Howarth Games

From the moment I first switched on a Commodore 64, I was hooked. The machine’s mix of colourful sprites, SID music and endless possibilities made it more than just a computer – it was a doorway into imagination.

Like many programmers of the era, I started by experimenting, learning how the hardware worked, and eventually turning those ideas into games. Over the years I was fortunate enough to work with Software Creations and Binary Design, two studios that played an important part in the golden age of 8-bit gaming.

This blog is a look back at the Commodore 64 titles I worked on during that period. Some were action-packed arcade conversions, some were quirky originals, and others experimented with ideas that could only really exist in the wonderfully strange world of 8-bit gaming.

At Software Creations, I contributed to a variety of titles across different genres.

There were fast-paced shooters such as Baby Blues, Gunslinger and Sky Shark, each demanding smooth scrolling, fast sprite handling and quick reactions from the player.

There were also more unusual ideas, including War Cars Construction Kit, which gave players the tools to build and customise their own battle arenas, and the offbeat platform game Scumball.

Not every game was about shooting or platforming. I also worked on sports titles such as Strike! and Raw Recruit, which brought a very different challenge: recreating the feel of real-world competition within the limits of the C64.

Puzzle fans may remember Puzznic, a conversion of the popular arcade brain-teaser that required careful planning and plenty of patience.

Working at Software Creations during the late 1980s was an exciting time. The company had already gained a reputation for high-quality Commodore 64 work, especially with successful conversions such as Bubble Bobble.

The studio became known for squeezing every last drop of performance out of the machine, finding new ways to push the C64 far beyond what many people thought possible.

Before and alongside that period, I was also involved with Binary Design. The company created a wide range of memorable titles, from sports games and arcade action to experimental ideas that reflected the creativity of the time.

It was an era when small teams could produce games with huge personality, often working under tight deadlines and with only 64K of memory to play with.

This blog is not just a list of old games. It is a collection of memories, stories, screenshots and behind-the-scenes details from a time when every byte mattered.

I hope it brings back memories if you grew up with the Commodore 64, and perhaps offers a glimpse into how these games were made for anyone discovering them for the first time.

Strike! – 1987
A bowling game published by MAD / Mastertronic. Players compete in a ten-pin bowling tournament, aiming for strikes and spares while mastering the timing and accuracy needed to send the ball down the lane.

Raw Recruit – 1988
A multi-event sports game in which players take control of a new army recruit undergoing military training. Events include obstacle courses, shooting practice and fitness challenges, all designed to test speed and skill.

Scumball – 1988
A quirky multi-screen platform game where the player controls a bouncing ball-like character through a series of dangerous rooms filled with enemies, ladders and traps. The goal is to collect items and survive long enough to reach the next stage.

Sky Shark (US Version) – 1988
A vertically scrolling shoot-'em-up based on the arcade game by Taito. Players pilot a fighter plane through enemy territory, avoiding heavy fire while destroying tanks, ships and aircraft across increasingly difficult levels.

War Cars Construction Kit – 1988
Part action game and part creation tool, this title allows players to design their own arenas and then battle computer-controlled opponents using armed vehicles. It offered a surprising amount of freedom for a Commodore 64 game of the era.

Baby Blues – 1990
A fast-paced crosshair shooter in which the player must defend against waves of cartoon-style enemies. The game combines quick reflexes with colourful graphics and a light-hearted sense of humour.

Gunslinger – 1990
A Wild West themed shooting game where the player takes on the role of a lone gunslinger facing enemies in a series of quick-draw shootouts. Success depends on fast reactions and accurate aim.

Puzznic – 1990
A conversion of the popular arcade puzzle game. Players must slide matching blocks together to make them disappear, solving increasingly complex puzzles using logic and careful planning.

Gauntlet III: The Final Quest – 1991
An action game inspired by the Gauntlet series, featuring dungeon exploration, monsters and treasure. Players guide their hero through maze-like levels, battling enemies and searching for the exit while collecting power-ups along the way. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}