Electronic Games Issue 23

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE

• Atari VCS - Atari 2600
• Atari 5200
• Atari computers
• Intellivision
• Commodore VIC-20
• Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
• Apple II
• ColecoVision
• stand-alones
• arcade

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(TOC excerpts follow, with (notes) and bullet lists added for clarity)

(This issue of Electronic Games finds the magazine beginning to place a heavier emphasis and focus on computer gaming with its new 'Computer Gaming Section.' Existing computer gaming columns like 'Passport to Adventure' and 'Articles Of War' now fall under this umbrella, and some new, recurring columns are introduced as well - 'Think Tank' and 'Electronic Pressbox' among them. In addition, the 'Hotline' news section expands with new, recurring sections such as 'What's Hot,' 'Hardware Beat,' and 'Software Beat.')

Switch On! - It's Crystal Ball Time! (editorial by Arnie Katz; predictions for '84)

Hotline (news section)

• Pilot The Video Space Shuttle (Space Shuttle: A Journey into Space (2600))
• TI 99/4A Markets "Gameport" (Romox "GamePort" licensing workaround)
• Padres Are Training With Games (Sega donates Champion Baseball arcade games to Padres)
• Computerized Limos! (Air Brook Limousine Service equips limos with computer & word processor)
• Computers Teach Tots (study; computer edutainment improves test scores)
• Sir-Tech Displays High-Res (high-res tech to be used in 3rd Wizardy Apple II game)
• PBS Raises Cash With Coin-Op Auction (auctions Star Trek arcade game)
• Books For Timex Owners ('Brain Games;' programs for 1000,1500,2000 systems)
• Relief For Disc Drives (disk drive cleaner)
• Atari Goes Club Med (Club Med computer workshop)
• Tiger Buys Japanese Games (Tigervision licenses Orca games; Espial, Sky Lancer, Super Crush, Changes)
• What's Hot (zeppelin themed games; Zeppelin (Atari computers), Zeppelin Rescue (C64), Murder on the Zinderneuf)
• Datasoft's Ready To Roll 'Em Out (Dallas Quest, Pooyan games)
• Videogames By Radio ('The Screen Fiend' syndicated radio show)
• Believe It Or Not, It's A Game! (Roklan Corp, Ripley's International plans games based on 'Ripley's Believe It Or Not')
• "Power Play's" A Winner Of An Arcade (Power Play Arcade profile)
• Software Beat (Dancing Feats, Bandits, War Games, Fax, Randamn, Enchanter, Blade of Blackpoole)
• Spectravideo Picks Spokesman (SpectraVideo signs Roger Moore)
• Ex-Employees Sue Atari (class-action suit over layoffs)
• Hardware Beat (Adam modem by AT&T, Amiga Joyboard for ColecoVision, GE AAA rechargeable batteries, The Hawk surge protector, RomScanner 2600 cart multi-switch, Palmtex Portable Videogame System)
• IBM 'Peanut' Debuts!
• Computer Weekend Hits Chicago!
• E.G. Readers Pick Their Favorite Games (top lists)

Meet Pac-Man's Video Godfather

Gobble up this article for the inside scoop. ('Joe Barbera Talks about T.V.'s 'Pac-Man' Show' by Gabe Essoe; discussion commentary)

Readers Replay (letters column)

The Ultimate Gaming Gift

Read about the most exquisite game station ever built. ('EG Engineers A State-of-the-Art Computer Gaming Station' by Henry B. Cohen)

Games On Disc

The dragon's out of its lair and brought some friends along. ('What's Next for Games on Videodisc?' by Les Paul Robley and Bill Kunkel)

EG Goes Continental

Think only Americans read EG, huh? Think again. ('Europe Joins the Game World' by Lisa Honden & Bill Kunkel)

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COMPUTER GAMING SECTION

Software Showcase (computer game reviews)

• Orc Attack (Atari cart)
• Trompers (Apple II disk)
• Archon (Atari disk)
• Clipper: Around the Horn in 1850 (Atari disk)
• Tubeway (Apple II disk)
• Sammy Lightfoot (Apple II disk)
• Cannonball Blitz (VIC20 cart)

Articles Of War (by Neil Shapiro; Delta Squadron (Apple II disk) overview/strategy/review)

Passport To Adventure (by Tracie Forman; Witness (Apple II, Atari disk) review; includes 'An Excerpt From "Witness"' sidebar)

Think Tank (by Tracie Forman; Excalibur (Atari disk) review)

Electronic Pressbox (by Steve Davidson; sports games reviews; Tuesday Morning Quarterback (Apple II disk) review)

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The 1984 Arcade Awards

The best videogames, computer games, coin-ops and stand alones of 1983! ('Here Are the Year's Greatest Games!' by The Editors of Electronic Games; includes 'Contenders for Next Year's Arkies' and 'More Great Home Arcade Games' sidebars)

• Electronic Game of the Year - Miner 2049er (Atari computers, Apple II, Col, 2600)
   
• Videogame Division
   
  • Videogame of the Year (Less than 16K ROM memory) - Ms. Pac-Man (2600)
  • Videogame of the Year (16K or more ROM memory) - Lady Bug (Col)
  • Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Videogame - Vanguard (5200)
  • Best Videogame Audio/Visual Effects (Less than 16K ROM memory) - Dolphin (2600)
  • Best Videogame Audio/Visual Effects (16K or more ROM memory) - Donkey Kong Jr. (Col)
  • Best Action Videogame - River Raid (2600)
  • Best Adventure Videogame - Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (Int)
  • Best Sports Videogame - Enduro (2600)

• Computer Game Division

  • Computer Game of the Year - Lode Runner (Apple II)
  • Best Science Fiction-Fantasy Computer Game - Astro Chase (Atari computers)
  • Best Computer Adventure - Witness (all systems)
  • Best Computer Action Game - Centipede (Atari computers)
  • Best Computer Sports Game - Starbowl Football (Atari computers)
  • Best Computer Game Audio-Visual Effects - Gorf (Atari computers)

• Videogame Computer Game Division

  • Most Humorous Videogame - Computer Game - Oink! (2600)
  • Best Arcade-To-Home Videogame Computer Game Translation - Kangaroo (5200)
  • Best Multi Player Videogame Computer Game - M.U.L.E. (Atari computers)
  • Best Educational Videogame Computer Game - Learning With Leeper (Apple II)
  • Most Innovative Videogame Computer Game - Archon (Atari computers)

• Coin-Op Games Division

  • Coin-Op Game of the Year - Pole Position
  • Best Science Fiction Fantasy Coin-Op Game - Xevious
  • Most Innovative Coin-Op Game - Q*bert
  • Best Coin-Op Game Audio-Visual Effects - Dragon's Lair

• Stand-Alone Games Division

  • Stand-Alone Game of the Year - Q*bert (Parker Brothers)
  • Mini-Arcade Game of the Year - 3-D Sky Attack (Tomy)

The Players Guide To Atari Computer Software

From action to strategy games, Atari owners have the pick of the lot. (sections:)

• The Top Computer Arcade
• Breaking The Game Barrier
• You Spell "Action" A-T-A-R-I
• Atari Games The Thinkers Play
• Subtle And Sly Strategies
• Sports Spectaculars For The Atari

Kideo: Games For The Youngest Set

The second of a three-part series on gaming for tots. ('Kideo: Games For The Younger Set;' 'Even Five-Year-Olds Get Videogame-mania!' by Joyce Worley)

New Products

• The Atari 400: The 64K Leap (Mosaic's 400,800 computer memory upgrades)
• The Koalapad Touch Tablet (for Apple II)
• NEC PC-8200 (computer system)
• Mazewarps (maze puzzle book)
• 2600 Adapter (2600 adapter for 5200)
• Control Guide (5200 joystick add-on)
• Powerpad (computer touchpad)

In Control ('A Close Look at New Controllers' by Tracie Forman; controller reviews)

• Super Action Controllers (Coleco; ColecoVision)
• The Competition Pro (Coin Controls; Atari,ColecoVision,TI99/4A)
• The Prostick III (Newport Controls; ColecoVision)

Inside Gaming ('Climb to the Top of Crisis Mountain!' by Rick Teverbaugh; David Schroeder developer profile)

Programmable Parade ('Get Hopping With Q*bert!;' console videogame reviews, many with screenshots, sometimes with box art)

• Q*bert (2600)
• Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes (2600)
• Moonsweeper (2600)
• Ken Uston Blackjack/Poker (Col)
• Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator (2600)

Insert Coin Here ('Gyruss Calls from Deepest Space!' by Tracie Forman; arcade game reviews, each with 'How It Plays' control sections)

• Gyruss
• Mappy

Strategy Session ('Throw Looping for a Loop' by Frank Tetro Jr.; game strategies)

• Looping (Col)
• Keystone Kapers (2600)
• Qix (5200)
• Vectron (Int)

Q&A ('Welcome to the World of the Programmable Practitioner!' by the Game Doctor)

Games Library (by Charlene Komar; gaming book reviews)

• The Video Master's Guide to Donkey Kong by Steve Sanders
• The Video Master's Guide to Centipede by Ron Dubren
• The Official I-Hate-Video Games Handbook by Emily Prager
• The Video Master's Guide to Pac-Man by Jim Sykora
• VIC Revealed, VIC Games, VIC Graphics, each by Nick Hampshire (three books, combo review)
• First Look Book #1 - Computers: Sizes, Shapes and Flavors by J.M. Johnson
• Pascal Programs for Games & Graphics by Tom Swan
• Basic Beginnings and Basic Fun by Susan Drake Lipscomb and Margaret Ann Zuanich
• Commodore Software Encyclopedia

Stand-Alone Scene ('The Block Bouncer Busts Loose!' by Joyce Worley; each with 'How It Plays' control section)

• Q*bert (Parker Brothers; tabletop)
• Mario's Cement Factory (Nintendo; tabletop)
• Tomytronic 3-D Planet Zeon (Tomy Corporation; handheld)

Reader Poll