Electronic Games Issue 27

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE

• Atari VCS - Atari 2600
• Atari 5200
• Atari 7800
• Vectrex
• Atari computers
• Commodore VIC-20
• Commodore 64
• Texas Instruments TI99/4A
• Spectravideo SV-318
• Intellivision
• ColecoVision
• Apple II
• IBM PCjr
• stand-alones
• arcade

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

Switch On! - The Future of Coin-Op Videogames (editorial by Arnie Katz)

Hotline (news section)

• Exidy Licenses First Star Games (Astro Chase, Flip & Flop, Bristles, Boulder/Dash licensed for arcades)
• Xerox Has Bonus For Bear Lovers (free Stickybear Activity Book with purchase of two Stickybear programs)
• Clint Eastwood Flies Firefox To Arcades (laserdisc arcade game)
• Restful Device For Apple Pickers (Discwasher ergonomic Entry Rest)
• Datasoft Seeks Programmers
• Bally Purchases Sente Technologies
• Suncom Unveils Graphics Tablet
• Space Shuttle Teaches Kids About U.S. Space Program (Space Shuttle (2600) as part of science course)
• Timex Stops Clock On Computer Operations (Timex exits computer market)
• Users Group Offers Public Domain Software (Jacksonville Atari Computer Enthusiasts)
• Computer Games Just For Girls (Rhiannon to create adventure games for girls)
• Keyport 717 Adds Utility To Apple (Keyport 717 membrane keyboard; The Farm, The Seashore, The Jungle games)
• Women Join The Computer Generation (market research)
• HES Tags Spokes-Vulcan (Leonard Nimoy signed as Human Engineered Software spokesperson)
• Taito American Goes Western (The Tin Star, Zeke's Peak arcade games)
• Synetix Spruces Sprites With New Supersprite Games (SuperSprite Apple upgrade, software)
• EG Readers Pick Their Favorite Games (top lists)
• Spinnaker Inks Deal With Fisher Price
• Hats Off To Winners Of The G.I. Joe Black Cobra Contest
• Sweet Gifts Are Made Of These (solid chocolate computer replica)
• Konami Fetes New R&D Building
• Consumer Beat (Timeworks exchanging cassette programs for disk; User Care Emergency Disk Saver Kit; CompuServe's Adam On-line service for Coleco Adam computers; Penguin Software raises game prices; General Electric rechargeables price changes; Apple Macintosh support; Softdisk magazine expands circulation; Chips & Changes touring tech show sponsored by Scholastic; Verbatim Edgame Challenge; Parker Bros. signs right of first refusal for Mylstar Electronics games)
• Hardware Beat (Standguard keboard cover/bookstand; C64 RF Interference Filter Kit; Data Spec keyboard for Apple/Apple II+; Commodore Model 16 computer; TGM-300 modem; Spikemaster surge protector; Concorde Peripheral Systems disk drives)
• Software Beat (Seastalker; Viking Raider cart/disk combo C64 game; Zenji; Robotron: 2084, Berzerk; Demon Attack, Cosmic Ark, Dragonfire for Amiga Powerplay Arcade add-on; Activision teams with Action Graphics to produce computer games; Freedy Fish (PC); Bounty Hunter (Adam); Space Taxi (C64); Hes Games 84 (C64))
• What's Hot (non-gaming entertainment programs; Puzzle Mania, Paint Magic, Little Red Riding Hood, Relax!, Aerobics, Jewish Compu-Chef)
• Edu-Ware (educational programs; Agent USA, M-ss-ng L-nks, The Game Show, Word Flyer)

Readers Replay (letters column)

The Lucasfilm/Atari Connection

Two new FORCEful games and more to come. ('The Force Is With Us Prepare To Challenge The Super Games Of The Lucasfilm Atari Alliance - Lucasfilm Premieres First Two Games Can it become a Force in electronic gaming?' by Arnie Katz; Rescue on Fractalus, Ballblazer)

First Look At The Atari 7800

EG takes a close look at a brand new gaming machine. ('Introducing the Atari 7800 - EG's Exclusive Report on the New Advanced Videogame.' by Steve Davidson)

The New Coin-Ops

The hottest new titles in the arcades. ('Here Come The New Coin-Ops! - Sports Games Hit All-Time High' by Bill Kunkel)

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COMPUTER GAMING SECTION

Software Showcase (computer game reviews)

• Bruce Lee (Atari disk)
• Boulder Dash (Atari disk)
• Rainbow Walker (Atari disk)
• Jack Attack (C64 cart)
• Spectron (SV318)
• Queen Of Hearts (Apple II disk)
• Slamball (C64 disk)
• Buzzard Bait (Apple II disk)

Game-A-Thon (computer game reviews)

• Robotron: 2084 (Atari cart)
• Alpha Shield (Atari cart)
• Beat The Beatles (Atari disk,cassette)
• Pit Stop (C64 cart)
• Crossfire (PCjr cart)
• Rootin' Tootin' (C64 cart)
• Blueprint (C64 cart)
• Bandits (VIC20 cart)

Articles Of War (Eagles (Atari disk) overview/strategy/review)

Passport To Adventure (computer game reviews)

• Ultima II (C64 disk)
• Return Of Hercules (Atari disk)

Think Tank (computer game reviews)

• Dragonriders Of Pern (C64 disk)
• Trains (Atari disk)
• Millionaire (C64 disk)

Electronic Pressbox (sports games reviews)

• Computer Football Strategy (Atari cassette)
• Formula 1 Racer (Apple II disk)

Playing It Smart (education software and edutainment reviews)

• Charles Goren: Learning Bridge Made Easy (Apple II disk)
• French Vocabulary For Shopping Use (Apple II disk)
• Algebra Arcade (Apple II disk)

Translations (computer game ports)

• Donkey Kong (TI99/4A cart)
• Defender (C64 cart)
• Demon Attack (PCjr cart)
• Pac-Man (TI99/4A cart)
• Robotron (Apple II disk)
• Pole Position (C64 disk)

Entertainments (entertainment software)

• My House - My Home (Apple II disk)
• Songwriter (Atari disk)
• Computer Crayons (C64 disk)

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Joystick Update

The latest and greatest in command control devices. ('The Newest Controllers For Your Home Arcading' by Tracie Forman; shown:)

• Kraft Atari Switch Hitter
• Coleco Power-Stick
• Amiga Power-Stick
• Suncom Tac-2
• Wico Computer Command
• Wico Three-Way Command Control
• Wico 5200 Command Control

Players Guide To C-64 Software (sections:)

• Hail To The Commodore
• The Commodore Home Arcade
• Action Games For The C-64
• Games For Thinkers

Vector Graphics

The state of the vector at home and in the arcades. ('The Rise - and Fall? - of a Controversial Display Technique' by Brian Scott; includes 'Vector At Home And In The Arcades' and 'Vector Vs. Raster' sidebars; Vectrex, arcade)

Programmable Parade ('Get Into the Action with Lucasfilms' Ballblazer!;' console videogame reviews)

• Ballblazer (5200)
• H.E.R.O. (2600)
• Gust Buster (Col)
• Choplifter! (5200)
• He-Man & The Masters Of The Universe (Int)
• Squish 'Em Starring Sam (Col)
• Pitfall (Col)

Test Lab

Computer artistry with light pens. ('The Light (Pen) Fantastic!')

Q&A ('The Doc Examines Your Questions' by the Game Doctor)

Bargain Hunters' Guide To The Vectrex

A fond farewell to the King of Stand-Alones. ('Farewell To The Vectrex - The King of Stand-Alones Has Abdicated, But Vectrex is Still Wowing Gamers' by Joyce Worley; includes 'A Guide For Vectrex Treasure Hunters' sidebar)

Stand-Alone Scene ('Board Games Go Space-Age For The Whole Family' by Joyce Worley; each with 'How It Plays' control section (all shown))

• Elite A/S Challenger (Fidelity Electronics; electronic chess)
• Electronic Arcade Mania (Milton Bradley; electronic boardgame)

Reader Poll