Video Games Issue 12

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE

• Atari VCS - Atari 2600
• VCS Starpath Supercharger
• Atari 5200
• Atari 600XL - 800XL - 1400XL - 1450XLD (CES coverage)
• Mattel Intellivision
• Mattel Intellivision II (CES coverage)
• Astrocade - Bally Professional Arcade
• Commodore VIC-20
• Apple IIe
• Coleco ADAM (CES coverage)
• Mattel Aquarius (CES coverage)
• Monty Plays Scrabble handheld
• arcade
• pinball

(TOC transcription follows, with (notes) and bullet lists added for clarity.)

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FEATURES

Faded Glory

The decline, fall and possible salvation of home video. (by Suzan D. Prince; the demise of U.S. Games and Data Age)

VIDEO GAMES Interview: John Farrand and Don Osborne

The evolution of arcade video games at Atari's coin-op. (by Beau Eurell)

Getting Physical

Video games goes aerobic. (by Stephen Kiesling; subtitled 'Video Games Go Aerobic;' includes 'Good Health and Video' sidebar by Steven Epstein)

SPECIAL SECTION:

Electrifying Sights

A Close-up look at the Consumer Electronics Showcase. (by Roger C. Sharpe; article sections:)

• The Computer Age (Coleco ADAM computer)
• Atari Strikes Back (Atari 600XL/800XL/1400XL/1450XLD computers)
• Mattel's Age of Aquarius (Mattel Aquarius computer)
• Spectravideo Visions (Spectravideo SV-328 computer)
• Unitronics' Sonic Boom (Unitronics' Sonic computer)
• Tomy's Tutor Makes the Grade (Tomy Tutor computer)
• Commodore's Potent Portable (Commodore Executive 64)
• Lone Stars from Texas Instruments (TI99/4A accessories, including Milton Bradley MBX Voice Recognition System)
• The Video Technology Line-up (VZ200 Color Personal Computer, Laser 2001, Laser 3000)
• Keeping Watch of Timex/Sinclair (Timex/Sinclair 1500, 2000 series)
• Atari Stays in the Game (VCS, 5200 accessories, including 2600 Voice Commander and 5200 VCS Cartridge adapter)
• Mattel Intellivision's New Look (Intellivision II and modules)
• All Systems Go (GCE Vectrex accessories)
• Playing The Field (upcoming software & innovations; CBS RAM Plus, Xonox double-ender)

DEPARTMENTS

HYPERSPACE (editorial)

Insights into the issue at hand.

DOUBLESPEAK (letters column)

Some words of advice from our readers.

BLIPS (news section)

Sunday's funnies and games; getting a grip on some video handiwork; watch wonders; Club Med brings BASIC to its beaches; flying the friendly skies; computer "Whiz Kids", and more.

• Sunday's Funnies and Games (Zap! video game Sunday comic strip)
• Control Center (controller overviews)
• Getting a Grip on Some Video Handiwork (Video Pro Glove)
• What's In Store (The Electronic Boutique (aka Games 'N' Gadgets) game stores)
• In Charge of the Situation (Coleco's Perma Power universal AC adaptor)
• Pocket-Size Adventures (PM Industries handhelds)
• A Helping Hand (video games assist in learning typing skills)
• Watch Words (Nelsonic Industries' game watches)
• Club Med Brings BASIC to Its Beaches
• Flying the Friendly Skies (video game rentals during Canadian Pacific Airlines flights)
• Computer Whiz TV ('Whiz Kids' TV show)
• Three for the Money (game contests for Keystone Kapers, Happy Trails, Enduro)

COIN-OP SHOP

A mixed bag of arcade attractions; Arabian, Krull, Zoar, Munch Mobile, Mappy and others. (commentary and arcade reviews by John Holstrom; 'A Mixed Bag of Arcade Attractions;' includes 'Arcade Watch' sidebar)

• Arabian
• Krull
• Zoar
• Munch Mobile
• Mappy
• Hunch Back

FLIPSIDE

A Silverball Time Fantasy. (by Zelmo; commentary discussing innovations in pinball, review of Time Fantasy (pinball))

COMPUTER CORNER

Games for the Astrocade and VIC-20.

• Games for the Astrocade: An Evolutionary Profile (by Mark Brownstein; running commentary discussing the system's Astrocade BASIC cart and reviews of tape-available BASIC games, including:)

• Flying Ace
• Clue
• Castle of Horror
• Four Famous Freebies
• Invasion Force
• Brick in the Wall
• Mazemaker II
• Sideswipe
• Dungeons of Dracula
• L.T., Little Terrestrial
• Nautilus
• 3-D Tic Tac Toe
• Revenge
• The Mummy's Treasure
• Secret of Pellucitar
• Candyman
• River City Gambler
• Road Toad
• Super Slope

• Playing The Field (VIC-20 game reviews by Dan Persons:)

• Snack-Man
• The Count
• Omega Race

SOFT SPOT

New challenges heat up the waning days of summer: Keystone Kapers; Dracula (Int); Space Dungeon (5200); Dolphin and Fireball (VCS Starpath Supercharger). (by Perry Greenberg and Dan Persons)

GAME EFFORTS

Scrabble enters the electronic age. (by Linda Moran; 'Monty Makes A Deal: An Old Standard Enter The Electronic Age;' development and review of Monty Plays Scrabble handheld)

HARDSELL

Getting to the core of the Apple IIe. (by Jonathan Sacks)

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARCADE (comic strip)

THE VIDEO KID (comic strip)

STATS (high scores and Top lists)

Cover Illustration by Walter Velez