• Tag Archives Computer Gaming World

  • Computer Gaming World (March 1991)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Computer Gaming World was the best computer gaming magazine for the years it was around (which was quite a few). It covered games on a variety of computers over the years, not just IBM PC Compatibles. It eventually became Games for Windows and though the content was much the same, it didn’t survive for long in that form. The March 1991 issue of Computer Gaming World includes:

    Feature

    • Access’ Hot Links – A detailed look at Links from Access, the successor to World Class Leaderboard.
    • Coming Attractions in Computer Games – A report from the Winter Consumer Electronics Show.
    • Taming The Savage Empire – A look at Origin’s The Savage Empire, a spin-off of the Ultima series.
    • Caveat Imperator – A review of Imperium from Electronic Arts. A strategy game in which you try to take over the universe.
    • Good Nukes, Tonight! – Part two of a play through of Command HQ.
    • Great Exploitations – A review of Full Metal Planet from Data East. This game is based on a sci-fi strategy board game from France.
    • Breeding Grounds of the Proud Dragon Lord – A review of Dragon Lord, a strategy/role-playing game from Cinemaware.
    • Fly Me To Barsoom – A review of Space 1889 from Paragon. This is a retro-futuristic role-playing game in which you explore space in the Victorian era.
    • The Buzz on Magic Fly – A review of Magic Fly from Electronic Arts.
    • Name that Tomb – A review of a shareware game called Pharaoh’s Tomb.

    Dapartments

    • Taking A Peek – A brief look at upcoming games including Powermonger, Design Your Own Railroa, Dark Spyre, Final Orbit, Chaos Strikes Back, The Land of the Rings, and more.
    • The Rumor Bag – Rumors about Sid Meier’s next game, Civilization, Battletech on the Super NES, and more.
    • Game Ratings – A list of the top 100 games based on magazine rating. Coming in at the top of the list is Wing Commander.
    • Hall of Fame – A list of the very best games as chosen by readers. Some games on this list include Bard’s Tale I, Might & Magic, Pirates, Starflight, Ultima III, Ultima IV, Wizardry, M.U.L.E., and more.
    • Scorpion’s Tale – A guide to Spellcasting 101.
    • Scorpion’s View – An opinion on King’s Quest V from Sierra.
    • Editorial – Reviews vs. opinions in Computer Gaming World.

    …and more!


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  • Computer Gaming World (January 1990)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Computer Gaming World – Issue Number 67 – January 1990

    Computer Gaming World was, overall, the best computer gaming magazine out there. In it’s later days it became Games For Windows. Though it still maintained its quality for the most part, it didn’t last very long after that. The January 1990 issue of Computer Gaming World includes:

    Features

    • Digital Dogfights in ‘Air Warrior’ – A review of Air Warrior, an online World War I air combat game that could be played via GEnie via an IBM PC, Amiga, Atari ST, or Macintosh. This was a game ahead of its time.
    • Microprose’s ‘Sword of the Samurai’ – A review of Sword of the Samurai for the PC. This is a strategy game set in feudal Japan.
    • Hero Wanted: Inquire Within – Hints for the game Hero’s Quest from Sierra for the PC.
    • Who Ya’ Gonna’ Boot? – A review of Ghostbusters II for the IBM PC (Commodore 64 version listed as coming soon). This was a sequel game based on a sequel movie. While the original Ghostbusters game was an absolute classic, this one was a bit of a letdown.
    • Spartans in Spitfires – A review of Their Finest Hour, a Battle of Britain simulation for the PC (Amiga and ATari ST versions listed as coming soon).
    • Heart of Darkness – A review of The Dark Heart of Uukrul from Broderbund for the Apple II. This was a fantasy RPG.
    • ‘Popcorn Not Inclued II’ – A review of Mean Streets from Access for the PC.
    • Hitler’s Navy – A review of Kriegsmarine, a World War II naval simulator for the IBM PC (Amiga, Apple II, and Atari ST versions also available).
    • Sierra’s ‘Hoyle’s Official Book of Games’ – A review of Hoyle’s Book of Games: Volume I from Sierra for the PC. This package includes a variety of card games that can be played alone or with others.
    • ‘Blitzkrieg at the Ardennes’ – A review of this game for the Amiga. This is a turn-based World War II strategy game.
    • Nobody Does It Better – A review of License to Kill for the IBM PC (Amiga, Atari ST, and Commodore 64 versions listed as planned). This game is based on the James Bond movie of the same name.
    • The Psychology of Computer Games – Two statistical psychologists look at the psychology of computer games based on statistics from Computer Gaming World.
    • Origin’s/CGW’s ‘Omega’ Tournament – An ongoing monthly tournament featuring Origin’s Omega. This was a game in which you could create automated futuristic tanks that could battle tanks that others created.
    • The Secret History of ‘Sword of the Samurai’ – A look at the history and creation of Sword of the Samurai.

    Departments

    • Editorial – A look at the state of the industry and of the magazine from a new editor.
    • Taking a Peek – A brief look at upcoming games including The Blue Angels, Hardball II, Dethtrack, The Manhole, Playmaker Football, and Pocket Rockets.
    • Rumor Bag – Rumors about Epyx bankruptcy and what’s to come of some of their products. Plus a future Cinemaware WWI game, modem play on the next Leisure Suit Larry, and more.
    • Over There – A look at new games released in the U.K. including Betrayal, Blade Warrior, Final Battle, and others.
    • Inside The Industry – The latest gaming related news including Nintendo practices being referred to the Justice Department, Software Toolworks acquiring Mindscape, and more.
    • Letters From Paradise – Letters from readers about Sargon 4, multi-system coverage (or the lack thereof), and more.

    …and more!


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  • Computer Gaming World (June 1992)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Computer Gaming World – Issue Number 95 – June 1992

    Computer Gaming World was my favorite computer gaming magazine and a very long running one. The first issue was published in 1981 and in 2006 it was bought by Microsoft and turned into Games for Windows. Despite this, it kept much of the same format and staff as before so it continued to be a good magazine it just didn’t survive much longer. The June 1992 issue includes:

    Features

    • Laura Bow and Daggers, II – A sneak preview of The Dagger of Amon Ra, an adventure game from Sierra that is a sequel to The Colonel’s Bequest.

    • The Holy Grail of the Mass Market – Coverage of the Spring Symposium of the Software Publishers Association including discussion of various ways computer software will become mass market product.

    • How I Spent My Working Vacation – Some observations about computers and computer gaming in Japan and China. Some observations include: Not very many Japanese homes have computers despite perceptions to the contrary – the NEC 9801 was one of the more popular machines there at the time and dedicated word processors were more common. American games have had mixed results in Japan with, for example, Sim City being very popular and Sim Earth not so much. Taiwan has more personal computer penetration into the home market than Japan though games do not sell particularly well.

    • Electronic Arts’ Populous II – A review of Populous II for the Amiga. I played Populous on the Super NES but I don’t believe I ever played Populous II.

    • It Takes a Genus – A review of a game collection called GX Games that includes Apples & Oranges, Mind Plus, Space Miner, Puzzler and Black Jack. What is interesting about it is that it includes source code for all of the games.

    • Seven CDs of Gold – Coverage of the Seventh International Conference and Exposition on Multimedia and CD-ROM. Sony introduced the CD-ROM XA player which was a portable DOS based machine with 640K of RAM and 320×200 256 color display that supported multimedia applications. By the time I got my first “PC” a little over a year after this issue was published, CD-ROM drives were starting to become common.

    • Paragon Software’s Twilight: 2000 – Review of this post-apocalyptic (post World War III) game set in the year 2000 for DOS based on the pencil and paper game of the same name.

    • That’s Edutainment – An overview of several “edutainment” titles including Designasaurus II, SimEarth, EcoSaurus, Balance of the Planet, The Secret Codes of C.Y.P.H.E.R., Whales!, Grizzly Bears, Audubon Wildlife Adventure, and others.

    • Celtic Perceptions – A review of Celtic Legends, a fantasy based war game from UbiSoft for the Amiga.

    • Evil-Minded Professor – A review of Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective, a CD based adventure game for the CDTV, DOS, Macintosh, TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM, and FM Towns.

    • New Anchors for Uncharted Waters – A strategy guide for Uncharted Waters that includes coordinates of various ports, notes on them, available goods, etc.

    • Maskirovka or Perestroika? – A preview of Crisis in the Kremlin from Spectrum Holobyte for DOS.

    • The CGW Stock Watch – A look at how various gaming related stocks were doing at the time including Sierra, Electronic Arts, MicroProse, Broderbund, and others.

    • Do You Hear What I Hear? – On overview of the various sound cards on the market at the time including the Roland LAPC-1, Roland CM-32L, Soundblaster (Creative Labs), Thunderboard (MediaVision), Sound Master II (Covox), Pro-Audio Spectrum (MediaVision), Sound Blaster Pro (Creative Labs), Ad Lib, Ad Lib Gold 1000, Ad Lib Gold 2000, and others.

    • Abstracts on Computer Game Design – A look at articles 4.6, 5.1, and 5.4 of The Journal of Computer Game Design. Some topics include computer games vs. video games, the perils of Hollywood thinking, and the myth of the mass market.

    • Sedan Soccer – A review of Wild Wheels from Ocean for the Amiga and DOS. It’s sort of a soccer game played with cars.

    • A Conversation With Raymond E. Feist – Raymond E. Feist talks about the upcoming computer game based on his Riftwar fantasy saga.

    • Sentimental Strategy – A preview of Solitaire’s Journey. This game consists of 105 different solitaire games but to make things more interesting it combines these games into different campaigns including a ‘quest’ and a ‘journey’.

    • On Becoming a More Perfect General – A strategy guide for the World War II Scenario Disk for The Perfect General.

    • Getting More Action Out of Action Stations! – A review of Action Stations! Scenario, an add on for Action Stations! which is a naval surface combat simulator for the Amiga and DOS. This expansion adds historical battles, hypothetical battles, alternate universe battles, as well as additional utilities and more.

    • No Nonsense From Napoleon – Strategies and tactics for L’Empereur from KOEI.

    • A Rambling ‘Mech from BattleTech – A preview of GEnie’s multi-player BattleTech game. This was a MechWarrior style game that could be played via GEnie’s online service.

    • Paiktography of Modern Warfare – A list of wargames along with a brief description and review. These games cover “modern” combat eras from Korea to sci-fi (1950-2000).

    • He Said, She Said – A review of Birds of Prey for the Amiga, a combat flight simulator featuring various aircraft.


    Table of Contents from the June 1992 issue of Computer Gaming World (continued)

    Departments

    • Taking a Peek – A brief look at new and upcoming games including Solid State Pinball Tristan, Computer Third Reich, Just Grandma and Me, FernGully: The Last Rain Forest, Virtual Reality Studio, Black Crypt, Planet’s Edge, Spectre, Thunderhawk, and others.

    • Rumors – New Spellcasting game, Task Force 1942 from MicroProse, Eric the Unready, Sega CD-ROM upcoming U.S. launch, Quest for Glory 3, and more.

    • Once Upon a Time (Computer Game History) – A look at past games including Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord and the games it influenced.

    • Scorpion’s View (Magic Candle II) – Commentary on Magic Candle II, a computer fantasy role-playing game that is of course the sequel to the original Magic Candle.

    • Scorpion’s Mail (Game Hints) – Hints for Eye of the Beholder, Eye of the Beholder II, Secret of Monkey Island II, Might & Magic III, Bane of the Cosmic Forge, Spellcasting 201, Elvira II, and Willy Beamish.

    • Over There (European Games Report) – A look at recent games published in Europe including Armour-Geddon (Psygnosis), Hill Street Blues (Krisills), Air Bucks (Impressions), Crime City (Impressions), and more.

    • PC Research/SPA Top Games – Various lists of top games. The Top DOS game was Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, the top Amiga game was Team Suzuki, the top Macintosh game was Flight Simulator, the top education title was Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?. At the top of the EAD Top 25 list was AD&D: Eye of the Beholder II: Legend of Darkmoon.

    • Editorial – A look at Sierra’s vision for online gaming, virtual reality, and the state of Computer Gaming World.

    …and more!


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