ISSUE: 6Content
PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE
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Atari 2600 - VCS
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Atari 5200
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ColecoVision
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Coleco Adam
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Mattel Intellivision
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Apple computers
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Atari computers
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Laserdisc
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IBM PC - PCjr
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Commodore 64 - VIC-20
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TRS computers
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Osbourne computers
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Texas Instruments TI 99/4A
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arcade
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(The following is based on content page excerpts with bullet lists and (notes) added for clarity.)
FIRST WAVE - NEWS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (one page; reader mail; not listed in the ToC)
HOT GOSSIP (one page; gaming news and gossip)
NEW PRODUCTS (two pages; hardware, accessories, and misc products; all shown unless noted)
-
Calling All Controllers! (Calling Four; expansion card for Apple computers; adds four external peripheral ports)
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Atari's New Computers! (600XL (not shown), 800XL, 1400XLD (not shown), 1450XL (not shown) / 1450XLD)
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Shorts Shots (Mini-Champ; joystick controller; for Atari, Commodore, TI 99/4A computers)
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Jason and the Ergonauts (Compu-cart; ergonomic computer cart)
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Wouldn't You Like To Fly... (Milton Bradley Cosmic Commander tactile controller with Survival Run game; for game consoles and Atari computers)
-
Free VIC-20 Games ('VIC-Games' book by Nick Hampshire; VIC-20 programs)
WHAT'S IN STORE FOR YOU? / THE CHARTS (one page; 'Future Releases From the Top Game Companies', upcoming releases sorted by publisher, approx. 0.66 page; 'Hit Games & High Scores', top lists and high score list, approx. 0.33 page)
THE COMPUTER GAMES GAZETTE
(two pages; news stories)
-
Activision Designer Becoming Rock Star (Matthew Hubbard's The Wonders of Science band (photo); 'The Record of the Same Name' album)
-
Philly Doc Plays Cupid (Cupid medical cardiac arrest game; Dr. Michael Barrett (photo))
-
Ms. Pac-Man Arrives For Computers
-
Blue Max II On The Way (Bob Polin (photo))
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Zork - The Final Frontier (fan Sally Ride (Challenger astronaut; photo))
-
Win A Trip To Epcot! (Kraft nutrition game contest)
THE LASERS HAVE LANDED
By Steve Bloom ('The Lasers Have Landed! Here Comes The Videodisc Invasion'; seven pages, including one page 'The LaserDisc Comes Home' section (hardware); software discussed in detail, all shown unless noted:)
-
Astron Belt
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Star Rider (Sky Rider)
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Goal To Go
-
Firefox
-
Badlands
-
Bega's Battle (not shown)
-
Cliff Hanger (Cliff-hanger)
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Laser Grand Prix
-
Cube Quest
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Interstellar Laser Fantasy (Inter Stellar Laser Fantasy)
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M.A.C.H. 3 (not shown)
INTERVIEW: DON BLUTH
By Mark Brownstein. The creator of Dragon's Lair. ('The Computer Games Interview: Don Bluth - Meet the Godfather of Laserdisc Games'; four pages; interview; Dragon's Lair, Dragon's Lair II, Space Ace discussed)
THE HOTLINE
Call (212) 581-8267 for up-to-the-millisecond gaming news. (one page; late-breaking news)
HANDS-ON REPORT: THE IBM PC JR
By Jay Howard. ('Hands-On Report: The IBM PCjr - It may be the machine of the year-but should you buy it?'; three pages; system overview / review; hardware shown)
TELEGAMING
By Len Drexler. Fun over the phone. ('Your next game is just a phone call away - Telegaming'; approx. 3.5 pages; online services, hardware, and speculation; discussed:)
-
CBS-Fox Video online multiplayer experiments (50-60 players)
-
Ataritel division & modem module
-
Coleco / AT&T modem partnership
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Intellivision PlayCable TV channel (cable service)
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The Games Network gamebox and keyboard (cable service rental)
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GameLine (VCS modem)
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Compuserve
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The Source
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The Delphi System
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Telephone Software Connection
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Time Teletext, CBS Videotex, Integrated Communications Systems (upcoming teletext & videotex services)
SERIOUS SOFTWARE
('Serious Software - New Applications For Your Home Computer - Become A High-Tech Hypnotist'; one page; computer software, discussed:)
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The Hypnotist (C64; shown)
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Aerobics (C64, Atari, Apple, Adam)
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Tax Advantage (Atari 48K, Apple II)
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CheckEase! (C64, VIC20; shown)
BECOME A COMPUTER PICASSO!
By John Holmstrom. High-tech tools of the trade. ('Become A Computer Picasso! - Software and hardware for the artist in the family'; 4.5 pages including 'Other Software / Hardware For Computer Artists' sidebar; software unless noted; not shown unless noted; discussed unless noted:)
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Fun With Art (Atari)
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Versawriter (drawing board accessory; Atari 32K, Apple, PC)
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Graphics Magician (Apple, Atari, PC, C64; shown)
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Drawit (Atari; shown)
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The Koalapad (KoalaPad Touch Tablet; Apple, Atari, PC, C64, VIC20; shown)
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Micropainter (Apple, Atari; shown)
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Doodle (C64)
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Paint Magic (C64)
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PowerPad (tablet; Apple, Atari, PC, C64; sidebar mention)
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Paint (Atari; sidebar mention)
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Magic Paintbrush (Apple, Atari, C64, PC; sidebar mention)
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Atari Touch Tablet (Atari; sidebar mention)
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GTIA Draw (Atari; sidebar mention)
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Graphics Composer (Atari; sidebar mention)
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Drawpic (Atari; sidebar mention)
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PM Animator (Atari; sidebar mention)
SECOND WAVE - CLUES
CAN YOU SURVIVE?
By Michael Blanchet. We put you in a tricky situation. ('Can You Survive? Krull'; one page; video game strategies; Krull (arcade) scenario and resolution)
BEAT IT!
By Bob Guerra. How to shoot down M.A.C.H. 3 and Champion Baseball. (four pages; game tips and strategies)
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M.A.C.H. 3 (two pages; arcade)
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Championship Baseball (two pages; arcade)
THE CLONES OF Q*BERT
By Dan Gutman. ('The Clones Of Q*Bert - Ripoffs or right on? Everybody wants a piece of the pyramid'; three pages; discussed and shown:)
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Q*Bert (arcade)
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Mr. Cool (C64, Atari)
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Frostbite (VCS)
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Q-Bopper (C64)
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Juice (C64, Atari)
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Quick Step (VCS)
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Flip & Flop (C64, Atari)
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Pharoah's Pyramid (Atari)
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Pogo Joe (C64, Atari)
THIRD WAVE - REVIEWS
COMPUTER GAME BUYER'S GUIDE
By Shay Addams and Dan Gutman. (four pages; game reviews, rated with a grade scale; screenshots shown)
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Computer Football Strategy (C64, Atari, TRS 64K)
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Pole Position (Atari)
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Combat Leader (Atari, C64)
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Star League Baseball (Atari, C64)
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Oil Barons (Apple, PC)
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Bristles (Atari, C64, 5200; Game of the Month)
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Minit Man (Apple)
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Enchanter (Apple, Atari, C64, PC, Osborne)
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Capture the Flag (Atari, Apple)
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Computer War (Atari, VIC20, TI 99/4A)
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Robotron: 2084 (Apple)
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Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom (Adam)
-
Rabbit Trail (TI 99/4A)
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Lunar Leeper (C64, VIC20)
SWAP SHOP
(one page; classified ads; includes 'Next Wave' (next issue preview) sidebar)
ONE ON ONE
By Michael Blanchet. Berzerk vs. K-Razy Shootout, Jump Man vs. Miner 2049er. ('Reviews - One On One'; one page each; comparison reviews; screenshots shown)
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Jump Man (C64, Atari) vs. Miner 2049er (Apple, Atari)
-
K-Razy Shootout (5200) vs. Berzerk (5200)
VIDEO GAME BUYER'S GUIDE
By Ray Dimetrosky. (three pages; game reviews, rated with a grade scale; screenshots shown)
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Omega Race (Col, VCS)
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Rocky (Col)
-
Stronghold (VCS)
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Subroc (Col)
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Dig Dug (5200)
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Space Shuttle (VCS; Game of the Month)
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Survival Run (VCS)
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Escape From The Mindmaster (Col)
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Mountain King (VCS, 5200, C64, Atari computers)
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Artillery Duel / Chuck Norris Superkicks (VCS)
SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER!
By "Stick" Masters. Educational software that's also fun. (one page; 'Reviews - School's Out! - The Latest in Educational Gaming - Touch-Type or Die!'; running educational software review commentary; not shown unless noted:)
-
Learning with Leeper (shown)
-
Juggle's House
-
Type Attack (shown)
-
WordRace
NEW GAMES FOR THE 5200 & COLECOVISION
Compiled by Marcia Dimetrosky. (two pages; 'Reviews - Atari 5200 - Colecovision - 38 new games for the super systems'; software list sorted by system, each with short description; system hardware shown)
PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE
- Atari 2600 - VCS
- Atari 5200
- ColecoVision
- Coleco Adam
- Mattel Intellivision
- Apple computers
- Atari computers
- Laserdisc
- IBM PC - PCjr
- Commodore 64 - VIC-20
- TRS computers
- Osbourne computers
- Texas Instruments TI 99/4A
- arcade
---
(The following is based on content page excerpts with bullet lists and (notes) added for clarity.)
FIRST WAVE - NEWS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (one page; reader mail; not listed in the ToC)
HOT GOSSIP (one page; gaming news and gossip)
NEW PRODUCTS (two pages; hardware, accessories, and misc products; all shown unless noted)
- Calling All Controllers! (Calling Four; expansion card for Apple computers; adds four external peripheral ports)
- Atari's New Computers! (600XL (not shown), 800XL, 1400XLD (not shown), 1450XL (not shown) / 1450XLD)
- Shorts Shots (Mini-Champ; joystick controller; for Atari, Commodore, TI 99/4A computers)
- Jason and the Ergonauts (Compu-cart; ergonomic computer cart)
- Wouldn't You Like To Fly... (Milton Bradley Cosmic Commander tactile controller with Survival Run game; for game consoles and Atari computers)
- Free VIC-20 Games ('VIC-Games' book by Nick Hampshire; VIC-20 programs)
WHAT'S IN STORE FOR YOU? / THE CHARTS (one page; 'Future Releases From the Top Game Companies', upcoming releases sorted by publisher, approx. 0.66 page; 'Hit Games & High Scores', top lists and high score list, approx. 0.33 page)
THE COMPUTER GAMES GAZETTE
(two pages; news stories)
- Activision Designer Becoming Rock Star (Matthew Hubbard's The Wonders of Science band (photo); 'The Record of the Same Name' album)
- Philly Doc Plays Cupid (Cupid medical cardiac arrest game; Dr. Michael Barrett (photo))
- Ms. Pac-Man Arrives For Computers
- Blue Max II On The Way (Bob Polin (photo))
- Zork - The Final Frontier (fan Sally Ride (Challenger astronaut; photo))
- Win A Trip To Epcot! (Kraft nutrition game contest)
THE LASERS HAVE LANDED
By Steve Bloom ('The Lasers Have Landed! Here Comes The Videodisc Invasion'; seven pages, including one page 'The LaserDisc Comes Home' section (hardware); software discussed in detail, all shown unless noted:)
- Astron Belt
- Star Rider (Sky Rider)
- Goal To Go
- Firefox
- Badlands
- Bega's Battle (not shown)
- Cliff Hanger (Cliff-hanger)
- Laser Grand Prix
- Cube Quest
- Interstellar Laser Fantasy (Inter Stellar Laser Fantasy)
- M.A.C.H. 3 (not shown)
INTERVIEW: DON BLUTH
By Mark Brownstein. The creator of Dragon's Lair. ('The Computer Games Interview: Don Bluth - Meet the Godfather of Laserdisc Games'; four pages; interview; Dragon's Lair, Dragon's Lair II, Space Ace discussed)
THE HOTLINE
Call (212) 581-8267 for up-to-the-millisecond gaming news. (one page; late-breaking news)
HANDS-ON REPORT: THE IBM PC JR
By Jay Howard. ('Hands-On Report: The IBM PCjr - It may be the machine of the year-but should you buy it?'; three pages; system overview / review; hardware shown)
TELEGAMING
By Len Drexler. Fun over the phone. ('Your next game is just a phone call away - Telegaming'; approx. 3.5 pages; online services, hardware, and speculation; discussed:)
- CBS-Fox Video online multiplayer experiments (50-60 players)
- Ataritel division & modem module
- Coleco / AT&T modem partnership
- Intellivision PlayCable TV channel (cable service)
- The Games Network gamebox and keyboard (cable service rental)
- GameLine (VCS modem)
- Compuserve
- The Source
- The Delphi System
- Telephone Software Connection
- Time Teletext, CBS Videotex, Integrated Communications Systems (upcoming teletext & videotex services)
SERIOUS SOFTWARE
('Serious Software - New Applications For Your Home Computer - Become A High-Tech Hypnotist'; one page; computer software, discussed:)
- The Hypnotist (C64; shown)
- Aerobics (C64, Atari, Apple, Adam)
- Tax Advantage (Atari 48K, Apple II)
- CheckEase! (C64, VIC20; shown)
BECOME A COMPUTER PICASSO!
By John Holmstrom. High-tech tools of the trade. ('Become A Computer Picasso! - Software and hardware for the artist in the family'; 4.5 pages including 'Other Software / Hardware For Computer Artists' sidebar; software unless noted; not shown unless noted; discussed unless noted:)
- Fun With Art (Atari)
- Versawriter (drawing board accessory; Atari 32K, Apple, PC)
- Graphics Magician (Apple, Atari, PC, C64; shown)
- Drawit (Atari; shown)
- The Koalapad (KoalaPad Touch Tablet; Apple, Atari, PC, C64, VIC20; shown)
- Micropainter (Apple, Atari; shown)
- Doodle (C64)
- Paint Magic (C64)
- PowerPad (tablet; Apple, Atari, PC, C64; sidebar mention)
- Paint (Atari; sidebar mention)
- Magic Paintbrush (Apple, Atari, C64, PC; sidebar mention)
- Atari Touch Tablet (Atari; sidebar mention)
- GTIA Draw (Atari; sidebar mention)
- Graphics Composer (Atari; sidebar mention)
- Drawpic (Atari; sidebar mention)
- PM Animator (Atari; sidebar mention)
SECOND WAVE - CLUES
CAN YOU SURVIVE?
By Michael Blanchet. We put you in a tricky situation. ('Can You Survive? Krull'; one page; video game strategies; Krull (arcade) scenario and resolution)
BEAT IT!
By Bob Guerra. How to shoot down M.A.C.H. 3 and Champion Baseball. (four pages; game tips and strategies)
- M.A.C.H. 3 (two pages; arcade)
- Championship Baseball (two pages; arcade)
THE CLONES OF Q*BERT
By Dan Gutman. ('The Clones Of Q*Bert - Ripoffs or right on? Everybody wants a piece of the pyramid'; three pages; discussed and shown:)
- Q*Bert (arcade)
- Mr. Cool (C64, Atari)
- Frostbite (VCS)
- Q-Bopper (C64)
- Juice (C64, Atari)
- Quick Step (VCS)
- Flip & Flop (C64, Atari)
- Pharoah's Pyramid (Atari)
- Pogo Joe (C64, Atari)
THIRD WAVE - REVIEWS
COMPUTER GAME BUYER'S GUIDE
By Shay Addams and Dan Gutman. (four pages; game reviews, rated with a grade scale; screenshots shown)
- Computer Football Strategy (C64, Atari, TRS 64K)
- Pole Position (Atari)
- Combat Leader (Atari, C64)
- Star League Baseball (Atari, C64)
- Oil Barons (Apple, PC)
- Bristles (Atari, C64, 5200; Game of the Month)
- Minit Man (Apple)
- Enchanter (Apple, Atari, C64, PC, Osborne)
- Capture the Flag (Atari, Apple)
- Computer War (Atari, VIC20, TI 99/4A)
- Robotron: 2084 (Apple)
- Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom (Adam)
- Rabbit Trail (TI 99/4A)
- Lunar Leeper (C64, VIC20)
SWAP SHOP
(one page; classified ads; includes 'Next Wave' (next issue preview) sidebar)
ONE ON ONE
By Michael Blanchet. Berzerk vs. K-Razy Shootout, Jump Man vs. Miner 2049er. ('Reviews - One On One'; one page each; comparison reviews; screenshots shown)
- Jump Man (C64, Atari) vs. Miner 2049er (Apple, Atari)
- K-Razy Shootout (5200) vs. Berzerk (5200)
VIDEO GAME BUYER'S GUIDE
By Ray Dimetrosky. (three pages; game reviews, rated with a grade scale; screenshots shown)
- Omega Race (Col, VCS)
- Rocky (Col)
- Stronghold (VCS)
- Subroc (Col)
- Dig Dug (5200)
- Space Shuttle (VCS; Game of the Month)
- Survival Run (VCS)
- Escape From The Mindmaster (Col)
- Mountain King (VCS, 5200, C64, Atari computers)
- Artillery Duel / Chuck Norris Superkicks (VCS)
SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER!
By "Stick" Masters. Educational software that's also fun. (one page; 'Reviews - School's Out! - The Latest in Educational Gaming - Touch-Type or Die!'; running educational software review commentary; not shown unless noted:)
- Learning with Leeper (shown)
- Juggle's House
- Type Attack (shown)
- WordRace
NEW GAMES FOR THE 5200 & COLECOVISION
Compiled by Marcia Dimetrosky. (two pages; 'Reviews - Atari 5200 - Colecovision - 38 new games for the super systems'; software list sorted by system, each with short description; system hardware shown)
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