History WebVideo / The8BitGuy

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]]; both are sci-fi RealTimeStrategy games where the player controls an army of human colonizers on a uninhabited Earth-like alien planet and must defeat a [[AliensAreBastards hostile race]], known as the Protoids, who seek to claim the planet as their own.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using real hardware.[[/note]] His most recent game is ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/petscii-robots/ Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore 8-bit family of computers (PET, VIC-20, and C64); it is an sci-fi ActionAdventure game where the player must use their wits in order to survive against {{killer robot}}s.[[note]]There are two versions for the C64; one is based on the PET version with single voice sound (to emulate the PET's beeper speaker) and the standard PETSCII character set (either monochrome or full color) and the other is an "enhanced" version with a more graphically detailed custom character set, sprite graphics for the player character and UI, and full SID soundtrack. The VIC-20 version requires a RAM expansion cartridge to play on real hardware. Gameplay wise, all versions are identical.[[/note]] Also in development is the [[https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/home/ Commander X16]], a sister computer to the Commodore 8-bit machines; though David started the project and entitled it "his dream computer", eventually most of the aspects of development were taken over by other people, most notably fellow retro tech [=YouTuber=] Christian Simpson, aka "[[https://www.youtube.com/user/Perifractic Perifractic]]".

* YouAreBetterThanYouThink: In the episode where he discusses how [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKblgZupOc CGA graphics work]], David demonstrates that CGA was capable of producing more color in composite mode than in RGBI mode due to NTSC artifacting, similar to how the Apple II series produced color graphics. However, CGA composite mode had the side effect of making text near unreadable due to the effective horizontal resolution being cut in half (160x200), and composite mode became less prevalent for games when Tandy graphics and EGA came out in 1984, since both standards could produce 16 colors at 320x200 on a digital TTL signal[[note]]Tandy graphics were limited to the 16 colors of the CGA palette whereas EGA could use 16 colors out of a possible 64, with the CGA palette as its default palette for backwards compatibility[[/note]], and effectively obsolete by the time VGA came out in 1987, which can produce 256 colors at 320x200 or 16 at 640x480.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]]; both are sci-fi RealTimeStrategy games where the player controls an army of human colonizers on a uninhabited Earth-like alien planet and must defeat a [[AliensAreBastards hostile race]], known as the Protoids, who seek to claim the planet as their own.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using real hardware.[[/note]] His most recent game is ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/petscii-robots/ Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore 8-bit family of computers (PET, VIC-20, and C64); it is an sci-fi ActionAdventure game where the player must use their wits in order to survive against {{killer robot}}s.[[note]]There are two versions for the C64; one is based on the PET version with single voice sound (to emulate the PET's beeper speaker) and the standard PETSCII character set (either monochrome or full color) and the other is an "enhanced" version with a more graphically detailed custom character set, sprite graphics for the player character and UI, and full SID soundtrack. The VIC-20 version requires a RAM expansion cartridge to play on real hardware. Gameplay wise, all versions are identical.[[/note]] Also in development is the [[https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/home/ Commander X16]], a sister computer to the Commodore 8-bit machines; though David started the project and entitled it "his dream computer", eventually most of the aspects of development were taken over by other people.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]]; both are sci-fi RealTimeStrategy games where the player controls an army of human colonizers on a seemingly uninhabited alien planet and must defeat a [[AliensAreBastards hostile race]] known as the Protoids, who also seek to claim the planet as their own.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using real hardware.[[/note]] His most recent game is ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/petscii-robots/ Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore 8-bit family of computers (PET, VIC-20, and C64); it is an sci-fi ActionAdventure game where the player must survive against hostile robots.[[note]]There are two versions for the C64; one is based on the PET version with single voice sound (to emulate the PET's beeper speaker) and the standard PETSCII character set (either monochrome or full color) and the other is an "enhanced" version with a more graphically detailed custom character set, sprite graphics for the player character and UI, and full SID soundtrack. The VIC-20 version requires a RAM expansion cartridge to play on real hardware. Gameplay wise, all versions are identical.[[/note]] Also in development is the [[https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/home/ Commander X16]], a sister computer to the Commodore 8-bit machines; though David started the project and entitled it "his dream computer", eventually most of the aspects of development were taken over by other people.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]], with the latter funded on Website/{{Kickstarter}}.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using real hardware.[[/note]] His most recent game is ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/petscii-robots/ Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore 8-bit family of computers (PET, VIC-20, and C64); it is an adventure[=/=]puzzle game using Commodore's PETSCII characters[[note]]There are two versions for the C64; one is based on the PET version with single voice sound (to emulate the PET's beeper speaker) and the standard PETSCII character set (either monochrome or full color) and the other is an "enhanced" version with a more graphically detailed custom character set, sprite graphics for the player character and UI, and full SID soundtrack. The VIC-20 version requires a 35K RAM expansion cartridge to play on real hardware. Gameplay wise, all versions are identical[[/note]]. Also in development is the [[https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/home/ Commander X16]], a sister computer to the Commodore 8-bit machines; though David started the project and entitled it "his dream computer", eventually most of the aspects of development were taken over by other people.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]], with the latter funded on Website/{{Kickstarter}}.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using real hardware.[[/note]] His most recent game is ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/petscii-robots/ Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore 8-bit family of computers (PET, VIC-20, and C64); it is an adventure[=/=]puzzle game using Commodore's PETSCII characters[[note]]There are two versions for the C64, one is based on the PET version with only beeper sound and the standard PETSCII character set (either monochrome or full color) and an "enhanced" version with a custom character set, sprite graphics (for the player character and UI icons), and full SID soundtrack; otherwise, all versions play identically[[/note]]. Also in development is the [[https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/home/ Commander X16]], a sister computer to the Commodore 8-bit machines; though David started the project and entitled it "his dream computer", eventually most of the aspects of development were taken over by other people.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]], with the latter funded on Website/{{Kickstarter}}.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using real hardware.[[/note]] His most recent game is ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/petscii-robots/ Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore 8-bit family of computers (PET, VIC-20, and C64); it is an adventure[=/=]puzzle game using Commodore's PETSCII characters, although the C64 version also has sprite graphics. Also in development is the [[https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/home/ Commander X16]], a sister computer to the Commodore 8-bit machines; though David started the project and entitled it "his dream computer", eventually most of the aspects of development were taken over by other people.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]], with the latter funded on Website/{{Kickstarter}}.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using real hardware.[[/note]] Currently in development is ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyf7tiSO9vo Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore 8-bit family of computers (PET, VIC-20, and C64); it is an adventure[=/=]puzzle game using Commodore's PETSCII characters. Also in development is the [[https://www.commanderx16.com/forum/index.php?/home/ Commander X16]], a sister computer to the Commodore 8-bit machines; though David started the project and entitled it "his dream computer", eventually most of the aspects of development were taken over by other people.

* YouAreBetterThanYouThink: In the episode where he discusses how [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKblgZupOc CGA graphics work]], David demonstrates that CGA was capable of producing more colors in composite mode than in RGBI mode due to NTSC artifacting, similar to how the Apple II series produced color graphics. However, composite mode had the side effect of making text near unreadable due to the effective horizontal resolution being cut in half, and composite mode became less prevalent for games when Tandy and EGA graphics[[note]]Both standards could produce 16 colors on a digital TTL signal, and Tandy graphics could be used on any standard CGA monitor. EGA graphics could use 16 colors out of a possible 64, with the CGA palette being its default palette for backwards compatibility.[[/note]] came out in 1984 and effectively obsolete by the time VGA graphics came out in 1987.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]], with the latter funded on Website/{{Kickstarter}}.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using real hardware.[[/note]] Currently in development is ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyf7tiSO9vo Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore 8-bit family of computers (PET, VIC-20, and C64); it is an adventure[=/=]puzzle game using Commodore's PETSCII characters.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]], with the latter funded on Website/{{Kickstarter}}.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using the original hardware.[[/note]] Currently in development is ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyf7tiSO9vo Attack of the PETSCII Robots]]'' for the Commodore family (PET, VIC-20, and C64) of computers; it is an adventure[=/=]puzzle game using Commodore's PETSCII characters.

David occasionally reviews homebrew games made for vintage systems, and he himself has also made his own homebrew games and software, notably ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x2-commodore-64/ Planet X2]]'' for the C64 and ''[[http://www.the8bitguy.com/product/planet-x3-for-ms-dos-computers/ Planet X3]]'' for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer MS-DOS compatibles]], with the latter funded on Website/{{Kickstarter}}.[[note]]There is a ''Planet [=X1=]'' for the VIC-20; while the game is free to download from his website and in a playable state, it is unfinished. Also, the game requires [=32KB=] of RAM to run, requiring either a VIC-20 emulator or a RAM expansion cartridge if using the original hardware.[[/note]]

*** In the second episode, David makes a pit stop at Buc-ee's, a Texan convenience store chain well known for their huge size.

** The "Amazing Tech from Texas" mini-series shows off various computer hardware and software companies, both past and present, that operate(d) in Texas. Companies David highlighted include, but are not limited to, Creator/ThreeDRealms, Creator/IDSoftware, Creator/OriginSystems, Compaq, Dell, Texas Instruments, and Tandy.

* YouAreBetterThanYouThink: In the episode where he discusses how [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKblgZupOc CGA graphics work]], David demonstrates that CGA was capable of producing more colors in composite mode than in RGBI mode due to NTSC artifacting, similar to how the Apple II series produced color graphics. However, composite mode had the side effect of making text near unreadable due to the effective horizontal resolution being cut in half, and composite mode became less prevalent for games when Tandy and EGA graphics[[note]]Both standards could produce 16 colors on a digital TTL signal, and Tandy graphics could be used on any standard CGA monitor. EGA graphics could use 16 colors out of a possible 64, with the CGA palette being its default palette for backwards compatibility with CGA.[[/note]] came out in 1984 and effectively obsolete by the time VGA graphics came out in 1987.

* YouAreBetterThanYouThink: In the episode where he discusses how [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKblgZupOc CGA graphics work]], David demonstrates that CGA was capable of producing more colors in composite mode than in RGBI mode due to NTSC artifacting, similar to how the Apple II series produced color graphics. However, composite mode had the side effect of making text near unreadable, making it useless for productivity software that operated in 80x25 text mode, and composite mode became less prevalent for games when Tandy and EGA graphics[[note]]Both could produce 16 colors on a TTL digital signal; however, Tandy graphics was limited to the 16 colors of CGA, while EGA could display 16 colors out of a possible 64.[[/note]] came out in 1984 and practically non-existent by the time VGA graphics came out in 1987.

* OneHundredAndEight: David lists exactly [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvXXkB2jic0 108 examples of rare and bizarre types of storage media]], from oversized floppy disks to proprietary media formats. Many of these rare types were made by Sony, and some other storage media were made to be backwards compatible with existing peripherals such as the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive.

* {{Determinator}}: In an ''8-Bit Keys'' episode where David reviews [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J3aT-wKtDE the Fisher Price "I Can Play" keyboard]], he was determined to get inside the keyboard to see its logic board; however, despite taking out a lot of screws, the case halves wouldn't separate. Since he wasn't interested in saving the keyboard, he tried more destructive methods such as taking a Dremel to the case. He eventually found the last screws underneath the decal where the keyboard controls are, only to find the logic board contained only a system-on-a-chip epoxy blob.

* YouAreBetterThanYouThink: In the episode where he discusses how [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKblgZupOc CGA graphics work]], David demonstrates that CGA was capable of producing more colors in composite mode than in RGBI mode due to NTSC artifacting, similar to how the Apple II series produced color graphics. However, composite mode had the side effect of making text near unreadable, making it useless for productivity software that operated in 80x25 text mode, and composite mode became less prevalent for games when Tandy and EGA graphics[[note]]Both could produce 16 colors on a TTL digital signal; however, Tandy graphics was limited to the full 16 colors of CGA, while EGA could display 16 colors out of a possible 64.[[/note]] came out in 1984 and practically non-existent by the time VGA graphics came out in 1987.

* OneHundredAndEight: David lists exactly [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvXXkB2jic0 108 examples of rare and bizarre types of storage media]], from oversized floppy discs to proprietary media formats. Many of these rare types were made by Sony, and some other storage media were made to be backwards compatible with existing peripherals such as the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive.

* TheAllegedComputer: in his video [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hdazA-VUf0 AST Computer - Tales from Tech Support]] David talks about the stagging return rate of the titular computers. Some calls were after the computer had ''caught fire'' or were still smoking.

* TheAllegedComputer: in his video [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hdazA-VUf0 AST Computer - Tales from Tech Support]] David talks about the stagging return rate of the titular computers. Some calls were after the computer and ''caught fire'' or were still smoking.

* YouAreBetterThanYouThink: In the episode where he discusses how [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKblgZupOc CGA graphics work]], David demonstrates that CGA was capable of producing more colors in composite mode than in RGBI mode due to NTSC artifacting, similar to how the Apple II produced color graphics. However, composite mode had the side effect of making text near unreadable, making it useless for productivity software that operated in 80x25 text mode, and composite mode became less prevalent for games when EGA and Tandy graphics, came out in 1984 and practically non-existent by the time VGA graphics came out in 1987.

** In a video where he reviews the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjlI1x5Y8cU Nyko Worm Cam]], a VideoGame/GameBoyCamera knockoff designed for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, David finds the camera is poor quality[[note]]Since the device is not licensed by Nintendo, it doesn't use the high-speed ROM cartridge interface, instead having to rely on the slower Link Cable interface and the [=GBA's=] file transfer feature to load the camera's software into RAM as a workaround[[/note]] and suspects his unit may have been defective, so he smashes it with a sledgehammer at the end of the video.
* {{Trekkie}}: David is a fan of the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' franchise, and has made several references to the series when pointing out retro computers in popular culture, such as Captain Kirk owning a Commodore PET as an antique in ''[[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan The Wrath of Khan]]'' and Scotty using an UsefulNotes/AppleMacintosh in ''[[Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome The Voyage Home]]''.

** The "Amazing Tech from Texas" mini-series shows off various computer hardware and software companies, both past and present, that operate(d) in Texas. Companies David had highlighted or plans to highlight include, but are not limited to, Creator/ThreeDRealms, Creator/IDSoftware, Compaq, Dell, Texas Instruments, and Tandy.

** {{Lampshaded}} by Techmoan at the end of the "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNgm8Cn-HpY How NOT to create MP3 music from cassette]]" episode.

** Other retro tech [=YouTubers=] such as [[https://www.youtube.com/user/robivy64 The Obsolete Geek]] (who also lives nearby), [[WebVideo/LazyGameReviews LGR]], [[WebVideo/TheBenHeckShow Ben Heck]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/user/Techmoan Techmoan]] will occasionally appear and offer their insights or assistance. Both LGR and Techmoan did voiceover work for the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dvpMVJ7WGA teaser]] for ''Planet X3''.

*** Another video has David walking around various businesses in the DFW area open-carrying a rifle, to demonstrate how (at the time) Texas law allowed open-carry rifles but required pistols to be concealed.