Heyo!

[retroscener]

Hi everyone.

Being a retro 8bit microcomputer Commodore gaming fan, I run www.commodore16.com, and am known as Baz there. I also own a Commodore 64.

So to rediscover my old interests even more, I've now just recently got myself interested back into VFD & LCD handheld electronic gaming again

Admittedly I remember only owning 2 handhelds back in the day. The Time & Fun Pancake LCD game.

Plus Astro Invader by Entex European release (aka Galaxian 2 in the USA). My brother had Galaxy Invader 1000. All 3 games had always stuck with me, particular my two.

I just picked up a fully boxed Astro Invader from Ebay. Admittedly it was a bit pricey at £66 inc P&P, the box is a bit battered and it didn't come with instructions. Game however is in very good nick. Well it is now as the battery compartment was actually broken which wasn't described in the listing as such, but luckily the seller had a spare one to swap me with (phew). Ironically though very shortly afterwards the Astro Invader instruction booklet then suddenly popped up on ebay by another seller separately which I quickly picked up for 99p, a little water damaged but I am able to scan it (and clean it up a little too) if you need it, as although you have the Galaxian 2 booklet scan which is exactly the same except for the game title, you don't have this particular one. With the instructions too, it kind of makes the money I paid for it just that little bit more worth it now.

Anyway, it's just as fun now as it was way back then when I first received my original way back in 1981 for Christmas by my grandparents, so money happily spent. In fact I consider it to probably be the best electronic handheld game of all due to its real arcade feel with the great sound effects, intense attack waves, the wave counters...and it's unique 2-player combat mode.

Just discovered the recent MESS emulations too. Fantastic work. Think I'll start hunting around eBay and the boot sales, see what else I can find although I likely won't spend that kind of money on one again