Captain's Log / star date 2008.0117
Today I've uploaded the first of what I hope will be a long running series. It's a mini review of the first PD disk that came out of 17-Bit Software. Public domain software was big on the Amiga. Every Amiga magazine you bought in the 90's had adverts from various PD libraries, most often featuring detailed listings of the various disks you could order for a small fee. I remember dissecting the ads back in the early 90's wondering what all the wonderful titles had in store. Although it was relatively expensive ordering PD disks from the UK and have them sent to the Netherlands I do remember ordering various titles from 17-Bit Software and I was never disappointed with what I got!
17-Bit Software was based in Leeds and their name was derived from the fact that they were "that bit better than the rest". They later produced some of the finest games on the Amiga under the guise of Team 17, which most of you will know from such hits as Full Contact and Alien Breed.
It was around 1993 or 1994 that I managed to pick up an A570 CD-ROM player and the 17-bit Collection CD-ROM to go along with it. Yes, CD-ROM had arrived at my trusty old A500 and I was in heaven with the lion's share of the 17-bit PD library on these 2 compact discs! It was so much bang for my buck. Every library disk had to be copied from CD-ROM to floppy, but then you had the original library disk! I spent countless afternoons and evenings checking out all the fantastic demos, MODs, slideshows, PD games, utilities, you name it!
I have the complete 17-Bit Collection in my possession now and I'll be reviewing disks from their library every now and then. I'll be picking disks at random and I'll do my best to make screenshots and videos available whenever possible. If you have a fondness for PD as I do, or want to know what it was all about, check out my all new PD Dungeon!
