The rise of Beam Software

Welcome to part 1 of a 3 part series charting the growth, golden years and decline of the most prolific video game development team in Australia.
True pioneers, they created many classic regional games and made history on more than one occasion. This is their story.
EDIT - I have just discovered a fantastic website that seeks to compile all of this information - playitagainpro...
*Dr. Helen Stuckey of RMIT has informed me that Stuart Ritchie wasn't responsible for the creation of the hobbits revolutionary parser - Phillip Mitchell was. I truly wish I knew about this website earlier, as it is an invaluable tool for this very niche subject. Many thanks to Helen for allowing my humble contribution to be viewed on their amazing website!
Brilliant Shadowrun cover by unununium - • Shadowrun (SNES) music...
Thanks zeusdaz for the horace footage! Check his channel out here - • THE HORACE TRILOGY: WH...
Thanks champmeister for the awesome hobbit footage - • The Hobbit adventure g...
Way of the exploding fist footage - archive.org/de...
My sources - archive.org/de...
paul-morrison.s...
cpcrulez.fr/au...

[@unstoppableExodia]

The origins of beam are a lot more fascinating than I would have expected. They really were pioneers in the aussie game development scene.

[@retrobution1262]

Yeah they were unreal! In the late 80's it gets even better haha! I had to search the deepest corners of the inter webs for this information. Luckily there are a few awesome sites out there so they have done half of this work, thank goodness they documented this stuff..!

[@unstoppableExodia]

@@retrobution1262 really appreciate the research there. I first became aware of them when I played the aussie rules game for NES in 1991 with the Neighborhood kids. Even though aussie rules and cricket were never my favorite sports it was kinda cool to have at the time an aussie developer developing games that cater to aussie specific tastes. Not just sports but also things like Agro from Agro’s cartoon connection which is now a very expensive gameboy game

[@retrobution1262]

@@unstoppableExodia No worries mate it needed to be proper. Yeah that's kinda what happened with me. I didn't used to pay much attention to developers as a kid but when I first hired Shadowrun I loved it so much I finally paid attention. At the time I had no idea they were based in Melbourne though! I'm currently searching through old NMS archives and trying to find a developer interview. They should've had more exposure back then. Thanks for your awesome comments I love reading them :)

[@unstoppableExodia]

@@retrobution1262 oh yeah they also made shadowrun ive never played that game but heard many good things about it. Looking forward to the next installment. Also you mentioned NMS I remember that magazine bought a few issues back in the day. Hopefully that archive is online and freely available. I’d love to be taken back to the past by rereading classic issues I used to have

[@retrobution1262]

@@unstoppableExodia Great to hear mate I'll try not to disappoint. Yeah it's available mate I've still got a few issues but I've been reading some I missed out on. so funny :D I'll be reviewing that soon too!

[@JakeMcaulay]

Great job mate I hope you keep the momentum you top lad 🍻.

[@tommywilliams6793]

This one was definitely worth the wait, such an important story for Australian video game history.. And you tell it best, top stuff mate hanging for the rest!

[@tdfitzsimons]

Really weird timing, I was literally just telling some folks on a retro game forum about Beam and then this popped up. Glad to see someone putting material about Aussie gaming history out there.

[@retrobution1262]

Hah, it was meant to be it seems :) Thanks man glad people are still out there talking about it! They deserve to be honored for helping kick start an industry we all love and adore. Glad I can be of service haha

[@my_wheelhouse]

No pressure but that was awesome and can't wait for the second part. Good point to cut it off to. Keep up the great work bro.

[@retrobution1262]

Thanks mate! Yeah nah put the pressure on, it's the only way I'll learn. It's perfect for a 3 part series. My old comp and free editing software can't handle long videos lol

[@idiotboxer9887]

Great video. I had only heard of beam as a kid but its good to learn about its origins. Interesting to see the early stages of the developer and wider industry in Australia. Thanks

[@retrobution1262]

Your very welcome and thanks for taking the time to watch and comment! True pioneers, they were making it up as they went. It's a fascinating story.

[@brentkee1164]

Hey brother you just keep getting better and better much respect to you that was a great video now for number 2 I'm realising how old I'm getting lol

[@retrobution1262]

Thanks a bunch mate i bottled lightening with this first video, struggled to match the quality over the next two haha glad ya liked it

[@andre0000000007]

ZED EX : ) not zee ex

[@retrobution1262]

Ha not this again! 😅 I've always used zee even though I'm Australian, for one very annoying reason - I'm a huge Dragonball zeeeeeeee fan and the American dubs opening stuck in my brain and made me say zee instead of zed for the rest of my days. Sorry mother england! Hope ya enjoying the series anyhoo I've been real busy but I'm getting onto some new content real soon mate 👍