At the first UK Amstrad Group meet, Jo Cook shared the story of how Amstrad became such an important part of her life.
Starting with her first CPC 464, Jo talked about favourite games, helping her dad run Merline-Serve, writing for WACCI and eventually contributing to Amstrad Action while still a teenager.
The presentation also includes memories of Future Publishing, the Amstrad Action team, reviewing software and hardware, and how those early experiences helped shape Jo’s later career in journalism, training and learning and development.
It is a funny, personal and sometimes emotional look back at Amstrad, family, writing and community.
A lot of great feedback has been received about the fantastic time had by all, at the inaugural UKAG meet and there were many highlights for me. One that made me particularly happy was the opportunity to buy two new games for my CPC 464.
Imagine that: the chance to buy multiple new games, on cassette, in 2026!
We had hopes that the UKAG buy and sell table would have some treasure and sure enough, one of our fantastic community brought a batch of new games, from Spain, personally, for attendees to buy.
Naturally they all sold out quickly, for the sum of £10 each, exactly what I used to pay for new cassette games in the 1980s.
Dark aliens
The two games on offer were:
Alien – The Xenomorph
The Dark Knight – Shadow of Madness
Both of these sail pretty close to the wind in terms of copyright… They’re best regarded as retro gaming tributes to great fiction characters!
Alien is the most recent of the two. Pleasingly you get to play as the Alien for once. You work through screens one at a time, retrieving your eggs, navigating jumps and ladders and avoiding being shot by mean astronauts.
I immediately messaged my sister on the day, we grew up watching the Alien movies at too young an age, and she always sympathised with the Alien. When Alien: Isolation was released, she pointed out that Fluffy (her nickname for the Alien) was just scared and confused, separated from her hive and queen.
So it’s 8-bit Sympathy for the Alien, I love the premise! It genuinely plays well too. The controls are smooth and responsive, making it possible to duck astronaut laser shots, pop up and immediately retort with an acid spit in a split second. The Alien is comprised of only a few pixels but the animation is nicely realised, details such as its long tail waving around during walking show the effort and refinement here.
I’m Amstradman
It was a treat to buy and try The Dark Knight – Shadow of Madness. This was another side on, screen flipping jump and shooter, but with some twists. Playing as an unknown superhero bearing no resemblance to any fictional property, hostages have to be located and rescued, while jumping, climbing, avoiding chemical drips and more.
The mechanics are unique and define the game, there is a smooth double-jump available, but only one per jump. You can throw a… character styled “boomerang”… but only once, you have to wait for it to return to you, and if thrown carelessly, it can jam on a platform or wall on the way back, requiring travel over to collect it back.
This all creates a more thoughtful, strategic experience, while still being fun, pick up and play action. The controls deserve a mention – so smooth! The jumping and double-jump is reminiscent of happy old platform experiences such as Super Mario Land on the Gameboy, which is a definite compliment.
Novaknight
Chris, aka Novabug, stalwart of the Amstrad scene and YouTuber extraordinaire joined me in trying The Dark Knight out – he filmed me playing it and tried it himself. Look out for it in a future episode on Novabug’s fantastic YouTube channel (and subscribe if you haven’t already!). We both loved the game, we can’t both be wrong!
Both games were a treat to play and it was so novel to pick up new Amstrad CPC games in 2026, and tapes at that. I hope this continues, I was mainly a gamer on my Amstrad, so I will always be on the lookout for new titles.
These are two terrific little games, genuinely enjoyable to play in their own right, with real refinement and polish in their controls, responses and gameplay. Both also are as good as any graphics and sound as I have ever seen on the Amstrad CPC. And I’m saying that as a green screen owner! Both games looked fantastic on my GT64 green screen and CTM64 colour monitors. Alien suited the eerie green glow and the title screen for The Dark Knight just popped on the green screen monitor. That also leads me to think that both games have been tested, developed and refined with care and passion for the scene.
Holy utility download Amstradman
Definitely get hold of a copy of each if you can. It’s easy to download them, though much more exclusive to get a physical copy – the kind of thing you only find at a UKAG meet!
Coming home from UKAG 2026 with two new Amstrad games was the icing on the cake for a fantastic day.
Do let us know if you’ve tried these games and if there are any other new titles the UKAG team should check out. Our machines continue to punch above their weight, 40 years on!
Speaking of the design and manufacture of the Amstrad CPC, architect of the machine, Roland Perry said, “We can make it twice as good if you spend another 5p on the components,” to the senior decision makers at the consumer electronics company back in the 1980’s.
And so they did!
“That’s where we’ve got the 27 colours from,” continues Roland.
“The 27 colours is six resistors! It’s absolutely nothing, it’s brain power, a very talented engineer who was on my team, but only six resistors.”
The interview
Roland Perry, who was responsible for the CPC development, was interviewed at our inaugural public meetup on the 21st June 2026.
The interviewed looked at what it was like working with Alan Sugar at Amstrad, including later being a consultant on the UK version of The Apprentice. Roland commented that Alan was:
“Very straightforward, plain speaking, honest… He in real life is absolutely the same as he is on that show, it’s not an act but it’s absolutely what he’s like”.
When taking his team to a Sinclair user show, Roland shared the vision of having an Amstrad version, which is team thought was just dreams. Low and behold, a year later Amstrad achieve that dream, “because everybody just threw their entire heart and effort” into the project.
Roland’s later work included being responsible for all those CompuServe and UK online CDs on magazine covers to get you on the internet, important work around the law for coercive control and more that you can see in our recording.
The video
You can watch the interview, hosted by our very own Jo Cook, including discussing the CPC mini and Roland’s advice for young programmers today.
The dust has just about settled on out inaugural UKAG meet of 2026, and a fantastic time was had by all. But don’t take our word for it (which you can, we made videos too!), instead see what respected members of the retro community thought.
There has been some wonderful coverage of the day, that the UKAG team have all enjoyed watching:
Mark Fixes Stuff – 2 mins 24
Our old friend Mark, from the fantastic Mark Fixes Stuff channel, kindly dropped in on our event, filming a great report from the day. Thanks Mark!
Novabug – 18 mins 53
In depth chat and a kind review from Chris aka Novabug, stalwart of the Amstrad scene. Brilliant to have had you there on the day and thank you for your strong support for UKAG, from the very beginning.
Retro Asylum – 19 mins 46
It was great to have Chris from the terrific Retro Asylum channel join us also. He got stuck in and spoke to everyone, trying out virtually every system, game and utility in the day – great stuff and that’s what events like this are all about. Thanks for the good company Chris!
Retronaut – 22 mins 54
A great report from Retronaut – we’re glad to have converted him into an Amstrad enthusiast! Look out for his chat with our Honorary President Roland Perry, for details on Old Number 2 – the ANT prototype shown at UKAG 2026.
Novabug’s UKAG 2026 Livestream – 5 hours 25
Novabug, you have truly surpassed yourself, kindly immortalising and livestreaming almost our entire event on the day – over 5 hours of retro Amstrad goodness! Be warned that there are some… hilarious but mature humoured comments from viewers during the stream. It was great to have so many enthusiasts join us remotely as well as in person, thanks to Chris.
Sad you missed out?
Thanks to everyone who joined us on the day, or via the livestream above. UKAG will be exhibiting at VGE Nottingham on July 18th and we hope to have another day of Amstrad fun and friends. Come and say hello if you can make it!
We’ve had our first public Amstrad user group meeting, and it was amazing! We didn’t really know what to expect. At one point, if there was more than the seven of us we would have been happy – and there was the best part of 40 retro geeks nerding out!
The UKAG organising group are over the moon and think it was a success all round. We’re debriefing, thinking and planning for the future – definitely watch this space and our Facebook page for more.
The day
We had a few events running, including a couple of high score competitions, some talks, and of course lots of chat around computers.
Lots of people had purchased table tickets, and they didn’t disappoint with the items they brought along. Our very own Adam brought along his stock CPC 464 and 6128. He and others played newish Batman and Alien games. And yes, you can see an M4 board on the back of the 6128.
There were lots of others with all sorts of Amstrads, including an NC100 and NC200, a CPC mini, a prototype and much more!
See what you missed!
If you couldn’t make the day, no problem at all – we have a video with the highlights for you to see what we are all about:
We will have the full Roland Perry interview and Jo Cook presentation coming soon as separate videos.
And if you want to share a shorter overview with your friends, it’s just here.
If this has whet your appetite, UKAG will be at the Video Games Expo in Nottingham on the 18th July 2026! We have partnered with VGE to get UKAG on the road.
Thank you so much every body for coming and making it a special day!
One of the best things about a retro computing meetup is the glorious uncertainty of what will turn up on the day.
Yes, there will be Amstrad CPCs. Obviously. But there’ll also be modern add-ons, original joysticks, development projects, repairs, games, books, boards, cables, probably at least one mystery box, and a fair amount of “I’m sure I had the right lead for this somewhere…”
Ahead of the 2026 UK Amstrad Group meetup, some of our members have been sharing what they’re planning to bring, both in videos and in our WhatsApp community. It’s already shaping up to be a brilliant mix of playing, tinkering, developing, fixing and chatting.
TechNick’s Amstrad kit
TechNick is planning to bring a lovely selection of hardware, including his trusty CPC 6128 and possibly a GX4000 too. He’s also got a PicoGUS up and running, along with a tape drive, Gotek, Multiface II and M4 board.
That’s a great mix of original Amstrad kit, modern expansions and sensible backup options. Because anyone taking disk drives and tape drives to a retro event knows that “just in case” is not over-preparing. It’s survival instinct.
On the games and software side, TechNick mentions Buggy Boy, Advanced Art Studio, Advanced Flight Trainer and Elite, so there could be racing, drawing, flying and space trading all happening on one setup.
Very normal. Very Amstrad.
Adam’s meetup bag
Adam’s video starts with something rather special: his CPC 6128 signed by Roland Perry, who was in charge of the development of the original system and is now UKAG’s honorary president.
Roland will be at the meetup too, so Adam mentions that if you ask nicely, he might sign your system on the day, for a donation to charity. We cannot promise there won’t be a queue!
Adam is also bringing his CPC 464, which is ideal for cassette games, along with the joystick he used through the 80s. He also mentions buying a Manta Ray joystick after Rod Lawton, editor of Amstrad Action, said they were great. These are the little details that make retro computing so personal. It’s never just a machine, is it?
Also in Adam’s kit are an M4 board, some recent eBay wins including Klax, Lotus and Castle Master, unopened games that really ought to be tried at last, a light pen, and a BASIC book as he continues learning some programming.
Development, repairs and a bit of collaborative coding
Dave, “the old fart behind Typhonsoft”, in his own words, has booked a table and will be bringing his Linux box and monitors. He’s planning to spend the day talking about and working on Amstrad development projects.
He has two CPC projects on the go at the moment and hopes the meetup might give him a useful push to make more progress on them. As Dave put it, it’s a chance for “a spot of the old collaborative development”.
That’s exactly the kind of thing we’d love to see at the meetup. Not just finished projects, but work in progress, shared ideas, problem-solving, curiosity and people getting stuck into making things.
Chris Green is also preparing for the day, with a bit of shopping ahead of the meet. He’s picked up a DDI-5 for his 464, and one of his planned jobs at the event is to dismantle a CPC 464 keyboard and replace a broken key plunger.
Have you seen the CPC Mini? Yes, it’s a real thing!
Well Simon Green will be bringing his along for you to have a play with.
So if you like seeing the insides of machines, learning how repairs are done, or just standing nearby saying “ooh, careful with that bit”, there should be something for you too.
So there’ll be a chance to get a retro fix in a slightly different form too. Computer games, board games, tabletop games and retro hardware have always influenced each other, and it’ll be great to have a few things on hand that people can sit down and play together.
Bring yours, play ours, or just come and chat
All of this shows why the UK Amstrad Group meetup is shaping up to be such a fun and varied day.
Some people will bring full setups. Some will bring games, joysticks, expansions, books, repairs, projects, or mystery items from the loft. Some will come to play. Some will come to learn. Some will come to chat. Some will probably do all of those things before lunch.
You don’t need to bring anything to be part of it. But if you do have a CPC, GX4000, games, magazines, add-ons, projects, demos, repairs, or something Amstrad-related you’d love to show people, we’d love to see it.
Join us at the UK Amstrad Group Meetup 2026
The UK Amstrad Group meetup takes place on Sunday 21st June 2026.
There’ll be classic machines, modern expansions, games to play, repairs to watch, development projects to talk about, board games to try, people to meet, and plenty of retro Amstrad chat throughout the day.
Book a standard ticket, grab a table ticket if you want to bring your own setup, and come and be part of it.
Whether you’re bringing a signed CPC 6128, a trusty 464, a Linux development box, a keyboard repair job, a Pac-Man board game, or just yourself, you’ll be very welcome.
The ZX Spectrum and the Commodore 64 have both enjoyed modern recreations. There’s been The Spectrum, TheC64 and TheC64 Mini, all of which shipped with a pre-installed set of games showcasing some of best the platforms had to offer. There were also some highly questionable choices in the offer too.
It got me thinking… If someone finally sees sense and releases the machine the world really wants, a recreated Amstrad CPC, either in mini or full-size form, what games would bundle with it?
Right now, the closest we can get is building our own using the excellent CPCESP fork of the ESPectrum project [We didn’t know what that meant either, but apparently it’s some techy GitHub stuff -Ed]. But it does at least mean we can build one now rather than wait, possibly forever. And we do mean build, check out the CPC Mini our very own Simon 3D printed.
The Amstrad CPC, like its 8-bit counterparts, had technical constraints (limited RAM, cassette loading on the 464 and 464+, difficulty scrolling), while also overcoming many of the issues its rivals were hampered by (colour-clash on the ZX Spectrum, a palette that was mostly brown and the world’s slowest disk drive on the C64).
Developers of the better games released had to prioritise gameplay, ingenuity and design clarity. The best games on the CPC aren’t just technically impressive, they are timelessly playable. Let’s look at a top 20.
Fantasy CPC Mini games bundle top 20
I’ve put together a list of 20 games that to this day resonate with me. They span both the CPC and CPC+/GX4000, and I’ve chosen them for their gameplay quality, technical achievement and lasting fun or challenge.
1. Chuckie Egg
A defining early platformer, it is deceptively simple: collect eggs while avoiding birds. Its brilliance lies in perfect control, escalating challenge and score-driven replayability. Even decades later, it remains addictive. It’s often cited as one of the most iconic 8-bit games cross all platforms due to its accessibility and depth.
Why it stands out: pure gameplay perfection—no wasted mechanics.
2. Manic Miner
A surreal, punishing platformer with tight level design and memorable music. Its difficulty forces mastery. It’s not the best looking game by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s an example of how exceptional gameplay eclipses graphics and sound.
Why it stands out: one of the earliest examples of precision platforming as art.
3. Jet Set Willy
The sequel to Manic Miner expanded into a sprawling mansion with non-linear exploration.
Why it stands out: open-ended design ahead of its time.
4. Navy Seals
One of the toughest and best-looking games released for the later Amstrad CPC+ and GX4000 machines, this platformer loosely based on the film of the same name also has excellent opening music and makes full use of the CPC+ expanded colour palette.
Why it stands out: challenging and strategic, combining platformer, shoot’em-up and mission objectives.
5. Elite
A groundbreaking open-world space simulation with trading, combat and exploration. Released for pretty much every computer platform you can think of, the CPC version is still considered to be among the best versions.
Why it stands out: arguably the first true open-world computer game.
6. Dizzy
A charming puzzle adventure starring Dizzy the egg. While visually identical to the ZX Spectrum version, the CPC version benefits from not having colour clash and better sound.
Why it stands out: character-driven gameplay and accessible puzzles.
7. The Great Escape
Based on the WWII film, this is a sandbox stealth game set in a prison camp. Often overlooked in round ups, it’s one of the most challenging and well-developed CPC games of its time.
Why it stands out: emergent gameplay and AI-like routines far ahead of its era that actually stretched the CPC’s capabilities to their limit.
8. Rick Dangerous
A trap-filled platformer inspired by Indiana Jones, requiring memorisation and precision.
Why it stands out: tight design and trial-and-error mastery.
9. Rick Dangerous 2
Builds on the original with improved graphics and more varied levels.
Why it stands out: refinement of a tough but rewarding formua.
10. Boulder Dash
Dig through caves, collect diamonds and avoid falling rocks. This was a game I literally got lot in for hours, usually at the expense of doing my homework.
Why it stands out: perfect balance of action and puzzle mechanics.
11. Gryzor
A fast-paced run-and-gun shooter (known as Contra elsewhere). With cover art that looks just different enough from the cinema poster for the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Commando to avoid a lawsuit, the Arnie vibes are strong. Easily one of the best games on the CPC, hands down.
Why it stands out: one of the best arcade conversions on CPC.
12. Renegade
A pioneering street brawler with depth beyond simple fighting.
Why it stands out: introduced complex combat mechanics to home systems.
13. Target Renegade
An improved sequel with smoother gameplay and better visuals.
Why it stands out: refinement of early beat ’em up design.
14. Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior
A brutal one-on-one fighting game famous for its decapitations.
Why it stands out: shock value + deep combat system.
15. Prince of Persia
A cinematic platformer with fluid animation and realistic movement. Another example of stunning graphics on the CPC, with gameplay to back it up.
Why it stands out: animation and storytelling breakthroughs.
16. R-Type
A technically impressive shooter with massive sprites and smooth scrolling. The community recently revamped the game, making use of 128K and overhauling the graphics and sound. This is the version I would include.
Why it stands out: both versions push the CPC hardware to its limits.
17. Bubble Bobble
A colourful, cooperative arcade port.
Why it stands out: multiplayer fun and timeless design.
18. Rainbow Islands
A sequel to Bubble Bobble with vertical scrolling and inventive mechanics.
Why it stands out: creativity and vibrant presentation.
19. The Sacred Armour of Antiriad
A sci-fi exploration game blending platforming and narrative.
Why it stands out: atmosphere and world-building.
20. Batman: The Caped Crusader
An isometric adventure with comic-style presentation.
Why it stands out: innovative visual storytelling and design.
What makes these games the best?
Gameplay over graphics
Developers focused on game mechanics and addictive loops. Games like Chuckie Egg and Manic Miner prove that simplicity can outperform technical wizardry.
Innovation
Titles like Elite and The Great Escape introduced new ideas for the time like open worlds and simple AI systems, concepts that wouldn’t become mainstream for years.
Arcade perfection at home
Games such as Gryzor and R-Type showed that the CPC could deliver arcade-quality gaming.
Longevity and replayability
Many of these games are still played today because they rely on skill, mastery and replay value, not just spectacle.
Cultural impact
These titles helped define 1980s British gaming culture, with some becoming legendary across multiple platforms.
If you explore the CPC release library today, you’ll find something remarkable: many of these titles still feel surprisingly modern.
So, these are my 20 picks, and I’ll have them set up and running on one of my CPCs at the inaugural UKAG meet in June.
Do you agree with them?
Which games do you think should and should not be on that list?
Comment below, and let’s chat at our event in June!
At the UKAG meetup in June 2026, we are pleased to have Novabug in attendance. Yes, that Novabug, from the Amstrad Live Game Testing regular weekend stream.
A little bit of Novabug info and history
The name Novabug is an amalgamation of two spacecraft from UK sitcom Red Dwarf; the Nova 5 and Starbug.
Novabug logo
First Amstrad CPC owned in 1987
Returned to collecting Amstrad in 2012
Amstrad Eterno Judge 2017 to 2023
RetroDev Jury – 2019, 20, 21, 22, 23
Amtix writer – 2021 to 2024
Amstrad collection includes:
Four CPC464’s (Chewy, Minty, Smokey, Frankie)6128 (Donnie)6128 Plus (Frenchie)Two GX4000’s
Over 1500 cassettes
ALGT started in Jun 2017 as a joke Facebook stream from an old mobile phone, pointing at the monitor. It became popular, sort of. The target is to reach episode 464, and as of February 2026 it’s in the 330’s. Patreon supporters are known at the Bug Army.
Two games written by Yellow Belly (YB Soft) feature a character called Novabug: Bugs Quest 1 and 2. Many people contributed to this and all proceeds went to Macmillan Cancer Support.
There have been six charity streams and they have raised a whopping £7,403! At UKAG Novabug will have Bug’s Quest 1 and Xyphoes Knightmare available to play.
Bugs Quest 2 game cover
Bug’s Quest 2 competition
You are invited to play to score the highest on Master Mode of Bug’s Quest 2 at the inaugural UKAG meetup in June 2026! You can have more than one attempt and entry is free, with donations welcome for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The winner will be declared at the end of the day and receive a one-of-a-kind Bug’s Quest 2 mug and certificate.
UKAG’s first official meet takes place on Sunday, 21st June 2026. Doors open at 9am, and close at 8pm (or sooner if everyone decides to wind down a bit early and go to the pub, as can happen).
Key Information
When: Sunday 21st June 2026
Where: Ottershaw Village Hall, Brox Road, Ottershaw, Surrey, KT16 0HG
Time: 9am-8pm (pack up from 7pm)
Cost: £20 per person (price includes tea, coffee and snacks throughout the day)
