• Tag Archives computer games
  • Computer & Video Games (March 1984)

    Source: Computer & Video Games – Issue Number 29 – March 1984

    Computer & Video Games was one of the earliest and longest running gaming magazines. It was published in the U.K. and it covered a wide variety of console and computer formats over the years. The March 1984 issue includes:

    News & Reviews

    • Games News – New and upcoming game releases include a realistic adventure game called Ground Zero that recreates nuclear holocaust in London Suburbs; a game in which you harvest beer and cheese called Hard Cheese for the Spectrum; an arcade style game called Silicon is set inside an arcade game for the BBC; an adventure game called Wax Works for the BBC; a game featuring a cave man called Flak for the BBC; a sequel to Laser Zone called Hell-Gate for the VIC-20; a new adventure from Infocom for the Apple II called Suspended; a new arcade game by Exidy called Crossbow in which you must protect a party of travelers with a crossbow; and much more.
    • Reviews – Revenge of the Mutant Camels by Llamasoft and Jeff Minter for the Commodore 64; the classic Shamus for the Atari 8-bit; Falcon Patrol for the Commodore 64; Demon Attack for the VIC-20; River Raid for the Atari 8-bit; Diablo for the TI-99/4A – a puzzle game so probably not an older version of the game you are probably thinking of; Birds of Prey, a poor Galaxians clone for the Electron; Pinball, a pinball game in which you can create your own tables for the BBC; Pinball, same name but different game for the Dragon 32; Pinball Construction Set for the Atari 400/800 – the best of its type in those days; Pinball Wizard, yet another pinball game this time for the VIC-20; and more.
    • Arcade Action – A look at some of the latest arcade games including Major Havoc (Atari), Track and Field, Marvins Maze (SNK), X’s and O’s (a pinball game), and more.
    • Video-Gaming – The latest in video game news including: Coleco licenses Dragon’s Lair for the ColecoVision; Imagic drops out of the publishing business but will continue to sell games to other publishers; and the arcade game Gyruss from Taito will be converted for the Atari VCS and ColecoVision. Plus, an overview of Donkey Kong as well a its many conversions and imitators; Activision releases Beam Rider for the Intellivision; Imagic releases Fathom for the Atari VCS; Dig Dug gets a conversion for the Atari VCS; and more.

    Listings

    • Airstrike – A type-in kill the aliens game for the TI-99/4A.
    • Treachery – A type-in game for the Spectrum featuring a Mandroid, mind bomb, amnesia, MI6, the KGB and more.
    • Wall Defence – A type-in game for the Atari 400/800 in which you must prevent invaders from climbing your castle walls.
    • 3D Maze – A type-in maze game for the Spectrum.
    • Gold Prospector – A type-in run and jump game for the Dragon 32 in which you must retrieve gold from treacherous mines.
    • Slot Machine – A type-in slot machine simulator for the Sharp MZ80k.
    • Lost in the Jungle – A type-in game (or at least part of one…you’ll need previous issues for the others) for the Sharp MZ80k that sounds like a take on Pitfall or Jungle Hunt.
    • Entrapment – A type-in game for the BBC that is similar to the Tron light cycles game.

    Features

    • Mailbag – Mail from readers about converting certain commands from the Apple II and Spectrum to the Commodore 64 and Sharp MZ80, the reliability of the Sharp MZ80B, hints and tips, the Oric-I, Manic Miner, ZX81 repairs, games for the VIC-20, and more.
    • Hall of Fame – high scores from readers for Jet Pac, Manic Miner, Parsec, The Pyramid, and Planettoids.
    • Charts – The top games for variou systems. Topping the carts this month include Atic Atac (Spectrum, Krazy Kong (ZX-81), Wizard and Princess (VIC-20), Pole Position (Atari 400/800), The Hobbit (Commodore 64), Pettigrew’s Diary (Dragon 32), and The Hobbit (BBC B).
    • Light on the Horizon – A look at laser disc gaming (especially Dragon’s Lair) and the future of laser discs.
    • Bug Hunter Special – Hints for tracking down bugs in games (or other programs).
    • Program Extra – Short programming tricks plus fixes and enhancements to previously published type-in programs.
    • Adventure – A brief look at some of the latest adventure games including The Oracle’s Cave for the Spectrum, Middle Kingdom for the BBC, Dodge City for the Spectrum, Urban Upstart for the Spectrum, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain Spectrum, Keys of the Wizard for the Dragon 32, and more.

    …and more!


  • Computer Gaming World (August 1986)

    Source: Computer Gaming World – Issue Number 30 – August 1986

    Computer Gaming World was the first major computer games magazine in the U.S. It was published for many years, eventually morphing into Games for Windows and dying not long after that. In its early days, it covered computers of all types. The August 1986 issue includes:

    Features

    • American Dream – Review of a management simulation in which you are the CEO of a robot manufacturing company.
    • Phantasie II – Review of this RPG from SSI for the Apple II and Commodore 64. The mechanics of the Phantasie games are a sort of rudimentary predecessor to the AD&D Gold Box games that would come later.
    • Industry Update – An overview of the June Consumer Electronics Show. Some new products shown and/or announced include Accolade’s Ace of Aces, Electronic Art’s multiple new titles including Thomas M. Disch’s Amnesia, Battlefront, Chessmaster 2000, Murder Party, Ogre, Mind Mirror, Scavenger Hunt, Bard’s Tale II, Autoduel, Ultimate Wizard, Business Simulator, Ultima III and others. Plus releases from a new company called Cinemaware and more.
    • The Kobayashi Alternative Revisited – A look at a still buggy new revision of Star Trek: The Kobayashi Alternative with some tips on how to avoid the bugs.

    Departments

    • Sports Scoreboard – A look at some of the latest sports games including GBA Championship Basketball, Bop ‘N Wrestle, an add-on disk for Leader Board as well as Avalon Hill’s Tournament Golf and Micro League Baseball.
    • Amiga Preferences – A brief look at new games for the Amiga including Mynd Walker, Mastertype, Rogue, and The Temple of Apshai Trilogy.
    • Commodore Key – A brief look at the latest Commodore 64 game related releases including Garry Kitchen’s Game Maker, Elite, Colossus, Booty & Cylu, Willow Pattern & Chimera, Gerry the Germ & Microcosm, Runestone & The Helm, Sabre Wulf & Underwurlde, Rasputin & Chicken Chase, Battle of Britain & Battle for Midway, Brian Bloodaxe, Revelation, Quovadis, Spell of Destruction, and lots more. Also noted is the fact that the Commodore 64 has sold more than any other home computer at this point at 3.5 million units.
    • Macintosh Window – A look at the latest entertainment releases for the Macintosh including Orbiter from Spectrum Holobyte and Flight Simulator.
    • Atari Playfield – A look at the latest Atari computer games including Silent Service and Starfleet I.
    • Over There! – A column with some of the latest news out of England. Games mentioned here include Way of the Tiger, Uridium, a Commodore 128 version of The Rocky Horror Show, Jet Set Willy 2, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, The Hunt for Red October, Knight Games, and more. Plus games for the C16 and Plus/4.
    • Game Ratings – Ratings of the top 100 games by readers separated into “Strategy” and “Adventure/Action” categories. At the top of the Strategy list is Kampfgruppe and at the top of the Adventure/Action list is Ultima IV.

    …and more!


  • Computer Gaming World (September 1989)

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    Source: Computer Gaming World – Issue Number 63 – September 1989

    I think without a doubt that Computer Gaming World was the best PC games magazine. In 1989 they were still covering other computer systems and the magazine was only at 50 pages but it would reach it’s peak in the 1990s with the development of the 3D accelerator and the subsequent explosion of PC gaming. There were some truly massive issues then. The September 1989 issue includes:

    Features

    • SSI’s “Curse of the Azure Bonds” – Scorpia Explores Another “Forgotten Realm”
    • Epyx’s “The Omicron Conspiracy” – “We’d Tell You More, But…”
    • SSI’s “Hillsfar” – “It Takes A Thief” To Be The Best
    • The Sounds of Silicon – CGW’s Test Lab Explores IBM Sound Boards
    • “Chessmaster 211” vs. “Sargon 4” – Software Toolworks and Spinnaker Face-Off
    • It’s A “Grand [Old] Fleet” – SimCan’s World War I Naval Combat Game
    • SSI’s “Red Lightning” Strikes Twice – Modern Warfare on the ST and IBM
    • Here Comes the “Fire King” – SSG’s Action/Role-Playing Game
    • How to Plan for a Long “Journey” – Game Hints from Abroad
    • Star Saga Two: The Clathran Menace – Masterplay’s New Adventure Game
    • Linking Up for “Tournament Golf” – Playing a “Mean[er] 18”
    • Hints for Infocom’s “Arthur” – Scorpion’s Tale Offers “Roundtable” Discussion
    • “Name The Game” Contest – Win A Free 3-Year CGW Subscription

    Departments

    • Letters from Paradise
    • Taking A Peek
    • Conversions Received
    • Rumor Bag
    • Inside The Industry
    • Game Ratings
    • CGW Hall of Fame
    • Reader Input Device

    …and more!