On August 8, 2019, Songbird announced the acquisition of multiple classic gaming properties including:
- The entire HandMade Software library, except for Kasumi Ninja, including games such as Awesome Golf and Battlezone 2000
- Battlemorph by ATD
- Gordo 106 by Tenth Planet Software
- Lynx Super Skweek by Loriciel
- Othello by Harry Dodgson
Since then, more games have joined the Songbird family:
- Ishido: The Way of Stones (full rights for all ports on all systems)
- Quadromania (1990s game for the Lynx by RPM Software)
- Sky Raider (2019 Lynx game by James Higgs)
Ishido is an exciting acquisition, as it’s the first opportunity for Songbird to branch out into other platforms beyond the Atari classics. Quadromania and Sky Raider both have had limited releases either in cartridge form or online, but will find new life in Songbird. Thus I’m excited to announce the Redux branding for certain Songbird titles. Redux which will help separate the upcoming Songbird releases from prior versions of these games, and you’ll see this branding on other Songbird releases down the road too.
I’ll write a more detailed post about Quadromania Redux soon, but here are some exciting features in the upcoming Songbird release:
- New boot screen
- New music
- More consistent controls
- Couple of key bug fixes which were uncovered during test
- All-new level designs and retooled progression
- New in-game backgrounds
- Better scoring system which rewards multi-block chains
- EEPROM support
(WIP title and game over screens)
Sky Raider Redux will likewise feature a significant number of enhancements, including:
- Better controls and biplane animation
- Enhanced enemy graphics and behaviors
- Redesigned level progression
- Speed run bonus
- All-new music
- EEPROM support
plus a couple more surprises I’m not ready to reveal yet. 🙂
Look for these new Lynx releases coming on cartridge fall 2020. Stay healthy, and game on!
