The search for Keen

When I was a young boy, the ID software corporation created the perfect side scrolling game, 'Commander keen'. They made 3 crude versions of the game, then they released an experimental episode called keen dreams. Then they refined their engine system and made 3 more games, Keen 4, 5 and 6; I think they were called 'Goodby Galaxy', 'Aliens ate my babysitter', and 'Armageddon Machine'. They released them as freeware products, you could copy it to a floppy disk for free then play it and then there was a paid version of the game. I can't explain it but I just felt like they got it right; the games were fun, the best thing on dos. 

Now I look for new releases of the same games on the evercade website and Nintendo switch store. Nintendo released the so called lost episode, keen dreams but not the magnificent 3. I keep watch to see. Perhaps evercade will release a cartridge with all the best ID dos games. Secret agent, Commander Keen, things like that. I would get the evercade alpha instead of virtual reality for my man cave if they released it. 

Second Half of February

We're a few days into the second half of February, it's a short month, 28 days or 29 on a leap year. The first half of February was dominated by the mighty Earthquake in north Syria and Southern Turkey, it has become almost normal and routine to get Earthquakes that are close to 8 on the Richter scale on this planet. I feel pity for the victims. 

I recently learned there is a version of the Bible called 'New king James', it has the word for word accuracy of the king James Bible but the 15th century pronouns have been replaced with present day ones. It is also available on the bible gateway site. I'm reading Isaiah at the moment, Bible gateway

I was also reading through the Evercade blog and learned they're going to release some new carts that celebrate classic home computing. Evercade Blog. I don't have an Evercade but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for 'ID software classics like the original Doom and the commander keen series. That would be so nice. It would be worth buying the system if it had those games included. The console takes two cartridges at a time so it would be nice to keep that on in there. 

commander keen

When I was young there was one computer game that I really liked. I loved to play commander keen because it was very well made and fun. The game was Keen 4 to be exact/It was a 2D side scrolling game. The character was a young boy with a sports helmet on, he had a stun gun and a Pogo stick. He would interact with the levels in different ways by turning on switches and picking things up.

The sounds in the game were also wonderful, the enemies were well animated. To me it was one of the greatest games of all time.

The game  also had a top down level lobby and when he completed a level he would throw a flag marked K onto a flag pole next to the level.

I often wonder if ID software the company that made keen would make keen 3d or a new commander keen game. Well we will see.