C[,6#hJlA>
A NEWSFIELD PUBLICATION
£1.50
THE FUTURE IN YOUR HANDS
TX: 018 MAY 1989
FIRST PICTURES OF ARGONAUT'
Bf, GET 'EM
OFF —
LECHING
WITH
HOLLYWOOD
POKER PRO
■" *
UH"I'
CREATE OR
ANIMATE
WITH
DELUXE PAINT III
& Z0ETR0PE
A Kayak A helicopter flight over London!
7Uh7U A ?2b7{
05
/
, ARe<
th the thrift of adventure,
3-D game fought over 64 landsca
megabyt ,igh resolution graphic
sound, created over two man years, b
AVAILABLE OVER 3 DISKS FOR AMIGA* STAND IBM PC AT £24.99
Empire Software, 4 The Stannets, Laindon North Trade Centre. Basildon, Essex SS15 6DJ, Telephone: 0268 541126. f 8 541125
IIGA2DJSK5
Qj*t*44<
THIS ISSUE
ITGM NEWS AND PREVIEWS
If it's newsworthy, it's hem -plus loads of lu vverly screens
from forthcoming games
REVIEW CATALOGUE
A positive plethora of software this month, including the
awesome Voyager, Vindicators, Baltistix and Vigilante
ROBIN HOGG'S PLAYING TIPS
Quite a few playing tips this month, including: a full map of
Baal
FANTASY GAMES
Jo h n Woods di sc overs a past d iff erent from the one we "ve
known in Space 1&89
BACK BYTES
All the latest in hardware and applications software,
including Infodesk and Readerpage
AMAZING GRAPHICS
Five pages of the most amazing screens created by the
very latest art packages: Deluxe Paint 3 and the animation
program Zoetrope
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
TGM reports from the Frankfurt Music Fair to bring you
news of the latest developments in the computer music
world
JEZ SAN
Them ystery p ro ject is named at last , as we look at the f i rst
screens of Argonaut's F117A Agressor
J
n
^■^"
DIAL 0898
*i
555080 FOR
BIT
AC
Wll
;hance to
M COPIES
WJ
OF
>dK
*3
1
s
)RML0RD
N
HEWSO
See page 1 5 for details
pfltl
i , ^L^L^y^st *? «p w i» i
WIN!
A ueUQOPlBK FUQHT
0\/6Z LONDON
Courtesy of The Sates Curve. Plus copies of Silkworm for the
runners up
See page 27
WIN!
AICAYAIC
Plus copies of the incredible Typhoon Thomspon from
Broderbund for the runners up
See page 22
GRAPHICS
TGM looks at the latest art
packages including Zoet-
rope and Deluxe Paint 3
MUSIC
TGM reports from
Frankfurt music fair
the
SAN
A first time look at the
amazing vector graphics
Of F11 7 A Agressor
PLAYING TIPS . . .
including a full map
of Baal
™"; t " 9 goes on sale
from May is. Miss it and
means
It's no game any more.
For every game you copy you
are depriving programmers of
their livelihood.
Placed on behalf of FAST (Federation Against Software Theft)
Spring Madness
SU&MCT TO AdAILAH. ■ -
The Sega Maslersystem inclusive of Light
Phaser 'available !o y/gu for only €69-95.
Recommended Retail Price £109.90
The No.1 best selling console in the UK
Distributed by
Virgin Master tronic, 2-4 Vernon Yard, Portobello Road, London W11 2DX.
RAMPAGE
YCU and your Duddy are ready 1or a little
action lonigh i 'cause you jusl happen ig be in
[he mood to tear tip Hie town. You'll detnolitti
buildings, grab and eftamp horntied
epettaelen and niher yummy i
Marten puny iMttcnptttt I
who try lip stop you '
Ad*cfHirtf pamspg* y. jnarMWoua praprties
S€*nfl*»*d with angmaiify and a pwtww at
tummr* C-t-VG, Martfl rtfflS
'R'TYPE
They tame hom a Dimenugnji plane char
across the gafaiy wreaking h**dt and chaos
tram star system 10 star system With ait evil
lhai smolhen ill f esislanerr with tear and
Umw. Ihe horrid creatures ol Ihe 8ydo Empire
ate now knocking on, Earth s hen door
Is by !#• rho ijest blast available trnfrm- Sega,
»P 't JOM wittroul saying Ihtl no tnoat torn ip
ransftowleriSa mlhourrf, 1 C+HQ, JUarcri f980
CYBORG HUNTER
The year. 224? you ire Paladin the tnugnetl
bounty hunter in lha qalaiy Monnnxit
Cybags art threatening bo Lake control of ha
Universe under 11m direction- of ttwir anil
leader Viprnn Your mission is ig gam accaa
loViprons chamber? and rfrslroy him Sound
easy enough? IE isn'l 1
HarttOtUmHy settling area* attnniui*.
action packoO 1 C+VG.Motcf
Y's
You are Aran Christian a swordsman washed
ashore by Ihe mighi and fury til a humane
You ware 1ound hair dead by a kind and
humble fisherman and ha restored you Id
health. The fishing village sal ai the aooe of
Ihe great plain. Rising in the distance was a
small mountain range with an ominous lower
at Hiatali Thai 15 ihe Tower ol ihe Doomed
the fisherman told you as they made the s>ort
oftheetnleye 'It « the place whan the
troubles ol our land began' As you watched
Ihe tower you Knew thai your destiny wahed
there.
ThawW* thing toohs'rict&i.bte IneQeat
JVe se*n on the Sep* Yi Often dopm and
piayatuttfy and «tff fteep you ongrossoO tor
weeks ttsamvelt C*VQ.Mmrctil9B9
TGMREPORT
AMIGA -
WHAT A
SHOW-OFF!
What answers the phone, tells you to do the washing up,
and beats every other computer at 3-D animation? The
Amiga, of course. . .
Marshal M Rosenthal reports on Amy's latest goodies the
from AmiExpo, the major US Amiga fair.
Tim much, ton much] The Amiga
imi i a ra nputei - It's a swirling
vortex shooting out endless creative
software.
If you remember how Grandma
used to nag you to do the righl thing,
re ready in use Nag Mitt ' ■" from
Gramma Software. Nag is a full -fea-
tured, bidden-in-the-backgrounrJ
muhisoningdatcbook. calendar- and
afl'found reminder.
Us voice/sound elfeci alarms (no-
thing like an elephant s Ware to gel
your attention) remind you of Impor-
tant cwnts. while full information is
displayed in configurable screens
Once Nag's reminded you of an
important phone tall, why not dial
with y«iur Amiga - using the Nomo
add-on, also from Gramma? Because
phones in the Slates beep at a diffe rent
pitch every tirtu' you dui] ii different
digit, the combination of Nomo and a
simple phone -dialer program can do
the work lor you,
rhen. ui course, you have ro pick
up the handsel lot normal voteeinins-
on . , miles-, you want The
computer to speak, loo. For incoming
tails can interact with the Amiga's
voice output to give mi
Noma conn eels via RCA plus* tn
the sound output ol the Amiga and
into the telephone Hne, and ii retails
ily S25 (aboui £1.4.30). It's
much use in Britain ai the moment,
because L K phones di m'l u*e the nine
system but they're on the way.
A ma tier of fax
Phones are rapidly being replaced I".
fax machines fw man) messages. .1 ml
they 'vc become the rage in the S
- unlortunately one ol the results is
there's now anothct source ol
l>.ink mail from. Km leave tt to com*
ptttcrs tn find an estr.i use for fates
sending .1 s fcleo image nvei .1 si.mdard
telephone line
• by Interactive Piciun
lems, captures a video image ani\ 1,111
compress over 1,000 frames on one
hard disk, without losing any Image
quality. A video camera Interfaces
with special hardware and software 10
produce the image, and then automa-
tic |irin issing enables an ordinary la*
machine to send a broadcast-quality
high-resolution cokur image across
the country - or tin world 1)1 Etboul
three minutes.
It's displayed on a monitor on the
other end just as you sent U. Ami all
this is done over regular phone lines -
no need here lor the new technology
of ISDN (TGM015),
Money and music
y. 10 keep track ol those phone
bills you'll need Cold Disk's Fimfctop
Budget. Its is a quick'n'elean method
. ii keeping a business running— doing
books and storing daM-
UK impon seems likely, consider-
ing the popularity ol 01 her Gold Disk
products like ' n <TGMOI4 r
And when the phone breaks down
and the burdens of high finance
become too much to shoulder, just
settle down to some soothing musk -
jnd check out i..v
This graph-oriented synthesizer
program allows lull control over any
Casio nun- generator or keyboard
deck that Interfaces with MIDI. There
■ 'in, nr, features to go into here,
but American Amiga-owners were
oohing and aahin^ at how easy ii is 10
lil.hl waveform patterns and si i
shapes with just the mouse, and how
nines and music become graphics
which can then be altered,
CONTACTS: Cgar Is available from
live Computing - South Bay.
4453 Redond Beach Btvd , Lewmtalt
SO. IS A.
tktop Budget is produced by Gold
Disk. PO Box 789, Streetsvilk, Missis-
tliJl! /. 5M 2C2, but may
■e available from UK mail ordei
deak
And Lwn I and Ni ■ 1 1 1 1 tome
from Gramma Software, 17730 l^th
Avenue Nl Suh< 22\. Seattle.
Washington 983 55. USA,
A PC in MUGging up
your
Amiga?
Among the hot Arnica
topics Stateside is Com-
modore's nol-yel-
reteased 228ft
Hi idgebnardj which lits a
fully functioning 8028 &
PC AT, 'the latest and the
Easiest yet', into ihe
Amiga. Besides one AT
and two X 1 1 tpansion
slots, the board drive*.
CCA colour and MDA
motto PC window ssimul-
: trteousj] w lilt Amiga
graphics, all on an Amiga
monitor.
The board
a ulucon Inures, of course,
and Ims autoboot as wd
And new Junm 2 soft-
ware lei'- ihe bridge board
shared hard disk, RAM.
floppy drives and mouse
with the Amiga
The price has yet to be
set, though all signs indi-
cate a retail of about
The ultimate
disk
Roll over, floppies, and
tell the hard disks the
news . . among the
most exciting high-tech
peripherals around is the
Discus Rewritable 5 25-
inch Optical Disk System
(from AGA,.
. j laser reads and
writes to the disk, and
that means being able to
store 1 fie equivalent of
11)0 books (five encyc-
lopaedias, say) on one
h a rd -ca sed d is k - rong h 1 y
hull! a million pages id
text I
And, unlike a CD-
ROM, it i.m he 1 rased and
reused re pealed h ,
All th^ glamour is in the
execution: In use the sys-
tem feels like a moder-
ately las! hard drive, Dis-
y u-. is designed right now
to work with expensive
AT&T systems (though an
Apple Macintosh vers
in the works), »nd the
controller can also access
floppy drives and CD-
ROM.
The price is a bit steep
at $4,500 (about £2.600)
inn then ^1 w« re ihe
Him personal computers
when they appeared
Shades, the 111 uhtttser adventure
played lor over 450,000 bonis on
Micronet, should soon be joined by-
Trash -another multiuser game
( iVt 1 1 1 r h From the same [mi
f : or Shades developer Neil New ell
has joined forces with programmer
Matthew Ward and formet Micro-
11 el supremo Mike Brown, to
develop as many MUGs as they can
handle.
1 ailing themselves Third Millen-
nium Systems, they're using a ■-:
ial MUG development language
called MUGICK.
And they'll also be looking at (he
gaming possibilities of new technol-
ogy like ISDN (TGM0I5)
Pouring out MUGs
nu! Shades iViin Neil Newell, Mike
Brawn, and Trasit develops f Matthew
Piracy:
just
say no!
A massive crackdown on piracy and
more games under the Christmas tree
are among the targets o! the software
world
Those were decisions made al the
Computet Arena conference In
Majorca lasi month - [he annual get-
together of major figures In both soft-
.11 id hardware, run by T(jM\
publishers.
The assault on piracy, spearheaded
by the Federation Against soIiwjk-
Theft anil llnatOf Huh Has. is
aimed noi ai making piracy more
(ficuli but at convincing
people ifs wrong.
So - n age
of FAST leaflets, advertising in
magazines and lit* rat u re with ( am-
6/108TGM TX 018:5-89
NEWS
modore computers will emph
thai copying software is illegal.
Cooperating In the pmjtrct will be
i ht- new Entertainment Software
Publishers Association if:M n Ai. .1 sm-
ieiy contposed of majoi software
houses Inducing US Gold, Ocean
MJrrorsofi and Virgin Mastertronfc
And I he ESP A, 1 haired by cpu mm
ous Hewsnn boss Andrew Kew
abo hopes to increase publicity for
games in newspapers and tin TV -
claiming this way 'if will be easier to
persuade parents to I > 1 1 -. Millwareor
hardware as Chi istmas presents'.
No word yd on a mails hot to
Santa's t'lvt-s, but we'll keep you up In
date on both Stories,
Altered Alton
There's no need to go hetter-skeJter il
you're en it ring Audiogenic's £500
Alton Towers COOTp - lor the dosing
date has been put back three months
10 June JO.
Ttwcomp, which can be entered by
anyone who bus $ Helta Sto/rer on the
st i>r Arnica, is a challenge to design
The best screen using the game's built-
in designei section., Hie fir^i prize is a
weekend lor two 01 the Alton Towers
leisure park in Staffordshire inctud
ing hotel rooms and meals
The decision ut post pone 1 he dosing
dale came after delays in the relea
Hehcr Skelter, Information on bow 10
eniei is included with every copj ol
(he software.
Animals
in computing
■ 1 Thalamus's mascot Rtn Sq
commonly known as the
Thalaptiss iFtiix Faseutix,, His
natural habitat has long been the
C64. but recent sigh titles have
been made on the Spectrum a nd
I'vhils.
■2 Attivision's Might & Magic II
horse \Eqnuf Mirflbiiit Forlis).
This large but gentle beast can be
seen in all the environments ul
the PC/C64RPG: forests,
deserts, snowy wastes and urban
areas. Surprisingly docile, Il Is
easy In ride without prior
acquaintance- just as Might &
Magic 11 i s read y t o pi a y w h c-i 1 1 er
or not you know ihe original
Might c* 1 aj,j.,
Telecomsoft
goes up for sale
by Bamaby P
msofl went on the auction
block on the evening of February
22 - but not even stall know
whether a new owner will make
dramatic changes to the successful
three-label software house. Tele-
coneofl publish Hatnbiid. Firebird
andSilveilurd
frequently-mentioned possible
1 1 Livers ind Mirrorsoft.
Mediagemc and PC Engine man-
ufacturers NEC. MicroPrnse, keen
in expand dramatically in the mAt
, .its, abo seems a likely can-
didate - and it certainly has a high
regard lor the company, having
hired three key ex-Telcenmsoft
employees m recent months.
Miiioisoh, ultimately under the
control ul acquisitive media
n Robert Maxwell, is already
a major software house and would
lorn itself into a power of the
Ocean/US Gold rjnk if it picked up
Telecom soft. Bui Marketing Man-
ager lorn Wat son iold TGM ' I have
absolutely no comment'.
Me,.: meanwhile, is
known to have made a bid,
Rumours of a buy-oui by NfcC
have been circulating for weeks,
but it's difficult to see what the
compuiers-ut-s ash-registers firm
would gain from buying Telecom-
soft - iiey'rc looking lor a
ready-made sales and marketing
pfbi their PC Engine
Scarce truth
Indeed, Telecomsoft has been the
subject ol n ,111s lor years. Mir-
rnrso[t">. Watson, who worked
there one and a- hall years ago,
recalls thai "we were being closed
down every day, we were being
bought everyday . . . only ] " • |ol
1 he rumours] were true'.
The sale has apparently been
planned by nwner British Telcutm
(BT) for some tune, but Telecom ■
so It only went on lhc open, market
after flv< months ol negotiations
over a management buy-out, led
by General Manager Paula Byrne,
faifed,
RT's motive forscllingTclecom-
soft is probably that though the
software house is highly esteemed
and commercially successful, its £6
million turnover in I V 87-JJ8 is pal-
try beside BT's £10,1 thousand
million in the same* period.
BT. the nation's lourth-largesi
company, may have found thai
! , i, . omsoft - which does not fit
into its main business ol phone
mi v ues --was more trouble than it
was worth.
At press time, BT spokesmen
would only conffrm that Telecom-
soft u up lor sale, su — whatever
the rumours - it's (00 early to start
worrying about I he -ims.il-.ii- 1 iiects
on computer users.
■3 Tin- ThetaComm Intro*
dog (Cants Vods 1 A distant
descendant ol the creature seen
lor aeons on H\1V records, this
uniirkabie speaking breed will
both listen and reply to you- like
the PC voiit recognition /syn-
thesis hardware supplied by
ThetaComm lor Li-ys upward
from FREBPOST, ISA Queem
JtoaA Best Gr instead. Su
RHW 1BDB (0J42| J256-00.
■4 The ( ode Masters Hamsters
(Rodent! Magnstris Codis). Not
animals but a supposedly exist-
ing band assembled to promote
■ Ate My Hamst
(TGMOlSt
Hot Toaster pops up
Ness Tek's t ih at AmiEs;
always 1 "n i rnwded. with p
chaniingthe vime slogan over and
,-. , 1 vvhi 1 1 "■■ ihe Toaster?'
1 in- video roasu 1 that Is
Bui the Toaster siill hasn 1 been
id. bits and I'ili ;,-. are
nough 10 whet the ap|
.ind make foa bang lit -1 n
gains! the plate in Prusti
I in del ,\ is i'.n il\ ■. 1 11 l- 10 cir-
cumstances,' times President inn
Icnison. 'Remember, the Toastei
ompiicaled hcasi -agenlok.
frame buffer, and georrtetrit
engine n tiled into oni
card.'
Now to the meat, er tnakt thai
the bread of (In- roast ei in
you're wan hlntt a picture ol .1 bo*
on the Amiga as 11 u 1 lully
around on the » recti flu
live, real-1 line video image in that
an image thai continues us
movement 1 , within the box's con
lines.
Now lake a 1 ube - let il spin lot
you Again, a face is su pi
within mi! will rot
1 the Knnix Multt
lemdemo It, MO If,
Thi. 1 his using
lime warpnii
lechnique* inuh ini
ilk, 1
! one
that could unJ
Amiga - which all video
interfacing at ■
lualily The retail .
shouldbealMUi $ J, 500 (£870]
And ill, ■ he ic-iil.ii ■■
llll -llll.-l
Tnastet >/>tssillliti Jevct»pit
SnflM
• ii ul Al-u- pr«({
I. MM I
leoiai'e says 11 all
imaging, moving .11 Impressive
hicre This Is on* i>l
- ItM
Hassle Ness tek.ii
. AT THE COMMODORE COMPUTER SHOW
NOVQrtL EXHIBITION COMPLEX,
HAMMERSMITH, LONDON W&
FRtDA Y TO SUNDA Y JUNE 2-4, 1933
lOam-Spm Friday & Saturday;
I0am-4pm Sunday
<&>
X
V*
***r
.V
HOW TO GET THEHE
By Underground: Hammersmith
(Piccadilly, Metropolitan & Districtlj
By Bur 266, 714, 7 IS,
290, 30,
Car parking
at the Novotel
Commodore
COMPUTER SHOW
Be the first to see the products which will t.ik ( >
Commodore into the 1990s
VISIT more than 100 stands selling a massive
range «i software and hardware
f \PERIL IVCE the spectacular Leisurama with the
lat«*t in music and hobby software
8t -1 7 top programmers at their own games in Vv
ArtMilt 1 l iiium
Wf / J Mime ot the leading computer journalists
TRY Oi'l the latest educational softw.u< m the
ElPi 1 1 opiic Classroom
PH'S Professional and buiiness applications
mduding the very latest in desktop publishing
software and presentation graph**,
POST TO: Commodore Show rickets.
Omtmbmsm Exhibitions. PO Box Z
Elimsmor* Port, South Wtrnl L6S 3EA
Pteave supply:
□ Adult ticket* at £4 (save El \ £
D Under 16s tickets at £2.50 (save CI t ,..„ £
D Fern i lv ticket at £11 (save f7> „ £
Total £
D Cheque payable to Database Exhibitions
G Please debri my Access/Vlw card no:
mil UJLU Mil
Expiry date: j /
Admission at door. Advance ticket orders
es frndu/ti), must be received by
fj. 50 fundat 16a) Wednesday, May 24
Name
Address _
., ,.... Postcode
Signed ,
PHONE OflDERS Ring Shflw rkrtJin*: »1 357 23«1
PRESTO. ORDERS KEY «B THEN S1*5«W3
•■KBCMJNttjTELECOM GOtU ORDERS 72MAGW1
Please quote credit card number atiti fiitl add rats
TABASE EXHJiynONS
PREVIEWS
TGM PREVIEWS
Sports
onscreen
Fed up with Frank Bruno?
Enervated by Emlyn Hughes?
If you're a, sport s-sim Tan, Cry
CDS'* latest in the ever -grow-
ing collection of bairn 'table
games - Steve Davis World
Snooker. 16-blt-only, It's
pitched as an upgrade from the
k-Imi Steve Da vis Snooker, and
should be available now for ST
and Amiga (£}9.99\.
Features include the new-
standard zoom, adjustable
shot strength, and digitised
music {In this, case TV snooker
theme Dragnet). Four differ-
ent games are Included: British
and American pool, billiards,
and carom (a kind nf billiards
without pockets).
A PC version is expected
eventually.
Meanwhile, far the more
strategically minded, new
horse-racing, games are availa-
ble for the ST and CPC, A Day
At The Races, a mouse-con-
trolled ST package from US*
based Team Software, sup-
ports up to 15 players. And it
features animated races as
well as a large menu-driven
management section: buy and
sell horses,, choose 1 jockeys,
place bets, pri n t ou 1 1 he resul ts
for up to 500 different horses
and 50 jockeys. It's available
Stew Davit putting on 'j.'.v crown aifcun ]■:
from Team Software (address
below) for S J9.95 {about £21 M
press time).
And PfcrH Games have
released The National for the
CPC (4*4 and Mini, following,
a successful Spectrum version.
Again putting you in charge of
a stable of racers, it takes you
through a season including
major races like the Derby and
Grand National. At C9.99, it
should be in many suftware
shops now,
Team Software: PO Box
7112, Washington, DC 2004*1.
USA » {from UK) 010 1 70*
511-2112 or 010 I 601 679-12 It.
■ Software for a profitable day ai the
uu,'.*. v,v i\v.'7','s in Bad Byte* page
£2
Up to par
Play thai stroke ol genius in
I Jade's Mtan -IX, a leading
American golf game now avail-
able In the UK through MGA
Softest. t)n PC. Amiga, tpplt
DGSoi Mac, (bur players can
compete ngajn&l each other or
try to beat the par, and when
you've exhausted the y-
slbibiiei [us! tutu in the tout
Famous Cpunei disks..
These ic, nmii the terrain cH
course's like La% Cuhnas-, Mini
field and Inverness Club, and
arc (ully compatible with
HiUH
Mot*-! # itsetf costs £39
onalhhe1*'mi..i-, (
(£1 9.95), while the Famous
ia disks rangi h. u
to £24,95,
Nicklaus
MGA Softcat ,i! two
other Accolade polling gan
im ludirtg SI and i 64 pack-
ages JackNkkloni
ble lor C64 (£24.95). Amiga.
PCand Apple JIGS (all •
while lor the faint at heart
Mini-Pun is out for C64. ST. PC
and Apple BGS (all £29.95)
MGA Softcat: Pear Tree
Appltdert. Kent TK26 2AR
« 10233) 81571
Creatures feature in
Ocean Nightbreed game
Ocean came out a surprise winner
in the bidding for the Nightbreed
licence- and now they're hoping
that ihe gamc-of- the- movie, to be
released around Christmas, will
Not going for
Gold
U S G ol d ha d been ex petted
to win the Ikeneealter long
negotiations, but clearly
Ocean - recently noted lor
their film-based games -
offered the movie company
more, whether in money or
In guaranteed experience,
Ocean Software Manager
Gary Bracey puis it down to
'our record with movie
treatments ... 1 think
we've got the strongest
stable of movie releases of
any (software) company'.
m,;)i.! ' ine Barter raising hell
again
match the success of previous
lit ciucs like RoboCop and Ptaicon.
The programmers of this mul-
tisection arcade adventure will
likely be Impact Software, who
recently scored with Run The
Gawttet for the same software
house.
The movie, which recent!)
started shooting, ts based on hor-
ror master dive Barker's novel
Cabal (Barker on software:
TGMOIgf. But 'it's nut exactly a
horror movie.' says Ocean Soft-
ware Manager Gary Braccy
They're going for a 15 certificate.
It's more a creature movie. And
they're just creatures, not
gory . . there's going to be more
creatures in this than any other
movie. '
Barker is also writing and dire-it
tng the film, his firsl since Htt-
Iraiser, So, with the game's
development team allowed Inl'
access to the iilm sets, Ckean
should be able to gel their Night-
breed close to the author's
intended atmosphere.
Says Bracey: 'We are getting
every cooperation from the (i]m
company, we're there practically
weekly, we've access to
storyboards,'
For their part, ihe film-makers-
ami particularly special-effects
team Image Animation - are 'hav-
ing direct input' iniu the game.
says Bracey, 'They're actually
involved In the -.lory boarding of
Grave matter
Ocean may be pitching
Nightbreed as 'c real tire'
not 'horror', hut lor US-
based Pedersert System*
there's only cine* way to
g« - straight down the
grave.
For their new game
Zombies: Urtdead Or
Alive! (PC. C64,
Apple II). features 'last
action arcade hcttror',
'lifelike horror sic- ties'
.iikI - the- cars boggle
'realistic snttnd effect**,
Squelch along with 'the
first )-D horror game'
from Ped erven Snieniv
2 N. Highway Avenue - ,
Nanufl, NV 109S4, USA
S0K1 I 914 621-2245.
TGM TX 018:5-899/108
tkean j Gory Braeey: working closely with fitm lean)
the game - but they wouldn't \ei
us write the movie! 1
Look i*>r Oceans game on ST,
Amiga, PC. C64. CPC and Spet-
Irum this autumn. Mealiwhik',
the Nighibrred movie will defeui m
North America in Augus-Land pre-
tumably hit Britain ai much llie
umf linn- as the tnmpuler ver-
sion.
Red Heat
Out soon - Ocean's movie licence
Red Hem starts pi the HiasMn snow, where xkepiayer- Amu- ^chwanenei
in tht film - « rr« fowj dwn a dfrig Jetf/iT, fife* rJtar mtacies and move ■ utstdi
iesolatewast mbat
Yeeuch!
lis amply disgusting Bevolti
is spilling his gooey setj over all majoi formats tins month in Gilbert
From :
Tht Again Again gome uei Gilbert going in i ■ personal Holy
Grail .; dismantled toilet And to find ii he'll how to beat a time limit in
five d iffe re nt arcade including Snotfighi at fht ... shown h
Cross out on ST. Amiga, Spectrum, CM and
Oest ribed by pi ogrttmmtr Jonathan
Smith as it Green Berei~ttyte scroller \
Red Heat has /b* j combat in
ta end the Soviet Union
ST and Amiga verswnsare planned
•: here, but
because H t a direa port. Amiga
timilar), alongwilh Spectrum
t m audi i' 1 Programmers Special
FX, previously responsible for Bet*
ithw. were hoping to complete workin
mid-April so expect release so
Nc ogam Cm
piU-pappin$ Pa:-,
10/108TGM TX 018:5-89
•,'fril damf OIKt. It tWerthd&tStWt
Fac-Lexd, this time withlimto (STstrmt
Divine music
Top micro compose) Rob Hubbard
has done the lmpos»IWe-
improved on 1 iltei
seeing \ lectronk Arts's godly
gam< R putout > rCMOl?) Huh
bard agreed i" produce »u Intro-
ductory stwndlra* k
Now working »t Electron!*
Arts 's California HQ Huhhard
haiuin 1 '-! mi Jiii.il, Inn., h in
thebasiNtpi h^ atmospheric
PREVIEWS
From France with death: Bin Chal-
K'ngfisihe fat£NM from Pari t-tased
DelphiiieSoflwaretohll these shores,
ih.iilkMdpjldU-.
Just because you're a robot doesn't
mt-dti you're immortjJ, as si* mnnuer -
packed levels of pa raliavsr rolling will
HHM) prow. Ami i-dih kind nf enemy
nmfc a different kin til ol killini;-
Pr op rammed by the men behind
Elite 4 Spatr Harrier, Bio OuJJtatgf
leotures jn a mating 160 onscreen col-
li iir^. m the ST - and mof e tut the
Amiga. Expect release very soon.
Burnt lor 8- liit Atari: Virgin Maslertmnic art releasing the classic
drmsibusit-rs lor this neglected machine
tJ the WrlitWtoxl rsfMfkatsin Sawbtr Jexribtd b]
Wi Craves iu 'the most exiVim modern aimdh. those with the mitlnrjk^dfiiklm
i
Bomber: 'Test
Drive of the skies'
That's how Vector Grafix boss John Lewis describes
their latest 3-D project - a simulation of 14 different
state-of-the-art planes, based on a real-life bombing
competition!
And it also marks the beginning of Vector Grafix's
four-game deal with Activision - previously the
development team wrote Star Wars and The Empire
Strikes Back for Dornark.
Put Bomber on your shopping list: it's scheduled for
ill I major formats including PC. But first take a look at
what you're going to fly . . . and wait for up-to-date
news on the project.
F- ( J 5trikt riiili in Adviam'i &ml
SmnkifJ Sniea Bembet ok mdrrththtamtr-mS-sickk
fktj Tia At MiG-27 FtsgjftTagahBl
A HUD ail fi? follow Bomber i rapmnmnm tfthi F-JS Strike Eagle
PREVIEWS
Mars patrol
; b-hit gamers can go to the red planet
with Arcana - they'll SOCri release
Mars Cops on Amiga and then ST,
Gasp at the amazing sertens of Man s
halite landscape as you descend, and
thrill to the fan attic* as you defend
the now-colonised planet from the
instrument panel t?f this petrel vend-
Visions of deepest space
ViMi.ium TVihnolo^ies may not be a familiar name, bin you bWtt
their creations - Sword 0/ Sedan and Dragon's Lair, Now they've
decided to produce under their own label, and [he first game is Datas-
torm, on i he Amiga.
Wc mm 'I try to Cool you - this rh'fender-ii'ki- gjmt Is tough' Vour
spaceship ts buffeted front all sides by multiple aliens, space mines,
living wnatsiu
As usual, you've a radar screen, laser guns, and smart bombs. But Us
tbesheermuliiiudcfrf stuff thai Muws you away (or perhaps it was thai
enemy missile?). Animation Is as last and furious as the action, vviih
reaJly great sound effects.
Nobody can say ihai ihe Amiga isn't pui through its paces here, and
though there's no word on UK availability yet. the success of Sword Of
total surely nieans wmifime will import ii.
Marshal M Rosenthal in New York
12/108 TGM TX 018:5-89
■■■1
tt may neirr supplant cricket as cut national game, hut beach i-oltcvhalt is hig in
the States -io big the ts hawehost nhfin \h«h next (ports tfm
uowon ft." Kings 0) !he Beach feature?, a ! i ■mutch teason in diff ons
forontartweplayen took ,<ut lathe 'Pixel-Mate pin-up: tor
forget your simian lotion
Shinobi on all formats!
Vhii s smash Shiuohi is :e< ic- heat Hi way from anodes tc> micros with Virgin
Masierhonic planning release on all Ifr-lvt and 8-bit fcrmati I^ic this •..,■
Developed by The Sates Curve an v Binary Design Shinabi
ihit 1 9martiaf -arts sections with some massive opponents -Including a net
terhdd of nbtjas!
C64 owners may get a tHghtiy different game style, as thru format is being
programmed by Random Access, the Silkworm tea.)
tv
2*m
* wwm in ww rwwiwv
am tm%-
• " am
TrrtTta, *
I J
•___>§ n
Oh no . . , as if arrade adventures weren't hard enough already . Microdral
come up with Airbail on the Amiga. Take the form of a rubber bait, search
through over )0C Head Over Heels-style rooms lor the spell book which will turn
you back into <i human, cry not to burst on the spikes, .md don't forget to
recharge yourself at air pumps - deflating could be fatal.
FutureSound 500
M
Possibly the best Sound Digitizer around?
In STEREO for the Amiga 500 and 2000.
.Records two tracks Simultaneously
•Separate microphone input with built in
amp
Samples up to 42,000 samples per second,
20,000 samples per second per channel in
stereo
.Sliding input volume control
.Ribbon Cable attaches to parallel port
.Easy to use software editor with many
features
.Full support for all hard disks
.Support for RAM disks & VDO devices
.Works with all Amiga operating systems
including 1.3 and the new Fast File System
.Listen to input through digitizer
.Uses expanded memory where available,
up to 8Mb
.Sampling rates up to 56,000 samples per
second if used with a 68020 processor and
Audio Master II software
H.B. Marketing Ltd
Brooklyn House , 22 The Green,
West Drayton, Middx UB7 7PQ.
Tel: 0895 444433
Available from,
Applied Visions (UK),
Jersey Supreme Works,
538-546 Whippendell Road, SDL<iiK>Ltd
Watford, Herts, WD1 1QN, ™t Ift£"gZ «5°E l f E * st
rr in^itiiimTt> Sideup-Bv-Pass, Sidcup, Kent
Tel:0923 818078 dam sss,t<>1: 01-3090300
And nil good Amiga Dealers.
Only.
£79.95 Inc
A CSA Turbo
68020
For ONLY £295 Inc ?
Hard to believe Isn't it ? But its true CSA
broke the price barrier in 32 Bit technology.
Now you don't have to settle for a far less
capable 6K0OO accelerator, you can have
affordahilitt, capability, and speed in one easily
installed package.
CSA's new 68020 Midget Racer Board for the
Amiga ASM, 1000, and 2000 supports a 68881
or 68-882 co-processor at speeds up to 33MH/.,
and is available today.
Programs like Sculpt & Animate 3D or 4D and
\-Cad have been written to directly access the
68020 & 68881, and may not even run with a
68000 based accelerator.
For further information on this and all other
CSA products please write to :
In the U.S.A. In Europe.
CSA Inc. A.T.H.
7564 Trade Street Jersey Supreme Works
San Diego 538-546 Whippendell
CA 92121 Road, Watford, Herts,
Tel:0923 817549
ASDG (UK)
Announce ProScanLab
for the Amiga 2000.
ProScanLab allows full ami ml of the
Sharp Colour Scanners, giving full 24Bit
colour input and output to the Amiga for
Desktop Publishing and graphic editing.
The full colour graphic output is
compatible with all postscript printers.
And can be output as a file for printing by
your local DTP bureau or direct to your *
own Linotronic device. ProScanLab allows
editing of the input so you can pick just a
small area of your Image for output. If
used in conjunction with Gold Disks Pro
Page program this allows you full Colour
DTP with 16.7 million Colours output.
ProScanLab Board & Software £900
ProScanLab & Sharp A3 Scanner £7500.
ProScanLab & Sharp A4 Scanner £3000.
All prices include VAT.
For further details on this and all ASDG
product please contact. ASDG (UK)
4 c?rk^ ¥ Jersev Supreme Works
ASDG Inc 538 . 5 4 6 vVhippendell
925 Stewart Street. Road , Watford, Herts,
Madison. WI 53713 WDl 1QN
U.S.A. Tel: 0923 818079
J
M^CHIOT IS ABOUT ID BE ««« «° SM1E
16BTT
^HmKB succsssm ♦ «* — » ™» TOUOT +
ST ACTION December 1988
•i can find absolutely nothing to fault m HOSTAGES - if reath fe state-of-the-art software: " feu em aflanf
graphics and atmospheric sound, and the game itself is total!) engrossing, tmbgrames have taken a
seemingly impossible theme, and have created a veritable masterpiece''
ATARI ST USER January 1989 Star Game
The garmplay is total!) addictive, graphics outstanding and sound effects thnlltng Deflnitel) an exercise
involving as much cerebral activity as joystick dexterity. M) personal game at the month' (tayne Westl
ST AMIGA FORMAT October 1988
•HOMAGES manage* to effective!) capture the edgy realism <>t an armed siege ... so it you're after
convincing atmospherit tension and the chance to feel the sharp end of law enforcement you'll nod
HOSTAGES quite a liberating experience"
THE ONE October 1988
"..slick graphic > and on-screen presentation HOSTAGES is a weft-polished program. Gameptay, too in
involved and compelling ... should prove a satisfying cfuttlenge tor quite some time'
ACE December 1988
"Fun to piay and will have you un the edge Of yout seat
THE GAMES MACHINE December 1988
The action in HOSTAGES realty gels me adrenalin going. Graphics and sound are used emtneh in
create a grtpfting atmosphere'
+ SET YOUR SIGHTS ON HOSTAGES + C64 # CPC £9.95 TAPE £14,95 DISK
AMIGA, ST (ST PC 3WBV4" £24,95
Mitre House, Abbey Road, Enfield,
N : OGRAMES Middlesex, EN1 2RQ.
Telephone: 01-364 0123
HOTLINE
t
Phone-in fun with TGM!
ZZZZt! KNkk, klikkk, wrirrrrr, brrr brrr CLICK!
Yes, the TGM phone-in lines are ready and
wailing with all-new information. Just pick up
your phone and dial the Hotline number to
hear a fact-packed two minutes of information detail-
ing release dates for the top games for April and May
- or call the News Update line to find out what secrets
and scandals the TGM team have unearthed this
month.
And of course there's a massive series x>i prizes too.
This month we're offering you the chance to win one
of 50 copies of Hewson's Stormlord"
Every month we'll be adding more and more to this
unique service - coming soon we'll have a Billboard
line with hot news delivered direct to you, leading up
to full story in the following issue of TGM.
Information -online!
Printed here is the number which con-
nects you direct tothe TGM Hotline ser-
vice. And we've, got 160 lines, open 24
hours a day, so don't worry about the
service being engaged, Ring this
number and listen for just two minutes
as we tell you what games are coming
out. and when?
For the information you're getting,
the Hotline is cheap. The phone call will
cost you 25p per minute when you call
during off-peak time (Mon-Fri 6pm-
8am. Saturdays, Sundays and Baftk
Holidays), or 38p per minute during
standard and peak times (8am-6pm
Mon-Fri).
Or grab the latest news on what's
happening in software by ringing
TGM's News Update line. We can get
hot stuff on the News Update service
quicker than any magazine can get it in
print - so don't lose touch, use News
Update'
Now smile and dial . . .
/ 'Jf/J/i o
H [:]
000
00
1/ _/-*£-
W M 00
000
000
WIN
JSSPmd
S MASH H,T up Po« S ° N ' S
areas » i£ S R GRA ss
eaS?:a» ESterst-ft
fatn
HOW TO ENTER
I the number (prod, prod) and listen carefully to the three
tstiorts. Fill In your answers in the boxes provided and
complete the tiebreaking sentence given to you over the
phone,
When you've finished the questions, fill in your name,
Iress, and computer format, and send it all to:
..OftMLORD COMPETITION, TGM, PO Box 10, Ludlow,
Shropshire SYS 1 DB. All entries must reach us by May 18
1989 and, as always, remember the competition rules on the
contents page!
The TGM Hotline is produced by TGM Magazines Ltd in
conjunction with Chatterbox Ltd
Complete the sentence given to you over the phone in no
more than 20 words:
Name
Address.:
Computer format ..
My choice of game
Postcode
MO VI N G
PICTURE
MAGIC
Amiga animation becomes a reality this spring with the
arrival of Deluxe Paint fit and Zoeirope - powerful software
for high-powered creation.
ForTGMs in-depth report, Robin Candy tested the pair ,
and they both came out winners.
. e'd all thought Amiga Bfl
Wuttttles had gone as far as they
could. Deluxe Pant IL Photon
Paint and Deluxe Phototeb all
featured exceptionally power-
ful commands which pushed the
Amiga to its limits. Bui now the latest
wave of art utilities have branched off
into a new area - animation.
US6f$ of Electronic Arts T s Deluxe
aeries of art utilities will be instantly at
home with Deluxe P$int III. The mam
tools menu, complete with spray can,
fill and shape tools, is identical to that
in Deluxe Pamt and Deluxe Paint H. It's
only when you look at the other menus
Mhmd the title bar, and the toohmod-
Ification windows, that the differences
between Deluxe Paint III and its pre-
decessors become apparent
There are four new fill types -
brush, wrap and halfbrite - as well as
the old favourites, solid, gradient and
perspective. And colours can be
created two ways: either by defining
the red, green, and blue (RGB) compo-
nents of each colour or the hue, sat-
uration and value (HSV) levels,
When a tint operation is performed,
the hue and saturation levels of the
current background colour are
replaced by those of the current fill
colour, whip the value level remains
unchanged. Deluxe Paint Wf then cal-
culates the RGB value of this colour
and fills the area with the closest-
matching colour from its palette. So
the tint depends on the colours availa-
ble m the current palette
A brush fill uses the current custom
brush and resizes it to fit the fill area.
Wrap is used to give the illusion of
wrapping The brush around a 3-D
object, by adjusting the size and
$hape of the brush to the horizontal
and vertical lengths of the fill area
Final:. ie only works when in
extra- half brite mode - it replaces the
colour m the fill area with one halt as
bright
perspective commands of the
earlier Deluxe P&mt II are among its
most powerful features. A custom
brush can be rotated through x, y and
z coordinates to occupy a new plane
- very useful when trying to create 3-D
16 108TGW TX 018:5-89
GRAPHICS SPECIAL
Dorifth - ttt* iwnt CW*« *P" * rprtrmi story
dTWWTt in t Wm c P»irrt III 's ^.rtra-hafllirrfiB rrKxte. niafcjrrg sitmsjre use of Ift* j
scan painting (allowing you to paint
an an overscan screen) and extra-
halfbnte. doubling the size of the
palette to a maximum of 64 colours.
Here, the palette is split into two
banks ol 32 colours. The first is user-
defined , while the second repeats the
colours of the first but displayed at
half their brightness.
However, if you already own a
reasonable art utility these improve-
ments alone do not justify £79,99, It's
the animation commands which make
D&tuxe Paint ilt special.
They wuz framed
The illusion of motion is achieved by
creating a series of pictures, or
'frames', that differ slightly from each
other. When these are displayed
rapidly one after another . animation is
created.
Drawing each frame individually
can be a long and laborious process,
so Deluxe Paint m includes com-
mands to make this process faster
and easier
One of the utility's unique features
fa rmimpntnting. This is A van/ quick
effects.
But though the commands are
powerful enough, the manual leaves a
fol to be desired. Thankfully that has
been rectified with Deluxe Paint til.
The manual includes detailed (and
understandable) Instructions along
with a tutorial to demonstrate the
potential of the perspective com-
mands.
Other new additions include over-
method of creating an animation, and
when it's combined with other cam*
mands such as an animated brush the
results are even more complex.
The first step is to set the number of
frames you wish to paint across. As
you move the mouse across the
screen, one copy of the current brush
is pasted onto each frame, following
the movements of the mouse.
When the sequence is played back,
the brush moves across the screen*
mimicking the movements of the
mouse,
An animated brush is simple to
create. Just create an animation using
one of the other animation com-
mands, or by painting on each frame
individually. Then use the animated
brush command ta pick the animation
U M U.IJF7
machi
Bas
£>unt El
1fcr»u i « wl fir ■ H ■ I gill] TSflj
i^r^i^JMJj
Tim\ [HlHI llras
1*=^
J=i44J
It's so easy: Deluxe Paint
ill's ntove requester. Juat
type in a few numbers, and
in no time your brush h
swirling eiound the screen.
The famous King Tut picture, used tor years to promote Datuxo faint, undergoes
some radical changes with Deluxe Paint Ill's shew? command
Altered states: this time Xin$ Tut is subjected to D«luxe Paint 111 inrush- manipulation
commands, using the flip, wend, HMVtand perspective options
up. You can now use it as ft normal
brush, out as you paint the brush
cycles through rts animation.
Trie usefulness ol this can easily be
shown. If, for example, you wanted to
animate a figure walking across the
screen, you'd first draw the various
movements of the figure's legs, arms
etc on successive frames.
Then pick these up as an animated
brush, and use the animpaintinG com-
mand to move the figure across the
screen. When the animation is played
back, the figure will appear to walk
smoothly across the sere,
The move requester automatically
moves or rotates a brush through
three dimensions across a series of
frames. Brushes can be made to
3hoot off into the distance, rotate,
expand or perform a combination of
all (hree.
The results look complex, but In fact
they're very easy to do. All you have to
do is specify the distance, direction
and angle at which the brush is to
move, preview it to check thai every-
thing is okay, and hey presto - instant
animation.
The main drawback of the anima-
tion commands is memory. Deluxe
Paint iff requires a minimum of 1 Mb
RAM to operate, and ideally 2Mb RAM
for better results. Saving long anima-
tions will also require high-capacity
disks, of course
Daluxs Peint Ill's palette selector uses both HSVaml RGB methods to create instant
colour
The higher the resolution the less
memory there is for animation, and
more complex animations will also
require more memory.
Zoetrope
Antics Zoetrope is the much-
improved Amiga conversion of Cyber
Paint, previously available on the ST
Only. It's primarily concerned vriti
nation, so the painting side ol things
has been neglected; the basic
graphics tools such OS airbrush, zoom
and shapes have been included, but
there are no innovations.
Customised brushes can be grab-
ted, rotated and resized, but once
again there's nothing you wouldn't
expect from an average utility, Artists
used to other utilities supporting 64-
colour or even 4.096-colour mooes
will be disappointed to find lhat Zoet-
rope operates onky in low-resolution
32 -colour mode.
■ Upgrade
offer
Owners of Deluxe Paint and
Dstuxs Paint tf can purchase
Deluxe Paint ill at a reduced
price,
just send in proof of pur-
chase - such as a page from
the manual, or Hie command
summary sheei - to Electronic
Arts and a cheap Deluxe Paint
Hi can he yours
The upgrade costs E55 lor
Deluxe Paint owners and £35
for Deluxe Paint & owners. Find
Electronic Arts's address in the
item headed Where To Find
'Em.
But what Zoetrope lacks in these
departments, it more than makes up
for in animation.
All animations are controlled from
the onscreen playback bar. which is
small enough not lo obscure great
portions Of your work. It's similar to
the controls on a VCR you can play
the animation forwards or backwards,
or fast forward/rewind to a particular
frame The package also includes an
additional program to run your anima-
tions tndependently of Zoetrope,
When you're animal Ing an object
such as a moving figure, there are only
slight differences between Ihe frames,
so it wastes time having to redraw the
figure lor each frame. It's far quicker if
you only have to draw the slight d iff er-
GRAPHICS SPECIAL
s - and that's exactly how Zoet-
rope wort
Zoetrope features blueing com-
mands which enable you to do this
fhluting if, a printing term). Each frame
(except the first) displays the contents
of the previous frame, highlighted by
the first colour in the palette. All the
animator has to do is to trace over
those parts of the previous frame
which are to remain unaltered, and
tions: tween then spreads the move-
ment across all the frames.
Zoetrope is a daunting package to
use. Unlike many art packages it isn't
instantly 'friendly': when it's loaded
you're presented with a screen wl
except for the c om m a n d cursor, is
blank. However, the manual has a
series of tutorials to illustrate the func-
tions of each command, and with a
little practice most of it soon becomes
easy to use,
1
then add any alterations.
This package's most powerful tea
ture is the APM (Antic Pixel Mover)
effects menu, Just like Deluxe Paint
tffs move requester, the APM allows
you to create stunning animations in
minutes.
And the list of available options is
impressive. With turn, you control
how your brush rotates, including the
centre of rotation, the number of rota-
tions and the axis, Si2£ allows you to
shrink o<f expand a brush to a specific
centre or vanishing point. MOVE
sa a brush a specified distance
along x , y and z coord i nates . And path
allows you lo draw the path which you
the brush to move along.
Tweening
'Tweening' is a term invented in the
days of animation, A master
animator would draw the key move-
ments of an animation, and get an
apprentice to fill in the missing frames.
So Zoetrvps also features a tween
command to help speed up the am-
n process- Tween works in con-
junction with the APM effects menu
and brush- man iputation commands,
to produce a series of frames each
featuring the brush in a new position.
You set the starting and ending posi-
Bememiwf Dire Straths' & Money Far
Nothing vidaa? Hara ara five frames
from one ot Z&*lrop#'s
demonstration animation*.
AND THE WINNER
Deluxe Paint III vs Zoetrope
Both Deluxe Paint ill and Zoetrope are contenders lor trie coveted title of best
Amiga art package. On the animation Ironi Zoetrope is the winner; the blueing
commands are a real plus when drawing an animation frame by frame, while
the APM effects menu is great for creating animated title sequences.
But Zoetrope is limited in other areas where Deluxe Paint III excels, tt only
operates in low-resolution 32 colour mode - hardly exploiting We Amiga's
potential Deluxe Punt lit caters for a variety of resolutions and palette sizes.
making it more llextble for screen designing - but this all eats up memory.
And indeed, memory is one area where both packages are limited, Deluxe
Parnt III mote so Khan Zoetrope. Both need a minimum ol iMh RAM to operate.
and Ideally 2Mb or mare to create animations that last any decern length
Some skill required
It's also worth pomling out that (hough, both packages feature powerful commands,
the quality ol animations depends on the- abilities ol the user Complex animations
still involve a fair amount of rjrawing, and neither of the programs will design
brushes far you. This is where Deluxe Paint HI scores paints; the paint section is
far supenor 10 Zoetrupe'z.
It lakes time to get goon at animation. If you've had little previous experience.
Deluxe Paint til is (tie better package - not only do you get a good animation
program, bui also a fantastic art program. The manual is clear and me program
surprisingly easy lo use.
Zoetrope is really lor those who are already familiar with animation techniques.
or trust iheir artistic abilities enough not to need a good art utility
Where to '
find *em
BaIum Paint III Bectromc
I ArtUangieyBu^ss Certm,
1 H ^9 Station M, Lanqley
n*ar ifomti Beftistiire SL3
jartrop* iSM, Grove House
VermorPoaa.meHe^fOs^
otWigMPOXaJTBOfiM
TGM IX 018:5-8919/108
THE GREATEST
SHOW ON EARTH
You won't find bearded ladies or elephants on the Amiga
screen - but there's no reason you shouldn't make some
with the vast variety of high-tech tools available.
From 1wo major New Yori< shows, Marshal M Rosenthal
reports on the magnificent caged beasts of Amiga
graphics.
It's like a circus - bright swirling
lights and peopie staring with
open mouths thai ooh and aah,
But it's not a trapeje artist or a
clown that's causing all the
excitement; it's the New York Com-
puter Graphics Show. Here can be
found not only the most stunning
graphics and animations, but also the
newest technologies to create them.
Even/where you look are graphics,
animations, complex imaging work-
stations - with companies touting
their latest efforts in 3-D imaging. One
of the most impressive is an Amiga
r u n n i ng Sculpt Anima te 40. from Byte
by Byte.
In the latest upgrade of thus papular
ray-tracing package, new features
have been added that really make the
program fly - features like grids,
assignable hot keys, metal texturing,
motion blur, an animation-scripting
language, and (whew) improved
rendering speed,
Light touch: Sculpt Animate *0 from
Byte by Byte simulates ray-trmeing far
reahstic, quickty-prodvced animations.
And it 's avatlabla in London, top.
But why did they do it when Sculpt
Animate already had people standing
up to cheer 1 ? Floyd Wright, head of
Bytes Video Production, puts it thus:
"People weren't happy with food for
the Gods, they had to have dessert
too.'
Scanline rendering is a new process
that allows you to shade 3-D images
and give them the glow of reality. It
isn't true ray -tracing, but speed is the
advantage: animations can be
rendered in hours, not days or weeks.
The program can also lake tun
advantage of 68010720/30 upgrade
boards, improving on the perfor-
mance of the Amiga's standard
Motorola 68000 processor, and
maths coprocessing chips [a 400-
page manual is an essen! ial part of the
package].
There are also ready-made pads"
available, including 3-D fonts, and the
components necessary to assemble
20 10BTGM TX 018:5-89
your own Orbiter Space Station
least on the computer tabletop.
.ii
Amiga grows up
Graphics shows also bring people
together, and in New York designers
and hardware makers had a chance
to talk one to one, Roman Ormandy of
Octree Software, New York, was one
of those who stopped to chat.
'You get a chance to stretch your
mind, sea what others are doing,' he
notes, 'This kind of interaction can
only prove helpful - from this comes
new developments, and better ways P**"^-
to improve systems. It's good to know
that the 'little' Amiga is a fully -fledged
member of this ongoing process.'
Qrrnandy's Amiga program,
Caltgan. is a high-end 3-D animation
program tor professionals, and an
excellent example of just how far an
Amiga can go, Am ma (ion director/
animator Iseuro Del La Rosa is One Of
those using Catigsrf. The interface is
so simple that it only took me an houi
to make a 3-D object, ' he remarks.
Del La Rosa is really sold on this
product, despite the US price of
$1,999 (about E 1,1 60 at press time).
It's really amazing, he proclaims
You can design a wireframe anima-
tion within hours, do it all and play it
back in almost no time at all. For a
designer, it's a dream program of 3-D
graphics."
Cell-animation
There was animation aplenty at
Ami Expo, the recent New York Amiga
show, too (see this month's news for
more on the show). Visionary
Technologies had CAST- - the sys-
tem used to create the animation of
Dragon's Lair. This is a traditional cell -
animator's workstation transferred to
the Amkja, and geared to the profes-
sional .
Lock at the detail: thfs frame comes from n Caligan animation- 'tt's a
dream program, ' says <wt# professional animator or Octree Software's
its namesake, the cell -animator's light
source.
Of course it adds the power of the
Amiga, but you still do all the art your-
self (or import from other IFF files)
before saving it to disk as a file that
can be animated using page-flipping
programs.
What seta Lightbox apart is that it is
not an animation program, but a user-
controlled alternative to doing ceil
drawings on paper RAM holds as
many working frames as possible -
yet all is automatically saved to disk
for safety. Add to that a a flip rate" of
30 images per second and 'invisible'
reference lines to help you place each
cell correctly - all in a simple, elegant
package.
For MIDI users, Mmdware have
Pagesync. The bottom line is that with
Pagesync, signals from a MIDI instru-
ment can make the Amiga start/stop/
reverse an animation,
Conversely, an animation couid be
the controller tor a MIDI performance.
This really opens the door wide to all
kinds of musical possibilities, as sup-
port is also included far two other
Mmdware products PagetHpp&r Plus
F/X and PageReader 3D.
And finally, another way to control
animations: Elan's Performer This
works with all typ< ; - ANIM.
RIFF, HAM, IFF, RGB. Full control >S
given over speed, number of frames
to play, and forward/reverse. Mul-
titask with music and sound software
-even pull out. change any image and
then put it back in the file. Precise real -
time control is the ticket here.
Sailing ittlo nigh-res: a picture created
with Gold Disk'* Pro Draw
Another cell-animation tool is Light-
box, from R&DL Productions: its a
nifty professional package based on
■ Drawing on
experience
Be Happy with HAM - fry
D<g>p$lnt 3.0. from Mew Tek.
Expanding on the
capabilities of the first MAM-
mode drawing program, ii lets
you take advantage of over-
scan, three forms of texture
mapping, and high- speed anti-
aliasing (a technique mat
removes those infernal 'jag-
gies' Ehaf result when you draw
circles and angles)
Meanwtiile, Gold Disk's Pro
Draw creates brilliantly pure
colour an. Built on the same
interface as Professional Page.
the program uses structured
graphics in high-res mode, and
high -res results are the norm
on any printer , Anybody Sfiri-
mis about drawing on the
Amiga will find [his the one to
get.
Anims on tape
Still with animation, but back at the
New York Computer Graphics Show,
how do we gel those great graphics
on the screen?
Mission Graphics' s solution is a
reasonably-priced transfer of anima-
GRAPHICS SPECIAL
lions lo video tape, giving the same
high quality as professional studios.
The firm's Vince Bilotta explains: ' First
off. you have to understand that you
can't just use any VCR if you want a
continuous and professional -looking
image.
'Mow let's consider disk space,'
Vince continues. A 30- second ani-
mation can easily require 90Mb to
contain it. Even a hard disk fills up
mighty quick, and not everybody can
afford 8Mb of RAM to play with, So
what we've done is combine the
Amiga wrtti a Panasonic 75O0A,
'It's probably the feast expensive
way to go to! ally professional: a Super
VHS deck for high-quality reproduc-
tions, with single-frame recording, a
rock-steady transport mechanism,
and a host of other professional con-
trols. The price isn't bad, either, a retail
of $5,000 [£2,900].
'It may sound a bti expensive,'
notes Vince. "but consider what it
costs to go into a studio situation for a
tape transfer, Forget it - they charge a
fortune! We realise that most people
can't go out and buy ail their own
equipment, so we do it for them, by
taking their creations off a disk they
send in. This eliminates many prob-
lems, and the end result is a video tape
of as high quality as the image that's
on it,'
Well, it's a bit weird rooking al a
■ Colour
seps in
Professional
Page
You often find magazine pub-
lishers at tiiese shows - show-
ing their wares But at AmlExpo
there was a new advance in
High -lech Amiga publishing.
ASDG's Resep enables 24-
bit cokHir separations 10 be
inserted into Professional
Page, generating \ 6,000,000
(yep - 16 million) colours!
But there's a catch, of
course; you have to scan the
original Imago using a JX-30U
or JX-450coknji scanner from
Sharp, and these babies don't
come cheap.
Professions! Scmiab is
ASDG's program to fire op the
scanner with |he Amiga - lor
amazing results. HAM images
become used as proofs, and
saved as colour separations.
Resep then replaces them m
Hieir Postscript file with a 24-
bit image thai can be used to
produce the colour Films
required (or printing.
^^^^H I^^^H ^^^^ vfl
\^^^ ^H V [ ^^»^^
Playing on: another Amiga screen toy Steve Spews. With this kind of quality, the
Amiga should soon repine thr Apple Mse a& th# commerce! artist's machina o(
choice. Next stop DTP?
Still, you need a way to get those down to stop the flood of graphics,
ideas onto the computer screen. animations, and hardware. The
Drawing with a joystick has never technology keeps improving, break-
been easy, and many find using a ing new ground. Computers are
mouse sheer agony. Anakin number crunchers - machines lhal
Research's Easyipad (think of' easel') can do amazing things only because
may be the solution. Unlike other they're so dumb and people so smart.
pads. Easy! is pressure-sensitive - it ■ Marshal M Rosenthal is TGM'st US
doesn't rely on a stylus to transmit correspondent.
information lo the screen,
Wagrrtf/cenC mansion: Steve Speers's Amiga pic is typical ot the
machine's rapidly- increasing graphics applications
large blue metal box and handles, and
realizing that it's an Amiga that's been
rack- mounted by Mission Graphics
for easy internal access and portabil-
ity But as long as it works
Huge palette
Elsewhere on the hardware front. Art-
ist ReaivisJon 24 from Control Sys-
tems took many a person's eyes right
out of their sockets. Imagine being
able to combine high-resolution
graphics with a lifelike rendering of 16
million colours!
This real-time colour controller dis-
plays a bright, flicker-free picture - a
double buffering system enables you
qitise into one buffer while dis-
playing the other. Both NTSC and PAL
are supported, and a fully -Integrated
video genlok combines live images
with computer graphics. Ail this and a
in resolution of 1024 x 482 .
■ Amiga
CAD
Progressive Peripherals'?
MfraGADisahiQh-enrJ3-D
system with an 'intuitive use'
interface' (is it's easy to oper-
ate) and rapid rendering. A
separate paste-up program
supports many kinds ol print-
ers, and allows the finished
image to be output over several
pages il desired.
A conversion utility bridges
the gap to other CAD (com-
puter-aided design) programs
to make for file compatibility,
and even lets you design addi-
tional fonts
The 8.5-inch-by- 12-inch working
area responds to pressure, whether
from a lead pencil or a blunt spoon
(not recommended). And the Amiga
version (A1000/AS0Q/A2O00) even
lets you continue to use the mouse to
select from menus and the likn.
Installation is simple. An interface
bo« attaches to the expansion port on
the A500 or Al 000' s side (with a pass-
through for further use), while the
A2000 takes an internal card. The pad
then connects to the interface/slot
with a wired plug (which can be
removed when storing the pad. if
space Is a problem).
Easy! can aiso be configured for
either left-handed or right-handed
use, and there are membrane panels
that simulate mouse buttons. A draw-
ing button is depressed to tell the pad
to ' draw', just like using s mouse - but
this can be reversed as well, in which
case pressing and holding the button
stops drawanq
A special painting program
designed for Easyiincreaseslhecom-
munication between the board and
the computer, giving better quality.
The program works in all rosolutions
and contains most of the features
you'd expect in a paint program
today. Animators aren't forgotten
either - registration pegs can be
attached so images placed down will
be in the same place each time.
The PC version of Easy! works in a
similar way. but here the card thai
goes into one of the expansion slots
has a pleasant surprise: it includes a
standard RS-232C serial port. This
ns that a serial mouse can be
used, just like Us Amiga brother.
GEM and Windows graphic envi-
ronments are supported, and of
course a wide variety of software
packages. Easyt works with all the PO 1
XT/ AT line.
The carnival atmosphere continues
- in tact it would take a power shut-
Artist ReahiiiiOfi 24 Conlmt Systems , 26/5 Pat
ton fUJ, St Paul, Minnesota 5513, USA
Calkjerl Octree Software, 311 West 43rd St.
suite 904. New York. NY 19036. USA
CAST, Visionary Design Technologies. 45
mitehom Crescent, Wkmdate, Oft, Canada
M2Jffi
Easyt Anakin Research, too Wesmwe Qnve
Unit ft C, Rexdate. OH. Canada M9V5C3
LiBhttoOB R&DL Productions, 1 1 -24 46th Avenue
2A Long island City. NY 1 1 1Q1, USA
Mission Graphics 433 fast Sift Si. New York,
NY 10009
Nikon Film Scanner LS-3500 H tan Bftfrmfc
Image engineering Division. 623 Stewart Am.
Garden City. NY 1 1530. USA
Pagesync Mmdware wrer rational. 230Bayview
Drive, suite I, Battle. ON. Canada L4N 4YS
Performer Elan Design, P0 Box 3172$, San
Francisco, CA 94131 USA
Pro Draw Gold Disk. P0 Box 789. Sfreetswtto.
Mississauoa. 0M. Canada LSM 2C2
Professional Suntsb/ReHp A5DG, 91'5
Stewart St. Madison Wisconsin 53713. USA
Sculpt Animate AD Byte by Byte, Arboretiim
Plaza It, 9442 Capitol ot Texas Highway North,
SUto 150. Austin, IX 78759 AvaHtbtt In the
UK tram Software Circus, The flSazs on Oxford
Si/eet, 120 Oxford Street. London WW 9W»
(01J43B-2B11,
UltraCAD Progressive Penpherals & Software.
464KatamathSt. Denver Colorado 80204. USA
Vfdeofax Interaclive Picture Systems, 42 East
23rd St New York, NY 10010. USA
Video Totster/TMrtBT 30/Wgipaint 3.0 Neth
Tsk, 115 West Crane St, Topeka, Kansas 66603.
USA
PRICES AM) ORDERS: Prices given in Mars
hat's report are in US dol'ars. rpugftty translated
i nto stem ng Bear in m ind that ii me products are
released here, or imported by mait-ortter firms,
Wiey may be more expensive And it ordering
goods from the States, you'll probably have lo
pay postage
Hardware imported from the US will require a
power adapter to work in Britain: hardware and
software wui work only wilA monitors, not TVs
Finally, if you're one of TGM's overseas read-
ers, remember that US rules forhfd the export al
some computer technology lo some non-NATO
countries,
TGM JX 018:5-8921/108
LIKE YOU'VE
NEVER SEEN IT
BEFORE! WflM THIS
THOMPSON'
KAYAK FROM
22/108TGM TX 018:5-89
COMPETITION
K A
Y
A
K
A
Y
A
K
A A
K
A
A
A
Y
A A
Y K
Y
A
Y
K
Y
A
Y
A A
A
A
A A
K A
A
K Y
A
Y
K
Y
Y
A
K
Y A
A
K
A
A
Y
A
K
K K
A
K
A
K
K A A
Special prize for
programmers
Anyone can enter Broder-
assembler or machine
bund's Typhoon
code, please). Get work-
Thompson comp, but to
ing on those arrays, and
keep the technical types
send a listing to TECHNI-
amused during a long wet
CALLY THOMPSON
spring TGM is offering an
COMP at the usual com-
extra prize of £20 worth of
petition address.
software.
No time limit on this one;
What we want is a prog-
the first working program
ram to solve the KAYAK
in wins the prize, and gets
word puzzle, in any
printed in Back Bytes.
reasonable language (no
hat's small, bright
and zooms across
the deep blue sea?
Typhoon
Thompson -and it
could be you too.
when you win this
professional-style
3 -metre Spirit 300
kayak from Broderbund. It's perfect for lakes, rivers, sea
and even swimming pools - just row and go. And for run-
ners-up there are five pairs of trendoid two-tone cyc-
ling shorts.
It's a prize and a half for a game and a half , the first title
from American software house Broderbund to be released
over here by Domark, As a Star Player, Typhoon
Thompson scored a whopping 90% on the ST this issue
(page 34). And it's so addictive and amusing - zipping
over the water at breathtaking speed, searching the
islands for sneaky sea sprites, and then playing a crazy,
top-speed chase'n'catch game, all with incredible anima-
tion! You'll want to take it in the kayak with you . . .
Don't miss the boat
To win, find alt the occurrences of the word KAYAK in this
puzzle* The word can go up, down, left, right, or diagonal
- and remember 'kayak backwards spells kayak'
too . . .
There's no need to send the actual puzzle in if you don't
want to - just write the number of occurrences on a post-
card or the back of a sealed envelope, add your name and
address, and send it all to TYPHOON THOMPSON'S
KAYAK KOMP, TGM, PO Box 10, Ludlow, Shropshire
SY8 1DB to arrive by May 1 B + Usual rules as printed on the
contents page apply.
Now, as Typhoon Thompson's guardians say: bring us
the postcard!
* MP**
ZOO 5r^ ft -
TGM IX 018:5-8923/108
POWER
TO THE
PEOPLE
Don't despair! More power and better presentation were
the buzzwords at the world's biggest micro-music show -as
the range of sophisticated software showed.
Graham Wayne reports wrth words and pictures from
Frankfurt, West Germany.
The halls are filled with short Ger-
man piano vendors talking with
obsequious politeness to Italian
organ vendors, whose beautiful
wives are flirting with several
Korean accordion manufacturers
deceived by the nuances of Italo- Nip-
ponese into beiievmg they're making
a sale.
Meanwhile, unbeknown to the mid-
dle-aged businessmen in b&ue surfs,
the newfangled rnusic stuff you piug
m the wall ts hidden on two floors of a
smaller hali across the way - though
'small' means a door area merely
equivalent to that of London's Orym-
pia.
This is the Messehalle r on the out-
skirts of Frankfurt's concrete-hard
centre, the site of the 19B9 Music-
messe - the world's biggest exhibi-
tion of music equipment, ancient and
modem-style.
It wasn't hard to find the right areas
of the exhibition amid the vast com-
plex of glass and steel; all one needed
to do was follow the hordes of German
leather- clad heavy-metal freaks,
mostly guitarists and drummers judg-
ing from the coiffure and accessories,
along the moving walkways as they
flocked to study the vast array of
guitars, amps and drums that per-
meated the show.
Virtually every hind Of hardware was
displayed, from lighting rigs and disk-
based digital recording systems to
flight cases, guitar bags, sticks and
plectrums. Of course, there were
plenty of keyboards, samplers and so
on, round which were gathered the
more moderately-dressed keyboar-
dists, with Korg, Casio and Roland
sporting impressive standsthal, com-
bined, ©quailed nearly half the space
taken by Yamaha.
I had to look a little harder to find the
MIDI and computer products; I guess
I'm spoiled by shows where com-
puters are the main item on the
agenda, so it took time lo see the sili-
con for the trees. Most good music-
software companies were present.
but there were a few interesting hard-
ware items loo.
Digigram, a French company, were
demonstrating the Midimic - a sleek,
rather futuristic-looking microphone
that converts audio signals into MIDI
pitch and velocity information. It can
also transpose the input if required,
hflfore transmitting the inform ition on
one of two channels.
Long-established manufacturers
Schaller were marketing a MIDI con-
version pickup and controller unrt for
saxes and clannets, and there were
several MIDI switchers, patch bays
and instrument controllers for guitars.,
basses and drum pads.
Nearly all the computers were STs,
not a surprising state of affairs consid-
ering the machine's pre-eminence in
MIDI applications and its popularity in
Germany. There was just a handful of
PCs. and a few Amtgas and Macs
{though several more Apple machines
were to be found interfacing with high-
priced hardware)
And there were two general themes
running through the shuw: the need
for more processing power, and the
redesign of user interfaces.
"Are software
houses really serv-
ing the user's best
interests?"
What you see —
All the recent products I've seen are
providing several alternative ways of
viewing data within one system There
are no real innovations, only the imita-
tion Of other interfaces from rival prod-
ucts.
Vet everybody has to have piano-
roif scrolling, it seems. Many have
windows providing standard music
notation. Windows to draw in control-
ler data and so on are becoming
passe; score' wnting is the latest rage.
24/108 TGM TK 018:5-89
MUSIC
From manuscript to
micro: at Frank furl's giant
tnu$ic fair, -conventional'
instruments were
overshadowed by ever
mar* powerful computet
systems
The result Of this imitation? All the
systems get to be mighty similar
Exhibitors at Frankfurt were showing
very powerful, capable software, but I
wonder how buyers are going to be
able to make a selection, with so much
to understand about the finer aspects
of sequencer operation and SO little to
choose between the facilities.
But one of the criteria to consider is
processing power. For some time, it's
been clear that overheads on the STs
Motorola 68000 chip will have to be
cut dawn if it's to do more work
quicker, since the processor cannot
be upgraded or accelerated like a
PC's or Mac's,
There are several areas where
improvements need to be made.
Screen -handling in GEM is notori-
ously slow. Languages like C. though
portable, cannot achieve the perfor-
mance of machine code. And, for
those with enough memory, the need
to have more than one program run-
ning at once becomes urgent the first
lime you want to edit your Roland
MT32 or Yamaha Txl? while a sequ-
encer is loaded into the computer.
At the Musicmesse, several com-
panies were demonstrating solutions
to this problem.
Multitasking
On the chic Steinberg stand, their new
operating system M.ROS was
announced across three formats -
Mac, PC and ST. The M.ROS system
is properly multitasking, a term that
suffers a fair brt of liberal interpretation
these days, if not abuse.
In other words. M.ROS runs differ-
ent applications concurrently - if you
enter an editor program In memory,
the sequencer also in memory con-
tinues to function. And it also acts as
a network controller whereby, Stein-
berg claim, several STs can be syn-
chronised together and any one of
them can command all the others,
While such a facility does lead to
rather grandiose speculations about
vast numbers of computers, the mul-
titasking operating system makes
real-time sound editing possible while
the device plays its sequence.
Sample or effects editors can con-
trol their devices, while mixer-auto-
mation or score- transcript ion prog-
rams output their output, if you see
what I mean (all this being dependent
on Atari, or some other company,
releasing an 8Mb ST, of course - or a
user linking two 4Mb STs, if you go
with the Steinberg view).
And M . ROS also con tro I s access to
the 68000 processor, ensuring that a
clock- synchronised program such as
a sequencer will have priority over
other programs running at the same
time.
So far, Steinberg have announced
four products that run under the new
system. The first is a sequencer called
Gubri, f eatunng what they caii ' visual
song processing'.
This amounts to resizable windows,
click-and-poinl editing and drawing m
data with the mouse; hardly new con-
cepts, if the truth be known, But carp-
ing aside, this is a very powerfui suc-
cessor to the same company's Pro24
(the Amiga version of which has just
been released, by the way), featuring
high resolution, 16 arrange windows'
each with 64 independent tracks,
MIDI -simulated effects (delay and
echo) and score-editing at sequ-
ences, plus a separate drum-editing
window with individual quantise on
each of the 64 drum tracks.
The demonstrator told me the sequ-
encer will also sync to input from the
instrument currently being played, but
I'm not sure how this could work; it
seems an enormous feat to expect of
a computer. And I was surprised to
discover that the sequencer will only
record on tour MIDI channels at once,
which isn't really up to the mark.
Cvbil should hit the streets at a
hefty £500, but there isn't anything
radically new about the sequencer -
it's just a well -conceived amalgama-
tion ol virtues from several systems,
even down to the Mac font used i n the
screen display. Funny business that,
though it's nice to see the new Stem-
berg range appearing on the Mac and
PC too
M.ROS sampling
Also on show were the latest versions
of the well-known Steinberg lines,
including the Ml Synthworks editor.
Rather more upmarket is Steinberg's
Avalon sample-processing software
on the ST: this is a 16-bit-resoiution
editing librarian and conversion lacil-
tly. Avalon offers 40 seconds of stor-
age on a 4Mb Mega ST4 at a 44 . 1 k Hz
sampling rate, time and frequency
domain editing with FFT, resyrrthesis,
sample conversion between different
samplers and sample rales, plus net-
working between sampters to transfer
samples easily.
Avalon runs under M.ROS and will
TGM TX 018:5-8925/108
MUSIC
Smooth operators: Steinberg had tour products using their new operating
syat«™ M.flOS. The Cubit sequencer Is an upgraded Pro 34, while Avelan
offers powerful sample-processing
Operate with an optional hardware
board that replays samples at 1 2-bit
resolution {even if they're held in the
ST at 16-bit), and has an AES/EBU
interface for direct digital data trans-
fer.
Last but not least. Steinberg had the
Mirnix mixer-automation system, a
hardware-and -software combination
that also runs under M.ROS. I sea
racks of STs filling the studio, piles of
dead mice m one comer , . .
Steinberg apart, there was little
new. Hybrid Arts were- showing the
Gene<ftt generic editor, which allows
users to design their own editors
using graphics tools and Systems-
Exclusive assignments to cope with
the growing number of MlDl-prog-
rammabie devices
They were also showing the 'final,
official versions' of their four
sequencers, tor which no further
upgrades are planned- New to the
rang© is Editrack, a revised version of
their SCRrack sequencer which gen-
eratesand reads MIDI clock and poin-
ters in software. The ADAP disk-
based recording system was also on
show for those with understanding
bpnk managers.
And Hybrid Aits, like Steinberg, are
developing their own operating sys-
tem, called Chaos - there are few
details yet.
Also working on an operating sys-
tem, are Or. T, who call theirs
Supergern. Part of ihis can be seen in
Tiger, a GEM- style interface for the
KCS programs which finally rep laces
the CLI environment they onginaiiy
offered far reasons of speed. The
trade-off now seems to be made
against user-friend liness. but Tiger
appears considerably faster than
GEM.
Such problems do not trouble the
Mac fraternity, however, and Pass-
Who to call
Steinberg's M.ROS should be
relatively easy to find - mosl
major music-tech stores carry
Steinberg products, if you're
having trouble, try EverHodf
Scundworks, The Studio.
Church Street Stonesfietti.
Oxford 0X7 2PS
For Or, T, Passport and Hyb-
nrj products, try Chips Com-
puter Cenlre who also run a
mail-order service: Dala
Direct. $3 Rugby float Worth'
ing, WestSussex8HU5NBft
(0903} 70OBD4.
The other products men-
tioned should be available Irani
specialist retailers, but tl in
difficulties write to TGW's
information Desk
flam British:
The Digital Muse,
a new UK firm,
developed their
own operating
system tor an
ambrtiws
product line
celled Virtuoso
port's Mastertracks Pro version 3 -
soon on ail 16- bits - now features 32
MIDI channels via printer and modem
ports, plus extensively improved
SMFTE control aimed at those syn-
chronising to picture. The latest ver-
sion, fairly bug-free, is already availa-
ble for the Mac. with ST, Amiga, PC
and Apple II versions due within a
year.
US company Sonus were showing
version 2 of Masterscore. which is
much Improved by the combination of
sequencing and editing in one prog-
ram. Superseore is also revised, and
offers useful functions like suppres-
sing unwanted rests which may occur
when sequences are converted,
Putting on a brave show were new
British developers The Digital Muse,
yet another company who found it
necessary to write their own operating
system. They were demonstrating a
new sequencer. Virtuoso - a fast,
100%-assembler program that they
intend to expand by adding programs
like score- writing according to
demand
But that's enough of the ST, Believe
it or not, there were other computers
at the show, though I'm sorry to say
the 8- bits seemed virtually extinct; the
only one was the C64, for which Ger-
man company Geerdes make an
extensive range of MIDI software,
including an M1 editor just released.
Un fortunately, they told me they don't
have a UK distributor at present,
which is a shame.
The machine I really expected to
see in some strength was the PC - but
I was disappointed. Still, the nicest bit
of kit I saw was a PC product, admit-
tedly priced beyond reasonable
means. I'm referring to the Eva to
score'Wrifing and publishing system,
which comes complete with a dedi-
cated Quanfe/-type graphics tablet
and a truly wonderful gas plasma
screen . a snip at $4 .000 (about £2.300
- |usl the screen, that is).
So that was Frankfurt - a formidable
amount of equipment in a lorbidding
environment, My overall impression
was one of consolidation, of various
manufacturers trying la come up with
some combination of facilities that will
give them a competitive edge in the
market,
More power, more channels, more
tracks and higher clock resolutions
were the first order of the day, with
variety in user interfaces coming a
close second ,
But I wonder if the user's best
interests are really being served, So
much money has to be Invested in
these state-of-the-art packages that
it's difficult to make important
choices, given the appalling quality of
most demonstrations in shops
Still, there is one benefit to those of
more modest means and aspirations
as companies develop new prog-
rams, the obsolete code from earlier
products often finds its way back onto
the streets, repackaged at half ihe
pnce. And there are always the
interesting little independent develop-
ers, with a trick or two up their sleeves
to rattle the cages of the big boys. I
remain optimistic,
■ Graham Wayne, a former Develop-
ment Manager lor Rambird and Fire-
bird, now runs a dubbing studio and
writes for such magazines as Sound
On Sound and CD rSeview.
26T08TGM TX 018:5-89
COMPETITION
THE SKY'S THE
LIMIT!
# WIN A HELICOPTER
FLIGHTand
# MEET THE SILKWORM
TEAM - thanks to
# THE SALES CURVE
he sky's the limit whan you're a new
software house - like The Sales
Curve. They've recently signed
major deals with a series of coin-op
producers to release five major con-
versions ... of Silkworm, Gemini
Wing, Ninja Warriors, Taito's Gonti-
nentat Circus and Sega's classic
Sfimobf.
And to mark the first of these releases - SHkworm, the two-
player horizontal shoot- 'em -up which received a smart B3%/
86% last issue - The Sales Curve are offering a prize that's reatly
not pie in the sky. Just by answering the four questions, you
could win:
• A helicopter flight over London
• A visit to programmers Random Access
• An arcade orgy on the machines The Sales Curve are
converting
• Copies of Silkworm AND the next four Sales Curve titles
as they appear, on your format]
And ten runners^up wilt atso receive copies of S/Wcworm and
the next four coin-op conversions from The Sales Curve.
To « 'A answer the four questions on a postcard or the
back of a sealed envelope , scribb le on your name and computer ,
*nd the whole lot to: SILKWORM IN THE SKY COMP,
TGM, PO Box to, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1DB to arrive by
May 18. As always, co n rules as printed on thecontents
pan ti - unless you want to fall out of a 'copter.
1) Wl llowing would you not control in Silkworm: a)
nne, b) a *eep. c) a tank?
2}
\i th^ fvillfiUL/inn minlM
>e Silkworm coin-
or The Sales Curve?
Silkworm, distributed by Virgin Mastertronic, should be out
now on ST, Amiga, Spectrum, CPG and C64
THE AMAZING AMIGA . . .
Pack Includes:
A5WCPU. Mouse, P.S.U^T.V. Modulator, Very
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WOK I H V ER £«50 which includes 10 Blank
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t £5.1X1 post and packing
AMIGA 500 plus DISK DRIVE AMIGA 500 + 1084S
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The Very First Tutorial, T.V. Modulator, Photon S I JiKH/U/
Paint, Mouse PLUS addition ;il Amiga Compatible f*f\1 niTD 1M nVTITTiD
Disk Drive and 10 Blank Disks. CULUUK IVlUlll 1 UK
£44Q 00 ^
»~~y # W and packing
£649.00
IPS 1500
(including the
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+ £10.00 post and packing
1084S STEREO/COLOUR
monitor £259,00
+ £5.00 pott nd packing
Compatible with PC,
Amiga, C64c, C128
AMIGA
tOtO DISK DRIVE
mps hoop £229.99
+ £5.00 post and packing
The Commodore MPS! KW printer presents ihe state of the ait in do* matrix printer, with ill the features uf a printer thai
*ould cost much more, The MPS12WP is desi|Kdto he like three primers in sue, li cart act just Iftean Epson FX printer, or
wlh [he flip of a swiich. n tan act just like an IBM Graphics Pnnici with IBM Group II- 1 character set (DinisWNorwegiail
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ib capable of ill the printing functions you would expect . as well as some additional features. yon may not expect.
MPS 1500C COLOUR PRINTER £ jflO 00
*„ TECHWCU I'HAJWCTCWSntS + 0jW , an J packin g
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PRINTING DIRECTION „„„.„„, .M-directional. *illi optimised hcadrncvemenl
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U-NCKEED -l/cm(i23mm}J*aiTmm)iUid7/72in(2.4DiriiK-nfll6inandn/?2iii.
CHAR-UTKR SET ASCI I character* and special characters.
MAI. PRLNT LINE LENGTH ~™46«p 1 92 characters, according to print pitch setected.
AMIGA 1010 DISK DRIVE
Amiga 3.5" externa! drive. Capacity K)tflK_
PLUS FREE DISK
STORAGE BOX &
10BLANK DISKS +£5.» post and packing
lapacitv rwwirv
£149.99
A501 RAM
PACK
512K for the Amiga
£149.99
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• if
AND MORE BESIDES!
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THIS TOPICAL GAMES
COMr^mW OFFERS A TRIE
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kwitroller is semi penrunfrtili
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TACS
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Rev
ews
32 ■ VOYAGER
Ocean have got themselves
another winner — and a well
deserved one, Voyager
marks the first in what
Ocean is hoping to be a
long line of top-notch
games, exclusive lo the 16-
bit machines. Jump in the
3-D tank and enter into
battle on alien terrain!
34 ■ TYPHOON
THOMPSON
Squeaky sound, tiny graphics
— but hell, are they well ani-
mated. Domark's new deal
with American software
house Broderbund has tound
them a brilliantly addictive,
simple, fun game: it's just like
the good old days!
72 products
44 ■
VINDICATORS
Ten pages later and Domark
have done it again! Hurrah!
This time with the first Tengen
licence — Vindicators. A fast
and colourful game with you
in control of a lethal tank with
an obvious objective — blow
the b*"*"S up!
50 ■ BALLIST1 X
From Psyclapse comes a
future sports simulation — 50
different pitches for two play-
ers, the best way to play this
version of death hockey, and
80 for a single player — it's a
whole new ball game.
UPDATES
35 R-Type (Amiga)
37 War In Middle Earth, {PC, ST
Amiga)
39 Carrier Command
(Spectrum)
45 Dungeon Master (Amiga)
49 Cybernoid 2 (Amiga)
55 RoboCop (Amiga)
AMIGA
Afterburner
A Question of Spon
Bad
■ or Power .
Zany Golf
35
Dugger
,39
49
.as
38
50
. .55
•
...,.56
64
Dungeon Master 45
GoMruimerll 59
45
Hollywood Peter P»o - 54
• g Machine? 45
37
Journey re the Centre of (lie Earth 66
Kenny Datgltsh Soccer Manager ..46
Prison 53
Prospector in the Mazes ol Xor 66
FtoadWaster 43
RoboCop . .. 55
R-Tyo- .38
« Gauntlet ..49
Sd&rpton ...44
36
. ..59
Voyage 32
Wanderer ..65
War in Miodle Earth 37
64
AMSTRAD CPC
Airborne Ranger
Barbarian 11 46
Chicago 30s 62
Human Killing Machine .
Oblitoralor
SDI .. .
Suportri;* h B
Tiger Road 43
Titan
Victory Road S3
Vindicators 44
Wanderer ,.,.,65
ATARI ST
Backgammon, 55
Balance ol Power
Baflistix
Bismark
Borodino
Chase
Cosmic Pirate
Cybernoid 2 ...
The Deep .,
Dragonscape ,
Face Off
GoMofcu
Human Killing Machine
.38
..50
.59
.,61
.61
SB
,49
,33
.66
..65
66
45
Jug
Qrbiter ...
Prison
Roadblaslers .
ne Gauntlet ....
Thunderwing ...
Typhoon Thompson
Victory Road ,.
Vindicators
Voyager
War in Middle Earth
Wanderer
COMMODORE 64/128
Service .
Blasteroids
DN A Warrior ...
F-i4Tomcal
Human Killing Machine
Last Duel
Run the Gaulle;
SDI
Supertrux
Wanderer
Warlock's Ouesl ... ,
Who Framed Roger Rabbit .
.62
.62
53
..43
.49
64
„34
,53
.44
,32
37
65
..64
,35
..55
..5S
„6£
,.45
„35
.,49
..43
..56
.65
..53
..60
Jaifigntar
Knight Games
War in Middle Earth
SEGA
Altered Beast
California Gam
Time Solders
Vrgilark-
43
.39
.37
.49
„53
.65
.59
.36
Journey lo the Centre ol the Earth 66
PC
Battfehawks 1942
Daley Thompson's Olympic
Challenge ,,,.,37
SPECTRUM
Captain Blood
Carrier Command ...
Chicago 30s ...
DNA Warnor
The Deep
Eliminator
OblileratDr
Raal Ghosthuslers ...
Ronogade 3: The Final Chapter
SDL,
Skate or Dia ,
Btormlord
Superman
Supenru*
Tank Attack
Vigilante .
Wanderer
..3?
..39
62
.56
..33
.55
-59
..56
..38
,.43
.64
45
.56
.56
..59
TGM TX 0185-89 31/116
Solid 3-D Tank Duel
VOYAGER
Ocean
Around the eternally beautiful ringed
planet Saturn spin ten moons.
Seemingly uninhabited, these
worlds are in fad the home of trie
Roxiz empire which is preparing its
conquest ot the blue planet Earth.
Eventually deep space probes, pick up
signs of activity on the moons and relay a
warring back home, With next to no defen-
sive capability desperate Earth comman-
ders decide to take the war to the Roxiz.
The cargo starship Storm is despatched
to the first of the ten moons, a solitary
future tank on board with pyschopath Luke
Snayles at the controls. One tank against
an entire invasion force? Whatever the
odds may be. Earth has no choice — attack
or die.
Landing on the surface of the first moon
Mimas Luke takes the tank around the bar-
ren world. The Roxiz have been busy, it
seems, building strange structures and
radar installations — only a couple of sec-
onds sightseeing is possible before the first
enemy tank spots the intruder and the
ruckus begin.
The ultimate goal in Voyager is to reach
the tenth moon Phoebe before the Roxiz
are ready to attack. The short term goal
however is the total destruction of all 80
enemy tanks, hover fighters and attack
vehicles on each moon.
Each moon has its own mixture of enemy
vehicles. The first few moons are patrolled
by weakly armoured light tanks, mine -laying
hover craft and olher minor nuisance foes.
Soon ever stronger and stranger enemies
join In the fray. Walkers, double gun tanks,
cousins of the Stargfider craft, hover gun-
ners, squashers, mystery craft and other
cannon fodder gradually appear on each
new moon.
The on board laser cannon is nearly
always enough to destroy most tanks but
when the heat is on an atomic smart bomb
is quick and lethally efficient. Try keeping
some in reserve for the later moons —
you'll need them.
The radar used to hunt down tanks can
also be used to locate equipment pods
which give forth a variety of offensive and
defensive tank add-ons — cameras., atomic
bombs, radar jamming pyramids, decoys
and multiples provide a variety of offen-
sive.' defensive capabilities. A pod contain-
ing a skimmer can also be found to trans-
form the tank into an aircraft on the later
moons.
Mot all extras are readily available on the
first moon — you have to progress further
to find many of them.
When all tanks are destroyed the warp
gate to the next moon opens lor a limit-
ed time, fly safely through to the other
side to continue the battle and force the
Roxiz to retreat.
Much more of an arcade game than
Stargtider 2 ever was, Voyager boosts the
idea of a humble solid 3D Battlezone
beyond all recognition. Tank combat is
improved ten-foid with the addition of
extra weapons requiring tactical and
strategic use
32 116 TGMTX0 18:5-89
REVIEWS
The concept may indeed be as playable
as it is dated but out-and-out carnage has
never looked so good. The 3-D environ-
ment brings new life to the ideas of lank
blasting action and with it comes a whole
new deplh with different weapons to use.
The introductory sequence sets the scene
with toe Storm dropping the tank onto the
surface.
You against a massive enemy force and
the tate of Earth hanging in the balance —
pnme material for a great blast and
voyager is it,
Call it outdated If you will, but
Voysger, with its solid 3-D graph-
ics brings new life to tank blast-
ing action on the 1 6-bit machines
— all Amiga screens
£24 99
The Jonathon Dunn title track
enhances an already scene- setting
soundtrack, the graphics moving with
similar fluidity but all the better with a
slight increase in speed and stronger
sound effects.
£19.99
ATARI ST
9 II /P
Solid 3-D is rapidly becoming a natural
for the ST, the tanks move speedily
and with very smooth animation. The
tanks are detailed enough with several
building blocks per graphic, and they
change dramatically with each moon.
OTHER FORMATS
A PC version is planned for June,
priced £13.99 and should run slightly
faster and look much the same (the
graphics pending use of EGA and
VGA, the speed dependent on the
machine in use).
A difficult game to fathom
THE DEEP
US Gold
Nothing to to with ifie movie based on
Peter Benchley's novel, killer whales.
sea snakes, jelly fish and Jacqueline
Bisset in a wet T-shirt don't even get
a look in. The game is, however a
conversion of the coin-op of the same name
Irom obscure arcade manufacturers.
Woo dpi ace.
Enemies in The Deep come in disappoint-
ingly conventional form — a variety of sub-
marines, Nevertheless, they're more than a
little dangerous, and should be stopped
before they invade the good or US of A, or
something equally monstrous.
The game shows a cross-section of Ihe
sea. its rocky floor at the bottom of Ihe
screen. Near the top. you guide a ship on the
surface and release depth charges from it to
destroy subs. Soma release pods; collect
one and a helicopter is summoned which
drops an add-on device. Homing missiles.
submersible pods, extra speed, smart bomb
and increased depth charge power are avail-
able.
The game is formed from three short
scrolling levels, At ihe end of each, a sub-
mersible pod is guided to collect a token
Irom the sea bed. When three have been
collected, an enemy mothership threatens.
In stage two. a ship slowly approaches
You have a short time to stop it with a pro-
jectile whose launch angle is determined by
the fire button.
A peaceful convoy must be defended in
Ihe third stage: missiles are launched Irom
ihe sea bed towards it and. in Missile
Command amnner, you use a cursor to halt
them In flight.
The weak coin-op consisted of just long
scrolling stages with a mothership at the end
of each. Though in the conversion US Gold
have added some new features and stages.
Ihe game remains an unexciting rehash of
old ideas.
£24.99
Faster than the 5T version so a tittle
more playable, there's still not much to
the game. The sound is obviously bet-
ter, but an endless sonar bleep and
unchanging explosion effects can
£19.99
Graphics are a little lacking in detail
and sprite movement could have been
smoother The use of bands to give an
illusion of watery depths is weak to
say the least. Scrolling is a bit jerxy,
and like ship movement, is rather
slow. The sound effects are sparse.
The graphics differ, as you would
expect, between versions (Atari
ST above), but essentially the
cjameplay hasn't been updated
since some of the earliest 1964
Spectrum faro
SPECTRUM
41%
£8.99
cass
£12.99 disk
The stretch of sea depicted on the
Spectrum is extremely polluted — It's
pitch black! Your ship is also black,
which makes the game ugly to begin
with. The sea bed scrolls adequately
but the subs lack detail and there's
some ugly attribute clash.
OTHER FORMATS
Commodore 64 (£9.99 cass, £14.99
disk) versions are out now, with PC
versions coming soon (£19.99),
TGM TX 018:5-89 33/116
REVIEWS
Aquatic sport and mayhem in deepest space
TYPHOON THOMPSON
in SEARCH FOR THE SEA CHILD
Broderbund/Domark
any readers may be too young
to remember an old, old classic
game from Broderbund's original
software range, Chopper put
you at the controls of a crudely
designed helicopter sprite which was used
lo rescue men while blasting enemies
Simple, but great fun. Now the creator of
Cftoplifter, Dan Gorlin, releases his latest
work in the UK. hopelully the first in a long
line of adventures for reluctant hero
Typhoon Thompson.
A planet whose surface is covered entire-
ly in water, Aguar lies in the Omega sector
of space. Long ago a human civilisation
milled around its aquatk: highways and
byways, but Aguar is now devoid of all
humans — except, perhaps, one,,.
In February 2124 Flight 3% plunged into
the barren tropical waters of Aguar. Three
search parties have explored its currents
and, to the best of their ability, its vast
depths- in the slim chance of rescuing sur-
vivors. All three parties became victims
themselves of the curious little creatures
known to humans as sea sprites.
A faint signal still radiates from the sea
world, however, a signal indicating that a
human child still lives. It is suspected that
the child has been adopted by the sea
sprites and one last rescue mission is lo be
undertaken, by one very special man —
Typhoon Thompson I
As you join his adventures, he is forcibly
thrown from the safety of a fiying saucer by
a galactic cop, to land with a bump at the
controls of his Jet-Sled, In the game, you
control the hovering aquatic vehicle and its
weaponry.
Your first destination is the outpost ot the
spirit guardians, your only outside help.
They give the sled additional weapons to
supplement the standard laser cannon and
tell you which magical artefact is trie aim for
each of the first lour levels. These special
objects are essential if the child is to be
saved.
The main objective is to capture all the
sea sprites living in islands grouped togeth
er lo form a village. A twinkling light indi
cates that an island is occupied II blasted,
one or more (depending on the level) of
their flyers appear. If they in turn are shot, a
sprite is released, falling into the sea, ready
for collection.
The ditched spriie has other ideas and
begins to swim away for all its worth.
Typhoon can, if he's quick, zoom in to pick
it out of the sea and pop it in his sack,
Dawdle too long though and the sprite turns
into a fish swimming and leaping back to
the safety of its island.
Once all sprites are in the sack, just go to
the Treasury Dome in the center of the
watery village. Here a wonderfully animated
but very angry sea sprite gives Typhoon an
artefact in exchange for the captured
sprites,
Once Typhoon gets back to the
Guardians with the artefact the ghostly fig-
ures give our hero a new weapon, an extra
life and a command to find the next of the
four artefacts,
With each new level the number of
sprites to collect increases dramatically and
the flyers become even deadlier — some
can destroy one of Typhoon's three jet-
sleds while others are more vicious and kill
Typhoon himself Death or loss of a dinghy
means going back to the Guardians for a
new one (which is taken out ot Typhoons
reserve stock). The shitd is gone tor good if
Typhoon runs out of jel sleds or lives.
After recovering all four artefacts it's a
simple matter of rescuing the child from the
sea sprites., simple?
In essence Typhoon Thompson is
straightforward with not much depth (no
pun intended). Some of the most playable
games are like this, and Typhoon
Thompson is one of the mosi eniertaining
and playable games around at the moment.
The jet-sled is a tricky vehicle to ride but
lakes only a little practice to master.
The infectiously addictive and pleasantly
simple gameplay overcomes game's lack ot
Typhoon Thompson may like to
think himself a tough guy, but
when it comes to balloons, well...
,/, P un , - w 5 A
machine
34/1 1 6 TGMTX01 8:5-89
Incurably and inerradicably cute,
Typhoon Thompson is the kind of
game which just makes you wish
you had bought an ST — Amiga
owners will have to wait
scope. Even if you do rescue the child a
momentous task in itself), the very large
temptation to try again just doesn't go
away. Technically brilliant and brilliantly sim-
ple, funny and very clever. It's a classic
game.
OTHER FORMATS
No word yet on any other versions. An
Amiga game would be easy enough to
produce and 0-bit conversions should
be easily possible.
ATARI ST
go%
£19 99
Typhoon himself smacks of distinctly
Loderunner influences and has his own
charm and persona. David Bunnett s
literally amazing animation Injects a
superb sense of humour into the tiny
characters. Watch the Treasury Sea
Sprite when he emerges to meet
Typhoon to see what we mean.
Graphically, sonically and in presenta-
tion Typhoon Thompson is SO Slick It's
almost unreal. A just-one-more-go
game par excellence.
The ultimate space shoot
R-TYPE
Electric Dreams ■ Amiga £24.99
Alan ST 83%. Spectrum 90% — TGMQ15
This is the ultimate home comput-
er conversion ol irem's biggest hit
so tar, 9-Type turns out very, very
close indeed to its arcade origins
and lacks nothing of the coin-op's
presentation, gory graphics and
payability. Arcade addicts may
find the squat screen does
marginally limit manoeuvring
space, but the game's all the
more challenging as a result of it.
If fault can be found (and you'd be
hard to pushed) then maybe the
sound could have been better; as
the tunes stand they're good but
they don't push the Amiga. This is
a superior and very slick biast-
'em-up.
TGM update rating 89%
From arcades
to PC Engine,
8-bit to 1 6-bit,
RType suc-
ceeds, but
never bettor
than on the-
Amiga
AMIGA
Baal
PS YCL APSE £19.95
Atari ST St% — TGM015
After the quality of Baal on the ST,
Psy elapse steer a rocky course with
this conversion. The replacing ol the
excellent ST sampled tune with a jolly
but inappropriate 'house' track is
acceptable, but the Amiga's colours
aren't used and the game's overall
appearance is dull. Poor presentation
has led to a much lesser game all
round.
TQM update 65%
COMMODORE 64/128
Action Service
COB RAH SOFT IN FOG RAM ES
£9.95 cass, £14.95 dish
Atari ST 33%— TGM013. PC 29% — TGMQM
Watch out soldiers! Each succesive
version of this awful game is worse
than the last. Having endured ST and
PC versions, we re now presented with
the blocky, poorly animated Comm-
odore 64 game. Occasional simple
effects are the only sounds and control
lesponse is no better than on the 16-bit
versions. Let's hope this is the last of
this intolerably dull product.
TGM update 24%
AMIGA
Zany Golf
ELECTRONIC ARTS £24.95
Atari ST 83%. PC 82% — TGM01 7
The Amiga version of this Star Player
wacky ball 'n' hole game has the
same clear, colourful graphic style as
the ST. The sound's been (improved
with some original quality voices
adding humour to the tunes, while
oameplay is unchanged, giving
Amiga owners plenty ol competitive,
addictive and zany fun
TGM update 64%
COMMODORE 64/128
Last Duel
US GOLD £9.99 cass, £14.99 disk
Spectrum 63%. Amstrad 55%, Alan ST 65%,
Amiga 70%— TGM016
The scrolling on Last Duel is slow and
a little juddery, the backgrounds are
simple and blocky and sometimes
offensive to the eye. The sprites are
adequate but the effect ol the three -
wheeled vehicle jumping is pathetic,
and the two-player element aods little
to this, the weakest of all the ver-
sions.
TGM update rating 43%
TGM TX 018:5-89 35/116
REVIEWS
Minding your R's, P's and G's
Y's
Sega
p until now role-playing games
havent worked on the Sega.
Miracle Warriors was a weak mix-
ture of simple game ideas and
Golvellius wasn't applicable with its
strong arcade overtones, Y's brings out
the true classical elements of role- playing.
The hero of the hour, Aron Christian.
finds himself stranded in a strange land
following a shipwreck- The nearby town of
Minea is the starting place for Aron's
adventures and it's here that the adventur-
er learns of the six magic boohs of Y's h
books of incredible power which, it all are
found, could be used for catastrophically
evil purposes.
Tales are rife around the village of an
evil sorcerer called Dekt who's searching
for the books No-one wants to lake him
on and it looks like curtains for the land
and its people unless someone can come
to their aid — Aron,
From Minea Aron can set out to explore
the land, but courage and a thousand gold
A horizontal break-out
TITAN
Titus
Titan warrior has entered an alien
complex — his aim: to destroy the
energy cells which occupy the many
chambers from which the complex is
composed. To do this, he has a
high- velocity ball which he throws, bounc-
ing it oft walls and destroying the rectang-
ular cells.
Sounds familiar? Yes. THan is a variation
on the ancient Break-Out them&, but with
the importani and major difference that the
playing area scrolls. The bat {the warrior)
can be moved in the eight mam compass
directions and the maze-like chamber/level
pieces just won't do to survive the perijs of
the wilderness and beyond. Around Minea
traders buy and sell many an object:
armour, weapons, food and miscellaneous
items are all available to those with
money.
Scant clues, red herrings and advice
can be obtained from, the locals in the pub
or alternatively people wandering the
streets.
Eventually Aron meets Sara the Seer
and it's from here that the adventure really
begins — Aron ventures out into the
wilderness and the surrounding lands con-
taining villages, a temple, a mine and
scrolls to keep it centre screen. The ball's
direction is influenced by the bat's stroke
and speed by the fire button. As well as
obvious features such as blocks requiring
multiple hits, later in the game aliens, solidi-
fying blocks, one-way and ball -only gates
are introduced, making the whole thing a lot
more difficult.
The larger levels and more flexible play
that a scrolling Break-Out allows seem like
a good idea at first, bui the faults Titan
gains from this outweigh the good points.
The ball bounces around at high speed,
leaving you chasing around after il like a
madman. The bat's too small, and when
you manage to hit the ball it reflects in a
random direction — or al least, more often
than not, a direction you don't want. And
the backgrounds are a further distraction
when quickly changing heading.
8-bit and 16-bit Titans differ with
the Amstrad's vertical screen for-
mat (left) and the Amiga's land-
scape (above). But with the latter 's
colour scheme, you'll need to keep
one hand on your joystick and
another on your stomach if you're
going to get anywhere
other sites rich in adventure.
Somewhere out in the dark land lies the
fir&t three books of Y's. the other three are
a little harder to obtain. Dekt has got them
and the way only to get them is to enier
his Tower of the Doomed. No role-playing
game would be worth its salt without ihe
spice of combat. Aron can arm himself
with swords and other weapons but even
the enemy just outside Minea are tough
nuts and best avoided- Later on secret
powers and new weapons help in the task
if he lives long enough.
Like Miracfe Warriors, Y's also has a
vital save/load function to back up posi-
£24.99
Nice presentation — rippling water
reflecting high scores, stone pillars
and metallically shaded lettering —
continues In some of the graphic lea-
tures, but a bright colour scheme and
fast play means there is always a dan-
ger of vomiting over your monitor,
Samples of tom-toms and similar per-
cussive instruments are strewn
throughout, and the aural highlight is a
classical singer warbling an ascending
scale while the teteport is used.
cass
£14.99 disk
The screen size has been altered to a
tall rectangle, a teat that would be
more useful to the usual Break-
Out,' Arkanoid clone The bas-relief
graphics are pleasant if simple, but the
garish colour schemes combined with
fast direction changes spoil the overall
visual effect. To its credit, the scrolling
is very smooth and the gameplay is
amusing for a while.
OTHER FORMATS
Commodore (£9-99, £14.99). Atari ST
(£19.99) and PC (£24,99) are imminent,
with a Spectrum version (£8-99) avail-
able in May.
36-'11 6 TGMTX0 18:5-89
tions. The battery storage is quick and
efficient to use and a neces&ily if Aron is
to be in with a chance of completing what
is a truly deep and demanding RPG.
The Sega is really coming into iis own
with games like Y's. An obvious cross-
console comparison would be with the
Zefda games on the Nintendo and against
them Y's compares admirably — in many
respects the character detail and all-round
pjesentation make it the better game visu-
ally, although the puzzles aren't quite so
involved or devious.
£24.95
The characters are small, squat and
endearingly cute as they move around
an extremely smooth-scrolling playing
area. On entering buildings you're
greeted by excellent close-ups of peo-
ple enhancing the already rich atmo-
sphere. Elements like this assure a
success for Y's as one of the top-rank
RPQs around.
L
A better quality of war altogether
WAR IN Ml
EARTH
Melbourne House ■ Atari ST £19 99
PC H9.99. Amiga £19-99
Sccctfum &5%. Amyrad GPC 0-5%. Commcxfcjra 6*
-TGMOt?
While the 9~bi| versions of War in Middle
Earth failed to impress, the 16-bit cC-nver
sioos are a different cauldron of hobbite
altogether, it has been enhanced consid-
erably — Itnd treasures and recruit
armies in this much more
-involving game. Sauron's
armies are all but invinci-
ble, so the best you can
hope tor is to stem the
tide long enough for the
ring bearer ?o complete
his guest. Ha two games
are the same. Even when
you Ve completed War in
Middle Earth there is still
plenty to do such as
refining your stratgies
and locating ail the hid-
den objects. There's little
difference between the
three te-fcft versions
reviewed here other than
sound and some minor
graphical differences, but
the game plays just as well on all formats
TGM update: PC 88%
Atari ST 88%
Amiga 89%
Wat in Middle Earth didn't fare too
we Hon tn* Spectrum, traditionally
Hobbit land, but on th«? 1 6-bit
machines it turns out very well
SPECTRUM
Captain Blood
W FOG R AWES £9.95 caas.
£14.95 disk
Atari ST 74% — TGM0&7
The Alienasque H.R.Giger-inspined
organic spacecraft console doesn't
loss too much m the translation to
monochrome and, although grainy, the
3-D canyon sequences are effective.
Hyperspace and planet-destruction
graphics sequences are disappointing
ty crude, but Jarre's 2ooiook music is
anjoyabia enough and so's the overall
amepiay. Unfortunately. Captain
iiood is showing Fts age now
TQM update rating 68%
PC
Daley Thompson's
Olympic Challenge
OCEAN £24,95
Spectrum 72%. CwtWTOdore 64 ?3% Amsfrad
63%, Arnig& 55% — TGM01 3, Ata n S
TGMCU
The PC mimics the other 16-bit ver-
sions, in us-ng digrtised Daley s and
high overhead vjews in some events.
With the relatively restricted palette ot
EGA though, black, green, red and
grey mafce an unusually unattractive
Thompson. This is too late to cash in
on the Olympic Spirit, and worse than
US Gcld.Epyx' The Games: Summer
Edition
TGM update rating 59%
AMIGA
IK Plus
SYSTEM 3 £24,99
Atari ST 88% — TQM014
TGM first tooked at Arthur Maclean's
fast and furious beat-'em-up as part of
our martial arts action issue, The
Amiga game plays the same as on the
ST; tha onty differences are the slightly
more attractive sunset effect and some
enhanced music. Gratuitous pixel vio-
lence is especially good fun in fK Plus
— a must for Amiga-owning fans of the
genre.
TQM update rating 88%
TGM TX 018 5-89 37/116
REVIEWS
Blood and bruises in the future
RENEGADE 3
THE FINAL CHAPTER
Imagine
With his girl kidnapped not long
ago, his brother murdererd by Mr
Big and now his girl kidnapped
yet again, it's all proved too
much for Renegade. -.now he
seeks TOTAL vengeance,
But this rescue attempt isn't quite so
easy Renegades girl has been spirited
away by foes with a nice line In time travel,
It Jusl so happens thai the Renegade has
also discovered the secret and off he goes
through the temporal void chasing his
opponents back and forth, The kidnappers
have made him real mad and they're going
to pay for it in blood and bruises!
Renegade moves ever right-wards nut-
ting, kicking, crippling and' maiming the
opponents hoping to reach the next stage.
Though if he dwardles he could get trapped
in a time zone forever — and that's a
mighty long time to spend thumb twiddling.
The search starts one million years back
when dinosaurs ruled Earth. Cavemen,
dinosaurs and egg-dropping preradactyls
assail the macho hero as he wanders casu-
Target Renegade was good but the sec-
ond sequel is so much more fun — gratu-
itous pixel violence is always a satisfying
pastime, and Renegade 3 just goes to
prove it.
nuimimi
*&££&* (i? 1*1 [ft Ml
The unholy mayhem continues
with Imagines third — and most
enjoyable — Renegade:
Commodore 64 above, Spectrum
below left
• is n rn ni g e yfr-^ ft o r=* e
£8 99
cass £14.99 disk
Judging by past experience
Spectrum owners have little
cause to worry about with high
resolution screens throughout
with bags of detail although
monochrome in appearance.
The atmosphere of each period
is brought to life with some
great! 2BK tunes (the Egyptian
piece is especially authentic
sounding).
ally through (he level. The fighting comes to
a head at level's end where we learn
Renegades beloved's been spirited to
ancient Egypt. The fight and fists action
continues through to Ye Olde England with
Knights on hobby horses, jesters and drag-
ons flapping around castle ramparts.
Following the trip around King Arthur's
abode, its back to the future and beyond to
space stations where robots try to fry our
merry hero.
Renegade 3 keeps with tradition, which
may disappoint fans looking lor several new
ideas. The ommission of a two-player
option could have been a mistake, but
would invariably have made the game far
too easy — as it is it plays at just the right
level
£9.99
cass
£14.99 disk
Not quite as detailed graphics running
around but colour Is used well and the
music Is catchy. It doesn't quite
matching th© Spectrum version for
payability, and the overly-precise col-
lision detection can be nuisance.
CITHER FORMATS
An Amstrad version should be out now
at £9.99 and £14.99. with ST and Amiga
versions (£19.99 and £24.99) released
In June.
The eagle versus the hear
BALANC
Mindscape
If there's one game destined for
immortality in the battlefield of strat-
egy games it's Balance of Power
Subjected to many a request, plea
and ultimatum. Chris Crawford has
now produced a sequel, or rather an
Independent extension' of the existing
program.
A simulation of geopolitics in the nucle-
ar age, Balance of Power has you sitting
in the ultimate hot seal in either the
Kremlin or the White House. The goal: to
take your nation through eight years ol
political rule without triggering World War
III and at the same time maintaining and
improving upon a strong political, eco-
nomic and military presence worldwide-
Chris Crawford hasn't made the 1990
edition significantly different in execution.
Instead he's added a multi-polar level of
play whereby the other countries now
control their destinies. This increases the
all-round game complexity to frighteningly
high levels of complexity (the Nightmare
level is nothing in comparison with this
monster!}. If it all gets too much four advi-
sors are on hand at any time to provide
CARRIER OH STANDBY
Spectrum owners will just have to grit
their teeth untlll Carrier Command's
release date is announced, because
Realtime are improving the game yet
further following some suggestions
from our sister magazine CRASH.
Whenever it appears Carrier
Command will be well worth the wait.
POST
bear;
I I Ml
I n' 'I
38/116 TGMTX0 18:5-89
L
-
E OF POWER - 1 990
£24.99
Both ST and Amiga versions suffer
from a lengthy delay while the comput-
er works out all 80 countries' actions
and as nuclear wars are very easy to
Initiate the save function is nearly
always In use each turn. Graphically
and sonically, the ST version is exactly
the same as the Amiga.
their views on sensitive situations.
There can be no question about the
depth and challenge of Balance of
Power — the 1 9-90 Edition is more of the
same and is THE definitive strategy game
with no exceptions, Cynics however,
might say the 1990 Edition is too much of
the same
£24.99
Balance of Power isn't a game to show
what both 16-bit machines can do
when it comes to presentation. The
use of colour is strictly functional and
the no sound effects rule Is odd at
first but entirely logical If you enjoy
strategy there's nothing else which
comes close. This is the ultimate
strategy game.
Breaking the Spectrum barrier yet again
CARRIER
w Ml I* ill I mm n
COMMAND
Ramfetrd 126* Spectrum £14.95 cass t £15,95 tfi.sk
UPDATE
Alan ST 9S% — TGMGQ7. Amiga 97*n — TGJVtOtl
it pushed the ST let atone the Spectrum, but the
Realtime team haven't wasted their time, Andy
Onions hasn't just converted the game, he : s
improved on the original 16-bit versions in a healthy
number of areas. Ever more advanced program-
ming techniques have brought the game up to $T
standards in speed although the graphics are obvi-
ously not as smooth flowing,
Unbelievably the sound effects work better than
the 16 -bit counterparts and lessons have been
learnt. SimHarry. Dave Lowe's superb musical piece
really shows what can be done wHh the 1 28K's
sound chip.
The earner's lasers have been toned down making
the game considerably harder even the gamepiay
has undergone slight tweaking in places which
improves payability arid the game's <luid running no
end. And there's the time acceleration option which
ST and Amiga owners were crying out tor.
Well defined, neatly shaded solid 3-D objects, faufT-
Eess presentation and gamepiay which betters its
16-bit counterparts makes Garmr Command as
much of a breakthrough on the Spectrum as It was
on the ST — if not more, Brilliant.
TGM update 96%
AMSTRAO CPG
Airborne Ranger
MICRO PROSE £9.95 cass,
£14.95 disk
Conwrtodore 64 82% — TGM!" ;
Sfmum JSm PC 78% — T0MO1 4
This is much the same as the Spectrum
version although the tour colours in
Mode 1 are rather garishly implemented
and the sound is limited to standard
CPC spot effects. The strategic eienwtl
h in keeping with Utcro Prose's previous
games and assures considerable depth
of gamepiay. bu( the overall presenta-
tion has taken quite a battering.
TGM update rating 60%
ISM PC
Knight Games
MASTER TRONIC £9.99
First on the Commodore 64 over two
years ago. and still a novel sports
game, Knight Games enters the rela-
tively competition-free PC arena. EGA
and other colour modes create a pleas-
authentic looking game despite the
knight animation. Out of the eight
ants on offer aEE but two take the form
: one-to-one combat, repetition follows
d it's left to the crossbow aiv$ archery
enrs to provide anything more than
iort term appeal.
GM update rating 50%
Afterburner
4CT1VISEON £2499
ltan ST 47%j CommcKtcre 64 £9%. Spectrum
3% — TGM0 1 5 , Amsirtut CPC 68% —
(arsly acceptable on the ST. the Amiga
srsion looks much the same although
the sampled music kicks the game off to
4 good start, The jet banks faster than
4n the ST but stlli rolls awkwardly The
#orst thing about Afterburner is that nei-
ther the speed or graphic quality of the
goin-op is captured in the conversion.
4nd without either the gama ooev
dome over too well at all,
TGM update 50%
TGM TX 018:5-89 39/116
REVIEWS
Raffaele Cecco does it again, and again, and again..,
STORMLORD
Hewson
Haftaele Cecco 's latest game has
been long and eagerly awaited by
6 -bit owners. Hat's most famous
work is Cybemoid, but his credits
also include Copavt, Solomon's
Key, Equinox a net Exoton.
Classed as something of a sequel to
Exofon, Stormtord takes place in the dark
regions of a mystical medieval time rather
than the spacestations of the unknown
future. The Realm of the Mighty Storm lord
went about its business peacefully and dil-
igently, and for many years its people
were happy with their humble lives.
The Stormlord had ensured prelection
from outside forces... until now.
The Queen of Evil has infiltrated the
Realm, and captured many magical fairies
who helped protect the land. Now, its
defences in latters, the Realm has been
overrun by all forms of nasty creatures —
the minions of the Queen of Evil.
Stormlord's people are in a desperate
state, unable to defend themselves from
the violent, greedy attacks of the Queen's
demonic beasts,
Naturally, as the leader of both the com-
munity as a whole and the peace -keepers
who watch over it, it is Stormlord's job to
rid the land of demons, before it's too late,
The fairies must be freed from their cages
and any beasts encountered slain, so that
peace can once more be the land s guid-
ing influence.
Stormlord is controlled by running and
jumping along a horizontally scrolling land-
scape, composed mostly of platforms
Dragons, bees, acid rain, eggs which
release giant insects, pawns and other
beasts attempt to damage him, but he has
an everlasting supply of swords and mean-
diary devices with which to preserve his
eight lives,
To avoid a long slog there are spring-
boards to catapult him high into the air and
lake him rapidly from one location to
another — hopefully a place where a fairy
can be rescued- Objects such as honey -
pots, keys and umbrellas help access to
like the actual levels, this is done against a
time limit.
Well, Mr Cecco has done it again.
There's nothing new or particularly special
about Stormtord, yet is highly playable
from the minute you pick up the |oysiick.
It's by no means an easy game, either.
Considerable practice is needed before
the second level can be reached, and
even then, the first level can still prove to
be a problem.
Simple gameplay hides behind glossy
presentation, but really this proves that the
more straightforward the play, ihe more
addictive the game, Although often trus-
tratingly difficult, Stormtord has you going
back time and time again to collect just
Gaming elements maketh the man:
the Spectrum pays dividends again
otherwise hard to reach areas.
There's a bonus round in berween levels
too, where Stormlord blows kisses (small
heart shapes) at a number of dancing
fairies and in return they drop tears which
can be collected for points. Unfortunately,
Raff Ceccos long association with
in exciting Stormtord
those two or Ihree more fairies that will
complete the level and help restore free-
dom to The Realm,
■ r
■ r
- I^H — Z^H
Wr- r: 3JME r: :•■
T C IT \ T C SVVf CYTC ?l^ T C !^~^ (tv"' CTy ' ^i • • i ■ - lfl
£7.99
cass
£14,99 dish
The backgrounds are well defined and
cleverly shaded, and scroll smoothly
as the brilliantly drawn Stormlord
stomps along. The varied and amusing
enemies are equally cleverly animated;
well done Hugh Binns for some great
graphics. The quality effects {including
an amusing wolf-whistle when
Stormlord lands on a statue), lively jin-
gles and good, lively music round it all
off nicely.
OTHER FORMATS
Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC ver-
sions (both E0.99 cess, £14 99 disk)
should be bounding off springboards
as you read this. ST and Amiga ver-
sion release dates are unknown as yet,
but both are likely to be £19.99.
40/116 TGMTX01 8 5-89
•It is daybreak, to ,om the other pilots in the squadron aewr&om to
toss objeaives forth* day ahead. fetics, combat manoeuvres; all
are captured completely by F-16 COMBAT PILOT. During your pre-flight
fcndmg you instruct the found crew on weapon loading and plan
rut attack
h threat of imminent destruction and the stress of niglH*
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piaster in all five roles of toe F-16. from air-to-air interception to
{ntfifdictofsrjike.
1
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ROCK STAR
%#r
Could you manage this
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Cod*A*iifrriSO*»wArf Comply Lid FOe™t! LEAWlhdCTDN 4PA CviatjSH
CENTRONICS LTD
STRATEGY
ADVENTURES & SIMULATIONS
AMIGA SOFTWARE
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THE VIDEOVAULT COMPUTER COMPANION
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COPYRIGHT VIDEOVAULT NO. 885071 FAX No M574 68946
Over San Francisco by day and night
JETFIGHTER
Velocity
Jetfighter is actually the Amiga simu-
lation Interceptor on the PC done by
original programmer Bob
Dinnerman.
In command of a jetfighter, you're
itching to get up there in the wild blue yon-
der. Why then are are you sitting waiting on
the deck ol the carrier Constellation just
outside San Francisco Harbour?
Orders, your commander said, MiGs are
flying around just off the coast and therjB
could be trouble. With the situation likely to
flare up in a matter of minutes you're on
standby, wailing to take to the air and
defend the good ol' United States.
Expanding on the Interceptor theme,
Jetfkjhter allows for control of not only an F-
16 Falcon and F-18 Hornet but an F-14
Tomcat as well, complete with its swing-
wing capability, An ILS system has also
been added along with more missions and
arr-lo-g round weapons.
Amiga interceptor on the PC
Simulation fans who have seen
interceptor will recognise just how close it is
to Jetfighter. although there are several
extras in terms of misions and overall
gameplay. Although Jetfighter doesn't quite
come into F-19 Stealth Fighter's league —
even though it's faster — through the
From the title screen each area of flight
and jel combat can be fine-tuned.
Independent missions can also be under-
laken but to qualify for these four soccesful
carrier landings must be accomplished —
Iwo of them at night.
Once qualified you can then undertake
the various missions — ranging from inter-
cepting rogue aircraft to escort duties and
even attacking with unguided bombs.
INTERCEPT SPEED
The tougher requirements for
qualification are heightened by
the speed at which the PC
game moves. The faster (he PC,
the tougher it all gets, Owners
of 286- and 386 -equipped PCs
watch out — this game is fast!
inevitable sacrificing of graphical detail with
an incredible 32 missions there's a wealth
of depth and the combination of simulation
and action works very well indeed.
£39.95
If Jetfighter had been available before
F-19 Stealth Fighter, it might have had
more impact. The planes have the
detail and the speed is there but with-
out more areas lo fly around the real-
ism can only be pushed so far. San
Fransico can get awfully boring after
awhile. Another drawback is the price,
which might be okay In the States, but
Is a bit steep for the UK market.
VERSiON UPDATES .
AMIGA ■ ATARI ST
Roadblasters
US GOLD £19.99
Commodore 64 47% — TGMO 1
The all-important driving effect works
well on the 16-bits, but better on ST
(pictured below) where road move-
ments are fluid and objects and vehi-
cles move past quickly enough to be
satisfying. On the Amiga (he minus is a
restricted number of roadside objects
which negates the illusion of speed,
Added to that the graphics are pretty
basic to say the least. This is not the
definitive race-and-raze game we were
alt expecting but an acceptable offering
for fans of the coin-op.
TQM update: Amiga 60%
Atari ST 72%
AMSTRAD CPC
Tiger Road
US GOLD £9.99 cass, El 4.99 disk
Amiga 70%. Commodore 64 66%, Spectrum
43% — TGM017
Amstrad games nearly always have ihe
best of both worlds with a wealth of
colours and the piayabihty of Spectrum
conversions — a pity in this case as the
Spectrum version fell flat on its face
If you accept the blocky graphics and at
times messy use of colour there's some
vestige of a good axe romp within,
although rt may not look it.
TOM update 62<%>
AMSTRAD CPC ■ COMMODORE 64.128
SPECTRUM
SDI
ACTIVISION all £9.99 cass, £1 4.99
disk (not Spectrum)
AtBri ST 58% — TGMO M
Sega's middling coin-op may have
already come across relatively intact on
the ST but on the ZSO machines the
head of the game istaken out entirely
with no background graphics to speak
ol in the offensive stages and no dual-
player option (two players take pan
alternately}. The Amstrad game suffers
very badiy with less colour than the
Spectrum version.
The Commodore version fares a lot
better, with neat backdrops helping to
boost gameplay. Without the coin-op's
gloss the similarity of each level brings
very repetitive play with it, especially on
the Amstrad and Spectrum,
TGM update ratings:
Amstrad CPC 29%
Commodore 64/128 56%
Spectrum 37%
TGM TX 018:5-89 43 116
REVIEWS
Tanks a lot, Tengen
VINDICATORS.
Tengen
Spinning through the quietness of
space near Galaxy TR15 lie 14
space stations. The vast and e ver-
so- evil Tangent Empire owns the iot
and from them comes a rather
large and very nasty invasion force.
Sensing ti.e potential threat, Earth
sends a tank -carrying mothershlp to. the
area loaded to the brim with weaponry.
The mission? What etee but mass destruc-
tion!
Once onboard the first station the SR-88
attack tanks get down to business.
Unfortunately, it seems the enemy isn't in
the mood tor making deals — to put no
fine a point on it they're out for blood.
Vanquishing the Tangent Empire and its
alien commander is the ultimate goal but
to do this the control centres in each of the
space stations have to be vapourised.
Each station is crammed with deadly
tanks, gun turrets and hoverships all
increasing in power, speed and effective-
ness with each new level,
The security may be light inside but the
enemy are still rather careless, having left
spare fuel pods around and Battle Stars to
pick tip. The former keep the tank going,
the letter's used for tank customisation at
the end of level. Using Battle Stars as cur-
rency more powerful weapons, shields and
sank add-ons can be bought. Special
weapons can also be bought for use
against tougher opponents.
Trundling along vindicating all who dare
challenge is the way to victory. To
progress the key to the next floor of the
station should be found. The final floor
contain ins the control centre. Just get the
keys, destroy the control centre and get
out of there before it ail goes up — easier
said than done
It's amazing hew dramatic a transforma-
tion a coin -op conversion can undertake,
The arcade machine was a surprising dis-
appointment with its fairly standard game-
play, but this type of game is ideal for the
home computers.
With its dual-player option, weapon-
upgrading strategies. 14 stations and
three skill levels there's enough of a chal-
lenge here to keep you playing (or literally
ages. Highly addictive,, highly playable.
highly enjoyable — simply a superb con-
version from Tengen,
A sting in the tail
SCORPION
Digital Magic Software
The emerging Cheshire based soft-
ware house Digital Magic Software
are likely to stay largely unknown if
the plot tor this shoot-'em-up is any-
thing to go by. A princess (this time
of the planet Scorpia) has been captured
and held at the end of five monster-filled
levels. You know what to do
Time does noi apply in Scorpia, and the
backdrops are pretty weird and wacky.
Firing energy-bolts from your fingertips as
you run and jump along, power can be built
up by picking up weapon icons. Vou need
to because the huge end-of- level guardians
take some beating.
Five levels don'f make a huge game
these days, but Scorpion's are of consider-
able size, making each one a unique chal-
lenge. Difficulty is also increased by the
someiimes reluctant control response, awk-
ward positioning of platforms and overly
tough and evasive adversaries. Ultimately,
frustration must dictate a limited lifespan for
this product.
E2495 V^ M
Smooth scrolling is the game's great-
est attribute: definition and animation
is quite sloppy (the Scorpion warrior
looks like he's carrying a cowpal). with
only a few graphical highlights, Sound
is a selection of unremarkable and
occasionally irritating samples. It all
adds up to 'almost but not quite'.
44/116 TGMTX01 8:5-89
Wacky, colour-
ful screens
disguise the
sting in the tale
— bad collision
detection which
helps create fid-
dly and frustrat-
ing gameplay
£19.99
Not the most aspiring of coin-ops,
Vindicators has nevertheless come
over incredibly well as a computer
game. Smooth scrolling in a large
playing area, digitised explosions and
some ace sound effects make
Vindicators not just a superb conver-
sion but a real fun game to play. Tanks
a lot Ten gen!
A brilliant debut coin-op conver-
sion from Tengen guaranteed to
at-track-t even the discerning
arcade crowd and make l hem put
money into games rather than
slots. Both screens from Atari ST
OTHER FORMATS
Commodore 64 (E9.99 cass, £12.99
disk) and Amiga (£19.99) versions will
be available soon. A similarly priced
PC version is also planned.
£9.99
cass
£14.99 disk
As fast, If not faster, than ST and coin-
op versions, it has a slightly larger
playing area. The graphics and presen-
tation are great and the scrolling is
the smoothest yet seen. The fact that it
compares so well with the arcade
machine Is proof of Consults talents
and also the Amstrad s much under-
rated capabilities.
FTL have gone all out to provide nearly
everything to do with classic fantasy RPG
all tn one game. They've easily surpassed
themselves, but it's unbelievable just how
good a job they've actually done and how
well it all works.
There's something in the game for Every-
one, with action, adventure, fiendish puzzles
and great depth. Dungeon Master oozes
atmosphere and shouldn'i be missed by
any self-respecting RPG fan.
TGM update 94%
UPUA
Human Killing Machine
US GOLD 16-bit C1 4.99,
8-bit £9.99 cass, £14.99 disk
Spectrum 74% — TGM.Q1 7
The Street Fighter trend continues with
H.K.M. but Tiertex have made little
progress in creating new gamepiay
changing no more than the graphics.
The backdrops are d liferent but little
improvement over the previous game
— the ST version having slightly better
definition than the Amiga game,
although across all versions the charac-
ters suffer from a chronic lack of anima-
tion.
T
Plumb the labyrinthine levels of the awesome
DUNGEON
MASTER
FTL Games/Mirrorsoft ■ Amiga E24.99 — 1 Mb only
Atari ST 94% — TGM005
Probably the ultimate in computerised role-
playing game reaches fat Amigas. Bad
news if you don't have 1 meg of RAM
because you won't be able to play if An
A50O version Is planned for the Summer
Out until then owners of bog standard
Amigas will just have to dream..
Graphically there's no change but the game
and its incredible atmosphere is enhanced
dramatically through superlative use of the
Amiga's stereo system. Distant footsteps
promising unknown horrors get the old tick-
er beating doubie-lime, the tension rising
with each new step and the very shadows
themselves become potential monsters.
While the Amiga game offers a better
challenge with very hard opponents lo
defeat, on the ST and Commodore the
challenge is negligible once the best of
the limited moves is learnt (on the
Commodore the flying kick, on |he ST
the crouching punch or kick) On the
Amstrad there's a better defined level of
payability than in the C64 and 16 -oil
version and if it wasn't for the putrid
colour scheme used it could have been
up there with the Spectrum version
TGM update ratings: Amiga 30%
Amstrad 63%, Atari ST 31%
Commodore 54/ 1 28 26%
AMIGA
Hacker
MASTERTH0N1C E9.99
A come-down tor I he Amiga, Hacker
jrns out as nothing more than a slightly
jfinetf Commodore version, A
tmoother illusion of movement around
te funnels is apparent and some of Ihe
jfiphera! screens are attractive ly
^one. Despite its underlying similarity
the 64 game in graphic style and
3sic sound effects. Hacker is an
itriguing puzzle-exploration game and
Jtands the test of time well
l*GM update rating 55%
SPECTRUM
Superman
TYNESOFT C7.95 cass, E14,95 disk
tommrxlore 64 3B%, Atari ST 43% — TGM016
Superman's familiar red and blue cos-
lime is exchanged for cyan and black in
ne Spectrum game in a 3-0 Space
tarrier-style landscape which passes
[lowly and jerkily, Character movement
also slow, as is the control response
which means you have to fire before
ie enemy is actually in your sights. This
; one licence that definitely isn't super
ired.
TGM update 34%
TGM TX 018:5-89 45/116
REVIEWS
Haven't we seen too many footy management sims?
KENNY DALGLISH
SOCCER MANAGER
Cognito
Kenny Dalglish is strangely missing
from the icon menu screens from
which the gams Is run with mouse
and pointer. The main menu, like
the others, has six large icons.
The leagues team and player names can
be altered, and saved ''loaded along with
all current division positions. Book Case
determines the level of detail of the data
involved.
A boardroom option presents six faces
which car give information on various
aspects of the player's allotted clubs for-
tunes: the chairman, accountant, physio,
coach, bank manager and a talent scout
all give briet reports in areas relevant to
their interests.
League Table can be a cause of griel
starting, as the team does, near the bot-
torn of the fourth division, but the situation
can hopefully be eased with the honing of
the team, The Skills of the current squad
are assessed under First 11 — for each
player, their name, position, ability
(expressed as a percentage), games
played and goals scored in their season
and career, and age. Players of low ability
can be dropped from the squad or from
the club entirely,
Thq Cup gives a few facts about Ihe
next match, which in practice mainly con-
sists of a clock ticking away the minutes
at an accelerated speed. Occasionally,
the match is graphically depicted to show
an incident such as a shot at goal.
Attractive graphics hide a desul-
tory football management aim
As far as a celebrity licence goes, this
is similar in execution to Peter
Beardsiey's International Soccer
(Grartdslam) — Mr Dalglishs face is
spread around the packaging (as
Beardsiey's was) but he's otherwise miss-
ing. Surely he could have appeared within
the game, commenting or advising via
speech -bubbles?
We've seen this sort of game many
times before and there areni any new
features to excite, while match interludes
are pointless Sorry Cognito, but
TracKsuit Manager still reigns supreme.
putting
in a very
AMSTRAD CPC
Barbarian II
PALACE ■ £9.99 cass, £14.99 disk
CMWTWdora 8*1 28 94°%, — TGMO09. Atari ST 82^
— TGM017
Haya! Whack! Thwack! Choose to play
either the barbarian or Princess Mariana
and slash your way through the
Wastelands, the Caverns, and the dun-
geons, before arriving al the Inner Sanctum
of Drax. All the classic pixellafed monsters
of the 16-bit versions are here, with well
defined Saurian beasts. Neanderthal men,
apes, mutant chickens, stingers, giant
grubs and all the rest
acceptable appearance.
This is a well implemented version of the
game of near-classic proportions. More
attractive than the Spectrum version with a
rich use of colour and solid looking graph-
ics, the sound might be a little disappointing
but that's par for the course on the
CPC. This is a must- buy for Amstrad own-
ers,
TQM update 78%
£19.95
The various icons are big, bold and
colourful, as is the stadium back-
ground. Nothing is particularly well
drawn, although the boardroom inhab-
itants have character and their Filofax-
style organisers provide a nice touch.
A soundtrack of some description
might have helped dull game play.
L
46116 TGM 1X018:5-89
OTHER FORMATS
An Atari ST version (£19,95) is avail-
able as this issue reaches you.
Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC
(£9.95 cass. E12.95 disk) as well as
Spectrum {£7,95 cass, 14.95 disk) ver-
sions will all be released shortly,
STAR
Could you manage this
Rock Star ?
Most advertisements are legal, decent,
honest and truthful A few are not,
and. like you. we want them stopped.
It you would like to know more about
how to make complaints, please send for
our booklet: The Do's and Don'ts of
Complaining". It's free.
The Advertising Standards Authority.
We're here to put it right.
\SAIM.IV|»I .' Hh.iMliUlv I IT.Hi I"' kViWi li 7M\
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B|BHel If m buy ■"* Sup*" •»**. BI SACS SNo*. HMMonnp sr„
*■ >•## <-*rO00> Fna* 0* t n»»» Hatum aw hhioch htdilvi
INCLUDING WAT
1Mb DISK DRIVE
£450 OF SOFTWARE
ARCADE GAMES
AfMnoM II Imagine £19.95
Beyorid The lew Palace Elite £19.95
Black Lamp firebird 119.45
Buggy Boy Elite (19.95
Chojjpar X Maslertromc £9.99
tkari Warriors Elite £14.64
M»rWe HadoMa Electronic Arts E24.8S
□uedralktfi LOJOlfOfi £19,95
Hanafarrui Hewssrt Gomuttants £19,95
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Eddie ErJmnta Sup*r Ski Elite £19,95
Seconds Out Tyneeott £19.95
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PRODUCTtVtTY SOFTWARE
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&ti you already Owr* a computer
If to, which one do you own''
.
I
Wcrebcasts dwell
ALTERED BEAST
Sep
The Sega Mega Drive shows off its
superb coin -op conversion capabili-
ties with Altered Beast {see
TGM017 Report), but until it hits the
UK well have to make do with, the
good old B-bil version
In this game your on-screen alter ego is a
reanimated corpse. Resurrected by a pow-
erful godlike being whose daughter has
been captured by an evil mage, this beefy
zombie has been put together to rescue
her. *
The job s not an easy one because the
mage has used his powers to create a vari-
ety of nefarious beasts — unicorns, boars,
Dying reptiles, head-hugging amphibians,
giant rattle-snakes and other zombies.
A well-aimed blow from fists or feet deals
with all these monsters, and one particular-
ly worth maiming is the albino wolf. This
two-headed canine releases a spirit ball
which, when picked up, turns you into a
highly developed zombie. This power can
be lurther increased by collecting a second
Sail, which transforms you into a were-
beast.
Flame-engulfing powers are required for
the truly nasty end-of-level monster, who is
in fact the mage in altered form.
Altered Beast in the arcades and on the
Mega Drive is a most enjoyable jaunt, par-
ticularly in two-player mode, With only a
single -player option available on the Sega,
piayability is instantly reduced. The
scrolling and walking is slow, transforming
the pace of what was originally a hectic
game. A middling conversion of a nice coin-
op.
£24.99
SEGA ^
43%
The hero, In all his forms, is very nice-
ly defined and coloured but poor ani-
mation spoils the effect. Other sprites
are less effective end the mediocre
backdrops scroll slowly and jerkily.
Plain music talis to generate any ten-
sion and the few samples are not that
convincing.
AMIGA ■ ATARI ST
COMMODORE 64/129
Run the Gauntlet
OCEAN Amiga £24.99. ST £19.99, 8-
bit E9.99 CSSS, E14.99diSk
Specirum BB% — TGMQ' 7
Commodore first. If it wasn't for an
annoying multiload Ocean could have
cleaned up Sprites galore move realisti-
cally with good definition, if lacking
detail. The spray from boats and jef-
bikes adds that extra bit ot authenticity
to the action. The land sequences work
well too, simplicity ol contro) method
serving as the key to its success.
The 16-bits get the chance to show
off with digitised pictures in between lev-
els and sampled music to keep the
game pace up and running. Mad the
gameplay been less S-bil orientated,
Run the Gauntlet may have offered
quite a bit more in the way of depth.
Attention to detail isn t very enhanced
over the Commodore version — crisper
sound effects and the odd better sample
on the Amiga than the ST are mere for-
malities rather than significant improve-
ments.
The lack of a dual-player option is
something ot a setback but Run The
Gauntlet is still a great sports sim.
TGM update: Amiga 82%
Atari ST 80%
Commodore 64/1 28 78%
AMIGA
A Question of Sport
ELITE SYSTEMS £24.99
Spectrum 36%, Commodore 64 40%, Atari ST
12% — TGM01S
The mixture ot hi- res digitised portraits
and colourful screen borders is identical
to that on the ST, and unfortunately so
Hewson's hit action game goes 16-bit
CYBERNOID 2
questions vaguely linked to fit thi TV
programme. A Question Of Spor is dis-
tinctly overpriced.
TGM update 37%
Hewson ■ AMIGA £19.99, Atari ST £19.99
Spectrum 85%, Gffmmodorg 64 a/% — TGM012,
Ams-raJ CPC S6% — TGMQl 3
Those Cybernoid 2 ships have been
unleashed yet again — this time on the 16-
bits, Tony Cooper has kept the ideas of the
original 16-bil Cybernoid but gone to town
on the presentation, action, challenge and
alien-wasting carnage.
The nightmarish graphics feature blinking
eyes red -eyed skuils and other horrors.
Progression is fuelled by ever devious traps
and the action just gets more chaotic wltb
each level. New features include acid drips
and new levels though gameplay remains
the same.
As a game, on the Amiga and ST,
Cyb@moid2 revolves more around all-
action blasting than the puzzle/action cross-
breed of the 8-bits, and both versions look
great and play superbiy.
TQM update: Amiga 88%
Atari ST 86%
Marauding hasn't looked so good
for a long time — Cybernoid 2. on
the Amiga
TGM TX 018:5-89 49/116
REVIEW
A whole new ball game from Psy elapse
BALLISTIX
Psyclapse
PsygnosiS and their label Psyclapse
got off to a good start with the brilliant
arcade blaster Menace, followed by
the similarly trigger-happy Baal, but
slipped with Captain Fizz Meets th
Btasier-Trons (reviewed last month). Now
they enter the much-exploited genre of future
sports simulation, and, thankfully, they've dis-
pensed with any ideas of a pretentious and
pointless plot
The game takes place on a vertically
scrolling pitch approximately two-and-a-half
screens in length and the aim is simply to
score a set number of goals (between one
and five) before your opponent does, This is
accomplished by hitting a puck with a supply
of metal balls, aimed directly by an arrow,
which enjoys the freedom of the playing
area.
As well as determining the target number
of goals and control system, the options
screen can also be used to alter ball speed
between one and eight, the number of balls
available, auto repeat (the rate at which balls
are fired if the fire button is held down)
between zero and nine, ball lifespan (how
long a ball is allowed to stay on the pitch
before it's put back in the player's supply)
between one and nine: and games to win,
between one and nine, for two-player games.
Silver and gold'black arrows or cursors
compete against one another in a two-player
game r while in a single-handed game, the
pitch tilts toward the player's goal, making
gravity the enemy.
Progress is helped or hindered by pitch
features which are introduced through the
levels. Arrows accelerate the puck in the indi-
cated direction, pits are revealed which, like
acid puddles, mean the puck must be
relaunched into the arena. Contours, hyper-
space tunnels and bumpers affect the puck's
path. Icons to be picked up can spread 1 6
balls all over the pitch, create a temporary
barrier in front of a goal, spell out the word
RICOCHET for bonus points, affect players'
controls and so forth.
People have been known to instantly cry
■Speedbatl rip-off I' when they see this game,
but apart from sharing vertical scrolling
they're very different from one another.
The crosshair control method is tricky but
adds something to the game when you're
properly accustomed to the easier arrow
mode. This is not without its problems,
though; because the arrow always points to
the ball, when the puck is near your own goal
it can be easy to knock it in yourself.
Criticisms aside, Bailistix is a fast, tun
game, particularly with two players, with a
wide variety of pitches (50 one-player. 80
two- player, the starting pitch selected in mul-
tiples of five) and a range of variable
attributes — and of course, icons to pick up,
Apart from different cursor designs,
this is visually indistinguishable from
the Amiga game, although there is
slightly ostentatious presentation in
the form of spinning 3-D joysticks and
STs on the credit screens.
Back on top: Psyclapse hit the
mark again with a hugely enjoy-
able "future sport' game for the
Atari ST (top and below) and
Amiga (below left)
A high-res picture unfolds Impressive-
ly to introduce trie game, which has
quite disappointing graphics. The bas-
relief pitch tiles (which vary in colour
from pitch to pitch) are adequate, and
have some interesting character
graphics, but the arena graphics which
surround It are almost scruffy A pleas-
ant array of samples back the fast,
smooth-scrolling play nicely.
OTHER FORMATS
A Commodore 64 (and possibly PC)
version is in the pipeline. Watch out
for further details.
50,116 TGMTX018:5-S9
PERSONAL
v<*
* w w w
iiers^ffimething ve
** tftor worst r
Wont
jr waking
moroc ^^J
*few brain child of
• ol icon-dn
ven, animated game that has been written
.
•jvetoped Agos language.
'
is highly original using all rhefeatures ol the
IE bil micro T
•Jib. fully animated graphics, backed by
is come together with ahtghly sophisticated
ement ol a new dimension.
-traduce you to numerous characters
g
I
■■jojdof 4H
eg a
, ^^pbrdand hi:;
?Qd
W '
ana a host of 01
i^
, 8Vi ■
Tsl(0Si:i414.K'
RELEASED DUE TO PUBLIC DEMAND
GUARANTEED SALMONELLA FREE
fChoeey Egg)
If you have played the classic computer game Chuckie Egg you
hardly need an introduction to this "cracking" sequel whjch
takes us from the hen house to the chocolate Easter egg.
This eggcellent game is guaranteed to be salmonella free
on your Amiga, ST or PC machines. It will give hours of
entertainment and no matter how many times you unwrap
the disc and sample the goodies it will neither make you fat
nor rot your teeth!
CHUCKIE EGG II
Available on Atari ST/Amiga/Spectrum/Commodofe/Amscad
soon on PC
CHUCKIE EGG
Available on Atari ST/Amiga/SpecrrunVCommodore/Amstrad
/Atari/MWDragon/BBC/Electron soon on PC.
Setter* tttoti from Amiga VetVtm
Screen Uwti from Amiga v«rt<on
Pick & Choose
Cheques & P.O. to: Pick & Choose (F.G.J Ltd, 45 Bury New Road,
Msnrh^fPf MR RFG TeJ 061 831 7922
Pick & Chuose
Jailbiid gets first release
PRISON
Krisalis
aii is first release from new software
house Krisalis proves that some-
times life jusi isn't fair. This has
been the case in the past, is still
_ true now. arid will be true in the
22nd century — the time that Prison is
set. Jag Edwards is the put -upon hero of
the tale. In a vile and corrupt world, he
was one of the rare beacons in dark
times, working undercover to uphold the
crumbling law. A drugs bust was his last
mission; a raid upon a bakery used as a
cover for a narcotics ring.
control. Results of its use are displayed in
the message 'tube', and lives, energy,
objects carried etc are given elsewhere.
Aliens met are generally deal with by
fists and feet, but stooges are a different
matter, tf bribed, stooges can give useful
information and objects. ..if you're lucky.
II Knsalis and programming team Teque
are intending to make an impact with their
first joint project they will be disappointed.
The gamepfay has been seen before: using
objects to give access to new parts of the
game, aliens hindering progress (though in
this case they're easy to eliminate) and
masses of similar looking screens so that
it's quite easy to get lost.
Prison is little more than a standard
arcade adventure in a tired format so
that no amount of fancy graphics and
sound can help generate anything but
very limited interest,
Jag observed Ihem for weeks before he
was given the word. In a fiery battle, he
eliminated the gang... only to be later cap-
tured. He had been set up. and was
brought up before a Star- Judge , charged
with the murder of ten bakers.
He was condemned to life imprisonment
on Afirax. a lonely world, once a mining
planet, now inhabited by gangs of various
creatures. All have one thing in common —
They have all committed violent crimes, And
they don't mind getting more blood on their
hands if it gets them something to make
their lite stranded on Altrax easier.
There is but one way to escape Altrax,
and that's only a rumour. A pleasure ship
had blundered into the planet's atmo-
sphere, and its escape pod may have sur-
vived unscathed.
As you step into Jag's boots, he has
begun the hunt for components that may be
needed to repair the pod and other objects
necessary for survival. A sideways view-
point of Jag and the surrounding area is
given, but marked doorways can be
entered to follow paths at 90 degrees, the
viewing angle then changes to retain the
profile.
The playing area is supplemented by a
number of displays, the most important of
which is the menu window allowing com-
mands other than those given by joystick
Familiar, strong Teque graphic
style on the ST. but a weaker
game
The Teque graphic style is strong here,
with browns, greens and greys blend-
ing to make clear, effective and eerie
backgrounds. The upper half of the
Jag sprite is well defined bul his legs
are ill-proportioned and curiously flexi-
ble as Mr Edwards is mechanically ani-
mated. The samples are weak — both
in definition quality and In sound
source.
£19.95
Looks very similar to the ST. except
that the colours are paler and the defi-
nition is a little diflerent. The samples
and music are of a better quality and
add some atmosphere.
AMSTRAD CPC
ATAfll ST
Victory Road
IMAGINE 8- bit £9.95 cass, £14.95
disk, ST CI 9.95
In the space equivalenl of Ikari
Warriors and the third m the series,
one or two warriors rampage along
Victory Road armed with space age
weapons frying hordes of ETs, ST own-
ers may find the action slow at times
bul the larger number of aliens keeps
the pressure on. Things are a lot better
on the Amstrad (pictured above) with
smaller but equally detailed, colourful
graphics and a bigger playing area to
match, in turn the gameplay improves
although the ideas behind it are unorig-
inal.
TGM update:
Amstrad CPC 70%
Atari ST 55%
COMMODORE 64
Warlock's Quest
INFOGRAMES E9.95 cass, £14.95
disk
Alari ST 70% — TGMO07
Very much a natural for the
Commodore, this teleport-and-fadders
graphic adventure has undergone a
strange mutation on the Commodore
and now boasts unnecessary mu Hi load
at selected points in each stage. The
division of the screen into above and
below ground sections is novel, but
suffers with small sprites {which were
less of a problem on the colourful ST
version) and a dearth of animation or
character detail. Warlock's Quest looks
tired and plays tired.
TOM update rating 43%
SEGA
California Games
£24 99
Fifth in the Epyx Games series,
California Games is the coolest, most
rad collection of events Epyx have
gathered together. Events are as on
previous format versions: free-style
skateboarding on the half-pipe, fooibag
— or keeping a small leather ball in ihe
air, surfing, roller-skating, frisbee throw-
ing, and BMX racing. In the translation
to the Sega joypad. little has been lost.
The graphics are very good indeed
Backgrounds are as lively as the
colourful, well defined sprites and the
various participating teenage charac-
ters are realistically animated. Definitely
one for the collection,
TGM update 78%
ft
TGM TX018:5-S9 53/116
REVIEWS
Getting 'em off in style means more than five card stud
HOLLYWOOD POKER PRO
Feline Software
§r@$6fi
As if all the full screen piccies weren't
enough ihere's even a pervy magnify-
ing glass feature which lets you scruti-
nise the female form in true dirty rain-
coat style. What a classic product this
is. Great cards, amazing visuals, politi-
cally dubious end guaranteed to
offend just about everyone. Enjoy it
while you can.
WorrrTrrrrrr! Cor blimey, we ain't
had this much fun since ogling at
Sam Fox s digitised pics in Strip
Poker and getting steamed up
over Maria Whilaker 's Christmas
Bos, Spectrum owners and strip poker go
back a long way — but not with th ; s kind of
digitised graphic!
In fact strip poker games are almost as
common as sports sims, but this one is
really the best — with knee-tremblingly
arousing graphics and a mean game of
cards to leather boot. No louched-up graph-
ics here, it's all touch-upable solid nubile
fl^sh — and you don't have to ?uffer the
interminable giggling of the Teenage Queen
either, And to top it Off there's a great, pul-
sating soundtrack too.
lis all familiar stuff — choose one of four
ready-an'-willing girlies, click-on the cards
you want to Keep or chuck away, bet, raise.
and hopefully get a right royal flush.
The only problem with Hollywood Poker
Pro is the feeling you get that the comput-
er's cheating. Bad play or not, there are a
suspiciously high number ol duff hands
deatl on anything but the introductory cloth-
ing levels and, correspondingly, an awful
number of good hands going to your oppo-
nent, This just ain't good cards, because
the tendency to be continuously dealt low
numbers repeats itself to a point beyond
simple chance.
Well, maybe that's sour grapes as a
result of sheer frustration, but there are
ways to get to the bottom of things, One
technique is lo always bet safely and throw
anything else away immediately, Oh — and
never risk raising thinking your opponent is
bluffing — these girts mean business!
OTHER FORMATS
Unfortunately, the reviewer respons-
ible was unable to devote any playing
time to discovering whether Feline
intend any further versions...
They may have been rather a joke in the past, but Feline's Holiywood
Poker Pro is a strip poker game with a difference — the cards ain't half
bad! Not to mention the steamy graphics, which of course wo won't..
54. 116 TGMTX0 18:5-89
Bored game from Atari
Atari
Latest in the Atari Mindgames range
is the computer rendition of the clas-
sic board game. Unlike Chess — or
even Go Moku, Backgammon is one
of the more esoteric games in that
very few people seem to know how to piay
it!
Whilst some people might buy this prod-
uct to leam how to play the game, the
majority will already know how it's played.
For these, the age-old question must be
addressed: how is the computer version
better than the board game?
One advantage of course is that you
don't need anyone else to play with — a
dubious benefit maybe, as many other
board game conversions testify. The graph-
ics are plain and simple, the mouse clicking
on counters adequate, the roll of the dice
slow. Of sound there's nothing, but then
Backagmmon has never exactly been an
orgy of aural pleasure.
Good to brush up your gaming ability
maybe, but ultimately there's more fun to
be had on the real board.
£19.95
The standard options are here, such
as ten levels of play, action replay
facility, and take back and restore the
last move, making Backgammon an
adequate but dull implementation.
Clean up Old Detroit in style
ROBOCOP
Ocean Amiga £24.95 ST £19.95
Commodore 64 77%, Spectrum 81% — TGM015
Ocean should really congratulate them-
selves, for what was
excellent on Q-oit for-
mats has undergone a
remarkable metamor-
phosis to be reborn
with samples, digitised
pictures, superb pre-
sentation and all the
Dther extras that boost
H far beyond being just
a very good entertain-
ment.
With a perfect blend ot
the gameplay from the
8-bit and arcade ver-
sions. HoboCop is
incredible for whal it
offers. The levels may-
be relatively short but
the attackers keep on coming. The best is
left till last with a well animated ED -209, the
criminal's truck and others at level's end.
The shooting gallery, hostage scenes and
the photo-fit sub sections (the fatter using
Scrambled digitised pictures] all contribute
so much to the gameplay and almosphere,
The ST matches the Amiga in ihe scrolling
department boasting six levels packed with
graphic variety, The Amiga game comes
out better on all counts with Ihe inevitable
advantages of smoother graphic definition
and superior sound effects, but the game-
play remains the same on both machines.
This game is simply drill
TGM update; Amiga 90%
Atari ST 90*/o
SPECTRUM
Eliminator
Hew son £7.99 cass, disk £12.99
Atari ST 92%. — TGM01 1
The astmospheric baseline and effects
ot the ST version are accurately repro-
duced along with the swiff and effective
3-D 'road', albeit in monochrome
Aliens move smoothly and their mis-
siles are easy to see, but the simplicity
of movement options puts a question
mark against the game's tongterm
playablity.
TGM update rating 79%
AMIGA
Batman
OCEAN £24.95
Spectrum 76%. Commodore 64 7i% —
TGM015. Atari ST 72% — TGMTJ16
The Dark Knight returns to 16-bil,
Graphic definition is identical 10 that on
the ST but colours are subtler The
Batman music remix uses some nice
sounds and with a few sampled sound
effects, the soundtrack is very effective,
This is the best presented version yet
of this comic licence.
TGM update rating 74%
COMMODORE 64/1 Z8
Blasteroids
IMAGEWORKS £9.99 cass,
£14.99 disk
Amiga 71%, Atari ST 70%. Spectrum 61% —
TGM017
Although lacking quite a bit In new
ideas. Blasteroidsis immensely satisfy-
ing lo play — doubly so in two-player
mode. The simplicity and immediate
payability of the game is its saving
grace and makes up for graphics which
are functional rather than aesthetically
pleasing, If you feel up to playing
Asteroids all over again, or adore the
coin -op, Blasteroids could very well be
worth your while.
TGM update 65%
TGM TX 018:5-89 55/116
REVIEWS
The man whose head exploded
DNA WARRIOR
Artronic
P
rofessor Szymanski is a brilliant but
power-crazed man. A Nobel Prize
in genetics was not enough for
him, and in an incredible experi-
ment he injected DNA and a
growth accelerator into his brain, thinking
this would increase his memory potential
and intelligence quotient tremendously.
Now he is on the brink of death.
Szymanski is in a coma and his brain is
expanding to dangerous proportions. A
growth inhibitor cannot reach the ajfected
area _ his natural defences have mutated
too far — so a miniaturised one-man sub-
marine must be piloted to the spot. So far
so Azimov and Steven Spielberg el a I...
The Professor has a number of artificial
limbs and organs, so the various sprites
which attach the would-be body voyager
include both biological and mechanical
mutants. Your ships rather tame laser
cannon and slightly cumbersome handling
can be exchanged for better add-on sys-
tems by collecting plasma spheres.
In the crowded world of shqot-'em-ups.
DNA Warriors originality lies in its horizon-
tal two-way scrolling and selectable exit
levels which allow a choice of route to the
brain. This isn't much use if the game is
essentially lacking in guts, and unfortu-
nately, it is.
THE ADD-O
One sphere: e
manoeuvrability
TWo spheres: rapn
Three sphered: vertical cannons
Four spheres: multiples
Five spheres: absorption shielding
Six spheres: slsrburst
Seven spheres: energy replenished
£9.99
cass
£14.99 disk
Bright graphics are neatly defined but
short of detail, while funky music
makes up for weak sound effects. H's
all quite competently done but games
like this have been seen endless times
on the Commodore — and several at
budget price.
OTHER FORMATS
An Atari ST version wi
shortly.
be released
Who ya gonna call this time?
SElGHOSTBUSTERS
Activision
T- he cartoon gained the 'Real' prefix
because it's supposedly based upon
reai peopie. And they're a strange
bunch, too. The leader. Peter
Venkman, is a bit or a slob and a
tool but enthusiastic idealist Ray Stantz
makes up for this with his extensive scientif-
ic knowledge. In the particular field of elec-
tronics, Egon Spengier is a genius — but
he's also a complete nerd
Winston Zeddmore is the most down-to-
earth of the 'Busters but is also the overly
kind soul who got Slimer — a greedy green
ghost — onto the team. The secretary.
Janine Melnitz, fries to keep order amongst
this wacky bunch. A buildup of psychic and
paranormal energy has resulted in an out-
break of ghostly manifestations throughout
New York. The terrorised public need the
kind of specialised help that only Ray.
Winston, Peter, and Slimer can give them.
One or two players guide the
Ghostbusters upwards through len multi-
directional push -scrolling levels, armed with
both guns and proton beams. Shooting
turns creatures encountered into ghosts.
which can then be gathered into the
Ghostbusters' back-packs with judicious use
of the limited -charge proton heam.
Some creatures or obstacles give bonus-
es: increased beam energy, increased shot
power, aura power (temporary shield), or
Slimer. At the end of each level a particular-
ly nasty abomination {or worse, a number oi
them) has to be neutralised. In return, the
key to the next level is given. It's interesting
to see which weird monsters occupy the
next level, particularly as some are so imag-
inalively designed. The home computer ver-
sions are sure to be — and deserve to be —
more successful than the obscure 1987
Data East coin-op on which this vertically
scrolling shoot- em-up is based
£999
cass
The definition oi this version is weak
and unthrliling, and the problems are
compounded by the game's slow pace.
The sub floats around as if in treacle
rather than bodily fluids (yehkki). The
beep sounds effects are simple even
for the Spectrum
£19,99
The sub Is surprisingly large and
makes evasive action a chore on occa-
sions. The Amiga's capabilities are
decidedly underused, with definition at
best adequate and al worst infantile
and shades of the same two colours
used throughout a level.
£9-99
cass only
The main sprite Is outlined thickly Bnd
unattractively in black. On the other
hand, some of the creatures are very
well defined and animated, and use
colour cleverly — almost as near to
cartoon graphics as you can get on
the Spectrum.
OTHER FORMATS
Amiga (£21.99), Atari ST (£19.99).
Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64
(both E9 99 cass. H4.99 disk) shoukld
all be available by the lime you read
this review.
Activision gave
us the best-sell-
ing computer of
alt time (they
claim) in the
original
Ghostbusters,
but on the
Spectrum, at
least, this newer
version is much
better received
critically
56.116 TGMTX01 8:5-69
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REVIEWS
Thundering, Yorkie-eating action
SUPERTRUX
Elite Systems
M— | ost lorry drivers simply transport
' goods and scare the hell out of
I motorists in the fast lane, but
| your average Supertrux driver is
—1 made of stronger stuff. These
boys don't want to drive — they want to
race! The biggest and best truck race is
the Supertrux Trophy, a trans-Europe
event taking drivers Irom London to
Athens, via many famous cities on the
way. M
All participating trucks have automatic
gears, so it's simply a case of accelerat-
ing, decelerating and steering. This
doesn't mean the race is easy — just stay-
ing on the course is a higher priority than
taking the lead. But twisting roads with
unexpected dips and slopes, and other
vicious truck drivers are only part of the
problem. The organisers of the Supertrux
Trophy race are obviously (incompetent,
as the route they have chosen is strewn
liberally with roadworks. All in all It's going
to take some mean driving to complete
each stage within the testing time limit.
Simulating a race between 30-ton trucks
couid hardly be called as easy task, but
Elite have decided to produce a relatively
simple Our Run variant, with truck sprites
thrown in as vehicles. On all formats the
perspective ol curves and slopes is fairly
effective and the route through Europe is
varaiable. Not only can you choose the city
you head tor, but also in mid -stage you
have to choose between two types of road
— slippery or bumpy, for example.
£9.99
cats
£14,99 disk
The perspective of the road is fine
roadside features approach Jerkily. The
graphics use the common gaudy
Amstrad colours, and the soundtrack
uses the common annoying Amstiad
effects, r+evertrieless, this is a playable
CPC racer.
When diplomacy fails...
TANK ATTACK
CDS Software
CDS — now primarily retailers — go
back to the earliest days of
Spectrum gaming, and they aren't
unfamiliar with the concept of com-
bining computers and board games
— Brian C lough previously signed up with
them to make his Footbati Fortune — Tank
Attack is one such.
The scenario involves four countries bor-
dering one another. Armania, Kazaldis,
Sarapan and Calderon maintain an uneasy
peace, but this is about lo end abruptly.
Wlechanised lorces are crossing the bor-
ders and the shooting is about to start.
Depending on the number o\ players
involved, two countries can form an alliance
against the ether two, or all four countries
can war against one other. Each has its
own division ol tanks (light, medium and
main battle tank) and armoured cars (light
and medium).
More board than computer game
An Out Run with
lorries seems like
a hefty task, but
capitalising on
their 'hidden val-
ley 1 technique,
Elite have come
up with a lively
enough game for
all three popular
8-bit formats
(Amstrad CPC
above, Spectrum
left and top right \
Offensive tactics aren't all, the headquar-
ters of each couniry must be defended,
since the objective is to reach the enemy s
HQ and remove it Irom the war Each coun-
try also has a repair depot to remove the
dents from tanks damaged in battle togeth-
er with a rebuilding yard tor no-hope cases.
The computer plays the role ol game
moderator providing details oi battles,
weather conditions {which affect move-
ment), troop morale and activities in the
lorm of the newspaper War News. All vari-
ables which play a part in the game are
determined by the computer, including the
amount of movement possible per turn and
the results ol combat,
Terrain plays its inevitable part, restricting
tank movement in certain regions, and con-
frontation takes place using !ine-of-sight
rules, the outcome depending on larget
range, strength and other variables -
Like Football Fortune, Tank Attack is pn-
marily a board game, the compuier is only
used as a moderator and the emphasis is
thoroughly on boardplay. The 2-4 player rule
backs up the hexagon-based board game,
and so its appeal may not be immediate.
58. 116 TGrvlTX0 18:5-89
£9.99
cass
£11 99 disk
The truck sprite is blocky, the track
bland and featureless, and the horizon
barren, but the screen update is quite
good. The hills effect is worst on the
Commodore, but has the amusing addi-
tional feature of road cones (lying
through the air when you run into them.
Both the music and effects are basic,
cass
£12.99 disk
For some reason, the road doesn't
reach the horizon and the stripes on It
move illogically, but the screen update
is good once the truck gets up speed.
The effect of going up and down
slopes works well with its growing and
shrinking lower border Quite similar in
look lo Imagines WEC Le Mans, the
Spectrum version is the most playable
so far.
OTHER FORMATS
There's a chance that 16-bit versions
will be produced, but not until this
time next year.
£12.99
cass
£14.99 disk
The computer is used tor nothing
more than the simple purpose of refer-
ee ing the game, but presentation Is
first class and very user-friendly with
animation sequences and detailed
graphic accounts of conflicts as they
occur. In this respect Tank Attack is a
better game than most previous mar-
riages of computer and board game,
and offers a whole new set of ideas for
strategy gamesplayers.
The mechanics of play are easy to
grasp but there's no real reason why
the game should be so simple,,, an
attempt at appealing to both main-
stream computer owners and board
game enthusiasts perhaps?
ATARI ST
Cosmic Pirate
OUTLAW £19.99
Amiga 82%—TGMQ 17
This version of the spacetruck-hi jacking
blaster is a strange fish compared to the
Amiga original. The asteroids surround-
ing the hyperspace beacons are animat-
ed (albeit un spectacularly in four frames)
and the galactic sector map scrolls diag-
onally, flashing with colour before you
make selection. However, the in-game
scrolling is in pronounced update steps,
so that against the grid of a simulator the
spaceship appears to move backwards.
And in all games alien movement could
be a tot smoother.
Otherwise reasonable definition (alls
down on the jerky and blocky
spacetrucks, while the ST's restricted
colour capabilities mean missions are
mainly tn shades of the same colour, The
soundtrack imitates the Amiga's well, bul
on the whole ST Cosmic Pirate falls
short of the high quality original
TGM update 76%
AMSTRAD CPC ■ SPECTRUM
Obi iterator
PSVGNOSIS £9.99 cass, £14.99 disk
Atari ST 65%. Amiga 70% — TGM007
As was the case with Psygnosis's
Barbarian, Oblttoratofs appeal lay with
the quality ot graphics and sound on the
16-bit originals.
Tougher controls make Spectrum
Drak harder to manipulate
Drak is blocky on the Amstrad. ani-
mated badly and slowly, against back-
grounds of a bright and jagged appear-
ance. On the Spectrum, the hero walks
strangely but smoothly, and despite
some clash, the graphic detail is ade-
quate. The Amstrad music and effects
are annoyingly crude, but although the
Spectrum's music is monotonous, its
sound effects are very good.
The real problem with B-bit
OMteratof lies in its control system..
Because the icons are cycled through
using up/down, this slows the speed at
which you can reict — and it's also
easy to accidently change a selected
icon. This is a large but ultimately
unthritting 8-bil game.
TGM update;
Amstrad CPC 56%
Spectrum ©"l*^
VERSION UPDATES
AMIGA
Goldrunner II
MICHODEAL £19-99
A!anST6S% — TGM0Q&
Ultra-fast, horizontal scrolling reworked
variation on Defender, the Amiga
Goldrunner II has been a long coming.
Other than a pleasant tune there's IHtle
in the final product to suggest any
improvement over the ST game.
Indeed the scrolling — the main selling
point — comes out worse, crawling
along if loo many characters are on
screen. An above average game it only
tor different gameplay and the good.
quality of backdrops.
TGM Update 58%
ATARI ST
Bismarck
PSS £19.99
This recreation of a World War II naval
battle was good in its day but, frankly, it
should have stayed on 8-bit. The
arcade sequences which are meant to
cut across the strategy/arcade divide
fail on all counts, with jerky animation
and dismal graphics, and the simplistic
strategy is poorly implemented. A weak
translation of a creaky idea,
TGM update 33%
AMIGA* SEGA ■ SPECTRUM
Vigilante
US GOLD S-blt E9.99 cass, E 12.99
cass, 16-bit £14.99, Sega £24.95
PC Ervgine 75% — TGM01 7
Spectrum Vigilante comes across
extremely well. The graphics may be
missing some finishing touches but the
gameplay s all there, Attacks come
hard and fast — often loo lasl.
The Sega game almost matches the
PC Engine conversion, its graphic
artists have gone to town on the back-
drops with good looking sprites to
match. Pricey, but as much fun to play
as the others.
The Vigilante character has been
shrunk on the Amiga to keep the play-
ing area in proportion, resulting in some
graphic detail loss. Bui gameplay
stands up well in that the Vigilante has
a better chance of rescuing Madonna.
On the mings side, the limited number
of moves Vigilante can make narrow
the game's scope, but then the arcade
version wasn't too hot on gameplay
either. Still, Vigilante is bread and butter
for the S- and 1 6-brts and proves imme-
diately playable and strongly challeng
ing.
TGM update: Amiga 7@<%t
Sega BO%, Spectrum 79%
Amiga; shrunken but vicious..
TGFvi TX 01 85-89 59/116
SOFTWARE SNAX
We at THE GAMES
MACHINE know you
want the best in games
reviews. TGM is the very best
source of multi-format read-
ing your money can buy, but
in the constant search for
ever better ways of present-
ing reviews, we don't rest on
our laurels! That's why in
this issue we've changed
several things.
Software Snax is the sec-
tion for short reviews. Space
has run out on us! So many
great titles are being
released every month on all
the various formats that we
have had to create this new
section to give us room to fit
even more reviews into the
allocated space.
But just because they're
short doesn't necessarily
mean we think they are rub-
bish. Oh no. Check out
Battlehawks 1942 right next
door. Software Snax is where
you will find those games
which fell in between our
schedules (which means
they might be just a touch
late) or those that came in so
late we couldn't fit them in
the main review section
(which means they're incred-
ibly early!).
Here too are the better
releases which are intended
to cover most popular for-
mats, but the first machine
release is well ahead of the
others. When this happens
and something is really good
— watch out for a Star
Update in iater issues!
WHO FRAMED
ROGER RABBIT
Mediagenlc ■ Commodore 64 128 Exx.xx
Actionl Dangerf Excitement! Well that's
what ft says on the box. Great shame then
that the computer version of the fabulous
movie is an example of the well known
adage 'film licences do not necessarily a
great game make'.
Roger Rabbit follows three sequences
from the film: Benny the Cab, The Ink And
Paint Club and The Gag Factory. First off,
you guide Toon car Benny along a horizon-
tally scrolling road, avoiding pits and other
vehicles. The Ink Club sees Roger racing
around tables picking up objects (if you've
seen the movie you'll know what happens
Great presentation, Roger, but too
easy even tor a Toon to play
when he drinks liquor!), and in the final sec
tion Roger picks up gags and uses them to
slow down pursuing weasels.
The graphics are crude and blocky and
The rewrite of history goes on
BATTLEHAWKS 1942
US Gold/Lucasfilm ■ PC £24.99
Apologies for being a bit late with this one.
we were really hoping to go to town with all
three 1 6-bit versions, but the ST and Amiga
games (both at £24.99) are still awaited...
Lucasfilrn. creators of the legendary
Fractal-based games and providers of
naval war simulators have reached for fhe
skies with Battishawks 1942 to recreate the
dogfights and attacks on carriers between
Japanese and American forces which
made wartime history,
Rather than follow MicroProse with their
one-sided battles, Lucasfilm's program
allows for planes of either side to be flown.
Four historic conflicts have been comput-
erised, including the Battle of Midway in
which three Japanese carriers were sunk in
ten mmutes. The missions have been faith-
fully recreated as a starting point for you to
rewrite history,
Depending on which out ol 32 missions
is chosen, a dive bomber, torpedo bomber
or lighter may be flown, each with their own
attack.
Rookies had best gain flight experience
through the all -missions training option.
Those with more confidence can go straight
into active service, and levels of fuel
ammunition, plane strength and enemy skill
can be altered prior to the battle.
While the game aims to be a combat
simulator it's a relatively simple game in
terms of flight controls and actual flying.
Battlehawks has a replay camera option
whereby battles are replayed showing your
plane from a spotter plane as it goes into
the attack.
The enemy isn't restricted to fighter
planes (be they Japanese Zeros or
American Wildcats). The carriers are armed
to the teeth and willingly throw AA shells at
you and the others in your squadron, Suffer
too many hits and there's not a lot left to do
but bail out
Some planes you may choose have a
rear gunner and things become doubly diffi-
cult at this stage as you keep one eye on
the correct course to a target and the other
on the rear guns to fend off fighters. At oniy
70 feet above the water, shooting al
Zeroes, dodging flak and trying to avoid hit
ting the water you ve really got to be on the
ball.
With Bafflehawte 1942. Lucasfilrn have
produced a potentially excellent combat
simulation, The action is accompanied by
some extremely neat graphical touches —
flak bursts ait around, planes belch smoke
when hit, others explode and dive into
the sea, ships go down amongst massive
explosions and plumes of smoke. II all
60/116 TGM 1X018:5-89
SHORT REVIEWS
the game's speed is inappropriately slow or
fast in the wrong places. A glossy package
includes a 'gag factory catalogue* and a
full -colour poster. A lovely presentation let
down by a feeble game — sorry Roger,
TQM rating 42%
CHASE
Virgin Mastertronic
AMIGA £9.99
ST e9 .99
Zapp. Kapow, splurrangg — The Empire
Strikes back meets Starstrike in this
Mastertronic 16-bit budget offering.
It's a four-level, vector graphics space
shoot- em- up. in which you guide a space-
ship through asteroid fields, bewfeen tall
towers and along tunnels made up from
moving squares before zipping along an
obstacle -strewn corridor as in the famous
Star Wars Deathstar sequence.
The reason for engaging in all this heart-
fibrillating excitement is to pursue a frust rat-
ing ly elusive blue ship which does its best
to prevent you (the iron-willed pilot accord-
helps recreate the tension and exhilaration
ol air combat over the Pacific.
But ri jsn'l perfect: the aircraft graphics
are small, indistinct and stow moving (espe-
cially on the lower end PCs} but move real-
istically enough. Despite periphery screens
which use EGA well, the game itself looks
essentially like a Commodore 64 game —
something Lucasfilm have yet to rectify —
and sound effects are very much PC
(enough said).
And the atmosphere is let down lo a
degree by the omission of take off and
landing sequences,
Attacks against land
targets would have
been good as well.
Without these
demands the game's
limitations begin to
emerge, and as such
Battienawks 1942 falls
just short of being a
comprehensive combat
simuiator,
TGM rating 75%
ing to the inlay blurt)) from blasting it into so
many pixels.
Mouse control on both formats is very
responsive, the graphics are fast and
smooth and the sound — particularly the
Amiga's rich, booming explosions — is very
satisfying,
Graphically there's very little to tell the
two versions apart, but the Amiga game is
much tougher to play, making ithe more
frustrating of the two.
There's no denying that this is a real old
mishmash of famous games, but in the
still-high-cost 16-bit market at its buget
price it ain't hall bad.
TGM rating: Atari ST 68%
Amiga 63%
Mishmash: a mix-
ture of more
famous games
than you can
count on one
hand. Chase still
remains a review-
ers' favourite
blast at its low
16-bit price
BORODINO
Atari ■ Atari ST £19.95
First in Atari's Battlescapes series,
Borodino involves the would-be wargamer
in a computer simulation of the bloody and
protracted conflict which took place in 181 2.
Napoleon's invasion of Russia ended in a
disastrous retreat from Moscow. One of the
key factors which led up to this was the fail-
ure to win more than a moral victory when
his 131,000 men met 120,000 Russian
troops at the small town of Borodino, some
70 miles west of Moscow.
You can play either Napoleon (surely any
healthy megalomaniac's dream) or Prince
Kulusov leading the Russian defence, play-
ing against either a computer or a human
oponenl. The battle terrain is shown rn 3-D
perspective, and by clicking on troops and
other ground features you are informed as
to their status.
Borodino employs a unique battle com-
mand structure which involves typing
instructions directly into the program, such
as look west from Borodino' or 'Ney order
one infantry division and your cavalry to
move to Utitsa'. Be especially careful when
entering commands — if they re too vague
you could end up sending an entire army
into the jaws of death'
Corps can be given orders to stop giving
or taking support from another division, bat-
tle reports can be obtained and defensive
or attack lines sel up.
Historical orders can be followed or dis
pensed with, hilighting the educational
vaiue ol this program for scholars of the
'what if school of play. Additionally, graph-
ics can be saved in Neochrome formal lor
later use. and by saving the game data
every move its possible lo convert
Borodino into a play by mail game.
For die hard wargamers, Borodino
makes an attractive program. Graphically
it's nothing special, but then neither was
Universal Military Simulator, and it must be
said that the latter is a much more flexible
program. But if you really want to be
Napoleon, Borodino could just be your
Waterloo.
■ Watch out for Armada, Trafalgar and
other titles in this series, and TGM's special
feature of wargames in the near future,
TGM rating 57%
Battle for
Borodino — in a
sense the turn-
ing point of
Napoleon's
Russian cam-
paign.
Universal
Military
Simulator it
ain't, but
Borodino might
please your
average arm-
chair dictator
TGM TX 018:5-89 61/116
SHORT REVIEWS
ORBITER
Mirror so ft Spectrum Holobyte
Atari ST £24.99
Space, the final frontier and the setting for a
round-the-earth trip in the Space Shuttle
Orbiter, It may be from the makers of
Falcon but this 1986 product is from the
early days of the ST both in presentation
and ideas
Repetitive and often tedious detail
is Orbiter's trade mark
From launch ihrough satellite deploy-
ment, recovery and landing. Orbiter recre-
ates in repetitive and often tedious detail
the technical side of commanding a space
shuttle. Indeed, so much emphasis has
been placed on simulating the controlling of
the craft's systems that the tlighl simulator
non-existent.
graphics hark
— and they
element is
monochrome
Mac original
stayed there.
This might be
really is designed
fanatics only.
TQM rating 47%
The largely
back to the
should have
a unique program but it
for hardcore simulation
JUG
Microdeal ■ ST C 1 9.99
Is the planet Spiraeus dying? Yes it is —
eaten away from its very core by mutants,
And it's your job to make 'em spit out the
pips. Flick-screen caverns — divided into
zones and sectors — are traversed in a
JUG titanium exo-skeleton (going cheap
through Exchange and Mart this month),
which can be updated by picking up differ-
ent weapons. Fuel decreases when in
flight, but capsules can be collected to
replenish it, and teleportation booths take
you rapidly from one screen lo another.
The flip-screen mazes and metallic
Toward Top Gun
F-14 TOMCAT
Acti vision ■ Commodore 64 £14.99 disk only
U 7~~T^'lT~ ^£
HUG-9 RADAR ftHTEHNR
TftCOH ANTENNA
111 ANTENNA
Hit At.Q 100 ANTENNA
RADAR INTRCPT OFF.
OIL COOLER INTAKE
Alii 9 S1DEU1HDER
AIM- 34 PHOENIX
From flight training to active service an the
Nimitz and then onto the Top Gun School,
F-14 Tomcat charts the progress of would
be Tom Cruises and after all, who wouldn't
be?_
F U Tomcat follows the MicroProse lead
with detailed peripheral screens but differs
in keeping in-game presentation to a mini-
mum, The enemy jets move awkwardly and
while fast-paced gameplay is present,
there's litle attention to detail. A green
ground or blue sea and blue sky is all there
is to see for much of the time.
AIM 120 AHRAAM
M6IB1 UULCAH CAM nun
WEAPONS CR114
REFUELCR CREW
CATAPULT CRI L!
E1CER
It is highly unlikely that MicroProse will
lose any sleep over F-14 Tomcat The flight
complexity and authenticity have been
toned down considerably to allow Ihe
arcade element to creep in. In shunning the
more detailed aspects of a simulation
comes a lack ol depth, but the immediate
appeal and payability are retained.
If you want pure Top Gun action with a
moderate amount ol depth of play then you
can't go far wrong with this.
TGM rating 73%
Going for the JUGular — plenty of
dodging, but keep an eye on your
fuel level
adversaries instantly remind of Cybernoid,
but the game is in lact simpler than
Hewson's Classic: more of a simple explo-
ration shoot- 'em -up, with lewer weapons.
The sheen on the mutants looks effec-
tive, especially in combination with the ani-
malistic definition and amusing animation
on some, Equally good is the metallic effect
on the rnildy impressive weapons transfor-
mation sequence. Plain bas-relief back-
grounds are highlighted by well-drawn
skeletal monster corpses.
JUG offers a few hours of fun but it's
nothing to get excited about
TGM rating 66%
CHICAGO 30s
US Gold ■ Spectrum E8.99 case,
£12.99 disk
Amslrad CPC £9,99 cass, C14.99 disk
It s the Thirties, A lone undercover agent
driving a sedan armed with a machine gun
enters the windy city to close down Al
Gapone's business. From the pen to the
city's outskirts and centre, and eventually
the liquor warehouse, the good guy is up
against Al's mob whose members pop up
from manholes or ride black sedans throw'
ing fire bombs.
Smooth parallax horizontal scrolling
always looks good on the Spectrum,
although ihe partially monochrome screen
masks bullets and traps. Likewise weak
sound effects do the game no favours
Amstrad colour (below) is abundant and
luckily the slightly rougher scrolling , failing
of many an Amstrad game, is un noticeable
once play gets going. Like the Spectrum
game, limited animation causes gangsters
to glide along strangely at times.
Like Toposoft's previous Mad Mix.
Chicago 30$ IS a surprisingly simplistic
game based on dated Ideas We've seen it
many times before and this latest offering
adds nothing to the ranks.
TGM rating: Amstrad CPC 39%
Spectrum 42%
L
62 116 TGM TX01 8:5-89
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ON THE AMIGA
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already own a computer
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REVIEWS
DUGGER
Uriel ■ Amiga £19,95
Like Uriel's first game featuring Herbie
Stone {Crack — a Break Qui variant),
Dugg&f is a reworking of the old arcade
game Dig-Dug.
Nasty creatures Crunchy and Frugal
dwell underground and Herbie, a caveman,
must blow them up with his pump, The dan-
gerous beasts can also be eliminated by
Ice cold and jammin
Llnel dig up old Ideas for Herbie
Stone's second adventure
dropping hefty boulders on their heads.
By lar the best part of the game is the
introductory sequence, where three cave-
men carve out "CRACK' in a rock face and
have to be sent back to correct their mis-
take. The amusing cartoon graphics are
also used in the necessarily smaller game
sprites, which are bold and neatly animat-
ed. The eadhy backgrounds are nicely
shaded and the game is backed by a pleas-
ant tune and fitting effects.
Being a reworking of such an old game,
Dugg&r has very simple gameplay, and lim-
led long term appeal as a result,
TGM rating 41%
WILLOW
Mindscape ■ Amiga, Atari 5T £24.99
George Lucas's latest — but certainly not
greatest — cinematic creation moves to the
computer. Telling the tale of a quest to save
a child, Elora Danan, from the evil Queen
Bavmorda, the game is split into seven
pans, six of which can be practised before
risking your eight lives. The Dungeons. Ice
Caves and Woods are 3-D mazes, the lat-
ter giving you the opportunity to freeze ene-
mies with magic acorns.
Despite its different stages, Wfflow in
both 16-oit versions is nothing to rave
about. Each stage is difficult (frequently
r*W~**£itl tutors *>m*w n> *o!>t*i-i'
tt€ nutt «tii>4"S4 * h* tfcr** ti« lie* I
f-lyr+rt* ut.MTt w>H tufn Fi»*«ul
Unto* fli'tfi, * ++**, th+" » >jup*a<ti
t, • urtnt «WtC« can spell
i-.l<r,»ru(ir{|, it cinbi &<•<»
Pretty pictures apart, 25 minutes
loading near-impossible stages
will soon have you weeping
SKATE OR DIE
Electronic Arts ■ Spectrum £895 cass, £14.95 disk
If you enjoyed the half-pipe freestyle event
in Epyx's California Games, Skate Or Die is
for you, because it's devoted to that most
rad of transports — the skateboard.
Event one is similar to the Games one
but with more moves available. High Jump
also takes place on the half-pipe ramp but
altitude is the aim. There's a swift journey
through a park in the Downhill, and an
equally fast but perhaps dangerous one in
the Downhill Jam two- man race. The rivalry
gets stronger in Pool Joust, where the two
skaters roll around an empty swimming pool
and attempt to knack each other over with a
■boffing stick' {oar or paddle).
Released a long time ago on the
Commodore 64, it's almost as enjoyable
now on the Spectrum, While the High
jump's too simple and Pool Joust too tricky
and boring, the remaining three events are
great fun, particularly with friends,
Most screens and their elements are
black on white, and though things some-
times become a jumble of pixels, the visual
elements work reasonably. Sprite move-
ment and scrolling, where used, is ade-
quately done. A fun package ol events
that's well worth a look.
TQM rating 76%
Though the rota-
tion method of
steering Is hard
to use at first,
you won't need
to be threatened
into playing
Skate Or Dte on
the Spectrum
because it's as
jolly as It was on
some time ego
on the
Commodore 64
very difficult} and whats worse, boring, so
there's little incentive to persevere. The ST
sprites are badly coloured, drawn and ani-
mated, backgrounds are plain, and the digi-
tised pictures have random red and blue
pixels spread over them.
Control response is slow and sound is
limited to basic beeps. Things are worse
stilt for 520 owners because the game
takes a long, long time to load in parts and
if — as is often the case — you die quickly,
it's very frustrating having to load every-
thing back again.
The Amiga game is depressingly similar
to the ST's. The loading time is no taster
and, other than the clearer digitised pic-
tures, graphics are equally poor, and the
music's a grating single-channel tune.
Loading troubles or not, Wiitow simply
isn't worth the bother,
TGM rating: Amiga 1 7%
Atari ST 21 <Vo
THUNDERWING
Cascade ■ Atari ST £19.95
To win in the 16- bit arcade stakes these
days, you need a game with loads of playa
bility. sufficiently novel features, or at least
very clever implementation. Unfortunately,
it's not the case here with this all to familiar
vertically scrolling shoot -'em- up.
Armed with lasers and ship-encircling
force fields, you lace wave upon wave of
alien tanks and defence craft, The plot and
simple gameplay could be forgiven if the
graphics and presentation made up for it —
but Thunderwtng fails completely because
they don't.
Primitive graphics, a very middle-of-the-
road tune and colour clash combine to pro
Certainly no ACE, 77tt/ndfexw/ngr*s
a bit of a yawn
duce a simply horrendous result.
TGM rating 28%
64116TGMTX018:5-89
REVIEWS
WANDERER
Elite Systems ■ Amiga £19.99
Am Sir ad CPC £9.99 cass. £14.99 disk,
Commodore 64 E9.99 cass, E11.99 disk
Spectrum £8.99 cass, £12.99 disk
Atari ST £19.99
Tired of the overlord Vadd's rule, the down-
trodden Confederation of Ten Planets rebel.
The Confede ration hires a mercenary, trie
Wanderer, to take on and defeat both Vadd
and his space army, Like all mercenaries,
the Wanderer's got to work for his Megs but
isn't this a job like any other?
To confuse us all and make the reviewing
process a little more difficult the fl-bit and
16-brt versions differ in their plots. The ulti-
mate objective in both is to reach Vadd and
defeat him and his minions.
The common method of play to both is to'
take cards between each of the ten planets
engaging in a giant game of space poker,
each planet having its own hand' By
improving each planet's hand the Wanderer
is rewarded with Megs (8-bits) or Cats (16-
bitsy Once 8000 worth have been collected
Originally conceived early last
year requiring bi-coioured 3-D
glasses to play it, Wanderer now
relies on a more standard 3-D
effect, as seen here in the
Am s trad version
or a 'four of a kind hand' is made (8-bits
only) the doorway to Vadd opens up and
the final conflict begins,,,
As well as the poker playing planets,
space pirates are out in force throughout
the solar system. By destroying pirates the
Wanderer's combat ability goes up, with
ability increases comes the option to enter
black holes and collect Variable Disrupter
Forwards and backwards to the past
TIME SOLDIERS
Sega SNK ■ £24.95 cartridge
Based on the successful SNK coin -op,
we're very firmly in tkari Warriors territory
with the action spanning six time zones.
The soldiers, Yohan and Ben (who makes
up these names?) hop
Into a time tunnel and
spin back and forth
through time searching
for their mates in the
primitive era, ancient
Rome. medieval
Japan, World War II
and Future World
When the D-Scanner
locates a trapped war-
nor the Time Soldiers
need to fight the way
through to the era s big
boss and kill him in
order to rescue their
comrade.
Soldiers, guardians
and other foes particu-
lar to each era give the
Time Soldiers an excuse for maximum pos-
sible use of all weapons to hand Power-
ups, speed-ups and extra weapons can be
picked — essential to kill the bigger Boss
opponents.
Unshamedly cashing in on the tkari
Warriors and Secret Command type of
game, Time Soldiers is a little different with
its time travel concept providing variety in
both graphics and gamepiay. Shockingly
unoriginal but still a relatively unexplotted
idea on the Sega. Time Soldiers works
especially well as a two-player blast, Two
continue-piayers per Time Soldier are a
welcome bonus as well.
■ The game follows the Sega trend with a
twee tune and the now standard Sega flick-
er throwing in its two-penny-worth, Variety
is a common factor throughout each level
with plenty to see, some visually impressive
time zone bosses and a difficulty level set
just about right.
TQM rating 78%
Shockingly unoriginal but spec-
tacularly exciting for two players
Units (8-bits) or Jokers (16-biis).
VDUs and Jokers dramatically increase
card 'hands' when used and in turn not only
accelerates the Wanderer's profits but
takes him ever nearer towards opening the
portal to Vadd
A truly odd game, Wanderer relies heavi-
ly on the generally average 3-D effect to
keep the gamepiay going. The surreal
game
within is little more than a mixture of very
simple space combat scenes and a weird
variation on Poker,
Across all formats the game is the same
with little use made of respective machines'
capabilities The Commodore version But-
tons sluggish speed and limited colours in
use, The 16-bit renditions look just like
smoother, faster- moving 8-bit versions
despite a good 3-D effect. Only the CPC
and Spectrum versions come off any better
making the best job they can of a limited
idea.
TGM rating: Amstrad CPC 48%
Spectrum 45%
Atari ST 38%
Comodore 64 33%
FACE OFF
AncoB Atari ST £14.95
One team game rarely converted to com-
puter is ice hockey, In Anco's attempt, the
game can be customised before the match
begins. The length of each quarter, partici-
pating learns, the colour of their uniforms,
skill level, and type of competition (single
match, league or cup) can be changed
before the Face off
Control is restricted to running, hitting the
puck, hitting other people (I) and barging
opponents. The bane of team games is the
computer selection of a player who isn't
nearest the ball/puck, leaving you with
ground to make up. Though this isn't the
case with Face Off, it's still a problem keep-
ing up with the puck as the fat binary hock-
ey players crawl along at a tedious pace —
and terrible scrolling only slows the game
further,
Though broad and brightly designed, the
sprites are very nicely animated as they
skate realistically around the rink.
Unfortunately there's some flicker and
hockey players sometimes spin aimlessly.
Poor vertical scrolling is made worse by a
gaudy collage supposed to represent ihe
spectators.
TGM rating 43%
^
Puck Off I Not an insult — just the
original name for this slow-play-
ing ice hockey game
TGM TX 01 8:5-89 65/116
SHORT REVIEWS
JOURNEY TO
THE CENTRE OF
THE EARTH
Rainbow Arts ■ Atari ST £19.99
Amiga E 19.09
Ever beard of Snetfels? No. well its in
Iceland and it's where your journey lo the
cemre of the Eadh starts. If Ibis seems
impetuous of you, worry not for your health
and progress is marked on a special screen
where you may uses medical supplies,
redistribute rations and analyse fossils at
your curreni layer to help choose the next
move toward the Earth's core. Texi and;
graphic screens are interspersed with
arcade sequences, where you avoid tailing
rocks and stampeding mammoth s. collect
rating water and hit pterodactyls.
Backgrounds, the neatly defined options
screens and well digitised cavern scenes
are the same on both versions (though
they're perhaps a little clearer on the
Amiga}, but are overlaid with poorly
designed and animated sprites in the
arcade stages. Sampled footsteps,
screams and mammoth roars provide rea-
sonable backing. This is a disappointingly
uncomplicated game after the superbly
involving Joan Of Arc.
TQM rating: Atari ST 54%
Amiga 55%
DRAGONSCAPE
Software Horizons ■ Atari ST £19.95
Here's another bog-standard shoot- 'ern-up,
only in this case you're riding a dragon on a
mission to deliver objects, Dragonscape's
amplemenation is not first rate. Only about
wm
grounds are pleasant enough, although
most opponents are crudety designed.
Simple effects and music aren't particularly
assisted by generally Indistinct speech,
There could be more interesting things to
do with 20 quid than play with this program.
TGM rating 59%
It's okay — but not necessarily
worth travelling to the centre of
the earth lor
The game comes from the Joan of Arc
programmers, and its influences can be
seen throughout, but unfortunately there's
very little to it. Strategy is little more than
ration juggling and the arcade sequences
are generally over- simple left' right dodging
games with some awkward control
response.
GO MOKU/RENJU
Atari Mindgames ■ Atari ST (unpriced)
Ancient and honoulable Oriental board
game appear on ST But the superior man
buy the board instead.
Go-Moku is very simple: on a large grid,
each player places either black or while
stones, one each turn, The firsl player to
get five of their stones in a row wins.
Renju is much the same, but here lots of
restrictions are placed on the black player.
to lake away his supposed advantage of
having first go.
The possibilities are vast enough to make
Go-Moku/Renju insanely addictive and
enjoyable _ in many ways more subtle than
chess — and the computer adversary 15
useful, But you can buy a suitable board in
Hamley's of London for £3.75...
TGM rating 64%
'D0OO1VI drop If cries & Northern
voice if you wrongly deposit an
artefact
half ol the screen area is used for the over-
head scrolling and that, although quite
speedy, is also quite jerky. The dragon's
definition and animation is neat, and back-
X on X off with yet more Xor
PROSPECTOR IN THE MAZES
OF XOR
Logotron ■ Amiga £24.95
This ts an unoriginal but satisfying follow-up
to the puzzle game Xor. Excited by the
prospect of hidden treasure and equipped
with jet-pacs, Herb the hero and Pip the
reptile enter the mazes of Xor in search of
their fortune.
Bul the multi-way scrolling mazes are
sealed off from one another and the only
way out of each is to collect enough bal-
loons. Zeppelins, rocks, rolling spheres
amd decoy balloons upset the process of
balloon gathering, and on top of this the
maze must be collected within two thou
sand moves.
The Amiga is used well, each maze
scrolling smoothly and sporting different
attractive graphics with good solid music to
prospect to.
TGM rating 75%
I
66 116 TGM TX01 8:5-89
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HOT NEW RELEASES
CODE
TITLE
LABEL
3PE
CBM
CPC
3T
AMI
PC
T18001
A Question of Sport d h»k
Elite Systems
19,99
T1800Z
Action Service cass
Intogrames
7,95
T1S003
Action Service disk
Infogrames
11.95
T18O04
Afterburner disk
Activksion
19 99
T1S005
Airborne Ranger cass
MrCfoprose
7,95
Tiaooe
Airborne Ranger disk
Microprose
11 95
T19007
Baal disk
P sve lapse
15 96
Tisooe
Balance of Power - 1990 Edition disk, Mlndscape
1999
19.99
T 18009
eallislix disk
P aye lapse
15.95
15 95
T18O10
Batman disk
Ocean
19.95
T1S011
Battfehawks disk
US GokiLucas
19 99
T18012
Bismarck disk
PSS
15 99
T18013
Blaster oids caw
ImageworkS
7.99
T18014
Blasferoidsdisk
Imagoworks
11,99
T1801S
Borodino dfsk
Atari
15.95
T18016
Captain Brood coas
Intogrames
7 95
T18017
Captain Blood disk
Intogrames
11 95
T1S018
Carrier Command 12BK cess
Ratribird
11.95
T18019
Carrier Command disk
Rarnbnrd
12.95
T1S020
Chase disk
Virgin Mostertronic
9.99
999
T18021
Chicago 30s cess
US Gold
7,24
7.99
118022
Chicago 30 's disk
US Gold
10,44
11.99
Ti©023
D Thompsons Olymp, Ch allonge
disk Ocean
1995
"T1&024
T13025
Dragonsc ape disk
Onager disk
Software Horizons
Virgin Mastertronic
19 95
9.99
999
T18026
Etiminalor cass
Hews on
8.44
T18027
Eliminator disk
Haws on
10.44
T 18029
Fftce Ofl disk
Anco
11.95
T18029
Goldrunner II disk
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70 "108 TGM TX 018:5-89
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How do you bring o game to life? Jez Son's Argonaut team
are using the latest techniques of 3-D illusion for their state-
of-the-art flight sim F-117A Aggressor.
In this month's instalment of the Argonaut story, 3-D
graphics designer and animator Daniel Emm eft shows how
the screens can get up and go.
o
ne of the most important <ea-
lures a game must have is vari-
ety. Of course, it's not possible
to write an infinitely variable
compute* game, because the
machines have limits, the program
has limits and even ttie programmers
have limits (well, nearly). But it's still
possible to have an enormous amouni
of vanety in there if the game is well-
produced.
in a 3-D game, if you have only a
few simple shapes, the player soon
gets used to them - and eventually
gets bored, So you need as many dif-
ferent shapes as possible. The original
Stargiidet had about 27 different
objects, but for the first product I
worked on at Argonaut - Starglider 2
- I designed |ust over 100 objects.
about 30% of them animated in vari-
ous ways. At the time i thought that
was a lot. Not so! It was decided that
F-117A Aggressor was to be ever
more complex.
The bas-c shape list for Aggressor
consists of approximately 150
shapes. But whereas a Stargtider 2
shape would consist of perhaps 30-25
points, a tighter aircraft in Aggressor
can have anything from about 40 to 70
points. For example, the Lockheed
SB- 71 Blackbird (a very fast recon-
naissance plane) has 74 points?
Thai's considered quite a lot, since
the more points a shape has the more
processing time it requires in the
game - and the harder it »s to design-
But the bonus is that it looks better,
making it worthwhile - if the program
is fast enough to cope with it.
Looks aren't everything, but they're
very important, especially in a simula-
tion where the objects must look like
their real-life counterparts. That's the
advantage you enjoy when designing
a fictional object; the 'real' version of
the object is what you design,
because it's the onginal and only ver-
sion.
A Starglider 2 Walker is Ihe real
Wal her i n all its detail . but an F- 1 6 from
Aggressor can only be a model of a
real F-16. That's why you must use
more points to get something that
looks real; it's not ready your choice.
But how do solid 3-D shapes work?
Well, the basic idea is to define an
object as a set of flat surfaces or
faces, which are contained inside a
boundary formed by a given list of
points, These points are defined by
their 3-D coordinates to give them a
real position in space.
Any coordinate system could be
used, but we use good old x.y and z
(Cartesian coordinates), because it's
the simplest to manipulate - and for
me it's by far the most sensible sys-
tem. Imagine trying to design an F-14
Tomcat (remember Top Gun?) and
a n i mate its wings , all in spherical polar
coordinates ... no thank you!
3-D universe
Let's take a simpie example: a cube.
This would have eight poinls, num-
bered 0-7,. each having the coordi-
nates Of one of the eight comers. And
there would be six faces (0-5), each
face being defined by a list of the four
points that bound it - ie its four cor-
ners.
When you perform various
"Looks arent
everything, but
they're very
important -
especially in a
simulation"
Viow from the cockpit: that htthe&ptm is just one of some ISO
detailed shapes in Aggressor
mathematical operations on the point
coordinates, the object can be placed
at an arbitrary position and orientation
in space. In simple English, this means
you can put it anywhere you like and
have it facing in any direction.
And once you set up your own little
universe, populated by a host of these
3-D objects, you can mathemancally
calculate what you'd see if you were
sitting at a particular position looking,
say. tbataway, and project a two-
dimensional view onto the screen.
TTus view is then updated in real lime
as the objects move about and your
viewing position changes.
That's fine for simple objects. But
what happens if an object has to be
animated? Say l want to design a
birdiike shape with wings that flap, so
il actually looks like it's (lying.
The object has to be defined as a
series of frames, each one slightly cfif-
ferent from the last, so when the
frames are displayed in the required
sequence in real time one gets the
impression of a smooth flapping
motion. If s quite similar to making a
cartoon.
The big problem with 3-D graphics
is the processing time consumed by
all the maths; and of course it all has
to be done m real lime, while the game
is being played. The more objects you
have to deal with and the more com-
plex they are (with more points and
faces), the greater the time taken by
all the calculations, and so the slower
the game will run.
if the game is too slow, it's unplay-
able. Animated shapes look particu-
larly bad if they're displayed so slowly
that the individual frames are distin-
guishable, instead of a smooth con-
tinuous motion - it completely ruins
the effect. Wo one wouid go to see
Who Framed Roger Rabbit if it only
ran at two frames per second, so why
"The big problem
with 3-D graphics
is the processing
time - if the game
is too slow, it's
unplayable"
72 108TGM TX 018:5-89
should they play computer games
that are jerky and slow?
There are three ways of making a
3-D program run faster: have simpler
shapes, have fewer shapes visible at
any one time {lower population
density), or optimise the processing
and shape data,
But the first two would result in a
less interesting game, so the best sol-
ution is to lurboeharge everything,
making all routines and data as lean
and as mean as possible and employ-
ing various techniques and sneaky
(ricks, mostly developed by people
here at Argonaut.
That's the theory. But like everyone
in the 3-D business. I have my own
personal way of designing
shapes . . .
Making it work
First I decide what the shape is going
to be, what it will look like and what it
will do when animated, For most
shapes m Aggressor this is easy, since
they're based on real objects. For a
fictional shape I come up with a men-
tal picture, maybe making a few sim-
ple sketches.
Then I draw a senes of different pro-
jections of the object on graph paper,
on which I plot the points and faces
from which the obiect is constructed.
This is where the bulk of the work lies
- the object has to be an accurate
representation of the real thing, but I
don't want to use an unnecessarily
large number of points and faces, for
the reasons mentioned earlier.
And all the faces must be flat for the
shape to work, which is often a pain -
' otherwise the maths can't cope. Bugs
such as this, or using incorrect order-
ing of points when def in ing a face - or,
worse, nonexistent points - give you
some weird and wonderful effects,
though the Shape Editor (see below)
can detect and eliminate Sueh errors.
For realism, objects such as planes
and ships are designed to scale,
based on careful measurements
using plans of the real object. Once
the bluepnnts are finished 1 can read
off the coordinates of each point, and
the points contained in each face -
and breathe a sigh of relief.
I then enter the data into my Shape
Editor. This is a rather large program
I've written (on an ST) to help design
and debug shapes. It's specially
designed for the way I work:, and the
object's points, faces and so on are
entered as a series of numbers, (I
don't actually produce the first design
onscreen. I may be a bit old-
fashioned, but I still find it easier to
use paper!)
The Shape Editor can then display
and edit the object in a number of
ways, and perform various operations
and analyses on the data. For exam-
ple, it can tell me whether or not the
faces are actually flat and, if not,
exactly how unflat they are, 1 1 per-
forms vinually every function I could
possibly need (that's the advantage
of writing your own software tools,
isn't it?) and if I think of a new feature,
l just update the editor to include it.
If I'm designing an animated shape,
l need data for each frame of anima-
tion. If the animation is simple, say
something moving in a straight line, I
lust work out the data by hand or on
paper. II the motion is more complex
- flapping, walking or whatever- what
Graphics man Daniel Emmett (standing atback): 'Il's satisfying to seeashapeftying
about in its awn little world. ' Seated, left to right, are Argonaut programmers Peter
Wames and Richard Clticas; standing in the foreground, Jbz San.
do is a minipro|ect in itself.
I do is a mimproject in itself. (I had
several days of fun on Starglider 2
simulating walking, eventually coming
up with a program that could simulate
virtually any two-legged walking/run-
ning motion by varying any of 1 2 or sd
variables,)
I then use the computer to generate
the required animation frames using
the formulae. The Shape Editor can
display the frames either individually
or in an an i mated sequence {forwards,
backwards or whatever), and I can
analyse and edit any of the frames,
Once I'm happy with a shape, all
that's left is to get nt into the game.
Aggressor uses its own carefully-
developed format for storing data (for
the speed reasons mentioned earlier),
so I just convert the data from the for-
mat used by my Shape Editor to the
Aggressor format.
This is usually done in batches of
several shapes, using a simple con-
verter that takes ' Danny-format data'
m at one end and gives 'Aggressor-
formal data' at the other This data
can then be added to the shapes f il e >n
Aggressor, and becomes part of the
game.
And that's how ail the shapes in
Aggressor are produced. Some take
just a few minutes to do, and some of
the ready complex ones can take sev-
erat days. But it's certainly fun, and
it's satisfying to see the final version
of a shape in Aggressor flying about
(of walking or swimming . . . ) in its
own little world.
Step out of yourself for a moment; in Aggressor, you cart see your own plane from a
third-person perspec five. That 'S What the VIEW FRO-NT on the instrument panel signifies
- though the instrumen t panel can be removed from the screen a t the touch of a key.
And the plain green landscape will be much improved in the final version. While
developing Agg reasor, Argonaut are keeping it simple so it doesn t waste processing
time - that way the frame rate fie speed} of the aircraft shapes can be impressively
maximised.
Evertualiy. Aggressor may even include optional Z.arc:t\AJir\is-slyie contoured land-
scapes with features like volcanoes.
THE
NAME OF
THE
GAME
Just call it
Aggressor
Argonaut's fighter si m.
codenamed X in ihe firs) three
instalments of the TGM diary.
can no* be repeated i
1 17A Aggressor - arid graphi-
caNy it's ' goi ng t o be a id mo* e
Interesting than 1tie half
finished screens shown here
program mail tatef Perrott told
TGM-
The basic tjameplay seems
standard flight-sim stuff
even/time you play you'll gel
a mission, choose your arma-
ments, and go out and solve
Itiairnission.'saysPfifi''
it's 3-D realism Ihal will set
Aggressor apart from trie nun-
Df-the -runway
Perrott BKpiams. 'The view
cam be from inside IfiE cockpit,
or (com outsioe the plane. Ai
the moment it's possible to see
the landscape from the point of
vie w of any object ." And irj next
month's TGM, Argonaut prog-
rammers will describe the
experience- of playing Aggres-
sor
It srioukl be oul for Ctirtsl-
mas, itopeMiy.' says Perron.
But publishers Electronic Art?
have been seeking an earlier
release date, hoping lhal
Argona ul s m ne -man learn can
meet their end-r>f May dead-
line lor tne complex program
ming task
Developed on the Amiga,
Aggressor will appear there
first, and (hen on the ST.
PC and Mac Aggressors wilt
follow but B-tHt conversions
seem unlikely.
TGM TX 018:5-8973/108
ROBIN HOGG
PLAYING TIPS
YOUR GUIDE TO BETTER GAMING I
ZAK MCKRACKEN
AND THE ALIEN MINDBENDERS
All formats-^*^^
This month's Star Tips, from Mike
Bareham of Basildon, form the
first instalment of our complete
Zaft McKracken solution. Watch
nest month's TGM for more lips
on how to beat (he Men Mindben-
ders . . .
Pick up the lisfi Cowl, open the dresser
door and pick up the pnone bill Now go
to the desk and open the desk, drawer.
Take the kazoo and close me desk
drawer. Use the fisti bowl with the lamp
Take the wallpaper which is on the rkjht
wall, and use il on the plastic card which
is under the desk. Open the door arid go
into the next room
Pick up both seat cushions, and pick
up trie remote control which is hidden
beneath ore of the cushions. Use the
power cord, which is next to the TV. wilti
the power outlet. Vou can now use the
remote centror to switch or the TV. You
can watch TV for as long as you like, but
rt won't help you complete the game.
Switch off the TV by using the remote
control. Pick jp the butter knife and open
the cabinet, Now take the crayons and
use the yellow crayon with the torn
wallpaper. Walk to the fridge and open i|.
Pickup the eo.0, and close the fridge floor
Return to the bedroom and pick up the
rug corner; use the butter knife on the
floorboards This will bend the butter
knife Now go back into Die living room
and go out of the front door.
Walk to ire bakery and push the door-
nei i th nee times- The baker will now throw
a stale loaf at you - pick Ibis up. Go to
14th Avenue. Open the door to Lou's
loans shop and go in. Walk to the Sell
window and sell the bent butter kiule.
Now buy the wet suit, toolkit, golf club,
hat, nose glasses and guitar, Leave the
shop. Walk to the hair salon and open the
toolkit. Use (tie wire-cutlers on line
hobby-pm sign,
Walk back to 1 3th Avenue Pui on (he
nosegiasses and the hat, and open the
phone company door, Go in and owe the
phone bill to the representative. Go out
the door
Now return to your house and use the
stai e bread m the sink . Tu m on the switch
and turn it off again. Use the monkey
wrench on the pipe beneath the sink. Pick
up the breadcrumbs and go out of the
tronr door. Walk to the bus and use the
Kazoo When the bus door opens, u seine
cashcard in the cashcard reader,
Give the cashcanj to ihe devotee and
get on the plane . Once on the plane, walk
to the toilet and open the door. Go in and
pick up the toilet paper. Use it on ihe sink
Mow push the call button and walk out.
Walk to Ihe microwave oven, open it
and put the eo,g inside. Close the micro-
wave and turn it on , Walk to the first seat
and pick up the cushion, A tighter will
drop to the floor; pick this up. Now search
through all Ihe compartments above the
seat nil you find the oxygen tank. Pickthis
up and wait tor ihe plane to land
Walk to the automatic doors. Pick up
the tree branch and give the peanuts to
(he two-headed squirrel in trie hole. Use
the tree branch on (tie loose dirt. Walk to
the cave entrance,
Now click on the what is command,
and move the cursor around the screen
till you find the abandoned birds' nest,
Walk up fa it and use the golf dub on the
birds' nest so you can pick it up. Use the
what is command again to find roe fire pit.
Use the nest with the fire pit, then use the
tree branch with the fine pit and finally
use me lighter on the Are pn.
Now walk to the strange markings and
Etvlrcs. ??^« m-""" ™™~'°
Give Read ■*»<
kazoo ,
renote tontrov>
i+ ^ butter fcnif*
use the yellow crayon on them. A door
will open; go through this. Use the remote
control and pick up the blue crystal. Mow
go straight back to the airport. Use Ihe
reservations terminal and buy a ticket to
San Francisco.
Go to the plane. Walk through the
automatic doors and go to 14th Avenue.
Go to the door with the drop slot in it, aod
use the blue crystal in ihe drop slot. Wait.
When the door opens listen to wtial Annie
has to say,
Vou can now use the command surra,
which allows you to control three other
characters - Annie, Melissa and Leslie -
as well as Zak,
Go out the door and walk back tD 13th
Avenue. Walk to me bus Now switch to
Annie Pick up the blotter, and then pick
up the plastic card which is hidden
beneath the blotter Walk out the door
and go to the bus. Swiich to Zak and use
the kazoo.
When the door opens, use the
cashcard in the card reader Swrtch to
Annie and use the cashcard In the card
reader again. Now use toe reservations
terminal and buy a ticket to London Go
to the plane Walk through the automatic
doors.
Switch to Zak and use the reservations
terminal to buy a ticket to Miami Walk to
machi
Walk to
Push Open
Pull Close
ive Read
ashCard
wallpaper Map
Ma lk to
Pick up
tiH at is
Put on Furn
Take off furn
Use Swit
kazoo
renote control
Turn oh
Turn of
Switch
74/ 108 TQM TX 018:5-89
TIPS
tne plane Give me cook to ihe bum, and
he'll ofve you a bottle of whisky as well as
returning Hie book, Use the reservations
terminal and buy a ticket to Cairo. Walk
to the plane. Use the reservations termi-
nal to buy a ticket to Katmandu. Walk to
the plane
Walk outside. Now walk io me guard
and give tne book to him. Tne guard will
open the door lor you; go through it. Walk
to the gum and listen to what he has to
say Go back outside. Walk to the bate of
hay and use the lighter on the bale. Now
go left to the jail and pick up the nag pole.
Walk back to the yak, and use the
eastward on me licence plate.
Use the reservatwis terminal and buy
a ticket to Kinshasa. Walk to the plane.
Walk outside. Now walk through the
jungle till you came out of it. Walk to the
shaman ' s hut and go ln$lde. Give the sha-
man the golf club. "The shaman wiil now
lead you outside - then he and two other
natives will dance around a lire.
When they slop. Uiey'H bob up and
down. You must make a note of the order
in which they do this - you'll need rt later
in the game.
Now go back through the jungle to the
airport. Use the reservations terminal and
buy a ticket to Cairo. Walk to the plane.
Use the reservations terminal and buy
a lickei to London. Walk to the plane.
Use the reservations terminal and buy
a ticket to San Francisco. Walk to the
plane.
Use the reservations terminal and buy
a ticket to Lima. Walk to the plane, then
walk outside,
Walk through the Jungle till you've
worked your way through it. No* use the
breadcrumbs on the bird feeder Then
use the blue crystal on the bird. You can
now control the movements of the bird.
Ply right Oil you find a huge carvi rig F ly
to its left eye and pick up the scroll Now
make your way back to Zak and give the
scroll to rum. Switch to Zak and make
your way back to the airport ... and
that's where you'll have to remain till next
mnnth
SWORD
OF
SODAN
Amiga i ***^-" - — ~ ,
The surprise success qF Discov-
ery's Sword OfSodsn has created
hundreds of frustrated players -
but fret no longer, because here's
Daniel Vflmon of Done aster with
some handy hints
DOMAIN
NT
BAAL: maps of the three domains
Kevin Griffiths of Wolverhampton
produced these detailed maps for
Psyciapse s Baal, showing the
coordinates otall the rocket pads.
Rocket pad
Backet hiBi
Parts ot the war machine
▲
Start
Finish
Force-field generator
S
F
1
Weapon cartridge 2
Weapon cartridge 3
Refuelling pdnt
W2
W3
R
Level 1
CCu c^^
36-28
27-54
y HBH ? a iB H «
R g
R F
TGM TX 018:5-8975/108
In general
Save potions for later levels (5
upwards), and try and to keep as
many as possible for the last level
- where you'll really need them,
There's no time limit so don't rush
to complete a level, unless you
have the power shield activated
and want to use it on the next level .
LaveM
As soon as the level begins jump
forwards until you hear the guard
telling you to halt, then begin
attacking. Jump as dose to the
guard as you can to avoid being
stabbed.
- Laval 2
When you're between the single
and double spikes attack the
guard. Instead of Following him,
back off a little and then jump for-
wards and hit him when he
approaches,
Level 3
If the first two men are too far away
to be hit with a kneeling strike, just
change to an overhead blow, The
men will then come a little closer,
allowing you to hit them with the
kneeling strike.
Attack the giant with the over-
head blow. But never jump into
him, because hts club will drain
your energy.
Level 4
To kill the fat guys, just kneel and
stab. The dull sprites will continue
to jump into your sword till they
die!
LevelS
When attacking the zombies,
g I ways kneel down - this will pre-
vent you from being injured by
their arms and the substance they
spit at you.
Level 6
Use the power shield - this will
stop you from falling into I he traps.
Jump towards the man and con-
tinue to hit him. If he runs away,
follow him.
Level?
Walk forward s t 111 you 're in line with
the body on the wall. You can kill
the flying creatures with an over-
head btow. Use a magic tapper to
kill the man at the end of the level.
Level B
Be prepared to jump the fire that
rushes along the floor. And the
level gets more difficult when walls
start to cave in. However, rt you
Level 3
(no rocket bases)
76/108TGM TX 018:5-89
k
TIPS
keep looking at the top of the
screen you'll get an early warning
when a wall 1$ about to collapse
The fiKa will stop when the steel
spikes appear. These are more
deadly than the fire, and you'll lose
a whole life if you get impaled. So
concentrate more on avoiding the
spikes than the walls.
When you reach the blocks sec-
tion, walk to the edge of the lava
pool and wait till the first block is
almost at the edge. Then jump for-
wards onto it.
When you've jumped onto the
third block, time your next jump
very carefully because parts of the
floor wtll crumble away if you jump
too early. When you finally reach
the stone skull, kick it in the teeth
to make it slide backwards and
reveal the exit.
Level 9
Kill the two pairs, of creatures with
the overhead blow. Jump past the
catarpillar-Mke creature when its
head is as far down as possible.
Now walk past the potion and a
bird will follow you.
Walk back to the creature and
the bird will eat it. Once the bird
has finished eating, walk forwards
till the water st&ris to rise. When
the water is below the bird's
mouth, you should begin to jump.
Continue jumping till the water
is above the bird's mouth. The wall
will now disappear, allowing you
to continue forwards again.
Vou can increase your hit
strength by hitting the grey crea-
tures on top of the wall. When they
fly over you, use the overhead
blow to kill them.
Hit the bits of fire with your
sword to prevent them from injur-
ing yourself. And when the wall
disappears, walk forwards to
finish the level.
Level 10
As soon as you appear on this I eve;
use the magic rapper, Then acti-
vate a power shield and jump
towards the man, Hit him once to
kill him H then jump to the right to
complete the level.
Co mplete th Is level as quickly as
possible - because you'll need the
power shield on the next level.
Level 11
Jump towards the big creature
and continue hitting rt till it disap-
pears - the power shield should
last long enough for you to do this.
When the wizard appears, don't
panic - you can actually jump over
his energy bolts,
To kill Zoras, you'll need two
magic zappers and a power shield
When he fires lots of blue energy
bolts at you. activate both the
magic zappers and the power
shield-
Walk towards him and start to
hit him. If you've used both magic
zappers, you'll only have to hit him
two or three times to Ml him. Mow
walk to the right to see the end
sequence.
ELITE
PC
Thanks to David Cheung of
Crewe, any PC Elite player can get
99999.9 credits instantly. You'll
need the debug and attrib com-
mands (attrib Is onJy In DOS ver-
sions 3-0 and higher).
Type pflOMPT £P£G and press the
return key. the current directory
name will now be displayed to the
left of the cursor,
Mow type PATH'A (mak» lure ywur
d<iK * m dnv« A}, and hit return.
Type debug followed by the
commander name you're using (eg
DEBUG DAVID CDfl). A '-' Sign Will
appear as a prompt for input.
Enter EQ120, 39 39 39 39 39 IF
29 and hit return, Mow enter
ED1 88, 3F 42 OF and heturn again.
Then type w, heturn. type o and
return.
Type ATTHis david-CDR (or what-
ever commander name it is), and
RETUfM. Now load Elite as normal
and load the altered commander.
*-?MVl -'^'
Cli^hh
5*„0 light uf=:riR 1
tOO.G csneoiTS
PULSE LFiSER
[PRICES
MISSILES X3
Graii= r i awl
oo: oo:oo:l^
HHE 1232B1 EH5S H2H9ia
ELIMINATOR:
ACCESS CODES
Here are all 1 3 level-access
codes for Hewson'g
Eliminator, from Shay
Ra pa port in Israel:
AMEOBA.BLOOP, CHEEKI,
DOINOK. ENIGMA, FLIPME,
GEEGEE, HANDEL, ICICLE,
JAMMIM. K I KONG, LAPDOG,
MIKADO-
THE C64
SOLUTION
if you're a C64 owner needing
help on arcade games, gel
scribbling to Mart Issert - for
Mark is offering a free help ser-
vice p rowding POKES and tips on
ttie latest software-
Just send him your problems
- and an SAE - at 26 Thick H&-
fins Drive, Mettnam. Huddersfielil
HO? 30L. And gel those aliens
scared!!!
SPECTRUM
CHEATS
■ Rambo III
Paul Bu sow of Liverpool has a
quick cheat to skip levels on
Rambo lit. Press symbol shift
and qweht at the same time
and, hey presto, you'll be
immediately transferred to the
next level.
■ LED Storm
Thanks to David Cathlidge of
Stoke-on-Trent, anyone can
amass a large score without
even touching a joystick.
Just start the game end
press the break key before the
countdown starts. The border
should turn green. Press bheak
again, and you should quit the
game.
When you start playing
again, you'll appear on the
starting grid complete with a
large score.
WORTH OF
GAMES
MUST BE
WON!
Don't keep secrets - share 'em! If you reckon you've mas-
tered th© latest games, why not let other TGM readers know
before they die a miserable death?
And you could win £50 worth of software (your choice) for
Star Tips, as well as a TGM T-shirt (ideal for playing sweaty
shoot- 'em- ups).
We're always on the look-out for EXCLUSIVE hints, tips,
POKEs and maps, for any format (including consoles), so
send 'em in to: Playing Tips, TGM, PO Box 1() r Ludlow, Shrop-
shire SYS IDS,
TGM TX 018:5-89 77/108
ROLEPUW
SPACE 1 889
Roleplaying rules, 216pp hardback
Games Designers Workshop £17.95
t's 1889. Queen Victoria has been on the throne for
to the miracles of Victorian science, British warships
rule not just the waves but the skies as well. Dare you
I It
steam-powered ships of the ether, risk encounters with
hostile Martians in the search for groves of marvellous
^iftwood', dodge dinosaurs in the swamps of Venus and
explore exciting new frontiers of the solar system? If so -
read on?
Space TdS9 is the long-awaited
new release from Games Desig-
ners' Workshop, US creators of
the popular MegaTravetier,
2300ADand Twilight 2000, Unique
in concept, the game allows
players to adventure in a setting
that could have come straight from
the imagination of Jules Verne Or
HG Wells - an alternate Victorian
era where scientific advances.
notably the wonderful Ether Flying
invented by Thomas Edison, have few more skill towels can be purch
opened up whole new worlds of
exploration and conquest.
With steam-driven space
battleships powered by ingenious
solar boilers, the various colonial
powers of Earth have spread their
conquests as far as Mars and
Venus. However, the new human
setters on the two wortds don't
have things ell there own way -the
warlike Martian Sky Lords and the
hostile Venusian flora, fauna and
climate are all constant menaces.
And there are more familiar threats
too, as the nations of Earth carry
their traditional rivalries into Space
and compete for a share of the rich
of the solar system.
The highly original alternative
reality is a truly magnificent setting
for an roleplaying adventure.
Players take on the roles of explor-
ers, detectives. inventors,
interplanetary diplomats or mem-
bers of Her Majesty's armed
forces in quest of fame and for-
tune. The rule system used is a
new and very simple one. laying
emphasis firmly on fast and furious
action rather than a high level of
detail. The basic details of a
players character are specified in
terms of six attributes - strength,
agility, endurance. intellect,
charisma and social level - each
rated on a scale of 1 to 6. In addi-
tion, a character will possess rat-
- in several more specialised
Starting skill ratings for a
character are aquired in two ways.
All characters possess certain
skills automatically, with an initial
score derived from the corres-
ponding Attribute value. So a
character with a high strength
78/1Q8T3M TX 018:5-89
score will be good at Fisticuffs
(which cover all unarmed combat
- not just boxing), wheras a high
intellect score gives a character
good observation. In addition,
each player choses a career for
their character, which brings with
it further skill levels, There are a
range of typical Victorian occupa-
tions to select from - such as
Detective, Cavalry Officer, Inven-
tor and even Anarchist. Finally, a
ased using a simple points sys-
tem. All that remains is to choose
a name for the new adventurer and
you're ready for play. The whole
character generation process
need only take five minutes. Mid
there are handy pull out reference
tables to speed things up further.
The remainder of the rules sys-
tem is equally simple and
straightforward. Use of skills is
determined on a 'difficulty
number' basis, where a player
roles a number of dice equal to the
relevant skill system must beat a
target score set by ihe referee to
succeed - wheras for an untrained
human to ride a Skrill-theviscious
flying mounts of the Martians, is an
impossible riding skill - difficulty
number 20, The combat resolution
system is quick and easy too,
being based more around fast
moving action than detailed calcu-
lation and tactics. Rules are pro-
vided for heavy weapons (artillery
and the like} and aerial battles as
well as man-to- m fin cam hat.
The game clearly isn't intended
tor hack "n' slash play, since per-
sonal combat tends to be very one
sided - the protagonist with the
best weapon skill will usually win
out very quickly, and wounds are
quite serious with a single good hit
knocking down most opponents.
The simplicity of the basic
mechanics leaves the vast major-
ity of the rulebook free for back-
ground material. There is a chapter
on the Victorian age, providing a
brief summary of the society, poli-
tics and people of the era. Twenty
pages are devoted to the range of
equipment players may come
across, from simple tools such as
knives, gadgets like cameras, lab
equipment and the new-fangled
telephonic instrument', transport
equipment from bicycles to Mar-
tian war kites and weapons of all
sorts. The 'travel and navigation'
chapter includes a whole range of
The Moon. Mars and Venus each
have a chapter devoted to them.
most extensive, featuring the four
different Martian races such as the
Canal Martians with their
advanced but stagnating civilisa-
tion, and the barbaric High Mar-
tians (so named for their flying abil-
ity, not their culture!), and provid-
ing several suggestions for adven-
tures.
A particularly entertaining chap-
ter deals with science and inven-
tion. Player characters who are
inventors by trade may conduct
research to try and develop new
gadgets of varying degrees of use-
fulness, which often provide natu-
ral opportunities for adventure
And of course the referee may
confront players with Mad scien-
tist inventors too. Many possible
inventions are detailed , such as
Freeze Rays, helicopters, gravity
control and of course Synthetic
Life.
Many add-ons and adventure
supplements for the Space 1 &B9
system are scheduled for release
in the coming months, the only one
available as yet being a Referee's
Screen' pack. This contains all the
important referee tables from the
rulebook. a 1 6 page booklet con-
tain mg a few additions to the basic
rules and more reference informa-
tion on combat, travel and
encounters; and two 'Stikkils'-
notes on to the screen during play.
Hardly any of the materiel is new -
the pack simply serves as an addi-
basic rulebook. This is certainly a
useful play aid, but it offers very
poor value at C6.95.
Also available is Sky Galleons of
Mars, the boardgame of ship-to-
ship combat above the red planet,
which allows two players to fight
out battles between fleets of the
Martian warlords and the aerial
gunboats of the Royal Navy,
Overall, Space 1 889 has a lot to
recommend it. The rules are sim-
ple and suited to fast action and
lightheaded roleplaying at about
the same level as West End's Star
Wars. The presentation of the
rulebook is, sadly, pretty poor
being printed on low grade paper
with just a handful of glossy colour
pages and no index. Vary large
type is used throughout, so the
total amount of material included
is less than the 216 pages would
suggest. However, this is one very
entertaining package and after a
play you'll soon be wanting to
return to the Crown Colony of Sytis
on Mars!
^
COMPUTING—
What's in it for
*" »- *~ i
A career with computers promises bright lights and big money — it you've
got the brains, they'll make it worth your while. And games programming
is only the tip of a massive iceberg of opportunity, as TGM reveals in this
month's complete guide to jobs, training and your future in your hands.
• Page 80
WHAT'S INSIDE
Careers In computing page 80
Toolbox PLUS books page 83
Comms: BBs special page 88
Repair services page 90-92
Information Desk page 94
Readerpage page 96
Classifieds page 98
Controversy page 1 02
Mel's Trivia Quiz page 104
Competition results page 104
Too many
broken
hearts
That's what this
month's top letter-
writer has — he's
angry about hyped-
up software houses
wasting the incredi-
ble potential of the
16-bits. Will it hap-
pen to the Konix
Multi-System too?
See what he thinks,
and then read
ouropinion.
• Page 96
TGM018
CANCELLED
DUE TO
LACK OF
W SUPPORT!
hat turned the compatible
dream into a nightmare? This
month's Controversy column unearths
the REAL reasons behind MSX's fail-
ure.... and reveals how its slowly com-
ing back to Britain,
• Page 102
INDUSTRY: WE WANT YOUR PRODUCT NEWSf CALL BACK BYTES
EDITORIAL Robin Candy ■ ADVERTISING Lee Watkins ■ 0584 5851
TGM TX 018:5-89 79/108
BACK BYTES
CAREERS
iiHnccno ^
DOING
IT FOR
MONE
Glzza job f guv! There's loads a money and a tode of
opportunity waiting to be tapped by programmers,
engineers and journalists.
I( you ever sat up all night
struggling with the mysteries
of Sinclair BASIC marvelled
al the finished slickness of an
Amiga -drawn palming, or tiled to
recreate Pel Shop Boys with an ST,
dunces art- you've myed with ihe
thought of doing this forever . . ,
tor real.
But the going is. tough in the
games world- no more lhan a ten
thousand make their living from
It, thousands more want In, and
there's so much competliiDii It's
difficult to make a decent living in
whai many consider the most
desirable area: programming.
Yet thousands oi opportunities
exist lit t)ther areas of computing.
from programming in repair to
journalism And. just as most com-
puters are found in businesses,
many programming fobs are there
too - working for companies big
enough to afford theii own main-
frame installations with teams ol
computer staff. Government and
big public bodies, like the police,
are major employees too
Of course, this may tie ynu to
working on a particular kind ol
program all the time - hanks and
insurance companies, Fur instance,
will mostly want software to cope
with the line details im\ massive
volume of their financial deals.
Hue the advantage ol thai is thai
ynu can quickly gain expertise in a
particular area, and move ahead
quickly
For what most of these employ-
ers want is business knowledge as
much as computet knowledge,
I argt Installations (that"*, the jar-
eon) lend la use ■.cry high-level
languages - l rungs like dBase
whh fi aren't particularly difficult
lo understand, so the actual act of
programming is simple.
ii i i]uiie different From games
• Hiiiiiitig. where mastering
asscnihii-r of machine code is a
herculean iask in itself, The real
challenge of business computing
comes in figuring out whai the
non-computcr-litcralc user is
going to warn: whai data they'll
put in, and what they'll expect lo
gel out
Or course, there arc program-
mers writing off-the-shelf busi-
ness packages like word processors
or spreadsheets, usually for PCs,
and these positions are likely lo
require more technical knowl-
edge. For a stari, RAM is limited
on PCs (even when lii measured
in Mb), and it takes all the tricks of
the trade to cram in as much code
as possible for a high -powered
program; by contrast, as far as pro-
gram code is concerned, main-
frame memory is virtually unli-
mited,
So much for theory
Howd'you start? An obvious route
might be to take a university or
poly course In computer studies.
; but this reallv isn't necessary
• unless you're planning in be a
high-powered academic eoroput-
I ing I-
li you .1' ■ ■.'•.nil ii ■ w< lit uni'poly,
probably the ideal course is a joint
degree in computer studies and
business studies. Ht-odd different
universities and about 30 polys
provide computer training, mi
then s all the choice you could
want; and some courses arc spec-
ialised- For Instance, the ver-
sities of Ualh. Birmingham, Lon-
Joii (imperial College) and York
j all offer software engineering (jar-
l'i'ii i'T programming) degn
A -level computer studies won't
tfc in-, ru I'm maths Is profea
bly ihe only essential.
Otherwise, jump straight Into
the industry This can be done
either through a shon course i
by joining a large company's train-
brig scheme, Courses are some-
times run hy local education
authorities (LEAsj anil sn-rtit'cirru-s
b\ expensive private colleges: if
you can find one in your area, an
LEA course is probably just as good
and a helluva lot cheaper
Over a lew months, you'd learn
the principles of computer sys-
tems, perhaps a little about hard-
ware, and one or two languages:
most likely COBOL (Common
Business-Oriented Language),
now little-used but still oft -caught,
and one other, The difficult but
powerful C language is the flavour
of the month right now, so il you
find a course that teaches C. grab
ii,
Corporate training schemes will
give much the same education as a
short course, but usually with the
promise of a Job at the end if you
do well enough. Thisgeis your foot
on the bottom rung of the ladder,
but of course there's more torn pel -
ition . . .
Rich rewards
Because computing Is a relatively
new industry, It hasn't become
codified and restricted by a strict
pecking order the way. :.i\
medicineand the law have, Ability
is what counts, and If you've got it
Germany, Belgium and the
Netherlands are favourite destina-
tions.
Jobs are available all over Bri-
tain - wherever there's business.
in fact - so you don't have to be
subjected to London. Working
conditions are generally easygo-
ing; colleagues are young. And an
increasing number of companies
are now allowing prog rammers lo
work at home some of the lime,
communicating with head office
by modem.
So you don't want to bea prog-
rammer
The computer world, like any
major industry, has thousands of
hangers-on - weJI. perhaps that's
- an ii nk i ml phrase Bui just as jn
- army has regiments ol map-mak-
ers, radioopcraiors. cooks and but ■
ilc-washcrs behind every force In j
ihe field, so there are ample sup- i
porting roles In computing. And J
I hough these people don't direct h
produce software or hardware, it
would never be done without
[hem
Such positions include systems
Telling IT like it is
TIiiim thou: whn
etn'l With; ltvp« whn can't
kadi ivnlr jIviuLdic-MjIijrO
tvrrydm- u,n liu- jj-lmrtiiTL
pulling down UHcfarn uid
jtmrnuE whentt's hehjlul yri
both tireeit nn he Ultii tt
• inleierted In ITilnfra-
ii 1 1-.. Iiii..li..(j.yt twidon'l
taiuy ilic nttty-griSlv «f coding
J XK' n K Ol it.?tjT\r
paysL|uiie ji nvji.hu
prufu niminu.
tat iewfilyeiH [tlrrc'i
he en a thdnifie oi i< jLhirn In
aQ science HibJecEi. itmuuji ihta
situation miy tie coirevicd n
li-ivr i anul Irwtt tludenu Uke
*r i denm. Neatly all Icschen
<he« Jij,v n«<l in hi
decree jn ihe ipprupt Law tub-
ji-u 1 ! iwUch lafcrt ihinFf ■, i
Jul a quaUficjiliwi in cduii-
iNin (one yrirl. sw i BBd
drfl/i-r vrhkh hlnittl hnill (ind
likei hMuyewij
ittm tirwiuir of
iriLhsni |i Hetty tt$}mr-
wlih srfvuml yein ■ In tur il !■ Ii I
required L«rf< iir yuu bctvmr a
head nl depanfiurhi, jn. .
Upuhina mentlal 10 tint m
head, heiil leather, em
Hui li HiPSrri sitifjril by school
Kicking Kifki
JsninullHi. hy cuniran, nrrly
hWf tnrnul i raining iriurpi
onloCilpapem.
A» -,
■ pert-
uuouiu Tl .
. iimpuie r ptit>Uc»tk»rn In
.: .nji tram major
' **"._ ..i I i^i"il m[H^|h
So jml nc« many people wlus
undmiim] twth aHnputlnf
jllJ Iniimftmi ,hi yood
•viif ktt urn n»r 'aM
M<wi nl iJie hen jnpn re
ijjven n*il In Thr Guardian on
Mundayi and Saiurdiyv Tht
Mining uMry fur • EnynM
rrponef li uuitlty around
if, i uk:
you can soott hold down a respon-
sible position. Recent advertise-
ments" in Compuiirtj}. one tti the
main locations lor job ads, show
what the leadets oi the pack can
expeti :
■ Up 111 £21,000 a>, ^n analyst
|in»gramrner Isligiitly above a miii-
p!e i.hurncr-oui ol code} with, a
year's experience ol COUOL ran
DEC VAX machines and some
knowledge ol the financial busi-
ness.
■ Glasgow's city government are
offering up to £I7,6">8 for analyst
programmers with - again - just a
year"?, experience of COBOJ □
RPG fa much -used language).
■ British Aerospace are offering
up to El 7,000 for systems analysts
wiih at least two years' experience
of IBM mainframes.
Of course, these arc riu- plum
|x>M.«i, .iikL i.iily tile hest will gel
them. But even lor lu'ginners. the
general shortage ol computing
staTf means pay is good. The
National Curriculum Council in
York were recently offering
£7,641 kit ,i 20-year-old in lid]'
run ihe administrative side i>
Installation - effectively • begin-
ner's, or near I 'i g eT*s, posl
Computing is a ik-Kihie career.
too. Experienced programmers
and. analysis can get posts on the
Continent quite easily, because
Bi tain's computing community is
more sophisticated lhan most i>l
Europe'iv (except France's) WcsS
administrators, who keep a large
Installation running by m
sure all the hardware, software
and users are in utder |U's the sys-
tems administraior who Steps in
heroically when ^\\v: .1 those mas-
sive network-infecting %'lruses is
discovered i
Technical authors write the
manuals lot sciflware and hard-
ware; depending on the product,
you mighi be asked to make a com-
plicated program understandable
by Idiots '■! "i tghf) covet all
aspects oT a hardware system for
the benefit ol repairmen
I omputei repair is a big busi-
In itself, btn like hardware
design It's really an area of dec
ironies, and you'd train lor it ihe
same way
■ Further mlorm.it ion. r here's
noone body dealing with com-
puter I raining and work, so the
best bets are those old stand-
bys - a careers teacher or pub-
lic library,
Jobs are advertised in the
industry's press (notably Com-
puting, Computer Weekly,
Datalink and Coinpuier Talk,
which should he available in
large libraries bin aren't at
newsagents |, and in The Guar-
dian on Thursdays and Satur-
days-, Alternatively, try writ-
ing straight to a potential
employer - any large company
or institution - and you may
be lucky.
80 108TGM TX 018:5-89
12 SANDPIPER CLOSE, LONGRIDGE PARK, COLCHESTER, ESSEX. CO* 3GE
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wwdpfotesso*
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WtMKM
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PRISON 1?99>J99
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RTfPf 13.99 1199
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Mail Order only. Shop prices wiit vary, personal callers can claim approx. 10% discount off this advert- Subject to avaM&biiity
and price change ws thou t notice. Not all titles released at Ittne of going to pr 888, fc
%
<^y
STAR
■S&
Could you manage this
Rock Star ?
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CASCADE, HEMOOED, MID-GLAM
TELEPHONE HENGOED (0222) 638205
SOFTWAAE
PC * C64 * APPLE II
Produce
your
own
Epyx
I |u k don't jusi program games
they've jj-ol their tiwn Dciignct
Series of software, which includes
Print Md&k and TtitH^mt Video Pro-
fiteer.
Print Magic is simitar in Elec-
tronic Ans's Deiuxf Print -it's a
tarrf/mcmo/inYllahon ilesi^ritT
'a In. h includes .i numbi
[iriuLtT drivers.
The package also lus jitiii jiyni
graphics and typefaees to still
occasions From parlies to school'
work. And il you can'l limlasutla-
blc i mage , ju si u sc 1 he buil I - i n jrl
Utility lO (IfSljin yoili nn n
Print MagkhavaHabh for the PC
and Apple II (both L24.W|.
82/108TGM TX 016:5-89
BUYING THESE PRODUCTS? PLEASE MENTION TGM
BACK BYTES
Video tilling
The H&me Video Prodi/cn- is aimed a i
amateur video makers whis want
lu add title pages and simp! e an i-
maiions to their productions.
The program includes all the
essential commands for construct-
ing your own 'film' sequences, -
using a library of graphics included
in [he package. And It's very easy
to ase
But there arc somt serious
drawbacks: the graphicsare not ol
.1 pi. ii iu ularh good, and there'sno
provision l*« designing your own
All in all. The Mime Wdeo Profiwer
i b.aited for design ins liile
screens with scrolling, messages -
nice lot adding thai extra touch to
home i iduw but of link use to the
professional
Unavailable lor the C64 and PC
(both £19.951
Epyx: L'm'/s^J, Hofferft Way.
Hctford. Birmingham B6 7 AX
<B {02 1 1 1.56-3.388-
AMIGA
Hard drivin'
Thanks for the memory! Commo-
dore are finally releasing an add-
<jn hard disk for the Amiga, giving
you 20Mb of storage- the equiva
kni ofuver 22 lloppies- built Into
[he computer, It's suitable lot
memory -intcttsi ve applications
like animated graphics and music
CallediheCtnriMi...|...ii- A5V0, n
plugs into the back of any Amiga
and works like a second floppv
drive— nochanges to the operating
system are necessary.
Commodore sdutu's have also
indicated to TGM ihat an Amiga
mih huill-in hard disk is likely.
Utis stems plausible i n the h^lu < ri
Commodore's efforts to lell the
htgh~ond Amiga AiOOO to
businesses, niosi ol which will be
used to hard-disk P<_v
Apart from being more conve-
nient. ■ he advantage of ;i hard disk
is thai its quicker to access than
floppies.
Prices have y« tO b< finalised.
but expect to pay in the region Ol
E 500 -£600.
Commodore Business
Machines: Tkt Swi tchb ac k , Gard-
ner Read, Maidenhead. Berkshire
SL6 7XA S (0628) 770OS8.
Amiga * pc *
yamaha ci
Avoid those
deadly
synths
Editing sounds on a synthesizer is
a notoriously laborious process.
And when you consider that any
sound may have more than 50
parameters that can be altered,
i,\. .r king on a small LCD screen can
be a pain.
NowyoUiteit. nwyoudWt: rtptaa •>'•■ tfnj n*Bfc screen with a Sound QfUH tditor
The obvious answer is In hook
yoursyuth up to a computer, and
use a sound editor program to
create a rut store new sounds, lib-
raries of sounds can be kept on disk
and sent to the synthesizer when
needed.
Among die U-.xlinp sound
editors are the Sauna Quest range
for PC, Amiga and Yamaha C I -
.iii.i Computer Musk Systemsare
now distributing them
Instruments supported include
thenX.CZ. Ml, Kt andMT 32
range ol synthesizers and tone
modules. As well as editing exist-
ing sounds, Si'tm-i QfltU editors
generate random sounds whit h
users can then edit to suit their
jwrsnnat preferences.
All parameters are shown on
m i nn at i he s.irne time, and sound
envelopes are represented by sim-
ple line graphs to make editing
easier,
Pi h es for Ehe Sound Quest range
start at €79 l > 1 '
Computer Musk' Systems: ft
Manor Road, Tfddinaton. Middlesex
TWil flBGfi (01| L J77-4546.
DTP update
Shit DTP is still in the running,
diaiik.ii to Database Software—
they're bought the manufacturing
rights to AMS's back catalogue of
software lot the C64, GK. and
PCW. as well as the ST, The deal
includes 1 1 packages, seven of
which are DTP programs,
Pros la available in wo ver-
sions, either wilh or without
■■ iuse, l<ir the PCW (£49, 99,
>■' with mouse) , C64 ■< C 39.99.
£69,99 with mouse) and CPC
(£49.99, £79,99 Wilh mouse). Also
, i ...sil. 1 1 'lo for the CPC is another
dtp package, Extra} Extra', priced
£2499.
The remaining pat kages arc
MA X lor the CPC ( 1 1 9.99) , Desktop
and mouse I ..i the PCW (£79,99),
ASTand mouse for [he CPC
(£69 '>•>:, and the popular Rteft
Pdwrforthe ST (£14.99),
A MS (Advanced Memory Sys-
tems! are best known fot their
mice, and last year released DTP
Sahitlott, hailed as a major advance
in cheap DTP (TCMOOSi.
Database Software: Europe
Mouse. AdUngian Park, Adlingicn,
Macclesfield UK 1 4 NP S { Q62 5 1
878888.
SPECTRUM * C64 *
CPC * BBC
This
sporting life
H-hit owners can jockey for a bel-
ter position wilh new software
bom ftoxnfl —when you enter die
lurm and starting price forecasts
hoot it newspaper, Btrxform and
Handicap Winner will quickly
analyse the race and pinpoint the
horses which represent the best
value for money
Vml FiWtbtilt Bvxfprm analyses
ihe form ol all 2 18 clubs in the
English leagues, the Scottish
league and the lout minot leagues.
I he program then displays the
odds ior home wins, <iway wins
and draws. The computer also
Stores details of pas! 1<irtn, which
can be updated by entering the
latest remits
Bach program costs li ; •> 5 i. n
Spectrum, CPC, C64 or BBC H
Also available for the Spectrum
only is Punters fanner (£4 l ^\.
which calculates the winning
From various types of bet.
BOKoft; rv? AlUsru Meadow
ten. South WirraiL64 RSQ • ttfi 1 1
336<266S
Personnel
services
The servant problem is enormous
- bin at least businesses tan keep
track of their servants (sorr)
employees) with Artronto's Trwr 1
AfjjML'.f . the set (Hid lulc in [he
ei Series of business software
Fat no longer means happy for disk-drive/printer man-
ufacturer Citizen -they're set to release a new range of
'the world's smallest' 3.5-inch disk drives. Two models,
the UODC and UODD, were launched at Ceblt, the
Hanover computer show, in March.
Both are 19.5mm thick by 10 1.6mm wide by 130.0mm
long and can read disks of up to 1Mb storage capacity;
the UODC having a slightly faster track access time.
Prices are still to be announced.
Citizen: Wellington House. 4/10 Cowley Road, Uxhridge.
Middlesex UB8 2XWW |0S95> 7262 I.
TGM TX 018:5-6983/108
BACK BYTES
BUYING THESE
PLEASE MENTION TGM
rtiriht- Pi
The package provider i number
of services to the employee
1 1 u I u ding staff rues, diem Kit"*,
lime sheets, work in progress,
work charged hj date, ami dis-
hurscmt nt sides.
Quote Muster, ihc previous
M-as?<r Series package, produces
price Iims and u.uoiattiins for j<tUs
Both packages cost E49 95
Artronic: i-iHoyww
Hii'riyitfe, Nsrih Yorkshire
lit: I 5BG«|042i| 52 5J25
ARCHIMEDES
3-D anims
This month's TGM graphicsspei lal
may be dominated by Amiga ani-
mation packages. Lull Archimedes
hi'iv ners arcn'i lt-1i standing still -
thanks iti Clares Micro Supplies
and their 3-D animation package
tender Sender il_74.45t.
The program allows the user to
design screens using !-[> objei rs
It's then a simple mailer ol joining
reens together in complete
your animation.
Render Bettderatea uses
advanced ray-iradng algorithm*
lor a realistic effect Ray- [racing is
a novel way of producing stunning
reflections and shadows U uc In the
lawsol optics: the soft ware takes
iiiiH accmini all the relevant li^ln
sources before the exact shade ol
l-.kIi |h\(;| is determined.
Clares Micro Supplies: si.s'
Middlewkh Road Rudhealh North-
wiih, Cheshire < Wi OA S
(0606) 4S'5H.
DTP bundle with
Aries PCs
Watford Electronics have struck a
deal [ i » I m 1 1 d I e A M S*s DTP package
■.;- with their raiigt' of Aries
PC -compatible*.
Reviewed in Fl*jek By its
TOMOUftwjsctsarulfWVSlWYG
('what you see Is what von gel*),
GEM based DTP package
Also Included in the hundle is
hfultiwrtterl, <i word-processing
package leal tiring .1 spriting cor-
rector ami mail- merge, a serial
mouse and driver. MS-DOS ver-
sion I. ?, j ml 1 In- ."1 &r$tutisersc>h-
wa re providing a pttp-updiar) and
notebook. The entire bundle is
worth about LV'li. say Watford.
Putting publishing on more desktops
toasts of Logitech UK (Nick Partem,
tight) and Watford Etearenks (Nazir
JessA, left) si gn for asuper PCdetd See
tie-Hi headed nrp Bundle With
PCs
Reading
matter
The Media
Lab
Welcome to the future
world
Ever wondered how you put a
whole town on videodisc? Or
create a hypertext soap opera? Or
stop the computer shouting when
you've got a hangover? These arc
the kind of things they're
researching today at the Media
Lah, a cenire for technology exper-
iments at the famous. Mas-
sachusetts Institute ol Technology
(MIT |.
And this 285-page in-depth look
by noted American computer
journalist Stewart Brand {Whole
Sartft Software Catalog, Rolling
Stone} perfectly reflects the spirit of
the Media Lab, Subtitled Inventing
The Future At MTT. it's written in an
eager, we-have-the-iechnology
spirit, by a man who was obviously
very impressed by the place.
(Brand spent six months working
there.)
But sometimes it would be nice
to give the philosophy of technol-
ogy a res;t. and know a bit more
about ihe machinery behind the
futuristic marvels.
Brand gives enough teasers of
that, both in the text and the 24
pages of colour photos; imagine a
computer handling 50Q,0(H1 onsc-
reen polygons, or [he ultimate
para II e I -proccssi ng box - 1 he C on -
neetion Machine, with 65,5 J6
pra 1
And what's really remarkable
aboui the Media Lab is that even
though these things may never
become common - or at least not
in our lifetimes - they actually
fxisi right now. in the Media Lah
It makes you want to visit Mas-
sachusetts.
The Media Lab: Penguin paper-
back £7. 99, ISBN 0-14-009701 -'>,
Any bookseller should be able to
order it.
Barnaby Page
Blue Magic
In the beginning was the
PC
Probably the best of the recent
book* about IBM's endless cor-
ridors of power. Blue Magic makes
a refreshing change from the rata
of management squabbling which
dominate so many big-business
stories.
Instead, it's* straightforward,
chronological account of the
dcvclopmeni of (he PC -and it
throws up some amazing sur-
prises. For instance, when IBM
in 1 rini need that standard- set ring
Mine in August 1981, they
never expected ii to sell big: within
months, it had proved six time-
popular as the doomsayers had
forecast T
There's also a detailed look at
the disastrous PCJr project of
I 983, a I .tiled attempt to produce a
cheap home PC - it's only very
recently those have successfully
.! 1 'pea red from Amstrad, Atari and
Commodore-
Authors James Chposky and
Ted Leonsis are both experienced
American computer writers, hut
(perhaps because IBM is such a
megapowcrf ul force on the Amer-
ican scene i 1 hey often take an
annoying 'gee-whit, weren'i
those inventors wonderful'
attitude.
The book is sometimes sloppily
written, too, repeating itself and
veering from one topic to another
(from component purchasing to
the grim details of keyboard
design . . Vlikefl's Out of control.
It's probably a ease of information
overload; these authors know a !■ .i
of minutiae from PC history, but
can't quite figure how to fit it
together.
Blue Magic is lei down by these
style problems, and by an occa-
sionally poor index (no mention of
the new OS 12 operating system,
though lis in the levill.
But it's a fascinating insight into
the early days of micros, not only
the PC. And for anyone interested
in how computers come into life, it
deserves a place alongside Tracy
Kidder's The Haul Of A New Machine
and [an Adamson and Richard
Kennedy'] Sinclair And The Sunrise
Technology.
Blue Magic: The People. The Power
AndThe Politics Behind The 1HM Per
tonal Computer. Grafton Books
hardback £14,95. ISBN 0-2*6-
l H45-3. Any good book seller
should be able toordei h
Obituary:
The Bug
It's a sad day for the computer
industry. The Bug fanzine, which
has been published periodically for
the 3asi five years, is about to disap-
pear.
For, after 37 issues, the tdrtfflrtaJ
team- Jaron Lewis, Jeffrey Davy
and Kelsey Lewis - have decided
to Call it a day.
I a roil and Jeffrey will be Starting
at university in 1 be autumn, while
Kelsey is moving away from Lon-
don. And with ihe editorial team
dispersed around the country, ti
will no longer be feasible to pro-
duce the fanzine. But ihcir work
will likely continue to appear in
other magazines -perhaps includ-
ing TGM.
The Bug provided news, reviews
and playing lips for the Spectrum
CPC, PC and Amiga, but it was
most well-known fur its strong
.11 1 nodes against softwares'
and racism.
The final issue will be a com-
memorative edition packed with
features, review*, ana tips- theft's
even the possibility of a cover-
mounted Cassette game Priced
55p. ft goes on sale at the end of
July.
Bug Publications: 28 f.r'nffrV
Avenue, Mitswrll Hilt. London
NIC JBU. Several phone lines: check
issue for details.
S4/1 08 TGM TX 018; 5-S9
Top Quality 2nd Drives for the Amiga
and Atari ST at lowjow prices
■L T j
■ Jlil
k>».=
In
II ■
HCiU
*>J
• Full compatibility with all Atari ST
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• T»p quality Citlien drive mechanism
• One megabyte unformatted capacity
• External plug in PSU (Atari ST)
• Throughport (Amiga)
• Very quiet
• Slimline design
• Colour matched to computer
• Long cable for location
either side of computer
• Full 12 months guarantee
Donl forgerlm prices shown
include VAT and delivery
ATARI ST VERSION ONLY
AMIGA VERSION ONLY
including VAT and delivery
AATARI
ices include iheu'if Pic piu* 5 d'iku or ^oMi'jjip
incl*rfi-"g viaitiptncmw ulihtics graphics game and dtf»hOS
Phftiif us f*nw 1or a quOie on any tornfriTalign nl harjvytfrt
SURER PACK
STFM
Includes 520 STFM wlin 1MEG d«ve. over £450 worth of software, Joys!**, mom*
U*or Guide and 5 disks c< Public Domain Software. Software lr
T««t Drtv* Chfl«5*r )C _iy ./■ ■
&«? 3SSSSS ■*" ""*
xtnfln amadt
WUball W** Limp
Second! Out Thru*
ijmllW Orpjutf Buwnass 3/wi
Mutt*
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ThuM»ns«*
irmil QfylTCUd
AAJMMI I)
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Inc VAT & delivery
416 &TFM- wttfi 1MEG Internal drive fitted ' ■ £*£ ™
1040 STFM larASt model, with buHI-ln TV modulate* .-^ £389 ,00
1040 STFM model as above with 'Microsoft Write' & VIP Professional E419.Q0
t04O STPM including joystick. 21 games w<in business software as
^polled with above described ■5S0STFM Super Pack 1 ......... **i£.00
1040 §TFM inc. 'Super pat* aslras W above, -MS-WrW a. VIP Pro, £458.00
mcnachrDMif monitor wnu any 10-10
M«a ST1 with, mono monitor. 'MS -Write 1 8, 'VIP Pro.' i2?^™
Me£a ST2 with mono monitor, 'MS -Write' ft 'VIP P™- , =i ----. f 8 ^ ™
Super Pack software' as supplied with above 520 STFM offer .,,...„ t ou.uw
520 STFM 1MEG interna 3.5" drive upgrade kit IOC. lull In strurJuOftS I, ,1™
SMiS*-S mono monitor ■ F^-ra on
SC1224 colour monitor ■ - %*£* SS
Maga-Fila 30M& hard disk ■ ™"-™
System AT4Q 4QMb Hard disk, super low price at ^, ■ Si S="™
vtdl-ST popular 1 6-ton* video f rarfie grabber inc.djgitislftg software
PnilipS 'l 5" FST Tetaie*t Tv/manilGf model 1 185. full renvtfrl. tVw (a
IPfi ihips CM8&M 1 4" colour monitor OrW ST or Amiga lead
Philips CM8fl$2 as above, higher resolution
£289.00
SPECIAL OFFER AMIGA PACK
Our new special offer
* Amiga SOO computer *
* TV Modulmc* *
* Mume jt Mouse mil *
* Jimllck *
* Photon Paint *
* Karalt Kid [1 *
* Gold runner
The total retail value
pack Includes the following:
r Grid Start
I Demolition
r \H 35
t AIM
r Las Veaii
r ptut 5 dliki of
public domain a/ ware
of extraa eupplled
all this
for only
£399.00 !
Is £270.45.
PYE 15" FST
TV/MONITOR
(MODEL 1185}
I Superb quality, stylish madi-jm
rasolutlon FST cotaur TV/tnonl-
| tar la suil the ST or Amiga.
FaatLKHS l»l*1art. lull lnlr*-iBd
rmate comroj, Eurooonnector,
JM,'Audio Input and head
J f,mne output c*nnfflors, *0
tunir presets, aitamal urtii
yjnrvsctor and loop aanal Sup-
plied with daole [pisast state
computer jyca whanomerinfl).
SPECIAL
OFFER I
£269.00
Include* VAT
and compute*
connection leod
All prices include VAT, delivery and cable
we uso and reco mmend Siar printers since
they olfcr an unoeglnrjlr? combin^l<cin ol Fe»li-
tures print quality, reirabiiily and value Make
IMP sensible decision - get it nghl with a Bttf
printer al Our special, all m prices
Star LC10 best-satling 144/36CP* 9 pin. * NL.Q lonts. inc.2 ertra ribbons free £190 DO
Star LC10 7-colour v«faton d above print**, Inc.S extra blaOh ftUNfie ™**-°*
Star NX-1S bud0«t wnde cartlaae Spin primer - - SJS'JK
fitV LCS4-10 leature-packed 10" muHiforri 24 pin prlrrlBr |?„S2
Staj tlB24-10 0'*al vatue 10" 24pln Inc. cut atieet l*eda* ♦ 2 extra ribbon* £499,00
Star NH24- 15 wide qarr.wBfSiOfi ot N624-HHnc. art Sheet leader EA49.00
NEC PZ20Q budget 24pin. HT carnage lesvW q» — CJ'g-™
Afflttrad PMPateoraMcDl Spin, 10" carriage .»-—. - ««"rS
Amstrad LQJ&OQ 10" 24pin wtifi bath aerial and parallel interface* _._ EH9 -W
Panasome KXPlOBI reHiaWO buoget 10" pfrmer T 20/24 CpB .....„™... "^]™-^
ranaeririr KXP1190 now, oxerbinfl high spec . muitilOfYt 9 pin ID* £199.00
ParaanricKXPI 124 superb value 10" murlrfcinl 24 pin wHtt & typ««ty1e* ~. £319.00
Epson LXBOO popular 10" 180^5 opt «Ji™
Epssn LQ$00 good 24pinpdniBr ISOffiOepe m ™— - f?II"SS
Crtiien 1200 owd vatu* 10" t20cpa »™ — "" mSS'5£
Crttien MQP-45 baroairi 24 pin wide cartlag* pnr*er ..-.. E3BBMJO
9tt*4n lm>ri avallAbkt for moat of In* above printers - phone tor delen*
ULTIMATE
ATAM ST
DISK
UTILITIES
SOFTWARE BACKUP Incorporating turbo nibble*
Version 5 backup incorporates a very last and powerful
menu-driuen backup utility Makas u&a of all available
drives and m-amory.
00 SOFTWARE BACKUP PARAMETERS
Now wflh 60 individual parameters 10 backup and
de-protect even tuo icughest ol proteflion schamesl
FAST BACKUP VERSION 2
WW backup a non -protected dish very speodiiy, using
'File Altacalion Copv' iochn»quas.
EXTERNAL PRtVEBOOT
Allows many programs to siariup from drive B.
ORGANISER ACCESSORY
Providino exiremely usalul disk managemanl commands
under one desktop -based accaaaory, including
FORMAT, RENAME. DELETE etc.
SPECIAL FORMATTERS
Increase your 3 5" disk u&er siorage capacity by up to
25% and improve access speed by up 10 30% with inese
two new disk lormatters providecJ I
RAMDISK and SET DATE/TME accessories
plus UNDELETE, DISK ANALY&S, UNFORPllAT
DISK SPEED CHECK and much more 1
— Only £28.95
.Existing users ■
Dtaector ST ill**
upgrade your,
lor only £7.95
3.5" Disks
10 Bulk packed DS/DD 3 5" disks
wilh labels, fully guaranteed ., , , £1 1 95
25 bulk disks as above „. E27.95
to disks aa above witu plastic case -.— E13.9S
25 disks as above, with 40 capacity
lockable storage unit. „,„,-,..,„..,.. £34.95
Kodak DS/DD 3.5" disks, top quality
storage media, fully guaranteed Box o\ 1Q ... E17.9S
How to order from
QMnnCDazB
VI.
Phone us with your
ACCE5S or VISA
card details on :
•B 0386-765500
All prlcta Include VAT and delivery. Eiptesa Courier dBlhrery E5.p0eitra,
rwl Send Chtqttt, Postal Order
^^ pr- ACCESS/VISA cord dttafc
Govt,. eeiK. & PLC onkri w*J«im*
Same day despatch whrtxvcr posslUf
All goods subject la iTfailabuiiT, E.&0.F,
Op«n to calltH b days, JJfrSJO
Evesham Micros Ltd
63 BRIDGE STREET
EVESHAM
WOHCS WR11 4SF
<D 03S6-765500
lax 038&-765554
tele* J33M4
Aba ai: tT*2 PmtwrT Hi, Cmteriofr, Bifinin|hani BJ0 3BH Td: flil <5S 45*4
BACK BYTES
BUYING THESE PRODUCTS? PLEASE MENTION TGM
Watford Electronics: 250Hi$h
Smw Watford WPS JAN'S
(0V23) 1777-1
PRINTERS
Ink (redda-
ble)
II - itmt' llrl JlttullRT : OLI IIlEu 1 1 n"
i\n' lalesl Nt^-f nhain. jujj prjnlei
goodies f r-iirn MCA Softest.
First off are .1 lint t>f products
designed fin wsv iviili the S!.n I 1 •
to printer, £19,95 will buy you a
heat' transfer ribbon fnr printing
patients onto doth; these ribbons
-in- n ,u|,iMe fn'i I'i'ili 1 hi' iTunm
amlcokiui models ci| the I C-10
A mmorised ri[ihiii-rL-iiiki.'i is
■lvjilaMv fin single-colour
(£6S.S0| and colour modi-Is
(tlCJW.^Ot. And new *ingle»cofcMn
ribbon* ^jn be bought in nvni;
including blue green, purple red
jnii brown, tor CI 2,45 each.
For other makes of printers,
motonsed remkers vary from
£8.2.00 to LI 19.95, depending on
ihe printer.
Tnereinkfrtg 11 mi is very easy in
operate, lusi attach thewom-oui
ribbon hi ihe retnker, fill ihe
Inkwells and set ihe nun hi
motion, t[ only takes approxl -
mateh/hmr minutes inreinka 1 lb
bun,
Wow, man
Otwi'l despair if you see dinosaurs
in trainers walking off a printer -
those mushrooms mi toasi were
11k, n
I i» anything goes when you
buy CompuU 1 Sensations printer
staiioneiy front MGA Softcat,
Each shed includes a uh msii ,1!
border design - n ni.n be bears
AMIGA
Virus killer
for 5 Op
In response to TGM0l6'v
article on viruses, reader
Charles Elliot of Surrey Is
offering a virus killer (Vir-
usX J. I ), which he says
will wipe out all known
Amiga viruses for SOp and
a blank disk.
He also points out that
many viruses have a 'hack
door' which will remove
them from memory.
The SCA virus can be
deleted from RAM by
holding down the left
amiga key during a reboot.
And the Byte Bandit
Revenge virus can be dis-
abled by holding down
the left mouse button and
ONLY POOLS AND HORSES
Programs from experts wffli experience In Ihe field
BOXFQflM and HANDICAP WINNER
Tuns programs tor the price of on*. { jtsy b use aod tha> never go out date All you need It
a fa* imnuta wilfi 3 daii m paper HANDICAP WINNER shorn <h« VALUE FOR MONEY bets in
handicaps, v* ntosl cMfeaili of all rates to assess Alt eady this year ;1cj mr<l Pifatrch' the proof am
has given winner* at 1 1/1 ,2 b1 671 .3 at 8/1 , 15/2, al 7/1 ,5 at 1 1^,5 »1 6/1 ,1 1 at 1 1 !t,7 ai
5/1,7 al 9/Z an dkh 10c mure at atinrtw «Ws.
BOXFOflM weighs up a race By cwsictering dig many laceis at farm AJIhaugh several factors
are built m. the user tan easily add to deleie Dr modily them to produce a program a taitor-made
for the ipd'Yiflual
VOvf pa» inllaletf prices? BOXfjrf CLEVER ana atf Ihe BEST
Tape £1 1 .95. CMO W/t Z6. AMSTfWfJ CPC 1, SPECTRINS B rj C B
Dec C 1 2.95 lor CMD & BBC, f U .» tor CPC & SPEC *3
B0X0FT. 65 Allans Meadow
E3
Nestan, South (tonal L6J 9SQ
ptwne05i-136-?66a
E3
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BRIDGEND
MID GLAMORGAN
SOUTH WALES
;■; K camping, Jolly snowmen 01
a 1 1 iwer design. Splash nui £12.95
Mni., wrapped packol 100
sheets ol micrnperf orated, eon-
tinuuus-feed computer napei
MCA Softcat: Pmi Tree, Appte-
fare, Kent TN26 2 A K & (0233!
81561.
\riMmer, a PC graphics editoi k»i
creating and aliei Ing VewsMasif)
and I'ltinM., ■■:,■■ clip an graphics.
ho> been rereleased al £19,95.
Ii Includes such drawing
facilities as Indh idual pixel edit
ing. mlrror-lmaglng and cut-and-
pastc,
And chough VewsMttstet dlp-an
graphks are limited in sl/e.
AnMtufer aWuws you iovvi.uk ,m
graphics enlarged [oihrei times
iheit final size, thus alkiwing mtwe
detail.
MG A Softcat: !\wi frtt Appk
, i," e Kent r\'Jtt I a k s i o "■ 1 1 \
g*561
Turn on, tune in,
trip out
STuwnervcaa nnwetmncci iheli
computers uptoahi^tl Foj 1
stunnlngso I buying ihe neces-
sary k*ad from Rnhvm Eli't tmnk>
The £7.95 lead plugs into the
monitor Mickel on the back n\ the
ST.soii canonh/ be used when ihe
scree ndispla^ isonaT\ On hi-fis
11 connects with the line inpui
phono MM ki is
Robson Electronic
Hej«r, Hitfi Km-iamb >.
md Weai \f- tv 2BI W
(0207) 54)05)
the fist button on a joys-
tick, again during a
reboot, The joystick must
be in port 2.
The Byte Bandit virus
can also be 'cured'. When
it strikes, the TV or
monitor will seem to go
dead; so simply hold
down the bottom five
keys (left alt, left amicia,
the space bar, rtght amiga
and right ali>, and you
can carry on as normal.
But note that this does
NOT remove the virus
lrom memory!
■ VirusX 3,1 Is available
from Charles Elliot, 41
Pennington Drive, Wey b-
ridge. Surrey.
We have no reason to
doubt Elliot's honesty,
but we'd still advise you
not to use his program on
any Important virus-car-
rying disk till you've
tested it on a less impor-
tant one.
ALL ORDERS
SENT lit CLASS
EXPEDITE TRADING
MAIL ORDER SUPPLIERS OF SOFTWARE, COMPUTESS AND PERIPHERALS
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BACK BYTES
COMMS
TREADING THE
All the world's a stage on bulletin boards, where hackers,
gossips and sentimental lovers form a cast of thousands.
Zog reports on the systems that let you chat by modem.
It was tate, late enough Em
British Telecom lo lower
phone charges for the night, h
was late enough even for the
'All lines from London are
engaged - please try Eater' cassette
in be removed, steaming from
overuse, and cooled in a bath of ice
cream. Nothing much was hap-
pening with the network, so BT
engineers reconnected the loose
ends of the system for the night
and wciu 1 1. rue oui of boredom.
Around a darkened England, small
furry mammals squeaked and
owls booted. Meanwhile. Indoors,
modems whistled at each other
and scampered through bulletin
boards . . .
Scattered across the country,
smalt bulletin boards (Of BEJsi tan
be Found in the oddest of places.
Thee can be run from a small room
in the centre Of Birmingham or a
barn in the middle of the country.
The only things they have in com-
mon is that they're run by dedi-
cated part-iimers, and they're usu-
ally free.
A BB is just what it sounds- an
electronic blackboard, on which
elea tonic passers-by can read, and
leave, information. All they need
is" a computer, a modem and a
phone line.
And even lor running a bb. the
basic setup is quite simple- Vou
need a micro, preferably with a
bard disk, a phone line; and an
autoanswer modem for the line,
Vo ualse. need so me sort of BB soft-
ware. This can be as simple as a
home-written program which
allows users 10 store a message or
read .on ,-\ (he last 256, lay - but
if you want to get clever, BB soft-
ware can consist effectively of full
databases, with thousands of mes-
sages, and message chains leading
from each interesting message to
its replies In the chain.
Whet her you're in charge of I he
BB or a plain old user, simple com-
:n,i mis will let you search for sub-
jects you're interested in. or look
for messages by certain people, or
on a certain date. The messages arc
grouped into several separate
I ids', each for a different sub-
ject. The program will siore your
position on each board, so the next
lime you log in you can read on
from where you left off,
BBs arc all run, usually for love
rather than money, by the sysop
l system operator). The person
wearing the sysophat has to check
that the system is working, and
regularly read all the messages in
case someone tries to leave a rude
one Yes, they can even read those
private ones between Fluffy Cud-
dles and Bunnikins (you know the
sunt, but then if someone wants
to log into a BBas Bunnikins the}
have to expect a laugh.
Sysops:
numbers or
free
men?
£7 ysops, the people who run
bulletin boards, seem like
generous folk, They splash out
una phone line or two, or they
;;n. e up their only phone line
for a few hours every evening
to allow people to call in.
But why do these kindly
people, who've unflinchingly
d< mated space from their hard
disks, do it?
Well, some fust do it because
it's possible. They write the
database and 1 he enrnms soft-
ware as an exercise, and since
iL doesn't cost much lo rim.
they keep to going.
Many of ihem use I he same
equipment during the day lor
"■ork, and switch over to a BR
.ii night.
Incoming calls are all free
anyway, ami sysops working
wilh computers may make a
few useful contacts that help
them iri ihc-ir day fobs.
Sysops and users with sysop
(it ivi leges set to keep an eye on ihc
whole system, because it seems
there's always someone some-
where who delights in electronic
graffiti, Fortunately, It's dead easy
to wipe the offending message off
1 he disk!
Free software
If you can store messages on a RB,
■ •I course you can sinre program
code loo. So someone can load up
a new program or utility, and then
when you log In you can down-
load the software onto your com-
puter, save it to disk, and keep it.
Of course. It may not quite work
properly, but the stuff is free aj>art
from the phone call, and il It's
source code rather than an exe file
you can always tweak il to ■. ■■■in-
own satisfaction,
So BBs tend to be associated
with public-domain software, and
Spreading information freely
around- Some are specialist - for
example, CBB5 In London is
mostly Speccy stuff - but many are
more wide-ranging,
01 course, all this information
floating around has its limitations
too. Operators of BBs generally try
to be responsible, but rely on their
users to police the system, since
they themselves obviously can't
manage be online 24 hours a day,
A pan hum the annoyance of
morons leaving messages hill ol
rude words, people have been
known to leave 'utilities' which
are not all they seem. Several
unscrupulous characters have
used the free* software facilities of
BBs to upload viruses onto unsus-
pecting punters.
So tn i. ,i minus - take steps to
protect your own system. Be espe-
cially cautious <>1 people advertis-
ing 'virus killers' on BBs (or any-
where else Where there is no way
of tracing the supplier). As has
been noted before now, one of the
best ways lo hide a crook is to dis-
guise him as a policeman!
Using the BB jusl to exchange
messages with Bunnikins is totally
safe, of course, so have fun. Maybe
you'll even find other strange rah-
hhhke personas out there . , .
■ Zc$ is TGM'scommscohtmxkx. His
real frame is Fluffy Wet-Ears Bun-
nyhaby.
CONTACTS
Here are the modem numbers
c>1 some popular BBs, and the
baud rates required lo reach
'em, All are open 24 hours a
day.
A little While on one BB may
produce information on other
hoards that are closer to you
and thus cheaper to call, tilts.
can be quite friendly to you, if
you arc lo them!
Academics (02 1 1 705-9677
Birmingham; loo, 1 2/71 baud
Bob's Bizarre
<tm4i 27<>644
Felixstowe; 300-2400 baud
Ivory Tower
(0245) 415121
( helmsfnrd; 3110. I 2/75 baud
Lap of the Gods
(01) 994-91 Is"
London; 300, 12/75 baud
Laxer Tower
(0272) 783733
Bristol; 300-2400 baud
London Underground
(01) Hi, I i.l|''ri
London
Mela r ruin
(061) 7 J 3-7739
Manchester; 30(1-2400 baud
GREAT
COMMS
JOKES
■ What do you call fully 's prU
vates? Pari iy hi is!
what aid the modern say w the
demist 7 Stop bit you're hurting
Why did the data crou the
cable? Because it was baud!
Whatdc modem manufacturers
do in the summer 7 Make Hayes
while i he sou shinesl
Where dti tsmms experts leave
messages fur each alher? A hull? -
tin board ! f I7m?'j not Aooty - Ed)
88n OS TGM TX 018:5-89
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DESIGN YOUR OWN : HIGHLY TACTICAL COMBAT : NICELV "ADDICT IV E* CAME IBM, ST. AM _ £34 00
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ARMAMENT OPTlONS:10 SCENARIOS OR DESIGN YOUR OWNrTACTlCAL COMBAT IRM.ST.AM [34-00
AVAII ART EFOR BOTH BREACH**. 'PALADIN 1 - Ifc READY MADE SCRNARIOS EACH IBM.ST.AM .. 1 1*1-00
CI ASSfC 'DUNGEONS' GRAPHIC RPG SERIES:PABTV Of fcHlCHI.Y DETAILED AND EXTENSIVE MAPPING
REQUIRED PARTS I A II A VA I LABI. E FOR CM WITH ! TO V ON IRM AND APPLE EACH AT £31 50
WAR TNMIDDI E EARTH TOLK GIN'S MASTERPIECE BROUGHT TO LIFE ON COMPUTER: CM .. E18-M : IBM.ST,AM- tlBM
POOI *OF RADIANCE FANTASY RPC EROM SSI'TSR SET IN THE 'FORGOTTEN REALMSMERR AIN.DHNGEONS fc COMBAT
SHOWN IN 3D Wirtf QFFl£tAl DFTAU-ED .'HWT BOOK' CM £25-00 IRM.ST & AMIGA £78-10
FEDERATION OF FREE TRADERS- INTERACTIVE SCI-FI STRATEGY G AME:SPACE PIRACY AT ITS REST ST R, AM ... E*>6 00
DEATH! ORD I ARGE GR APH1C F ANTASY 'SAMURAI' RPG WITH LAND & DUNGEONS TO MAP & EXPLORE CM E H 50
KING'S OH EST IV I A TEST FROM SIKH K A THEIR BIGGEST A REST YET 3D CR APH1C ADVENTUR ErIBM . £33 : ST £2fi-0D
TIME*" OF 1 ORE FROM OR TGINT I. ARG E GRAPHIC FANTASY RPG SINGLE CHARACTER :CM .. EH 40 1BM.ST.AM
DEMONS WINTER I ARGE FANTASY TART Y OF «* R PG QUEST DEFEAT THE DEMON "MALIFON*: CM €18-50 ; ST
THE TOIONY REA1 TIME 7DGRAPHIC SCI FI ADVENTURE MYSTEfl Y;W1TH INTELLIGENT ALIEN RACE... IBM
SCAVENGERS POST HOLOCAUST SCI FT GRAPHIC RPG . 20 CHAR ACT ERS. LOADS OP ALIENS MUTANTS AND COMPUTER
RANDOMLY GENERATES AN INFINITE NUMBER OF WORLDS TO "SCAVENGE 1 IBM ONLY SO FAR 134-00
WASTE! AND POST NUCi EAR DEVASTATION RPC MAGIC REPLACED BY MODERN WEAPONRY- CM £H.-50tIRM £24-50
STEL1 AR CRUSADE. SCI Fl STRATEGY GAME OF E X PL OR AT fON. ECONOMIC POWER AND MILITARY CONQUEST: LOTS OF
NICEDETAII INCI IIDES PRODW. R. DESIGN YOUR OWN ST ARSHIPS:FROM SSLFOR ST & IRM £2*1-95
LATEST STRATEGY/ WARG AMES PROGRAMMES : INCLUDING l/SA IMPORTS:
GRAND FLEET CUMPU I Ett MODERATED HOARD WARGAME FROM S1MU L AT IONS CANADA ;SURFACH NAVAL COMBAT
IN WORLD WAR I : FROM 'DREADNOUGHTS TO DESTROYERS" : MANY SCENARIOS FOR ST & IBM, £31 00
NORTHERN FLEET AS ABOVE FROM SIM CAN" BUT MODERN NAVAL AND SET IN THE NTH. ATLANTIC ST/IBM 135 00
BATTLES OF NAPOLEON .. FROM SSI INCLUDES 4 SC EN AR IOS 'WATERLOO TO BORODINO 1 & A COMPLETE DESIGN YOUR
OWNXir. / TERRAIN TYPES.5 ELEVATIONS «? 100 YARDS PER HEX*:CREATE OR AMEND THE
ARMIES INCLUDING MORALE.WEAPQNR Y, LEADERSHIP VERY IMPRESSIVE: CM NOW £21 -50
BORODINO HIGHLY REALISTIC SIMULATION INCLUDING EXCEL LENT PERSPECTIVE BATTLEFIELD VIEWS: BUILT IN
DELAY FACTORS Br POSSIBILITY OF COMMANDERS 'USING THEIR OWN IN1TIATI VE: ST ONLY NOW £2t 00
CmCAMAUGHA , DETAILED SIMULATION OF THE US CIVIL WAR BATTLE FROM SSI : C64 . £2 I 50 & NOW AMIGA ..£26 00
FIRE BRIGADE . FROM PANTHER GAMES'. AUSTR ALIA :ST UNNJNG REPRESENTATION OF ARMORED CONFRONTATION ON
THE EASTERN FRONT AT SMOLENSK IN WWILDETAILED S. EXCELLENT GRAPHICS: IBM ft AMIGA £37 50
EMPIRE ABSTRACT" STRATEGIC LEVEL CAME OF GLOBAL CONFL ICTJNDI VIDUAL ARMIES.AIR WINGS. BATTLESHIPS
CARRlERS.CRUJSERS.DESTROYEKS,SUHS :LARGE MAP; INCLUDES -PRODUCTION': ST. AMIGA & IBM .. £24 SO
DETAILED SPORTS SIMULA TIONS INCI. UDES US IMPORTS:
PURE STATS (US) FOOTBALL .. DETAILED "SERIOUS' GRAPHIC SIMULATION MANY Tl.AYS 1 : SPLIT SCREEN , CM -
S79JOKN ELWAY'S QUARTERBACK .. GRAPHIC 'ARCADE STYLE' GAME FAST Br EASY TO PLAY ON THE IBM & CM „..
£78 SCI
HAFFNER-S31N I FOOTBALL DETAILED ST ATS BASED S.MU1. ATION TEXT REPORTS7NO GR APH1CSST.IBM CM
SIIPFRROW1 SUNDAY .FROM AVAION HILL : COMPR EHENSI V E GRAPHIC SfM. ONE OF THE BEST: IBM * CM
S1IPERBOWI SUNDAY TEAMS DISC. FOR THE 1187 SEASON ■ ALL THE PLAYERS READY FOR THE ABOVE: EACH
NF1 I1FFICIA1 I Y I ICENSED fc HIGHI Y DETAILED SIMULATION VER V -LARGE IN SCOPE' THE BEST' FOR IBM
GONF F1SHIN" ID GRAPHIC BASSFISHING GAME SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND I.OTSOF NICE DETA1I L: ST ft AM
TV SPORTS FOOTBAI I CINEMAWAR G'S 1ST SPORTS SIM, *, EXCELLENT SAMPLED SOHNDtI.EAGUE PLAY: AM
MSFI PROI EAGUEFOOTRAI I DETAILED GRAPHIC US FOOTBALL SIMU1 ATION WITH 4? 'SUPER TE AMS\SCOUTING K
ANIMATED REFEREE. 'WEATHER', SLOW ft, FAST C AMEFL A V- VER Y GOOD IRM £37 50
' NICK I AHSGOl F ft CLASSIC COURSES PIUS 7 DESIGNED BY THE 'MASTER HIMSELF'-.VER Y GOOD:JBM ft C64 ,., £3** 50
FIN AT 4 CO! 1 EGE BASKETBALL STATS BASED SIMULATION FROM HAFFNER MANY TEAMS IBM. ST ft CM ..... £3*10
HFADCOACH(U<D HIGHLY DETAlf ED GRAPHIC FOOTBALL SIMU I. ATION DESIGN YOUR OWN PLAYS: AMIGA £37-50
HFADCOACH VER Til . FROM IIK:MINIMAL GR APHICS BUT COMPREHENSIVE SIMULATION ft L EAGUE: ST.1BM EJ410
TIflS-££PR£S£NTSA 5MALLSRL£CUQl* J2f "DMEJtAMZS AHIL&XCJL WES MAN r FLIGHT SIMULAIIQNS;
IA TFST OFF/C/AI ' HINT BOOKS - MAINLY IMPORTED FROM THE USA
Ul TlMA V £13 95 OR III/ IV AT £7 9S DUNGEON MASTER IB '15 POOLS OF R ADIANCE .. £7 95 POLICE QUEST £& 95
KINGS QUEST I It OR III.. £6 95 ; BARDS TALE I. It OR Ml - £6 95 : SPACE QUEST I OR II .. £7 95 MIGHT & MAGIC . £10 50
M ARSSAGA £8 95: LEISURE SUIT LARRY \ . £8 95 SENTINEL WORLD I .. E8 -95 : -QUEST FOR CI I1ES" ^0 HINTS
SEND LARGE SAE FOR FREE DESCRIPTIVE CATALOG & DISCOUNT VOUCHER!
PA YMENT VISA MASTERCARD/ACCESS UK CHEQUE OH POSTAL ORDER EUHOCHEQUE REGISTERED CASH
POSTAGE . IN UK iS FREE PER GAME EUROPE EJ & ELSEWHERE £4 SENT /ST, CLASS RECORDED/AIR MAiL
Computer attattute l&orft
Bank Buildings* 1 A Charing Cross* Birkenhead L41 6E J
Telephone: 051-666 1132 ^_^__
£32-50
£39-50
. Pnno
. £6"» 110
£37 50
f 2&-00
£19 75
BACK BYTES
GUIDE TO
INDEPENDENT
REPAIR SERVICES
No mailer how much yt >u t a t e
for a computer, eventually
something goes wrong. And you
canbctyourlifril'IThappenafier
the guard nice has expired, so you
can forjjer about sending it back
to the manufacturers, In most
cases, they won I want ut know.
■ BtlorrpadtinKyotJrujmpuler
of f l< .1 a reps If f imi . check to see If
your IikjiJ computer dealer tan
recommend a local repair oulfil
■ Phone ihc tympany you
choose and try M get a rough
i if the cost of th-f rcpa i 1 ,
how long it will lake -anti
whether they'll give a warranty
t " do it again lor free if the repair
doesn't work,
■ Make sure thai I he quoted
price nit hides pans, tabour.VAT,
and return postage-.
■ When sending your computer
by post, pack it carefully -prefer-
ably in i he original box.
■ Always include a letter with
your name, address, and tele-
phone number and the effects ol
the fauU-
■ Send the whole package by
recorded delivery — just 24pon
top of the stamp DEM - and pay
tttcextn cash for an advice -of*
delivery shp (25p if you ask for it
when you posi the package. 65p
if y a u lea ve it till later ) . That wa y
you know it's got there.
COMPANY A1 Gomputer Ser-
vices.
ADDRESS Unit 9, Paddock Mount
Offices. Dawiey. Telford, Shropshire
TF4 3PR® (095?) 502737.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Virtually any computer' - including
Spectrum. CS4/12S. BBC, 16- bits.
Ci6. Vic20 and Plus 4
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Printers, full disk-drive service (or £25.
PRICES Mostly E25-E30. but C12G
15 £42,50.
WA RRANTY Til ree months.
( < ) vi r \ vv BCL {Best Computers
Ltd),
ADDRESS Galafy Audio Visual, first
floor, 230 Tottenham Court Road. Lon-
don W1A3AP S ID1) 631-0139 or
580-6640
COMPUTERS REPAIRED All
8-bitand 16-bit including PCs.
PER IPHER ALS REPAIRED
M
PRICES A typical small repair would
COSIE15-E20.
WARRANTY Six months.
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION free estimates. Galaxy Audio
Visual also sell micros.
COMPANY Cambridge Micro
Surgery,
ADDRESS Unit4. 377Q Cherry Min-
ion Road, Cambridge CBi 4DH S"
(0223) 410234.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Spectrum. C64. BBC, Amstrad. PCs.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Printers, monitors, disk drives etc.
PRICES Cheapest is 48K Spectrum
at £18.95 plus cost of parts; others
from £21.50.
WARRANTY Three months.
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION Will provide annual mainte-
nance for business micros, on a con-
tract basis.
COMPANY The Computer Fac-
tory
ADDRESS Analytic Engineering
ltd, Unit ISA. Grainger Road Industrial
Estate, Southend SS25DD *E (0707)
618455,
COMPUTERS REPAIRED All
major models except Atari.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Disk drives and printers.
PRICES E7-E40.
WARRANTY Three months.
ADDITIONAL /JVWRMA-
riOJV Free estimates.
t '"( ) vi P .4 1\ > Hindley Electronics.
ADDRESS 97 Market Street,
Hmdiey. Wigan. Lancashire WN23M.
S (0942) 522743
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Spectrum. C1 6/64, Vic20.CPC.
PERI PH ERA LS REPAIRED
Some.
PRICES Set price for each machine,
ranging from £17 (48K Spectrum) to
£25.1541 disk drives £32.50.
WARRANTY Three months.
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION Average two-day turnaround -
well quicker than the average,
COMPANY US Computer Set-
wees.
address Unit 2. The Orchard,
Warton, Preston. Lancashire Pf)4 Tflf
© (0772) 632686.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED All
Spectrums.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Phone.
PR JCFS From E 14.95.
WA RRA NTY Three months.
COM PA N Y Ladbroke Computing
International.
ADDRESS 33 Qrmskirk Road, Pre-
ston. Lancashire PR1 2QP & (0772)
21 474 Of 27236
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Mainly Atari
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Printers and disk drives..
PRICES According to machine - for
example ST E34.50, XL/130 XE £23
i these prices include VAT)
WARRANTY Phone for inlorma-
tJon
COMPANY Microtech Computer
Services.
ADDRESS 216-219 Cotton
Exchange Building, Old Half Street.
Liverpool L3 SLA E (051 ) 236-2206.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED ST,
Amiga, BBC, Amstrads.
PERIPHERA LS REP A I R ED
Printers, monitors: also electric type-
writers and other rjffice equipment
PRICES Start from £30 - call Mike
Lopez at Microtech tor a quote.
WARRA NTY Three months
COMPArYr MP Etegtrontcs.
ADDRESS Wendting, Dereham.
Norfolk NRI92LZQS (03621 87327
COM PUTF.R S H EPA IK ED
Spectrum. C64. BBC B. PCs - in fact all
major makes except ST and Amiga.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Printers, plotters, monitors, disk drives
etc.
PRICES All -inclusive prices for most
machines - 48K Spectrum BIS, 1 28K
Spectrum. BBC Band G64 £27.50, PCs
horn E20-E100+. These rates cover
all faults except those caused by other
people's botched repairs!
WARRANTY Phone for informa-
tion.
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION Free estimates. £20 repair and
overhaul service tor 48K Spectrums -
MP Electronics replace sockets,
keyboard membrane etc and will repair
any faults that develop within six
months ol overhaul
COMPANY Qriec Micro Com-
puters,
ADDRESS ORC GEC ITEC, GEC
Switch Gear. Distribution Division,
higher Qpenshaw. Manchester
AmiflL«f061)301-a210.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED All
home micros and PCs.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Printers, monitors and; disk drives.
priCES Depends on fault - phone
for details
WARRANTY Three months.
COMPANY PM Engineering.
ADDRESS Unit 8, New Road, St
Ives, Cambridgeshire PE174B6 «
(0480) B 1394.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED All
home computers.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Printers, monitors and disk drives.
PRICES Phone. There's a set repair
price for each compuler, regardless of
the fault and including all parts and
labour
WA rranty Three months.
COM PA NYM Electronics.
ADDRESS 133 London Road
South, Lowestoft. Suffolk, NR330AX
•S (0502|i 5662B9.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED All
Spectrums.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Phone.
prices Spectrum 48K £14, Spec-
trum 126K £20
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TIONS Elecbonics also sell compo-
nents.
COMPANY Roebuck Design*,
ADDRESS Victory Works. Birds Hilt,
Letchworth, Hertfordshire $G$ 1HX<B
104621 480723 or 480929
JOYSTICKS REPLACED
Roebuck Designs run a clever joystick -
replacement service which offers fas
ter turnaround than a repair firm might
Send in your broken joystick - any
model - and they'll send back a sec-
ond-hand but working stick of the
same model Later, Ihey repair yours
and pass it on to another customer.
price E4.50 including return post-
age.
COMPANY Swlnoon NIC,
ADDRESS 6 Oppenheimer Centre.
Greenbndge Road. Swindon $N3 3JD
©10793] 611 BOB.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Spectrum, CG4/1 26, BBC B and Master
series, CPC
PERIPHERA LS REP A IRED
5.25 -inch disk drives, monitors, cas-
sette- deck alignment
PRICES Spectrum from £18. others
from £25 fbut small repairs may be
■cheaper;
warranty Three months
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION Most repairs should be done
within seven working days.
COM PA N Y Tetega me*,
ADDRESS Kitby Bridge. Wigston.
Leicestershire LE8 HE ® 10533)
860445 or B 13606.
CONSOLES REPAIRED Atari
VC526Q0. Colecovtsion. I me I Vision
Sega
PERIPHERA LS REPAIRED
Phone to ask
PflfCES VCS26QQ El 7 95, ColeCQVl-
sion Ei 4.95. mtell I vision £19.95. Sega
E14.95
WARRANTY 90 days
90--108TGM TX 018:5-89
ORTEC MICRO COMPUTERS
Spectrum, Atari, Commodore and others-
Prompt and Personal Service by qualified engineers.
FREE Estimates
061-301-2210
Mel ba Street
Higher Openshaw
Manchester
M11 1FL
HINDLEY ELECTRONICS
COMPUTER REPAIRS
STANDARD CHARGES
flnt VAT and fully insured return pcsiaga)
COMMGDOH* 64 E&« COMWGD0HE 6*C f?S 00 CDUMaDQW 124 E3Z.Q0
COtWCWDHf .*r?i«l COM»ODOBtVirj?Dn8 0t) AMIGA SOO ["35.00
15*t CHSC OflwE f3! SO lOttwr *mes fepiireO img far aetattsi
SPEcrmjHiwtisoa sfectbuw -a ks m awsthaco>c*h.e25.<»
ACORN £ LECTRON S?J OG
3 MONTHS NO QUIBBLE' WABRArm ON fll I REP Al Ri
SCARES - SPARES - SPARES
Low Press r 9 SpeciiuT Jiik venbrane £* 50 Spar-.m - E7 9B Low prices
COMPOTE H IC5 and GENERAL COMPONENTS
WHY PAY MORE
(SSNO LWf-* SA£ FOB FULL L6TS1
HIHDLKV ELECTRONICS
DtPT U IT MARKET STREET HINDLET WltkAN WHi AAA Tal IQ94JJ S2Z741
Comoutu wpwrs Callers requnnfl 4*ffl* day t*M« pteess nng tahM uafhng and «M 10% k> flsrtfard
cnarga SlafflHud charges do ndl mcludo HpltolDlrtlfliB] rfefni-e g powar inlta. lope recanted tape
r*ffl*dWS. JWSlicks ete A surcharfl* mtv be Ifemlltr iraclwiK That hairt s<M*ie darn*as
b g lira 1180* l»m()er
COMPUTER SUPPLIES
POWER PACKS
COWMOOOnEU £>4M
ElKTKH EI2 95
LQMMQGOfci it £T2M
COMMODCW PLUS *■ EM 95
SPADES
Of rmjMMEMBfUH E9 95
SPECTRUM ULft E1S.«
LEADS/INTERFACES
+ !■♦ 3 jQifSTlCK ADAPTER E4 95
* J CASSETTE LEAD E4 9S
I4MPST0N NTEWACE (7 45
&4 RESET •CAHTBIDGE E4 9S
OTHEflS
DCEANCDfllW C1»«
AlPHACOV f*PER (S ROUSl E9 95
H FflWTER PAPER I5| £12 96
A2IMUTH ALIGNMENT KIT
iPLEASt HTA'I IMCHMACHM
DUSTCtMR .STATE MICROi
PLANK MEDIA
■)■' DSDD1IU1
i'l nsoDiiai
M/DWECA^
DMA RECQRDF RS
D6i SATASETE
SSECTRUW OATAHEC
JOYSTICKS
RTJWK NAVIGATOR
HONDt SPEED *ING
KOWK HE'SASLASTER
GUiCKSHOT J TuftBQ
LIGHT PENS/MICE
NfflUS MOUSE
SPECTRUM LIGHT PEN
HUGH? PEN
E9 SE-
ES 25
£4 96
E?9M
£9 95
tl9»
£1995
£995 '>
es« 1
KK ■
ass !
£?9ft5
£19.96
ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT * PAP UEl IWEHV rtNlWN 14 DAYS 5f NO CHO*C TO
OMNIDALE LTD. (GM)
Z3 CUFI20M STREET. DERBY. DEI 2ES. TEL 0332 2912TS
Technical Services
High Quality Repairs
Low Inclusive Prices
The Logical Choice!
REPAIRS
Amstr ad CPC464 £21.90
AmstradCPC6l28 £24.90
Commodore GS4 £19.90
Spectrum 48 ft PI us £12.90
UPGRADES
Spectrum 16K^4BK £19 90
All repairs guaranteed 4 months.,
prices quoted apply to any single
fault* and are inclusive of parts,
Labour and VAT. Free return car-
raige for UK mail order customer!.
We ail so repair Amstrad PCWs, Com-
modore C128AHC20, and the full
Sindair Spectrum range Please
phone for prices.
*£ueluding cabinet damage, replacement of
CPC/C6* keyboard auembly. or CPC dnL dfiii*
ll'rr Ulirtiaif qivt nf
VSE Technical Services (Dept 105), Unit 6, 8 Nursery
Road, London SW9 8BP, Tel. 01 737 0234
T
FIRST AID
FOR
COMPUTER REPAIRS
Fixed Super Low Prices! ^ technqlocy
Inclusive of pa; is, labour and VAT ^— — -- — *— *
1 WEEK TURNROUND
* SPECIAL
SPECTRUM EH + Free Game C16
SPECTRUM 128 CIS VIC 20, C-4
C64 £22 ♦ Free Gertie 1541 DISK DfllVE
C12B £29 1531 TAPE DECK
£64 PSU For Sate £20 MPSWl
£18
£22
E3S
Et5
£3a
Please enclose payment with item — 3 month warranty on rgpa'f
P/pase enclose advert with repair
W.T.S ELECTRONICS <gm)
Studio Master House, CriauNrnd Lane. Luion. Ghis. LU4 8E2 Tei 0582 49 1 949
TELEGAME$ y
Europe's Largest Stock of Video Games & Cartridges for -
«5ahe^ atari »teisua
(Ninlendo) fflffl^BS?"
WICO JOYSTICKS FOR NINTENDO IN STOCK NOW
The leading Video game specialists.
Send for lists (state make of game)
TELEGAMES, WIGSTON, LEICESTER, LE8 1TE (0S33-6DO445)
l!H;IHV/ ! l:l*i;hl.».i:wlii;M.UJ;inrei
Disks
10 x 3.5" DS/DD ., „.„..„ £9
25 x 3.5" DS/DD , £20
50 x 3.5" DS/DD £38
100 x 3.5" DS/DD ,. £74
250 x 3.5" DS/DD £180
500 x 3.5" DS/DD £345
1 ,000 x 3.5" DS/DD £675
100 Capacity 3.5" Disk box £7.50
'Our Disks Are Cheap But They Are Top Quality - Fully Guaranteed'
All prices INC VAT & next day delivery cheques and postal orders to
siTIlM
1 st FlbOf , 1 9 Division St r eel , SteffieM S 1 4Gf
Tel: 0742 726485
ELECTROriiC a COMPUTER SERVICE
kir.,i Hi m-
HA1I V
MTDM.WXI IHWM
Tel: 01 -573 2100
Stockists of Home/Business Computers,
Business/Leisure Software
Spares and accessories for Audio, Video, Hi-Fi
Computers and other equipment
Service centre for Amstrad, Commodore, Spectrum and
other makes of home computers, audio, video and Hi-Fi
We also cater for electronics students and hobbyists
1000 Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middlesex. UB4 ORL
Telephone: 01-573 2100
BACK BYTES
A DOITIONA L INFORMA-
TION Telegames promise to return
the console to you just three days after
they've received it. They're also the
official UK repair centre for Sega and
Colecci vision.
COMPANY Virran Micro-
Maintenance.
ADDRESS Albany Park, Frtmley
Road. Camheriey. Surrey GU152PL'&
(0276) 66266.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Spectrum. Amstrad. Commodore.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Printers, monitors.
PRICES Ranee from El 995 for
Spectrum to £95 for Amstrad PC151 2
ADDITIONAL INFORM A ■
TION Established six. years.
Approved by Amstrad.
COM PA NY Video Vault.
ADDRESS 140 High Street West.
Gtcssop. Derbyshire SK138HJ ©
|04574> 66555
COMPUTERS: REPAIRED
Most.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Phone.
PRICES From £19.95, according to
machine.
WARRA NT V Three months.
A DDITIO NA L INFORM A -
TfON While-you-wait service in
Manchester,
COMPANY Wight Computing
Home Micros.
ADDRESS122 High Street. Hyde.
isie of Wight P0332SU ffi (0963)
68978
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Most.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Printers and monitors, but check first
that the service Is available for older
models.
PRICES According to the problem.
WARRANTY 90 days.
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION Wight Computing will also
check, clean etc computers which are
not obviously faulty.
COMPA N Y WTS Electronics.
ADDRESS Studio Master House,
Chant End Lane, Luton, Bedfordshire
LU4 0FZ9 10582) 491949.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Spectrum, Commodore, BBC, others.
PER I PH ERA t S REP A IRED
Phone.
PRICES E14>£45: fined price for
each machine.
warranty Three months
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION WTS Electronics promise to
complete the repair within ore
week Irom the day they receive the
machine.
COMPANY Wynlef Electronics.
ADDRESS Unit 30F. Atlas
Village, Ungate Lane. Staples
Corner. London NW2 7HU * fD 1 ]
452-5660.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED
Spectrum, Commodore, BBC. Atari.
PCs.
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Phone for details,
prices £18 upward, depending on
machine.
WARRANTY Three months
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION Repair done m One week
COMPANY Electronic & Com-
puter Services.
ADDRESS 10W Uxbndge Road
Hayes, Middlesex UB4 (ML ® (OH
573-2100.
COMPUTERS REPAIRED The
lull range of home computers - that
includes all the well-known fl-bit and
16- bit machines
PERIPHERALS REPAIRED
Electronic & Computer Services will
repair some peripherals, bul write or
phone for details in case yours Isn't
included
PRICES According to the problem
Phone for a quote
WARRANTY Write or phone for
details. The warranty only covers the
problem repaired, not the whole com-
puter,
ADDITIONAL INFORMA-
TION Turnaround varies, depending
on the problem, from two days to a
week
Electron ic & Computer Services also
sell spare parts Again, write or phone
for details
92/108TGM TX IB. 5-89
LOOK NO FURTHER
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supplier of high quality learning software
Subjects now available include
French, German, Spanish, Italian, Welsh,
English, General Knowledge, Arithmetic,
Spelling, Geography, History, Science,
First Aid, Natural History, Sport, England,
Scotland and many others.
Kosmos are specialist producers of
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INFORMATION
-
There's more to music than meets the ear, as one
reader trying to set up a low-cost ST studio has disco-
vered. The Back Bytes experts recommend best buys
-and tackle yet more Amiga questions.
Cheap solution to ST
sequencing
1) I <mw an Atari S20STFM. and I 'W considering buying a Yamaha PSS 480
v and connecting ;i to my ST via MIDI What wan Id he the bat stqueni-
w$ software to buy, bearing in mind I've only got a budget vf approximately £60?
2) Once I've written my music, could I record it on rapt on my hi-fi?
it Should 1 include either the Replay version 4 sampler or Pre Sound Designer in
Andrew Murphy. Hull
1) There are Lwo packages in your price range: Dr T's MRS version i 1
(£49.95) and Hybrid Artss Easy Track (£59 .95 ,
MRS is described as an ft-irack sequencer for Mrsi-time users, and fea-
tures most basic sequencing commands It's also upwardly compatible
wilh DrTs sophisticated KCS sequencer.
rtowevcr. TGM musi writer Graham Wayne re en mm ends the Hybrid
Arts package - with 20 tracks, it's a good introduction to sequencing
sot! ware.
MRS Is available From NCX. » hOI i 25S-3454 And you can order Easy
Track Iron Syndromic Music, IS iOl | 883- 13%"'
2) Yes! Provided you've got the correct connection leads from the PSS
4«0's output pon to the hi-fi's input port, you shouldn't have any prob-
lems taping your music.
5) No! Neither Replay version 4 sampler tint Pre Sound Designer is uf any
use 10 you. Asihe ST isn't multitasking, ft can't run the sampler software
and the sequencer at the same lime. If you really wanted to use ciiher
Rtplay of fro Sound Designer ill your sei -up. you 'd need a second ST linked
It! the first via MIDI.
On the right track to a PC Engine
/ 've recently read m TGM ail about the new PC Engine. Could you please tell me
t I can get hold of one and (tow much a will cost?
MHwTcmbt, Lichfield
The PC Engine is ai last officially available in the UK - a firm called
Mil r* 'media are buying them in from Japan and selling, them here for
L224. Micromedia are also negotiating a deal with the Engine % manulac-
Hirers. NEC. which could seethe console in the shops within uvo months
Micromedia: The Moor Hall. Ludlow. Shropshire SYS IEG
«[069l) 655<>7s>
C64 goes public
It it possible to get public -domain iofnvare for the CMondisk?lfso, where from?
Matthew Taylor Balcomhe
KJngsway Computers supply public-domain |PD) software and share-
ware for a variety oJ computers Including the C64j'l28 r Amiga and St
Software for theC64.']28 costs £.2.95 per 5.25-inch disk.
For a lull catalogue send .m SAb. specifying which machine you're
Interested in. to Kings way Computers. 1 40 Rushdalc Road. Sheffield S# 9QF
ur« (07421 588429
CPC Psyclapse
Could you please tell me whether there are any plans for Amstrod CPC con versions
oi Psyctapse't Baal and Menace*
' Buttivant Chtam
■B^frtfiS^SWE:^ * *&**«.>_**-«*£
'in* ■■
l£$3&&&Rf&
00<»1DD **"
CJHWtt
LH*t
Menace; will the classic go CFC?
&&&&Z4&.
There art- nn immediate plans to put either of these excellent games i n
the CPC, but Psygnosis- who publish the Psyclapse label -say tlu-r.' fci
the possibility of conversions appearing later in the year Keepan eye on
ihe prei U
Amiga
anxieties
The last resort
I've recently bought a second-hand
Arnica A $W and a friend of mate has
lent me Commodore's disk The Very
First to help me team how to use
Workbench property However. I'm
finding is very slow and tedious to use
The Verv pint introductory irritation
94. 108 TGM TX 018:5-89
BACK BYTES
would you recommend?
Michael Morse. Berkshire
The Very rtrS? Mure like the very
worst if you ask TGM, We've
Found ihe p nigra rn infuridtitigly
stow and rather patronising ai
times. Our tip is to read the Work-
bench manual and perse vert*!
Driven crazy
/ OHH an A rmga A 5W wh ich I bought
ta design graphics ftowtvet several
of the art packages t own involve a lot
typing, which can bt very
frustrating when yfiU re Intng to
locale a saved brush ptkkfy where
can I get held of a second drive wthout
breaking the hank?
Robert Jobs. Liverpool
fcve-sham Micros stock external
1. 5-inch driven compaiibrr with
both ihe Amiga and [he ST, for
E89.95.
Evesham Micros; #} Bridge
Street. Evesham. Worcest-
WRll JSFW<(H8fS) 7*5500
Wozzese megger
bites then John?
1) Qw an Amiga A59G with a 0, SAft
expansion board run software marked
Requires 1Mb'?
2) What are the differences between an
Amiga A500 with a 0. 5Mb expansion
hoard and an Amiga A2000?
3f Are there any known problems with
the 0. 3Mb expansion board?
4i Does the Super ST exist?
Angela Gate. Morecambe
About Zoetrope
Tine
Load/Save
atte
Set Font
Air Speed 3
S tatus
ftPM f/x
Kill Seq
Pause
Quit
::>t:
■"*'■---■--"■-—■■>-
■■AtL..»H.. 1 ^^. t .
T «* wf *l
Antic animation action a Zoetrope screen
irEfSnBlHElES
1 j Yes.
2) In terms of soft ware com pat ibil-
in ih^re are no differences betw-
een an Amiga A50(t with RAM
expansion and an Arnica A20O0.
The A2OO0 Is aimed primarily at
business users, and includes more
fKpansion ports aiii I .1 ilri.i, 1 1 . 1 1 ■ I c ■
keyboard. It's also available u'nh ,1
hard disk,
i) At TGlM we use an Amiga A 500
with a RAM expansion board, and
so Ear we haven't experienced any
problems.
4* Alan Rave recently acknow-
ledged the existence of a Super ST,
Inn obn'l expect anything for a
while yeL
Cartoon capers
Could you please tell me of any prog-
ram on the Atniga that allows you :.■
create animation and save n so it ■ 1
mdtpi rutentbj ' rhi> would be ideal for
creating public-domain demos,
Oram Robson. Bridge ot Weir
Amies Zoetrope is ideal car cresting
■■ ■ 1. 1 r mvn animation sequences.
The pack,j;.:i un ludes all the neces-
sary an tools to draw your
graphics, dlons **Wh comprehen-
sive 1 11.1rn.it ii m commands F01
more details st-e lins month's
review.
Awed by animation?
Bewildered by ben*
t h iiui k\ * c. iiih er Tied ,1 Im -hi
composite video? Disen-
chanted with disk drives?
Send all your computing
questions- to Information
Desk, TGM, PO Box 10. Lud-
low, Shropshire SVB IDB,
We try 10 answer every
inquiry, hut sorry - no per-
sonal replies, even with an
SAE. (Welt, if you send an
SAE, you will gel a reply -
but It'll take a long time to
clean tip.)
A-OK ST WP
/ have bought an ST largely for word
protesting as well as games, and I'm
sure there's a better program than 1st
Word out there somewhere. Can you
recommend one?
Lee Montgomery, Stevenage
Looking at ST word processors,
you II probably he bemused by
the sheer number of products
available - and the vast range of
prices. But, as with any software,
its import ant to decide clearly
exactly what you want to do.
Many people use word proces-
sors for little more than writing let-
ters, and if this is your position 1st
Word really should be sufficient.
However, if you're going IO
undertake more complex work,
like repon-wntmg, we recom-
mend Amor's Pretext version 4, h
works on all STs, and its com-
prehensive features make it tre-
mendous value for money.
Protext comes on three disks: the
main program disk, the dictio-
nary/help disk, and the prfntei
d rive rs/ 1 u to rial disk. After making
backup copies (don't forget ill),
the easiest way to get going is in
read through the quick- start
guide, load Prot&xt and run
through one of the tutorial files.
The range of functions soon
becomes clear, and with full
WYSIWYG (' what you sec is what
you get", ie screen display is ihe
same as printout), text manipula-
tion by way of cut -anti- paste,
underlining and Ihe usual word-
processing features, preparing
impressive documents soon
becomes a doddle.
Protexl will let you have files of
any size (up to the capacity of your
disk). You can have two separate
documents loaded into memory
and instantly switch between
them (useful il you're trying to
cross- reference -two complicated
documents, say), A tul you can edit
files created by other word proces-
sors- you've probably already got
loads of files in 1st Word format
lying around.
You have full find -and- replace
facilities, and can even go back lo
a word earlier in the file if you for-
got tu replace ii (an unusual but
useful feature).
The spelling- checker operates
from a 70,000 word dictionary
(which you can add 10) and you
1 .1 ri even spell -cheek while typing.
And there's more . . .
Fur anyone mailing personalised
duplicate letters, Protexl provides
comprehensive mail -merge
facilities.
Typewriter mode allows you to
type directly. onto the page And
crossword enthusiasts can even
use Praiext facilities for finding
words in its own dictionary,
including anagrams.
But what immediately sets pro-
text apart from its rivals is that it
bypasses GEM. Wflh no pull -down
menus and no mousing around. Its
speed puts it In the big league.
Once you've learned the key func-
tions you're away.
Don't worry if you're prejudiced
against a particular key - Pretext
allows you to set any function to
HI iv k< J Y
A configuration program allows
you In customise frrX^iT to your
own printer and screen -layout
requirements (nearly all printers
are supported, including laser),
and if you've go) a colour monitor
you can even change tbecolouf of
both ink and paper (though noi
the border- a minor irritation).
On the minus side, though Pro
texriseany to gei into at first. 11 can
be tough to get 10 grips with the
more sophisticated functus
The manual Is forbidding ai first
sight, and it's difficult to locate
exactly what you're aftei . given
Ihenumberof modulesin the bin
der. Iso don't expect it all 1
into your lap before you've spent
some time gelling to know the sys-
tem.
At its price Protext is without
doubt the best word processor
available lor the ST, but make suit-
you really need all those functions
before parting with the hard stuff
Arnor: 61 1 Lincoln Road, Peter-
borough PE1 JHA« (0713) 66409.
TGM TX 018:5-89 95/108
11 With any luck, software companies won't
let the Konix console go to waste like the
Amiga and ST"
Prizewinning reader Matthew Randall fears we
may be disappointed - and adds a tip for arcade
owners
"1 LETTER
The way of all silicon
Dear TGM
After reading your ^'Hliant article on the Konht console, one thought
sprang to mind. This seems exactly what most magazines did when the
Amiga and ST tame on (he market. The trouble seems to be thai you buy
all this new. up-to-date technology, hut half of what you pay for is never
used.
It's at) very well having yutir passible 25 channels of sound, 4,096
colours and a Witter if companies never use (hem.
Take a classic example - Out Run. They said US Gold used all all their
money on ihe licence and had very liiiie left over for development. The
game was terrible, but it still it sold.
There are only a handful of writers bothered to make their games
worthy of the computers they're written for; with am luck, software
mm parties won'1 let the Kunix console iio to waste like the Amiga and
ST have.
Another article I liked was the section on ihe ATEI show. I've played
Stryder, Shadow Warriors and Hard Drivin', which are well worth the
money. One problem I ttave Is trying in find that little hit oi extra change
to beat the continue lime, which in some cases is a late worse lhan death
(played Shadow Warrion yet?),
But someone has already solved thai sort ol problem: wuh the
Pttonecard you use on those nice green telephone boxes. Why can't the
same he applied to arcade machines, next to the coin slot? Then a!l you'd
have to do would betake yuur mfi-umi arcade card, instead of a pockei
ful o! change-
Matthew Randall, Hounslnw
Whet vvw say about unused potential is trut. But. say, 20% of a Konix Mutti-Sys-
inn s potential is better than 20% cfa ZXSl 's potential'
A corn-op card would certainty benefit players, tut the arcade enrnm might
tin.i that they last some money btatust no-one weald go back to the beginning
-,iiscn ih-: I continue. On the other hand, it would pmbabty encourage
pwpti to pftr> mm* which y&u aw afford now
Violence rules, or
III kick your head
in
Dear TGM
I have just read the article An 1 You
Shooting Comfortably ' in
TtiM015, ahout software violence,
I think software violence is a good
thing, as it allows tnc and my
friends lo lake out our anger oil
something that is uoi rea l
Often I come from school, hav-
ing been annoyed all day, and I
Jitad in a violent game. Killing
people who are not real [Operation
WolJ'i or watching; spaceships that
don' t exist explode into tiny pieces
(Star Wars\ is very satisfying, and
will usually calm me down
Be I ore all this, though. I used to
take my ang.fr out on real objects
(usually biros or cassette cases}.
Pilms work this way. too. When
people watch violent films (such
as the excellent Die Hard).nU their
an nova rice can be taken out on ihe
characters in ihe film. This, again,
saws Teal people or objects being
hurt or damaged. Stories thai link
films with real violence (such as
Michael Ryan and Rambo) are
nonsense
Anyway. Rambo is a good
wholesome American, who only
kills commies. I have never seen
him kill innocent civilians.
Michael Hughes, Heanor, Der-
byshire
ft team vour irritations are pretty
slight, because surety REAL
.iwf can never he Wiped away
just by playing a game
PC plea
Dear TGM
\\\r, are home PCs tlOl more
popular in Britain? Americans sec
them as the perfect home com-
puter, with iheir sophisticated
hardware and wide choice of soft-
ware. Despite the weird-lookmj;
Sinclair Professional PC letting the
96/1 08 TGM TX 018:5-89
BACK BYTES
side down, ihere pre many excel-
lent, affordable PCs around. Soft-
ware a rapidly expanding, and
cheaper computers arc becoming
available (eg the Cnnimodore
PC 1 1.
My prcdicl iin for '89 is the sue-
Cfjsof PCs .^ hi nits machines.
Neil VI. i -lid. Edinburgh
Right and htot^. A top-af-lhc- range-
PC certainly bean; the ST and Amiga
in any^rca (except sound), burthen it
can easitv cost £2,000.
Um, yes . , .
PGM
Us consumers arc surrounded by
total confusion. Quite a lew people
wilt miss (ml on buying the PC
Engine or Konix Multi-System in
case Acme or someone brings oul
.i EKfi console whh h has been kepi
a secret lor the past two centuries
and comes complete with bti ill -in
microwave and inflatable full-size
I- 1 '•■' siealth figther wiih onboard
hydraulic chair which houses a
commode!
Arthur Ad ami. Luton
Acme Consoles of Wigan were rather
concerned when they heard we'd
received this tetter, as news of their
Lusitania console (based on the
rtcentty-diuovered sketches of
Leonardo da Vina.. 1452-1519) has
bent a closely-guarded secret till new
Seriously, though, we appreciate
the difficult) - but if yen look at the
history of home computing, it tends to
run in cycles. A had of '*- hit machines
appear and flourish for a while; then
technology jumps,, and a toad of 16-
brtters appear.
So we 'd say it s a safe bet thai once
the current glut of console launches is
over, there'll he a quiet period. After
ait. iht competitive market can only
take so many products! Don 't worry
about Acme
ZX life
Dear TGM
With regard to Paul Stanley's letter
(The Good Old Days, TGMOIGj, he
says 'releases on the ZX81 were
always eagerly anticipated, as
almost invariably they broke new
ground in computing'. He then
goes on to say 'what is really mis-
sing is the originality of the early
days'.
Of course the early computer
games were original - they could
hardly fail to be. as nothing had
gonebelure them!
Paul Stanley also says that Loo
many games today are no more
than mindless shoot- 'cm*ups. but
it was exactly this type of game
which formed the bulk of early
releases (Space invaders. Asteroidi,
tialaga. Defender, Scramble ... the
list goes on).
I, loo, remember 'the good old
days', and must admit thai 1 did
enjoy playing with my Atari
VCS2600: but at the age of eight
you're not exactly discerning. The
Idea thai games were once far
more fun to play seems to stem
from feelings of nostalgia (the
'they don't make "em like I hey
used in' s\ndromej.
Now I am the privileged owner
of an Amiga, and games like Racket
Ranger convince me that 'the ff
old days' weren'i all that they're
cracked up to be-
Jonathan HlggLnson, Sydney,
Australia
Dear TGM
II I had owned a ZX81 I'd keep
quiet about it. I cannot understand
anyone trying to say that Jet Set
Willy or Space invaders on their
TXBl or Spectrum has more playa-
biuty i han Stargtider 2, FOFT or
even a pretty average shont-'em-
up tike Cosmic Pirate on the 16- bits.
Now look back to the first two
years of the Spectrum and CM, the
prehistoric era when Hungry
Horace and Gulp Man roamed the
earth= If the ST and AmiiM mil
come up with games like Carrier
Command now. just think what
they'll be like in a couple of years"
lime.
Sam Flanagan, Horncastle,
Unco Irish Ire
It seems futile so argue whether yesiet
day was better than today; surety ike
point is to find what's best today.
As posh papers say. this correspon-
dence is new closed '. Till the next tetter
arrives, that is . . .
Revenge of the killer
viruses
Dear TGM
Your feature on computer viruses
(Back Bytes, TGM016) was
interesting and informative, but
don't the crackers of games know
what they're doing to themselves?
They are putting themselves out of
business (il it can be called than!
I have about 15 pirate disks lor
my Amiga. and till recently I never
worried about viruses, but last
week my best original. Operation
Wotf, mysteriously failed to load. I
took il to my Amiga -whiz friend.
who typed in a few CLI commands
and told me i had got the LSD
virus.
My £25 game was ruined all
because I slid the wriie-prutcci tab
uff so it would save my high scores.
So now I rarely get a pirate game
for fear of another virus attack.
You should bepleased with viruses
being anlipiracy.
Gregory Wheeler, Portsmouth
Using pirated software always carries
this risk, and of course there's no
guarantee to fall back on it serves you
right!
We repeat TGM0l6't warning the
best way to avoid Amiga viruses is to
always turn the computer off between
using different pieces ef software
Inside
story
Dear TGM
Thanks for producing a generally
excellent mag i*OU may consider
it strange to receive a leiter from
someone in my predicament.
Amigas not Often in-ing a common
fitting in the cells. (Even if they
were, there aren't any power
supplies.)
However, your mag Is excellent
in keeping mc up-to-d.ju hi tin;
computer world, especially in
market trends and popularity of
machines. To receive the latest
copy of TGM is typically the high-
light oi in-, month.
CS Cooper, KM Young Offen-
ders Institution. Portland,
Dorset
Thanks for your letter - and your com-
ments about TGM (not printed here
for ipitce reasons'/, which gave us some
ideas
WORTH OF GAMES
MUST BE WON!
There's £50 worth of software "your choke - for each month's
Star Leiter. Write to: Readerpage, TGM, PQBoxlQ. Ludlow, Shrop-
shire SYS WB- We're receiving so many letters that il may lake a
while for yours to get printed, so keep your shirt on (exctpl in
ihe shower, thai is).
TGM TX 018:5-8997/108
READER CLASSIFIEDS
TGM will not knowingly place adverts for pirated software. In an
effort to control the problenn. we will not place any ad which
doesn't include a full name and address. Box numbers and code
names are unacceptable. Thank you for your cooperation.
WANTED
Wanted howl Alan STFM en good CCf
.-usi computer mouse and basic software, wil'
pay around £200 Tel- 1.047 J| 715335 or wMe
InNai 1 Dawson 10 Dover Roan. Jpswich. Su'
folk IP3 fiJQ Consider a M otters, please helpi
FOR SALE
Amioa 1M»bargs-n E2QO 512K, detachable
keyboard, sits under your monitor. Contact
Briap. 25 Shaw Drive, Sflndford, Waretiam,
Dorsel BH20 7BS or phone 09? 95 54246
Sega System three rayaticKB, two gitmus-
CM. Various games inc. Double Dfagon,
Tnunder Blade ShiraN After Burner E9 each
Ugh) Gun £204* MS compute with ' 7 games
£l?0 Pftone Stacey 0691 652328 aft* 4pm
NintnnijQ a in Mike Tysons Punctia' Super
Mario Bros E fOO ono Also Spectrum vJ.EaOO
of Sii'fware. lOystjck. excellent condition E1 10
or C200 tor both Tei Uaneerinech B20536.
A1flr. HO STFM ' I tl :■■ !■:." ! . • Brt POTI
wlf* E400 pounds ol software still boxed Sell
lor E20Q ono Phone 051 526 4636.
CBM64 jvirn 1541C disk drive and dalacas-
iette ore joystick ard roads ol game* includ-
ing Outrun. GuflShip Slarglider All in mml
condition (or £275 Phon* BagShot ?5543
(Surrey evenings.
5ega games system, rune games including
Alter Burner, Penguin Land Kensiden. Out-
run. Wonder Boy, Secret Commend, boxed,
exceHlenI condilidn , worth £250. yours lor £7 5.
Tel- (OH 541 6326 (Kmgolonl
Sega glass**. Qun games Quartet Basket'
ball, Kenae-den, Fahlasy Zt^iej. Aescve (vi-
sion. GangSLDr town. Missile Defence, Shoot-
ing Gallary Wondar Bay 2. Ale* Kidd 3. Con-
tact- John PorM. 43- Ftaeburn Road, IpswUch
Surtak.Tel 0473 72-3^8
QE3M64 1541 dIEk dnve, MPSBO* printer,
cassette unit, cartridges and flOOD's of soft-
ware. Sen altogether far EiOO 00 Ptn;-!i' T.ir
to Thur after 7pm (0274}66r4Q8 as* for Jerl
Amiga 500 modulator taVBCK and latest
sr.H >v;ir<- 1 f r.'6r C&OOcrf H'rHll in Excellent condi
lion and worth around £1000. OnLy CtMD ana
Covl.i; I -t - . ii- .itlfi ::.:i;ipn-n..n0f5-;; 763222
Bargain at pnCe
Spectrum .3, MurhfACe 3. mouse. E250
■wrXth o< games mc Operation Wotf and
Robocap. cassette l«?ids. 4 blamk disks, cost
E7QfJ OHfir a phone 3883331 1091 J Also dra-
gon gear, primer. Shufla^-CQmpalihSe drive
Ideal birthday present
Atari STFM S20. 501224 colour momtor, 1
meg a-jdemaJ drive, two loysbcks. over 80
Same*, pusn tkitton copier E85O.O0 Phonrj
S?72 3466 after 4 30 or Witts to Nigel, S3
Chap* Hilt, flic* well, Mr. Bristol B519 3F*Ff
Amiga AflOO with RAM peck, modulalor and
Dragons Lair, boxed jery good t
£4Q0. Ma Offers CQ"t»f1. t Goostry Ftaad.
Bolefiall Tamwortn, Staffs. B77 3N* Of
tel|Oa27|697B9
Atari 530 ST FW
ois. language dish., 1 year ole, boxed exceNeri
condiiron, a bargain at E199 Pttone IKI3
(Watfurdl 394M
Atari STFM, mouse, over E5O0 pounds o'
softwan mc Falrxifi, Op. Wotf, Dvngeoo
faster All leads, boxed, year aid. encellenl.
Cortdi1>or* Worth ovet WsO pouimfs, sell lor
C3S0. ring 01 BS3 1 037 ask far Grant
tZBK Spectrum ' 2. interface, threa joysticks,
over E350 of garnss includirtfl Aflartrum**.
Robocorj etc Lqads of magazines, unwanted
Kmas priiseril. Fully gu*rjnt««i, bargain orvty
CI 60.00 Talephone: 07B7 76544
C94 njrtwjirn for sate. Worthi over C4UC, sell
lor El 60. Includes Slarglidar, Last Ninja,
Platoon etc. Contact-. M.Pegg, 70 MaltEtts
Ctosa, Stony Stralfond. Milion Kj«yn«4
Attention SReetrym - 2 K rcellen1 conaitJDri,
?3W worth of software nclullB* Outrun
Gaunnat Super Hang On, rVlalcnflay 2.
Sinria.i interface, all icr £280 or nearest DfTei
Tal.0i6S6BO62 after fjpm
Nintendo and Sags for sa«. Nrntarrdo
■nckidies 2 games rind the Sew has 3 games .
All tor the price a* only CI 20. T B I Scot! on
10827-1 69406. Can define* if *n Englann
Atari ST games. All are onginais and bo xed .
Joan ot Arc. Hacker 2 r Slur H»y, Hetroc-
rois, Star Wars, Puffys Saga Clever and
Smart, Paint work*, Music Studio, R-Type.
ClfJ each ot the tot for E90, Poacnhiivrfn
504610.
Atan 520 STFM buiH in l meg disk drive
mouse. |oystick disk bo*. JD ntank diaks.
t500 aualiiy orlginai software. P D. software
excellent condition wiln all manuals, and si»
mflrnrui, guarantee Only E350 Ter I06Q8)
2606.
M***lve Amstrad setup. 8 1 28 col. monitor
£800 worlh of sortwaie. Mulliface 2.
OMPJOOO Speech. 2 ngritpena. 1 Som nnjnf.
Wachme. TlpJj Plrtyer. Slerao aound. AMX
mouse, S*qp Prasa, jovsl'ck, Worth na* Over
£1700 perfect con*li0ni, sell for £600. Ludlow
0584 3&o.
Archimedes 31 0, primer, colour monitor and
software. Ac* COntBBen, all for £1100 WiD
fling Bostot OS72 6S3759 ask For Mark,. Buy*
collects.
Amiga 500 with El 50 worth ot software fangi-
raisl oloi som* public doovain software for
sate at £330 ono. PtionafiS275B alter 6.00pm
>n Bnsiol (02721 Buyer cooecl*. Aak for P«y
Amslrad 6128 odour monitor tapa deck,
pnnter. JDysl»c>,. CPW and utils. nver sixty
games plus image system, GAC and PIS
£350 ofw. Tal .(0762) 7flfl73o. Am "terns still
boned, wge
Atan SaOSTFM 1MB internal drive upgrade
Past Basic cartridge, Procop-y, Dtsector, 1st
Word ijtiliMes., 1 6 boxed good games inc. udmg
Falcon and Dungeon Waster En,cellflnt tdhdi-
1-an E400 . no offers. Phone D2B$7Z 3372 Irom
S/jOpm 1o 9.30pm True Bergain,!
Spactmm -t-B, *>* OVltf*. ksystick books,
Darnel wort) E3O0 Spaodruni afro ■ ! :ii n
kits. Worth over O50. wi" Wll ICH t35f ona
Pnone;(Dt|iaws978
C8M44 cassetle doe* boneif. £450 Ol original
toftwara e.g. Oparattor* Wolf, Afterburner 3
OuicHUhol II Turtjos. 1 OuiCkslVlt tX, loads Of
;2AP Wi. Worth £760, sell for E275 ono
PtionaOlry (07331 S4i1J93J«Bfflpm Shrlon
LOOKHEHt t;BMb4G1orsatBinpertecicon-
qam«. phorte 01 S40?f344. 258K«w
Road. Richmond. Surrey
Atari 5^0 STFM. DQaed, pe<-fftcr condition
wilh cDaks E260 Original St soHwara E5-C1 D
including Falcon, IK*. Operation Wolf,
Stargilifler 2 and more 1 (wfjrffi "ESOOt or corrt-
pule* ♦ an software tar £330 Tel' 10611 330
057 1 rVan*h«lBr|
SPECTRUM '3 wHh Mutiface 3 and over
£1 300 ol games on disk and tape. Atso double
cassette deck with graphic equaliser. £400 the
lot Tel New«4SI**urriop*kiiS 7071* talar
4pm and ask lor Michael
ATARI 9T n-iQUBWiTtat. manuals, TV mod-
ulator. 30 blank d«kt and lots ot games
including Gpr^-alion Wolf. Thunderbladrj.
nr Out Run and loads more Warm
wen over El 000 Offers around £400
0256 29661
Amstrad GPCaU. £400 games. DMP JtBO
nO-1 0>sk Drive, colout monitor Se4
for £450. Tel: Northampton 41 1 758 gr >**#
tor Amiga A500 plus games. TV modulator and
rnouaa
Amiga A600 with 1#n aamoe mctuding Qp-
WoK, IK ' . TV Sports Football. Elite, DouCM
Oayjn Phone Jason on 0I 635 34-37 tjetw-
eer t- lOpmMorirlBylofnday and anytime on
Sundays AH tor aOO.
Amstrad CPC612fJ colour monnof . |Dyslic*,
Mullitace 2, magar-nes. 100 rmgmal games
;aiu*r aoftwSie desk desk top putilishing.
word processor Worth £1800. sefl tor £600
Plaaae contact Andy «n f06t \ 994 flJfii any-
time Greenwood Road. 127 B*ncMI.
iryyinenshane. Mencheater M22 TBD.
Commodore M. games worth El 00.
rJamaSetM kjyattek jnjMu*c Maker for t HO
ono Spectrum light .pen and games worth
over £110. will sal tor £70 ono, programming
books and binders worth overE65. sell lor £35
ono. Phone AnoVB* on 03?? 2SS60
Atari 520 STFM en cellent condition, one meg
disk, drive, 22 games, eleven disk* w buimeu
sohwara and utile , joystick, Basic reference
booh. Worth over E7O0. sell If E350 ono
Phone Laplord 1031:351 200 after 7pm
Nintendo, piuis many gam** mclwotng Punch
Out Legend ot Zeloa, Metrotd, Super Marto
Bros and lour others. All wdflh E314 meludinq
Koni* |Oy-5tck A bargain at only £1 <jii Call
Harrogale |0423j 33t5rj42 Any <HHen. w«t-
ST games E3O0 worth including Dnubln
Dragon, Operation Wolf, Victory Road, Col-
ossus Chess X> plus morp ElOfl ar»o. AN
boned and witrt oooK lets, all nearly new (1 -3
weefct Old*. For OetaidS wnlrj lo Hmfi, 3
Queans Drive. Abbots Laf giay. Wetlord.
Herb. W05 ONO a- very quick.
98 108 TGM TX 018:5-89
BACK BYTES
Amstrad CPCS128 wilh colour monitor and
disk drive, one year old , hardly used Iwojays-
l«*s and Over 25 disk names I mags and
manual Phone WH on Q622 83*376 Tl avis-
lock|
13HC Spectrum ana 48K Spectrum with Saga
keyboard printer and loads, SpeccHum,
mouse and Aft Studio, speech synth , £ |oys-
Sicks and interlace, joyball. remote |oysliCk,
tape recorder, all boxed over lDO ongmel
games! £450. Phone (0683) 42B77 evenings
CBM128 IW1 flrsk drme. MPS80t printer.
C2N datasatte 80 col gr«m monitor,
Superscript 1 2&, Superbasa i28, Must
Maker 128. an manual* and lead*. £350 <he
id- Contact 1 1 1 Bam Lane, GoKiorne, War-
nnglon Tel (094?| 7 1 81 92
Atari B2OSTont«mald4h0riv«.O«Sli box tan
blanks live Demos, mouse and mat. 27 top
games including IK * . 5 Sta*. Outrun. Double
Dragon manuals, joystick. Tac3 Hardly used,
worth C700. under guarantee, fsso ono
Phone, 01 57 1 795S
Atari STFM with C21S of software and manu-
als p. us joystick . PD software, mouso. elc
**y E2B0 Also Commodore 1&4.1 disk drive
and Commooare WPS BO* printer, £50 each
Phor# Gram on 0505 egaeoa after * o'clock
flarja System for sale with 5 games - Outrun,
H*ng 0<i. World Soccer, Afterburner. Rocky
very good condition - still boxed. berga* -
onry ft ID ono Tel Ifllj 650-6&34 after
J Hprtt
Amiga ASOO lor safe! Joystick, books on
63000 etc.. duStCOvtSr. TeatCrafl RwtOtl
Parnt, DPaifli ptus 14 other onginate ana 20
blank disk*. ToiaJarerP650.se/lor C35<"j Tel
Martyn on i;o639| 684084 anytime 1
Alan ST software tor sate, Barbarian (S+ Gj.
Obliteratcr. Street Fighter, Alien Syndrome.
sard separ stely far £7 Meacfi Pnone anytime
Dn (07521 BB0341 ask I Or My*es.
Fftt=£ Sp*tlnjm +BK when you buy C33C of
games, mags, interface, twin cassetle radio,
with til lattA and manuals t-rir n >;j v htarfc
after 7pm or. |0749] B3O090
Atan 580 STFM 1 meg includes mouS*. busi-
ness, software worth EM. games worth over
E550 Strii under guarantee, enceiieni condi-
tion, worth C70D-I-, sell for onry £330. Ring
Stanley (03321 62351 (evening) as* tor Mm -
tyn
CSM128. C?N. ?57i Do. o«flf £1000 OF soft-
ware, desk boxes, Exped cartridge, d'j&l
covers and much more Will sell Fry £400 one
can Jim on D 1 748 5263 after 6pm and ask lor
data *
C*4. loaning for E 1 50ono, magazines, printer
two tape units |aysuck. books, software worth
£3O0 r freeze machine Good condition Puce
•round ClSO. Ptease nng between 8 30pm to
iD OOpm Monctay-Fnday and ash If* k
OTfia 433»S3
S*ga and StMCtmm wk ■ 1 1 garnet (w
Sega tncludes Double Dragon, also Light
Ftujaer and two Kh/S'^kS, 4 tisp games of M
For Spectrum with interface Worth E5O0. sell
tfli tab PttqneOI 686 0377 after Spm.
Sfprnirum -3, Mut|Hracri3. loyaite* . JO duks.
over 200 games, tape deck. BO mafia and
book* Only 7 months old. Worth £600 Hi, Inr
E 1 60 tor quick sale. Tel: Scot! on 10563] 43190
after 4 3
Sega Master System with Lignt Phaser, both
inn boned, ticaiient condriion with, over f ?m
worth of -games, everything worth E88i it's a
Feal bargam 31 just C500 ono f^irx* Hatllng*
'■'■ IQSJIatiri .!=• f ii Jnsfi
JVC MSX HC-7 Ge computer UK and cas-
sette recorder, joystick and 1 b games includ-
ing Kings Valley II, Fttaie ol GaliOuS- Hoed
Fighter. Pertgum Adventure. O-Ber! , Nemesis.
Golf, Football £180 one, T* f, Ellon, 0533
771381
CBM 64, plus dtsH drive and printer software.
Rmg For me*a mnymabon 10927*1' 26161
Ext.402 between 7pm and Spm. E3M
Atari S3DST, plus Atari colour monitor and
over £330 software/games inctudincoefendof
of the Ctdwti and FTiutil Stmulator Two. Atsci
additional books/magailne*. Lmal used.
Worth over £970 new, sell lor E62S ono.
Phone 0/1 979 0735 anytime
Software lor sale (any system). 4&hr delrvery
Service Any Current game available. 8*nply
ded»jcl 28% off RRP. Sena jour orders to S.
Williams. 2* Cenarth Dnve. Cwmbran, Aiber-
rlfjts. Mtd Glamorgan CF44 0NH (JDoee not
include Seoa/Nintendo).
Amstrad CPC4B4, green monitor, modulator
for cokjur TV, good condifioo. about ClOO'e
worth of gfliBBB, a Pew books etc. Quick sale
£130 Tel: (03706} S604 Not during d«yt>me.
Ease"
CBM 128, 1S41 dOk drive. 50 disk*, C2W.
Freeze Frame, Laser cartridge, manuals. VGC.
£200- Upgrading to rVnge. Phone fl1 337
4243
SEGA ceneole, SoeerJkmg joystick, light
phBBsr, games: Afterburner, Doutrte Dragon,
EnrJurO Hecer. $Mnobi. Wonderftoyi Ninja.
etc. Spans American Football. Baseball, Bes-
kelbaN. Golf, Tennis Boiced, irac, worth £550.
fergem W50 ono. Tel: kerth (Q1j 508 4005
(Essex I
SEGA, complete wnn 3D glasses, light phaser.
joystick. 13 games including Outrun, After-
burner, GoW, Shrnobi, Thtinderblaoe, 2ilhan
etc. Worth around C4SQ, sail tor E360 ono. Tel:
(07S2J 280681 after tj 30pm MB, £vafytturig
is boxed.
Amiga 500, apprcx 9 monttis old. plus mod
uialc, game*, 7. joyanoks and mags. Worth
£5S0, will sell for £340 or nearest otter Phone
0494 7 1580:1 after Spm and ask tor Jason.
MCA corooie. roypscis, dust cover, control
stuck,, rune games including Outrun. World
Soccer and F*nta*y lone Worth over C300.
sell for only El 60. Send SAE lor comptala hat:
Chns Jackman. 3 Albion Terrace, Lentum
Road, Utcham. Kings Lynn, NodDlk PE32
2QQ.
Alert S20STFM wflri over £1200 wonh el
games txtied with manuals and ten monttis
guerantea. only £380 AH games Origmals
Phone Jason on Of $35 9437 between i-
1tp.m Monday So Friday and anytime Sun-
nay. Otler includes TV.
44 CBMB4 game* on tape £80 Ono. AI40 1 1
disk games -l4D ono. Se<l with tapes lor ClfJO
ono. Worth E5I9 35. good condiliOn F:ir IW
C Shevam, 4 Lingmoor Close, Doncaster S
Yorkshire DN4 9NF Tel (P30C> BS2531
SEQA games, send SAE lor list to Emma at
Oritur' lodge Studio. Greenwe* fined,
Alnwick NEFJ6 1PR, includes Thunderblada.
Blaeh Belt . Ghost House, Soccer . Zillion. Mira-
cle Warriors, Alien Syndrome and more
Virus and Dungeon Master far the Alan ST.
with some maps tor Dungeon Master E TO each
or fl6 lor both Arso Optima radio controlled
car For £100. Phone Tnm on Norwich fOeOJf
aOBBrB.
CUM 64. data recorder, mags end games
rticluflmg $tfialif. Fightei, Operation Wolf,
ArmaiylB, Bombuizat. SlsoeHtraS, sell ForflZO,
no oHwa. Please phone Junior after 6pm gny-
day on (021 3 444 5745
CBM84. disk dviva, C2N. modem, joystre*,
iQO's of games, Expert Cartridge, 100 mags,
disk bOj!. £250 or«. Or Swap tor Amiga With
cash ovfferance, or maybe ST - Ring 04A1
9599Z5 after 5.30pm (r^nase) (tal!
Alert 530 $TFM wilh half meg internal drive
and one meg exlerna* dnve. games, demos.
£270. Phone Lee on 0763 24606S.
Am«tr»d CPC *84, green screen moote
with new Quic* shot 2 Turbo loyslicks, also
Over E200 of games inclurjng Oregon Ninja.
1M3. RenegadTe, Gryzor etc. F3oned with
irtsinjctions. onty £180 two Telephone
KJ2367) 67028.
Atari 1040 STFM, 0.5 meg internal drive. 1
meg RAM . modulator, A.'B b^ot switch 1
martins guarantee iefl , 30 games, Degas Elite,
1st Word plus end tola of other utilities, 30
mags All won* E8O0. selr for £360' Ptione
Chris altar 6pm on (0 1 ) 948 031 9.
Nintendo System, boxed, with three games.
MetTOid Legend of ZekSp end Pro-am. All lf>
£55, or sell separately. Phone (0SO4| h«»318
alter 4pm or write to 3 Cheumont Way.
StDCkton.nri'Forest, York V03 STX.
Atari 620 STFM, joysticks. £500 worth of soft-
ware and blank disks, only E3M- Phone Mark
on Lincoln 513042
PEN PALS
Amiga freak requires penpals 1o swap hints,
nps etc All letters answered, write now tu
Chris, 20 Bagley End, Paslon. Peterborough.
Camtsa Ptj4 ROY
Amiga owners need contacts. Pleply gUBflfi-
leod Write now to Nick, 9 Caroline Close.
Keynsham Bnslol BSig 2LF Tel: f0?72)
B87346or ROB,6BFar»eigjn Road. Keynsham.
BristolBS-iaSQS Tel <0f?J} $537 1 B.
C64 owner wants pen pals worldwide to
ejjchange hints, solutions etc. I will answer 82
letters the same day with 100% response
guaranteed. Write lo m .■ na^H King. 31 Royc-
roh Ane, M'Upark. Malbourrje 3082. Victoria
Australia
USER GROUPS
Amiga pats warned . Begmrers helped if posl-
agepaid Kas1 isply guaranteed 100%. Con-
tact: Rich. 21 Carter Street, Gumley, Lanes
UK. Hrya Vega, have you tost my address''
ST USER would lika world wide contacts 10
enchari^je hmls, Itfrs, etc Hardware, software
rtmle to John Elmore. 4872 Serra cl. NE
Salem, Oregon 97304, U.SA
C54V1ZB uieref Warn (o know how experts
work out pokes etc and win cash & software
pmes m magazine*? Then vend s*f
Jason Naymer. (TGM.i. 9ft Histon Reed, Col'
tenham. Cambndg* Cf34 4ud
FANZINES
New ST and Amiga fanzine called SECTOR
16 here use Our figitrsirtg service and Uuy a
sound amplifier send 50p and stamp to ue at'
160 Hollow W*y. Co*Ih V . Cutord OX4 2NL
Phone (0865)777 148 6am-4pm.
MISCELLANEOUS
See Fraotala on your ST See the Mandelbrot
set enlarged I million times Be
d«9k to B9 Brarnlay Cant'. Appietree Village,
YorKVoaoPQ Maker^equeaorPOpayabia
toNazvA/i^
FMthall Manegera wanted tor computer
moderated PBM league and cup games,
transfers, tactics, tnlematipnatj . loririnjii'i.
10 for rteaeon. Wrrte to The Dugout, 5i
Katchrl Terrace.. Broxhum. Went lotfuan
Scotland Or phone 05O6 8523 1 5 NOWl
Save Urn* end money, don't bdher placing
adverts, send £2 50 For long lis! of Alan Amiga
lontacls. slate w*n:h Send to Paul, ifj Chii-
lorn Appr . Convey Island. Essex BS8 BSJ
100% reply. Send now dont r.
35 WORDS FOR ONLY E2,50!
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OEMSOFT
SHEFFIELD
We offer ths largest selection of Amiga and Alan ST Hardware ana Software at
the ties i prices H tne arse with a level of servj'cs you won "1 axpact anywh*re.
Atari Super Pack C374.00
Atari + Int 1 meg drive E299.Q0
Amiga * Mod + 1 games + mat + 5 disks £399.00
Star LC10 Colour Printer Inc. Lead E299 .00
Panasonic 1081 inc. Lead £189.00
10 3Vfe" Disks DS/DD £9.95
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Pay by Credit Card far FREE next day delivery.
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ALL MACHINES. PLENTY OF EXCITING NEW GAMES
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RRP DUR AMKiA
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RRP HUH
5 5tarCompila1ion 24.95 14.90
Aduawed Rugby -Sim 19.99 12.50
Afterburner 19.99 13.50
at* lass tj.so
Bataica of Power 1980 24,99 16,15
U M i 19.9$ 12.50
Barbarian II 13-39 IS JO
Batman ig.95 12-90
BlaslBroios 19.S& 12.90
C«pU«iSl0CKf 24,35 14 90
CamorCammanrJ 34.95 14.90
29.96 17 90
CnukiaEgg 19.95 12.50
CornjdSirjn ?^ 95 14 90
C/aryCa/SIt 19 99 12.50
DT Olympic CnallHfig* 19 95 12.50
OoubtoDraoon t9 99 12.90
Dragon Nin|a 19.95 12.90
DnQoracap* T9.9S 12. so
3.5" DSDD DISKS
UNBRANDED 135TPI
£9.95 BOX OF TEN
Driller
QuRfieor 1 Waaler
Etrte
Ernmamjaiie
Ft6Cambal Pilot
Fifcon
F.O.F.T(OulNmv|
F iM
Flying Shark
I .u.ir:.i.i)iiv,.i ill'
Football Manager £
GaiaclicConquaror
Gaktegons Domain
GamaS Winter fid
Gold Rush
Hgno stiUhoLanet
Him Disk Volume 2
Hoslagai
Human killing Machine
IK*
IncnwJ. SMnnh. Sphefe
Joanaf A^c
Kennedy Appraacfi
Kings QUHl IV
Lasl Dual
1 — rmt i narrffliTfaT
G Line*er"aHolBfia1
Lombard HAC Rally
Manhattan Dealers
24 95 14. 90 Win- Office Pro Comma
24 95 12 90 Mlm Office Pro Spread
2i96 16.15 Nebulu*
19.99 13.50 Qperalian Neptune
24,95 14,90 Operation Wu I
24.99 16.15 Ofbliar
29 99 21 25 Pacland
24.95 14.90 Pac Mania
19.95 12.50 Premier Collaclioo
19.99 13.50 PresiQennsMiasaig
19.99 12.50 Purple Saturn Day
19.99 12.50 Question of Soon:
19.99 12.50 R-Type
19.9@ 1^.35 RealGhostbustar
24.98 16.15 Return of Jefli
24.99 19.15 Robocop
24.95 16.15 Rock* Ranger
24.95 14.90 5 Davis World SnooKa
14.99 10.75 S O.I.
19 99 1 2-W Sidewinder
19.99 13.50 K.D. Soccer Manager
19.99 15 35 Speedball
24.95 1490 Spitting Image
29.99 19.50 STAC
14.99 10.75 S.T.Q.S. Compile*
19.99 15.35 S.T.O.S. Maestro
19.99 13.95 StarRay
24.99 14 90 Staralidar2
19.99 12.50 5TOS
24.9& 13.90 Advanced Ski Sim
24.95 15 BO Aftflrtximer
19.90 15-35 Balance tii Power 1990
24 35 14.90 BellaliK
19 95 1290 BflU'
24.95 14. BO Baal
19.95 12 SO BJastaraids
1B..B6 12.50 Capl&n Blood
29.99 19.50 Captain Fiz;
24.95 14.90 Camer Command
24.95 14.90 ChkiKieEgg
19.99 12.60 CdSrt'iiC Plnm
19,99 13.50 Crazy Cars II
19.99 12.90 [>noris
19 95 12.50 Doudte Dragon
19.95 12.90 DragonaLairlMBoniy
24 99 16 15 DragonNm|a
19.99 12.50 Dragynscape
19 99 13 50 &jng6ory*'»rlrvl&<wly
9.99 6.90 EMlHloulnow)
19 95 12 50 Emmanuella
24 99 16.15 Fafcon
19.95 12 50 Fan
39 95 25.90 FooDtraU Dineciot 2
19 95 '2 90 FootbaH Managers
24.96 15.90 Gatdregons DOn-jin
19 95 12.50 Gaunlleul
24,95. 14.90 Heroes OlIhaLlnVa
29 95 19 90 hitsDiskVol2
11 n
12.50
Hostages
24.99
16.16
•Human K4iirHg Machmt
24.99
(1 It
IK*
l<t<tS
12.50
wi?.?. IhlMl -:.;;?-hin
24.95
16.15
ln1erna.1.{inai Soccer
19.95
12.50
Joan Of Arc
J* at
16.15
Kamecly Aeproacr-
24.95
15.50
■atOu 1
14 95
9.90
LamdardRAC Rally
24.95
15.50
Lord* Of Rising a^n
19.95
12.50
Manhattan Dealers
1999
12.50
Menace
24.99
16.50
Operation Neolune
1999
13.se
OperalKiriWoir'
19.09
12.60
Outrun
44 95
33.25
Pacland
24 95
1G.T5
Pae Mania
19.95
12.50
Pioneer Plague
24 n
16.15
Purple Saturn Day
24.95
15 60
R-Typ*
19,99
12 B0
ReaiGhosnMtOT
29 99
19.50
Return of Jodi
24 BO
IS 50
Ratxicop
■ B H
12.50
Rockel Ranger
19.90
12. SO
Roger RablA
19.99
12 50
Snoot 'em up Cons k,i
iyyy
13 95
K. D. Soccer Manager
24 99
17 50
S. Davis Work? SfHMhor
24.96
16,15
SdaceHaTiBf
24 Brj
14 99
24 99
; 4 H
19 OL
24 N
24 95
1499
24 M
an m
24.99
19 95
24 95
24 95
igjg
19 95
1995
24 B8
24 K
24 99
■1 Ifi
1 .- ;-'j
24 BG
2B BS
.■j gg
24 H
19.95
• B BS
24.00
I ( K
10.75
IB 15
16 16
12 50
tJM
1550
10,75
1550
19 50
15.60
12,50
I I SO
It IS
1 3 as
12.50
12.50
15.50
1550
16 16
16.15
12.50
1615
19.60
15-50
15.90
I2.M
12 50
1515
PLEASE SENO ME THE FOLLOWItVG ITEMS
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TGM MAY
Name
Address .
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CONTROVERSY
MSX:the light that failed?
MSX may not rule OK, but it's still the best, says TGM reader Craig Bell
It's often treated astasia big joke.
It's defended nearly to the death
by its users, bui mocked by the
superior-feeling owners M STs
and AtrnpjN. These arguments
All up the letters pases of half a dosen
magazines, but c he machine doesn't
base .1 single UK implication of its
own. In fan, fur a computer with so
fen users it's like the mouse thai
ma red: ihe dispute over MSX ha?
raged since its birth six years -ago.
Is is lite perfect micro, lei down b)
the foolishness of software houses and
the public, or was the establishment
of an international MSX standard an
unrealistic ambition, the biggesl mis-
sake we ever made?
The MSX story really began with
the efforts of one man: Kazuhiko
'Kay' Nishi. ihc so-called 'Mr MSX'.
In Japan. Nishi and a few friends ran -a
small publication tailed ASCII, and
(hough he ^.is still at university he
, ■orated a company with the
same name. The following year he vis*
iled Microsoft, developers of an
nam BASIC, in Seattle and
realised how far he hi ml the West
Japan was in computer hardware and
software - it wm then, of course.
Afifi Nishi decided to fmpiH i Angl-
ican software to Japan, another trip to
Microsoft's west coast headquan:
1978 saw the formation of ASCII
Microsoft; his company later had exc-
lusive rights to sell Microsoft products
in the Far East.. Nishi was still only in
his early twenties.
Meanwhile, [he American arm of
Microsoft grew from what was, in the
late Seventies, a relatively small com-
pany to a very large acid profiiahle
firm - what wiib designing the MS-
DOS operating system, and eventu-
ally GW-BASIC, for the IBM PC in the
early Eighties, how u>uld they possi-
bly lose?
The first spark ol life for MSX started
hack in 1982. and came From two
American businessmen, Harry Fox
and Ak-K Weiss. They decided to set
up a microcomputer company called
Spectravrdeo, and since they were
working from a base in Honu Kong
they chose to have the machines'
hardware specification done there.
Bui they needed a BASIC, so who
did they turn to? Microsoft, of course,
and after several months of corres-
pondence they finally received a reply
telling them they should contact
ASCII, who were handling the Amer-
ican hrm'sFar Eastern affairs,
This led to the involvement of Kay
Nishi, and after several negotiations
ASCII Microsoft agreed to do Spec-
tra video's BASb
By winter 1982/83 the machines
were finished; the names of Spcc-
ua video's computers were the 5vl
328 and 728. But sales did not do as
well as hoped
Nishi obviously understood the
iiial of the- Spectra video range.
hut he also saw the stale ol the micro-
compuici market: there was no stan-
dard, no compatibility between diflcr
ent machines. He predicted lhat
Japanese electronics manufacturers
would he interested in creating a stan-
dard, so he apprn.n bed firms such as
Sony. Toshiba and Panasonic' in 1982
They, and about a dozen other com-
panies, jumped at ihcthancc —and in
■ Nishi ■ unced the MSXstan-
d.ml
Heroic failure
Well, that's roughly how MSX started,
bui since then we've seen things come
and go. MSXai one lime had three UK
dedicated publication 1 , on the news-
stands, but in mid- 1986 we saw the
demise ol the last MSX publication,
MSX Cumpuiing, thanks to a lack ol
advertising,
Bui of course this was ahcr Sony.
Toshiba and companions pulled out
ol i he UK MSX market
Mjuy believe the so-called failure
of MSX was due to its technical specifi-
cation. But this argument can easily
he dismissed, because ai thai lime the
Spectrum was flourishing, and
Amscrad had just released their new
CPC range: MSX was a far better
machine than any other 8-bii com-
puter then, and -n t ill is.
There were Other reasons for MSXs
poor sales, noi least the pnee ol the
original machines - would you buy a
disk drive ihat cost more than a com-
puter? j Sony's MSX disk drive retailed
at £345. while their MSX Hit- Bit
machine cost E300)
But all said and done, no-one in
particular is to Name for what hap-
pened to MSX.
In late I9S5 the MSX-II was
"MSX is a far better
machine than any
other 8-bit
computer -and
the graphics are up
to ST standard"
Alien? martyrdom; MSX users
believed they wtrt right, but
they often gat humid by the
system "s pear support
launched in Jap, in bm I", ihat rime
ind the Spectrum,
C64 and cpc. The manufacturers
musi have realised even then that ihc
MSX did not have much of a chance
against these machines, and the up-
.ijui coming 16-bit micros— otherwise
they would Jtave launched the MSX-II
in the UK
Till last year, you couldn't have
bought an MSX-II in Britain. This
changed when a few MSX retailers
started selling them, and now quite a
few are In use Then- aren't enough to
briny any suppori iroru software
houses, but Konami do supply a few
lilies here and there. (Incidentally II
you've never seen an MSX-II game
you may be quite slm, iced v\ lun % . iu
do; ihegraphicsareuptotbesundard
of the ST, if not belter. [Iiou^li >
'humble' it-bit, |
I he latest positive news for the MSX
user is the announcement that an
advanced MSX-II, the MSXSI + . i-> in
be officially released in Europe
(TGMul6>. lis specifications include
duts inn, it's noi a typol, a
maximum bitmapped screen resell u-
non of 5123(424 (i Ins was previously
only available for the MSX-II with a
special adaptor, but now comes as
standard), Yamaha mvi hannel FM
sound chip, MSX BASIC 3.0, and a
ZSOB CPU running ai f*MH/,
As to this machine being officially
released in the UK. well, that's a dif-
ferent matter - bu I a>;ain. we should
set some MSX retailers (to* king them.
An MSX-II + withdiKitiser isespei ted
to cost E520-£55fj in Holland, bui 1
doubt this necessarily represents a
true UK price.
Let's just hope ihat a few people -
software houses, retailers, magazines
— see the lipht.
■ If you're a struggling MSX user, all
alone with no-one to lurn to lot belp,
write to Craig Bell c'oTGM ■ he II be
more than glad to . I ass is
iiiiuc. Please send an SAE. Don't
phone, because he doesn't work at the
office!
For information on MSX soft*
contact the Konami Software Club; / 7
Bowderi Hill, Newton Abbot, Dtwn
TQIZ 1BH * (0626) 6»6l J ,
102/108 TGM TX 018:5-89
M.ViTi ijr II ff/o/i: .
Technical Services
PO BOX 1 8
HELENSBURGH
G84 7DQ
WITH PAL TV CONVERTER
NOW ONLY £1 59.95! inc VAT
|+ C5.0G P£P>
MENTION TECHNICAL SERVICES guarantee that if we are out of stock of PC ENGINES when your cheque or postal
order arrives:
1 . No cheques will be cashed before the goods are available
2. You will be informed of any delays immediately by first class post
3. A software voucher giving £1 off your next purchase will be available
eg. VICTORY RUN or WONDERBOY for £1 4.95 or SPACE HARRIER for £1 9.95
CURRENT SOFTWARE TITLES AVAILABLE
(Newtitlesarrivingnextmonth)
1
2
3
4
5.
6
7
8
9
10
Shanghai
Wonderboy
Drunken Master
Victory Run
Chan & Chan
World Stadium
R-Type I
R-Type II
Galaga '88
Nectaris
£24.95
11.
World Court Tennis
£24.95
12.
Alien Crush
£24.95
13.
The Legendary Axe
£24.95
14.
Space Harrier
£24.95
15.
Dragon Spirit
£24,95
16.
Fantasy Zone
£24,95
17.
Vigilante
£24,95
18.
Son Son II
£24.95
19.
Baseball Namcot
£27.95
CD ROM UNITS
£24.99
£24.95
£24,95
£29.95
£24,95
£24.95
£29.95
£24.95
£24.95
(+ £1 .50 P&P/Software Order)
We are currently negotiating the price of the CD ROM unit and should be able to offer this for £299 inc. VAT. This
item will be on a first come first serve basis, so if you wish to order one. then let us know,
We will also have a range of joysticks and other periferals in the near future. All the usual periferals for the PC
ENGINE are available now.
16-Bit Sega available from next month.
Cheques and postal orders/S.A.E. for details to:
Technical Services
po box 1 a
HELENSBURGH
G64 7 DO
MENTION TECHNICAL SERVICES have a huge range of NINTENDO products which are available now. Please send
a S.A.E. for details.
(Nintendo)
BACK BYTES
UNCLE MEL
TRIVIA QUIZ
1) Spot the odd one out" the Hun-
garian embassy, FOFT, eggs.
2) True or false? Digital a u dio ta pe
(DAT) cassettes run faster than
analogue cassettes.
3) What result can you get by using
a radio microphone with a cam-
corder?
4) Wittim ten years, when did the
computer first appear in a science-
fiction film?
5) What do the following acronyms
Stand for? a) LAN, b) SEUGK, cj
GURP5.dJf.lSC
6) What is most effective in clean-
ing the pins of a dot -matrix print-
er? a^ A paperclip, b) 100%-proof
vodka, cjgafbil excrement.
7) What have Barbarian, Rocket
Ranger and Vixen got in common?
8) What is trie DEC (Digital Equip-
ment Corp.) equivalent of ASCII
code BACK?
9) True or false? Bug Byte, First
Media. Mattel, Olivetti, Toshiba
ana Activision are all listed in the
phone book with the Satanic
number 666.
10) In the movie Alien, who was
Mother?
11) The lyrics get a pocket com-
puter, try to do what you used to
do' appeared in Picture This. Who
performed if?
12) What did Martin CaidirVs novel
Cyborg inspire In 1 973?
13) In which computer game do.
TinaTurnoff, Mince, RickGhaatley
and String appear?
14) What's the difference between
Clive Sinclair and his bride-to-be
Bemad ette Tynan?
1 5) What ' s t h e difference bet w eer
a fighting COCk and most business
software?
16) Who said 'science without rel-
igion is lame, religion without SC»-
i ence Is blind'?
17) Which games are m these con -
: demned foods: THYPE, PO LOO
! FART WINE, DEEP BALLS?
18f Which computer game links
Jack Nicholson and Cesar Rom-
ero?
I 19) Is Ring Pursuit a) the queue to i
marry Prince Edward, b) illegal in
Alabama, c) a cosmic slalom?
20) When was the CD-ROM first
dreamed of: 1945. 1965 or IQBs^
Xeo tunes fldtfy ui wans isiijeuifr <&l
j3)|or3Ln.te|d sjtoe moq -ypujjeff (si
usQpssds Jim uonejadQ stM±-y l£l
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sm i|Bi) s.jamo aifl aoese ifEM s.aurj in
■U6H jetiQQiKHHti/txis til
■aipjoia tu
turn
-jag issM ui peuireq uanq up a* Mm U.
Btiiinduioa ,#$ uon
■jijpi* ps3n[Mjfp 'luaj&As fMji/.e|[fa|iG||j
■tug, -lootis id >Jt)A4au eaje-ieaii (a (s
■xoBHttfiBmw S 161 ft
ptef
s,n-3ui)!jrxi'53?joneriji?miJQuiiis(c
pUOMS iBd LllLllSl ft IE ri|AAfJ|S
ajoui sawn wis isow |B urn Asm - asi?^ (Z
s&nq 10B \\v w.Asifl 'auofj (i
FUTURISTIC
ELECTRONIC ARTS
COMPETITION
Winner receives a book and game
sig ned by the author and program-
mers, plus four videos, He is
G.Moll ay of Wallasey L44 4EJ.
Ten runners- up receive si-gned
copies of the book and game. Thsy
mtVma Lurf.KOKKOUV FU«nd;W*i
Davklaon.Ed-nbijf on EHfl WIN; Jordan
Hant*n,Kob*ftfil)Vn Benm irk ;G**ta1
SmJIh.RnHJI^ R<35 3lT. U.rc.lo BOf-
toNrw.Londufl W1 6 5e6;<Sarry t-«9,,Whroay
6A* NEJfl 3N3;Jan Ham da Vrot .B-tarteum
HoaanttQnIdComlav.Hadc*' TS11
BDEzftmm BrBHtLUndOn Ml* 5PT Ju«l*f"
BU1.R LHflHdcOn- 9w THM BOB
TOTALLY DAZZLED
BY INCENTIVE
COMP
The winner recievss a trip for iwo
to see a total eclipse m Finland.
1990. One reader from TGM,
ZZAP and CRASH to go. 'The
ZZAP winner is John Mac lend of
Rgss-$hire IV40 SHE The TGM
winner is yet to be drawn
104/1 08TGM TX 018:5-69
EMPIRE
STRIKES
BACK
ifjt Eight highly MftftlMvt light touch MICflOStnTITC HE S
t Un«qur ci g*>n Drrii c .1 li v drugnird control hjndlr
■ftBuill lit AUTO FlflElj IrriJrII'LCIiblr METAL SHAFT
0«3 *'J Ssie-clor Conr.ec-tQj g; Fou* tire buttons Q 12 month warranty-^ Aulomat.r. tenlaripvg
tfHigh impact inoust body £ Heavy duly base with ilronfl stabilising suction
cups Tt Fighl directional control $ On table or m hmd Operation Compatible wilh OWY
ZX Spit I turn 1 ifc 48* *?JUi clnl«rtK« f old seosrilely | ,/. .3 Comm(Hla»i? 64 jPl'jfl -95
Vie jo CB*. Silts 4 ladipid' sold separately) Atimud Ann etc Jt **r
^#^ A Righf Royo/ Joystick
MICROSWirCH JOYSTICK
ONLY....
eio 95
t^F AUTO FIRE
© METAL SHAFT
<B 12 MONTH
WARRANTY
# Deluie, robust construction ■ Comfortable rugged hand-grip,
8 directional control with automatic centering • Heavy duty bate with
strong slab i tiling suction cups • Highly sensitive light touch MICRO SWITCH
fire butlons • Economically designed conlrol handle Wllh
indestructable METAL SHAFT • Built in AUTO FIRE function.
Math I Joystick campalible with: • Sinclair 7K Spectrum 16K. 48K. 12BK
.; interlace sold S*patalely). +2. *3 • Amstrad Computers ■ Commodore 64
and Vic 20 Computers • Commodore C16 & plus 4 Computers I adapt or sold
separately! • Alan 2604 & Atari 520.0 Video Game Systems
• Alan Home Computers e-lc
Ai speCfhCOOOTis onrj prices SuDiec' fO C|-iOnQe without n-oltce
Pnt«i include VAT . post age & pacJi irvrj
Delivery normally 14 days
E it pan Brocrs. it no giira eoti
De*if r (nqu m»> welcome.
THE NEW ROYAL LDI I ION
(heetah
CHALLENGER
ONLY
£4 95
VTwa ullra wnsiiive
?f Fire buttons
$ E r ga nam ic any designed
control handled t2 month
warranty ft Automatic
J centering littHtgti unpad
lOblttt Pody^i Heavy duly
base with strong tlSDHiiln-0
suction cup* ffeEpgM directional
control -Sj On table or in hand
Operation <& Compatible wtth
ZX Spectrum 1&k.40h. IjBK.
I interface sold separately;
Commodore £4. Vic 20.
Amslrad. Atari etc
The
Explosive Joystick
Compatible With ZX Spectrum, 16k. 4ok. 126k
(Interface sold separately), + 2, +3,
Commodore £4, Vic 20,Cl6 f Plus 4
(adaptor sold separately), Amstrad, Atari, etc.
• Four extremely sensitive fire buttons
• Uniquely styles hand grip
• Auto fire switch ft 12 months warranty
• +2 Selector Connector
Ch**t*h product* available from branches ot -^Qf^* DlXOnt Jmtttvi'
,- \*/ CHEETAH MARKETING LTD
NortJury House . Nortiury Road,
Fairwater, Cardiff CF5-3A5.
Telefjhrjne Cardiff (02221 555525
Teteic: 497*55 Fax: (0222) 555527
Wl [SMITH**
High St Slorn and all guotf compuiat
■hops nr □«■»•: t Irtm Ch»*1*h
MONTH
■ CONSOLES — the great debate starts here, in next
month's issue! Are they all they're cracked up to be? The
hardware says yes, but are you supported by the soft-
ware? Is there enough? You don't want to buy a machine
and then find there aren't enough games to make it
worthwhile, or their cost is so high you can't afford many.
TGM provides you with the definitive run-down on the
console game stakes and shows the way forward.
■ TGM goes coin-op crazy with arcade action giants
Capcom — we'll be bringing you the low down on the hot
shots Strider, Ghost And Ghouls, Forgotten Worlds and
some exclusive news! ■ The Prize works! The Playing Tips
change Robins, go CANDY and get bigger than ever! ■ Jez
San reveals the exciting gameplay in F-117a Aggressor
■ Plus: Coin-ops, more Gallery Art and Back-Bytes.
TGM019,
JUNE 1989
ON SALE
I
m
GAMES
flev,
lewedl
EDITORIAL AND HEAD OFFICE 4? Gravel Hiif, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 WS {05B4) 5651/2/3 Editor; Roger Kean Feature* Editor Barna&y Pag*
SteM Writer*: Robin Hogg. Warren Lapworth, Rooin Candy Editorial Assistant!: Viv Vickress, Caroline Blake Photography; Cameron Pound, Mchael
ParMirson lAssiStanii Contributors: Mel Croucher. Don Hughes Marshal Mi Rosenthal (USA), John Woods PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT t/3 King Straat,
Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 IAQ (0584) 5351 2 3 Production Manager-. Jonathan Rtgnall Senior Designer: Wayne Alter Reprographic* Supervisor:
Martha* Uffindeii Design Assistant*: Yvonne Priest. Moivyn Fisher Production team; Roben Millicflamp, Rooen Hamilton, Tim Morns, Jenny Reddard
ADVERTISING AND ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENTS Editorial Director: Roger Koan Publisher: Gaoli Grimes Group Advertisement
Director Roger Bennett Advertisement Manager: Neil Dyson Advertisement Sales Executives: Sarah Chapman. Lag Warxins Assistant: Jackie
Moms |0SB4J 4G03 or 5B52 Group Promotions Executive; Richard Eddy Mail Order; Carol Kinsey Subscriptions; PO Bex 20. Ludlow. Shropshire
SYS WB Typeset by The Tortoise Shell Press. Lucilow and on our Apple Macintosh II running Quark Xj&ress 2 0. Colour origifiauon by Scan Sludlos. Islington
Green. London Mi . Printed m England by Carlisle Weft Offset Newtown trading Estate. Carlisle, Cumbria CA2 7NR — a member of the BPCC Group.
Distribution by COMAG, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex,
COMPETfTtQw RULES The Editor's deosOn 4 1«i»t m 411 matters ralaljng to adjud talon and white we olfa* prizes in good lain, cemving (hem to be avadabli, i somelMng untoward nap-
pens I'like a game 1ha1 has been entered n * p*iH being scrapped) we reserve the right lo subsume prUBr Ol comparable value. We'll 40 our very ban) (o Cnp*leh prize* St wen It pombl*
a'ler :h« published cosing dale Wince's names will appear in a ialar issu* *1 TGM No earrasponOaiea ca<\ tie entered inln regarding the competitions (unless wi va wtten to you stating thai
vOu h«irfj *on a prize and rt Poesn'! I urn up, <n whic*i cat* drop V-y Vickress a line at 1«e PO Bon 10 addra&ij. No person who has any ■ eiad on ship, no marter how remote, lo anyone who works
lor either NewsliekJ M *ny of (He companies offering prizes may anler ohe ol our tompeT«ens l*s materiel may b* reproducac! m pari or in wirole wrthout 1Ha wrtlen consent oi Iba copyriohl-hokJ-
*ts We cannot unrfarteite to relurn anything sent into TOM — includpng written end pholcgrapht malarial, hardware and software — unless it is accompanied by a suitably stamped, addressed
envelope We regret that reaoors postal enquiries car.ncn always be answered Unsolcdad wnBHI of pholographic mamnal is waleema, and il used in rhe magaim* is paid lor at our eurram
rales Colo j r phcflogrMjhie malarial should be 3Smm transparencies whenever possible Th* hn«w* expressed in TGM are not necessarily those d tha pubJjslws
TOM Meeadne* Lid 1M» A N*wpft*ld Publication I5&M 0994-00*2 Cotw ri»ign and itlu*t»Uan by Olnrer Pr»*
106,100 TGM TX01 9:6-89
BLISTERING PACE
PIXEL PERFECT PASSING
SUPERB TACTICAL PLAY
Whatever your style of play may be, be it playing the Long Ball or
playing the Sweeper, your players will be in position to receive the
passes, control the midlield and tackle an advancing striker.
Each player on the field is an individual with a unique
combination of four attributes - Pace, Accuracy, Stamina and
Aggression. Watch out for the Brazilians at the International
level, they are dynamite.
* Full size multi -directional scrolling pitch with scanner
showing all the players on the field.
* Option to practice and learn ball control, take
comers and practice penalties.
* 5 Skill levels. International to Sunday League. The
levels of both teams set separately. The ultimate
challenge is the defeat of the star studded team of
Internationals by the Sunday League of no hopers.
A super human test of skill and concentration.
* One or two players option. * 4 distinct tactics,
* League competition for 1 to 8 players. Load and
Save League facilities,
* Simple controls to dribble, shoot, pass, chip or
head the ball or do a sliding tackle.
* Amazing ball simulation takes account of the ground and air friction. Direction
changing breeze at the higher skill levels
* 9 types of Corner kicks, Penalties, Yellow and Red cards and a host of other features
like players getting tired by the end of the game, time wasting, injury time, etc,
PLAYING IT IS EASY
MASTERING IT WILL TAKE TIME - A LOT OF TIME
A Soccer Simulator which
is not only accurate and
realistic but is also
great fun to
play
AVAILABLE ON
AMIGA
£19.95
ATARI ST
£19.95
CBM 64 Cassette
£9.95
CBM64Disk
£14.95
IBM PC Comp.
£24.95
NCO SOFTWARE LTD., UNIT10,BURNHAM TRADING ESTATE, LAWSON ROAD,
DART FORD, KENT. Mail Order bv Cheque, Postal Order, ACCESS or VISA.
Telephone No.: 0322 92513/92518. FAX No,: 0322 93422.
k
THE WORLD'S No. 1 ARCADE GAME
T
A
»;r«
/;
f:3
Htii
IIHt
* *
Ul
.jfllT
liiuM
HEME HE MtTKEl J |
» «i
i
Hill —
no >
OPEIUTIO!*
THE JLBCADE SEH&AIIOH OF THE
teak- Six !eve:» 3' ihnilmg coin-op 1
action are brought to lite on your
home micro. Without fast and accurate
shooting skills you will never complete your
mission wnicn takes you through steaming
jungles and enemy strongholds as you
COW-OP
attempt to liberate me prisoners
and secure a sate getaway With
all the original arcade play
features - magazine reloads, eneqjy
bottles, hidden supplies, rocket grenades
and much, much more
I
SPECTRUM
£8.95
COMMODORE
£9.95
AMSTRAD
Ocean Software Limned 6 Central Street Manchester M2 5NS Telephone 061 832 6633 Tele* 669977 OCEANS
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