Tower of Babel Forum

Mayo · Zapper Messages: 105 Location: Schleswig-Holstein

Does anybody know some infos about Pete Cooke? I found some articles about his games in the 8bit-phase in early 80th's, like

www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/industry/programmers/petecooke.htm

but no current informations of his person, like homepage, email conatct or others. Because I need informations about the tower format (save disk) to import old group of towers into my ToB Remake version.

(This is bad english, i know

)

ToB Remake - http://www.tower-of-babel.info

Artinum · Zapper Messages: 184 Location: United Kingdom

Have you ever heard of a magazine called Retro Gamer? I'm not sure if it's available in Germany, but there IS a website for them:

http://www.livepublishing.co.uk/retro/

I mention it because I sent an e-mail to them some time ago, basically asking the same thing - what happened to Pete Cooke?? I know he moved to Microprose at some point, but after that my trail went cold. It's hard to follow a trail over a decade old anyway.

Maybe they'll find out, but one doubts it.

Artinum.

Mayo · Zapper Messages: 105 Location: Schleswig-Holstein

I've searched email adresses for Pete Cooke and the other co-developers of ToB in the world wide web and yesterday I've written to Chris Newcombe, the co-developer for the original ToB and I've gotten a respond:

Yes I'm the right person, and I'm still in touch with Pete Cooke
occasionally. I'll forward your email to him -- note that it might take him
a while to respond, as he doesn't check email very often.

After writing Tower Of Babel, Pete worked for several years with Geoff
Crammon on the 'Grand Prix' series of racing games for Microprose.

You'll be able to find a _lot_ of Pete's early games if you search for his
name and 'sinclair spectrum'. If you install a spectrum emulator you can
play them -- they're all great in my opinion.

Chris

--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Mario Latzig"
To: "Chris Newcombe"
Subject: Fw: Retro: Searching Pete Cooke and The Remake of "Tower of Babel"
(1989 on Amiga/Atari)
Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 11:38:36 +0100

I try it with this email adress, cause Chris Newcombe
<[email protected]> doesen't exist any longer, if you are not this
person, please tell me it.

Hello,

I'm a German student in Flensburg, close to Danish borderline. Since
Febrauary, 2004 I'm developing a Remake of "Tower Of Babel", an old 3D
puzzle game on 16bit-computers Amiga and Atari, now on PC with DirectX9
(http://www.tower-of-babel.info). I'm a fan of this great game and I'm owner
of the original disk and manual. The manual tells, that Pete Cooke was the
developer (is Pete Cooke a real name?). I try to find informations about him
in the world wide web, cause I want to contact him. I know he moved to
Microprose at some point, but after that my trail went cold. It's hard to
follow a trail over a decade old anyway. The credits tells also, that you
were involved in the original game, too (sound effects and copy
protection?). Do you know something (like email adresses) about Pete Cooke
or other developers of this game?

There's also fan forum of this excellent game:
http://www.carookee.com/forum/ToB (English and German)

Thanks for all informations, you can tell me.

Mario Latzig

ToB Remake - http://www.tower-of-babel.info

Dr. · Administrator Messages: 310 Location: Saarbrücken

Looks like you did it - congratulations!
I knew about the racing games, but that was the last I'd heard of him.

Could you ask him if it's ok if we put up a photo of him and idolize it while burning incense in front of it?
Failing that, I want an autograph...

No, seriously - please let us know when and if he answers your mail.

Z
--
Das Lemsche Gesetz:
Niemand liest etwas; wenn er etwas liest, versteht er es nicht; wenn er es versteht, vergißt er es sofort.

Mayo · Zapper Messages: 105 Location: Schleswig-Holstein

That's good idea. We send him our original manuals or baked klondikes (it tastes like bread :D, yeeah) and he would write autographs on this.

ToB Remake - http://www.tower-of-babel.info

Artinum · Zapper Messages: 184 Location: United Kingdom

Zitat: Mayo

I know he moved to Microprose at some point, but after that my trail went cold.

Hey, is there an echo in here? :-)

Andrew.

Mayo · Zapper Messages: 105 Location: Schleswig-Holstein

Yes

Excuse me, my english is bad, so I used copy&paste

ToB Remake - http://www.tower-of-babel.info

Mayo · Zapper Messages: 105 Location: Schleswig-Holstein

GOD FATHER OF TOB answered to me

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Mario

Chris Newcombe has contacted me with your email...
My name is Pete Cooke and tower of babel was a game I designed and
coded back in 1988-90. I produced versions for ST and Amiga -
both written in 68000 assembler.

I'm a bit surprised anyone remembers the game after so long, I
was pleased with the design but it wasn't really a commercial success.

I would guess the rights to the original game are still owned by Microprose
but as I remember it, I retained the copyright. Anyhow, if youre not
planning a commercial version I don't think they would be bothered.

I'm happy for you to produce a free version for the PC - do you plan to stay
faithful to the original or were you thinking of changing the game around?

If you plan to keep with the original design + gameplay and just improve
graphics + frame rate + possibly more levels I'd be glad to help. I may have
some of the old source and data stashed away on an old st hard drive....

Anyway - let me know

Cheers

Pete (Cooke)

____________________
ToB Remake - http://www.tower-of-babel.info
Homepage - http://www.latzig.de

Fawlty · Mason Messages: 280 Location: Gütersloh

WOW!

Being offered the original source code is more than we could have hoped for. I'm impressed!
I'm curious to hear whan his opinion will be on the remake when it's finished.

Fawlty · Mason Messages: 280 Location: Gütersloh

Just reading your initial email again.

Zitat:

Chris Newcombe ... doesen't exist any longer

*LOL* It's a miracle that guy sent you a polite reply instead of being really pissed off.......