• Tag Archives Sega Master System
  • VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (June 1990)

    VideoGames & Computer Entertainment was my favorite video game magazine of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Some of the key people responsible for the original Electronic Games magazine were involved with VG&CE. It eventually evolved into Tips & Tricks which wasn’t really my cup of tea. The June 1990 issue of VG&CE includes:

    Features

    • Total Recall: Acclaim Brings Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Film Role to Video-Game Screens – A detailed look at this NES game based on the movie of the same name. Like most licensed games, this one wasn’t great though I suppose it was better than some. It definitely has the nostalgia factor going for it.
    • Behind the Scenes at the Nintendo World Championships in Dallas – The Nintendo World Championship had to be just about the height of the NES era. It was sort of a case of life imitating art as The Wizard had just been released in theaters the year before.
    • Batman Strategy Guide, Part I – The first part of a detailed strategy guide for Batman: The Video Game for the NES. While licensed games are pretty poor the vast majority of the time, this one bucks the trend and was actually a solid game. The game and the movie are probably still my Batman favorites.
    • In Search of the Evil Place: A Player’s Guide to Faxanadu, Part 2 – The second part of a detailed strategy guide for this classic NES adventure game.
    • Computer Country Club – An overview of available golf and tennis games. Some of the golf games looked at here include Accolade’s Mean 18, Hole-In-One (miniature golf), Mini-Putt, World Tour Golf, World Class Leaderboard, Jack Nicklaus’ Greatest 18 Holes of Major Championship Golf, Table Tennis Simulation, Serve & Volley, and others.
    • Computer-Game Strategies – Brief strategy guides for Double Dragon II (Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC), Populous (Amiga, IBM PC), and Space Harrier (Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC).

    Reviews

    • Video-Game Reviews – Reviews of Heroes of the Lance (NES) – (while I loved the Gold Box series of D&D games, I thought this action oriented game was pretty terrible), Astyanax (NES) – (I actually didn’t care for this one much though it got good reviews), Ninja Gaiden II (NES), Starship Hector (NES), Super C (NES), Pat Riley’s Slammin’ Jammin’ Basketball (Sega Genesis), Neutopia (TurboGrafx-16), Slap Shot (Sega Master System), and Ghostbusters (Sega Genesis).
    • Computer-Game Reviews – Reviews of Tank (Spectrum Holobyte for the IBM PC), Hoyle’s Book of Games (Sierra On-Line for the IBM PC), License to Kill (Domark/Broderbund for the Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC, and Commodore 64), Sword of the Samurai (Microprose for the IBM PC), The Third Courier (Accolade for the IBM PC), Space Rogue (by Origin for the Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC – I always wanted this one), It Came From the Desert (by Cinemaware for the Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC), Sands of Fire (by Three-sixty Software for the IBM PC and Macintosh), and Trivial Pursuit (by Parker Brothers for the IBM PC).

    Departments

    • Editor’s Letter – Andy Eddy discusses games based on movies and celebrities in video games.
    • Reader Mail – The letters from readers this month are mostly about Nintendo’s business practices and then current anti-trust issues.
    • Tip Sheet – The inaugural edition of this column includes tips and basic strategies for Kung-Fu Heroes by Culture Brain for the NES.
    • News Bits – Joe Montana signs deal with Sega, new add-on for A-10 Tank Killer, Defender of the Crown creator developing Centurion: Defender of Rome, Atari opens up direct phone line for orders of Atari Lynx and Portfolio products, new newsletter for Amiga gamers, Commodore to market games machine based on Amiga 500, and much more.
    • Easter Egg Hunt – Hidden features and secrets in Double Dragon II (NES), Golden Axe (Genesis), Revenge of Shinobi (Genesis), and Fighting Street (TurboGrafx-16).
    • Destination Arcadia – A look at new games shown at the 1990 Acme Show in Chicago including DJ Boy from American Sammy, WWF Superstars from Technos, Klax from Atari, AmeriDarts from Ameri Corporation, Four Trax from Atari, Badlands from Atari, Metal Hawk from R. H. Belam, Capcom Bowling from Capcom, Buster Bros. from Capcom, Mercs from Capcom, Final Fight from Capcom, Vapor Trail from Data East, Too Crude – Double Dragon from Data East, Rai Den from Irem, Dragon Breed from Irem, R-Type II from Irem, Toki from Irem, Aliens from Konami, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from Konami, Off Road from Leland, Trog from Bally/Midway, PlayChoice from Nintendo, Fire Shark from Romstar, Beast Busters from SNK, Neo-Geo System from SNK, Line of Fire from Sega, M.V.P. from Sega, Cadash from Taito, and lots more.
    • Inside Gaming – A look at who might win the upcoming video game battle between Nintendo, Sega, and NEC.
    • Game Doctor – Questions answered about music on the SMS, the NES expansion port, the TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM add-on, transferring files between an Apple II and IBM PC, and more.

    …and more!


  • Advanced Computer Entertainment (October 1989)

    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!


  • Electronic Game Player (May/June)

    Source: Electronic Game Player – May/June 1988

    Electronic Game Player is a pretty obscure video game magazine mostly because it was short lived. However, it was the immediate predecessor to Electronic Gaming Monthly which was not so obscure… The May/June 1988 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Electronic Game Player Great Game Give-Away – Here’s your chance to win over fifty cartridges for your Nintendo Entertainment System absolutely free! One lucky winner will get a slew of titles, including games that aren’t even available in stores yet!
    • Behind the Scenes at the CES – Grab your V.I.P. pass and head for Las Vegas with Electronic Game Player for an advance look at all of the home games and computer software you’ll be playing in the months to come.

    In-Focus

    • Video Games Battle Back – With millions of game systems filtering into American living rooms and arcade receipts exceeding $5,000,000,000, the video game hobby appears to be healthier than ever. Some say the wonderful world of electronic gaming has returned from the dead. Others contend that it never had left us. Find out the real story and get an insight on where the major companies plan to go from here.

    Also In This Issue…

    • Score! – Top champs give you their secrets to winning at Out Run, Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!, and Alien Syndrome. Look for plenty of helpful tips in this new expanded section.
    • The Home Front – Get the complete scoop on over a dozen new releases for the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System. Be sure to check out Ed Semrad’s reviews of Victory Road and Zaxxon 3-D, as well as Wizards and Warrior and Freedom Force.
    • The U.S. National Video Game Team Endorses – A new column you’ll find exclusively in Electronic Game Player! The U.S. Nation Video Game Team, the only internationally recognized group of professional game players, lend their special “Players Seal of Approval” to three of the hottest new carts! Read the team’s endorsements of Double Dragon, Fighting Golf, and RBI Baseball in this regular feature that spotlights only the very best titles!
    • Logon – Todd Rodgers, Jim Gilliam, and John Styles review Accolade’s Test Drive and Card Sharks, Mindscape’s into the Eagle’s Nest, Data East’s Speed Buggy, Q*Bert, and TNK III.

    Departments

    • Coming Soon
    • insert Coin
    • Interface
    • Press Start
    • Gaming Gossip
    • Next Wave
    • Behind the Screens
    • APA International Scoreboard

    …and more!