• Tag Archives 1980s

  • Videogaming Illustrated, February 1983

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Videogaming Illustrated, February 1983

    Videogaming Illustrated is one of the more obscure video game magazines, primarily because of its short life. It lasted two years before folding. It was published from 1982 to 1984 so the video game crash probably had a lot to do with its demise. Changing their name twice probably didn’t help either.

    The February 1983 issue includes:

    • The Keyboard – Ironic optimism about how well the magazine is doing and will continue to do.
    • Eye On – Trouble for Astrocade; Milton Bradley releases games and a new console, the Vectrex; Data Age enters the Atari 2600 market with SSSnake, Encounter at L-5, Bugs, Warplock, and Airlock; The Great Game Company formed to release game show titles; Wizard Video develops adult oriented games such as Flesh Gordon and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre; Radio Shack releases Color Cubes Program Pak for the TRS-80; Sega releases Subroc-3D arcade game; LaserTour forshadows Pelaton; new games from Apollo; new TandyVision (Intellivision compatible) console; and much more.
    • Fiction – A story from Ben Bova called “The next logical step” and part one of another story called “User Deadly” from Richard Meyers.
    • Close Up: Sword Quest – It was supposed to be a series of four games: EarthWorld, FireWorld, WaterWorld and AirWorld – and competitions. It didn’t quite work out that way but that’s another story.
    • VIP: Don Imus – Profile and interview of on-air personality, Don Imus.
    • Supergaming – A look in the latest improvements in joystick technology including the Supr-Stick, the Videogame Controller Holder (clever name there), the PointMaster, KY’s FingerTip Controller, the Grand Stand, Wico’s joystck and trackball, and more.
    • Conquering: Cosmic Creeps – How to win (or at least do well) at Cosmic Creeps for the Atari 2600.
    • Cinema: Star Wars Saga – A look at the soon to be released Revenge/Return of the Jedi along with some new and not so new Star Wars related games (Star Wars: Jedi Arena, The Empire Strikes Back…). It’s interesting to note that this article talks about the fourth film coming out in 1986, the fifth film in 1989 and the sixth film for 1992 (all prequels) and then a sequel trilogy in 1995, 1999, and 2002.
    • Video Victor – A video game related comic strip.
    • Conquering: Atlantis – A guide to scoring high in Atlantis for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision.
    • Arcadia – The story behind how Bally popularized the pinball machine and turned pinball into a “respectable” game.
    • Conquering: Kangaroo – A guide to scoring high in Kangaroo for the Atari 2600.
    • Conquering: Dig-Dug – Doing well in Dig-Dug. At this point it was only available in arcades.
    • Meet the Original Dig-Dug – A look at previous underground heroes…

    • Computereyes: Time Zone – A detailed look at Time Zone, a lengthy (and expensive at $100) Roberta Williams computer adventure game. Plus briefer looks at other games such as The Movie Monster Game, Crush Crumble and Chomp, and Monster Mash.
    • Star Words – Hear various actors’ take on video games. This month, Marc McClure, Jeff East and Fred Williamson.
    • Championship Videogaming – Some hints from readers for Ulysses and the Golden Fleece, Kick Man, and Pitfall.
    • Input – Letters from readers about Activision, Cliff Robertson and the movie Charly, and Tron.
    • Preview – A look at recently released games including Centipede for the Atari 5200, Towering Inferno for the Atari 2600, Venture for the ColecoVision, Fast Food for the Atari 2600, Threshold for the Atari 2600 and Gorf for the Atari 2600.
    • Print Out – Reviews of books including 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke and the Amazeman Books.
    • You read It Here First – Some games the editors would like to see…

    …and more!


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  • Computer Gaming World, January/February 1986

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Computer Gaming World, January/February 1986

    Computer Gaming World was without a doubt the best computer specific gaming magazine. Though it covered various computer platforms back when more platforms were viable, it was DOS/Windows oriented for most of its life. Fortunately, not too much changed when it became Games for Windows. Unfortunately, it didn’t survive long after that. The January/February 1986 issue includes:

    Features

    • Under Fire! – Infantry Combat from Avalon Hill
    • Ultima IV – Review and Playing Tips
    • The Year In Review – Adventure Games in 1985
    • Silent Service – Review
    • Kampfgruppe – A Replay
    • The Gates of Moscow – Review
    • Heart of Africa – Review

    Departments

    • Taking A Peek – Screen Photos and Brief Comments
    • Editorial
    • Commodore Key – Information for Commodore Gamers
    • Atari Playfield – Information for Atari Gamers
    • Reader Input Device
    • Game Ratings – 100 Games Rated

    …and more!


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  • Electronic Games, May 1982

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Electronic Games, May 1982

    Electronic Games was the best and most influential of the early 1980s video games magazines. It was also the longest lasting at that time though that isn’t saying much. The video game crash caused even this magazine to go under but it would influence many that would come later.

    The May 1982 issue of Electronic Games includes:

    • Switch On!
    • Electronic Games Hotline
    • Test Lab – An expert shows how to fix the Atari VCS’ most common problem.
    • Q&A
    • Feature: Videogame Outlook – 1982 – The coming year will see several new systems and perhaps 100 new cartridges. Here’s the lowdown!
    • Insert Coin Here – If you can’t stop the ape in Donkey Kong, maybe you can defeat the kitten in Make Trax!
    • Women Join the Arcade Revolution – Women are now ready and willing to challenge the best of the men for electronic arcading laurels.
    • New Products
    • Special Section: The Players Guide to Electronic Wargames – Fight past, present and even future battles with a host of exciting military simulations.
    • Inside Gaming – Meet Bob Ogdon, the man who put the magic in Wizard, the new Astro Arcade cartridge.
    • Arcade America – Electronic Games visits Las Vegas’ Circus Circus, where the coin-op action is under the big top.
    • Games We’ll Never See (We Hope) – Our humorous look at some unlikely ideas for forthcoming games.
    • Stalking the Left-handed Joystick – There’s new hope for southpaws – if they follow this article’s simple instructions.
    • Computer Playland – No-holds-barred analysis of the latest game software for the most popular microcomputer systems.
    • Strategy Session – Our prize-winning strategy editors show how to be an Intellivision champ and win at Tempest.
    • Those A-maze-ing Gobble Games – Pac-Man and similar maze-chases have taken the arcade world by storm. Here’s the whole story.
    • Clubs for Gamers – Whether your main interest is computers or videogames, there’s a group that’s right for you.
    • Slam Dunk! – Even if you’re not a seven-footer, electronic basketball can provide a full measure of sports thrills.
    • Programmable Parade – The new games are coming! EG’s critics separate the winners from the also-rans.
    • Passport to Adventure – Castle Wolfenstein dares you to escape from a Nazi prison!
    • Stand-Alone Scene – Treasures await the adventurer in Mattel’s Dungeons & Dragons!
    • Reader Poll

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