Electronic Games (August 1982)

Electronic Games is really the father of all video game magazines. While there was a video game magazine or two that were published shortly before Electronic Games, I don’t think there are any the predate the column that spawned Electronic Games. The August 1982 issue includes:

Switch On! – This editorial ponders whether or not the golden age of gaming was at hand.

Electronic Games Hotline – News from the gaming world, including Pac-Man’s huge Atari 2600 sales (despite it being a less than stellar conversion); Apollo releases four new games for the 2600; a new game for the Odyssey2; new high score records are set for Asteroids, Asteroids Deluxe, Centipede and Tempest; and more.

Readers Replay – Letters from readers including question about Epyx; using a monitor with video game systems; where to find a Channel F; Tempest strategies; where to get games for the IBM PC; and more.

Q&A – Questions answered by The Game Doctor, including questions about joystick extension cords; arcade games coming to the Atari 2600; the keyboard for the Intellivision; video game advertising; and more.

Test Lab – A detailed look at Commodore’s VIC-20, arguably the best games machine of the era.

Arcading Italian Style – A look at the arcade scene at various Italian locations.

Joystick Jury – Various opinions on what makes a great video game.

Computer Graphics Energize Tron – A behind the scenes look at how computer graphics were used in Tron.

Exploding the Arcade Myths – Debunking various myths surrounding arcades, including the belief that they are filled with drugs and alcohol, bikes and skateboards are hazards on the streets in front of arcades, there are unhealthy levels of competition in arcades, arcades make kids skip school, arcades are gambling houses, and more.

Passport to Adventure – This month’s adventure gaming column features Ali Baba for the Atari 400/800.

Programmable Parade – Reviews of video games including: the Great Wall Street Fortune Hunt for the Odyssey/Odyssey2, Cosmic Swarm for the VCS, Star Voyager for the VCS, Demon Attack for the VCS, Snafu for the Intellivision

The Players Guide to the New Coin-Ops – A guide to Zaxxon, Bosconian, Robotron, Berzerk, Ms. Pac-Man, Take the Money and Run, Dodge ‘Em, and more.

Insert Coin Here – A look at new arcade games Thief, Bosconian and Looping.

Video Pinball! – A look at video pinball and pinball-like games including Raster-Blaster (Apple II), Thunderball (Odyseey2), Atari’s Video Pinball, David’s Midnight Magic, Night Mission Pinball, Zero Gravity Pinball, and more.

Coin-Op Classroom – A strategy guide for Defender.

Strategy Session – A strategy guide for Activision’s Stampede on the Atari VCS.

Arcade America – A look at the Star Fleet Command arcade in Mountain View, California.

New Products – New products this month include video game bumper stickers, a Pac-Man Puzzle and Pac-Man card game (ultimately there was Pac-Man just about everything), a video game cart, the Teledapter for piping video game audio through your stereo, and more.

Mini-Arcade Gallery – Reviews of standalone handheld games including Cosmic Hunter, Phaser Strike, Connect Four, and Bowling.

Games Library – Reviews of gaming related books including The Electronic Cottage, Score!, and How to Master Home Video Games.

Computer Playland – Reviews of computer games including Nite Flyer (Atari 400/800), Congo (Apple II), Peeping Tom (Apple II), and Ruskii Duck (Apple II).