Electronic Games Volume 01 - Number 02

®

THERE'S NO

COMPARING IT WITH ANY
OTHER VIDEO CiAME.

Only ATARI makes the games the world wants most.
Games that are innovative . Intense. Incredibly involving.
And totally original.

In 1980 ATARI invaded the mind s of millions with
Space Invaders ~ It went on to become the single most
popular video game in the world and thereby launched
the space age game category.

Today ATARI Missile Command '· and Asteroids'· are
the fastest selling home video games in the country. And

)1~'Udging by its current success in the
arcades , ATARI Pac Man** is
slated for the same next year.

AlARI'

O"' __ c--_eor...nr

' Indicates tJadema!k afthe TartoAmeflCa CorP
" Indlcates trademark 01 the Midway MIg Co

o 1981 Alan tnc

Volume I. Numbe'r 2 Switch Onl .. . . . . ........... , Special Section

Editor Electronic Games takes on the' THE PLAYERS GUIDE
,A.,rni~ Katz arcade scroogesl TO ELECTRONIC

El(ecutlv~ EdUor 7Readers Replay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~~~E~~ ~~~~I~~ .. J 5
BI ll Kunk~1
Our faithful readers put pen to paper to tell us Videogames' very own star wars is the SUbject of
Edltorl.al DlrectOf' this issue's magazlne-within-a1Tlagazine. For space
Bruc~ ,A.,par awhat they t"'nk. gamers everywlle'rel

Senior Editor Inside Gaming .. . .. ..... . .... 4 '1981 Arcade Awards . .... . ..
Joyc~ Worl~y
Meet the design braIntrust be"'nd Odyssey's 10 It's been quite a year for electronic games, and
T~chnlcal Editor " Master Strategy series" . you'll find the best of them gathered right here
JethroWrightJil to pick up their Arklesl
Test Lab . ..... .... . .. . . ...
Strilltegy Editor SOComputer Playland .........
Frank TevoJr In terms of personal computers, the Atarl 400 is the
new kid on the blOCk, but garners have already The tlottest computer game software, including
Hardware Evaluation taken it to their ttearts. Now here's the " Inside" " Raster Blaster," "Jawbreaker" and '·Sneakers"
Bill H ~lneman story from Tec"nical Editor Jet Wright
saare all reviewedl
Contributing Editors I IArcade Spotlight. . . . . . . . . ..
C. Ross Chamberlain Passport to Adventure ......
w my Richardson Pay a visit to one of tM poshest arcades In 14
Leigh Goldstein the world-Castle Parkl EG's newest review column looks at the latest in
Les Paul RobJ~y Pttotos by David Ross. adventure gamingl

Art Director O&A . .. . ................ ' IStrategy Session .. ...... . ..
" ' Wo n g
The friendly 01' Game Doctor is definitely in, and Learn the secrets behind UFO, "Jawbreaker, "
becutlve Art DIrector hard at work answering our readers' toughest " Star Raiders" and "Scramble" from super-gamer
Harvey Hersh stumpersl
'SFrank Tetro Jr.
Graphic Consultants 1 0The History of Vldeogames . . .
CreatIVe Concepts Programmable Parade ..... ..
It all started at MIT in 1962-and lOOk whars
Softw.are Ev aluatlon happened sincel We've come a long way, baby, The latest in Atari, Odyssey, Imellivision,
Mark Edwards and this story tells you all about how it ttappenedl Activision and Chanel F videogame software are
given the thrice-over from our demanding staff
Publisher 1 4New Products ........... . . of experts.
Jay R05enf leld
Videogarne furniture, recttargtable batteries and 7 0Insert Coin Here . . . ...... . .
Co-Publlsher Versa's E-Z Port for tile' Apple II are all featured
A rnie Kat l in this new columnl Che<k out the new quarter-snatchers from At.ui,
Centuri, and GOII
El(Kutlve Advertising D lrecto I 'Electronic Games Hotline. . ..
Bruce M ishkin 7 4Stand-Alone Scene .. .......
Tournaments, ~ games and a new super-game
Advertising DIrector system from Atarl are all In the news this Issue Casio's new computerized keyboard and a
Jim Bender -and lots morel system for the electronically-oriented quiz whiz
j212J 777·00CtJ are among t"e stand-alone wonders reviewed'
An introoU<.1ion to computer adventure games for this time outl
West Cc»1t AdvertisIng all you wizards, warriors, dwarves and d erics.
RepresentatIve 7aCrime Does Not Pay ..... . .. .
Paul Turcnetta The Making of an II
BIU Slapln & Co Be an electronic Sherlock Holmes with two
15720 Ventura Blvd Arcade Machine . ... . ..... .
EnCIno, CA 91436 aocomputerized board games.
J2 13J 995-0257 From inspiration to destination-the saga of the
coin-op videogamel Reader Poll ...... . .. . .....
Midwest AdvertisIng
RepresentatIve Our first poll was such a rousing success we
M ilton Gerber decided to make it a regular featurel
Gerber&,A.,SSOClates
2607 North PrIndle

"'r!Jngton HeIghts. ur 60004

1312) 398-3032

Advertising Millnager
Tom Koger

Clrculatlon DlrKtor
WIlham D. Smith

lIIunrator.
DaVId Prestone
Brez
Mark Gerber
CurtIS KlngJr
Joe Dyas

Cover Illustration
Abe BOIse

Photography
Bob Ghlraldlnl
David Ross

ELECTRONIC CiJ"lMES·iSpub!IY,Wbi-
monthly by Reese Publishing Com·
pany. Inc.. 235 Park Avenue SOUth,
New York, N.Y. 10003. \{)1982 by
R~5e Publiy,;ng Company. Inc. All
righlS reseNe<I , e unoer Universal.
International and Pan " merican
Copyright Coovemions. Reproduc·
tion of editorial or pictorial content in
any manner is prOhibite<l, Single copy
price S2.9S . SubscriprJoo rate 6 issues
for 5 15. and 12 issues for 52B. Primed
in lheU.S.,A.,.

4 Electronic Game.

CHANGE THIS

TO THIS

Stores 10 video game WITH THIS MODELS TO FIT:
cartridges, 2 sets of ATARI BY ATARI , INC.
controllers and inst ruction ODYSSEY BY MAGNAVOX
booklets. INTELLIVISION BY

MATTEL ELECTRONICS

U~[)-L~[) I s

Plu

VIDEO GAME DUST COVER AND STORAGE UNIT

IlIVISION or MAl I) HA U [R {OI{I' Call Toll Free : 1- (800) 521-0020
In Michigan call Collect (313) 792-5966
h(l l ~ \1 1 ~ ) \1 \ IHI' 1>1< 1\1 " I 1 II \ 11" \ 11( tt ll ,M I 1110 1 1

It should really come as no surprise to The Joys of The act of playing an electronic game
arcaders that the tremendous popular-
ity of electronic gaming has attracted the Electronic Gaming has a beneficial effecton the mental state
attention of a few militant spoilsports. It
always seems to happen that way. By Frank Laney, Jr. of the arcader, too. Those inclined to-
Whenever something new and exciting
crops up-whether it's rock music, com- source of frustration for the youngsters. ward Freudian psychology might ex-
ic books or even high heel shoes-it's a But as the results of the varous video-
safe bet that a few grumps will tly to take game tournaments have proven again press this in terms of catharsIs. That is,
the fun out of it for the rest of us. and again, there's absolutely no reason
why an IB-year-old arcader can't whip that blasting space debris and zapping
It would be easy to refute the often-ri- the tail of a 35-year-old Electronic
diculous charges such scrooges level at Games editor at Asteroids or Pac- aliens gives a healthful release of tension
our hobby, but let's leave that particular man,
defense for another time. It's a lot more and an outlet for the aggressive instincts
fun to accentuate the positive and talk Arcade games improve hand-eye co-
about all the good things electronic ar- ordination to a remarkable extent. That's most of us have at least to some extent.
caders derive from participation in this why some therapists have begun using
high tech pastime. them to aid in the rehabilitation of the Some of the more mystically inclined, on
handicapped.
The most obvious benefit, of course, is the other hand, have compared playing
that the games are a blast to play. Elec- On the other hand, the more complex
tronic games, whether played at home electronic games played on personal electronic games to the peace and calm
or in amusement centers, are pure enter- computers definitely sharpen the mental
tainment. And in this era of $ 5 movies, faculties. They present people with non- that comes from meditation or reciting a
$20 steaks and $ 100 Broadway shows, threatening situations that call for quick
arcading offers more fun for the buck thinking and carefully planned strategy. mantra. While the contest is underway,
than most other types of recreation . The mind is like any muscle; it gets flabby
when not in use. the player becomes temporarily released
Unlike many other activities, elec-
tronic gaming brings families closer Which brings up the point that ar- from the mundane world and is propelled
together. How many other things can cading, unlike so many other popular
mother and son, father and daughter, pastimes, is active rather than passive. into a simpler and more easily compre-
enjoy on an equal basis7 Most participa- TV, radio, movies and such just wash
tion sports give such a tremendous ad- over us while we sit there quietly. hended one. This, it is claimed, may free
vantage to bigger and stronger players There's nothing wrong with that, of
that the idea of, for instance, a family course, but electronic games provide our minds for contemplation on the cos-
game of tennis or golf becomes an exer- needed variety by giving us something
cise in boredom for the grown-ups and a with which to interact. mic scale.

6 ElectronIc G",mes The list goes on, but the point is ob-

viou s: electronic games are certainly

more healthful and less harmful than a

good many of the other activities that oc-

cupy people's leisure hours. No one is

advocating that folks become mono-

maniacal arcaders, forever linked to the

almighty machines in some kind of weird

symbiotic relationship. Moderation is the

watchword here as it should be w ith

everything else. Yet there's little doubt

that the hobby of electronic arcading ac-

tua y gives players something more than

just the obvious rousing good time.

Go away spoilsports, you're interrupt-

ingourgame. ~

VCRs Meet Vldeogrames games and cartridges the minimum and and I was glad to see that I hadn't missed
maximum number of players? For exam- one,
Here's a way for owners of video ple, Atari's Warlords would be listed as
recorders to get more out of their video- "11-4)", This would inform the reader if Now for my question: Can you find
games: the game is for solitaire, two or more out whether Atari will ever come out
people, or any combination, with a Battlezone cartridge for its VCS?
I, Run a line from the audio output of Also, could they make a contract with
the video recorder to the input of your Lawrence Horne Centuri for the rig hts to Eagle and
stereo system, Marlton, N.J. Phoenix?

2, Attach the RF modulator to the Ed: Good Ideal We always try to Kevin Beardmore
video recorder, rather than the televi- Include this Information In every re- Marietta , Ohio
sion , IDon't forget to set the switch to view, but maybe we can begin
"game .") breaking It out, since number of par- Ed : Like most manufacturers,
ticipants Is a major consideration for Atarl ls reluctant to tip Its hand too
3. Turn on the television, video cas- many gamers when picking a new far ahead. Stili, somefonn of 'Battle-
sette recorder and stereo. All sounds will program. zone: perhaps for the new super-
now be channeled through the stereo, vldeogame and/or the 400/800
giving it a more realistic effect *** sounds like a reasonable possibility.
Given the popularity of Centurl's
If you do not have a video recorder, Overseas Arcadlng two coln-op titles, someone will pro-
butyour television set has audio outputs, bably license them for home arcad-
then the RF modulator can be attached As you can see from my address, I am Ing soon.
directly to the TV. an English boy. I bought Electronic
Games while I was on vacation and ***
One advantage of having the garne found it fascinating.
connected to the VCR is that you can A .N.A.l.O .G .. meanwhile, a
record games. This is especially helpful Please, could you inform me if it would magazine and game software pub-
when playing Activision games where be possible to receive Electronic Games lisher devoted exclusively to the
the company asks for a picture of the in England, I-and a couple of my Atari computers, is reportedly
screen if a certain score is passed. friends here-would be very pleased. already working on a version of
Lighting conditions may not always be BATTLEZONE for the 400/800 .
right for taking the required picture, By Adrian Oldfield
recording the game, you can take the Stoke-on-Trent. continued on p age 61
picture whenever you like,
England Readers Score with 'UFO'
I've recorded some games as an ex-
periment after hooking the game up to Ed: Good news, Adrian-and the In rhp first Issue. we set a score of 800 as
my stereo. I call this audio cassette tape many other readers who 've asked
"Atari's Greatest Hits," about subscriptions. You 'll find the the diViding line beeween adequate 'UFO'
details elsewhere In this Issue.
Leonard Herman players and the real superstars. Since then.
Roselle Park, N,J , ***
we've received a floOO of mail from arcaders
*** Some Game Proposals
who've met and passed the test. It would
A Helpful Suggestion I was so happy to see your magazine
be impossible to list all the fol ks who 've
I enjoyed your first issue and am look- on the newsstand. The first thing I did
ing forward to the next one. I would like achieved this milestone-and more names
to suggest a minor improvement How was to check to see what issue it wa s,
about including in the reviews of all afe arriving every day- but we especially

want to single out the Dimperio clan of

Erie. Pa .. three of whom have cracked the

800 mark/ That's what we mean when we

call electroniC areading a hobby for the
*
entire family.

Electronic Games 7

By Bill Kunkel content with videogame-qualiry audio
and graphics. The First offerrng would
S ome videogames are the result of a Meet Odyssey's Lords reflect the tremendous interest in adven-
happy accident. Unexpected inspir- of the Rings ture and Fantasy gaming inspired by
ation leads a designer in a direction he'd 0&0, The second entry would be a clas-
never previously explored. Other times, things around, During each 'UFO' play sic war game invoving air, naval and
however, the games are the product ofa session, the machine records the high undersea combat, For the Final program,
predetermined concept with the de- score at the bonom of the playField. The Odyssey chose the tOpiC of high Finance,
Signer acting as the instrument to trans- arcader's name can be ryped in using the along the lines of Monopoly and Ac-
Form the idea into a viable gaming ex- keyboard - a classic coin-op Feature quire. Finally, the games would add a
perience. that had never beFore appeared on a Further bit of texture by having action
home videogame. take place notonly on the TV screen, but
Pre-planning gets the credit For Ouest on special game boards packed with the
For The Rings, the most recent offering Still, it was obvious that much more ca rtridges ,
From the Odyssey braintrust. Taking a could be done with the keyboard. On
long, hard look at their programmable that basis, Odyssey executives decided To produce these revolutionary pro-
system, the Knoxville, Tenn .. gamesmen that the company would produce a tri- grams, Odyssey turned to two men with
decided the element that most obviously logy of game programs of a much more whose work they were intimately Famil-
separated it From the competition is the sophisticated order, programs that iar. The videogame portion of the assign-
monoplanar keyboard, This alpha-nu- would combine computer-level game ment went to Ed Averene, Jr.. a veteran
meric data input device gives the 0' a po- 0' game designer responsible For many
tential For programmability previously of the company's best cartridges, The
available only with microcomputer other design element - including the
systems. The key word, though, was game boards and special mylar sheets to
"potential" , Aside From using that cover the 0' keyboard, simplifying input
keyboard to choose the number of instructions - landed on the desk of
players and game option, none of the Steve Laner. Ironically this company
then-existing software made much use veteran designed the plastic screen over-
of this hardware "edge." lays For the original Odyssey, the very
First videogame system.
The release of UFO began to turn
Steve and Ed had worked in tandem
Odyssey2 designers Steve Laner. Ed Averatte Jr. and design artist Ron Bradford beFore, but For this grand project they
combined to create the board/vldeogame hybrid, OUEST FOR THE RINGS pulled out all the stops. The major chal-
lenge was the successFul integration of
8 Elec tronIc G~ m l!S board and videogame.

''I'm a games person," Laner cheerful-
ly admits, "and naturally we're always
looking For new ways to present elec-
tronic games. What we did with this
game was to create a "loop" effect be-
tween the board and the computer
elements, What happens in the board-
game portion affects what occurs on the
screen, and back and forth, creating a
real synergy between the two."

"So Far," Laner admits, "most of
what's been done in this field is either an
adaptation of an existing coin-op or a
sports simulation. But I always Felt we
could get way beyond that."

Ed Averette, Jr, agrees, "We were
floundering around, looking For a direc-
tion. In the combination of boardgame
and videogame, we've Found it."

CONOUEST OF TH E WORLD is a sophisticated war game The vldeogame portion of OUEST FOR THE RINGS

The team began work with a broad Hunt. is one of the most intriguing "We even brought in major consul·
outline of the project. After toiling for "money" games ever designed. Players tants from the world of high finance to
nearly half a year on fine tuning, they participate in the Stock Exchange, buy- insure that this game is as realistic as
had developed Laner's "loop", the inter- ing selling and tradingjust as investors do possible," says Steve Laner.
action between board and playfield that on Wall Street. The video portion of the
feeds upon itself to create a brand new contest consists of a playfield sectioned The advent of these sophisticated en-
game experience, an electronic hybrid of into three horizontal segments. Across tries signalsa majOr new direction for the
the computer age. the top ot the screen runs a stock ticker, Odyssey' system. While the company
listing prices and similar data. A news will continue to offer arcade programs,
In 'Ouest for the Rings', a pair of ad- wire clacks along the middle portion of as well as products designed specifically
venturers journey over the counnyside the playfield meanwhile, reporting news for young arcaders, the debut of this
in searcjl of the Ringmaster's ten mystical events - "Unrest in the Middle East. . ", trilogy is bringing advanced simulation
rings. When a dungeon is reached on "Merger reported... " and such - that to programmable videogame systems
the board, the action transports to the might have an impact on the chamel- for the first time. Their success or failure
videogame screen, where gamers - in eonlike market. The bottom "window" will have much to do with shaping the
their roles as wizards. warriors, 'phan- monitors the gamer's personal portfolio. future of home videogame software for
toms or changelings - do battle with The machine constantly updates the years to come.
realistically-rendered monsters and fire- holdings.
breathing dragons in hopes of retrieving
a magic ring. Averette designed a series The very first home vldeogame. Odyssey. used Laner-created transparent over-
of dungeons, each visually distinct, and lays In lieu of computer-generated graphics.
his bevy of beasties is a triumph of com-
puter animation.

Averette, who sometimes works with
his wife Linda, wanted to produce a real
senses-stunning videogame with graph-
ics equal to, or better than, anything
playable on even the more sophisticated
computers. "In this game," he says with
considerable pride, "the action is a lot
more than just a roll of the dice."

As previously mentioned, 'Ouest for
the Rings' was planned as the first part of
a trilogy of classic game themes. Next up
will be Conquest of the World. which
will do for military strategy contests what
'Ouest' did with the fantasy adventure.
Again wedding board and videogame
components, actual tactical combat will
be played out on screen, with the warr-
ing factions employing various combina-
tions of tanks, battleships and sub-
marines.

The last of the three games, tentatively
titled The Great Wall Street Fortune

EIKt ronfc Games 9

H aving tasted unqualified success I cess a printer, cassette player, disk
with Its entries In the coln-op and drive or an Atari 850 interface
programmable videogame markets, + module. IThe 850 is used much like
Atari turned its formidable expertise an audio mixer to contain several
toward the logical next step: a true home __ -----r----_. such peripherals at once.) Actually,
computerlgaming system. The new the machine can access either two
product would be infinitely more flexible Is the disk drives or a disklcassette team-
than their existing machines, because of Atari 400 up through a simple daisy-chaining
its highly programmable nature. the Ultimate procedure: The primary drive is at-
Game Machine? tached to the port, and the cassette
Instead of producing only one system, or second drive is then plugged into
Atari developed a pair of variations on a By Jethro Wright '" the back of the first disk. This is
single theme, each pegged to a particular especially useful when transferring
price-point: the Atari 400 and 800. ATARI400 programs from tape to disk.

This month's "Test Lab" focuses on input board is quite adequate for the Since the Atari 400 falls into the
the smaller, and less expensive, of the needs of computer gamers, it will almost category of computers oriented for
two. It's the system that is rapidly becom- certainly discourage anyone from at- use in the home, the manufacturer
ing the darling of the computer gamers, tempting to do any serious program- had no intention of proViding for
the Atari 400. ming. memory expansion beyond the
now-standard 16K. Several com-
The unit is a simple integrated key- The 400 also features a quartet of panies are already offering upgrade
boardlCPU configuration with a single function switches and an onloff in- boards that will take it up to 32K.
internal slot that accepts Atari's com- dicator light at the far right end of the Therefore, should you desire to put
puter ROM cartridges. The other external console. These buttons govern system more byte in you 400, a Phillips
features include four ports for standard reset. option, select and start. Theyare, screwdriver attached to a capable
A ta ri paddle orjoystick controllers, a TV of course, used primarily when playing arm can easily strip it down to board
output with RF modulator and a multi- games. level in less than 10 minutes and do
purpose interface that makes it simple to the conversion.
attach peripherals. The multi-function port IS a 13-pin con-
nector, located next to the power switch Once inside the housing, there
The keyboard is monoplanar. It uses on the right side of the machine. are only 30 lC's, including the 6502
57 touch-actuated switches on a flat Through this port, the Atari 400 can dC- CPU, various 1/0 controllers and
board. It has no moving parts and is memory. The chips are distributed
,ealed to resist contamination. Transla- among a CPU card Iclosest to the
[ion: it ignores moderate amounts of ice rear), a 16K-byte memory card, and
cream, coffee and other substances tllat a motherboard to accomodate the
aforementioned PC boards and the
MUSIC COMPOSER 1/0 circuitry

are ordinarily fatal to computers. The At this level. I have two comments:
computer makes a click to signify a suc- I. The CPU and memory boards
cessful keystroke. While this sort of data should be keyed to prevent incorrect in-
sertion. Horror stories about upgrade
10 Electronic Games boards Installed backwards are legend-
ary in Atari 400 Circles.
2. The speakerthat produces the aud-
ible beep when typing and the CLOAD
indicator could be mounted more se-
curely. It is positively unnerving to hear it
rattling around inside the console.
As a total system, the Atari 400 is most
impressive for its price, 5399, suggested

retail. With the option of using up to four introduction to computing. machine.
j oy sticks (or an almost unbelievable eight Although the Atari 400 lacksthe 8OO's
paddlesl) , excellent graphics capabilities Judging by its rap id acceptan ce by
full-stroke keyboard and modular ex-
(including certain modes that allow se- pandability, it embodies m any elements consumers, a lot of electronic gamersev~
lection from a pallette of 64 colors) and a that make it a fine home arcade
dently share thisopinion . ~
sound-through-the- TV generator, the
Atari 400 serves as an excellent founda- Price, S399.oo ROM: 10K bytes
tion for a home gaming system . Weight: SlA Ibs. RAM : 16Kbytes
Dimensions: 4V2 .n. x ' 3V2 .n. x , , Yl .n. Programming languages: BASIC. Pilot and
For programmers and gamers alike, Microprocessor: 6502 A ssembler.
Color: 128 f16 colors at eight intensitIes each) Monitor: Television set with RF Included.
BAS KETBAll Sound: Four voices; four indepen dent sound Games: {From A tanJ: Star Ra id ers. Basketball.
Space Invaders, Asteroids, Miss ile Com-
synthesizers; four octaves with variable volume mand. 3-0 Tlc -Tae -Toe, Computer Chess,
and tone; independent spea ker pIuS suund Video Easel and Music Composer (assIgns
through the TV . mUSIcal [ones to keyboard).
Keyboard: M onoplanar ([Ouch-activated flat
SWItche s)

omputer glossa/i

Atari offers its BASIC cartridge. This Auxiliary Storage: Devices used for recorders,joysticks and a connection
dialect of the most popular computer
language is similar to other versions, saving programs when the system for a TV set or r1'lOI'lI!or.
with extensions designed fo r use in a itse~ is turned off. Since RAM loses its Modem: Modulator-demodulator. A
gaming environment. contents when the machine is pow-
ered down and ROM can only be piece of equipment that allows com-
Of particular interest in this regard is programmed by the factory, auxiliary puters to communicate with each
the concept of player-missile graphics. storage keeps programs between other over telephone lines.
This provides the programmer with a operating sessions. It can't be used in- Interpreter: This translates programs
simple interface for the development of stead of RAM or ROM. however, from human-readable form into a
game programs. Principal features of series of codes the computer can
player/missile graphic, include: since it doesn't operate as fast as the understand. This makes using a com-
CPU . puter a lot simpler for first-time pro-
• Independent control of one to four CPU: Central Processing Unit. This is
joysticks the microprocessor-or electronic grammers.
brain, ifyou will-that liesat the heart RAM: Random Access Memory. This
• Flexible manipulation of player ob-
jects such as player tokens and mis- of every computer. is the intemal merTlOl}' the computer
siles on the screen, including user- Disk Drive: An auxiliary storage device actually uses when running a pro-
-selected foreground and back -
ground color options for these ob- that works like a cross between a gram, It can be revised or read an in-
jects. phonograph and a cassette recorder.
By using plastic disks coated with a finite number of times
The Atari BASIC Reference Manual, magnetic surface, such drives are fast- ROM : Read On~ Memory. This type of
one of the earliest items the company er and more reliable than cassette
memory is also intelnalto the system,
released, could stand some real improve- storage. but it cannot be akered by the com-
Interface: The part of the computer puter operator. Its contents are fixed
ment in the explanation and clarification at the factory and can't be changed.
of various keywords and their options. that permits the attachment of peri- Most computer games bought in
On the other hand, the Atari BASIC in- pheral devices. These include cassette
struction Manual is a hefty tome that is *ready-to-play form 'fall into this
far better suited to owners needing a real
category.

ElectronIc Games 11

Castle Park:
Game Parlor

First Class

Experienced arcaders - those who sights keep gamers goggle-eyed when fixture hanging from the ceiling. An ex-
can recall the bad old days of dingy. they're not busy saving the Earth from otic canopy covers the line-up of pinball
dirty and faintly disreputable establish- some form of extraterrestrial attack. machines. A Leggo-style stairway leads
ments - may think they're dreaming if down into a "foosball" pit There's even
they're ever lucky enough to visit Castle Games are grouped according to type an area exclusively devoted to rifle-
Park in Riverside. Cal. Passing through in special areas around the split-level shooting coin-ops.
the portals of this beautiful castle into a layout. The billiard room is highlighted
hall filled with the sights and sounds of by an enormous gold crown and light Videogames are. of course. the main
300 coin-op wonder-machines is an
instant voyage to videogaming's version
of Fantasy Island.

This 17.OCD-sq. ft. amusement center
presents its wares with rare style. symbo-
lized by the three Austrian crystal chan-
deliers that bathe the playing areas with
glittering light

While patrons will always find the
newest commercial arcading hits here.
Castle Park pays homage to the hobby's
past with a selection of exremely rare col-
lector's pieces that date from the earliest
penny arcades. And gamers who want
something just a trifle more athletic can
chose from among four electronically
enhanced miniature golf courses.

The more prominent attractions aside.
manager Tom Guagliardo has endowed
Castle Park with distinctive little flourishes
that raise it above the run-of-the-mill
amusement center. Little scenes. like a
tiny Darth Vader dueling with an equally
miniscule Ben Kenobi atop a Warlords,
are everywhere . Multi-colored chaser
lights. animated racehorses and similar

12 ElectronIc Games

attraction. It's hard to imagine a more wait for a favorite machine. their children off wh ile they do the
comfortable and inviting place in which Guagliardo has gone to considerable marketing. It maintains a security staff of
to gobble goblins, blast asteroids 'and 12 private police officers and two armed
steer video racers through their paces. lengths to ensure that things don't get guards. And to prevent players from
out of hand and ruin the fun-and-games experiencing the frustration of popping
One thing hardcore players like is that atmosphere. Castle Park is very much a a quarter into a malfunctioning game,
the most popular titles, like Asteroids, family arcade, an environment so Castle Park shuts down once a week for
are available in rows. There's seldom a wholesome that parents frequently drop thorough maintenance.

This is one place that never rests on its
laurels, never stops expanding. Currently
under construction at this space-age'
pleasure dome is a dungeon to serve as
an appropriate setting for such popular
titles as Venture IExidy) and Wizard of
War IMidway). These and otherfantasy
machines shou ld feel right at home
among the chains and dragons.

So whatever your taste in arcade
games, whether you like pinball
machines, pool tables, videogames, air
hockey or any of the other varieties of
arcade device, they're available.

And for arcade antiquarians, there's
that museum. It has fun house distortion
mirrors and even a perfectly preserved
-and functioning - fortune telling
machine. This 8 ft. x 3 ft. glass-enclosed
rarity was one of the very earliest elec-
tronic arcade amusements. It features an
automaton-seer complete with a
colorful bandana and, naturally, the
gift of prophecy. The I I golden oldies,
Guagliardo maintains, often draw more
attention than the state-of-the-art units.

It's a safe bet. however, that Guagliar-
do will have no need of a fortune telling
machine to ascertain Castle Park's
future.

Ele<:tron'c Games I]

By the Game Doctor am turning to you for some advice. I slon screen, so I've stopped playing
own an Apple II Plus, not an Atarl, them until I get the word from you,
The Doctor is in. Last issue's offer of a and I'd like to know which of the Should I be concerned7 /From Ray
free Electronic Games t-shirt to the currently available programs for my Givens, Staten Island, N,Y,)
reader who sends in the best question computer would be most like that
each isssue is already starting to bear Atarlspacegame7/From Phillip Ran- A: Relax, Ray, it's safe to take those Ac·
fruit. The Doctor's mailbox is getting dall, Boca Raton, Fla,)
pleasingly full . This is your chance to be tivision cartridges out of the closet and
the envy of all the other arcaders in your A : The old Game Doctor went out start using them again . The tiny "Activi-
social set - and at the same time get the sian" trademark that appears on all of
answer to whatever electronic gaming and examined the pick of the Apple soft· the company's playfields actually does
problem is bugging you. change color. It just takes a little longer
ware orchard to find out which program than the rest of the field to get started,
Let's lead off this month's questions comes closest to duplicating the action tharsall.
with the shirt-winning submission from that has made Star Raiders an instant
Robert Webber of Glendale, NY hit. The closest matCh, at least in my But if you don't trust the Doctor, Ray,
opinion, is Space Raiders from United it's easy enough to check out for
0: Why do some vldeogame com- Software of America. If it isn't the Atari yourself. A few minutes after the rest of
game's long-lost twin, it's at least a kiss· an Activision playfield starts to do the
panies like Atarl make systems with ing cousin. dance-of-the-colors, the trademark will
detachable controllers, while others begin its colorshifting routine as well.
like Odyssey and Mattei hard-wire 0 : You explained In Electronic
them right Into the console, What 0: My TV set has a digital channel
are the advantages and disadvan- Games ' first Issue how the old-
tages of each7 /From Robert WeI>- fashioned vldeogames sometimes selector, Sometimes when I switch
ber, Glendale, N,Y,) left an after-Image on TV screens, to the "open channel " In my area,
because the playflelds never moved the vldeogame playfleld comes In
A : Since the Atari Video Computer or changed colors, When I was look- distorted and colorless, Other times,
Ing at some Actlvlslon games re- It's Just fine, What can I d07 /From
System (VCS) can use four different con- cently, I noticed that the company Paula Watts, Shawnee, Okla,)
trollers - joystick, paddle, keypad and logo Is featured on-screen for every
steering-wheel paddle - to play games, one of their cartridges , The name A : The hang-up probably comes from
a method utilizing interchangeable plug- "Actlvlslon " never seems to move,
ins is an obvious necessity. and when the rest of the playfleld the lack of a manual fine·tuning knob on
starts color-shifting, It stays white, I your set. Try this method: Firsttune in the
All games designed for the other two don 't want any company's name channel that gives you the clearest and
major videogame systems, on the other etched permanently onto my televl- sharpest signal. Then set up the video-
hand, share the use of the same input de- game system, insert the desired cartridge
vice. Since bending the prongs of the and switch on the game console. Finally,
multi-pin plugs when pushing them into switch to the "open channel", and the
and pulling them out of the jacks is a automatic fine tuning should provideyou
prime source of damage to controllers, with a clear, sharp picture.
Odyssey and Mattei elected to perma-
nently attach the controllers to the con- 0 : I have heard recently that a
soles.
'Pac Man' type game will be avail-
Unfortunately, plugging and unplug- able soon for the Atarl VCS, Is this
ging isn't the only way to break a con- true7lfso, when will It be avallable7
troller. Sometimes, for example, the /from Cheri Robinson, Pittsburgh,
centering springs on joysticks wear out Pa,)
after a lot of hard gaming. This can cause
drifting of the on-screen image. And A : You heard correctly, Cheri, how-
when a wired-in controller breaks, that
means the entire system has to be crated ever Atari's game will not be a "Pac
up and taken or mailed to the repair shop Man type" program, but rather the ori-
ginal gobbler himself. Atari went on a
0: In reference to your review of coin-opbuying spree in 19BI, picking up
the lucrative home rights to such hit ar·
Star Raiders for the Atarl400/800, I cade games as Defender, Galaxlan,

14 Ehe(tronlc Games continued on page 53

ON MARK,
SET,

With new K.C. Munchkin from Odyssey~
you don't destroy your enemies, you simply eat: them.

How many Munchies can your
Munchkin munch before your
Munchkin 's all munched out?
Play K.C. Munchkin and see!

It's fun . It's exciting. It's
challenging. Your whole family
will love it!

A Munchkin, three Munchers
and 12 Munchies float in a maze
with a rotating center. The
more Munchies your Munchkin
munches, the more points you
get. The more points, the faster
the computer makes the game
go. And the more skill you need
to score and to keep your
Munchkin from getting munched
by one of the Munchers!

The better you play, the
greater the challengeI

Program your cmn mazes,

Use the (jdyssey~ keyboard.
there's virtually no limit to the
number of mazes you can create.
There are even invisible mazes
for when you 're ready to turn pro.

Choose from more than
40 arcade, sports, education and
new Master Strategy'· games,
from Odyssey' They're waiting
for you now at your video games
or Odyssey' dealer.

Odyssey' ... video game fun,
computer keyboard challenge.
All for the price of an ordinary
video game.

© 1982 NAP CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CORP

A NORTH AMERICAN PHILIPS COMPANY

The excitement of a game,
The mind of a computer.

electronic Games 15

IS IT DECIDE
YOUR BEST BUY FOR YOURSELF
IN VIDEO GAMES?

"If you're interested in an inexpensive priced system ; another popular GAME SELECTION - Odyssey'
video game, compare: Odyssey' has brand offers a keyboard , but only at offers over 40 games with new ones
better hand control/ers ... comes with a very high extra cost. regularly being introduced (see the
an alphanumeric keyboard ... " back cover for full listing). This is
Don't overlook the hand-control about the same number of games as
(GAMES MAGAZINE) joysticks, either. Odyssey' joysticks are from one other game manufacturer
MAIN UNIT VALUE - With Odyssey', excellent in their smooth , easy and about twice the number as from
operation. another. Also. only Odyssey' offers
you get a basic game keyboard unit board/ strategy games where you set
plus two hand c ontrols Uoysticks) with They also have eight slotted control up the strategy on the game board
action buttons p lus a starter cartridge positions so you always know exactly and play out the action on the
with three ditterent games. There are in which position you'll be going sc reen .
no hidden c osts for extra hand when you push the joystick.
controls or a keyboard attachment. Don't take just our word for
More cartridges - which add new And, to emphasize again, Odyssey' value. Read what experts,
games - are the only extras. And Odyssey' comes complete with the owners, educators and students say.
Odyssey' can be easily attached to hand controls and keyboard for And , most important, compare
any black-and-white or color TV playing 01/ available cartridges. feature by feature. side by side, with
without fear of damage to the screen. Some competitive games require you other leading brands at your video
to purchase additional sets of controls
Next. compare the Odyssey' to play some of their games! games dealer's. You'll see why we
keyboard itself. It is a complete say that Odyssey' has the
alphabet and number unit with 49 excitement of a game, the mind
characters for sophisticated game of a computer - all for the
playing. The keyboard is used to play price of an ordinary video
some game cartridges and to game.
program different game variations,
time limits and skill levels.

One popular competitive
video game doesn't
have a full alphabet
and number key-
board available
for its comparably

"1981. NAP. CONSUMER ELECTRONICS CORP.
A NoRTH AMERICAN PHILIPS COMPANY

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT THE ODYSSEY' MAIN UNIT:

"BEST VALUE IN ITS PRICE CLASS" "The too - perhaps the best on the market." "KEYBOARD, ,. REQUIRES ONLY AUGHT
company has evidently labored long and (VIDEO REVIEW) TOUCH TO OPERATE" "The buift·in

hard to create a truly outstanding MOdyssey2 game unit's main selling point, I olphanumeric keyboard is of a durable
stote-of-the-art home video arcade. In believe, is its joystick which is probably monoplane design that requires only a
fact, this machine moy well be the best the ea.'e.t to manewer of 011 the
value in its price closs ",.. (VIDEO) control units for home video games . fight touch to operote." (VIDEO REVIEW)
I connot emphasize enough how
"HAND CONTROllERS, " BEST ON THE important this difference is." (VIDEO HThe Odyssey2 console, which features
MARKEr "The hand control/ers for the ACTION)
action games ore very well designed, a full monoplane keyboard, is velY
attractive - yef rugged enough to stand

up under regulor ploy" (VIDEO)

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT ODYSSEY' GAME CARTRIDGES:

''The SPEEDWAY/SPIN-OUT/ C~YPTO- LOGIC a lways had a special affinity for science bar none, and that includes the lorger
game comes packed with the Odyssey2 fiction themes, and this cartridge is def- and sometimes more sophisticated
and is a good showcase for the initely one of their greatest triumphs." games one encounters in game rooms
machine's capabilities. The trio of (VIDEO) and saloons, .. ALIEN INVA DERS-PLUS
contests provides a pleasing variety of gets this reviewer's unqualified
action well calculated to whet the "UFO is one of the best games in the nomination for the most capti vating
arcade addict's appetite for more." entire Odyssey2 library a nd seems vi deo game around." (VIDEO ACTION)
(VI DEO) destined to become something of a
video game claSilc. This is a 'must buy' "OUT OF THIS WO~LD I. 0 colorful and
THE QUEST FO~ THE ~INGS, rated most for every Odyssey' owner," (ELECTRONIC entertaining lunar-lander game that
Innovative game in VIDEO Magazine's GAMES) should be perfect for novices who might
3rd Annual Arcade Awards : "Odyssey2 find other Odyssey2 space games too
designers have charted a bold new "WA~ OF NE~VES ... Absolutely first-cia.. demanding. It's also an ideal way to
path for video games by blending the video and audio effects further introduce younger brothers and sisters to
on-screen action with aspects of the distinguish this outstanding game . the joys of home arcading ... This
traditional boardgame ... This brilliant This is without a doubt one of the most cartridge has an extra bonus in the form
synthesis enriches QUEST with more entertaining arcade games yet pro- of a second game, HELICOPTER RESCUE.
depth , detail and complexity than any duced, " (VIDEO) It's a race against the clock to save
previous c artridge for this - or any other people from a doomed skyscraper.
- programmable videogame system." "BASEBALL I. the closest thing to the enhanced by colorful graphics thai will
(VIDEO) national pastjme ever offered to home keep youngsters entertained for hours."
video game enthusiasts," (VIDEO) (VIDEO)
"QUEST FO~ THE ~INGS I. a giant step
ahead of other video games In richness "FOOTBALL Is a visually exciting and "AN INC~EDlBLE NUMBf~ AND VA~IETY OF
and complexity." (ELECTRONIC GAMES) generally successful attempt to do GAMES" "Among Odyssey"s special
something pretty challenging . , . cer· features are, to put it simply, an
UFO, rated best science tlctlon game in tainly an excellent game , . ," (VIDEO) incredible number and variety of
VIDEO Magazine's 3rd Annual Arcade games!" (WHERE)
Awards: "Odyssey2 designers have "AUEN INVADE~S-PLUSIls the most d lftlcult
video game I have ever encountered -

WHAT ODYSSEY' OWNERS SAY: great cartridges to choose from. {just game. I feel that your games are top
bought the newest one. THE QUEST FOR quality and the competition just doesn 't
"(Odyssey2's) capabifities are beyond its THE RINGS. {have never seen such a stand up to your standards. "
price range! I purchased the Odyssey2 in game with so much excitement. I think
November 1979. and have enjoyed its "We have recently purchased on
video game-fore along with the rest of the keyboard overlay is a great ideo .. Odyssey2 video game and would like to
the neighborhood. Since then, four other Thanks a lot for making my Odyssey2 into soy how pleased we ore with it. Everyone
families have bought the Odyssey2 is enjoying the challenge and fun it
system, N something I never thought it would bel" offers."

"Lately. Odyssey2 has mode so many ~I am on ovid fan of your Odyssey2 video

WHAT EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS SAY:

"These games have a g reat potential for much longer and much harder to play began using Odyssey2 with him. I was
youngsters leaming mathematics, logic on Odyssey'." astonished at the results."
and spelling, "
"The study habits (of one of my students) "Buzzword helps me spell words I never
"Wonderful motivation! The kids wil l work have been extremely poor since first leamed before.'
grade and I have had little luck in moti-
vating him to do math work ' , , until I

OVER 40 GAMES AVAILABLE
VIDEO GAME FUN - COMPUTER KEYBOARD CHALLENGE

Favorite arcade. sports. educational, and strategic games are available with Odyssey', Exciting new ones ore on the way. Some cartridges offer two or
mO(e different games, plus a choice of skill levels. time limits. and number of ployers. There's so much variety, yOU'll never get tired of playing Odyssey',

~....... ..

0-
Showdown In 2100 A.O

9416

Helicopter Rescue Qut 01 this World

~ 9419-------.J

•Toke the Mooey and Run
9412

Stockout Breakdown

~9427 - - - - - - 1 9430

--------------------------------- SPORTS---------------------------------

E:;.~i.;) I ' 00
I
I, Football
I, 9402
I'

9424

----- STRATEGIC GAMES - -

ConQuest 01 the World
9431

Dynasty
94~

Litho In USA

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electronic Games 19

A DECADE OF

The Master Component to MatteI's mainframe computers, Inspired by the
Intelllvision offers keypad futuristic nature of the technology with
controllers and super graphics which he worked, Russell cooked up a
science fiction contest he dubbed
Actlvlsion. the first com* Spacewar, His brainchild quic kly ac-
quired almost legendary status among
programmers everywhere. It made a
great change-of-pace after a hard day of
working with business and scientific soft-
ware.

Two of the game's biggest fans were
a couple of fellow M.I.T, students, Bill Pitts
and Nolan Bushnell. Impressed with the
potential and quality of 'Spacewar, ' each
set out independently to create a com-
mercially viable version of Russell's clas-
sic. Bushnell completed his, Computer
Space, shortly before Pitts put the
finishing touches on Galaxy Game_
Neither proved successful.

Bushnell was not ready to give up the
idea. He became convinced that 'Com-
puter Space' failed because its sophistica-
tion went over the heads of players
who craved an electronic
entertainment they

A Decade of
Programmable

Videogames

L ike a vain woman who covers tell-
tale wrinkles with tons of make-up,
electronic games consistantly fib about
their age. True, home systems have only
been available since May. 1972, when
Magnavox introduced the trailbla zing
Odyssey, but folks have used computers
to play games on television screens for
closer to 20 years than JO,

In 1962, Steve Russell. a graduate stu-
dent at M.IT.. decided it would be great
fun to create an entertainment program
he could run on one o f the sc hool's

20 ElectronIc Games

PROGRAMMABLE

could grasp instantly. Completely revers- By 1971 the Magnavox Odyssey- television sets.
ing his field, Bushnell plunged into the the world's First videogame system for • Promotion of the device was
development of a much simpler pro- the home-was virtually completed.
gram, a video version of ping pong. inadequate
The Knoxville, Tenn" • The unit suffered From
Half a continent away, Ralph Baer manuFacturer
had already started work on what he Magnavox's Failure to switch
considered to be a rather started gearing up the Factory For a sales over to solidstate technology
obvious idea . explosion that never ignited. The Odys- when the rest of the industry
sey Failed to catch on For a variety of made the change.
"The question reasons: Even so, Magnavox kept the Faith. As
of how to make use of the equipment continued to improve,
home TV sets had been bothering me • Some people incorrectly believed the company issued a series of steadily
since the early sixties," Baer recalls. "The that the system was only more advanced videogames under the
Fact is that even back then there were 62 compatable with Magnavox Odyssey imprint.
Nolan Bushnell, aFter much labor,
million T.v. homes-that's TV homes developed a video ping pong that he felt
sure would instantly appeal to players.
not TV sets. The idea of attaching some He tested the game, Pong, in a Sun-
device to even a small Fraction of that nyvale, Cal., tavern with great success.
many sets was a pretty powerful incen- He built more 'Pong' machines, and it
tive For coming up with something, any- immediately became the hottest coin-op
thing, on which people might actually amusement item. It was easy to under-
want to spend their money." stand, a kick to play and a marvelous
novelty. 'Pong' uprights began turning
Baer's idea came to Fruition in a tiny up in bars, bowling alleys and candy
cubicle at Sanders Associates, where he stores as well as the more traditional
worked as division manager For equip- arcades.
ment design. Baer, Bill Harrison and Bill It was at this point that the videogame
Busch had the only three keys to the top- concept branched oFF in two distinct
secret research lab known as "the game directions. While Magnavox Focused on
room." The trio played prototypes of
video ping pong and hockey games, The Mangavox Odyssey 3000, Model 7514 offered four game
with color and FM sound produced optIons Including hockey and tennis
through the TV speaker, as early as
1967. (For posterity, the set they used Elec tronIc G~m ~s 2 1
was a 17-in. RCA color console.)

the home market. Bushnell directed his this, he needed a never to be seen again .
energies at the coin-op field. vast-and quick-infu- By 1978. manufacturers were dump-
sion of capital. A willing partner popped
He followed up 'Pong', a certified up almost immediately. Warner Com- ing hard-wired games on the market.
blockbuster, with a score of driving, munications shelled out S28 million for Discounts ran up to 75%. It was Good-
sports and tank battle contests. He also full ownership of Atari. Busnell remained bye Mr. Chips and hello home program-
developed Breakout, a significant ad- on the scene as chairman of the board. mables.
vance over the early, crude ball-and- Between 1976 and 1980, Atari intro-
paddle programs. duced several intriguing hard-wired For the holiday gift-giving season that
products. including Indy 500 and year, consumers could choose from a
The next major breakthrough in game Video Pinball, The latter was particular- Wide selection of sophisticated game
technology burst on the scene in 1975. ly good, boasting two of the best pinball machines, each imbued with a high de-
Shortly after the introduction of the LSI programs ever developed, a version of gree of programming fleXibility. They all
(Large-Scale Integration) Chip. General 'Breakout', and a pair of basketball-like but banished the dedicated chip systems
Instruments unveiled its revolutionary contests called Rebound, to the storage closets of America.
AY3B500, a "dedicated Chip" capable of Consumers started getting restless.
holding enough instruction data to play They were tiring of paddle games and, For customers interested in a gaming
up to four paddle and two target games. computer, Bally offered the Professional
The revolutionary SPACE INVADERS Arcade. It featured a fantastic collection
Coleco became GI's first major of sports and arcade titles enhanced by
customer. Its Telstar Arcade rocked the especially, of systems that were anti- audio-visual effects almost as good as
marketplace like a technicolor bomb quated two weeks after purchase. The those on the coin-op devices.
blast. By Christmas of 1976, more than telling point: No matter how entertain-
75 companies were churning out dedi- ing a videogame-or even six video- At lower price points were Atari's
cated chip videogames. Unbeknownst games-might be, players got bored Video Computer System (sold by its old
to most people at the time. these hard- sooner or later. friends at Sears as the Tele-Arcade) and
wired units were shortly to become Magnavox's long-awaited program-
obsolete. Programmability was the obvious
answer. Fairchild took the first step by 1962 Steve Russell designs Space-
Bushnell responded to the advent of marketing its Channel F in August 1976. war, the first computer video-
GI's chip by starting a new Atari division. It was the first system for which addi- game. His efforts directly inspire
completely separate from the coin-op tional game cartridges could be another M.IT. man, Nolan
business, aimed at entering the home purchased. Bushnell.
videogame market.
Following hard on the heels of the 1966 Ralph Baer, working at Sanders
Soon he had signed a deal with Sears Channel F came RCA's Studio II, a fiasco Associates. starts development
under the terms of which the catalogue of astonishing magnitude. Among other of th e fi rst unit for playing
giant agreed to sell Atari videogames. drawbacks, Studio II attempted to com- games through a home TV set.
This meeting of the corporate minds was pete against the vividly colored hard-
a landmark event. guaranteeing an in- wired units-not to mention the then- 1967 Baer hires Bill Hamson and Bill
stant nationwide audience for the home upcoming programmables-with a black Busch, assigning them to a
videogame. It also gave Bushnell a leg up and white system. It soon sank beneath small lab called 'the game
on achieving a high level of brand recog- the waves of consumer indifference, room.' The strange nOises com-
nition for Atari. ing from behind the cubicle's
locked door touch off some
Suddenly everyone from computer wild rumors.
companies to candlestick makers was
leaping aboard the videogame band- 1971 Nolan Bushnell builds his first
wagon. The result was a product glut. videogame, Computer Space,
With so many manufacturers producing This commercial version of
virtually indistinguishable products, 'Spacewar' proves to be far
Bushnell realized that now was the time ahead of its time. The complex
to get in there and firmly establish Atari as rules and abstract nature of the
the maker of home videogames. To do play mystify and intimidate
players. It flOPS
22 E1e< tronl c Games
1971 Shortly after Bushnell unveils
'Computer Space.' another
M.I.T. student named Bill Pitts
produces his own 'Spacewar'
variant. Galaxy Game is even
less successful; the prototype
was the only version ever put
together.

1972 M agnavox introduces Ralph
IMay) Baer's pioneering videogame

system, Odyssey. America re-
mains indifferent. but the po-
tential is obvious to visionaries.

mable, the Odyssey'.
All three trumpeted the availability of

dozens of game cartridges with more
planned for later release. Crazy Eddie, a
leading New York electronics retailer,
sold more videogames during the 1978
holidays than any other type of product
in the store.

Matteljoined the programmable pa-
rade in 1980 with Intellivision. Its Master
Component was touted as the core of a
modular computer system, but only the
game-player has materialized thus fa r.

There was something for everyone.
Atari specialized in arcade-style games,
Intellivision emphasized sports simula-
tions, and Odyssey' struck a balance
between the two other systems.

How far has technology advanced in
the Intervening four years? The Atari
VCS was originally created to play just
two games. "That's correct." says

continued on page 34

-GREAT MOMENTS IN VIDEOGAME HISTORY------.....,

1972 After M idway gives him the Channel F, makes its debut among the missing.
cold shoulder, Bushnell forms from Fairchild Electronics. RCA 1980 Jim Levy and four ex-Atari
his own company. He names it follows with the black-and-
Atari, the equivalent of "check- white Studio II. designers-David Crane, Lany
mate" in the Japanese game of 1976 Warner Communications sets a Kaplan, Alan Miller and Bob
Go. When Pong is tested at new record for spending on Whitehead-form Activision,
Andy Capp's, a Sunnyvale, videogames when the con- the world's first videogame
Cal., watering hole, it breaks glomerate buys Atari for 528 software company. Not sur-
down immediately. The hitch : million. prisingly. the company immed-
the coin box isjammed to over- 1977 The historic "Gametronic Con- iately gives game designers a lot
flowing with quartersl ference" brings all of videogam- more recognition by crediting
ing's leading lights together for them on the cartridge pack-
1973 Universal Research produces a meeting in San Francisco.
the world's second home Awards are bestowed upon ages.
videogame. The company does Ralph Baer and Nolan Bushnell 1981 Atari introduces Asteroids to
not go on to become the Avis for their pioneering work.
of the new industry. 1978 A 'Pong'-weary nation turns its commercial arcades. Its use of
eyes toward programmability the vector-scan graphics sys-
1973 Magnavox introduces the and finds the Atari VCS, Mag- tem developed by Cinema-tron-
Odyssey to a waiting world on navox Odyssey' and Bally Pro- icslElectrohome its non-linear
a network TV special hosted by fessional Arcade on store play action. The arrival of this
Frank Sinatra . Maybe if it had shelves. Ouadrascan system, albeit only
been Elton John . 1978 A small Japanese pac h inko in black and white, signals
manufacturer comes up with another push forwa rd in game
1975 The introduction of the LSI-for an interesting coin-op diversion quality.
Large-Scale Integration-chip, called Space Invaders, M id- 1981 Atari enters the home com-
opening the way For a genera- way acquires the license to puter Field with the 400/800
tion of ball and paddle games. make the U. S. coin-op version, sys tem-and a great space
and it proves to be something game called Star Raiders.
1975 Sears agrees to handle Atari's more than a mild success. 1981 An influx of Female arcaders
home videogame products, 1980 Mattei launches its modular makes this the yea r of Pac-
giving the Fledgling company game-playing computer, Intelli- Man.
access to a national audience. vision. The games bowl people 1981 Electronic Games, the First
over with their outstanding gra- magazine exclusively devoted
1976 Coleco uses the Generallnstru- phics, and no one really minds to arcading, distributes its First
ments super-chip to create the too much when the keyboard
hugely popular Telstar Arcade. and other peripherals remain issue.
Its success inspires no Fewer 1981 Color Ouadrascan arrives. Atari
than 70 companies to market
videogames For holiday giFt- produces Tempest, and Segal
giving. Gremlin offersSpace Fury.

1976 The First programmable system, ~

Ele<tronl c Games 23

Rechargeable BatterIes/General Elec- II A pOSSible alternative is available frorn
tric/Suggested retail prices: Mini-Charger General Electric in the form of recharge-
IBC-3) AA. 51363; C & D, 514.BB; • able batteries that can bejuiced up over
9-volt. 514.37; Double-Charger IBC-2), 1,000 times! Even alkaline batteries can't
56.38 Imodule and batteries separate); hope to compete with that kind of
AA, 59.25; C & D, 510.50; 9-volt. 59.99. longevity.

As owners of battery-operated hand- Two models are offered, for single- or
held and stand-alone electronic games double-battery recharging. The former,
can certainly attest. those entertaining identified as the BC-3, sells asa complete
bundles of beeps, boops and bright lights unit. With the Double-Charger, how-
can chow down on power cells with the ever, the unit and the type ofbatteries pre-
voraciousness of a killer shrew ferred must be purchased separately.

ElectronIcs Furniture /Gusdorf

Corp.lSuggested retail price Ifor model

No. 1920 pictured here): 5235.

As the number of game machines

- both programmable videogame

systems and microcomputers, continue

to proliferate in American livingrooms,

the problem worrying many electronic

arcaders is: "Where am I going to put

this stuff?"

In the past. two options existed. The

devices could either be tucked under

couches or put in closets, where dust

could get at the workings, or they could

be allowed to lie there in plain sight so

that little brother could step on them.

E-Z PortiVersa Ware/Suggested Here's a practical-and downright
retail price: 524.95
aesthetically pleasing- solution: attrac-
Apple owners have long suffered
with a not-so-secret sorrow: everytime tive furniture customized to hold video-
they want to plug or unplug a paddle or A mgames and
joystick, the whole machine must be . . .other similar ~
opened up. There's no external connec- ~I~_I
tion for such gaming paraphernalia .
devices.
The folks who make, among other
things, the VersaWriter, have come to
the rescue with an easily attached exter-
nal port. As an extra bonus, it's a "no
pressure connection" which will greatly
prolong the life of those fragile, multi-pin
plugs.

The 'E-Z Port' is SUitable for hooking
up a pair of paddles or ajoystick. The ac-
tual port attaches to any convenient spot
on the outside of the Apple's ca sing with
a self-adhesive back

24 Elec tr onIc Games



Atari report clude Super-Breakout, SUPER,BREAKOUT COMES TO THEVCS
Steeplecha,e and Stellar
* New cartridges for the
VCS will include versions of Track . ..
games already popular with * Warner Amex, the
owners of Atari computers,
Super-Breakout and Star cable arm of Warner Com-
Raiders. Th e Sunnyvale, munications lin partnership
Cal., company has also ac· with American Expressl has
quired home videogame announced the introduc-
rights to a [rio of amuse* tion of a 24 ·hour game
ment center luminaries, channel for those wired up
Defender, Pac-Man and in its territories. No details
Galaxlan . . , yet, but the betting is that
the channel will make use
* VCS fans looking for of the expertise of another
fresh games should inves' Warner subsidiary,
tigate Atari's three titles Arari ,
available exclusively
through Sears. These in, *Tempest and Cen·
tlpede, the latest entries
from the Coin·Op division,

Computer tion from the original Apple
shorts II edition

* Nasir , who has de- * Prospects for accep·
signed some of the most tance of the TRS·80 Color
popular comptuter games Computer by the electronic
for Sirius Software, including gaming community look a
Gorgon, is out on his own lot brighter than they did six
with a new company called months ago, A batch of
Gibelli Software. The infant new games from Tandy
firm's first title will be and the appearance of
Flreblrd, touted as a depar· several independent soft·
ture from the usual space ware supplIers is beginning
shoot·'em·ups.
to end the software
* On·Line, having hit it drought.
big with Jawbreaker for
the Atari 400/800, is busily * Will success spoil Mark
converting some of its other Turmell, the doctor who
leading titles for play on the created the off·beat
system. The much-admired Sneakers for Sirius Soft-
HI-Res Adventure series is ware? Probably not. butthe
overwhelming positive

reception for his labor·of·
love has reportedly con·

26 ElectronIc Games

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS Inside Mattei vaders and Asteroids,
while the latter is a pot
* Mattei has broken its pourri including bl-plane.
car race and rank (on-
production logjam and put tests .
three new cartridges into
the stores: Bowling, *Dungeons & Dra-
Astro-Smash and Triple gons, Matters stand-alone
Action. Boxing, which
was to have been the maze game inspired by the
role-playing game of the
fourth release, has evidently same name is now avail-
been pulled back for further able. with the company's
work. 'Bowling' is a visual Dallas expected to follow it
delight with animated pin- soon. Lending a note of
authenticity to the elec-
setter and bowler. 'Astro- tronic version of the popular
Smash' and 'Triple Action' C8S series is that the com-
puter. as J.R., attempts to
represent a rare Inrellivision dupe. cheat and mani-
excursion into the realm d pulate the human players.
action games. The former is
a cross between Space In-

are getring a warm wel- Tabletop spective. It has 1,000 dif- that allows the arcader to
come in the game parlors. Pac-Man ferent mazes, several levels hunt for prizes in the laby-
The latter is a charming of difficulty and a variant rinth .
Space Invaders variation in * Coleco has picked two
which the cannon can
move vertically as well as of arcading's choicest
horizontally, while shooting plums. It has concluded
at a multi-segment centi- agreements that give it ex-
pede slithering down the clusive rights to produce
screen through mushroom- stand-alone versions of
lined corridors. 'Tempest' is both Pac-Man and Galax-
the first full-color Ian. The company plans to
quadrascan coin-op in market them as table-top
which players move a devices utilizing a newly
pulsar-firing weapon developed graphics system.
around the perimeters of Each will offer the standard
various different geometric version of the game, a
shapes. head-ta-head option and a
third choice employing an
vinced the strictly amateur
designer to concoct a new *unusual rules addition
Entex has added four
*game program. upscale hand-helds to its
Evidently the folks at line: Galaxlan II, Space In-
A.N.A.L.O.G.. a magazine vaders 2, Escape and 3-D
covering Atari VCS and Grand Pr ix . 'Escape' is a
400/800, couldn't bear to maze game with 3-D per-
stay on the sidelines and
only write about all the ex- 1111ESCAPE-IOOO-MAZES • • • • • • • • • •
citing software. The Massa-
chusetts-based outfit has Electron ic Games 27
just produced a number of
programs for the Atari com-
puters. Included in the first
group of programs are
Analog Adventure. a ver-
sion of the original adven-
ture game; Thunder
Island, a maze challenge:
and Shooting Gallery, a
moving target extrava-
ganza .

POI goes Beyond line of educational soFt -
ware.
The latest company to
succumb to the irresistable The manufacturer has
lure of the electronic gam- established a new division,
ing world is POI. Inc. Al- Beyond Software. to market
though the firm's Sammy games for popular micro-
the Sea Serpent is a hit en- computer systems. The first
tertainment program for release is Captivity, a
small fry. POI has been best- three -dimensional maze
known for an impressive game for the Atari 400/800.

Odyssey K.C. MUNCHKIN marines to make their home
Outlook country the most powerful
on the planet. The com-
* Odyssey has stolen a pany has announced that
march on rival vidogame the thrrd title Will be The
companies by being the first Great Wall Street For-
to get a gobble game into tune Hunt. ThiS financIal
the retail market. Its version game splits the screen Into
features just 12 munchies, thirds honzontally. A stock
but they don't stand still as ticker runs across the top,
in Pac-Man ... news headlines crawl
across the middle and the
* One of the few kid-vid players' portfolios fill the rest
cartridges is Odyssey's new of the field .
Monkeyshines. Players
swing on·screen Simians * The first issue of the 0'
around the wildest Jungle- newsletter is now in the
jim you've ever seen . hands of owners. That
means that Atari. Intellivi·
*Conquest of the sion and Odyssey all now
World, the second in provide regular informatIon
Odyssey's Master Strategy to the hobby via clubs
Serie s. lets players battle and/or news/eners.
with tanks. planes and sub·
ATARI WINNERS
Tournament ised 10.000-15.000 COin·
fiasco oppers would attend the
four-day tourney. acrual at-
The coin-op world has tendance was an unbeliev-
crowned a pair of national able I 50. Fewer than two-
champions. but nobody is dozen female arcaders
celebrating. The tourna· show ed up to take part in
ment. held in Chicago's Ex- the Championship.
po Center from October 28
to November I. proved to Poor attendance is prob-
be a dismal failure . ably attributable to the cost
and scheduling of the tour-
Although Atari backed nament. Off-the-street
the project to the tune of registrants paid $60.. and
$ 50.000 in prizes. the outfit even those winners of local
picked to administer the contests who received en-
event, TQurnament Games try passes still would have
Inc.. fumbled the ball . had to pay transportation
Tournament Games. which to. and lodging in. Chicago.
had previously run billiard.
foosball. air hockey and dart Once enrolled. contest-
competition. showed their ants found that it was a TGI
lack of experience with the tradition that every partici-
hobby of electronic gam- pant pay for all games. even
ing. practice round s. Arcade rs
who shelled out those addi-
Although TGI had prom- tional quarters soon learned.

28 El e<1ro nl' Games

PAM PLAYS Activision Play with Cable
Close-up
PlayCable is gening off
As one of the main the ground now that Manel
sponsors of this year's U.S. and General Instruments
Tennis Open, Activis ion have signed on the doned
stocked the players' lounge line.
with videogames to help
them relax between strenu- Subscribers purchase the
ous rounds. Master Component of the
lnrelljvision system from
The inevitable hap- their local cable operator.
pened: Some of the pros The heart of the operation is
became ardent arcaders. the GI-developed Jerrold
Pam Shrivers. for example. "Data-Channel." which
became a dedicated-and can store up to I 5 game
reportedly superb-hand at programs. After the home
Kabooml arcader selects a game. the
Jerrold adapter selectS the
Imagic debuts men responsible. The com- correct code from the data
pany expects to have its first stream and transfers it to a
Four veterans of the pro- pair of releases-one a new computer memory Chip.
grammable videogame science fiction contest-in
business have announced the stores by mid-1982 . PlayCable will rotate
the formation of Imagic. a Where feasible. Imagic in- available selectIons peri-
new independent supplier tends to produce the same odically. giving subscribers
of software for both the program in both formats. access to the complete Intel-
Atari VCS and Mattellntelli- This would. of course. be a livislon library.
vision systems. videogaming first.
PLAYCABLE
Bill Grubb and Dennis "Imaqic intends to be a
Koble. previously with IMAGIC'S TEAM major factor in the video-
Atari. and James Goldberg- game business within J2
er and Brian Dougherty. months," vows co-founder
formerly of Mattei. are the Bill Grubb.

to thelf dismay. that Internal Atar;7 The checks given to Adult games Book, to be published quar-
timers had been Installed In winners of the Acari Coin- terly. promises to print pro-
all 250 Cent ipede Op Tournament. As Elec- New Orleans' Bourbon gram listings for games that
machines to limit play toJust tronic Games goes to Street Press has announced are a good deal more risque
three minutES. press. a report-confirmed a computer software guide than Space Invaders. Such
by Atari officials-surfaced to "adults only" computer programs have circulated
Chaos ruled during the that the checks given win- game programs. The D irty informally among compu-
four days of competition. ners by Tournament terists for some time, but
Rules and schedules Games, Inc., had proven THE DIRTY BOOK now there'lI be a clearing
changed frequently. house for X-and R-rated
creating much confUSion bogus.
about where and when Atari has taken this latest material .
people were to play. The ad brochure for 'The
setback with co rp orate
Eric Ginner emerged as good grace. The Sunny- Dirty Book' states: "Take a
the winner of the "Open vale. Cal.. manufacru rer, break from space wars.
Singles" competition and which will probably run its shoot-·em-ups. hide and
pocketed a check for own tournaments In the seek games. Add spice. na-
112.000. Ok-Soo Han future-the VCS events vor and sensual stimulation
walked away With 14.000 have enjoyed great suc- instead ... Enough chasing
in money and merchandise cess- has volunteered to klingons around the tube.
as the female arcader make good on all awards. Let's take a different trip
supreme. Atari has established a toll- around the world." Sounds
free number 800-538- 161 I like the kind of stuff that
Bulletin ... and urges all winners to call might make a green screen
so that they can receive the rurn red with embarrass-
What bounces higher prizes they earned.
than the clowns in CIrcus ment.

electronIc Gaml!s 29

An Introduction
to computer

adventures

T here's a dragon living at our house. roIe-playing & Dragons: as in real life, is not a cut-
In faa, we're also infested w ith ko-
bolds, zombies, orcs and hordes cI evi~ IRPGs) such as and-dried propositon. RPGs are general-
doers of every description. Fortunately,
there's no immediate cause for alarm. & Dragons. ly played as a series of semi-connected
They're all trapped on diskettes, and an
intrepid band of heroes intends to finish Unlike more traditional episodes. Characters accumulate exper-
most of them off this weekend.
games like chess and Monopoly, 'OW' ience as a result of their exploits and
Combatting the forces of darkness-
and other familiar elements ofsword and emphasizes creating a persona for a gradually rise in power during the course
sorcery hyinks like finding treasure and
saving damsels in distress-- are among game-character and then play-acting of their heroic careers. Sometimes. suc-
the thrills that await players of computer
adventure games. Already running a that character through a serie s of cess is measured in the number of char-
close second to arcade-style computer
programs in overall popularity. adven- increa sing ly cha llen gin g situations. acters that sUNive a deathtrap to fight
tures give devotees the opportunity to
spena a couple of hours vicariously ex- In another striking depature from the again another day .
periencing worlds offrightening dangers
and glorious deeds. usual boardgame, participants work co- The hub o f any non-electronic role-

Computer adventures are loosely bas- operatively to accomplish common playing game is the so-called Dungeon-
ed on concepts introduced
by non-elec- goals instead of competing against each master (OM) . This individual designs the

other. It is not uncommon to see one scenarios. referees games in progress

player sacrifice a character to preseNe and informsplayersofthe consequences

the others in the adventuring group. of their charaaers ' aaions. Here's a seg-

" Winning" in games like 'Dungeons ment that might occur in a typical session

of 'Dungeons & Dragons':

= =.'::'':''-:''''roIes- Party l eaders: We're walking slowly
down the passage. Tovah the Thief is
:::~~~"=~?~~~~Ii:\:,:.carefU IlY checking the walls and floors

::: for pitfalls and traps. Hercules the

fighter w ill bring up the rear.

.. ---

watching behind us for an ambush. less crude back then than they do tOday, sion in the form of a few audio-visual
OM: You walk 60 ft. and see a door on but that couldn't have made them any enhancements.
your right. more exciting to play.
Tovah :I'm looking at the door and, parti- Illustrated adventures. Aaual pic-
cularly, the lock. Text-based games created by pioneers tures replace the long descriptions of
OM: It is an oaken door reinforced with like Scott Adams filled the gap admirably. what the on-screen hero sees. These
metal strips.The lock appears to be of the Since these contests relied on mental, not generally take the form of multi-color line
pin tumbler type. physical, dexterity, the slow response drawings in the high-resolution graphics
Tovah: I will attempt to pick the lock. time of games programmed in BASIC mode. Movement is still accomplished
OM: You succeed. was totally irrelevant. by the input of commands through the
Party leader: let's open the door and keyboard, though the range of com-
enter. Of course, the scope of adventure mands is frequently more restricted than
OM: You're in a dimly lit room and six games has widened enormOUSly as per- with the text or graphiCS adventures.
hulk shapes charge atyou from the dark sonal computer hardware improved.
corners. Some of the newest titles include such Action aventures. Manual dexterity
Party leader: Battle positionseveryonel niceties as illustrations of key scenes, plays a much bigger role in this type of
multi-charaaer play and even animated adventure than in any other, since the
And so it goes, The only catch is that sequences. Some companies are even gamer maneuvers and fights by utilizing
the Oungeonmaster usually ends up producing additional scenarios that tack a joystiCk. There mayor may not be a
spending untold hours creating the fan- onto the basic qame program . few additional one-letter commands
tasy world and dreaming up exciting sce- such as "get:' "shoot" and "examine,"
nanos. W hat'smore, the OM mustfunc- There are five distina types of adven- but the emphasis is on navigating your
tion solely as a neutral arbiter and can't tures currently available. They are: adventures around what amounts to a
run a charaaerl schematic map of the game's setting.
Text adventures: These resemble
Electronic adventures substitute the short stories that are, in a sense,jointly Graphics adventures. The newest
computer for a human OM . While no written by the game's designer and each arrival on the computer adventure scene
machine can match the imagination, individual player. When the person or combines elements of all four other types
creativity and resourcefulness of a live persons manipulating the on-screen in varying proportion. The trend is to-
Oungeonmaster, the computer version characters inputs one- or two-word ward giving the gamer the view of the
requireslittle set-up time and no impartial commands via the keyboard, the pro- hero'ssurroundings as he would aaual-
umpire. Virtually all computer adven- gram responds with the appropriate de- Iy see them rather than offering an om-
turescan even be played solitarie, while scription . Often but not always, text ad- niscient overhead perspective,
non-elearonic RPGsrequire at least four ventures present a series of puzzles that
or five participants. must be solved in a pre-determined order A~hough a good case can be made
until the ultimate goal is finally achieved. for graphics adventures as the true state-
The development of interactive com- of-the-art variety, all five approaches
puter adventuresconfirmsthat necessity Augmented text adventures. have their unique strengths . Many
is, indeed, the mother of Invention. They These are basically similarto the standard RPGers, for instance, claim to prefer the
were truly an inspiration born out of text adventures but add an extra dimen- text adventures. They liken the exper-
desperation . ience of playing an all-text game to listen-
ing to the radio, in that it gives free rein to
The first generation of personal com- each gamer's own imagination instead
puters, however well they balanced of fencing it in by displaying everything
checkbooks and stored mailing lists,just in minute visual detail.
didn 't have the capacity to adequately
render arcade games. The reasons were So if the workaday cares of 1982 have
simple and obvious: the earliest micros got you down, why not strap on an
lacked the basic ingredients that make up elearonic sword, don your armor, and
such programs. They possessed neither head for the dragon's lair? Maybe you
sound nor color and offered only the can become the Siegfried or Conan of
most rudimentary on-screen graphics. the computer worldI

Perhaps novelty alone made those ElKtronk Game-s 31
pioneering computer arcade games look

By Willy Richardson

By the time a coin-operated electronic Inside CENTIPEDE-a peek at the eye-catching lettering for the unit's title.
game arrives at your local amuse- sophisticated program boards hou sed Four months later, Atari technicians
ment center, candy store, bowling alley within the game cabinet
or tavern, it has already withstood an ex- assemble the first prototype, and in-
perience more strenuous than anything plastic overlays, which can create house testing begins. Testers weed out
it's likely to encounter from the paying breathtaking images within the dark- gross errors and subject the game to pro-
customers. ened confines of the cabinet. Games bing critical evaluation.
such as Warlords benefit from gor-
Arcade machines aren'tjust dreamed geous overlay work that even the main- If all is still "go," Atari builds several
up, stamped out. certified smash hits line computers would be hard-pressed to more prototypes and ships them to ar-
and, eventually, retired to coin-op equa/. cades all across the country. There the
heaven Isomeone's basement play- hardcore electro-gamers go over the
room). No, the evolution of the games Game creators must also adapt their new machine with a fine-tooth comb,
into which we all feed so many quarters, ideas to the stringent demands of the picking up glitches and suggesting
from creative concept to final paintjob, is coin-op marketplace. Are the images refinements.
a highly complex process. colorful enough? Is the game going to
satisfy even players who are quickly Then the games return to the factory
At the Atari coin-op division, the com- eliminated71s it boring? Addictive? Does for more analYSis and adjustment before
pany's oldest operating arm, it all begins it look too complicated to master? a second round of on-location testing.
with a brainstorming session. Ideas are This is the only way to determine if the
tossed around, revamped, r~ected, cut. Once a game idea is approved, the new coin-op is rugged enough to stand
tailored and set out to coo/. Of the thou- company allots three to four months for up to heavy pay traffic in the commercial
sands of concepts that have been test- development and puts its game wizards amusement centers.
flown across the conference table, only to work. Meanwhile back at the ranch,
a very few ever negotiate the long wind- the graphics crew is doing its thing, de- Finally, the prototypes return to Atari's
ing road from imagination to reality. signing backboards, overlays lif any) and Sunnyvale, Ca., headquarters for final in-
side-decals for the machine's cabinet. spection. Boot camp is over. From now
The idea is, of course, only half the bat- Special attention is lavished on creating on, it's all gravy. . or so the manufac-
tle. The concept must be executed. It has turer hopesl
to be shaped to meet the demands and
limitations of current technology. The Soon the new machine is running off
best game idea in the world is worthless the assembly line in batches. The entire
if it can't be built. unit is assembled right in the factory,

Coin-ops, however, benefit from a
much greater array of options than is the
case with other types of electronic
games. DeSigners are free to employ spe-
cial intelligent monitors-such as the
quadrascan system which Electrohome
developed exclusively for Atari-that
provide much higher graphic resolution
and freer on-screen movement than is
possible on a cathode ray tube lTV)
screen .

Coin-ops have another edge· colored

Atarl worker loads CENTIPEDEs from
assembly line and prepares It for
shipping to local arcades.

12 Electronic G"m!eS

everything from control devices-li ke The making of an creation the compa ny has ever
the mini-trackball recently introduced on Arcade Game produced.
Centipede-to the program boards.
The games, say many visitors to this
Coin-op games don't enjoy very long arcading shrine, are smiling.
lives. Even the most successful titles rare-
ly survive more than a year at the peak of Some companies have even begun
popularity. After their time has come and experimenting with the concept of inter-
gone. some of the machines are sent to changeable games, with cabinets cus-
warehouses for resale to clubs. resorts tom designed for that purpose, When a
and even some private collectors. particular game has outlived its capacity
to make money, the old program boards
Others get to go 'round one more can be yanked and replaced by new
time, In arcade terms, they are reincar- ones in a matter of seconds, This modu-
nated. Atari yanks the innards, strips the lar design extends even to the title and
outer surface and uses the chassis for a accompanying artwork, which can be
more recent coin-op sensation. slid out and new labels and decals insert-
ed in their place,
But a few coin-op machines, who are
very, very good, attain a particula rly
happy retirement in the Atari Game
Room. Yes, game-lovers, it really exists.
It's located in an L-shaped room just off
the main reception area at Atari's main
facility. There, in a luxurious carpeted
setting, is a copy of every major coln-op

In the coln-op version of A tari's RED BARON. one of A tarl 's new coln-op
WARLORDS. plastic overlays are utilized games. boasts flight simulato r-quality
to create a playfleld w ith realistic visuals thanks to its Quadrascan monitor
castles and kings.

Atarl 's TEMPEST - The first full-color
Ouadrasca n gam e Is both a technological
and creative triumph, with wildly a~
stract science-fictional graphicsl

Electronic Games ]J

J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1

! !Enjoy your own arcade at home!
~_ Now you can have a ne w , use d, recondi ti one d o r close d I-
~ out co m m erci al vid e o o r p inba ll machine of yo ur ve ry own _
_ Interlogic has Aste rOids, Phoenix, Space Invaders,
~
~ Poe-Man and many more arcade games
~

~ avai lable at the best possible prices, ~

~ ::
~
~ ~

~ (312) 67 1-0305 ~~

~ 9806 W, Farragut Ave, ~-

I Rosemont, IL 60018 ~
-~ Telex: 270359
_
_ Intrlogic Rosm

.,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~""''''''~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'''''~

- -logical that personal computers will be-
come the game machines of tomorrow.

HISTORY For the present videogame manufac-
turers remain unsure as to whether the

continued from page 23 average American is ready to buddy up

to a computer. Atari, it is reported, will

soon begin production of a super video-

Atari's Steve Wright. "The VCS was game system capable of presenting coin-
basically designed to play paddle games op quality programs,

vesand tank battles. In fact when the The question for now is: at what point
does the videogame system meet the
was being designed, it was [elt that a 2K computer? As the latter simultaneously
program capacity would be more than becomes cheaper and more powerful, it
adequate, won't be long before the two segments
of the electronic gaming hobby are
"But then they decided, 'What the joined together as one. Already the flop-
hell, why not make It 4K: " Wright ex- py disk is vying with the ROM cartridge
plains, "Not that they thought anyone as a medium for storing games.
would ever use it"
One thing is for sure, If the first decade
As things turned out Atari began
making 4K games-putting an extra °of videogames is any indication, the next
Chip into the cartridge itself-long before
they ever expected to be doing so. By the I years ought to provide plenty of ex-
time M issile Command and Asteroids citement both on and off the home
appeared in home editions, the com- screen.

pany was utilizing a technique that per-
vesmitted the
to read two flipflopping

4K programs.

Activision, formed by Jim Levy and a

quartet of designers, was the next new

thing in electronic gaming. Established in

1980, it is exclusively devoted to the de-

sign and marketing of home videogame

software, Activision now makes games

34 EJectro n'cGc.mes



S(ience fiction and electronic fiction for a suitable inspiration- the Japanese . vaders, became a
gaming have been team- al theme. churned .out d steady super-hit first jn
ing up successfully for nearly 20 diet of cinematic junk
years. The obvious relationship "At the time, we were crash- food of which Rodan and God- Japan and then in the
between leading-edge techno- ing and banging our way zilla are only the best-known United States. Since this break-
logy and futuristic literature is through the 'Skylark' and examples." through alert manufacturers
obvious, so it's no surprise to 'Lensman' novels of Edward E. When the first video coin- catering to all segments of the
learn that many pioneering de- Smith, PhD,," GraelZ recently ops materialized more than a electronic arcading hobby
signers were also rabid SF fans. recal/ed in his memoirs of the in- decade later. among them was have pumped out an unbeliev-
vention of Spacewar. "In a device which allowed the ar- able variety of science fiction
When Stephen Russell. breaks between books. we cader to pilot a spaceship that games in an effort to meet the
Wayne Wiitanen and J.M. would be off to one of Boston's hunted flying saucers in outer seemingly inexhaustable
Graetz got together at the seedier cinemas to view the Jat- space. It boasted a crude black demand.
Hingham Institute in Cam- est trash from Toho. In the days and white monitor. but space-
bridge. Mass.. to collaborate on before Mazdas and Minoltas, hounds loved itjust the same. The Many Faces
the first experimental video- Even as videogamesclimbed
game, they turned to science of Space
ENTEX '
36 EJK tronlc Games Invaders
up the ladder of sophistication
from Pong during the 1970's, Tromp! Tromp! Tromp! The
science fiction was growing in creatures from space march
popularity by leaps and bounds down the screen toward the
with the general public. A suc- cannon in the eternal duel be-
cession of SF fads-Edgar Rice tween arcaders and electronic
Burroughs, 'Star Trek" and. fin- aliens.
ally, "Star Wars"-made peo-
ple extremely enthusiastic When Taito Ltd. wired up
about anything that smacked Japan with 100.000 Space In-
of interstellar adventure. vaders machines, it put the
whole world on notice that a
So it was not entirely an acci- new form of entertainment
dent when a science fiction was at hand. Pinball kingpin
coin-op videogame, Space In- Bal!y. realizing that the hand-
writing was already on the
wall for the traditional commer-
cial game parlor. bought the
U.S. rights to 'Space Invaders.'
Within months. it could safely
be said that wherever two
gamers gathered. one was
playing 'Space Invaders'-and
the other was waiting on line
for a turn.

Atari produced the official
videogame version in 1980,
and it instantly vaulted to the
top of the cartridge best-seller
list. The company's nation-
wide tournament with region-
al events In Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Ft. Worth. Chicago
and New York City, attracted
well over 10,000 participants.
By the time Bill Heineman
emerged as World Champion
in an expert show-down, hun-
dreds of favorable articles and
stories about electronic gaming
had been aired on television
and printed in newspapersand
magazines. More than any
other single event, 'he 'Space
Invaders' Tournament' estab-
lished electronic arcading as a

IJ~~

~1.J~[JIJ~I]IiI[J

~Fri1[J~~~IF
[J1]1i1]~~~~ IJ~~

~IiI~~~~~

major hobby. iock-step pattern made famous
Of course. even a good by Space Invadersl This quad-
rascan sensation put arcaders
thing can be improved. Galax- at the controls of a spaceship
ian takes the basic 'Space In- charged with clearing a sector
vaders' idea and adds aliens of the galaxy of dangerous
that swoop out of formation space debris. Instead of 'Space
on birdlike wing for dIve-bomb- Invaders' fearsome symmetry,
ing attacks on the defender's danger hurtled at the gamer
ship. This program has proven from every conceivable direc-
nearly as successful as its in·
spiration, with the result that tion.
'Galaxian'-style games are pro- Atari's edition for the VCS
liferating into every corner of
the electronic gaming world. has duplicated this success, be-
Coming soon are authorized coming 1981's hottest piece of
versions from Atari for home videogame softwi're. The Sun-
videogame syrems and Coleco . nyvaJe. Cal., manufacturer also
offers 'Asteroids' for its
Asteroids 400/800 computers. and a
Forever! host of other suppliers have
marketed computer programs
Just when the U.S. coin-op based fairly closely on the origi-
game makers started to get an nal prototype.
inferiority complex about hav-
ing to import all the good ideas Enthusiasm built so rapidly
from Japan. Atari showed for the game that Atari chose it
what American ingenuity as the contest for its second an-
could accomplish by releasing nual videogame tournament
Asteroids . last fall. This time, Atari held re-
gionals not just in a few cities,
What a change from the but all over the world . That's
quite an achievement .

SPACE BATTLE

Defend the space driving game In which fun games for the Odyssey' taken the wishes of SF-lovers
Earth with the arcader steers a shIp using programmable vldeogame very much to heart. The soft-
the joystick so as to avoid col" system. ware line has grown to include
Missile Command $Ion with on-coming moonlets. Invaders from Hyperspace,
Since kicking things off with Allen Invaders-Plusl and
A ll that stands between six Pushing the ac tion button Cosmic Conflict, in which ar- the highly unu sual War of
major Clries and total an- throws the craft Into super- caders hurtle through the void. Nerves. Forsaking the typical
nihilatIon IS Earth's missIle zapping enemy ships. the com- SF game locale of deep space.
force. Allen rockets pour out of speed mode. enabling the play- pany's deSign staff has always 'War of NeNes' simulates the
the heavens. the flames from er to tote up more pointsfor tra- clash of ground-based android
their engines etching the sky armies. An innovative bit of
with brilliant multi-colored programming allows each
line s. Tht 's the sett ing for general to control a whole bat-
Missile Command . th e se- talion of robot troopers with a
cond half of Atarr 's one-two single joystick.
punch of sCIence frctron ca r-
But of course, 'UFO' is the
'::UTURI5TIC stellar attraction. It generates a
VIDfOGflmf5 level of frenzied excitement, as
'::OR Homf the arcader steers and shoots at
the menacing unidentiFied fly-
flRCflDf5 ing objects that surround the
star cruiser, that is rarely ap-
proached by even the fast-
paced coin-ops.

Waging
Interstellear War

One of the hallmarks of Mat-
ters software for ImeUivision is
that it always seems to provide
an extra dimension for what-
ever topiC is being simulated.
This is certainly the case with
the epic Space Battle, the flag-
Ship of the company's science
fiaion game line.

Even more than the out-
standing graphics, what
distinguishes 'Space Battle' is
that it is much more than just
an excellent outer space shoot-
out. As commander of three
defensive squadrons, the ar-
cader must carefully allocate all
the ships to meet both present
and future dangers. Even if
you're a better shot than Luke
Skywalker, the computer-
directed enemy can still

INVADERS FROM HYPERSPACE

tridges released for the Video veling further without a crack-
(omputer System last year. up in the time allotted. Atari has
spoken of pruning some of the
And if Asteroids has its par- older games from its line to
tisans. so does Missile Com- make room on the retail shelves
mand . Experts rate the video- for new arrival s. so roc ket
game edition as one of the best jockeys may want to pick up
programs ever prepared for the 'Spaceship' before it becomes
V(S-and itstremendous sales an unobtainable co l/ecror's
ce rtainly back up thi s view- item .
point.
A Space Odyssey2
Atari didn't just start doing
science fiction videogames late- UFO, this year's Arcade
ly. though. Spaceship was Award winner at 'Best Science
one of the first titles released for Fiction Game.' is only the latest
the system. One of the numer- in a noble series of futuristic
ous variations included on the
cartridge. Warp, is particularly
enjoyable. It's a kind of outer

38 ElectronIc Gilmes

triumph if it fakes your mini- The result is Laser Blast, the
fleets out of position and then
streaks rn on the mother ship_ program that stands the origi-
nal Space Invaders concept
Th e new year will bring on its head. Instead of cower-
good news for Intelliv;s;on ing behind shields at the bot-
tom of the screen, the arcader
owners who've been lamen- directs saucers on a mission of
ting the lack of arcade-style retribution against the extra-
games with a science fiction terrestrials' ;nstilJlations on the
twist. The company will shortly surface of the moon The o~ect
release not one. but two such is to obliterate as many of the
three-gun emplacements as
games- Astrosmash and
possible, before the creatures'
Space Armada . The former is
mighty laser cannons turn your
a struggle against careening as- forces into so much scrap. An
added complication is that the
teroid s and homicidal mon- surface batteries are protected
sters, while the latter puts the
player aginst phalanxes of
marching invaders.

Striking Back by an invisible shield wall. As
at the Aliens the game progresses, the arca-
der must bomb installations
Ever had the feeling, when with progressively stronger
playing one of the many inva- shields that prevent the saucers
sion games, that you'd like the from coming in too low .
chance to strike an offenSive
blow against the monsters? The defending ali<'llS have
That thought evid ently oc - an uncanny ability to radar-
cured to the folks at Actlvision, track the assault ships, forCing
too, the arcader to keep moving
constantly, even while trying
to aim the laser,

E'e<:lronJe Games ]9

Scoring Big be playing on home screens. One Against
atthe Defender. for instance, has the Gafaxy
Starcade already spawned Protector
(Crystalware) and Gorgon You're one of the Furies. an
N o maner which micro- (Sirius Software). with more to interstellar white knight in
computer you may corne. Atari has purchased the high-technology battle armor.
own-or intend to buy-one home arcade rights to'Defend- Your mission: free a planet from
thing is certain: There's a wide er.· so owners of its systems will the imperial yoke of oppres-
choice of action games with a sion. That's the background of
sCience fiction slant offered for soon have another first class SF
your favonre machine.
arcade extravaganza.
Since Space Invaders has
enjoyed success longer than
most other designs, it is conse-
quently the most widely avail-
able SF program at the present
time. Atar; makes the "official"
version for Its 400 and 800 sys-
tems. and this edition packs at
least as much glitter as the coin-
op original. Though the title
was initially marketed on cas-
sette, Atar; has now seen the
error of its ways and intro-
duced the same program on
instant-loading ROM ca r-
tridges.

Creative Computing current-
ly makes the most popular 'SI'
programs for both the Apple II
and Sorcerer under the name
Super Invasion, Acorn Soft-
ware performs the same ser-
vide for TRS-80 users with
Invaders from Space.

The best entries among the
Galaxlan-style programs are
Allen Typhoon (Broderbund)
for the Apple and the newly
released Galactic Chase
(Spectrum) for the Atari 800.
Big Five Software, which spe-
cializes in arcade games for the
TRS-BO Model 11111. offers Gal-
axy Invasion.

There are two strong varia-
tions of Asteroids for the
Apple II. Quality Software has
Meteoroids In Space, while
Californra Pacific has replaced
the standard hunks of space
junk with apples of various
sizes in its irresistably cute
Apple-o lds , Big Five is the
source for Super Nova for the
TRS-80.

It's usually a safe bet that any
science fiction game that regis-
ters well In the commercial
amusement centers will soon

40 elect ronIc Games

Star Warriors IAutomated TR5-00 INVAOER GAME title that has earned every bit of
Simulations! an ac{ton ~ the praise which has been
adventure for both the Atari Iflflflflflf+~
and Apple II . Wearing a suit heaped upon it by reviewers
reminIscent of the ones de- tttt ttt and players alike, It combines
scribed in "Starship Troopers" compelling visuals with a dual-
by Robert A. Heinlein, your on- the age of 2 I , On-Line Systems Trek" television series won the level game that furnishes lots of
screen representative is given is offering, for the Apple II, a hearts of many players right ship-to-ship dogfighting within
one of two tasks. The Fury can little item called Softporn from the start. the context of a galaxy-span-
either blast. pillage and destroy Adventure, It lets the gamer ning conflict between humans
as a dIversion while another wander through a Las Vegas- You had to be a real science and an implacably aggressive
lunseen) avenger assasSinates type pleasure city of the,future. fiction fanatic to love them. alien race. A choice of four
the cruel military governor, or though, because they limped levels of skill allows arcaders to
else you can take the bull by the Super Star Wars along without the benefit of steadily increase the ability of
horns and search out and des- sound or graphics, This state of rhe opposition as (heir own
troy the perry tyrant yourself. Strategic space war games affairs changed abruptly when competence grows.
have been around almost as Atari brought forth Star
Although most role-playing rong as the micro-computers Raiders for its then-new 400 The Warp Factor IStrategic
adventures for the computer on which they are played. Pro- and BOO computers. Simulations) resembles the
are resolutely oriemed toward grams modeled on the uni- primirive programs mentioned
famasy. science fictron fans verse presented in the' 'Star Winner of the 1982 Arcade earlier in that It too. is based on
aren't entirely out in the cold. Award as "Best Computer the "Star Trek" mythos, but
Avalon-Hill presents Empire Game of the Year," this is one there the similarity ends. This is
of the Over-Mind as a text a finely constructed game that
program for all major systems, gives would-be Klfks the op-
while Sentient Software has portunity to direct fleet-level
gotten SF writer Michael Berlyn aCtions agaInst a variery of
to create 00-Topos for Apple II antagonists, all of whom will
arcaders. Coming soon (rom be familiar to loyalists of the TV
Sentient is Cyborg. in which show and theatrical movie.
the player manipulates a half-
man, half-machine character 'The Warp Factor' is that
through a succession of ex- rarity, a game that is flexible
ploits. The new wrinkle is that enough to allow minute detail-
the computer functions as the ing of each Ship Without undu'
Cyborg's synthetiC brain, offer- Iy bogging down multi-unit
ing Information and opinions movement.
about the surrounding world.

And for those who are over

TRS-BO MISSilE DEFENSE GAME STAR WARRIOR

filE RGY: ebb
SETT IIIG:S
CHRRGES: f'7

HISS1LE5 , i'~

T I H[ : ] . b
fLllTER

H

EIK tron lc Games 4 1

Two ~ictures are worth

Atan' vs. Intellivision?
Nothing I could say would be more
persuasive than whatyour own
two eyes will tell you. But I can't
resist telling you more .

- George Plimpton -

a thousand words.

!t's obvious how much more realistic Intellivision graphics you to maneuver players and objects in more direction's
are. But take a closer look . Notice the Intellivision players. with greater precision and accuracy. And the Intellivision
They've got arms and legs like real players do. Look at controller is compatible with the entire library. With Atari,
the field . It actually looks more like a real baseball field. If you some games require the purchase of additional control units.
compare the two games, I think you'll find that Intellivision
looks a lot more like the real thing. More about challenge

mrn~ ->·· ®. HIH You can't see it here, but I have found that in many of the
Atari programs, the game play is rather simplistic. With
m LQ.III rRniD .:_W,.I:N:.: '•. q Intellivision , the game play is more sophisticated. And that
IliI makes Intellivision more challenging. With Intellivision PGA
Golf for instance, you get nine different clubs to choose
rrm ~D LDSE • • •7 b • from. With Atari Golf, you have to make do with just one
club. Greater attention to detail is a quality I have found
Atari Casino.T" No dealer. Intellivision Las \kgas Poker & in all of the Intellivision games. Making them more realistic.
Blackjack. You play cards And more challenging .
More about action with a shifty-eyed dealer.

You can see how much more Atan PeltS Championship Atan Gol! Intellivision PGA Golf'"''
realistic Intellivision looks. Soccer'" players
What we can't show you here More about libraries
is how much more realistically i\ ~ ~
it moves. If you could compare Intellivision NA SL Both Intellivision and Atari have large libraries. But there
the two, I think you'd see Soccer™'' players really isn't any way you can tell which library is better,
that Intellivis'on has smoother until you play with both. Once you compare the two systems
and more life-like movement for challenge, sophistication and continued interest, I'm
than Atari. confident you'll choose Intellivision. But don't just take my
word for it. Visit your local dealer and decide for yourself.
More about control

If you've ever played a video game, you knuw how impottant
control is. And if you held these two control units in your
hand, you'd know Intellivision gives you more. The Atari
hand controller offers only 8 positions and one button.
The Intellivision hand controller has 16 posi-
tions and 4 buttons. So Intellivision allows

ATARI JOY STICK
HAN D CONTROLLER

INTELLIVISION
HAND CONTROLLER

MRTT~L ~L~r:Tp.Cnlr:5 ®

INtEll-I-1-IS-ION'" I N

For your nearest dealer call 1(800) 323 -171 5
_ ___lntell'lgent T,elevl'sl'on__''''_'''''_'''""_''''''"_"''''_''''"'_'''''_'' _~ It
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@.\I :UII'I, In.:. I!IIH. All R,)!hH H" "'n',,,1

If sCience fiction Multi-Phase
dominate any area Mayhem
of electronic gaming, It's
If one-scenario games are
certainly the COin· ops. good. reasoned some manu-
Since Space Invaders facturers, murn-scenarlo con-
first blasted Its way Into
garners' hearts four
years ago, manufacturers
of commercial fun

machines have gone SF-crazy.
For the last 36 months. the
amusement center ··top 10··

has included no fewer than five
sCience fiction games at any
given time.

Once It saw that ·SI· would
be a runaway hit In thiS CDun-
tly. as It was In Japan. Midway
lost no time In gemng the fights
to another winner from the
Land of the RISing Sun. It made
a deal with Namco for Galax-
lan-and the company has
not had reason to regret the
move. The allen bird-monsters

are a fixture of every game par-
lor these days. and ·Galaxlan·
has developed Into an endur-
Ing claSSIc.

a chance 10 see the full range of
scenarios. even If they don·t
have the aMI)' to race through
aU the phases In a Single round.

judgment has proven uncannr- SQ, and already numerous Talk to
games like Pleiades and Van-
Iyaccurate. guard haveJOIned them In the the Aliens
Gorf /Bally) and Phoenix commeroaJ amusement par-
lors. ObViously. skilled arcaders Space Invaders was the
/(entu ri) introduced the con- prefer the Idea of a dozen or so first corn-op contest In which
cept only within the last year or mini-games to repeating the the targets could fire back at the
same play sequence 10 or 12 player. Thanks to some further
times In a row. advances In computer SCience,
[he machrnes have starred to
BATTlEZONE PlAYFIElD talk back. rool They nor only
blow up your Ship. they gloat
Recent entnes even bnng the over therr achievement
average gamer into the fold .
Throwing another two-bits The combination of recently
Into the coin slot makes the developed vOlce-computer-
action resume from the point at ChipS and the use of pre-record-
which the player met disaster. ed messages has bestowed the
Thus all partiCipants now have power of speech upon such
titles as Berserk /Stern). Astro-
Blaster /Sega/Gremlin) and
Vanguard /(entun).

Tllese days. when a player
actIvates a machrne, he or she
IS liable to come face-ro-what-
ever With aliens who Issue
mocking challenges like. ··You
couldn·t hit the broad Side of a
super-novar· as they fight
Sometimes, of course, the
machine's vOICe assumes a
more helpful stance. as In the
games in which the program

4 4 Electronic Games

MISSILE COMMAND COIN-QP lliE
(]()SMI(]

(JUA~TE~­
SNAT(]tiE~S

(]()METti

announces, "You 'renowcom~
log up to the next scenario
-get ready."

The next step? Probably to
have the arcader tell the mach-

rne his name so that the
devIce can dlrecrly address

the player throughout
the match.

Earth 's
Last Hope

Defender (Williams)
takes a different tack
than most of the other
popular coln-ops. Earth has
lost a war with a race of
space Invaders, and the arca-
der. as commander of the last
Defender-class spaceship. must
save any sUNlVlng Terrans and
blast It out with the baddies
from space.
Thegamer pilots the powerful
craft along an ever-changing
honzontally scrolling playfleld.
looking for survivors beklw and
anackers from a vanety of dIrec-
tions. SInce the scenery IS
always different. there's no
chance of getting bored by a
couple of hours of battling on
the same playfleld.

electronIc Games 4S

.. ...~........~..~ ...
-.~
CHAMPIONSHIP SOCCER

Forget about the Oscars, Emmys and Tonys- here come
the I982 ArkieslThe third annual Arcade Awards, this year
sponsored jointly by Video magazine and Electronic

Games, honor outstanding achievements in the field of elec-

tronic arcading in the year 1981 Vldeogame of the Year: Asteroids (Atarl)
And what a banner year it wasl Manufacturersresponded Some games are ideal for play at home, Others are perfect

to the tremendous increase in th ~ popularity of electronic for the family amusement centers. But only a select few pos-

games by introducing a record number of titles. Overall quality sess the special qualities-easy-to-grasp essentials and a wide

also took a giant leap forward, resulting in intense competition enough varrety of action to stand up to hundreds of

for every one of the 13 major prizes. Many games that had to replays-to hit it big in all corners of the electronic gaming

be content with an Honorable M ention in the 1982 world.

Arcade Awards would have Asteroids is such a game.

been winners in either of the Last year, it captured the Arkie

two previous years for the best coin-operated

Before proceeding to an game. This time, SOlidifying its

analysis of the winners, let's standing as one of arcading's

run through the ground rules. authentic classics, 'Asteroids'

Games introduced into na- was the unanimous choice as

tional distribution during 1981 Videogame of the Year.

were eligible, except for a few Eagerly anticipated before

13th-hour entries which will its release, 'Asteroids' more

be held over for consideration than lived up to its advance

by the 1983 Arcade Awards billing. Atari scientists have

committee. No title can win done a maNelousjob translat-

more than one Arkie in a ing the quadrascan original to

given year, although multiple the home screen, actually in-

Honorable Mentions are al- venting a new process that

lowed. New for this year are "fools" the VCS console into

Arkies for the best computer reading a program twice as

games, a logical extension of complex as any previous

the original concept. WARLORDS ROM cartridge.

4 6 El ec tronic G ames

DI .E- Il\VlVIlI ~I D§
•••• '\ . _ • • • • Commentary by Bill Kunkel & Frank Laney Jr. • • • • • ,

,. . t. ••••• r#

The VCS version even adds ASTEROIDS human participants. Odyssey
color to the game. an element wa s able to create a game
missing from the original. much of its excitement. with lots of variable factors to
IOuadrascan is currently a keep the action continuously
black & white technology.) fresh while still providing the
Add in the most distinctive kind of visual pyrotechnics ar-
sound effects since Space I.... caders adore.
vaders. and the result is a
truly satisfying gaming Another ingenious feature
experience. is that the program makes use
Honorable Mention: of the Odyssey keyboard to
Ouest for the Rings allow players to customize the
IOdyssey) stocking of the various dun-
geons and labyrinths that lie
The first boardgame/video- beneath the castles on the
game hybrid is a lot more than map. This makes every play
Just a design curiosity. It's a session unique. while pre-
solid. playable cartridge that venting adventurers from de-
casts two arcaders as a team veloping ··sure win·· strate-
of adventurers attempting to gies that would ultimately rob
defeat the forces of evil in a Ouest for the Rings of
land of magic. mystery and danger.

Honorable Mention: Missile Command IAtari) Honorable Mention: Freeway IActivision)

Here·s another Atari coin·op success that has made it big in With so many electronic games being merely refinements

the home arcade market. It takes quick reflexes and good of existing hits. it's refreshing when a new title introduces a

marksmanship to save the six cities from destruction by missiles totally original brand of play-action. A few minutes of steering
from space. the chicken through 10 lanes of on-coming traffic rarely fails to
Honorable Mention: UFO IOddyssey) put a smile on the player"s face.

This program gives new meaning to th e phrase ··fast Honorable Mention: Asteroids IAtari)

action·· Blasting away at the The importance of Atari·s

three types of marauding achievement of getting a
ufo·s is the electronic gaming videogame system to run an

version of riding one of those 8.00Q-byte program can·t be

mechanical bulls. Blink once. over-estimated. This develop-
and it's all over. ment opens the way for a

whole generation of more

Most Innovative Game: sophisticated cartridges.

Ouest for the Rings

IOdyssey) Best Competitive Game:
There·s no question that Tennis: IActivision)

Odyssey has charted a bold Now that so many of the
new path for videogames new home videogames are

with this adventure fantasy adaptations of big successes
cartridge. Blending off-screen in the coin-op field. there·s a

movement on a colorful map- growing scarcity of authentic
board with an electronic com- head-to-head. two·player

bat game can only be called contests. IM ost two-player
inspired. By assigning some of games are played In rotation.

the details of play to the DODGE ·EM not simultaneously .)

Electronic Games 47

That's why Tennis, designed by AI M iller, is such a wel- Best Sports Game: USAC Auto Racing {Mattei)
come additon to the Activision line. The program provides a
choice of two skill levels, which can be set individually, This race game hasjust about everything previous attempts
Honorable Mention: Ice Hockey {Mattei) to simulate the sport have lacked. The cars look-and
steer-like cars, and they roar around realistic tracks.
Ice Hockey is a particularly good competitive game, be-
cause mere manual dexterity isn't necesarily the ticket to an Drivers choose from a selection of autos with differing acce-
electronic Stanley Cup. Even if your fingers are more numb leration, cornering, b raking and speed characteristics. The
than nimble, you can stay in the game with pinpoint passing courses are also a pleasingly varied lot ranging from fairly easy
and carefully coordinated offensive thrusts. to tracks that feature turns so sharp that only the most skillful
Honorable Mention: Warlords {Atari) will be able to avoid a costly spin-out.
Honorable Mention: Championship Soccer{Atari)
Home arcaders In the habit of inviting a bunch of friends
over fo r a night of gaming w ill defin itely want this one. Like many of the Atari sports games, Chamlonship Soccer
Warlords is the first cartridige playable by fou r participants. would never win a prize as the most realistic Simulation. But it
deseNes a great deal of praise for reproducing a lot of the feel
of the actual sport in an easily learned and fun-to-play format.
A n added bonus is that it plays very nicely asa solitaire contest
something that 's rare among sports titles,
Honorable Mention: Tennis {Activision)

The trapezoidal field elevates this cartridge above the typical
pong-style tennis games that once dominated the home ar-
cade scene.

Best Solitarle Game: Missile Command {Atarl) Best Pong Variant: Warlords {Atari)
The best thing about Missile Command, from the solo Ball-ane-paddle games have certainly come a long way

gamer' spoint of view, is that it has the most extensive options since the days when pioneering arcaders huddled in front of a
for varying the difficulty of any video gasme. Good players screen with a white line down the center and a block-like pad-
always find it annoying to have to start each game at a level of dle on each side. Warlords is a four-way battle with a medi-
play suitable for only the most inexperienced new-comer, eval theme. Players attempt to batter down the walls of their
With 'M issile Command ', the arcader can select the precise opponents' castles and slay the monarchs inside.
starting point that's appropriate for his or her ability.
Honorable Mention: Blockout / Breakdown {Odyssey)
Honorable Mention: Dodge 'Em {Atari) There's nothing new about games in which arcaders at-
The very first gobble game to reach the market makes a
tempt to dismantle multi-colored walls by firing projectiles
pleasant solitaire pastime. Most arcaders quickly master the against them using a paddle to keep the "ball" in play. The
trick of dealing with one computer-driven crash car, but it gets added ingredient is a troupe of hard-working demons that
a lot trickier after that second robot-controlled auto starts rebuilds the barriers as fast as the bricks disappear
zooming from lane to lane, Honorable Mention: W hizball {Zircon)

There's really no other videogame quite like this one .
Players fire pellets called "whizballs" at gigantic floaters in an
attempt to knock one through the opposing goal.

N Hl H OCKEY

Best Science Fiction Game: UFO {Odyssey) Best Audio-Visual Effects: Kaboom! {Activision)
Terming the pace of UFO "fast" is a little like referring to pro-
Charming graphics turn a pleasant if unexceptional. title In-
fessional wrestler Andre the Giant as "tall" A typical game of to a true videogame classic. From the hissing fuses of the
'UFO' is a symphony of multi-hued explosions that seems to explosives to the maniacal grin on the face of the mad bomber
end almost before it starts. The same experts who measure a when one of his devices gets past the player's water buckets,
successful round of Space Invaders or Asteroids by the Kaboom! is a real visual treat,
number of hours the machine takes to demolish the player's
entire arsenal would be happy to last 10 minutes in 'UFO',

As captain of an Earth Federation cruiser, the arcader must
face peril from every direction in the form of three distinct types
of unidentified flying objects.
Honorable Mention: laser Blast {Activision)

This is the cartridge that gives grizzled veterans of allen inva-
sion games the chance to turn the tables. The arcader directs a
fleet of flying saucers that must wipe out a series of enemy
ground installations,

4 8 Electro n Ic Gam e ~

Honorable Mention: Ouest for the Rings (Odyssey/ Best Computer Sports Game: Computer Baseball
One of the joys of this game is the way the dsigner has (Strategic Simulations/

given each type of monster not only a unique look, but a Statistically-minded sports freaks have participated in face-
distinctive mode of movement and attack. Having to watch a to-face and mail leagues using non-electronic replay simula-
spydroth tyrantulis drop down on the head of your hero and tions for over 30 years. Now computer owners can do the
suck him into its gaping maw is a sight the elecronic adven- same with this outstanding portrayal of diamond drama.
turer will not soon forget.
The best thing about Computer Baseball is that all the
Best Commercial Aracde Game: Pac-Man complicated play mechanics are buried in the computer,
(Namco/Mldway/ where they belong. Managers can, therfore, concentrate on
making many of the same decisions that folks like Tom Lasor-
Can a game without aliens, missiles and explsions make it in da and Billy Martin deal with every summer day.
the family amusement center? Pac-Man proved conslusively
that the answer is, 'Yesl" Thanks in part to its tremendous ap- Clearly, the designers know as much about baseball as they
peal to female arcaders, 'Pac-Man' machines gobble up do about computers. Key elements, such as having to proper-
quarters nearly as fast as the little on-screen pac-man scoops ly warm up a relief pitcher, that are neglected in even the best
up the point-scoring pellets in this maze-chase program. manual simulations get consideration here. And though the
graphics aren't arcade-quality, they at least give the managers
Delightful audio-visual effects further enhance one of the a visual representation of what's happening on the field.
best-designed of all the coin-op games. The most interesting
play-feature is that while the pac-man ordinarily must flee from 'Computer Baseball' is a definite home run.
the rovers, it becomes the aggressor after gUlping down one
of the special energizers. Then it is the rovers' turn to run, Best Computer Adventure: Empire of the Over-Mind
because the arcader can score big bunches of bonus points by (Avalon-Hill/
gobbling them up.
Honorable Mention: Defender (Williams/ Although Empire of the Over-Mind resembles many
other text adventures in terms of basic presentation, thp mar-
Truly original coin-op games can be counted on the fingers velously inventive plot makes it an especially absorbing and in-
of one hand. This is one of them. Players maneuver an armed volving experience for electronic heroes. In particular, the Fact
plane over the horizontally scrolling surface of a planet, bat- that it does not require the arcader to solve a series of puzzles in
tling the winged aliens and attempting to save the doomed lock-step order must be considered a tremendous plus.
inhabitants.
Honorable Mention: Battlezone (Atari/ The program pits the adventurer against a sinister intelli-
gence, the Over-mind, which holds humankind under its
Early versions of this game, in which arcaders pilot super- thumb on two planets. There's more than one way to attain
tanks on the surface of the moon, had players peering the goal of overthrowing this tyranny, so wilen a particular sit-
through a periscope. Atari deep-sixed the periscope when the uation seems insoluble, it's always possible to back up, go to
company realized that people enjoy waching the hunt for the another location and try something else.
enemy vehicles almost as much as taking the controls them-
selves. Still, the original edition does have a special navar, put- 'Empire of the Over-Mind' is one of the best arguments for
ting the player in splendid isolation even in the middle of a the idea that, even though programs with graphics are start-
crowded amusement center. ing to hit the market there will continue to be a place in com-
puter arcading farwell-written text adventures.
Computer Game of the Year: Star Raiders (Atarl/
"Which do you want, strategy or graphics?" That used to E r~( t ronl( Games 49

be a question frequently asked of computerists by game soft-
ware manufacturers. Star Raiders, for the Atari 400 and 800
systems, changed all that almost overnight. This space war
simulation blends a tactical shoot-out with a galaxy-spanning
strategic-level situation-and puts it all together with some of
the best game visuals ever seen on a computer monitor.

Fourdifferent missions, each a bit more difficult than the last,
help arcaders get a handle on the 'Star Raiders' universe. The
complex after-action scoring system is also a joy, providing
even novice star warriors meaningful goals at which to aim.

Best Computer Action Game: Jawbreaker (On-Line/
This is the program that, more than any other, demonstra-

tes the excellence of the Atari computers as game-players. The
multi-voice rendition of "The Candy Man" that seNes as the
opening theme music, to cite an obvious example, could not
have been done on any other micro.

But there's a lot more to Jawbreaker than just bells and
whistles. Beneath the surface trimmings lies a superb home
variation on this year's Arcade Award winner in the coin-op
division, Pac-Man. This time, though, the idea is a merry spree
in a candy shop. A mouthFul of chomping teeth crunches the
hard candies that line the mazelike paths, chased from one
end of the store to the other by a gang of four bullies.

Raster Blaster IBudgeCo/Apple "B" and tacks I 0,000 points onto the tinue play. It was hard to fight down the
11/48K) is the first computer simulation of score. The Final hurdle to conquer con- urge to apply a little "english" by whack-
a pinball machine that delivers what it sists of a set of four lanes at the top of the ing the side of the television set.
promises. When immersed in an actual screen. If a ball goes through all of them
round of play, it is easy for the gamer to on the same round, an "R" lights to ac- Bill Budge deserves congratulations
forget that 'Raster Blaster' is only an im- for the excellent graphics work on this
age on a television screen. RASTER BLASTER program. 'Raster Blaster' is a superior
effort that is packed with fun. ILeigh
Immediately upon completion of the knowledge the achievement. and the Goldstein) .
booting process, a stunning array of machine increases the arcader's total by
flashing lights and electronic "neon" 10,()(X) Falcons lPicadilly SoftwarelApple III
greets the player. Arcaders can then 48K disk), based on the popular
choose to either play alone or against up Bill Budge is a member of that elusive Phoenix coin-op, is one of the truest
to three other pinballers. fraternity of programmers who have an renditions of a commercial arcade game
incredible familiarity with the Apple's available today.
There are two levels of difficulty, and inner workings. 'Raster Blaster' seems to
most folks will want to begin with the do some things that one would think The player is given three ships and
easy one. The ball has less chance of fail- were beyond the computer's capa- must clear the screen four times before
ing by the wayside, giving gamers a bilitiesl corning face-to-face with the alien
chance to get the feel of the "table." mothership. The meanies constantly
Only one programming bug turned move and shoot. while they transform
The game is played using a pairof pad- up, and it occurred only once. The ball themselves into strange bird-like crea-
dies. The action buttons had better be in became stuck in the right hand lane, and tures. Pressing the space bar provides
good working order, too, since they the game had to be re-booted to con- five seconds of shield protection. This
must be used sparingly. however, since
seNe as the controls for the flippers. there is a five-second recharging period
before they can be energized again.
As with any pinball machine, the ob-
ject is to beat the game for all it's worth. The first wave of aliens appears in a
The geography of the playfield provides format that will be familiar to players of
plenty of action-and lots of oppor- alien invasion games. After the player
tunities to prove your flipper-game clears the screen, the next batch emerges
mastery. In particular, the four bumpers in oval formation. The third and fourth
located near the top of the field are very fields consist of small blue and orange
lively. The two lowest bumpers sport dots that evolve into funny-looking
flags that blink when hit. Turning them birds, which dive and collide with great
on is worth 5,000 points and causes regUlarity.
'Raster Blaster' to energize its claws.
Getting to the mothership seems like a
The machine's grabbers can hold two great achievement. butin reality, it's only
balls on the table indefinitely, until the the beginning. This reviewer has not yet
third one is also caught. Then it creates a succeeded in destroying the alien nestled
storm of chaos by releasing all of them, within the huge craft.
much like a real pinball machine, Fire-
ball . This also earns the arcader a 'Falcons' is tough. The extreme diffi-
15,()(X)-point bonus, so the mayhem is culty of the game lends itself to the kind
not without some rhyme or reason. of repeat playing characteristic of home
arcading.
Illuminating the three flags on the right
hand side of the field lights an orange

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SO Ele<:tronlc Games