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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!


    Computer Arcana Retro Games 📎and tagged

  • Digital Archaeology: Floppy Disk #14 – ITSOVER.DOC

    Posted on by Azrael Comment


    A summary for those that haven’t been keeping up with this series:

    I found a number of 5.25″ disks at a thrift store a number of years ago (we are talking late 1990s probably). I finally got around to acquiring a 5.25″ disk drive and extracting the contents a several years back. Since then, I have been occasionally posting the content here.

    Based on the contents, at least some of these disks were apparently once owned by someone named Connie who used to run the “Close Encounters” Special Interest Group (SIG) on Delphi in the mid 1980s.

    A description of this SIG was found in a document on one of the disks: “This SIG, known as ‘Close Encounters’, is a forum for the discussion of relationships that develop via computer services like the Source, CompuServe, and Delphi. Our primary emphasis is on the sexual aspects of those relationships.”

    This service was text based and was accessed via whatever terminal program you used on your computer to dial in to Delphi’s servers. Many of these disks have forum messages, e-mails and chat session logs. All of this is pre-internet stuff and I don’t know if there are any archives in existence today of what was on Delphi in the 1980s. In any case, much of this stuff would have been private at the time and probably wouldn’t be in such archives even if they existed.

    This post includes the contents of ITSOVER.DOC. It contains a single e-mail dated December 10th, 1984. It’s one person’s opinion (going by the handle of FTF) of the sexual revolution and it is tied in to the topics discussed in the Close Encounters Special Interest Group. It looks like this was sent to three people including the manager of this particular SIG. Contents included below:


    =-=
    ITSOVER.DOC
    =-=

    From:   FTF            10-DEC-1984 20:46  
To:     PRINCESS,JOHNMYSELF,CABUYS
Subj:   IT'S OVER!

The sexual revolution is over!

And I am not sure any of us can say who won...

Sure, you say to yourselves, thats just a gimmick to get us to
read more and perhaps that is part of what lies behind these
words.  But consider, for a moment some concepts regarding
trends of this sort. I certainly will concede that sex is
alive and well in this United States and most certainly in the
electronic world! 

But it's different now for some reason.  Look at the types of 
encounters that get discussed just here for example.  Loving 
Submission.  Multiple person relationships.  Casual and quite 
serious relationships.  The Main Event.  Even two years ago,
would it have been possible on an individual level to discuss
these events with such an open attitude?  I maintain it would
have been difficult. 

The sexual revolution was not so much an effort to make more 
types of sexual contact acceptable.  Behind the closed doors
of countless bedrooms the variations have always been
occurring.  No. That was not the point of all of the front
line actions.  The revolution has always been directed towards
making us comfortable discussing it and engaging in it.  To
take the word *dirty* out of what was already happening in the
trenches. To let us say to ourselves first and later to others
"You know,  I like sex!"  And then to go one step farther and
say  "I wish my lover/friend/spouse would try this or not do
that" and be honest about it.  To find the societal acceptance
to be able to say that one does indeed have needs and desires.

Of course with the greater awareness of the pleasures come the
increased awarenesses of the potential dangers as well  - the 
unwanted diseases - the greater risk of pregnancy - the fact
that sometimes lovers aren't terribly honest about themselves.
But those were always there.  We just didn't talk about them.

The sexual revolution is over. I think we all won!
    =-=


    Computer Arcana 📎and tagged