Videogaming Illustrated Issue 6

PRIMARY SYSTEMS COVERAGE THIS ISSUE

ColecoVision
Intellivision
Apple - Apple II
PC
Atari VCS - 2600 - Starpath Supercharger
Timex Sinclair 2000
Commodore VIC-20
Commodore 64
Atari 400 - 800 - 1200
Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer
Atari 5200
Odyssey2
Vectrex
Mattel Aquarius
Apple Lisa (never released)
arcade
pinball

---

(The following is loosely based on this issue's table of contents with select article taglines and/or excerpts (noted in quotes) included. (Notes) and bullet lists added for clarity.)

(This is the first issue of VI to sport the expanded 'Videogaming And Computer Gaming Illustrated' title in its masthead. The indicia maintains 'Videogaming Illustrated,' however.)

The Keyboard

Where No Videogame Has Gone Before. A guest editorial by Walter Koenig. (actor, Chekov of Star Trek; the future of video games and how they've yet to reach their full potential)

Eye On (news section; column headlines:)

• Supernews! (Colecovision Super Game Module #3 (wafer format games), Super Action Controllers, Coleco Gemini (2600 compatible system) and Gemini Sound I add-on)
• A Silk Purse? (2600 computer add-ons planned; Atari My Own Computer, Entex 200 Piggyback, Spectravideo Compumate 2600)
• CBS Pull An Inside Job (RAM PLUS chip planned for upcoming 2600 games Wings and Tunnel Runner; other upcoming games:)
  • Solar Fox
  • Blueprint
• Nobody's Fool (Intellivision II, Expansion System A module (play 2600 games); upcoming Intellivision games:)
  • Buzz Bombers
  • Mission X
  • Burgertime
  • XIV Winter Olympics
  • Mystic Castle
  • Sharp Shot
  • Shark! Shark!
  • Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, Treasure of Tarmin
  • Loco-Motion
  • Vectron
  • Arctic Squares
• Playing Ketchup (upcoming 20th Century Fox games for 2600,Col,Int:)
  • MASH
  • Fall Guy
  • Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes
• Sliced Tomatoes (Wizard Video; Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween; laserdisc plans)
• A Gadget and a Glove (Atari Joystick Repair Kit; Videomax Videogame glove; Intellivision Thumb Saver)
• Good Buy, My Love (Starpath Supercharger price drop; Atari 400, 800, 1200 games planned)
• Ready or Not (upcoming arcade games:)
  • Time Pilot
  • Sinistar
  • Beezer
  • Xevious
  • Bump 'N' Jump
• Keep It Short (Sega arcade cabinets for young players)
• Pigskin and Leatherface (NFL and Advanced Video plan laserdisc game; Wizard Video laserdisc plans)
• Mighty Mouse (Apple Lisa (hardware, OS screenshot shown))
• Get Thee To A Doghouse (Broderbund; upcoming software:)
  • The Arcade Machine (400,800)
  • The Multi-Sound Synthesizer (VIC20)
  • Gumball (Apple,400,800)
  • Loadrunner (Apple,400,800) (Lode Runner)
  • A.E. (Apple II,400,800)
  • Serpentine (Apple II,400,800)
  • Choplifter (Apple II,400,800)
  • Skyblazer (Apple II,400,800)
  • Shark Trap (VIC20)
  • Martian Raider (VIC20)
• Killer Chickens (Epyx games:)
  • Oil Barons (C64,400,800)
  • Jump Man (C64,400,800)
  • Upper Reachs of Apshai (PC,Atari,Apple,TRS80,VIC20,C64)
  • Crush, Crumble, and Chomp! (PC,Atari,Apple,TRS80,VIC20,C64)
• Mickey Mouse Goes To Market (Disney enters software market, early computer game line-up planned)
• The Jury Is Out (Spectravideo SV-318 computer (shown), Compumate 2600 Computer Converter, Vortex game (2600,400,800,VIC20,994A))
• Corridors Of Confusion (Lifespan (400,800))
• Mirror Images & The Depression (Mirror Images Software upcoming PC games:)
  • Spyder
  • Tachyon
  • Hide and Sink
• The Sun Never Sets On The Busy Exec (Radio Shack TRS-80 PC-4 Pocket Computer)
• The Alien Group Speaks Out (Voice Box II 400,800 add-on)

VIP: Ray Bradbury

A Videogaming Illustrated Profile of the Poetic Master of Science Fiction. (interview)

Fiction: Endgame (by Stuart H. Stock; prose fiction)

Supergaming

Part Two of the first annual Videogaming Illustrated "Vista" Awards. ('Presenting: The First Annual Vista Awards!;' noted games listed in order of placement - so 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.; includes summary of part one:)

• Best 2600 Game (Megamania, Pitfall, Demon Attack)
• Best Intellivision Game (B-17 Bomber, Demon Attack, Las Vegas Poker and Blackjack)
• Best Odyssey Game (UFO, K.C.'s Krazy Chase, Demon Attack)
• Best 5200 Game (Centipede, Pac-Man, Defender)
• Best Colecovision Game (Venture, Ladybug, Zaxxon)
• Best Game Based On A Non-Arcade Medium (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Superman; Fantastic Voyage, Tron: Deadly Discs and Journey/Escape tied for 3rd)
• Best Arcade Adaption (Pac-Man (5200), Zaxxon (Col), Centipede (5200))
• Best Educational Game (Sid the Spellbinder (Ody2), Word Zapper, Nimble Numbers Ned)
• Best 2600 Sports (Super Challenge Baseball, Realsports Baseball tied for 1st; Boxing, Video Olympics)
• Best Intellivision Sports (NFL Football, Horse Racing, Boxing)
• Best Odyssey Sports (Speedway/Spinout, Baseball, Alpine Skiing)
• Best 2600 Graphics (Pitfall, Phoenix, Grand Prix)
• Best Intellivision Graphics (B-17 Bomber, Demon Attack, PBA Bowling)
• Best Colecovision Graphics (Zaxxon, Smurfs, Donkey Kong)
• Best 5200 Graphics (Centipede, Pac-Man, Defender)
• Best Game (Centipede, Megamania (2600), Venture (Col), Ladybug (Col), Pac-Man (5200))

Close Up: Star Trek Games

The final frontier at your fingertips. (by Tim Moriarty; running commentary discussing two Star Trek games, Star Trek: The Strategic Operations Simulator and Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Vectrex))

Cinema: The Computers of Star Trek

If the popular adventure series has a common theme, it is in its view of computer and computer logic, and how they affect mankind's ability to retain individual identities. (by Allan Asherman)

Conquering: Spider Fighter (2600; game overview and strategy)

Print Out

E.C. Meade looks at books. (book recommendations and warnings)

• A Fine Job ('Atari Games and Recreations' by Kohl, Kahn, Lindsay and Cleland; Atari 400,800 guide)
• A Job To Fine ('Video War' fiction)
• Groaners ('Ohm On the Range' by Charles Keller; computer joke book)

Conquering: Phoenix (2600; game overview and strategy)

Preview

Our editors review the latest games. (by E.C. Meade and Jim Clark; game (and hardware) reviews; each review consists of opening commentary and two reviewer opinions, most with box art and screenshot)

• Piece O' Cake (2600)
• Picnic (2600)
• Gopher (2600)
• M.A.D. (2600)
• Seaquest (2600)
• Oink (2600)
• Star Wars: Jedi Arena (2600)
• Flash Gordon (2600)
• Reactor (2600)
• Dragonstomper (2600 with Starpath Supercharger)
• Starpath Supercharger (2600 add-on system)
• Suicide Mission (2600 with Starpath Supercharger)
• Escape From The Mindmaster (2600 with Starpath Supercharger)
• Bomb Squad (Int)
• Countermeasure (5200)
• Nexar (2600)
• Shark! Shark! (Int)
• Sharp Shot (Int)
• Qix (5200)
• X-Man (2600)
• Killer Bees (Ody2)

Focus On: Electronic Dungeons & Dragons

Fantasies once existing solely within the imagination enter the computer age. (by Rick Meyers and Randy Palmer; running discussion commentary with TSR spokesman Dieter Sturm; history and evolution of Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing game; D&D in TV and film; upcoming D&D games and games inspired by D&D:)

• Theseus & the Minotaur (Apple II)
• Dungeon! (Apple II)
• Dawn Patrol (Apple II)
• Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (Int)
• Dragonstomper (2600 with Starpath Supercharger)

Arcadia: The Making of a Pinball Machine

How and Why Games Are Manufactured. ('The Making of Pinball Machines' by Richard Meyers)

Conquering: Moon Patrol (by Randy Palmer; arcade; game overview and strategy)

Conquering: Satan's Hollow

Between the devil and the deep blue sea. (by Randy Palmer; arcade; game overview and strategy)

Golden Pons (video game related puzzles and trivia; includes 'Facetiae' feature)

Input

Our readers write. (letters column)

Championship Videogaming

A Column of Tips and Trivia From Our Readers. (reader submitted game strategies and trivia; usually addendums to game guides published in prior issues; this issue:)

• Super-Zaxxon
• Centipede
• Tempest
• Stargate
• Scramble
• Moon Patrol
• Robotron 2084

Computereyes: What's a 'K'?

What's a "K" and how does it determine which computer you buy? ('Special "K's"' by Martin Levitan; general personal computer commentary discussing computer memory, with a focus on the Mattel Aquarius and Timex Sinclair 2000 (both shown))

RAMblings (computer game reviews, plus a TRS-80 overview)

• Aztec (Apple II)
• Adventure in Serenia (PC,Apple)
• Prisoner 2 (Apple,PC,Atari computers)
• (TRS-80 personal computer and TRS-80 magazines; Chromasette, Cococassette)

Video Victor (comic strip)

You Read It Here First (comical game ideas and concepts publicly proposed by the Videogaming Illustrated staff)

• Ear To The Ground
• Accelerando
• Emily Attack!
• Kublai Khan
• Whistler's Mother
• Tote That Bard!