• Tag Archives retrogaming

  • Advanced Computer Entertainment (October 1989)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Advanced Computer Entertainment – Issue Number 25 – October 1989

    Advanced Computer Entertainment, or ACE for short, was published in the U.K. and mostly covered computer games but also covered console games to some degree. In late 1989 that included the Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Sinclair Spectrum, PC (DOS), Nintendo (NES), and the Sega Master System. The October 1989 issue includes:

    Specials

    • Konix: The Review – The Konix Multisystem got rave reviews and was unique in the number of control options, however, the company making it ran out of cash before it could be released.
    • Arcadeology – A look back at arcade history including a bug in Breakout, how Donkey Kong got its name, and more.
    • Games Get Mean – Addressing complaints that games are getting too difficult, complex and unfriendly.
    • Are You A Weirdo? – A test to calculate how weird you are.
    • Making It – A guide to making a living with MIDI.
    • Enter Cyberspace! – A look at the state of virtual reality with Cyberspace from AutoDesk.

    Gameplay

    • Screen Test – Reviews of F15 Strike Eagle II (DOS), Strider (Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad), Xenon II (Atari ST, Amiga), Rick Dangerous (Amiga), APB, Shadow of the Beast (Amiga), Bloodwych (Atari ST), Castle Warrior (Amstrad), Eye of Horus (Atari ST), Fast Break (Amiga), Oil Imperium (Amiga), Shufflepuck Cafe (Amiga, Atari ST), Tank Attack (Amiga), Turbo (Amiga) and Battle Valley (Amiga).
    • Arcade Ace – A look at Sega’s System 24 arcade motherboard and its capabilities, Escape From The Planet of The Robot Monsters from Atari, Wnning Run from Namco, Y Spy from Data East, Arch Rivals from Data East, and Rastan Saga II.
    • Updates – A look at some of the latest game conversions including Rocket Ranger for the Atari ST, Jack Nicholas’ Greatest 18 Holes for the Amiga, Robocop for the Amiga, New Zealand Story for the Commodore 64 and Spectrum, Paperboy for the Amiga, Firepower for the Commodore 64, and Trivial Pursuit for the Amiga.
    • Tricks ‘N’ Tactics – Strategy guide for Battletech and Conflict Europe plus more tips, codes and hints for Spherical, Voyager, Vigilante, Thunderbirds, Altered Beast, Navy Moves, and more.
    • Previews – A look at games still in development including Tower of Babel, M1 Tank Command, Stunt Car, Star Lord, and more.

    Regulars

    • News – Atari announces new Atari ST models including a portable model, the Acorn Archimedes A3000 gets games support, a giant tower case for the Amiga, Integrated Flight and Entertainment Services System to provide gaming on airplanes, Software Horizons blames software piracy for its demise, Philips announces high-end VCR with built-in 3″ screen, and more.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about linking Atari STs together for gaming, Commodore computer shows, gaming design, the FM Towns, and more.
    • Adventures – A look at Hound of Shadow from Electronic Arts, a review of Sword of Aragon from SSI, and help with Chronoquest and Manhunter.

    …and more!


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  • Computer + Video Games (July 1990)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Computer + Video Games – Issue Number 104 – July 1990

    Computer + Video Games (or Computer & Video Games and whatever other variations it went by) was perhaps the most ubiquitous gaming magazine in the U.K. It was certainly published for a very long time and covered a huge range of computers and game consoles over the years. The July 1990 issue includes:

    • The Corps! – A comic that kind of reminds me of Starship Troopers.
    • Playmasters – Tips and tricks for various games including Ghouls ‘N’ Gosts (MegaDrive), Golden Axe (MegaDrive), Heavy Unit (PC Engine), Chase HQ (PC Engine), Top Gun (NES), Track and Field II (NES), Impossamole (Atari ST, Commodore 64), Chaos Strikes Back (Atari ST), Castle Master (Atari ST), Rainbow Islands (Spectrum, Amiga), Saigon Combat Unit (Spectrum), Shinobi (Spectrum), Cabal (Amiga), AMC (Amstrad), Short Circuit (Commodore 64), Psycho Fox (Sega Master System), My Hero (Sega Master System), and Castlevania (Game Boy).
    • Previews – Previews of upcoming games including Battle Command (Atari ST, Amiga), Nightbreed (Amiga, Atari ST), Midnight Resistance (Atari ST, Amiga), The Spy Who Loved Me (Atari ST, Amiga, DOS, Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad), Flood (Atari ST, Amiga), Ruff and Reddy (Atari ST, Amiga, Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad, Atari), PGA Tour Golf (DOS), Corporation (Atari ST, Amiga), Torvak The Warrior (Atari ST, Amiga), Unreal (Atari ST, Amiga), Starblade (Atari ST, Amiga), and Grand Slam Tennis (Atari ST, Amiga, Spectrum, Commodore 64).
    • Arcade Action – A look at some of the latest arcade games including G-Loc and Sagai.

    • The Hotlines! – Call a special number to win games, a Game Boy, a PC Engine, or a MegaDrive.
    • Win Turtles Gear – A competition to win Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles related items including figures, a stuffed turtle, posters, comics, and more.
    • Turtlemania!!! – A look at TMNT related items in the U.S. including comic books, the cartoon series, toys, games, and more.
    • Reviews – Tons of game reviews including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Amiga), Railroad Tycoon (DOS), Theme Park Mystery (Atari ST), Ultima VI (DOS), F-19 (Atari ST, DOS), Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (NES), Final Blow (MegaDrive), and many more.
    • News – A look at the new Neo Geo console, Pro Tennis Tour competition by Ubi Soft, new World Cup series of joysticks from Dynamics, Mindscape licenses Days of Thunder, new mission and expansion disks for Falcon, Welltris, and more.

    • Mailbag – Letters from readers about games on the Amstrad 6128, a request for a cover tape for the Commodore 64, Ninja Kids, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more.
    • High Scores – Reader submitted high scores for games on tons of systems including the Sega Master System, MegaDrive, NES, Game Boy, PC Engine, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Spectrum, Amiga, and Amstrad.
    • Charts – The Top 20 games this month include Fantasy Dizzy at the top, as well as Paperboy, Temple of Doom, Operation Thunderbolt, Dragon’s Lair, Ikari Warriors, Chase HQ, 1943, Batman The Movie, Rainbow Islands, Road Blasters, Platoon, and others. The top Amiga game was Retaliator, the top Commodore 64 game was Paperboy, the top Atari ST game was Rainbow Islands, the top Spectrum game was Fantasy Dizzy, the top PC Engine game was Atomic Robo Kid, and the top MegaDrive game was Final Blow.
    • Budget – Reviews of budget games including Five-A-Side Football (Spectrum, Amstrad), Escape From Singe’s Castle (Spectrum, Amstrad), Slap Fight (Spectrum, Commodore 64), Yogi’s Great Escape (Spectrum), Blinky’s Scary School (Commodore 64, Spectrum), Arcade Fruit Machine (Commodore 64), and Fruit Machine 2 (Commodore 64, Amstrad).
    • Update – Updates on games currently in progress including Fred (Amiga, Atari ST), Dynasty Wars (Commodore 64, Spectrum, Amstrad), International 3D Tennis (Amiga), Bloodwych (Spectrum), Final Command, and Operation Thunderbolt (Commodore 64).
    • Arcade High Scores – Reader submitted high scores for tons of arcade games including Afterburner, Chase HQ, Cabal, Double Dragon II, Dragon Spirit, Forgotten Worlds, Galaga 88, Golden Axe, Operation Wofl, Outrun Turbo, Rastan II, Roadblasters, Robocop, Stun Runner, Toobin’, Twin Cobra, and tons more.

    …and more!


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  • VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (December 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: VideoGames & Computer Entertainment – December 1988

    While VideoGames & Computer Entertainment was never as popular as EGM or GamePro, it was my personal favorite video game magazine. The December 1988 issue was the first issue. I think it was the following year when I started buying issues on a regular basis. This issue includes:

    Video-Games Features

    • An Introduction to the Game Systems – A brief look at the three major systems that were available in 1988. These were the Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Master System, and Atari XEGS.
    • The 1989 VideoGames Buyer’s Guide – A look at over 150 games for Nintendo, Sega, and Atari game systems with ratings.
    • Barnyard Blaster – Review of this light-gun game for the Atari XE.
    • Contra – A review of this classic (and difficult) shooter from Konami for the NES.
    • Blaster Master – A strategy guide for this action game from Sunsoft for the NES.
    • Archon – Hints and tips for this strategy game for the Atari XEGS. I played this one on the Commodore 64.

    Computer Games Features

    • Football! – A history of electronic football simulations. Some of the games covered here include Touchdown Football (Commodore 64, DOS, Atari 7800), 4th and Inches, Football (Atari 2600), RealSports Football (Atari 2600), M Network Football (Atari 2600), 10-Yard Fight (NES), John Elway’s Quarterback (DOS), Super Bowl Sunday, Great Football (Sega Master System), Sports Pad Football (Sega Master System), World’s Greatest Football, Touchdown Football (Atari 7800), Star League Football, GFL Championship Football, John Madden Football (Apple II), On Field Football, TV Sports Football (Amiga), Computer Football, Monday Morning Quarterback, GFL Football (Apple II), and more.
    • An Interview With Brian Fargo – Creator of early games such as Labyrinth of Mortagon and Demon’s Forge and the founder of Interplay.
    • Computer Reviews – Reviews of Three Stooges (Amiga, Commodore 64, DOS), Blockbuster (Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS), Road Runner (Atari ST, Commodore 64), Superstar Ice Hockey (Apple II, Apple IIGS, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS), Tetris (Amiga, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Commodore 64, DOS, Macintosh, Macintosh II), Rommel: Battles for North Africa (Apple II, Commodore 64), Bubble Ghost (Amiga, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS), Stellar Crusade (Atari ST, DOS), and The Last Ninja (Apple IIGS, Commodore 64, DOS).

    Departments

    • Publisher’s Letter – An introduction to the premiere issue of this magazine.
    • News Bits – New Freedom Stick wireless joystick; Atari to release 45 new games including titles for the XEGS, Atari 7800, and Atari 2600; Japanese games coming to the U.S. from Koei including Romance of The Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga’s Ambition; Captain Blood coming from Mindscape; Pool of Radiance (one of my favorites!) coming for the Commodore 64 and other systems; Zork Zero coming from Infocom; Activision releasing Commando and Kung Fu Master for the Atari 2600; Activision to change name to Mediagenic (stupid decision), and much more.
    • Questions and Answers – The Game Doctor answers questions about where most games are designed, what happened to text adventures, 3D games on the Sega Master System, new computers with gaming potential, and more.

    …and more!


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