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cyningstan.bsky.social
Cyningstan
@cyningstan.bsky.social
360 followers 280 following 820 posts
Hobbyist retro-game developer. Writing for the ancient IBM PC of 1981: fun in all four colours. I appreciate the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Psion pocket computers too. Also an ancient board game nerd.

Website: http://dos.cyningstan.org.uk/
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cyningstan.bsky.social
Cyningstan @cyningstan.bsky.social · Jan 1
Now that 2026 is underway, it's a good time to post an updated collage of my DOS games. Since I have nine out now, that fits into a nice neat rectangle. So here are all 9 #msdos games I released from 2020 to 2025. All #cga, all running on an #ibmpc, all available from cyningstan.itch.io
A 3x3 collage of all 9 games I've released for MSDOS from 2020 to 2025. Top left to bottom right: Barbarians, The Chambers Beneath, Pym's Daily Word Square Puzzle, Star Cadre: Combat Class, Barren Planet, Team Droid, The Anarchic Kingdom, Ossuary, and the CGALIB demo game CGA Robots.
cyningstan.bsky.social
Looks like having two instances of copy trying to copy the same file to the same place confused it. Hopefully the remaining instance should complete successfully. May be worth checking the size of the destination file from time to time to see if/how it's progressing.
February 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM
cyningstan.bsky.social
The battleaxe is the largest blade in the #Ossuary, useful for combat against more powerful monsters with its +6 bonus on attack strength. cyningstan.itch.io/ossuary #ibmpc #msdos #cga #zxspectrum
On level 10 we see the most powerful blade weapon of all, the battleaxe, which is enlarged in the inset.
February 9, 2026 at 4:09 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
Rescue missions are subtly different. With multiple hostages to find, some of whom have useful skills, you can recruit the hostages themselves to help. You also score per hostage freed. cyningstan.itch.io/star-cadre-c... #starcadre #ibmpc #msdos #cga
Finding the first hostage in a Rescue mission. The scout peeked through the door and retreated, which is why we can see the hostage and their kidnapper currently not in the line of sight.
February 7, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Cyningstan
juanfr.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
Brand new Spectrum game: Welcome 2 The Machine, by Radical Reflux.

Download:
https://radical-reflux.itch.io/machine

#zxspectrum #retrogaming
February 7, 2026 at 12:23 AM
cyningstan.bsky.social
By 2024 I decided the time was right for an #msdos version of #Barbarians. I'd already ported my third ZX Spectrum game Ossuary. I decided to start work on an MS-DOS port before the idea gets eclipsed by a more complex game on the same subject. cyningstan.itch.io/barbarians-dos
A composite image my two games now ported from the ZX Spectrum to DOS. On top, Ossuary, with the Spectrum version on the left and the DOS version on the right. On the bottom, Barbarians, again with the Spectrum version on the left and the DOS version on the right.
February 6, 2026 at 1:24 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
Plate Mail is solid metal armour providing good protection against body injuries, but requiring skill Dodging:5 to use effectively. Get The #ChambersBeneath from cyningstan.itch.io/the-chambers... #roguelike #ibmpc #msdos #cga
Upon donning Plate Mail, along with the iron helmet, the shield and the battleaxe, Aniere the Warrior has achieved the ultimate in arms and armament. They are now ready for almost any challenge the dungeons can throw at them. The plate mail is enlarged in the inset.
February 5, 2026 at 2:26 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
The first DLC for #TeamDroid was Double Trouble, every level having 2 droids, 2 cards, 2 readers. The first level requires droids to cooperate, passing cards out of the middle chamber. Download the game and the Double Trouble level pack from cyningstan.itch.io/team-droid #ibmpc #msdos #cga
The first level of Double Trouble. The first data card has already been passed out of the middle and taken to its card reader. Carrier is returning to the teleporter to pick up the second card, while Strider pushes it to the teleporter from the inner chamber.
February 4, 2026 at 2:27 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
Destroyers are the smallest sea combat units. They have little firepower and a short range, and are lightly armoured. They can navigate deep and shallow water, but they can't navigate too close to the sandbanks. cyningstan.itch.io/waterworld. #ibmpc #msdos #cga #BarrenPlanet #Waterworld
Destroyers form the main part of this fleet.
February 3, 2026 at 3:21 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
The iron shield adds a +4 bonus to your defence state, parrying blows from the more powerful monsters in the #Ossuary. cyningstan.itch.io/ossuary #ibmpc #msdos #cga #zxspectrum
Our hero finds an iron shield on level 8, which will upgrade their ability to block attacks. The shield is enlarged in the inset.
February 2, 2026 at 2:37 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
The Hostage mission has a clear focus: find the named individual and get them out alive. Hostages need to be cut free; if your team doesn't have a blade you'll need to find one. cyningstan.itch.io/star-cadre-c... #starcadre #ibmpc #msdos #cga
Entering the location for a Hostage mission. Hostages look like team members but are depicted without a weapon. The hostage in this mission is yet to be found.
January 31, 2026 at 1:30 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
The #ZXSpectrum had such affection among its former owners that it maintain its popularity to the present day. So in 2012 when I released #Barbarians for the Spectrum, the game attracted much more attention than the original Psion version ever did. cyningstan.itch.io/barbarians #gamedev
The Barbarians victory screen on the ZX Spectrum. The map display fits nicely into the ZX Spectrum's attribute grid, allowing quite a colourful display. Only two of the machine's 15 colours remain unused in the game, the two blue shades. Even magenta is used, for the cursor not shown here.
January 30, 2026 at 2:43 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
The Plate is a fine and costly dining vessel made of precious metal and gemstones, found down in the dungeon. Sometimes a particular plate is the object of your quest. Get The #ChambersBeneath from cyningstan.itch.io/the-chambers... #roguelike #ibmpc #msdos #cga
Lanera the Warrior meets Eanerk, Lord of Cechedri, who tells her that the city has lost the Plate of Might. Plates are one of the four treasures that can be the object of your main quest. You might also find plates that aren't the Plate of Might - make sure to identify plates that you find - you can sell lesser plates to the Merchant. A plate is shown enlarged in the inset.
January 29, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Cyningstan
shaneir.bsky.social
And, my precious children, it delivered. And the ZX81 birthed the Spectrum; the Spectrum laid the ground for the Psion 3 and 5mx.

And then the Single Pane of Glass extremists stole that future from us.

But we can - we must! - restore what was lost! #ReadTheALT
My beautiful Ericsson MC218, based on the Psion 5mx handheld computer, from around the Millennium, still in use a quarter of a century later as my noting and organising computer for Genetics and Genomics notes. Delivering real utility and convenience in an age otherwise dominated by single pane of glass smartphone dinosaurs. The mammals scuttling between the feet of the ossifying giants.
January 28, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Cyningstan
mongoosepublishing.bsky.social
On Fantasy Grounds and looking to fill the spacelanes of your Traveller campaign?

Adventure Class Ships has arrived!

60+ ships with deck plans ready to be used or encountered by your Travellers.

www.fantasygrounds.com/store/produc...

#ttrpg #TravellerRPG #FantasyGrounds
January 29, 2026 at 9:17 AM
cyningstan.bsky.social
You can emulate #Dragonfell on modern systems via DOSBox and a free #Psion Series 3a emulator for #msdos. There's an emulation package with setup instructions and a version of the game packaged specifically for emulation. Get it from cyningstan.itch.io/dragonfell-p...
A screenshot of the Psion Series 3a emulator for MS-DOS, running under DOSBox. Dragonfell has been installed, its icon showing at the top left of the emulated Psion's display. The resolution of the Series 3a is 480x160; most of the 640x480 DOS screen is therefore blank. Although Dragonfell is designed for the original Series 3 with its 240x80 resolution, the Psion Series 3a runs it fine, scaling up the graphics to fit the Psion Series 3a's bigger screen.
January 28, 2026 at 2:22 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
Air Fighters are another unit brought over from Dapra. They can fly over anything except volcanoes, whose eruptions are too dangerous to venture near. Air Fighters have a longer attack range than Hoverbugs or Ports. cyningstan.itch.io/waterworld. #ibmpc #msdos #cga #BarrenPlanet #Waterworld
These Air Fighters are ready to swoop down on any enemy that approaches the Port.
January 27, 2026 at 2:49 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
As monsters get more powerful in the deeper levels of the #Ossuary, you'll need the sword, as it adds +4 to your attack strength. Available at cyningstan.itch.io/ossuary #ibmpc #msdos #cga #zxspectrum
On level 5 our hero encounters a sword, which is a welcome upgrade from the dagger. The sword is enlarged in the inset.
January 26, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Reposted by Cyningstan
inufuto.bsky.social
IBM PC(CGA)版 AWASS #ibmpc
inufuto.web.fc2.com/8bit/awass/#...
January 24, 2026 at 3:21 AM
Reposted by Cyningstan
inufuto.bsky.social
IBM PC(EGA)版 AWASS #ibmpc
inufuto.web.fc2.com/8bit/awass/#...
January 24, 2026 at 6:43 AM
cyningstan.bsky.social
If you like games where you kill everything that moves, the Annihilation mission is for you. Hunt them all down, and leave none alive! In this mission, every kill contributes to your score. cyningstan.itch.io/star-cadre-c... #starcadre #ibmpc #msdos #cga
The team is just starting out on its Annihilation mission. Adlana's next shot will hopefully kill Ectar.
January 24, 2026 at 2:36 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
I limited myself to the 16k #ZXSpectrum, to prevent feature creep, and decided that a good first #gamedev project would be a port of my Psion game #Barbarians. This took me only a month, and was based on the look of the 16-bit Psion versions. cyningstan.itch.io/barbarians
The title screen of the ZX Spectrum version of Barbarians hides a trick. Nestled around that sunset image, in black pixels on a black background, is the full detail of the game's HUD, stretching right down to the bottom of the screen. The sunset image is placed within the map area of the screen. When the game starts, only the colours need to be changed to make the HUD visible. This takes much less memory than copying all the HUD graphics from RAM, and allows a reasonably detailed display that wouldn't normally be possible on the 16k Spectrum.
January 23, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Reposted by Cyningstan
helpcomputer0.bsky.social
Hello #PortfolioDay ! I make pixel art.
October 10, 2023 at 6:25 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
The Net is a trap that, when sprung, can hold an enemy in one place for a number of turns. Players with Stealth:3 skill can set this trap. Get The #ChambersBeneath from cyningstan.itch.io/the-chambers... #roguelike #ibmpc #msdos #cga
Phamart the Ranger has laid nets and caltrops to try to entrap the orc. Hopefully the orc will injure itself on the caltrops before becoming entangled in one of the nets, allowing Phamart to shoot the orc at his leisure. A net is enlarged in the inset.
January 22, 2026 at 3:13 PM
cyningstan.bsky.social
Still CGA, and still the same palette, as it's fixed in the game. It's quite a good palette as long as you don't want to change the setting to a forest planet. Well I suppose you could have an alien forest planet with odd coloured plants.
January 22, 2026 at 10:13 AM
cyningstan.bsky.social
Some time in the future I do hope to release a campaign editor though, with a built-in sprite/tile editor, which will make these things much easier.
January 21, 2026 at 2:46 PM