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PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE Atari VCS - Atari 2600 Atari computers Commodore VIC-20 Commodore 64 Mattel Intellivision arcade pinball non-programmable handhelds and portables (TOC transcription follows, with (notes) and bullet lists added for clarity.) --- FEATURES Hollywood Style Bits and Bytes Whiz Kids' Executive Producer Phil DeGuere takes you behind-the-scenes of his hit TV show. (by Richard Goodwin; 'Hollywood-Style Bits and Bytes: Whiz Kids' Executive Producer Phil De Guere Takes You Behind the Scenes of His Hit TV Series') The Art Side Of Video Games The wave of the future: An artistic view of "Moondust" and "Lifespan." (by Mary Claire Blakeman; subtitled 'The Wave of the Future'; includes 'Lifespan: Playing Through the Stages of Living' and 'Moondust: Music of Your Own Making' sidebars) Harry Williams A list tribute to a coin-op legend. (by Roger C. Sharpe; 'Harry Williams: Rememberances of a Coin-Op Legend') SPECIAL SECTION Blasting Into the Laser Disc Age! A look at the latest entries: Cliff Hanger and Pitchman (by Mike Shaw and Roger C. Sharpe; 'The Laser Age Continues: A New Technology Brings Remarkable Change') Beating The Coin-Ops Tips and strategies for the latest arcade games. (by Steve Harris; 'Arcade Games: Playing Tips and Strategies') Gyruss Crystal Castles The Untold History of Video Games Discovering the true beginnings and some revealing facts. (by Frank Lovece; 'The Birth of a Notion: Discovering the True Beginnings of Video Games') DEPARTMENTS HYPERSPACE (editorial) Insights into the issue at hand. DOUBLESPEAK (letters column) VIDEO GAMES' readers speak out. BLIPS (news section) Wizardry wonders, video games blues, world champs go for the gold, dialing for dollars, a TKO before the starting bell. Wizardry Wonders: A Novel Idea (Warlords graphic novel by DC Comics) Learning Can Be Fun (edutainment software) A Collective Bargain (VIDION - The International Association of the Video Game Players) Scholarly Feats (grant awarded to research impact of microcomputers on family/education) Computer Bytes (Atari/General Foods; exchange box tops for Atari hardware, software, peripherals) Chuck E. Cheese Builds a Better Mousetrap (Unprofitable Chuck E. Cheeses converted to Zapp's; combination bar/restaurant/arcade/dance hall) A Duplicating Design (Video Game Recorder and Copy Cart) Color Me More Aware ('New Technology Coloring Book' by Bantam Books) World Champs Go For Gold (Atari's Centipede Video Game Championship) Undercover (K-Cover computer keyboard cover) Meet Me in St. Louis (Atari Adventure; arcade/computer learning centers) HARD SELL The Commodore 64: A computer for all ages. (by Mark Brownstein; 'Commodore 64: A Computer To Grow With') COIN-OP SHOP Paying the price for excellence: Cliff Hanger, M.A.C.H. 3, Aztarac and more. (commentary and arcade reviews by John Holmstrom; 'Paying the Price for Excellence') Cliff Hanger Pro Soccer Discs of Tron Aztarac Hoccer M.A.C.H. 3 FLIP SIDE Changing Times: Centaur II and Rack 'Em Up. (commentary and pinball reviews by Zelmo; 'Changing Times') SOFT SPOT The sleeping giant awakens: Robot Tank, Happy Trails, Battlezone, Pole Position, Super Cobra and more. (commentary and home video game reviews by Dan Persons and Perry Greenberg; 'The Sleeping Giant Awakens') Robot Tank (2600) Battlezone (2600) Pole Position (2600) Buzz Bomber (Int) Happy Trails (2600) Super Cobra (2600) Centipede (2600) Cakewalk (2600) The Activision Decathlon (2600) The Return of the Jedi: Deathstar Battle (2600) The Adventures of Tron (2600) Blueprint (2600) COMPUTER CORNER A giant leap ahead for computer games: Cannonball Blitz, Astro Chase, and more. (commentary and game reviews by Dan Persons and Mark Brownstein; 'A Giant Leap Ahead for Computer Games') Cannonball Blitz (VIC20 cart) Astro Chase (Atari cart) Threshold (VIC20 cart) Rat Hotel (VIC20 cart) Choplifter (VIC20 cart) Zap (VIC20 cart) Jumpman Junior (Atari cart) Type Attack (VIC20 cart) Crossfire (VIC20 cart) Pipes (VIC20 cart) Jawbreaker II (VIC20 cart) Blue Max (Atari disk) GAME EFFORTS Some gift-giving wonders: Table-tops, hand-helds and dual-screen games. (by Patricia Canole and Melinda Glass; 'Some Holiday Season Handiworks') Q*bert tabletop Mario Bros. Game & Watch Space Rescue Space Shuttle STATS (high scores and Top lists) Cover Photo of Eric Bergman and Photo Insert by Perry Greenberg