Source: The Games Machine – Issue Number 13 – December 1988

The Games Machine was a relatively short-lived gaming magazine published in the U.K. It covered both console and computer games though it was only published from 1987 to 1990. The December 1988 issue includes:

Regulars

• TGM News – A look at the upcoming console wars. In the fray at the time were the NES, SMS, upcoming 16-bit consoles from Sega and Nintendo, The TurboGrafx-16, the upcoming Konix Multisystem, and even the Atari 2600.

• Previews – A look at upcoming games including Billiard Simulator I (Atari ST, Amiga, DOS, Macintosh), Purple Saturn Day (Amiga, DOS, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64), Temple of the Flying Saucer (Atari ST, Amiga, DOS, Commodore64, Amstrad CPC), and more.

• Coin Op Confrontation – Previews of Cobra Command and The Deep plus a look at the JAMMA/JAPEA show in Tokyo.

• Getting Adventurous – A look at adventure games including Lancelot (Atari ST), Ingrid’s Back (Amiga), and Chrono Quest (Atari ST).

• The TGM Review Catalogue – Tons of game reviews. For the Spectrum: Artura, Daily Thompson’s Olypmpic Challenge, Intensify, Operation Wolf, Salamander, and Typhoon. For the Commodore 64: Around the World in Eighty Days, Bubble Ghost, Daily Thompson’s Olympic Challenge, Games – Summer Edition, Operation Wolf, Terrorpods, and Typhoon. For the Amstrad CPC: Cybernoid II, Daley Thompson’s Olympic Challenge, and Operation Wolf. For the Atari ST: Action Service, Albedo, Around The World in 80 Days, Artura, Cybernoid, Driller, Exolon, Fernandez Must Die, Hellfire Attack, Hostages, Nebulus, Netherworld, and Powerdrome. For the Amiga: Albedo, Around The World in Eighty Days, Daley Thompson’s Olympic Challenge, Driller, Impossible Mission II, Menace, Nebulus, Netherworld, Pac-Mania, POW, Revenge II, Rocket Ranger, and Ultima IV. PC: Bubble host, Captain Blood, Games – Summer Edition, and Rastascan. Sega Master System: Kenseiden, Miracle Warriors, Monopoly, and Thunder Blade.

• Rob Hogg’s Playing Tips – Game tips for F1-Spirit (MSX), Eliminator, Elite (Atari ST), Operation Wolf, Bomboozal, After Burner, Double Dragon, and Continental Circus.

• Information Desk – Questions answered about the differences between the Amiga 1000 and Amiga 500, the Sega Master System, buying a PC Engine from Japan, recording game play on VHS, connecting Toshiba HXP550 printer to an Amiga, the Sony HBF700D disk drive, and more.

• Trillion Byte Trips – Reviews of science fiction books including Islands in the Net by Bruce Sterling, Mirrorshades: The Cyberpunk Anthology, Faerie Tale by Raymond E Feist, and Mind-Players by Pat Cardigan.

• Fantasy Page – A review of Gods of Glorantha, a supplement for RuneQuest.

• Music Matters – A detailed look at Studio 24, a MIDI package for the Atari ST.

• Readerpage – Letters from readers mostly on the subject of the Amiga vs. the Atari ST.

• Back Bytes – A guide to computer systems, consoles, independent repair services, desktop publishing software, and more.

Features

• Who Needs Reality Anyway? – A look at telecommuting in the late 1980s.

• Pictures in Exhibition – A look at Britain’s first open exhibition of computer aided art.

• Inside the Games Machine – A look inside the offices of The Game Machine.

• Pirates – An investigation into software pirating.

• Behind the Rubber Mask – A look into the workings of Spitting Image Productions’ computer controlled puppets.

…and more!