Spectrum Computing

Amazon Adventure...
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=28085

The entry in the database lists Robert Bergstrom as the author.

The title screen says the author was Roberth Bergstrom

The publisher and date of publication are listed as Robert Bergstrom and 1986.

There is a reference on the title screen to (c) 1987 AMIS

8BitAG wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2019 4:14 pm IMPORTANT....

The file labelled the +3 version of the Professional Adventure Writer https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6825
in the database is NOT the +3 version of the PAWs... it is the CP/M version (for Amstrad CP/M machines, such as the CPC and PCW).

Do you mean this file?

ProfessionalAdventureWriterB03+3(AventurasADS.A.).dsk.zip

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2019 11:45 pm Do you mean this file?
ProfessionalAdventureWriterB03+3(AventurasADS.A.).dsk.zip

No, that's the Spanish version.

It's this file that is incorrect...


That file is the CP/M version. (You may wish to keep it in the archive, but label it as such)

The game in the database...

Borrowed Time
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=9558

Doesn't have much information for it.

A tentative date of publication is listed as 1992, seemingly to match the reference in a 1992 issue of Sinclair User where some tips are given in the adventure column. (Although the ACE magazine reference, also on that page, is listed as being 1988)

The tips for the game given in Sinclair User match up exactly to the solution we have over at CASA for the Activision/Mastertronic game Borrowed Time...
http://solutionarchive.com/game/id%2C57 ... +Time.html

No Spectrum version is currently listed there. It's inclusion in SInclair User's adventure section might suggest that a Spectrum version was actually released... but it wouldn't be the first time (iirc) that hints for a game not available on the correct format had appeared in a single-format magazine.

Another reference for it's existence needed?

8BitAG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:25 am Another reference for it's existence needed?

It seems very unlikely that Activision could convert a disk-only point & click C64 game to a cassette based Spectrum game in 1985.

StooB wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:04 pm It seems very unlikely that Activision could convert a disk-only point & click C64 game to a cassette based Spectrum game in 1985.

I agree that it does seem unlikely the game made an appearance on the Spectrum. Like I said, it wouldn't be the first time that an adventure columnist had accidentally put tips for a game that wasn't even on that platform in his (or her) column. It's definitely that game that the tips in Sinclair User are for.

Mindshadow should have Interplay Productions Inc listed as an author like The Bard's Tale (otherwise it doesn't appear in a search for "Interplay").

The Bard's Tale should show the same Licence/Tie-In credit for Interplay that Mindshadow shows.

StooB wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:04 pm

8BitAG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:25 am Another reference for it's existence needed?

It seems very unlikely that Activision could convert a disk-only point & click C64 game to a cassette based Spectrum game in 1985.

It's probably a disk game because of graphics. I'm guessing a text only version for the Spectrum would have been quite easy to do.

I don't think we have enough evidence to conclude either way. For now, I'm adding a comment in this game entry as follows:

It's not clear if this game was ever released for the ZX-Spectrum. Perhaps the game reference at Sinclair User was a mistake?

Lazer Tag

Year is 1988 not 1987 - earliest review is June 1988.

LED Storm

Year is 1989 not 1988 - earliest review is February 1989.

Last Duel

Publisher is Go! not US Gold - according to the back of the inlay.

Bruce Lee original US Gold version was released in 1985 not 1984 - all reviews are from May/June 1985

The Americana re-release is 1988 not 1984 - reviewed in Crash September 1988 which also confirms the release date of the original as May 1985


The Americana range was launched mid-1986 according to this and this so:
Spider-Man wasn't released by Americana in 1985
Knockout wasn't released by Americana in 1985
The Hulk wasn't released by Americana in 1984

There are reviews for the Americana release of The Hulk in 1986, but none for the others, so 1986 is a best guess for them too.

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:08 pm I don't think we have enough evidence to conclude either way.

C&VG review: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 06&page=77

"Machine: CBM64, Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST (DIsk only)"

This Crash article from February 1984 lists the first six Rabbit releases from "before Christmas" as Centropods, Escape-MCP, Frogger, Phantasia, Quackers and Race Fun.

Therefore these titles, currently listed as 1983, were presumably released in early 1984:

0000538 The Birds
0002804 Lancer Lords
0006719 Murder!
0003590 Pakacuda
0003619 Paratroopers
0003850 Potty Painter

It's TV Showtime!

is published by "TV Games (UK)", not Domark, according to the logo on the box front.

Xenon

Tronix re-release is missing - reviewed in Sinclair User January 1992

Re-release #4
Year: 1991
Price: £3.99

StooB wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:39 am

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:08 pm I don't think we have enough evidence to conclude either way.

C&VG review: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 06&page=77

"Machine: CBM64, Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST (DIsk only)"

It's still technically possible that a disk point-and-click adventure from 1986 was later converted into a tape text-only adventure in the following years before 1992. Simply removing graphics would have been enough to fit it into 48K.

However I agree it's unlikely they would have done it. So I will update this entry as you suggest, marking it as "never released" and adding the following comment:

Although "Sinclair User" once published playing tips for this game, it was probably a mistake. Apparently this game was never released for the ZX-Spectrum.

SWIV isn't licenced from Tecmo, it's an original title "inspired" by Silkworm :

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 45&page=20
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 820&page=9

Gauntlet III and Blasteroids

should have Tengen added to the licence tie-in as well as the Atari Games Ltd one (like Cyberball has)

Dragon Spirit

should have Atari Games Ltd added to the licence tie-in as well as the Tengen one

Welltris

Authors/Contributors - according to the title screen:

Design/Concept: Alexey Pajitnov and Andrei Snegov

Peter Balla and Imre Kovats should have the role "Code"
Ildiko Somos, Dan Guerra and Jody Sather should have the role "In-Game Graphics"
Matt Carlstrom is missing and should also be credited under "In-Game Graphics"


Also, according to the New York Times and the Tetris wiki, "Bullet-Proof Software Inc (USA)" were actually Japanese

Gambler + Editor from Diamond Games should have the title "The Gambler" as that's what the cover and instructions say it's called.

Diamond Games is apparently owned by Robtek - according to the Amiga Hall of Light - which explains why the instructions have a Robtek logo on.

The Compact Office titles currently listed as being published by Robtek were actually published by Mastertronic. This has been confirmed by Anthony Guter, financial controller of Mastertronic from 1985-1989, on his website at http://guter.org/mastertronic/mastertronic_press_26.htm:

We learned the lesson and avoided business software from then on, apart from releasing Compact Office for the Spectrum in October 1987.

All or Nothing, by Abbex. Re-released by Prism Leisure.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index ... 96&id=167

The only available inlay should be labeled as re-release cassette inlay, as the Prism Leisure logo appears in it.

The original Abbex inlay is missing.

Exploding Wall was published by Byte Back, not MC Lothlorien, who had stopped publishing their own titles in 1986:



The £2.99 price should be moved to the Byte Back release.

Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons should have the same Atari licence as the original Gauntlet.

According to the adverts and inlay, Tynesoft's Superman - Man of Steel is licensed from First Star. However it's not a conversion of a First Star game like Superman - The Game was, so a new licence type is needed - "Rights Holder"?

Artic computing and Artic Computing Ltd should be merged.

Gauntlet was not released in 1987 - it was the best selling game of 1986.