ISSUE FIVE • FEBRUARY 1988 • £1.

50
Atari ST
Amiga
CBM 64/128
Spectrum
Amstrad
+ more
ADVANCED*COMPUTER‘ENTERTAINMENT
GAMES OUT RUN
Low, high or neutral?

DIPLOMACY
Micro megalomania

GRAPHICS
Great
new
DIY
series
begins
GAMES
CREATORS
Programming power
to the people

PAGE BUYERS' GUIDE DIGITAL

Buying a computer? Upgrading your system? DRUMS
The ACE Pink Pages list everything you Red hot
need to know. rhythms
 * .

Have you got what it takes....

....to be an RTundercovercqp?

A Coin-op Classic from U.S. Cold.

U.S. Gold Limited, Units 2/3 Holford Way, Holford, Birmingham B6 7AX. Tel: 021 356 3388
 INTERFACE
7 News
16-bit games machine from Amstrad?...8-bit's
last gasp... looking back on '87 and forward to
'88...plus Eastern gimmickry in our View from
Japan.

14 Previews >
Tomorrow's games today - we sneak a glimpse
at Xenon from Melbourne House, mediaeval
mischief in Black Lamp from Firebird, and many
more.

:W£i:;i; j=j=jj: j H—EEEE If

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7-

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1 BBM
ini

17 Letters SIGHT... GAMEPLAY

We would like to stress that the extreme views
expressed on these pages are absolutely not
31 Get Into Graphics 37 Screen Test
those of the editors.
The first line-up for 1988 - and our biggest yet.
Brian Larkman starts his series of 'How-to-do-it'
Take your pick from thirty New Year offerings -
articles for everyone who wants to brush up on
74 Prize Survey including Outrun, Super Hang On and the
their paintwork.
Tell us all about yourself - if you dare - and you chance to rule Europe in Diplomacy.
could walk away with some free software for
your micro,

122 The Blitter End

Some subtle hints as to what .you can expect
from us in 1988.

SPECIALS
27 The Axeman Cometh Page 41: Dan Dare II- Mekon mayhem, but where's Digby?
Will 1988 see the sharp edge
of censorship brought to
bear on computer soft¬ 33 Artworks
ware? Even more worry¬ At last, you the readers show your true colours in
ing - our investigation a dazzling display of pixel mastery.
shows some titles may
already be breaking the law.

77 Here's One I Made

Earlier...
Andy Wilton checks out games creators - could Page 38: Outrun on the 64: did it survive the journey?
you turn out a number-one arcade smasher
without writing a single line of program code?

22 Arcade Ace
69 Crash Landing Staggering piston power in Top Speed, and a
We put some seasoned pilots to the test with six spot of primitive conflict in Time Soldier. Andy
flight simulator programs - and get the verdict of Smith comes out with his hands shaking...
 ACE COMMENT

Stop this horror now

ACE says enough is enough. Our children have been sub¬
jected for too long to the computer game nasties, corrupt¬
ing their innocent minds and giving them the kind of bad
dreams that would make Rambo wake up in a cold sweat.
Something must be done. Quickly. Fast. Soon.
'We say the evil men behind this evil tide of muck should be
67 Version Update stopped in their evil tracks before their evil games cause any more
Eagles Nest on the ST and Amiga, Frostbyte on damage.
the ST, and other up-to-the-minute conversions
Mrs. Thatcher shoujd immediately, re-introduce the
for your machine.
death penalty for the computer nasty, producers. But we
say, that hanging, is too good fog t_hern Can we not find
93 Tricks n' Tactics
a more painful punishment to fit this horrible crime?
Take your score to the top of the tower in Nebulus,
break the ice in Bobsleigh, and hone your game¬
playing skills to sparkling perfection as we crack Came off it. sjwUsQgrts!
some of last month's 900+ releases.
Just who do these killjoys trying to stop us play our
favourite games think they are? The know-alls and do-
gooders think they can tell us what we can and can't play.
Well we say, get knotted!
Anyone in their right minds can see that computer games are just
good, clean fun. OK, so you have to go round killing everything in
sight. But that's life, isn't it?How could it possibly do any harm to
our marvellous British kids?
/Vo, all these so-called peoo/e want to do is stop hon¬
es? folk enjoying a bit of harmless fun. But they're out of
81 Adventures they tiny little minds if they think they can stop us enjoy-
Magnetic Scrolls' Jinxter - can it steal a march ina ourselves. There's too little laughter in the world as it
on Guild of Thieves? Plus a look at the superb is. So donl let the wet blankets ban our gamesj
character handling in Infocom's Suspect and
the first of the Adventure Helplines.

For a more rational and better-informed view of

BUY LINES the whole business of violence, sex and cen¬
sorship in games, see the article on page 27 of
85 Special Offers this issue.
Celebrate the New Year with £4 discount on
each of the carefully selected titles listed here,

87 Subscription Offer ADVANCED COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT

This magazine could have slipped through your Future Publishing Co-editors Peter Connor Steve Cooke
letter-box, saving you time, aggravation, and 4 Queen Street Reviews Editor Andy Wilton
the risk of missing the latest issue, What's more, BATH BA1 1EJ Staff Writer Andy Smith
subscribers get £10 extra discount off those mail¬ » 0225 446034 Art Editor Trevor Gilham
order bargains, Fax 0225 446019 Art Team Angela Neal Sally Meddings
Telecom Gold 84:TXT152 Publisher Chris Anderson
99 ACE PINK PAGES Prestel/Micronet 045 874 011 Advertising Manager Jon Beales
No pinker than last month, but still red-
hot,,,and now we've included peripherals as COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Stuart Baynes Photography, Bath, * 0225 66343 • SUBSCRIP¬
TIONS & SPECIAL OFFERS Carrie-Anne Porter, The Old Barn, Somerton, Somerset

i
a
well. We think these pages give both the
experienced and the first-time buyer all the
TA11 7PY « 0458 74011 • COLOUR ORIGINATION Wessex Reproduction, 352a Wells
Road, Bristol BS4 0QL • DISTRIBUTION SM Distribution, 16/18 Trinity Gardens, London
information they need ...and were not blush¬ SW9 8DX * 01-274 8611/5 • PRINTING Chase Web Offset, Plymouth • Copyright
Jy ing to admit it, either, FUTURE PUBLISHING LTD 1988 • No part of this publication may be reproduced in any
form without our permission.
 H^^^EREDmON

YES? NO?
...DEPENDS. Milton Bradley’s compelling game is now available for computer.
Anticipate your friend’s responses to the provocative questions, in
Scruples. Think carefully before answering the moral dilemma you are
posed, or turn the tables and give an opposite reply to the one expected!
Bluff and counter bluff will be needed, and beware, the other players (the
Jury) can challenge your honesty at any time.
The computer interpretation is ingenious and funny. Up to ten
people can play: all human, all computer, or any combination. There is a
minimum of 64 characters to choose from, each with simulated
‘intelligence’. Real players must ‘adjust’ their personalities and select their
appearance from a gallery of faces provided. A minimum of 230 leading
questions are built-in and no game will ever be the same.

Scruples, The Computer Edition, is available from all good software retailers or directly
from Leisure Genius.
Make cheques or postal orders
Spectrum 48/I28/+2/+3 cass £9.95 disc £14.95 payable to Virgin Games Ltd and
send to 2/4 Vernon Yard, Portobello
Commodore 64/128 coss £12.95 disc £14.95 Road, London WII 2DX.
coss£9.95 disc £14.95 DO NOT POST NOTES
Amstrad CPC
OR COINS!
Atari ST - disc £19.95
^Leisure
Please state clearly machine type and media required. Genius

V-

COMMODORE SCREEN SPECTRUM SCREEN AMSTRAD SCREEN ATARI SCREEN

 NEWS

0
BT GET GRAFTGOLD GAMES - Court injunction. BT successfully Magnetron while Morpheus goes to
FOR KEEPS? restrained Hewson from publishing sister label Rainbird.
fter months of wrangling, the titles until the case can be tried, But that is unlikely to be the

A
Telecomsoft have announced and so can now safely go ahead end of the matter. The granting of
that they will be bringing out with publication themselves. The an injunction under such circum¬
the disputed games Morpheus and games will appear shortly on Tele¬ stances has nothing to do with the
Magnetron. The titles fell into their comsoft labels: Firebird will get merits of the case, so it's by no
hands at the PCW show when means certain that Telecomsoft will
Graftgold programmers Steve Turn¬ come out on top. The final court

O
er and Andrew Braybrook, long time case won't take place for several
associates of Hewson, signed long months but Hewson are determined
term programming contracts. to continue \heir action over the
Hewson had already geared up titles. Should Hewson win, Tele¬
to publish the games themselves so comsoft would have to make good
rights over the titles were disputed whatever financial loss their injunc¬
Handshakes all round: Steve Turner and Andrew Bray*
fiercely, but the matter has now tion caused. The damages would,
brook of Graftgold at the PCW Show signing ceremony
been settled temporarily by a High with Telecomsoft's Paula Byrne and Paul Hibbard as the saying goes, be substantial.

CLONE ARRANGER?
Clones - copy-cat micros that
can run the same software as
AMSTRAD TO GO
existing machines - are well-
established in the business field,
but home micro mimicry is AMIGA IN '88?
(black market aside) almost
unknown.
To clone a micro like the
R umours of a cut-price 68000-
based Amstrad home micro ■pRRHHHHH
Amiga you need to get both the are flying thick and fast. In 4 fgr
hardware and the operating sys¬ the computer weeklies over the last
tem compatible. The Amiga’s month 'inside sources' have the
HR
MC68000 CPU is available off Brentwood company either produc¬
the shelf and cheaply too, but its ing a CPC replacement in a re¬
HHHl
all-important custom chips tooled 6128 case, or an Amiga-
Agnus, Paula and Denise are compatible version of the PCI 512.
only available through Com¬ Amstrad are not renowned as a
modore. leaky company - in the past they've
While Commodore are cer¬ launched machines in the UK with¬
tainly prepared to sell the cus¬ out announcing them at all - so Hr If
tom chips for other manufactur¬ 'horse's mouth' tales like these
ers' products - the Arcadia coin¬ would be greeted with scepticism
op machines, for example - it even if they agreed with each other Alan Sugar: is he making eyes at the Amiga?
doesn't seem very likely they'd and sounded plausible. As it is how¬
sell them for inclusion in an . ever, they both have major prob¬ new micro to keep Amstrad in the
Amiga-bashing Amstrad lems: a story on the CPC replace¬ leisure market. Amstrad's official
machine. Amstrad's only hard¬ ment claims that Amstrad have had comment was that 'we don't com¬
ware alternative would be to 'minor technical problems putting in ment on future products prior to
produce their own custom chips, the 16 bits' - whatever that's sup¬ launch' - but given the company's
designed so as to mimic Com¬ posed to mean - while the Amiga- tight-lipped reputation, that may not
modore's. Doing this without compatible story also seems be the final word on the matter.
infringing Commodore's rights extremely doubtful as things stand.
would be extremely difficult and But is there an Amstrad 68000-
prohibitively expensive. based machine in the offing? Sup¬
port for the CPC is now in decline, Nexus hit nadir

y:
From the operating system
and with the Spectrum +3 widely et another small, independent software house has bitten the dust.
angle an Amiga clone looks just
seen as the last in Amstrad's other This time it's Nexus who've gone in to liquidation, despite their
as unlikely. Although the Ami¬
entertainment computer line a new recent release Skulldiggery clocking up an ACE Rating of 919. The
ga's OS is derived from Tripos,
low-price micro would fill an impor¬ running of Nexus was recently taken over by programmer Paul Voysey,
a product still owned by Bristol
tant gap in the firm's range. The who assured us that the programs under development - T-Runner, and
firm Metacomco, the aspects of
1512 and 1640 PCs can't compete Bo Jangeborg's Resolution - 'will all go to nice, good homes' and that
the system concerning the cus¬
with the ST or Amiga as far as they should be finished in January.
tom chips and the Amiga's user
music, art and games are con¬ So why did Nexus go down? Paul Voysey says that under his stew¬
interface Intuition are exclusive
cerned so it looks like it'd take a ardship Nexus 'didn't spend a lot of money. The main problem has been a
to Commodore. 'We have sold
lack of investment in publishing
Tripos on to other firms for
product.' With the result that the
68000 systems, but those
company's debts outstripped
weren't home micros let alone
income to the extent that liquida¬
Amiga lookalikes', said Meta- * %r
tion was inevitable. Paul Voysey - t
comco's Andrew Spencer. 'We
hopes to be back in the software
aren't working on an Amiga
business very soon - but he won't
clone for anybody. You couldn’t
be running a software house, he
produce a clone - not a totally
says: 'When I re-enter it will be f:s2 ' ecs ‘ ffcs _;>■ ■
Amiga-compatible one - without
very much on the programming skulldiggery - massive ACE rating, but not even
going to Commodore.'
side.' that could stop Nexus going down
Amiga 500: Amstrad clone due to give it a bashing?

Advanced Computer Entertainment 7

NEWS

T Those of you who spent the year huddled

over a monitor, defeating ever-increasing
waves of aliens, all expert in martial arts
kicks and capable of simulating Daley Thompson,
may not have noticed anything too special about
1987. It was a bit lacking in the spectacular
events department; Alan Sugar didn't even
attempt to buy out Jack Tramiel, and while Com¬
modore got rid of a good many of its senior staff,
1987-the year
it never fllirted with bankruptcy as it had done so Christina Erskine, erstwhile editor of Popular
tantilisingly in the past.
Behind the scenes, however, there was plen¬
Computer Weekly, plays Janus - one face look¬
ty going on, which should mark a permanent ing back at 1987, the other forward to 1988
change in the whole nature of the home computer
industry: new and more advanced micros, and
software for them; a lot of talk about new data is not going to make it as a home micro (on price power bases into fewer hands. US Gold set up
storage and retrieval media; the big guns getting grounds if nothing else), despite David Braben of Go!: a general purpose computer game, console,
an even bigger slice of the software cake than Elite fame knocking up a little number called and toy distributor which clinched a £2M deal with
before. Zarch (ACE Rated at a staggering 979). arcade publisher Capcom; Gremlin signed up
At the other end of the scale, the veteran Gary Lineker and expanded into board games;
Spectrum got its built-in disk drive in September. Ocean announced the release of a board game
The software available so far on disk is selective, where your video recorder (yes, video recorder)
to say the least, but, after a cautious start, it looks takes the place of throwing the dice (see separate
as though, yet again, the Spectrum is going to item); Virgin took Ranulph Fiennes' Transglobe
have a good Christmas. expedition as the subject of an interactive video
Then there was the Return of the Consoles, project; Mastertronic put Amiga boards into
which most people thought had been left for dead arcade machines, wrote games for them, and
round about the time of the launch of the Vic 20. released a compilation LP; Mirrorsoft got busy
But Sega, Nintendo, and inevitably Atari (which with CD-Rom technology.
didn't seem able to bear being left out of any cor¬
ner of the market in 1987) all produced machines
Advanced Computer
they believed would lead to a renaissance of the
Entertainment
dedicated games machine. The appeal of the
One of the major events of 1987 was - of
Sir Clive Sinclair made a welcome { course, naturally, it goes without saying but
return to the limelight with the launch in j well say it anyway - the launch of ACE.
February of the Z88, the portable micro j whose first issue appeared in September. The
which had begun life as Pandora in the magazine was created in response to the
Dark Ages of Sinclair Research. Sir growing demand for a more mature treatment
Clive delivered the machine late - he of the whole phenomenon of games and relat¬
would, wouldn't he? - and it was not ed computer entertainment.
really a micro for the Sinclair games- The response has proved that as the
playing faithful, but most purchasers hardware has grown more sophisticated, so
pronounced themselves well-satis¬ has the software and so have the people
fied with it. using it. ACE was intended to be the maga¬
In March, Commodore finally zine that would match these developments,
inveiled what so many people had been clamour¬ and take the readers where the technology
ing for: an affordable Amiga. And once home leads. Wherever computer entertainment goes
The Z88 - not a game's macine, bu at least Uncle Clive is back
users had two 68000-based machines to choose in businessz in 1988. Advanced Computer Entertainment
from, with the Amiga 500 and the Atari ST FM will be there to let you know about it.
both in the shops, the software companies took a consoles to shoot 'em up fans must be huge, and
deep breath and sunk development money into the price makes them almost impulse buys. But
16-bit games. with all-singing, all-dancing machines like the The big league players also got acquisitive.
Sadly, we haven't really seen the fruits of Amiga and ST around, the consoles look more Mastertronic swallowed up Melbourne House in
that development yet. But with STs disappearing likely to find a niche market as second or third February; eight months later, Virgin bought sub¬
from the dealers' shelves, and sales of the A500 machines, or for younger members of the family. stantial minority interest in Matertronic. The highly
picking up fast, the software houses had to act, respected Hewson turned over its sales and mar¬
even if so far, it has largely meant conversions of Software keting to Gremlin, and then lost its two highest
Spectrum and Commodore titles, and rough For the software houses, the year was one of profile programmers, Steve Turner and Andrew
68000 code that can be put on either machine diversification coupled with a concentration of the Braybrook, to Telecomsoft Elite Systems
with the minimum of twiddling. Amiga 500 and Atari ST - the machines that are changing the face of home computer entertainment
However, the prominence of ST/Amiga soft¬
ware on display at the PCW Show in September
augurs well for the the future. And in terms of
what the machines are capable of, we ain't seen
nothing yet...
In June, the software fraternity had another
advanced machine to consider, when Acorn
launched Archimedes, a range of micros utilising
Acorn's own Reduced Instruction Set Computer
chip, and some truly advanced technologhy.
Frighteningly fast, with awesome sound and
graphics potential...but who on earth was going
to buy the beast? It's generally agreed that Archie

8 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 NEWS

in focus
ing, not to mention all those Commodore hoard¬ Even the 16-bit machines will start to look a
ings at Stamford Bridge, home computing is mov¬ bit slow and cumbersome if Acorn makes a go
ing away from its cult status into the mainstream and further developments to the Archimedes, and
of leisure activity. Atari's transputer makes an impact; like the STs
when they were originally announced back in
Crystal Balls 1985, neither of these will have a presence in the
Technological developments which have begun or home market, bgt come 1989, and 1990...
been hinted at this year should start to become The consoles - cheap and cheerful, but not serious rivals to the
bought Durell, who withdrew from the business real product in 1988. CD-ROM and interactive 16-bit computers
of games sotware. CRL and Martech tied them¬ video, which have been much talked about for
selves up with US giant Electronic Arts, which years, should finally hit the streets, with Atari's
moved into Slough in March, and launched an CD-ROM player coming out, and Virgin's Trans¬
extremely respectable range of games at the globe project reaching completion (BBC only for
PCW show. the time being). Let's hope Atari can organise
When any software companies found time to some available software for its unit, although it
release computer games, it was Budget Software doesn't do a bad job of playing conventional com¬
that dominated the charts. A new label, Alterna¬ pact discs.
tive, made the best attempt to break the Mas- Next year should see the 16-bit market
tertronic/Firebird/Code Masters stranglehold - mature considerably, as the machines begin to Look out too, for more acquisitions, as the
and didn't the last-named make such a tremen¬ overhaul the old 8-bit standards, both in sales and software companies on the top of the heap take
dous fuss about reaching Division One? the quality of software. The wares on display at over more and more of the independents. In two
the 1988 PCW Show will be a true test of how or three years time, the giants will own just about
well programmers have got to grips with the everybody, and that's when you'll start to see the
power of the machines. Current rumours suggest one-person outfits start up again - rather like the
that we should see Amstrad producing a machine indi record labels.
in this area as well, which will certainly keep the And of course the issue of certification, and
interest high - and the prices down. But don't indirectly, 'censorship' is dealt with elsewhere in
count on an Amstrad 16-bit micro; Alan has a rep¬ this issue of ACE, but the implications are stag-,
utation for confounding the ball gazers... gering.

Zarch - best Archimedes game of 1987. Only Archimedes game of

1987. Will Archie get more atttention in '88?
In the arcades
Tiger Road Sniff-em-ups!
With all this extraneous activity, it's perhaps not Capcom's latest coin-op release. Tiger Road. First it was 3D. then came hydraulic cabinets,
surprising that there was little in the way of features stunning graphics and great animation now Capcom president George Nakayama is
mould-breaking software. More Karate, more as Lee Wong (that's you) rescues kidnapped talking about a whole range of games with 'smell
licensed toys, more sport, more aliens and a children from the wicked Ryu Ken Oh. There are synthesis’.
clutch of Breakout clones were the order of the four stages, each with an 'end-of-level-guardian' No titles have been announced yet. appar¬
day. To balance this out, we did get the graphics to defeat. ently because there is some difficulty in getting
in Defender of the Crown (shame about the What really makes the game special, how¬ a 'nice smell'. This is hardly suprising - most of
game), continued high standards from Hewson, ever. is the animation and range of different the opponents you meet in Streeftighter. for
particularly with Exolon and Nebulus, the contro¬ hazards. Snakes slither up and down decorated example, look as if they have serious problems
versy of Barbarian, and the playability of Bubble pillars ready to strike, huge piles of dismem¬ in the personal freshness department. Fighting
Bobble. The boys Ritman and Drummond done bered skeletons surround giant skulls that literal¬ them's one thing, but smelling them would sure¬
great with Match Day 2, and there were more ly hoover you up into their mouths, and numer¬ ly be more than any reasonable man (or
courses to try out in Leaderboard. Adventurers ous assassins fly in from all directions. Definitely woman) could bear.
watched more releases from Infocom come out one to save the 10p bits for in the New Year.
than any mere mortal can cope with, while Level
9 kept going at a steady rate, and The Pawn's Heart attack
sequel, Guild of Thieves, appeared. The quality Meanwhile some of the more strenuous arcade
of compilations rose markedly witht he excellent games are running into difficulties, it seems.
Solid Gold and the everything-but-the-kitchen Capcom's Streetfighter featured rubber pads
sink Game, Set and Match. which the player literally pounded with his fists
Lastly, Star Trek finally appeared and despite as the on-screen character beat the stuffing out
its tardiness became the first ST game to make it of various street-wise foes. Problem is. appar¬
in to the Top Ten. Bets are now being placed for ently. that players who got just a little too
which of Telecomsoft's titles will be a year late in involved ran the risk of injuring themselves on
'88. the cabinets. Just to get things moving, however, we sug¬
Overall, though, 1987 marked a turning point That's nothing compared to the supposed gest the following titles:
in computer entertainment. The 68000-based dangers of Heavy Weight Champ, whose game Kaptain Korn post - battle your way to the
machines took off, as did their associated soft¬ control system allows the player to swing punch¬ top of the heap.
ware. The games companies are getting smaller es at the other bloke in the ring by gripping and Sludge Dredd - clean up the streets of
in number and more diverse in their entertain¬ thrusting specially designed 'punch levers'. Mega-City One.
ment activities. The games themselves are Observers have suggested that this could bring Aromarama - explore the maze to find the
becoming more and more tied in with related about a heart-attack in people with a history of 'smallest room'.
toys, cartoons, films, TV programmes, breakfast cardiac illness. On the other hand, since people King Pong - catch the bean-guzzling ape
cereals, whatever - which makes it all the more with a history of cardiac illness can drop dead at before you run out of (fresh) air.
gratifying to see wholly original and technically any moment, this doesn't seem particularly sig¬ Readers' suggestions on a postcard,
innovative games such as Nebulus and Incen¬ nificant. please, but no 'scratch’n'snjffs'.
tive's Driller. With TV and national press advertis¬

Advanced Computer Entertainment 9

NEWS

Where does it all come

from... this high-tech gear
which we take so much for
granted these days? We all
l^now that TV was invented
by a Scotsman, radio by an
ACE IN JAPAN
a bulkier, but otherwise comparable unit costs
over here) and send complete printed documents
signal; the tiny TV-800 model, with 1.5 'screen, is
sold as the BeBi, and credit-card sized AM/FM
Italian and computing by down the phone lines to other fax users. radios (sometimes with digital tuning and LCD
readouts) are common.
Sir Clive Sinclair (give or Computers
take a few years) - but MSX is still all the rage in Japan, with MSX2 Video
nowadays, much of what micros like the Sony Hit Bit very common. You Most Japanese video machines are VHD HQ
can build this up with a full keyboard or small (High Quality) with Hi-Fi sound, or Super Betamax
the Englishman plugs into numeric keypad into a complete business system with a claimed 20% improvement in picture quality
his domestic power supply with Comms and other options. and three tape speeds. But Video 8 is taking over
Lap-top computers are popular - many- from both standards with its digital sound and
comes from the Land of the high picture quality; Sony's Video 8 camcorder
Rising Sun. Mark Jenkins range includes an underwater model and their
reports... Video 8 Pro (£900) has a jog-shuttle dial just like
professional U-Matic editing machines, duplicated
ou guessed it...Japan is the subject of this on the book-sized infra-red remote control unit.
roundup of news and tantalising titbits Picture-in-Picture TV's and videos, which
from the world of computing, hi-fi, video superimpose a small section showing another
and the rest. The newly-formed Yamaha Corpo¬ channed onto the main picture, are common as
ration of Europe was responsible for laying on the muck in Japan and are
trip to the East, and for making it quite clear that just becoming available
Yamaha aren't just about synthesizers and motor¬ in the UK, but Sony also
bikes - they're also into sports equipment, furni¬ have a much more pow¬
ture, jam, pianos, etc. etc,..you name it, they erful digital frame store
make it. with picture-in-picture,
Yamaha's Shibuya retail store in Tokyo has a pixel magnification and
huge range of synths and music computers much more for just £500.
including the CX7 anc CX11, which aren't avail¬ Fujitsu's FM77 AV40 computer; includes everything but the kitchen
able in the UK since the MSX standard was a sink. But that's coming soon.... Hi-Fi
total flop here, despite being popular in Spain, companies have models. Sony's 'Produce 100' Hand-sized LCD colour TV's are available from
Germany and France... weighs just a few pounds but has a flip-up 440 Casio, Sharp, NEC, Panasonic and many others.
Slipping into the Tokyo metro (an experience character LCD display, a score of Japanese and Professional recording Walkman designs with
in itself) took us to Akibara,*a kind of Tottenham European fonts, an art package, and a clip-on Dolby or dbx noise reduction, level meters and so
Court Road gone bananas. Block after block of 32x32 dot printer which can produce business on are popular, while the new CDV standard - not
hi-fi, video, computing and electronic gear cards, Filofax pages (the Japanese love
assaults the senses, although much of it won't Filofax),cassette inserts and so on. But it uses
work in the UK (due to differing TV standards, for non-standard 2" floppy disks and seems unlikely
instance) and some of it is illegal (like that neat to turn up in the UK.
dual disk drive copying unit for protected soft¬ One of the most exciting computers available
ware).. in Tokyo is the Fujitsu FM77, which looks more
like a piece of hi-fi than a micro. It comes com¬
Comms & entertainment plete with a TV set/monitor and has a polyphonic
Everything in Japan is interactive - TV shows like music ship with hi-fi outputs, optional MIDI inter¬
Captain Power feature flashing which you can face and music composition software, a MODEM,
SCSI for hard disks and voice sampling circuitry.

TV & Radio
Casio's cutsey-wutsey BeBi portable LCD colour TV
Pocket-sized LCD colour TV's are all the rage in
Japan, with models available from Casio, Sharp, yet launched in the UK but able to play conven¬
Panasonic and many others. One or two models tional CD's, Laservision disks or 5 'digital-picture-
working on the UK's PAL standard are now and-sound disks - is just becoming available.
becoming available here. Casio's TV-4000 at Yamaha make a nice CDV player for around £600
around £108 stands up like a bedside clock and (NTSC standard only - tough!) And Digital Audio
has auto signal lock to home in on any powerful Tape players are common at around £800.

Panasonic's neat fax-in-a-phone Gadgets

"shoot at 'with a "power gun 'available in all the Sony's' Repeat Learning System, an intercom¬ one on going out. "Your dinner's in the dustbin.
department stores. You can plug in a keypad like gadget costing aroung £90. is actually a I'm in the gas oven" springs to mind. The
handset to your telephone and TV for interactive playback device for magnetic strip-bearing cards Japanese, being traditionally short of space, are
banking and shopping facilities, and carry an which hold lessons such as "English for Begin¬ very fond of anything credit-card sized, and you
electronic phone number index which recalls the ners". But if you want a high-tech replacement can pick up pen and pencil sets, makeup sets,
number you want and then bleeps it into the for the old-fashioned pen and paper. Casiom solar-powered calculators, world time zone indi¬
phone for you (only possible on all-digital Victor (JVC) and many other companies make cators. telephone diallers. English-to-Japanese
phones, unfortunately).. sound samplers the size of credit cards which translators (5.000 word vocabulary) and much
You can also buy a Panasonic fax machine you can-use to leave.a message for your loved more.
with built-in telephone for about £1,000 (half what

10 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 WANTED
CRAZY CRITTDRS
FOR

WESTERN HESS

ARM WRESTLING DANCING BACCY SPITTING

(battle of the bi ceps!) (can-u-Can-Can?) Col’ brown eyes is back!)

M.

FILL \
(It’s a gas!)

_____ I

ATARI ST - £19.99
AMSTRAE AMIGA-£19.99
C64CASS- £9.99
C64 DISK - £12.99
AMSTRADCASS- £9.99
AMSTRAD DISK - £14.99

MARKETED &
DISTRIBUTED BY
NEWS

The year is 2499 and arcade action

Snippets. is still the name of the game. Head

OCEAN GO Scruples
/Irgln
for the project centre destroying the
evil life forms and re-starting the life-
support systems on your merry way.

Blood Valley

INTERACTIVE
I nteractive video has become while the rest of the game works
Gremlin

something of a buzzphrase similarly to a conventional board

among software houses. Ocean game.
is the latest company to move into 'It's really a halfway house,'
this field with the import from the US Ward admitted. 'You can take the
of the ABC Sport Winter Olympics view that the TV is a pre-requisite
for family entertainment, but it's a The computer version of the board
game, a variant on the true
one-way system - you just sit there game that asked those soul-
interactive video theme.
searching questions which you, of
and look at it. Eventually you'll be
course, answered truthfully. Should
able to interact fully with TV images
be in the shops as you read this.
- this is just the beginning.' The
Winter Olympics video-with-game The price may not yet be confirmed,
Catch 23
costs £19.95 and should be on sale but it looks as if Blood Valley will be
Martech
shortly. Gremlin’s first Amiga product. The 8-
Ocean are also hoping to move bit versions should be here before
into the video market by buying that though. The game is based on
distribution rights to movies, fantasy role-playing books and the
following on from their joint release player has a choice of character,
each one with a specific objective
Winter Olympics: you get all this for your £19.95, with RCA/Columbia of the Vietnam
except the ice hidden somewhere within the central
film Platoon. David Ward is,
plot of a man-hunt.
Ocean chairman David Ward however, cautious about the
describes the game as a 'Heath- company's prospects in this area.
Space Ace
Robinson' way of approaching the 'Yes, we're looking to build up a
zs fnfogrames
interactive video format. The game video library, and we've set up a
is primarily a board game, with the division to do that; it's just another
way of entertaining people in the The three dimensional vector
video images randomly selected to
graphics arcade adventure is about
direct the game's progress. home,' he said. He added that
to make its appearance on the 16 bit
'It's a precursor to the eventual although Ocean wanted to continue
machines. Steal the plans from the
interaction of computers and licensing films for computer games, CK 23 test development site before
TV/video data - where the video will it would not necessarily buy up you nuke it. Should be in the shops
create backgrounds to a game and video rights for films with a view to as you read this.
the computer will control the micro conversion.
interaction', Ward said. Winter Olympiad 88
In Winter Olympics, Tynesoft
a random series of
numbers and game
information which
changes every frame
(every tenth of a second) This first of a new series of games
is shown on-screen. Six Olympic sports are combined introduces a hero by the name of
Players press the pause with the gameplay strategically Lee Enfield, (sounds familiar). Set in
button to freeze one of balanced between speed and the 22nd century this first game is a
these screens as the Ocean gaffer David Ward plays the game with ex-Miss UK Debby control. The 8-bit versions should be shoot-em-up which sees Lee in a
Greenwood and ex-Kid, David Jensen heck of a lot of trouble. The second
equivalent of a dice throw out as you read this with the 16-bit
versions following 'real soon'. in the series will be set in the Middle
Ages, but may not necessarily be

M MAD add X
astertromc's £2.99 MAD range is to get a facelift and become
the MAD X series. Ingredient X is an added B side, so that
Northstar
Gremlin
another shoot-em-up, so watch this
space. 16-bit versions will be arriving
first (February) with 8-bit versions
shortly after.
you'll now get two games for the price of one. Some of the B
sides will have been previously released in their own right, bit it is hoped
Road Warrior
that many will be brand new games.
CRL
The first release of this record-industry-inspired range will be on
January 6th for Spectrum. C64 and Amstrad machines: the A side will The team who programmed Jet-
feature Energy Warrior, the B side Molecule Man - this has been around Boys (reviewed this issue) are set to
for some time, and you can (coincidentally) read about its re-design release another arcade style shoot-
feature in the Games Creator article in this issue. em-up. It's a sort of Out Run
Second release will be Rockford, inspired by Boulderdash. with meets Spy Hunter as you drive your
Back To Reality on the B side ( but Rockman on the Spectrum). This car through eight countries and try to
release marks an interesting move by Mastertromc: Rockford \s one of the eliminate the nasties. Look out for it
when the March winds are a-blowin'.
first titles out on their Super Select arcade system, and has now been put
Also from CRL in February and
straight on to 8-bit budget with no intervening full-price stage. It could
March will be Amiga versions of
promise some very good value games in '88.
Tau Ceti and Academy.

1 2 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 n < i - ■* sh f

- &nBl
■v|.rrrTT7Ti

V, -1a .

AMSTRAD
COMMODORE

IMAGINE SOFTWARE
MANCHESTER - M2 5 N S
PREVIEWS

It's heads
down and tin
helmets on as
the first shots
in the 1988
software
campaign
start bursting
overhead.
Grab a look at
the latest
command
Amiga: The Gorgon factor • get three questions right and your opponent turns to stone.
intelligence
POWER here - all of
PLAY these games
Amiga
Out on the BBC yonks ago and are due for
no spring chicken on the other 8-
bit micros either,
mythologically-inclined board
this deployment in
game is finally coming out on
the ST and Amiga. Earlier
the next
versions won a lot of friends with
their clever integration of trivia
couple of
questions and strategy, but
Arcana have spiced things up months. We'll
quite a bit since then as you can
see. The graphics aren't the only sort the duds
changes: the strategy element is
more complex and important
now, with factors like a piece's
from the live
strength mattering just as much
as trivia knowledge. Well,
rounds next
almost!
issue...
14 Advanced Computer Entertainment
 PREVIEWS

HALO
JONES
Piranha

Unemployed life in New York everyday occurrences and Toby

may not sound like great the pet pooch is a psychotic
material for a computer game, robot. Based on the award
but we're talking here about the winning 2000AD comic strip by
NY of the future where riots are Alan Moore and Ian Gibson, the
game is all about buying
groceries - not a piece of cake
in The Hoop, a floating ghetto
where shoppers go armed to the
teeth
Spectrum, C64 and Amstrad
users should get a chance to
buy in March, but ST users will
have to wait till May for their Spectrum: Halo's dashing oft to do her shopping, while hologramette Swifty Frisko (bottom right) keeps
dose of future shops. us up to date with spaceship news.

XENON mm* SCO*Et 1**93 PLftVttt out II*.

Melbourne House

If you win the Super Select short on the ST, as you can see
System in this month's from these screenshots. You can
competition you'll get this one all trundle around blasting ground
fired up and ready to play, but targets, waggle the joystick to
even without a lucky streak turn into an aircraft and then fly
you'll still be able to save around blasting air targets or the
yourself a whole load of 50p tops of buildings. Compulsive
pieces if you buy the game stuff and very good looking -
instead. It's coin-op standard on watch out for the ACE review,
the Amiga of course and not far coming soon!

ST: Laugh? I nearly fell off me platform!

BLACK
LAMP
Firebird

This classy-looking arcade

adventure drops you into a
mediaeval miasma of magic,
mystery and (ulp!) monsters. The game probably won't be finished
gameplay leads you through the until March or so but it's looking
flip-screen interior of the castle great already, with marvellous
and out into the scrolling woods animation on the main
as your cutesy jester character is character and some great
attacked from all sides. The backgrounds too.
ST: Airborne on level 1, and you're right in the thick of it. The eight-way firing you've picked up should
come in handy against those hostile gun turrets.

ST: ^ mlltwuilu(fefenC8S SPr0Ul'n9 lr°m lhe E,*n 9ellin9 * ST: ^ W00d5 ,re "° 10 "•if you're smallenough for a bird to carry you off.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 15

You are one of the elite... parachuting alone behind enemy AIRBORNE [Link] combination of danger
[Link] enemy controls the terrain, hidden in bunkers and and suspense. Available for the Commodore 64/128K.
machine gun nests.. .you may be [Link] action is Cassette £14.95 Disk £19.95.
fierce as you control one soldier’s battle against over¬
whelming odds. You’ll need skill and strategy to out¬
manoeuvre your enemy, plus courage and some luck to
make your escape. Airborne Ranger is an exciting fast-
paced simulation with 12 desperate missions in 3 different
regions of the world. The possibilities are endless!
/MICRO PR05E
Please send- copy/ies of Airborne Ranger CBM 64/128 □ Cassette £14.95 □ Disk £19.95 □ Further details.
Name (block capitals) Address.
Post Code
I enclose £_including 55p P+P. Cheques payable to MicroProse Software Ltd.,
or debit my Access/Visa card. Expiry date-No. I M I I I I I I M 1 1 1 1
MicroProse Ltd., 2 Market Place,Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8DA. [Link]: (0666) [Link]: 43422 MPS/UKG.
 Joining the Elite
Firstly I would like to say how good
your magazine is. It is packed with
more information and software
news about my computer than the
magazine I get for my Atari 520
STM.
Now, I have just upgraded
from a BBC computer to the Atari. I
used to play Elite on the BBC and
really enjoyed it, so I was wondering
if it is due to come out for the Atari.

Gary Roberts
Rochdale

Since I got rid of my C64 and

changed to an Amiga, I have
missed the game Elite and won¬
dered if you could tell me whether
or not any of the software compa¬
nies are in the process of making
the game for the Amiga as, so far, I
have not found a game with as
much of a challenge.
debate on the alleged abuse of - women are far more cunning than
Des Smith women in advertising. I became men anyway, and they know what
Galashiels more interested when Maria Whit¬ they're doing. So it's time for us
taker's name cropped up. The Bar¬ boys to shut up, and the girls to
There's good news for both of you; barian ad sprung up all kings of have their say.
Elite should be available for Amiga arguments, but one fact everyone
and ST by the middle of the year. failed to mention is that there was a MB
bloke in the ad too, equally scantily Dewsbury
clad, I might mention, though I didn't
Hole in One read anything from anyone com¬ I think you'll agree, Mr. B, that
Can you please answer this ques¬ plaining. Is it all right to see sexy womens's scantily-clad bods fea¬
tion; has anyone got a hole in one men, but not right to see sexy ture rather more frequently in ads
on Leader Board yet? I've been try¬ women? I actually found the ad very than men's. Do women find D.
ing for EONS. degrading to men - what with the Panayi's speaking up on their
Incidently, we're all computer hard- bloke having to wear that awful behalf 'condescending'? It's hard to
cases here and think your magazine wig... tell, because we haven't had any
is the best on show and can't be Anyway, the point of this letter letters from women on this subject.
beaten!! is that women don't need blokes, If we do get any, we'll certainly
especially ones like Mr Panayi, to print them.
SPLaw speak for them. In fact, most
Warwick women I know would find his atti¬
tude very condescending. I'd credit Allergic to Sugar
Nobody round here's ever got a women with a might more intelli¬ More on the 16-bit computer (espe¬
hole in one - but we wouldn't know gence and back-bone if I were you cially Amiga). Less on the 8-bit
a golf club from a cricket bat.

The preoccupations of the festive

Controversy of months
season have not weakened your
ago
I was flicking through your letters
desire to air your views - the letters
page (issue 3) when I noticed a let¬ have continued to pour in. Most of
ter from a D Panayi, wanting a
them have been full of interesting
REWARDS! comment - on censorship, piracy,
In recognition of outstanding
epistolary achievement ACE
arcade machine tweaking, and much
Letters will, from our next issue more. But if we get any more letters
on, be awarding FREE SOFT¬
WARE to 3 writers every month.
from 18 year-olds asking if their
One lucky correspondent will be score on Bubble Bobble is a record.-
receive our Letter of the Month
award - software to the value of ....there will be BIG TROUBLE.
£25. Everyone else is welcome to
So please remember to add
to your letter details of the com¬ send letters to
puter you have, and the game(s)
you would prefer to receive.
ACE LETTERS 4 QUEEN STREEET
BATH BA1 1EJ
LETTERS

computers (especially Amstrads) am in a minority but I didn't find it

Excellent reviews but perhaps you that interesting, although I can
could have second opinions, includ¬ understand that it does in a way
ed by the other reviewers incuding show what is to come on the games
their personal ratings. front. On the whole, congratulations.
The Pilgrim's great but a ACE is brilliant, although, perhaps
helpline would be good, and also slightly overpriced? No I didn't say
larger pictures of the 16 bits and that. After all, ACE is full of colour,
smaller ones of the 8-bits and full of info, and free tapes, and
please, some pictures have looked expensive.
very dull especially the Terrapods Don't worry, I don't expect this
and Jinxter ones. bit to be printed. After all, I never
Play By Mai! is rubbish and bor¬ was any good at English, it's just
ing. Get rid of it...please. Though meant to give you some sugges¬
the sound and graphics specials are tions. As you can see I have a very
The glamorous world of computer journalism
very interesting, 'Of strategic impor¬ strong dislike of Alan Sugar and his
tance' was unfortunately of very lit¬ computers and what he did to the You're certainly a fellow with some computer journalist and I would be
tle importance, and nearly sent me Spectrum, adding a lousy tape strong opinions. PBM and the strat¬ prepared to start as a junior.
to sleep. If there are others who do recorder, then a disk drive with not egy piece are both occasional I am 16 years old in January
like it then, perhaps it could be enough storage, and with his 'Sin¬ rather than monthly; you might not and I am taking GCSE exams-in
made bi-monthly with 'of stratetgic clair approved' games casettes be interested in them, but lots of English, Maths, Chemistry, Physics,
little importance' and PBM taking which normally turn out to be the other people are. Arcades is, as History, French and Design and
turns. The article on the upgrade worst programs. The computer mar¬ you rightly suspect, one of the Communication at Meridien senior
stakes was very good but could- ket should be more independent more popular sections in ACE, so school, and Computer Studies as
have gone futher still, like would a with more small firms making add¬ we could hardly get rid of it just on an extra subject at evening classes.
monitor/tv (RGB) combination telly ons, that's what made the computer your recommendation. As for Alan I have already passed the Cam¬
be able to show the Amiga's 400 scene so exciting. And Alan Sugar Sugar, love him or hate him, you bridge Information Technology word
lines. Also if you are trying to set up treats past purchasers badly just can't ignore him.... processing exam earlier this year.
a stable market for the 16-bit (remember the 464) and the way he I have owned a Commodore 64
machines you should emphasise priced the +3. Sorry but I can't stand for the past four years and I now
they'll be around for a long time and the man, someone give me a Gis a job own an Atari ST. I spend most of
that your 'in the future' is still some machine gun... I am writing to ask what qualifica¬ my time on the computer and I am

way off. tions I would need to apply for a currently working on my project for
Now to the controversial bit, the Neil Wilson position on your computer maga¬ my computer exam with my Atari

Arcade feature. I have a feeling I zine. I would like very much to be a ST.

C64 ARCADE ACTION C64, SPEC, AMS, ADVENTURE *AR

TOUGH GAMES FOR ATOU4

DON'T FORGET TO GET THE LATEST CRL POSTER FROM YOUR FAVOURlfWA

18 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 LETTERS

I would be grateful if you could if editors think it's good, then they sions of the operating system, and this, and your only solution is to
send me any details of how to will keep you on file and possibly any ST bought lately is likely to be take them back to the shops or
apply, to get started on the career I get in touch when a vacancy aris¬ the latest one, TOS 1.09. Quite a send them back to the suppliers.
have chosen. es. In the meantime, keep studying few leading titles do not run under Most software houses are planning
and pursuing your computing inter¬
Lee Bath ests. Diary? What diary? I looked at the cover - 'free
Royston diary'. I couldn't see it. Asked my
I have bought your magazine from mum - she didn't know anything. I
There's no hard and fast rule about TOS troubles issue one and think it is superb checked the car - no luck. I went
the qualifactions needed to I purchased an Atari 520 STFM helped by its superior quality print¬ down to the newsagents and
become a computer journalist. from W H Smith on the 13th ing and more mature articles than asked if I could have one, as the
Obviously an interest in and knowl¬ November 1987, with it they sup¬ other computer magazines I could other one must have been stolen
edge of computers is a big help; plied eight discs. Of the eight, five mention. from my copy in the shop. The
and the ability to write well (and do not work correctly, if at all. An After purchasing issue four, I newsagents refused (I do not
quickly) doesn't go amiss. Of additional title, Road Runner, also got home and then realised that blame them), so I do not have my
course, it's matter of showing to does not work. the free diary mentioned was 'free' diary. Could you perhaps
»e
people that you have these skills, Atari have said that the new meant to be on the front cover of send me a copy please?
which is where paper qualifications machines being shipped have the my magazine which there wasn't. I
come in handy. O and A levels in latest TOS revision 1.09 and this is went back to the shop where I David Hood
ry
in
English and Computer Studies can the reason the titles do not work. purchased it but they said that Glasgow
s,
be useful, as can professional How do you find out what revision they didn't know where it was or if

id
qualifications from the universities your TOS is? there was one. Naturally, I was Quite a few people have been
or or places such as the London Col¬ Please would you and your disappointed and wonder if I could experiencing difficulties with the
is
lege of Printing. readers help to compile a list of obtain one from you even if it diaries - largely due to them not
s.
All that said, I have to admit working titles for revision 1.09 TOS? means buying one. being on the front of the maga¬
that most of the people here (and Perhaps this will encourage the zine. Either they fell off, or -
n- John Baker
on other magaznes that we know software houses to move. Star more likely - were ripped off by
rd Kibworth Beauchamp
of) came to computer journalism by Trek has appeared on the shop unscrupulous non-purchasers. If
>4
roundabout routes; an interest in shelves with a sticker saying that it Yesterday (Friday 4th December) you bought a copy and didn't get
iw computers and computer entertain¬ is for 1.08 TOS and below only. I told my Mum to go to the your diary send a stamped
of
ment went hand in hand with the newsagents and see if ACE was addressed envelope to ACE
m
desire and ability to write about Mr G C Noakes in. It wasn't. I repeated the instruc¬ DIARY, ACE, 4 QUEEN
or
them. Your best way of getting in to Basildon tion on Saturday. Hooray! It was STREET, BATH BA1 1EJ
iri
the business is to start writing and in. She had bought it!
sending in your work to magazines; Atari have only ever had two ver¬

LATE,

34 ARCADE ACTION MAIL ORDER:

For a Broad Sheet describing the complete range and information on
your nearest stockist write to:
Electronic Arts, 11/49 Station Road, Langley, Berks SL3 8YX, England
CRL Group PLC, CRL House, 9 Kings Yard.
)URIT(TWARE shop Carpenters Road, London El5 2HD

Advanced Computer Entertainment 19

LETTERS

home computer, either an as such’. mind all the word-processing, stats

Atari 1040ST or an Amiga Whilst I freely admit that well and music you wanted to do, could
500. For some this may not over half the time spent on my you seriously consider a Spec¬
seem like a problem, but Spectrum 128 is games orientated trum? We don't want to be nasty to
my reasons for purchasing (hence I'm such an avid reader of the Spectrum - it's done sterling
a computer may underline your excellent mag!), I also make service over the years - but it isn't
my problem. use of it for a host of 'serious' appli¬ really a machine you could run
I am presently studying cations. These include some pretty your business with.
for A levels in Accounts, involved spreadsheets for my darts
Geography, Business team's statistics and home accounts
Studies and a powerful (using Vu-Calc), masses of word Arcade rip-off
wordprocessor is a must. processing (Tasword) , learning I do not know if people who visit
Also I am studying for new programming languages arcades realise just how much they
GCSE computer studies (SpecForth and Logo), musical can be ripped off, not just by over¬
and it would be useful if I composition (Musicbox and pricing, but by by the game's level
could use a database, Echosoft synthesiser) etc, all of of play. Most of the modern arcade

to upgrade the more popular spreadsheet, and a drawing pack¬ which my Spectrum handles machines today include a change

incompatible titles. However, given age for extra help at home. The final admirably. that allows the owner to define the

the number of titles which do not point I don't really like to admit, but I I realise of course that the main aspects of the game. For

work with your machine it could be am an old Speccy user and would Spectrum cannot realistically com¬ instance - lives per credit difficulty

that you have a faulty disk drive. appreciate some good games. pete with 16 bit machines in terms levels, bonus adders, player his¬

Check that out first. Please don't repeat the specifi¬ of either serious software or games tograms, hi-score resets, etc.
cations of either machine, give me (although the 128K version of Star- Many small arcades get
your opinion of which would most glider comes mighty close!), howev¬ greedy, and make the game very
Gulliver's Travails suit my needs. er, I do maintain that, amongst its 8 pricey and as hard as it will go. Two

I would like to express my views bit rivals, the Spectrum compares examples of this; a 720 Degrees
about type-in listings. I think that A Churchill quite favourably due to its good machine that gives you no tickets at

they are very entertaining and I vio¬ London sound processing (the same chip as the start of the game, and a ridicu¬

lently disagree with your point of the ST excluding the obsolete 48K lously hard After Burner that makes

view, for two simple reasons. Firstly, There's plenty of the serious soft¬ Spectrums), fast graphics capability it almost impossible to dodge the

it generally doesn't take more than ware you mention for both ST and (C64 games crawl along in compari¬ enemy missiles.

two hours to type in a BASIC prog Amiga; whichever one you get, you son)^ user base and software Should the makers not be

of respectable length. Secondly, should find something that will suit availability you rightly state is 'sec¬ stopped from making games this

many of them are not as amazingly you. If you are going to do lots of ond to none' and last but not least, hard? I would like to know what

sub-standard as you seem to think. spreadsheeting and databasing, the low cost of the machine itself other readers think.

Recently I spent 1.75 hours typing you may want to spend some and its peripherals and software (I
in a listing for my Spectrum and was money on a hard disk. Your only picked up all of the software pack¬ Craig Freeman
too rather surprised for words at the real problem, as far as we can see, ages I mention above for under a Worcester
quality. It was approaching that of a is deciding which machine will get fiver each - and the synth for a ten¬
professional game of a year or two more support on the games front. ner). We too would like to hear from
back. It also only took 3.5 'precious' At the moment the Atari ST has Sure, I'd love an Amiga or ST, other readers who know of this sort
and 'valuable' pages in quite large has more , but that is not to say but after breaking the bank to pur¬ of thing going on. And we'll look in
print. that the Amiga will not catch up in chase one and then being charged to it ourselves.
I would also like to make one 88. But we haven't really got a around £25 a shot for software, I
more point; how many people apart clearer idea than you at the certainly couldn't afford to own a
from you have written against list¬ moment... software library a tenth of the size I
ings? currently enjoy.
So please don't write the Spec¬
Angus Gulliver Desperate Dell trum off as a games-only machine (I
Letchworth I am writing on behalf of my 13 year suspect the rather juvenile content
old son, Dell, who is desperate to of some Spectrum mags has some¬
Since we don't have listings, and obtain the computer game Jour¬ thing to do with this idea).
we've repeatedly said that we won't ney's End for his Sinclair Spectrum. Remember it was originally
be having them, who on earth is We have tried endless stores designed as a serious
going to go to the trouble of writing but to no avail. Please could you machine and being such a
a letter asking us not to run them? inform us on how to obtain it. supreme all-rounder, still
Eh? Yours is only the the fourth or represents an ideal choice
fifth letter we've had asking for list¬ Mrs A D Hill for those of us who like to
ings to be introduced. Telford combine business and
3.5 pages strikes me as rather pleasure and aren't made
a lot; as does 1.75 hours of typing First of all., try getting in touch with of money.
the program in. I repeat; we will not the publishers, Mastertronic (01-
be printing program listings. 377 6880). If they no longer pro¬ Grant Punchard
duce it and have no old stocks, try Aldershot
putting a small ad for the game in
Is this a problem? our PinkPages; somebody out You have a fair point,
Congratulations on an interesting there is bound to have one. Grant, and you've made it
and appealing magazine. As most, I very forcefully; lots of peo¬
too find it gives a good insight into ple have 'made do' with
home computers and software. But I Taken to task Spectrums for serious pur¬
didn't write into praise your maga¬ I feel I must take you to task over poses. But making do is
zine with accolades, I have what I your article in the 'Pink Pages' stat¬ what it's all about; if you
consider to be a big dilemma. I have ing that the Spectrum is a 'games were going out now to buy
£500 or thereabouts to spend on a machine and should be bought only a new micro, bearing in

20 Advanced Computer Entertainment

All the thrills and skills of real skateboarding in this unique challenge to become
champion of the skating world. Starting out from 'Skate City' test your abilities amongst
the numerous skateparks, improving your techniques both in freestyle and competitive
action as you attempt to complct.
“720° is theepitl
every element of a
« finest hour. t.

111
Bil Spectrum
fans of the arcade
should have this p*ay
£8’99 Tape
CBM64/12B Games Machine Amstrad
£11-99 Dish £14-99 dish
£9m99 Tape Screen shots from Arcade version. £9-99 Tape

aanaaa
ARCADE

Andy Smith
cranks his
engine up to
Top Speed
with the help of
a little Nitrous
Oxide, then
knocks off a
couple of
dinosaurs in
Time Soldier. TOP SPEED On a dirt track headed into the mountains. Pick the wrong lane at the junction and you could add a lot of miles to your journey.

• TOP SPEED a total of five stages, each within a crippling and the ever changing roadways scroll
time limit. toward him. Besides having to stay on the
Taito
There's also a little extra in the shape of a road and avoid crashing into roadside obsta¬
50p per game Nitrous Oxide switch which is situated on top cles, the player has other road users to con¬
of the gear stick. Activating this switch results tend with, including other family saloons
If you've been burning rubber in Out Run or in the car surging forward at breakneck and some rather large lorries.
Le Mans then put this one on your list. Top speed, wheels smoking and engine whining At a point some way into the stage the
Speed may have a familiar scenario, but it in true Mad Max fashion. Unfortunately the player arrives at a fork in the road and must
delivers it with a dose of massive torque that player is limited to just three bursts of N02 quickly decide which route to take, both
should bring sweat to the brow of even the per stage - this might not be such a bad routes converge again some distance further
most hardened speed freak. thing because should you happen to hit a on but selecting the wrong route can have
The game makes its appearance in the tight bend at 400+ kmh it can prove difficult the player covering unnecessary ground
arcades in two guises; the upright cabinet to retain control of the car. These extra bursts and losing valuable seconds.
model and the sit in cabinet version tested of speed cannot, however, be carried over to The animation and graphics of the game
here. Controls for the car are as you’d expect the next stage. are superb, at the start of the first stage the
from this sort of game: steering wheel, accel¬ Like most other coin-op car driving player is driving through a city complete
erator, brake and gear stick (giving a choice games, the player's view of the action is from with skyscrapers and lamposts, and every
of HI or LO) which together take you through a position behind and slightly above his car section thereafter has different scenery -

TOP SPEED The hydraulic sit-in cabinet. Stand well clear of this TOP SPEED Center lane and the city's in the distance - two cars to TOP SPEED Streaking through the city with the Nitro' bumin'.
because it rocks and rolls like a fairground ride. pass and three bursts of Nitro' left so hit the switch and hang on. Cornering can be tough, and there’s very little room for mistakes.

22 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 ARCADE

don't expect much time to admire it, though.

The sit-in cabinet is a pretty hairy experi¬ FREE SOFTWARE!
ence - every rise and tall of the road is
copied by the rising and falling cabinet and Get those muscles flexing,
each comer will have you lurching to one
side or other. Crashing is an experience to be
get those scores soaring, and
avoided by those with false teeth, unless you get your hands on some red-
want to see them end up in your lap. All in hot software for your machine
all Top Speed is a terrific game and if you
think the theme is a bit old-hat, climb in and absolutely free. Every month
think again... we're awarding juicy prizes
for the best arcade tips
printed in the magazine - last
month it was Will Downing of
Daventry who copped the
crumpet - next month it could
be YOU! Send in your tips,
stating which machine you
own, to: Arcade Tips, ACE,
4 Queen Street, Bath, TIME SOLDIERS That's you in the bottom left, stuck in the Roman
period with your chum in the World Wars age.
TOP SPEED Heading into a tunnel at a fair old rate of knots can
prove damaging to your health - visibility is poor and don’t even
BA11EJ.
think of scraping the sides.

• TIME SOLDIERS of the enemies coloured red that appear fre¬

quently (and are tougher to kill.) These extra
SNK
weapons include a scatter gun that fires in
20p per game
three different forward directions at once and
high-powered lasers. These are activated by
This vertically scrolling shoot-em-up has you pressing the second fire button. Of course the
in charge of an on-screen sprite searching for weapons dont last forever so you have to
his lost buddies, scattered through three time keep shooting the red chappies for the TIME SOLIDIERS Defeat this 'end of level guardian' and one of your
chums will be freed.
periods by the evil Geylen - whoever he, she extras.
or it may be. You'll find yourself in The Primi¬ At the start of the game the player is told
tive Era (complete with dinosaurs and stone- in which time period one of his chums is to
axe-throwing cavemen); The Roman Period be found and is then transported to another
(full of armour-clad legionnaires); and The time zone where he has to survive until he
World Wars (a host of American-looking can find a transportation zone. These trans¬
modem soldiers). portation zones are time machines that look
Control of the character involves first like large broken eggs stood on end, just
twisting a joystick to make your character head your player into it and he's transported
face one of eight possible directions, then to another time, another place, and with any
pushing to move in luck the right spot for locating your chum.
that direction. For Once the player has fought his way
example, if your char¬ through the swarms of attacking nasties he
acter is facing north will be confronted by the end-of-level
and you want him to guardian and in keeping with the theme of
face east you have to the level, the guardian takes the shape of a
twist the stick two dinosaur, a tank or an animal-headed god.
places to the right Destroy the guardian and one of your chums
befire moving. This is will be saved, at which point you're told
a tricky system to get which time period the next chap is in and so
to grips with and can have your hand con¬ on...
torted into some uncomfortable positions. What really makes Time Soldiers so
The fire buttons are located beside the enjoyable is its addictiveness and its atmo¬
joystick and at the start of the game the sphere. That and the constant action make
TIME SOLDIERS The World Wars - Those G.l Joes' have removed
player has only a front-firing gun. Extra for one very playable game that will swol- one of your lives. Serves you right for going for that scatter gun -
weapons can be picked up by shooting one low your lOp's faster than you realise. • you knew it was dangerous, but you took the risk.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 23

 COMPETITION

SUPER
SELECT...
...SUPER Win Arcadia's fabulous
i Super Select machine -
complete with FOUR
stunning games!
No more trips down to the coin-gobbling
coin-ops; in this amazing competition ACE
and Mastertronic are giving you the chance
to become the proud owner of the brand
new, revolutionary Super Select system from
mum

Arcadia.
This is no ordinary arcade machine. With
the Super Select system we're offering you
can take your pick of FOUR superb coin-op
games - and you won't have to cough up a
single, solitary lOp piece.

What You Have To Do

To the right you will find four screen shot sections. Each
one is taken from a different Arcadia Super Select game,
as shown elsewhere on these pages. All you have to do is
The prize match up the section with game it was taken from, write
This is what the lucky winner will receive; a your answers on the cover-card and then send that in to
state-of the-art stand-up Super Select Sys¬
tem, equipped with joysticks and controllers us. So, for example, if you think section A was taken
for one or two player action - and most Super from World Darts, just write World Darts in the space on
Select games allow two players to compete. the card.

24 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 COMPETITION

Super Select hardware

The innovative design Arcadia have come up with means that the Super Select System is able to
store up to 10 games. How on earth, you may well ask, can they do it?
It's simple - when you know how. Super Select is constructed around an Amiga Printed Circuit
Board. Attached to this at a right angle is a 'piggy-back board', with 10 slots for miniature PCBs. The
actual games you can play on a Super Select machine are to be found in here on ROM cartridges,
which is how Super Select manages to provide up to 10 games on the one machine.

Super Select Software

If you think thehardware's pretty astonishing, wait till you see the software. The prize machine comes
complete with four Arcadia corkers, plugged in and ready to go. Each one of them is the sort of thing
that is going to have less fortunate mortals emptying their pockets to play down in the arcades.

WORLD DARTS

PRIZE BLASTA BALL

Even in the distant future - and we're talking 3613
No prizes for guessing what this game's all about;
yes, it's on the oche and aim for double top.
What will surprise you, though, are the superb
graphics.
You play 501 in an international tournament
against a series of increasingly skillful opponents.
Each player has a distinct style of play, and if you
are to make it through to the top levels you'll need
to develop your own.

AD here - competition is alive and well, especially

in Blasta Ball. The object of the game is to score
goals by firing the laser on your spaceship so that
the ball ends up at our opponent's end of the field
- ideally, in the net.
The action is viewed from above the playing
field and is centred on a radar-style showing the
whole of the pitch. There are barriers on both sides

XENON of the pitch, so the ball is alwys in play and the

action is always intense.

A really fast-moving vertically-scrolling shoot-em-

up with wickedly classy graphics as you - the
lone Federation ship in these parts - battle
through the four sectors of 16 zones. You can
switch your craft between a ground vehicle and a
SIDEWINDER
plane, depending on which you think is more Fly your ship in to the bowels of the evil alien
appropritae for destroying the installations and space cruiser 'Star Killer' and destroy it before it
ground-based aliens. Pick up tokens along the destroys the sun. You must negotiate five differ¬
way to add firepower and manoeuvreability to ent levels of 3D maze before reaching Star
your ship. Killer’s command level and getting a chance to
At the start of each stage you will be put an end to the craft that wants to put us all in
stunnned by the digitised graphics and sound as the dark.
your task is announced. At the end of each level
you will be horrified by the enormous guardian Rules
1. The closing date for entries is February 14th 1988.
you must destroy before making any further
2. Employees of Mastertronic Ltd, Future Publishing Ltd., and their families are ineligible for entry.
progress. 3. The winner of the competition shall be the first correct entry drawn at random from among those received prior to the
closing date. No correspondence shall be entered in to.
Xenon is a game that any action-fan would
4. The winner will be notified by post and his or her name published in the April issue of ACE.
spend a lot of lOp pieces trying to beat.

t• .aEj

:JE~r--rrJs| [Link].-ijd JtA

ywj: t T : Hi
. „ Iwtyg jriBr - -
;

Advanced Computer Entertainment 25

 MELBOURNE
HOUSE
AMIGA £19.95 ATARI ST £19.95
8-10 Paul Street, London EC2A 4JH Telephone 01-377 8411 Telefax 01-377 5569
 SPECIAL

ARE THESE
GAMES
ILLEGAL?
BARBARIAN- hack off the
Barbarian
Ooops, he's lost his head again. Excuse me officer, but is
that a spot of 'gross violence'?

head. RENEGADE- kick,

punch and stomp until the
punk's blood flows. DEA TH
WISH-use pistol, pump-
action shotgun and bazooka
to massacre the scum (or the
police, depending on how you
feel). INTERNATIONAL
KARATE - chop and punch
your opponent in to submis¬
sion. GREEN BERET knife -

the fur-hatted foe, or flame¬

thrower them if you can.
We've played them all; but
should we be able to play
them at all? An ACE investi¬
gation reveals that all the
games above may be break¬
ing the law, simply because (a) produced electronically by the use of
they do not carry a certificate
from the British Board of Film
The Video information contained on any disc or mag¬
netic tape, and

Certification - the people who Recordings (b) shown as a moving picture.'

The second term means: 'any disc or
decide whether a film or video
gets an 18,15 or PG classifi¬
Act 1984 magnetic tape containing information by the
use of which the whole or the part of a video
work may be produced.'
cation. So games should have been submitted
for classification all along, just like videos!
Well, not quite. A game is specifically
So what's all the fuss about? The law. In 1983 excluded from the act - unless (and here
and 84 public debate raged about the so- comes the interesting bit)
called 'video nasties', films of a violent or sex¬ to any significant extent, it depicts-
ually explicit nature. It was widely believed (a) human sexual activity or acts of force or
that with the growth in ownership of video gross restraint associated with such activity;
recorders children could be exposed to films (b) mutilation or torture of, or other acts of
which, it was suggested, might have serious gross violence towards, humans or animals;
psychological effects. (c) human genital organs or human urinary
The result was the Video Recordings Act, or excretory functions;
which sought to bring videos under the same or is designed to any significant extent to
kind of control as films. What's it got to do stimulate or encourage anything falling with¬
with games? Well might you ask. in paragraph (a) or, in the case of anything
The act concerns 'video works' and falling within paragraph (b), is designed to
'video recordings'. The first of these is defined any extent to do so.'
Green Beret as: 'any series of visual images (with or with¬ So, pretty clearly, all those games we've
Flame throwers come in real handy some times. out sound) - mentioned on this page should have been

Advanced Computer Entertainment 27

^SPECIAL

So, pretty clearly, all those games we've

mentioned on this page should have been
submitted to the BBFC for certification before
they got on to the shelves of the shops.
THE CERTIFICATORS
Does it all mean that the games compa¬
nies are in for visits from officers of the law? The business of granting certificates to films, was expressed about Gremlin's Death Wish
How many games might get those 18 certifi¬ videos and computer games is carried out by 3.
cate which would cut them off from their the British Board of Film Classification. Every This brings us on to another problem; just
largest audience? And - horror of horrors - time you go to the cinema you see their cer¬ what is 'gross violence'? The Video Record¬
will we now hear calls for censorship of tificate before the film starts. ACE went to see ings Act does not define it, nor does the
games? For a full discussion of these issues the BBFC Secretary, James Ferman and BBFC. It's a matter for the courts', says James
Deputy Director Ken Penry, with a selection Ferman. And, presumably, a matter that
and how they will affect you, read on. •
of recent games we’d video taped. We want¬ producers of a game have to determine for
ed their views on whether the games should themselves before deciding whether they
West Germany have been submitted to the BBFC, and - if ought, or ought not, to submit games to the
they had been submitted - what kind of cer¬ BBFC.
While here in the UK we're only talking The BBFC has only ever been called
tificates they would have got.
about the possibility of certificates and upon to classify three games - all from CRL -
First off was Palace Software's Barbarian,
censorship, in West Germany the whole and they are not really equipped to deal
on the ST. Would the decapitation appal
business has been in full swing for several with a flood of programs. As yet, they do not
them? Far from it; it was merely 'storybook
years. Skyfox, Guadalcanal, Beach Head 2 even have a home computer, let alone the
violence', James Ferman said. But, he
and, most recently, Gunship are just some whole range of popular micros. CRL have
added, it probably should have been submit¬
of the games which have been banned by submitted their games on videotape, with a
ted before release, as one could argue that it
the Bundesprufstelle Fur Jugendge- printout of the text (all have been graphics
contains scenes of 'gross violence'. But it
fahrdende Schriften. adventures). Such a form of scrutiny will do
would probably have received a PG certifi¬
This august body translates in to for adventures, but for an arcade or arcade-
cate, which means that although parents
English as the Federal Office for the Exam¬ adventure it's hard to see how you could
might not wish their children to see it, those
ination of Harmful Publications, set up in easily tape the whole thing. Expert evalua¬
children would not be prevented from buy¬
the 50s to protect German youth from tors would be needed - but they'd have to be
ing the game in a shop. A similar opinion
morally corrupting publications in a vari¬
ety of media. Works likely to corrupt are
defined as 'immoral or brutalising ones or
those which incite violence, crime or racial
hatred or glorify war.' So far it's the war
games which have suffered, in particular,
THE SOFTWARE
those from Microprose - who are now vig¬
orously fighting the ban on Gunship.
The West German situation points out
HOUSES HAVE THEIR
SAY
some of the absurdities which can occur
when censorship bites. Any product which
is put on the list of prohibited publictions
cannot be advertised anywhere and must
not be sold to anyone under 18. It can still
be sold, but only in shops specifically
g|k Palace He goes on to claim that Jack is 'a break¬
designed to exclude youth - which means ijjjjlll Pete Stone of Palace, producers of through' in computer entertainment, bringing
Sex Shops. So if you want to buy a copy of ' Barbarian, is aware now of the Act, hitherto undreamed of 'drama and excite¬
Silent Service or Gunship in West Ger¬ but says that at the time Barbarian was ment' to the consumer. "The better the game',
many, you could find yourself among some released 'it didn't cross our minds. But I hon¬ Chambers maintains,the greater the effect it
interesting reading matter... estly don't feel that Barbarian is a case where has.'
the Act applies.' Pete Stone believes that He also feels that he has bewn the victim
Barbarian is very much in the mould of fan¬ of a backlash from other figures in the soft- Is
tasy, cartoon-style action;' If I strongly felt ware industry, because Jack the Ripper has tl
that Barbarian would incite violence, I 'brought attention to people breaking the t
wouldn't release it. But I don't believe it does.' law.' c
Will he submit games to the BBFC in And what about the fact that the game
future? 'If it became may not have needed a certificate after all? c
the accepted thing...' 'I'm not a solicitor', says Clement Chambers. ti
r
CRL jgg| Activision v
Clement Clare Hirsch says that Activision is s
Chambers S aware of the implications of the t]
of CRL is the man at VRA but that company policy is to avoid c
the centre of the games of a particularly gruesome nature. s
storm. He vigorously She'd 'hate to think we'd have to submit a
denies allegations game like Rampage. It's so mindless.' Com- E
that Jack the Ripper puter images, she feels, are so much less c
was submitted to the realistic than videos that the same proce- €
BBFC merely as a dures should not apply. ti
publicity stunt. She goes on to make the point - voiced c
Indeed, in his by many other people, software houses \
The Helicopter Sj defence, he takes the high moral ground; ‘we included - that a game 'attracts a teenage c
were concerned that certain categories of auidence as soon as you say it's not for them.' c
people should be protected,' he says. If there She also points to the practical problems
hadn't been any procedure to get a certifi¬ for software houses in getting certificates in a t
cate we'd have toned it down significantly.' fast-moving market where it's essential to get r

28 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SPECIAL

a game out as quickly as possible after its 'We're in the business of home computing -
completion. and that means for Mom and Dad and the What now?
kids.' None of the software houses we
Jj§f| US Gold He reckons that the nature of computer spoke to seemed ready to take the plunge
US Gold are another company graphics - including 16-bit software - is such and start submiting games to the BBFC for
^88^" who've felt the censor's lash in that violence in games is not a real problem; classification. As long as they genuinely
West Germany. Their latest game to fall foul 'Until we have really good CDI the graphics believe that their products do not contain
of the Bundespruf..- are lacking.' 'gross violence' or any of the other factors the
.etc. is Express He would, though,like to see the software act mentions then they have a very strong
Raider, a coin-op houses get together to discuss the issues; 'I case for not submitting programs.
conversion. would love', he says,'to see a participatory So is anyone else likely to take steps to
Tim Chaney, body here to discuss not only the problems of bring computer entertainment under closer
US Gold's Opera¬ the industry but new oppportunities for scrutiny? At the moment, it's hard to see who
tions Manager, growth.' would do so. The BBFC is unlikely to take any
believes the ban to direct action; as their Deputy Director Ken
be ridiculous, and x tSl Microprose Penry says; 'It's not our job to police the act.'
the company are ...o 1 Wild Bill's outfit have suffered more But it is possible that at some stage the
fighting the case in than most in the German wars; police or an individual could bring a private
Germany at the they've had several war simulation programs prosecution against a particular company, or
moment. banned. On the question of submiting games retailer. It only needs one such case for com¬
As far as our very own VRA is concerned for classification over here, Marketing man¬ puter games to be brought under the spot¬
Chaney says that he Vasn't aware it cov¬ ager Colin Bastable says; 'We certainly light of adverse publicity.
ered computer games'. While US Gold, he wouldn't submit a game just to get the pub¬ As the technology of computer entertain¬
says, 'have had plenty of violent games', he licity.' Microprose games, he believes, do not ment progresses, the chances of this happen¬
doesn't believe that the kind of violence they really fall within the terms of the VRA. ing must increase; while 8-bit and even 16-
contain is anything more than Tom and bit micros may not quite have the graphics
Jerry cartoon-style stuff. US Gold, he suggest, power to tmly shock us, CD-ROM and trans¬
is unlikely to start submitting games for clas¬ puters certainly will.
sification unless everybody else does. By then the software producers ought at
least have met to discuss the issues, their
Electronic Arts responsibilities and their response. If they
The US giants haven't been estab¬ have not, then computer games could be at
lished too long in the UK, but the mercy of any crusader who wishes to get
they're well aware of the law; not least a bit of cheap publicity by 'exposing the
because they are CRL's distributors. computer game nasties'. •
Mark Lewis, EA's boss on this side of the
Atlantic, doesn't think the VRA will affect the Jack the Ripper - why it
company's own software games; 'I can't
imagine EA producing such titles', he says.
doesn't need a
certificate
Irony of ironies - it seems that the game

VIOLENT GAMES -
that's caused all the fuss, CRL's Jack the
Ripper, doesn't need a certificate after all.
The game is a an adventure, with graphics.
The pictures - which caused the problems

VIOLENT PEOPLE? - are all still. Now,dhe Video Recordings

Act defines a 'video work' as: 'any series
of visual images (with or without sound)-
(a) produced electronically by the use
Is there any persuasive evidence to suggest of information contained on magnetic disc
reflexes, they demand a 'judgemental
that the games you play can influence your response' (you have to make decisions), you or tape, and
behaviour? Could you become a raving psy- need to work out a pattern, make maps etc. (b) shown as a moving picture.'
copath through playing Hack-em-Up 2? Clearly, a still illustration is not a 'mov
Whatever violence is going on in a game is
Relax - it seems unlikely that you're in only a part of the whole process of playing it. ing picture'. Similarly, while the game’s
any great danger. Martin Barker, Senior Lec¬ There may even be a sense in which text may well be a series of visual images,
turer in Communications at Bristol Polytech¬ it obviously isn't shown as 'a moving pic¬
computer violence serves a useful purpose.
nic, has made a study over a number of ture.' Which all seems to point to Jack the
Games, says Martin Barker, often serve as a
years on the media, their effect on the con¬ retreat from the pressures which surround us; Ripper not needing the certificate after all,
sumer and the issues of censorship. He thinks and the whole furore being a storm in a
parents, education, work. Violence in a
that there is no conclusive evidence to prove game can sometimes act as a harmless way
a link between the entertainment we con¬ of hitting back at the things that are bother¬
sume and our subsequent behaviour. ing us and can help to release tensions and
Most of the laboratory research done on frustrations.
the effects of, for example, TV on children Finally, one of the central points of Mar¬
assumes, he says, that we are 'passive recipi¬ tin Barker's views is that violence in games
ents' - that we just sit there and take the stuff (or any other form of entertainment) must be
in uncritically. But it seems that the quite the seen only as a part of the wider whole - soci¬
opposite may be the case; even when ety, culture, call it what you will. If we are to
watching the telly we can be 'active users', make a fuss about Barbarian or Internation¬
commenting on the action and even, when al Karate, then we need to look as well at
alone, talking back at the screen. the TV news, TV programs, cartoons, news¬
The same goes for computer games, but papers, advertisements....and that's a much
to a much greater extent. By their very larger matter.
nature, games are interactive; they test your

Advanced Computer Entertainment 29

 !E8R Hi

Ocean House,
6 Central St.,
Manchester,
M2 5NS.
 graphics'

GRAPHICS
So, you want to brush up The software
When it comes to slapping those gobs of
different package. A shame the same look'
could not have been kept to ensure ease of
your pixel power? With pixel around on the old electronic canvas upgrading.
the sophistication of several recent arrivals Assuming that its facilities are the mini¬
the arrival of sophisticat¬ on the domestic computer graphic scene mum norm to demonstrate the more
ed art software for nearly has shown up the rest of the software market advanced techniques of 'paintbox' style on¬
as woefully inadequate, especially for 8 bit screen painting, we will use AAS on an
all 8 and 16 bit machines machines. Amstrad CPC to produce most of the 8-bit
The whole point of using an electronic
it seems like a good time medium as opposed to dirty old paint and
pictures for this series. Each tool will be
examined in turn to see what it is capable of,
for us to provide a guide pencils, paper and canvas is to make
easy use of the wide range of tools of
to advanced computer manipulation that a modern micro can
paintbox technique. provide.
These make up for the inadequacies
Over the next few- of most computer images (low resolu¬
tion, few available colours) by provid¬
months some of the ing the ability to transform the screen in
secrets of achieving pro¬ unique ways. So far the easiest avail¬
able means of doing this is with an
fessional-quality pictures Amiga and Deluxe Paint II or Digipaint -
on a whole range of described in our last issue.
On lesser machines than the Amiga,
machines will be revealed Rcrinbird's Advanced Art Studio seems
best to fit the bill. That is not to say that
by our resident dauber other programs on some micros cannol TEXTURE GRID
Brian Larkman. do part of what AAS can do; just thal The full range of textures that the CPC version of Advanced Art Studio
provides, using just four colours.
AAS can do more, and more easily, on
most machines. It provides what should now how you can best use it and, in some cases,
be seen as a de facto standard or base-line how it might be improved. Wherever possi¬
for graphics packages. ble the equivalent tool in Deluxe Paint II will
Nevertheless, AAS is by no means per¬ also be described for comparison, and if a
fect on any machines. Although they would particular machine has some unique ability
be slower than continental drift on an 8-bitter relative to that tool it will also be covered.
there is no reason for not including more
sophisticated manipulation routines within Textured fills and dithering
the program. Who would not give a limb to And this week we shall examine textured fills
be able to rotate an object by just a few and dithering- the latter being my favourite
degrees on some occasion, or bend it, or give occupation. On these pages are several pic¬
it perspective? Most software writers seem to tures of a spacecraft, one drawn in 4 colour
think that speed is essential but, as the long mode 1 on CPC, another using 16 colours in
BLUE SPACECRAFT render times required by ray tracing show, DPaint on an Amiga, (though it could as eas¬
Sphere - dither-filled circle. Canopy - simple white ellipse with high¬ sometimes it's worth the wait! The ST version ily have been done on an ST) and the other
lights sprayed on. Interior - shape defined by canopy/brush and of AAS does provide some of these more a ray traced 4000 colour picture from Sculpt
filled with solid colour. Ribbed body shell - simple brush. The shape
complex tools working at a reasonable speed 3D definitely on an Amiga. What's interesting
of one rib dragged repeatedly to a focus before sphere was pasted,
then ribs each placed carefully adjacent. Planet - large dither filled plus all the usual facilities, but it seems so about them is the way that the curved sur¬
circle. Spacecraft fumes - painted on with Smoothing selected. very different to the 8 bit versions as to be a faces are rendered in each picture. The two

Advanced Computer Entertainment 31

GRAPHICS

that concern us most are those using only 4 shown in the illustration of the Texture Grid.
or 16 colours. Other versions have a similar range. These
Normally the first thing to consider in can all be used to fill an area of the screen or
drawing a picture is structure - the way the they can be sprayed, painted or drawn on
parts of an object hang together and fit in using any drawing tool in conjunction with
with any other sunounding objects. (We Wash Texture. On the right of the grid is a
shall delve more deeply into structure next column of larger boxes showing the range of
month). But in this case the structure is rela¬ shades that are available from ONE of the
tively simple; it is the light that is most inter¬ textures by swapping the foreground and
esting. background colours. All of the 'pseudo-
To give the effect of three dimensional colours' shown can be used on screen at
space in a picture the position of the light
source and the amount of logic that you use
in shading the surfaces is vital. The four
Optical mix
colour CPC drawing uses the least amount of Althogh the human eye is an astonishingly
shading. More could have been used to sensitive organ the brain has the ability to be
model the surface but with so few colours selective about the way it interprets what it
this would tend to be messy and complicate sees, especially when viewing a fine grid of SPACE
the image. Initially the sphere relies on two dots. Provided the dots are small enough the Mode 1 (4 colour). Made in parts (windows) and later assembled.
simple tricks to make it look spherical - eye can mix two adjacent colours into a third. Body - short cylinder dragged along curved path with multiple
path with multiple repeat. Superimposed three times. Sphere -
curved lines on the surface and a spot of This is called optical mixing.
filled circle with sprayed highlight. Shadows - sprayed on as Wash
specular reflection in the right place. Texture.

once as only four 'real' colours are used, with then converted to the defined texture by
Specular reflections the extra hues produced by 'optical mixing'. selecting Wash Texture. All colours show
You will find it very useful if you produce through the transparent bits but the darker
Everything we can see is visible because of
a similar grid to help in the selection of tex¬ grid overlay gives the impression of shadow.
the light reflected from it into our eyes. It is a
tures as the range is so large - and can be This technique is extremely effective and can
particular colour because the surface absorbs
greatly enlarged because the textures are save lots of time. It works best if the picture
the wavelengths of light of that colour. If the
user-definable and can be saved. When background is without detail and the same
surface is dull then we will see the object in a
using the ST version of AAS this screen grid colour as the shadows, in the case of the CPC
range of tones of that colour. If it is reflective
could be kept immediately available as a picture above, black.
we will see the surrrounding world including
separate screen in memory. Amazingly, Deluxe Paint II does not
the light source reflected - usually with a lot
In some ways the most versatile use of have a wash textures facility, the only seri¬
of distortion - but tinted in its colour. If the
textures is as 'spray-on shadows' with Wash ous omission in the program. But a similar
object is to some degree shiny the surround¬
Textures. By defining the background colour effect can be obtained by defining a fill pat¬
ings are not usually reflected but the light
of a texture as transparent and the fore¬ tern in alternative background and shadow
source is. This reflection is called specular
ground colour as the shadow colour, any areas with any colour, filling with the
reflection or highlight. Adding the highlights is
area that you wish to be in shadow regard¬ defined texture, picking up the textured
the most important final touch you can give to
less of its colour can be sprayed over and area, freeing the background and pasting
a drawing to make it look realistic. They need
to be carefully observed. The shading that
has been used is in the form of actual shad¬
ows positioned to show that the sphere has
bulk that is getting in the way of the light. To
position this (and the highlights) correctly it is
necessary to decide exactly where the light
source is. In deep space there is usually only
one major source, making lighting much
simpler (which is why this subject was chosen
to illustrate light and shading).

When a reasonable number of colours

are available - say 16 - it is possible to select
those that will give the effect of modelling or
'roundness' to an object. Darker shades are
placed away from the highlight, lighter
shades close to it, the edges of each colour
blended cosily together using a technique
called dithering. The blue spacecraft picture
demonstrates this form of shading perfectly.
Some 16 bit software allows automatic
dithered fills - the range of colours used is
changed progressively along each line of
the fin.
The CPC is capable of manual dithering
in 10-res mode using the spray. So in theory
are the Spectrum and C64, but attribute
problems make this difficult in all but the
simplest pictures. It is here that Art Studio
comes to our rescue with Wash Texture.
YELLOW SPACECRAFT
Each section was made separately and later assembled. An angle of approx 45 degrees was chosen to minimise aliasing problems. Cylindrical
Washing your textures body - short elliptical section with white edge and a few white spots to give bands. Dragged at 45 degrees and dither-filled. Reduced to make
The full range of textures that the CPC ver¬ central stem. Fuel Spheres - dither filled circles. How the craft was assembled: Most distant two spheres...central [Link] close
sion of AAS provides using just four colours is sphere...rear body...shading...nearest sphere...front body.

32 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 GRAPHICS

the texture. It's a bit elaborate, but it works -

as can be seen in the Yellow Spacecraft pic¬
ture.

Colours
Such a strategy is only necessary when the
number of colours available is limited. With
16 or 32 chosen from a range of 512 or 4096
more realistic shading and surace modelling
can be achieved with careful choice of
colour and dithering. The most sophisticated
software even lets the artist spray on the
shadows by calculating the next darker
shade available for each pixel in the shad¬
owed area.
With Digipaint using 4000 colours on
screen this can result in some very realistic
effects. Similar results are produced from ray-
traced pictures. Examine the shading and
colour modelling of curved surfaces in the
picture 'Blue Moon'. This degree of smooth¬
ness is not possible in any other way; it prob¬
ably represents the ultimate in surface mod¬
elling on a current home computer - a suit¬
able image to leave you contemplating the
next month. In true Masters of the Universe
fashion the moral this month is:-
"...if you are going to get up to shady prac- BLUEMOON
ties make sure you wash textures". • Ray Traced Sculpt 3D Picture.

ARTWORKS
It's here at last! The section you've all HAND
Steve Hall, London
been waiting for, where you can dis¬ Drawn freehand on the C64 using Artist 64.

play to the rest of the graphics world

the work you've created.
Artworks will appear in every sec¬
ond or third issues of ACE - provided,
of course, that you keep on sending
the pictures in. Please try to give a few
details about how you did them, as CARTOON
well as any tips you might have for Ronnie Tucker
This version of a cartoon by ACE's own Steve
Spicer was drawn on the ST using Neochrome.
other readers. The address to write to
is:
Artworks
ACE
4, Queen Street
Bath
BA1 1E J
Advanced Computer Entertainment 33
FEATURE

HUMPHREY BOGART
Patrick Kerr, Lanarkshire
The great movie actor makes a return appear¬
ance on the ST.

DRAGONSLAYER
David Hardy, Nottingham
Drawn on the Amiga, using Deluxe Paint. Not bad
at all for someone who's only had the computer
for a month.

SPACEMAN
Steve Hall, London
Another of Steve's detailed pics, produced once again with Artist 64 on the C64.

Frank Tout, Torquay

Produced on an Amiga using Deluxe Paint. Single items were created, picked up with brushes, saved and then overlayed.

34 Advanced Computer Entertainment

Stealth Fighter... the hottesttopic of conversation in aviation PROJECT: STEALTH FIGHTER. Another brillant simulation
circles today. Space Age technology and engineering make from MicroProse. Available for the Commodore 64/128K.
these aircraft virtually undetectable by enemy radar. Cassette £14.95. Disk £19.95.
Stealth Fighters are believed to be in operation, flying the
most sensitive missions,flown by a superior class of pilot. You
can experience that thrill of flying a revolutionary aircraft,
previewing the edge of the future.
- SIMULATION •
PROSE
SOFTWARE

Please send-copy/ies of Project: Stealth Fighter CBM 64/128 □ Cassette £14.95 □ Disk £19.95 □ Further details.
Name (block capitals)_Address_
----Post Code_
I enclose £-including 55p P+P. Cheques payable to MicroProse Software Ltd.
or debit my Access/Visa card. Expiry date_No.

MicroProse Ltd., 2 Market Place,Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8DA. [Link]: (0666) [Link]: 43422 MPS/UKG.
 A WORTHY LAS1
CCESSOR TO THE EVER POPUl
MATCH DAY FOOT BA
A GAME WHICH HAS
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Written once again by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond this NEW Match Day is
result of all the customer feedback and advice on how to create the pinnacle in computer s<
Pit yourself against the CPU or with 2 players - full league or cup competition with unique code - save facilit
Jump, head, volley and kick (using the kick meter) to move the bail from player to player with automatic
tteadball set ups and goalkeeper control.
DIAMOND DEFLECTION SYSTEM™ ensures realistic ball
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If you want the very best in foot¬
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Ocean Software Limited Ocean House • 6 Central Street • Manchester • M2 5NS ■ Telephone 061 832 6633 • Telex 669977 Oceans
 SCREEN TEST

SCREEN TEST
Road racing games have SCREEN TEST
gone in to overdrive this INDEX

month; we give the head-to- Gold

38 OUT RUN US
Electric
39 SUPER HANG ON

head judgement on Out Run and Dreams

Activision
40 FIRETRAP

Super Hang On. In a slightly Virgin

41 DAN DARE 2
imagine
41 PSYCHO SOLDIER
different vein, EA want to Konami
42 SALAMANDER
Firebird
42 FLYING SHARK

take you for a Test Drive in Activision

44 RAMPAGE
Go!
45 RAMPARTS

some very upmarket motors.. Gremlin

48 COSMIC CAUSEWAY
Mirrorsoft
49 TETRIS

Old favourites have been Firebird

51 STAR TREK
52 GARY LINEKER S SUPERSTAR

jazzed up; SSH check out bounc¬ Gremlin

SOCCER
Ocean
53 MATCH DAY 2

ing balls^^SSin Gremlin's Leisure Genius

56 DIPLOMACY
Electronic Arts
58 TEST DRIVE •

Cosmic <q| Causeway and Domark

60 STAR WARS
Ocean
61 COMBAT SCHOOL

Ocean'[Link] Day 2. Argus

62 HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER
62 MICROLEAGUE WRESTLING

Most surprising 900+ programs Microprose Ocean63 GRYZOR

of this month are the board game grames Info-

65 CHAMONIX CHALLENGE

Diplomacy and the Mirrorsoft puz¬ 65

65
Mastertronic
CHOPPER X
Ariolasoft
WESTERN GAMES

zler |n| Tetris (first Russian game 65

66
Microdeal
INSANITY FIGHT
Top Ten
FRANTIC FREDDIE

that |BRI we've ever seen - keep CRL

66
66
Activision
GALACTIC GAMES
JET BOY
'em !■! coming Ivan). Go!
66
67
BAD CATS
VERSION UPDATES

And, of course, the arcades.

Some good conversions this month, including
Konami's Salamander,^tass^M Firebird's Flying Shark,
Ocean's Gryzor and BB|||1 Combat School.
Most long-awaited |K|iM game award goes to
Star Trek; yes, it HH really has beamed
down _this time. Also interesting is
Microleague Wrestling, with nifty
digitised pics of the monstrous
grappler Hulk Hogan.
Eat your heart out, Big Daddy.
Advanced Computer Entertainment 37
SCREEN TEST

long-awaited games go, the software- You have to drive a bright red Ferrari and navigation.
buying world really has been holding from a start to one of five finishing lines, cor¬ This latter is possibly the coin-op's
its breath over this one. Did US Gold seriously nering at high speed and dodging other strongest point: the junctions just before each
intend to shoehorn such an enormous, mind- vehicles you come across. You drive against time checkpoint let you choose not only
snappingly fast game into a bunch of home the clock, with time bonuses along the way which finishing line to go for but also the
micros? More to the point, could they do it? to extend your game. Run the clock down to route you want to take there. This surely is
Not so much clearing the first hurdle as zero, by driving too slow or wasting time the heart of the Out Run experience. C64
limbo-dancing under it, 8-bit versions of the recovering from crashes, and it's game over. race strategy fans will be disappointed to
game just squeaked onto the market in time That's all standard-ish coin-op racing learn then that their version has no naviga¬
tion in it at all. You must choose one of five
possible routes (compared to the coin-op's six-

RELEASE BOX
C64/128 £9.99cs, £11.99dk OUT NOW
SPEC £8.99cs IMMINENT
ATARI ST £19.99dk IMMINENT
Pedal to the metal with US GOLD. AMS £9.99cs, £14.99dk IMMINENT

Tipcr °* alwaYs hitting top speed and

IIKCls stiu not going fast enough? So
were Sega apparently, because they fitted
the Hang-On bike with a turbocharger for
just such moments. The result was the rip¬
roaring coin-op that ED'S new transworld
road-racer is based on.
Starting in Africa you aim to race
around the globe, taking in Asia, America
and finally Europe in a desperate bid to
beat the clock. Bonus time at the end of
each section - there are 48 of these in all -
helps keep you going, but the odds are
stacked against you.
As with C64 Out Run, this is not one
game but several. Each of the four conti¬
nents loads separately, and even on
Stage One - Coconut Beach - is common to all routes, so you'll soon know its curves inside out. Amstrad disk you'll have to switch the
machine off to move on to the next one. In
for Xmas. The only finished version available game stuff, but a number of features lift the
for review at time of going to press was for [Link] Run into a class of its own. On
the C64, but US Gold were confident of get¬ the graphic side, large (and frighteningly
Amstrad Version
ting Spectrum and Amstrad versions into solid) pieces of roadside scenery hurtle past
Astonishingly the game actually lost colour on its
Santa's grotto too. very convincingly: hit these and your car
way over from the Spectrum, leaving the screen
If you were at the PCW show this year, will go tumbling end over end in one of the
drab and largely monochrome. The sound too has
bought a copy of ACE issue 2 or just took a game world's all time great crash sequences. travelled badly. A poor conversion indeed that
look in the arcades recently you'll already If gameplay is more your cup of tea you'll does nobody any credit.
know what Out Run is all about, but for any¬ find the coin-op's got bags of that too, what
body who's still in the dark here's a quick with cornering - take it slow and lose time
rundown. accelerating, or grit your teeth and steer - GRAPHICS 5 IQ FACTOR 2
AUDIO 1 FUN FACTOR 8

ACE RATING 672

Sega Beavers
Superficially these two coin-op licenses have a great deal in common, both in the Sega originals
they're based on and in the compromises made during conversion. If anything these games are more
PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
similar to each other than the originals were, what with the C64's memory problems killing off the
100
route choices that made Out Run so popular in the arcades. 90
Oddly enough, the main problems the two games have aren't those that most pundits foresaw.
While the crash sequences in Out Run haven't turned out to be terribly impressive, the large roadside
features and highway traffic are surprisingly fast and the impression of speed is good.
Equally, the notorious colour problems of the Spectrum have done relatively little to spoil the look
of Super Hang-On. True, the turbo glow is nothing to write home about, but the lack of painful colour
clash is a delight and again the sensation of speed comes across well. (The Amstrad on the other
hand, a far more colourful machine, is given as drab a game display as the Spectrum ever had to put
1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year
up with.)
Ironically, both games suffer from gameplay problems which could put you off more than a little. Better graphics on the Spectrum give it the edge on
Super Hang-On's initial difficulty is infuriating, but as so often happens the frustration goes hand in day one, but both versions suffer from excess difficulty
hand with addiction. Out Run has its difficulty problems too of course, but verging on the insultingly in the long term.
easy as it does it’ll have a rather harder job pulling through.

38 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEST

your overall time, so what with the absence

C64 Version of any really sharp comers there's no real
A good impression of speed and some excitingly need to risk crashing even on sections you
chunky roadside features may be fine technical aren't familiar with. This is all the more
achievements, but they can't paper over gaping
remarkable seeing as the C64 version has
cracks in the gameplay. Without junctions, tight
neither the wide stretches of carriageway
corners, roadsigns or realistic acceleration it's
hard to call this Out Run at all.
nor the roadsigns of the coin-op.
Instead your main problem is weaving
through traffic, but even here there's relative¬
GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 2
ly little challenge. The sheer volume of traffic
AUDIO 8 FUN FACTOR 6 lmin 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year
is absurd - finding your way completely O
ACE RATING 610 blocked is not uncommon - but since all Surprising good looks will grab you at first, but the
vehicle patterns are fixed and leamable game's too easy to hold your attention.
you'll soon be avoiding any collisions it's
teen) at load time, and it your fancy turns to actually possible to avoid. Mastering any
a different route after half an hour you'll one of the five courses is a matter of hours houses and dodgy bridgework to one side -
have to turn off and reload from scratch. rather than days under the circumstances, it lacks the playability and challenge you're
That's not the only major departure from and that's not good enough. entitled to expect. As a game in its own right
the coin-op: the balance of gameplay is The ball may still be in the air on the it's just too easy getting through the stages to
completely different too. The C64 Ferrari has Spectrum and Amstrad, but the C64 version hold your interest for any length of time, so
such phenomenal acceleration that brief is definitely disappointing. Though superfi¬ US Gold lose both ways.
periods of braking have very little effect on cially not too far off the coin-op - Play School • Andy Wilton

SUPER HANG-ON
Get a grip on ELECTRIC DREAMS.
theory the continents are graded in order diehards) which engages that all important abort facility - and a few well-chosen exple¬
with Africa the easiest and Europe the hard¬ turbo - provided you're going fast enough, tives - more than a game ought to require.
est, but in practice this is only halfway the that is. You can press for all you're worth, but • Andy Wilton
case. the turbo wont kick in until you're up to
You start each continent with 50 seconds 280kph. When it finally does fire up however,
on the clock and get another 30 seconds things really start getting interesting. The
bonus at the end of each section. You'll rarely extra 40-50kph the turbo gives you is essen¬
make a 'profit' on a section by completing it tial if you're to stay on schedule, but it makes
in under 30 seconds, so your time will tend to it substantially harder staying on the road
get worn down as you progress across a con¬ and dodging other riders.
tinent. Thus, in a sense, the 18-section Euro¬ Keeping your tyres on the tarmac is pret¬
pean route is much harder to complete than ty important - hitting roadside obstacles costs
Africa (6 sections) or Asia (10). The opening you precious seconds - but dodging other rid¬
sections of the African run are at least as ers is absolutely vital. Collisions can cut your
speed in half, and that'll lose you a good deal
more than that turbo assist. Unlike Out Run, Amstrad: A drab-looking Asia, with some nasty curves to
you see, the opposition come from behind as handle early on.
well as appearing in the distance. Once you
fall below the average speed of the pack RELEASE BOX
you're liable to be rammed by bikers trying to
overtake you. C64/128 £9,99cs, £14.99dk IMMINENT
It's a vicious circle: lose speed and you
may never get back again, being rammed SPEC £9.99cs OUT NOW
faster than you can steer or accelerate. Ram¬ AMS £9.99cs, £14.99dk OUT NOW
ming can just keep cutting you back to a ATARI ST To be announced SPRING’88
crawl, but it can also block you from getting
the line you need round a curve or mn you
off the road entirely. If you suffer from blood
Spectrum: Blazing across America, you'll have to weave through the
pack. The course indicator (top left) shows your progress along the pressure problems, the colossal frustration
involved here will do you no good at all. It's
Spectrum Version
course, with the line-breaks marking check-points.
not just the crass unfairness of it all - no mat¬ Great impression of speed, well-animated riders
and good colour with remarkably little clash.
hard as anything in Europe or America how¬ ter who rams who, you're the only one who
Sound effects are on the weak side, but overall
ever, and the first leg on the Asian route is loses speed - but the extreme difficulty of
it's solid stuff on the presentation front.
nothing short of diabolical. The moral is avoiding collision as well. Without a rear
unclear, but don't feel obliged to follow the view mirror, you've just got to guess where GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 2
'obvious' order. riders will appear from. Get it wrong once AUDIO 4 FUN FACTOR 8
As well as the usual steering, throttle and and it could put you out of the race. Addic¬
brake you have a key (fire button for joystick tive stuff to be sure, but you’ll be using the ACE RATING 752

Advanced Computer Entertainment 39

FEATURE

SpectrumVersion

FIRETRAP The scrolling is jerky and the screen isn't very colour¬
ful, though the colours do change for each building.
It's tough to play , and you may feel a bit cheated
when you get hit by an object coming out of a win¬

Douse flames with ELECTRIC dow. More luck than brainwork is needed and the
addiction wears off pretty soon.

DREAMS GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR

Cl DC ^ test left to the experts, you can proceed to the next building irre¬ AUDIO 4 FUN FACTOR
I IKE especially when there are five tower spective of how many others you've saved
ACE RATING 647
blocks ablaze. Still, all the experts are on the way. As is usual with burning build¬
exhausted so it's up to you to save the day. ings, the rescue operation is hampered by
You start the game on the bottom comer falling televisions, tables, bottles of poison -
of the first tower block and have to reach the
PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
top of the building within a time limit. Fires

RELEASE BOX
C64/128 £9.99cs, £12.99dk IMMINENT
SPEC £9.99cs, OUT NOW
AMS £9.99cs, £14.99dk IMMINENT

break out from the windows constantly and

you have to use your water cannon
You're facing death every second here, so perhaps you should peared off screen or has hit something. It's
(strapped to your back) to extinguish them.
seek shelter under those flagpoles. not the most compelling of coin-op conver¬
The trapped people (and dogs) need saving
sions and all but the hardened addicts will
as well and this is achieved by reaching
whatever window they happen to be hang¬ the usual sort of thing, and contact with any soon tire of this.
ing out of. They then parachute to safety item (Including the fires) results in you losing • Andy Smith
and you can go rescue the next victim. one of your five lives.
But playing saviour for everyone is a FireTrap suffers in the playability stakes
secondary consideration, for at the top of the in that once you’ve fired your cannon your
buiding is a special lady. Rescue her and man cant move until the shot has disap¬

RELEASE BOX

MASK 2 C64/128
SPEC
AMS
£9.99cs, £14.99dk
£7.99cs
£9.99cs, £14.99dk
IMMINENT
OUT NOW
IMMINENT
More Venom from GREMLIN IMMINENT
MSX £7.99cs,
q/\| || ispq Hill, the home of do-gooders
DVJULUEK M.A.S.K. is the starting point
for another attack against do-badders
contact with water. Switching between vehi¬
V.E.N.O.M. That Vicious, Evil, Network Of
cles is easily achieved at the press of a key,
Mayhem have upset everybody by kidnap¬
and is necessary in order to complete the
ping the president and it's down to you to
three different missions in the game.
save him.
If you're a fan of the toys, or you enjoyed
The game is played over a right-to-left
the first MASK game, then you will find
scrolling terrain (full of flying, crawling,
MASKII just as much fun.
swimming and driving VENOM agents) with
the player controlling one of three MASK
• Andy Smith
vehicles. Initially the player has to make his
choice of vehicle from a selection of five pos-

PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE

sibles. Each one has peculiar characteristics

which have to be considered before selec¬
The CPC graphics are slightly superior, as is the gameplay, but tion e.g. Thunderhawk (car) can transform
here's a lot of fun to be had from both versiions. into an airborne attack craft at will, whereas Amstrad version - That’s you in Rhino - just what you need for
Gator turns into a high speed power boat on smashing through boulders.

4G Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEsV®

DAN DARE II
Can VIRGIN do it again?
DC AT Scott' The Mekon's up to
wKCnl his old tricks again. He's poised RELEASE BOX
to unleash his dreaded Supertreens on Earth
in this new Gang of Five epic, with only the C64/128 £9.95cs, £12.95dk IMMINENT
Pilot of the Future to' stop his fiendish SPEC £7.95cs, £14.95dk OUT NOW
schemes. Can you don Dan's spacesuit and
AMS £8.95cs, £14.95dk OUT NOW
save the day?
On each of the game's four side-on view level before the countdown reaches zero,
levels, your mission as Dan is to kill the and you'll survive for another round of
Supertreens by wrecking their life-support capsules. It's a tall order, quite aside from the tougher exploration and wrecking: take too
amount of jetbike-assisted exploration each long and it's game over.
level calls for. The main enemy is time: as But there's plenty to stop you: forcefields
soon as you start blasting Supertree's you block your path, airborne Treens blast away
trigger a destmct sequence which will blow at you and tunnels suck you off course (possi¬
the entire level apart. Blast all the remaining bly to your doom). Gun turrets, giant
capsules and reach the airlock to the next garbage compactors and conveyors also
cause problems. Most hazards sap your
stamina level - when this reaches zero your
dead - but things like compactors lose you
one of your six lives straight off.
Sick of being Mr Nice Guy? Want a
tougher challenge? Then play the Mekon
instead1 Dan's already triggered the destmct
sequence, the idea goes, so you've got no
time for exploration or mistakes. Dash round,
switch all the Supertreen capsules on and
then get in that airlock before the level
blows. Manage that and the next level's
timer starts immediately, so you really have
to know your way round.
Spectrum: Get too close to that tunnel mouth and you’ll be sucked- • Andy Wilton
down into the garbage compactor below. Nasty!

PSYCHO SOLDIER
Athena again? IMAGINE!
m A \/iii^s escaped the clutches of the levels are infested with demons, contact with
mAVIIMv7 Dark Overlord, Athena once whom costs Athena one of her four lives.
more plays lead sprite in this sequel to Imag- At the base of the screen is displayed an
ine's game of the same name. Again it's a energy bar and red icons showing how
many bombs she has left. The energy bar
relates to the strength of the bombs and at monster that has to be destroyed by a combi¬
Spectrum Version
various places throughout the levels extra nation of bombs and laser fire - if you lose a
This 128K program (multi-load in 48K mode) has
bombs and energy can be gained by life, you also lose any bombs and energy
well-animated colourful graphics but these can¬
destroying large bricks. These bricks also you picked up on the way, making life diffi¬
not gloss over the tediousness of the game. It's
no fun to play and has few if any addictive quali¬
hide some unpleasant icons that drain ener¬ cult if you happen to come up against the
ties. The frequent death problem that marred gy on contact, so you have to be careful to monster with only your laser.
Athena has been solved, true, but only by creat¬ avoid these. Make it to the end of the level Psycho Soldier may have been an addic¬
ing a game with minimum action. and you'll find a building guarded by a tive and playable coin-op, but as a comput¬
er game it soon becomes tedious and boring
GRAPHICS 7 IQ FACTOR 3 to play.
AUDIO 4 FUN FACTOR 3 • Andy Smith
ACE RATING 505
RELEASE BOX
licensed coin-op conversion which sees the
player controlling Athena as she battles C64/128 £8.95cs, £12.95dk IMMINENT
through six levels of scrolling platform shoot- AMS £8.95cs, £14.95dk IMMINENT
em-up.
Armed with a front-firing gun and four
SPEC 48k £7.95cs OUT NOW
bombs that float around her, Athena must SPEC+3 £14.95dk IMMINENT
make it to the end of each level's 30 screens
that continually scroll from right to left. The

Advanced Computer Entertainment 41

■■screen test

SpectrumVersion

FLYING SHARK
Is it a FIREBIRD? No, it's a bi-plane...
With so much ground detail it can be a little diffi¬
cult to see the enemies bullets - sometimes
you're left wondering what hit you. Sound is limit¬
ed to spot effects (naff) and the odd tune (good)
but that doesn't detract from the games sheer
playability.

D! Ot AMCC are not exactly state-of-the-

tSrrlANO art aerial fighting RELEASE BOX GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 4
machines and certainly not the obvious AUDIO 6 FUN FACTOR 8
C64/128 £8.95cs, £12.95dk IMMINENT
choice for combat against the overwhelming ACE RATING 893
odds found in Firebird's second coin-op con¬ SPEC £7.95cs OUT NOW
version Flying Shark. AMS £8.95cs,£14.95dk DEC/JAN 88
It's a vertically scrolling shoot-em up in Take some elements from Moonstrike,
which you must fly your trusty if ancient bi¬ throw in a bit of 1942, add a pinch of Light-
plane through five levels of continual bom¬ force and you'll have some idea of Flying
bardment from other aeroplanes as well as must destroy these before they reach the top Shark - incredibly frustrating, playable and
tanks and boats. Every so often some beefier of the screen, otherwise they go into 'berserk¬ addictive. # Andy Smith
opponents will loom up behind you and you er' mode and really give you what-for.
The enemy attack in waves and as
you're only armed with a front firing gun,
their sheer numbers can prove overwhelm¬
ing. Never give up hope though because
extra firepower is available if you manage to PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
shoot a wave of aeroplanes and catch the
resulting flashing square. Manage this twice
and your firepower is increased threefold
making your job slightly easier. You also
have three smart bombs (initially) but you
have to go easy on these if you want to sur¬
vive to the end of the level. >.
Alternatively, at the end of a wave, you
Tally-ho! Biggies never had it this tough - but then Biggies never may be lucky enough to grab an extra thou¬
starred in a Firebird coin-op conversion. You're half-way through sand points, or even a bonus life to add to Playability with teeth!
the second level, over-flying an aircraft carrier, which has plenty of
death-dealing hardware to welcome you with. the three you start off with.

to help you on your way.

SALAMANDER
The first re-start position is well into the
game and until you've mastered the first few
obstacles, you'll find being sent back to the
beginning extremely frustrating. If you like
your shoot-em-ups tough, you'll not be disap¬
KONAMI'S flying lizard pointed with Salamander, it's very easy to
pick up and play and incredibly difficult to
thought Salamander was one master. The Konami coin-op conversion
of those high class arcade team have proved the sceptics wrong won¬
o o
games that could never be converted to an <0
o
SALAMAfit )l-R ■
derfully.
8 bit micro and retain any of the gameplay • Andy Smith
and addiction of the coin-op classic. Were
they right?
Far from it - Salamander has made the RELEASE BOX
transition and has survived admirably. In ” r—
case you've missed out, this horizontally C64/128 £8.95cs,£14.95dk JAN 88
scrolling shoot-em up has the player flying a SPEC £7.95cs OUT NOW
space ship through a series of alien tunnels,
5 KONAMi ... S ' AMS £8.95cs, £14.95dk DEC 87
trying to survive bombardment from both
ground-based and flying installations. Huge
tentacles burst from the ceilings and floors of Salamander. You've picked up two 'multiples’ which should
increase your chances of hitting those tentacles in the right place.
PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
SpectrumVersion the tunnels and try to grab your ship - these
have to be shot in the right place to destroy
Though the tunnel walls are well drawn and
colourful the installations etc are all in them.
monochrome. Sound effects are O.K. but nothing The almost obligatory extra weapons are
to write home about. The game’s playability and available to the player who manages to
addictive qualities will keep you coming back for a shoot a wave of the flying aliens and these
long time to come. weapons include the legendary Multiples -
egg shaped structures that follow your craft
GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 4 and fire when you fire, effectively increasing 1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year

AUDIO 6 FUN FACTOR 8 and spreading your firepower. You get three An addictive game that's no pushover - should keep the most
lives to do the business , and if you're lucky expert arcade player going for quite some time.
ACE RATING 881 you might pick up a few missiles and lasers

42 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 ffl fl VflST, EXPflMDIMO UfflVaCffi THE
QlflIXEHGE IS SURVIVAL [Link]

^ *4CiAet«PVI!„,»4et'?0 “

Mbs *?/£./f **//&/ m^m/AJJjmM /

y/z/t/fi’M. r^n fM-KErmAH ■r y-|H
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if ii
SCREEN TEST

RAMPAGE
C64 Version
The monsters are well animated and colourful,
and the buildings have plenty of detail. The title
music and sound effects are also slick and attrac¬
tive. Initially control can be tricky and it's quite
difficult to survive for long when playing a one
player game. A classy conversion.

ACTIVISION'S smash-grab-n-guzzler GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 2

AUDIO 7 FUN FACTOR 9

and grab raids take on a of chewy sweets, Chuck, you are in fact one
ACE RATING 887
whole new meaning when of the monsters, having a whale of a time
you're a fifty-foot lizard, smashing up cities beating seven colours of mbble out of any same. You climb up the sides of the buildings
and grabbing people or anything else edi¬ building, vehicle or human you can find. and knock big holes in them until they
ble. If you think lizards are only good as All three artificially preserved, coloured collapse. While you're up there you can
handbags you can be a wild and hairy and flavoured beasts can be under player punch all around you, making a mess of
gorilla or an equally wild and hairy wolf- control, making this the first simultaneous everything nearby. You need to jump off
man. three player arcade game on a home micro. buildings before they collpase, otherwise
These monster creations from Japanese If less than three play the computer takes you'll do yourself harm when it falls.
B-movies are in fact mild mannered humans control of the other monsters, but is less than The authorities - who aren't going to
who have had one too many E additives helpful. stand by and watch you party - send heli¬
and decided to end civilisation as we know There are 150 different city screens to go copters, tanks, cars and snipers to mess up
it. Far from trying to stop them with a packet rampaging through. In each the task is the your fun. They can all inflict damage but are

RELEASE BOX
C64/128 £9.99cs, £12.99dk OUT NOW
SPEC £9.99cs IMMINENT
AMS £9.99cs, £14.99dk IMMINENT
ATARI ST £14.99dk IMMINENT

George the gorilla Lizzie the lizard Ralph the wolfman

revealing food and other items as you punch

holes in them.
The additional hazards are less interest¬
ing and much more lethal, comprising witch¬
es who fly across the screen and a couple of

Amstrad Version
The graphics are much better than the 64 ver¬

Knights on the tiles from GO! sion, brighter and more colourful. The gameplay
is virtually the same except that you can’t even
punch upwards. Amstrad owners are best
advised to wait and see how Rampage works
of the arcade game with their own copy.
COINCIDENCE ° Here you can control two knights as they
out.

name and content to Rampage. It is of lay waste to towers and castles. The basic
course Go's attempt to cash in on the success idea is exactly the same as Rampage, but GRAPHICS 7 IQ FACTOR 2
the game has been AUDIO 4 FUN FACTOR 5
implemented different¬ ACE RATING 579
ly in some places.
For a start you can
only have a maximum C64 Version
of two players and if The graphics aren't very good and much of the
you only play with time look muddy. The collapsing of the towers is
one the computer does also shoddy. The music and the sound effect are
not control a second average. Control is the major problem - it's diffi¬
player. cult to climb the castles because you have to be
Climbing up the exactly aligned. There are few features to interest
you and the process of dropping towers soon
castles is more awk¬
becomes very boring, even with two players.
ward on this version
and you have less
moves that can be per¬ GRAPHICS 5 IQ FACTOR 2
formed. The buildings AUDIO 5 FUN FACTOR 5
are knocked down in
the same manner,
ACE RATING 567

44 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEST

no match for a fifty-foot, raging, junk-food

addict. You can take them all out with a
punch in the right direction. The most satisfy
ing are the snipers who appear in windows
and make a tasty, if chewy, snack.
Food also appears in windows to repair
damage suffered, but be careful not to eat
objects like cacti and TV sets which do noth¬
ing to help your indigestion. Conserving
energy is most important, and difficult too
when the other monsters can also try to
punch your lights out.
Building bashing is immensely enjoy¬
able, particularly when you can have three
players going at it at the same time. It lacks
variety in the long run, but it's heaven sent
for anybody who wants to play the bad guy
and indulge in mayhem and demolition on
a grand scale.
• Bob Wade

PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE

(C64) doing the monster mash with a city that's at your mercy

Page vs Parts 1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month

Tremendous three-player fun gets you hooked, but

1 year

In direct comparison there's only one winner between these two arcade clones. finally lacks variety.

RAMPAGE RAMPARTS
It has simultaneous three player action. ✓ * You can only have two players at a time.
It has all the punches and controls, ✓ * You can't do backhanders or, on the
including backhanders. [Link] punch up.
You can fight the other players if you want to. ✓ K You can't fight the other player. characters who travel along the bottom of
There are vehicles going by to crush. ✓ K You only get two guys who can be the screen.
crushed but decrease your energy. In every department the game is inferior
There are 150 different screens to destroy. ✓ * There are less than 100 levels. to Rampage. This is all the more ironic when
you realise that this time last year the tables
were reversed with US Gold having Gauntlet,
an excellent arcade conversion, copied by
Electric Dreams with a game called Dandy,
which was inferior.
• Bob Wade

RELEASE BOX
C64/128 £9.99cs, £11.99dk OUT NOW
SPEC £8.99cs IMMINENT
AMS £9.99cs, £14.99dk OUT NOW

Control problems and lack of gameplay features make

this distinctly inferior.
(C64) No cranes for this demolition job, just two loco knights

Advanced Computer Entertainment 45

O

PLAY WIN
Mirrorsoft - personal computer software -

State of Mind. Our policy is to publish high quality

programmes across a wide range of computers and

for a wide range of interests and applications.

We've got what it takes - Cinemaware. Mirrorsoft.

Mindscape. Three-Sixty. FTL Games - Can you take what

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DARK CASTLE

resh
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the Black Knight ... Computer
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the best arcade game on any
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.. 8 bit

MEAN STREAK

ast moving... all out arcade

action for ... one or two
players... and meet the perils
of the Battletrack headon... and
unleash your Mean Streak!!!...
C64, Spectrum ...

A C
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For free mail order catalogue please write to us at
address below
The publishers reserve the right to alter the prices and specification!
without notice. Please check prices and availability before orderinc
Mirrorsoft Limited
Athene House, 66-73 Shoe Lane, London EC4P 4AB
Telephone: 01 -377 4645 Fax: 01 -353 0565

Tolox: 9312100112
 STATE OF MIND

DEFENDER OF THE CROWN

efender of the Crown... has

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Computer and Video Games
... Amiga, PC, ST - C64... New
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of those games...any
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Weekly... PC, ST, Amiga...
SCREEN TEST

RELEASE BOX
C64/128 £9.99cs, £14.99dk OUT NOW
No other versions planned

C64 Version
The scrolling courses are excellent, zipping by at
high speed. The graphics have been improved
from the original and have sprites thrown in for
the obstacles and dragons. This makes it look
terrific and gives a real impression of speed. The
music too is pleasant and drives along well. The
controls are responsive and well thought out, to
make the gameplay a joy.

GRAPHICS 9 IQ FACTOR 5
AUDIO 7 FUN FACTOR 9

ACE RATING 900

PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE

1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year

It has speed, addiction, great graphics, and lots of variety.

Takes the original concept to new heights.

whole stream of objects heading straight at

you. These throw you off course if they hit

COSMIC you. Some can be shot just by moving

straight ahead, but others are indestructible
and you need sharp reflexes to avoid them.
Walls can also stop you in your tracks
unless you whizz through the doorways. If all

CAUSEWAY*
that weren't enough there are the dragons,
which are a cross between something from
Space Harrier and a caterpillar in a Monty
Python cartoon. These take multiple shots to
kill and have the unmitigated nerve to shoot
back.
On each stage there is a white disk
High-speed balls from GREMLIN which gives you between one and three
credits when run into. Credits can be used to
m kimn a trail is the aim ol the game, buy one of eight bonuses, lasting for one
DL/\fc>lliw because this is Trailblazer H It stage only. Fairly cheap skills are: score mul¬
takes you into ever more abstract and dan¬ tiplied by three, rolling on the ceiling, deacti¬
gerous landscapes in its quest tor speed and vating control disrupting squares and deacti¬
vating backward squares. The more expen¬
addictive gameplay,
You're in control of a big bouncing ball, sive ones can give you turbo speed, a shield,
viewed from behind as the landscape scrolls allow you to roll over holes and even slow
towards you. In the original it was just a 'belt' the timer to half speed.
of land, but now it's the whole screen width. The credits add an extra dimension to
The original also had a split-screen display the action. Once you start surviving the first
tor two-player action and that too has been few stages you can concentrate on credits to
get you even further into the game. Most lev¬
dispensed with.
The landscape is broken into 24 stages, els can be 'bottled', until the crunch comes
making up six sections. Each stage has to be when you meet the dragon. Here you need
completed within a time limit and at the end
Purple squares bounce you backwards down the course while cyan all the time you can get.
squares reverse the controls to contuse you. The action is extremely fast, bewildering
of every section there's' a climactic battle
downs, abyss, control reverse and bounce at first. Once you start to know the routes it is
with a flying dragon.
The routes are made up of eight different backwards. They aren't in particularly tortu¬ incredibly addictive and easy to play. It's
coloured blocks, each of which has a differ¬ ous layouts, but that's just as well. less technically demanding than Trailblazer
ent effect on the ball. Most of the squares will What occupies most of your time is deal¬ but much more fun and with tremendous
be familiar from Trailblazer and include: safe ing with the new hazards that are thrown in. variety.
squares, bounce squares, speed-ups, slow- On some levels you will suddenly find a # Bob Wade

48 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEST
ACE

might be okay tor us

956
TETRIS
western types, but
when the Russians really want to stretch
their brains they reach straight tor the tetro-
minoes. These handy little things - flat
shapes made up by joining tour squares
together - may not sound terribly exciting,
but as the basis ot this trighteningly addic¬ Can MIRRORSOFT pack them in?
tive little game they stand a tair chance ot
taking your brain over completely.
As you'll probably have gathered, we're Rotation in particular becomes very difficult mostly because it speeds up as your score
talking about abstract stutf here - and the higher up the screen and calls tor a great increases. There's a pause mode accessed
geometry isn't about to let up. The playing deal ot dexterity, so arcade skills are needed trom the joystick that will save your neck
area is a tall, narrow rectangle into which as well as brain power. many a time, but you'll still find the speed
those tetrominoes tall. Your job is to steer The game's not just a damage limitation forces errors in positioning after a while.
them down, rotating them as necessary, so exercise - hard work can open pockets up, Combine this with the number of awkward
that they pack together as tightly as possi¬ letting you clear the layout back down to shapes you have to keep stacking space for,
ble. Fit the shapes together so snugly that ground level - but the player is really only and you have a horribly gripping game you
you form a solid row across trom left to right ever delaying the inevitable. The game will wont be able to get out ot your head.
and that row will disappear, the shapes always beat you partially because it can • Andy Wilton
above tailing down into the space this carry on throwing shapes at you all day, but
makes.
Filling rows up and getting rid ot them
like this is essential, because the shapes keep RELEASE BOX
on coming. As soon as you get one sately in
place the next one appears at the top ot C64/128 £8.99cs, £12.99dk IMMINENT
screen, and the whole time that you're mov¬ AMS £8.99cs, £12.99dk IMMINENT
ing it sideways (left or right on joystick) or
SPEC £8.99cs, £12.99dk IMMINENT
rotating it (tire button turns it clockwise a
quarter turn) it carries on drifting down. It the ST £19.99dk IMMINENT
heap ot shapes reaches the top ot the screen AMIGA £19.99dk IMMINENT
it's game over, so woe betide you it a shape
comes to rest before you've got it into posi¬ IBM PC £19.99dk IMMINENT
tion!
It might sound like you could keep this
up indefinitely, but that's reckoning without
the deep-down nastiness of the game. Often
the shape you have to deal with simply
wont pack neatly into the layout you've got,
forming either an air pocket or at best an
overhang. As you trap empty space in this
way you make it impossible to form lines
lower down the layout, and raise the overall
level ot the heap.
As the pile ot shapes approaches the top
ot the screen you start to get knock-on prob¬
lems. Because shapes have a shorter dis¬
tance to tall before they come to rest, you've
got less time to move them into position.

C64 Version
Great music and bright graphics make this very
attractive stuff, though it's the kind of brilliantly sim¬
ple idea that'll work well on almost any machine.

GRAPHICS 7 IQ FACTOR 10
AUDIO 9 FUN FACTOR 8

ACE RATING 956

PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE

Might not look like much, but it's as addictive as they come
once you start playing.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 49

THE ACTION IS SIMULATED
THE EXCITEMENT IS REAL!
MicroProse Ltd., 2 Market Place, Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8DA. UK. Tel: (0666) 54326. Tlx: 43422 MPS/UKG.
 SCREEN TEST

five-year mission coming up, with

the Enterprise battling to rid the Interstellar navigation made easy
galaxy of a new telepathic weapon. Times Want to seek out new forms of life? Then follow these four simple steps (or five if you want to know where you're going)
are hard: Federation (good guy) starships and you'll soon be motoring.
are defecting to the Klingon (bad guy) side
in their droves under the weapon's influence,
and with the Romulans on the warpath you 1) Bridge: Click on Sulu to get
neednt expect too much help from the neu¬ navigation icons. (The bridge has to be
on the main screen first - there'll be an
trals either.
extra step here otherwise.)
You control Kirk and his crew as they [/
warp from system to system, fending off 2) Mr Sulu: Click on blue circle to get
enemy attack and beaming down to collect Starglobe.

handy items. Landing parties will win or lose

the game for you - all the possible Klingon-
thwarting strategies depend on people or
equipment located on life-supporting planets
- but you'll need to find inhabited systems
first, and they often harbour hostile ships
bent on destroying you. 3) Starglobe: Click on star you want to
The game starts with the Enterprise in go to, and on the 'Set course' box. You
could click on Mr Spock for data on the
deep space, so your first task is to fly to a star
star in question, but we'll just select the
system. Like all game operations, ship navi¬ engine icon and fly blind for now.
gation is controlled by an unusual and not
always helpful icon system: getting to grips
with this is essential.
Along the bottom and right edges of the
main screen are small windows showing dif¬
ferent members of the Enterprise crew. Click
on one of these with the pointer (a Starfleet
50-50.o7
badge controlled using the mouse) and the
iV
75‘7<.J9

RELEASE BOX 5i L Y

jo
ATARI ST £19.95dk OUT NOW P A

C64/128 UNDECIDED EARLY 88 7 H

o Wdf*p X
UNDECIDED 5 o
SPEC EARLY 88 4 ^
SPEC 128k UNDECIDED EARLY 88

4) Engines: Click on the warp factor you

want, and you're on your way!

ST Version
The digitised portraits and sampled sound are

STAR TREK
just the ticket, but the combat and navigation
graphics make poor use of the ST's process¬
ing power. Those icons are annoying even
with a mouse - so what’ll the 8-bit versions be
like?

GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 3
AUDIO 8 FUN FACTOR 4

ACE RATING 764 Are FIREBIRD'S phasers set to stun?

crew member appears enlarged on the matic - and you can end up feeling more safe, well equipped star system as a base
main screen, along with information or icons like a clerk than a starship captain. you can keep going as long as your interest
relating to that his or her duties. The most As for those all important landing parties, lasts: but unless you're a mapping enthusiast
useful people are Spock (data on planets, these really are a disappointment. There is with a low boredom threshold, that probably
systems and ship status), Chekhov (icons no exploration as such - the only directions wont be very long.
controlling Enterprise weaponry) and Sulu you can move in are straight ahead or back • Andy Wilton
(navigation icons). Uhura, Scotty and McCoy to the ship - and no pictures or descriptions of
offer data on incoming messages, engine the planet surface: just messages telling you PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
status and crew health while Kirk is in of objects or obstacles. Actions here are
charge of stores and the transporters. decided by a clumsy form of multiple choice,
Often the icons call up further screens of and these sequences soon become mindless¬
controls rather than affecting things directly. ly repetitive.
The Chekhov icons, for example, call up the If you're a big Star Trek fan you'll be
combat scanner, weapons selection screen bowled over by the graphics and sound as
and targetting computer. Controlling the soon as you see the game, but your awe is
ship is largely a matter of getting the right unlikely to last. As with Defender of the
icons on screen - using them once you've Crown on the Amiga the inspired presenta¬ 1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year

got them involves little skill - and this can tion masks humdrum gameplay, and even Graphics and sound make a good first impression, but the rep¬
get uncommonly tedious. Combat is particu¬ with the unhelpful icons you'll soon find sur¬ etition soon dulls the shine.
larly dull - aiming is almost entirely auto¬ vival and exploration far too easy. With a

Advanced Computer Entertainment 51

SCREEN TEST

has achieved cult sta¬

MATCHDAY tus

MATCHDAY.
- can Matchday 2
improve on what many still consider to be
the definitive football game?
At first glance, the game seems very
similar to its predecessor. The player takes
charge of a six man football team and has
to play matches against either the computer
or a friend in an attempt to win the League
OCEAN make it 2-0
m on a scale from
one to three with
three being the hard¬
est kick. To use this facility
properly, the player has to keep his eye on
the meter to decide when to make the best
shot. Thankfully the meter can be set to shoot
at a set strength throughout the game.
Basic tactics can now also be decided by
the player, though you only have a choice of
attack or defend. One feature removed from
the game is the ability to play a full 45 min¬
utes per half.
C64 version - not the best version on the gameplay front, but The superiority of the Amstrad version is clearly visible. Shame you Gameplay has been improved to allow
colourful and well animated. can't see the game's playability. players to make headers, backheel the ball

C64 Version
Unfortunately, something seems to have been
lost in the translation to the C64 - the game is
not as playable as the other versions, though it is
as colourful as the Amstrad and more so than the
Spectrum versions. It's still a very competent
soccer game and interested C64 owners would
not be disappointed.
GARY LINEKER'S
GREMLIN'S own goal?
GRAPHICS IQ FACTOR
AUDIO FUN FACTOR
are made of this: join a
ACE RATING 838 fourth division team as RELEASE BOX
centre forward and win promotion to the first
division. Not only does Gary Lineker's Super- C64/128 £9.99cs, £14.99dk OUT NOW
Amstrad Version star Soccer give you the chance to partici¬ SPEC £9.99cs OUT NOW
pate in the games but it also allows you to
The graphics are wonderful. The gameplay is AMS £9.99cs, £14.99dk IMMINENT
slow to watch but plenty fast enough when it play manager (and coach) and make all the
comes to playing. All of the new additions make it really- important decisions. Unfortunately ATARI ST £19.99 dk IMMINENT
slightly harder to master than the original but get Gremlin's program is not the stuff of which
the hang of the 'Kickometer' and you'll soon be dreams are made...
bitten by the footballing bug. Thankfully the com¬ There are two basic sections to the
puter's skill level can be raised or lowered to give
During the former you wear the centre for¬
game; on-screen playing ward's shirt and the computer handles the
you a more balanced game.
and the tactical deci¬ rest of the players. The idea is to antici¬
sion making. pate the movements of the rest of the
GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR
AUDIO 6 FUN FACTOR
team and to put yourself in the best
possible attacking position.
ACE RATING 906 Whenever the ball goes out of
play (throw ins, free kicks etc ) the
or the Cup. This is where screen changes and gives the player
the first improvement the chance to make the all-important tacti¬
becomes obvious. Not cal decisions e.g. the player can choose to
only can you play solo Shoot, Pass or Mix. SHOOT means that all the
against the computer but players on your side in a position to kick the
you and a friend can gang ball will have a shot at goal, PASS means
up on it, both playing for the the rest of the players will try and pass the
same side in a desperate ball to the centre forward (you) and MIX
attempt to prove human superi¬ is, as the name suggests, a mixture of
ority. During a solo game you both. There are also defensive deci¬
control the on-screen player who sions to be made including cover (
is in the best position to reach the which is a concerted effort by your
ball and when playing in pairs you team members to regain possession
get a player each. of the ball) and defend which
The second major improvement results in the players staying back
in the game is the addition of the and shoring up the defence.
■Kickometer'. This is a kick strength indi¬ For each match a time com¬
cator which affects the distance of each pressor is included, where the
shot. The Kickometer' ranges, broadly

5 2 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEST1

and barge opposing team members. Anoth¬ space) make for one fine football game and
er improvement is the realism of deflections. RELEASE BOX even if you own the original game, the
In real life the ball's angle of deflection is sequel has enough enhancements to make it
affected not only by its original flight path C64/128 £8.95cs, £12.95dk OUT NOW worthy of purchase.
but also by the movement of whatever the SPEC E7.95cs, £14.95dk OUT NOW • Andy Smith
ball was deflected off; this has now been
taken into account. AMS £8.95cs, £14.95dk OUT NOW
All of the above refinements (and others
too numerous to mention in this limited
PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
Spectrum Version
Despite the lack of colour, the Spectrum version
of the game is every bit as compelling, frustrating
and enjoyable as the other versions. The charac¬
on ters move around the pitch slightly faster on
Dest Spectrum turf than on Amstrad turf, and this
makes for a marginally better game. A minor nig¬
loot
gle is the fact that it is sometimes difficult to spot
your player when there are several others jostling
.by for the ball. Every bit as exciting and as playable
eol as any other version.
The C64 version doesn't quite match the Spectrum or
om
Amstrad versions for playability. But even so. across
nin- GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 5 the board, the game's a winner. Overall it is an
AUDIO 5 FUN FACTOR 8 improvement on its predecessor and is now the best
low The Spectrum version highlighting the colour change option which
doH is very useful if your T.V.'s not quite state of the art.
ACE RATING 881 football action game for micros.

S SUPERSTAR SOCCER
player can speed up the game ( this com¬
pressor varies with the various versions but it
can be set to run crt 10 times normal speed
on all versions). This is jolly handy if you
dont want to sit through the full 45 minutes
per side.
It's not all fun and games on the turf
though; those all-important managerial deci¬
sions have to be made - should you try to
recruit a new player? Should you try and
trade one of your ageing players? Should
you use some of your valuable trade points
at the start of the season in an attempt to
improve the general performance of your
for- team?
the Gary Lineker's Superstar Soccer is a C64 version - graphically superior and a lot better to play. A real Spectrum version - pretty tough to tell who's who in this version of
shame about the awful Americanisms present in the program. the game.
ici- valiant effort to combine two highly popular
the minority interests - the football game simula¬
est tion and the football strategy game. Unfortu¬ C64 Version Spectrum Version
nately all it manages to do is oversimplify Generally a much better game on the C64, The characters are well drawn but poorly animat¬
of both types of game and consequently though it smacks of Americanisms (the C64 ver¬ ed, the play is fast and it's almost impossible to
the leaves the player feeling a little left out of it sion was written by American software house distinguish which is your character from the rest
yer an. Mindscape). For example, if you're playing a cup of the players. There are some terrible glitches in
match and at the end of normal play the match is the game - a game of three halves would you
cti- • Andy Smith a draw, the teams get to play 'overtime' (not extra believe? It's also perfectly legal to pinch the ball
to
time ) and the first team to score during this peri¬ from the opposition just before they kick off and
the
od wins. Generally the play is fast and involving run it into the back of their net for another goal,
the PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE and it's nice to see the players performing over¬ or so it would seem in Gary Lineker’s Superstar
ms head bicycle kicks with surprising accuracy. Soccer.
the Extras are included in the shape of 'off the ball' The strategy side of things is OK as far as it
1IX incidents which add atmosphere to the game. goes and can be quite involving - for a while.
of Since you're playing only one player, however, The player gains 'trade points' depending on his
3Ci- the action palls rapidly. There is a slight improve¬ level of success during the 7 match season and
ment on the strategy side with a couple of extra has to spend them effectively in order to further
T (
options, but even so gameplay soon becomes his club. Unfortunately the interest soon palls
our
tedious and only the most dedicated fans will stay even here because of the limited scope for deci¬
ton
involved for any great length of time. sion-making.
1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year
ich
ick Superior graphics and gameplay make the C64 version GRAPHICS 7 IQ FACTOR 6 GRAPHICS 6 IQ FACTOR 5
an enjoyable game. Poor graphics and gameplay make AUDIO 6 FUN FACTOR 6 AUDIO 4 FUN FACTOR 5
it one to miss on the Spectrum.
ACE RATING 739 ACE RATING 419

Advanced Computer Entertainment 53

 ■^j
d1I4
HliMil i!
ITfii [y i\t]

pEHRSt

1HRUST FUEL

CAMERA 61

00 ATTEMPTS

SPACEWALK TO A CRIPPLED SURVEILLANCE SATELLITE. ZERO GRAVITY AND ARE THEY CRATERS OR BOULDERS BELOW? YOU NEED TO BE COOL TO TAKE
ZERO MARGIN FOR ERROR! MANUAL CONTROL OF THE APOLLO LANDER DURING DESCENT.

THE DETAILED SPEC CHART FOR THE LAMBORGHINI COUNTACH. 173 MPH DRIVE SET ROUTES WITHIN GIVEN TIME LIMITS. LOOK OUT FOR SLOW
AND 0-60 IN JUST 5.2 SECONDS! TRUCKS, OTHER TRAFFIC, MEN AT WORK AND BE CAREFUL TO USE YOUR
RADAR DETECTOR TO LOCATE SPEED TRAPS.

GO OUT AND BUY THEM BOTH. BET YOU WILL

BECAUSE THEY’RE THE BEST AROUND.
 Electronic Arts - available from good software
stockists! Where you’ll see this sign.

IE 1.1C TRONIC ARTS0

AUTHORISED DEALER

AVON Avon Computer Exchange Ltd North Street, Bedminster, Bristol, Avon. 0272 666341.
K & K Weston Super Mare 32 Alfred Street, Weston Super Mare, Avon. 0934 419324.
BEDFORDSHIRE Hobyte Ltd Unit 1G, The Arndale Centre, Luton, Beds. 0582 457195.
Software Plus The Boulevards, Howard Centre, Bedford. 0234 66598.
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Multicoloured Micro Shop, Dundas Street, Redcar, Cleveland. 0642 481660.
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Software Plus 336 Chartwell Square, Victoria Circus, Southend. 0702 610784.
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Software Plus 35 High Street, Gravesend, Kent. 0474 333162
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LANCASHIRE Castle Computers 5 Frances Passage, Lancaster. 0524 61133.
PV Tubes 104 Abbey Street, Accrington, Lancs. 0254 36521.
Sound ‘N’ Vision 11 Silk Street, Leigh, Lancs. 0942 673689.
LEICESTERSHIRE ABC 135 St Leonard^ Road, Leicester. 0533 700190.
Cavendish Commodore Centre 66 London Road, Leicester. 0533 550993.
LINCOLNSHIRE Oaktree Consolidated Guildhall Street, Grantham, Lines. 0476 76994.
LONDON Adamswoiid of Software 779 High Road, North Finchley, London N12.01-446 7170.
G & B Computer Electronics 13 Tottenham Court Road, London W1.01580 3702.
G&B Electronics 230 Tottenham Court Road, London W1.01-636 6500.
Gallery Software 140 Arndale Centre, Wandsworth, London SW18.01-870 4941.
Goel Computer Services, 45 Boston Road, Hanwell, London W7.01-579 6133.
Gultronics 223 Tottenham Court Road, London W1.01-6371619.
Micro Anvika 220A Tottenham Court Road, London W1.01-636 2547.
Micro Anvika 251 Tottenham Court Road, London W1.01-2551966.
Silica Shop Lyon House (First Floor), 227 Tottenham Court Road, London W1.01-580 4839.
Silica Shop Selfridges (1st Floor), Oxford Street, London W1.01-6291234 Ext 3194.
Shekhana Computer Services 221 Tottenham Court Road, London W1.01-6314627.
Software Store Ltd 35 London Road, Tooting, London SW17.01-6851476.
Tricomputer Software 161/169 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W13.01-840 6136.
MERSEYSIDE Bits & Bytes Computers 18 Central Station, Raneleigh St Liverpool. 051-709 4036.
Microsnips 37 Sea View Road, Wallasey, Merseyside. 051-630 3013.

NIC
MIDDLESEX Adamsworld of Software 190C Station Road, Edgeware, Middx. 01-952 0451.
Hayes Computer Centre, 100D Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middx. 01-573 2726
Apollo 18 - a brilliant simulation of Strategic Plus Software P0 Box 8, Hampton, Middx. 01-979 2987.
WEST MIDLANDS Bentley Marketing 51 Snowhill Queensway, Birmingham. 021-2001158.
an actual Apollo moon flight. From Comtazia 204 High Street, Dudley, W Midlands. 0384 239259.
Comtazia Merry Hills Centre, Brierley Hill, W Midlands. 0384 261698.
lift off to splashdown. Take ‘one Greens Pharmaceutical 22 Market Way, Coventry. 0203 520464.
Software City 3 Lichfield Passage, Wolverhampton. 0902 25304.
small step for man, one giant leap Software City Goodall Street, Walsall, W Midlands. 0922 24821.
for mankind! Software Express 514/516 Alum Rock Road, Alum Rock, Birmingham. 021-328 3585.
Software Express 221 Broad Street, Birmingham. 021-643 9100.
Watchdog Home Entertainment Centre 40 Queen Street, Wolverhampton W Midlands. 0902 313600.
Computer Plus, King's Lynn 40 New Conduit Street, Kingts Lynn, Norfolk. 0553 774550.
One Step Beyond 11a Castle Meadow. Norwich, Norfolk. 0603-663796.
NORTH HUMBERSIDE Tomorrows World 15 Paragon Street, Hull, N Humberside. 0482-24887.
-NOTTINGHAM Byteback Newark 6 Mumby Close, Newark, Nottingham. 0636 79097.
MPC Software 72 Julian Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. 0602-820106.
The Computer Shop Unit 250, Victoria Centre, Nottingham. 0602 410633.
SCOTLAND Corneal (Scotland) 11 Bath Street, Glasgow. 041-332 5147.
Comsoft 48 Duke Street, Coldstream, Scotland. 0890-2854 2979.
Megabyte 12 Ettrick Square, Cumbernauld, Scotland. 0236 738398.
STAFFS Castle Computers 47 Bridge Street, Newcastle, Staffs. 0782 619159.
Castle Computers 6 Oak Street, Hanley, Staffs. 0782 575043.
Castle Computers Newcastle Street, Burslem, Stoke on Trent. 0782 575043.
Computer World 42 Market Street, Longton, Stoke on Trent, Staffs. 0782 319144.
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SUFFOLK Computer Magic 45 High Street, Leiston, Saxmundham, Suffolk. 0728-830579.
Computer Magic 24 Crown Street, Ipswich, Suffolk. 0473 214868.
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Microshop Bean Street East, Lowestoft, Suffolk. 0502 517865.
Software Plus 22 St Matthews Street, Ipswich, Suffolk. 0473 54774.
SURREY Games Room In Shops Unit 15, Market Hall, High St, Epsom, Surrey. 03727 44465.
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EAST SUSSEX Computerware 22 St Leonardos Road, Bexhill on Sea, E Sussex. 0424 223340.
Gamer 71 East Street, Brighton, E Sussex. 0273 728681.
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Worthing Computer Centre 7 Warwick Street, Worthing BN1130F. 0903 210861.
YORKSHIRE Microbjrfe 36 County Arcade, Leeds. 0532 450529.
Thoughts and Crosses 33 Market Street, Heckmondwike, W Yorkshire. 0924 402337.
Tomorrows World Paragon Street, Hull, E Yorkshire. 0482 24887.
York Computer Centre 9 Davygate Centre, Davygate, York. 0904 641862.
Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus WALES Cwmbran Computer Centre Vent Road, Cwmbran, Gwent. 06333 60996.
Eagle Business Systems Ltd 48 Charles Street, Cardiff. 0222 390286.
and the Corvette. Test Drive five of Soft Centre The Parade, Cwmbran Town Centre, Cwmbran, Wales. 06333 68131.

the world’s most exotic cars. \rrni \nc

Sound, animation and handling like nuA-ftnuc
the real thing.
UNLEASH THE POWER OF
YOUR IMAGINATION
Electronic Arts software is available on a wide range of home computers including Commodore C64,
Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, IBM, Spectrum and Amstrad. Not all titles are available on every machine
format.
For a full broadsheet describing the complete range or information on your nearest stockist write to:
Electronic Arts, 11-49 Station Rd., Langley, Slough, Berkshire SL3 8YN. Or call our Customer
Services Dept, on 0753 46465.
SCREEN TEST

Which country.-

DIPLOMAC
Break off relations with LEISURE GENIUS
kfi/iai|C treacherous, conniving while in his orders he's still keeping up his flict system means that units are very rarely
UtVIUUO backstabbers of the world, end of the bargain. This gives you at least destroyed in battle. (A defeat normally just
your time has come! That grand old man of one turn to wreak havoc, and that's a long loses you ground - but of course you can
nasty negotiation boardgames has finally time in Diplomacy. only lose so much ground before your supply
made it onto home computers, and interna¬ The game is played on a grand scale, centres start falling.)
tional perfidy has never been so much fun. with each turn equivalent to six months of It’s hard to stress the social side of Diplo¬
It's the first year of the 20th century, and war. The first two turns, Spring and Fall 1901, macy enough - the solid teamwork and
Europe is on the verge of a massive land-sea are normally spent invading small, defense¬ gleeful betrayals that seem to go hand in
war. The seven major powers - Britain, less nations in preparation for the main hand - but there's a biggish mental chal¬
France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Turkey and event, but don't get the idea that this is sim¬ lenge as well, Though the rules are much
Austria-Hungary - are each out to conquer ply a land-rush. Territory is the key to the simpler than in most games, the fact that
the continent. In their struggle for smaller game, but not just any old territory: of the 75 everything happens at once and the
areas on the map, only 34 are directly useful absence of random factors give you an enor¬
to the players. These crucial 'supply centres' mous amount to consider when writing
RELEASE BOX orders. It's engrossing, madly addictive stuff
have the manpower and industrial muscle
C64/128 £12.95cs, £14.95dk FEB 88 you need to maintain your war effort: occu¬ whatever level you play it on: it can even
pying other areas, sea or land, is useful only offer simple fun as a single-player game with
IBM PC £24.95dk REVIEWED as a means of gaining or keeping control of six computer opponents, if you want an easy
No other versions planned centres. victory! ^ Andy Wilton
Military might and control of supply cen¬
tres are directly related: broadly speaking, a
country has as many units as it controls cen¬
nations' (and each other's) territory the seven tres. If your armed forces conquer enemy- PC Version
players will continually make and break controlled centres you can use the gains to With a marvellous scrolling map in CGA cyan and
alliances. There can only be one winner - build new units back home, but if you start magenta, a friendly control system (after a bit of
the victory conditions ensure this - so cynical losing centres to the opposition you'll have to experimenting) and a built-in timer, this version's
attacks on allies are not only permissible but disband units accordingly. This system a joy to use. The computer players may not be
means that there can never be more than 34 the strongest things ever, but they're at least
inevitable.
halfway smart and really spice up three- or four-
Treacherous moves are assisted by the units on the map at any one time, one coun¬
player games a treat.
game's system of command. Players take try's gain being (after the smaller nations
turns at the keyboard entering secret move¬ have fallen) another's loss.
ment orders for each of their armies or fleets, Even with this upper limit on total forces, GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 9
but all units move simultaneously - and only the map can get pretty crowded in places. AUDIO 1 FUN FACTOR 7
once all the orders are in. Thus you might Diplomacy's rules only allow one unit in any ACE RATING 949
order your forces to turn on your (former) ally one map area, and the game's unusual con¬

56 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEST

1 England: With no enemies to the north or west, you'll have

plenty of time to build up your naval power. Your immediate
spheres of interest are Scandinavia and the low countries, but
your fleets could easily take the battle into the Med.
2 Austria-Hungary: Surrounded by enemies, you'll find it tough
going just to hold your ground. Miracles aside, only negotiation
or other people's stupidity can save your skin. A strong England
can take the pressure off you, but there's still Turkey to deal with.
3 Germany: Holland and Denmark make easy pickings early on,
but you may well have problems holding them. If the English
head south that'll take some of the pressure off, but expect a
Baltic war with Russia over who gets Sweden.
4 Italian: You should get Tunis early and might catch a piece of
the Balkans action too, but it's hard work getting any further.
Invading France is risky, but a beleaguered Austria-Hungary
could make a good target.
5 Turkey: A very powerful country. If you get a good slice of the
Balkans early on you can probably push on into Austria-Hungary,
and cripple Russia into the bargain. A Russo-Austrian pact can
be bad news, so you'll probably need a deal with one of the two.

Why computerise?
With many boardgames it's hard to see how
computer versions improve on the card¬
board originals. Very few computer oppo¬
nents are in the same league as average
human players - chess programs are a
notable exception here - and in cases like
Scrabble the computer isn't even playing on
the same terms.
Computer Diplomacy is something of a
special case however. Despite the admitted
weakness of the computer opponents it
offers, the game can make up the numbers
and that's notoriously difficult.
ay Bridge fanatics struggling for a four¬
ast some don't know how easy they've got it.
m Finding a full complement of seven for
)ly
I0«TI
Diplomacy requires phenomenal planning,
especially with games often lasting a day or
lo- two. It's rarely an easy matter finding even
id five or six players, so most casual games
in begin with at least one country in 'civil disor¬
al- Russia: Starting with four supply centres may sound great - everyone else starts on three - but the sheer size of Russia stretches even these der' - a state of chaos where units have no
ch resources dangerously. The Balkans (Inset), and Scandinavia (Main picture) are close at hand, but so are Turkey and England. orders, and will disband if attacked in force.
Ldt If that's the alternative, computer oppo¬
he nents are a godsend. They play a tenacious
or- game in defence, and can put reasonable
attacking strategies together too. They'll
uff even form rudimentary alliances with each
en other where appropriate - on-screen mes¬
ith sages keep you posted on these - though
sy unfortunately there's no attempt at human-
on computer negotiation. Now that would have
been interesting...

PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE

i
f

l France: Spain and Portugal are both yours to start with, and you should get Belgium too. You may have problems with the Italian and English
navies, but on land you should be able to hold your own.
Rope other players in and the tun can last indefinitely.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 5 7

 SCREEN TEST

stage, and manage an average speed of

TEST DRIVE
about 60 mph tor each stage, then you’ll
complete the course and have the chance to
register your score. An average speed of
below 50 or 60 will have the dealer reclaim¬
ing the car because he sees you as an
incompetent driver.
It’s exhilarating stuff, and each car per¬
forms differently - so once you’ve become

■
ACCOLADE torque you in to the familiar with one car, you can try and mas¬
ter another.
driving seat • Andy Smith
in the driving seat of the car looking through
DCIIA KIT Robins ^ not ^ *ounci
KL LI AIM I alongside the Fenaris, the the windscreen. The road has a sheer drop
Porsches and the Lotuses in this latest variant on the left and a solid, steep bank on the
on the ’drive a flash sports car’ theme. right - remember they drive on the right in Amiga Version
Having made rather a lot of money from the States, so you drive with the steering The graphics are generally of a high quality, with
your software company - the scenario goes - wheel on the left. each car's interior being particularly well drawn.
you've decided to splash out and buy your¬ Not only are you trying to keep your car Scrolling is a bit on the poor side though as the
self a car that is in keeping with your new on the road and in the right lane, but you on-coming traffic tends to move rather jerkily.
also have to contend with on-coming traffic, The sound is tremendous with screeches and
found status. So off you've toddled to the
Sunday drivers and the police. The local whining engines throughout. Just sink into the
local dealer (who can smell money a mile
leather and absorb the game's sheer driveability.
off) and he's agreed to let you take any car police are well aware that some people use
out for a test drive. this particular road to test fast cars and so
You've got five cars to choose from: they're always waiting with their radar guns GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 6
Porsche 911, Fenari Testarossa, Lamborghini to trap the unwary speedster (you). Should AUDIO 8 FUN FACTOR 9
Countach, Lotus Turbo Esprit and a Chevy you get caught in a radar speed trap (a
ACE RATING 826
Corvette. When you've made your decision handy device attached to your sun visor
you're placed behind the wheel and have to flashes and emits a beep when it picks up a
drive the car through five stages along a radar signal) you have to decide whether to
winding mountainous road. try and outrun the 'smokies' or pull over and
Your view of the game is as if you were pick up a speeding ticket.
Control of the car involves pushing the
joystick ( or keys) forward to accelerate,
RELEASE BOX back to brake and left-right for lateral move¬
ment. Pressing fire normally changes gear,
C64/128 £9.95cs,£14.95dk DEC/JAN but an optional shift pattern can be enabled
AMIGA £24.95dk OUT NOW and here you have to move the joystick as if
it were the gear stick - care is needed here
ATARI ST £24.95dk DEC/JAN
as slipping into the wrong gear at 140mph
The sense of speed grabs and holds you for some time, but
IBM PC £24.95dk DEC/JAN can have you in an awful lot of trouble. there's a steep fall-off once you’ve mastered the controls and
If you manage to survive each stage become familiar with the course.
without crashing more than four times per

58 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 asm 2 asm csassfti <m yv^-x-r

i coat

START
v'\; - . . , The ultimate experience in
^ motor sports simulation, the absolute
challenge to nerve and reflexes. Feel the wind in "
Mb. your hair and the pull of the G-force as you power your way
along the highways and byeways, a girl by your side, and open
country before you. Experience the exhilaration and excitement of
driving a high performance sports car in this teasing time trial where
your co-ordination and nerve will be tested to unbelievable limits.
Out Run the coin op starred as an arcade sensation. Out Run the
omputer simulation mirrors this exciting all action spectacle.

CBM 64/128 AMSTRAD

CASSETTE £9.99 DISK £11.99 CASSETTE £9.99 DISK £14.99
SPECTRUM ATARI ST
CASSETTE £8.99 fcf 4 .11 11

■i&Mii
The machine becomes a home
I computer reality on December 10th*
SCREEN TEST

1988 released across all major formats it's

STAR WARS
almost insultingly easy to see everything
Star Wars has got to offer. That's not to say
that it's a bad conversion from the cult vector
graphics coin-op - far from it, in fact - but
rather that the original is, to say the least,
past it.
For a start, there are only three stages to
the game. Once you've shot the TIE fighters,
DOMARK force their way in towers and that final duct it's round again for
more of the same. You're meant to keep try¬
ing for ever higher scores - blasting the tops
IMDEDIAI °PPression rears lts ugly got to do is trash some enemy TIE fighters, off all the towers, hitting that duct first time
IMrEKInL head once again and this blast the tops off a whole bunch of towers, fly every time, and above all surviving longer -
time the bad guys have got a battleship the the length of a heavily defended trench at but where's the variety to keep you playing?
size of a planet. Unsurprisingly, the rebels' top speed and hit a tiny duct at the far end. Increasing difficulty levels might have cut
answer is to send you out in a pint-sized Piece of cake, right? the mustard four years ago when the original
tighter to take on the massed forces of bad¬ Well, yes it is actually now you come to hit the arcades, but nowadays you're enti¬
ness (more or less) single-handed. All you've mention it. In fact, for a full-price game in tled to expect a little more.

AETED a very successful run in the

ArlEK arcades, Combat School has
finally made it onto the home micro. The
arcade version of this game was track-ball
controlled but now it's waggle the joystick
time, exchanging bruised hands (from slap¬
ping the ball) for aching wrists as you under¬
go seven gruelling tests of agility, strength
and reflexes,
Combat School can be played by one
or two players who compete simultaneously

The gruelling Iron Man race - avoid the obstacles and waggle for all
you're worth.
C64: Flying down a rather jagged trench, with that exhaust port still some way off.
against either the computer or a friend. The
first stage is an assault course that has you
C64 Version Amstrad Version jumping over walls (of various heights) and
The C64 isn't a great 3D machine by any means Again the obvious comparison is with Star Strike swinging on 'monkey bars' before reaching
so the slow, jagged wire-frame graphics - espe¬ and again Domark's baby loses out. Though bet¬ the finishing line within the time limit. Next
cially on the tower sequences - were only to be ter defined, its graphics look slow and colourless comes the first of three visits to the firing
expected. The sloppy collision detection is harder compared to Real Time's gaudy, oh-so-playable range - targets appear at regular intervals
to excuse, seriously hampering playability. oldie. My, hasn't the games industry come on in
as you control a sight with the joystick and
leaps and bounds.
try to hit as many as possible in the time
GRAPHICS 7 IQ FACTOR 1
allowed. Then it's waggling again for the
AUDIO 5 FUN FACTOR 7
GRAPHICS 6 IQ FACTOR 1 Iron Man race - a timed course full of boul¬
ACE RATING 475 AUDIO 2 FUN FACTOR 7 ders, mines and puddles to trip and slow
your progress.
ACE RATING 440

ST Version RELEASE BOX

Nice soundtrack snippets and goodish graphics SpectrumVersion
make this the most attractive version of the With Real Time's ancient 3D Star Strike for com¬ C64/128 £8.95cs,£12.95dk OUT NOW
game, but it woefully underuses the ST's power. petition, the Speccy version will have to do a bit
With solid 3D games like Carrier Command in the
SPEC £7.95cs IMMINENT
better than this. The absence of sound effects on
offing, wire-frame on the ST is starting to look 48K machines is ludicrous, and the gameplay at AMS £8.95cs,£12.95dk OUT NOW
decidedly tame. best the equal of the three year old Star Strike.

GRAPHICS 6 IQ FACTOR 1 GRAPHICS 6 IQ FACTOR 1

The last two challenges take the form of
AUDIO 5 FUN FACTOR 7 AUDIO 0 FUN FACTOR 7
arm-wrestling (waggle for strength) and a
ACE RATING 475 ACE RATING 438 hand-to-hand fight with your instructor. The

60 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEST

t's It's all very presentable stuff, you under¬ you'll still be playing in a year's time on the
"3 stand-the coin-op's been slavishly copied SHIELD BONE other hand, try looking elsewhere.
ry right down to the wire-frame lettering, and • Andy Wilton
or the ST version even has the original's sam¬
at pled speech - but the biggest selling point
it, must surely be the tie-in itself. If you really
want a game called Star Wars then this has PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
to to be the one for you. If you'd prefer a game 100

rs,
or
Y- RELEASE BOX
ps
le C64/128 £9.95cs, £12.95dk OUT NOW
W
AMS £9.95cs,£14.95dk OUT NOW <£\
??
ut ATARI ST £19.95dk OUT NOW 1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year

.al
SPEC £9.95cs OUT NOW Initial differences aside, all versions are uniformly
Lti-
short on lasting interest.
ST: Hit a tower and it'll roll you over - and lose you shields!

OCEAN wanna be your drill instructor

mission is not against the clock but you'll
Ten - shun !! have to use all of your new found skills in
order to complete it.
Amstrad version - On the first leg and trying to swing across the monkey bars.
Combat School is a very competent
arcade conversion that is tough enough to
make your arms ache and addictive
enough to keep you coming back for the
same punishment time and again.
• Andy Smith

C64 Version
Make the most of the breathers between waggling
bouts by listening to the wonderful music that's
played throughout. The graphics are colourful
and well drawn and animated. Though it's basi¬
cally just an athletic game of the Decathlon
variety, the scenario is different and the simulta¬
neous split screen two player option adds another
dimension, making this one of the more worthy
arcade conversions.

limit - fail this and it's game over, succeed

and it's straight into the next event. GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 5
Survive all seven events (the last event AUDIO 9 FUN FACTOR 8
is a hand-to-hand fight against your instruc¬
ACE RATING 850
tor - who's no push over) and you may be
selected for a special mission to rescue some
hostages from the American Embassy. This PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE

Your first visit to the rifle range. Make sure you hit enough targets
Amstrad Version
or you'll have to suffer the chin-ups. Colourful and extremely playable, just as much
fun on the Amstrad as on the Commodore. The

instructor's very hard to beat but joystick multi-load poses no problems (you'll probably be
glad of the rest) so get in training for a thoroughly
plus fire button give various combinations of
enjoyable game.
kicking, punching, jumping, and dodging to
1 min 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year
help you win out here.
Should you fail to complete an event, GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 5 Both versions have very similar gameplay, though the
you may (if you were very close to comple¬ AUDIO 6 FUN FACTOR 8 multi-load on the Amstrad may see your interest wan¬
tion) get a chance to continue by perform¬ ACE RATING 826 ing slightly before the Commodore version.
ing a set number of chin-ups within a time

Advanced Computer Entertainment 61

SCREEN TEST

HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

Will ARGUS bring on their sub?
#|CT submarine captains do not, as As well as getting to grips with the point¬
wU VILI a rule, defect. You're an excep¬ er system - a tricky business given how unre¬
tion it seems, because you're trying to sail sponsive the controls can be - you'll have to
your boat Red October to the States. It's a decide on a general fight-or-flight strategy.
pity you had to let your comanding officer Attack is risky : raising your periscope or emit¬
know about this really, because now the ting an active sonar pulse will pinpoint your
entire Soviet Northern Fleet are on your trail. target for you, but it may also betray your use in real-time games and this program,
You start the game in Arctic waters east own position. even more than Star Trek shows why
of Iceland, and have to sneak or fight your The traditional silent'n'deep approach they're such a bad idea. Delays as you fum¬
way to the US coast. Using an icon system to has its problems too. Your boat's equipped ble to switch between scopes, sonar and
access the sub's five main systems - sonar, with a special low noise transmission system weapons have no counterpart in real sub¬
periscopes, engines, weapons and map - for just this kind of tactic, but it means mov¬ marine warfare, and don't really add to
and a pointer-driven set of steering and ing very slowly - and of course your pursuers game interest either.
hydroplane controls, you have to navigate are already aware of this top secret mecha¬ • Andy Wilton
over undersea ridges and evade your angry nism.
compatriots. The game task is certainly big enough,
and the playing area comprises the entire PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
Atlantic Ocean, but getting involved in the
Atari ST Version action is hard and often tedious work. Icon
Sound effects are good - especially the cavitation and pointer systems were never meant for
noise of the propellors - and the periscope view's
impressive. There's good use of colour on the
icon-driven front end too, but the pointer control
is unreliable and clumsy at times.
RELEASE BOX
ATARI ST £24.95dk OUT NOW
GRAPHICS 7 IQ FACTOR 7 IBM PC £24.95dk IMMINENT 1 hour 1 day 1 week 1 month 1 year
AUDIO 8 FUN FACTOR 2
AMIGA £24.95dk IMMINENT Interest submerges steadily
ACE RATING 697

MICROLEAGUE WRESTLING Atari ST Version

Great use of digitised graphics, a witty commen¬
tary line and some lovely crunch-thwack sound
effects all go down a treat, but ST drive capacity
MICROLEAGUE twist your arm means you'll have to switch disks to get Hulk v.
Paul 'Mr. Wonderful' Ormdorff.

CTD A D Your k°°ts on and steP in*0 the GRAPHICS 8 IQ FACTOR 1

Ol KAl ring - it's time for some serious
AUDIO 7 FUN FACTOR 9
violence! The official World Wrestling Feder¬
ation computer game is here, and giving ACE RATING 740
people an elbow smash will never be quite
the same again.
The WWF may not be a household
name on this side of the Atlantic, but over in
the States wrestlers like WWF champion Hulk
Hogan have huge cult followings. With its
unusual gameplay and emphasis on pre¬
sentation this new import aims to sweep you
away in a flood of 'Hulkamania1.
After extensive pre-match interviews
and razzamatazz, the contestants enter the PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
arena and the bout begins. Taking the role tised shots from actual wrestling matches.
of either the clean-fighting Hulk himself or When a move succeeds you'll see a rough
one of his more ruthless real-life opponents, movie of the subsequent action, with sam¬
you control your wrestler's strategy over 10, pled sound effects for good measure. It's
20 or a punishing 60 minutes in the ring. pretty brutal stuff in a cartoon violence sort
Your role in the bout consists simply of of way, but great fun too. The computer
picking the next move. There's no co-ordina¬ doesn't put up a tremendous fight and you
tion involved on your part: just choose a may well beat it first time out, but (as in real-
move from the onscreen menu and watch life wrestling) the show's the thing. Press H
the results. Depending on various factors for Hulk to appeal to the crowd! Press S for
either your move or your opponent's will suc¬ Savage to pull a dirty move while the ref
ceed - and then the fun really starts. isn't looking! Who could ask for more? Even Hulkamania wears off eventually.

All action in the game consists of digi¬ • Andy Wilton

62 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEST

rrri |k|/* cold, are we? That's those

I ECU IN w nasty Duns from the planet
Suna of course, altering our weather patterns
to suit their evil ends. It's a simple plan real¬
ly: they bring on another ice age, human
civilisation grinds to a halt and the alien rot¬
ters take over Earth from the comfort of their
jungle HQ. Who can possibly stop them?
You can, of course, but as tough guy
Lance Gryzor you've got a daunting mission OCEAN Lance the aliens
ahead of you. Side-on view screens of multi¬
level blasting action in the jungle are the 'weapons eagles' released when you a series of forced perspective screens viewed
packed with hostile gun turrets and enemy shoot certain static or moving targets, but from behind Lance's back you've got to
marksmen, so you'll have to master the you're back to the boring old start-up gun dodge bullets and leap over barrels to stay
game controls quickly. Leaping up and every time you die. alive, while blasting away at security con¬
down, crouching to shoot and firing directly Blast, leap and run to the end of the jun¬ soles. These control forcefields which block
upwards are simple stuff, but firing in mid gle section and the action moves indoors. In your path: wreck them, the defence systems
leap or blasting diagonally on the run may pack up and you can dash to the next
take a bit more joystick drill. stretch of corridor. Some consoles are so high
Firing at odd angles and dodging hostile up you'll have to leap and shoot simultane¬
bullets are vital skills, what with the strength ously, while others only appear after you've
and nature of the opposition. You'll usually shot preliminary targets.
need to get several hits in on a gun turret to Make it to the end of the corridors section
destroy it, avoiding return fire and android within the time limit - you'll lose a life for
footsoldiers the whole time. Timing and dex¬ every minute you overrun - and you're up
terity count for a lot here, but as you learn against a terrifying challenge: the computer
the game layout you'll find that entering the room. Here you must blast four coloured pan¬
next screen on the right level smooths the els on the computer, knock out six defensive
way a good deal. guns and then deal with a last-ditch defen¬
You'll also learn the position of the sive cannon to wreck that mainframe.
game's many extra weapons caches, and The action continues for another three
these make a phenomenal difference. The sections of jungle platforms, corridors and
laser takes out multi-hit opponents with one computer room but only the very toughest
shot, the scatter gun cleans out nasties with¬ will make significant inroads here. The first
out putting you in danger and the rapid fire computer room is murderously difficult, and
machine gun cuts simplifies shot timing enor¬ an extra life at the end of each section is
mously. All three of these are available from small compensation. There's worse to come,
but it'd take you weeks of effort to see for
yourself just how much worse.
RELEASE BOX There's certainly a task here that's a
match for even the greatest gamesplayers,
C64/128 £8.95cs,£14.95dk IMMINENT but Ocean are treading a fine line here. Later
SPEC £7.95cs, £12.95dk IMMINENT levels are so tough that it's easy to be dis¬
OUT NOW couraged. Enormous leaps in difficulty make
AMS £8.95cs, £14.95dk
Amstrad: the laser's impressive, but on level 1 you'll find the scatter money for coin-ops alright, but they're not
gun more useful. Collect the 'eagle' to arm up! always what the home market needs.
• Andy Wilton

CPC Version
These really are CPC graphics at their very best; the
colours positively glow, and animation is excellent.
Multiload will inevitably annoy 464/664 users some¬
what, but 6128 owners get the whole game loading
at once.

GRAPHICS 10 IQ FACTOR 2
AUDIO 5 FUN FACTOR 8

ACE RATING 771

PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE

Amstrad: there's a force-field in your way on this screen from level 2. Blast the defence system beyond it and you'll clear your path.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 63

SPECTRUM 48 ■ i

X FRANKIE
ate®

Anjd of course it’s courtesy of you

SPECTRUM,
AMSTRAD,
can buy
COMMODORE
CASSETTE
it on
December 1st
s O.K.?
Ocean House• 6 Central Street • Manchester • M2 5NS• Telephone: 061-832 6633 • Telex: 669977
 SCREEN TEST SHORTS

WESTERN GAMES CHAMONIX

MAGIC BYTES go west
MILKING cows and dancing on
stage are odd events for a wag¬
really can't pass tor gameplay
any more - can they?
CHALLENGE
gling game to have at all, but __# Andy Wilton INFOGRAMES climb peaks
when the participants are cow¬
RELEASE BOX
boys rather than athletes you RELEASE BOX
ERIC Escotfier, the world
just know someone's trying to be C64/128 £9.99cs, £12.99dk OUT NOW famous mountaineer, has
ATARI ST £19.95dk OUT NOW
funny. These are the silliest (and AMS £9.99cs, £14.99dk OUT NOW loaned his name to Infograme's
AMS £9.95cs, £14.95dk IMMINENT
toughest) events in this spoof six- latest release. It's a 'waggle the
C64 £9.95cs, £14.95dk IMMINENT
eventer, but with bean-eating joystick to climb the mountain'
and beer-shooting on the list PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE game which requires precise
things don't get much saner. timing and concentration to
The graphics are packed complete your chosen climb
with comic touches and there's (you have a choice of six)
plenty to laugh at first time You have to prepare
through, but the sports parody's your climber properly before
too accurate for the fun to last: you start the ascent however as
strange joystick movement pat¬ he could freeze to death, go
terns and bursts of waggling snowblind or catch sunburn.
Chamonix Challenge has a
novel scenario and some colour¬
ful and well animated graphics
but it has poor gameplay and
unless you're a real fan of the
sport you could well find the fun
wearing off quickly.
• Andy Smith

INSANITY FIGHT CHOPPER X

MICRODEAL scroll vertically Rotoring with MASTERTRONIC
VERTICALLY scrolling shoot- looking and sounds superb. FERG'S the name, flying a what bare, but it's an enjoyable
em-ups are ten a penny on most Moderately addictive and tough Heward XX66 Assault Heli¬ game with a moderate amount
machines, but not on the Amiga enough to keep you going for copter's the game - or so the of addiction.
- especially shoot-em-ups that some while. blurb acompanying the game
are playable as well as pretty. • Andy Smith
• Andy Smith goes.
The player takes charge of It's a vertically scrolling
a spaceship (viewed from
shoot-em-up, viewed from
above) and has to fly over a above, that has the player con¬
down scrolling landscape and trolling a helicopter in an
destroy the various installations. RELEASE BOX
attempt to destroy huge num¬
Insanity Fight wins no prizes AMIGA £24.95dk OUT NOW RELEASE BOX
bers of tanks, boats and gun
for originality but it's very good ATARI
emplacements. Scrolling's poor £9.95dk OUT NOW
and the landscapes are some¬

Advanced Computer Entertainment 65

SCREEN TEST SHORTS

GALACTIC GAMES FRANTIC FREDDIE

Heads fly at ACTIVISION TOP TEN go up the pole
HERE'S a novel variation on an GREEBLIES are what drive
RELEASE BOX
old theme. It's a sports simulation poor Frantic Freddie up the pole
broken down into five events as he greedily tries to grab all C64/128 £1.99cs OUT NOW

including: 100m slither, space the crocks of gold in the magi¬

hockey, head throwing, psychic cal telephone system he has for¬
judo, and the metamorph tuitously stumbled aaoss.
marathon. Like its scenario, Frantic
It's a nice idea that unfortu¬ Freddie is a pretty tired game; PREDICTED INTEREST CURVE
nately just doesn't work too well; there’s a modicum of fun to be
the games are simple, unexcit¬ had as you scramble up and
down the ladders to avoid the
ing and tedious to play. Graph¬ grumpy Greeblies, but at heart
RELEASE BOX
ics are very straightforward with it's just an old platform game in
C64/128 £9.99c$, £14.99dk IMMINENT little detail and the sound is cer¬
SPEC £9.99cs OUT NOW
budget shape.
tainly nothing to crow about. Try
AMS £9.99cs, IMMINENT • Pete Connor
before you buy. ACE RATING 345
• Andy Smith
‘[Link] - ilUUU ITUU XX* CTvT -H 1II n MOHHf

STEMS LTD. PRESENTS ERRNT1C FREDDIE PRO

s t me CZI3BBBI1
mum

'0 'ff* **

*r ~

r «_ -mum* gOb*

JET BOYS BAD CAT

CRL send the jet boys round Street cred cats from GO!
RELEASE BOX TAKE yer average furry feline,
RELEASE BOX
dress him in a denim cut-off
C64/128 £9.95cs,£14.95dk OUT NOW jacket, headband and give him ATARI ST £19.99dk OUT NOW
SPEC £9.95cs,£14.95dk OUT NOW some shades to wear and you’ll C64/128 £9.99cs, £11.99dk IMMINENT
AMS £9.95cs, £14.95dk OUT NOW have some idea of the hero AMIGA £24.99dk IMMINENT
otBad Cat
The game consists of four
levels and can be played by a
maximum of four people (turns in a swimming pool to hit over¬
alternate). It's a positioning head symbols. Cute graphics,
game for some of the levels as adequate sound and moderate¬
SPACE age coppers are known you try to cross an assault ly addictive gameplay make for
as jetboys, who patrol the min¬ course and a timing game for a game with a higher novelty
ing quadrants on the moons of the rest as you try to knock your value than compulsion factor.
Saturn. But the System Council opponent over with bowling • Andy Smith
boobed by selling one of the balls or leap from pads located
moons to a crook, who threatens
to blow the moon up and so
destroy all the other moons as attack in formation, and has a
well. Yes, it's down to you to guardian monster at the end.
stop him. The one player option is not
This one or two player game particularly good but in two
has the player(s) flying over a player mode with its simultane¬
parallax scrolling landscape ous action it can be enjoyable
through four levels. Each level is for a while.
swarming with aliens that • Andy Smith

66 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TEST UPDATES

A mixed but tasty bag of version updates this month.

AMIGA The real biggy is, of course, Bubble Bobble on the ST.
Its massive rating is justified by its awesome
MOEBIUS playability and very pretty graphics. Should keep ST
Origin systems/Microprose £24.99dk
C64 version reviewed Issue 2 - ACE Rating owners busy on these long winter nights.
628
Worth looking out for, too, on the 16-bit side is
The Oriental role-playing game finally the Gauntlet-ish Eagles’s Nest, weighing in with over
makes it to the Amiga. It's very similar in feel
to the C64 version and plays identically.
900 on both ST and Amiga.
Superior graphics and sound and improved And big news on the C64 front is the arrival of
gameplay make this a slightly better game
on the Amiga however, and the increased
the infuriatingly addictive Deflektor. Not a bad old
score reflects that. month, is it?
Jellystone Park is just as colourful on the get a lot of enjoyment from this game.
Amstrad as it is on the C64 and that thar
trapper has still got hold of 'ol Boo-Boo. With
instant appeal to younger games players # ACE RATING 837
especially 7ogf Bear retains its intial rating.

• ACE RATING 752

C64
# ACE RATING 655 ATARI ST DEFLEKTOR
Gremlin £9.99 cs £14.99 dk
Spectrum version reviewed ACE Issue four -
ACE Rating 906
EAGLE'S NEST BUBBLE BOBBLE
Pandora £19.95dk(Also Atari ST at £19.95 dk) Firebird £19.95 dk Well, they've cleared up the cursor problem
C64 version reviewed issue 1-ACE Rating 958 (as reported in ACE 4) and the game is a
One of the better Gaun fief clones for 8-bit treat to look at and listen to. As compelling
machines is just as playable on 16-bit A very lively game taking advantage of the as ever, the C64 version is just as addictive
machines. Both versions are colourful and Atari ST's smooth movement and speed mak¬ and just as frustrating as the other versions.
play identically to each other. The Amiga's ing the game pleasant to play and the best
graphics are not significantly better than the conversion of the Taito [Link] animation of
STs but the sound certainly is. If you like the the ST complements the colourful sprites and
Gaun fief-style games then you wont be dis¬ the 100 screens,each with their own pattern
appointed with Eagle's Nest. of [Link] music is simple for the ST, but
lively - liyelyness being the key word in
• ACE RATING 900 (AMIGA) describing this arcade hit.

• ACE RATING 904 (ATARI ST)

AMSTRAD • ACE Rating 906

PHANTOM CLUB
Ocean £8.95cs £14.95 dk
Spectrum version reviewed Issue 4 - ACE rat¬
ing 845
SPECTRUM
The Amstrad version of the Movie sequel is
as playable and as colourful (if not more so) • ACE RATING 958
as the Spectrum version. Gameplay is identi¬ ACE 2
cal and the missions are just as tough to Cascade £8.95 cs (48k) £9.95 dk (128k)
complete. Will keep the keen adventurer LIVINGSTONE, I C64 version reviewed ACE Issue 2 - ACE Rat¬
ing 590
busy for a long time.
PRESUME?
Alligata £14.95 dk The gameplay hasn't improved any and the
• ACE RATING 645
graphics are worse making ACE 2 a very
This witty jungle arcade adventure has the avoidable game on the Spectrum. Again the
player struggling through seven levels in the lack of opponents and the limited cockpit
YOGI BEAR attempt to locate the lost explorer. Cutesy view fail to compensate for the lack of realis¬
Piranha £9.95 cs £14.95 dk graphics that are well animated add flavour tic controls.
C64 version reviewed in Issue 3 - ACE Rating to the game, and if you like your adventures
752 in the Jack The Nipper 2 mould, then you'll • ACE RATING 530
Advanced Computer Entertainment 67
 OR
◄ ►
COMPUTERS 10 BEST ATARI ST ADVENTURES
CBM Amiga A500 with nearly £200 of free software & 1 Phantasie III . £24.95
accessories .£499.00 2 The Pawn . £24.95
CBM 64C Starter Pack with cassette recorder, joystick and £100 3 The Bards Tale . £24.95
free software.£179.95 4 The Guild of Thieves . £24.95
CBM 64 Computer only .£129.95 5 Nord & Bert . £29.95
CBM 1541C Disk Drive with free software only .£169.95 6 Gnome Ranger. £14.95
Spectrum Plus 2 Computer with free joystick and software 7 Space Quest . £24.95
.£139.95 8 Knight Ore . £19.95
Atari 130 XE Starter Pack with cassette recorder, joystick and 9 Plundered Hearts . £24.95
free software.£139.95 10 221B Baker Street . £24.95
Nitendo Games Console with free Super Mario Bros, game
10 BEST ATARI ST BUSINESS PROGRAMS ___
. £99.00
Sega Games Console with free “Hang On” game. £99.00 1 First Word Plus . £79.95
2 VIP Professional .£228.85
COMPUTERS __—___ 3 Sage Accountant Plus .£228.85
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accessories .£295.00 5Trimbase . £89.95
Atari 520STM + Mouse .£255.00 6 Publishing Partner .£159.85
Atari 520STM + Mouse + SF354 Drive .£355.00 7 K-Spread 2 £79.95
Atari 1040STF .£495.00 8Tempus . £29.95
Atari Mega ST2 .£999.00 9 Habaview . £74.95
Atari Mega ST4 . £1299.00 10 K-Data . £49.95
- Mega ST’s come complete with SMI 25 High Res. Mono. 10 BEST ATARI ST UTILITY PROGRAMS
Monitor and Now include Blitter Chips!
1 Degas Elite
MONITORS __ 2 Lattice C
Atari SM-125 Mono 12" screen .£125.00 3 Typesetter Elite
Atari SM-125 Bought with Computer .£100.00 4 Art Director
Philips CM 8833 Med. Res Colour 14" inc. lead .£285.00 5 PC Ditto
6 Pro Sound Designer
DISKDRIVES ___ 7 Professional Icon Editor
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Cumana 1 mb Disk. Drive .£149.00 10 Back Pack
Cumana 2mb Dual Disk Drive .£255.00
Cumana 5.25" Disk Drive .£169.00
ACCESSORIES ________
10 *3.5 SS/DD Disks Branded . £14.95
10* 3.5 SS/DD Disks Unbranded. £12.00
10* 3.5 DS/DD Disks Branded . £19.95
10 * 3.5 DS/DD Disks Unbranded. £16.00
Mouse Mat . £4.95
PRINTERS _______
Micro P. MP 135 ........:.£169.00
Citizen 120-D £199.00
Citizen LSP-10.£199.00
Epson LX-800 .£275.00
Star NL-10 £275.00
Star NB24-10 printer + Sheet Feed.£654.00
Juki 5520 Colour Printer.£573.85
All our software is marked at the recommended retail price but
we give discount of 5% for Access/Visa sales or a full 10%
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 FLIGHT SIMULATORS

flight sim can be the most program, you should also give
frustrating purchase you'll some thought to what you want to
ever make for your com¬ fly. Typically, programs available
puter. The promise is cover jets, light aircraft, and heli¬
tremendous and so, all too often, is copters. Jets are the easiest to fly
bearing indicator
the disappointment - a program and unless there is a good deal of
that's either so complex it's impossi¬ added interest you may find
ble to use, or so rudimentary that things a bit dull after a while.
you fall asleep at the keyboard. If Light aircraft, on the other hand,
you really want to conquer the can be very twitchy in the air but
skies, join us in a spot of formation do give you a great sense of
flying as we 'buzz' a few of the achievement when you can con¬
contenders for your cash. trol them properly. Finally, heli¬
Despite the glamour of flight, copter simulations tend to concen¬
one of the main problems with a trate very much on the attack and
flight simulator is pure boredom. destroy scenarios, since the air¬
Imagine a driving simulator that craft themselves do not offer much
allows you to drive a Ferrari. Once in the way of aerobatic challenge Omni-bearing indicator with
you’ve mastered the gears, the or landing/takeoff disciplines. Turn co-ordinator glideslope
brakes, and the steering you're The very best games combine
going to want to do more than zip varied flight options, combat possi¬
FS2: (ST version) Cockpit display as you come in to land. Numerous control options include the ability
up and down the country lanes. bilities, realism coupled with care¬ to position your plane anywhere in the sky - useful for setting up practise landings. Note the drop¬
Tarmac-bashing games give you ful tuition, and a pretty landscape down map menu, showing your position. Thirty five different instruments and read-outs give unrivalled
more in a dozen different ways, to fly over. Find a game like that opportunity for controlling your aircraft.

from the racing scenario of Out and you've found one of the most

CRASH LANDING!
Run to the chase and chivvy of satisfying entertainment programs
So you wanna earn your wings, eh,
Spy Hunter. you're likely to buy.
In a plane, however, things
are a little different. First, you've
buddy? Feel the urge to climb into the
got rather more than gears, FLIGHT cockpit and roar off into the empty
brakes, and steering to worry SIMULATOR 2
about and there's a danger of loss
Atari ST
SubLogic
£49.95dk
skies? Then you're in good company
of interest during this lengthy
learning curve. Secondly, once ]
IBM PC £49.95dk - flight sims are amongst the most
• Cessna 182 trainer; Gates Learjet
you're up in the air what do you j popular micro applications, but
see? Answer: nothing but sky, Well, there's no doubt about it. When
unless you look down at the j it comes to serious flying, as opposed sometimes they'll let you down with a
ground and producing convincing i to combat, this program is deservedly
aerial views of landscape is not an j the standard by which all other flight
bump. ACE spots the aces...
easy thing to do on a micro. simulators are judged. The latest
The way in which flight simu- j version offers a solid 3D landscape somewhat twitchy creature but this is And that's really what this pro¬
lators have tackled these problems together with 120 airports in five differ¬ more than compensated for by the gram is all about - mastering every
determines what sort of program j ent areas ranging from San Francisco excellent control which scans key¬ aspect of flying, from navigation (there
you get and whether you're going j to New York, plus a whole host of press rates and makes either a 'micro are extensive radio and visual naviga¬
to buy it and fly it, or buy it and ; other features that any experienced adjustment' or a normal control adjust¬ tion opportunities) in a micro-environ¬
binit. pilot would like to see but not expect ment to the elevator position accord¬ ment that includes almost every con¬
First, there are the 'added to find on a home micro. ing to how fast you tap the keys. This ceivable variable from cloud height
challenge' games. These offer typi¬ The choice of plane is important. i is much closer to the feel of actually through turbulence to icing hazards.
cally either varied flying assign¬ Jet simulations tend to be rather easi¬ flying a small plane than the normal, You can even fly under the Golden
ments (e.g. different airfields to er to fly for the beginner and in addi¬ very coarse control offered by other Gate Bridge, but antics apart, the pro¬
land and take off from) or combat tion they obviously move quite a bit programs. gram will leave those who persevere
possibilities in an effort to keep the faster. The Cessna, by contrast, is a The jet is extremely easy to fly, and master it with an unrivalled sense
'pilot' interested. Then there are j and also rather boring, but you can of achievement.
games that try to overcome the pull some nice stunts with it without
learning problem, either by : worrying about your life insurance. Display quality 9
bypassing it (making the program Best option of all, however, is the Sound 4
more simple) or by trying to make World War I ace simulation. This is Instrumentation 10
a virtue of it (making things more ; really just the Cessna with a gun on Documentation 7
complex and 'authentic'). Finally j its front, but it's still very enjoyable as ACE Rating 9
(and more recently) there are the j you confront the 'enemy' on a small,
programs that have tackled the intimate landscape. Gain points by
aerial view problem and attempt' bombing his factories and shooting FALCON
ed to enhance the appearance of FS2: (ST version) One of several different view down his six pilots, each of whom Spectrum Holobyte/Mirrorsoft
the ground beneath you, thereby options: here you can see your Cessna banking j shows different tactics. Don't expect Apple Mac £29.95
over the Golden Gate Bridge, prior to returning
giving you something to find, to to come out victorious, however, until IBM PC £29.95
for landing at Oakland International Airport. You
look at, and to avoid crashing into! can even zoom the displays to take a closer look 1 you're really mastered control of your • General Dynamics F-16A
In addition to the style of the at the scenery. aircraft. This game falls squarely into the 'up-

Advanced Computer Entertainment 69

FLIGHT SIMULATORS

and-at-em' category of flight sim and of Fame, which allow you to record Amstrad CPC £9.95 cs £14.95 dk micros to give a no-compromise com¬

comes close to doing for combat sim¬ the achievements of up to ten players IBM PC £24.95 dk bination of combat challenge and sim¬
ulation what Flight Simulator 2 does on disk. Success on missions is • Helicopter simulated Hughes AH-64A ulation authenticity. It's still an excel¬

for light aircraft training. The 140-page rewarded by decoration and confirma¬ Apache lent buy but misses out somewhat in
manual has scant coverage of flying tion of higher rank. Rank is more than the ground detail stakes. Tomahawk,
techniques but is positively bristling just status, however, since it also Helicopters have come a long way on the other hand, draws - and

with authoritative details on weaponry, determines certain flying characteris¬ since the old days when Westland improves - on the tradition estab¬

air combat manoeuvres, and the vari¬ tics and enemy behaviour. At 1st Lieu¬ ruled the waves. Although the British lished by Durell's renowned Combat
ous military ranks and decorations tenant level, for example, you get company came up with the excellent Lynx , which gave improved wire¬

which rest upon your success or fail¬ unlimited weapons without having to Lynx (when did you last see a heli¬ frame landscape features and a rea¬

ure in battle. bother about weight, and the opposi¬ copter loop-the-loop?) the Americans sonable degree of flight control real¬

What's impressive, however, is tion just sits there waiting to be shot have been hard at it and the Apache ism.
that this has not detracted too much at. If you're a Colonel, you'll be worry¬ shows just what modern US technolo¬ First, the instrument display is
from the simulation side of ing about being captured, stalling, gy can stuff under a rotor blade when excellent. Clear, sensible read-outs

[Link] are 12 missions avail¬ missile attacks, overloading, blacking it sets its mind to it. give all essential information. The
able, pitting you against both airborne -out due to high G forces, and a Digital Integration leapt to fame landscape is slightly crude but still

and surface opponents, but before dozen other factors that lesser ranks with their Fighter Pilot simulation, ambitious and effective for 8-bit
you can master these you will have don't have to contemplate. which was the first flight sim for 8-bit machines. It would be nice to see this
>

What the experts said...

Your HUD Head Up Dis- 'jff* Altitude ACE visited the Bristol and Wessex Aero Club to see how flight sims mea¬
sured up in a professional environment. Byron Caws, Operations Manager at
the Club and himself an experienced pilot, put SubLogic's Flight Simulator 2
through its paces and had a lot to say about simulators in general.
'First', he pointed out, 'there's a huge difference between simulation flying
and the real thing. The difference is down to the method of control. Using keys
and joysticks is a far cry from handling an aircraft in the air, no matter how
good the simulation.'
To prove his point, Byron showed us the Club's own simulator (see sepa¬
rate box) and pointed out how 'twitchy' it was in performance. 'If you can fly
this thing accurately,' he said, 'you can fly anything.'
Other real-world hazards that a pilot has to cope with include turbulence
(not often properly implemented in
simulators) and other weather con¬
[Link] and Flight Sim¬
ulator 2 both include some weather
factors but you're unlikely to run
into a full-scale hurricane while sit¬
Falcon: (Mac version) Cockpit view straight ahead: you're on the Milk Run, easiest of the twelve mis¬ ting in your armchair.
sions, and you've got to bomb three targets. A small landscape is more than compensated for by a very
However, the pros do have
testing military challenge.
some good things to say about sim¬
ulators. 'They build up a habit of
spent at least a couple of days just The best thing about this game,
instrument scanning', pointed out
learning to handle the aircraft. Keep¬ however, is the extensive nature of
makes it all look so easy. Byron, 'which could certainly save
ing in the air is a doddle in this gartie, the gameplay. When you start, you'll
your life in a real plane. And in this respect they are also helpful for instrument
but proper alignment for landing and just be concerned about getting into
flying practise.' But what's really needed is a greater degree of visual feed¬
practise is quite another matter. the air. By the time you finish (if you
back outside the cockpit. 'Visual flight rules are an essential part of flying’, say
The manual approaches training ever do) you'll be confronted with a
the professionals, and it seems that until we get more extraneous visual detail
from the practical, rather than the the¬ very wide range of decisions, many of
into a simulator they will remain a little bit like driving your car without seeing
oretical side, giving you some easy which have to be made instinctively
the bends in the road.
flying tasks to accomplish and also and immediately, both in the air and
setting up the flight characteristics to on the ground. Should you foil that
make both crashing and stalling heat-seeking missile with a flare?
impossible for the beginner. Although Should you use the AIM-9L or the
rather daunting at first, this approach AIM-9J missile on that elusive MiG?
works well and makes the learning And, if the unthinkable threatens,
process far more immediate. should you eject and risk capture (or
The display is very attractive. even death) or should you try to nurse
Instrumentation includes most essen¬ your plane back home? Certainly the
tials, plus a 'Threat Warning System' nearest thing to joining the USAF cur¬
(spot that MiG) and a selection of rently available to a computer flight-
HUDs, or 'Head Up Displays'. These sim enthusiast, but more of a militaris¬
give essential flight and target infor¬ tic than a flying challenge.
mation by reflecting it off the wind¬
screen, thereby enabling the pilot to Display quality 8
keep an eye on altitude, speed, Sound 7
course and so on without taking his Instrumentation 7
eyes off the action. Documentation 8
There are different HUD's foe use ACE Rating 8
when various weapons systems are
activated, including guns, various mis¬ TOMAHAWK
sile types, and bombs. Mastering their Digital Integration
use is essential for success in even Atari 8-bit £9.95 cs £14.95 dk
Tomahawk: (C64 version) There's an enemy target 5 miles away and we're closing steadily. The laser guid¬
the simplest missions. Spectrum £9.95 cs ed Hellfire missiles are armed and that rectangular sight will soon be locking onto some unlucky 'hostile'.
There's a duty roster and a Hall C64/128 £9.95 cs £14.95 dk

70 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 FLIGHT SIMULATORS

game running on an ST or an Amiga, Racing, and Flight Instruction - a wide

but for time being this will do nicely. range of activities, but it's the training Could a flight sim save your life?
Landing pads, pylons, tanks, guns, side that really stands out. There's a fantasy locked away in every armchair pilot's imagination...the plane
helicopters, trees, and mountains all The system works by giving you he (or she) is travelling in suddenly goes into a steep dive...the pilot's had a
come and go with simple but effective a HUD (Head Up Display) with two heart attack...Joe (or Joanna) Doe leaps from their seat, clutching their Strike
majesty as you search out up to 1024 rectangles. The movements of the Force Harrier manual and yells 'Don't panic! I'll take over!'. A short while later
targets on a large map. There are four smaller rectangle reflect the aileron you're landing safely at Kennedy Airport...
missions of increasing difficulty and and elevator movement of the player, Hmmm...Supposing Joe Doe really did leap up in front of you like that,
complexity, culminating in an almost the larger rectangle shows you what claiming to be able to save the day, should you let him get on with it, or should
impossible game of noughts and the instructor would do if he were fly¬ you just club him over the head and start saving your prayers?
crosses with the enemy as you each ing the plane instead of you. This Well, when Joe sits down in the pilot's seat, he's going to see something
seek to support your ground forces means that to find the correct flight like this screenshot in front of him. He'll probably recognise the articifial hori¬
and occupy whole rows of the grid, path and attitude you simply have to zon, airspeed indicator, and tachometer. He'll probably have some idea of
thereby taking them out of the game keep your rectangle nested within the what he ought to do to get the plane out of a stall (if this has occurred). But
while you proceed to the next. instructor's - and provided you're also whether he can put it into practise is quite another matter.
You have guns, missiles, and adjusted your other controls (throttle, To start with, he probably won't be that used to mastering rudder control
rockets to fight with and flying options flaps etc) correctly all should be well. and dealing with yaw (where the
include variable cloud cover height, There's help there too, however, since plane slews
altimeter

Instructor's aileron and showing height

Altitude
elevator positiort$arge which means that if you're crossing
rectangle) a mountain Joe may be landing
sooner than he'd like to. If the
engines have actually died for
some reason he's highly unlikely to
be able to restart them (that sort of Cockpit of a Piper Saratoga. Can you identify the
thing is always done for you in a different instruments? There will be very little here
fliqht sim) (if anVthin9)that You won,t in F,i9ht Simulator
y 2, but it looks just a wee bit more complex than
Of course, the plane may well Spitfire 40. Don't expect any change out of £175000
Direction be behaving quite happily. Like for one of these,
cars, planes don't immediately go haywire the moment you take your hand off
the steering wheel and at 20000 feet you've got a lot more leeway than you
have in a country lane. But even if it is, and even if Joe gets it under control,
Instructor's message
there remains the problem of what to do next. Most flight sims have you pot¬
tering around a limited map with lots of visual clues and an easy-to-under-
Chuck Yeager on the C64: a spot of landing practise in a Cessna before trying out the latest experimen¬
tal jet can't be a bad idea. There's a good zoom option on the scenery, as well as numerous view stand map display. Joe may not have the faintest idea where he is, and even
options, including tracking and ground perspectives. less idea of how to get to where he wants to go...So better start saying your
prayers after all, because when it comes to flying, a little knowledge isn’t just a
day/night flying, crosswinds and tubu- clear instructions about control adjust¬ dangerous thing, it's fatal!
lence. There are four pilot ratings with ments are given via brief messages at
enemy action and skill doubling with the bottom of the screen. grams available. There's a lot to this GUNSHIP
each increase in player status. Flight There are a number of different program, making it good value for Microprose
sim fans used to the muscle of big jets training options and in each case you money and an excellent trainer for Atari ST £24.95 dk
may find the Apache limited by com¬ can choose either to observe the les¬ those keen to progress to more IBM PC £34.95 dk
parison in some departments, but son, or actually to carry it out. The sophisticated simulators when hard¬ C64/128 £14.95 cs £19.95 dk
push the machine to its limits and small but informative manual gives ware or cashflow permits. Spectrum £9.95 cs £12.95 dk
you'll be surprised what you can get essential back-up information, includ¬ CPC £14.95 cs £19.95 dk
out of it. A must for chopper champi¬ ing recovery from stalls, take-offs, Display quality 7 Amiga £24.95 dk
ons and a strong contender for the landings, and other basic aerial Sound 3 • Hughes AH-64A Apache
rest of us, though simply applying col¬ manoeuvres. Instrumentation 6
lective and rising into the air doesn't Once you've mastered the tech¬ Major Wild Bill Stealey has carved
Documentation 7
quite compare with roaring down the niques, you're ready to try Test Flight, quite a reputation for himself in the UK
ACE Rating 7
runway. putting various planes through their games industry. His company Micro-

paces and exploring the scenery in

Display quality 7 the process. Most enjoyment to be Map message area
Sound 4 had here is from locating one of the Altimeter
Instrumentation 8 seven 'obstacle courses’ scattered
Documentation 4 round the terrain, presenting streets to
ACE Rating 7 fly along, pylons to fly between, and
so on.
Equally challenging are the aero¬ Airspeed
CHUCK YEAGER S
batic routines in the Formation Flying
ADVANCED FLIGHT
section - there are six pre-recorded
TRAINER
routines and you can devise and
Electronic Arts
SAVE your own. However all these
C64/128 £9.95 cs £16.95 dk
pale into insignificance beside the
IBM PC £24.95 dk
Race section, which has you roaring
• 14 production and experimental air¬
along a few feet above the ground,
craft, ranging from Sopwith Camel to
passing through gates in correct
XRH-4 MadDog experimental aircraft
sequence. You won't get far in this
Strange how nobody’s done it before, until you really know your aircraft. Compass Artificial horizon
but this is the first flight sim to make a The graphics in AFT aren't bad at
serious attempt at flight training. AFT all for an 8-bit flight sim, though PC Gunship: (Commodore version) Unlike Tomahawk, Gunship gives you three viewing options from your
offers four modes of operation, Test owners may be disappointed by what cockpit. Here we're looking straight ahead, but the wire frame graphics are just a bit too crude to be real¬
ly convincing.
Flight, Formation Flying, Airplane they get compared to other PC pro-

Advanced Computer Entertainment 71

FLIGHT SIMULATORS

prose do have a knack for turning out strategic element to the game, as well ed, the sheer playability of this flight
impressive products with quality pack¬ as the fun of flying an agile plane and sim makes it a good buy for search-
aging and a good dose of healthy Mirrorsoft the challenge of developing tactics to : and-destroy buffs - particularly on the
gung-ho aggression. Hostiles beware Atari ST £24.95 dk defeat the opposition. Thrown up ST - but don't expect bulky training
as Wild Bill sends you off on mission IBM PC £24.95 dk against you are Surface to Air Mis¬ ; manuals, total authenticity, or dozens
after mission with the promise of pro¬ Spectrum £9.95 cs £12.95 dk siles, Anti-Aircraft Artillery, ground fire i of control/display options.
motion to Colonel and the award of C64/128 £9.95 cs £12.95 dk from enemy troops, and enemy air¬
the Congressional Medal of Honour. CPC £9.95 cs £12.95 dk craft (which are a lot faster than you Display quality 7
Gunship makes an interesting Commodore Amiga £24.95 dk are). Chaff and flares are provided to Sound 4
comparison with Tomahawk from Digi¬ • Harrier GR.3 help you foil radar guided and infra¬ Instrumentation 5
tal Integration. The former has all the red seeking missiles. Documentation 4
hallmarks of an American up-market The Harrier has been a highly suc¬ Although instrumentation is limit¬ ACE Rating 6
product, with an excellent manual and cessful aircraft, combining agility with
a lot of backslapping throughout the VSTOL capability. It does this by hav¬
game that helps keep interest from
Simulated Soaring
ing engines that can be tilted through
Nowadays commercial simulators have become so sophisticated that British Air¬
flagging. Disk versions have a Hall of just under 100 degrees, and although
ways, for example, can train people on the ground and then put them straight into a
Fame, and the structure of the pro¬ Mirrorsoft's program only allows three
jumbo jet. Naturally these beasts are just a little beyond the purchasing power of
gram is cleverly designed with enemy tilt positions (horizontal, 45 degrees,
even the average millionaire, but even smaller simulators have a role to play in
recognition tests, training missions, and vertical) this feature still makes flight training.
radio transmissions from base, arma¬ for some interesting flying techniques.
At the Bristol and Wessex they use a dedicated simulator to practise instru¬
ment screens and so on. Some ver¬ On the ST this program is a win-
ment flying. The model you see here has all the instrumentation required to simu¬
sions even have a cassette tape fea¬ i ner for those who want an easy-to-fly, late flight including navigational data and a plotter to determine your course. As you
turing a live tutorial from Major Bill fast, highly manoeuvrable aircraft with
can see it has a number of instruments that would be familiar to any home micro
himself. Yee har! a very large map and straightforward enthusiast who's put in a few flying
By contrast, Tomahawk seems a shoot-to-kill, bomb-to-blast combat hours on a good simulator.
rather restrained affair, but once opportunities. Even the 8-bit versions
For those without simulator
you've put down the bulky manual and come out looking pretty good, but
experience, the ones to look for in
started flying, Gunship shows definite obviously they can't match the ST's particular are your Artificial Horizon
disadvantages over its UK rival. It's solid graphics and extremely smooth (or Attitude Indicator) which will
easier to fly, but somehow less con¬ operation.
give you a good idea of whether your
vincing, and the landscape (although There's only one mission -
banked left or right and/or titled for¬
more colourful) is less effective. destroy the enemy HQ 125 miles from
wards or backwards - essential
Instrumentation is as complete but not your start position. The map is divided A Cessna 152 - not a far cry from the planes avail¬
information if you want to know
as neatly laid out and as a result into grid squares and you are provid¬ able in Chuck Yeager's Advance Flight Trainer or
whether you're headed for the gods
rather more tiring to look at after a Flight Simulator 2. Expect to spend about 30 hours
ed with four ground sites where you or the ground. in this before getting your license - and then you
long time in the air. There's even a can rearm and refuel.
Your Airspeed Indicator is just can buy your own for £15000. Flying a real plane
rather clumsy screen glitch that regu¬ To capture the enemy base, you isn't quite the finicky experience a simulator might
as important - every aircraft has a
larly flickers across the screen on the must strike .into enemy territory and lead you to expect, since you've got the physical
certain stalling speed which will
Commodore version. feedback from the controls as well as visual flight
identify grid squares with minimal hos¬ have you heading earthwards with rules to help you.
These niggles apart, this program tile activity. These sights are suitable Chuck Yeager's
dismaying rapidity.
still represents reasonable value for for use as ground sites, and by land¬
Advanced Flight Simulator was the only program to give advice on how to get out
money - but Major Bill has some ing and calling up'ground support you
of stalls, a technique which involves restoring air-flow over the wings (and therefore
tough competition \nTomahawk. can usually move one of your sites to
lift) by releasing back pressure on the stick.
the new location. By doing this you
Your VSI or Vertical Speed Indicator will tell you how fast you are gaining or
Display quality 5 can move your resources across the
losing height. This is especially important when landing - used in conjunction with
Sound 6 map which is far too large for you to
airspeed you can ensure that your landing is as smooth as possible. And of course
Instrumentation 5 traverse without fuel and armament
you'll need to keep a close eye on your Altimeter.
Documentation 8 backup en route.
Finally, there’s your compass which, of course, tells you which way you're
ACE Rating 6 There * is therefore a certain
going, but just to give you an idea of the complexities of real (as opposed to simu¬
lated) flying you should know that even instruments as straightforward as your
compass and your altimeter could be inaccurate unless properly adjusted to take
Airspeed
atmospheric pressure, virbration, and magnetic variations into account. Flight Sim
Altitude 2 does introduce some of these variations, but no other simulator we tested did.
To get yourself a real pilot's license nowadays would cost you about £3000,
including at least 30 hours flying time. A good simulator can give you a reasonable
idea of the different elements involved in flying, though the actual feel of flying a
plane is obviously just a teenswy weensy bit different.

Pitch

Attack radar
VSI - vertical speed
indicator

Strike Force Harrier: (ST version) There's a SAM missile site somewhere round here that needs blowing
up - and you can strafe a few trees if you’re feeling really aggressive. Clever use of display makes maxi¬
mum use of instrumentation possibilities, but display options and instrument readouts are still limited.

72 Advanced Computer Entertainment

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Balance of Power 21.50 Induro Races 14.50 Rampage 10.95
Phantasie 3 17.50 Eco 14.50 Clever & Smart 14.50 religion. A hierarchy of gods capable of direct interac¬
G.A.T.O 21.50 Project Stealth Fighter 17.50 Western Games 14.50 tion with players. Alliances of trade, religion, politics
Deflector Epics Greatest Comp' 21.50
PHONE FOR AVAILABILITY
14.50
Supersprint 10.95
and military might. + MUCH MUCH MORE, games
Phoenix 14.50
Champ'shjp Water Skiing 14.50
Bobble Boy 14.50
Bubble Bobble 14.50 limited only by the players imagination.
Charlie Chaplin 14.50 Backlash 14.50
Super Star Ice Hockey 17.50
Flying Sharke 14.50 Spy Versus Spy 17.50
Gary Lineker Football Jinxter 17.50 Sky Rider 10.95
14.50
Gauntlet II 14.50 Police Quest 17.50 Deja Vu 21.50
Mean Streak 17.50 Preditor 10.95 Micro League Wrestling 14.50
For a FREE startup write to.
Outrun 14.50 Universal Milit Sin 17.50 Bubble Ghost 14.50 JADE Games, FREEPOST, Southsea,
ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT, POST & PACKING FOR UK MAINLAND Hants, P04 0BR
Subject to availability all goods despatched within 24 hours VISA
Overseas order add: Europe £ I per item. Others £2 per item
For Access & Visa phone our shop on 01 -870 4941
(no stamp required)
Make Cheques/[Link] payable to Storm Computers. S.A.E. for full list
READER SURVEY

FIVE STATE-OF-
THE-ART GAMES What it is:

ACE
- a chance to tell us what you think
MUST BE WON! about the magazine;
- a chance to walk away with some
red-hot software FREE for your
machine.

What you do:

READER
Grab a pen and fill in the form(or a
photocopy) now! The first five forms
drawn from the hat on February 14th
1988 will take the prizes...

What we do:
Listen carefully to what you have to

SURVEY
say so that we can bring you a bigger,
better magazine...

...so jump to it!

We don't rest on our laurels here at SYSTEM DETAILS

ACE. Every month we hold an editorial
meeting and take a close, critical look Do you own or are planning to buy any of
at the magazine, asking ourselves how the following equipment:
we can improve it. And that means how
we can make it the magazine YOU COMMODORE 64/128 □ □
[Link]'s why we're giving you the SPECTRUM □ □
chance to get your suggestions on the AMSTRAD CPC464 □ □
table for next month's conference...and AMSTRAD CPC6128 □ □ (use an extra sheet of paper if you like!)
just to tempt you we're offering five ATARI 8-BIT □ □
lucky respondents the chance to win
ATARI ST □ □ Are there any other sections or subjects that
COMMODORE AMIGA □ □ you would like to see introduced into the
some exciting free software. Grab a
IBM COMPATIBLE PC .□ □ magazine?
pen and get down to it now!
APPLE MACINTOSH □ □
MSX □ □
YOUR DETAILS
MODEM □ □
Name: __ VIDEO CAMERA □ □
MIDI KEYBOARD □ □
Address:_ MIDI INTERFACE □ □

Other hardware owned:

_Postcode_

Age: If you own a modem, do you subscribe to Rate any of the following magazines you are
Under 12 □ 12-16 □ 17-20 □ any of the following services: familiar with on a scale of one (poor) to five
21-25 □ 26-35 □ 36-45 0 □ PRESTEL □ MICRONET □ BT (excellent):
46-65 □ Over 65 □ GOLD
ACE □
THE MAGAZINE Popular Computing Weekly
SOFTWARE Crash □
How do you rate the following sections of Amstrad Computer User
ACE? Give your ratings on a scale of ten Your Commodore □
How much money do you spend monthly on
(excellent) down to one (forget it!)... Zzap!64 □
software?
Your Computer □
Computer and Video Games
Under £10 □ £10-£20D £20-£30D NEWS □ LETTERS □
Your Sinclair □
£30-£50 □ £50+ □ GRAPHICS □ CENSORSHIP □
Commodore Computing International □
GAMES CREATORS □ ARCADES □
The Games Machine □
When buying games which do you usually MUSIC AND MIDI □ SCREEN TEST □
Sinclair User □
get? BUYERS' GUIDE □ ADVENTURES □
Commodore User □
SPECIAL OFFERS □ COMPETITIONS □
ST User □
BUDGET (less than £5.00) □ TRICKS'N'TACTI CS □ PREVIEWS □
How do you think these sections could be ST World □
FULL-PRICE (£5.00+) □ Personal Computer World
MIXTURE □ improved?

74 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 COflPUTER rrwr
_

ARAD.

> SINCLAIR
QUALITY APPROVED REPAIR CENTRE
camjER
'dPHR'c^D
HOW TO GET YOUR SPECTRUM REPAIRED FOR ONLY £19.95 ^ALlH
SPECIAL OFFER! W SPECIAL OFFER!
I Why not upgrade your ordina.-v Spectrum into
the fantastic DK Tromcs typewnter keyboard
for only £31 50 including fitting VAT and
return post and packing
Normal recommended retail price
£49 95 Replacement printed
Why not upgrade your 16K Spectrum to a 48K
for as little as £17.95 including VAT post and packing .
if you would like us to fit the kit for
you lust send us £1995 which is
fully inclusive pnce to cover
li costs including return
DK Tromcs key
postage
EBSraA sets £7.50
including post & Fun fining instructions
packing supplied with every kit
issue 2 and S only

Update Your Rubber

Keyboard to a
New Spectrum +
For only £24.95 + £1.50 p&p
or can be fitted for only £31.90 + £1.50
postage & packing
LIMITED OFFER

TEN ★ REPAIR SERVICE SOUND THROUGH YOUR T V. WITH

MEGASOUND
want better sound through your T V? Hear
sounds you've never heard before? Then
While you wait Spectrum repairs £22.50. ★ Six top games worth £39.00 for you to you need MEGA-SOUND" Play games with
unbelievable mega sound.
Also spare parts over the counter enjoy and play with every Spectrum repair. £10.95 plus £1.50 P&P
All computers fully overhauled and fully ★ we repair Commodore 64's, Vic 20's, ribbon cable to
tested before return. Commodore 16 s and Plus 4 s. extend your ports for I REPLACEMENT
Fully insured for the return journey. ★ The most up to date test equipment your peripherals POWER SUPPLY
Fixed low price of £22.50 including post, developed by us to fully test and find all £10.95 Spectrum replacement
packing and VAT. (Not a between price faults within your computer. plus £1 50 p 4 P power transformer
of really up to £30.00 which some of our ★ Keyboard repairs, Spectrum rubber key suitable for all makes
competitors are quoting).(Mail order only) boards only £10.00. of computer £9 95
plus £1 50 p & p
Discounts for schools and colleges. ★ 3 month written guarantee on all repairs.

BEST PRICES! - KEYBOARD

MEMBRANES
ARE YOU ANOTHER CUSTOMER - fed up The Cheetah 125+ Rapid Fire
waiting weeks for your estimate? Joystick and Ram Dual Port
Turbo interface.
Need your computer repaired fast? Then send it now to the Number One Repair Spectrum keyboard
Recommended retail price £20.90
membranes
Company in the U.K., or call in and see us at our fully equipped 2,500 square foot workshop, Special offer price £18.95
with all the latest test equipment available. You are more than welcome items can be purchased £5.50 plus £1 50 p & p
We will repair your computer while you wait and help you with any of your technical problems. separately, Ram Dual Port Turbo Spectrum Plus spare
Commodore computers repaired for only £35.00. Please note we gove you a 100% low fixed interface £12.95 + £1.50 p&p. keyboard membranes
price of £19.95 which includes return post and packing, VAT, not a between price like some 125+Joystick £7.95 +£i.50p&p £12.90 plus £1 50p&p
other Repair Companies offer, we don't ask you to send a cheque in for the maximum amount and ZX 81 membranes
shock you with repair bills £30 upwards Don't forget we are Amstrad aproved for quality and £5.00 plus£l 50 p & p
speed, don't risk your computer to any other unauthorised repair centre We dont just repair the
fault and send your computer back, we give your computer a -
ON-OFF SWITCHES
OVERHAUL WITH EVERY REPAIR WE DO:- FOR THE SPECTRUM
^ we correct Colour sound, Keyboard, Check the loading and saving chip, Put new feet on
the base if required Check for full memory, check all sockets including ear/mike and replace Commodore AND SPECTRUM +
where needed All for an inclusive price of £19.95 including VAT, all parts, insurance and post replacement power
transformer £29 00 ORDER No
and packing No hidden extras whatsoever, we don t have to boast too much about our 1067 SPECTRUM
plus £1 50 D & P
service as we have thousands of customers from all over the world highly delighted with our
service A first class reputation for speed and accuracy. Don t forget, we also now have ** 1067A SPECTRUM4- '
Service Branch in Manchester City Centre for while you wait service_( 5^JK>spectrum £4.95 + 1.50 p + p
URGENT NOTICE Don’t be misled by adverts showing between prices. A recen^^+3 CASSETTE
complaint against a Manchester repair firm, Mancomp, was upheld by the Advertising LEADS
Standards Authority on two counts, "It had stated BBC repairs between £14 and £45 SAVE YOUR CASSETTE
then charged the customer £85.” Their guarantee policy was misleading as it did not SOFTWARE TO DISK USEANY
make clear that all repairs were not covered. 1
USING THESE LEADS. JOYSTICK Wll
YOURSPECTRUM
-r-- SINCLAIR JOYSTICK ADAPTOR FOR
EDITION NOW hot £4.50 CONNECTING SPECTRUM +2
+ £1.50 p&p COMPUTERS TO MOST JOYSTICKS

New bigger catalogue now available containing over 2,500 items including stfreware for all computers, joysticks,
ispare parts, business software, books, plus many more. Justsend2xi8pstampsforyourfreecopy. 0ver20pages
nil of top quality products delivered to your door by return post._I POST + PACKING
CHARCESUKONLY
OVERSEAS
POST + PACKING
CHARGES PLEASE
WRITE FOR
QUOTE

140 High Street west, Glossop, Derbyshire SKI3 8HJ

Tel: 04574-66555/67761 Head Office & Access orders, queries.
Manchester 061- 236 0376 while you wait repair centre only.

COPYRIGHT VIDEOVAULT LTD NO. 789003 FAX NO. 04574 68946

 micR^antPs
37 SEAVIEW ROAD ■ WALLASEY • MERSEYSIDE ■ L45 40N. Telephone: (051) 630 3013
Atari Mega ST 2.£859.95
COMPUTERS Special Offer 5V4" High Quality Bulk DSDD Discs (pack 20)
KAO SSDD 5V4" (pack 10).
£9.99
£8.95 Mouse Mat.£4.95
GRAPHIC DEVICES
Atari 1040 STF.£469.95 KAO DSDD 5V4" (pack 10). £9.95
CF-2 3" Discs (pack 10) (Amsoft, Maxell). £24.95 Geos Mouse (CBM).£24.95
Atari 520 STFM.£279.95 3.5" KAO SS Discs (pack 10). Rom Lightpen 464/6128.£27.50
Amstrad PCW 8256 Word Processor.£339.00 £16.99
KAO 3.5" (highest grade in the world) DSDD (pack 10).. £19.95 DK Lightpen 464. £18.50
Amstrad PCW 9512.£569.00 Goldstar 5V4" Discs SSDD (pack 10). £8.95 AMX Mouse (Amstrad) (inc. AMX ART).. £59.95
PC1512 SD-MM Amstrad IBM Compatible Goldstar 51/*" Discs DSDD (pack 10). £9.95 AMX Mouse (Spectrum) (inc. AMX ART). £69.95
inc. 5Va" DS Drive with Mono Monitor.£449.00 Disc Labels and Write Protect Labels (pack). £0.49 Kempston Mouse with ART Studio (Spec). £69.95
PC1512 DD-MM Dual 5Va" DS Drive, 720K, Mono Monitor.£569 Sony 3.5" SSDD branded Discs (pack 10). Kempston Mouse with Blueprint (AMS). £64.95
£14.99
PC15.12 SD-CM SGL 5V4" DS Drive, Colour Monitor.£629.00 Nashua 3.5" SSDD Discs (pack 10). Genius Mouse (Spectrum). £39.95
£14.95 Datex Mouse for C64.
PC1512 DD-CM Dual 5V4" DS Drive, 720K, Colour Monitor £739.00 Precision 5V4" DSDD. £7.95 £49.95
Trojan Lightpen (Spec 48K). £19.95
PC1512 HD20-MM SGL 5'A" DS Drive, 360K+20M Hard Disc £979.95 DATA RECORDERS Trojan Lightpen (Spec+2). £19.95
PC1512 HD20-CM as for HD20-MM but Colour Monitor.1,149.95 Altai Computer Data Recorder (any make).. £22.95 Trojan Lightpen (Spec+3). £23.95
Note that the PC1512 range includes: Migent “Ability” integrated package comprising Commodore 1531 Data Recorder. £29.95 Trojan Lightpen (AMS 464).
Word Processor, Database, Spreadsheet and Communications. Also 4 U S. Gold titles £19.95
Altai Data Recorder (C64/128)... £24.95 Trojan Lightpen (C64/128). £19.95
PC1640 SD-MD. £569 00 Amstrad 6128 Lightpen (Disc).
DATA RECORDER ACCESSORIES £26.95
PC 1640 SD-CD. £739 00 Neos Mouse (C64/128) (add £10 for Disc version).
Spectrum +3 Cassette Lead. £2.99 £24.95
PC1640 SD-ECD. £899 00 AMX 3D-Zicon (AMS). £24.95
PCI640 DD-MD. £679 00 Spectrum 2 Jack to 2 Jack. £1.59
Amstrad/Tandy 5 Pin to 3 Jack.. £2.79 AMX [Link] Mouse plus Art Control (Tape+Disc Amstrad).. £64.99
PC1640 DD-CD. £859.00 AMX [Link] plus Stop Press Publisher (Disc Amstrad). £74.99
PC1640 DD-ECD. £999.00 TELEVISIONS, MONITORS, ACCESSORIES Blazing Paddles (C64/128) (lightpen). £24.95
PC1640 HD20-MD. £999 00 AND MONITOR LEADS
PC1640 HD20-CD. £1,199 00 SOUND AND SPEECH UNITS
PC1640 HD20-ECD.£1,299.00 CBM 1901C Hi Res. Colour Monitor for Cl28.£249.95 ST—Midi (coiled pair). £6.95
Commodore 128D Desk Top Computer (built-in Drive).£399.95 CBM 1900M C128 40/80 Column (with extra sound channel). £99.99 ST—Midi (pair). £3.98
Commodore Amiga A500 (built-in 3.5" Drive) comprises: Amiga A1081 RGBA Colour.£369.95 Casio HT700 Midi Keyboard. £299.95
Mouse, Workbench. £549.95 Amiga 1901C Colour.£299.95 Pro-Sound (Eidersoft) (Atari ST Sound Sampler).. £47.50
New Spectrum 128+3 (inc. Disc Drive+Disc Games).£199.95 Atari SM125 Mono Monitor.£139.95 ST-Replay (Sound Sampler).. £79.75
Spectrum Plus (limited stocks).£79.95 Atari SCI224 14" Colour Monitor.£389.95 RAM Music Machine (Spec or AMS, please specify mach.j £47.50
Sega Games Console includes: Hang On.£99.95 Ferguson TX TV/Monitor.£209.95 RAM Music Machine (AMS) (Disc).£54.95
Nintendo Games Console includes. Mario Bros.£99.95 Philips Colour 8852 Model Colour/Green Med./Hi Res. Cheetah Sound Sampler (Spec).£44.95
Monitor with Atari ST lead. £339.99 Cheetah Midi Interface.£19.95
PACKAGE DEALS Philips 8833 Colour/Green Med. Res. Monitor with Atari ST Lead.£299.99 Midi Interface (AMS).£54.95
Atari 520 STFM+Philips Med. Res. Colour Monitor Philips 8833 Colour/Green Med. Res. Monitor with Amiga Lead.£299.99 Sound Sampler (AMS).£49.95
+Panasonic KX-P1081 Printer+Leads.£749.95 ST to Philips 8533 Lead. £10.95 Music Maker Cl28.£14.95
Atari 1040 STF+Philips Med./Hi Res. Colour Monitor ST to SONY KX14 Lead.£10.95 Specdrum.£24.95
+Panasonic KX-P1081 Printer+Leads.£959.95 ST to Amstrad Monitor Lead.£9.95 Comdrum.£29.95
Atari 520 STFM+Philips Med. Res. Colour Monitor ST to Fidelity CTM14. £11 99 Amdrum. £29.95
inc. Mouse+Lead. £569.95 ST to Scart TV.. £11.95 Currah Speech (C64). £21.95
Atari 1040 STF, built-in 720K Disc Drive DK-Tronics Stereo/Speech System (AMS) (464/6128) tape. £27.95
+Mono [Link] £639.90 £569.00 MAIL ORDER PRICES ALSO OFFERED TO DK-Tronics Stereo/Speech System (AMS)(464/6128) (ROM) £37.50
Atari 1040 STF+SC1224 Colour Monitor+SMM804 PERSONAL CALLERS PRODUCING THIS ADVERT DK-Tronics Speech Synthesizer.£22.95
Dot Matrix Printer+First Word (limited offer).MRP £1,139.00 £859.95
Atari 520 STFM+SC1224 Colour Monitor (limited offer) MRP £699.90 £579.90 ★ FULL RANGE OF SOFTWARE - 15% OFF USUAL PRICE Amstrad Stereo/Speech (SSA1).£22.95
LARGE RANGE OF RIBBONS, CABLES & ACCESSORIES DK-Tronics 3 Channel Sound (Spectrum)..£29.95
Atari 1040 STFM+SC1224 Colour Monitor MRP £899.90 £769.95
Amstrad 464 (green) inc. Monopoly, Cluedo, Scalextric, Scrabble, Price list with first order - please state model for software
Trivial Pursuit, and Joystick plus the usual 12 games and _★ ALL SPARES STOCKED ★__ Citizen 120D inc. Interface (state computer).. £199.95
Educational Programs.£189.95 Seikosha SP-180. £149.95
Amstrad 464 (colour) inc. Monopoly, Cluedo, Scalextric, Scrabble, yourspeccy CiOOC CBM64COC DMP 2160 inc. Spec+3/AMS Lead. £159.95
Trivial Pursuit, and Joystick plus the usual 12 games and REPAIRED X* 19.99 tOO
Educational Programs. £289.95 FOUR MONTHS GUARANTEE BUSINESS AND UTILITIES
Amstrad PC1512 SDMM+Ability Software+4 U.S. Gold games+AMS LQ3500 Advanced Art Studio ST.£19.95 Habawriter ST.
(letter quality) Printer+1000 sheets Fanfold RAM PACKS AND EXPANSIONS £47.95
Back Pack (Desk acces¬ Habamerge ST. £31.95
+Printer cable+10 [Link] 904 70 £839.95 Spectrum Bus Extender.£4.95 sories) ST.£39.99 Habaspell ST.
Commodore 64C Value Pack comprises: C2N Data Recorder, £32.95
Amstrad DK—Ironies 64K Disc Operating System.£29.95 BCPL Compiler ST.£79.95 Integrated Accounts
Joystick and 6 games.£169.95 Currah Microslot (spec., motherboard).£6.95 Bulletin Board ST.£27.95
Commodore 64C Connoisseur Pack comprising: C2M Data Recorder, (Map) ST.£129.95
64K Memory Expansion for Amstrad 464. £39.95 CAD 3D 1.0 ST.£22.95 Lattice C (V3-4) ST.£79.95
Neos Mouse, Chess, Monopoly, Cluedo, Scrabble, Typing Tutor. . . £189.95 256K Silicon Disc for 464 or 6128 inc 64K Operating system £99.95 Clock Card ST.£27.95 Metacomco Pascal ST.£74.95
Commodore 64C+1541 Disc Drive+Future Finance..'.£299.95 256K Memory Expansion 464/6128 (state model).£75.00 Data Manager ST.£69.95 Paintworks ST.£29.99
Spectrum+Package comprises: Data Recorder, Joystick, ZX Expansion System.£59.95 Degas Elite ST.£24.95 ST Doctor.£17.99
Interface, 10 games.£129.95 CBM User Port Motherboard.£14.95 Devpak ST.£39.99
Spectrum 128+2 Package comprises: Joystick plus £50 worth ST Replay.£79.95
Realtime Clock (CPC).£34.95 Fast Basic ST.£74.50 Start Magazine (from U.S.A.)
software free..£139.95 GST C Compiler ST.£18.95 includes Disc with
LUXURY PROTECTIVE COVERS
DISC DRIVE AND INTERFACES AMS PC1512 Monitor/System Unit Cover.. £12.95 GST Macro Assembler ST.. £18.95 Programs+Previews ST £12.95
Microdrive Ext. Cable. £6.95 AMS PC1512 Keyboard Cover. £6.99 Hisoft Basic ST.£64.50 Swiftcalc ST.£69.95
Rotronics Wafadrive. £39.95 C64/VIC 20 Dust Cover. £5.99 1st Word Plus ST.£69.95 Wordwriter ST.£69.95
Wafadrive Centronics Printer Cable. £13.99 CBM Data Recorder Cover. £3.99 1st Mail (for 1st Word) ST.... £13.95
Wafadrive Serial Printer Cable. £13.99 CBM 1541/1570 Drive Cover. £4.25 SOFTWARE - LEISURE
Single Extension for Spectrum. £9.95 Spec+. £4.99 Alternative Reality ST.£19.99
C64/128 Disc Drive Cable. Leaderboard Tournament ST £19.99
£3.99 AMS 464. £5.99 Amazon ST.£16.99 Mercenery ST.£19.95
Disciple Interface+DSDD IMg 3.5" Drive (spec.). £199.95 AMS Screen (green or colour, please specify).. £6.99 A'pshai Trilogy ST.£19.99
Disciple Spectrum Disc Interface (spec.). Nine Princes in Amber ST £16.95
£89.95 DMP2000/3000. £6.95 Arena/Bratacceas ST.£27.95 Pawn ST.. £19.95
Dual Extension for Spectrum. £14.95 AMS DD1/FD1 Drive. £5.99 Balance of Power ST.£29.50 Perry Mason ST. £16.95
Plus D’ Disc Interface by Miles Gordon (spec.). £49.95 Atari STFM Luxury Dust Cover. £7.95 Barbarian ST.£19.99 Road Runner ST.
Plus ‘D’ Disc Interface with DS 3.5" Disc Drive (spec.).... £19.95
£149.90 Atari STM Luxury Dust Cover. £6.95 Bard's Tale ST.£21.50 Roadwar 2000 ST. £19.99
AMS DD1 Disc Drive (inc. Interface). £159.95 AMS CPC6128. £6.95 Chess Master 2000 ST.£19.99
AMS DL2 Cable. Space Quest ST. £19.95
£8.95 AMS PCW8256/8512 (set). £15.95 Death Strike ST.£11.95 Star Raiders ST. £19.95
1541C Disc Drive for CBM64. £169.95 CBM 1900/1091 Monitor. £8.95 Deep Space ST.£27.95 Star Glider ST. £19.99
Cumana 1M 3.5" Drive (Amiga). £139.95 CBM 64C/128 (please specify). £6.95 Flight Simulator II ST.£39.95
Cumana 1M 3.5" Drive (Atari ST). Strip Poker ST. £15.99
£149.95 Spec+2. £5.99 Guild of Thieves ST.£19.99 Silent Service ST. £19.99
Atari SF354 SS Drive (ST). £139.95 CBM Amiga Luxury Dust Cover. £7.95 Hades Nebula ST.£19.95
Atari SF314 DS Drive (ST). Strike Force Harrier ST.. £19.99
£189.95 UTILITY CARTRIDGES Hitch Hikers Guide ST.£23.99 Super Cycle ST. £15.95
—g+»JJ|.W^[Link] Fast Basic (Atari ST). £74.50 Kings Quest III ST.:.£19.99 Skyfox ST. £12.99
3.5" Disc Cleaner Kit (inc. fluid). £6.99 Backpack (Utilities cartridge for Atari ST). £39.95 Knight Ore ST.£16.95 Tracker ST. £19.95
5V4" Cleaning Disc with fluid. £5.95 Freeze Machine by Evesham C64/128 back-up utility.. £24.95 Leaderboard ST.£19.99 Ultima III ST.. £19.95
Disc Drive Care Kit. £9.99 Freeze Machine Utility Disc. £7.95 Leather Goddess of Phobos ST £23.99 XeviousST.£19.95
Microdrive Cartridge. £1.99 Dolphin DOS (C64). £69.95 Liberator ST.£10.50
Microdrive Cartridges (4 pack with case). £7.95 Dolphin DOS (C128). £79.90
Wafadrive 16K Cartridge. £1.99 Quick Disc+ (CBM). £16.95
Wafadrive 64K Cartridge. £4.49 C64 Reset Switch. £1.99
Microdrive Storage Case. £4.99 C64 Reset Switch (user port). £5.99 TELECOM GOLD MAILBOX 72: MAG 60201
Disc Notcher. £4.99 C64 Doubler. £12.95
Lockable Disc Box (holds 100 5V4" Discs). £10.95 Rodos (operating system for Amstrad). £29.95 TELEX: 265871 MONREF G
Lockable Disc Box (holds 50 5V4" Discs). £8.95 Mulitface 1 (Spec). £39.95
Disc Box (holds 90 3.5" Discs) (lockable). £10.95 Multiface 2 (AMS). £39.00 Quoting Ref. 72: MAG 60201
Disc Box (holds 10 5V4" Discs). £2.49 Multiface 3 (Spec+3). £44.95
AMS 20L 373.5" Disc Box.
DD100L 5V4" Disc Box (holds 100).
£9.95 Multiface 128 (also Disciple Version available). £44.95 FREE PRICE LIST WITH FIRST ORDER
£9.95 Transexpress (on Wafa or Opus 3.5"). £9.95

ORDER BY PHONE WITH Postage and Packing

Items under £20 add £1.00
051-630 3013
CUSTOMER ENQUIRIES
HOTLINE 051-691 2008 Items under £50 add £2.00
Items under £100 add £5.00
Items over £100 add £10.00 for Group 4 Courier ensuring delivery to you 051-691 2008
\He apologise for any alteration, omissions since going to press. the day after despatch. MAIL ORDER
Overseas customers (Europe): Full price shown
S Q PS CREDIT
CHARGE
will cover carriage and free tax.
Non-European add 5% to total.
051-630 5396
ACCOUNTS
 SPECIAL

What have Airball, Boulder-

dash, Mastertronic's £1.99
oldie Molecule Man and the
as yet unreleased ST ver¬
sion of Thrust all got in
common? Construction
sets, that's what. All of
them can be redesigned
using utilities either given
away with the game or sold
separately. You want to
reposition objects or
reshape tunnels? No prob¬
lem.
If you're feeling more
ambitious, systems like
Outlaw's Shoot-Em-Up
Construction Kit or CRL's
3D Game Maker aim to give
you game creation power
without the need for any
programming knowledge.
Can an affordable system
really turn you into a red
hot games author
overnight?

DIY GAMES?
Construction sets of yore didn't know how to go it alone like this, but
the door was not completely closed. Small
or so, like games creation utilities would soon
put professional quality home-brew pro¬
The idea of taking an existing game and
altering room layouts, moving landscape ads for Knight Lore 'editors' started to appear grams within everyone's reach. Develop¬
features around and so on isn't a particularly in the computer press at the height of the ments in the adventure world seemed to
recent one. In the early days of home com¬ Spectrum world's Ultimate frenzy, promising point the way: Gilsoft's The Quill already
puting there was simply no need for this kind the power to completely redesign the game offered budding Scott Adamses real game
of thing. You could create a state-of-the-art (and venturing into a rather grey area of creation power without a byte of code in
game using your machine's built-in Basic copyright law to boot!) sight, and the Lightning series of program¬
with, for the flashy elite, a few bytes of With such an obvious demand from ming utilities from Oasis (now defunct) raised
machine code POKEd in from DATA state¬ computer users for redesignable games it hopes of similar arcade game tools.
ments. seems surprising that these should have been
The emergence of an organised software so few and far between. In the States, where
industry and the meteoric rise in program¬ the idea of continuing support for games is
ming standards soon changed all this. By the much stronger, construction sets have long
boom years of 1983-4 when games like Ulti¬ been standard follow-ups to successful
mate's classic Knight Lore hit the streets, the arcade titles. In Britain the idea is only just
cutting edge of games writing went far starting to catch on in any sort of a big way,
beyond the average computer user's pro¬ but with the increase in disk ownership and
gramming expertise. the big emphasis on adding 'extra value' to
Make no mistake about it however, peo¬ games a construction set boom could be just
ple still wanted to get involved, in profession¬ around the comer. Wouldn't you rather have
al-looking games, even if that meant other a game redesigner than a novella, Win a T-
people's games. For the code-literate, the Shirt' entry form or little metal badge?
growing complexity of commercial games
made them fascinating things to explore Real programmers don't
Amstrad Molecule Man: budget isometrics with a bundled editor
and tinker with - and so the games poke use S.E.U.C.K. seemed like a tremendous bargain when it was first released. Now
was bom. The vast majority of users simply It really did look for a while, three years ago the big M are giving it away as a B side on their MAD X range!

Advanced Computer Entertainment 7 7

 SPECIAL

Was it all pie in the sky? 3DGM and

SEUCK would have been hailed as works of
06: 80 OO 020 OOOOOO towering genius back in those early days,
but neither of them offers the kind of freedom
and scope for ingenuity you need to make
your programs stand out these days. Even if
everyone else didn't have access to the same
utilities too, no SEUCK or 3DGM game could
dazzle anyone with its originality.
The problem has a lot to do with the way
the games industry has progressed over the
intervening years. The 8-bit games of today
drive their host machines harder than ever
before, straining against memory and speed
limitations. State of the art games are rarely
developed on the machines they're intended
for these days. Typically the programmer
writes the game code on an ST or Amiga,
transferring it to the target machine' (Spec¬
trum, C64 or whatever) only to test new sec¬
tions or debug old ones. The reason for this
approach is simple: modern games and
modern programming tools wont both fit in
your average machine simultaneously.
Amstrad Boulderdash: now Data Byte bring you an editor program for the classic earth-moving brain-stretcher.
Furthermore, simply because a game's
technically adequate doesnt guarantee it a
place in the shops anymore. Where the pro¬
SHOOT-EM-UP CONSTRUCTION KIT grammer can't produce a technical tour de
Outlaw Productions, C64 £14.95 cs £19.95dk force, he usually has to rely on having an
original idea to sell his product. By their very
Although styled a ’construction kit' this utility's a there's no way of implementing smart bombs, nature these games creators cant implement
good deal more than that name would normally collectable weapons or wave bonuses, nor can really original ideas. The whole point of them
suggest. It assumes the barest bones of simple you have alternating two player action. You is that they turn out games like the ones the
2D shoot-em-ups and lets you redesign the rest. can't send the player right back to the start of professionals are already writing.
You can draw your own sprites (animated or the level/game when he dies either, though per¬ To a certain extent any success games
not), design game backgrounds and maps, your haps that's something to be applauded. creators have can only serve to underline
own sound effects, enemy attack patterns and These clearly aren't minor omissions given how stagnant the market has already
generally set a whole host of game parameters the sort of shoot-em-ups most people will want become. Users of 3DGM cant hope to com¬
the way you want them. to create, but they shouldn't be allowed to pete with the likes of Jon Ritman (author of
The system is nothing if not flexible. It obscure the system's many good points. It's got Batman and Head over Heels) - his game
allows for game sections that scroll vertically or a consistent feel in use, it's very flexible within system is technically far superior, and it
horizontally, either at a fixed speed dr using a the limitations mentioned above, but most shows in the end products - but if SEUCK
"push scroll" system where the player's sprite important of all it can produce excellent finished could handle extra weapons and alternating
forces the scroll by trying to .move off screen. products. It would be perfectly possible to pro¬ two-player action you could clone an awful
You can join sprites to make the large end-of- duce good budget-standard games on the sys¬ lot of full-price C64 games quite acceptably
level enemies so popular in coin-ops these tem, though it remains to be seen how long with it.
days, or link a sprite's animation to its direction they'll be marketable as such once all those Games are moving on, of course. Soft¬
of movement. SEUCK buyers come on stream. ware sprites and parallax scrolling are
Surprisingly for such a recent product
becoming increasingly common on the C64,
the ancient Knight Lore is now a budget title
on the Spectrum, and both machines are get¬
ting a little over the hill now anyway.
With 16-bit machines the story could be
very different, however - at least for a while.
ST and Amiga programs don't necessarily fill
the machine's memory, and even if they do
there's a quick-ish disk drive handy for stor¬
age. With the dearth of good software for the
new machines it often seems like almost any¬
thing that runs will sell, and with budget'
prices starting at around the £10 mark who
needs to hit the full-price bracket?
If there isn't an explosion of Amiga or ST
games creators - and there probably wont
be - the reason won't be far to seek. Quite
simply, what's the point in selling your sys¬
tem to everyone else once, if you can keep it
to yourself and sell them the products of the
system time and time again?
If that sounds cynical or greedy, bear in
mind that programmers have a living to
make the same way anyone else has. All
programmers end up recycling their old pro¬
grams to some extent, whether it's just high

7 8 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SPECIAL

these companies simply cant afford to give

away fancy extras or glossy manuals, but
the B side of the tape is (more or less) free.
As for the programmer's time spent creat¬
ing the editor, that too can prove very-
cheap: for large multi-level games the
game's author will probably have to create
some kind of level editor to use in designing
the built-in screens, and the extra work
involved in making this presentable could
well pay off in the extra ease of use for this
purpose.
There's more in the pipeline in the way of
editable budget games. Mastertronic's classic
3D isometric title Molecule Man was the first
ever such game to have a built-in editor, and
is about to get a new lease of life as the B-
side of the first MAD X game. Also on the
horizon is ST Thrust: no release date has been
finalised for this long-awaited conversion, but
the current working version contains a first-
rate planet editor. DIY tunnels, here we
come! •

ST Airball: the construction set tor Microdeal's impressive bounce-em-up costs extra, but wouldn't you like to be able to rearrange the isomet¬ 288 M= 340 §gi«t‘4§6cup within
ric furniture?

score table and software sprite routines or proved most popular in this country with the
vast chunks ot game code. Many develop big budget houses. Not selling the fruits of the
their own game-creation tools: Rcrinbird's ST programs mind you - Mastertronic wont
Advanced- Art Studio began life as a sprite even sell utility-produced adventures, and
and game background design utility, and the other major firms seem unimpressed with
still has strong games leanings to it. If games the possibilities of arcade games creators -
writers don't actually go the whole hog and but actually giving game editors away with
create their own super-SEUCK systems, it's the games themselves.
probably because they can work tine with Recent examples that spring immediate¬
the set-ups they've got and still keep the flex¬ ly to mind are Mastertronic's highly playable
ibility they want. Spore and Firebird's £2.99 release War Cars
Construction Set. It's not hard to see why ST Thrust a great version of a great game is still on the starting
blocks at Firebird Silver, but if they throw in the planet redesigner
Budget builders games like these appeal to budget houses in
as well it'll be worth waiting for.
Surprisingly enough, construction sets have particular: with their narrow profit margins

3D GAME MAKER (3DGM)

CRL, Spectrum £9.95cs

More than a construction set but only just, this

CRL offering would have been an answer to
many people's prayers a few years back. Essen¬
tially it's an isometric 3D room-by-room game of
the Knight Lore or Batman school - not in the
same league, mind you - only redesignable.
The redesignability extends to the object
and room background graphics as well as room
layout and map, but not to the way objects with¬
in the game behave. You're stuck with the sys¬
tem’s rather limited repertoire of killing blocks,
bouncing nasties and the like. Giving them a
new look is easy, but it’d take more than that to
disguise where your finished product came
from.
The object of a 3DGM game is always to
reach a fixed finishing point alive, which limits
gameplay to put it mildly. Even compared to
Knight Lore the puzzles you can reasonably
construct are on the weak side and the screen
slowdown in a full room is way behind the state
of the art.
None of this is to say that you can’t have a
lot of fun with 3DGM, but don’t expect the fin¬
ished product to measure up to budget titles like
Chimera or Molecule Man. As for Head over
Heels, forget it. 3DGM: Rearranging objects in one room of the demo game.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 79

 It’s here-The return of Elvin Atombender!

\TM

After two year’s wait at last it’s arrived—the sequel to beat all sequels! Impossible
Unsurpassed Espionage Action.. Mission II retains all the fun and strategy of the original as once again you embark
on the challenge to find a safe route to Elvin and the final showdown where he will
meet his end! Search each room, find code numbers, objects and keys to help you
with your mission. You must avoid or destroy the guards
and robots that patrol the five towers or risk being
destroyed yourself.
Successfully dispose of Elvin and your quest
is half over! Now your Mission becomes
truly Impossible as you strive to escape
the towers, avoiding guards, robots,
mines, trap doors and elevators
without detection!

■ ■■
SM lisl= mmm

...From the lift you enter the first room...

, sm 1i
jp~-' v I

:?•_ ” - j | 1
* ^
Iffc-u , ! |C U 1 ...Running into more trouble?..
1_“ ~ ~ " |- i j
...But where to next?...

...Why is the robot guarding that table?..

..Who or what is lurking behind these cars?....

...A message on the tape recorder?...

...Can you access the next tower?...

...Quick! Escape from Elvin!!

...Could the final P.I.N. number be here?...

IlmpossibleMissin is a Registered TradeW;lark of EPYX
Inc. EPYX is a Registered
© 1988 EPYX
Trade Mark No. 115
,_......11195270.
Inc. All rights reserved. Manu:
-- -, Manufactured and
distributed Under!icence from Epyx Inc. by U S. Gold
Limited, 2/$ HolfOrd Way, Holford, Birmingham B67AX.

Commodore 64/128 £14.99 disk £9.99 cassette

Amstrad
mMliM---
"TO
£14.49 disk £9.99 c ~~

Epyx
 ADVENTURES

Magnetic Scrolls’ Jinxfar- does it uphold

this premier company's reputation as
Britain’s answer to Infocom, who are fighting
back with Border Zone? Plus Deja Ifu on the
Commodore 64, a glimpse of games to come
with Shadowgate, and of games that were
with Suspect Forget those pesky aliens and
check out some game-worlds where YOU
call the tune...

JINXTER
Charming little number from MAGNETIC SCROLLS

IIMYTCD ^ onlY Magnetic Scrolls' third facility, so if you've got a single disk machine
JIIMAIlIy adventure, but it shows you you'll have to swap disks every time you
how little activity there is on the adventure want to RESTORE or SAVE, which becomes
scene (at the professional end of the market) slightly tiresome as you’ll need to go through
when you realise that they are already this process frequently.
approaching the number one slot in The storyline shows an improve¬
the UK. ment on earlier games as well.
The game boasts the same The Pawn was altogether too
excellent graphics as its two obscure to be really enjoyable
predecessors, Guild of Thieves as an adventure. Guild of
and The Pawn. It also features Thieves was much better - a
the usual excellent parsing simple treasure hunt with
we've come to expect from Mag some excellent locations. Jinx¬
Scrolls, but interestingly the com¬ ter has got the balance just right
pany have removed the GO TO - it's a treasure hunt again, but
command which allowed you to with only six items to collect you'll
move to a named location. A pity, but per¬ find a lot of lateral thinking and explo¬
haps the map layout in Jinxter (which ration required. You must find five charms
includes several areas of water and other and a bracelet which you then reassemble
hazards) would have made the command to resurrect the Bracelet of Turani, thereby
too difficult to implement. defeating the power of the wicked Green
One thing it doesn't have is a RAMSAVE Witches who are draining the 'luck' from

Complex parsing must come...

There are some rather annoying moments in Jinxter, which you only notice because the parser is so
good in almost every other respect. These moments involve what you might call 'complex actions'. A
typical example of a complex action would be LIGHT THE CANDLE. In Jinxter this involves:
1) Opening the matchbox.
2) Taking the match.
3) Striking the match.
4) Lighting the candle with the match. Aquitania.
I.E. Four distinct commands. Each of these stages is necessary, as you'll discover if you try GET The design, of the game, as mentioned in
MATCH before you've opened the matchbox - the program will reply YOU CAN'T SEE ANY MATCH an earlier ACE article, is innovative in that
HERE, despite the tact that any sensible person would know where it was. death is not possible. You have a Guardian
Another example from Jinxter involves opening the can of worms. You are holding the can open¬ who appears when needed to save your skin
er, so you type OPEN CAN, to which the program replies: SHOULDN'T WE BE HOLDING OUR LIT¬ and let you carry on with the game, but you
TLE TOOL IN OUR LITTLE HAND FIRST? You are holding it, but you have to type OPEN CAN wont score maximum points that way. This
WITH CAN OPENER. allows some pretty tough puzzles to chal¬
Even more annoying is the fuss involving walking through doors. Suppose there is a door to the lenge the experts without putting off less
east. You type GO EAST and the program replies THE DOOR IS CLOSED, or words to that effect. experienced players and adds enormously to
So you must type OPEN DOOR first. the enjoyment of the game. Getting around
What we need is a parser that: Jinxter, then is no problem, and as before
- answers LIGHT THE CANDLE with WITH A MATCH?, and (if you reply YES) responds there are large numbers of encrypted clues
with YOU OPEN THE MATCHBOX, TAKE A MATCH, STRIKE IT. AND LIGHT THE CANDLE. in the accompanying documentation if you
- if you want to go east (for example), and all there is is a dosed door in the way. opens it get stuck.
for you, whisks you through it, and closes it again after you. Come on chaps.. We know you can do Sadly there are a couple of minor bugs in
it... the production version - if you've got Version
1.05 (check by typing VERSION) you'll crash

Advanced Computer Entertainment 81

ADVENTURE

the game by going south to the bar in the again - so neither of these bugs is too disas¬ houses. If you fancy a pint of Old Moose-
pub. You will also have difficulty lighting the trous. bolter in the pub, a swim in the lagoon, a
candle in the Pagoda. However neither of There's a magical element within the spot of mousecatching, and some superb
these two actions are necessary to complete game that induces a new dimension of puz¬ graphics into the bargain, then splash out
the game - if you think you need the candle zle solving. Each of the five charms has mag¬ without fear of regret.
to illuminate darkness, you should think ical properties, including the ability to
change the weather (which plays a signifi¬
cant role in the game), freeze objects, and SYSTEM 91 ENCOUNTERS 85
'tag' them so that they always return to you if CHALLENGE 85 LANDSCAPE 92
dropped or otherwise removed from your
inventory. VERDICT 916
Magnetic Scolls' text style improves with
every game and Jinxter has excellent loca¬
RELEASE BOX
tion descriptions and responses. Even trivial
objects sometimes carry a carefully crafted C64/128 £19.95dk JAN 88
description, as in the beer garden:
>EXAMINE BENCHES
SPEC+3 £15.95dk FEB 88
What you do is sit on the benches and AMS 6128 £19.95dk JAN 88
drink a lot of beer and then you fall
IBM PC £19.95dk JAN 88
off the benches. Orthodox, true, but
fun. ATARI ST £24.95dk OUT NOW
Pity we can't show this in colour, but rest assured that the graphics
Jinxter enhances Magnetic Scrolls' repu¬ AMIGA £24.95dk JAN 88
in Jinxter are really something rather special. Spectrum +3 owners tation still further and confirms their position
shouldn't get too excited, however - their versions are text-only. as one of the country's leading adventure

INFOCOM are really branching out

now, so what's the score?
American businessman, given a document
by a wounded secret agent while on a train
Chapter One is a bit of a doddle and Chap¬
ter Three about average. I'll say straight
Well, about 2-2, I'd say. First we had journey across the border from Frobnia. The away that I didn't think this game one of
romance, passion, and pirates in Plundered agent charges you with delivering the docu¬ Infocom's strongest releases. The real time
Hearts. No score there, I'd say, because the ment to his contact at the next station. Do element doesn't add much to the game - all
game was really rather too easy, but defi¬ this, and the assassination will be averted. it means is that when your time mns out and
nitely a commendation for opening up a Chapter Two gives you the control of the you get caught by dogs or guards or what-

BORDER ZONE
Three-part thrills from INFOCOM/ACTIVISION

new genre. Then came Nord and Bert. One same American agent from Chapter One
goal there for hitting the puzzle market, who leaps from the train after handing over
although traditional adventurers would the document and must then escape across
doubtless call 'foul'. Third Infocom release (in the border on foot. In Chapter Three you're
as many months - must be a record) was the double-agent at the scene of the assassi¬
Beyond Zork, which definitely gets the ball nation which you must, quite naturally, try
through the net in all departments - fun, dif¬ to stop without compromising your personal
ferent, and challenging. security or true identity.
And now the company are fielding Bor¬ You can tackle the chapters in any
der Zone. The new angle on this one (there order. Chapter Two is undoubtedly the hard¬
has to be a new angle on every Infocom est (in the Pilg's opinion, anyway) whereas
game these days) is 'real time'. In other
words, from the moment you start play
there's a little clock in the top right hand cor¬ Who's Number One?
ner ticking away. You can PAUSE the action, There's a lot of competition between adventure houses to see who can lay claim to the 'Number One
but as soon as you start up again it's back Slot'. That slot is still, in my opinion, occupied by Level 9, but sadly the Level 9 reputation rests large¬
ly on their older games. Their insistence on sticking with ores, gnomes, and other fantasy scenarios
into the race with old Father Time, even if
you dont hit a single key. no longer holds them in good stead as games like Guild of Thieves, Beyond Zork, and Hitchhikers
open up new realms of interactive fiction for larger audiences. Let's hope Level 9's planned game
Border Zone presents the tale of an assas¬
sination, or at least an attempted one. based on the Arthurian legends brings their catalogue up to date.
Whether it succeeds or not is up to you. Magnetic Scrolls obviously think they're in the top UK slot. They hob-nob with Infocom and have
evening included one of Infocom's writers (Dave Lebling) as a character in Jinxter. Their games are
There are three key characters involved, an
certainly improving, but I reckon we need to see a couple more titles and a teensy-weensy improve¬
American businessman, an American spy,
and an American double-agent posing as a ment in the game design before we can give them top honours.
top KGB executive. Each character lives out Infocom don't count, because they're American. But I still wonder how it is that three out of every
their alloted span in one'of three game four Infocom titles are leagues better than anything we've come up with in Britain. The Infocom pars¬
er isn't much better than either Level 9's or Magnetic Scrolls. Their games don't have larger vocabu¬
'chapters' and you can choose at the begin¬
ning of the game which chapter you want to laries. They certainly don't have graphics. What they do have, though, is superb game design and
play. excellent atmosphere. Having said that, though, I was a bit disappointed with Border Zone...
Chapter One gives you control of the

82 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 ADVENTURE

SHADOWGATE
State-of-the-art spooky safari from MIRRORSOFT
RELEASE BOX
Apple Mac £29.95dk OUT NOW
C64/128 + Amiga + Atari ST versions due 1988

Til IQ is the third game in a series pro- your inventory! ING everything in sight, which doesn't help
ill 0 duced by ICOM Simulations in the Moving around is conducted in a simi¬ gcrmeplcry one jot. Naturally the stunning
US tor Mindscape, and licensed in the UK by larly visual manner - just place your mouse visual display and sense of realism compen¬
Mirrorsoft. The games are good examples of pointer on the door you want to go through, sate for this, but it's a pity they have to.
how the increased computing power of a click the button, and you're off. No need Your quest in Shadowgate isn't towering-
16-bit machine (in this case a Mac) can be either to EXAMINE objects, since placing the ly original - stop the baddy from unleashing
used to introduce new playing styles. pointer on them and double-clicking on the the Behemoth on the unsuspecting world by
The game is entirely mouse-controlled. mouse will get you a description in the text grabbing a few magical artefacts. There is
The screen has four main windows display¬ window. limited magical interaction in the game
ing inventory contents, current location, For anyone who hasn't played this sort of (using the SPEAK command) otherwise it's all
available exits, and text messages. This in game before, the visual realism is stunning. search, solve, and SAVE as often as possible.
itself is not entirely revolutionary, but the Not only can you get and drop objects etc But with a game system like this to build on,
way the game is played certainly is. For by moving them round the display, but you expect some impressive stuff in future.
example, if you see something you fancy in can even lift them up and see if there's some¬
the cunent location - a jewel, perhaps - you thing underneath'
don't type GET JEWEL, instead you 'pick it In addition to the visual dimension, there
up' with the mouse pointer and drop it into is also extensive use of sound. Doors creak
open, spectres laugh and gibber at you,
dragons burst into flame with a deafening
ever then you RESTORE and try again. roar - all sampled sounds that add enor¬
Once you've worked out what to do, mously to the enjoyment of playing.
doing it in time is no problem. To help you, That's the good news, but I'd be mislead¬
however, you can select FAST or SLOW clock ing you if I left you with the impression that
speed depending on your self-confidence. everything's perfect. First, there are very few
The puzzles are as ingenious as ever, but the control options. You can EXAMINE, GO,
first two chapters held a certain disappoint¬ SPEAK, OPEN, CLOSE, HIT, CONSUME and
ment for me. In the first, the atmosphere was OPERATE - and that's all. To some extent this
great, but the task too easy. In the second, limitation is overcome by the OPERATE com¬
although there's quite an exciting dog chase SHADOWGATE on the Mac. There's a torch burning in your invento¬
mand which in effect provides a whole load
ry, and a dragon waiting up ahead to burn you
to keep you busy to start with, the locations of different functions, depending on the
were rather dull. object to which it is applied. Thus you can
The third chapter is by far the best. First, SYSTEM 93 ENCOUNTERS 62
use OPERATE to light a torch, lift a skull, pull
the bustling city in which the assassination is a lever and so on. CHALLENGE 80 LANDSCAPE 92

to take place is a more lively, if rather limit¬ In practise, this means you are OPERAT- VERDICT 898
ed, setting than the two previous scenarios.
Secondly, the time factor seems better imple¬
mented in this section as the seconds tick
away before the shot rings out, rather like
the climax of the scene in the film Day of the
Jackal.
Border Zone, like all Infocom's games, is
faultlessly executed as far as the parsing
and programming is concerned, but it didn't
grip me as much as their other releases. I
DEJAVU
MINDSCAPE squeeze 16-bit system into 8-bit.
would have preferred a single scenario with
more locations and more puzzles. As it is, the
fragmentation of the plot (although original) DF IA VII WQS
YU appear
gcmrie to
on the Mac and is
seems to detract from the atmosphere, a fail¬
also available on the Amiga and ST (for
ing not adequately compensated for by the
which machines it is highly recommened).
added excitement of 'real time'.
It's also the first to be ported down onto an 8-
bit machine. How does it look?
The system is the same as that used in
RELEASE BOX
Shadowgate (reviewed on this page) and
C64/128 £19.99dk OUT NOW has transferred surpisingly well onto the C64.
Recovering consciousness in a house with a
IBM PC £24.99dk OUT NOW corpse upstairs you find yourself a prime sus¬
Apple Mac To be announced FEB l pect for murder. Can you escape and turn DEJA VU on the C64 - this is what you see when you recover con¬
the tables on those who have framed you? sciousness - there's a gun in that coat, so grab it!
Other versions to be decided
The screen layout is very similar to the Mouse control isnt quite as stunning as it
Macintosh version, though the graphics win¬ is on the Mac because, of course, you're
dow is larger to accomodate the Commodor¬ using a joystick instead. Furthermore the
e's lower resolution. The program makes fre¬ manipulation of objects is not so graphically
SYSTEM 93 ENCOUNTERS 86 quent disk accesses as you click your way
CHALLENGE 79 LANDSCAPE 82 through the rooms and out onto the streets SYSTEM 85 ENCOUNTERS 55
VERDICT 895 which slows gameplay down somewhat, but CHALLENGE 78 LANDSCAPE 82
accesses are surpisingly quick and the pace
is no slower than, say, an Infocom game. VERDICT 819

Advanced Computer Entertainment 83

ADVENTURES

was the first ICOM game to appear on the e's lower resolution. The program makes fre¬
Mac and is also available on the Amiga and RELEASE BOX quent disk accesses as you click your way
ST (for which machines it is highly through the rooms and out onto the streets
recommened). It's also the first to be ported C64/128 £14.95dk OUT NOW
which slows gameplay down somewhat, but
down onto an 8-bit machine. How does it Atari ST £24.95dk OUT NOW accesses are surpisingly quick and the pace
look? is no slower than, say, an Infocom game.
Amiga £24.95dk OUT NOW
The system is the same as that used in Mouse control isn't quite as stunning as it
Shadowgate (reviewed on this page) and Apple Mac £29.95dk OUT NOW is on the Mac because, of course, you're
has transferred surpisingly well onto the C64. using a joystick instead. Furthermore the
Recovering consciousness in a house with a manipulation of objects is not so graphically
corpse upstairs you find yourself a prime sus¬ The screen layout is very similar to the impressive because of the lower resolution
pect for murder. Can you escape and turn Macintosh version, though the graphics win¬ and some smaller objects are barely recog¬
the tables on those who have framed you? dow is larger to accomodate the Commodor¬ nisable until they have been double-clicked

the chop.

Pat's Patch Almost all the many characters in the

game can be addressed as you question
This month Pat looks at Gilsoft's Professional Adventure Writer. them about each other, themselves, their
love lives and their business affairs. You will
PAW has already appeared for the Spectrum range of computers and it has recently been converted to the
spend time hiding in corners, listening for
Amstrad machines. There are slight differences of implementation on the two formats, with the Amstrad
indiscrete conversations and rooting around
in personal documents, as well as solving
version running under CP/M. The Amstrad PAW also offers an incredible 60K of space for your adventure
- and that's before the 40% text compression and ignoring the possibility of disk access for more data.
the usual locked-door and inaccessible-loca¬
tion puzzles.
PAW has the best parser I've ever seen, with up to nine significant words of the player's command
capable of being individually recognised. The first five letters of each word are scanned and these letters
The magic of this game lies in the com¬
must all be typed unless the programmer has deliberately inserted shorter synonyms.
plex movements and actions of the different
characters, all of whom you must keep track
All the well-loved Quill commands are built-in, like get/drop/wear/remove all, and in addition a 'do-all'
of and check out during your investigation.
command is provided which allows you to create your own automatic routines to recognise and act upon
commands such as 'Throw everything except the bucket down the well'. Objects can be normal, charac¬
A small map, lots of conversations, much
ters, or containers and those flagged as containers can be carried around and even put inside other con¬
brain work, and an excellent atmosphere
tainers.
make this one of the all-time adventure clas¬
sics, and deserving of a wider following. The
Up to 255 locations can be defined and the descriptions for these can be as long as you like while
around 450 messages are available in addition to the 60 provided. Again the messages can be of any
Pilg has seen versions for all the usual Info¬
com formats, including Amstrad CPC, but
length, only restricted by the overall memory limitations of your system. Using the 'Extern' action it should
be possible to create random access text files on disk for even greater capacity. In fact it should be possi¬
check with Activision for availability and
pricing.
ble to use most of the RAM space for conditions alone...wow!
If you have any experience of the Quill you'll find PAW simple as it uses the same basic lay-out and
coding techniques. PAW is much more flexible than Quill and with more commands but you needn't use all The Pilgrim's Players'
the extras at once.
One major difference between PAW and Quill is the way you feed information to the database. The
Guide to Hitchhikers
CP/M version of PAW consists of two parts, a compiler, and an interpreter. Data is put together using a Ye Third and Final Parte
word processor in straight ASCILfiles, then passed to the compiler which checks syntax and creates a
database. Then the interpreter is used to load the database and create a runnable game. Aha, thou hast confonted the Screening Door,
Unfortunately, while text editing is easy using your favourite word processor (or the simple text editor eh? If you've done the Maze, then you'll have
supplied on the disk), compilation takes ages when files start to get large. I'm currently working on a game enough common sense to Get no tea. Any
which occiupies 30K uncompressed and this takes several minutes to compile. On the other hand, the sane door, on seeing both no tea and tea is
speed of editing more than makes up for this. I would suggest that you tackle the coding first before writing going to have a fit, but don't go west until you've
reams of text. That way the file can be kept fairly short during the testing stages. got as high a score as possible. Having a drink at
As for coding, conditions are split into several tables, 'Response' which acts on the player's input, sev¬ this stage might help.
eral process tables, two of which tackle actions after 'Response' but before the 'What now?' prompt, and Marvin can repair the hatch and of
several more which are used as subroutines. These others can be 'called' from within any other table and course you did remember the tool as pointed out
nested up to ten deep. The most obvious use is in creating interactive characters and conversations but in the last issue, didn't you?
the sky's the limit once you put your thinking cap on. Ah well, you're nearly there. Can you bear it?
Graphics aren't supported as such, although provision is made for you to patch in your own routines Can you bear the fact that you have almost fin¬
using 'Externs' - but with all that memory for text, who needs pictures? At last it's a practical proposition for ished a program that cost you....Yes, well, less
non-programmers to create detailed, in-depth adventures to rival the big boys! Buy it! said the betier, eh? Take your trusty belongings,
wear your gown, and descend through the hatch
into a brave new dump...er...world.

A Pilgrim Retrospective... Next month: The first instalment of the Pil¬

grim's Players' Guide to...The Pawn.

Suspect by Infocom
'Never heard of it', scad an Activision That's a great pity, because it really is an
spokesperson when the Pilg rang to check excellent example of interactive character Next month...
the price of one of his favourite Infocom programming. Stuck in a large American
games. That just about sums up the treat¬ country house, attending a fancy dress ball, Sappho’s Shades Diary returns with more
ment this little gem has had since its release. you discover the corpse of your society host¬ whispers from the outrageous Micronet
This is mainly because the game came out ess, strangled by the lariat from your cos¬ multi-user game, and the White Wizard
at the same time as Hitchhiker's and was tume. The police are on the way, the clock makes another guest appearance with a
rapidly eclipsed by its more famous com¬ ticks remorselessly towards midnight and if survey of role-playing games. Don't miss it!
panion. you can't find out who did it then you're for
84 Advanced Computer Entertainment
 SUBSCRIPTIONS

WISDOM
If you're someone who possesses such intelligence, vision and far¬
sightedness as to take out a 12-month subscription to Advanced
Computer Entertainment....

FOLLY
.then we the gullible and over-generous publishers are crazy enough
to offer you...

MONEY
a further £10 (TEN pounds) discount off the already discounted soft¬
ware featured on the following two pages,...

SEX
...an offer open to persons of both male and female gender.

HOW THE SUBSCRIPTION OFFER WORKS

• First make your selection of software items from the following two pages.
• Then use one of the FREE POST Reader Offers order form on page 104 to make your order.
' By tlckmg the subscription box on the form you get the next 12 issues of ACE for £17.95 AND a £10 discount off your
software order.
• So if you buy software totalling £19.95 at the discounted prices printed overleaf, you can have it for just £9.95. Or
y°u can have any item which we're selling at £10 or less absolutely free!
• There's no catch. Far from it. Subscribing to ACE is the best way of guaranteeing your monthly copy post free and
hot off the press.

ACCESS / VISA HOTLINE © 0458 74011

If you prefer you can order your subscription by dialling 0458 74011 and asking for ACE Credit Card Orders
 MAIL ORDER

GAME SET and

MATCH
Ocean
A massive compilation of 10
complete sports games - including
Konami's HyperSports, Ping Pong
and Tennis, Daley Thompson's
Super-Test, World Series Baseball,
Pool, Championship Basketball,
Barry McGuigan's Boxing, Super
Soccer and more. Incredible value!
Version RRP ACE price Order code
Spectrum cass.. ...12.95 9.95 A120SC
CBM 64 cass.... ...12.95 9.95 A120CC
CBM 64 disk. ...17.95 13.95 A120CD
Amstrad cass.... ...12.95 9.95 A120AC
Amstrad disk. ...17.95 13.95 A120AD

CBM 64 disk.12.95 10.95 A131CD ECO.19.95 14.95 A136ST

STAR GAMES 2
Amstrad cass.8.95 6.95 A131AC World Games.24.99 18.95 A108ST MAGNIFICENT
Gremlin Amstrad disk.14.95 11.95 A131AD Arkanoid.14.95 11.95 A112ST
SEVEN
A compilation of superb titles
including Ball Blazer, Eidolon, SOLID GOLD CALIFORNIA Ocean
Knight Games, Highway Encounter, GAMES An incredible value-for-money
US Gold compilation which includes Head
and Trail Blazer. Stunning value.
Version RRP ACE price Order code
A collection of five fantastic titles: US Gold/Epyx Over Heels, Arkanoid, Wizball,
Spectrum cass.7.99 6.25 A102SC Infiltrator, Leaderboard, Gauntlet, The best Epyx sports simulation yet. Short Circuit, Cobra, Frankie Goes
CBM 64 cass.9.99 7.95 A102CC Ace of Aces and Winter Games. And that’s saying something. to Hollywood, and Yie Ar Kung Fu.
CBM 64 disk.14.99 11.95 A102CD Hours and hours of entertainment. Version RRP ACE price Order code Version RRP ACE price Order code
Amstrad cass.9.99 7.95 A102AC Version RRP ACE price Order code Spectrum cass.8.99 6.95 A135SC Spectrum cass.. .9.95 7.95 A129SC
Spectrum cass.9.99 7.95 A122SC Spec+3 disk.12.99 9.99 A135SD CBM 64 cass..9.95 7.95 A129CC
CBM 64 disk....14.95 11.95 A129CD
MASK TWO Amstrad cass..9.95 7.95 A129AC
Amstrad disk....14.95 11.95 A129AD
Gremlin
The Mask team are back in another
pulsating mission against the forces
of Venom.
Now you can buy some of the TRANTOR
US Gold
Version RRP
Spectrum cass....7.99
CBM 64 cass..9.99
ACE price
5.95
7.95
Order code
A125SC
A125CC
hottest titles around and save Use a flame-thrower to smash the
power of the evil Nebithons.
CBM 64 disk....14.99 11.95
Amstrad cass..9.99
Amstrad disk. ...14.99 11.95
7.95
A125CD
A125AC
A125AD
money! Spectacular graphics.
Version
Spectrum cass
RRP
8.99
ACE price
6.95
Order code
A132SC

GAUNTLET 2
CBM 64 cass.....9.99 7.95 A122CC
US Gold/Taito CBM 64 disk. ...14.99 11.95 A122CD
Follow up to the big arcade hit Amstrad cass... .9.99 7.95 A122AC
Amstrad disk.... ....19.99 15.95 A122AD
packing numerous new features.
Version RRP ACE price Order code
Spectrum cass.. .8.99 6.95 A123SC
DRILLER
CBM 64 cass..9.99 7.95 A123CC
CBM 64 disk....11.99 8.95 A123CD incentive
Amstrad cass..9.99 7.95 A123AC A stupendous programming
Amstrad disk....14.99 11.95 A123AD
achievement. 3D exploration as
Atari ST disk*....19.99 14.95 A123ST
never before.
*ST version imminent
Version RRP ACE price Order code
Spectrum cass 14.95 11.95 A127SC
CBM 64 cass.14.95 11.95 A127CC
COMBAT SCHOOL CBM 64 disk.17.95 13.95 A127CD

Ocean Amstrad cass.14.95 11.95 A127AC

Amstrad disk.17.95 13.95 A127AD
The Konami arcade game featuring
sEven gruelling events.
Version RRP ACE price Order code CBM 64 cass.....9.99 7.95 A135CC Spec+3 disk. ...12.99 9.99 A132SD
MASTERS OF THE CBM 64 disk. ...11.99 8.95 A135CD CBM 64 cass... .9.99 7.95 A132CC
Spectrum cass.7.95 6.25 A131SC
CBM 64 cass.8.95 6.95 A131CC UNIVERSE Amstrad cass... .9.99 7.95 A135AC CBM 64 disk.....11.99 8.95 A132CD
Amstrad disk. ...14.99 11.95 A135AD Amstrad cass... .9.99 7.95 A132AC
Gremlin Amstrad disk.... ....14.99 11.95 A132AD
The game of the film. Atari ST disk.... ....19.99 14.95 A132ST
Version RRP ACE price Order code
DEFLEKTOR
Spectrum cass.7.99 6.25 A134SC
CBM 64 cass.9.99 7.95 A134CC Gremlin/Vortex 720°
CBM 64 disk.14.99 11.95 A134CD A stunningly original game in which
Amstrad cass.9.99 7.95 A134AC you use rotating mirrors, and other US Gold
Amstrad disk.14.99 11.95 A134AD
devices to guide a laser-beam onto The thrills and spills of
its target. 60 addictive screens. skateboarding on your micro.
New on Atari ST Version RRP ACE price Order code Numerous challenges including the
Spectrum cass....7.99 5.95 A126SC ultimate 720 degree twist.
Various CBM 64 cass..9.99 7.95 A126CC Version RRP ACE price Order code
A selection of some of the hottest CBM 64 disk....14.99 11.95 A126CD Spectrum cass.8.99 6.95 A124SC
titles. Amstrad cass..9.99 7.95 A126AC CBM 64 cass.9.99 7.95 A124CC
Title RRP ACE price Order code Amstrad disk. ...14.99 11.95 A126AD CBM 64 disk.11.99 8.95 A124CD
Wizball.19.95 14.95 A109ST Atari ST disk*.... ...19.99 14.95 A126ST Amstrad cass.9.99 7.95 A124AC
Top Gun.19.95 14.95 A114ST *ST version imminent Amstrad disk.14.99 11.95 A124AD

86 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 MAIL ORDER*

Order form printed on

page 104 (inside Pink
Pages!)

ACE MAIL ORDER

• Fast delivery
• Friendly service
• Fat discounts
HOW TO ORDER
Just make a note of the details of the items you want, including the order
codes. Then fill these in on one of the "ACE READER OFFERS1' forms
printed on page 104.
MATCHDAY 2 CBM 64 cass... .9.99 7.95
Post this, together with your credit card details or cheque to the Free
A128CC
CBM 64 disk.....11.99 8.95 A128CD Post address listed. You need pay no postage.
Ocean Amstrad cass... .9.99 7.95 A128 AC
The best action football game Amstrad disk. ...14.99 11.95 A128AD
Alternatively ring 0458 74011 and ask for ACE Credit Card Orders.
available on home micros. Atari ST disk*.... ...19.99 14.95 A128ST
Version RRP ACE price Order code *ST version imminent PLEASE NOTE
Spectrum cass.7.95 6.25 A130SC
CBM 64 cass.8.95 6.95 A130CC XOR 1. All items are despatched by first class mail
CBM 64 disk.12.95 10.95 A130CD
Amstradcass.8.95 6.95 A130AC Logotron 2. We have tried to list only those versions of software which are avail¬
Amstraddisk.14.95 11.95 A130AD Ingenious maze game, packed with able NOW.
mind-bending puzzles. Original and 3. All prices include VAT, postage and packing.
very compulsive. Ace Rated 927.
OUTRUN Version RRP ACE price Order code 4. You will normally receive software within 7 days of ordering. But
US Gold Spectrum cass.7.95 6.25 A119SC please allow 2-3 weeks in case of temporary shortages.
CBM 64 cass.9.95 7.95 A119CC
The coin op smash hit accelerates
CBM 64 disk.12.95 10.95 A119CD
onto home computers. Amstrad cass.9.95 7.95 A119AC SUBSCRIPTION
Version RRP ACE price Order code Amstraddisk.14.95 11.95 A119AD
Spectrum cass.8.99 6.95 A128SC BBC cass.9.95 7.95 A119BC If you want an even better deal, turn the page and have a look at our sub¬
Spec+3 disk.12.99 9.99 A128SD BBC disk.12.95 10.95 A119BD scription offer. It'll save you another £10!!
CREDIT CARD HOTLINE Access

0458 74011
Advanced Computer Entertainment 87
ONLY ROM SILICA
Finally, there's a personal computer that not only solves problems like other computers, but also solves
the one problem that other computers have created. Affordability. Silica Shop are pleased to present the
ST range of personal/business computers from Atari. The ST was designed utilizing the most recent
breakthroughs in semiconductor technology, producing a personal computer that performs tasks with
fewer parts. Which means it costs less to make. And less to buy. The latest ST computers now include
built in power supplies and built in disk drives. The TOS operating system and GEM window environment
are now on ROM chips which are already installed in the ST keyboard. This enables automatic instant
booting when you switch on. Silica Shop are pleased to offer the complete Atari ST range. Our mail order
department is situated in Sidcup and we have 3 retail outlets at Sidcup, Lion House (Tottenham Court Rd)
and Selfridges (Oxford Street). We have eight years experience of Atari products, longer than any other
UK company, and are well established as the UK’s No.1 Atari specialist. With a group turnover of over £9
+VAT=£299
million and in excess of 80 staff, we offer you unbeatable service and support. We provide several
facilities which you will find invaluable during your Atari computing life and most of these facilities are
available ONLY FROM SILICA. We suggest that you read through what we have to offer, before you
decide where to purchase your Atari ST.
SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE!
There is nothing that can compare with the incredible value for money offered by Atari’s
520ST-FM. For only £260 (+VAT=£299), you can purchase a powerful 512K RAM computer,
FREE STARTER KIT - Only From Silica with a 95 key keyboard (including numeric keypad), MIDI interface, GEM, a palette of 512
When you purchase any Atari ST keyboard, you wilt not only receive the best value for money computer
on the market, but you will also receive the following from Atari Corporation as part of the package: colours, mouse controller, and a 512K built-in disk drive. The 520ST-FM has a TV modulator
* BASIC Language Disk * BASIC Manual * ST Owners Manual * TOS/GEM on ROM
If you buy your ST from Silica Shop, you will also receive: built-in, and comes with a lead to allow you to plug it straight into any domestic colour
* NEOchrome Sampler - colour graphics program * 1st Word - Word Processor television set. The mains transformer is also built-in to the keyboard, so there are no messy
In addition, we at Silica would like to see you get off to a flying start with your new computer, so we have
put together a special ST STARTER KIT worth over £100, which we are giving away FREE OF CHARGE external boxes. You couldn’t wish for a more compact, powerful and stylish unit. Atari ST
with every ST computer purchased at our normal retail prices. This kit is available ONLY FROM SILICA computers are now firmly established in the UK, there are nearly 500 software titles already
and is aimed at providing users with a valuable introduction to the world of computing. We are continually
upgrading the ST Starter Kit, which contains public domain and other licensed software, as well as books,
available for a wide variety of applications and the list is growing all the time. And that’s not
magazines and accessories all relevant to ST computing. Return the coupon below for full details. all. When you buy your new 520ST-FM (or any Atari ST computer) from Silica Shop, you will
DEDICATED SERVICING - Only From Silica get a lot more, including a FREE Silica ST Starter Kit worth over £100. Read the ONLY FROM
At Silica Shop, we have a dedicated service department of seven full time Atari trained technical staff. SILICA section on the left, to see why you should buy your new high power, low price 520ST-
This team is totally dedicated to servicing Atari computer products. Their accumulated knowledge, skill
and experience makes them second to none in their field. You can be sure that any work carried out by
FM from Silica Shop, the UK’s Nol Atari Specialists. For further details of the range of Atari
them is of the highest standard. A standard of servicing which we believe you will find ONLY FROM ST computers and the FREE Silica ST Starter Kit, complete and return the reply coupon below
SILICA. In addition to providing full servicing facilities for Atari ST computers (both in and out of
warranty), our team is also able to offer memory and modulator upgrades to ST computers.
1Mb RAM UPGRADE: Our upgrade on the standard Atari 520ST-M or 520ST-FM keyboard
ATARI 520ST-FM NOW
(inc VAT)
ONLY £260 (+VAT=£299)
520ST-FM with 512K RAM & mono monitor £399(inc VAT Upgrade from 512K RAM to 1024K RAM £100
increase the memory from 512K to a massive 1024K. It has a full 1 year warranty and is available from
Silica at an additional retail price of only £86.96 (+VAT = £100).
TV MODULATOR UPGRADE: Silica can upgrade the 1040ST-F to include a TV modulator so
that you can then use it with your TV set. This is an internal upgrade and does not involve any untidy ATARI 1040ST-F - NEW PRICE

ATARI
external boxes. A cable to connect your ST to any domestic TV is included in the price of the upgrade We are pleased to announce a new reduced price point on the
which is only £49 (inc VAT). The upgrade is also available for early 520ST computers at the same price. 1040ST-F which is now available for only £499 (inc VAT). The
1040 is a powerful computer with 1Mb of RAM and also includes
THE FULL STOCK RANGE - Only From Silica a built-in 1Mb double sided 3W disk drive. The 1040 has been
We aim to keep stocks of all Atari related products and our warehouse carries a stock of over £V4 million. designed for use on business and professional applications
We import many software titles direct from the USA and you will find that we have new releases in most of which require a high resolution monochrome or colour
advance of many of our competitors. Unlike dealers who may only stock selected titles, we have the full monitor. It does not therefore have an RF modulator for use
range. In addition, we carry a complete line of all books which have been written about the Atari ST. A with a domestic TV set. Modulators can be fitted for £49 (inc VAT).
range as wide as ours is something you will find is available ONLY FROM SILICA. 1040ST-F Keyboard Without Monitor £499 (inc VAT)
1040ST-F Keyboard + High Res SM125 Mono Monitor.£599 (inc VAT)
AFTER SALES SUPPORT - Only From Silica If you would like further details of the 1040ST-F, return the coupon below.
Rest assured that when you buy your ST from Silica Shop, you will be fully supported. Our free mailings
give news of releases and developments. This will help to keep you up to date with new software releases
as well as what's happening in the Atari market. And in addition, our sales staff are at the end of a MEGA STs NOW IN STOCK
telephone line to service all of your Atari requirements. If you purchase an ST from Silica and would like For the user who requires even more RAM than the 520 or 1040
any technical advice, we have a full time technical support team to help you get the best from your ST’s offer, the new MEGA ST computers are now available.
computer. Because we have both the staff and the systems specifically dedicated to providing after sales There are two MEGA ST’s, one with 2Mb of RAM and the other
service on Atari ST computers, we are confident that our users enjoy an exceptionally high level of with a massive 4Mb. Both new computers are fully compatible
support. This can be received ONLY FROM SILICA. with existing ST’s and run currently available ST software. The
MEGA ST’s are styled as an expandable Central Processing
FREE CATALOGUES - Only From Silica Unit with open architecture and a detachable keyboard. They
At Silica Shop, we recognise that serious users require an in-depth information service, which is why we are supplied with GEM, a free mouse controller and all extras
mail free newsletters and price lists to our ST owners. These are up to 48 pages long and are crammed as with the 520 or 1040. Prices are as follows:
with technical details as well as special offers and product descriptions. If you have already purchased an MEGA ST2Mb Keyboard + CPU .£999 (inc VAT)
ST and would like to have your name added to our mailing list, please complete the coupon & return it MEGA ST2Mb Keyboard + CPU + SM125 Mono Monitor £999 (inc VAT)
us. This information service is available ONLY FROM SILICA. MEGA ST 4Mb Keyboard + CPU .£1199 (inc VAT)
MEGA ST 4Mb Keyboard + CPU + SM125 Mono Monitor £1299 (inc VAT)
FREE OVERNIGHT DELIVERY - From Silica If you would like further details of the MEGA STs. return the coupon below.
Most orders are processed through our computer within 24 hours of receiving them. Most hardware
orders are sent by the overnight GROUP 4 courier service FREE OF CHARGE to customers within the
UK. This method helps to ensure minimum delay and maximum protection.

PRICE MATCH - Only From Silica

We hope that the combination of our low prices, FREE UK delivery service, FREE Starter Kit and FREE
after sales support, will be enough to make you buy your Atari equipment from Silica Shop. If however, To: Silica Shop Ltd, Dept ACE 288, 1-4 The Mews, Hatherley Road, Sidcup. Kent, DA 14 4DX
there is something you wish to purchase, and you find one of our competitors offering it at a lower price,
then please contact our sales department, providing us with our competitor's name, address and
telephone number. If our competitor has the goods in sto(k, we will normally match the offer (on a ‘same
product - same price’ basis) and still provide you with our normal free delivery. We realise that we are not
PLEASE SEND ME FREE LITERATURE ON THE ATARI ST
the only company who will match a competitor’s price. However, if you come to us for a price match, you
will also be entitled to our after sales service, including free newsletters and technical support. This Mr/Mrs/Ms: Initials: . Surname:
makes our price match promise rather special, something you will receive ONLY FROM SILICA. We don't
want you to go anywhere else for your Atari products. So shop at Silica, the UK's Nol Atari Specialist.
Address:

SIDCUP (& Mail Order) 01-309 1111

1-4 The Mews, Hatherley Road, Sidcup, Kent, DAI4 4DX
LONDON 01-580 4839
Lion House (1st floor), 227 Tottenham Court Rd, London, W1P OHX Postcode:
LONDON 01-629 1234 ext 3914 Do you already own a computer
Seif ridges (1st floor), Oxford Street, London, W1A 1AB If so, which one do you own?
 MUSIC

MORE
BANGS FOR
LESS
Choosing a drum
machine involves
first assessing your

BUCKS
needs, then checking
out what's available,
and finally trying to
get the most 'beats

□
per buck'. It can be a Ire you sitting comlortably? then I'll cian-folk of the time were greatly afraid of
nightmare. Keith | begin... the drummers, and tolerated them only
Once upon a time, bands of large, because they emitted noises which were
Ansell raises the hairy creatures roamed the earth: These strangely attractive to the people, and which
'drummers', as they were known, were sub¬ no other creature could make.
tempo and rounds up ject to fits of uncontrolled violence and Then someone had a revolutionary idea.
aggression, and required frequent offerings 'What if we made a machine that could gen¬
the competition... of hop and barley ferments. The good musi- erate all the noises made by the drummers,
but without taking up so much space, with¬
out requiring constant propitiatory libations,
and without the same tendency to mn off
with our wives and daughters when we're
not looking?' And so was born the concept of
the drum machine, or as it is more trendily
called these days, the Digital Rhythm Pro¬
grammer.
The first automatic rhythm devices were
steam-driven fairground organs, which had
real instruments controlled by pianola-type
rolls; these were followed by the great Wurl-
itzer cinema organs of the thirties, and then,
in the sixties, home organs featuring preset
rhythm accompaniments. Gradually manu¬
facturers realised there was a market for the
rhythm units by themselves; Korg and
Roland were among the first to produce self-
contained preset machines featuring, for
example, Foxtrot, Samba and Swing rythms.
The first digital machines were devel¬
oped by Roger Linn, sometimes referred to as
the 'inventor of the drum machine'; some of
his machines offered remarkably sophisticat¬
ed facilities for the time including features
such as touch sensitivity, which are still not
commonly found in today's machines. Then
Roland TR626 — 30 Sequential Circuits introduced the ability to
built-in sound sources for you to play around with, plus 48 preset rhythm patterns and space for 48 programmed ones. MIDI implementation is change each voice's pitch and level on each
excellent, including song pointer, programmable trigger output and a tape sync function.
beat with their Drumtracks machine, and E-
Advanced Computer Entertainment 89
rMUSIC

mu Systems were one of the leaders in machine shackling you to its tempo: a them limit to some extent the sounds you can
developing sampling drum machines with device like the Kahler Human Clock enables play. If you want to see all the drum voices
their SP-12 Drum Computer. Most of today's you to dictate the tempo of the programmed you are programming at the same time, and
advances are in terms of increasing afford¬ rhythms from your live playing. have more flexibility in the way you pro¬
ability, and the facilities offered by recent If you are a non-drummer who requires gramme them, then you will need a comput¬
introductions like the TR626 would have some sort of percussion capability, then there er and sequencing software; and if you are
been envied by major recording studios a are several possibilities. You may just want programming your rhythms on a sequencer,
few short years ago. some rhythm to back up your keyboard then you could dispense with the drum
playing, in which case a preset-only drum machine and opt for a multi-sampling key¬
Who needs 'em? machine or a home organ with rhythm pre¬ board or sounds to play with. You pays yer
If you are a drummer, then clearly you can sets could be enough. These range from money (in the case of samplers, rather a lot
manage without a drum machine at all, acceptable to naff, and generally you get of it!) and takes yer choice...
although a rhythm programmer can still what you pay for.
offer you a lot, particularly if linked to an Alternatively, you may want to use Facilities
electronic kit - a wide range of sounds to rhythm creatively in home recording or per¬ Most of the criticisms levelled at drum
play with, the ability to create rhythms that formance, and here things get more com¬ machines in the past have been implicit in
would be physically impossible to play, the plex. Dedicated rhythm programmers (we the word 'machine' - inflexibility, ruthless
opportunity to practise in the dead of night will look at some examples later), can offer and monotonous accuracy, lack of feel, etc.
without the neighbours calling in the police; terrific value for money. They have their (Perhaps that is why manufacturers now
above all, perhaps, a huge extension to the individual strengths and weaknesses, but all seem to avoid the word in their product
creative possibilities of your medium. And of them suffer from the restriction of a single names). However, many of these criticisms
you no longer need to be concerned about a line display for programming, and all of are becoming outdated as the technology

MIDI Panel of Experts

Dear ACE MIDI Panel,
First, I think the idea of a panel is a great idea We throw your questions selves are a bit questionable, and as usual the
'Guitar' pre-set sounds nothing like a guitar, but
and wish you the best of luck, but do questions
have to be about MIDI? What about computers
at the panel - this month you can even change the pre-sets, adding and
subtracting filtration, ADSR and all of the other
and music in general? For example, I find MIDI Harold Ingram tells you parameters. But wait, it gets better! Having writ¬
quite expensive, but I’d still like to use my com¬
puter (a Commodore 64) to make music. What
how NOT to get into MIDI! ten your first work, you can print it, complete
with a set of lyrics if required.
are my options? The only drawback is that The Music Studio
James Brinston, Surrey does require some knowledge of musical nota¬
tion to begin with, but don't be put off if you don’t
Howard Ingram replies: know a crotchet from a minim, the extensive
The problem with any new technology is that it booklet which accompanies the software will
is always going to be expensive. Advertise¬ make life easy for you, and you’ll be surprised at
ments will try to woo you into believing that you how quickly you actually pick up the intricacies
need MIDI but never forget that advertisements of musical notation. I recommend The Music
are trying to ’educate' you into buying MIDI. In Studio highly.
advertising parlance, the word 'education' can I also took the opportunity to visit some
always be substituted for 'brainwashing'. local software emporiums, just to see what was
To answer your question, I would agree that readily available off the shelves. Two software
MIDI is expensive, but if you wait two or three packages predominated, these being Ubiks
years the second-hand market in MIDI will have Music and Micro Rhythms + (both from Firebird),
expanded, and it will be possible to buy equip¬ priced at £1.99 and £2.99. At these prices it's
ment at more affordable prices. In the mean¬ unfair to expect anything special, but I was sur¬
time, I’d suggest that you consider buying some prised at the quality of the sound. The Ubiks
non-MIDI musical software because, although Music program supposedly turns your computer
these may have limitations, they are often excel¬ into a sythesiser (where have we heard that
lent introductions to computerised music-mak¬ before?) but the main drawback is in using the
ing. Qwerty keyboard. The sounds are good, but it's
It's all too easy to believe that if you aren't difficult to play. Micro Rhythm + is equally limit¬
using the best available equipment then your ed in versatility, but it's easy to play and some
music will, in some way, be second-rate. That's Here's the man who's answering your question, James. We could¬
very interesting rhythms can be achieved. I'd
n’t fit his photo in last month, so here it is just for the record.
nonsense. I firmly belive that you create music recommend it and at these pocket money prices
to the best of your ability with the equipment you can't go far wrong. To help you on your way
available to you. Buy what you can afford and of SID meant that there were soon a plethora of I've twisted the editor's arm (Ouch! Ed.), and he
explore every possibility of that software. software packages for your time and money. has agreed that ACE will send you both Ubiks
You are fortunate in owning a CBM64 Probably the best non-MIDI software avail¬ Music and Micro Rhytm + to get you started.
because it is possibly the best computer to own able for the C64 is The Music Studio by Activi¬ Good luck and have fun! •
as regards music-making on a budget. This is sion. This program requires you to use the joy¬
due almost entirely to SIDjthe Sound Interface stick to place notes on a musical stave, and OK So Howard twisted my arm. In future,
Device chip) which is dedicated totally to musi¬ then by pressing the 'fire' button on the joystick however, we'll be giving some free software
cal applications. It is possible to create complex you can listen back to your composition. There to everyone who has a letter printed in the
pieces of music using no more than the Com¬ are excellent editing facilities which allow you to MIDI Panel section - so if you’ve got a prob¬
modore 64's user manual and a series of POKE repeat sections, change entire sections, change lem, get it solved, and get some software
instructions. More importantly, the introduction keys, and change sounds. The sounds them¬ into the bargain!

90 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 MUSIC

advances; it is now possible to achieve rea¬ dards. Bear in mind, though, that you can only these features combine to produce great flexibili¬
sonable subtlety of performance from a treat all the sounds, or none, as the machine only ty, limited only by your programming patience.
drum machine, and the sounds themselves has stereo outputs. However, some flexibility is Patience is a necessary virtue, however,
have come a long way from the tin-can and provided by the ability to programme different vol¬ since the key-press sequences required to pro¬
cardboard-box effect of the early models. ume and accent levels for each instrument, and if gramme the TR626 are quite difficult to memo¬
The facilities offered by modem drum your needs are not too elaborate, and your bud¬ rise, although the learning curve is shortened con¬
machines vary enormously, but most will get is tight, then the RX21 or its Latin equivalent, siderably by the operation chart supplied with the
allow you to choose between selecting pre¬ the RX21L, may be worth thinking about. machine. The beautifully produced but poorly-
set patterns or programming your own; most translated manual is decidedly hard going.
have a number of buttons which can be What else do you get for the extra shekels?
tapped to play the drum sounds in 'realtime', Roland TR626 Tape sync capability, programmable shuffle and
(although in most budget machines these : * ' Moving up a notch in the price scale flam effects which actually work, MIDI transmit as
will not respond to velocity or dynamics); IIP enables us to consider Roland's latest well as receive (great for programming base-lines
and most can be played and/or pro¬ machine in a long line of successses, the TR626 for your synths), and quite a lot more that space
grammed via a MIDI cable from, say, a key¬ for £350, a lot of extra facilities become available. does not permit...etc. There is even a section in
board or a sequencer, (in which case most The first thing to notice is that we now have thirty the manual headed 'Writing Flames' - now there's
machines will respond to velocity informa¬ on-board sounds to play with, enough to give us a
tion if your controlling instrument transmits choice of different basic kits and a wide selection
it). of Latin sounds. Up to eight of the voices can be
You could, (if you sold enough grand¬ sounded simultaneously, (with some fairly severe Alesis HR-16
mothers), pay £2,000+ for a drum machine - limitations on groupings), and the sounds them¬ £450 brings you what may be the best
something like the E-MU SP 1200, for exam¬ selves are excellent - clear, believable, and with specification possible for under half-a-
ple - but we will assume that this is not on grand. I say 'may be' advisedly, since we have
our menu. At the other end of the scale, it is been waiting for several months for Alesis’s first
now possible to buy good, fairly recent but Pad The Beat drum machine, the HR16, to reach the shps. If it
now discontinued machines such as the gets there before you have given up and bought
Yamaha RX21, for around £150 in music Some drum machines allow you to play
something else, expect it to have 48 high-quality
shops, or even less from the classified sec¬ their sounds from external controllers,
percussion sounds, any 16 of which can be
tions of music magazines. Such machines such as drum pads or electronic drum kits
(EDKs). Even for a non-drummer, this can assigned to the velocity-sensitive pads and
are still used effectively by many people on played simultaneously, (incuding the same sound
tight budgets, and it may be worth outlining offer great improvement in the dynamic feel
16 times if you like). Four fully-assignable out¬
what facilities they can offer. imparted to rhythms - sticks bouncing off a
puts, 100 pattern memories, (which can also be
All the machines mentioned in the boxes surface induce a very different response in
used to store instrument, tuning, and panning
give good value for money in one way or the player from fingers tapping little but¬
data for recall from a sequencer), tape sync, and
another, and other combinations fo facilities tons, and even more so from the intellectu¬
100 song memories are among the other goodies
will be found on other machines. al exercise of programming patterns in
this machine will offer - when it eventually makes
The favoured way to produce rhythm step-time. The Cheetah DP5 is likely to be
its appearance.
sounds these days is by the sequencer/sam- the most affordable EDK yet produced, at
pler option, but as the cheapest suitable £159.95, excluding cymbals - (and only the
samplers cost as much as the most expen¬ most expensive sampling systems can Cheetah MD8
sive drum machines, you have to be taking offer convincing cymbals). Other, more
established, makes include Roland and At a similar price level to the Yamaha,
it very seriously to follow that path. If you (£139.95,to be precise). Cheetah's
already own a computer, then a software Simmons, and their products usually con¬
sist of the kit itself and a 'brain' which MD8 should be arriving in the shops before too
sequencer driving a drum machine is proba¬ long. Although it has proved impossible to get
bly the most cost-effective way to produce actually produces the sounds, allowing you
to synthesize the sound of each hold of one for review, I understand that it will
good quality rhythm sounds, and gives you include features not found on many more expen¬
great flexibility and control. Whichever route instrument.
sive machines, such as the ability to load low-cost
you choose, you're sure to find a rhythm pro¬ libraries of alternative sounds into its eight voice-
grammer an exciting investment that can slots, and an integral pad bus to enable the MD8
add depth and drive to your music.

Yamaha RX21
The RX21 is a fairly basic machine,
with a 'standard' kit of snare, bass,
three toms, open and closed hi-hats, cymabl and
handclap; it has 44 preset patterns, ranging from
variations on 16-beat patterns for jazz or rock, to
reggae, disco, and Latin American rhythms, and
including a selection of fill and rest patterns. As is
often the case with presets, these do tend to have
a rather inflexible, mechanical feel, and they are
best regarded as a basis on which to build, using Cheetah DP5- all this tor £159.95 Cheetah MD8
the 56 user-programmable pattern memories.
Programming, either in real-or step-time, is to be dynamically controlled from Cheetah’s DP5
somewhat easier than on many machines as the electronic drum kit (illustrated elsewhere in this
9 instrument-voice buttons are not required to just the right amount of reverb. article).
perform any other function, such as pattern selec¬ Any of the main drum sounds can be routed Add to this its 16-song capacity (the RX21
tion. In fact, the usual trade-off between button either through the stereo outputs or through one has four) and separate sound outputs and things
cost and ease of use has been fairly well-man¬ of the eight seperate outputs for individual effects look very promising for the MD8. The critical fac¬
aged here, with multiple key-presses kept to a treatment, and all the sounds can be tuned up or tor, of course, will be how good it sounds, but as
minimum. The sounds produced by the RX21 are down by seven semitones; the tuning can be pro¬ long as the sound is acceptable, the ability to
dry and really need treatment via an external grammed to change within patterns, as can the escape from the tyranny of built-in instrument
reverb unit to be acceptable by the latest stan- accent level and overall level for each instrument; voices should make it a winner at that price. •

Advanced Computer Entertainment 91

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Charlie Chaplin. 7.50 Sorcerer Lord - D3 10.95 Construction Kit - D4. 12.95 FORMAT Starglider. 1995
Starfighter . .... 9.99
Spy V Spy 3 .7.50 Second City.5.95 Barbarian - D2.7.50 Dl = £10.99, D2 = £I2.99, D3~£14.99 Jewels of Darkness. 14.95
Slik Stick. ... 6.99
Chain Reaction. 5.95 G. Lineker Football - D2 .7.50 Salmanader - D2 .6.95 D4~ £16.99, D5-£19.99 Knight Ore . 14.95
Economy. .... 6.99
Super Hang On . .7.50 Alt World Games.7 50 Solomons Key - D2 .7.50 Our The Pawn. 19.95
Cruiser Joystick . .... 9.95
Pegasus Bridge ... 10.95 Laser Tags D2 .7 50 Solid Gold - D2.7.99 ★ ★ COMMODORE 64 ★ ★ Price Guild of Thieves. 19.95
Yogi Bear . .7.50 Discology. I 3.99 ★ ★ MSX ★★ Iron Horse - D2 .6.95 Buggy Boy - D2.7.50 Silicon Dreams. 14.95
Driller. .... 11 95 10 X 3" disks. 26.95 Silicon Dreams. . 12.95 Hunters Moon - D2.7.50 Spy Catcher-D3. 10.95 Airball. 19.95
Compendium . 5 95 Discovery Plus . I 3.99 F-l Sprit . . 19.99 720° - D2.7.50 Leather Necks - D3. 10.95 Airball Const. Kit . 12.95
Blood Valley. 5.99 Multiface II . 45 95 World Games . .... 7.99 World Class Leaderboard - D2.7.50 ST Copy II. 2999

ALSO AVAILABLE ON DISK FORMAT DI =£ 10.95, D2=£ 12.95, D3=£ 14.95, D4=£ 16.95, D5=£ 19.95

For mail order, please make cheque/P.O. payable to Personal callers produce this advert at either shop for Access & VISA card holders ring:
S.C.S. (Ace), 655 Green Lanes, London N8 0QY. P&P above Discounts to: S.C.S. Unit 5, 221 Tottenham Court 01-348 2907
included in UK, Europe and £1 per item. Elesewhere Road, London WIR 9AF. (near Coodge Street tube 01-340 8565
add £2 per item. Add £5 per machine. Send S.A.E. for station)(left hand side of shop), or at Khan Brothers, 01-631 4627
FREE list. Please specify machine type in your order. 655 Green Lanes, London N8 0QY (nearest tube Credit card orders despatched same day subject to
station Turnpike Lane). availability. “All new releases are subject to release
date. Please ring for availability.
TRICKSNTACTICS

• It is not essential to get the captain code, but

FREDDY HARDEST you do have to programme the ship to hyper¬
space.
Get tough with the Amstrad version
• The holes in the passage ways are useful for
moving around the base.
• Access code = 897653
€ Always check each terminal.
Micro sounders can be kicked, punched or
ducked. • The four captain codes are: FENIX, AUDAX,
ARTEX, BORAX.
i Robots can be kicked or shot.
• If you get the captain code wrong when board¬
• Aliens can be kicked or punched.
ing a ship you can try again using a different
• The lifts are dark blue squares and are activat¬ code.
ed by standing on them and pressing up or down.
MARTIN COLES, Derbyshire.
• Hanging bars are above gaps that are more
than two blocks wide. Press up when on these to
kick the micro sounders and robots.
You can't fall off ledges without dyinq, so don't
do it.
• The red squares are nuclear fuel for the ships
so pick them up.
• DroP the fuel on the squares marked with an
'N', then go to the computer terminal to see which
ship is being fueled.

Achieve hi-score

TRICKS mastery with this

month's selection of
expert hints and tips.
Nebulus, Bobsleigh,
Driller and other
BOBSLEIGH recent releases yield
Bob 'Sleigh-em' Wade plays it ice
cool on the slopes.,. up their secrets...
First, equip yourself with an amateur two-

TACTICS
man bob. For the first three races make
sure you get fitness training for the team
until they are super-human. Then train
them every other race to keep them at that
level.
When you are choosing your runners
you should follow these rules: if both air
and ice temperatures are below -3 then
use type 4; if the air is above zero then
use type 1. In between these levels you should because you risk a crash coming out of them.
use types 2 or 3. 3 will give you more control but More likely is that you will set up a pendulum
there isn't much to choose between their effect. effect that will make control extremely difficult on
the following two or three turns.
THUNDERCATS
Crucial starting The medium length turns are the easiest to Miaow for ever with this infinite
The start and early part of the run are the crucial deal with. The hardest are the very short kinks and lives poke on the C64
time. Failure to get a maximum strength push long curves. The kinks can throw you off at a cru¬
start or clipping the ice wall on one of the early cial moment either entering or leaving a turn, while Type in and RUN this listing:
corners will cost a lot of time. it's easy to lose concentration on the long turns 100 DATA
The waggle start is easy enough, but don't and let the bob drift just too far up or down. 169,0,141,26,4,169,208,141,
get carried away and forget to jump in the bob,
27,4,76,132,255,169,173
because one crash can ruin a whole season. This 110 DATA 141,16,237,76,13,8
is particularly true in the first few races when cash
Winning through
You'll need to win consistently to get enough 120 FOR L=53235 TO 53255: READ A:
is tight and if you don't do well you'll soon be POKE L,A: NEXT
sponsors cash to buy the expensive bobs. There
bankrupt.
appears to be little difference between the two and Now enter:
On the first few corners you pick up NEW (return)
four-man varieties, so
speed quickly and must avoid the wall LOAD (return)
go for two-man at first
because at this stage they can literally
because it's cheaper. When READY appears, enter:
take seconds off your time.
Once you have an POKE 1011,243 (return)
Olympic bob you just POKE 1012,207 (return)
Right on track need a top three sea¬ RUN (return)
Try to keep to the bottom of the track on The game will now load.
son finish to get into
the turns, using the vertical inner wall as a THE HACKER, London.
the Olympics at Cal¬
guide. Don't ride high on the bends
gary.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 93

 TRICKS'N'TACTICS

DRILLER
General tips the southern wall in Opal allowing access to Dia¬
If you've lost your way on the mond.
1. Activating teleporters reduces your travel time
around the moon and to activate them you should
vast moon of Mitral, these 4. To pause the game - call up the information
initially head west to Topaz. Drive onto the lift,
activate the lift by firing at the upwards switch.
non-machine-specific tips screen as this stops the clock.

Enter the suspended complex and find the hidden are just what you're looking
tunnel. Follow the tunnel to complex K1. Destroy
the four blocks to materialise the teleporters. for. Incentive's very own IAN
2. The jet is in one of the hangars in the Aquama¬ ANDREW gives us the low
rine section and the best way to get to the sector
is to go west to Topaz, over the wall and west
down.
again to Beryl. Sever the powerlines to disable
the vicious downwards pointing lazer beacon and 3. To gain access to the Diamond sector (see
then set the symbols all to squares (including the map) first set all the large switches in the Nicco-
building). Now the doorway to Aquamarine will be late, Alabaster, Opal and Quartz sectors to down
revealed. so the four lights are illuminated. This destroys

• Emerald (East of Lapis Lazuli)

To avoid being shot by the beacons it's best to get as close as
possible to the wall when moving. The western beacon is
inactive.
Gameplay

EMERALD
• Aquamarine - Use '.he arrows to find the centre (also
follow the west facing arrow for safe positioning on the girders
in Ruby).

MALACHITE
• Obsidian (North of Amethyst)
To cross the ravine you have to shoot or knock over the slab to
form a bridge. If you're going for score then knock it over as
you'll get more points. When entering the shed it's best to use
the rear entrance.

AQUAMARINE
BASALT
OCHRE

• Opal - There is a numeric clue on the large slab. BERYL

TRACHYTE

• Topaz - The exact centre is over the south end of the low
wall.
TOPAZ
OBSIDIAN
• Topaz (West of Amethyst)
GRAPHITE
The lazer beacon here is more an annoyance than a threat but
shoot it and it will turn through 90 degrees.

NICCOLITE
LAPIS LAZULI

• Amethyst - The big cross on the ground makes it

obvious. DIAMOND

• Amethyst (start sector)

Destroy the wall for points (up to 750 depending on order of
shot). Don't shoot the top of the tower as this holds • Lapis Lazuli (East of Amethyst)
Blast the pyramids to gain access to the east. At the low wall,
considerable shield and energy reserves Land the jet on this
raise yourself up and activate the switch on the far side.
to absorb the power. Shoot the switch on the north wall to gain ALABASTER
access to the Obsidian sector. °

• Store shed on Amethyst

Shoot ground based crystals first as the airborne ones have • Alabaster - Evaporate the water from the swimming
special properties that give extra power and score. pool with the heat from the lazers. the gas centre is in the pool.

94 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 TRICKS N TACTICS

TERRORPODS
Manufacturing centres
Co-ordinate Aluma needed to Compo¬
nent
build trade
The map and the tips - c) buy all alluma at manufacturing centres
and alluma mines for fuel 34,600 100 100 1
brought to you by
4. When you get back to the start, go round 45,640 300 300 2
CHARLEY ALLAN of again (but not INDEing) giving alluma to 48,920 400 400 5
Ipswich. Nice one, Charley. the manufacturing centres for fuel. When it 61,828 500 500 6
has enough alluma (see below) it will say 4,412 100 1 00 3
'component ready'. Trade again. If you 15,212 200 200 A
1. Always use your drover, as this doesn't have enough aluma (see below) it will give
use up fuel; you can then trade your you the option of buying the component -
remaining fuel. Park the DSV at Z=0. do so. The greed spaces at the side win spoilers, dodge missiles and missile Terror-
show which components you have. pods.
2. Going round to the right, radio to every Remember - each manufacturing centre
installation, making them indestructible will only produce one component, but the 6. When you finally build the Terrorpod (on
(INDE) until you reach your start again shuttles will still give it alluma, so keep
(X=34,000) level 1 this takes about an hour) you will
checking. have to missile 15 Terrorpods in 8 minutes
Luckily you will be given 18 missiles. They
3. While moving around 5. You will need to go round several times probably wont all be in the same screen
a) collect all fuel at pick-up points before you have the full Terrorpod. Keep use your map to find them.
b) trade for as much detonite a possible saving at regular intervals. Always shoot
A RESOURCE CENTRE q
FUEL MINE RADIO BEACON
- MANUFACTURING SHUTTLE
O mineral DUMP g
MINERAL MINE ^ FUEL PICK UP POINT
-► EXPLOSIVES SHUTTLE
• FUEL DUMP 0 EXPLOSIVES MINE - UTILITY SHUTTLE - RADIO REPAIR SHUTTLE

MANUFACTURING CENTRE 0 EXPLOSIVES DUMP

-DISTRIBUTION SHUTTLE

4- €
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* *

NEBULUS
Tower Tumbling with Bob Wade in mean you'll die and there's usually enough time to
recover on the Spectrum version, but less time on
walk under. Be careful of the timing here because
Hewson's instant classic the blocks underneath it are conveyors and can
the 64.
take you by surprise.
If you are gripping on to a lift by just your At the top of the tower are two long spiral
To start with you have to learn some general toes, don't turn around or you'll slip off. Just use walkways. On the first one go through the door at
rules. Patience is vital and panic is lethal. the lift and it will centre you on it.
the bottom to take a short cut to the lift. On the
The spinning object that enters at intervals
second don’t use the door as it plunges you
can arrive at the most inconvenient of times. Get Tower 1 - Tower of Eyes
There's only one nasty feature here and that's downwards on the other side.
used to the intervals at which it arrives and wait
near the top. You take a lift past a black ball and At the top of the second spiral, after avoiding
at doorways, lifts or stairs where you can easily
then appear to have an easy route to a door. the robots, there's a disappearing block that drops
avoid it. It may seem like you're wasting time but
Beware, because the first block disappears plung¬ you onto a lift. Pause before doing this because
getting knocked off after bulling ahead will cost
ing you straight down to the platform where the otherwise the timing is such that you'll nosedive
you more.
ball is waiting to bounce you down. straight into a robot.
Disappearing blocks are a nuisance. You can
guess where some are located but the only way
Tower 2 - Realm of Robots Tower 3 - Trap of Tricks
to be sure is to find out the hard way and then Go left at the start. For the first time you have to A very nasty trick at the start. Go left, shoot the
make sure you remember where they are.
jump over robots as they cycle through their pat¬ ball, through the door, up the lift, walk right and
When you come through a door always be terns. The first one is at the bottom of the tower, wait. The spinner will appear and knock you down
ready to shoot a ball, but don't panic or you'll end
and the second one halfway up. You have to leap to the next level, which was bypassed by the lift.
up jumping straight into it. Also try to stay cool if over the second and on to a waiting lift. Walk right, block disappears and you can take the
you do get knocked down; it doesn't necessarily
At the top of the lift there's another robot to lift up.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 95

rTRICKS 'N‘ TACTICS

Tower 4 - Slippery Slide flashing block round the tower, then walk forward
Hard right from the start and jump the two robots over the disappearing block and take the lift.
WIN! WIN! as fast as possible before the spinner arrives. Up After the two spirals, jump to the left, fall onto
the first lift, shoot the two flashing blocks. Take
the lift and shoot the flashing block to your right.
WIN! Then proceed to the left, shooting the blocks in
your path.
the lift up - you will get knocked off but it is essen¬
tial to get the height to remove the circling eye.
Yes. every month Tricks 'n' Tactics gives you There's a tricky section halfway up where two Backtrack and take the second lift.
the chance to win oddles of lovely software. flashing blocks have to be removed. The first is Jump left, over the first eye, shoot block to
How? Simply by sending in tips, pokes and easy but to get the second you proceed to the left, the left, jump back over eye, walk right and down
maps for the games we all want to beat. after shooting the first block, shoot the ball and on onto the lift. Take the lift up and jump left.
This month's biggest prize goes to the far left of the same platform you can shoot the Try to cope with the rest yourself. Higher up
Charley Allan for his Terrorpod map and tips. block around the corner. you’ll want the last door in the first spiral of doors
Charley gets SIX games for his Amiga, includ¬ After the next long lift ride, wait for the lift to and the third door in the second spiral. Watch out
ing this month's releases Insanity Fight, Test go down and then jump the gap to the door. Make for two eyes that appear just when you're about to
Drive, Eagle's Nest and Western Games. sure you jump early or you will bang your head on deal with a ball.
But he's not the only winner. Martin the block above and fall back down onto the lift.
Coles' Freddy Hardest tips get him Matchday Last nasty trick is at the top. Don't go down Tower 6 - Swimmer's Delight
2 for his Amstrad and the Thundercats tips the large column of disappearing blocks, jump Not much to say about this one, except that there
earn The Hacker a copy of Rampage for his over them and walk to the far right. Allow the spin¬ are no disappearing blocks at the bottom, so try
C64. ner to knock you down and then take the lift to the anything and everything. And as for the double¬
But look - you only win if you send in tips. top. step spiral at the top - bottle it as fast as possible
So write to while the robots are appearing.
TRICKS 'N' TACTICS, ACE Tower 5 - Border Path
4, QUEEN STREEET Take the first lift up to the second platform, the Tower 7 - Nasty One
BATH, BA1 1 EJ first is suicide if you get off. Walk left and shoot Aaaaaaaaaagh! Help me please!
the ball. Edge forward until you can shoot the

IN THE No contest this month for the arcade tip prize; PATRICK
CADONA's beautiful map and detailed tips for DOUBLE
DRAGON beat the field by a mile. Match this sort of stan¬
ARCADES dard and you could win yourself some real nice software,
7. Wait beside the door for baddies to come and then hit them with 15. Don't fall back down the edge. Pick up boulders to throw and
1. Simply keep going right the bat. Also try to kick them on to the pulley belt, which kills them kill karate men.
2. Kill the two unarmed men, kill the baseball man and pick up his - or you - instantly. 16. Pick up barrel to throw on giants, and then just generally beat
baseball to kill the giant man. Also kill the woman and take her 8. Kill the karate man using first a kick move then switching to them to death.
whip. punches. Watch out for his flying drop kicks. 17. Watch out for the giants smashing out of the wall. Kill them.
3. Use baseball bat to kill giant, pick up barrel to throw. Beware of 9. Jump down on to the ledge andn kill the karate man. 18. Watch out for the spears thrusting at you. Time your run pre¬
man throwing the knife. 10. Kill karate men. cisely.
4. Beware of exploding dynamite. Pick up box to throw, kill all men, 11. Jump this hole or you're a gonner! 19. Watch out for the stone blocks trying to crush you.
pick up baseball bat. 12. Kill giant and baseball men as usual. 20. To save the girl, kill the men - especially the one with the
5. Beat baseball bat man with flying drop kick 13. Watch out for men jumping down from trees. machine gun.
6. Keep going, taking care not to fall down the hole. 14. Climb ladder after killing giant. 21. Now you and your partner have to fight for the girl; the one with

Through door to other side

o NORMAL MAN MAN + MACHINE GUN ■ MAN + KNIFE

• WOMAN + WHIP KARATE MAN ★ BIG GIANT MAN

t MAN + BASEBALL BAT + MAN +DYNAMITE ★ GREEN GIANT

96 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 BYTE BACK
Best Prices Fastest Delivery
Atari ST Software Amiga Software
Star Trek...13.95 Star Wars...13.95
Backlash.13.95 Captain America ..13.95 Testdrive...16.95 Mean 18 Golf. ..16.95
Outrun.""13.95 Gauntlet II.13 95 Insanity Fight.16.95 Grand Slam Tennis. ..20.50
Winter Olympiad 88.13.95 Academy..... ..13.95 Qball.13 95 Hunt for Red October.. ..16.95
Test Drive.16.95 Tau Cet!...13 95 Mission Elevator.13.95 Feud. ....6.95
Micro League Wrestling.13.95 Blue War.13 95 Firepower.15.95 Leviathan. ..13.95
Bubble Ghost.13.95 Tanglewood.13.95 Space Ranger.6.95 Ninja Mission . ....6.95
Formula 1 Grand Prix.13.95 Bubble Bobble.16 95 Space Battle.6.95 Phalanx. ....6.95
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Carting Grand Prix.6.95 Livingstone.1095 Challenger.6^95 Dr Fruit. ....6.95
Frost Bite.10.95 Super Sprint.16.95 Final Trip.6.95 Vader. ...6.95
Marble Madness.18.50 Solomons Key.14.50 Earl Weaver Baseball.16.95 Marble Madness. ..20.95
Hunt tor Red October.16.95 Missing One Droid.6.95 Arctic Fox.13 95 Skyfox. ..10.45
Defender of the Crown.20.95 Bards Tale.16.95 Archon 1 & 11 (2 Pack).13^95 Chessmaster 2000. ..16.95
Rana Rama.13.95 Barbarian (Palace).13.95 Goldrunner.16 95 Starglider. .16.95
Chopper X.6.95 Mission Elevator.13.95 Swooper.13.95 Amiga Karate. .13.95
Space Port.13.95 Road War Europa.16.95 Barbarian.16.95 Terrorpods. ,16.95
[Link].45 Chessmaster 2000.16.95 Sky Fighter.10^45 Super Huey. .13.95
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Hollywood Poker.10.45 Tai-Pan.13.95 Basketball.16.95 GFL Football. .16.95
FI5 Strike Eagle.16.95 Terrorpods.16.95 Shanghai.” 16.95 Winter Games. .16.95
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Adddictaball.10.45 Airball Construction.10.45
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Leaderboard.16.95 Gauntlet.16.95 Defender of the Crown.20.95 Deja Vu. ..20.95
* Tournament disk.6.96 Arkanoid.10.45 Uninvited.20.95 Balance of Power. ..20.95
Turbo GT.10.95 3D Chess.16.95 SDI.20.95 The Pawn. ..16.95
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Stationfall.16.95 Guild of Thieves.16.95 Instant [Link] 50 Aegis Animator/Images , ,,77.50
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Zork (1,2 or 3).20.95 Jewels of Darkness.13.95 Deluxe Paint 2.52.50 Deluxe Print. .,18.50
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Black Cauldron. .20.95 Winnie the Pooh. Aegis Sonix.45.00 Aegis AudioMaster. .,34.50
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Degas Elite..16.95 Art Director... ..34.95 HabaDex.22.50 HabaView. ,,45.00
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Textcraft.42.50 Word Perfect (4.2) .... .175.00
Genesis. .64.00 3D Developers Disk Goldspell.29.00 SuperBase Personal. .,79.00
Human Forms Disk. .24.00 Architecture Disk..24.00 Flipside.22.50 Butcher. .,22.50
Future Design Disk. .19.50 StereoTek 3D Glasses..145.00
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1 UTILITIES ONLY ■ S MCC Pascal.69.00 Lattice C (4.0). .129.00
Superbase Personal. .74.95 Publishing Partner. .119.95 Cambridge Lisp.112.50 MCC Toolkit. .,29.00
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Sigi ... GFA Companion.22.50
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Fast Basic (Disk).32.95 Fast Basic (Rom).64.95 ,4.95 Quickshot II. .8.00
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FEHMIHEII THE III1 HUES II HI EIDHEHT,
HEMPS, HIDI HI SEIS, SAMPLERS, EFFECTS UNITS, PITHS,
I FILL III IF ATARI ST HIDI SOFTHARE
HE HE OFFICIAL "Nil" DISDIS
TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME

8E CHELSEA ROAD, LOWER HESTON,

TEL 8225 310300 BATH AVON BA13DU
 PINK PAGES1

Welcome to the ACE Pink Pages - our regular Buyers' Guides to home computer hardware,
software and peripherals. The software and peripherals guides are featured alternately, with
the peripherals taking their turn this month. Watch this space in the next issue for the lowdown
on 50 games we recommend.
This month's guide is intended to give you the information you need to buy the right
hardware and peripherals at the right price. We've listed details of 12 basic machines and
their various models, plus consoles; and in the peripherals section we've given the lowdown
on peripherals we recommend. Each month we ll be updating the information to keep you
informed of the swings and roundabouts of prices and availability.
We've also got the first of our Reader to Reader pages; in here you're able to place
your own small ads - free, gratis and for nothing. Is there a better place to sell your machine
when you want to upgrade? In Reader to Reader you'll also find Adventure Helpline (a boon
to all those stuck in a dark room with a goblin), Pen Pals, and much more.
The Pink Pages are a valuable reference guide to anyone making a computer hard¬
ware, software or peripheral purchase, and to those seeking help from or contact with other
readers. They 're your pages; so use the form on pages 120-121 and get yourself into print.

The ACE buyers' guide is essential you decide you can't cope any • a mail order company across a cheaper price. If you order
reading for anyone who is consider¬ longer without a disk drive, or a • second hand. your micro through the post, make
ing buying a new computer, whether monitor.
sure you know exactly what compo¬
it will be your first ever foray into the Secondly - and just as impor¬ In the high street stores you should nents you are getting before you
micro market, or you hope to tant - what do you want to use the get a fair price for your machine; send off your money, send a cover¬
upgrade your current system. We've computer for? Are you really going you should also be able to take it ing letter with any money and keep
compiled a list of features and spec¬ to learn to program? Do you sin¬ away with you immediately. copies of those letters, and keep a
ifications for all the models suitable cerely want to put your home Furthermore, many stores offer note of the cheque/PO number. If
for home use in the shops. accounts on computer, or produce attractive 'bundles', giving you lots possible, stick to a mail order com¬
Graphics, sound, software availabili¬ the company newsletter? Do you of extra goodies with the basic pany you know and trust.
ty, prices, bargains..It's all here. want a 'serious' micro, a games machine. But the salesperson Buying a micro second hand
micro, or something that combines behind the counter won't necessari¬ has advantages other than price.
Before buying a bit of both? Think carefully about ly be very knowledgeable about the Frequently, the previous owner will
Even if a new computer is only a these points before you buy; there's systems you wish to choose be selling software and possibly
dream at the moment, the buyers' nothing worse than being lumbered between. Also, it is not always pos¬ some peripherals with the machine,
guide will make it clear just what's with a machine that doesn't really sible to have an in-depth demon¬ so you can start up with a more
on offer, and help you decide which suit your purposes. stration of the various machines on complete system. Obviously, how¬
system is best for you. But before The ACE Buyers Guide can't display. ever, software and add-ons being
you rush out to the shops there are make your mind up for you; but we In an independent specialist sold with the machine will bump up
two things you need to consider can give you the facts that will allow shop, the salesperson could well the asking price, so check the price
carefully. you to make a sensible decision. know the machines better and be of the individual components first -
Firstly, how much you can
able to demonstrate them more fully they may not be the bargain they
afford to spend, whether it's in casIT, Where to buy but you might have to pay slightly seem! Second hand micros can be
hire purchase, or plastic money. Basically, you have four choices: more for the system. found On offer in the specialist com¬
Remember to leave yourself a bit of • the high street chain store - If you buy on mail order, you puter magazines, usually in a classi¬
money/credit over for software, and Dixons, Currys, Boots, etc. can't, of course, have the machine fied advertising section towards the
if possible, for peripherals. It may • the independent computer immediately and you can't have a back. It's a good idea to try to buy
only be a couple of months before specialist shop demo of it, but you might come from someone who lives reasonably

Advanced Computer Entertainment 99

 PINK PAGES

near you, so that you can see the more than one, are you sure that over any of the units, particularly not you plan to use the family TV.
machine before you part with your your power points can cope? An the keyboard. Don't wave magnets • Graphics: Resolution indicates
money and have a demonstration. adaptor will almost certainly be near your disks or the drive, and if the quality of screen display possi¬
Again, before you pay, check what essential, and a trailing socket (box you smoke, don't drop ash over any ble (the higher the figures the bet¬
you're getting for your money, and with three or four plug sockets on of it. ter) , Palette size refers to the total
even if you're buying from your best it) is a good idea, because there is a number of colours available on the
friend, it would be no bad thing to Murphy's Law of computing which Categories machine; Colours to the number
put down in writing what you'll pay states that a micro will always use We've tried to include details of all that can be used on screen at any
for what. Remember that you run more power sockets than you the salient features of the micros on one time. Sprites and Scrolling refer
the same risks buying second hand expect the market, divided into particular to built-in hardware features (partic¬
computers as second hand cars; • Y splitter: jolly handy if you're categories. ularly useful for games) rather than
you may end up with a duffer. going to use the micro with the tele¬ • Memory: this refers to the total effects that can be programmed in.
vision. A Y splitter is a box which fits amount of Random Access Memory • Sound: tells you what kind of
Setting up into the TV socket (on the TV itself) (RAM), not the amount left free to chip the computer uses to produce
Apart from the computer itself, there and will take both the TV input lead the user. sound, what the speaker quality is
will be plenty of other items you and the computer lead. You can • Packaging: it's worth checking like, and whether it can be used
need to buy in order to get your sys¬ then switch between one and the the details here against the price. A with the MIDI standard for linking
tem up and running. These can all other fairly easily, rather than fum¬ micro that appears expensive may computers and musical instruments
too easily be forgotten in the excite¬ bling blindly behind the television for come ready packaged with a moni¬ • Hardware: lets you know what
ment of buying the computer, so go half an hour when you want to tor, tape deck or disk drive. the keyboard is like - can you use it
through this checklist now - you watch EastEnders. • Disks: does the machine use for serious purposes?; tells you if
don’t want to spend all Christmas disks? If so, how much do they hold it's possible to use a joystick or a
waiting for the shops to open before Where to set up and how much do they cost? Is the mouse; and lists the ports in to
you can load up your favourite Custom-made mahogany-look com- disk drive built-in or external? Are which expansion devices can be
game. puter desks are for the unbearably add-on drives available? Is much plugged.
• Plugs: most micros don't come affluent only. Basically, don't set the software available on disk? • Software: gives you the low-
complete with them. Nor do disk machine up so that the screen faces • RRP: all recommended retail down on the amount and quality of
drives, tape decks, monitors... a window (you won't get to see prices we've quoted include VAT software available for the machine
• Fuses: check that the plug has much if you do). Remember that • Display: many home/games at the moment in the various cate¬
the right fuse in it (normally 3 amp) cables between keyboards/moni¬ micros are easily hooked up to a gories, and also makes a prediction
before you get it home. tors/tape decks/disk drives are usu¬ television, and this can be the most about the level of future support.
• Leads: yes, the micro may well ally too short to be more than six convenient and least expensive • Buying tips: guidelines on what
work with the television, but is the inches away from each other, and option. However, all computers the bargains might be and where
correct lead in the packaging or do that if the keyboard ends up sitting (except the games consoles) can be they might be picked up. Plus infor¬
you need to buy it separately? on the floor the cat will decide it's an connected to a dedicated monitor, mation on your rights under guaran¬
• Adaptor/trailing socket: if the ideal sleeping spot. Don't spill cof¬ which will give you a clearer picture, tee and what to do if the machine
number of plugs needed comes to fee (or indeed, anything stronger) and save household arguments if breaks down (God forbid!)

Hardware
Acom Archimedes
Built-in

t Performance
Good and fast
Yes
Sound
Sound chip Custom chip
Speaker quality Good
MIDI Yes
Models: Archimedes 305, Price Graphics Stereo output Yes
310 and 310M Channels 16 (8 stereo pairs)
305 no monitor £801.60 Resolution either 320x256
305 mono monitor £859.10 or 640x256 • Performance 6 octaves, one inter¬
Package: Keyboard, or 640x512 (multi-synch monitor) nal loudspeaker
305 colour monitor £1031.60 Palette 4096
mouse and drive; keyboard, 310 no monitor £889.00 Colours from mono up to 256
mouse, drive plus monitor 310 mono monitor £946.50 (320x256) Hardware
(colour or mono); 31OM - M or 16 (640x512) KEYBOARD: 103 keys, programmable
310colour monitor £1119.00 auto-repeat rate. Keyboard has surpris¬
denotes inclusion of PC 31 OM no monitor) £958.00 ingly cheap feel given quality of
emulator 31 OM mono) Display
£1015.50
TV No
31 OM colour £1188.00
Memory:305 512K
Monitor output mono -composite
video
In brief...
310 1Mb colour - RGB + sync The Archimedes is at the cut¬
Monitor supplied depends on package ting edge of micro technolo¬
bought (see below)
Processor: Acorn ARM gy. As such it is not cheap;
Recommended Retail - Options Acorn dedicated. 14 inch nor does it have the software
medium resolution,
colour; 12 inch high res, mono
base of longer-standing
machines. It's very exciting,
■ Disks Price
Capacity
Around £3.00
800K formatted # Performance but one to leave to the real
Software All on disk
Sprites i
Format 3 1/2 inch Scrolling No enthusiasts for the time
Add-on drives Yes
Speed Fast being.

1OO Advanced Computer Entertainment

 PINK PAGES1

BBC Master series

Models: Master 128,
Master Compact

Package: Add-on drives

128 - keyboard plus monitor. t Performance
Compact - available in four Built-in
128,
packages: Compact,
(1) Complete system includ¬
ing keyboard (with integral
disk drive), monitor and print¬
i Graphics
er. Resolution 640x256 mode 0;
320x256 modes 1 and 4
(2) Keyboard/drive only 160x256 modes 2 and 5
(3) Keyboard/drive plus Palette 16 socket # UHF channel # Composite
mono monitor.
Hardware video # RGB TTL $ 20 way IDC
Colours modes 0, 3, 4 and connector user port # 40 IDC con¬
(4) Keyboard/drive plus 6 have 2 colours KEYBOARD: 64 keys plus 10 func¬ nector for second processor # cas¬
colour monitor. modes 1 and 5 4 colours tion keys and 19 key numeric key¬ sette interface # 15 way D-type ana¬
modes 2 and 7 8 colours pad. Standard raised keys with audi¬ logue to digital
ble tactile feedback.
Memory: 64K main RAM Mode 7 is a “teletext” text and Compact - disk interface ^
block graphics mode. Modes 3 JOYSTICK/MOUSE: Non-Atari stan¬ Centronics compatible parallel printer
64K sideways RAM
and 6 are text only. dard analogue to digital ports can be # 50 way edge connector expansion
used for joysticks. Takes most third phono socket ^ Composite video #
Processor: 65C12 # Performance party mice RGB TTL # joystick/mouse
Sprites none
(6502 compatible)
Scrolling no

Recommended Retail
Display
TV
■ In brief... Software
Monitor output Composite video Master series intended as EXISTING BASE: good, but only
Price Monitor supplied educational/scientific tools, because of BBC compatibility
128 £457.35 128, no
with these two machines at
Compact Compact, yes (see Package above) CURRENT RELEASES: steady flow,
Monitor optionsAcorn dedicated the “homey” end of the but not too numerous.
Entry system £399.85
range. Games/entertainment
Mono system £457.35 PROSPECTS: good for education
Spaghetti factor not recommended as main and similar; poor for games
Colour system £629.85 128 average use, as leisure software is
with printer £1084.45 Compact, low Main profile is in educational/sci¬
not always converted to BBC
entific arena; games tend to be
format. either BBC B games (and thus
Sound configured into 32K Ram) or big¬
ger (not necessarily better) ver¬
Disks Speaker quality good sions of BBC B titles
Stereo output no PORTS:
Format MIDI third party interfaces available GAMES: The Master arcade scene's
128 128 2 enhanced Acorn cartridge
5 1 14 inch Channels 4 poor, with much dating back to old
slots # disk interface # Econet inter¬
Compact 3 1/2 inch Performance good Beeb days. The same goes for
face $ Centronics compatible paral-
adventures, but memory limitations
lel printer # RS432 serial # phono
of BBC even more apparent here.
machine Din t- 41612 expansion porv # IEC couple of databases (from Minerva
320 video outlet # I/O interface (BBC Systems), art packages under develop¬ GRAPHICS: a few; one or two of
JOYSTICK/MOUSE: 3 button mouse compatible) ment them outstanding.
supplied; joystick not supported
CURRENT RELEASES: See above: MUSIC: fair selection
PORTS: RS 423 serial # Centronics
compatible parallel $ 9-pin mouse GAMES: One arcade tiitle (ACE Rated Cassette loading
socket # 3.5mm stereo jack # 64 way EXISTING BASE: supported only on 128
979) and at least one more on the way.
A couple of adventures in development.

GRAPHICS: Potential is enormous; cur¬ Buylines

rently a couple of packages in the
pipeline MAINTENANCE: Within one year’s
guarantee, return faulty machines to
MUSIC: Again, enormous potential. dealer
Very little activity as yet, however.
BESTBUY PRICE : As RRP
SOFTWARE FORMAT: Disk only
SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY:
PROSPECTS: Very good, but not nec¬ Limited. Try education magazines as
essarily for games market well as computer press.

% Buylines Both machines are upwardly BBC

B compatible. Compact has built-
BEST BUY PRICE: As RRP in disk drive tucked under key¬
board. Distinctive BBC brown and
SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY: Not cream styling.
yet

MAINTENANCE: One year’s guaran¬

tee. Faulty machines - return to dealer

Advanced Computer Entertainment 101

PINK PAGES

port # RGB with sync luminance #

AmsIradCPC
sync 3.5mm stereo socket # expan¬
In brief... sion/I/O #TV

The Amstrad CPC family is a

value-for-money and versa¬ £ Software
Models CPC 464, CPC
Graphics tile breed. You get everything EXISTING BASE: Good, even if not
664, CPC 6128 Resolution Mode 1 320x200; you need and the whole busi¬ as large as Spectrum or C64
Mode 2 640x200 ness needs just one plug. CURRENT RELEASES:
Mode 0 160x200
Package Keyboard, monitor They'll do sterling service as Reasonable; most major Spectrum
Palette 27
games micros, but they are and C64 titles are converted.
(mono or colour) plus built-in Colours mode 1 4
mode 2 2 also able to turn their hands
tape/disk, plus software (usu¬ mode 0 16
GAMES: Good, but some converted
ally 12 games), joystick. CPC to more serious matters. titles run slower than the Spectrum or
C64 originals. Adventures OK, but
664 is no longer manufac¬ Infocom considering withdrawing
Display
tured but may be available on TV Yes
support for this format.

special offer from retailers in Monitor supplied Yes

GRAPHICS: Good selection of titles.
different packaging configu¬ Options Stick with Amstrad’s own;
t Hardware
rations. MUSIC: Reasonable number of titles,
any independent models.
KEYBOARD: 74 raised plastic keys but poor in comparison with C64.
with audible tactile feedback.
• Performance
Memory: 464/664 64K Sprites None Separate cursor cluster and redefin- SOFTWARE FORMAT: 464 tape,
6128 128K Scrolling Vertical (rough) and able numeric keypad. Very useable using built-in tape deck;
Horizontal (very rough). for word processing etc. 664/6128 disk, using built-in
Speed Average to slow disk drive
Processor Zilog Z80 JOYSTICK/MOUSE: Standard 9-pin
D-type. Third party mouse devices SOFTWARE LOADING: Tape load¬

Recommended Retail ■ Sound are available. ing is reasonably quick and reliable;
disk loading fast and reliable.
Sound chip AY-3-8912
Price Speaker quality Adequate PORTS:CPC 464 # PCB edge con¬
nector - takes disk drive and PROSPECTS: Uncertain. After initial
464 mono £199.99 Stereo output Yes, need cable
RS232C interface # Centronics par¬ interest, sales of CPC software have
MIDI No
464 colour £299.99 Channels 3 allel # 6-pin Din RGB with sync dwindled but there should still be
luminance # sync3.5mm stereo areasonable amnount of games and
664 unavailable
socket joystick # cassette port # utilities around.
6128 mono £299.99 • Performance
Has 8 octaves, but is basically as CPC 664/6128 # PCB edge connec¬
6128 colour £399.99 for the Spectrum +2 - but it does
have stereo output, if a little rudimen¬
tor - takes RS232C interface #
Centronics parallel printer # Add-on
Buylines
tary disk socket # Joystick # Cassette
BEST BUY PRICE: Curry’s is offer¬
ing £20 off both and mono versions
Disks of the 464 in part exchange for an old
computer. Dixon’s has colour 6128s
Format 3 inch, flippable at £349.99. You could also try for a
Capacity 180K formatted per side CPC 664 for around £60.00, but
SoftwareYes, although disk versions these are becoming increasingly
may be harder to find in shops than rare. If the extra memory of the 6128
tape. is not important, the CPC664 can
Price about £3.00 represent a bargain if you can find
Add-on drives Amstrad DDI-1 first one.
drive
for CPC464, Amstrad FD-1 or third SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY:
party drives for any CPC. Very good. Often plenty on offer in
Built-in 464 no classified ad sections of specialist
664/6128 yes. magazines

MAINTENANCE: One year’s guaran¬

• Performance
Reliable and quick tee. Faulty machines return to deal¬
er. 664 statutory rights only.

Amstrad PCW Models: PCW8256

PCW8512
PCW 9512
printer, Locoscript 2 word
processing software,

In addition the machines reserve Memory:

Disks some of their memory for use as a Package: 8256 256K
(8256, 8512 Drive A) RAM drive, with obvious benefits in
Format disks 8256 - keyboard, monitor 8512 512K
speed.
Format' 3 inch flippable with built-in single disk 9512 512K
Capacity 180K formatted per side
(8512 Drive B, 9512) ■ Graphics drive, dot matrix printer,
Format 3 inch double-sided Locoscript 1 word process¬ Processor: Zilog Z80
Capacity 720K formatted Display ing software, CP/M operat¬
Price of Blank Disks about $3.00 TV no
Add-on drives from third party com¬ Monitor: supplied ing system, DR Logo. Recommended Retail
panies only, mainly 5.25 inch format.^ monochrome only,giving 8512 - as 8256 above but Price:
Add-on drives have been pro¬ 90 column text display. PCW 8256 £343.85
with two built-in drives.
duced to take 5.25 inch disks, so
that standard ASCII files in CP/M Resolution 720x256 9512 - restyled keyboard, PCW 8512 £458.85
format can be transferred to the Palette monitor with single built-in PCW 9512 £573.85
PCW machines. 8256,8512 green and black;
9512 black and white
disk drive, daisy wheel
# Performance Colours N/A
Reliable, reasonably fast and quiet. # Performance N/A

102 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 PINK PAGES

PROSPECTS: would be poor but for

Sound launch of 9512. Revival will depend
Sound chip none as such on new machine’s popularity.
Stereo output no
Channels N/A GAMES: Arcade titles are very
# Performance beeps only. Some scarce and, of course, monochrome
third party sound enhancement mod¬ only. Adventures are slightly more
ules available. numerous, but again the range is
small. A number of Infocom titles
available under CP/M, but outlook for
future releases uncertain.

In brief... GRAPHICS: very few but some low-

end CAD-type software available.
The PCW range was
designed as a word process¬ MUSIC: none - machines not con¬
figured as such.
ing machine rather than a SOFTWARE FORMAT: Disk only.
general purpose computer. Good for small business applications.
Non-word processing soft¬
ware was produced after via a separately bought interface. left of monitor. Monitor to key¬
board cable means keyboard sits
Buylines
sales rocketed. Not recom¬ PORTS: One expansion port takes naturally 6 inches to a foot in front MAINTENANCE: One year’s guar¬
mended as a games RS232C serial and Centronics of monitor. antee. Faulty machines return to
machine Parallel interface # Printer port for dealer
bundled printer
SPAGHETTI FACTOR: Low. Only
one plug needed. Cable from key¬ Software BEST BUY PRICE: As above.
Generally not sold below RRP.
% Hardware board to monitor; two cables from
monitor to bundled printer. EXISTING BASE: not wide but gen¬ SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY:
erally programs of good quality.
KEYBOARD: Includes extra keys for PROSPECTS: for 8256 and 8512,
Appeals to specialist/niche type mar¬
word processing functions. Keyboard good. 9512 too new for second hand
Disk drives are set “vertically” in kets.
in 9512 a substantially improved ver¬ market as yet.
sion. monitor casing to right of screen.
Short monitor to printer cable CURRENT RELEASES: very few
JOYSTICK/MOUSE Not supported
Joysticks and mice can be attached means printer must be placed to

SE 2; Apple Desktop Bus connector # 2

Apple Macintosh RS232/RS422 serial ^ External disk

drive t 96-pin Euro-Din expansion slot
SCSI - DB-25 connector
audio amplifier
External

ll;2 RS232/RS422 serial DB-25 SCSI T

In brief...
A very expensive up-market
machine for those keen on
desk-top publishing, wimp
Palette
SE black,and white systems, and up-market soft¬
Models: Macintosh SE
II with colour monitor - 16 million
Macintosh II it Software ware. If you can afford it,
Colours with colour monitor -16 to 256 EXISTING BASE: Wide range of soft¬ great - but remember that
ware exists in virtually all fields except software is very expensive.
Package: Monitor with
Display games.
Games are Imostly imited to
built-in cpu and disk drive, TV no
Monitor output integral monitor CURRENT RELEASES: adequate; icon-driven adventures (little
separate keyboard
Monitor supplied Built in largely of US origin and in the business arcade action software avail¬
Options or DTP field
able). Good for MIDI musi¬
Memory: 1Mb SE use dedicated model only
II Apple hi-res monochrome GAMES: very few arcade games, but cians, but be prepared to pay
or AppleColor hi-res RGB adventures are more plentiful
through the nose.
Processor:
SE Motorola 68000 # Performance GRAPHICS: lots of interesting software
Sprites None for those involved in DIY publishing
II Motorola 68020
Scrolling None
Speed Reasonably fast MUSIC: Very well supported for MIDI SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY:
software - but it's expensive stuff Reasonable, but not exactly cheap.
Recommended Retail Price Check small ads in specialist magazines.
SE £2,294.25 upwards Sound SOFTWARE FORMAT: All software sup¬
MAINTENANCE: One year's guarantee.
II £4,329.75 upwards Sound chip Apple (ASC) plied on disk
Speaker quality Good Apple offers Applecare - 'insurance' you
Stereo output SOFTWARE LOADING: Quick and reli¬ take out to cover cost of repairs after
SE No; able guarantee has
Disks II Yes
Format 3.5inch MIDI Third party interfaces available.
Price Around £3.00 Channels 4
Capacity 800K
Software All on disk # Performance Good
Add-on drives Yes
Built-in Yes

^ Performance I Hardware
Fast and reliable, but watch out for US KEYBOARD: Supplied 81 keys includ¬
software that hasn't been thoroughly test¬ ing function keys and numeric keypad.
ed Optional extra is the Apple Extended key¬
board, with 105 keys

■ Graphics JOYSTICK/MOUSE: Joystick not sup¬

Resolution ported. High quality one-button mouse
SE 512x342 supplied with machine
II 1027x760
PORTS:

Advanced Computer Entertainment 103

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■ Sound Software
AlariST Sound chip
Stereo output
MIDI
Channels
AY-3-8912
no
yes
three
EXISTING BASE: Though on the
low side by 8-bit or PC standards,
the number of ST titles makes it the
Software only supplied on disk
# Performance best-supported of the new machines.
Models: Atari 520STFM, Price of Blank Disks about £3.00 8 octaves, envelope shaping.
Add-on drives yes
1040STF, Mega STs Built-in yes
CURRENT RELEASES: Most major
software houses convert their output

# Performance Fast and reliable

t Hardware to ST now, and several smaller hous¬
Package: 520STFM and es specialise in ST titles.
KEYBOARD: 96 keys including 10
■ Graphics
1040STF keyboard with function keys. Full travel keyboard PROSPECTS: Very bright indeed.
built-in disk drive with audible click. Could soon rival Spectrum and C64
for number of new releases.
Resolution high res 640x400
JOYSTICK/MOUSE: Joystick ports
Memory: medium res 640x200
are standard. Two-button mouse GAMES: Range of arcade titles isn't
low res 320x200 supplied with machine
520STFM 512K Palette 512 bad and adventures, though rarer,
are generally of very high quality
1040STF 1Mb Colours monochrome in high res,

Mega ST 2 or 4Mb
4 colours in medium res,
16 in low res
In brief... GRAPHICS: Impressive, with several
first-rate packages on the market.
Excellent as a general
Display
Processor: purpose home machine MUSIC: excellent. Many companies
TV
520STFM yes. for games, small busi¬ producing sound editors, samplers,
Motorola 68000 synths, etc
Other models via TV modulator ness, and productivity -
Monitor output RGB/monochrome
Monitor supplied no
it's also the number one SOFTWARE FORMAT: Disk only.
Recommended Retail choice for MIDI musicians.
Options:dedicated Atari monitors, in
Price monochrome or colour, SMI 24 high
SOFTWARE LOADING: A 360K
The ST's price could still disk can't hold a really large ST pro¬
res mono, SCI224, medium res,
520STFM £299.99 give it the edge for artists gram, so two-disk titles are becoming
colour
1040STF £499.99 increasingly common. The disk¬
over the Amiga.
changing these require can get
# Performance
tedious, especially where you've got
Sprites none
to swap disks during play.
■ Disks
Scrolling' good vertical;
PORTS MIDI out (5 pin DIN) ®
poor horizontal MIDI, in (5 pin DIN) # Audio out ^
Format
Capacity
3 1/2 inch
360K formatted High resolution is only available
Audio in # RGB monitor # mono S Buylines
monitor # serial/modem port # sec¬
(1/2 Mb drive) on mono monitors; medium and
ond disk # hard disk # mouse/joy¬ MAINTENANCE: One year’s guaran¬
720K (1 Mb drive) low resolutions are only available stick # joystick S cartridge TV tee. Return to dealer if faulty
on colour monitors or TVs.

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posted in the UK, £10, write ZERO) | | posted in the UK, £10, write ZERO)
Channel Islands or
Box C ■ | Channel Islands or
Isle of Man. Subscriber's total payable Box C
■ Isle of Man. Subscriber’s total payable

Name Name
Address Address

Phone (if poss) Computer Phone (if poss) Computer

Method of payment □ ACCESS • □ VISA • □ CHEQUE • □ P.O. Method of payment □ ACCESS • □ VISA • □ CHEQUE • □ P.O.
Cred. card no. [Link] Cred. card no. [Link]
Please make out cheques and postal orders to Future Publishing Ltd. Please make out cheques and postal orders to Future Publishing Ltd.
 PINK PAGES

ports; mouse not standard

Disks
Atari XL/XE Format
Price
Capacity
5.25 inch
Around £1.00
360K formatted
Software Most titles available on disk
PORTS: Rom slot • 2 joystick • edge
connector • monitor

Models: Atari 800XL Add-on drives Yes « Software

In brief... (no longer manufactured), Built-in No EXISTING BASE: Good but long in the
Once the choice of the dedi¬ # Performance Good tooth.
Atari 65XE, CURRENT RELEASES: Thin on the
cated arcade games player, Atari 130XE ground; mostly budget.
these machines pioneered & Graphics
Resolution 320x192 GAMES: Arcade range is of high quality.
the use of sprites and quality Package: Palette 256 Adventures poor to middling
sound. In their later configu¬ 800XL retailers’ own - look Colours 128
rations they remain attractive Display GRAPHICS: Some good programs on
for keyboard, plus tape deck, TV Yes the market.
purchases for the wealth of joystick and software Monitor output Composite video
existing software, but sup¬ 65XE Atari Starter Pack Monitor supplied No SOFTWARE FORMAT: tape or disk.
port is fading very rapidly Options [Link] dedicated monitor Disks are quick, but tape software can
includes keyboard, tape deck, manufactured. Use TV or monitor be a real bargain.
and the outlook is grim. joystick, software (10 games) with composite video output
130XE Atari Starter Pack # Performance MUSIC: Well supported in this area.
Sprites 8
includes keyboard, tape deck, Scrolling No
Atari ST cont PROSPECTS: Not brilliant now that
joystick, software (5 games) Speed Average
BEST BUY PRICE: You won’t get attention is focused on Atari STs.
much under the RRP, but try for spe¬ Memory:
cial bundles. WH Smith, for instance,
is selling the machine together with
800X1 64K Sound ■ Buylines
65XE 64K Sound chip Atari custom chip
£200 worth of software.
Speaker quality Output thru TV
130 XE 128K Stereo output No BEST BUY PRICE:
SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY: 800XL shop around - machines are now
Yes, look in classified ads of maga¬
MIDI Not supplied. Third party
interfaces available. scarce
zines. Processor: 6502 Channels 4 65XE Dixons is offering the Starter Pack
at £99.99
The ST is an attractive looking # Performance Good
130XE generally as RRP
machine with slanted function Recommended Retail Price
keys above similarly styled slats.
It was one of the first machines to
800XL none ■ Hardware SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY: Quite
a few around; look in the mags
include a disk drive in the side of 65XE £129.99 KEYBOARD: 62 keys including some
special function keys for BASIC com¬
the console - this design is now 130XE £139.99 MAINTENANCE: One year’s guarantee.
mands
also taken up by other manufac¬ Return to dealer if faulty
turers.
JOYSTICK/MOUSE Standard joystick

» §• cowPUT£RS
17 EVERSLEY ROAD BEXHILL E SUSSEX (0424) 221931
SPECIALIST COMPUTER DEALERS FOR ST & AMIGA
Amiga A500 + Modulator
+ Paint + 3 Top Games Phillips 8833 Med-Res Colour Atari 520STFM £279.95 Phillips 8833 Med-Res Colour
£479.95
Amiga A500 + 1081 Monitor Monitor + Cable £274.95 Atari 520STFM+ Phillips Monitor + Cable £274.95
+ Paint + 3 Top Games Star NL10 Printer £219.95 8833 Colour £549.95 Star NL10 Printer + Cable
£749.95 £219.95
Cumana 1 Meg Drive SEGA Games Console £99.95 Cumana 1 Meg Drive £134.95 PHONE FOR MORE
£134.95

AMIGA SOFTWARE ST SOFTWARE

Games/Leisure Guild of Thieves 16.50 Sinbad 19.95 Games/Leisure Business/Utilities
Adventure Construction Las Vegas 7.95
Hacker II 16.50 Sky Fighter 10.00 3D Galax 13.50
Set 19.95 Leaderboard 16.50 Accountant (Sage) 129.95
Hitchhikers Guide 19.95 Skyfox 13.50 10th Frame
Alien Strike 10.00 Leaderboard Tournament 7.95 Accountant Plus (Sage) 159.95
Hollywood Poker 12.95 Spaceport 13.50 Airball Advanced OCP Art Studio
Archon 19.95 Marble Madness 13.95 16.50
Hunt for Red October 16.50 Space Ranger 7.95 Airball Construction Kit Art Director
Archon II 19.95 Mercenary Compendium 16.50 34.95
Impact 10.00 Spellbreaker 12.95 Alternate Reality
Arena/Brataccas 12.95 Metrocross 16.50 Assembler (Metacomco 34.95
Infidel 12.95 Starcross 19.95 Arctic Fox
Artie Fox 19.95 Micro-League Wrestling 13.50 Back Pack 34.95
Insanity Flight 16.50 Starglider 16.50 Arkanoid
Backlash 13.50 Mission Elevator 13.50 CAD 3D 34.95
Jewels of Darkness 13.50 Starwars 16.50 Backlash 13.50 Cashlink Integrated
Balance of Power 19.95 Mortville Manor 16.50
Kampfegruppe 19.95 Stationfall 19.95 Balance of Power 19.95 Accounts
Barbarian 16.50 Nord and Bert 16.50 249.95
Karate (Eidersoft) 16.50 Super Huey 13.50 Barbarian 16.50
Bards Tale 16.50 Not a Penny More 13.50 Degas Elite 17.50
Karate Kid II 16.50 Surgeon 37.50 Bards Tale 16.95
Borrowed Time 16.50 Pawn 16.50 Devpac 32.95
Kings Quest III 12.95 Suspect 12.95 Basketball 12.95 Digi Drum
Brian Clough Football 16.50 Plundered Hearts 16.50 16.50
Kings Quest Triple Pack 16.50 Suspended 12.95 Bureaucracy 23.90 Fast Basic (Disk)
Bureaucracy 23.90 Prohibition 13.50 32.95
Knight Ore 13.50 Terrorpods 16.50 Borrowed Time 16.50 Fast Basic (ROM)
Challenger 7.95 Road Runner 16.50 64.95
Leaderboard (A/500) 16.50 Test Drive 16.95 Boulderdash Construction 16.50 Film Director
Championship Baseball 12.95 Roadwar Europa 16.50 41.95
Leather Goddesses 19.95 Thai Boxing 7.95 Bubble Ghost
Championship Golf 12.95 Roadwar 2000 16.50 First Word Plus 54.95
Leviathan 13.50 Trivia Drive 7.95 Chess (Psion) Fleet Street Publisher
Chessmaster 2000 16.50 S.D.I 19.95 84.95
Marble Madness 13.50 Ultima III 19.95 Chessmaster 2000 16.50 GFA Basic
Crazy Cars 16.50 Sentinel 13.50 31.95
Mean 18 Golf 19.95 Uninvited 19.95 Chopper X 7.95 GFA Compiler
Cruncher Factory 7.95 Shanghai 12.95 31.95
Mindshadow 16.50 Vaders 7.95 Death Strike 7.95 GFA Companion
Deadline 12.95 Sidewalk 13.50 23.95
Mission Elevator 13.50 Winter Games 16.50 Defender of the Crown 19.95
Defender of the Crown 19.95 Silent Service 16.50 GFA Draft 68.95
Mouse Trap 10.00 World Games Deja Vu 16.50
Deja Vu 19.95 16.50 Silicon Dreams Trilogy 13.50 K-Data 35.95
Ninja Mission Eagles Nest 13.50
Diablo 13.50 J en z°rkl 12.95 Solomons Key 13.95 K-Minstrel (Midi) 24.95
Ogre 16.50 y . Extensor 13.50
Dr .Fruit 12.95 Starglider 16.50 K-Spread 2 56.50
7.95 Pawn 16 .50 . FI 5 Strike Eagle
12.95 Star Trek 13.50 Lattice C (Metacomco) 68.95
Faerytale Adventure 37.50 Phantasielll 16.50 Zorkl11 Flight Simulator II
Star Wars 13.50 Lisp (Metacomco) 114.95
Final Trip 7.95 Plundered Hearts 16.50 GFL American Football
Strike Force Harrier 16.50 Micro-Time Clock Card 29.95
Firepower 16.50 Plutos 10.00 Utilities/Business Gauntlet 16^50
Super Huey 13.50 Music Studio 12.95
Flight Simulator II 37.50 Portal 19.95 Ae9's Animator & Images 99.95 Gold Runner
Supercyde 16.50 Pascal V.2 (Metacomco) 72.95
Flight II Scenery Disk 7 16.95 Q Ball 13 50 Deluxe Music Construction 49.95 Guild of Thieves
Tai Pan 13.50 Pro Sound Designer 44.95
Feud Roadwar 2000 10 50 Deluxe Paint II 49.95 Hitchhikers Guide
7.95 Terrorpods 16.50 Publishing Partner 124.95
Hunt for Red October
GBA Basketball 12.95 Roadwar Europa 16*50 Devpac 38.95 T.N.T 13.50 ST Replay 54.95
Impact
GFA Football 12.95 SDI 19.95 Digi Paint 37.50 Tracker 16.50 Super Conductor
Indiana Jones 34.95
Gold Runner 16.50 Shangai 12 95 pagesetter 99.95 Trivial Pursuit 13.50
Karate Kid II Superbase Personal 67.95
Grand Slam (Tennis) 16*50 Scribble II 69.95 Winter Games 16.50
19.95 Silent Service Knight Ore VIP Professional 174.95
World Games 16.50

ORDER BY PHONE Prices Inc VAT & FREE Delivery Send Cheques or Visa/Access detail to
CBS Computers, 17 Eversley Rd, Bexhill,
Tel (0424) 221931 E. Sussex TN40 1HT.
Most Orders despatched within 24 Hours, but allow maximum of 14 days
PPINK PAGES

standing.
Sound
Commodore Amiga Sound chip Commodore custom chip
Stereo output
MIDI
Yes
Not built-in.
MUSIC: Potentially superb.
support as yet.
Little MIDI

Third party interfaces available. SOFTWARE FORMAT: Disk only

Channels 4
Disks Models: Amiga 500 • Performance SOFTWARE LOADING: A noisy process
Format 3 1/2 inch A1000 Built-in text to speech synthesis, 9
Capacity 880K formatted octaves, programmable waveforms, PROSPECTS: Good, but A500 needs to
Price Around £3.00 A2000 amplitude and frequency modulation establish a larger user-base before
Software All on disk becoming a prime development machine.
Extra drives Package: keyboard, with
■ Hardware
Yes
Built-in
■ Buylines
Yes
built-in disk drive. A1000 is
KEYBOARD: 94 key, 10 function keys,
t Performance discontinued, so packaging numeric keypad, separate cursor cluster BEST BUY: Not at present sold below
Noisy and surprisingly sluggish will depend on different deal¬ RRP, although it can be worth checking
er policies. JOYSTICK/MOUSE Mouse supplied as various dealers for special packs.

Graphics standard
SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY:
Resolution 640x200 Memory: PORTS: Two joystick/mouse # Audio Limited as yet.
Palette 4096 A500 512K output left and right ^ Extra disk drive #
Colours 16 in high res Serial (RS232, # Centronics parallel # MAINTENANCE: Within guarantee
32 in low res A1000 256K
RGB/video # Monochrome video # should be returned to the dealer.
4096 in hold and modify A2000 1024K Expansion bus

Display In brief...
TV No but modulator
available for A500 only at £24.99
Processor: Motorola 68000
■ Software Stunning specification.
EXISTING BASE: Small in comparison
Monitor output SCART Recommended Retail Price to 8-bit machines Despite initial uncertainty,
Monitor supplied No A500 £499.99
Options Commodore A1081 at £349.99
software support now seems
A1000 none - discontinued CURRENT RELEASES: Beginnning to
pick up assured. Although overshad¬
# Performance A2000 £1236.25 owed by the ST in the UK to
Sprites 8 GAMES: Arcade products not yet up to
Scrolling Vertical, horizontal date, overseas sales (partic¬
the capabilities of the machine. Few
Speed Very fast with right soft¬ stances and offers powerful window¬ adventures are available, but they are ularly in US) are high. An
ware ing capabilities, while block image generally of a good quality. excellent machine for those
Graphics co-processor allows sprites transferrer (blitter) speeds up large-
to be ‘re-used’ under some circum- scale graphics work enormously. GRAPHICS: Quality and range out¬
who can afford one.

MEGABYTE MEGA B r r E
SCO TLANOS PREM/ER COMPUTER CENTRE SCOTIA BBS FBEM/EB COMFL/TEff CEB TEE
12 Ettrick Square, Town Centre, Cumbernauld. G67 1ND.
12 Ettrick Square, Town Centre, Cumbernauld. G67 1ND.

PRINTER SUPERDEALS FROM SCOTLAND PROLfDL V PRESENT

A LINE UP OF COMPUTER AND PERIPHERAL PRODUCT TO SUIT THE TASTE AND BUDGET OF
ALL ENTHUSIASTS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED KINGDOM WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN
ATTEMPTING TO SATISFY THE NEEDS OF ALL YOUR COMPUTING INTERESTS. CALL US ON
THE FULL LINE UP OF STAR PRINTERS 0236 738398 OR BETTER STILL COME UP AND SEE US SOMTIME
STAR NL10 £285 OUR PRICE =£199.95 ALL THE PRINTERS Tbu /nb 0/000 SEGA 900100 nrnebrnu.
STAR NX15 £447 OUR PRICE =£349.95 COME WITH I/FACE A TAR/ 520SEFN\.239. OO uubn/iuuub/u grspbtct on 0 TV.
STAR ND10 £401 SEGA Go nr 00 00000/0 99 00
OUR PRICE =£313.95 AND CABLE TO A TAR/ 1040 STF..499. OO
STAR ND15 £582 Fho0or gun..4S 99
OUR PRICE =£438.95 CONNECT TO YOUR A TAR/ MEGA ST2_999 OO
STAR NR10 £516 OUR PRICE =£402.95 COMPUTER.
STAR NR15 £877
A TAR/ MEGA ST4../299. OO Tb 0 0 0/0unding B/BTEBOO gum00
OUR PRICE =£528.95 PRICES INCLUSIVE muebiuu tut/b con/ro//0r0. /igb/ gun nnd
STAR NB24 10 £688 OUR PRICE = £537.95 OF VAT. A TAR/ T30XE PA C/C..Z29.95
B O. B /b0 robot with /too gnnt00 to wbt
STAR NB24 - 15 £872 OUR PRICE = £680.95 A TAR/ 55XE CONSOLE. ZZ9.95 your npp0t//0./S9 99
STAR NB15 £976 OUR PRICE = £761.95 SUPERDEALS A TAR/ 2500 CONSOLE. 49.95 B/B TEBD O g0 nr 0 0 unit 99 99
A// A /art computers and games
TH E CITIZEN RANGE AT YOUR SERVICE SINCLAIR PLUS 2 139 95
conso/es come w/f/t free s/ware
CITIZEN 120D £228.85 OUR PRICE =£179.00 SINCLAIR PLUS 3 199 95
CITIZEN LSPIOO £286.35 OUR PRICE =£214.95 P/tone or SAE for defaf/s. One with cattetle drive, on* with di*k drive, the
CITIZEN MSP10E £343.85 OUR PRICE =£257.95 choice It your* Both come with matte* of free
CITIZEN MSP15E £401.35 toflwart Call for detail*
OUR PRICE =£309.95
Commodore AAf/GA A500
CITIZEN MSP40 £477.25 OUR PRICE =£359.95
CITIZEN MSP55 For the man who ha* everything The hutband
£695.00 OUR PRICE =£542.10
or the father, always a problem at Christmas
CITIZEN HQP45 £795.00 OUR PRICE =£695.00 .499.00 me Vat..
Your problem* are over
CITIZEN PREMIER £699.00 OUR PRICE =£499.00 P/us:::::De/uxe Pa/nt THE PSION ORGANISER
CITIZEN OVERTURE 110 £1750.00 OUR PRICE =£1365.00 .Skjdox MODEL CM 99 00
MODEL XP 135 00
AMIGA SOFTWARE ATARI ST SOFTWARE .Terrorpods
Adv. Const Kit.. ..14.95.. Lot* of addon* and software always in stock
. .10.95 Academy. .19.95. ..14.95 .TV Node fa tor FREE Send for detail* and price list
Arctic Fox. . .19.95. . ..14.95 Arctic Fox. .19.95. ..14.95
Bards Tale 1 . . . . ..24.95.. ..18.95 Bards Tale. .24.95. ..19.95
Chessmaster2000. ..24.95.. ..19.95 Chessmaster2000. .24.95. . .19.95
All our Computer & Games Machine come with free software.
D/L Music Con3t. . .69.95. . ..54.95 Degas Elite. .24.95. ..19.95 Checkout the freebies you get with the list below.
D/L Paint 2 .... ..69.95. . ..54.95 Marble Madness.. .24.95. ..19.95
D/L Paint. . .49.95. . ..19.95 Music Const set. .24.95. ..19,95 Atari ST’s : 5 Disks, 5 Public Domain Disks, Neochrome, tst Word,
D/L Video. . .69.95. . ..54.95 Sku1ldiggery.... .19.95. ...9.95
Earl Weav B/Ball . .24.95 . . ..19.95 Skyfox. .14.95. . .10.95
DB Master & Mouse Mat....OR a 3 Game Entertainment pack (Titles
Marble Madness.. . .19.95. . ..14.95 Tau Ceti. . 19.95. may vary).Sincalr +2 & +3 : 6 Games and [Link] :
. .15.95
Skyfox. ..14.95. . ...9.95 Cyber Studio.... .89.95. "Hang on" and [Link]:Mario Bros. Gyromite,
..68.95
Test Drive. . .24.95. . ..19.95 Stereo Glasses.. 149.00. .110.95 duck shoot.(depends on pack).Atari 2600: Two Free Cartidges...
Ultima 3. . .24.95. . ..19.95 Easy Draw 2. .79.95. . .69.95 Atari 65XF: Flight Sim II & Bughunt.
Bratacass. . .34.95. . ..14.95 First Word Plus. .79.95. . .69.95
Deep Space. ..49.95. . ..14.95 Cad 3D. .49.95. . .15.95
L. Comp People.. . .19.95. . . .-*9.95 Cad 3D II. .49.95. . 39.95 Mf GABYTf is one stop computer Christmas Shopping we accept all
Terrapods. ..24.95. . ..14.95 Timeworks Suite. 248.00.
Def of the Crown . .29.95. .
.149.95 the ma|or credit cards and offer credit facilities. We Accept Access
. . 19.95 T/W Desk Top Pub .99.95. . .89.95
S.D.I. ..34.95. . ..24.95 Habaview. .79.95.
and Visa over the phone and with the addition of £5 to your ordr we
..39.95
Apsai Trilogy... . .24.95 . . . . .9.95 Time link. .89.95. . .59.95
will send your goods by Securlcor overnight delivery service.
SinBad. . .29.95. . ..19.95 Pto Sound Design .59.95. ..34.95
Aegis Drawll only)169.95. ..59.95 Phantasie 3... .24.95. ..15.95 TELEPHONE 0236 738398
£5.00 SECURICOR DELIVERY PHONE 0238 738398 TODAY

106 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 PINK PAGES

128/128D RGB for 80 column display Stereo output No

Commodore 64/128 Monitor supplied

Monitor options
C1900M
Cl 901
Cl 084
No

£119.99 mono
£249.99 colour
£349.99 colour
Channels
MIDI

# Performance
No, but many third party
3

interfaces available

Models: C64, 128,128D Disks or suitable RGB/composite monitor

Very sophisticated for the price. The
Commodore 64 used to be most popular
# Performance budget music computer for both MIDI and
Two disk drives are commonly avail¬ Sprites 8 programming its on-board chip.
Package: C64 and 128 key¬ able - the Cl 541 and the more recent Scrolling vertical, horizontal
board plus C2N tape Cl 571.
■ Hardware
Speed Good for scrolling and sprites,
recorder, plus accesories Format 5.25 inch poor otherwise.
Price £1.00 (less in bulk) Hardware sprites and scrolling have proved KEYBOARD: Raised plastic keys with
(according to individual deal¬ Capacity both a blessing and a curse for Commodore
audible tactile feedback, plus function
ers). C128D keyboard plus graphics. They make certain tasks (particu¬
1541 140K formatted keys. Cursor key arrangement very awk¬
larly the programming of sprite-based shoot-
disk drive. 1571 340K formatted ward.
em-ups) much simpler but more recent 3D
Software Most titles available on disk software tends to run slowly (if at all).
Add on drives Yes, including JOYSTICK/MOUSE: Provision for two
Memory: C64, 64K; Cl 28, third party units with improved standard joysticks. Mouse not supplied.
128K; C128D. 128K performance In brief... Commodore 1350 mouse available, plus
Built-in 128D only third party manufactured models.
The 64 is an excellent games
# Performance Commodore 1541 drive
Processor: C64, 6510; is notoriously slow and noisy; 1571 machine. The 128 and 128D PORTS: 2 joystick # expansion # cas¬
marks substantial improvement.
128/128D, 8502 plus Z80 for can be configured for busi¬ sette # non-standard serial # composite
video (C64) RGB (128+128D) t TV t
use in CP/M mode ness use using the CP/M User port
M Graphics standard and giving access to
Resolution
Recommended Retail C64 320x200
a vast range of business and
utility software. 64 is a partic¬
■ Software
Price: C64; £159.99- C128/128D: as 64 in 64 mode, plus EXISTING BASE: Excellent. Only
640x200 in 128 modes (80 column dis¬ ularly difficult machine to rivalled by the Spectrum, but in many
£179.99t Cl 28 £199.99 play) cases, Commodore versions of programs
stand-alone; £229.99 with Palette 16 learn programming on due to
are superior.
C2N; £249.99 with C2N + Colours 8 outdated BASIC.
Note Attribute system places minor limita¬
software C128D £399.99 CURRENT RELEASES: Still pouring out.
tions on number of colours displayable in
any 8*8 pixel square.
t according to individual Display TV Yes GAMES: Arcade action second to none.
dealers’ packages. Monitor output Sound Adventures - good selection.
64 Composite video Sound chip 8581 sound interface chip
Speaker quality Output thru monitor GRAPHICS: Good selection - quality of

WIGHT Computing Home Micro’s

Atari 520 STFM.275.00 Repairs
Amiga 500A includes Modulator.£475.00 Spectrum Key board faults.8.00
SEGA System.95.00 Spectrum.18.00
Commodore 1541 C disc drive includes 29 games...159.00 Commodore 64/Cl6 Plus 4/Vic 20.26.50
Commodore 64 C Sports Pack.165.35 Acorn Electron non ULA Faults.25.00
Spectrum 128 plus 2.129.00
PCW 8256 includes Disk Box..344.00
Recondition Vic 20 Modulators.17.50
PCW 9512 includes Disk Box.574.00 Other Machines Please Phone
DMP 3160 (PC compatible printer).199.00
Used Spectrum 48K includes 3 months warranty.60.00 TV or Tape leads Spectrum.1.60
Spectrum 48K pack Joystick Interface Games.£55.00 Large Range of leads & adaptors in stock
Part Exchanges Welcome Minimum £20
Phone for items not listed
Commodore 64 PSU repairable.26.00
Spectrum Power supply unit.11.00

Due to the VAST STOCK of software we keep we are unable to list it, use the table below to work out the price to pay
(e.g Action Force Spect. rrp 7.95 our price 5.99)
Sega software deduct 2.00 from rrp

RRP Our Price RRP Our Price

6.99 5.28 7.99 5.99
8.99 6.75 9.99 7.43
10.99 8.24 I 1.99 8.99
12.99 9.52 14.95 10.93
19.99 14.46 24.99 17.99
34.99 26.22 49.99 35.42

Barclay Card phone orders 0983 68978

Or write to W C H M, 122 High Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight. P033 2SU
All prices include VAT @ 15% postage & packing *(UK) BFPO
Dealers for Time Works Software phone for prices
Software bundles £10 for 10 tapes

Advanced Computer Entertainment 107

PINK PAGES

graphics means that programs can be slow, but Commodore games may well

IBM & compatibles

reasonably sophisticated. last longer than Spectrum, due to direct
portability of games from US.
MUSIC: Good wide range of sound edi¬

■ Buylines
tors, some samplers. Many MIDI utilities
available.
BEST BUY PRICE: Old style C64s, dat¬ Palette 64
SOFTWARE FORMAT: C64/128 - tape ing back to before the redesign can be Disks Colours 16
or disc from external dedicated tape deck picked up for around £130-£150. Normally fitted as upgrade to basic
(C2N) or disc drive. C128D - tape from Otherwise, with Commodore’s policy of Format Mostly 5.25 inch machine, but comes as standard on
C2N or disk from integral disk drive. letting the dealers devise their own “bun¬ some very new models use 3 .5 inch some PCs (eg Amstrad PCI 640).
dles”, it’s a case of picking the one you
All Commodore machines require the like best. Price: Well under £1.00 for 5.25 Hercules
Commodore C2N Tape Deck for loading tape- around £3.00 for 3.5 Resolution 720x348
based software. Some third party interfaces Capacity: Almost always 360K formatted
SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY: Good Colours Mono only
are available to enable a normal domestic
for all models. Check small ads in various Software: All on disk Often built-in on mono PCs.
recorder to be used with the machines but
this arrangement may not be as reliable. magazines. Add-on drives Yes
Built-in Yes These are the three most common dis¬
SOFTWARE LOADING: Slow as always MAINTENANCE: Under guarantee - take play standards, accounting between
on cassette and disk loading not as fast machine back to dealer. Should get # Performance them for almost all cheap PCs current¬
as it should be due to slowness of dedi¬ straight replacement within 30 days of Reliable and pretty fast; hard disks, of ly in production, but other adaptors do
cated drive. Most software produced with purchase (at dealers’ discretion). Ex¬ course, are even faster exist. Buying second hand you may
fast loader routines. guarantee - use independent repair com¬ well encounter machines with unusual

PROSPECTS: Supply will eventually

pany.
■ Graphics or text-only displays.

Graphics are not provided as standard Display

on PC machines, although nowadays TV no
most all machine are sold with the Monitor output Normally RGB
necessary add-on boards already Monitor supplied With most packages
installed. There are three common Options Dedicated monitors are
standards, CGA, EGA, and Hercules: usually supplied or available
for machine. Generally, any
CGA (Colour Graphics Adaptor) RGB should do.
Resolution 320x200 low res
640x200 medium res
Palette none as suchbut three HI Sound
different colour schemes Sound chip None as such - need
available in low res direct speaker modulation
Colours 4 in low res, mono in high res Speaker quality Generally poor
CGA is the most common PC display Stereo output No
standard for colour systems. MIDI Third party interfaces available.

ttaA (tnhanced Graphics Adaptor)

Both CGA graphics modes, plus high res¬ Performance
olution as follows Not really a machine for the musician in
Resolution 640x350 view of the more recent competition from

TELE-GAMES-

BEWARE
Europe’s Largest Stock Of Video Games & Cartridges For -

A CISS
ATARI
2600 THE EMPTY SHELF
Don't run the risk of missing a copy of A.C.E.
IN STOCK NOW With many newsagents selling out fast, you
should guarantee yourself a monthly copy,
(Nintendo) either by subscribing or by handing your
newsagent the completed form below.
WICO JOYSTICKS FOR NINTENDO IN STOCK NOW
The leading Video game specialists. Send for lists (state make of game)
TELEGAMES, WIGSTON, LEICESTER, LE8 1TE (0533-880445) Dear Newsagent
NEWCOLECO TITLES NOW IN STOCK NOW OVER 100 TITLES TO CHOOSF FROM

Please order me a monthly copy of Advanced

Computer Entertainment magazine (A.C.E.).

Name _____

Address

ESCAPE Telephone-
Note to newsagents. ACE is distributed by SM Distribution (Telephone
01-274 8611). It is published the first Thursday of the month prior to
cover date, priced £1.50.
 PINK PAGES

Atari and (at the uppper end of the mar¬ not too much for the artist.
ket) Apple Macintosh.
MUSIC: Fair selection of MIDI packages
and interfaces, those these tend to be
i Hardware expensive.

KEYBOARD: All models use raised PROSPECTS: Won’t dwindle as long as

plastic keys with audible tactile feedback there are PCs on desks
and include function keys and separate
numeric keypads. A wide variety of third-
party keyboards is available. ^ Buylines
JOYSTICK/MOUSE: Two different joy¬ BEST BUY PRICE: All-in-one packages
stick standards exist, IBM (analogue) and - such as the Amstrad - represent good
Amstrad (Atari style - the norm for games value, but if you know what you're doing
playing). Most games support either IBM even better bargains can be had from
or both, but Amstrads can now be adapt¬ discount stores. If you don't know what
ed to use IBM joystick. Newer models you're doing go for a reputable brand.
(eg, Amstrad) include mouse in package.
Third party mice are available for mouse¬ SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY: PCs
less PCs. can often be picked up in auctions of
PORTS: Varies. Expect Centronics par¬ computer and office goods, or through
allel, RS232, expansion port with most magazine adverts.
machines - but some of thes are option¬
al. MAINTENANCE: Return to dealer if Model: IBM’s PC is the origi¬ the bare bones or the whole
faulty, but a maintenance contract - often nal. The many clones include works.
■ Software surprisingly cheap - can guarantee your
piece of mind Amstrad’s PC 1512 and 1640
series, Tandy’s 1000EX, Memory: usually 512K-640K
EXISTING BASE: Vast
Spectrum Bondwell 32, etc.
CURRENT RELEASES: Still pouring out,
In brief... The specifications given below Processor: Intel 8086, 8088
with price levels dropping as well. Superb value if you want an will generally apply to most or variants
all-round machine, but the IBM compatibles unless partic¬
GAMES: Cheaper machines has meant
that more and more games are being PC still betrays its business ular riders are made. If you are Recommended Retail Price
released on the PC - both arcade and origins. Increasing number of thinking of buying a PC or From around £400.00 for the
adventure. CGA graphics standard use
to be predominant, but an increasing
games software releases, compatible check all the salient cheaper basic clones to £1500
number of EGA games with superior but few of these are of the details with dealers first. for top-of-the-range clones
graphics are appearing. PC only recently coin-op arcade variety. Package: Depends on manu¬ (with hard disk, colour monitor
perceived as a machine with games
potential. Definitely not to be consid¬ facturer. Amstrad supply a etc.) IBM machines them¬
ered if entertainment is your machine with monitor, with or selves are considerably more
GRAPHICS: Many sophisticated pack¬
first priority. without hard disk. You can buy expensive.
ages for business presentation graphics;

AMIGA A500 NOW IN STOCK

K & M COMPUTERS FOR ONLY £429
* LOW PRICES * FAST SERVICE *
* BIG DISCOUNT JANUARY SALE NOW ON *
TITLE SPEC CBM.64 DISC AMD DISC TITLE ATARI ST JOYSTICKS
Salamander 5.99 6.99 11.95 6.99 1195 Winter Olympiad 88 14.95 Amstrad JY2 13.95
Combat School 5.99 6.99 10.50 6.99 1195 DejaVu 24.95 Cheetah Mach 1 13.95
Driller 11.99 11.99 14.95 11.99 1495 Defender of to Crown 24.95 Euromax Pro 5000 13.95
Buggy Boy 5.99 7.99 11.95 6.99 1195 Terrorpods Ouickshot II Turbo 12.95
18.50
Phasor One 11.95
Rygar 6.99 7.99 11.95 7.99 1195 Barbarians (Sig) 18.50
Datex Joybafl 15.95
Shoot Em Up Nordi Bert 18.50
Slickstick
Construction Kit
Gauntlet H 6.99
11.95
7.99
14.95
9.95
—
1195
Starwars
Startrek
14.95
14.95
Ouickshot II
Tac5
6.99
8.95 AMIGA PACK 1 INCLUDES
10.99
720°
MadbaH
6.99
5.99
7.99
6.99
9.95
10.95
1195
1195
Jinxter
Gauntlet II
14.95
14.95
Cheetah 125 7.95 Amiga A500 * Deluxe Paint * Workbench 1.2 ’
Euromax Arcade 15.95
Werewolves of London
Zigzag
6.99 7.99 10.95 1195 Impact 10.95 Konix Speedking 10.95 Very First Steps Tutorial
7.99 10.95 — Red October 18.50 Moonraker 5.50
Nebutus
Deflektor
5.99
5.99
6.99
7.99
10.95
11.95
—
—
Rying Shark
Trivial Pursuit
14.95
14.95
Suncom Economy
Startighter
6.99
9.50
£429.95
Skate or Die 7.99 11.95 — Arena/Bratacus Tac2 10.50
24.95
Atari Paddes
Airborne Ranger
Braves tar 6.99
11.99
7.99
15.95
9.95 7.99
—
1195
Knkjilmare
Outiun
11.95
14.95
9.99
AMIGA PACK 2 INCLUDES
ACCESSORIES
Gunship
Action Force
7.99
7.99
11.99
7.99
15.95
-
—
—
Moebius
Adv Art Studio
18.50
18.50
Monitor Stand 15.99 Amiga A500 + 1901 Cotour Monitor * Deluxe Paint *
Printer Station 6.99
Gunboat
Inside Outing
6.99
6.99
6.99
6.99
10.95
11.95
6.99
6.99
1095
1195
Degas Elite
Hollywood Hjinx
18.50Printer Paper Catcher 11.99 Workbench 1.2 * Very First Steps Tutorial
24.95 14" Screen Filter 19.99
Phantom Club 5.99 6.99 10.95 6.99 1195 Hitchhikers Guide 31/2* Disc Drive Cleaner
Freddy Hardest 5.99 6.99 10.95 6.99 1195
24.95
51/4* Disc Drive Cleaner
6.99
5.99 £679.95
Jackal 5.99 6.99 11.95 6.99 1195 AMIGA AMX Mouse Mats 4.95
Dark Sceptre 5.99 6.99 11.95 — Bards Tale 18.50 Lockable 3,/31/2‘ MORE PACKS AVAILABLE, PHONE FOR DETAILS.
California Games 6.99 7.99 11.95 7.99 1195 Leaderboard 18.50 Disc Boxes 12.95
Gryzor 5.95 6.99 11.95 6.99 1195 Terrorpods 18.50 Lockable 51/4‘Disc Boxes 12.95 Commodore PC AMIGA HARDWARE
Outrun 6.99 7.99 9.95 7.99 1195 Kings Quest Tr Pack 18.50 Dust Covers for most machines Amiga 2000 £499.00
Super Hang On £125925 £995.00
7.99 7.99 10.95 7.99 1195 Barbarians (Sig) 18.50 DMP2160 Printer XT Bridge Card (Amiga 2000) £57335
Bobsleigh 7.99 7.99 11.95 759 1195 The Pawn (Amstrad) 159.95 Internal 1 Meg Disc (Amiga 2000) £449.95
18.50
£22835 £199.95
Masters of the Universe 5.99 7.99 11.95 7.99 1195 Winter Olympiad 88 14.95 Cont. Listing Paper 2000 18.50 1010 External Disc Drive £28635
The Elite Collection 11.99 11.99 15.95 11.99 1595 Roadwars Multiface II Amstrad Amiga Internal 1 Meg Upgrade £259.95
14.95 44.95
£11335 £99.95
Ten Great Games 7.99 7.99 11.95 7.99 1195 Karate Kid II 18.50 Amsoft3‘Discs (10) 25.95 Triangle 1 Meg Disc Drive
Live Ammo 7.99 7.99 11.95 Cumana 1 Meg Disc Drive £139.95
7.99 1195 Starglider 18.50 31/2- Discs DS/DD (10) 16.50
Magnificent Seven 7.99 Amiga (2000) 2 Meg RAM expansion £139.95
7.99 11.95 7.99 51/4* Discs SS/DD(10) 10.50
1155 Winter Games 18.50 £45835 £359.95
Solid Gold 7.99 7.99 11.95 7.99 Nintendo Basic Console 95.95 Commodore 64 C pack
Game, Set & Match
1455 7 Cities of Gold 24.95 £159.00
10.99 10.99 14.95 10.99 1495 Nintendo Deluxe 152.95
Backlash 14.95 Now in stock SEGA Master Systems £99, + software now in stock
Six Pack Vol II 7.99 7.99 11.95 7.99 1195 Robotic Buddy 41.95
The Pawn (128) 11.95 - 15.95 15.95
Impact 11.95
Sega Console 95.95
PHONE FOR PRICES ON DISKS_
Adv Art Studio (128) Hitchhikers 24.95
20.95 20.95 20.95 Comm.64 Replacement
Stop Press (no mouse)
Stop Press (with mouse)
-
-
32.95
61.95
42.95
72 95
California Games
„
Ore
18.50
18.50
Cover
Spectrum+2
19.99
137.99 j*, SOUND N VISION Led
When ordering software please state type of computer, name, address and phone no if possible *
'A!l 'rclude post and packing * In stock items sentby return * All budget titles stocked £5.50 for 3 (£1.99) *
11 Silk St, Leigh, Lancs WN7 1AW.
* Cash with order or send for full lists * EEC & Europe at no extra charge * Other overseas add £2 (software only) * Phone now for details — Tel: (0942) 673689
* British postal orders or sterling cheques * 24 hrs. Phone 0695 29046 * All new releases on day of release * Cheques and P/Orders payable to: Sound N Vision P.&P7VAT INCLUDED
K & M COMPUTERS, DEPT AC1,40 FAIRSTEAD, BIRCH GREEN, ^_Visitors welcome in showroom. Send S.A.E. for price list. (534
SKELMERSDALE. LANCS. WN86RD
 PINK PAGES

■ Software
MSX EXISTING BASE: reasonable, twith
a number of Japanese cartridges
available. Stockists now very hard to
MSX is not a computer as
such, but a standard
design incorporated into

■ Disks
find.
a number of computers
Format: mostly 3.5 inch, a few 5.25 In brief... CURRENT RELEASES: very few. manufactured by a num¬
inch drives produced Mostly budget or imported. ber of (mostly) Japanese
Main strength of MSX is
Capacity 360K formatted (3.5") companies.
Software' mostly available on disk in its implementation of PROSPECTS: poor. While there is
Price of Blank Disks about £3.00, no shortage of software worldwide,
arcade [Link] is a
Add-on drives yes not all UK software houses include Models:
Built-in no
very active user group MSX in their plans.
MSX 1, launched 1985,
# Performance reasonable. MSX that partially compen¬
disk-drive units tend however to be GAMES: some good arcade titles no longer manufactured,
sates for lack of industry
very expensive. well-implemented, but adventures some models still avail¬
support. Despite the are few and far between.
able at knock-down
Graphics attractive discounting of
GRAPHICS: not much on the market prices. MSX 2 is current
Resolution 256x192 some models, the pur¬
Palette MSX 1 16 version but machines not
MSX 2
chase of an MSX MUSIC: Yamaha’s now discontinued
256 widely available in UK.
CX5 was configured for musical
Colours MSX 1 16 machine involves a high
applications; thus there are a number
MSX 2 256 degree of risk with regard of packages available
Display Package: Generally
TV yes to future support and soft¬
SOFTWARE FORMAT: tape, disk or keyboard only. Some
Monitor output composite video ware releases.
pre-programmed games cartridge MSX 1 models can be
Monitor options Some manufactur¬
with tape, predominant.
ers produced dedicated models. found with tape deck and
Monitor supplied no
applications foremost in mind. software
# Performance
Sprites
Scrolling
yes
no •4 Hardware Buylines
MAINTENANCE: One year’s guaran¬ Memory: MSX 1 - 32K-
KEYBOARD: Generally standard
^Sound raised plastic keys
tee. Return to dealer if faulty 64K; MSX 2 - 128K
Sound chip AY-3-8910 BEST BUY PRICE: MSX 1 can be
Speaker quality output through TV JOYSTICK/MOUSE: Standard joy¬ picked up for as little as £20.00 these Processor: Zilog Z80
Stereo output can be connected to stick port. Third party mice available. days. MSX 2 is scarce, but should
external hi-fi system cost between £100-£200.
MIDI third party interfaces available PORTS: Expansion bus # cartridge Recommended Retail
Channels 3 slot # monitor output t RF TV # SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY: Price None for MSX1,
# Performance good Yamaha's audio # tape deck # Centronics Check small ads in computer press
CX5M was designed with musical printer # Disk drive
MSX2 - £150 plus.

ACE COMPUTER DEALERS

These independent computer dealers stock copies of ACE together with a wide range of other computer products.

■ SCOTLAND Pennine TV York Computer Centre Hewards Home Stores Mr Disc Pro-Am Computing
58 Cavendish Street 9 Davygate Centre 822-824 Kingstanding Road
Bowie Electronics 12 Three Shires Oak Road 151 Goldsworth Road
Keighly York Kingstanding
22 Menzies Road Bearwood Woking
West Yorkshire YOl 2SV Birmingham
Torry Warley Surrey
Tel: 0904 641862 B44 9RT W Midlands
Aberdeen Worthingtons Tel: 021 354 2083 The Micro Shop
Scotland 62 Oxford Lane Lodge Self Sen/e Aird Computer Services 32a Tolhouse Street
Warrington High Street
John’s Computer Store 139 Bromford Road Great Yarmouth
Cheshire Eston Fast Forward Computer
4 Graham Street Hodge Hill Norfolk
Tel: 0925 56787 Middlesborough Store
Airdrie Birmingham 36 NR302SQ
TS6 9JQ 29 Smith Street
ML6 6BU Chips Computers Tel: 0493 842697
Tel:0642 465561 Warwick ■ SOUTH
151-3 Linthorpe Road
Middlesborough Thetford Micros
Topsoft Software Emporium
Mobile Micro Marketing Cleveland 21 Guildhall Street
6 Wellington Court Mews Comptazia Magdalen Market
1 Eastback Street Thetford
Darlington DL1 5PD 204 High Street 77-8 Magdalen Street
Bishop Mill Computer World UK Ltd Norfolk
Dudley Norwich Tel: 0842 61645
Elgin 208 Chorley Old Road Kiosk & Book Gallery West Midlands Norfolk
Morayshire Bolton 23-27 Alderley Road Tel: 0603 613538 Trionic
Lancs Wilmslow
Tel: 0204 494304 144 Station Road
Cheshire Comptazia Viking Computer
B P Micros Harrow
The Shopping Mall Ardney Rise Middlesex
254 Kilmarknock Road H W Luxton & Son Colourspot Merry Hill Centre Cottongrove Road Tel: 01 861 0036
Glasgow 236-8 Smithdown Road Unit 148 Market Way Brierly Hill Norwich
G43 2XS Liverpool Arndale Centre W Midlands Norfolk Soft Spot
L15 5AH Manchester NR33QH 5 George Street
Tel: 051 733 1135 Tel: 061 834 6644
Graffix Tel: 0603 45209 Banbury
Oaktree Oxon
9 Albert Place Vu Data Michelan House Computer Magic Tel: 0295 68921
Leith Richard James 221A Old Street Guildhall Street 24 Crown Street
Edinburgh 4 Finkle Street Ashton-under-Lyme Grantham Ipswich Computer Run
Workington Lancs OL6 7SR Lines Suffolk 25 Overmead Road
Cumbria NG31 5NJ Tel: 0473 214868 Abingdon
■ NORTH Tel: 0946 830903 ■ MIDLANDS Oxon
T&M Domestic G B Microland
North Notts Spa Computer Centre 7 Queens Parade
24 Market Street Topsoft Note to dealers
23 Outram Street 22 High Street London Road
Kidsgrove 3 Hambletonian Yard If you would like to be
Sutton-in-Ashfield Royal Leamington Spa Waterlooville
Stoke-on-Trent Stockton on Tees included in this list, please
Notts Warwickshire Hants
Staffs Cleveland telephone Louise Cockroft
Tel: 0623 556686 CV31 1LW Tel: 0705 259911 on 0225 446034.

110 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 PINK PAGES

Spectrum's strong point, and few

Sinclair Spectrum In brief...

The Spectrum is primarily a
games machine and should
Spectrum software titles make much
effort in this area.

■ Hardware
t Performance be bought only as such. It is KEYBOARD: The Spectrum Plus key¬
Models: Plus (48K and Generally fast and reliable. Some hith¬
erto unforeseen compatibility prob¬ unsuitable for business use, boards are made of hard plastic set into
128K); Plus 2, Plus 3 the casing, with a squidgy feel. The Plus
lems may arise with commercial soft¬ with low memory capacity
2/3 keyboard has raised hard plastic
ware - but they haven’t surfaced yet. and only a 32 column keys. Unlike the older model, it can be
Package: Keyboard and used more easily for word processing.
screen display. For produc¬
built-in tape/disk, plus joy¬ IS Graphics tivity (ie, graphics and music JOYSTICK/MOUSE: Non-standard on all
stick, selection of software. Resolution 256x192
Palette 8
type applications) use, it is models. Suitable interrfaces widely avail¬
not really sophisticated able. Compatible joystick included in Plus
Colours 8
Memory: Only 2 colours can be used within any
2 and 3 packaging. Third party mice
enough for serious projects. available but mouse compatible software
Plus 48K or 128K 8x8 pixel square. Limits graphics
potential. Utilities fair but serious users rare.
Plus 2 128K
Display will want to upgrade before
Plus 3 128K TV Yes
PORTS: 2 joystick # RS232/Midi # RGB
too long. monitor # Audio $ Numeric keypad $
Monitor output RGB
Monitor supplied No Expansion/I/O =£ TV
Processor: Zilog Z80 # Performance
Options No dedicated Amstrad/Sinclair
Sprites None

Recommended Retail
monitor, but any RGB suitable.
Scrolling None Software
Speed Average EXISTING BASE: Second to none.
Price Despite clever programming, the
Plus none; shop around Spectrum's display still compares CURRENT RELEASES: Most major soft¬
unfavourably with both the Amstrad ware firms are continuing to bring out the
Plus 2 £139.00 and Commodore machines. majority of their titles on the Spectrum.
Plus 3 £199.00
■ Sound GAMES: A huge number of arcade titles
ranging from abysmal to execellent. Wide

■ Disks Sound chip

Speaker quality Plus
AY-3-8912
dreadful
range of adventures, many Quilled.

(Plus 3 only) Plus 2 and 3 better GRAPHICS: Fair selection, some of

Format 3 inch 'flippable' Channels 3 which squeezes better graphics perfor¬
Price Around £3.00 MIDI Plus 48 K No mance from the machine than one would
Capacity 180K formatted per side Plus 2/3/128K Yes expect from the specification.
Software Little as yet (non-standard socket built-in),
Extra drives Not yet available t Performance MUSIC: A couple of MIDI interfaces
Built-in Yes Poor - sound has never been the available, plus Cheetah Specdrum drum

STORT SOFT A HOFTIEUIELU A

MAIL ORDER SPECIALISTS ATARI'
DEALER 296 Brockley Road, Brockley, London S.E.4 2 RA DEALER
INCREDIBLE LOW PRICES! Ttl: 01 - 691 0207
ALL DISKS CARRY A NO QUIBBLE REPLACEMENT GUARANTEE ARE
CERTIFIED 100% ERROR FREE & COME WITH LABELS, 5 1/4" ALSO Complete range of Atari Computer Hardware and Software also,
HAVE SLEEVES & WRITE PROTECTS. FLIP SIDED DISKS HAVE 2 large range of Amiga, Sega hardware and software
INDEX HOLES AND 2 NOTCHES
Atari Mega 2. £854.00
SPECIAL OFFER!! Atari 1040STF.£474.00
25 SS 48TPI 5.25“ DISKS & 120 CAP LOCKING DISK BOX 520STM inc. mouse, 1Mb drive, 1st word.£350.00
50 SS 48TPI 5.25“ DISKS & 120 CAP LOCKING DISK BOX 520STFM inc. mouse. 5 meg drive.£284.00
100 SS 48TPI 5.25“ DISKS & 120 CAP LOCKING DISK BOX Amiga 500...£474.00
25 DS48TPI 5.25“ DISKS & 120 CAP LOCKING DISK BOX Sega game consul.£94.00
50 DS 48TPI 5.25“ DISKS & 120 CAP LOCKING DISK BOX Sony MD2 DS/DD.£21.00
100 DS 48TPI 5.25“ DISKS & 120 CAP LOCKING DISK BOX

3.5” SPECIAL OFFERS ENTERTAINMENT

25 SS/DD 135TPI (MF1DD) & 80 or 60/90 locking disk box Star [Link] £18.95
50 SS/DD 135TPI (MF1 DD) & 80 or 60/90 locking disk box Trivial [Link] £17.95
25 DS/DD 135TPI (MF2DD) & 80 or 60/90 locking disk box Chessmaster [Link]/AMIGA £22.45
50 DS/DD 135TPI (MF2DD) & 80 or 60/90 locking disk box [Link]/AMIGA £22.45
[Link]/AMIGA £22.45
135TPI UNBRANDED 10 50 100 500 10 in a case [Link]/AMIGA £22.45
SS/DD (MF1DD) 11.95 57.00 98.00 ? 12.95 Space [Link] £23.70
DS/DD (MF2DD) 13.95 62.00 110.00 ? 14.95 [Link] £18.95
CUMANA DRIVES The [Link] £18.95
Rampage..ST £14.95
ATARI ST 1 MEGABYTE 139.00 Test [Link]/AMIGA £24.45
AMIGA 1 MEGABYTE 129.00 Out [Link] £23.70
NO ADDITIONAL LEADS OR POWER SUPPLY REQUIRED. All latest Atari, Amiga, Sega software in stock
LOCKING DISK BOXES Please note we can not list all software as we are currently carrying over
1000 titles on the Atari range of computers
5 1/4" HOLDS 50 7.95 % 51/4" HOLDS 100 9.95
31/2" HOLDS 40 7.95 60/90 (HOLDS 60 3" or 90 3 1/?"\ 9.95 All prices inclusive of VAT
Just write for more information. Cheques etc. payable to STORT SOFT. (International orders Access and Visa welcome
remit in pounds Sterling by bank draft or international money order and send amount quoted
which will be exclusive of VAT but include additional postage. Write for quote in any other
currency)
ACCESS/MASTERCARD/EUROCARD/VISA accepted. CREDIT CARD ORDER LINE —
0279 89509 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK - VAT & P.P. INC. NO HIDDEN EXTRAS -
Q Callers welcome Mon - Sat 10.30am - 8.00pm
Sun 11.00am - 3.00pm
24hr answer service
miminv,

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU PAY. Call in and chat over a cup of coffee
18 CROWN CLOSE, SHEERING, BISHOP'S ST0RTF0RD,
HERTS CM227NX
Advanced Computer Entertainment 111
PINK PAGES

synth
■ Sound
Plus 2s at £139.99

SOFTWARE FORMAT: Plus - tape

using external tape deck; Plus 2 - tape
using built-in tape deck; Plus 3 - tape
SECOND HAND AVAILABILITY: Good.
Check small ads in various magazines.
Channels
# Performance includes speech syn¬
Sega Master
(using external recorder, not supplied)
and disk using built-in disk drive.
NB: The original Sinclair 48K model can still be
found second-hand. If you're only interested in
thesis
System
■ Hardware
playing games and don't mind the rubbery key¬
N.B. Third party external disc drives are board, it could represent a good investment.
available for Plus and Plus 2 but no software
Ensure that you get the 48K model - there is no Ports: # RF TV, video audio I
standard has been established. Disk soft¬
ware for these models is therefore very outward way of distinguishing it from the (even game controller slots # cartridge slot Package: console, plus
scarce. earlier) 16K models, which are quite useless for light gun, game controller
running contemporary software. MAINTENANCE: Manufacturer’s and 1 game (Hang On)
PROSPECTS: New releases will guarantee.
undoubtedly get fewer in number as the MAINTENANCE: All Amstrad-badged
strength of the 16-bit machines (see Spectrums have a year’s guarantee. If Additions of light gun and robot Software format
below) grows. The user base will, howev¬ they go wrong within the guarantee peri¬ make this a suitable machine for cassette no
er, last for a good couple of years yet. od, take the machine back to the dealer younger [Link] a true com¬ cartridge yes
which sold it to you. For pre-Amstrad puter; recommended as games
smart card yes
■ Buylines
Spectrums (Plus and Plus 128) bought console only.
as new and within guarantee period, con¬
BEST BUY PRICE Plus can now be tact Sinclair Research. Recommended Retail
picked up cheaply as tno longer manu¬ In brief... Price £99
factured. Try to find a shop selling off old- Japanese software base not
stock at around £50. Curry’s is offering
as good as Nintendo's, but
what counts is how many
■ Disks
Not available.
titles reach UK. Mastertronic
standard Atari joysticks.

Atari consoles | have given strong support to

machine, so prospects are
■ Graphics
PORTS: 2600 game controller, TV, car¬ Resolution 256x192
tridge slot # VGC as 2600, with socket reasonable. Palette 64
Models: Atari 2600 for extra keyboard t VGC as above Display
TV yes
Monitor options
■ Software
no
Atari XE Video
■ Software
Game Console
Atari XE
EXISTING BASE: Vast. Systems are
compatible with all old Atari console
EXISTING BASE: Huge (in Japan)
£ Sound
Channels 3
games CURRENT RELEASES: Some
Games Systefn # Performance Good sound effects on
most games.
CURRENT RELEASES: Software is still PROSPECTS: Good, but rate of
Package import will depend on machine’s pop¬
■ Hardware
in production, but not in the same volume
2600: console plus software as a couple of years ago. ularity in UK. Because of the Yen to
XE GS: Pound conversion rate, Japanese
console, software PORTS: 2 game controllers # car¬
GAMES: Excellent arcade games software is likely to remain expen¬
XE GS: console, joystick, tridge slot
abound; many adventures. sive.
Robust casing. Not designed for
additional keyboard, light future expansion. Not a true com¬
gun, software (3 games) GRAPHICS: very few GAMES: good range of arcade-type puter; recommended as games
software. Some arcade adventures. console only.
MUSIC: Hardly any
Recommended Retail
Price SOFTWARE FORMAT: VCS - cartridge
GRAPHICS: not as yet
■ Software
2600 MUSIC: EXISTING BASE: large
£49.99 only. VGC and VGS can use crtridge, none
XE GC £79.99 tape, or disk (if connected) CURRENT RELEASES: well-sup¬
SOFTWARE FORMAT:
XE GS £119.99 cassette no
ported by UK distributor Mastertronic
PROSPECTS: Not much better than
reasonable. Much depends on sales this cartridge yes PROSPECTS: good if support by
■ Disks Christmas. smart card
disk
no
not yet available in UK
Tronic and parent company Sega
continues
XE only: see Atari XL for details

■ Buylines ■ Buylines
GAMES: wide selection of arcade

■ Graphics
titles, generally considered to be of
BEST BUY PRICE:2600 check out high quality. No adventures. Bulk of
Dixon's for special offers. Console and BEST BUY PRICE: As RRP releases currently confined to con¬
Resolution officially 320x192,160x90 or
System check for variations in packages versions of Sega coin-op games.
80x192 according to mode. Most soft¬ SECOND HAND: Not as yet.
listed above; otherwise, as RRP.
ware is produced on a res of 160x192 GRAPHICS: none
Palette 16
SECOND HAND AVAILABLITY: Good; MAINTENANCE: Manufacturers
Display MUSIC: none
look in computer magazines guarantee
TV yes
Monitor supplied
Options: With Games System only
No
MAINTENANCE: Manufacturers' guaran¬
Nintendo Entertainment
■ Buylines
tee. Any problems - return to dealer. BEST BUY PRICE: As RRP
System
■ Hardware MAINTENANCE:
KEYBOARD: Only as an extra on the XE
Games System. Of pretty good quality
Nintendo Package:
Standard version console,
One year’s guarantee. Back to dealer
if faulty.

■ Disks
JOYSTICK/MOUSE: All machines take
plus game controllers, plus 1
game (Super Mario Brothers)
A disk system is available in Japan, using In brief...
In brief... proprietary non-standard Nintendo disks.
Deluxe version - console,
game controller, light gun, A reasonable buy if a console
The format provides greater memory
The Atari range of consoles is what you want. Interesting,
capacity and hence enhanced versions of ROB robot, two games
represents good value in some software (e.g. Super Mario Bros II). too, because we may see
terms of price and volume of The system is not available in the UK at more add-ons from Japan
present.
Recommended Retail
software available. But note Price that give it extra power.

■ Graphics
that the 2600 is strictly a Standard model £99 However, at the moment,
games console while the Deluxe model £159 nearly all software is Japanes
Display
VGC and VGS can both be in origin and this is not to
TV yes
upgraded to be used as Monitor options not yet supported everyone's taste. It remains
computers. Resolution 256x240 to be seen if it will receive
Palette 52
any third-party support.

112 Advanced Computer Entertainment

TURTLESOFT <sf
M ! ! ! TURTLE PRICES ARE THE ONES TO JUDGE THE COMPETITION BY IN ! !
MM! WE ARE SURE YOU WONT FIND LOWER PRICES AND FREE DELIVERY MM!
! ! ! ! ! FIRST CLASS SERVICE AT FIRST CLASS PRICES ! ! ! !!
Computers
iDisc Drives RRP Our Price I
520ST-FM Keyboard/Mouse/.5 meg drive.299.95 259.95 une Meg unve a.D- . .199.95 169.99
520ST-FM Keyboard/Mouse/.5 meg drfve/SMI 25 Mono Monitor.449.95 369^95 Cumana One Meg Drive 3.5“.
520ST-FM Keyboard/Mouse/.5 meg drive/SCI224 Colour Monitor.. 699.90 549.95
149 95 124.95
Cumana 5.25“ ST Drive. (CSA1000S). .. 194.35 159.95
1040ST-F Keyboard/Mouse/Software only...499.95 369.95 Micro Peripherals One Meg Drive 3.5“. .149.95 119.95
1040ST-F Keyboard/Mouse/1 Meg drlve/Mono Monitor.599.95 479 95
Atari 20 Meg Hard Disc Drive (New Model SH205). . 599 95 539.95
1040ST-T Keyboard/Mouse/1 Meg drlve/SCI224 Colour Monitor.... 899.90 669.95 Supra 20Mb Hard Disc + Utilities. 599 95 559.95
MEGA-ST 2 Meg Ram/Mouse/Mono Monitor.999.95 869.95
MEGA-ST 4 Meg Ram/Mouse/Mono Monitor.1299.95 1129.95
MEGA-ST 2 Meg Ram/Mouse/Colour Monitor.1299.95 1089.95 ■ Monitors
MEGA-ST 4 Meg Ram/Mouse/Colour Monitor. 1599.95 1349^95 Atari Medium Res Colour Monitor. ... -«
Philips CM8833 Colour Monitor + ST lead....... 329.95 279.95
Philips CM8533 Colour Monitor + ST lead.319.95 269.95
Alan SMM804 SI Printer + ST Lead. 155.55 WS.W Philips CM8852 Colour Monitor + ST lead...349.95 299.95
Panasonic KXP-1081 Printer, Epson comp. NLQ. 120CPS+ST lead 279.95 174 99 Atari High Res Mono Monitor.149*95 119.95
MP165 Printer, Epson compatible. NLQ. 165CPS+ST lead.263.35 199 99
MP135 Printer, Epson compatible. NLQ. 135CPS+ST lead.194.95 159 99 Discs and Things
MP200 80 Col Printer, 200CPS. Epson conpatlble. NLQ 40CPS .... 343.85 294.99 Microdeal Battery Backed Clock 520/1040 (New Upgraded T_
MP201 136 Col Printer, 200CPS. Epson compatible. NLQ 40CPS .. 401.35 329 95 Colour/Monochrome Switch (Allows 2 Monitors Connected)... 29 99
MP480 80 Col Printer, Epson compatible. NLQ. 480CPS+ST lead .. 424.35 339 95 25.99
SSDD 3.5“ Discs (10) ♦ Lbrary Case (10) - LOW LOW PRICE -.17 95 11.95
MP26 132 Column Daisywheel Printer, 26CPS. Qume/Diablo Std... 299.95 249.95 DSDD 3.5r Discs (10) + Library Case (10) - LOW LOW PRICE - 22.95
MP40 158 Column Daisywheel Printer, 40CPS. Qume/Diablo Std... 435.85 349.95 14.95
Top Quality Branded 3.5“ DSDD Discs (10) - LOW LOW PRICE - ... 27 95 18.95
Atari Lazer Printer (NEW).1299.99 1159.95

Atari ST Software Atari ST Software Retail Our I Atari ST Software

Arcade Adventure Strategy Arcade Adventure Strategy Price Price I Business Languages Utilities
imn i-rame. 24.95 16.95 Leader board l oumament..9.95 Advanced Art Studio.. 16.95
221B Baker Street.24.95 16.95 Leather Goddess of Phobos. .29.95 20.95 Aegis Animator.79.95
AirbaJJ .. 24.95 Lberator. .12.95 62.95
16.95 flQQ Art Director. 49.95
Aftair.19.95 34.95
13.95 Lurking Horror...29.99 20.06 Back Pack.49.00
Alternate Reality..24.99 Macada 35.95
16.95 dam Bumper. 19.95 13.95 Bulletin Board System V2.49.95
American Football (GFL).24.95 34.95
16.95 Marble Madness..... 19.95 13.95 CAD-3D Ver. 2.0 + Cybermale....89.95
Arctic Fox...19.95 Mean 18 Golf.. 62.95
13.95 16.95 Degas Elite ..24.95 17.95
Arena/Bralaocu8.34.95 23.95 Mercenary Compendium.24^95 16.95 Devpac Assembler (Hisoft).49.95
ArkanokJ. 14.95 Millipede...14.95 34.95
10.49 10.49 Dig! Drum. 24.95
Auto Duel.24.95 16.95
16.95 Mouse Trap.14.95 10.49 Easy Draw 2 —.79.95
Backlash.19.95 56.95
13.95 Ogre.24.95 16.95 Easy Draw 2 General Library.29.95
Barbarian. 24.95 Outcast... 20.95
16.95 9.99 6.99 Easy Draw 2 Technical Lbrary.. 29.95
Bards Tale.24.95 20.95
16.95 Out Run (Dec 87).Phone Phone Fast [Link].95 13.95
Basketball (2 on 2).24.99 16.95 Passenger on the Wind.24.95 16.95 Fast Basic (Cartridge).89.90
Battlezone.14.95 64.95
10.49 Pawn.24.95 16.95 Fast Basic (Disc)...44.85 32.95
Boulderdash Construction Set.24i95 16.95 Perry Mason. 19.95 13.95 Film Director..59.95
Brave Starr (Dec 87).Phone 41.95
Phone Phantasie II or III. 24.99 16.95 First Word Plus.79.95 56.95
Bridge Player 2000. 19.95 13.95 Pinball Factory.24.95 16.95 Flash (Comms Program).39.95
Bureaucracy 04 qq 27.95
23.95 Pirate of the Barbary Coast.12.95 8.99 Fleet Street Publisher.. 115.00 89.95
Captain America (liw 8ii ZZZ’"rplK)ne Phone Ptoos.14.95 10.49 GFA Basic Interpreter.45.95
Championship Baseball....24.99 Portal (Soon).34.99 32.95
16.95 23.95 GFA Compiler (Needs Interp.).45.95
Charlie Chaplin (Nov 87).Phone Prohbltion.19.95 32.95
Phone 13.95 GFA Draft. 99.95 69.95
Chess (Psion).24.95 16.95 Ring of Zlfin (Soon).24.99 16.95 GFA Vector.34.95
Cdonial Conquest...29.99 23.95
20.95 Roadrunner. 24.95 16.95 GST C Compiler.59.95 41.95
Crafton & Xunk.19.95 13.95 Roadwar2000.24 99 16.95
Crystal Castles. 14.95
Iconix Midi Software Sequencer.249.95 219.95
10.49 Pogue..24.95 16.95 K Spread 2.79.95 56.95
Damocles (Meroenery II).Phone Phone Sentinel....19.95 13.95 K-Comm 2. 49.95
Deathstrike.14.95 36.95
1049 Shanghai.24.99
Shanah 16.95 K-Data....49.95 36.95
Deep Space...34.95 23.95 Shardi of
o Spring (Soon).24.99 16.95 K-Graph2.49.95
Defender of the Crown (Soon).29.95 36.95
20.95 Shuttle II.24.95 16.95 K-Min6trel.29.95 20.95
Deja Vu (Soon)..29.95 20.95 Sidewalk.19.95 13.95 K-Roget.49.95
Diablo.14.95 36.95
10.49 Silent Service.24.95 16.95 K-Word 2.59.95 41.95
Eden Blues.24.95 16.95 Silicon Dreams.19.95 13.95 Lattice C Ver 3.04 (MCC).99.95
Extensor.19.95 69.95
13.95 Skulkfiggery.19.95 13.95 Lisp (MCC).149.95 114.95
F-15 Strike Eagle.24.95 16.95 Sky Fox.. 14.95 10.49 Macro Assembler (GST).39.95
Fahrenheit 451.19.95 27.95
13.95 Solomons Keys....24.99 16.95 Macro Assembler (MCC).49.95 36.95
Flight Sim Scenery Disc 11.24.95 16.95 Space Quest.24.99 16.95 Macro Manager.29.95
Flight Sim Scenery Disc 7.24.95 20.95
16.95 Spitfire 40 (Soon).19.95 13.95 Maps and Legends....29.95 23.95
Flight Simulator II.49.95 35.95 Star Glider.24.95 16.95 Modula 2 (Developers).149.95
Football Fortunes (B Clough).24.95 114.95
16.95 Star Raiders ..14.95 10.49 Modula 2 (Standard).99.95 73.95
Gauntlet.24.99 16.95 Star Trek (Soon).19.95 13.95 Music Studio.29.95
Gauntlet II (Soon).24.99 20.95
16.95 StationfaM.29.99 20.95 Paintwork8., ..34.95 23.95
Golden Path.19.95 13.95 Strike Force Harrier.24.95 16.95 Publishing Partner..... 159.85
uowrunner. 119.95
16.95 Sub Battle Simulator.24.99 16.95 Sage Accountant.171.35 129.95
Guild of Thieves. 24.95 16.95 Super Cycle. 24.95 16.95 Sage Accountant Plus...228.85 169.95
Hades Nebula. 19 95 13.95 Super Huey.19.99 13.95 Sage Bookkeeper.113.85 84.95
Hard Ball. 24 95 16.95 Super Tennis.24 95 16.95 Saved (Hisoft).29.95
Hitchhikers Guide. 20.95
20.95 Swooper.19.95 13.95 Signuml.230.00 169.95
Hollywood Hijlnx. 20.95 Tal-Pan.19.95 13.95 ST Data Manager H These three 79.95 46.95
Hollywood Strip Poker. 13.95 Tass Times..24.95 16.95 ST SwiftCaic (- Programs 79.95 56.95
Indiana Jones. .... 19.95 13.95 Terrorpods.24.95 16.95 ST Word Writer Integrate 79.95 56.95
international Karate. .... 19.99 13.95 Tracker.24.95 16.95 Start Magazine (Disc) Qrtly.12.95 11.95
Into the Eagles Nest.19.95 13.95 Trivia Challenge.19.95 13.95 STuff.24.95 16.95
Jewels of Darkness.19.95 13.95 Trivial Pursuit. 19.95 13.95 ST-Doctor. 19.95 13.95
Journey into the Lair (V/Dlsc).99.95 79.95 TT Racer (Soon)....24.95 16.95 ST-Replay (Sound Sampling).79.95 56.95
Joust.14.95 1049 Turbo GT.15.95 10.95 Super Conductor.49.95 36.95
Jupiter Probe. 14.95 1049 Winter Games.24.95 16.95 Superbase (Database).99.95 73.95
Karate Kid Part II.24.95 16.95 Winter Warz (Nov 87).Phone Phone mmoase.... 69.95
Kings Quest III. 24.99 16.95 Wizards Crown (Soon).24.99 16.95 Timeworks DTP (New).
Knight Ore.19.95 74.95
13.95 World Games....24.95 16.95 VIP Professional (GEM). .228.85 179.95
Leader Board.24.95 16.95 Xevious.24.99 16.95 Zoomracks 2. 47.95
All prices include VAT at 15% and delivery anywhere on the UK mainland
How to order - Post: Send cheques, P.O. or Visa/Access details to the address below.
Phone: Call 0476 60488 24 Hour Service with your Access/Visa details.
Turtlesoft Dept. AST, 35 Brook Street Courtyard, Grantham, Lines, NG31 6RY
Subject to availability, all items are despatched within 24 hrs. E&OE
Cheque orders require 7 days clearance. Just because you don't see it—doesn't mean
we haven't got it—phone for more details
 DEPT ACE

A
ATARI
The leading North West
Specialist ATARI Dealer
f\X\ /ILadbroke
Y -Y J Computing
33 Ormskirk Road
Prsston, Lancs. PRl 2QP
Tel: (0772) 21474 (1 line)
(0772) 203166 (5 lines)
A
ATARI
Bul/Board (0772) 21474
6pm to 9am

This Company has given years of full support to ATARI users Countrywide from their retail shop
premises at Ormskirk Road, Preston. Now from their NEW Mail Order Depot they can offer the same
Excellent service to all Mail Order Customers.
All Software and Hardware is fully tested prior to selling. This ensures Customers receive working items
so that returned goods, and all the attendant frustration are a thing of the past. All Hardware is
supported by our own 'ON SITE' engineers, therefore quick turn round on all repairs is Guaranteed.
All prices quoted are fully VAT inc. and there are no 'hidden extras', what you see is what you get.
Prices include delivery. Phone for latest Prices/Releases.

520STM [Link]

3Vz D/S 5!4 D/S

D/D D/D 46TPI
Per Disk.£1.99 .£0.80
10 Disks.£16.00 .£6.50
10 Disks+Plastic
lib case ...£17.50 .£7.50 520STFM+Mouse
100 Disks+Cases .£150.00 .£60.00 ♦Softwr..£285.00
500 Disks+Cases. £650.00 ....£280.00 520STFM+Mouse
1040STF+Mouse ♦Softwr
+Softwr..£480.00 All Disks are covered by an ♦IMeg Upgrade.£350.00
1040STF+Mouse unconditional lifetime guarantee. 520STFM Mega Pack
+Hi-Res Mon
♦Softwr....£580.00 ms 520STF M+Mouse
♦Softwr
1040STF+Mouse ♦IMeg Upgrade
♦Colour Mon ♦IMeg 2nd Drive.£485.00
♦Softwr..£780.00 Equal to 1040STF+Y2Meg Drive
We also stock a full range of quality ♦Modulator
P/D ST Software at £3.99 per Disk
Send SAE for catalogue. For Med Res Col Mon add.£299.00
IMeg Upgrades are available for the For High Res Mono Mon add....£129.00
. 5T
520STM. These are our own design •mi All Hardware is covered for 12 months
and are very simple to fit.
Using the same board, all ST's can be Wb by our service dept, and is tested
prior to delivery to assure satisfaction.
Upgraded to 2mg or 4mg. So no need 1.A a
to sell your 520 just Upgrade to a Our ATARI trained engineers will
Mega ST using our board. repair all Hardware in minimum time
IMeg Upgrade (STFM)..£70.00 at competitive rates. Please ring for a
IMeg Upgrade (All ST's)+Board £150.00 quotation. All repairs carry a 90 day
Upgrade Boards..£120.00 warranty. We have a complete range of Software
2.5Meg Upgrade +[Link] in stock and fully tested.
4Meg Upgrade +[Link] NEWLY IMPORTED
If any of the above Upgrades are Imager. Easily fixed to your printer We also stock a full range of ATARI
purchased with Hardware then deduct it will digitise anything placed in the 8Bit Hardware and Software including
£5 from total. printer and save to Disk to be used the new XE range. Please ring for prices
with Dega, Elite etc. RRP £99.99.

All Printers, Disk Drives etc supplied PERIPHERALS

All Hard Disks come with Utilities to with cables etc. NO HIDDEN EXTRAS Triangle Img D/Drive.£139.00
cure the 40 Folder problem + Backup Triangle 2x1 mg D/Drive.£229.00
Utilities, Fast Read Write etc. Mega ST'[Link] Pro Draw Graphics Tab'.£299.00
Lazer [Link] Cumana IMeg D/Drive £139.00
PC [Link] All Drives come complete with Software
PRINTERS
Dot Matrix DUST COVERS HARD DRIVES
Star NL10.£240.00 Computers.£3.99 Atari 20mg.£560.00
NL10 Sheetfeeder.£55.00 Monitors.£4.99 Triangle 20mg Hard Disk.£575.00
National [Link] Disk Drives.£2.99 Supra 20mg.£550.00
[Link] Printers.£7.99 30Meg (Cumana).£699.00
[Link] 40Meg (Triangle).£799.00
LX86 Tractor Feed..'r.£19.00 IF IT'S AVAILABLE we have it!
LX86 Sheetfeeder.£55.00 Send SAE for full catalogue.
Any Software problems? Queries?
LQ800 24pin D/M.£525.00 give us a ring we usually have the
All [Link] All Dedicated books and mags in stock answer

TO ORDER Simply send, or phone your order, stating Full Name, Address, FOR MORE INFO CALL ON THE
Visa or Access Nos, Cheque or Money order. Make payable to Lacjbroke ABOVE NUMBERS OR SEND SAE
Computing International, 33, Ormskirk Road, Preston, Lancs. PRl 2QP. AND STATE FULL REQUIREMENTS
 PINK PAGES1

PERIPHERALS
BUYERS
GUIDE
Whichever computer you own, there will come a time when your mind
turns to expanding your system. Whether you decide you need to improve
on the current set-up, perhaps with a faster data storage medium, or better
screen display, or whether you want to add extra features such as a
modem or a printer, the list of available peripherals is bewildering.
This ACE buyers guide concentrates on a selection of add-ons: the
most popular, the best value for money, the most useful. Check it out
before you part with your cash, and you shouldn’t be disappointed.
The prices we’ve quoted here are recommended retail prices includ¬
ing VAT. It’s worth noting that many dealers sell add-ons at special offer
prices - printers, particularly. Before going out to buy your peripherals,
check advertisements in computer magazines or local newspapers for a
possible best buy price.

they have also been expensive.

Printers One other printing technique is

thermal transfer. Here the printing
Comment Generally considered an
excellent value for money and versa¬
tile printer.
Print head

Characters per second

9-pin dot matrix

ribbon is waxed, and the pins heated,

draft 120 cps max
The number of printers on the market so that the melted wax is imprinted
on to special thermal paper. Print
Commodore MPS near letter quality 30 cps max
is bewildering, and prices range from
£115 for the very basic Samleco DT- quality tends to be poor, and you 1200 Print styles
80 up to inkjet and laser printers would be much better off looking at Connector
Pica, Elite, italic (only available using
costing £1000s for heavyweight busi¬ dot matrix or daisywheel models. Designed to fit Commodore 64’s non¬
parallel or serial cartridge), con¬
ness use. Printers also vary in the style, or standard socket
densed, proportional spacing
The home user really has two font, used in the finished hard copy.
choices - between dot matrix printers Nine pin dot matrix printers will print Print head 9-pin dot matrix
Price £278
and those with daisywheels. A dot in a simple style which uses as few
dots as possible to make up the let¬ Characters per second Comment Interface for C64
matrix model prints, self-evidentally
as a series of dots to make up each ter, known as Pica. Extra features, draft 12 cps max
letter. Most cheap dot matrix printers such as italic, emphasised, or con¬ near letter quality 24 cps max
Centronics GLP
use a matrix of 9x9 or 11 x9 pins to densed type will often be available,
Connector Centronics and RS 232
produce the dots - known as 9-pin. depending on the sophistication of Print styles Pica, Elite, co,pressed,
The print quality is acceptable the model. In near letter quality emphasised, double strike, expand¬
Print head 9-pin dot matrix
but on some of the very cheap mod¬ mode, most machines will print in a ed, double strike, italic, underlined,
els you may not get true descenders: style called Elite. Again, other type- reversed, super- and subscripts
Characters per second
the tails of the letters g, y, and j, for styles may be offered.
Price £250
draft 50 cps max
example may not properly extend near letter quality 25 cps max
below the line of print. Printers using Panasonic KXP-1081
a matrix comprising more pins - usu¬ Connector Centronics
Comment Considerable iimprove-
ment over the older MPS801, which
Print styles Pica, Elite
ally 24 - give a much better print
quality, but inevitably cost more - did not have true descenders; repre¬
Print head 9-pin dot matrix Price £200
starting at around £250-£300. sents a better buy than the similarly
Characters per second Comment slim compact printer giv¬
Daisywheels have each avail¬ draft 100 cps max priced MPS 1000 ing good value for money.
able character etched on to a print near letter quality 25cps max
head - the daisywheel itself rotates
to print each character. Print quality Star NLIO Citizen 1200
Print styles Pica, Elite
is good but daisywheels are notori¬ Connector Centronics, Connector Centronics,
ously noisy and slow. Until recently RS232, Commodore RS232 and Commodore;
Price £245
choose which one when buying.

Advanced Computer Entertainment 115

PINK PAGES

Price £24.99
Appearance traditional stick with
grip moulded shaft Comment Cheapest for
Commodore and supports most soft¬
Mechanism leaf switches on direc¬ ware.
tional movement; blister swicthes on
firing
C-Lab
Price £8.95 Machine Commodore 64

Sockets IN, OUT and THRU

MIDI Interfaces Extras Software

The computer cab be used to control Software Supertracks package

and redefine your musical composi¬ built-in
Print head 9-pin dot matrix
Competition Pro tions with the aid of a MIDI (Musical
Characters per second 5000 Instrument Digital Interface) connec¬ Price £199 with built-in software;
Connector tor. One micro, the Atari ST, already £99 as stand alone
draft 120 cps max Atari standard
near letter quality 25 cps max has MIDI interfaces built-in; all others
Fire buttons 2 on base only need a third party device. MIDI is a Comment Arguably the best inter¬
Print styles standard form of transmitting music face for Commodores; comes closest
Autofire data, serially between different to providing professional sequencing
10 pitch Pica, 12 pitch Elite, expand¬ no
instruments, one of which can be facilities
ed, compressed, emphasised, dou¬
ble strike Appearance two versions, one with your computer.
clear plastic base so that you can see ElectroMusic Research
Price £207 all the innards and workings.
Machine Spectrum,
Amstrad
Comment slim compact printer giv¬ Mechanism microswitches CPCs,
ing good value for money.
MSX,
Price £16.49 BBC
Amstrad DMP2000
Quickshot II Turbo Sockets I N, OUT, THRU
Connector Centronics Connector Atari standard
Extras Software
Print head 9-pin dot matrix Fire buttons 2,
both on shaft Software Good range of software
Characters per second available, including sequencers and
draft 105 cps max Autofire yes Cheetah patch editors
near letter quality 20 cps Machine Spectrum
Appearance traditional; design with Price £99 with software
Print styles grip-moulded shaft. Rubber suckers Sockets IN, OUT, THRU
Pica, Elite, condensed, double width on base. Comment Not terrifically ambitious,
Extras Software but EMR is one of the few British
Price £159 Mechanism microswitches Software Eight track recording (real companies supporting the 8-bit
Comment sold and promoted by micros
time or step time) software included
Amstrad for its CPC range; actually Price £14.95 Price £49.95
compatible with any computer with Skyles Electric Works
standard Centronics interface. Comment Good value for money. Machine Commodore Amiga
Compatible with Cheetah Specdrum
drum synth Sockets IN, OUT two THRUs

Joysticks XRI Micon Extras none

Machine Spectrum
Software none built-in
With most of today’s micros, joysticks
can be plugged straight into the Sockets IN, OUT, THRU
Price £35-£50
Atari-standard joystick port on the
machine: notable exceptions being Extras sync IN and OUT: operates
the BBC range and both Sinclair and on 24 pulses per quarter note Comment software is still scarce on
the ground for the Amiga; check out
Amstrad Spectrums. For the latter,
Software not provided, but good also Datel’s Amiga interface at
you can either use the joysticks sup¬
range available separately around the same price
plied with the machine, or connect
your own favourite via an interface,
it’s virtually impossible to recom¬ Price £49.95
mend a particular type or brand of
joystick; so much depends on your
own personal preferences. Almost
Konix Speed King Comment slightly better specifica¬
tion than Cheetah above.
Modems
certainly though you will be looking
Connector Atari standard With a modem your computer can
for something sturdy and durable, access the outside world, either
with easily accessed fire buttons, and
Fire buttons onemore of a fire strip sending or receiving data from anoth¬
really. Situated to either right or left er modem-equipped computer, or
a positive feei to the directional
hand side of base, depending on from any number of Bulletin Boards
movements. If you’re left-handed,
whether you buy a right or left hand¬ or public databases, such as Prestel
check before you buy that the fire
ed version. with its home user section Micronet
buttons aren’t designed for right han¬
ders. 800, or Compunet.
Autofire no Along with the modem itself, you’ll
also need software to interpret the
Suncom TAC 5 Appearance unusual in design: base data transmitted or received. Some
Connector Atari standard is designed to be hand-held only. modems are now produced with
appropriate software built-in, which is
Fire buttons 3, 2 on base, one on Mechanism microswitches
top of shaft Datel convenient, but makes their uses
Machine less flexible; for many you’ll need to
Autofire no Price Commodore 64
12.99 buy software separately.

Appearance/sturdiness lightweight' Sockets IN, OUT, and THRU

very positive feel, non-slip rubber
Cheetah 125 Plus Pace Nightingale
pads on base. Connector Atari standard Extras Roland sync Machine any with RS232 interface
Mechanism microswitches
Fire buttons 4two on base, two on Software Not provided but wide Baud rate V21 (300/300);
shaft variety of existing software is com¬
Price £13.99 V23 (1200/75- 75/1200)
patible, including Rainbird’s
Autofire yes Advanced Music System Auto- features auto-dial, auto-

116 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 PINK PAGESn

answer optional extras at £49

Miracle WS4000
Software not built-in Machine any with RS232 interface

Price £98.90
Baud Rate V21 (300/300)
AMIGA HARDWARE
OUR
V23 (1200/75; 75/1200) RRP PRICE
Amiga A500 Keyboard/Mouse/Drive 499 99 449.95
Comment good inexpensive entry 1200/1200 Amiga A500 + A520 Modulator
524 98 469.95
level modem for accessing Prestel, Amiga A500 + Philips 8533 Colour Monitor 81994 709.95
Telecom Gold, independent Bulletin
Auto- features: autodial, autoanswer Amiga A500 + Philips 8833 Stereo Colour Monitor 829 94 719.95
included Amiga A500 + Cuman CAX354 Second 3 5m Drive 649 94
Boards etc. Nightingale is packaged 559.95
Amiga A500 + Cuman 3.5 in Drive + Philips 8533 Colour Monitor 969 89 819.95
with Commstar viewdata and termi¬ Amiga A500 + Cuman 3.5 in Drive 4- Philips 8833 Colour Monitor
Software none built-in 979 89 829.95
nal software on disk or Rom as
Commstar CPC for Amstrad comput¬
Price £172.50 ★ ★ All Amiga A500 come with a FREE Sports Bag, GFL Football, Baseball & Golf ★ *
ers (£158.85). Similar package for
Amstrad PCWs at £158.41, and * * As well as Delux Paint, Basic, Workbench, Utilities, Manuals and Tutorial ★ ★
BBCs at £98.90. Comment Hayes compatible, OUR
includes speed buffering AMIGA PERIPHERALS RRP PRICE
209.95
119.95
Amiga A1084 Colour Monitor (NEW MODEL) ..
339.95
Philips CM8833 Stereo Colour Monitor + Lead .. 329 95 279.95
Philips CM8533 Colour Monitor 4- Lead. .. 319.95 269.95
Philips CM8852 Colour Monitor + Lead. . 349 95 299.95
22.99
Amiga A501 512k-1040k RAM upgrade + clock. .. 113.85 99.95
Panasonic KXP-I08I Printer. Epson Codes. NLQ. I20CPS + leai . 279 95 174.99
MPI65 Printer, Epson Compatible. NLQ. Draft I65CPS + lead . 263.35 199.99
194.35 159.99
. 343.85 294.99
. 401.35 329.95
MP480 80 col. Printer. Epson Codes. NLQ 480CPS 4 424.35 339.95
MP26 I 32 column Daisywheel Printer. 26CPS 4- lead 299.95 249.95
MP40 158 Column Daisywheel Printer. 40CPS 4- lea< 435.85 349.95
29.95
14.95
Quality Branded 3.5m DSDD Discs (10) - LOW LOW PRICE. ... 27.95 18.95
Pace Linnet OUR
Machine any with RS232 interface

Baud rate V21 (300/300)

Monitors SPECIALS (Limited Stock)

Commodore 64C Sports Pack (64C, 1530, j/s. Sports Bag. 5 Games
RRP
. 349 95
. 269 99
PRICE
309.95
229.95
199 99 169 95
V23 (1200/75) . 169.99
Using the television with your com¬ 1 39.95
1200/1200 terminal to modem 34 95
puter is convenient, but a monitor will
. 199.99 169 95
give you a much sharper, more
Auto- features 19.95
detailed display. However, monitors
auto-dial, auto-answer built-in OUR
start at around £200, and it may be 29 95 20.95
AMIGA 500/1000 GAMES RRP PRICE 24.99 16.95
hard to justify that sort of outlay. One
Software Adventure Construction Kit. .29.95 20.95 .24.95 16.95
solution is the TV cum monitor, a American Football. .24.95 16.95
none built-in; uses AT commands .29.95 20.95
television with RGB socket, which Amiga Karate. 13.95 . 9.99 6.99
will directly connect to an Amstrad Artie Fox . 19 95 13.95 . 14.95 10.49
Price £163.30 Arena/Brataccus Pack. . 34.95 23.95 .9.99 6.99
CPC, Spectrum or Atari ST. The 14 Balance of Power . .29.95 2095 19.99 13.95
inch screen Ferguson TX 14, and 16 Barbarian. 24 95 16.95
Comment Hayes compatible; 9 99 6.99
inch screen Hitachi CPT 1646 are Bards Tale. 24 95 16.95 .24.95 16.95
includes 2K memory for Baseball .. .24.99
both widely available from TV shops. 16.95 19 99 13.95
number/description storage with bat¬ Basketball. . 2499 16.95 . 19.95 13.95
Most Sony Trinitrons include a Bureaucracy.
tery back-up. . 34.99 23.95 24.99 16.95
euro-connector which will give you Chessmaster 2000. .24.95 16.95 24 99 16.95
an RGB display with the right lead - Crunch Factory. 699 24 95 16.95
Miracle WS2000 make sure you get a full 21 -pin lead. Deep Space . 23.95 9 99 699
Defender of Crown. 20.95
Machine any with RS232 or RS432 These TVs are all available for rental De|a Vu.
29 99 20.95
.29.95 20.95 OUR
interface at most major rental companies, if Demolition. . 9.99 699 RRP PRICE
you prefer to rent rather than buy a Diablo. . 19.95 13.95
... 103.50 83.95
Baud Rate 300/300 television. DR Fruit. 9 99 699
23.00 1899
Faerytale Adventure. 49 95 37.95
1200/75; 59 95 4695
The Final Trip. 9 99 6.99
75/1200 Flight Simulator II . 49 95
6995 5595
37.95
Flight Sim. Scenery Disc. .24.95 18400 149 95
1695
Auto- features Fued. 63 25 51.95
none 9 99 699
143.75 116.99
Goldrunner. 24.95 16.95
Golf. 59 95 46.95
Software 34.95 23.95
none built-in Guild of Thieves. 149.95 116 95
. 2495 16.95
Kings Quest III . . 24.99 3495 27 99
16.95
Price Hacker II . 69 95 49 95
£124.20 24.99 16.95
59 95 41.95
Hardball . 24 99 1695
Hitchhikers Guide. 4995 39 95
29 99 2095
Comment very well-built modem for Hollywood Hijinx.
2999 20.95
29 99 20.95
the price Hollywood Strip Poker 79 95 63.95
19 95 13.95
Impact. 189 95 1 39 95
14.95 1049
Kampfegruppe . 299 95 249 95
2999 20.95
Karate Kid Part II.. 2495 3495 2295
16.95
Micronet modem offer King of Chicago (Soon).. 29 95 20.95
69 96 5495
Knight Ore . 89 95 6995
19 95 13 95
Land of Legends (Soon). 49 95 3895
Micronet 800 is currently offering new annual subscribers a free modem: the Phone Phone
99 95 77 95
Leaderboard (Not A500) . 2499 1695 Modula 2 (Developers)
VTX 5000 for Spectrum owners, the Modem 2000 for those with other Leaderboard Tournament
149 95 116.99
9 99 699 Music Studio.
machines. Both modems operate at 1200/75 baud (viewdata) and 1200/1200 34.99 23.95
Leather Goddesses 34 99 23.95 Pagesetter.
half duplex for user to user communications. Marble Madnesss . 113.85 99 95
. 19.95 13.95
Mean 18 Golf 199 00 184 95
29 95 20.95
Mouse Trap 14 95 10.49
On the software side, Micronet offers a variety of packages, some of which Nm|a Mission. 24.95 21 95
9 99 6.99
will cost the new subscriber extra. Ogre. ... 59 95 49 95
24 99 16.95
Pawn. . 185.00 149 95
24.95 16.95
Phalanx. 69.95
Spectrum built-in software on Rom. No extra charge. 9.99 6.99
. 124.95 99 95
Phantasie III. 24.99 16.95 Superbase Personal. 99
Plutos. 95 79 95
10.49
Commodore 64 Mustang cartridge £33; or Mustang on tape or disc at £8. Portal. 23.95
. 293.25 25495
... 39 95 31 95
Amstrad CPC Software plus RS232 £59.95 TURTLE PRICES ARE THE ONES TO JUDGE THE COMPETITION BY WE
ARE SURE WON’T FIND LOWER PRICES AND FREE DELIVERY FIRST CLASS
SERVICE AT FIRST CLASS PRICES
BBC Software provided. No extra charge. Post: Send Cheques, P.O. or Visa/Access details to address below.
Phone 0476 60488 24 Hour Service with your Visa/Access details
Atari ST Fastcomm at £50, or Flying Start at £10
Turtlesoft Dept ACE, 35 Brook Street Courtyard,
Amiga Ruby View at £63 Grantham, Lines. NG3I 6RY
Subject to availabilty, items are despatched within 24 Hrs. E&OE
Just because you don't see it - Doesn’t mean we haven't got it - Call for Details!

Advanced Computer Entertainment 117

PINK PAGES

For nearly all micros, there is a Comment Of all mice, probably has
manufacturer’s own dedicated moni¬ the widest range of compatible soft¬
tor (the Spectrum, MSX machines ware, covering art, DTP and Wimp
and games consoles, which are front ends.
designed to be used with a TV, are
notable exceptions). Overall, you are Kempston
better off with these models, rather
Machines Spectrum,
than looking for independent manu¬
Amstrad CPCs, PCWs,
facturers’ versions. However, you
IBM PC and compatibles
could try Microvitec, Philips or
Thomson’s range.
Buttons 2

Microvitec 1431/MZ3 Software Spectrum: Toolkit

Machines Sinclair Spectrum (£49.990; Graphics Kit (£59.95);
Jeeves (desktop environment) for
Screen width 14” Plus 3 (£69.95)
CPCs: Art Studio (£69.95)
Connector RGB; TTL compatible PCWs: Fleet Street Editor Plus
(£99.95); The Desktop Publisher
Coiour/mono colour (£74.95); Jeeves (£79.95)

Missed some earlier issues of ACE? Don't despair. Price £259 Price stand alone mouse, Amstrad
Copies can be despatched to your letterbox for just CPC: £49.95 PCW: £69.95 IBM:

£1.50 each (postage free). Look at these highlights. Microvitec Cub £99.95

1459/A/DW2 Comment excellent art package in

Machines Atari ST, Amiga Art Studio to accompany CPC
ISSUE 1 (Order code A120B1)
€ FREE cassette containing COMPLETE The fabulous Screen width1 14”
mouse

games worth £8-£10 - US Gold's BLUE MAX

for the C64 and Ocean's GIFT FROM THE
GODS for the Spectrum.
ACE binder Colour/mono colour
Order code A120BR
% Buyer's Guide describing the ACE all-time Price £364.99
top 50 games.
# Large, colour reviews of XOR, Bubble Comment Flicker-free high resolu¬ Graphic tablets
Bobble, Quedex, Impact, Barbarian, Mask and tion graphics available; interface Device to add drawing graphics,
more. lead included for ST range. charts, etc, on-screens. The tablet is
a pad which takes the place of the
# Which Console? A detailed comparison of
Samsung MD-1252G keyboard, mouse, etc, for input. By
the Nintendo, Sega and Atari machines and
drawing directly on to the tablet with
the software available for them. Machine IBM PC plus
a stylus, the image is reproduced on¬
# Music. Intro to Midi and a review of Casio's TTL monochrome card
screen. A graphics tablet can give
Midi Guitar.
very detailed screen images -
# Great playing tips on Guild of Thieves, Screen width 12”
depending on the tablet’s resolution
Barbarian, Sentinel, Bounder, Defender of the
- because of the familarity of draw¬
Crown and more. Coiour/mono mono: green, amber
Don’t just leave your copies ing on a horizontal surface. You can
# Spoof letters page! or paper white available
also place drawings on the tablet
lying around to collect the
and trace over them with the stylus
ISSUE 2 (Order code A120B2) dust. Store them in this Price £89
to produce screen copies. Eidersoft
# FREE cover cassette containing the FIVE superb binder - gleaming (0708 856468) is launching a new
black with the logo stamped Comment Particularly inexpensive
complete levels of the arcade smash BUBBLE electrostatic graphics tablet at £299
mono monitor for PCs
BOBBLE (C64 and Spectrum versions)! in gold on the front and spine. for the ST and Amiga in Feb 88.
# Buyer's Guide to budget software - 30 top Comes complete with wires
titles listed. to hold 12 issues securely. Samsung CD-1464W Memory expansion
Machine IBM PC with CGA,
# Rave reviews of RED L.E.D., The cost? Just £4.50, post Ram expansions for older 8-bit
any with RGB or RGBi (Commodore
SUPERSPRINT, SKULLDIGGERY, and more. free. Order using the form on machines used to be a popular add¬
128) sockets; TTL compatible
# Detailed playing guides to XOR and page 106. on, particuarly for programmers.
HITCHHIKERS, plus pokes on Deathwish 3, Now with the Spectrum, Commodore
Screen width 14”
Paperboy, Leaderboard and others. and Amstrad machines all being
# Features on recommended joysticks, 3D graphics and measuring your game¬ available in 128K configurations, the
coiour/mono colour
playing skills. attention has turned to upgrading 16-
bit machines to one megabyte
Price £299
capacities. Commodore (0628
ISSUE 3 (Order code A120B3)
770088) offers a 512K expansion for
# Detailed comparison of the Atari ST, CBM Amiga and Acorn Archimedes.
# Comprehensive buyers guide to strategy games.
# Playing guides to Red LED, Skulldiggery, Boulderdash, Dizzy and many more
Mice the Amiga, while Atari (0753 33344)
offers a similar pack for the 520ST.
AS & L and Ladbroke Computing
# DigiPaint and Deluxe Paint III compared. (0772 21474) also offer Atari memo¬
% Music special on sound sampling and the Roland MT32. AMS AMX MK III ry upgrades.
# Introduction to Play by Mail games. Mouse
# Great Computer Disasters Buttons 3 Digitisers
# Screen Test reviews on Thundercats, Terrorpods, Indiana Jones, Nipper 2, A video digitiser is a device which
Trantor, Captain America and many others. Software (prices include mouse) will enable you to transfer images
Spectrum AMX Art (£69.99) seen through the video “camera” on
ISSUE 4 (Order code A120B4) Commodore 64/128: Stop Press to the computer screen. The image
(DTP) (£69.99) is scanned and each element is
# Bumper Christmas issue with free 1988 computer user's diary!
Amstrad CPCs: AMX Art (£69.99) reproduced digitally on the micro.
# Game of the Future. An ACE investigation.
Stop Press (£79.99) Extra! Extra! Depending on the package, the pic¬
# Game compilations compared.
(without mouse) (£24.99) Max (desk¬ ture on-screen can then be manipu¬
# Reviews of huge range of electronic keyboards. lated, or colour added, to a greater
top environment - without mouse)
# The definitive ratings on Deflektor, Bobsleigh, Skate or Die, Buggy Boy, Driller, (£19.99) or lesser degree. Haba Systems (01-
Dark Sceptre and 25 more games. PC and compatibles Finesse (DTP) 844 1202) produces a digitiser for
# Detailed tips on F-15 Strike Eagle, Indiana Jones and Spy Hunter. (£159.99) the Atari ST and Amiga 64 at £99.95
# Pokes for Super Sprint, Gauntlet, Jack the Nipper 2, Renegade, Bounder + BBCs Stop Press (£79.99) Extra! and £185 respectively.
more. Extra! (without mouse) (£24.99)

How to order Superart (£79.99) Max (without Light pens

mouse) (£19.99) Also used mainly for graphics appli¬
Use one of the FREE POST order forms on page 106 (Pink cations, a lightpen is a slim stylus
Pages), quoting the relevant order code(s). Or just telephone us Price generally sold only in conjunc¬ with which you draw directly on to
tion with software (above). Old the monitor screen to create images.
on 0458 74011 with your credit card details. mouse can be part-exchanged for Most lightpens come complete with
MK III mouse for £29.99. compatible graphics software, so

118 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 PINK PAGES

you can get started straightaway.

Trojan’s lightpen package has been
around for some time now, and is
perature sensors, humidity detectors,
infra-red movement detectors, to Red
Five, a 105 decibel siren alarm.
[Link]?,yrr7r^
All prices VAT/delfvery inclusive
available with Cadmaster graphics The range is available for
software for Spectrum, Commodore
64/128 (and Cl 6/Plus 4) and
Spectrum, Commodore, Amstrad Jll ATADI® New Year Special
Amstrad CPC and PCW machines.
CPC, IBM PC and BBC machines.
The Starter pack costs £129 (IBM:
AMIMKI 1040STF only £399.00
Prices range from £19.95 to £39.95, £199.95), and Reds One to Five 520 STFM good availability, good price . £269.00
and Trojan can be contacted on 0792 520 STFM with Imeg memory upgrade . £338.00
range from £34.95 to £99.95.
1040 STF with SMI 25 mono monitor. £499.00
205491. Electric Studio supplies a
Mega ST2 with mono monitor. £869.00
lightpen with tape and disk based
Robots Mega ST4 with mono monitor. £1169!oo
software for the Amstrad CPC range Atari SLM804 laser printer, great value at . £1199 OO
While you still can’t get computer
(£19.95 and £29.95), as well as a Atari SMI 25 mono monitor . £134.00
controlled robots to do all the house¬
pen plus Screen Master software for Atari SCI 224 colour monitor, few at . £299.00
hold chores and load up your games
PC compatibles at £39.95. Atari SH205 hard disk, new style . £539.00
for you, a number of buggies and Cumana CSA354 Imeg drive . £129^95
simply controlled robots have been Cumana CDA354 2meg (dual) drive . £229.00
Printer/Plotters produced, mainly with an eye to the Phjlips CM8833 colour monitor c/w ST lead ... £279^00
While a conventional printer will print educational sector. Spectravideo’s Philips CM8852 as above, higher resolution... £299.00
out text in black and white, if you Robot Arm, sold by Logotron (0223 (Extra £10.00 discount on Philips monitors if bought with an ST)
want colour in your hard copy, you’ll 323656) at £102.35 can be controlled
need a colour printer or printer/plot¬
All ST prices include: mouse etc. PLUS 5 disks ofs’ware
by BBC computers, and Maplin
ter. For drawing colour graphics Electronics (0702 552911) sells a
including graphics, wordpro, utility, game and demos.
(though not screen dumps) you may robot in kit form for £39.95 which can W© can quote you for any combination of hardware
need a plotter. be programmed from an IBM PC or
520 STFM 1 MEG
The Penman Plotter from
Penman Products (0903 209081) is a
compatible.
MEMORY UPGRADE
Requires soldering, full
3.5" disks
small device which runs over the 10.. .£11.95 in plastic case £13.95
paper, placed on a horizontal sur¬ instructions supplied.
25.. .£27.95 In 40 cap case £34.95
face, and draws using its three differ¬ £59.00 Fully guaranteed double sided media
ently coloured pens. It can also be
used as a Turtle” for plotting Logo-
programmed turtle graphics. From
about £200, and for a variety of 8-bit
Your STB specialist
machines.
More conventional colour print¬
ers tend to be more expensive. Try IProCopy
contacting distributor Micro- Version 1.5
Peripherals on 0256 470011 for
details of the range it sells, including
the Juki 5520 dot matrix impact print¬ I PROTECT your
er at around £320, which will print 1 SOFTWARE,
investment
text in colour as well as graphics.

Extra sound
Teletext adaptors
In the audio department there is little
Self-explanatory, really. A teletext
doubt about which machine needs
adaptor enables you to access tele¬
text data - from BBC and ITV teletext
pages - and download software in
teletext format when available. Volex
Electronics produces a range of
the most help -the Spectrum. The
only way to get decent sound out of it
is to plug something extra in.
Possibilities include the Sound Synth
p7oCopy
For all Atari ST models
from Ram (0252 850085), at £24.95, Proco Products
Drnrrt PrO<
adaptors for 8-bit machines from
and the Specdrum from Cheetah Backup most best selling
about £200 upwards. protected software! copy program.
(0222 555525) at £34.95. See also
Midi interfaces, above. (for archival Regular updates
Red Box purposes only) available to handle
The Amstrad CPC has stereo
The potential of computers as the capabilities which aren’t welj demon¬
n Most powerful latest protection
copier of .*,t s schemes.
centre of a domestic control system - strated by its tinny built-in speaker, even copies itself!
turning your lights on and off, but can be much enhanced by sever¬ Supports one or
providing a burglar alarm - has long al devices. There’s the Maestro from
been recognised, but only recently Vanguard Leisure (0772 617665) at doubl'e9sidsd drives!
Q Uses all available fUmy
IT . £34.95—
has General Information Systems £39.95, the Sound Blaster from Siren
attempted to realise it with its Red Software (061-228 1831) at £29.99, memory!
Box range of packages. or Ram’s Speech Synth at £29.95.
Five Red Boxes are available, The Commodore 64, ST and Amiga
ranging from Red One, which will
switch on and off electrical appli¬
all have perfectly good sound hard¬
ware and merely require software to
PRINTERS‘ I
Prices Include...
CABLE, VAT & DELIVERY
ances at pre-set times, through tem¬ nudge them along.
W© use and recommend Star
printers. They offer a combination
Disk Drives of features, print quality, reliability
and value that is unbeatable.
Most micros which don’t already feature built-in disk drives, or which normal¬ Don’t make the wrong decision,
ly load software in from cassette will offer a disk drive as an optional extra.
Aside from the manufacturer’s own models, a number of independent com¬
panies have also produced disk drives for a number of machines.
It’s worth looking at alternative disk drives for the Commodore 64 range,
LC-10 get it right with a Star printer at
Evesham Micros special prices.
State computer type when ordering.
The Star LC-10 is the new printer from Star. It replaces
if only because Commodore’s own 1541 model is so slow as to make the the highly popular NL-10, offering significant advan¬
trade-up to a disk drive hardly worth it. Evesham Micro’s Excelerator Plus is tages over this model. Our offer must be the best
particularly worth checking out. 2Y?il?b,e- Wo inc,ude VAT, delivery & printer cable
Until recently the only disk drives available for the Spectrum were from PLUS 2 spare ribbons (value £13.90) all for ... £199.00
third party companies, such as Opus. Opus’s 3 1/2 inch Discovery drive Star NX-15 wide carriage version of NL-10 ... £319.00
Star ND-10 180/45cps . £299.00
was, before the launch of the Plus 3, the nearest thing Spectrum owners had
Star ND-15 wide carriage version of ND-10 £419.00
to a standard drive.
Star NR-10 240/60cps . £379.00
You can also buy add-on 5 1/4 inch drives for the Amstrad CPC range, Star NB24-10 brilliant 24 pin, 216/72cps . £479.00
rather than Amstrad’s own 3 inch variety. These have been produced to Star SF-10D cut sheet feed, 10** models . £ 59.00
enable users to take better advantage of the 6128’s CP/M capabilities: most Panasonic KXP-1081 very popular . £179.00
CP/M software being on 5 1/4 inch disk. Amstrad LQ3500 new 24 pin at low price .... £349 00

STSSE2E
All prices VAT/delivery inclusive
Next day delivery C5.00 extra I^TTl7TnTrfTITT3^|
| Send cheque, P.O. or ACCESS/VISA details
I Phone with ACCESS/VISA number 63 Bridge Street
| Govt or PLC official orders welcome Evesham
I All goods subject to availability E.&O.E. Worcs WRIT 4SF
[ Open to callers 6 days, 9.30-5.30
| Telex: 333294 Fax: 0386 765354 Tel: 0386 765500
I Also at: 1756 Pershore Rd., Cotteridge, Birmingham, B30 3BH Tel: 021 458 4564
PINK PAGES

ACE READERS' PAGE The space which YOU fill

Small ads, club announcements, event details, pen pals, offers of help - all these and more are on offer here. A
unique way of contacting tens of thousands of like-minded computer users.
We're particularly keen to receive entries to the Helpline offering assistance on particular games you may have
solved - adventures or others. Or offering technical expertise on aspects of particular machines.
Why not make your contribution?
Multiface One, Interface One, brand new, under guarantee, £450 Edgbaston, B15 3UE. Good
FOR SALE
Microdrive (all boxes). Plus £300 ono the lot! Telephone Mark, condition.
software (all originals). All worth Portsmouth 266541 after 5pm.
• Commodore 64, Commodore disk
450. A bargain at £180 ono. Phone • Atari ST Public Domain, games,
drive, Commodore printer, (0582) 507696 and ask for David • Spectrum 128K for sale. Excellent art, utilities and demos, only £5 per
Commodore Datacassette, Simons
condition, still boxes with manuals, disk P&P inc. Also happy ST
Basic and extension, tons of games,
• Amstrad CPC 464 with green joystick interface, Speedking joystick enchancement, large SAE for info to
£320 ono. Phone after 6pm. 01 992
screen, modulator, disk drive, built in and Seikosha GP50S printer £150. Mr Stock, 15 Woodbrooke Road,
4247
tape deck and plenty of software, Telephone Bilstow 46723 Birmingham, B30 1UE.

• Amstrad CPC 464 colour monitor, asking £400. Write to [Link], 3 Cecilia
Road, London E8 2EP. or phone 01 - • Spectrum 48K+, Amstrad 464, • Reset buttons, compact and
joystick and games! Good condition.
254-3097 colour monitor, drum machines, midi reliable, for only £4.50. Send
Unwanted gift worth £400. Sell at
sampling hardware, hundreds of cheques P.O’s to A Mooney, 25c
bargain price of £150 for quick sale,
software titles and loads more!! Northdale Road, higher Blackley,
phone John on 037881 3992 • Atari 64K complete system.
Immaculate condition, amazing Manchester. M9 3WG. Order yours
800XL, disc drive, datacorder,
bargain! Just £450! Worth £1500+. right now!
• Amstrad 6128 colour monitor, tape joystick, trakball, magazines,
Phone Peter (021) 523 3993 after
deck, Amstrad Action (1-27) + complete machine coding kit
5.30pm • I have over 100 Spectrum pokes
binders. £660 of top software, 95% including "Mapping the Atari" book.
for sale (cheap!) Send a SAE for a
games, Tasword 6128, D.B. Also get over 400 games and
• Spectrum 128 (still in original box) list. Scott Campbell, 85 Forbeshill,
Manager, G.A.C., Gauntlet, Ikari, utilities. Impressed? only £225.
with synthesiser, 20+ original games, Forres, Morayshire, Scotland, IV36
Dexter, Batman, Mandragore, (0455)618748
data recorder, joystick, joyball, 0JL. Phone (0309) 72457 for
Arkham Manor. Worth £1070. £500
double joystick interface, £170 ono. examples of games now!
ono. Phil. Slough 33962 • Amstrad 6128, colour monitor, disc
Tel 02918 207 after 5.30pm and ask
drive, joystick, 100+ games and
for Nicholas. • Spectrum 128K, Kempston
• Spectrum+, data recorder, utilities on tape and disc, magazines,
interface with 2 joysticks, cassette
• Amstrad PCI 640 double drive recorder and 5 octave music
THE ACE HELPLINE ECD plus 32MB hard card only one
month old. Includes software
keyboard. £70 worth of Spectrum
magazines and books! £400 worth of
Here's a great way of receiving free advice from public- amazing value at £1150. Phone software! Will accept £300 for the lot!
spirited readers. This month it's restricted to adventure Paddy on (0225) 700036 in (ono) Tel: Thirsk (0845) 577320.
evenings. Amazing!
games, but we'll be expanding it to include other kinds of
help. • C64/128 £175. Cl 571 fast disk • Music routine for CBM 64. Over 35
If you make use of this service, please respect the drive £180. C2N datasette £25. User functions available in source code for
Helpline code: manuals, TV monitor 14" colour Genius and Lightning assemblers.
£100. Sold separately or together for £10 or £1 for audio demo. Mark Tait,
• If writing for help, enclose a stamped, self-addressed
£350 (not including monitor). Phone 2 Ewing Court, Broomridge, Stirling.
envelope. Hereford (0432) 263978. FK7 0QP.
• Do not make phone calls at anti-social hours.
• Commodore 64C, cassette • Atari 1029 printer + 2 spare
• Bureaucracy, Knight Ore, Guild of Thieves, Pawn, Leather Goddesses of recorder, sound sampler, 2 joysticks, ribbons, manuals, leads & Atari writer
Phobos, Wishbringer, Zork 1, Red Moon, Return to Eden, Snowball, Worm in Mouse 'n' Cheese, reset switch and + Atari 1050 disk drive + manuals, 5
Paradise, Price of Magic, Lord of the Rings, Kings Quest II, Hawk, 140 original games. Altogether worth blank disc, software including
Spiderman, Dungeon Adventures, Colossal Adventures, Adventure Quest, £1000. Sell for £350 ono. Phone Gauntlet, Mini Office II, Tomahawk,
Macbeth I, II, & IV, Fourth Protocol I, II, & III. Deal 365188. Also 1541 diskdrive etc. £90 each. Tel 0276 25769.
RGB Marshall, 3 Mereside Avenue, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4JZ. £100 ono.
• Quickshot II joystick for sale. Only
• I have completed the following: The Pawn, The Bard’s Tale, Ultima IV, • Spectrum 128K data recorder, £5. Ring 051-428 8844 now!
Phantasie I, Dracula, Never Ending Story, Zork III, Wishbringer, Enchanter, Ram turbo interface, Quickshot
Borrowed Time, Kobyashi Naru, Heavy on the Magick, Legacy, The Prince of joystick including games like • Spectrum +2 for sale. Only ten
Magic, Claws of Despair, Wizards & The Princess. Starglider and Matchday. Excellent months old. £100 ono. Also three
Derek Wong, 42 Ingram Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey. CR4 8EB. condition. Offers around £60. Phone joysticks and Kempston interface.
Maidenhead 22089. £35 phone 01 -578-1543. After 5pm.
• Wishbringer, Labyrinth, The Hobbit, The Hulk, Spiderman, Seabase Delta, Weekdays, anytime weekend.
Kobyashi Naru. • Epson P40 printer, Ramprint
Ann Gray, 9 Alness Close, Birchwood, Lincoln, Lines. LN6 0YX. printer interface for sale, paper and • Look, a bargain at twice the price.
charger included boxed and both Atari 800XL, disk drive plus tons of
• Enchanter, Sorcerer, Spellbreaker, Leather Goddesses of Phobos, Infidel, new. Worth £90. Will sell for £70. original software including Gauntlet,
Zork I, II, III, The Pawn, Kingdom of Hamil, Aftershock, Adventure Quest, Kimwen Lok, 113 Tanners Hill, Alternate Reality, Rescue on
Angelique a Grief Encounter, Arnold Blackwood Trilogy, The Big Sleaze, Deptford, London SE8 4QD. Fractalus, Koronis Rift. £160. Phone
Black Fountain, Bugsy, Castle Blackstar, Castle of Skull Lord, Cursed be the Russell on (0604) 890663.
City, Dracula, Dungeons Amethysts Alchemists n 'Everythin', Escape from • Casio CZ-230S keyboard as
Khosima, Espionage Island, Fantasia Diamond, Forest at World End, described in ACE issue 4.100 P.D. • Spectrum 48K, tape recorder,
Gremlins, Haunted House, Hermitage, Heros of Karn, The Hollow Text and presets, 20 P.C.M rhythms etc. 125+ joystick, dual port interface,
Graphic, Hunchback, Imagination, Jewels of Babylon, Kobyashi Naru, Regulated power supply, printer, over 45 games, sell for
Lifeterm, Lords of Time, Mansion, Message from Andromeda, Mindshadow, headphones, midi leads and St £150.00 or less. Phone Paul on 01-
Monsters of Murdac, Mordens Quest, Mountains of Ket, Neverending Story, software supplied (if required) £200 595 3388. Write to 37 Stanley Ave,
Nova, Nythyhel, Planet of Death, Rebel Planet, Rigels Revenge, Robin of ono. Ring Swanley 0322 64273. Dagenham, Essex. RM8 1JH.
Sherwood, Robocide, Seabase Delta, Sharpes Deeds, Ship of Doom, Sould
of Darkon, Spytrek, Subsunk, Theseusm, Top Secret, Very Big Cave • Back issues of Amstrad Action at • Amstrad 6128 mono disk system,
Adventure, Warlord, Winter Wonderland, Wizard of Akryz. 50p each Issues 10,12 to 26. Send books, magazines, original games
Graham Wheeler, 2 Burford Close, Southdown, Bath, Avon, BA2 1JF. large SAE plus payment to G worth over £200 tape recorder
Tel: 0225 26919. Greenway, 6 Balcaskre Close, included. Machine code basic

120 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 PINK PAGES

firmware manuals worth over £420 - 64/128. NLQ or 120 cps. Rarely used NE32 4RW.
Sell £260 P&P included. Phone 0977 Court, Queens Road, Skegness,
and in excellent condition. £165.
792361 extension 222. Lines. PE25 2ES.
Ring Jim on 061 773 4199.
H PENPALS
• Atari 130XE, Omnimon, Ultimon, • Atari ST contacts wanted
• Amstrad 6128 computer with
1050 Happy 810 Happy 392 discs • An Amiga owner wants to meet male/female. Guaranteed reply. Must
colour monitor, MK5 midi keyboard,
software, printer interface, £275. other. Phone Alastair on (0532) be trustworthy. Only write if you are
mini interface, Amdrum with extra
BBC Model B, 32KSWR, dual 788042 or write to Alastair Dickinson, 14+. Neil Carr, 65 Wivelsfield Road,
drumkit and joystick. Phone anytime.
40TRK, D/S drives 100 discs, 2 Hollin View, Weetwood, Leeds Balby, Doncaster, South Yorks, DN4
Crawley (0293) 24048. £290.
software, books, leads etc. £325. Tel: LS16 5NQ. 0UY.
Malvern 64607.
• Spectrum Plus with two
• 14 year old male ST owner seeks • Penpal computer matching. 50p +
datacorders, joystick + interface.
• Computer Word Quest. female pen pal with an interest in SAE. Newsagent software being
Over 100 computer magazines.
Educational Amstrad CPC 464 word arcade and role-playing games. I am written, SAE. Details listings printed
Crash, Y.S. etc., plus over £700 of
search game with added addictive also interested in squash, tennis and for Amstrad CPC, Tasword text or
software including Star wars,
timed gameplay. Learn spellings the going out. Gavin Lim, 37 Norlands listings (SAE). D Ward, 3 Pineways,
Starglider, Elite, Gunship, Catch 23,
easy way. Only £2. Robert Phelps, Crescent, Chislehurst, Kent. BR7 Appleton, Warrington, Cheshire.
Tai-Pan and many other. Excellent
128 Kings Court Lane, Stroud, Glos 5RN. WA4 5EJ. (0925) 64805 (evenings).
condition. Boxed. £140.00. David
GL5 3PX.
Garner, 32 Caxton Street, Market
Harborough, Leicestershire. LEI6 • ST penpals wanted all over the i USER GROUPS
• Atari SF3S4 Half Meg Disk Drive 9ER. world. New owner with interest in
inc power supply, only £70 Tel: 0993 music and graphical demos and • User groups for those lucky people
845 425. games. Write to Guy, at 90 Upton
• Spectrum magazine: Eprom issue who have the brilliant Amiga. If
four now available. 60+ pages. Way, Broadstone, Dorset, England. interested write to The Amazing
• 128+2 computer with ram music Hewson interview, 128 software, BH18 9NA.
Amiga Group, Lock Monzievaird,
machine, machine language book technical pages. Designer reading Grieff, Tayside, Scotland. PH7 4JR.
and assembler, Mach 1+ joystick, only 80p plus stamp from Eprom, • Atari ST penpals wanted. Write to
dust cover and games, all worth over 328 The Maltings, Penwortham, Nathan Wheelhouse (14), 40 Kirkby • Any Amstrad owners in the
£300. Sell for £175 ono. Contact Preston, Lancs PR1 9FD. Drive, Gleadless, Sheffield, SI2 2LX. London area? I wish to start a user
Alan, 9 Cockerham Way, Gillmoss,
group of games, tips, hints amd
Liverpool. Tel: (051) 548 3148. • Commodore 64, C2N, over £300 • New 520STFM user seeks offers. Call me on 01-521-1277.
of original software, manuals, contacts worldwide to exchange info Keep Amstrads Alive!
• Commodore 64K computer, two joystick, 19 issues of Zzap! 64, dust and possible create user group.
datasettes, printer, modem, joystick, covers & international soccer Interested? Then why not drop me a • For one of the best MSX
paddles, books, leads, dust covers, cartridge. Total value £550. Good line. Norm, 5 Campion House, magazines around try the Scottish
plus over 70 software titles, including condition, £150. Phone (02814) Mayville Estate, Matthias Road, office of MSX Link. We publish a
educational software, G.A.C., Basic 3586. London, N16 8LN. So c'mon write monthly magazine (on sale now at
Lightening etc. Sell for £300 ono Tel now!!
£1.00 plus 20p P&P) which is filled
01-646-0746. • Commodore 64, C2N tape with useful information, letters, hints
recorder, 45 games including Druid I • Hi, I'm 18 and own an Atari ST. I and tips etc. Please contact: MSX
& II, Delta, Gauntlet, The Last Ninja, want a penpal with a sense of
Public health Thing on a Spring I & II, etc. Plus humour. Only interesting letters
Link, (ACE), North Lodge, Cairnhill
Road, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
warning over 30 mags. Buyer collects. Ring answered. Send to Frav, 14 Waterloo ML6 9RJ. Tel. (0236) 64045
(0633) 420727 for details. £140. All
Needless to say, we cannot boxed.
ourselves vouch for the HOW TO PLACE YOUR FREE ENTRY
credentials of any particular • Still boxed and in very good All you have to do to place a free entry in these pages is send off the form
entry in this section. If you condition 128K Spectrum, 2 below, but please note:
respond, it’s at your own risk. joysticks, Kempston interface, • The maximum is 30 words except for Helpline. (Helpline entries can extended
cassette recorder and 5 octave, 8 to 100 words max - use another sheet of paper if necessary.)
voice music keyboard, (all manuals • The service is NOT open to trade advertisers.
and leads, interfaces included). £70 We do not guarantee to print your entry in any particular issue.
• BBC B including data recorder, worth of Spectrum books and • Entries which could be interpreted as encouraging software piracy will not be
joystick interface, ail leads, 800K magazines. £400 worth of software accepted.
dual disc drive and over £200 worth including 'Starglider' and 'G.A.C.'.
of latest software. All in excellent Will accept £300 for the lot (ono). Tel
condition £420 ono. Tel: (0423) Thirsk (0845) 577320. Amazing!
864573 after 4.00pm. ENTRY FORM n
1 ZX81 computer with learning lab Post to: ACE Readers Page, Future Publishing Ltd, 4 Queen St, Bath, Avon BA1 1EJ
• Sinclair ZX printer and manual and including 10 tapes - open to offers.
paper only £15. Contact D Wilson, Wanted: Multiface ll/lmmager etc for Please place this entry in the next available issue of ACE.
115 Newtown Road, Newbury, Amstrad CPC computer. Write with
Berkshire, or phone (0635) 31164. details. Penpals wanted: I am 15
years old and own an Amstrad 6128 Name
• Great Amstrad Package: Amstrad and would like penpals aged 13-16.
CPC 6128, DMP2000 printer, plus Amelia Wildey, 41 Enmore Gardens, Address
£350 worth of amazing software, Eash Sheen, London. SW14 8RF.
including games, word processors,
utilities and joystick. Tel: Russell on • Commodore 64 with games mags,
01-207-5551 now! Complete joystick, very good condition. Would Category of entry:
immediate sale £600.00 ono. like to swap for Atari ST. Phone
□ Helpline DForSale DWanted □ Pen Pals DUser Groups DOther
Workington 832348 after 4pm.
• CBM64, C2N cassette, 5 octave
Write your advertisement here, one word per box. Include your name address
keyboard, Sound Studio, Sound
WANTED and phone number if you want them printed.
expander, sound sampler (disk),
joystick, games, books, loads of • Pokes wanted. W ill pay. Also
magazines. A bargain at £250. solution to Hampstead and Never
Phone Steven 051 449 1304. Ending Story. Send information to my
home address: Burnside Cottage,
Manse Road, Abernethy, Perthshire.
• CBM 64 and software. Shop value
Scotland.
£350. Selling at £170. Phone Mat on
0949 39186.
• Software wanted for Lynx
computer as soon as possible.
• Amstrad 6182, green, Multiface 2,
Contact Wayne at 19 Braithwart
Sound Blaster, modulator. Many
Close, Cloverhill, Norwich, Norfolk, or
software titles on tape and disc. Will
ring me on (0603) 744947 after 20th
sell software and hardware
Jan after 5pm.
separately. 5 months old. £350 for
the lot. Tel Eccleston (0257) 452268.
• Expert MK2 or similar cartridge
wanted, must be cheap. Write Joe,
• Star NL10C printer for CBM
42 Summerhill, Hedworth, Jarrow,

Advanced Computer Entertainment 121

THE BLITTER END

THE BUTTER END...

LUCKY BLITTERS
tertronic suing Codemasters for the rather exotic
tort of injurious falsehood, we've hardly been able
to get through the door for the crowd of m'learned
Our biggest comp yet, the great ACE/SILICA
friends in the ACE offices.
SHOP Amiga give-away from Issue 3, is finally
Worse still, the wigged wonders have turned
over. Picking out those five lucky winners took
their attentions on ACE itself now: those highly
some doing - there were over 12,000 entries!
artistic Quantel people have written us a stiffish
- but pick them we did. The four runners-up
letter over our use of the word PAINTBOX to
are: [Link] of Worcester, DARREN
mean a bit-mapped art package. PAINTBOX, it
HELLYAR of Southampton, [Link] of
appears, is a registered trademark of Quantel (no
Grimsby and [Link] of Kirkby-in-Ashfield,
1 222 657 to be precise) and they'd like us to stop
Notts. Each of these oh-so-fortunate people
using it in a generic sense, but pronto.
wins an Amiga 500, a TV modulator and five
Now with respect we think the horse has
pieces of software. But the really incredibly for¬
probably already bolted here: after all, 'paintbox'
tunate guy is GERRY MARK BROOKS of
may not quite be in the same league as 'hoover'
Bolton, who wins an A500, fifty pieces of soft¬
or 'biro' but a lot of people do use it as a general
ware and a 1081 colour monitor.
term. Still, Quantel feel pretty strongly about this
and we don't, so we're happy to oblige. Unfortu¬
nately, the letter arrived too late to change the
# Contact... references to paintboxes in this issue's art pages.
The ACE crew's thanks go to the Bristol & Wes¬ There's another problem, though; what are we
sex Aeroplane Club for their invaluable help on going to call the things now, for goodness sake?
this issue's flight simulator buyers' guide: Byron Answers on a postcard please...
and Kevin, take a bow! If you fancy learning to fly
and you're within striking distance of Bristol Air¬
port, why not give the club a ring on Lulsgate
PHONE NUMBERS
(027587) 2514?
Two cock-ups in the ACE 1988 Diary - we
# Oops... got the phone numbers of Palace Software
No Blitter End would be quite complete without a and Firebird wrong. The correct number for
decent king-size OOPS, and the minor-league PALACE is 01-278 0751. Don't ring the Fire¬
howlers in the freebie diary's phone list hardly bird number in the Diary - that will get you the
count. Have no fear: issue 4's Tricks'n'Tactics European Sales Office. For FIREBIRD, ring
steps into the breach with a dodgy data state¬ 01-631 5168.
ment in Marc Donnelly's wonderful Renegade
poke. The problem was with that number 2356 in
line 130 - it should have been 235 instead - and
was very definitely our OOPS rather ihan Marc's. Next month...
Yet another sparkling issue of ACE will be
# Eat your words... hitting the shelves, on February 4th. As
What kind of month has it been this month? An well as all the juicy regulars we'll have
eating sort of month, that's what. After Nord and
Berts wonderful helping of crow - with humble • Are GAMES of the FUTURE being
pie to follow - the ACE offices were flooded with held back by the COIN-OPS?
pics of people chowing down. Photos of those
wacky Piranha folk eating a rather fishy cake at • BRAIN GAMES - the complete low-
their birthday party, photos of those even wackier down on the the games that make you
Cascade people in fatigues preparing to eat lead¬ • Retract your words! think; and what the experts think of them.
en death, and wackiest of all, we think is this one No, if you really want to know what sort of a
of Evesham Micros boss Richard Austin tucking month it's been, it's been a legal sort of one. • GRAPHICS - part 2 of our DIY series
into his boater. Now we at the ACE offices are What with the rather surprising contents of the
rather partial to the odd hat now and then - who Video Recordings Act, the ticklish subject of inter¬ • Software houses - who's making the
isn't? - but having an A500 for afters does seem locutory injunctions raised by Telecomsoft v. BIG BUCKS?
a little strange... Hewson and the fascinating prospect of Mas-

Ariolasoft.11 K & M.109 Silica Shop.88

X
LU Ashcom.73 KJC.73 Sound ‘n Vision.109
Q Bath Computer Shack.98
Z Ladbroke.114 Storm Computers.73
Byteback.97 [Link] Stort [Link]
CD
DC CBS.105 Megabyte.104 Telegames.108
Lil
CD
CRL. 18-19 Melbourne House.26 Turtlesoft.113, 117
H Electronic Arts .54-55 Micro Snips.76 US Gold ..IFC.3, 21,43, 59, 80
CL Evesham Micros.119
LU Microprose.16, 35, 50 Video Vault.75
> [Link] Mirrorsoft.46,47 Virgin.6
D
< Incentive.108 Ocean.13, 30, 36, 64, OBC Wight Computing.107
Jade Games.73 Shekhana.92 York.68

122 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 The Ultimate
Maze Challenge
There are no random events in XOR's labyrinthine palace and there is no
premium on hand-eye coordination. You have all the time in the world tc
I
work out the precise nature of the hazards you encounter. Logical
thinking, strategy and tactical problem solving are all part of the XOR
experience. And XOR is not simply about finding solutions. If you can
solve the entire puzzle (15 levels plus an encrypted anagram), you qualifv
to be a member of the ORDER of XOR, with a certificate and a badge to
prove it.

...this is one of the most compulsive, cunning and

attractive programs I’ve seen for some time!.... the
game is superb - a very classy original twist on the
basic maze theme" A+B Computing ..BBc

XOR’s Features

-15 graded mindbending mazes

- Each maze approximately 16 screens
- Super smooth high speed scrolling
- High resolution quality graphics
- High speed or step-by-step replay
- Intriguing logical problems
- Interactive dynamic puzzles

SiBxoRi

XOR - Now available on;

Commodore 64 Disk £12.95

Cassette £9.95
Spectrum Cassette £7.95
Amstrad Disk £14.95
Cassette £9.95
BBC Disk £12.95
Cassette £9.95

Coming Soon for IBM PC and compatibles

XOR Designer - Available for BBC

and Commodore computers.

Logotron Guarantee:
All orders dispatched within 5 days of
receipt of order.
Faulty software will be replaced
immediately.
Postage and Packaging Free.

recreational
PRODUCTS
I [Link] RON RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS, DALES BREWERY, GWYDlR STREET, C AMRIDGE CB1.2LJ (0223)'323636
 The first casualty of war is innocence,

SPECTRUM SPECTRUM
COMMODORE AMSTRAD COMMODORE AMSTRAD

S7 i& 1
| lg|
|m i *♦- -.

——

1986 Hemdale Film Corporation.

All Rights Reserved. A computer product from Ocean. ®
Ocean Software Limited Ocean House 6 Central Street Manchester M2 5NS Telephone 061 832 6633 Telex 669977 Oceans G
,4v
 G''~~
Atari ST
Amiga
CBM 64/128
Spectrum
Amstrad
war is innocence + more

GAMES OUT RUN

Low, high or neutral?

DIPLOMACY
Micro megalomania .

-2J GOB
MTS

DAN DARE
HEL Mekon mischief

0 WO

An AC1
you're |

GRAPHICS
Great
new
DIY
SPECTRUM series
COMMODORE AMSTRAD
begins

GAMES
CREATORS
| Programming power
| to the people

PAGE BUYERS' GUIDE

jet from Ocean. Buying a computer? Upgrading your system?
er M2 5NS Telephone 061 832 6633 Telex 669977 Oceans G
The ACE Pink Pages list everything you
need to know.