By Khloe Wilkerson

If you’ve ever wanted to travel back in time, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story will make your fantasies come true. Here, as an interactive participant, you’re witness to the history of one of the weirdest, most distinctive game creators ever. With a love for llamas, sheep, and shooters, England’s Jeff Minter became a groundbreaking game creator known for doing his own thing – regardless of what others think. 

Jeff Minter is a self-taught developer with an instinct for what makes video games enjoyable. Jeff wanted to bring the arcade excitement he enjoyed to home computers in the United Kingdom. In doing so, Minter has carved his route in the video game business, being his true self without apology and becoming a cult figure with a passionate following base. 

As a youngster, Jeff was fascinated by arcade games since the late 1970s era of Pong. He said, “Games were just black boxes that someone had to build to do the things they did by way of some kind of incomprehensible magic.” Jeff was exposed to the Commodore PET, the company’s first personal home computer when he was 16 in his junior year of high school. One of his classmates was playing a game on it, which prompted Jeff to borrow a book on BASIC from the library and learn how to develop his own games. He used calculator programs to expand his understanding, eventually leading to computer language.

He continued to be fascinated and learned quickly. Using a variety of computers and platforms, including the ZX80, which Clive Sinclair built in 1980, and the VIC-20, everything in his daily life influenced him to become the man he is today. The ZX80 inspired Minter since it enabled him to own a computer because, at just under $200, it was generally affordable. The fact that he wouldn’t have to share with anybody else or worry about anyone bugging him about what to do with the game was quite intriguing to him.

However, Jeff’s path was not all sunshine and rainbows. In the autumn of 1981, Jeff intended to major in computer science at Oxford Polytechnic. His plan, however, took a bad turn when he fell one morning on his way to university. He was diagnosed with pericarditis, an inflammation of the heart’s lining that required many months of rest. But this was not the end of Jeff’s story. Adds Jeff, “Programming was an excellent way to take your mind off scary thoughts and worries.” Programming provided Jeff with an escape, much like reading, painting, art, and even video games for others. He didn’t give up despite the challenges he went through.

Minter decided to start working with a small group of people, their father, throughout his sickness. The group told him that they would manage all of the logistics and market and sell Jeff’s games. But they told him that they wanted a 70/30 share of the funds and Jeff didn’t know if that was a good deal or not. Given that it was his game, his mother urged them that it should be split 50/50, but the boys refused to negotiate. Ultimately, Jeff began working independently keeping the Llamasoft brand while getting help and support from his parents.

In the beginning, I would characterize the earlier games as incredibly pixelated, restricted to the capabilities of the Commodore PET’s and Sinclair’s ZX hard drive. But that was the best you could get at the time and Jeff used his limited resources very well. The majority of games are easily adaptable and leap right into the action. The internal game logic seems natural and everything starts you off exactly where you need to be. Depending on your comfort level, you can choose a certain game to be beginner or expert-friendly. Ultimately, Llamasoft is a game that is compatible with all types of people. Those who like history, beginner gamers, experienced gamers, the youth, the older generation, and more.

The game’s graphic quality gradually increases over time. Visuals were at first hazy, glitchy, and blocky, but as time passed, it became clear that technology had improved. For example, in the initial Gridrunner game, the grid was one-dimensional, just three colors were used, and everything appeared average. However, the visuals on Gridrunner 2023 are outstanding! The grid is multidimensional, floating, and altering when you shoot. Many more colors and bits of text can be seen. When you score or earn kills, the number displays in huge, bold characters; everything flows smoothly, making the game more enjoyable.

In Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, you may see various photographs and videos for whichever slide is being discussed. You can see what Jeff looked like as a teenager, as well as other machines such as the Commodore 64. Compared to now, he has shorter hair, with a shorter beard. But his style remained the same, with button-ups, and crocheted sweaters. The cassette tapes allow you to zoom in, spin them around, and see what they truly look like. This was cool because, as a high school freshman,  I never got to see what a cassette tape looked like in real life. Showing visuals makes it easier to remember the information offered and enables improved memory.

The video game music undoubtedly contributes to the whole experience. The majority of gaming music amplified the game’s potential, making it more thrilling. I find the psychedelic music too much for my liking. The lights and colors were too overwhelming for me and it was a lot to process at once, which caused me to be overwhelmed. When you fire in shooting games, it seems like you’re shooting real items because of the soundtrack and explosions. These hardware computers could only play a limited amount of sounds, which appears ancient and nostalgic to those who remember them. For example, in the past, children would shout “pew pew pew,” which is exactly the sound of shots that some games produced. In terms of programming, Many games of the era had approximately three to four sounds. Given the constraints, what Jeff Minter achieved with what he was given was quite remarkable. He made the most out of what today would be considered next to nothing.

Something that I enjoyed about Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is how Jeff enabled a high score system. A high score in a game meant that you were the best, and your name remained at the top until someone took it down, making it competitive. So it’s not only for fun; you’ll also compete with other people, which keeps you motivated. It’s like receiving an award that you’ll be proud of; everyone will see your name, even if you didn’t place first or second. And your name will remain there until you are defeated and it is taken down. Videogames were a place where you could achieve enormous success while also feeling important to a community.

I would say Jeff Minter games are pretty recognizable to spot. The llamas and camels, upbeat music, and lighting all indicate this. Unlike other game makers that frequently utilize aliens, troops, and ships.

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is a top-notch game. Why? Because the game resembles a journey down memory lane. I never had a Commodore 64 or an Atari, but it was interesting to go back in time and compare what existed after inserting bulky game cartridges to o being able to download a game just with a code on my PS5. 

Jeff Minter has blessed us with games from 40 years ago with an all-in-one experience. His art is outstanding and unforgettable and the game is more a celebration of Minter’s life’s work and how much he was able to achieve. He is a video game hero that has made a terrific series of games, his way. 
Overall, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story, provides an excellent and thoughtful experience. It’s incredibly interactive and will keep you immersed. There is no blood or gore, just plenty of fun and competitiveness. This game should be a reminder to everyone to not worry about what anyone else thinks, especially if you have no control over it. I would 100% recommend this game to absolutely everyone. There are no limits when it comes to making games!

Bronx native Khloe Wilkerson is our youngest intern. She recently won a college scholarship and completed our journalism and writing class at Mott Hall III twice in a row. 

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