Happy New Year to you and thanks to everyone who ordered their Christmas games from the Club. Finishing work at midnight became almost standard during the last three weeks before the big day but we're not moaning. Our same day despatch was maintained right up to the 23rd December and hopefully Postman Pat delivered the goods in time. Good old Pat.
For 1989, we've added lots of new features to the magazine which no doubt you'll notice as you read on. Many of these additions are a result of suggestions by members so if you have any ideas please let us know.
The most requested addition was the production of joke sheets as mentioned in the last issue. These are now available free when you buy games and there are some real sidesplitters amongst them. Thanks to everyone who has sent in their jokes and we've given credits to the people whose jokes we have used. Where more than one person sent in the same joke we have credited the first person to send it.
There are also more additions to the helpsheet range including a much requested helpsheet for Exile. Plus Frak, Hoverbod and Terramex. As usual there will be further additions next month.
And what's more there is the New Year release of Orbital which is a highly enjoyable arcade game and is fully reviewed this month. We hope to produce a full set of maps for the game next month.
Impact Software's first Christmas was a real cracker with a terrific response from members to all of our 1988 releases. The best overall seller was Cheat It Again Joe 1. Has this got anything to do with the mega Elite cheat, we wonder?
We all worked extremely hard over the Christmas period to ensure that we could get the latest release Orbital ready for the New Year. We hope you'll give it a try and we're certain that you won't be disappointed.
We also have a new game planned for February but we want to keep it a surprise.
Cheat It Again Joe 4 is initially scheduled for March and will include cheats for lots of the recent new releases but we can't say which just yet.
Our plan for 1989 is to bring out a release each month if possible. This is obviously subject to receiving enough quality games to publish but things look promising so far. Some months may even see two releases (maybe even three) but who knows?
So there's plenty to look forward to this year and we'll give you all the latest developments as they happen. Sometimes things happen so fast at Impact that we don't always know the next month's releases ourselves. A game can be released in three weeks if we pull the stops out.
A whole host of very varied games are presently underway from all the major games publishers. We'll run through the publishers in alphabetical order giving a quick run down of their present activities:
Audiogenic. Fab Four Volume 1 is their new compilation and is previewed later on. They are also working on a game called Helter Skelter which is being programmed by Peter Scott.
Atlantis. They have a few budget cassette games planned, the first of which will be Stormcycle.
Blue Ribbon. Four more Superior re-releases are due very soon. We hear that they may include Stryker's Run, Crazee Rider, Galaforce and Repton 2. However, we're not sure.
CDS. Their next release will be a strategy game called Tank Attack. This will be a simulation of a tank battle - surprise, surprise. It can involve two to four players who take on the role of Tank Corps Generals.
Domark. The latest in their TV games series is Bob's Full House. Not one of my favourite TV quiz shows but if you're into quiz games you may like this one. How about Michael (Oh no a Hotspot) Barrimore's "Strike It Lacky", Nic The Teeth's "Corncerntraaashuun" or even Blinketi Blonk cos you wouldn't have to worry about the prizes. Now be honest, wouldn't they make class computer games?
Impact. We're currently working on six games plus a Cheat It Again Joe 4 but you know what they say: "Never tell the left hand what the right hand is going". And anyway there's far too few surprises in this life.
Robico. Another one for adventure fans should be available soon: Blood Of The Mutineers.
Superior. After a blitz of games from Superior in December they don't seem to have much planned for 1989. The A Question Of Sport is another TV quiz game put onto the computer. This should appeal to sports fans but will be very highly priced. And as long as giggling Emlyn isn't in it, I might have a go myself.
Tynesoft. They're currently working on two new games - Circus Games and Superman. Both games are previewed later in this issue of the mag; or should I say "The Mag".