Vol. 5 No. 2 April-May 1985 Features LODE RUNNER 9 Contest Results CARRIERS AT WAR 16 Pacific Theatre WWII Game Bill Nichols WAR IN RUSSIA 18 Replay of Case Blue (Part 2) KAMPFGRUPPE 21 Tactical Armor in WWII Russia Mark Bausman ROBOT SIMULATIONS 22 Robot Odyssey I and Chipwits Gregg Williams IBM GOES TO WAR 24 The Ancient Art of War and Gato Russell Sipe THE WORLD OF THE PLAYTESTER 28 Special Game Design Coverage Tom Cheche Departments TAKING A PEEK 10 Screen Photos & Brief Comments LETTERS 15 STRATEGICALLY SPEAKING 20 Strategy Game Tips COMMODORE KEY 26 Hardware & Software Reviews Roy Wagner DISPATCHES 27 Special Game Design Coverage Dan Bunten COME CAST A SPELL WITH ME 30 Adventure Games Roe R. Adams III SILICON CEREBRUM 31 Special Game Design Coverage Bruce Webster ATARI PLAYFIELD 33 The New Atari Computers David Stone NAME OF THE GAME 34 Special Game Design Coverage Jon Freeman SCORPION'S TALE 35 Suspect Hints Scorpia READER INPUT DEVICE 40 Rate The Games GAME RATINGS 46 l, LODE RUNNER CONTEST WINNERS Last August we announced our Lode Runner Con- made your victory possible. test. Over fifty screens were submitted by talented And finally (drum roll in the background), the mo- CGW readers. Most were excellent according to our ment you've all been waiting for. The Overall two judges, Bob Proctor and Dan Stalcup. Playing Winner! all those entries was a challenge and a lot of hard This year's winner of the Best Overall Design hails work for Bob and Dan. Thanks guys! from the Houston Load Setter's Group (a wild and Prizes were awarded in four categories: Best Over- crazy bunch of Lode Runner players). And his all; Best Appearance; Most Challenging to Solve; and name is. STEVE VOSS for his "Friday" screen. Most Challenging to Play. Congratulations Steve! (Cut to commercial). Messieurs Proctor and Stalcup, the envelope Commercial: Would you like to be able to play the please: CGW Lode Runner Contest in your very own home? The award for the Most Artistic screen goes to. Well, now you can! Just look for the CGW Lode Run- John Berry of Houston Texas for his Sailing Ship ner Data Disk offer elsewhere in this magazine. You Screen. Congratulations John. Please keep your ac- to can play the champions. Be the first one on your ceptance speech within time limits. block to get one. But wait... there's more! If you play And next: the award for the Most Challenging to Robotwar or Cosmic Balance, there are Data disks Solve. The envelope, gentlemen, if you please... And for you too! (End commercial, back to program). the winner is... Terry Schulz of Murrysville Penn- Well, folks, that's about it for this year. But before sylvania. Congratulations Terry. we go, we would like to extend our thanks to Broder- Our next award goes to the screen that was the bund Software who provided the prizes for the con- Most Challenging to Play. And the winner is... Rob- test. Steve will receive $50.00 for the best overall in Cox of Houston Texas. Come on up here to the po- design. Our other three winners will receive games dium, Robin, and thank all the little people that have from Broderbund. Good night, and God Bless! Let us forward your request for further in- formation you'd (Ike to receive on any number of products or services men- tioned or advertised in this issue of Com- puter Gaming World. Clearly print/type your name/com- 1 pany address on one of the attached reply cards. Circle the number(s) on that card 2 correspond to the number(s) you'll find at the bottom of the ad(s)/articles(s) about which you'd like to learn more. (You'll also find these key numbers on advertised products in this issue's Adver- tiser's Index.) Stamp and mail the card. The 3 sooner it's sent, the quicker you'll get the literature you're after. Why not take this opportunity to sub- scribe to Computer Gaming World? A subscription card can be found facing page 40. lease from a company who has gained a good Avalon Hill Game Co. PRO MANAGER: A statistics-based baseball reputation from their board and role-playing 4517 Harford Rd. simulation. You can play with last year's teams, products. A total of 45 pages of excellent Baltimore, MD 21214 great teams of the past, or key in your own teams. documentation and a four color paper map ac- The program supports league play by keeping Circle 07 on Reader Service Card company the disk. There is a lot of detail in the track of standings and displaying league stats. A game but play is easy. Review coming. Atari. $35. powerful data base manager reports league lead- BY FIRE & SWORD: A multi-player game set in ers in just about any format you want (e.g. top a mythical European kingdom in the early 10th 3, top 10, top 10 with at least 50 at-bats, and so Lewis Lee Corp. century. One to six players begin as local barons, forth, individual "real" and computer league P.O. Box 51831 controlling a small area, and seeking to expand stats, etc.). Look for more coverage in our next Palo Alto, CA 94303 it through acquiring vassals and battling the other issue. IBMpc and PCjr. Circle 10 on Reader Service Card lords. The computer can play any of the positions BANK PRESIDENT: This is not a game! This is in this game designed for up to six players. a simulation in the real sense. We understand IBMpc and PCjr. 128K. Earthware Computer Services P.O. Box 30039 some banks have used this program to train per- Eugene, OR 97403 sonnel. We believe it. If you really want to ex- INCUNABULA: Nothing less than the growth perience a financial simulation, this one is the of civilization is the subject matter of this game. Circle 08 on Reader Service Card ultimate. As the bank president you choose prod- uct lines, deal with employee salaries, issue and If you have ever played Avalon Hill's board game A taekwondo BLACK BELT: redeem stocks and bonds, manage your invest- Civilization, you know what Incunabula is like. simulation/arcade style game. A player moves up in rank as he in- ment portfolio, speculate, hedge, borrow, loan, You begin as a small tribe facing an unexplored creases his skill and wins matches. Two player and set loan rates. The only option missing is the land. As your tribe increases you become a clan, or one player versus computer. Twenty different option to give away place settings with each new build cities, and grow towards eventual nation- actions are available. Joystick or keyboard. Ap- account opened at your bank. IBMpc. 128K. hood, attaining a "basis of law" for your society. ple, C-64. $29.95. Warfare plays a role in the game, but not as much as trade and economics (just as in real life). Game Designer's Workshop IBMpc and PCjr. 128K. Muse Software P.O. Box 1646 347 N. Charles St. LEGIONNAIRE: The C-64 version of Chris Bloomington, IL 61702-1646 Baltimore, MD 21201 Crawford's real time wargame of ancient warfare Circle 09 on Reader Service Card Circle 11 on Reader Service Card is now available. Legionnaire uses the same ba- THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA: The blurb sic game system as Crawford's Eastern Front to on the box claims that Chickamauga is "the most BEYOND CASTLE WOLFENSTEIN: The se- produce a highly playable and realistic feeling accurate and realistic battle game available for quel to the popular Castle Wolfenstein. The game game. You are Caesar as you lead your Legions any computer." While that remains to be seen, is similar to the original. In this one you must one thing is certain: this game is a strong first re- make your way through Hitler's bunker, find the pre-planted briefcase/bomb, take it to the Fuhr- er's conference room, set the timer, and escape. trol of the sea lanes from North America from New twists in this game are the ability to bribe North America to England and Russia during guards, the use of a dagger to kill silently (guns WWII. The Allied player must keep the shipping tend to alert guards nearby). Good luck, you'll lands open, while the Axis player must deploy FROM THE EDITOR: need it! Apple, Atari, C-64. air, surface and submarine forces in attempt to strangle the Allies. Computer can play either Gamestar side, or play it as a two player game. Review com- 1302 State St. ing. Apple II. $60.00. STOP THE PRESSES! Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Circle 12 on Reader Service Card Strategic Simulations ON-FIELD FOOTBALL: Another excellent ar- 883 Stierlin Rd., A-200 Welcome to our Game Design Issue. Scattered cade style sports game from Gamestar. As expect- Mountain View, CA 94043-1983 throughout this issue are several articles dealing with ed, OFF has great graphics. Play selection and Circle 14 on Reader Service Card various aspects of computer game design. Dan Bun- player movement is done from the joystick. Each ten discusses some basic elements about the human side has four players. A good beer-and-pretzels COMPUTER AMBUSH: The second edition of need to play in his Dispatches column. Jon Freeman, game. C-64 reviewed. CA is now available on both the Apple and Atari. in Name of the Game talks about the process of decid- Man-to-man combat in WWII.