---
title: "Rocket Man"
id: 13810
type: "product"
slug: "rocketman"
url: "http://localhost/product/rocketman/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/product/rocketman.md"
published_at: "2019-11-30T01:24:30+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-06-17T09:53:31+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/RocketManScreen1.gif"
excerpt: "Rocket Man is written entirely in machine code and uses a custom display driver routine to achieve pseudo high resolution graphics on a standard 16K ZX81. It features smooth animation, with each sprite consisting of multiple frames that shift by just 2 pixels at a time, and contains 6 different levels. Each has a different…"
category:
  - name: "Games"
    slug: "games"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/software/games/"
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "G. Russell Electronics"
    slug: "g-russell-electronics"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/g-russell-electronics/"
  - name: "Toronto Software World"
    slug: "toronto-software-world"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/toronto-software-world/"
  - name: "TS 1000"
    slug: "ts1000"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts1000/"
  - name: "TS 1500"
    slug: "ts1500"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts1500/"
  - name: "ZX81"
    slug: "zx81"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/zx81/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair ZX81"
    slug: "zx81"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/zx81/"
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 1000"
    slug: "ts-1000"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-1000/"
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 1500"
    slug: "ts-1500"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-1500/"
media_type:
  - name: "Cassette"
    slug: "cassette"
    taxonomy: "media-type"
    url: "http://localhost/media-type/cassette/"
genre:
  - name: "Game"
    slug: "game"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/game/"
  - name: "Software"
    slug: "software"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/software/"
company:
  id: 10889
  title: "G. Russell Electronics"
  type: "company"
  url: "http://localhost/company/g-russell-electronics/"
media_types:
  - name: "Cassette"
    slug: "cassette"
    taxonomy: "media-type"
    url: "http://localhost/media-type/cassette/"
price: 9
date: 1984
rarity: "Uncommon"
producturl: "http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclair/ZX81/Disassemblies/RocketMan.htm"
file_download: "https://www.zx81stuff.org.uk/zx81/tape/RocketMan"
adverts:
  - publication:
      - id: 26630
        title: "SUM v3 n10"
        type: "issue"
        url: "http://localhost/issue/sum-v3-n10/"
    advert_page: "13"
companies_products:
  - id: 10889
    title: "G. Russell Electronics"
    type: "company"
    url: "http://localhost/company/g-russell-electronics/"
  - id: 11407
    title: "Toronto Software World"
    type: "company"
    url: "http://localhost/company/toronto-software-world/"
---

Rocket Man is written entirely in machine code and uses a custom display driver routine to achieve pseudo high resolution graphics on a standard 16K ZX81. It features smooth animation, with each sprite consisting of multiple frames that shift by just 2 pixels at a time, and contains 6 different levels. Each has a different platform layout, and for levels 4 to 6 the rocket pack and fuel cans are replaced with a vulture and legs of lamb. There are three alternate graphic sprites used for the Bubloid, each with its own acceleration speed, and these are cycled through as the player progresses up the levels.

Read more about is on [Paul Farrow’s website](http://www.fruitcake.plus.com/Sinclair/ZX81/Disassemblies/RocketMan.htm).