Source: Commodore User – Issue Number 32 – May 1986
The U.K. was lucky enough to have not one gaming magazine for the Commodore 64 but multiple. In the U.S. we had several excellent Commodore 64 magazine and they, of course, covered games but none were dedicated to games. Commodore User had non gaming coverage as well but the emphasis was definitely on games. It covered other 8-bit Commodore computers like the Commodore 16 and later it switched over to the Amiga but it was covering the Commodore 64 into at least 1990. The May 1986 issue includes:
Features
- What’s Going On – MicroProse plans to bring more games to the U.K.; Datahits releases cassette with game music; Argus Software releases Load ‘N’ Go series of productivity software for the C64; plus a preview of the 7th Annual Commodore Show and much more.
- Movie Maker – A detailed review of Ariolasoft’s Movie Maker. This software allows you to create mini animated movies with sprites, sound, music and animation.
- Complete Music System – A review of this Commodore product which includes a keyboard, Sound Expander (which uses FM synthesis), and Sound Studio software.
- Lightpens Reviewed – Light pens were once the up and coming input device for computers. This is a review of both the Dart Light Pen and the Trojan Light Pen.
- Amiga Exposed – A detailed look at the recently released Amiga, with an emphasis on its graphics and sound capabilities and how it compares to the competition from a musician’s point of view.
Regulars
- Feedback – Letters from readers about joystick durability, Elite, gaming on a black and white TV, the Commodore 16 and speeding up loading, tips for the Plus/4, and more.
- US Hotline – A look at what is going on in the U.S. market. This month, the emphasis is on the online service for Commodore Users called QuantumLink (incidentally, this would later become AOL).
- Uncle Jim – A look at a prototype Super Quick User Interface Device (SQUID).
- Happy Hacker – Connecting directly with another Commodore 64 user via modem to communicate and/or transfer files. In the example given, they transferred 100K (yes that’s kilobytes) worth of files in about half an hour…or so. Plus a look at the various MUDs Commodore users can access and some info on the Miracle Technology’s 64 Multimodem.
- Into the Valley – Reviews of adventure games including The Pawn, Questprobe 3: The Fantastic Four, and Rebel Planet.
- Computer Magic – Instructions for creating your own Centronics printer interface as well as driver code to go along with it. Plus, a short type-in programs to auto number your own BASIC program, pause program listings and scroll text across the screen.
Screen Scene
- Silent Service (Commodore 64/128) – The famous submarine sim for the Commodore 64.
- Fairlight (Commodore 64/128) – A port of an isometric arcade adventure game from the Spectrum.
- Thrust (Commodore 64/128) – A sort of more advanced version of asteroids in which you must navigate tunnels, pick up fuel, collect crystals and destroy obstacles.
- Empire (Commodore 64/128) – A sci-fi strategy game featuring 60 star systems to explore.
- Bombjack (Commodore 64/128) – A port of the arcade game of the same name.
- Psi5 Trading (Commodore 64/128) – Assemble a crew to deliver supplies to the Parvian Frontier while battling enemies and maintaining your ship.
- Ark Pandora (Commodore 64/128) – An arcade adventure in which everything is controlled by icons.
- Ping Pong (Commodore 64/128) – A good version of computerized ping pong.
- Bounces (Commodore 64/128) – A futuristic sports game in which you must sling your ball into the opponents goal…or just at your opponent.
- Green Berets (Commodore 64/128) – A side scrolling shoot-em-up also known as Rush’n Attack and was adapted from the arcade game.
- Tomb Thumb (Commodore 16 and Plus/4) – A platform/arcade game with 178 screens.
- Ghost Town (Commodore 16 and Plus/4) – Work your way through 19 rooms to find the treasure while avoiding enemies and solving puzzles.
- Reach for the Sky (Commodore 16 and Plus/4) – A (not so good) World War II themed air combat game.
- Space Escort (Commodore 16 and Plus/4) – Protect a passenger space liner in this side-scrolling shooter.
- Bongo (Commodore 16 and Plus/4) – A platform game in which you must rescue the girl at the top of the screen. Not especially good but has the novelty of a level designer that lets you modify existing levels to some degree.
- Panik (Commodore 16 and Plus/4) – A pretty generic platform and ladders game.
- Berks Trilogy (Commodore 16 and Plus/4) – Three games featuring robot enemies. They seem to be a bit like Berzerk with added game play elements.
…and more!
