James
04-06-2003, 05:52 PM
this article was written too late to be posted on the main page so here it is for you guys to read. aprils edition will be here in about a week after iv gathered the info together.
This month in 1987
March 1987 was a time when the infamous Jeffy Archer started what hes banged up for now. Nigel Lawson was trying to win over the Tories and the NES was a next-gen machine that you plaugged robots into- no USB ports here though.
World News
The Herald Of Free Enterprise sank after leaving Zeebrugge in Belgium heading for Dover. Failure to close the bow doors was later revealed as the cause of the ferry rolling over and killing 200 people.
In the cranky world on politics Nigel Lawson won the Torie vote in a brisk 59 minute speech, after Disraeli bolted through his in a mere 43. The Chancelor cut to the chase by reducing corporation tax by 2%. With an election just three months away red headed Labour leader Neil Kinnock announced this as a bribes budget. As if we didn't know.
Gaming News
As Jeffy taught us that its better to pay £500,000 and admit to a night of 'healing' with a lady of the night than to tell porkies and land up in prison, the future of home computers was to take a turn for the worst.
Spectrum fans learnt to their dismay that Alan Sugar would again pervert the brand of spectrum with the attrotious Sinclair Spectrum 128k +3. It was made clear that Amstrad were more interested in the future of Sinclair Spectrums than that of the heritage of the earlier consoles.
Amstrad did a '6218' on the peoples favourite by adding a disk drive and dumping the datasette on the +2. What they were trying to achieve is still unclear to this day.
As games companies looked to the past for inspiration, gamers were looking to the future. With the presence of lasers and robots in almost every comic strip and newspaper availiable it was inevitable these were to feature in the latest gaming products.
Journos that attended the Earls Court Toy Fair found themselves indulged with laser-guns aplenty from the likes of Action GT, Ban Dai and (bless) Matchbox. However robots took the spotlight and one was even released that plugged into the NES (R.O.B- Robotic Operating Buddy), but was barley regarded by videogames press.
The beginning of the end was nigh for the dominance of home computers, and no-one even noticed.
Games of the month
Tempest- Spectrum, Electric Dreams. A poor version of this Jeff Minter classic rolled out on a limited machine with high expectations. Obviously reviews weren't too favourable but it was the newest version and would probably be played by those wanting a mindless blast-em-up.
Starglider- Various, Rainbird. After impressing on more powerful machines this was forced onto less capable platforms like Amstrad, the C-64 and Spectrum. The new generation of gamers lapped it up despite the title being striped down to its great atmosphere and addictive gameplay bones.
Aliens- Various, Electric Dreams. As we all know movie tie-ins are crap, and they weren't any better in the good old days, despite what grandad told you.
Very stolid gameplay and uninspiring graphics combined to make one of the most tedious games of all time and earned Electric Dreams the nickname of Electric Nightmares.
Paperboy- Various, Elite. Released before christmas it was yet another Midway game. And yet another great conversion of an arcade classic. This irresistible deliver-em-up was a firm favourite and would most probably be loading up in your Datasette 16 years ago.
Space Harrier- Various, Elite. A popular title in the arcade it was released to satisfy those who had shoved many a coin into its slot. Although not as pretty as its arcade counter-part, it still retained the pace and action of the arcade chart-topper.
Gauntlet- Various, Midway. With a release across many different home formats, Gauntlet lacked the four player action of its predisessor but the gameplay and difficulty of the later levels was retained and made sure it was a hit.
UK Charts for March 1987
1 Everything I Own Boy George
2 I Get The Sweetest Feeling Jackie Wilson
3 Live It Up Mental As Anything
4 The Great Pretender Freddie Mercury
5 Stand By Me Ben E. King
6 Respectable Mel & Kim
7 When A Man Loves A Women Percy Sledge
8 Crush On You Jets
9 Male Stripper Man 2 Man Meet Man Parrish
10 Running In The Family Level 42
This month in 1987
March 1987 was a time when the infamous Jeffy Archer started what hes banged up for now. Nigel Lawson was trying to win over the Tories and the NES was a next-gen machine that you plaugged robots into- no USB ports here though.
World News
The Herald Of Free Enterprise sank after leaving Zeebrugge in Belgium heading for Dover. Failure to close the bow doors was later revealed as the cause of the ferry rolling over and killing 200 people.
In the cranky world on politics Nigel Lawson won the Torie vote in a brisk 59 minute speech, after Disraeli bolted through his in a mere 43. The Chancelor cut to the chase by reducing corporation tax by 2%. With an election just three months away red headed Labour leader Neil Kinnock announced this as a bribes budget. As if we didn't know.
Gaming News
As Jeffy taught us that its better to pay £500,000 and admit to a night of 'healing' with a lady of the night than to tell porkies and land up in prison, the future of home computers was to take a turn for the worst.
Spectrum fans learnt to their dismay that Alan Sugar would again pervert the brand of spectrum with the attrotious Sinclair Spectrum 128k +3. It was made clear that Amstrad were more interested in the future of Sinclair Spectrums than that of the heritage of the earlier consoles.
Amstrad did a '6218' on the peoples favourite by adding a disk drive and dumping the datasette on the +2. What they were trying to achieve is still unclear to this day.
As games companies looked to the past for inspiration, gamers were looking to the future. With the presence of lasers and robots in almost every comic strip and newspaper availiable it was inevitable these were to feature in the latest gaming products.
Journos that attended the Earls Court Toy Fair found themselves indulged with laser-guns aplenty from the likes of Action GT, Ban Dai and (bless) Matchbox. However robots took the spotlight and one was even released that plugged into the NES (R.O.B- Robotic Operating Buddy), but was barley regarded by videogames press.
The beginning of the end was nigh for the dominance of home computers, and no-one even noticed.
Games of the month
Tempest- Spectrum, Electric Dreams. A poor version of this Jeff Minter classic rolled out on a limited machine with high expectations. Obviously reviews weren't too favourable but it was the newest version and would probably be played by those wanting a mindless blast-em-up.
Starglider- Various, Rainbird. After impressing on more powerful machines this was forced onto less capable platforms like Amstrad, the C-64 and Spectrum. The new generation of gamers lapped it up despite the title being striped down to its great atmosphere and addictive gameplay bones.
Aliens- Various, Electric Dreams. As we all know movie tie-ins are crap, and they weren't any better in the good old days, despite what grandad told you.
Very stolid gameplay and uninspiring graphics combined to make one of the most tedious games of all time and earned Electric Dreams the nickname of Electric Nightmares.
Paperboy- Various, Elite. Released before christmas it was yet another Midway game. And yet another great conversion of an arcade classic. This irresistible deliver-em-up was a firm favourite and would most probably be loading up in your Datasette 16 years ago.
Space Harrier- Various, Elite. A popular title in the arcade it was released to satisfy those who had shoved many a coin into its slot. Although not as pretty as its arcade counter-part, it still retained the pace and action of the arcade chart-topper.
Gauntlet- Various, Midway. With a release across many different home formats, Gauntlet lacked the four player action of its predisessor but the gameplay and difficulty of the later levels was retained and made sure it was a hit.
UK Charts for March 1987
1 Everything I Own Boy George
2 I Get The Sweetest Feeling Jackie Wilson
3 Live It Up Mental As Anything
4 The Great Pretender Freddie Mercury
5 Stand By Me Ben E. King
6 Respectable Mel & Kim
7 When A Man Loves A Women Percy Sledge
8 Crush On You Jets
9 Male Stripper Man 2 Man Meet Man Parrish
10 Running In The Family Level 42