Video Games Issue 13

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE

• Atari VCS - Atari 2600
• Atari 5200
• Spectravideo SV-318
• Atari 400 - 800
• Atari 600XL - 800XL - 1400XL - 1450XLD
• Mattel Intellivision - Intellivision II
• Video Tech Laser 2001
• Tomy Tutor
• Panasonic JR 200
• Colecovision
• Astrocade - Bally Professional Arcade
• Commodore VIC-20
• Commodore 64
• Coleco ADAM
• Mattel Aquarius II
• Unitronics Sonic
• arcade
• pinball
• non-programmable handhelds and portables

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

---

FEATURES

VIDEO GAMES Interview: Richard Stearns

Why Parker Brothers is coming on strong. (by Roger C. Sharpe; subtitled 'Parker Brothers Keeps Coming on Strong;' Richard Stearns (Vice President, Parker Brothers consumer electronics) interview)

SPECIAL SECTION:

Fall Electronics Review

The newest games, software, home carts, games systems, computers and accessories. (CES coverage)

• For Your Eyes Only (by Anne Krueger)
• Developments Forge Ahead (by Suzan D. Prince)
• Survival of the Fittest (by Mark Brownstein)

War Games

A Player's Guide to Computer Simulation Combat. (by Rich Sutton; 'War Games: A Battle Plan For Attacking Video Simulations')

DEPARTMENTS

HYPERSPACE (editorial)

Insights into the issue at hand.

DOUBLESPEAK (letters column)

VIDEO GAMES' readers speak out.

BLIPS (news section)

Video games hits the tube; The Atari Force adventures continue; sinking your teeth into Commodore's Tooth Invaders and symbols of recognition.

• Sing, Sing (The Singing Machine; 8-track Karaoke-ish music player)
• Atari Force: The Adventures Continue (Atari Force comic book series by DC Comics)
• Symbols of Recognition (generic Video Fighter Pack (ID card, patch, certificate))
• Blowing Bubbles Forever (Topps video game themed cards, arcade-themed bubble gum packaging)
• A Game to Sink Your Teeth Into (Tooth Invaders (C64))
• Breakfast of Champions? (Quaker Oats brand cereal video game contest)
• That's Entertainment (The Video Game Challenge TV show)

COIN-OP SHOP

Change is in the arcade air: Journey; Roc 'N Rope; Star Wars; Champion Baseball; (commentary and arcade reviews by John Holmstrom; 'Change is In The Arcade Air')

• Guzzler
• Black Widow
• Journey
• Champion Baseball
• Star Wars
• Roc 'N Rope

FLIPSIDE

Vintage editions under glass. (commentary and pinball reviews by Zelmo)

• Royal Flush Deluxe
• Super Orbit

SOFT SPOT

An eyeful of the latest home carts; BurgerTime; Space Panic; Sky Skipper; Enduro; Polaris. (commentary and home game reviews by Perry Greenberg and Dan Persons)

• Burgertime (Int)
• Space Panic (CV)
• Sky Skipper (VCS)
• Enduro (VCS)
• Polaris (VCS)
• Solar Fox (VCS)
• No Escape! (VCS)
• Vanguard (5200)

COMPUTER CORNER

Coleco's ADAM, an overview of the latest home computers and software titles.

• Coleco Keyboard Predictions: A Look Back and Ahead (by Mark Brownstein; Coleco ADAM)
• Systems Analysis: Overview of the Latest Computer Models (by Mark Brownstein; article sections:)
  • ADAM by Coleco
  • Sonic by Unitronics
  • Aquarius II by Mattel
  • Atari XL Series by Atari
  • Laser by Video Tech
  • Tomy Tutor by Tomy Corporation
  • Panasonic JR 200 by Panasonic

• Playing The Field (game reviews by Mark Brownstein, Dawn Gordon and Dan Persons)

  • Garbersville
  • Starship Command (Astrocade BASIC)
  • Treasure Cove
  • Mountain King (400/800 cart)
  • Miner 2049er (400/800 cart)
  • Gold Fever! (VIC20 cart)
  • Jumpman (400/800 disk)

GAME EFFORTS

Potent portables with features to spare. (reviews by Anne Krueger)

• Mario's Cement Factory Tabletop
• Donkey Kong Jr. Game & Watch
• Donkey Kong II Game & Watch
• Sky Attack
• BurgerTime

HARDSELL

Plugging into the Spectravideo SV-318 and SV-328. (by Mark Andrews; 'Plugging into The Spectravideo SV-318;' includes 'A Look at the SV-328' small sidebar)

STATS (high scores and Top lists)

Cover Illustration by Robert Burger