In Amiga New Wave, BastichB 64K teams up with co-host Judge Drok to spotlight a brand-new Amiga conversion of Track’N’Field, the 1983 Konami arcade juggernaut. Thanks to modern developer JOTD666 (Jean-François Fabre), Amiga Track’N’Field finally exists—and it’s more than a simple port. It’s a full-circle tribute to the golden age of button-mashing mayhem and joystick-snapping competitions.
While earlier home versions of Track’N’Field often fell short, this release proves the Amiga was always capable of arcade perfection—it just took someone passionate (and a little brave) enough to do it justice. Through an insightful interview, JOTD666 shares his process, his tools, and his love for the original game. It’s clear this isn’t just code—this is his childhood revisited, pixel by pixel.
Bringing the Arcade Back
JOTD’s development process involves transcoding, a technique that allows him to faithfully replicate the original game logic. Unlike remakes that reinterpret the gameplay, transcoding keeps the heart of the arcade alive. Track’N’Field’s six grueling events—ranging from 100-meter sprints to hammer throws—demand that same raw speed and timing that arcade fans remember (and that likely destroyed a few joysticks in the ‘80s).
Even though the current release is marked as beta, it plays like a finished title. JOTD believes in the value of player feedback during development. It’s a community-first approach that results in not only higher quality, but also a strong sense of shared nostalgia.
A Dev with a Mission
JOTD’s itch.io library reads like an arcade hall of fame. From Karate Champ to Gyruss and Pengo, his passion projects have become definitive versions for Amiga users worldwide. He chooses games he personally played in arcades—because for him, it’s about memory as much as mastery. That’s why Amiga Track’N’Field hits differently. It’s not just a game—it’s a return to youth, now delivered with 2025’s precision.
What’s Next?
The future looks exciting. JOTD teases upcoming conversions like Hyper Sports, Double Dragon, and Jailbreak. His methodical approach means these titles aren’t just wishful thinking—they’re real possibilities. And with each one, the Amiga gets closer to becoming the arcade platform it always deserved to be.
