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New Joysticks Available for Your Atari 2600

New Joysticks Available for Your Atari 2600

May Your Holiday Season Be a Classic One

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Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 3

The List 27

Teach Your Children Well 28

Games of Blame 29

Mit’s Revenge 31

The Odyssey Challenger Series 34

Interview With Bob Rosha 38

Atari Arcade Hits Review 41

Jaguar: Straight From the Cat’s 43 Mouth 6 Review 44 24

Dear Santa 46 CGM Online Reset 5 22 So, what’s Happening with CGM Newswire 6 our website? Upcoming Releases 8 In the coming months we’ll Book Review: The First Quarter 9 be expanding our web pres- Classic Ad: “Fonz” from 1976 10 ence with more articles, games and classic gaming merchan- Lost Arcade Classic: Guzzler 11 dise. Right now we’re even The Games We Love to Hate 12 shilling Classic Gamer Maga- zine merchandise such as The X-Games 14 t-shirts and coffee mugs. Are These Games Unplayable? 16 So be sure to check online with us for all the latest and My Favorite Hedgehog 18 greatest in classic gaming news Ode to Arcade Art 20 and fun.

Roland’s Rat Race for the C-64 22 www.classicgamer.com

Survival Island 24

Head ‘em Off at the Past 48

Classic Ad: “K.C. Munchkin” 1982 49

My .025 50

Make it So, Mr. Borf! Dragon’s Lair 52 and DVD Review How I Tapped Out on Tapper 54

Classifieds 55

Poetry Contest Winners 55

CVG 101: What I Learned Over 56 Summer Vacation ’s Misplays and Bogey’s 58 46 Deep Thaw 62 38 Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 4 “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to Issue 5 repeat it” - George Santayana December 2000

Editor-in-Chief “Unfortunately, those of us who do remember the past are Chris Cavanaugh condemned to repeat it with them." - unaccredited [email protected]

Managing Editor -Box, , Play- and the X-Box? Well, much to Sarah Thomas [email protected] Station, PlayStation 2, the chagrin of bashers Gamecube, 64, everywhere, there is one rule of Contributing Writers , Nuon, Game business that should never be X Mark Androvich Boy Advance, and the home forgotten: Never bet against Bill. . Sound familiar? The Al Backiel

“experts” would have you believe This Issue Shaun Conlin we are headed towards another We’ve made some exciting Carl Forhan videogame industry crash similar advancements over the past few to of 1984. However, this months here at the Classic Earl Green time the problem isn’t an abun- Gamer Magazine offices. In case Leonard Herman dance of inferior but an you hadn’t heard, we’re now be- Henry Hutcheson abundance of superior hardware. ing distributed at Tower Records. Personally, I’ll take the latter So, we are now truly reaching a Chris Lion

“crisis” over the former any day! global audience. So, to our new Fred Pierson

But not to worry. The video- international readers, who might Damien Quicksilver game industry has grown (and have difficulty reading English, Lee K. Seitz matured) immensely since the we give a hearty “hello and wel- “early days.” I believe, for the come.” And to our readers in Tim Snider most part, that lessons have been Florida who had difficulty under- Kyle Snyder learned from mistakes of the standing our layout, we’ve tried to Patrick Wong past. Yes, has quite the make it a bit simpler just for you! hole to dig itself out of, but surely This issue we are welcoming Tom Zjaba you can’t count them out. aboard a few new contributors.

Sega has returned with a Tom Zjaba of The Retrogaming Layout and Design vengeance, producing a techno- Times will be relating his sober- Chris Cavanaugh—layout and design Sarah Thomas— editing, subscriptions logically wonderful console with ing experience with “Tapper,” Al Thomasson—Cover Artist quality games to boot. Backiel from The Digital Press Nintendo? They have quietly is here to set us straight on Network Administrative Consultant found their niche among the fam- Ken Jong Xonox cartridges, and Mark An- ily gaming crowd. isn’t go- drovich has kindly been loaned CONTACT INFORMATION ing anywhere. to us from PSExtreme Magazine Classic Gamer Magazine 7770 Regents Road #113-293 VM Labs’ Nuon technology will in order to give us a review of San Diego, CA 92122 be a nice perk to have inside your Steven Kent’s book, “The First e-mail: [email protected] on the web: DVD player. Besides, how else Quarter.” http://www.classicgamer.com are you going to play Tempest It’s now time to turn your clock LEGAL JUMBO 3000? About the only dark horse back to when Pac-Man was king Entire contents © 1999, 2000, 2001 Chris Cavanaugh and in this scenario is the vaporous and spend a moment forgetting Classic Gamer Magazine. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Products named in these Indrema console. Its based about pregnant chads, the elec- pages are tradenames or trademarks of their respective companies. Classic Gamer Magazine and its staff is not open architecture, which invites a toral college, and that Band-Aid affiliated with the companies or products covered in Classic Gamer Magazine. Please consult the “Fair Use Law” glut of inferior software (see 1984 that was on Dubya Bush’s face. before you beef to me. reference above), could spell its doom in the long run. Oh yes, -Cav Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 5 H E A D L I N E Atari Gets a New Home (Again) New Home for Atari: Infogrames Acquires Interactive Rights in $100 Million Deal

Infogrames will purchase 100 percent of the common stock of Hasbro Interac- tive and Games.com for $100 million, including game rights to the toy firm’s biggest properties. The 20 year deal gives Infogrames the Atari name and its properties, such as Centipede, , and .

www.infogrames.com www.atari.com

O B I T U A R Y Commodore Pioneer, Ira Velinski, 46 On Tuesday, November 14, Mr. Ira Velinsky, 46, passed away from a heart at- tack while on a plane returning from Comdex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ira, an indus- trial design engineer, worked for the Tramiel family at Commodore. There he won a number of international awards, including one for the design of the . He followed the Tramiel regime to Atari where he assumed the role as director of industrial design. In 1998, Ira founded Sozo Design, LLC (www. sozodesign.com) in Burlingame, California as a well-respected design-consulting firm. Ira is survived by his wife Mayumi, his mother, stepfather and brother.

Thanks to Don Thomas of www.icwhen.com for this news item.

N E W R E L E A S E S

New CD Games Out Good Deal Games is proud to announce the first two new games for the SEGA CD in almost a full decade! Both Bug Blasters: The Exterminators, and were produced using high-end film, advanced puppetry, and 3D computer animation. Boasting $100K budgets, GDG brings the Sega CD back in style! Both games are must-have titles for any Sega CD fan! Best of all, they’re available now! Learn more at the Good Deal Games website:

http://www.gooddealgames.com

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 6 N E W P R O D U C T

New Available For Your The GOAT Store has announced the completion of work on two highly anticipated products, the 2600 JAMMA and the slightly larger brother, the 2600 JAMMA Joystick LX. These two joysticks, are made from actual JAMMA arcade parts. "The JAMMA Joysticks series are products that I really have enjoyed creating, build- ing and selling," said Dan Loosen of the GOAT Store. We hope that enthusiasts for the 2600 find this joystick . . . useful!" The 2600 JAMMA Joystick ($41.90) and the 2600 JAMMA Joystick LX ($46.90) are currently on sale at the company’s website: http:www.goatstore.com

R E C O R D B R E A K E R S 14 Year Old Centipede Record Eradicated November 22, 2000 - After months of repeated attempts by Donald Hayes, the 14-year-old world record on Atari's classic arcade , Centipede, has been smashed with an incredible 7,111,111 points. He ended the game voluntarily after nearly half a day of non-stop bug exterminating at Funspot Family Fun Center in Weirs Beach, New Hampshire. "Breaking the Centipede record is one of the greatest video-game playing ac- complishments seen in recent years," explains Walter Day, Chief Scorekeeper at the Twin Galaxies Intergalactic Scoreboard (www.twingalaxies.com) and the official judge for all video game world records, since 1982. Hayes, 32, of Salem, New Hampshire, will be honored by the Mayor of Salem sometime in December at Salem City Hall. He will receive a framed certificate cre- ated by Twin Galaxies to commemorate the accomplishment. Former Centipede record holder G. Ben Carter of Fremont, Nebraska was un- able to be reached for comment.

R E C O R D B R E A K E R S Perfect Pitfall Alan Hewston has achieved the first verified “perfect” score on the Atari 2600 version of "Pitfall." The “Perfect Pitfall” score was verified by Ron Corcoran, Twin Galaxies’ Worldwide Editor for the Atari 2600 and Commodore systems. Hewston stated, “ I never planned to get a perfect game, just a perfect score. By not dying or making any mistakes, I lost a few more seconds in finishing time, but mostly because I just took my time and stayed on 3-4 vines for 2 swings to make damn sure this game did not end in tragedy.” Alan ended up with three seconds to spare. Alan will be honored with a Twin Galaxies certificate and an appearance in the next edition of Twin Galaxies’ Official Video Game & Book of World Records. He will also write of his experience in the December 20 issue of Today's Heroes Video- game Retro Times (http://www.tomheroes.com).

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 7 RELEASE SCHEDULE FOR CLASSIC ATARI 2600 RELATED GAMES NEW RELEASES

December 2000 and the Infernal Machine Available Now Sea Battle ( Productions) January 2001 Sword Fight (Intellivision Productions) 64

Crazy Valet (http://home.tampabay.rr. February 2001 com/bprescot/crazyvalet/index.htm) Paper Mario (RPG)

GAME BOY RELEASE SCHEDULE FOR DREAMCAST RELEASE CLASSIC RELATED GAMES SCHEDULE FOR CLASSIC RELATED GAMES

November 2000 Country Dragon’s Lair December 2000 December 2000 The Next - Online Edition Ultima I January 2001 January2001 Bleem! Adventure Mega Man Xtreme February 2001 TBA 2 (DC) Online Legend of Zelda: Mystical Seed of Power

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 8 THE FIRST QUARTER: A 25-YEAR (which the author was part of). Perhaps this HISTORY OF VIDEOGAMES isn’t such a thing, as the events in ques- By Steven L. Kent tion are too recent to be viewed from an his- 466 pages torical perspective. On the other hand, the $21.95 enormous success of Sony’s PlayStation— BWD Press bringing videogames into the mainstream like never before—is truly significant and deserves Review by Mark Androvich more coverage. Whether due to turning down a request for an interview, or If you follow videogame “journalism,” more likely due to the fact that Kent initially you’re probably familiar with Steven Kent. completed the book years ago, there just isn’t He has written about electronic entertain- much first-hand information regarding Sony ment for mainstream sources such as and its battles with Sega and Nintendo in the MSNBC and USA Today, and has been a mid-to-late 1990’s. frequent contributor to Next Generation “The First Quarter” tapers off around magazine. A few years ago, I’d heard he was 1996-97. , and its ubiquitous heroine Lara working on a book about videogames. The good Croft, are not even mentioned in the book, and neither news is that the book is finally finished. The bad is Zelda 64, Solid, or other late 1990’s news is that, since mainstream publishers took blockbusters. The only videogame media/journalists passed on it, you won’t find it at any bookstore: it quoted or even mentioned are maga- is available only through Amazon.com. zine founders Kunkel, Katz, and Worley and yet I’m sure The aptly named “The First Quarter” traces the there are some interesting stories concerning the devel- roughly 25 years of videogame history, starting opment of videogame magazines. Finally, although the with coin-operated mechanical games, which pre- book opens with pinball, the recent demise of pinball is dated and Pong, and ending with never touched upon—perhaps this would have been a the Japanese launch of PlayStation 2. All the major good way to close the book. But, as Kent writes, there players and important figures in the industry are is no way to describe the ending of something which profiled, with liberal use of quotations taken from does not end. interviews with the author. In this respect, the The book is not without a few minor errors. For ex- book differs from “Phoenix”—Leonard Herman’s ample, Hogan’s Alley is mentioned as being prominently comprehensive history of videogames which Kent featured in the movie Back to the Future, even though it acknowledges and praises. “Phoenix” has been was actually featured in Back to the Fu- criticized (wrongly, in my opinion) for laying out ture II. Misspelled words or improper punctuation is to the events of the past 25 years very matter-of- be expected in personal projects of this nature (that factly, which is like criticizing an encyclopedia for don’t have the luxury of a team of editors), but the not having a more exciting narrative. “The First book is quite professional in its appearance. Quarter” serves as a good companion to It’s a shame that “The First Quarter” was not picked “Phoenix,” as it expands upon that history with an- up by a mainstream publisher, since it is written in a ecdotes and personal accounts. style that makes it accessible to videogame fans and Roughly half of the book is devoted to the Atari non-fans alike. If I have any criticism of the book at all, age prior to Nintendo’s entrance into the American it is that the majority of the material will be familiar to market in 1985, which is as it should be. After all, anyone who has read “Zap! The Rise and Fall of this was the time of the true pioneers. Every sys- Atari” (1984) and “” (1993). Unfortunately, tem and game since that time has built upon the the time period that those two books do not cover, foundation created by people such as Steve Rus- 1995-2000, is also barely touched upon here. Perhaps a sell, Ralph Baer, and . All the myths more detailed discussion will have to wait for the and legends—from the overflowing coin box at “second quarter.” The book could also have benefited Andy Capp’s tavern to the burying of cartridges in from an index, and although the 21 pages of pictures a New landfill—are covered. By tracing the were welcome, I would have liked to have seen more careers of Atari’s executives, who later had a hand shots of hardware, advertising, or paraphernalia rather in Nintendo, Sega, and Sony, the book illustrates than personalities. Still, the photos fit the book’s focus just how influential Bushnell’s company turned out on the people behind the games rather than on the to be. games themselves. The next quarter of the book details the rise of Steven Kent has done us all a great service by pre- Nintendo, from its initial difficulties to its ultimate serving the memories of the videogame pioneers in domination of the U.S. market. Much of this infor- book form. When the rest of the world finally shows an mation can also be found in David Scheff’s “Game interest in the of the largest segment of the en- Over,” but Kent manages to summarize the impor- tertainment industry, historians will thank him for hav- tant events. Even having read the other books on ing laid the groundwork. the subject, there were a few tidbits regarding the 16-bit system “war” with Sega that I was previ- MARK ANDROVICH is a author and Senior Editor ously unaware of. for PSE2 Magazine, and was formerly a contributor to The 2600 Only about 60 pages are devoted to the 32-bit Connection fanzine. Although he’s been bugging us to publish generation of systems, and much of that is related his work in CGM, we generally just use him to keep Sarah entertained at CGExpo (while Chris checks out to Congressional hearings on videogame violence the ”nerdy” stuff).

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 9 ClassicClassic AdvertisementAdvertisement (Well, it’s a sell sheet, actually..)

19761976 Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 10 you to be destroyed. Even when all your Guzzlers have been beaten, don't walk away from the machine just yet. Tehkan has graciously provided a way for you to get back in the action without investing another dd. That's the word; the word are reduced to soggy embers. So why quarter. A "wheel of fortune" decorated that perfectly sums up are these beasts so plentiful? Oh yes, the with one guzzler and several fire beasts Tehkan's Guzzler, a 1983 four fires. Line Guzzler up and begins to spin. The object is to the fire O entry into the “cute” genre of SPLOOOOOSH!!! He successfully puts button to slow the wheel down, leaving Guzzler highlighted in the window at the arcade games. It's a maze game, but out one of the four fires. But now Guzzler one quite unlike the myriad of Pac-Man is dangerously low on water again, and bottom of the wheel when it finally stops. clones that populated game rooms dur- OH NO! He just got ambushed by a fire But this is no showcase showdown. You ing this era. It's more of a beast. At least he has two lives remain- only have ONE chance to score the Guz- style contest with a much more bizarre ing. zler and win an extra to play where scenario. And so the game contin- you left off. It's the trickiest and most Guzzler ues. Guzzler roams the clever part of the game, and it's a sur- puts you in the mazes, which will contain prise that parent groups didn't try to ban role of "the fewer and fewer walls as Guzzler based on its obvious support of guzzler," a the screens advance. gambling and alcohol. I mean, OUR KIDS small, blue, Eventually, the maze is MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO GAMBLE AND animated replaced with an open play- DRINK! GOTTA GET RID OF GUZZLER! water jug. Per- field, which makes safe And while we’re at it, let's get that Mortal haps a distant maneuvering nearly impos- Kombat game out of here too. Little relation to the sible. You must extinguish Johnny was just practicing how to rip Kool Aid Man? the first group of fire somebody's spine out! But I digress... This guzzler beasts, then douse the four Guzzler was licensed to for has found him- source flames, one by one, manufacture by Tehkan, and it was one self in a very until peace is restored to of the earliest kit games. A few Guzzler hostile place the maze. machines were released, but the vast filled with Guzzler borrows from bulk of Guzzlers were conversion kits for maze walls immediate cute predeces- older games. The one I used to play had and fire sors, Burgertime and Mr.Do been a Phoenix in another life. Guzzler beasts. The by introducing a "prize" that was never ported to any classic home fire beasts appears in the center of the game system, but had the crash of '84 originate from four flame sources situated from time to time. In this case, a been a myth, I could easily see this game at various places throughout the maze. martini glass (ahhhh... the days when you having been a hot seller for the Colecovi- They appear in a variety of different could expose children to alcohol without sion, given 's penchant for adapt- shapes and colors, the most common fear of legal repercussion!). This cocktail ing overlooked arcade titles. Heck, being the yellow species, which closely does more than just maybe the Guzzler resembles the "will o' the wisps" found in add points to your himself could have later screens of Donkey Kong; and the score; it significantly been in a variety of red species, which sports blue shoes, reduces Guzzler's sequel and spin off yellow hands, and malicious scowls. stress. No, No, No! titles... Guzzler's Cas- How can they possibly expect little Not like that! You see, tle? Super Guzzler Guzzler to survive in such a terrifying grabbing the drink Brothers? Guzzler's place? Turns out our friend has one freezes all the fire Adventure? He was clever trick up his sleeve. He can beasts, allowing you a certainly as cute as expel water with enough force to com- few precious seconds Mr.Do, Mario, or pletely extinguish any fire beasts caught to attack the immobi- Kirby. in his path. Hurray! The fire beasts are no lized enemies. The I saw Guzzler only more. But wait a second. OH NO! More beasts are still deadly once, in a long since fire beasts! And did I forget to mention though, so step lively! defunct arcade across that each time Guzzler expels water, he It is also important from Andrews Air diminishes some of his life supply? As to note that the area Force Base in Mary- Guzzler’s water level drops, we see his doused by your wa- land. It was the last in body change from bright blue to a clear tery offense is directly a row of about 20 outline, indicating the well is dry. So what proportional to the games. All the Gala- now? There are more fire beasts to be amount of water you gas, Centipedes, and doused, but Guzzler has no more water carry. If you are at full Ms.Pac-mans were to use in his defense! capacity, your water blast will last for a happily interacting with their customers, Except... look around, and you’ll find few seconds, extending several but the Guzzler machine sat alone. I de- that the maze looks like it’s just experi- body lengths of Guzzler, and safely cided to give it a try, and I found a com- enced a brief April shower. Puddles of squelching any enemies that are close pelling game that I was hoping to see various sizes are scattered throughout by. The closer you get to being empty, more often. Unfortunately, I never did, the passageways. Hurry, rush Guzzler though, reduces the amount of distance and the game slipped quietly into arcade over to a puddle! As Guzzler drinks, we the water blast covers, until you basi- obscurity. Perhaps my article will inspire see his body change back to bright blue; cally... well... spit on your enemies with some of you to check it out on MAME, or he is armed and ready to do battle! the last drops. It's still just as deadly to maybe even try to track down SPLOOOOOSH!!!! Three fire beasts are the fire beasts, but you have to put your- an actual machine. Guzzler drowned and washed away! self in a much more dangerous scenario, deserves that much. SPLASHHHH!!!! Another two fire beasts as the beast has to be practically upon

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 11 Strawberry Shortcake

Recently at the Classic Gaming Expo 2000, a panel of former Atari programmers reminisced about their glory days at Atari in the early eighties. During a question and answer session that followed, the inevitable question was asked. You know, the one that asks why the old classic are better than today's games. The response from was that it simply wasn't true. Every genera- tion of games produces both good and bad games but we only tend to remember the good ones. Thus, we are comparing the rela- tively few great games that we remember to the entire output of games that are being produced today. While this explanation seems to make sense, it is one that is not necessarily true. It probably does apply to the general public who will most likely remember the great cars of another era, or the great TV shows from decades past. However, where collectors are concerned, it doesn't necessarily hold water. As collectors of classic games, we can remember both the good and bad games that ex- ist. Heck, we're still playing them! The Atari 2600, by virtue of having the largest collection of software of all the classic systems, also has the largest number of bad games. Manufacturers in those days found the 2600 to be a great money maker, and since licensing and manufacturing fees didn't have to be paid to Atari, they were free to release any type of crap they wanted. However there were some games that went beyond bad. There were some games that were so bad that we’ll always remember them. These are...

henever there is a discussion bly duplicated on the super systems like probably inspired from Centipede, but if about bad 2600 games, E.T. the 5200 and Colecovision, it was widely that was the case, imitation is not the always comes up. This was a believed that they couldn't be replicated sincerest form of flattery. There is abso- game that had little going for it on the 2600. So when Coleco and Sega lutely nothing redeeming about this game Wbesides its name, which Atari had in- released the 2600 versions of Zaxxon (and the word ‘game’ is used very tended to capitalize on. With only six and Congo Bongo, it was assumed that loosely), and unless you’re a sado- weeks to develop and write the game, these companies had come through with masochist who enjoys getting frustrated, actually did an some kind of graphical breakthrough in this is one to stay away from. admirable job of getting the gist of the film the same fashion that revolu- into the game. Unfortunately the game is tionized 2600 graphics a few years ear- Strawberry Shortcake basically unplayable, with the onscreen lier. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Musical Matchups ET constantly falling into annoying holes. Coleco's Zaxxon, while playable, didn't Videogames have always been a boy- No game symbolizes Atari's greed more even duplicate the diagonally oriented activity, but than this one; Atari actually produced graphics that made the arcade version so aimed to change that with what they more copies of ET than there were 2600 unique and endearing. As it stands, the dubbed “The First Videogame For Little consoles. The majority of them wound up 2600 Zaxxon is just another vertical Girls.” Unfortunately, this 'game' insults getting buried in a New Mexico landfill. shooter. Sega tried to duplicate the 3D the intelligence of the 4 to 7 year olds that effect on the 2600 Congo Bongo but the it is intended to entertain. result is so bad that the game is com- Zaxxon & Congo Bongo With this being the first videogame for pletely unplayable. Zaxxon and Congo Bongo were two little girls, it's easy to see how far girl games that looked absolutely beautiful games have come since then. Now we when they appeared in the arcades. Sssnake have games based on Barbie and the These were the first games to feature Digital Press calls this Data-Age title Olsen Twins. On second thought, maybe graphics from a 3-Dimensional point of the 'worst videogame ever created' and girl games haven’t progressed that far! view. While these games were reasona- they may have a point. Sssnake was

E.T. Sssnake Pac-Man Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 12

TERRIBLE TAIWANESE

There are some games that came out of Taiwan that are really bad. I'd tell you the name of the company that produced them but I don’t know it! Actually, the Taiwanese games that invaded our shores were illegal rip-offs of existing games from both the and Racquetball Europe. In some cases it was even im- possible to figure out what game was being ripped off as the box’s cover art, pull a handle! Then you watch the wheels description, and screen shot were all Racquetball turn for a few seconds and hope that you different. However, there is a lighter side You might think that Apollo should’ve win. If you do, you have the thrill of hearing to these Taiwanese games, which may been commended for taking on a game your coins pour out. be reason enough to collect them. The like racquetball and converting it to the This is something that can't be dupli- description and instructions, which are home console. That is, until you play it. cated in a videogame. There is little sus- found on the back of the box, are written While the graphics simulate a racquetball pense in watching wheels turn when you in such bad English that they are actually court adequately, the game play is just have nothing at stake. And if you do win, funny. Here are two examples: impossible. For some reason the designer you won't be awarded with the clanging of thought that the ball’s shadow was impera- coins. Little Bear: tive to the game play. Unfortunately it’s Even the graphics on the 2600 Slot "Your mission is to protect the Mr. impossible to tell which is the real ball and Machine lack excitement. The symbols on Postman sending a secret letter safely to which is the shadow! Stay away from this the wheels don’t resemble anything on a Silent City. To press the button is to one at all costs! real slot machine. make Mr. Postman should keep away Apparently few enjoyed this game. It from hails and the eagle, or you press Football was one of the first titles from Atari (along the button to shoot down them. Mr. Post- with Starship and Miniature Golf) to be The Atari 2600 did not achieve its man can not touch the wall as he is walk- discontinued. popularity by way of its sports games, but ing on the street, otherwise all will be gone. Football brought them down to a new level. There is probably more flickering in Pac-Man Scoring this game than all other 2600 games Finally, no article dealing with bad Any lose and mistake: deduct 10 from combined (Pac-Man included!). Unlike games can omit Atari's 2600 Pac-Man. the basic scores 2000." real football, which involves a large de- The funny thing about Pac-Man is that it gree of strategy, 2600 Football all comes really isn't a bad game. The only problem Bobby Is Going Home: down to luck. Like most early 2600 is its name. Here is another example of Bobby thinks that the world is so games, Football featured piss-poor pa- Atari capitalizing on a popular name and beautiful. He feels his life perfect. But thetic graphics. Unfortunately there was disappointing everyone who bought it. this day as he going home, he meets little to enhance them. Atari later proved with the 2600 version of many strange troubles. At the start of Ms Pac-Man that it could produce a de- game, Bobby has 5 lives, total has 256 Slot Machine cent version of Pac-Man if it wasn't forced scenes of the game, Bobby must pass to rush it onto the marketplace. If the I have a problem with videogame ver- through 7 scenes. 2600 version of Pac-Man had a different sions of games of chance. The whole point name, it wouldn't have been any worse Scoring of these games is for people to risk their than the dozens of other maze/dot games At the start of the game, you have money in order to (hopefully) win more. If that were available. 3,000 points. When past through one you take the money aspect away, there's scene, get 1,000 points. If bobby failed, little to get excited about. It's like getting to try again plus 1,000 points too. But failed the million dollar question on the Play- 5 times, the game is over. The scores Station version of Who Wants To Be A will count down to zero, so please don’t Millionaire. If you don't know the answer hesitate! you may as well guess. After all, you have nothing to lose. Author Leonard Herman resides in New You couldn't write something funnier if Video gambling is the same. Some Jersey with his wife Tamar and sons you tried! gamblers may find merit in the video- Ronnie and Gregory. He is hard at work games because it gives them a chance to preparing the third edition of "Phoenix: hone in on their skills. But when it comes The Fall & Rise of Videogames," which to a slot machine, what kinds of skills are he plans to release in early 2001. involved? All you do is insert a coin and

Football Bobby Is Going Home Photo courtesy: atarihq.com Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 13 Far be it from me to go with what the crowd's doing. I'm going to discuss a few games I like that few people seem to know ever existed. These are like the X-Files of the arcade - most people,people, and even a few coin-op manufacturers, deny all knowledge of these games. But I remember them. I remember playing them. I know they existed. I have solid evidence. The truth isis out there, and it took plenty of my quarters.

Just trust me on this one.

Do! Run Run

This almost sickeningly cute entry in the little-known four-game Mr. Do! franchise took some of the game play of the original Mr. Do! and put it in a vaguely 3-D per- spective. The result? An intensely fun and addictive little game set to new-wave cartoon music that would make the former members of Devo goggle in admira- tion. (Well, actually, they wore goggles on many occasions, so I suppose that wouldn't be terribly surprising.) As well-armed clown Mr. Do, your job is to rid the open playing field of any and all evil critters (though they're cute evil critters) before they rid the playing field of well-armed clowns (namely you). You can zap 'em (leaving you momentarily defenseless) or crush them under rolling logs (of which there are only two per screen). Your options for disposing of these vile creatures make Mr. Do! the most homicidal clown since John Wayne Gacy, but thankfully this one’s considerably more adorable. The game play grows increasingly frenetic as you advance, but it al- ways brought me back for more. I love it. It's a mainstay in my MAME directory now. In its arcade form, Do! Run Run was most frequently encountered as a conversion kit, which would turn an old Mr. Do! or Mr. Do's Castle cabinet into a new game…so you may have played this and thought it was actually the original, depending on the cabinet decora- tions.

Fantasy

My all-time favorite ! I'm not kidding about this either. I think I'm one of only three people who have ever seen this one. Jukebox manu- facturer Rock-Ola licensed a handful of video games from various entities in the early eighties, just to see how many other ways they could get kids to fork over their change. They licensed Warp Warp from , and licensed this jewel of a multi-level quest game from SNK (long, long before the days). Fantasy is the story of a cute little character whose girlfriend, Cheri, is abducted by a bunch of no-good pixellated pirates. As the hero of the story, you must brave all obstacles to rescue Cheri. Slicing up nasty natives with your sword, dodging airborne coconuts lobbed at you by a loony gorilla, avoiding tigers in the woods, evading helicopters, and climbing your way through a level which resem- bles nothing so much as Atari's Kangaroo…this game had it all. And the real killer came in the form of four words that followed "game over": "INSERT COIN TO CONTINUE." I'd have ten seconds to scramble through my pockets looking for two bits to pump into the thing, because I had to know how it ended. The only Fantasy machine I ever encountered was in the at Gaston's Fishing Resort on the White River in northern Arkansas. I wasn't too interested in fishing, and apparently neither was my mother. After hearing me rave about this game, Mom tagged along with me to the game room and dutifully kept feeding fivers to the change machine as she, too, became intrigued with what the ending could be. Is Fantasy the great- est game in the world? Hell no. Even on MAME, I have to "insert coin to continue" about five or six times to reach the end of the game. But it is one of my most cherished video game memories. When I started collecting marquees, I told my wife (though we weren't married yet) that if I could ever find a Fantasy marquee, I'd stop blowing money on these silly slabs of plexiglas. An amusement company in Washington state finally provided me with my holy grail. I got brave and inquired as to how difficult it would be to track down a real live dedicated Fantasy upright cabinet…and was disheartened when the salesman told me that Fantasy was considered a coin-op dud, and most of the Fantasy cabinets had been converted into other games. I was lucky to track down even so much as a marquee as evi- dence that Fantasy ever existed. How sad. Even though it's missing the awful speech syn- thesis, I heartily recommend you grab the Fantasy ROM for MAME and try it out for yourself. .

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 14 Kickmanickman Featuring a Fea- turing a cameo appearance by Pac-Man and the monsters, this lost Bally/Midway is one of my favorites (except for its controller: a lateral trakball, which only moves left or right!). As a pointy-headed clown, you maneuver a unicycle across the bottom of the screen, trying to catch or pop falling balloons, monsters, or Pac-Men on your head. If you miss one, try to kick it with your oversized clown shoes. The item will bounce upward, giving you another chance to try and catch it, or kick it again. But the law of diminishing re- turns soon kicks in as well: while the kicked item bounces upward, another item falls from the top of the screen. If you miss even one, you lose a "life." Cheerful calliope music tinkles away in the background, and every so often This is an example of the YASIC principle you'll get to play a "challenge rack," in (Yet Another ) that which you must catch balloons and dominated many video games between avoid bombs. Why people in high-rises 1979 and 1981. This shooter from Nichi- would lob bombs at unsuspecting, inno- butsu (the makers of ) has cent, unicycle-riding clowns, I'll never been seen in the U.S. both with its original know. (Then again, they may have title and in a Centuri-licensed version with seen a news bulletin about Mr. Do! and different graphics and sounds under the assumed the worst.) name Eagle. Though it’s incredibly tough to beat – the life expectancy of your first “life” is probably somewhere around 30 Reactor seconds – Moon Cresta has some very weird (but somehow cool) sound effects, Gottlieb's classic bit of arcade ab- and a novel approach to letting the player stracta, this trakball-driven Tim know how many “lives” remain. The Skelly game sports one of the most player’s spaceship is presented as a three- bizarre game premises this side of stage rocket, the top stage of which sepa- Qix. It pits you as a mobile… rates to play the first level. If you complete something...trying to slam particles a few levels, you’ll have the opportunity to into the walls or control rods of a perform a sometimes tricky docking ma- nuclear reactor, and sets the whole neuver with the next stage of your rocket, thing to something not unlike syn- which will also give you more firepower (à thesized hard rock. The level of la recapturing your ship in ). If, on difficulty increases exponentially, the other hand, you get your butt blown to the strategic placement of your two bits, the remaining stages of the rocket will decoys per level becomes ever appear, and the next stage down will sepa- more critical, and eventually even rate for your next round. When all three the reactor itself isn't shielded. stages of the rocket have been destroyed, This creates a gravity source that can draw your…something…to its death just as the game is over. I thought that aspect, easily as the pesky particles. There's something compelling and addictive about and the wild variety of fast-moving ene- this game, and yet at best it was a sleeper hit. Just as the films were mies waiting to be gunned down, were perpetuated, in part, by the plastic replicas of Luke, Darth Vader, and R2-D2, some really cool elements of this game. video games were immortalized by decent home versions. Unfortunately, no such animal existed for Reactor, whose Atari 2600 edition (released by Parker Bros.) was barely playable. Again, a good bet with MAME - your mouse makes a good upside- down trakball, and even the is emulated.

So there they are, five of my favorite relics. As hard as it is to find an actual work- ing Defender cabinet, you’ll have an even harder time trying to find one of these in an arcade, or trying to add a machine in decent condition to your collection if you’re stockpiling real live working coin-ops.

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 15 I consider myself an intermediate game player. I may not have the lightning reflexes of a teenager, but I do have a stubborn tenacity to stick with a game until it can be mastered. Every game I play I like to max out by developing strategies until I find the most logical ones (unless, of course it is an impossibility). The following games are not totally unplayable, but they may as well be due to bad controls and/or poor :

COCONUTS

This is a Kaboom-style game in which you are an umbrella-toting explorer who must dodge coconuts dropped by a berserk monkey. You can survive for only a few rounds because the game speeds up to an impossible pace giving you no chance to react due to painfully slow joystick response. Totally unfair! If you want to play something similar, try Kaboom, Lost Luggage, or Eggomania instead – at least you’ll have a fighting chance.

DOUBLE DRAGON

This is an early game with only a few basic moves. I don't know what it is, but no matter what strategy I use I wind up getting the crap beaten out of me very quickly. These opponents are very tough and appear to have no weaknesses. I don’t remember having got- ten past the . As far as I can determine there is very little you can do to de- fend yourself. You have to trade blows and as a result you take on injury. You have to be a masochist to stick with this game.

GHOSTBUSTERS II (PAL only)

The action here consists of rappelling down a hole, avoiding hazards along the way, in order to reach the bottom to scoop up a bucket of slime. Sounds gross, I know. This is a game that can be very frustrating. As soon as you start to have good run, you get stuck on the flypaper- like walls. Yet if you go too slowly, you have to deal with sawing hands, which cut your rope! If you try to fire up at the sawing hands, you end up climbing upward or a ledge gets in your way blocking your shot. If by some chance you manage to reach the bottom, you need to determine how to pick up the slime before time runs out and the game ends. It seems impossible to master. According to SPACE SHUTTLE the box and the vague instructions, there is supposed to be a Statue of Liberty screen (which I have yet to get to!). Is the game complete? I don't know. This game requires a lot more luck than most but I have found the 7800 joystick allows for greater control.

Fly a realistic space shuttle simulator from liftoff to landing while completing various space shuttle missions. While this was an ambitious game concept, somewhere along the way it went too far into cyberspace. Real astronauts are very busy doing flight checks, performing tests, correlating data, reading manuals, maintaining communications with mission control, and running things on a computer (Not to mention eating and taking care of business). I think you get the point; there can be such a thing as too much realism! There is more work than play: chasing satellites, maintain- ing control, etc... And there is so much data to remember, not even the console overlays help! Perhaps the author became obsessed with authenticity and trying to squeeze it all into a 2600 cart? The furthest I have gotten in this game is rendezvousing with one satellite. In other words I have yet to land the shuttle successfully! I have tried various tactics and yet I always ran out of fuel or got burnt to a crisp upon reentry. I finally gave up. I would have to say that the two Activision merit badges that were available must have been the two hardest ones to earn, and conse- quently the rarest. Luckily, I got mine in trade (and only from someone who dealt directly with Activision). I plan to go back to this game some- day, but I think no matter how much I play, I’ll never get anywhere with this game . . . not even if I devoted a lot of time to training and studying the manuals!

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 16 I don't know, maybe I just don't “get it” on some of these games. I would be open to suggestions or comments from our readers as I have been wrong before. At one time or another the following games were considered by me to be unplay- able:

TOMARC THE BARBARIAN

The objective here is very familiar: locate the sword that breaks the lock, and res- cue the maiden from her prison. I’m not sure what possessed the designers to think you could do two things effectively at the exact same time, but having to switch back and forth between two to- tally different screens just doesn't cut it (if you have a loose joystick, you will find yourself changing screens accidentally). Other bad points: You can suffer damage on another screen even if it isn't visible, jumps are hard to gauge, and the dungeons are so rat-infested that it is hard not to land on one! I have succeeded in winning a few rounds by finding the sword and freeing the maiden from the cage (which, by the way, reminds me of a go-go dancer in a disco), yet I always incur some damage. Like II, it seems like the game requires as much luck as skill to survive.

FINAL APPROACH

I probably read the instructions too quickly and gave up too easily on this game. When one of my user friends explained it to me, I found it to be a challenging, original game that requires more fi- nesse and patience than most. Ever wonder why a job as an air traffic controller is so stressful? You get to be a trainee in this game and find out. You are an air traffic con- troller who has four chances to keep planes from collisions or near misses while trying to land as many as possible. You gain control of a plane by using the joystick cursor and pressing the fire button. Guide the plane to the dotted line at the beginning of the runway. When it is straight on top of that line, release it by press- ing the red button. Quickly move the cursor down to the center button on the bottom of the screen, then fire to get to the next screen. If this doesn't work, you probably missed the button and lost the black cursor against the black back- ground. Move it up and repeat. Screen 2 requires that you gently keep the nose of the plane on the glide path until it lands. If you veer off at the last second you will not get any new points and will suffer a point deduction. You can also get a deduction for letting a plane fall off the radar screen. So things can get pretty hectic at times. My best score on the easiest version was 380 points. Since I am slightly impatient, if I don’t start off with a plane near the final approach, I usually hit reset.

KARATE CRYPTS OF CHAOS

Probably the worst karate tourna- Navigate the maze from a first person per- ment video game ever made, and spective, destroy enemies, find power-ups to graphically, a real ugly game! It gain strength, and find the exit door to the next basically looks like two stick figures level. I couldn't make any sense of this game for dancing, but if you can keep kicking rapidly, the longest time. Eventually I was able to under- you will win each round and go from a white belt to stand the logic and managed to draw maps of the a black four types of mazes (they were published in Digital belt. There Press). I was able to contact the programmer via is absolutey email and he gave me the bad news that this no logic to the game does not have an actual ending or final increased screen. levels, as I have beaten a black belt with my white belt. Now that should be totally impossi- ble!

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 17 trollable by the player. His purpose was from hit videogames and cartoons to to follow Sonic, lending assistance as toys and lunchboxes bearing his image, needed (although you could play as him there's no doubt the in multiplayer mode). series has become one of the most popu- By now, things were definitely looking lar franchises today. With the upcoming up for Sega. They had achieved a firm releases of Sonic Adventure 2, and Sonic hold on the market, as well as making Square for the Sega Dreamcast, there Sonic an instantly recognizable image. seems to be no end in sight. But how did However, by then Nintendo had intro- the legacy of the Blue Blur begin? Read duced the Super Nintendo to the world, on to learn the "Genesis" of Sonic! along with ! The little In the late '80s, with the Master Sys- pudgy plumber (try saying *THAT* 5 tem miserably failing in the US and the by times fast!) had returned for another ad- ironically named Genesis looming on the Henry venture, and everyone wondered what horizon, Sega desperately needed a Sega had up their sleeve (if anything at mascot, and fast! The first conceptions Hutcheson all) to counterattack . Well, as it turned of Sonic the Hedgehog were a bit out, they had yet another Sonic game: stranger than the final outcome, but ya Sonic the Hedgehog 3! gotta start somewhere. So artists and Naoto Ohshima were put in Sonic the Hedgehog 3/ charge of designing Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic and Knuckles (with quite possibly the fate of Sega rest- Sonic 3 featured longer and challeng- ing in their hands). Now, don't get me acter, and, uh, well….great everything! ing levels, hidden areas, more awesome wrong. . . with hits like , The storyline was also creative and in- music, and best of all, the introduction of Sega would've probably survived, but triguing: In a science experiment gone Knuckles, the red, dreadlock wearing they might have ended up as a third party wrong, Dr. Kintobor, a well-meaning sci- Echidna! Other new features in Sonic 3 developer for Sony or Nintendo (or even entist, was transformed into an egg- gave players the ability to finish their quite possibly Microsoft). After going shaped villainous mad scientist we've all quest as either Sonic or Tails and the through many different designs, Naka come to know (and love?): Dr. Robotnik much welcomed ability and Ohshima came to rest on a final im- (aka “Eggman” in to one’s progress. age: a blue hedgehog with attitude. With ). Dr. - This time around Dr. that, Sonic the Hedgehog was born. nik captured all the Robotnik, in his quest to The world of Sonic is a vast one. Mak- forest animals and obtain the Chaos Emer- ing his debut in popular games, Sonic "roboticized" them alds from Floating Is- later ended up on two different TV shows, (turned them into land, convinces Island a series of toys, a comic book, and even mindless robots) resident Knuckles that an exclusive deal with mega fast food and gave them Sonic and Tails are the chain McDonald's. I want to delve into orders to carry out bad guys. Knuckles, in what started it all: the games. his evil deeds. Our hopes of bringing peace The early 90's was the perfect time for hero, Sonic, liter- to his island, lays traps Sega: the Super Nintendo was too new to ally spun through and otherwise becomes catch on yet, and the NES was nearly stages in hopes of a nuisance to Sonic and dead. So Sega unleashed Sonic the retrieving the Chaos Emeralds, which Tail’s missions. Hedgehog to an unsuspecting world and would destroy Robotnik’s nefarious plans Sonic the Hedgehog’s counterpart got rousing applause. But what made the and return the forest animals back to nor- game, Sonic and Knuckles, featured eve- games so special? Was it the colorful mal. rything imaginable in Sonic 3, and intro- graphics? Perhaps the fast gameplay? To The success of this first Sonic game duced a seemingly revolutionary (albeit understand all the answers, read the fol- turned Sega around and made them play- short lived) concept: Lock-on technology. lowing overview of many of ers in the videogame console market. Of Lock on technology let gamers hook up Sonic the Hedgehog games that were course in this day and age, marketing their older Sonic games to the Sonic and created. rules, thus the inevitable Sonic sequel Knuckles cartridge and take Knuckles was created. through levels in the older games. Re- member that one spot with the rock in Sonic 3 that you couldn't figure out how to With the tremendous force of Sonic’s beat? That's where the lock-on technol- legendary Attack Spin, Sega released ogy comes in handy. You can easily get Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to a legion of fans past that part by gliding through with begging for more. Basically featuring the Knuckles. With lock-on technology, plus same storyline as the original, Sonic 2 all the improved features, Sonic and managed to make considerable improve- Knuckles and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 ments in gameplay. Dr. Robotnik was were both perfect additions to any Sonic back, but this time with new enemies and fan's library. cooler bosses. The graphics were crisper, the levels longer and more challenging, Sonic CD Sonic the Hedgehog and there was even a new character in- The Sega CD was released as an Sonic 1 had all the requirements of a troduced. Yep, you guessed it, Tails the add-on for the , and Sonic great game plus more: great graphics, Fox! Tails, the cute, two tailed flying fox CD made full use of its features: Scaling, great gameplay, great music, great char- made his greatly welcomed debut in rotation, CD storage capacity, CD quality Sonic 2. Unfortunately, Tails was uncon- Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 18 games and knock offs like Knuckles Chaotix, but they were mainly believed to be stop gap games. Later on, near the end of the Saturn's lifetime, Sega released , a 3D Sonic rac- ing game that had originally been the now canned Sonic Xtreme. While Sonic R was a good game to some, it was far too late for Sega to regain popularity on the much maligned Saturn system. Finally, in 1999, the Sega Dreamcast was released in America. Along with it came the arrival of Sonic Adventure sound and music, FMV () (reviewed last ish!). Sonic Adventure Sonic Adventure 2 capabilities, etc... However, Sonic CD was the complete 3D Sonic game that offered something new that none of the fans had been dreaming of for years, and other Sonic games offered: time travel. luckily it lived up to expectations. Again Robotnik is up to no good and With the Dreamcast in full swing, more through time travel, he is building evil Sonic games are on their way, including factories in the the Mario Party-esque Sonic past to ensure Shuffle and Sonic Adventure 2. his domination So there you have it, a run in the future. In down on my favorite Sonic the each of the lev- Hedgehog games. With three els, there are TV shows, over 10 games, and signs similar to even a full featured animated those found at movie, there seems to be no the ends of lev- end to the Sonic juggernaut. els in most of the Sonic the Hedgehog is destined Sonic games. for a bright future. Sonic Shuffle But now if you So what do you do now, you passed these signs at a fast enough ask? Well, if you haven't already, I sug- speed, you would be transported to a gest that you past or future version of that level. The start building future levels are comprised of post- your Sonic the e-chid-na apocalyptic environments (lots of machin- Hedgehog ery, etc…), but the past featured calmer game/TV show Any of several nocturnal, bur- scenery such as trees and wildlife. If you library. As for rowing, egg-laying mammals destroyed a factory in the past, it was me, I'm off to replaced with lovely, bucolic scenery. see if I can find of the genera Tachyglossus While Sonic CD went slightly off the track any more secret and Zaglossus of Australia, with the Sonic games at that time, it was spots with , and New Guinea, worthy of the Sonic name and a welcome Knuckles in having a spiny coat, slender change. Sonic 3! snout, and an extensible sticky Near the end of the Genesis' lifespan, See ya! Sega released , a semi 3D . tongue used for catching in- Sonic game. There were also a few sects.

Sega Puts a Saturday Morning Spin on the Blue Blur

Premiering in 1993, Sonic’s first show, Sonic the Hedgehog, was, and still is, believed to be the best show to date. The plot involved Sonic, his girlfriend Sally the Squirrel, Rotor the Walrus, the wimpy Antione D' Coolette, his favorite buddy Tails, and, of course, the vil- lainous Dr. Robotnik. The show, while whimsical, often had a serious tone to it. Dr. Ro- botnik had taken over Mobotropolis, and in each episode Sonic and his friends tried to stop him and his evil minions. Sonic’s second show, Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, fea- tured Sonic and Tails, Robotnik, and Scratch and Grounder, the two roboticized minions. Because Sonic’s first cartoon show was voted the second most violent cartoon in America, DiC Animation Studios geared the second show towards a younger audience. Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog had a lighter, more comedic feel to it, and fea- tured cheaper animation. While not quite up to the standards of its predecessor, this was still a solid show. Sonic Underground - Ouch! Sonic Underground was giving the series a bad reputation until they mercifully cancelled it!. SU was similar to Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog in terms of animation quality; however, SU had a completely different plot than either of the previous shows. Sonic, his sister (Sonya) and their little brother (Manic) formed a band, while at the same time were trying to stop the mayor, Dr. Robotnik from taking over the town, world, etc... While I hate to say it, this show was unbearable to watch and didn't add anything of value to the Sonic world (with the slight exception of introducing Sonic’s brother and sister).

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 19 Walking into a gry black bears. Their bodies were doors and deploy reinforce- pitch black, allowing no luxury of ments should the need arise. But typical mall arcade anatomy differentiation. They were wait! There's salvation! A large ma- nowadays results in bordered by jagged edges, sug- chine, deep reddish-rust in color, finding many cookie gesting perhaps an electrified field waits to obliterate any invader fool- around each beast. Menacing ish enough to descend too close to That is, cutter games. white eyes scowled toward anyone protected soil. Its gun barrel gears games that have very similar fixing their gaze upon them. Two of up for a direct shot at the first of gameplay (the myriad of fighting three creatures. Who controls games and first person shoot- this marvelous machine? The ers), and very similar, bland US Army? A dedicated group looking cabinets. of scientists? No, dear In the early days of arcades, player, that giant missile game designers took delight in launcher is for you and ONLY not only creating off-the-wall you to pilot. Nobody else has and unique game play, but also the largest creatures held missiles the guts. brilliant artwork decorating the in their right hands, undoubtedly Looking into the cabinet at the cabinets. They didn't have monu- aiming to destroy as much human monitor, you a replicated mental graphics capabilities, stereo resistance on planet as pos- environment that is simple but ef- surround sound, or 33" monitors to sible. Depending on the machine, fective. The interior of the cabinet grab a player's attention. No, they the background that these aliens is decorated with a backdrop of the had to create uniqueness with sim- marched on was either a midnight night sky, complete with spiral gal- ple effects of light and eye trickery, blue (which reinforced the idea that axies, comets, and stars of various and fabulously detailed cabinet art. these creatures were from deep magnitudes and colors. A moon These games literally COM- space), or a deep blood red scape is illuminated from behind MANDED you to (symbolizing the eventual with a black light, causing the stop what you were death of any human entire cosmos and moon doing, surrender a foolish enough to to glow FROM WITHIN. quarter to its hungry take on the alien ar- The game play on the mouth, and get lost mada). Both are very monitor is projected in the experience of ominous color onto this cosmic win- game play. One of choices designed to dow by use of a mirror the earliest exam- punctuate the fear of hidden within the cabi- ples of this is the unknown. net. The desired effect is magnifi- SPACE INVADERS. Looking at the cent. front of the machine, The aliens slowly descend from SPACE we are treated to a unknown whereabouts in militaristic INVADERS detailed crater- formations, in the menacing, cold, (1978 ) pocked landscape glowing night. Your missile Space Invad- (perhaps the aliens launcher stands as the only possi- ers, both the Taito were attacking the ble defense against this extrater- Japanese import moon first?), over restrial onslaught. The heartbeat and the Bally/ which three of the begins... DUMT... DUMT... Midway stateside beasts march closer DUMT... the aliens march closer... release (in addi- and closer, left DUMT... DUMT... DUMT... Can you tion to the Bally hands thrust in the fend them off and save humanity, sequel, DELUXE air as if in some or are we all doomed to perish? SPACE INVAD- Nazi-ish salute. Red DUMT... DUMT... DUMT... TIME IS ERS), was simple and orange saucer RUNNING OUT!!!!!!!!!! and beautiful. The ships rotate at jaunty side art displayed angles in the distance, giant shadowy fig- promising to open cargo ures vaguely resembling an-

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 20 more, but the eye can't easily dis- cern that they are separate from (1980 Atari) the backdrop. So, Atari was able to Another game that create a very convincing illusion of deserves similar ap- depth in only two feet of cabinet preciation is Atari's space. ASTEROIDS DE- As you willingly invest a quarter, LUXE. This 1980 fol- the game's brilliant white vector low up to the original graphics glow from nowhere onto 1979 top seller added this awesome spacescape. The some additional en- video rocks and ships appear to emy spaceships, float amongst the backdrop in a replaced stellar ballet of video bliss. But "hyperspace" with a now the action slowly speeds up; shield option, and from four rocks have sprung eight, generally sped the action up. But the backdrop and mirror concept and now sixteen as you desper- perhaps the most impressive en- from Space Invaders, we see a ately fight for maneuvering room! hancement over the earlier game gorgeously detailed close up of the The alien saucers glide onto the was its absolutely beautiful cabinet asteroid field and the dark shadows scene, with a haunting echo as- design. Looking at the side art re- that fall over their craggy surfaces. saulting your ears from the speak- veals a battle worn star cruiser, The space cruiser with its two rear mounted engines can be observed in belching out fire as it barrels into a striking detail, as we deadly asteroid field. The asteroids can almost count the narrowly miss the cruiser as we rivets in each heat see the deep craters and jagged shield panel on its edges of these giant hunks of cos- enormous frame. But mic rock. The cruiser's powerful wait, is that a trick of laser cannons, one affixed to the the eye, or is that outer edge of each wing, pummel space cruiser in 3-D? their target and send one of the Doing a double take, meteors erupting in an explosion of you notice several of light, rock, and tremendous heat. the asteroids them- The asteroids arc off into the dis- selves appear to roll tance, indicating the long outward toward you. dangerous highway the And the alienships? space cruiser has One of those ap- to navigate. Two pears a little too real alien spacecraft for your liking as well. How exactly ers. You are beset on all sides by hover menacingly did they pull that off? danger, and worst of all, your nearby, ready to The artistic geniuses shield is almost attack the cruiser at Atari designed the COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED! at a moment's no- interior of the cabinet Your tendons tense as you rapidly tice. Their powerful in a very clever way. tap the fire button to clear a safe automatic cannons The bulk of the aster- path through. You rotate and retro- have sent many an oid field is a card- thrust so as to "put on the brakes," innocent craft into a board cut out that and send a laser blast screaming frigid sleep in deep wraps around the inte- towards the alien saucer. A DI- space, and they fully rior of the cabinet. RECT HIT and it's deep explosion intend to add your Black light falls on this sounds in your ears! You take a space cruiser to the artwork and creates well deserved deep breath. Your list. Galaxies, cosmic the cosmic back- cruiser is safe. For the moment. gases, and an eerie cres- ground. But the 3-D cent moon complete the effects? The cruiser, scene that succeeds in those particular aster- instantly transporting the , and the alien Coming Next Issue: observer into the ship are all cut outs as Ode to Arcade Art: reaches of deep space. well, but are spaced Cosmic Scenes—, Looking in at the slightly closer to the Star Castle, Star Wars, screen on the front of the eye than the backdrop Vanguard cabinet may just take is. The black light illu- your breath away. Using minates them slightly

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 21 While doing this task, you must keep an eye on your energy. And there are i there rat fans! footpairs (I never actually had any H I asked Chris if I could idea what they really are, so I come aboard CGM to provide re- adopted this name) that do have a views for Commodore 64 (C64) games. mind of their own. If touched, they will He willfully and respectfully welcomed drain your energy. Above ground, each me without questions. The finalization, screen has just one footpair. Below, though, came through a very short time there are two per screen. You will no- before the deadline of this issue. tice that each footpair emerges from its I want to make this section as thor- own screen entrance. Remembering ough as possible, and have a few this will prevent frustration while waiting things in mind as time goes along. With to do something else. the time I had available for this issue, I As mentioned, you must keep an just wanted to introduce myself as what eye on your energy, as if you run out, I am—a gamer, and more importantly, the game is over. You may replenish a 64 gamer, and thus, the position I your energy by eating apples and ham- have given to myself, and Chris has burgers you come across. I have come granted. I promised Chris that I would to realize that apples give you more do the best job I can do, and I am sure energy than hamburgers, so when re- all of you will agree I will deliver. energizing, do so efficiently, as any Now, I am objective when it comes excess will just be wasted. to reviewing or analyzing anything in Also to assist you are three Glue gaming, or for that matter, anything in Pacs. You start off with one, and the general. I want this to be kept in mind other two may be found out and about. while reading my reviews. Each Glue Pac contains 13 shots. The Here we go! Glue may be used to temporarily stop the footpairs. Also, below ground, there is a train, which provides for quicker ROLAND'S RAT RACE - OCEAN travel, and thus, saves energy. The 1985 only way to get onto the train is to stop it by shooting a gob of Glue onto the Roland's Rat Race happens to be track, causing the train to become tem- one of my two all-time favorite C64 porarily stuck. Be careful, as the train games (Paradroid being the other), can run over you, taking away a mas- which makes it a fitting entry into CGM sive amount of energy. Getting stuck in (Paradroid will be included in the next your Glue shot will also take away issue.) some energy. In Roland's Rat Race, your family Once you complete building the tun- has been kidnapped, or rather rat- nel door, you must find the key. You napped. You are Roland, and your job will see the key along your travels while is to retrieve your family from the nas- searching for door pieces, but as said, ties who did this dastardly deed. the key cannot be picked up The game takes place in two until the door is built. areas--above ground and below Inside this room, you will see ground - more specifically, the your family on the other side. sewer. Mind you, this sewer is You must dodge little buggers particularly clean, so there is no and Glue spots moving along worryies about any stench. the floor. Getting to your family In order to get to your family, ends the game, and you are you must find the nine pieces of awarded with a congratulatory the tunnel door to the room that screen. You may then start holds your loved ones. In finding again with your score remain- the pieces, it must be known that ing. only one piece can be carried at Graphically, there is not a time. You then drop this piece much to this game. I will say, at the tunnel opening, in es- though, that the backgrounds, sence, building the door, and go especially the brickline detail- on to find the remaining pieces. ing, is very well done, as well as

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 22 the occasional wall cracks. The music and sound effects, in my opinion are great. The background music, albeit re- curring, is a very catchy tune, and has stayed with me throughout the years. The effects--The Glue Shot, you and footpairs getting stuck, the train whistle, the train get- ting stuck, picking up the food, and even the car echo while walking through the tunnels. There is even a little tune while riding the train. All of these just add charm to the game. Best of all, this game is non-linear. Each time you play, the door pieces, the key, the Glue Packs, and the food are randomly located. What I like to do is see how quickly I can complete the game. My best time is just under 25 minutes. Believe me, I tried breaking 20 minutes, but I just do not think it is possible, unless all items are very close to one another; I have yet to be that lucky. Also, I think Roland’s Rat Race Tips the game knows not to have too many • Never pick up any food when you items within a small have full or next to full energy. As distance of each said previously, all excess is not other. put into any reserve, but simply I still play this wasted. game, even after completing it several • Regarding the food, remember times. where you are seeing it, as you do I guess it’s an origi- not want to be wandering aim- nal, and can even lessly with your energy getting match up against any of today's 64 and 128 bit games. I guarantee if this game low. was released for the DC, N64, or PSX2, it would be a best seller. If you have just acquired a 64, or have been the long-time 64 freak much like • Use the Glue liberally but spar- me, this is one game you ingly at the same time. In saying should definitely play. You that, it is better to use your Glue How to Cheat Like a Rat: will see just how fun a than to use your energy waiting game can be. for a footpair to move on. Also, it Want unlimited lives and glue? is possible to run out of Glue try- ing to stop the footpairs every time Enter “YOUNG.ONES” at the high score you see them. Looking at your screen. The entry will change to "CHEET. arrangement and quickly thinking MODE" to confirm correct code entry. will resolve any potential loss.

• The train is there for you to use. As said, this will get you from one place to another much quicker So, what exactly is a Roland Rat? than just walking, saving on en- ergy. You British readers may move on to another article if you like while I enlighten the rest of the population. • You can "reset" the footpairs by In 1983 the U.K.’s “Good Morning Britain” (virtually identical to the U.S.’s exiting and re-entering a screen. “Good Morning America TV news show) needed a ratings shake-up (or, in this This helps while waiting for the case, a rat-ings shake-up). Why they thought a puppet would save an adult TV train to arrive, or to get that item show is beyond me, but what do I know? The character proved so popular; rat that cannot be reached without mania ensued! The Rat even had two UK Top 40 records in 1983 and 1984 - “Rat being pestered. Rapping” and “Love Me Tender” (Check Napster if you feel you can’t live without these ditties). • Roland hangs out with such distin- There is a pattern (only one path) guished luminaries as Glenis the to get to the sewer entrance. Guinea Pig, Errol the Hamster and Some tunnels and entrance/exits Kevin the Gerbil (insert your own joke are dead ends. This pattern can here). become memorable upon continu- So now you know the rest of the ous play. In the sewers, the tun- story! nels are a longer way to get from one point to another. There are Trivia: Roland Rat was introduced by some tunnels, however, that will future Teletubbies creator, Anne lessen the trip. Also, there are Wood. specific screens which should be used for your train departure. This can be discovered throughout -Chris Cavanaugh Roland and Friends play.

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 23 hen CBS's "Robinson Crusoe-by-way-of-Price is Right" game W show, "Survivor," was about to air, I thought it was a great con- cept for a show. And, not without a bit of humility, I thought I could easily win. After all, I'm a huge "Gilligan's Island" fan, so I already had compiled a bit of useful survival knowledge, such as how to make a record player out of a boat's steering wheel and how to build your own pedal-powered bamboo Oldsmobile. Being able to Outlast, Outwit, and Outplay the other contestants would be child's play.

One problem kept me from the million bucks: I wasn't a contestant.

However, to prove my mettle to myself, I decided to become the un- known 14th contestant and play the game at home. I broke out my copy of Starpath's Supercharger game "Survival Island" and prepared to parallel the travails of the castaways. For those of you who have never played, "Survival Island" is a multipart action-adventure for the Atari 2600. After a shipwreck at sea, you must row your life raft to the beach of a desert is- land, picking up supplies bobbing in the ocean. Upon reaching the island, you must explore every mile of it, looking for a means of rescue. Luckily, the game comes with a password system which allows you to pick up where you left off.

To challenge myself, I decided to play only while the TV show was on. My goal: To escape from my video game island before the end of the final episode of "Survivor," airing in 13 weeks.

Here then are excerpts from my weekly journal:

WWeekeek 2 WWeekeek 1 Finally ar- Booted up the game for rived on the first time and the island! found myself in a However, makeshift raft miles had one from the shore of the ration of island. A smoking vol- water and cano is visible in the no food distance. Furiously when I arrived. Died of hunger before paddled to shore, pick- I got three screens into the jungle. ing up supplies all the way. Started over again to try to arrive bet- Drowned twice, got eaten by a shark ter equipped. Saw the TV castaways twice, got shot by a submarine three eat live grubs. I had a Spam sandwich times. The folks on TV have an easier for lunch. Drink deep from the irony time of it. Both Pagong and Tagi tribes well, folks. (I make no further journal arrive and set up camp on the beach. entries for fear of legal retaliation I'll flounder in the ocean until next from the good folks at Hormel, makers week, I guess. of fine luncheon products.)

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 24 WWeekseeks 3 and 4 WWeekeek 5 After playing Had to work late and completely for- and re- got to play. Gained no new ground. playing, ar- Wife heckles me when I get home. I rived on the vote her off the island. island again, Tribal council has spoken. this time with plenty of wa- ter and food. Week 6 & 7 Was bitten by Found a scrap piece of paper and a bit a cobra al- of pencil near the Atari and began most immediately and died. Rebooted mapping out the island. Discovered and began exploring the island. Much poisoned water, poisoned mushrooms, to wife's chagrin, I begin playing the and poisonous snakes. (Discovered game naked. them after eating them or being eaten BY them.) Found lots of creative ways to die (like trying to walk through a lava pit) and ended up restarting the @$#% game a bazillion times. Found WWeekseeks 8, and 9 gold coins scattered across the island. Getting tired of No idea as to their use. Also found a running out of my compass, but am so horribly lost, it meager supplies does me no good. I walk into a lava pit while exploring from the nearby volcano and end it the island. Noticed all... at least for this week. much back- stabbing and du- WWeekeek 10 plicitous behavior Remembered the two groups on going on between "Survivor" island had merged into the my co-horts. In keeping with tribe"Rattana." The tribe on "Survival the spirit of the competition, I decided to Island" still consists of only me. I name be just as sneaky. Went on the Internet my tribe "Gilligana." Found out the coins and found a list of passcodes for the are used to bribe bridge guards game. Now I'm maxed out with supplies, for passage into deeper parts of the is- health, water, and food. Ha! Victory land jungle. Heard there's a temple to shall be mine! the far north that holds a way off the is- Trudged through the wilderness. land. Found a lantern that might be Got killed by a cobra. Twice. used to illuminate the dark passages of the forbidden ruins.

WWeekeek 11 Found an amulet this week! I think this is an impor- tant artifact. Reminds me of the Immunity Totem my TV compatriots occasionally win and wear around their neck. I tie a shoelace around my Bira Bira icon and wear it. Found out that hanging a 20 pound plaster tiki idol around my neck is a bad idea. The crick in my neck takes days to abate.

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 25 Week 12

Found the temple! However, the guard posted outside won't let me in. I scroll through the game's commands, looking for the "Beat the guard to death with my walking stick" option. Nope, gotta offer him some kind of tribute. Maybe more gold coins? I spent all I had getting to this point. Wander back into the jungle, looking for something, anything, to appease him. Got killed by a cobra. Twice.

WWeekeek 13: Series finale

I have two hours to get into the temple and find a means of rescue before the show ends. I pour over my map and discover an area I hadn't yet explored. Trudging there, I found a stash of coins I had previously missed! I ran back across the island, taking damage from cobras, lava, and pit traps opening up in front of me, and chugging down rations to keep my strength up while I fight back to the temple entrance. (On the TV, the survivors walk across a bed of coals. Fitting that I just bumped into a lava pit, taking a few more points of damage.) I'm allowed into the temple and am stunned when the screen goes to a first-person-perspective dungeon crawl. I bump around a bit, determining that the screen would probably be black if I hadn't picked up the lantern earlier. I bump into a force field that won't let me go any further. Looking around a bit, I find a bar of gold. Holding it, I walk into the force field and it and the gold disappears! I deter- mine that the temple's hidden treasures act as keys. (On the TV, the three remaining survivors huddle around a large tiki idol. I rub my neck, remembering my own tiki experience.) My amulet flashes in warning. I ignore it, walk forward, and plunge into a pit trap, taking a few more points of damage. Amulet of "Spider-Sense." Got it. (On TV, the Final Council is judging the two remaining castaways. They're gonna end this any second now.) I turned a few random corners and stopped. There on the ground was a box labeled "Rocket Launcher," and I was treated to an end-screen of myself being launched off the island via jetpack. I glanced at the TV and was satisfied to see the credits for "Survivor" just starting up. I had beaten the show by mere minutes.

Can't wait until next year when "Survivor II: The Australian Outback" airs. I already have a copy of "Kangaroo" cued up and ready to go.

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 26 Atari 2600 Double-Enders !he Xonox label was created for the /Ghost Rare videogame division of K-Tel Corporation. At the time, K-Tel was well known for their old- Superkicks/ Common ies record collections, which they hawked Artillery Duel on late night TV. They chose the name Xonox because it reads the same upside / Rare down. While their games were very original, Commodore Vic-20 the graphics were on the blocky side. The Single-Enders initial releases were all double-enders; the Chuck Norris Superkicks/ Rare final games were down to single-enders. Artillery Duel ???? Spike's Peak Most of the games were re-released in vari- ous combinations, but some games were Chuck Norris Superkicks ???? Ghost Manor/Spike's Common produced in such limited quantities that they are rare today. The double-enders were Ghost Manor ???? Motocross Racer/Tomarc Extremely even re-released as singles and these are the Barbarian Rare also considered scarce. Spike's Peak ???? Apparently K-Tel marketing was either Robin Hood/Sir Lancelot Rare trying all the possibilities seeking the right formula, or they just wanted to get the most Robin Hood/Super Kung- Very Rare money for each program by getting product Commodore Vic-20 out on the store shelves. Chuck Norris Su- Double-Enders Spike's Peak/Artillery Very Rare perkicks can be found under the following Artillery Duel/Chuck Norris Very Rare aliases: Ku-Fu Superkicks and Super Kung- Superkicks Fu. Tomarc the Barbarian was originally Atari 2600 called Thundarr the Barbarian but was re- Ghost Manor / Spike's Very Rare Single-Enders named when the licensing deal fell through. Peak Vic-20 double-enders are square-shaped. Artillery Duel Rare Many games were also made in PAL format. It's Only Rock N' Roll Very Rare There may have been some connection with Chuck Norris Superkicks Rare Xonox and Bally. The Artillery Duel cart that Motocross Racer/ Extremely was released by Bally on the Astrocade Tomarc the Barbarian Rare Ghost Manor Rare looks very similar. Motocross Racer Rare When one counts the number of games Robin Hood/Sir Lancelot Very Rare in their collection, it is my view that all com- Robin Hood Very Rare bos should not be counted over and over, just once for each unique game. Then it ColecoVision Sir Lancelot Very Rare becomes a question of listing the games. Is Single-Enders it Artillery Duel/Spike's Peak or Spike's Spike's Peak Very Rare Artillery Duel Rare Peak/Artillery Duel? Tomarc the Barbarian Rare Here's what I have noticed: Most of the Chuck Norris Superkicks Rare combos show the label separated diagonally into 2 triangles with a game title in each. It's Only Rock N' Roll Very Rare There is a number (1 or 2) in a bottom cor- If one is into collecting all the known la- ner of each. This provides the actual order Motocross Racer Very Rare bel variations, the following third parties of the titles. The initial releases did not have have legally re-issued some games under this style label, but their order can be deter- Robin Hood Very Rare their own labels: mined by the way they were marketed. I Sir Lancelot Very Rare have come up with a memory device that • for 2600 (silver label) takes what I have discussed into considera- Slurpy Very Rare Kung-fu SuperKicks tion: • JerryG for CV (gold label) Tomarc the Barbarian Very Rare Each combo should have each game • Motocross Racer listed in alphabetical order with the excep- Word Feud Very Rare • Adams's House for CV (white label) tions of Chuck Norris Superkicks/Artillery Tomarc the Barbarian Duel (the star always gets top billing), & • Kung-Fu Superkicks Spike's Peak/Artillery Duel (numbered 1 & 2, ColecoVision in that order). Double-Enders There are probably others.

The label is generic with no company name The purpose of the following lists is to Artillery Duel/Chuck Norris Rare mentioned on it. arrive at a complete catalog listing of every Superkicks known Xonox single or combination, and If anyone has any Xonox or third party carts hopefully eliminate some of the confusion: Motocross Racer/Tomarc Extremely not listed above, please contact me at the Barbarian Rare albackiel @.com. It's Only Rock N' Roll Very Rare

Robin Hood/Sir Lancelot Rare Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 27 AaBbCcDdFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz

sk the average kid today what the first video them, taking basic video game knowledge and turning it game system was and the answer will most into useless trivia. Next time you see a kid playing with likely be “Nintendo.” I know that this sick- a , ask him if he knows what the first portable Aens the typical classic gaming fan, but for game system was? When he stares at you with a blank most people under 20, video games began with the expression, or worse, answers “Gameboy,” you can tell Nintendo. Like it or not, that’s the way it is. Sure, him that the was the first one. Let him know there are exceptions and some kids know about Atari, he can stump his friends with that one. Coleco, Intellivision, and the rest of the classic sys- Other trivia you can use would be: the first home tems that were so instrumental in developing the mar- video game system (the Odyssey), the first cartridge ket that exists today. But for the majority of people, based console (the Channel F; make sure to tell them they neither know, nor do they care about the the carts looked like 8-tracks, which may require some older games. further explanation), and who was the first third This is where you step in. party company (Activision). This way As a card carrying member of you are giving them a quick lesson the classic video game and it doesn't seem like real community, you have an education. Plus, you give obligation to spread the them something they can use word. It is up to you to to show their intellectual su- go forth and enlighten TeachTeach YourYour periority over their friends, the masses. It is time and every kid wants that! to put down that joy- ChildrenChildren Well!Well! Later you can add your stick and let the world own trivia, as this is just for know about the contri- starters. (Yes, that is a Crosby, Stills and butions that the early Nash song title, so sue me!) So now that you have companies and program- done your good deed for the mers have made to the day, helping spread the word . on classic games and their But before you go with inspiration on the video game your Digital Press in one By Tom Zjaba market, you can rest for the mo- hand and an Atari joystick in ment. Just as wasn't built the other, you need to think in a day (has any city been built in a about how to approach this situa- day?), neither can we enlighten so tion. If you go in there praising to many overnight. It will take time and a the heavens about how great and collective effort to get this message wonderful these classic games are and across. Just remember that we need to then hook up an Atari, do you know what be patient and give them a little bit at a you’ll get? You will get strange looks and a total time. We will get nowhere by belittling their current lack of interest. When today's youth look at an or by praising our beloved systems. We need to game, they will see a crudely drawn, poor sounding, start a small foundation of information and with some repetitive game. They will not see the simple, but en- luck, we can build on it, and soon people will know a gaging gameplay. They will not see the inspiration for little of the history of video games. Tune in next issue the games they are playing now. They will only see as we talk about how you can build a solid foundation of something that doesn't look like much fun to them. classic game appreciation with your own children. Remember, they have been raised on CD Rom games and are used to games that have all the visual splen- dor that we only dreamed of. They are used to full Tom Zjaba has been writing about classic video games for sound with real music, not the blips and bleeps that nearly four years with his online monthly newsletter, Retro- we grew so accustomed to. gaming Times. He is an avid collector of video game memo- To really get through to today's youth, we need to rabilia and has played and enjoyed classic games since the days of Pong. He can be reached at tomheroes@flashcom. reach them at a level they can relate to. We need to net or [email protected]. You can read Retrogaming use some old fashioned camouflage to get the point Times and tons of other stuff on his webstie at across. And what better way to approach the youth of http://tomheroes.com. today than in the form of "useless trivia." Instead of trying to convert them, we need to start by educating

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Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 28 ometime circa 1982 or ’83, my when arcade games were still cool and But my mother’s concerns were father had to go to the local didn’t involve emptying machine gun real – and valid. And this was just in S Safeway store, and as always, I rounds into enemies (or flattening them 1982, back before the days of teenag- was more than eager to tag along. with a barrage of karate kicks), I later ers walking into their schools with high- Why? Because that Safeway store learned what an incredibly stupid caliber weapons and explosive de- always had four or five arcade games - breach of arcade etiquette I had com- vices, before the era of road rage, be- usually pretty good ones, too. Around mitted. For, on that day in Safeway, fore I became well-acquainted with this time, Safeway had gotten a big, right in front of the guy who’d put his anyone’s middle finger as shorthand for beautiful Kangaroo coin-op, and I was quarter up on the cabinet, signifying frustration. determined to beat that game. Thus, at that the next game was his, I finished Now it’s 2000. Eighteen years the tender age of ten, when most kids my game, took that quarter, and later. And these things that were un- are eager to get away from their aston- popped it into the machine to take thinkable in 1982 do happen. And who ishingly unhip parents for fear of em- another swipe at ruling the jungle. gets the blame? Everything from The barrassment, I always, You’re proba- Matrix to Duke Nukem to Judas Priest. always tagged along bly thinking, Jeez, Most ardent gamers respond to these with whoever was go- “I believe that one of Earl, how could you accusations with a derisive snort of ing to Safeway. the reasons classic have been so stupid? laughter, and an almost knee-jerk de- I remember this in- That’s a good ques- nial. But can we discount it so quickly? cident distinctly, not for games are back is tion. An even better Perhaps not. what happened, but for question is: what the No one can deny that the classics what my mother said because many of us hell is a kangaroo, are coming back. Those of us who are afterward when I told indigenous to the de- in the twilight of our twenties (or the her about it. I was who played them as sert outback of Aus- dawn of our thirties) are dragging the kickin’ ass on Kanga- kids now have kids of tralia, doing in a tropi- classic games back into action, some- roo, all the way down cal jungle full of mon- times kicking and screaming (the to the final screen, our own…and those keys? games, that is, not us – well, for the where one must K.O. My mother was most part, anyway). And I have a the- enough monkeys to who have become more interested in the ory that there’s a reason for this be- merit a spot on the first question, how- yond the “critical mass of nostalgia” ASPCA’s blacklist to parents are worried ever. When I told her that J.C. Herz mentions in Joystick Na- save little Joey. that some total tion. An older man – ob- about video game stranger had just put I believe that one of the reasons viously beyond his late violence.” a quarter up there so I classic games are back is because teens – stood over my could play another many of us who played them as kids shoulder and watched, game, she sternly, but now have kids of our own…and those and a couple of times said “Wow.” He worriedly, said, “I don’t think that’s why who have become parents are worried apparently thought I was doing pretty he put it there.” about video game violence. well. (Thanks to my family’s propensity Oh. Now she tells me. I guess I’m sure I just scared someone off. for emptying the fridge of groceries so Mom had learned more from her brief It’s that knee-jerk reaction: It’s not the quickly, I had gotten plenty of opportu- obsession with Ms. Pac-Man than I’d games’ fault, dude! Let it go. Now, nities for practice with every return to given her credit for. even though I’m not a parent (I’m hold- the store.) She then wondered how my myste- ing that particular wolf at bay as long And then he put a quarter on the rious – and quite unaware – benefactor as possible!), I’m of the school that val- cabinet, up against the marquee. Cool! had responded. Good question. Come ues taught at home will shape how a I thought. Man, he thinks I’m doing to think of it, he had given me a bit of a child filters such influences as games, so well, he’s just gonna chuck an- funny look. The kind of look that pres- music, TV, and movies. I’m also of the other twenty-five cents at me so he ages the truncated question “…the hell opinion that the amount of time parents can watch me play another round! are you thinking, kid?” And then he spend with their kids can also have a I had never seen anyone do that had walked off. Oops. great effect on how children perceive before, so what was I supposed to Mom was still worried, however. those influences. think? Admittedly, my mother had con- Had he said anything? Approached But can you blame parents for want- ditioned me by once unloading proba- me? Threatened me? To my elder ing to have some say in those influ- bly ten dollars worth of quarters on me gamer’s credit, he hadn’t. He was un- ences? I firmly believe this is why the so I could show her what happened at doubtedly frustrated, but if he reacted classics are back. We’d rather give our the end of a game of Rock-Ola’s Fan- as I would have in my late twenties, he kids Q*Bert and Pac-Man than Tomb tasy, but I’d never had a total stranger probably stewed over it for about two Raider or Doom. Even Kangaroo, in give me a quarter! Cool! minutes, then started laughing around which your job is to punch out the lights In the two or three years to come, the time he got to frozen foods. of any monkey who gets close enough Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 29 to harm your Mama Kangaroo, seems with me as their clumsy guide. forced you to use your own imagina- a little more noble than the average and her piglets always, without fail, be- tion – the classics are to modern 3-D . It seems like many came slabs of bacon on some wolf’s games what 1940s radio drama is to a fighting games are about seeking glory plate. My sincere condolences to all viewing of The Matrix on DVD with a or vengeance. Mama Kangaroo’s try- those poor civilians who wound up good surround sound system and a big ing to get her child back…and perhaps wearing the footprints of hulk Ro- screen TV. It's no coincidence that so, too, are modern-day parents who botrons. Evil Otto used to eat me for imagination is needed to creatively used to help her out with a fast finger lunch on an alarmingly regular basis. solve any conflict - to settle problems on the action button and a steady wrist And let’s not even talk about the inevi- without raising voices or fists. behind the joy- table fate of Mama Kanga- It all comes down to what kids have stick. roo. been taught. But for those who are I’m not hopping But I knew it wasn’t particularly young or impressionable, on the bandwagon “Mama real. And never once did I what could it hurt to break them in on and saying that walk away from a video some classics first? Maybe not Ro- Doom single- Kangaroo’s trying to game, or a movie, or an botron, but perhaps something a little handedly drove adolescent fistfight, with more innocuous like Kangaroo. two troubled teens get her child back…and any intention of ending it And hey, parents, while you're intro- to commit mass- by the most final and ducing your kids to video games…do murder in Littleton, perhaps, so too are bloody means possible. I them a favor and tell them what the Colorado in 1999. modern-day parents …” knew better. I knew that deal is with the quarter some guy just But could today’s the games were my re- put on the cabinet. A stranger put it video and com- lease – the place where I there, and they shouldn't take things puter games - with would deposit my anger, from a stranger. There are things that their realistic ammo, force-feedback, rather than allowing anger to eat me should be done, and things that should and graphic bloodletting – inspire vio- alive until I saw red. be avoided…on both sides of the lence in a child who hasn’t been taught The classic games forced you to screen. to properly process that information as develop skill and focus – or get out of fantasy, and who hasn’t been taught the way of the more experienced player how to find healthier ways to deal with who just placed his quarter on the anger and rejection? Oh yeah. You game’s marquee (see, I eventually betcha. learned!). Their primitive graphics And we’re responsible. Our soci- ety has gradually come to accept the casual violence of modern film and in- teractive entertainment. Our society has also distanced itself from its chil- dren – parents have busy professional and social agendas, and it seems more and more that they can’t process their kids’ expressions of isolation, or fear, or anger, so they look the other way, hoping these issues will resolve them- selves. Parents don’t know how to deal with these things any more than their kids know how to process those feelings without sinking into self- destruction. We’ve allowed both of these things to happen. We are re- sponsible for the results. Therefore, I think there’s more to my classic gaming obsession than my own nostalgic quest for the good old days. I’d love to introduce more kids to these older games. I bet quite a few vintage video game veterans would like to do the same with their own kids also. To be fair, there were certainly plenty of horrible deaths to be suffered in the days when 48K was a lot of memory for a game to take up. With my help, poor Pitfall Harry was stung by countless scorpions and engulfed by many an alligator. The populations of entire worlds fell helplessly if I was hav- ing an off day behind the controls of Defender. Pac-Man and his whole family have died a thousand deaths

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 30 horsefly shooting orange snotballs out henever I'm in the company of of its nose. Mmmm, tasty. Why didn't W Atari 2600 fanatics, there's one they show a big silver horsefly gnawing comment I seem to inevitably make on a cinder block? That would've been that will enrage them quicker than you more in keeping with Yars’ oral fixation! can say "Tramiel." I voiced my objections to this game "You know, I've always thought so often back in Ye Olden Days, Roger Yars' Revenge kinda sucked," I'll opine once gave me a can of Raid with a la- amidst gasps and swoons from my fel- bel reading "YARS REPELLENT" he low classic gamers. Sometimes one of had pasted on it. them will be so overcome with fury he'll I eventually found out how the game actually faint. got its name. As I hear it, Howard Scott Usually when I make this blasphe- Warshaw - the creator/programmer of mous observation, the gathered Yars' Revenge - took the first name of masses scream "Heretic!" and try to , CEO of Atari at the time, stone me to death using their spare and spelled it backwards. Back then, I and E.T. carts. (And let me tell felt somewhat insulted by this simplistic you, those blunt plastic corners can method of naming a game. I felt he leave a heck of a welt.) could've just brought his hand down on Don't get me wrong. I don't have an the keyboard and came up with a bet- insect prejudice. Heck, some of my fa- ter one. vorite Atari 2600 games are insect Let's see: "Tdnivfjn's Revenge." Hmm, I games! I love Activision's Spider like it. Fighter. I enjoy Atari's Centipede. I'll Now, I'm not trying to hammer Mr. even fire up 's Bugs on rare Warshaw. I personally think the man's occasion when I'm either bored or in- a game-designing genius. Raiders of credibly drunk. But Yars' Revenge the Lost Ark is one of my favorite leaves me cold. games and, God help me, I even love No, make that frigid. E.T., another one of his programming Although I feel like an infidel with my miracles. Although I don't like Yars' Re- dislike of a game that seems to be so venge, I can certainly appreciate the popular with - well - EVERYBODY, I have to steer the flying bug around, time and effort it took in coming up with have a very good reason why I've see?" Roger helpfully pointed out. a game with a completely original never grown fond of Yars' Revenge. It's "Now, you can either shoot through the storyline and gameplay never before because, well, I just don't get it. Just as shield or you can eat the bricks away." seen in another game at that time. I don't understand the appeal of "The Yars’ Revenge isn't a bad game. I'm Tom Green Show," I can't grasp why "Eat the bricks?" I asked. "How come?" not saying it is. I'm just saying that it's everybody - why ANYBODY - would not my cup of Earl Grey, is all. enjoy this game. "You just can," Roger answered. "Now I realize that I'm in a class of one as They say first impressions are im- then, see the floating dot? That will de- far as Yars' Revenge is concerned. I'm portant ones. Perhaps that's where it stroy you if you run into it. But you can forever being accused of suffering from all went wrong for me. I remember my hide in the force field in the center of massive head trauma every time I first experience with Yars. My the screen." sneer at the silver bluebottle fly. I can Roger and I used to trade Atari carts honestly say that I've never met an- the way kids today trade Pokémon "Why is it there?" I other person who dislikes this game. cards. Well, one asked. I also realize the popularity of Yars’ weekend Roger Revenge cannot be denied. Yars' Re- invited me over to "It just is," he an- venge has appeared in Read-Along his house to play swered. Books, on lunchboxes, in comic books, the latest game and on other forms of collectible he'd picked up. I was already begin- memorabilia. The game even recently "Wait 'till you ning to hate this. made a comeback of sorts when an see this," he said adaptation by Telegames appeared on as he plugged the "Once you eat through the . cart in. the shield, you can Impressive stats for a snotball-firing, The first thing I shoot the cannon. But brick-eating, pinwheel-dodging house- was treated to was watch out, it shoots fly. a horrific buzzing pinwheels. That's static coming from about it!" Roger fin- his television. ished. "Hey Rog, your TV speaker's "Uh-huh, right," I said busted," I pointed as I went home to out. That was when play my umpteenth he told me that I game of . was listening to the underlying sound Even the cart's la- for the entire game. bel was a big turn-off "OK, so you for me - a big silver

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 31 Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 32 Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 33 By Any Other Name: TheThe OdysseyOdyssey22 ChallengerChallenger SeriesSeries

It didn’t take anyone long to figure out, after the stellar success of Atari’s VCS adapta- tions of Space Invaders and Asteroids, that the most successful home video games in the early eighties would be riding the coattails of their coin-operated cousins. And, with the impressive returns on Atari’s investment in other companies’ titles (as well as popular games from their own arcade division), the coin-op licensing business became very expen- sive. was able to score some minor victories, licensing games such as Burgertime and Lock ‘n’ Chase, but for the most part, Mattel’s licensing coups were at- tached to other entertainment franchises – pro sports entities (almost all of Mattel’s sports games had some kind of logo attached to it, be it or the NFL), non-video games (Dungeons & Dragons), and films (the trilogy of games based on ). Coleco was quick to do deals with Nintendo, Exidy and Universal.

And the Odyssey 2? Well...they had the Challenger Series...

By Earl Green

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 34 main on the screen until someone accu- mulated a better score. Far, far better – and more controver- sial – Challenger Series titles were yet to come.

Copping A Look (And Feel) The success of Pac-Man was a clear signal: thou shalt develop a maze-based munching game, or thou shalt fall by the wayside. North American Phillips heeded this unspoken warning with the creation of the Pac-like game K.C. Munchkin. In UFO K.C., the player controlled the title char- Freedom Fighters acter, a blue creature consisting of an Despite the fact that initial sales of the enormous mouth, eyes, antennae…and was, essentially, Pac-Man painted blue. Atari VCS and the Odyssey 2 were al- not much more. Three multicolored mon- But the little blue guy did his job – espe- most neck-and-neck at the beginning of sters chased K.C. around the maze. K. cially when Atari’s VCS version of Pac- the race, Space Invaders for the VCS C., in the meantime, chased 12 floating Man turned out to be a train wreck of a changed the landscape, and Atari vaulted dots around the maze, four of which game. Consumers vented their frustra- forward. It’s not that the Odyssey lacked tions with Atari…while the video game compelling features (such as its key- magazines, and word-of-mouth advertis- board) or decent games…but what the ing, touted the fact that ’s Od- Odyssey 2 did lack was a parent com- yssey 2 console (presumed dead by pany (originally Magnavox, later Europe- many in the face of Atari’s astounding based North American Phillips) with li- ascendancy), had a better Pac-Man than censing muscle and a budget to match. Atari themselves. Sales of both K.C. So the Odyssey 2 game design/ Munchkin and the Odyssey 2 console programming team decided to approxi- itself were bolstered by this news. mate the popular games as closely as Therefore, Atari once again proved to they could without getting in trouble. be ahead of its time…and sued. It almost – and I stress almost – The landmark Atari vs. North Ameri- worked. can Phillips case was one of the first “Look and Feel” decisions issued and From Asteroids To Asterisks upheld by a United States court. Atari The Odyssey 2 was infamous for its sought to prove that Phillips’ K.C. Munch- limited graphics set. Few of the games kin infringed on the graphical look and programmed for this supposedly ad- “feel” (presumably meaning the game vanced platform included the extra effort play itself) of Pac-Man. It was impossible of custom characters. Magnavox intro- for North American Phillips to win the duced the first Challenger Series car- case, and the company had to pull K.C. tridge, U.F.O., in 1980, and there was Munchkin from store shelves. Atari vs. little doubt which game it was attempting North American Phillips was far from the to approximate. In U.F.O., players con- last Look And Feel case; only a few years trol an armed spacecraft, weaving and later, Apple Computer sued Microsoft for diving through an ever-thickening field of the similarities between the then-new randomly drifting U.F.O.s – actually spin- equated to Pac-Man’s power pellets, ena- Windows graphical user interface and ning asterisk characters. The player’s bling K.C. to munch his pursuers, who Apple’s user interface. The ship has a shield, which can be used to would then scurry back to a rotating cen- lawsuit sparked by K.C. Munchkin was a ram the onslaught of U.F.O.s, but an at- tral receptacle to regenerate. landmark decision, frequently revisited by tempted ram while the shield is regener- In truth, it wasn’t a bad game. K.C. new software-related Look And Feel ating can be fatal. The player’s ship can Munchkin introduced numerous innova- suits, and has bestowed an odd kind of also shoot, but this too forces the shield tive twists on the basic game play of Pac- immortality to one of the best games ever to go down for a moment, leaving the Man, including an option to edit existing made for the Odyssey 2. ship vulnerable. Speedier U.F.O.s peri- mazes or create new ones from scratch… For some Odyssey 2 owners, there odically streak across the screen, trying but at its heart, and nobody even at- were hopes that this meant their existing to take the player down with a rapid-fire tempted to deny it at first, K.C. Munchkin K.C. Munchkin cartridges were now barrage of shield-draining shots (not highly valuable collectors’ items…but unlike the flying saucers in Asteroids). the truth was that K.C. had sold so In some ways, given the shield element, well, the cartridges were actually U.F.O. bears more resemblance to As- rather common. But to this day, a teroids Deluxe than to the original. remains; a presumption that This “near beer” resemblance was since K.C. Munchkin was yanked off nothing new for the Odyssey 2, how- the shelves, only a few exist in collec- ever. Alien Invaders – Plus! had shame- tors’ hands. This isn’t quite the case. lessly aped Space Invaders, and that More lamentable was the game was only one example from the non- called Freedom Fighters!, a side- Challenger titles released in 1980. One scrolling shooter designed to capital- could be forgiven for thinking that the ize on the popularity of the arcade only added “challenge” offered by the game Defender. Boasting a similar Challenger series was the ability to enter premise – piloting a high-speed ship a six-character name next to the highest in an attempt to pick up helpless score achieved, which would then re- POWs encased in purple boxes while K.C. Munchkin Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 35 doors, advancing to the next voice. Better level. A section of one of yet, nobody the floors disappears with could sue for each succeeding level, giv- this game – ing the bouncing boulders sure, it bor- more room to pick up speed rowed ele- and fling themselves in dif- ments of ferent directions. Pac-Man and Sure, no giant apes were Nibbler, flinging these boulders at among oth- Monkeyshines you, but the game’s inspira- ers, but threw tion was obvious. Still, there them into a Attack of the Time Lord avoiding/shooting everything else in were enough unique elements to blender set on sight – Freedom Fighters! was hampered Pick Axe Pete to put adequate “puree’” until the by a pointlessly complex control scheme. distance between the Odyssey 2 game ingredients came out as a very playable It required players to use the right and the original to avoid another lawsuit – and different game. joystick to pilot the ship while in and the game is frighteningly addictive. “hyperspace” (scrolling) mode, and the Some may disagree with me about my Time Lords, Turtles, and Bees, Oh My! left joystick while at “sublight” speeds declaration that Pick Axe Pete is the ulti- Any science fiction fan who’s been (confining the ship to the area shown on mate Odyssey 2 cartridge, but it’s one of alive since the late 70’s can tell you what screen). the few Odyssey games that can lead to a Time Lord is. Of course, it’s a member North American Phillips’ other 1981 a single round lasting into the wee hours. of the same mystical, secretive alien spe- Challenger Series title was a bizarre at- I once played a single game of Pete that cies that gave rise to the lead character in tempt at a logic game involving men and lasted almost seven hours. What a great Doctor Who! At least that was what I monkeys. Two players tried to tag mon- game. And after that, I really had to hit thought in 1983. Lo and behold, my par- keys and then avoid them, or something the can. ents got me the Odyssey 2 cartridge At- like that. As with K.C. Munchkin, Mon- Later in 1982, the newest Odyssey 2 tack Of The Time Lord! for Christmas. keyshines players could edit the maze- innovation came along – the Voice of Od- The next thing I knew, I had a Time Lord like playing field of platforms and walls. yssey 2 piggyback speech synthesizer. shooting at me; specifically, the skeletal The instruction manual even suggested The bulky unit, which contained its own Spyruss the Deathless (Time Lord of one variation of the game in which adding speaker, rested atop the Odyssey 2 con- Chaos), a rare example of a custom or deleting plat- sole, plugging into graphic character on the Odyssey 2. Is- forms in mid- the console’s car- suing threats through the Voice’s speaker game could add tridge slot and pro- (in an homage to that proba- to the chal- viding a new one of bly looked really damn weird to anyone lenge. Some its own. With playing this game without the Voice mod- gamers specu- “specially pro- ule), Spyruss started chucking tons of lated that the grammed heavily-armed assault craft at my one primate premise games” (touted the little earthbound cannon. Attack Of The was an attempt advertising), the Od- Time Lord was, in fact, a great tip of the to create an yssey 2 could now hat to Galaga, incorporating a fleet of Odyssey 2 ver- talk. Though this enemy ships that would bob, weave, and sion of Donkey was nothing more drop all kinds of lethal weaponry on my Kong…but this than a minor embel- head with alarming regularity. I’ve actu- theory was dis- lishment in game ally gotten ten levels into this game, at proved in 1982 by a burly Pick Axe Pete terms, North Ameri- which point it’s nearly an exercise in futil- man wielding a pick axe. can Phillips made sure it was ity – but it’s a blast! noticed by creating a new Challenger Another Challenger Series title, Smith- Speak Up! Series title – one which starred an old ereens!, earns the title of the all-time best 1982 saw the release of the best friend, and the last character anyone ever party game for the Odyssey 2. Two play- game ever created for the Odyssey 2: expected to see on their screen again. ers man catapults on either side of the Pick Axe Pete. To some observers, the The first Voice-Enhanced Challenger screen and try to smash each other’s creation of a game so obviously close to Series game was K.C.’s Krazy Chase, a castles into dust with well-timed shots. the basic premise of Donkey Kong was a sequel to K.C. Munchkin. In his latest Timing means more than aim in Smither- daring move for North American Phillips; adventure, K.C. tried to chomp on the eens! (there really is no aim with a cata- it had been slapped with an injunction segmented body of the Dreaded Dratapil- pult, just altitude and dumb luck) and mis- from Atari barring it from further sales of lar from Venus without making contact timed shots could have undesirable ef- Pac-Man clone K.C. Munchkin. In Pick with the centipede-esque creature’s fects, ranging from pulverizing a piece of Axe Pete, players control an agile miner head. Two “Drats” also wandered the one’s own castle to sending one’s projec- who starts in the middle of the screen maze, and couldn’t tile into orbit. with a pick axe. Boulders emerge from be defeated without The joystick three doors at the top, bottom, and center eating a segment of really only con- of the screen, and ladders snake down, the Dratapiller. This trolled tension. allowing Pete his only chance to climb to bizarrely original An understand- the next level. Pete’s pick axe deterio- game featured con- ing of the phys- rates after a few seconds, leaving him stant goading and ics of pinball helpless to do anything but jump over or encouragement from was helpful for duck under the boulders. Periodically, the Voice, saying Smithereens. I new pick axes appear on the bottom things like “That’s love to drag floor, and keys rocket up to the top floor. incredible!” and “Look this game out A new pick axe will last about as long as out!” and “Oh no!” in for guests – it’s the old one did, while grabbing a key al- a slightly demented, a howl. The lows Pete to dive into one of the three game-show-host Voice is also at K.C.’s Krazy Chase Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 36 its loopiest, with a most original and voice similar to that unusual game ever of K.C.’s Krazy released under the Chase bleating such quasi-prestigious helpful platitudes as Challenger Series “Come on turkey, hit banner, Killer Bees! it!” was a surprise; a North American fast-moving game Phillips finally stuck from a series of fun, a single toe into the but occasionally less waters of licensing than original games by getting permis- Smithereens inspired by popular Amok! sion to tie a new Cir- coin-ops. cus Atari-style game Throughout 1983, self with freshly-programmed cartridges called Acrobats to the Ringling Bros.’ Bar- Phillips was leaking glimpses of a new and ROMs for the ColecoVision num & Bailey Circus. The game became console, the Odyssey 2-compatible Odys- and , released a new game called P.T. Barnum’s Acrobats!…but was, es- sey 3 (which also boasted the basis of a Amok! which certainly lived up to the tra- sentially, a barely-disguised copy of Cir- more general-purpose computer system), dition of the finest Challenger Series cus Atari, right down to the two clowns complete with new games such as Flash- games for the Odyssey 2. and the mobile see-saw. point and enhanced-graphics versions of In Amok!, the player’s lone gunman Toward the end of 1983, North Ameri- Pick Axe Pete and other older titles. But dodges through twisty mazes, with killer can Phillips finally grabbed the first ar- the home video game industry’s demise robots lurking around every corner. cade license ever for the Odyssey 2 – after the disastrous Christmas 1983 Touching the robots, their laser fire, or and it also turned out to be the only such shopping season had claimed the Odys- even the walls results in death – and if license sought by the Odyssey’s parent sey division before the Odyssey 3 could the player lingers in one maze too long, a company. Phillips acquired the rights to hit the stores. The Odyssey 2 also went bouncing smiley face emerges from the the little-known Stern coin-op Turtles, and down in flames as a result, with a final side of the screen to deliver a happy dose truth be told, the Odyssey version was Challenger Series cartridge, Power of death. actually one of the better cartridges for Lords, appearing in very limited numbers. If you’re thinking this sounds a lot like the console. Reproducing everything A license tied to a series of action figures Berzerk, you’re right on the money. down to the intermission screens be- and comic books, Power Lords boasted Berzerk is one game that the original some of the better origi- Challenger Series nal graphics seen in an games never even Odyssey 2 game; for approached. And the most part com- even though North pletely breaking away American Phillips had from the console’s pre- a licensing deal with programmed set of Stern for Turtles, characters. Power Berzerk’s rights had Lords was a so-so already been sold to game, but now fetches Atari (for home con- power-draining prices in sole games) and Mil- eBay auctions, espe- ton Bradley (for a Vec- Acrobats cially for cartridges that trex Berzerk). Stern still come complete with sold the rights to the tween levels and even a tiny chunk of the their original bookcase Berzerk sequel game, arcade game’s attract mode, and reveal- boxes and instruction Frenzy, to Coleco. But ing a new use for the Voice (playing manuals. Amok! is a good ap- strangely disjointed but amusing music With the Challenger proximation – even if it throughout the game), the Odyssey port Series of Odyssey 2 is much faster than its of Turtles was a gem. And aside from games, it was proven inspiration! Parker Brothers’ ultra-rare Odyssey ver- that the Odyssey could Amok! features no sions of such games as Frogger, , handle some more fran- speech synthesis. and Q*Bert, it was the only arcade trans- tic, action-packed, arcade-style game Dondzila had originally hoped to use the lation made available. play…and it also proved (sometimes Voice to provide robotic voices, à la the One of the very last Challenger Series painfully) how close one could come to original Berzerk, but eventually aban- games released, the strangely addictive copying a popular game without getting doned the idea. Killer Bees! casts the player in the role of burned. The Amok! ROM can be downloaded a swarm of bees who from John Dondzila’s web site (http:// must sting a room full The Last www.classicgamecreations.com) for play of robots to death, and Challenge? on an Odyssey 2 emulator, but Dondzila lure other bees into the Is the also sells very nice, professionally- sights of a laser Challenger packaged and personalized Amok! car- blaster. The other Series truly tridges from his web site. I highly recom- bees – supposedly the dead? Per- mend the latter – an Odyssey 2 game just killer bees of the haps not. isn’t an Odyssey 2 game without the real game’s title – would In 1999, console – and I’m proud to add Amok! to sting the player’s programmer my Odyssey 2 game shelf. Even though swarm to death, one John it’s not a real live Challenger bee at a time, and Dondzila, Series game, it upholds that when the player ran who had al- proud tradition which made out of bees, the game ready made a the Odyssey so much fun. was over. Possibly the name for him- Killer Bees Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 37 design of a custom video chip for the ma- always try out some new game at lunch - ort Wayne, Indiana may not strike a chine. TI was working on a game ma- a board game or a video game. The cor- F familiar chord within the video game chine of their own, and a joint venture porate atmosphere was pretty stodgy industry, but in the late , it was an was formed. Milton Bradley's idea of the though. Certain building entrances were unlikely hotbed of activity supporting what machine was a games-only machine with reserved for folks above a certain grade was then considered the most serious a price point of around $200. I think the level, you had assigned parking spots, competition faced by the Atari VCS. Fort Atari 2600 and Odyssey 2 were around and the buildings all had a serious secu- Wayne was home to the original game $150 at this time, but I'm not positive. rity staff. My first day at work I got a stan- development group working on new titles TI's idea ended up being a home com- dard issue memo that said ‘the work day for Magnavox's Odyssey 2 console…or at puter with a higher price point. By the ends at 4:45; at 4:40 you will begin to least it was for a little over a year. The time TI brought the thing to market, as clear your desk of everything except for original development group was dis- the TI Home Computer, it was $900, plus your telephone and your comptometer.’ banded sometime in 1979, with the bulk another $500 for a monitor.” Before that, I didn't even know what a of new software for the Odyssey 2 Still, Harris says, Milton Bradley comptometer was!” being generated by freelance pro- was committed to the TI 99/4A and Then a curious twist of fate took Bob grammer Ed Averett. Averett's ini- had already developed several ti- Harris away from Milton Bradley’s young tial involvement with the Odyssey 2 tles, which were released to game development group. “One of the was not as a game designer, but as a coincide with the debut of guys in the Milton Bradley group, sales rep. Working for Intel, Averett TI’s computer circa 1980. Sam Overton, got hired away to go worked Magnavox's account, providing Harris worked on two li- back to Magnavox/N.A.P. to re- the manufacturer with the chips that censed arcade game trans- start their games group, and he drove the Odyssey 2; he would later write lations, Hustle and Blasto. brought me along." games for Magnavox on a royalty basis, “Hustle was a licensed It was a heady time in the which was an unusual arrangement in the game, presumably from the video game business. Pac-Man early . arcades, but I never saw an Fever was at its peak. The best- Magnavox was bought by the elec- arcade version personally. I saw selling Atari VCS titles were Aster- tronics wing of North American Phillips, many similar programs on com- oids and Space Invaders, and that which itself was the American division of puter screens. I added a lot of vari- machine's hold over the home video a Dutch-based company. N. ant versions that we all enjoyed at game console market was still new. A.P. quickly brought a version of the Od- Milton Bradley, but the marketing Anything could still happen in this in- yssey 2 to the Netherlands as the Vid- folks nixed that to keep true to the dustry. By re-hiring Sam Overton, one eopac console, and set up its own game license.” Harris does, on the other of the members of the original Odyssey design group there (which was responsi- hand, remember seeing the Blasto 2 development group from Fort Wayne, ble for many of the European-only re- coin-op. He also remembers that the North American Phillips seemed to be leases for the Videopac). But N.A.P. also home version of Blasto was the first taking the challenge of putting their resurrected the U.S. Odyssey 2 design game he programmed, having taken console at the top of the heap seri- group, basing them in Knoxville, Tennes- over that project from another staff ously. see in 1981. programmer. "Well, they tried," says Bob Harris. It was through this newly-reorganized “Sales of the TI machine were very "But they didn't understand games. It group that Bob Harris, known to classic disappointing, and Milton Bradley was not their business. At least they gaming fans by the nickname of backed off on further work for it,” Har- set us up in a separate office 20 "RoSHa," continued his then-new career ris says, explaining why the name Mil- miles from the main building and as a video game designer and program- ton Bradley doesn’t sit next to fellow mostly left us alone. As to what it mer. "I wanted to do video games, and toy giants Hasbro and Parker Brothers was like...boy, thinking back almost when I graduated from college in '79, as a video game manufacturer in the 20 years, it was a lot of work, a lot of Atari replied to my persistent letters with minds of many gamers. “At that point, hours. It's not that management 'thanks, but we have all the people we Milton Bradley looked at doing games really pressured us to work a lot of need.' I found a non-video-game job at for the Atari 2600. At the time, we had hours, though. The schedules were Milton Bradley and, after about six reverse engineered the 2600, and had generally designed for us to be suc- months, convinced them to let me try my a group working on games for it. I be- cessful - I think we were a little hand at them.” lieve I saw some 2600 titles at the Mil- more relaxed in this regard than Harris found that Milton Bradley un- ton Bradley booth at the ‘82 CES, but Atari was." derstood the game market quite well…but I'm not certain if they ever took them to Working solo, the Odyssey 2 they may have pinned their hopes on the market. About the same time, they programmers could take any- wrong platform. In explaining the situa- bought Vectrex (or bought a license to where from three to six months on tion, Harris reveals that Milton Bradley build them), and though I don't remem- average to complete a new title. played an important role in the genesis of ber any specific games, I think they must As Harris remembers it, "What the 99/4A computer. have released games for it.” Ironically, made for a lot of hours was being perfec- “Milton Bradley had recently had a big hit both Milton Bradley and rival Parker tionists; trying to get the thing to play just with Simon, and decided to staff up their Brothers were later bought out by Has- right, spending time playing each other's own electronic development group bro. games, being critical and offering sugges- around early to mid 1978. They decided Milton Bradley did, however, take their tions. You always had plenty of sugges- to produce a video game machine, and games seriously. “Milton Bradley was tions, but it was still your project, so you approached Texas Instruments with the pretty good if you liked games. We would had the final say-so."

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 38 Many Changes In Fortune screen, then change its position to the games. "The front screen of Killer Bees The dictionary describes an Odyssey, bottom so it would appear twice. This used the same kind of thing, changing the whether it's Homer's or Magnavox's, as "a was pretty hard to do successfully, for a background color in a rainbow pattern. long voyage marked by many changes in number of reasons. First, the 8048 was That was just an experiment to see if we fortune." It's an apt description for the pretty slow; second, the processor clock could do anything useful like that. The underdog in the console race of the early and video clock didn't have an integral answer was generally 'no,' but that effect eighties. "The programming was difficult, relationship, and only returned to the was attractive enough to put in the car- mainly because the processor in the Od- same phase relationship every four pic- tridge." yssey 2 was a poor choice for a game tures. Harris drives the final nail in the coffin system," Harris recalls. "I also experimented with using, say, 6 of the Odyssey's under-powered proces- To illustrate this point, one has to ex- objects to make 7, by choosing one not to sor: "Which reminds me, the 8048 only amine the innards of the machine. Ac- display on each frame. I think you saw a had something like 64 of RAM, and cording to Harris, the Odyssey 2 was built lot of flickery things in other games where that was it! And then ColecoVision came around Intel's 8048 chip and a custom they'd use one object to make two on out with the Z80 and a nice video chip. video chip, which Intel created specifically alternating frames. That didn't look good, What's sad is that the same video chip for Magnavox's machine. "Contrast this but an object missing only one out of had been in the TI Home Computer, intro- with the Atari 2600, which had a 6502," every 6 frames didn't look too bad. It al- duced circa 1980. Other people could Harris says. [The 6502 is the same chip most looked like it had an energy pulse. have made the Coleco system earlier - that former Atari employees In Killer Bees I was trying to use this to just no one did." and Steve Wozniak used as the central make more robots, but it ended up that I processor of the Apple II computer.] ran out of other resources first." Voice Enhanced Bees! "Compounding the problem was that our 1982 saw the most significant - well, 8048 was only able to execute about 15 truthfully, the only - attempt to enhance instructions during one video line, the technology of the Odyssey 2. Pro- whereas the 6502 was executing about moted heavily on TV and in print adver- twice that many. Further, the 2600's tisements, the Voice of Odyssey 2 prom- video chip was simpler and more control- ised to enhance Odyssey games with lable. This initial batch of 2600 games helpful, human-sounding synthesized Atari sent out was pretty simple, mostly speech. What would have been helpful Pong-like with a few simple elements on to the programming group in Knoxville a black background. The Activision peo- was some idea of how many of the shiny ple started doing a lot more with that ma- add-on modules had been sold. chine by changing graphical elements "The problem with the voice thing during the video line - doing things that was that you couldn't use it as an inte- the chip designer never imagined." gral part of play, since most people did- But couldn’t the Odyssey 2 compete n't have one. And it was difficult to get graphically? After all, Atari's games were an accurate reading of whether the thing plagued by a flicker caused by too many was out there or not. So for the most sprites (animated characters) on the part, I think we all considered it a nui- screen at the same time. The Odyssey 2 sance," Harris remembers. But ironi- rarely, if ever, displayed such problems cally, one of the first games to which the with its graphics. Voice was essential landed in his lap - "The Odyssey 2 had a more complex as Harris's first assignment as a full-time graphics chip. The chip did more for you, member of the game design team. but it could only do those things it was "Nimble Numbers NED was my first designed for, and nothing more," Harris game for Odyssey, and they wanted an points out. The payoff for the chip’s educational line for the Voice," Harris power came in the form of the Odyssey's says of the simple game, which suppos- infamous fixed characters set - alphanu- edly helped to teach math skills. "I was meric characters, planets, and even men Harris recalls that the struggle to cre- never very pleased with this game. I looked identical in the vast majority of ate characters other than the presets built wanted to title it 'Math Potatoes,' but mar- games. "From memory, the chip had into the video chip resulted in shame- keting wanted to have NED and SID form character patterns stored in ROM, for, lessly exploiting bugs. "There was a flaw an educational line. SID was 'SID the must've been 48 or 64 8x8 character pat- in the video chip that allowed you to use Spellbinder,' by Sam Overton, which was terns. You had 26 uppercase, 10 digits, any bottom segment of any of the charac- a much better game than NED by far." two patterns each of a man walking left ters. Thus, the Killer Bees robots used Harris also pushed the envelope of the and right; that would be forty. I forget the the legs from the walking figures, and Odyssey 2's processor once again by others. It also had 12 objects that would half-8's for the helmets. I made a little creating an innovation for Type & Tell, a display any of those characters, posi- demo cartridge that allowed you to play cartridge which was included with every tioned independently, and in any of 16 around with those to see what the combi- Voice module. Acting as something of a different colors," Harris recalls, though he nations would look like. The bug zapper glorified Speak & Spell - in a robotic voice also admits that the machine may have in Killer Bees was done, if I remember which one of the video game magazines been limited to 8 colors. "There were four correctly, by changing the background of the time described as "Darth Vader on 8x8 single color sprites, grid segments for color part way down the screen, then quaaludes" - Type & Tell presented users making mazes, and a background color." changing it back 10 lines later. I think I with a blank grid. Using the Odyssey's Harris remembers that the Odyssey 2 placed some objects over the left and keyboard, users could tell the Voice of design team began a quest almost imme- right ends to hide some glitches that went Odyssey 2 what to say…and occasion- diately to find different ways to use these along with that." ally, the machine got it right (though pho- limited capabilities. And, taking a cue Harris's Killer Bees also included a netic spelling quickly became necessary from Activision, they searched for solu- unique and colorful title screen, which for most applications). "I am a baby tions that no one had thought of. "You was atypical compared to the bland doggy," for example, would be mangled could try to reuse objects on different "Select Game" screen that greeted the into "I am a babby dodgey" unless it was lines - use an object near the top of the players of most of the Odyssey 2's misspelled in just the right way. But don't

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 39 blame Harris for Type & Tell's dis- as two letters - wave 1 = letter A, jointed speech. "I only contributed wave 26 = letter Z. So if you had a some technical capabilities to this one. perfect game up to level 26, you'd see Prior to this cartridge, you generally ZZ, but if you had a few waves where didn't see more than twenty or so char- you lost some bees, you might see acters on an Odyssey screen. I fig- something like ZT. The vice president ured out how to get 96 characters up over our group thought that was there." "teaching people base 26," and I was But the Voice managed to sound forced to change it. So the released much better in other games, which version has two digits for the attack raised the question of its split person- wave, and you have to figure out how ality. "The robot-like voice was done you’re doing on the bonus.” completely with phoneme-based text- “By the way, that's why there are to-speech. The other voice was pre- only 26 waves in Killer Bees,” Harris canned words. There were also a cou- reveals. “After wave 26, it goes back ple of sound effects in there." to wave 20. Another experiment was In fact, it was an odd sound effect a good lesson in psychology. I have from the Voice that inspired Bob Harris always hated games in which every to create his best game for the Odys- scoring action yields multiples of thou- sey 2, Killer Bees. ”The idea for Killer sands or millions. The last three digits Bees came from one of the sounds in were always zero, so it just seemed the Voice module. It was supposed to worthless to me. During much of the sound like a “boing,” but actually Killer Bees project, the score was sounded like buzzing bees. If you had listed as X.XXX. In other words, you a Voice module, you heard this sound scored in increments of thousandths at the start of an attack wave, as your of a point. While it makes no mathe- swarm forms, I think.” matical difference, there was some- The Challenger Series from which thing not at all satisfying about getting Killer Bees sprang was notorious for to the end of the game and saying basing its games on familiar arcade ‘Yeah! I scored 3!’ So I took out the staples, but making them different don't know if War Room players decimal point. It was a humbling reali- enough to avoid legal trouble (with the caught on to the fact that they can pro- zation.” exception of Ed Averett’s K.C. Munchkin, duce laser fuel.” The traditional process of the Od- which drew an Atari look-and-feel law- But not everyone, it seems, “got” yssey designers playing and offer- suit). But was Killer Bees designed to be Killer Bees. “One experimental ing suggestions on each other’s similar to a coin-op title? “Everything was thing I did was also probably lost on games yielded some valuable addi- trying to duplicate the feel of the arcade players,” Harris admits. “At least I know tions to Killer Bees as well. “The portals game Centipede. I definitely wanted that when Bob (Burt?) Hochberg called at the screen edge, where the bad something fast paced. A good player can (he was doing a review of it for Games swarms form, was Rex [Battenberg]'s polish off some of the early Killer Bees Magazine), he hadn't noticed it. Most idea, I think. Or maybe it was a result of waves in a few seconds. One of the people think you only have one life in Kil- a bad experience he had playing an early things I liked in Centipede was that a ler Bees, that as soon as the bad swarm version. I think the swarms just appeared smart player could make use of the pat- touches you, you're dead, game over. in the portal and immediately came out, terned behavior of the centipede to force That's not true, though. You have twelve and this nailed Rex's swarm and he it into a channel of mushrooms and pick it bees in your swarm at the start of each swore several times at the top of his off easily. The corresponding concept in wave, and you lose bees while you are in lungs. His point was he didn't have any Killer Bees was the predictable behavior contact with a bad swarm. So if you are chance to avoid them. My counterpoint of the robots. A robot either always only in contact briefly, you'll lose a couple was that you shouldn't sit near those por- turned left, or he always turned right. bees. If you sit there and let them swarm tals! But after a while, I realized it'd be You could take advantage of this by kill- over you, I think you lose your whole better if the swarm sat in the portal for a ing a robot or two in the right place, which swarm in about a half second. I think it's while so you'd have a chance to see it. forced another robot into a tight loop, actually possible to fly right through a bad The bug zapper was Sam Overton's idea, making it easier to kill. Or at least that swarm and not lose all your bees.” and I think it helped the game. When was my theory. I'm not sure if any play- And if you thought Nimble Numbers there are no other sound effects going ers ever caught on to that. Similarly, I NED was the only educational game Har- on, there's sort of a heartbeat. That was ris programmed for the Odyssey 2, think the VP's idea. He insisted that the main again – Killer Bees reason Pac-Man was successful was the nearly contained a cou- repetitive sound. He might be right, but ple of interesting lessons the heartbeat in Killer Bees would have in math. “At the end of a been more useful if I had more than one round, you get a bonus voice.” for each bee you have left. And each time you make it through a wave Next Month: Part 2 of Earl Green’s without losing any bees, interview with Bob Harris. the bonus multiplier in- creases. This was something I borrowed from the classic pinball machines. Through most of the development, both the bonus level and the wave were displayed Killer Bees Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 40 n the modern themes from each world of the game, complete I hyper- with cheesy retro accelerated push ATARIATARI ArcadeArcade HitsHits 11 sounds. Warms my of plenty-o- heart. Also on the polygons, it’s nice to sit Review by Shaun Conlin CD-ROM are dozens of pic- back with these six old tures, promotional ads and fly- gems like long lost friends. Flawed ers, posters, and even box art from and frivolous as they may be, some of the first home versions on the they’re warmly welcome. Atari 2600 and 5200. Numerous video Those looking for an authentic blast- clips of Atari founder Nolan Bushnell from-the-past need look no further than are in there too. Watching the "Father Atari Arcade Hits 1. Those wanting a of Video Games" reminisce about wee history lesson or see just how far those pioneering days is a must-see for gaming has come over the last decade any game fan of any age. It’s good or two will be equally fulfilled by this stuff. Informative and somehow excit- package deal from . ing. Six Atari coin-op games have been The instruction booklet also con- ported into the PC packet, and the tains a "Retro Recap" for each game, emulation is uncanny- as in very, very in case you weren’t really there. When well done. a track-ball and though they play here Tempest first came out in 1980, for ex- Being someone who enjoys visiting well enough with the mouse as to be ample, John Lennon and Jimmy Du- his roots, I couldn’t boot up Atari’s As- considered excellent ports, they aren’t rante died, Ronald Reagan became the teroids fast enough. Wow! I’ve never close enough to the original style of 40th president and yours truly started seen vector beam so authentically rep- gameplay to be considered uncanny; the 8th grade (entered kindergarten resented. On top of that, there’s even a instead, merely close imitations. You when Pong came out!). Ok, I’m not mode that overlays the original cabinet can go out and purchase yourself a really mentioned in the booklet, but the graphics around the edge of the track-ball peripheral, but I don’t think brief history lesson stuff is a very cool screen, complete with the little blinking these two games alone make it worth touch. LED buttons for 1-player and 2-player the effort or the money. I might have a There’s also a link for world-wide start. A further optional enhancement prejudice on that count as I always high scores on each game where I’m adds some spacey scenery to the sucked at Missile Command… sure I’ll see fogies like myself, and background. Nothing too obtrusive, just The remaining three games, Pong, maybe even a few old friends if I can a little more pleasant than the flat black , and Tempest are each remember their 3-character names… vectorbeam screen. And I almost cack- brilliantly translated and warmly wel- led with excitement when the old, two- come in this pack; Pong most of all as tone “Doump Doomp” sound effect the Granddaddy of video games in all My Score: came pulsing out of my Desktop Thea- its B&W, two-ping-sound glory (you can "enhance" Pong to color, but that 8/10 tre subwoofer. Thanks Creative Labs. seems sacrilegious). Each of these Staying true to genuineness, the Shaun Conlin, The GameGeek games, however, were originally played 10th high score for Asteroids will cut off Syndicated Newspaper Games Colum- with a and nothing short of pur- one character for the otherwise 3- nist at www.gamegeek.ca chasing such a peripheral makes these character name, a flaw they kept from and Associate Editor at The Electric ports wholly worthwhile. It’s like driving the original coin-op version. Cheeky. Playground www.elecplay.com a car with a typewriter instead of a Since a keyboard can be easily set steering wheel. Let’s face it, left and up to emulate the simple 5-button ac- This column first appeared on The right on a keyboard or joystick only tion for the original arcade hit, this ver- Electric Playground vaguely emulates clockwise and sion of Asteroids is darn-near perfect in www.elecplay.com its representation. Unfortunately, the counter-clockwise motion. One’s hand- original Asteroids was slightly flawed, eye coordination is hampered by that or at least un-polished, with its sluggish additional thought process, which really ship control and random element cour- starts to foul up genuine reflex when tesy of the stupid hyperspace button. the heat cranks up and timing is cru- The sequel, Asteroids Deluxe, is my all cial. It breaks up the flow-control and time favorite and the original Asteroids leaves very little room for finesse- es- pecially when trying to throw some Genre: doesn’t even rank in my book, except Action maybe as foot note kudos to an original English into Pong or Breakout. These games are so pure otherwise that the Platform: game that exemplified pure, raw, unre- Win95/98 lenting gameplay. one flaw really glares. A final, notable flaw can been found Developer: I can only hope that an Asteroids Deluxe port comes out in a future pack- in Super Breakout, which has only 3 Publisher: age… levels. Lame! All said and done, however, I’ll still Hasbro The other five games found in Ar- Interactive cade Hits are just as faithfully trans- recommend Atari’s Arcade Hits 1 sim- Players: 2 lated, save for one nagging issue: Con- ply for its long-lost-friends appeal. I Price: $10 US trol. mean, the old sound effects alone are worth the purchase price, which is ESRB Rating: Missile Command and Centipede, Everyone for example, were originally played with thankfully cheap. Also, the CD-ROM contains desktop

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 41 Help Us Find the Lost !

After our Howard Scott Warshaw article was published last issue, we received a letter from an alert reader, Scott Stilphen. Scott wanted to know if we knew the whereabouts of a “strange object” hiding in ”” for the Atari 2600. He directed us to a screenshot of Raiders, which was printed in the November 1982 issue of Electronic Games Magazine (shown at right). Sure enough, the screenshot shows Indy in the Valley of Poison next to a blue block with the letter “J” inside. “Hmmmm…..,” we thought. Donning our best Fedoras, we embarked on a mission to determinine the origin of the “Lost J.” Our first stop was to the source, himself, Mr. How- ard Scott Warshaw. After threatening him with our whips, Mr. War- shaw told us: “If you'll notice the 'J' shape in this graphic, you will see that it is a signature by my Prizes graphic artist, Jerome Domurat. I wasn't the only one with Easter Eggs in my games! A most op- • One Year Subscription to Classic portune screen shot indeed.“ Gamer Magazine Naturally we asked him, “So, how can we find it?” • Midway Classics 2 (PC Version) He replied, “I think it is findable, but I honestly don't remember exactly how. It's been a long • “Once Upon Atari” Video, Auto- time.” Then he threw “E.T.” cartridges at our heads until we left. graphed by Howard Scott Warshaw Just when we felt we hit a dead end, Jerome • Domurat himself contacted us. He told us, “It's Bragging Rights been a number of years since that was done. I can't remember how it was invoked. I do think it was in the finished cartridge since there was typically only one version of the code.” So, that’s it! We’re at our dead end. Now we’re looking to you to help us find the “Lost J.”

How to Enter:

The first person to e-mail their verifiable solution (that works!) to us will receive a bevy of prizes. Send to: [email protected]

Rules

1. Only e-mails with the solution will be accepted. 2. No contacting Howard Scott Warshaw or Jerome Domurat. We’ve already squeezed enough info from them. 3. No hair pulling.

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 42 A and/or B buttons, at selectable rates and Gorf 2K by Krunch Software are 2K is barely a spec of dust in of 5, 10, 15, or 20 pulses per second. still being actively developed for the Y the collective public eye, yet Tiny LEDs next to the A and B buttons Jaguar, not to mention several lower- new Atari products indicate the relative profile games. Plus there's always the for orphaned plat- speed. If you've possibility that additional unreleased forms roll on and on been frustrated by games will fall into Songbird's lap to a wave of grate- Zero 5 or Raiden or (believe me, I WISH it was that easy) in ful Atari fans. What the like because the near future. Lynx development is is it about Atari that your thumb wears also encouraging right now, with sparks such deter- out after, oh, the games like Stardreamer, Distant mination in its fans first 60 seconds of Lands, and Cybervirus still looking to survive against playing, this is ex- strong into next year. I seriously expect all odds? Who actly what you some relatively big announcements in would have thought need. Focus on the the next 6 months for both platforms... we'd still be ponder- gameplay, not but I'll save that for a future issue. :-) ing new releases thumb stamina. For ordering information on all for the Lynx and JUGS Screenshot Even more Songbird products, please visit the Jaguar years after amazing is the con- Songbird web page at: http://songbird. official support grounded to a halt? tinued level of Lynx support this year. atari.net. Why do I have a love for rhetorical Remnant, a full-freedom 3D space questions? Never mind that; it's the shooter, was released at CGE2K as games that matter. And games are reported in the Summer 2000 issue of exactly what Atari CGM. Crystal fans have re- Mines 2: Buried ceived this year. Treasure, Win- Carl Forhan apparently enjoys being Latest on the dows-based soft- chained to a computer, as he has been Jaguar's plate are ware that allows feverishly working for the past two a pair of interest- you to design and years on publishing new software for ing devices. The download new lev- the and Lynx platforms first is JUGS els for CM2 to your under the Songbird Productions label. ("Jaguar Unmodi- Lynx, was also re- This is in addition to holding down an fied Game leased at the same engineering job and working as a "), a combi- show. But wait -- volunteer youth pastor. nation of a hidden we're not done yet! feature in the Remnant Songbird has an- BattleSphere car- nounced that an- tridge and some add-on software with other cool game, Championship The Atarian Christmas 2000 cable for your PC. Basically, JUGS al- Rally, will be available in time for Checklist lows you to download RAM-only games Christmas. This is a rally-style over- and demos to your Atari Jaguar. All head with TONS of op- Jaguar: you have to do is tions. You want insert your Bat- tracks? Try De- [ ] BattleSphere tleSphere car- sert, Alaska, Val- [ ] Hyper Force tridge, hook up the ley, and more! [ ] JUGS cable, run the soft- You want options? [ ] Protector ware, and voila! How about head- [ ] Rapid Fire Controller Check out www. to-head play via [ ] Skyhammer buyjugs.com for comlynx, select- [ ] more details. able car colors The second and handling, sin- Lynx: device, brought to gle race or tourna- you by Songbird, ment play, a pass- [ ] Championship Rally is a Rapid Fire word entry screen, [ ] Crystal Mines II: Buried Treasure Controller. This is shortcuts and [ ] Lynx Game Wallet a regular 18- Gorf 2k cheats, and so [ ] Lynx/PC serial cable button controller much more. This [ ] Othello modified with two low-profile pushbut- is one game you won't want to miss. [ ] Remnant: Planar Wars 3D tons on the bottom of the controller. So, where does that leave us for the These buttons enable rapid fire on the future? Fear not, Atari fans. Gorf Pluz

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 43 've heard it said that some of the easiest games to program for I any game system are those that fall into a few narrow categories: shoot-'em-ups, paddle games, and platformers. Though still difficult to design, create, and program a homebrewed game, at least you have the comfort of looking at what's been done before you begin. It's con- venient to examine what's worked and what hasn't. But what of those creations that define new genres of homebrew programming? This issue's column takes one more look at the Atari 2600 and some of the recent releases that DON'T fall into any easily definable genre. Rather than settle for what's been done in the past, these programmers tried - and succeeded - in bringing something new and never-before- seen to the classic system.

Stella Sketch drawing. Using a clever bit of bankswitching, By Bob Colbert you can sit and doodle all over the screen Platform: Atari 2600 and your drawing will remain there until Genre: Drawing program you either erase it or turn off the system. Released: 1997 It's easiest to draw with the joystick or mouse, and it takes a bit of practice to Who needs paper and pencil when draw anything with the driving paddles, you have this bit of fun from Bob Colbert, which are still spotty at best. However, best known for other efforts like the puz- using the driving paddles is a real hoot zle game Okie Dokie (reviewed last is- and really gives the feel of playing with sue). the classic red plastic children's drawing Sketch was designed and re- toy. leased by Bob on for use Which, sadly, brings us to why this with the . Once program is no longer being distributed. loaded into your system, Stella Sketch Stella Sketch is no longer available turned your Atari into an easy-to-use ea- after Ohio Arts, manufacturer of the Etch- sel! Using either a joystick, Atari or a-Sketch, demanded it no longer be dis- mouse, or a pair of Indy 500 driving pad- tributed, claiming that the program was dles, Stella Sketch allowed you to create too close to infringing on the copyright of your own masterpieces on the TV screen. the original. You may be able to find the You use the selected controller to move BIN floating around on the Web and Bob an on-screen cursor, which draws a line has said that he may re-release the pro- wherever it goes. (Though one game gram in the future after a bit of re- variation allows you to use the button to programming. "pick up" and "drop" the point so you don't leave a continuous line.) Pushing Bob Colbert has a website at: the Reset button causes the game screen http://members.home.com/rcolbert1/ to "shake," effectively erasing your latest

Video Time Machine Look at your game system. It’s just across and the Space Invaders will march by Chris Cracknell sitting there, playing games. Well, it's as Times Keeps On Slippin'. Setting the Platform: Atari 2600 time to get serious! Time to put that bit of clock is simple enough by using the joy- Genre: Real-time clock application frivolity to work! stick. Released: 1999 Chris Cracknell has designed an Atari Since there's not much point in having program that turns your 2600 into a real- it running 24-hours a day (can't play any time clock! That's right, plug this into your games and the bills would be murder), system and turn your television set into I've found the best use of this cart is to the biggest digital clock in the house. have it running at parties or any other The program keeps accurate time and social gathering. It's a sure show stopper shows it in either a 12-hour or 24-hour and it beats having everyone walk into military time display. The time has a the kitchen for a glance at the clock over scrolling rainbow effect that's very inter- the stove. Besides, my kitchen clock esting to look at. doesn't feature Ms. Pac-Man at What makes this program even more 11:00 p.m.! fascinating is the classic Atari characters that race along the top and bottom of the Chris Cracknell has a website at: www. screen. Every 10 minutes, the upper hwcn.org/~ad329/crab.htm. characters change and the bottom ones change on the hour. Mr. Do may walk

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 44 Pressure Gauge by begin a new, and more challenging John K. Harvey round. The target range may begin to Platform: Atari 2600 randomly shift or blink about the edge, making it harder to hit. Your Genre: Reflex/reaction game rising bar may zip with blinding Released: 1999 speed, causing you to constantly overshoot the range. The bar may How fast can you move? How accurate even disappear for short periods, ne- are you when the pressure's on? Are you cessitating a blind guess. certain? Plug this cart into your Atari and The game is simple enough, re- test yourself! quiring only the joystick button to John Harvey's Pressure Gauge will be play. However, in the upper levels, the judge of how fast you can hit a specified your eyes will be bugging out of your target in a quickly-dwindling time period. head as you try to hit the bouncing, The screen itself is simple - only three bars. disappearing target. The first bar rises to the top of the screen, There's a nice little title screen and you have to hit the joystick button when the top of the bar is when the game begins, and although the game screen is pretty within a "range" marked on the far left of the screen. If you're fast simple and there is no scoring to speak of except for "how many enough and accurate enough, the second bar shown on the levels can you survive," this game is effectively addictive as you screen will go up a bit as a reward. If you miss the target, the sec- try one more time to beat your last score. Anyone who's ever ond bar will drop back down a bit. The object is to get your spent the afternoon playing "Flinch" or "Slap Hands" will want to "scoring bar" to the top of the screen before the third and final try their reflexes on this. Your soon-to-be-frazzled nerves will bar - the timer - ticks down from the top of the screen to the bot- thank you for the workout. tom. Each time you get the scoring bar to the top of the screen, you John K. Harvey has a website at: www.cs.wisc.edu/~harvey/

Dark Mage by Greg Troutman Platform: Atari 2600 Genre: Text adventure Released: 1997

Yes indeed, years after fantasy games like Adventure and Crypts of Chaos have come and gone, Greg Troutman finally brings the realm of TEXT adventures to the Atari! Get ready for an Infocom/Scott Adams flashback you never thought you'd see! You're placed in the role of a jester who's been ousted from his home kingdom for accidentally losing the King's beloved black rose. To get back into His Majesty's good graces and to be allowed back into the kingdom, you'd better find a replacement! Wander over a colorful countryside, meet- ing and interacting with the strange inhabitants, collecting and using items, as you fight to get back home! The game is played with a joystick. The upper screen tells you what you see with each move and the bar at the bottom of the screen lists the commands at your disposal. Moving the joystick up, down, left, and right allows you to move north, south, west, and east, respectively. Pushing the button brings up another menu of commands including Look, Talk, Give, Take, and Inventory. Of course the game is pretty simple to play, but winning takes a bit more thinking than is usually seen in Atari games! It's a blast to actually try to solve the puzzles to situations you face. The troll won't let you cross the bridge, eh? What can you do to convince him? What is the snake trying to say to you? And what's this hammer for anyway? Dark Mage comes in two versions; a 4K "mini-version" and an 8K "director's cut," with more locations, items, and characters to meet. Greg has broken new ground with this quest and I'd love to see more text games like this one in the future.

These homebrews (excluding Stella Sketch) are currently available on cartridge from Randy Crihfield at Hozer Video Games, P.O. Box 1332, Pepperell, MA 01463. Check out www.netway.com/~hozervideo/index.html for catalog and further details.

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 45 Dear Santa,

I’m about to work on my classic gaming Christmas list, and I’m hoping your elves can bust some heads at the majormajor game publishers and make this stuff happen, because it’s long overdue. You see, Namco and Williams and and Midway hahaveve all polished off their old chestnuts for the PlayStation, Dreamcast, N64, Game Boy, and PC, and Hasbro’s doing a lot to help out too. But there are so many more manufacturers who need to do the same! So, Santa, here’s my wish list. Can we make this work?work? Huh?

Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Stern Man, Kozmik Krooz’r, Solar Fox, Omega Collection. In an ideal world, this Race, and, if they were willing to shell lovely selection of classic arcade emu- out the dough for the rights, Tron, Discs lations would include Berzerk and of Tron, and Journey? It’d be total Frenzy (complete with speech synthe- bliss…but I’m not holding my breath. sis), Bagman (and maybe Super Bag- man too), Turtles, , Ami- dar, and Strategy X. Since Berzerk is The Taito Treasury. Taito is responsi- the cretaceous crustacean forebear of ble for so many incredibly memorable such 3-D maze shooters as Doom and games that it hurts to think that they Duke Nukem, it is long overdue that haven’t been re-released. Who among recognition. us wouldn’t shell out a few dead presi- dents for such classics as Qix, Phoenix, , , Stratovox, Nichibutsu Arcade Hits. This little- Front Line, , , Zoo known manufacturer turned out some Keeper, and – lest we forget where great stuff! Everyone remembers Bally/Midway licensed it from – the origi- Crazy Climber, Seicross, and Moon nal Space Invaders? Cresta, don’t they? Or the obscure Amidar sequel Crazy Climber II? Excavating Exidy. A collection of Exidy classics, including Mouse Trap, Universal Arcade Hits. Universal Pepper II, Starfire, Venture, and Targ. unleashed some of the funkiest and most fun games to hit the arcades in the early 1980’s. A Universal collec- Sega Classics. Probably limited only tion would probably include Mr. Do, to the Dreamcast, this compilation Mr. Do’s Castle and Do Run Run! would unearth long-lost favorites such (and possibly Mr. Do’s Wild Ride as as Zaxxon, Pengo, Buck Rogers: well), along with Ladybug, Snap Jack, Planet of Zoom, Congo Bongo, Carni- and . val, Turbo, Space Odyssey, Tac- Scan, Space Fury, and more.

Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Mid- way Collection II. Midway’s vaults Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Atari are lined with forgotten hits and cult Collection III. By jumping from the classics. They came real close to era of Tempest and Missile Command releasing one with Gorf and Wizard of straight into latter-day titles like Paper- Wor, but backed out at the last min- boy and Gauntlet, Midway’s AGH se- ute. Why not a compilation featuring ries skipped a huge number of very those titles, along with Kickman, Domino Kick Man memorable Atari titles. This collection would Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 46 redress the balance by emulating Classic Games From The Odys- Kangaroo, Food Fight, Arabian, I Ro- sey2. Another Activision archive of bot, and Major Havoc. 30 forgotten gems from my all-time favorite console, including K.C. Munchkin, K.C.’s Krazy Chase (with SNK’s Last Gasp. Before SNK Voice emulation!), Pick Axe Pete, Kil- throws in the towel in the U.S. just ler Bees, Attack of the Timelord, UFO, because we all failed to buy into the Alien Invaders Plus, Quest For The , they could at least Rings (without that cumbersome give us a collection of their arcade game board!), Computer Golf, Base- classics, including Vanguard, Warp ball! and many more. Sure, I’d miss Warp, and Fantasy (my all-time favor- punching my name in on the mem- ite arcade game). With my luck, I’d brane keyboard, but that’s why I keep have to get a Neo Geo Pocket just to a real live working Odyssey2 in my play this collection… game cabinet. This one would be for all the folks who thought the Odyssey never had a decent game made for it. The Mario Files. Probably proprie- tary to the Nintendo 64 or the upcom- ing console, this collection would at Zaxxon As you can see, Santa, there long last bring home perfect are a lot of games just waiting emulations of such Nintendo to be released, if not begging. games as Donkey Kong, Don- MAME is okay, but it doesn’t key Kong Jr., , always get the sound right, and the original Mario Bros., Pop- the speed isn’t always right, and eye, and . you sure as heck can’t play full- motion video games on MAME. The days of classic , Volume 6. gaming are coming back…and Come back, Namco! Don’t we hey, even if the video game need a wing of the museum de- publishers can’t get it in gear to voted to Jr. Pac-Man, produce any of the above in II, Hopping , Professor time for Christmas 2000, maybe Pac-Man, and maybe even a they could let this letter be their video pinball “emulation” of the guide as they consider what to otherwise un-emulatable Baby resurrect next. If even three or Pac-Man? We know that the four of the above titles come latter game was more Bally/ true in the next year, I promise Midway’s train wreck than yours, I’ll be real good…and, with a but it’d still be fun to take an- little PlayStation practice time, I other crack at it. Popeye might even work my way up to “better than good!”

Arcade’s Greatest Hits: The Other Williams Collection. Not so fast, Midway – Williams Elec- P.S. – I was just kidding about tronics gave us more than just a having the elves bust heads, half-dozen great games. What- Santa. ever happened to Make Trax and Motorace USA, among others?

Laserama! No, not a light show at a Pink Floyd concert, but a compilation of laserdisc games translated to DVD format for use on the PlayStation 2 (which is DVD-capable). Dragon’s Lair, Dragon’s Lair II, and Space Ace have already been turned into normal , so why not Inter- stellar Laser Fantasy, Cliff Hanger, Bega’s Battle, and so on? Motorace USA

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 47 "ASSIMILATE THIS!"

here’s a vast ocean of difference T between the original (authorized) Star Trek game and the latest game to bear the name of that most hallowed and self-important of sci-fi franchises. But, to give credit to both Sega and Activision, both games are a hoot. The games also say something about the property on which they are based. In the various Star Wars games, resource management is barely a factor to be reck- oned with; how does one measure the Force anyway? There are many Star NOW THEN Wars games in which one can happily blast away without so much as a twinge Star Trek: Invasion (Activision, 2000) of fear that the ammo’s about to run dry. Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simu- Platform: PlayStation Star Trek, on the other hand, is a different lator (Sega, 1983) animal. This is a show with an ardent Platforms: coin-op, Atari 2600, Atari Is this even the same game? Well, faction of fans who collect blueprints, yes…sort of. A heads-up display still 5200, Vectrex technical manuals, and obsess over how keeps you apprised of your engine and this fictional stuff works. (A little hint: it weapons levels, but this game – set in Actually, to say that Sega originated doesn’t.) I mean, I consider myself a bit the Star Trek game would be a disservice the Next Generation/Deep Space Nine of a Trekkie, but I weep to think what era – really revs up the 3-D element of to years worth of work by budding pro- these wanna-be warp physicists could be grammers. These programmers infringed the game. No longer are you piloting a doing for society if they would apply that stately, city-sized ship such as the Enter- on Paramount’s copyrights back in the same brainpower to real-life problems. days when the studio conveniently looked prise. In this game, you’re just one of a Not all of the show’s fans are like that, but number of hotshot fighter pilots giving the the other way, happy to have anyone re- that segment of the Trekkie population member Star Trek, as opposed to the Federation’s new Valkyrie fighters their frequently scares me. And it’s no acci- baptism of fire. Whereas the original studio’s spree of web site shutdowns in dent that games based on Star Trek fo- the . Sega’s vector arcade game Trek game pitted you against Klingons, cus on keeping your ship in good health. your instructor/commander in Invasion is combined the resource management ele- Now, bearing in mind that this is perhaps ments of the age-old Star Trek computer none other than Worf, with occasional a little more realistic than chalking it all up visits from Captain Picard. A new Borg game with some elements of a first- to the Force, there’s a part of me that person shooter…make that only a few invasion fleet is zipping toward Earth at would dearly love to blast my way warp nine-point-eight-five-bajillion, and elements. The coin-op drew heavily upon through Star Trek: Invasion’s fast-action the look of the “Kobayashi Maru” simula- apparently your little squad o’ fighters is battles without worrying about the shields all that stands between the human race tor depicted in the second Trek flick, and the photon torpedoes. That said, the which – for the time – was really cool. and assimilation. In addition to the Borg, latter-day Trek game wins my classic you’re pestered by Romulans, Cardas- (Actually, now that I think about it, it still gaming seal of approval: yes, there are is.) The object of the game is simple: sians, and some brand new enemies cut scenes, but you can abort them, and along the way. While the resource man- defend Federation starbases and wipe most of the briefings from Worf, threats out those pesky Klingons, all while agement angle of Strategic Operations from aliens, and so forth occur during the Simulator is still there, it doesn’t play as closely monitoring your phaser, shield, game, rather than and warp engine important a role in this game as simply slowing it opening a can of intergalactic whoop-ass energy levels. down. There Sound easy? It on the invading forces. Whereas SOS is a clearly defined kept things strictly on a two-dimensional wasn’t! Later levels had storyline, but unlike so many whole fleets of Klingons occupying playing field – never would you have to other modern games, the deal with enemy ships firing at you from the same sector of space as the Enter- player is not a slave to that prise, making it rather difficult to survive. above or below – Invasion is a killer simu- storyline. I like that – I like it a lot. Inva- lation of real 3-D space combat, with The home versions – among the first sion is a worthy successor. home video games ever produced by banks, rolls, runs, and all kinds of Sega – lacked the graphic and audio flair close calls…if you can master the con- of the coin-op, but retained most of the trols. It’s actually quite a lot of fun, but game play elements. the controls can be a little aggravating at Grade: A+ times – enough to make me pine for the one-joystick-and-an-action-button days of the 2600 version. Grade: B Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 48 ClassicClassic AdvertisementAdvertisement

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Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 49 SNESSNES -- TheThe systemsystem II love to hate

rendition of Tetris. It wasn't quite the same, but could have been very good had in not been for the I often think back to how I used to look necessity of using the SNES's horrible Super- forward to the introduction of new video Scope. Eventually, the SNES came out with a game systems. This changed with the in- Tetris/Dr. Mario on one cartridge. With it troduction of the Super Nintendo Entertain- came something that the official Nintendo ment System (SNES). That was when the version of Tetris for the NES didn't have– "classic" spirit jumped up inside of me and a two-player feature. While this was a said, "Newer isn't necessarily better!" great addition, it was missing my favorite Things haven’t been the same since. feature of the NES version– the level 9 My story starts the month the SNES height 1-5 "endings." I had made it one of my came out. life goals to be able to beat those levels and get My family only had so much money. those "endings." When I succeeded on the NES, To be blunt, we were poor. Our NES and all the characters began singing and dancing; I did it all its games were in the pawn shop, and we had to make on the Gameboy and got a space shuttle blasting off; I did a choice: Buy the SNES or get the NES out of pawn. it on the SNES and got the message- "Congratulations, We chose the SNES. We chose wrong, dead wrong. you beat Level 9 Height 5" or something equally bland. It The SNES came with one game: Super Mario World. was really quite disappointing. We knew when we spent the money that we The other SNES game that was disap- would only have that one game for months. pointing was Final Fight. On the plus side, it I figured that if Super Mario World (SMW) had character sprites much larger than the was even BETTER than Super Mario Broth- NES could offer. On the minus side, good ers 3 (SMB3), I would easily be entertained “The SNES is the NES programming had given me the feeling for months. Unfortunately, SMW was horri- that brawling games needed a good two- bly inferior to SMB3. first system where I player mode. Specifically, 3 To begin, there were fewer power-ups. really saw the (for NES) was much better. There were a There were no "real" bricks. The Firey total of four characters (although two were Mario did not look as cool as in SMB3. In attitude ‘Good identical, making a total of three unique char- SMW, he had the same old outfit from Super graphics make up for acters), and two players could play simultane- Mario Brothers 1, while in SMB3, he had this ously. In Final Fight (for SNES) there were cool glowing-orange-as-if-glowing-from-fire a bad game’ in only two characters, and worse, only one look. The Cape Mario in SMW replaced the game-design.” player could play. Final Fight 2 and 3 fixed Raccoon Mario of SMB3. The Cape Mario this problem, I understand, but by then I was had more powers, however the Raccoon already bored with SNES brawling. Mario simply had more charm. A friend of There are plenty more examples of bad mine pointed out that the Cape "made more games- too numerous to mention them all. sense." However, we agreed that the Cape wasn't as Almost all of the games released within the first year or cool. As I said, "Mushrooms make you grow, and flowers two seemed totally incompetent. And even though they make you shoot fireballs- Mario isn't supposed to make eventually started to shape up, it was, for me, too little- too sense.” late. Go to almost any SNES owner's library and you will Needless to say, it wasn't long before we grew nostal- see that really good SNES games remain few and far be- gic for the NES. We even started to wish we had the old tween. The SNES was the first system where I really saw Atari 2600 that we never-knew-where-it-had-gone. At the attitude "good graphics make up for a bad game" in one point, we actually unhooked the SNES to hook up an game-design. This is the attitude which has come to de- Aquarius. (And I don't care what you say, Aquarius was stroy almost all of the "classic spirit" in the common bad, really bad.) But back to the point; SMW wasn't the gamer. But the companies who monopolize on this atti- only reason SNES was inferior to NES. tude will, ironically, be the ones who bring it back. Even One of the all-important games on our NES had been now, gamers everywhere are raising their voices against Tetris. I remember that we had borrowed my uncle's Tet- “bad games with good graphics.” For every hundred peo- ris so many times that he finally bought us our own copy. ple who BUY a bad game, at least one will see it No Tetris = no fun. Well, not quite, but it was probably on for what it really is. One more Classic Gamer everyone's favorite game list. For a while the closest voice. WE ARE that voice. thing to come out for the SNES was Blastris, a light-gun

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 50 Paying Top Prices!

Atari2600 Atari2600 Atari2600 Intellivision Assault $49.00 Mines of Minos $20.00 $185.00 Hover Force $13.00 Boing! $55.00 Miner2049II $42.00 Up n Down $50.00 Stadium Mud Buggies $18.00 Bumper Bash $85.00 Mr.Do Castle $80.00 Wabbit $4.00 Turbo $35.00 Cake Walk $145.00 Okie Dokie $25.00 Wall Ball $25.00 White Water $5.00 Chase ChuckWagon $85.00 Pigs in Space $9.00 Wall Defender $62.00 Colecovision Condor Attack $99.00 Polaris $17.00 X-Man $85.00 Championship Keypad $15.00 Cosmic Commuter $17.00 Qberts Qubes $95.00 Atari5200 Super Sketch $150.00 Cosmic Corridor $18.00 Quest for Roo,Sunrise $25.00 Bounty Bob $21.00 Aquattack $25.00 Cosmic Swarm $9.50 Rabbit Transit $28.00 $12.00 Artillery Duel/Chuck Nor- $100.00 ris Crazy Climber $110.00 Rescue Terra1 $95.00 K-Razy $40.00 Dragon Fire $12.00 Death Trap $62.00 River Patrol $275.00 Meteorites $72.00 Fathom $16.00 Demolition Herby $35.00 Room of Doom $25.00 Miner2049 $16.00 Motocross Racer/Tomarc $100.00 Dice Puzzle $20.00 Rubik's Cube $32.00 Montezuma $20.00 Qberts Qubes $45.00 Dragon Stomper $7.50 Scuba Diver $35.00 Mr.Do Castle $20.00 Roll Overture $22.00 Exocet $20.00 Shuttle Orbiter $55.00 Star Wars Death Star $22.00 Sammy Lightfoot $26.00 Frankenstein's Mon- $12.00 Snoopy Red Baron $10.00 Zaxxon $18.00 Sector Alpha $31.00 ster Frogger, Starpath $30.00 Space Canyon $18.00 5200 Carry Case $32.00 Sir Lancelot $18.00 Gas Hog $45.00 Space Chase, Mono- $200.00 5200 Controllers $10.00 Slurpy $34.00 gram GLIB $105.00 Springer $42.00 Wico Command Control Spectron $16.00 , Silver $30.00 $18.00 Joystick w/Y cable $15.00 Threshold $25.00 Great Escape $60.00 Star Gunner $30.00 Atari7800 Tomarc Barbarian $30.00 Guardian $85.00 Star Wars Empire $3.00 F-18 Hornet $5.00 Up n Down $30.00 Harbor Escape $30.00 $15.50 Alien Brigade $1.00 Word Feud $30.00 HERO $7.50 Stronghold $160.00 Mean18 Golf $18.00 Odyssey I Want Mommy $15.00 Stuntman $35.00 Planet Smashers $10.00 Percepts $20.00 James Bond $18.00 Subterranea $30.00 $6.00 Brain Wave $20.00 Jawbreaker $16.00 Survival Island $55.00 Tank Command $30.00 Interplanetary Voyage $20.00 $10.50 Sword of Saros $55.00 Water Ski $8.00 Win $20.00 Malagai $130.00 Sword Quest Water $70.00 Intellivision Basketball $20.00 Mangia $145.00 Tapper $17.00 Congo Bongo $50.00 Odyssey2 Marauder $18.00 Threshold $15.00 Diner $21.00 Power Lords $110.00 Master Builder $52.00 $15.00 Fathom $39.00 The Voice $25.00 G7400 System $50.00

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Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 51 by Earl Green As pretty as the laserdisc games were to look at - admittedly, ow that you've pulled your DVD player out of the box and the Disney-style animation was a revelation in a day and age N watched The Matrix sixteen bajillion times - both with and when Zaxxon, , and Buck Rogers: Planet Of Zoom without the commentary - what next? Well, believe it or not, were considered games with groundbreaking graphics capabili- your DVD player may be a real live classic gaming machine. ties - the games were also nothing more than electronic choose- First, step into your Wayback Machine, time-hopping your-path books (Remember those from your childhood? "If DeLorean, or TARDIS, and revisit the year 1983, when the coin- you're going to fight the wizard, go to page 29. If you decide to op video game industry was sure - I mean, they were absolutely escape down the other corridor, turn to page 35 instead.") positive - that the Next Big Thing was here, and the future be- Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, and other games of their ilk had pre- longed to laserdisc games. programmed structures. If you didn't move your joystick or hit In laserdisc games, a simple processor awaited user input your button at the right time in accordance with those structures, and would then decide whether or not the correct pre- you'd lose a life. programmed action had been performed at the right time. De- Now, I know you've missed these games. You long for the pending upon the outcome, that processor would then seek out, days when scantily-clad Princess Daphne cavorted about and as fast as the machine's built-in industrial grade laserdisc player squealed advice to Dirk in a high-pitched voice that could cause would allow, an appropriate digitally-recorded video clip - either harm to small pets. You miss the fun of geeky Dexter transform- the next few moments of your adventure, or your character's ing into Space Ace almost at random - and then changing back at hideous and painful death. the most inopportune moments. Fear not, true laser believers - The first of these games received a lot of attention. Don the experience can be yours again! Bluth, the animator behind The Secret of NIMH and approxi- has re-mastered the original animation ele- mately two animated minutes of the movie Xanadu, created ments and turned out multi-path DVDs of the trilogy of Dirk the Daring and Princess Daphne, and banished them to games that can actually be played once more, using your DVD Starcom's Dragon's Lair. The publicity generated by this new 's direction buttons as a joystick and the "select" method of creating a game was considerable, and everyone button as an action button. from Atari to Stern scrambled to create their own laserdisc- But is this necessarily a good thing? driven games. But Bluth, with Starcom chief Rick Dyer, already Setting aside the rat-in-a-maze style of game play that these had a follow-up planned in Space Ace, and eventually they also games relied upon, the DVD versions aren't without problems. released Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp. Much relies upon the infrared signal strength and response time

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 52 of your remote control, and even with a tratingly, both games feature more or less on my el cheapo DVD player. better player, you have to keep in mind the same clips - there isn't much history Digital Leisure has also released PC- that DVD players were meant to spin that's unique to either title.) Dragon's Lair II compatible DVD-ROM versions of all movies, not play games. The lag time is features pencil-drawn rough animations of three games in a "PC bundle," but not an absolute killer with these games - you the entire a separate track - sort of having a DVD-ROM drive or those ver- can expect a wait of two to three seconds an animator's non-verbal commentary track. sions of the game, I can't give a review to find out if you've led Dirk or Dexter to You've probably noticed that I haven't on those products. the next scene, or to the aforementioned said much about the harder-to-find Dragon's Is it worth it? Whew…barely. I'd only hideous and painful death. It's a pretty Lair II. If you missed it in the arcades… recommend these DVD games for the embarrassing blow to the otherwise com- count your blessings. It had much more of most diehard of classic gamers, or per- pelling technology of DVD when a laser- a storyline than its simpler ancestor, but that haps rabid Dragon's Lair or Space Ace disc player from 1983 had less response storyline was steeped in elements plagia- fans. For my own tastes, these games lag time. rized from such sources as Alice In Won- barely cut it as games even when they Fortunately, given that Bluth's laser derland and Disney's Jungle Book. That were in the arcades…and these playable games were almost unplayable at times, game's obscurity is probably all that pre- DVD versions, though beautifully re- each game has a "watch" mode, which vented it from drawing a look-and-feel law- mastered, hardly make the cut as home takes you through every scene of the suit from Walt Disney Studios. video games. They look great…but do game, sans lags, as if you were peering There are also compatibility problems you really want to spend $30 or more per over the shoulder of someone who was with Digital Leisure's laserdisc-games-on- game when the most compelling feature playing a perfect game. There are some DVD. To put it simply, if you have one of a is the "watch" mode? If there was a good nice pre-requisite DVD extras as well. few certain specific models of DVD player back in the days when these Dragon's Lair and Space Ace both fea- player, or an Aiwa or Samsung brand games were new, you could look over his ture video histories of the games in the player, you're not going to be swashing your shoulder at the arcade and form of news clips, circa 1983, many from buckle with Dirk the Daring any time soon. watch for free. TV stations in and around Starcom's I'm not sure what the compatibility issues home base in Denver. (But rather frus- with those models are…but they work okay

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 53 my mastery! Once again, my wish was granted (if f you’re any- As the old saying goes, be careful I knew I had such powers, I would have I thing like what you wish for. Soon after my wish, saved them for much more valuable me, you along came MAME. For the first time, things). I found a website selling an probably one emulator allowed you to play many arcade quality stick for my PC com- haven't played arcade games. I had seen puter called the V-Stick. It looked great too many of before that would do one game or a in the picture with the two joysticks and the original couple, but I never bothered with them. the buttons, real arcade buttons! I sent arcade games But MAME was different; it offered a in my money order and waited for it! since your large selection! Not only did it offer a And waited. And waited. It took over youth. Sure, lot of games, but new games were be- 15 weeks for the darn thing to arrive, there is the ing emulated all the time! Soon, I but when it did, I was ready to recap- occasional Ms. Pac-Man or Galaga, but found all my favorite arcade games ture my imaginary arcade crown. I when was the last time you actually being ported to MAME! Now I would would be king! played the real arcade version of Tap- have the ability to prove my mastery of Know what, it didn't happen. Even per or Jungle Hunt or ? It’s the arcade games! I would be king! with the superior joystick, I still stunk probably been a really long at these games. time. Well, MAME came Where on the Cole- along and changed all that! covision version of Now all the arcade games Tapper, I could get are at your disposal and through all the levels you can play to your and then some, on heart’s content! I know this the arcade version, I is old news, but think about couldn't get past the the time before MAME, second level (the when the only version of fair). On Up n Down, Tutankham or Bump n I went from being Jeff Jump that you could play Gordon to being an was on your Colecovision, old man in a Atari 2600, or Intellivision. hatchback. It was a Ok, keep that thought as lesson in humility. you read this article. The illusion was gone A long time ago, in a and with it, my basement far, far away (if dreams of being you must have actual crowned king. I soon dates and places, it was 3+ realized that I was years ago in my basement just an average ar- in Ohio)...I would play my cade player who was Colecovision for hours and duped into thinking hours. While my friends he was something spent their hard earned more by the watered money on PlayStation down arcade ver- games, I was hoarding ob- sions on the home solete carts. I had been consoles. doing it for some time. It It was a hard les- was a way to recapture my youth. Then reality sunk in. I stunk at son to learn. No one wants to admit Great games like Up n Down, Tapper, these games. All that practice on the they aren't great at something. But I and Frenzy were keeping me busy and Colecovision was for naught. Those now know that I am just your ordinary, I was a master! As I swept through home games were easier versions and average game player. level after level of Tapper, I felt like a I was duped into thinking I was some I’m just another guy who learned the combination of Tom Cruise (from Cock- great master. At first, I blamed the hard way that the only way to be great tail) and Sam Malone! On Up n Down, controller. Who could be an arcade at an arcade game is by playing the I could race through levels with a skill master when you had to use a key- actual arcade game. While it has been that would make Jeff Gordon jealous! I board? Would Mozart do as well with a humbling, at least now I can practice was the arcade king! Visions of sitting toy piano? Would Babe Ruth be a on MAME and someday I will rule the on a throne in an arcade with a large, home run hitter with a whiffle ball bat? arcades! Someday I will wear the golden crown on my head and groupies I was in deep denial, and I had to come crown! at my feet were in my mind. I wished up with a way to prove that with the for the day that I could find an arcade right equipment, I would be the arcade to play these games again and prove champ. Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 54 per, Tutankham, Contact Ed- WANTED: 2600 protos, NTSC ward Villalpando, 13525 Utica Classifieds (trade for PAL Street, Whittier, CA 90605 version?), LockJaw, Midnight (c)1986, Saving Mary, WANTED: Gamate and Mega Duck Shooting Arcade (Atari) 1984 Wanted: Free Classified Ads cartridges, Timex/Sinclair Rev A poster/catalog ANY cartridges, Voltmace Mark Atari-related merchandise, Got something to trade, buy or III cartridges, MPT-02/MPT- Atari Music CD's vols. 1 & 2, 03 cartridges, Romtec Color- sell? Too many games or systems Kid's book, clogging your closets? Place a vision cartridges, and other manuals, boxes, magazine, obscure/odd stuff! Russ etc. Scott Stilphen free ad with us which will appear in Perry Jr, 2175 S Tonne Dr. [email protected] our next issue. #105, Arlington Hts IL 60005, [email protected] BUY/TRADE/SELL: Atari, Cole- covision, Vectrex, Intellivi- Ads are limited to 30 words and WANTED: Entex Adventure Vi- sion, Odyssey, all sion gaming system and/or must be classic gaming related. classics. Thousands of clas- Business ads not accepted. cartridges. Items be sic and modern trade items boxed or loose, working or available, or I'll pay high $ Please contact us for business not, any condition wanted. $$! [email protected]. rates. Contact net/305-378-6133 [email protected]. comor visit www. FOR SALE: Games for Atari, E-mail your ad to: adventurevision.com for more ColecoVision, Intellivision, [email protected] details. Famicon, Sega SG/SL, Mark Or mail to: Classic Gamer Magazine III, , MSX and 7770 Regents Rd. WANTED: If you have SMS others. WANTED: Darxide, #113-293 James "Buster" Douglas for SMS Street Fighter II, Power- San Diego, CA 92122 sale or trade, contact me! strike II, NES Hotslots, Cor- [email protected] vette ZR1, Saturn, Raident Silvergun, Atari 400/800 Tap-

Poetry Contest Winners!! (Yeah, we know...”Finally!”) For the past few issues we’ve held a poetry/haiku contest. Due to some of the fun responses we were receiving, we decided to extend the contest over several issues. Well, at last we have winners! Clentin C. Martin Jr. and John Shawler, congratulations!

Clentin C. Martin Jr. John Shawler Greensburg, PA , OH

"Missile Command" Mega Force Haiku

On cold winter afternoons Mega Force was a very We welcomed Very very bad movie Krytol's missiles with But a good game Wide eyes and joysticks Until only one city Remained Who could possibly argue with tearjerkers like these? The end fell from the sky-- Well, ok, probably a lot of you! In that case we’ll hold an- Helpless to defend other contest soon. Zardon's electronic landscape-- Missile upon missile These talented poets won themselves the fine tome, The sound bore down “Phoenix, The Fall and Rise of Videogames,” signed by And the screen flashed the author, Leonard Herman. OUR DEATH We’ll be posting more of our favorite entries on our On some Saturday afternoon website @ www.classicgamer.com. And staying true to As a Kid in the early form, that probably won’t happen for another 2 to 3 years. 1980s

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 55 Howard Scott Warshaw

I learned • Most of many things and the information got to meet many listed under people at Classic here actually Gaming Expo came from the (CGE) 2000. Atari 2600 key- You probably note, but he don't care much was the liveli- about who I met est panel mem- in person for the ber and con- first time tributed (although it in- enough infor- cluded the illustri- mation to war- ous duo of Chris rant his own Cavanaugh and section. Sarah Thomas), so I thought I'd share some of the • Although Yars' Revenge was things I learned while there. There was • It took an entire day for Steve planned to be a Star Castle port, at so much to see, do, and learn at CGE Woita to record the speech in no time did the programmed game that I'm doubtless leaving out many Quadrun and get it under 700 actually resemble Star Castle any interesting things, but Chris will only bytes. more than the final game does. give me so much room. Most, but not Warshaw immediately realized that all, of my new knowledge came from the 2600 wasn't capable of repro- the discussion panels and keynote ducing the game well. (And be- speeches. I primarily attended the sides, Atari ended up not getting Atari 2600 related ones, so this article the license for it.) is biased toward it. My apologies for that. By covering what was new to me, • The original name for Yars' I'm sure there will be something new Revenge was ‘Time Freeze’. here for every reader, even if you're Leonard Herman (whom I also met). • Steven Spielberg asked Warshaw if he couldn't just do something like Atari 2600 Panel Pac-Man for the Atari 2600 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial game. War- • was Activision shaw said no, saying there was no employee number 26. point in rehashing someone else's game. In retrospect, he quips, it • A two-man salvage team named may not have been a bad idea. Seaquest sued Activision after • Approximately 10,000 Quadrun seeing the Atari 2600 Seaquest cartridges were manufactured for • The comic book packaged with game, thinking it had been named the Atari 2600. Yars' Revenge is a simplified ver- after their business. sion of the story Warshaw created • Mike Albis' (Atari Games em- for the game. He was given a • Bob Polaro is currently writing ployee for 24 years) corollary to choice of taking credit for the games in Java. He feels this has a Nolan Bushnell's theorem that "a game or the story, as credit for lot in common with the old days of game should be easy to learn but both was too much, he was told by video games where the games difficult to master": You should be Atari. were one-man creations. able to play the game with one hand in order to hold your beer or • According to Warshaw, Yars' Re- girlfriend in the other. venge was the first game Atari pro-

• Brad Stewart played a game of coin-op Breakout against newly hired Ian Shepherd to decide who would program the Atari 2600 ver- sion. Stewart cleared the board with his first ball, thus winning the contest.

• Someone in marketing at Atari ac- tually asked Rob Fulop where he'd gotten the idea for the Atari 2600 game Night Driver. (It was an Atari coin-op first.)

“Antenna” by Steve Woita “Star Castle” Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 56 • According to Baer, Bushnell pre- ferred to have Magnavox keep "the riffraff" out of the video game industry than fight their duced with official credit lawsuit. to the programmer and an officially approved Easter egg. • Magnavox was still in liti- games" for his invention of what gation with other companies for eventually became the original video game patent violations Joe Decuir (the world's (related to the Magnavox Odys- first home ), sey) as recently as 1997. (Notably • Decuir, one of the primary design- had the idea for a machine- Taito and Data East.) ers of the Atari 2600 hardware, controlled ball. Up till then, it was didn't know there was an Atari controlled manually by a person. • Baer is hesitant to donate the 2600 game released "Brown Box" Odyssey prototype to (Sentinel), but knew it was possi- • The original use of what would be- the Smithsonian because they ble to create one. come the Magnavox Odyssey light have so many exhibits. However, gun was for quiz games. Each there's an inventor's museum that • Decuir wishes he had patented the spot on the TV could be encoded he may donate it to. He believes it color-cycling used in Atari 2600 somehow so that the machine should be available to be played games to prevent burn-in, but in knew which answer the user se- by visitors wherever it ends up. his words, “they didn't think you lected (or at least if it was correct could patent software back then.” or not). • It was two Scottish men who had the idea for "pong-on-a-chip" • Decuir's mother was proud be- at General Instruments. cause color-cycling was the rea-

son Consumer Reports gave the • Atari 2600 the highest ranking Sanders Associates, the com- pany Baer worked for when he when they reviewed home video invented the home video game game consoles. console, made about four arcade

games that did well. They then • Decuir's then 13-year-old brother made elaborate plans for the fu- "kicked his ass" at Combat, even ture that fell apart in the end. though Decuir had created the

game.

• Miscellaneous In retrospect, Decuir admits that saving five cents per 2600 con- • Hasbro Interactive was ap- sole by using a 24-pin instead of proached by Columbia (or who- 30-pin chip was a mistake. Using ever owns it now) about including a 30-pin chip would have allowed a copy of the Krull Atari 2600 the creation of games larger than game on the upcoming Krull DVD. 4K without having to resort to I don't know how they plan to use bank-switching. it (an emulator on a DVD player?) • The Atari 2600 used chips with 15 or what the results of this request micron circuits. The Microsoft X- were. Box, which Decuir is currently helping design, uses .015 micron • You may have noticed inter- chips. That's 1000 times smaller! esting happenings at Twin Galax- ies, such as a redesigned web • The original Atari 2600 consoles site and the advent of shooting their own video footage. It turns were heavy on purpose. Atari felt out that Twin Galaxies now has a consumers would feel ripped off if • Ralph Baer said his idea for send- billionaire investor. Before this they paid $200 for it and it weighed ing games via cable (TV) was 30 individual came along, Twin Galax- almost nothing. years too soon. (He was compar- ies was on of going un- ing it to playing games via the • der. Atari ultimately decided not to build World Wide Web.)

speakers into the 2600 for two rea- sons. First was the extra cost. • And there you have it. A concise list Approximately 20,000 Odyssey of the things I learned at CGE 2000, Second was that by using the tele- light rifles were sold compared to vision speaker, consumers had from the trivial to the slightly less trivial. 95,000-100,000 consoles. I hope those of you who attended built-in volume control. learned many things as well and that • In court, some companies claimed both those who did and didn't will bene- that because their "pongs" were fit, in some bizarre way, from this arti- Ralph Baer digital, they were therefore com- cle. Even you, Leonard. pletely different from the analog • It was not until 1967 that Baer, Odyssey. (This didn't hold up.) who is called "the father of video

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 57 Atari'sAtari's MisplaysMisplays andand BogeysBogeys

By Patrick Wong

tari is synonymous with legendary ate your own crazy combination pitches their sporting needs. arcade/action videogames. From (for example, a slow to fast to curve pitch) Golf anyone? How about 9 holes? A Asteroids, to Missile Command, to that your friend will surely swing for and Atari's Golf is another fine example, of Tempest, videogamers will find very few strike out with. how not to do a sports game. It would be games they would consider forgettable. If the ball is hit, you never have to the first (and last) popular Golf game on However, when it comes to sports video- worry about throwing errors. When a ball the Atari 2600 VCS. Atari would try hard games, gamers will have to think a little is hit and fielded by either of the fielders, to make this game challenging, offering 9 harder. the other 2 will disappear, leaving only holes. To win, you must finish the game Atari's first generation of sports games the runner and fielder to race for the bag with a par score of 36 or less. would end up being some of the worst The graphics were simplistic; a big videogames ever created; they were sim- yellow golfer, light green fairways, dark ple and pathetic. From the bland back- green greens, dark green trees, grey ground colors, to the stick figure-like sandtraps, and blue water hazards. graphics and simple sounds, Atari's You can choose with a flip of the diffi- sports games generally went from bad to culty switches whether to have the cup worse. (hole) big or small and if you want the Few of them rarely resembled the rough to be in play. sports they were advertised to be. Of all Golf would end up being one of the the sports titles, only Atari's Bowling slowest games ever. First, the swing. would come anywhere close to the actual By holding the red button down, you sport. Almost all the other titles would can control how hard you'd like your fall far short. Two in particular, Atari's golfer to swing. However, you'll have to Homerun and Golf, would end up being wait for him to pull his club all the way two of the worst videogames ever made. back before you can follow through if Imagine being a kid again in your or be chased and tagged out. Other you want him to swing his hardest. Un- backyard getting ready to play a game of things you don't have to worry about: fortunately, the time it takes to swing stick ball. You and your sibling would bunts, pop flies, stealing bases, groun- closely resembles watching the hands on place 4 boxes around the yard for bases ders, or sacrifices. None of these plays a clock get wound up. It even makes an and throw around the ol' ball and swing are featured in this game. All hits are line annoying ticking noise to complete the the stick. Maybe a couple of your friends drives; either a slow or fast line drive. If a effect. would come over and your small group line drive touches second base and More problems add to this displeas- would try to make a real game of it. Atari clears the bottom of the screen un- ure. The playing field is so small that would try to make a real game out of touched, it'll be ruled a homerun. If the most of the time you'll find yourself chip- stickball. ball doesn't touch second and leaves the ping the ball from one spot to another. Atari's Homerun is what would happen screen, it may be a double or triple, de- Chances are, the ball will end up in the if your backyard game of stickball be- pending on how fast the ball was hit and rough or a sandtrap and you'll spend came a videogame. At first glance, gam- how many bases your runner(s) can most of your time trying to dig it out. Or ers will be shown a boring green back- cover while the ball travels to the bottom worse, if you don't have the rough in play, ground, along with 4 boxes for bases, a of the screen. the ball will act as if it just hit a wall and batter (colored blue), a (colored refuse to move, at which point you'll orange), the score on the top of the have to chip away until it's back on a screen, and 4 big letters (I for , O clear part of the fairway. for out, B for balls, and S for strike). When you're on the green, the Upon closer inspection, you'll be dis- game becomes somewhat easier. appointed to find out that the pitcher Usually you can make the put in a doesn't have a pitcher's mound. He's stroke or two. There's almost no inter- actually standing near second base so it ference, and somehow you get the looks like a pitching rubber. You'll also feeling that Atari would have had a notice that the batter isn't even holding better golf game if they just removed the bat! This means you're swinging the all the obstacles and made it a putting stick by itself rather than the batter when game. Clearly the Atari VCS wasn't you hit. meant for golf. Other major flaws become apparent In the end, the Atari 2600 VCS just as you flip the "Select" switch and realize wasn't meant for sports games be- that you can only have up to 3 players on Like the real game, Atari's Homerun is cause their cartridges were limited to 2K. the field (1 pitcher and 2 infielders on ei- played through the length of 9 . Atari owners would have to wait in de- ther side of the pitcher). You can, how- It's almost like the real game except that spair while Intellivision owners had the ever, select to have the infielders play the home team has to bat at the bottom superior sport titles. Atari wouldn't be close to the pitcher or the corners of the of the 9th even if they're winning, and the able to answer with a strong sport series bags. game doesn't go into extra innings; in- until their RealSports series years later. The pitcher has 3 pitches - fast, slow, stead it'll end tied! There was a time when Atari was the and curve. He actually has a 4th: a slow Gamers looking for a real baseball only game in town and owners had to to fast (or vice-versa) pitch that's never experience will have to look elsewhere. love to hate playing these sport games. before seen (or ever again) in a baseball Lots of gamers would end up buying Even today, dedicated game. One of the few fun features of the Homerun for the love of the game rather videogame collectors game is that you actually have total con- than wanting to actually own this title. probably hate having them trol over your pitches. You can even cre- They'll have to look elsewhere to satisfy in their collection.

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 58 Premiere Issue: Classic Gamer Magazine #2: Classic Gamer Magazine #3: The Movie Issue Passport to Adventure • Lost Arcade Classic “Warp Warp” • • • Intellivision, Atari, and Coleco Cartridge We Look at the Early Impact Movies Had on A Look Back at the History of Ultima Videogames Reviews • Atari Alphas Spotlight • Updated Classic Reviews: 64, • “Games That Go Bump in the Night” - A • Interview with Indenture’s Craig Pell Guide to the Best Scary Games Pac-Man World, Centipede, Pong • A Dragonstomper’s Guide to Defeating the • Interviews with Don Thomas, Howard Scott • Classic Easter Eggs Dragon Warshaw, and Buckner & Garcia • A Newbie’s Guide to Getting Your Cartridge • The Series • CGExpo ‘99 New Product Reviews Collection Started • • CVG 101: Label Variations • Video Pinball Games Classic Gaming Related Crossword Puzzle • Spider-Man and His Not So Amazing • How to Preserve Your Videogame Cartridges • The Legend of BIRA BIRA - Fact or Videogames Fiction? • Video Pinball Games • M*A*S*H II - The Game that Might Have Been • - A Closer Look • More Classic Videogame Easter Eggs • Classic Gaming Web Site Links • “Doin’ The Donkey Kong” - A Cross • Book Reviews • Lost Arcade Classic: Blue Shark Platform Look at our Favorite Ape Plus Much More! Plus Much More! Plus Much More! $$999.00.00 $$777.00.00 $$777.00.00

Classic Gamer Magazine #4: Cereal, Toys and Videogames!

• • 2000 Coverage From Sprites to Cels • Plus Much More! • The Ultimate Videogame Company CGE2k: Classic Gaming Love In, Vegas Style • Lost Arcade Classic: Space Firebird • Interview with Jerry G • Toys of Tron • : A Closer Look $$666.00.00 • Q*ashing in on Q*Bert

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Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 59 ReaderReader PollPoll

Classic Gamer Magazine wants to be the best darned publication about classic gaming you can get your hands on. By letting us know what game systems you would like us to focus on and any other aspects of classic gaming you would like to see, we will be able to provide you with a more entertaining magazine. This will also let us know your all time favorite games, handhelds, systems, computer, and arcade games. All responses are guaranteed confidential. Please return this entire poll sheet (photocopies accepted) to: Classic Gamer Magazine, 7770 Regents Road #113-293, San Diego, CA 92122, fax to (781) 846-0373, or e-mail your answers to: [email protected]

SEX: ___Male ___Female NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN HOUSEHOLD: ______AGE: ______AGES: ___Under 2 ___3-5

MARITAL STATUS: ___Single ___Married ___6-11 ___12-17

HOUSEHOLD INCOME: EDUCATION LEVEL: ___Under $15,000 ___$15,000-$24,999 ___Some High School ___College Grad ___$25,000 - $49,999 ___High School ___Graduate School ___$50,000 - $99,000 ___$100,000+ ___Some College Check off all gaming systems or equipment you own or plan to buy within the next 12 months Plan to Plan to Own Buy Own Buy

Atari VCS/2600 ______Nintendo Gameboy ______Arcadia/Starpath Supercharger ______SuperNintendo ______Intellivision ______Nintendo 64 ______ColecoVision ______Sony Playstation ______Odyssey 2 ______Sega ______Atari 5200 ______Sega Genesis ______Atari 7800 ______Sega Saturn ______Atari Jaguar ______Sega 32X ______Atari Lynx ______Atari 400/800 ______Nintendo 8 Bit (NES) ______Apple II ______IBM PC Compatible ______Macintosh ______Sega Dreamcast ______Other game systems, equipment, : ______

How Much Money Do You Spend Per Week on Video Games? ___Under $5 ___ $5-10 ___ $10-25 ___ $25-50 ___Over $50

How many people (besides you) will read this issue of Classic Gamer Magazine: ______

Your Top Three Favorite Videogame Your Top Three Favorite Computer Games Your Top Three Favorite Arcade Coin- Cartridges Are: (Game and System) Are: (Game and System) Ops Are: (Game)

1. ______1. ______1. ______

2. ______2. ______2. ______

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Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 60 Yes! Take me back to the games of yesterday!

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Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 61 “I said freakin’ PONG!”

“Um, Chris… nobody likes Pong.”

“I do.” By Chris Lion “Seriously. NOBODY likes Pong. People may say they do, but they don’t. They’re being polite—or possibly big liars. Re- My Secret Shame adult-like “anxiety attack”—well, I was on gardless, no one actually likes Pong. It’s my way to eventually becoming an adult. too easy. No real skill involved. No Last week I went to a friend’s birthday I briefly had the urge to balance my graphics. No color. Heck, I don’t think it and was amazed at how “grown-up” all checkbook. But, thankfully, that moment has any bits.” my friends have become. Conversations passed quickly. consisted of adult-like things such as buy- Finally, it was explained to me (in sim- “Could we leave bits out of this?” ing houses, getting married, having chil- ple terms that I could easily understand) dren and stock options. Not in that order, that I was to write about my Guilty Pleas- “Look,” my friend said somberly and very of course, because everything today ure. I sat uncomfortably silent on the adult-like, “No one in their right mind likes stems from stock options. Still, very phone for a minute and the voice said, Pong. Come on,” he pleaded, “You don’t grown up conversations indeed. “About video games!” Whew! That could seriously like Pong, do you?” Whenever these topics come up, I have been embarrassing. always think about how they don’t apply Weeks later, I got another call saying I “I like it… a lot. In fact, I prefer simple to me because that is “grown up talk” and was two weeks late on my deadline and black and white and no nothing graphics I am still a kid. I do not feel vaguely like no one could figure out what my problem to a spectrum of color and a load of bits!” an adult even though I am the ripe old was (there was a constant stream of sug- I had thrown down the gauntlet and I age of 36. Based on my lifestyle, no one gestions and some very rude comments knew it. would or could ever consider me remotely in general, but no one could actually fig- adult-like: ure out just what was my problem). I I could actually hear the veins in his hated to admit it, but my secret shame/ forehead bulging. The voice at the other guilty pleasure was not with a particular • I do not have stock options. end stammered, trying to find the right game on my Atari 2600, but the Atari words: “What in the world… I mean, 2600 itself. • where in the… I… who… just what, ex- I’m not anywhere near getting mar- My friends—my mature, married, actly, is wrong with you?” ried (let’s not even go there…) house owning, child rearing, checkbook This guy was going to make me con- balancing friends—do play video games, fess it all. I swallowed hard, “It’s the only • I do not own a home—and living in so I am not ashamed to be playing thing I can play.” I felt the relief of con- Silicon Valley the chances of that games. Sure they bought the game sys- fession, so I prepared to lay myself com- happening are pretty slim. (see stock tems for their kids, but few children have pletely bare. “It’s slow [like me] and it options, above). the necessary motor skills to play Cyber makes funny and mostly rude little noises Tiger at six months. However, these oh- [like me]. I like to play a couple of times a • I have not now, nor do I think I will so-adult friends play on Super-Duper Nin- week. Certainly not well, but I still like to tendo systems and that do ever attempt to balance my check- play.” There. I said it… and I liked it. things I could never do, like think! book. “There is something so fundamentally These friends play fast moving, excit- wrong with that statement, I just don’t ing, graphics-intensive games like Speed • I have no thoughts of ever being a know where to begin. How old are you, Punks, Indy Racing 2000, Final Fantasy again?” parent (because I am NOT going to VIII and the like. They play with people share my toys). like Mario and Zelda; they battle along “Shut up.” with John Madden and Bubba Harris. • I am 36 and still have toys that I am Me? I’m still trying to master Sneak ‘n “No, you shut up.” not willing to share. Peek. Their systems have mountains of “No, YOU shut up.” • I have more in common with a high memory, codes, and things like bits—lots school freshman than I do my “adult” and lots of bits. I don’t think my Atari has "No, why don't YOU shut up?" peers. any bits… maybe a mere quark to their of bits. But certainly no bits to "You know," I said, "why don't you stop I am probably the least adult-like per- actually speak of. acting like a child and grow up!" son anyone will ever meet. I actually To the powers that be at Classic Suddenly, the urge to balance my check- bought a car recently and during each Gamer, my all encompassing shame of book overtook me. I quickly hung up, step when I was approved for the loan, my life and my subsequent “game envy turned on my Atari 2600, and played the car, or the insurance, I was stunned. issues” in regards to my friends was not Pong alone in the dark until well past “What fools!,” I mumbled to myself, “How enough; I was firmly told I needed to sup- midnight. I will fight growing up with could they have fallen for my thinly veiled ply my all-time favorite guilty pleasure every fiber of my being. With the mature act? Don’t they know I’m the video game. And I was told I needed to help of my Atari 2600 and my beloved least mature person they’ll ever meet?” tell them now. Pong, I will continue to be a poor When I got the phone call that this excuse for an adult for a few more years. article was to be about my Secret Shame, “Pong,” I snapped. But let's just keep that a secret I could not figure out how I was going to between you and me. put my entire life onto the back page of [Lo-o-ong pause] the magazine, to which I immediately suf- fered an anxiety attack. My attack sub- “Did you say ‘Pong?’” came the reply. sided when I realized that by not “totally freaking out” and instead having a very “Yes,” I smiled feeling relieved. My se- cret shame at last revealed to the world. Chris Lion Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 62 COMING NEXT IN ClassicClassic GamerGamer MagazineMagazine

CGM Declares War! Funspot Classic Arcade We declare war on the greatest Ken Jong travels to New Hampshire (and of course, not so greatest) and shows you what’s happening as classic battle games. well as what’s new (and old!) at the Funspot Family Entertainment Center. Featuring:

· Warlords · Missile Command Reviews! · Sea Battle We owe you a few reviews and we promise to deliver! And many more! · Pac-Man Adventures in Time · Breakout · Swordfight (2600) · Frogger 2

There will also be plenty of other articles and features filled with classic gaming goodness, plus our regular columns:

ê Lost Arcade Classic ê Interviews ê My Twenty Five Cents ê Reviews ê Classic Easter Eggs ê CVG 101 ê Classic Gaming Websites ê Deep Thaw

ê And All the Latest News!

Be sure to visit us on the Web!

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