Reader Input Device

OVERVIEW OF R.I.D. #4

There were 125 Reader Input Devices turned in by press time for this issue. The breakdown by machines owned is as follows: Apple (53%); Atari (34%); TRS-80 (7%); IBM PC (6%). Of the 22 games offered for evaluation in RID #4, 15 of them received enough responses to be listed. If a game is not reviewed by at least 20% of the user group(s) to which it belongs, we do not believe the statistics gathered can be considered significant. Please note that this 20% threshold is a change from the 10% threshold we used for RID #3. Games that were not evaluated by at least 20% of the appropriate group were: Computer Gin Rummy; Battletrek; Fore!; and Zero Gravity Pinball.

In an effort to make it easier for you to evaluate the games, and because most of us tend to only take note of the composite score of a game, we have decided to do away with rating multiple aspects on each game. From now on (unless there is a revolt of semi-gargantuan proportions) we will only ask for and report a single score for each game — from 1 (terrible) to 9 (outstanding). Therefore, even though we collected detailed ratings in RID #4, we will only report the composite scores.

The top rated game in RID #4 was SSI’S GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN. It showed a relatively high percent played (30%) considering that it has only been out a few months. In comparison to the results of prior RIDs, RID #4 had an overall strong group of games. Even the lowest rated game, FALCONS, received a respectable 6.03 rating (the same rating as the 11th game of 20 in RID #3 — The Temple of Apshai).

At 83% the game most played in RID #4 was a runaway — RASTER BLASTER. This “old timer” was included in order to compare pinball games (see pg. 48).

COMPUTER GAMING WORLD TOP 10

Last issue we initiated the CGW TOP 10. The games on this list will be the ten highest rated games from the various RIDs. As with the regular RID list, a ‘% played’ rating of at least 20% will be necessary to make a game eligible for the TOP 10. In our last issue PURSUIT OF THE GRAF SPEE made the TOP 10 with only ‘12% played’. With our new required level POTGS is disqualified from the TOP 10. To be fair we will include it in RID #5.

Since our hobby is changing so fast and games come and go more quickly than new T.V. shows, we have decided that beginning with this issue, the TOP 10 must be re-evaluated each issue along with the regular offerings for that issue. The ratings for some of the games in the current TOP 10 were based on responses from RID #2 and RID #3.

R.I.D. #5

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GAMES

Rate the following games using a scale of 1 (terrible) to 9 (outstanding). In making your evaluation be sure to consider the following aspects of the game: PRESENTATION (this includes such things as graphics, sound. packaging. documentation); GAME DESIGN (apart from the presentation, is the game well designed. playable, interesting?): LIFE (does the game wear well?).

1. WIZARDRY (SIR-TECH)
2. COMPUTER BASEBALL (SSI)
3. OLYMPIC DECATHALON (MICROSOFT)
4. GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGN (SSI)
5. CHOPLIFTER! (BRODERBUND)
6. SOUTHERN COMMAND (SSI)
7. ESCAPE FROM RUNGISTAN (SIRIUS)
8. KNIGHT OF DIAMONDS (SIR-TECH)
9. GALACTIC GLADIATORS (SSI)
10. RENDEZVOUS (EDU-WARE)
11. THE ARCADE MACHINE (BRODERBUND)
12. STAR MAZE (SIR-TECH)
13. ANDROMEDA CONQUEST (AVALON HILL)
14. SHAMUS (SYNAPSE)
15. ATTACK AT EP-CYG-4 (BRAM)
16. COMPUTER FOREIGN EXCGANGE (AVALON HILL)
17. SEAFOX (BRODERBUND)
18. LEGIONNAIRE (AVALON HILL)
19. FRAZZLE (MUSE)
20. STAR TRADERS (HAYDEN)
21. ESCAPE FROM VULCAN’S ISLE (EPYX)
22. CRYPT OF THE UNDEAD (EPYX)
23. KING ARTHUR’S HEIR (EPYX)
24. FROGGER (SIERRA ON-LINE)
25. FINAL CONFLICT (HAYDEN)
26. PURSUIT OF THE GRAF SPEE (SSI)
27. THE COSMIC BALANCE (SSI)
28. S.E.U.I.S. (SSI)
29. COMPUTER GIN RUMMY (DATAMOST)
30. FORE! (EPYX)

ARTICLES

Rate the following selected articles on a scale of (terrible) to 9 (outstanding). If the article does not interest you enter “0”.

31. HISTORY OF A WARGAME DESIGN
32. THE SILICON CEREBRUM
33. REAL WORLD GAMING
34. JAPANESE STRATEGY IN GUADALCANAL
35. FOUR FOR THE ATARI
36. EASTERN FRONT SCENARIOS
37. MICROMATHEMAGIC
38. BEYOND SARGON II
39. LEGIONNAIRE: REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
40. ROUTE 80
41. ANDROMEDA CONQUEST SCENARIOS
42. BUNGO PETE/WONDER BEAR

1. What was the single most important game release and/or occurence in the computer gaming hobby and industry in 1982.
2. What was the prime reason you purchased a personal computer (e.g., entertainment, business, etc.)
3. Other comments

PINBALL GAMES COMPARED

DAVID’S MIDNIGHT MAGIC received a 7.24 composite/43% played rating in RID #2. We ran some other pinball games so as to compare. The result? RASTER BLASTER (6.75/83%) and A2-PB1 PINBALL (6.59/43%) were no match to DMM. ZERO GRAVITY PINBALL only received a 3.88 composite in RID #4 but this score must be considered suspect in light of the fact that it was only evaluated by 11% of the Apple respondents.