DESERT MARATHON REALTIME PRO SIMULATOR by Warp 8-bit Games

DESERT MARATHON REALTIME PRO SIMULATOR by Warp 8-bit Games for the 16K ZX81 

   Even before loading the game, the title reminds me of the book, the movie and the Iron Maiden classic.

     

   I have no choice but to put on the soundtrack while I prepare to run across the desert...

"Determination makes

You run

Never stop

Gotta win, gotta run till you drop

Keep the pace

Hold the race

Your mind is getting clearer

You're over halfway there but the miles

Just never seem to end

As if you're in a dream

Not getting anywhere

It seems so futile

Run, on and on

Run, on and on

The loneliness of the long distance runner"

- Steve Harris

   Fantastic cassette cover.

   I received an original game from Warp 8-bit Games, a renowned company and leader in the creation of programmes for the ZX81, the machine of the moment. It requires a considerable amount of extra memory for its operation — no less than 16K. I have asked an acquaintance of mine who works at the local supercomputer centre to lend me some of their spare memory banks.

      

  I insert the RAM pack and pray to the gods of electronics that it stays in perfect connection and does not cause a fatal reset ;-)

   

   Load !

   Intro screen in all the glorious whiteness of the ZX81 with perfectly centred and organised text (thanks Warp 8-bit).

   We take on the role of someone who is risking their life by running 42,195 km alone in the desert because... I need to psych myself up for the challenge!

   Since we are all in a planet-wide contest, it is my duty to convert the units of the route into other units to facilitate the understanding of the adventure:

22.783 nautical miles

23072.5 fathoms

0.0 parsecs

421950000000000 angstroms

415305.118 hands

8390 poles

50523.736 varas castellanas

   I think we all understand that this is not going to be easy. And that it's hot. And that we're on our own.

   We are shown real-time information on the distance travelled, the actual speed at which the human is moving and the energy (or survivability of this nonsense) available. 

   With the obligatory ‘fill in the blanks with your brain’ we have the ‘R’ as our avatar with no regard for its life and the ‘Y’ as those trees that will never offer us shade.

   

   As if all this were not enough, we have chosen the only country that hates running. It is absolutely forbidden by the country's laws and popular tradition. After long negotiations with our ambassador, we have been granted a desert course where no one will come as an audience to cheer us on. So much so that if we even think of touching the edge of the permitted track, we are killed on the spot.

   There is one big catch. Realtime. The name of the game makes this clear. Realtime. The runner moves at real speed. The distance is covered in real time. You can start thinking about how long it will take to run more than 42 kilometres !

   If you look at the image above showing the entire playfield, you would probably think that the runner is running towards the top of the screen. Not so. Taking advantage of the BASIC scroll and to complicate the life of the daring player, the track emerges from the bottom. So what's the difference? The problem is that there are curves. And we won't see them until they're there. So we have to be very attentive. If we lose our way, we'll step on the edge of the track and we know what the local laws are like...

(bordering on danger)

   Unfortunately, all this happens at a speed that does little to enhance the gaming experience. Once again, we take advantage of today's hyper fast processors and accelerate the emulator by at least three times to enjoy an arcade game.

   Running at maximum human speed will cause you to deplete your energy. Remember that they don't want runners in this country. There are no refreshments; you have to survive on breakfast alone.

then   

   Still, it's in real time, it's 42 km, it's the crappy feature of the game and it is when we hear the creator laughing in the back of our brains.

   A long, long, long time later and with terrible cramps in the wrist...

   Gathering up all the sweats: The idea is good and so is its implementation. The game works perfectly and is entertaining when the emulator is sped up; at normal clock speed, however, it is not very playable. The real-time concept is the humorous touch that made me happy.

Scrambled Smile: 7/10

Broccoli and Squid Yoghourt: 5/10

Deep Fried Ice Cream: 4/10

Strawberry Monosodium Glutamate: 2/10

Affable Hot Chocolate Sauce: 8/10