Short movie set in 1986 Ireland, what retro console/computer to use

Steve X2 · 14-01-2012 08:59PM #1

I'm making a low budget horror short movie this summer(although every new idea seems to increase the budget). I'm still working on the story and script and will be for some time but I might be setting it in mid 80's Ireland(1986).

So, what sort of retro computer or console should I have strategically placed in some of the scenes?
I'm talking just sitting under the TV or in a bedroom, that sort of thing. Maybe some characters have a game of something in the background. You get the idea.

What would have been popular in Ireland in 1986 and what should I use?

I have a few ideas myself but just wondering what the brain-trust here think about it

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Dr Bob · 14-01-2012 09:20PM

Steve SI wrote: »

I'm making a low budget horror short movie this summer(although every new idea seems to increase the budget). I'm still working on the story and script and will be for some time but I might be setting it in mid 80's Ireland(1986).

So, what sort of retro computer or console should I have strategically placed in some of the scenes?
I'm talking just sitting under the TV or in a bedroom, that sort of thing. Maybe some characters have a game of something in the background. You get the idea.

What would have been popular in Ireland in 1986 and what should I use?

I have a few ideas myself but just wondering what the brain-trust here think about it

.

Id say a c64 spectrum zx or possibly an Atari 800xl (they
were sold cheap enough in Ireland back then) . If you need any extras to get massacred let me know by the way as its always been a dream of mine to get killed off in a movie.;)

CathalDublin · 14-01-2012 09:22PM

Atari 2600, Spectrum 48k rubber keyboard, although the NES was released in Ireland that year.

Jesus Shaves · 14-01-2012 09:29PM

spectrum or c64, the c64 alone defined the 80's

eddhorse · 14-01-2012 09:50PM

Seeing as the c64 just turned 30 it's an obvious choice !
Just don't get any fake zombie blood on it...

Steve X2 · 14-01-2012 09:56PM

Cheers guys, I was thinking along the lines of the c64 and the spectrum myself.

I never knew there was so so much to making a short movie. But I'm learning as I go.

I'll have to hire out a lot of equipment but it'll be worth it and a whole lot of fun I reckon, as well as a load of work.
I did a few basic effects tests the other day with one of the actors to see what might work. It actually looked pretty decent(in a low budget sort of way) and was my first go at that particular effect so more practice and it can only improve

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Mr.Saturn · 14-01-2012 10:01PM

eddhorse wrote: »

Seeing as the c64 just turned 30 it's an obvious choice !
Just don't get any fake zombie blood on it...

Real zombie blood, on the other hand........

Retr0gamer · 14-01-2012 10:07PM

C64 or ZX spectrum were the most popular. You'd have never have seen a NES unless you lived in a mansion :P

Steve X2 · 14-01-2012 10:10PM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

C64 or ZX spectrum were the most popular. You'd have never have seen a NES unless you lived in a mansion :P

Very true

We had a master system I think but could only dream of the NES.

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Owen · 14-01-2012 10:11PM

I'd have said Vic-20 myself, I had one around that time.

14-01-2012 10:18PM

C64 all the way, have someone sit there winding the tape by hand for that authentic gaming feel.

Doge · 14-01-2012 10:48PM

Now that the best system

has been chosen...

you need to decide the game that will be played!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBOcpV_WX00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5an7qpuHLHg

Owen · 14-01-2012 10:49PM

jaybee747 wrote: »

C64 all the way, have someone sit there winding the tape by hand for that authentic gaming feel.

My arse. You'd have someone there trying to align the azimuth on the head so games could load in the first place. Stupid Datasettes!!

Doge · 14-01-2012 10:58PM

Lol, with all the commodore 64 bias in the thread, he'll probably just set the scene

with the characters waiting extremely patiently for the game to load...

only for it to crash at the last minute!

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!

Steve X2 · 14-01-2012 11:05PM

I might use the c64 and use a small green screen to stick the gameplay in later. That way I can decide what game I want when we get to the post production phase.

Hmm, that will work

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the mucker · 14-01-2012 11:10PM

What about amstrad cpc464. Loads of them about in 1986

Steve X2 · 14-01-2012 11:20PM

the mucker wrote: »

What about amstrad cpc464. Loads of them about in 1986

Fair point and that's what we had as well. Didn't have a c64 myself until much later on. The logistics of a c64 might be easier than the cpc as that had the monitor as well.

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Reamer Fanny · 14-01-2012 11:21PM

Amstrad CPC

wesf · 14-01-2012 11:23PM

i had a nes, didn't think that made me posh

atari 2600 would be my choice

Dale Parish · 14-01-2012 11:35PM

I will be disappointed if there's no IBM.

Cedrus · 14-01-2012 11:54PM

Dragon 32 for the geek squad, don't forget the cassette player for the RAM! And hours typing in the programs from a magazine.

CathalDublin · 15-01-2012 12:15AM

Just don't make these classic mistakes!

weeder · 15-01-2012 11:48AM

he forgot the lack of cables

Myrddin · 15-01-2012 01:34PM

Will you be using two C64's? Ya know, like, it's a Steve SI thing

D4RK ONION · 15-01-2012 01:35PM

weeder wrote: »

he forgot the lack of cables

And the fact that there's 2 people playing Mario at the same time :P

CathalDublin · 15-01-2012 01:51PM

D4RK ONION wrote: »

And the fact that there's 2 people playing Mario at the same time :P

One could just be enthusiastically waiting on the other to die, if i remember correctly Luigi was controlled by P2 joypad

Steve X2 · 15-01-2012 04:29PM

EnterNow wrote: »

Will you be using two C64's? Ya know, like, it's a Steve SI thing

I'll stick to the one I think

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Steve X2 · 15-01-2012 04:51PM

I've decided on the C64 as its iconic and a lot of the audience will know what it is even if they don't have a lot of interest in that sort of thing.

Now the search for one that looks new, and isnt the newer redesigned version(which I have).
It's a very small background item in the movie but its important to get it right.

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Dr Bob · 15-01-2012 06:22PM

the bullnose brown one?
I've one you can borrow if you're stuck (provided its not going to get blown up or anything

)

Dr Bob · 15-01-2012 06:24PM

justryan wrote: »

Amstrad CPC

I think its great that all three people in Ireland who had the Amstrad CPC have been reunited in this thread

Doge · 15-01-2012 07:20PM

The Amstrad colour palette looks very impressive on the emulator videos, far richer than the c64 colour pallet.

Is it as good on the real deal hooked upto a colour Monitor?

It's a shame that anyone who I knew that had one, had the ****ty Black and green screen for it!

Edit: I just noticed it lacked an RF output, and could only be used with it's own monitor!

Bastards! Talk about proprietary lock in!

Short movie set in 1986 Ireland, what retro console/computer to use

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