Wikipedia:WikiProject Video games/Reference library/The Games Machine

Main article: The Games Machine

Legend

• C64 = Commodore 64 (and/or 128)
• ZX = ZX Spectrum (either 48 or 128)
• CPC = Amstrad CPC
• ST = Atari ST
• BBC = BBC Micro/Electron
• PC = Personal computers
• NES = Nintendo Entertainment System
• SMS = Sega Master System

Issue 1 - October/November 1987

Contact: MuZemike

News

Charlie Chaplin (C64, ZX, CPC, ST) , Impossible Mission II, Infiltrator II (C64), Gauntlet II (C64, ZX, CPC, ST), 720° (C64, ZX, CPC), Out Run (C64, ZX, CPC, ST), Gremlin Graphics, M.A.S.K. (MASK I, MASK II), Jack the Nipper, Gary Lineker's Superstar Soccer, U.S. Gold, Captain America in: The Doom Tube of Dr. Megalomann, Side Arms, Wizball, Halls of Kyros, MicroProse, Airborne Ranger, Project: Stealth Fighter, Through the Trap Door, Backlash, Damocles (Mercenary II)

Features

Laser tag, History of computer/video game consoles up to the NES/Master System, Sega Master System and early SMS/Mark I games, Nintendo Entertainment System and early NES games, Ocean Software, World War 3D, R.O.B., Famicom, Famicom Disk System, Atari 2600, Atari 65XE, Review of various gamebooks including the Lone Wolf series, role of computers in film (i.e. Tron), Sex and sexism in computer gaming, Knightmare, robotics, Compact Discs, Athena contest, interviews with Ben Daglish and Rob Hubbard, comparisons of 16-Bit computer gaming systems, Andrew Hewson

Video game reviews

Renegade (C64, ZX, CPC), Evening Star (C64, ZX, CPC, BBC), Solomon's Key (C64, ZX, ST), Mega Apocalypse (C64), Druid II: Enlightenment (C64, ZX, CPC, Atari 800), Red LED (C64, ZX, CPC), Accolade's Comics (C64), M.A.S.K. (C64, ZX, CPC), Bubble Bobble (C64, ZX, CPC, ST), The Centurions (TV series) (C64, ZX, CPC), Tai-Pan (C64, ZX, CPC), pr2 (C64, ZX), Hybrid (C64, ZX, CPC), The Last Mission (C64, ZX), L'Affaire (ST, Amiga, PC, MSX2), ACE 2 (C64, ZX, PC, Plus 4), California Games (C64, ZX, CPC, Amiga, MSX), Flunky (C64, ZX, CPC), Chessmaster 2000 (C64, ST, PC, Amiga), Morpheus (C64)

Previews

RISK, Fairlight II, Warlock, Xecutor, Garfield, Inside Outing, Shockwave

Issue 2 - December 1987

Contact: MuZemike

News

The Guild of Thieves (Game of the Year Award)

Video game reviews

Breakout clones Impact (C64, ZX, CPC, ST), Addictaball (C64, ZX, MSX, ST), Smash Out! (ZX), Arkanoid (C64, ZX, CPC, ST), Krackout (C64, ZX, CPC), and Batty (C64, ZX, CPC); Phantom Club (ZX, CPC); Buggy Boy (C64, ZX, CPC, ST); Basket Master (C64, ZX, CPC); Driller (C64, ZX, CPC); Super Mario Bros. (NES); Vampire Killer (MSX); The Great Escape (PC); Zarch (Acorn Archimedes), Skull-Diggery (ST); 720° (C64, ZX, CPC); Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer (C64, PC); Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior (ST); Bubble Ghost (ST); M.A.S.K. (C64, ZX, CPC); Nebulus (C64, ZX); 3-D Galax (ST); Battleships (ST, Amiga); Renegade (C64); Dark Sceptre (ZX); Madballs (C64, ZX, CPC); Ranarama (ST); Freddy Harvest (C64, ZX, CPC); Airball (ST, Amiga); Metal Gear (MSX); Jack the Nipper II: In Coconut Capers (C64, ZX, CPC); Mean Streak (C64); Quedex (C64); Barbarian (Psygnosis) (ST, Amiga); Yogi Bear (C64, ZX, CPC); Excitebike (NES); Passengers in the Wind II (C64, CPC, ST, PC); Diablo (C64, ST, Amiga); ThunderCats (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, NES); Sapiens (CPC, ST, PC); Werewolves of London (C64, ZX, CPC); Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (U.S. Gold) (C64, ZX, CPC, ST); Through the Trap Door (C64, ZX, CPC);

Features

Interviews with Susan Vas Dias, Sir Clive Sinclair, Gremlin Graphics' Ian Stewart, Monsignor Bruce Kent, Jeff Minter, Jeffrey Archer, Kevin Toms, Codemasters' David and Richard Darling, and Ashley Hildebrandt on sex and violence in computer games; Gnome Ranger (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, Amiga, PC); Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less (including a "choose-your-own-adventure" game); Space Quest (ST, Amiga); Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, Amiga, PC); The Lurking Horror (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, Amiga, PC); Atari ST graphics utilities; basic overview of role-playing games, traditional (pen-and-paper) and video game; Satellite TV; video game licensing (such as with Ghostbusters or Friday the 13th); interview with video game marketer Stephen Blower; role of robots in film and animation; Fairlight computer-based musical instruments

Previews

Platoon (C64, ZX, CPC, ST), Gryzor (Contra) (C64, ZX, CPC), Combat School (C64, ZX, CPC), Rastan Saga (C64, ZX, CPC), Eco (ST, Amiga), Match Day II (C64, ZX, CPC, Amstrad PCW), Where Time Stood Still (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, PC, Amiga), Firebird, Tynesoft, Arcana (company), Carrier Command, Gremlin Graphics, Thalamus Ltd, Electonic Arts, Domark, Elite Systems, Soft Reflections, CRL Group, Quicksilva; The Hunt for Red October;

Issue 3 - February 1988

Contact: MuZemike

News

10th annual Personal Computer World Show, 9th annuel Amstrad Computer Show, Nintendo, Rare (company)

Previews

Impossible Mission II, Arcadia Systems, Alien Syndrome, Blood Valley, Championship Sprint, Black Lamp, Black Shadow, Destiny, Power House (software company

Interviews

Konami chief Luther de Gale, Gremlin Graphics' Ian Stewart, Andromeda's Kevin Williams, Nadia Lina Gajadharsingh, Christian Penfold, Mike Blackman

Video game reviews

Star Trek (ST), Chamonix Challenge (C64, ZX, CPC), Airborne Ranger (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, Amiga), The Hunt for Red October (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, Amiga, PC), Insanity Fight (ST, Amiga), Slaine (C64, ZX, CPC), Guadalcanal (C64, ZX, CPC), Action Fighter (SMS), Secret Command (SMS), The Universal Military Simulator (ST, PC), Livingstone, I Presume (ST), Test Drive (C64, ST, Amiga), Blue War (ST), Blue War (ST, CPC), Phoenix (ST), Backlash (ST), PHM Pegasus (C64, ZX, CPC), Dan Dare II (C64, ZX, CPC), Match Day II (C64, ZX, CPC), Bone Cruncher (C64, BBC, Amiga), Defender of the Crown (ST), Gryzor (Contra) (C64, ZX, CPC), Tanglewood (ST, Amiga), Flying Shark (C64, ZX), Dark Castle (ST, PC, Amiga), Platoon (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, Amiga), Eco (ST, Amiga), Hunter's Moon (C64), Out Run (C64, ZX, SMS), Into the Eagle's Nest (ST, Amiga), Garfield (C64, ZX, ST), Bubble Bobble (ZX, ST), Terramex (C64, ZX, CPC, ST), Tau Ceti (ST, PC), Crazy Cars (Amiga), Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony (ST, Amiga), California Games (ZX), BMX Simulator (Amiga), Time Soldiers (arcade), Xybots (arcade), APB (arcade), After Burner (arcade), Wardner (arcade), Jack the Ripper (C64, ZX, CPC), Jinxter (ST, Amiga), The Jade Stone (ZX), Déjà Vu (C64, ST, PC, Amiga)

RPGs/board games

Paranoia, The Fury of Dracula, Hotels, The Game of Quotations, Dingbats, Gary Lineker's Footballer of the Year, Eggzilla

Features

Deluxe Paint (II), Compunet, video game violence, interview between Mel Croucher and Jon Bates on MIDI music recording, review of various MIDI recording devices, cyborgs and androids in film (i.e. RoboCop, The Terminator, Dalek)

Issue 4 - March 1988

Contact: MuZemike

News

Nintendo Entertainment System, RoboCop, Crash Garrett, Captain Blood, Get Dexter II, Karnov, Gee Bee Air Rally, Power At Sea, games by Mirrorsoft and Gremlin Graphics, Cybernoid, Task III, Frightmare, minors working in the software industry

Features

Exclusive coverage of Rare (company) and Ultimate Play the Game, Tim and Chris Stamper, David Wise, feature on digital imaging, how to create videos on your own, overview of simulation video games, MIDI music composing,

Video game reviews

Project Stealth Fighter (C64), Apollo 18 (C64), Nigel Mansell's Grand Prix (ZX), Black Lamp (ST), North Star (ZX, CPC), TRAZ (C64), Mach 3 (ST, PC), Knight Games II (C64), Karting Grand Prix (Amiga), Trauma (ST), The Train (C64), Side Arms Hyper Dyne (C64), Rolling Thunder (ZX, CPC), Skyfox II: The Cygnus Conflict (C64), After Burner (SMS), Alien Syndrome (SMS), Rocky (1987 video game) (SMS), Zillion (SMS), Test Drive (ST), Tetris (Amiga), Dan Dare II (C64), Platoon (ZX), Warlock (ST), Bobsleigh (CPC), Flying Shark (CPC), Gunship (PC), Powerplay (ST, Amiga), Enduro Racer (ST), F-15 Strike Eagle (ST), Dark Castle (Amiga), Joe Blade (ST), Tomahawk (PC), Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge (ST, Amiga, PC), Shadowgate (Amiga), Police Quest: In Pursuit of the Death Angel (ST, Amiga, PC), HRH (ZX), Reality Hacker (ZX), A Harvesting Moon (ZX), A Holiday to Remember (ZX), Flashback (CPC)

RPGs/board games

Star Wars role-playing games, Dungeonquest, The Judge Dredd Companion, Chainstore

Arcade games

Blasteroids, Thunder Blade, Pac-Mania, Galaga '88

Issue 5 - April 1988

Contact: MuZemike

News

Rob Hubbard joins Electronic Arts

Previews

The Three Stooges, Rocket Ranger, Interceptor, Aaargh!, Target: Renegade, Shackled, Obliterator, Bionic Commando, The Pink Panther

Features

Elite Systems, gadgets for Yuppies etc., MIDI music for the Amiga

Video game reviews

Xenon (Amiga, ST), MIDI Maze (ST), Championship Sprint (C64, ZX, CPC), XR 35 Fighter Mission (Amiga), Task III (C64), Global Defense (SMS), Oids (ST), The King of Chicago (Amiga), Nigel Mansell's Grand Prix (CPC), Slaygon (ST, Amiga), Falcon (PC), Frightmare (C64), Magnetron (C64, ZX), Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh (C64, ZX), Get Dexter II (CPC, ST), The Golden Path (Amiga, ST), Time Fighter (C64, ZX, CPC), Ferrari Formula One (Amiga), Cybernoid (C64, ZX, CPC), Dungeon Master (ST), Zillion II (SMS), Sokoban (PC), Time Bandit (ST, Amiga), Mercenary (Amiga), Chamonix Challenge (PC), Gunship (ST), The Universal Military Simulator (PC), Star Wars (Amiga), Firefly (C64, ZX), Predator (C64, ZX, CPC), Leisure Suit Larry (ST, Amiga, PC), Crash Garrett (ST, Amiga, PC), Beyond Zork (C64, ST, Amiga, PC), Wolfman (C64)

RPGs/Board games

Vultures, Tankattack, Spycatcher, RuneQuest, Griffin Island, Star Wars Roleplaying Game

Issue 6 - May 1988

News

British entertainment software conference, Games Workshop, MicroProse, Microdeal/Journey Into The Lair, Amstrad vs. Schneider, Interviews with people from Infogrames, Loriciels, Domark, Mirrorsoft, Incentive Software, Andrew Hewson from Hewson Consultants, Thalamus Ltd, Activision, an editor from The Guardian, Destiny Software, Electronic Arts, and others

Previews

Activision games (Karnov, R-Type, After Burner), Time Scanner, Faerie Tale, Fire Power, Archipelagos, Winter Games, Dark Side, ST Adventure Creator, Street Fighter, Mickey Mouse, Starglider 2, Earth Light, Verminator, Foundation's Waste, Strip Poker II, Lazer Tag

Features

Battle Between PROG, various Slotcar racing and Toy trains, interview with Visions Software about computer game development, developing your own (pirate) radio station, MIDI music from C-Lab

Reviews

Ikari Warriors (C64, ZX), Dark Castle (ST), Power At Sea (C64), Blood Valley (C64, ZX, CPC), Uşas (MSX2), Teladon (ZX), Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh (CPC), Yeti (ZX), Bone Cruncher (Amiga), Blastaball (Amiga), Frost Byte (ST), Sidewinder (Amiga), Gutz (C64), Cybernoid (C64), Strike Fleet (C64), Gothik (CPC), Skyfox (ST), Rockford (Amiga, PC), Chernobyl (ST), Rolling Thunder (C64, ST, Amiga), The Flintstones (1988 video game) (C64, ZX, CPC, ST, Amiga, MSX), Rastan Saga (ZX), Pinball Construction Set (PC), Predator (ST), Return to Genesis (ST), Black Shadow (Amiga), Strike Force Harrier (Amiga), The Pink Panther (Amiga, ST), Card Sharks (C64), Vampire's Empire (C64, Amiga), Pac-Land (C64), Slap Fight (ST), F1 Spirit (MSX2), Samurai Warrior (C64), Return to Atlantis (Amiga), Jinks (Amiga), Impossible Mission II (C64), Jet (Amiga), California Games (PC), Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels (C64, PC), Loads of Midnight (ZX), Federation (ZX, CPC)

RPGs/Board games

MEGA Role-Playing System, Harnmaster, PSI, Vultures, Sporting Triangles