down the back of the sofa). My favourite though has to be the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard. Been after this model for a while and finally got one that didn't break the bank. More to follow (sometime)....
Looks great Al, well apart from the Neighbours stuff (seems really out of place, BUT it's your flat and all the best to you..More photos / video would be ace...Love the signs etc..
Yeah, Neighbours is a bit of a strange one but I've not missed an episode EVER. It's my very guilty pleasure lol Once I get the last couple of bits in place and shift the Amstrad and Dragon 32 I'll try and do a walkthrough. I'm also planning to set the PSP up with a Sony LCD TV soon so I can play it on a bigger screen, looking forward to Ridge Racer and Sega Rally on that.
Hi, Al. Good idea to refresh your old post as we can see how your very personal man cave space has developed and what a great selection of those nostalgic tin signs you now have. I really like the old Atari games ones, but in your collection it's the Asteroids marquee topper and the Fiat 500 that catch the eye for me Amongst your other collectibles, I lurve: the old batmobile replica (my cousin gave me an original back in the 70s but it's long lost and like you say, missiles from this, Shado2 -Paul - and those discs out the Dinky USS Enterprise would ALWAYS mysteriously vanish during a play sesh... you'd start with half a dozen and end up with 2-3 and the others would only surface many months later... either behind the sofa or in the dustbag of the bleedin Hoover! Also admire your Subbuteo bits (again, so many enjoyable seshes with that in the late 70s/early 80s with my mates and cousins in our house and the cat pitch invading and running off with the ball!) and your marvellous collection of micro retro micros! Tis a sight to behold and I';m sure it brings you tons of pleasure, mate. Just a shame us guys aint a bit closer in terms of where we live as this kinda thing would make for regular Sunday afternoon conversational pieces and an excuse to get some of the exhibits fired up for actual gaming comps etc! Ne'er mind - keep collecting, Al, it's very cool indeed... despite Harold and the dreaded cast of Neighbours!!
Lets not be too down on Mr Bishop, Ian is suffering from terminal cancer in real life. Neighbours etc was not for me, but each to their own. I can't stand Eastenders, but it's a bazillion fans, am I wrong, nope and neither are they. We like what we like. Anyway, happy Xmas to all on here, or happy holidays if you prefer it. Paul.. Old enough to be Santa...Not sure if I can handle my huge sack...Like Santa, I only come once a year, and even then it's down a chimney (poor dolls house chimney) Enough cracker gags
Eastenders to me is dreadful. Far too bleak and dreary. Mind you, Coronation Street is just becoming plain silly these days. Gail is just about to get married for the seventh time!
I get the idea that they can't just show what an average day is like for Easteneders or Manc's, as it would be boring beyond all, but making it a complete fantasy just destroys it. I personally stopped watching soaps a while back, these days as we moved Serena's room in to the front room as the kids above just are soo noisy. That means Cindy watches tv in the bedroom and I'm right next to the TV so I see bits of the soaps now. What a load of crud they are...Just stupid as can be..More predictable than Gregg Wallace trying it on with anything that moves. These days I really only watch the news and the odd TV film. I'd rather see stuff like Blue Planet than any soap..
Agree with you lads 1000% = IMHO soaps = braindead moronic material for the masses Any shite goes and like Paul said, as it goes watch believability fly out the window - no humour just aggro, dross and crap scripts.
Oh, tag teamed Al At least we got Mark Little and Emily Symons out of the deal..Mark's a good laugh and Emily..What can I say
To better reply to your question: They would be C64 + Ultimate II+, Amiga 500 w/ Gotek or PiStorm, SinclairQL + FDD, Oric Atmos + LOCI device,
