When I handed off the original Spectrum R-Type source code to Activision back in 1988 I was asked if I wanted to do the Amstrad conversion next. I declined and the job was tasked to Keith Goodyer who - as everybody now knows - did an incredible job of taking my non-labelled mess of code and turning it into a finished product in only 21 days. Of course a ridiculous three week schedule meant that Keith didn't have time to work his magic and produce the conversion the Amstrad truly deserved so the result was seen as a disappointment then and ever since. It has taken close to 24 years for the Amstrad gaming community to finally get the game they should have had all that time ago but at last the promise has been kept thanks to a generous act by the Easter Egg team who put all their time and effort into producing a brand new version for a brand new gaming generation.

I still feel close to the original game and I'm proud to see that an aspect of something Mark Jones, Rob Hylands, Karl Jeffrey, Dave Jolliff, Keith Goodyer and myself helped create all those years ago has been picked up and taken further than anyone could imagine with such detail and affection by Easter Egg. I would like to offer my congratulations to everyone at Easter Egg for not only producing such a fantastic, polished conversion but for the wonderful job they have done of publicising the project. It's one thing to write a game but it's another to get people talking about it and playing it - which through the use of the website, word of mouth, interviews, advance videos etc. they have managed to achieve in a very professional manner indeed.

Finally I would like to thank Easter Egg for mentioning me in the game credits, which implies I had something to do with the game but in reality all I did was tell a few stories and pass along some very confusing old routines. If you read that this new version contains X or Y percent of my old code then please ignore it - this is a 100% Easter Egg Amstrad game and they richly deserve all the credit and accolades that come with such an achievement.

Bob Pape