• Tag Archives videogames
  • Computer & Video Games (January 1985)

    Source: Computer & Video Games – Issue Number 39 – January 1985

    Computer & Video Games was perhaps the longest running video games magazine in the world. I believe that it had a nearly 25 year run. In early 1985 it was covering computer games far more than video games. The January 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • Mailbag – Letters from readers about a game called Dive Bomb, Euro Byte, scrolling on the BBC B, piracy, Space Invaders, and more.
    • Jet Boot Jack – A look at this new game for the Commodore 64 and a related competition.
    • Letter From America – A look at Beyond, the company behind Spy Vs. Spy, a game based on the characters in MAD Magazine.
    • Spy Vs. Spy Competition – A competition in which you can win a copy of Spy Vs. Spy.
    • Top 30 Charts – Some of the games on the chart this month include Daley Thompson’s Decathlon, Elite, Beach-Head, BMX Racer, Summer Games, and more.
    • Adventure Extra – Reviews of adventure games including Mas of the SUn, Sphinx Adventure, Stainless Steel Rat, Crystal Frog, French on the Run, Return of the Ring, Return to Eden, Operation Safras, and more.
    • Adventure – Adventure game jokes, a look at a couple of adventure game related books, plus a look at Zim Sala Bim for the Commodore 64.
    • Adventure Helpline – Requests for help for games such as Commodore’s Quest, Lords of Karma, Gateway to Karos, Count Dracula, and more.
    • Micro Guide – Part two of a guide to new computers that were introduced in 1984. This part includes the Commodore 16 and Plus/4.
    • Tornado Low Level – A guide to this game in which you fly a Tornado jet. Includes a map.
    • Doomdark’s Revenge – Part 2 of this magazine based adventure game.
    • Puzzling – A look at some puzzle based games including Holiday Route, Gold Run I, Gold Run II, Football Fixtures, Blankety Blank, and Prnit Owt.
    • Hall of Fame – Top scores for Atic Atac, Planetoid, Pyjamarama, Jet Pac, Elite, Manic Miner, Parsec, Psytron, Star Bike and Sabre Wulf.

    Listings

    • Super Sharks – A type-in game for the BBC B in which you must protect ships from sharks.
    • 64 Synth – A type in program to create music on the Commodore 64.
    • Post Mania – A type in game for the Spectrum.
    • Hunchback – A type in game for the VIC-20 feauring Quasimod in a three level game to rescue Esmerelda.

    News And Reviews

    • Games News – Jet Pac and Fighter Pilot ported to the Commodore 64; Kuma releases tons of games an other programs for MSX and Amstrad; Taskset releases six games for the Amstrad; Conan the Destoryer game to be released on the Commodore 64; and more.
    • Reviews – Reviews of Ghostbusters (Commodore 64), Cliff Hanger (Commodore 64), Starbike (Spectrum), Football Manager (Amstrad), Pitfall (Commodore 64), Dodo Lair (VIC-20), Mr. Ee (BBC), Buzz Off (MSX), Jasper (Spectrum), Felix (BBC), Battlecars (Spectrum), Turmoil (Spectrum), Star Avenger (Amstrad), Microgo (BBC), Scrabble (BBC), Kensington (Commodore 64), Cluedo (Commodore 64), Cluedo (Commodore 64), Knight Lore (Spectrum), and Underwurlde (Spectrum).
    • Arcade Action – A look at new and upcoming arcade games including Future Spy, Mikie, and Don Quix-Ote plus tips for Sinistar, Stargate, and Tempest.
    • Next Month – A review of Ghostbusters, a Konami MSX competition, Doomdark Part III, and more.

    …and more!


  • The Games Machine (April 1990)

    Source: The Games Machine – Issue Number 29 – April 1990

    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. In particular, it had a lot of coverage of the Amiga and Atari ST. The April 1990 issue includes:

    Regulars

    • Boot-Up! – The latest news and preview: Mont Mole, Ninja Spirits, Wipe Out, Stormlord II, Dragon Strike, Frontline, World Cup Soccer ’90, Enigma Variations, and much more.
    • Konnichi Wa To You – A look at some of the latest and upcoming software releases in Japan, including Ghouls ‘n’ Ghosts (Super Grafx), Genpeitomaden, Super Volleyball (PC Engine), Paranoia (PC Engine CD-ROM), Final Zone 2 (PC Engine CD-ROM), Sokoban World, Handy PC Engine (called the PC Engine GT upon release), and more.
    • Venture Forth – A look at the latest adventure, strategy and role-playing games, including Bandit Kings of Ancient China, Ultima VI: The False Prophet, Circuit’s Edge, Hero’s Quest, Yes Chancellor!, Demon’s Tomb, Star Flight 2, Day of the Viper, Search for the Titanic, Chaos Strikes Back, Prince, The Colonel’s Bequest, Sherman M4, and more.

    Game Special

    • The Epic Epic – A 3D space game that was originally to be called Goldrunner 3-D.
    • Oh Yes It Can! – Previews of some potentially impressive new games including Anarchy (Atari ST), Firestorm (Atari ST), and Witchcraft (Amiga).
    • Topple The Tower of Babel – A strategy guide for Tower of Babel.

    Features

    • Super Grafx – A look at NEC’s follow-up to the TurboGrafx-16 / Turbo Duo. Sadly, it never made much impact, especially outside of Japan.
    • Digitizing – A review of Vidichrome, an upgrade package that expands the Rombo digitizing package for the Amiga to full color.
    • Behind the Scenes – A look at how artwork in created for The Games Machine using a Macintosh and Adobe Illustrator ’88.
    • Shooting Stars – A guide to becoming a pop star with the help of a personal computer.
    • Visions – This article predicts that in the future games will be played on an all-in-one entertainment system featuring a TV, CD-ROM drive, and console.
    • Compact Creations – Discover how CDs are made (pressed) and how data and audio gets on them.

    Interaction

    • Win A Jacket! – Win a leather jacket in this Monty Mole themed contest.
    • Playing Tips – Tips, tricks and cheats for Strider (Atari ST, C64), Operation Thunderbolt (C64, Amiga), Mega Man (Nintendo), It Came From The Desert (Amiga), Future Wars, Space Harrier (PC Engine), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Ghosts ‘N’ Goblins (Nintendo), and more.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about the Atari Lynx, TV shows about computers, game consoles in Spain, game quality on the Amiga, and more.

    …and more!


  • Videogaming Illustrated (October 1983)

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    Source: Videogaming Illustrated – October 1983

    Videogaming Illustrated was another relatively short-lived videogames magazine from the early 1980s. Though it lasted less than two years, it changed names twice. For instance, this issue from October 1983 is actually titled Videogaming and Computergaming Illustrated. Contents include:

    • Keyboard – Men, women and computerphobia – an issue for the 80s.
    • Eye On – From voice synthesis to voice controllers – hear the latest!
    • Preview – New games from Avalon Hill and Sega’s Star Trek reviewed.
    • Focus On: Uncensored Videogames – If ever erotic videogames had a chance to enter the market quietly and with minimum resistance, three games bearing the Mystique label scuttled those chance forever.
    • VIP: Gloria Steinem and Lindsay Van Gelder – Two famous feminists discuss women, computers and games.
    • Arcadia: The Perils of Pixel-ated Paulines – The role of women in the industry: are we still in the dark ages?
    • Supergaming – Install a pause button in your Atari joystick without delay!
    • Championship Videogaming – Our readers provide player’s tips on Dragon’s Lair, Star Wars and more.
    • Conquering – All the help you’ll need to keep the Mario Brothers from going down the drain.
    • Behind the Scenes – Are videogames works of art and thus deserving of copyright protection?
    • Chip Ahoy – An all-too-brief glimpse at upcoming video and computergames.
    • Input – Praise and damnation from our readers.
    • RAMblings – Reviews of new strategy and arcade-style computergames.
    • Computereyes – Computer graphics in the home and in the professional studios.
    • Focus On: Questing Games – A new wave of videogames provide incentives other than point accumulation.
    • Video Victor
    • You Read It Here First

    …and more!