Long before gaming machines allowed us to play in the lush open worlds of Baldur's Gate, the Night City, and Los Santos, urban exploration had to be confined in much smaller, much more modest cities. Comprising of low resolution, often monochrome graphics or even entirely out of text, gaming's first truly fascinating cities were powered by 8-bit technology. 

From the isometric B-movie horrors of Ant Attack and the scrolling urban scenes of River City Ransom, to the 3D Central City of Mercenary and Infocom's Rockvil, this free lecture will guide you through the best 8-bit urbanism had to offer.

We'll explore the design, worldbuilding considerations, but also the limitations that shaped some of the most important game cities on platforms such as the NES, the C64, the ZX Spectrum, the Intellivison, the Amstrad CPC, and the SEGA Master System. 

We will witness the evolution of city design for video games throughout the 8-bit era, and get to discover its rich and often fascinating history, the clever ways in which designers suggested worlds they could never fully render, and the fact that many of its ideas and solutions could greatly benefit contemporary approaches. 

More than just a history lesson, the lecture will highlight the timelessness of quality worldbuilding and clever game design. It will argue that looking back can fuel future creativity. Whether you're a game designer, level designer, visual artist, worldbuilder, writer, developer, or simply someone who loves games, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for game urbanism as we know it.