What is SEUCK?
SEUCK = Shoot 'Em Up Construction Kit

SEUCK is an acronym for the "Shoot Em Up Construction Kit". SEUCK is an old commercial utility that was written by Sensible Software in 1987 and published by Palace, Domark (Toolbox), and even Gremlin (GBH budget label) during its lifetime. The editor was made first for the Commodore 64, then moved onto 16 bit platforms Amiga and ATARI ST afterwards. The Shoot Em Up Construction Kit allows you to design, create and generate your very own shoot 'em up games with the aid of various sub menus pre-built into the program itself using a joystick, keyboard (for inputting text as filename, typing in characters in the title screen editor, or on option shortcuts) spacebar or restore (to exit the editor and return to the menu). It is one of the easiests and best C64 game makers ever! As a bonus, SEUCK came with four example games and also a blank version of the editor where you can start a fresh new game.

Constructing your game can be done by using a set of menus. sprites, objects, background graphics, sound effects (music requires additional custom code), attack waves, player limitations, level settings, play testing (Normal or cheat mode). SEUCK even has its own disk or tape mastering system, where you could save out your standalone finished game then load it from the C64 and share it to all of your friends. Back in the 1990s, UK magazines published games created with SEUCK on their cover tapes which classed as reader games. They appeared on Commodore Format, Commodore Force, Zzap! 64 and Your Commodore. The majority of games created with the "Shoot Em Up Construction Kit" were launched in the public domain. Out of many games creation editors, SEUCK is by far the most easiest games creator for the Commodore 64 and perhaps one of the best game creators at its time. Zzap! 64 even gave it a Gold Medal award after reviewing it in the Christmas issue of 1987. So it is worth checking out.

The limitations

Although you can make fun games with SEUCK. The editor also has its own limitations about what you can or can't do to build your own game. Common pitfalls, are the game engine is very limited or restricted with the number of units available for attack patterns, so they should not be wasted too quickly. On the plus side, it is possible to implement clever tricks using the attack waves. For example a boss sprite is formed of linked enemies and will not explode as a whole set after 15 shots. The down side it it is that you will have to kill a boss by shooting each sprite separately. Despite this kind of drawback, there are fun ways in how to achieve this. You could just allow survival strategy in the game, or code in an all in one explosion routine manually using a cross-assembler, or a machine code monitor (IE The Action Replay Cartridge) after creating your finished game. There's also the waiting time for a level to complete after shooting a boss clean. Another with SEUCK games drawback is having too many sprites on the screen. This will cause the game multiplexer to slow down and/or make sprites disappear at times. There are workarounds to this problem, by simply spreading enemies out more and making less enemies shoot. As well as basic game play, SEUCK can also churn out some quality games productions that really outsmart the SEUCK engine even without programming.

Examples of good Standard SEUCK games:

Linear scrolling: (Games that automatically scroll during gameplay)
Cloud king by Anatomika, the winner of the very first SEUCK Compo, and if it is space blasters you like then why not check out Nucleo 447 (which was later re-branded as Nucleo 448 after enhancements took place.)



Push scrolling: (Games that require push-scrolling during gameplay)
Two clever game ideas implemented using push scrolling: "Pagoda Warrior" a very cute and comical push-scrolling SEUCK adventure which won the SEUCK Compo 2019 (left). For originality "C'Notte D'Knight" by Aldo Chiummo featured a brave Knight climbing up a series of deadly castles. The game looks to be inspired by the classic video game "Crazy Climber".


 

 
The Sideways SEUCK, a leap year treat in 2008

There is also the Sideways Scrolling SEUCK Left V3 by Jon Wells. A superb horizontal scrolling version of the original Shoot Em Up Construction Kit which ironically scrolls from the left of the screen. The sideways scrolling version was made back in 2008. Below you can see a result of a two Sideways Left-Right scrolling SEUCK games. Starting with Zombie Brain Eaters, a fun little Operation Wolf style horror game by Andy/Arkanix Labs involving saving the city from deadly Zombies - before becoming one yourself. There was also a neat "Golden Axe" inspired horizontal arcade adventure "Legion of the Damned 3" by Eleanor Burns which came 3rd place in the 2019 SEUCK Compo.




From scrolling to the right, to scrolling to the left 12 years later

In 2024 Martin Piper modified the Sideways SEUCK Left engine to scroll the correct direction from the right of the screen. Martin created some videos on how he achieved this clever idea on YouTube. No actual new games got developed using this version of Sideways SEUCK until after "River Barrage" (pictured left as the raw Sideways SEUCK version) by Alf Yngve and TND Games got launched, enhanced and released onto the TND web site and itch.io, as well a Zzap! 64 Micro Action magazine (below left raw Sideways SEUCK-Right-Left version, right - SEUCK Redux enhanced version). The first game that used this version of the Sideways SEUCK was launched in the C64 SEUCK Compo 2025, called "4,000 Kung Fu Maniacs - The Twerk of Destiny" (pictured right). An amusing martial arts themed game, where the Master of Awesome and his trainer, The Master of Exposition aimed to go out so that they can watch a music and dance gig at a social club. Unfortunately, they accidentally miss the bus and must take a dangerous alternative route by foot instead.




About the C64 SEUCK Compo

The C64 SEUCK Compo was first launched by Akira, at shmups.com, but eventually passed the gauntlet to TND to host the compo. Since 2009, the C64 SEUCK Compo has been very successful and it has been continuing with its tradition throughout (with gaps in between). In 2021 a long hiatus took place. The competition made a comeback in January 2025 where there were 2 compos. The first competition was the regular competition and the second competition was in September 2025 made to mark the 30th anniversary since my first ever public domain C64 game was released in September 1995. The competition came back by popular demand in early 2025 as members of the C64 community really missed the contest. Now, it was promised that the SEUCK Compo 2026 would take place. I am pleased to announce that the competition has been launched and hopefully better than ever.

Right, that's enough about the introduction of SEUCK and the history of the competition. It is time to for the main competition information.

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The aim of the C64 SEUCK Compo 2026 is to create and develop a full game, with aid of using the Shoot Em Up Construction Kit, Jon Well's adaptation of Sideways Scrolling SEUCK Left, or Martin Piper's  adaptation of Sideways Scrolling SEUCK Right-to-Left. The objective is to make any kind of game genre that you think might stand out in front of the crowd. Your game should have at least one pickup object or have 10,000 points for extra lives enabled. This feature can be reserved for specific in game enhancements such as power ups should the game win the competition. This year the competition is split into Two different categories:

Shoot Em Up Construction Kit



This category is for all games that have been created using the original version of the Shoot Em Up Construction Kit. This is of course the version that scrolls vertically.

and/or

Sideways Scrolling SEUCK




This category is for games created using either Jon Well's adaptation of the SEUCK, which scrolls from the left of the screen to the right or perhaps Martin Piper's version that scrolls from the right of the screen to the left.

Here are some recommendations of what the audience would like to see.


1. Presentation and design (optional)

We know how limited SEUCK is for front end design. However, it would be great to see a front end presentation that contains a logo, rather than a full page with just plain text - I'm not saying it has to be that way, but that is what is preferred. To create a logo, you can use the character editor in the title screen editor to create chars that form a logo. The easiest way would be to use characters that you do not require using the edit character set the option in the edit front end options in the main menu of SEUCK. Then you can manually construct the logo by typing in the character keys which you painted over in the character edito in the front end options. You might want to use the Action Replay Machine Code monitor to change the rolling bar colours if there are colours that you don't want. You may use SEUCK School enhancement tips and Action Replay tips to change colours if you want to, but that is entirely up to you.

There are two good examples for SEUCK title screens below (Left: Strike School by Carl Mason, Right: Valkyrie 2 - The Templar by Eleanor Burns)

 

Front end enhancements are welcome but optional
You are more than welcome make new front ends for your game using additional tools such as my SEUCK Title Screen Maker and make something presentable like a couple of my examples below like I did with "Doom Mine Adventure" and "CETI 22".


That is only if you wish to use those, but bear in mind that enhancements are the main prize for the winner's compo entry and it does not involve using the SEUCK Title Screen Maker.


2. Good quality clean game design, graphics and originality

Game content should stand out well. There should be nice clean graphics, and the sprites should be clear enough to see when playing your game - especially on an old CRT screen on a stock 64. Rendering PC made graphics/models of your own using Paintshop, then converting those to C64 is one good option - providing that it is not AI generated. You could use Charpad V2 or V3 (Tile mode on: No of chars 252, blocks 128, width 5 x height 5 map X8 x Y512) and Spritepad to make your graphics and sprites and then export to SEUCK, but bear in mind that it does not support Sideways SEUCK, you will need to work around this by using Charpad V1.8. Exploring other background and sprite graphics can be quite helpful as well.

Another important factor in your game is the gameplay. Try to blend in some great attack wave patterns for your game. For example if you are making an air combat game or space shooter, try and make accurate formation for grouped enemies that appear on screen. Or if you are making a push scrolling game, try to avoid the player getting stuck in the background all the time. Your game should start at an easy level, and then gradually get hard as you progress through the game. Make use of the level editor wisely, try and add some end of level bosses, if you can. It is the audience you will want to please at the end of the day. Graphics examples: "Flying Cobra" by Alf Yngve (left) consists of plenty of in game air/sea combat and "Road Course" by Shaun Pearson (Right features instant traffic during game plauy.



3. We want to see good shoot 'em ups or if you have any more great ideas

We do love space blasters, but most of the time space blasters have been entered in the C64 SEUCK Compo from time to time only two of those won the competition.  It is always great to come up with some cool new and quite original ideas. For example "Night Raid" by Alf Yngve was created using the Sideways Scrolling SEUCK (2008 version) and was split into two different parts built inside a single game. The game started with a Mercenary prisoner, who attempted to escape from being captured by evil military guards and the second part involved escaping the country inside a helicopter. Secondly in an earlier compo, Shaun Pearson came up with "Barney the Cowfish", a cute horizontal scrolling SEUCK with no shooting involved.



4. Enhancements are welcome but not essential

The C64 SEUCK Compo 2026 is not only open to beginners, or talented SEUCK expert game developers. It is open to programmers who like to enhance their own/friends unreleased SEUCK creations. You are welcome to add some enhancements from the SEUCK School tips (or some of your own ideas) into your games. You are also allowed to add as many enhancements as you like including the Scripting Construction Kit, SEUCK Redux, or general assembly/cross assembly programming. This is not one of the requirements for this competition, but it is a good option to wow the audience. My SEUCK Title Screen Maker is open to those who wish to use it.


Cosmic Combat Deluxe used SEUCK Redux as a little collaboration project with Alf Yngve outside the SEUCK Compo.

5. Consider the overall production

What we would like to see as an overall production that is a full game that is well presented, playable and perhaps original. No unfinished previews and the game should also not be too short. The game graphics should be presentable for the audience. Your game should have levels, with long lasting game play. At least one object which contains a collectible or shootable item (for just in case the game wins power ups) or extra lives enabled for every 10,000 points, a visible score panel (just in case the game wins a title screen complete with hi score table). There should be an end of level boss or bonus stage at the end of each level. The in game sound effects should not use the pre-built sound effects from Blank SEUCK or example SEUCK games that come with the editor. Instead you should experiment with the sliders to make the sound effects which you think would suit your game. Your game should only be in one single part. Multi-part loading games, including intros and ending this time is NOT allowed. Your game can either be for 1 or 2 players.


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In the last compo, the winner was Christian Siege with "Jessica Steel - Bloodmonger". This game won full game enhancements, which included a loading bitmap, a new title screen featuring a hi score table and also a full overhaul of in game enhancements. "Jessica Steel - Bloodmonger" even had some cool power ups like a Three Way Firing system in SEUCK Redux.



The C64 SEUCK Compo 2026 Prize announced:

The SEUCK Compo 2026 winner's game will get full enhancements as a prize and it will be passed to them first before the traditional compo prize pack has been launched on D64 on the TND SEUCK Compo 2026 page before appearing in the SEUCK Prize Package which will be free to download from TND. As there are 2 categories this year, there will be TWO WINNERS. Usually the SEUCK Compo does a runner up prize for second and third place. However, this will be decided on one of the games that reaches second place with the highest score.

Depending on the type of game's compatibility, The prize version of the games will be tested on SEUCK Redux (If suitable) and showed to the winner - if suitable for the platform, SEUCK Redux will be used. Otherwise the prize will be on the standard SEUCK game engine with additional enhancements hand coded by myself. Either way this will include:

- Front end presentation with author's credits and music
- Additional in game enhancements where necessary, inlcuding in game power ups based on pickup/shootable object or after every 10,000 points has been scored
- Possibility of a hi score table for 1 or 2 players (dependant on suitability)
- A full digital disk/tape (D64/TAP) master complete with loading picture by an active C64 graphican.
- You will get to pick the custom tape loader border flash style. The chosen IRQ tape loader systems are either "TapeTool" by Martin Piper, "Tape Master Pro V5" by TND and Martin Piper or "Freeload" by Paulie Hugues.

The prize version of game will be respectably submitted to the game author before including as a release with all entries submitted in the SEUCK compo 2026 prize package.

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Entries for the SEUCK Compo 2026 may be submitted in the following format:

.D64, .TAP, .PRG. You may also submit .VSF or .C64 snapshots from VICE or CCS64. If you do, please state which version you are using.

Your games may be crunched, frozen or submitted or saved from the "Save as finished game" option in the SEUCK menu.

After evaluation your game will be a one-filed crunched game featuring music on the front end. This is to make easier loading and faster running for the audience. If you wish to have no music, please let me know. Most entrants usually love having music installed. If you wish to pick out a SID in my Deepsid/HVSC to be included in your title screen, please let me know - although I prefer to make exclusive tunes.

Before you submit your game. Please make sure you include the following:

Name of game: What is the name of your game?

Author: You can use your real name, or if you prefer, you can use a handle/pseudo name

Musician (if any): If your game already has music added to it, it is wise to credit the musician. Usually most of the time, I tend to make exclusive music and place it on the title screen myself.

Modifications (if any) What enhancements have you added to your game? (If any). Have you or a friend used SEUCK Redux, SEUCK Title Screen Maker, Scripting Construction Kit, etc.?

Also please read the list of general competition rules and terms here

To submit your entry to TND's fun competition

Contact the web master

Remember to remove the -remove spam- command in the email address before you submit.
Emails are regularly checked on a daily basis.

Also in due respect for privacy reasons. Replies about compo results, etc will be sent privately without mail lists, etc. 

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• Maximum number of entries = 3. System specifications preferred is PAL, but NTSC submissions are also accepted. Language should be in English, but that is not mandatory. Category submission quantity does not matter. You may submit 1 for the standard SEUCK, or 2 for Sideways SEUCK (or vice versa) or you could submit 3 to one category. Submitting less than 3 entries is also okay.
  

Your game project needs to be constructed using either Blank SEUCK or the Sideways Scrolling SEUCK (Any version). The game must be a finished full game without separate game parts. Your submission should only contain the game itself. You are welcome to include instructions files (note writers), work files, music and link your game with intros and loading graphics if you want to.

• Your entry must not have been publicly released before submitting to the compo. We do accept entries previewed from YouTube video previews, blogs, social media posts (as screen shots), etc providing that the game is not publicly available for download. You may upload your entry after as it has been uploaded onto the SEUCK compo showcase page.
  

• You are allowed to make sequels to previous SEUCK compo entries or orignal releases providing that you are the original author behind the prequel.
  

• You are allowed to re-use your existing assets from your previous game creations, but your game must be a new creation.
  

• Use of cross-development and native C64 software like Charpad, Spritepad, Goat Tracker, cross platform crunchers, etc. is perfectly okay. Enhancements are also allowed. No use of AI resources, unless it is for crunching.
  

• Your entry must be free to download. No paywalls are allowed during the competition.
  

• As soon as your SEUCK compo entry is submitted and has been uploaded onto the showcase, updates will be not be supplied until at the end of the competition after the results have taken place and the prize package gets developed. This is in order to make the competition fair for other developers while it is in progress.
  

• You may not use commercial copyrighted resources such as TV shows, films, video ganes, etc. Also use of Public figures, i.e. Politicians, Celebrities, etc are not allowed.
  
  You must not use existing assets ripped from commercial C64 games or that was provided with the Shoot Em Up Construction Kit or Sideways SEUCK. In game sound effects need to be made by yourself. Avoid using the sound that already exists in existing SEUCK games.
  

• Do not ask the organizer for enhancement code. If you want to use it, please refer to the SEUCK School tips or use any of the existing SEUCK enhancement resources.

• No explicit adult content, hate speech messages, use of politics, abusively bad behaviour allowed. Swearing is also forbidden.
  

• The compo organizer is also allowed to submit games to the competition. But the same rules above apply.

• Have loads of fun, enjoy making your compo entry and I wish you all good luck!

  All competition entries will be evaluated before they are released into the competition. Entries that do not comply to the rules above will subject to not qualifying in the competition and will also be notified with reason.


- Last submission date for your competition entry is 31st December 2026

- Voting will commence on 1st January 2027 until 31st January 2027.

During the voting phase all entries will be reviewed on the three categories:

1. Design
2. Playability
3. Originality

- Results will take place on 1st February 2027. The winner's game will be enhanced and released along with the free digital D64 / TAP compo prize package some time in March/April 2027.

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Sideways SEUCK Compo 2010

The official Sideways Scrolling SEUCK Compo, which I ran in 2010.

Also features:
POUR LE MERITE by BAMSE
(Compo winner)



Standard SEUCK Compo 2010

The official Vertical Scrolling SEUCK compo, which I ran in 2010

Also features:
THE MAGE by Gaetano Chiummo
(Compo winner)

Sideways SEUCK Compo 2011

After the success of the last Sideways SEUCK Compo in 2010, I did it again with yet another sideways SEUCK Compo in 2011. Which was yet again, another successful competition.

Also features:
FORGOTTEN FOREST by Alf Yngve
(Compo winner)



SEUCK Compo 2013

After a long break in 2012, with not so much going on ;)... This competition started as a mixed SEUCK compo, and was quite a success. Catering for both normal, and sideways scrolling versions of SEUCK.

Also features:
SHEER EARTH ATTACK by Gaetano Chiummo
(Compo winner)


SEUCK Compo 2014

The second mixed SEUCK Compo which was launched in 2014.

Also features:
DOUBLE OR NOTHING by Alf Yngve
(Compo Winner)


SEUCK Compo 2015

Another quite successful mixed SEUCK Compo 2015. Despite having to increase the deadline now and then for submissions.

Also features:
ABYSSONAUT  by Ant Stiller
(Compo Winner)


Sideways SEUCK Compo 2015

A mini SEUCK compo, which catered for only the sideways scrolling SEUCK compo.

Also features:

RETRO RETO PAN by Errazking
(Compo winner)


SEUCK Compo 2016

A very successful mixed SEUCK Compo 2016, which also ran over to start of the year 2017. Some real stunning entries also.

Also features:
BORDER BLAST 3 by Alf Yngve
(Compo Winner - Back to Basics)


The Spanish SEUCK Compo 2017

Run by Errazking, which I stepped down for a year or so for a break. Features a whole lot of new SEUCK compo entries and also catered for other systems as well as the Commodore 64. Some nice games, some pretty old ones as well. (Downloads are no longer available on the current web site, so I have a download to my prize package that I developed after the competition ended. You can grab the compilation by clicking on the picture below:

Also features:
Delta Run by TND Games




Also features:
VALKYRIE 2 - The Templar by Eleanor Burns - The Winner of Spanish SEUCK Compo 2017 :)


SEUCK Compo 2018

A themed based Shoot 'Em Up competition based on futuristic blasters and also fantasy.

Also features:
VALKYRIE 3 - The Night Witch by Eleanor Burns
(Compo Winner)


SEUCK Compo 2019

A great SEUCK game creation compo which was run last year. It featured some excellent game titles mostly made from the standard SEUCK. There were a couple of Sideways Scrolling SEUCK entries also. The C64 SEUCK Compo 2019 was the most successful competition in the SEUCK category of all time.

Also features:
Fulgur by Alf Yngve
(Second runner up)


SEUCK Compo 2020

A good SEUCK game creation compo which was run last year. It featured some decent game titles mostly made from the standard SEUCK. There were a couple of Sideways Scrolling SEUCK entries also a true winner: Synthia in the Cyber Crypt by Eleanor Burns




SEUCK Compo 2021

A good SEUCK game creation compo which was run in 2021 before I temporarily retired from the competition as host. It featured some great game titles made by common entrants, the top three were Space Eggs, Roboform-X and the winning entry Drod Rumble. Awesome stuff!



SEUCK Compo 2025

The earlier C64 SEUCK compo, containing quality games made exclusively for the competition. The competition reached a record of 14 entries submitted to the competition, which was well and truly amazing (and much appreciated). The top three games were Thunderbird, Captain Ishtar Begins and the excellent Star Skimmer, which won first place. Wowee. Amazing!




SEUCK Compo 2025- Part 2

The second  C64 SEUCK compo in 2025, containing quality games made exclusively for the competition. The competition reached 13 entries submitted to the competition, which was well and truly amazing (and much appreciated). The top three games were Gall Blazer (ironically), Bubble Duck (Pictured below) and Jessica Steel-Bloodmonger carried the gold medal in the competition



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