Video Games Player Issue 3

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE

• Atari 2600 - VCS
• Atari 5200
• ColecoVision
• Coleco Adam (new products coverage)
• Intellivision - II - III - IV
• Aquarius - Aquarius II
• Apple computers
• Atari 400 - 800
• Commodore 64 - VIC-20
• 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 add-ons; all shown unless noted)

• Rapid Fire Module (Blaster! Auto-Fire Module; for VCS, 400, 800, VIC-20)
• Controller Base (The Obelisk joystick with base; for VCS, ColecoVision, 400, 800, 1200, Commodore computers)
• Computer Touch Tablet (Koalapad Touch Tablet; for Apple, Atari, Commodore, IBM computers)
• Teledelivery Of Games (CVC Master Module; download and rent video games)
• Video Game Glove (Videomax gaming glove)
• Video Game-Ready TV (Sony KV-1331 TV)
• Extra-Small Joystick (Amiga Power-Stick)
• Exercycle Controller (The Aerobic Joystick)

THE VIDEO GAMES GAZETTE (three pages; gaming news; headlines:)

• Doctor Says NOT Playing Vidgames Will Kill You! (spoof news story)
• Is This Man A Nut Case? (Saker-One immersive space game)
• Adam Born, Super Module Dies (Coleco Super Module cancelled; Adam computer announced (shown))
• Carts Can Be Reprogrammed! (Romox ECPC; programmable cart allowing games to be downloaded to EPROM)
• Wargames Or More Games? (computer literacy program)
• Games In Every Format (Games ported to multiple systems becoming more common)

MATTEL STRIKES BACK
With Aquarius and Intellivision IV, number two is trying harder. (approx. five pages; subtitled 'Here comes Aquarius II, The Entertainment Computer System... and Intellivision IV!'; numerous games mentioned and discussed, World Series Baseball and The Jetsons: Ways With Words shown; hardware (many shown) discussed:)

• Intellivision II
• Intellivision Computer Adaptor
• Intellivision Music Synthesizer
• Data Recorder
• Intellivision Printer
• Intellivision Program Expander
• Aquarius
• Aquarius II
• Aquarius 4-Color Printer
• Aquarius Modem
• Aquarius Master Expansion Module
• Aquarius Memory Cartridges
• Aquarius Mini Expander
• Command Console
• Intellivision III
• Intellivision IV

WHAT'S IN STORE FOR YOU? (one page; upcoming releases list sorted by publisher)

WIN AN ACTIVISION LIBRARY!
Enter our Name That Alien contest. (two pages; screenshot identification contest)

SWAP SHOP
Trade or sell your used games. (approx. one page; buy /sell / trade classifieds)

THE VIDEO GAME PIRATES
By Michael Blanchet.  That arcade game you are playing may be an illegal ripoff.  (four pages; includes 'How To Spot A Ripoff' sidebar)

INTERVIEW: ALEX LEAVENS
By Dan Gutman.  Alex designed Gorf, Stargunner, and Crazy Climber for the VCS.  ('Magic Alex'; approx. 3.25 pages; interview)

THE HOTLINE
Call (212) 581-8267 for the latest dirt. (one page; late-breaking news)

SECOND WAVE - CLUES

CAN YOU SURVIVE?
By Michael Blanchet.  We put you in a tricky situation.  (one page; video game strategies; Zoo Keeper (arcade) scenario and resolution)

BEAT IT!
By Bob Guerra.  We show you how to rip apart Ms. Pac-Man, Sinistar, and Galaga.  (six pages; game tips and strategies)

• Ms. Pac-Man (2.33 pages; VCS)
• Sinistar (two pages; arcade)
• Galaga (two pages; arcade)

HOW TO PLAY FOREVER
By Leo Daniels.  Score over 2,000,000 in Joust!  Earn 40 free Tempest games!  (three pages; arcade game tips & tricks)

• Donkey Kong Jr.
• Space Invaders Deluxe
• Galaga
• Stargate
• Jack the Giant Killer
• Tempest
• Asteroids
• Millipede
• Robotron
• Joust
• Ms. Pac-Man

READER GAME OF THE MONTH
Shawn Lysowski's "The Young Adventurer" ('Games From Our Readers'; one page; video game design by Shawn Lysowski (age 13))

ARE YOU AWESOME?
How your scores compare with everybody else's. (two pages; game score lists - average, good, and awesome scores; three categories:)

• Home Video Games
• Arcade Games
• Computer Games 

THIRD WAVE - REVIEWS

VIDEO GAME BUYER'S GUIDE
By Raymond Dimetrosky.  (four pages; game reviews, rated with a grade scale; screenshots or screenshot art shown)

• Demolition Herby (VCS)
• Pepper II (Col)
• Looping (Col)
• Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes (VCS)
• Space Dungeon (5200)
• Plaque Attack (VCS)
• Solar Fox (VCS, Int, 5200, 400, 800)
• Strawberry Shortcake Musical Matchups (VCS)
• Euduro (VCS)
• Sky Skipper (VCS)
• Nova Blast (Int)
• Truckin' (Int; Game of the Month)
• Happy Trails (Int)
• Gorf (Col)
• Robot Tank (VCS)
• Jungle Hunt (VCS)
• Cakewalk (VCS)

ONE ON ONE
By Michael Blanchet.  Zaxxon vs. Zaxxon, Pitfall vs. Dracula  (two pages; comparison reviews with screenshots)

• Dracula (Imagic, for Intellivision) Vs. Pitfall! (Activision, for Intellivision) (Int; one page)
• Zaxxon (Coleco, for ColecoVision) Vs. Zaxxon (Datasoft, for Atari 400 / 800) (one page)

SOUND IN VIDEO GAMES
By Josh Martin.  How do they make it?  How important is it?  (four pages; sound effects in video games)

COMPUTER GAME BUYER'S GUIDE
By Shay Addams and Martin Bass.  (four pages; game reviews, rated with a grade scale; screenshots shown)

• Wizplus (Apple)
• Spy's Demise (Apple)
• Mastertype (Apple, 800)
• Squish 'Em (C64, 400, 800, VIC-20)
• Shamus: Case II (400, 800 with 32k)
• Apple Panic (VIC-20)
• Mask of the Sun (Apple)
• Frogger (C64)
• Synthesound (VIC-20)
• Boulders and Bombs (400, 800)
• Ultima II (Apple, 400, 800 with 48k; Game of the Month)
• Prisoner 2 (Apple)
• E.T. Phone Home (400, 800)
• Astro Chase (800)
• Protector (400, 800 with 32k)
• Starbowl Football (400, 800)
• Juice (400, 800)