The developer announced on March 10, 2026 that the third and final campaign stretch goal was met. To recap, the stretch goals were:
1. Second playable character - Ninja girl. UNLOCKED. 2. Two-player co-operative gameplay mode. UNLOCKED. 3. Inclusion of six mini-bosses. UNLOCKED.
On April 29, 2026, the developer released the Neo Geo beta demo (v1.0) for backers to playtest. The beta is available to all backers, regardless of the platform pledged for - i.e. Neo Geo, Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, PS5, Xbox One, Switch, PC. Down below, I've included a gameplay video of this demo.
If you're interested in backing the campaign and playing the aforementioned demo, please check if the "Back this project" button is still available on the following page:
After a ton of work, the developer Arti has now made a beta version available for download. Please keep checking the following folder in the coming weeks for new beta releases:
Late pledging will be available after the official campaign ends on March 15, 2026, and there may be an additional surprise in the works if new backer momentum remains strong.
The two stretch goals mentioned in a prior post have been reached!
The author has now introduced two additional stretch goals.
€35,000 - Cover design by J.O.E. The cover for Bootblock Rebels will be created by the renowned Amiga scene artist J.O.E. Known for classic graphics for Scoopex, TRSI, and many legendary cracktros and demos, J.O.E. has also returned in recent years creating new graphics for C64 demos. Professionally, J.O.E. works as a visual effects specialist on major movies including Avatar, King Kong, Titanic, Fantastic Four, Apollo 13, X-Men, The Lord of the Rings, and many more.
€37,000 - J.O.E. poster A poster featuring elements from the cover design will be included with the hardback edition of the book.
€24,000 - Galahad chapter The planned section on tools, methods, and copy protections will be expanded into a full extra chapter added to the book. It will be written by Galahad, a long-time Amiga programmer known for game enhancements and deep technical insight - and it will include screenshots and real examples.
€30,000 - Amiga intro When the book is ready, an Amiga “game intro” will be released. The intro is built from an original intro source most sceners will recognize, a classic used in many "game intros". It will include a greetings scroller with backer names. It will be added to YouTube & uploaded to the major demoscene repositories.
The developer has dropped a major bombshell in his latest update report. Despite Neo Geo having been the lead development system since the very beginning, the Steam (PC) version will actually be released a few months earlier than the Neo Geo version! To learn more about the reasons why, click the link below to read that surprising report.
That report also talks about content completion, and gives fantastic news about the development of the Mega Drive / Genesis version.
Please back the campaign if you're interested in the game. 820 backers are on board, and there's less than £700 left to go to meet the final stretch goal that gives us the six mini-bosses. The developer has publicly signaled the upcoming closure of the campaign, so don't be left out in the cold!
From the author: "I’ve launched a Kickstarter for a book about the Commodore Amiga cracking scene, covering the early years (1985), the peak era (1990-1993), and the decline of the active scene around 1996."
Key Topics Covered:
- The origins of Amiga cracking: First pioneers and groups.
- The rise of elite groups and zero-day releases.
- Major cracking groups, their members and how they worked.
- Hierarchy of a cracking group: Suppliers, Crackers, BBS Operators, Swappers.
- How original games were acquired and leaked.
- The BBS underground: modem-based distribution.
- Race to release: Get your crack out first or get nuked.
- Interviews with legendary crackers and sysops.
- The hidden economy of cracking: funding, calling cards, and BBS profits.
- Rivalries and wars between major groups.
- The evolution of crack intros.
- Cracking tools, methods, and techniques.
- The biggest cracks and infamous game releases.
- Copy protections and how they were defeated.
- Busting operations: police raids, F.A.S.T., and legal consequences.
- Game publishers’ response: Their view on the Amiga scene.
- Games modified by crackers: Fixes, built-in errors, and hidden messages.
- Almost everything there is to know about Amiga cracking.
More Information:
- 70% of the manuscript is already complete - only final details and layout remain.
- Steen is an experienced IT project manager; he has successfully run numerous complex projects.
- Steen has been the maintainer of www.BigBookOfAmigaHardware.com since 2013, demonstrating his dedication to the Amiga community.
- Steen is a scene member, not a journalist. This will be reflected in the book's authentic, insider perspective.
First beta test on a real Amiga 1200 with 68060 @ 100 MHz !
Arti continues to plug away at delivering a Mortal Kombat 3 conversion for our favourite computer. He acknowledges that there's a graphical bug on the pre-fight character ladder screen, but he's confident it'll be fixed very soon.
He writes:
Quote:
Speed is not bad, I hope to optimize it more.
To stay up to date on this ambitious project, please visit:
Happy new year! We're now in 2026 and this is the year we'll see Shadow Gangs Zero (SGZ) released, beginning first with the Neo Geo version and then all other versions afterwards - i.e. Dreamcast, Switch, PS5, Xbox One, Steam (PC), and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive.
Progress:
Phase 3 of development has been finished, which was the integration of final graphics. Now the developer has moved on to Phase 4, which involves working on: special effects, impacts & hit flashes, blood & debris, explosions, background animations, HUD, and menus & loading screens. The alpha version of the game is projected to be ready by mid to late February 2026.
Upcoming:
After alpha, the developer plans to work on these tasks: final optimization, difficulty tuning, sound effects integration, and Neo Geo hardware performance checks. Once those tasks have been done, we enter the phase that you've all been waiting for - Beta testing. During the beta phase, all backers will be given a digital copy of the Neo Geo beta version to playtest. By all backers, I mean EVERYONE, not just Neo Geo backers. So for example, if you've backed the PS5 version, you'll be playtesting the Neo Geo beta. Ditto for backers of Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Switch, Xbox One, and Steam (PC).
Tribute:
In his January 10, 2026 progress update, the developer pays tribute to Arjie Cosca, the original main level artist who sadly passed away three months ago. As you view the screenshots in the developer's update post linked below, please know that SGZ’s levels carry Arjie's vision, style, and inspiration. The developer notes Arjie's contribution:
- He shaped the visual identity of the game. - He brought atmosphere and world-building to every stage. - His sense of detail, mood, and composition is everywhere. - The art pipeline, tone, and richness all began with his work.
Campaign:
Over 800 backers are on board with their game controllers on hand, ready to experience the SGZ revolution. We're only £1.3K away from reaching the final stretch goal that gives us the six mini-bosses. Don't let the term "mini-bosses" fool you, as these aren't tiny adversaries. One of them is a large ferocious dragon that fills more than half the screen!
Please help make the inclusion of the mini-bosses a reality. The campaign is still open, but not for much longer:
If there is any place to suggest more portings, I would like to play Splatter House and Cadash on Amiga.
Would not be surprised if one or both of those eventually see an Amiga version. Especially now that Scorpion Engine makes game creation a lot more accessible to Amiga users.
To clarify, I'm not Arti the developer. I'm just posting about his campaign around the web to raise awareness, as I feel having an MK3 port available to Amiga gamers would be cool.
Past work: Battle for Wesnoth, The Carmageddon 68k DevilutionX Diablo Griffon Legend, The Heart of Darkness Hydra Castle Labyrinth KoBo Deluxe Legend of Zelda: Navi's Quest Legend of Zelda: Oni Link Begins Legend of Zelda: Return of the Hylian Legend of Zelda: Time to Triumph Mini Slug Vanilla Conquer Vanilla Conquer: Red Alert
Development is now in Phase 3, which involves the integration of final graphics into the game levels. As of December 10th, Phase 3 is 28% complete, with 12 of the 42 levels all done.
The developer writes:
Quote:
The final graphics go through a special division and processing pipeline to maximize the colour usage on the Neo Geo, allowing us to take full advantage of its 256 palettes. The results are excellent, and the game is really coming alive visually.
All the music for the game has been finished. The audio driver reproduces the songs with perfect clarity and accuracy, enabling the Neo Geo to play the music faithfully to the original tracker files.
After Phase 3 has concluded, the extra polish phase will begin. This will involve the artists taking detailed instructions from the developer and refining the level graphics to the highest quality possible. While the artists do their thing, the developer will work on Neo Geo code optimization to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently on the actual hardware.
The campaign has reached close to £117K and is a little more than £3K away from the final stretch goal that gives us the six mini-bosses. If you haven't yet pledged, please do so and join the nearly 800 enthusiastic fans who've already contributed to the campaign:
Phase 2 of level design is going extremely well, with 31 of the 42 total levels having been finished. The developer now estimates this level-polishing phase will be completed by the end of November 2025.
Phase 3: December 2025 to January 2026 - Integration of final graphics into the game.
Optimization Phase: February 2026 to March 2026 - Special effects, sound, and music will be implemented in the game.
Beta Test: April 2026 to June 2026 - All campaign backers will receive a digital copy of the Neo Geo beta version, no matter which platform you backed - i.e. Neo Geo, Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Switch, PS5, Xbox, PC (Steam). So be prepared to experience the beta using the flash cart, FPGA, or emulation device of your choice. The developer is counting on you to help iron out all bugs and give useful feedback, as Shadow Gangs Zero is very much a community-driven effort.
Gold: The developer is aiming for the final Neo Geo version to be released by July / August 2026. Once that's done, the versions for the remaining platforms will be developed and released in fairly rapid succession.
Don't miss out on the fun. The campaign is accepting new pledges:
So far, £115K has been raised. We're just £5K away from reaching the final stretch goal of £120K, which will enable the inclusion of six unique mini-bosses - e.g. Ferocious fire-breathing dragon, Military helicopter dropping high-caliber rounds from above, Cannon wall with an arsenal of heavy fire, etc.
Thanks for your help.
P.S. Did you know that Shadow Gangs Zero has a 2-player cooperative gameplay mode? That means you can play solo, or with a friend!
In his latest post on the campaign page, the developer informs us that the first pass of level design has been finished. The second pass is now underway, which focuses on refining each level’s layout, enemy placement, and gameplay flow to near-final quality. At the current pace, this second pass should be finished around mid-December 2025.
After the second pass, the third pass work will begin, which involves integrating all final graphics for levels, characters, menus, and other visual elements. And then the final pass is the optimization and polish phase, to ensure the game runs smoothly and meets the high standards being aimed for. The developer promises to keep backers fully informed of all progress as it happens.
The game has 42 levels, comprised of:
- 35 regular levels
- 5 boss levels
- 2 bonus levels
Graphics update:
The artists have begun working on background animations to liven up the levels. They're also remastering the special effects such as blood, explosions, and impact visuals to ensure they look their best - i.e. smoother motion and more animation frames. The developer is sparing no expense in giving these elements the attention they deserve.
Spread the word!
Tell your friends about Shadow Gangs Zero. The more support the campaign receives, the better the final product:
Level Design: Last month (August 2025), the developer reported that level design was in high gear. Now in September 2025, the developer tells us that he's finished the first pass in creating these game levels: City, Bridge, Airport, Bunker, Forest, Beach, Cyber Punk, Castle. The current level being designed is: China. He estimates that he'll have finished the first pass of designing all levels by mid-to-late October 2025. Designing levels for Shadow Gangs Zero is a multi-pass process involving three primary passes plus a polishing phase. Lots of work, but the developer is making great progress.
Mini Bosses: The final campaign stretch goal is the inclusion of six mini bosses: Fire-breathing dragon, Military helicopter, Cannon wall with heavy firepower, Van with armed fighters, etc. To achieve that stretch goal, the pledge total needs to reach £120K. We are so very close to reaching this goal, as the pledge total is currently at £113K.
Neo Geo Flash Carts: A couple of months ago, I reported that the Neo Geo digital version is compatible with NeoSD PRO, as the developer is personally testing the game with it throughout development. Since then, a new backer has come aboard who will help with testing for BackBit compatibility and DarkSoft Multi MVS compatibility. Why all the fuss about Neo Geo flash carts? Because Neo Geo is the lead development system and flagship version, so the developer wants to make sure that all Neo Geo fans can play the game!
Beta Testing: Speaking of testing, you already know that backers will have access to the Neo Geo beta digital release. I've received confirmation from the developer that ALL backers will have access to this Neo Geo beta release. In other words, even backers of the Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, PS5, Xbox, Switch, and Steam versions will be granted access to the Neo Geo beta. Granting broad beta access will help the developer iron out all bugs, while giving backers early access as a loyalty perk. A win-win for everyone!
Ongoing Pledges: So far, the campaign has attracted over 760 backers to its cause. That's awesome! We're striving to reach 800 backers by year's end - Could you help make that happen? If you haven't yet pledged, please take another look at the campaign page to see if you'd like to add Shadow Gangs Zero to your collection. If you've already pledged, please tell your circle of friends about the game and invite them to join the SGZ community.
Did you know that all backers of the physical media versions will also receive the corresponding digital versions for free? For example, Genesis / MD physical cartridge backers will receive the Genesis / MD digital ROM file at no extra cost. Perfect for playing SGZ on your portable devices when you're away from home!
New Music Track for Genesis / Mega Drive: From the developer:
Quote:
We also have a great new Mega Drive track to enjoy. Listen closely at 0:30 seconds — those toms are actually FM drums, not samples, showcasing the MD’s unique sound!
A couple of months ago, Jim Drew offered a pre-order of 60 additional Blingboard64 units at the campaign price to offset the increase in printing costs. Now in July 2025 and heading into August 2025, he's offering you another chance at pre-ordering a Blingboard64.
As you know, the upcoming Commodore 64 Ultimate (https://www.commodore.net) will use the basic Blingboard technology developed by Jim. However, Jim refers to the C64 Ultimate keyboard as "Blingboard64 Lite Edition". In other words, that keyboard in the C64 Ultimate will be less powerful than the keyboard offered in the crowdfunding campaign and recent pre-orders. Jim explains it this way:
Quote:
The Lite Edition is really a VERY stripped down version of the keyboard from this campaign. It has basically none of the advanced features. You can think of the Lite Edition as just a very nice keyboard with LEDs and a 4 pin connector that plugs into Gideon's U64 board. The U64 itself provides the features.
The Blingboard64 in this campaign is very different because it has support for USB and Bluetooth BLE, a dual core CPU, expansion port, wireless programming, macros (recording and playback), 2MB of RAM fully accessible from the C64 side, ability to off-load calculations to the keyboard's CPU, and much, much, more!
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