Before I designed Classicbot IIe, my first computer love was the real Apple IIe — green screen, chunky keys, and endless hours spent playing classics like Ultima and Lode Runner.
I can’t remember exactly when my family bought the IIe. I think it maybe around 1984-85. It was the first computer I ever saw, let alone touched. My parents knew nothing about computers, but my clever and resourceful brother Alan — then in secondary school — convinced them that a computer would help his studies. We weren’t wealthy, just comfortably middle class, and computers were expensive back then — especially the Apple IIe. But our wonderful parents bought it without much hesitation, hoping it would boost my brother’s not-so-stellar academic performance.
And so, the Apple IIe arrived. To me, it was a miracle machine. There was no windowed interface, just DOS commands and mystery. I never saw my brother do much studying with it, but we had endless fun playing games. That machine set me on a lifelong love affair with gaming. Here are a few of my favourites.
Lode Runner
The first is the timeless Lode Runner. Its simple yet brilliant gameplay made it one of the most addictive games ever created. The goal was to collect all the gold while avoiding enemies and digging holes to trap them. We never knew there was a “suicide” key, so when our runner got stuck in an isolated space, we had to restart the game — often after reaching a high level! It was frustrating, but that challenge made every victory sweeter. Like Tetris, Lode Runner stands as proof that clever design beats fancy graphics any day.
Ultima I-The First Age of Darkness
Another favourite was Ultima. Long before Final Fantasy or The Elder Scrolls, Ultima defined the role-playing game genre. I played the first two titles, roaming the land of Britannia in awe. The graphics were primitive, but the story fired up my imagination. I was completely drawn in — staying up late into the night for the first time just to keep exploring.
After Ultima, I tried Might and Magic. The pseudo-3D perspective was impressive, but the story was probably too complex for my younger self to grasp.
Castle Wolfenstein
Then came Castle Wolfenstein — the ancestor of Wolfenstein 3D and every stealth shooter that came after. You played as an Allied spy infiltrating a Nazi fortress to assassinate Hitler. I remember figuring out that shooting him didn’t work — you had to leave a bomb-laden briefcase instead. The sound effects were unforgettable: the guards’ funny shouts, the tension of sneaking past patrols… It gave me the same thrill I later found in Metal Gear Solid, hiding in cardboard boxes to escape enemies.
Choplifter
Most of our games came on 5 inch floppy disks, but one special title — Choplifter — was on cassette tape. Yes, an actual music cassette! It was probably a bootleg version Alan copy from the infamous Golden Arcade in Hong Kong. You piloted a rescue helicopter, dodging enemy fire while saving hostages. It was simple, fast-paced, and incredibly fun — the perfect embodiment of early gaming creativity.
I still love modern games, but there’s something special about those early, straightforward adventures. They were simple, imaginative, and full of heart — much like the spirit I try to capture in my Classicbot designs.
Did you grow up with an Apple IIe? What were your favourite games?
Let me know in the comments — or tag @classicbot on Instagram!
And don’t forget to check out the figure inspired by the Apple IIe, the Classicbot IIe!
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