PDF Level 2 status report

As of the first of Feb, the 1970s portion of PDF Level 2 is all but done; there are a couple of minor tweaks to be made, but other than that, all that’s left is for me to sit down and come up with some brief music cues to cover a few gaps in the audio.

The section of PDF Level 2 covering 1972-1979 runs 33 minutes, 56 seconds, and breaks down thusly:

• Intro + 1972 – 1:44
• 1973 – 1:13
• 1974 – 1:48
• 1975 – 1:13
• 1976 – 4:02
• 1977 – 8:46
• 1978 – 9:17
• 1979 – 5:53

Timings are approximate, and, until a laser burns it to a disc, are subject to change between now and the finished product.

That may seem a little underwhelming, but keep in mind that the number of games available to cover – that weren’t already covered in the first PDF DVD – is pretty slim in the early 1970s. You can tell by looking at the timings above where the number of games to cover suddenly starts to double nearly every year. I may add a couple more things to 1979, but I’ll admit that I held back a little bit on ’79: as with the first DVD, this one will be heavy on 1982-85 material (and will have far more substantial coverage of 1986-87 than the first DVD), so I’m reining myself in just a little bit. I firmly believe that, between the first PDF DVD and Level 2, the most significant home and arcade video games will be covered in their entirety.

Level 2 widens its console coverage considerably, adding more Channel F, Bally Professional Arcade/Astrocade and Studio II coverage. As they appear on the timeline, you can also expect to see more VIC-20, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Colecovision, 5200, Aquarius, Emerson Arcadia 2001 and NES coverage. You can also expect to see more unreleased games in Level 2 – console and arcade. The first PDF DVD was very arcade-heavy; Level 2 will still have extensive arcade coverage, but will balance that out with more console and computer games.

There’s less emphasis on commercials in PDF Level 2, but they’ll still be there – but perhaps not with the all-pervading, every-couple-of-minutes frequency with which they appeared on the first DVD. As far as pacing, Level 2 thunders along under its own steam: it doesn’t linger as long on the “year” intros. It assumes that you’ve seen the first DVD and know what you’re in for.

The CGE DVD set is still in a curious “just-around-the-corner” limbo right now; there are a couple of artwork issues awaiting approval and then, supposedly, we’re off to the races. I wish I could say more than that, or say “Hey, here’s the pre-order page!”, or something, but having looked through the master DVDs from which everyone’s copies will be made, all I really can say is that I think the wait’s been worth it. It all looks really nice. Shooting and production-wise I have absolutely no problem considering it a “calling card.”

Back to PDF Level 2 for a moment: I may be aiming for an April release date. Or maybe sooner. Why April? You’ll have to tune in tomorrow for that answer.

On the home front, Evan and I are both feeling better…which means now we have to take care of Evan’s mom, whose turn it is to be under the weather. Next week, I think it’s the dog’s turn to be sick.