When I wrote Jumping Jack I searched the net for Albert Ball, the original author, without success. All that showed up on my Spectrum related searches were old reviews etc and links to the Jumping Jack game itself, so I released it and hoped for the best and that if he stumbled upon it he would see it as a fitting version and not be too displeased.

Yesterday I posted about the game on World of Spectrum and asked if anyone had any idea about contacting the author. User “fog” said I should have not written the game before getting the ok, which is fair enough but he also gave me a link to Albert’s current project, Railway Operation Simulator, which is certainly worth visiting if you are into railways and such.

Of course I immediately emailed him and told him about the Flash version and also the 99p Android version saying I hoped he liked them but of course if he was not happy I would take them down or at least make the Android version free. Colour me tickled pink to get a lovely reply this morning.

Hi Andrew,

Thanks to you I’ve just driven myself daft trying to get Jack up the levels – I’d forgotten how frustrating and addictive the game was!

Well done!!!  You’ve recreated the original very accurately indeed, the graphics and sound effects are perfect.  You most certainly have my blessing (and strong encouragement) to market it wherever you wish, it will be very nice indeed to see the game have a second life.  Thanks too for the credits for the original game.  It’s a nice touch making it a 30 year birthday edition – incredible that 30 years have passed since the original – it’s frightening how time flies!

I hope the Android version becomes a nice little (or even better a big) earner for you.

With best wishes,

Albert

These are the moments that makes being a games remaker so very very special. I hope Albert will not mind me putting his email here in full.

Thank you Albert for creating a brilliant game, and for being such a great guy and making me smile from ear to ear today.