Wade-Memoir

Wade Clarke's memoir of growing up writing games for the Apple II

THE ANCIENT ART OF PIRATED DISK LABEL ILLUSTRATION

As a kid, I obtained many Apple II games by copying 5.25-inch floppy disks. I liked to illustrate the labels of the copied floppies using pen and/or texta, sometimes reproducing a game's logo and sometimes coming up with my own design. I had one friend who emulated me in doing this kind of thing but otherwise I never met or saw anyone else doing it.

For some games that spanned multiple disks, I also drew covers for disk boxes.

On this page is a gallery showing a few of my disk box pics and 30 of my label designs. The label pics come in pairs: first an image of the whole floppy, then a closeup of its label. Click any thumbnail to enter the lightbox gallery.

Notes: I know I spelled Dilemma incorrectly. I was a kid. Second, Interplanetary Spy is not a commercial game. My friend and I started to make it based on the books.

  • Moebius
    Moebius
    Moebius
  • Ultima IV front
    Ultima IV front
    Ultima IV front
  • Ultima IV back
    Ultima IV back
    Ultima IV back
  • Gremlins
    Gremlins
    Gremlins
  • Gremlins
    Gremlins
    Gremlins
  • Situation Critical
    Situation Critical
    Situation Critical
  • Situation Critical
    Situation Critical
    Situation Critical
  • Xevious & Lost Tomb
    Xevious & Lost Tomb
    Xevious & Lost Tomb
  • Xevious & Lost Tomb
    Xevious & Lost Tomb
    Xevious & Lost Tomb
  • Lady Tut
    Lady Tut
    Lady Tut
  • Lady Tut
    Lady Tut
    Lady Tut
  • Mr. Do!
    Mr. Do!
    Mr. Do!
  • Mr. Do!
    Mr. Do!
    Mr. Do!
  • Ultima III Exodus
    Ultima III Exodus
    Ultima III Exodus
  • Ultima III Exodus
    Ultima III Exodus
    Ultima III Exodus
  • The Hunt For Red October
    The Hunt For Red October
    The Hunt For Red October
  • The Hunt For Red October
    The Hunt For Red October
    The Hunt For Red October
  • Rampage
    Rampage
    Rampage
  • Rampage
    Rampage
    Rampage
  • Commando
    Commando
    Commando
  • Commando
    Commando
    Commando
  • Sundog Frozen Legacy
    Sundog Frozen Legacy
    Sundog Frozen Legacy
  • Sundog Frozen Legacy
    Sundog Frozen Legacy
    Sundog Frozen Legacy
  • Dilemma
    Dilemma
    Dilemma
  • Dilemma
    Dilemma
    Dilemma
  • California Games
    California Games
    California Games
  • California Games
    California Games
    California Games
  • Fantavision
    Fantavision
    Fantavision
  • Fantavision
    Fantavision
    Fantavision
  • G.I. Joe
    G.I. Joe
    G.I. Joe
  • G.I. Joe
    G.I. Joe
    G.I. Joe
  • Interplanetary Spy The Game
    Interplanetary Spy The Game
    Interplanetary Spy The Game
  • Interplanetary Spy The Game
    Interplanetary Spy The Game
    Interplanetary Spy The Game
  • Serpentine
    Serpentine
    Serpentine
  • Serpentine
    Serpentine
    Serpentine
  • Boulder Dash II
    Boulder Dash II
    Boulder Dash II
  • Boulder Dash II
    Boulder Dash II
    Boulder Dash II
  • Karateka
    Karateka
    Karateka
  • Karateka
    Karateka
    Karateka
  • Spy vs. Spy I and II
    Spy vs. Spy I and II
    Spy vs. Spy I and II
  • Spy vs. Spy I and II
    Spy vs. Spy I and II
    Spy vs. Spy I and II
  • Ultima IV – Boot & Britannia
    Ultima IV – Boot & Britannia
    Ultima IV – Boot & Britannia
  • Ultima IV – Boot & Britannia
    Ultima IV – Boot & Britannia
    Ultima IV – Boot & Britannia
  • Ultima IV – Town & Underworld
    Ultima IV – Town & Underworld
    Ultima IV – Town & Underworld
  • Ultima IV – Town & Underworld
    Ultima IV – Town & Underworld
    Ultima IV – Town & Underworld
  • Super Zaxxon
    Super Zaxxon
    Super Zaxxon
  • Super Zaxxon
    Super Zaxxon
    Super Zaxxon
  • Masquerade (two sides)
    Masquerade (two sides)
    Masquerade (two sides)
  • Masquerade (two sides)
    Masquerade (two sides)
    Masquerade (two sides)
  • The Goonies
    The Goonies
    The Goonies
  • The Goonies
    The Goonies
    The Goonies
  • Test Drive
    Test Drive
    Test Drive
  • Test Drive
    Test Drive
    Test Drive
  • Wishbringer
    Wishbringer
    Wishbringer
  • Wishbringer
    Wishbringer
    Wishbringer
  • Autoduel (two sides)
    Autoduel (two sides)
    Autoduel (two sides)
  • Autoduel (two sides)
    Autoduel (two sides)
    Autoduel (two sides)
  • Death Sword
    Death Sword
    Death Sword
  • Death Sword
    Death Sword
    Death Sword
  • Captain Goodnight – Boot
    Captain Goodnight – Boot
    Captain Goodnight – Boot
  • Captain Goodnight – Boot
    Captain Goodnight – Boot
    Captain Goodnight – Boot
  • Captain Goodnight – Game
    Captain Goodnight – Game
    Captain Goodnight – Game
  • Captain Goodnight – Game
    Captain Goodnight – Game
    Captain Goodnight – Game