Little bugs in the database 3

[StooB]

Blue Max

The PCW review is for Blue Max 2001 on the Commodore 64.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Flak (1984)

was released in 1985 - it's only review was in YS 7/85, and it appears on US Gold's flyer of Spring/Summer 1985 releases:

https://ia800604.us.archive.org/view_ar ... er1985.jpg

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Starring Charlie Chaplin (1987)

Originally scheduled for a Christmas 1987 release according to the previews, it obviously wasn't as the earliest of the reviews are in June 1988.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Sega Master Mix (1991)
Platinum (1991)

These two compilations are both reviewed in Sinclair User January 1991 which was published on December 18th 1990. The Your Sinclair review even states "yet another compilation competing for your Xmas dosh", so the date on both should be 1990.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Pole Position

The US Gold version was released in 1985 - the earliest reviews for that version are from August 1985.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Ms Pac-Man (1984)

The Your Spectrum review of September 1984 is of Pac-Man, not Ms Pac-Man.

The other reviews are from March and April 1985, so the year of release should be 1985.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Galaxian (1984)

Reviewed in April 1985, year of release should be 1985.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Xevious (1987)

was released in 1986.

ZX Computing list it as a release for Autumn 1986.
The Sinclair User preview gives a streetdate of December 1986.
The C&VG February 1987 review says "What better way to finish off the year of the arcade conversion".

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

California Games (1987)

Originally scheduled for September 1987, it wasn't released until 1988. The preview in Your Sinclair February 1988 says it's available "now". The PCW review states "It is the first week of cold January and US Gold have finally got around to releasing the Spectrum version of California Games."

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Jet Bike Simulator (1988)

The exact release date according to Your Sinclair is 7th December 1987.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

10 Great Games (1988)

Released for Christmas 1987 according to Your Sinclair.

✓ Reviewed

[Stefan]

Galaxian (1984)

Reviewed in April 1985, year of release should be 1985.

On the other hand it gets a mention in issue 1 of Crash Magazine (Feb 1984) - not sure why Galaxians is not linked as magazine ref:

Turning their attention to the Spectrum and other computers, games giant Atari International are releasing some of their famous games like Pac Man, Miss Pac Man, Defender, Galaxians and Centipede over the next few months.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

On the other hand it gets a mention in issue 1 of Crash Magazine (Feb 1984) - not sure why Galaxians is not linked as magazine ref:

Turning their attention to the Spectrum and other computers, games giant Atari International are releasing some of their famous games like Pac Man, Miss Pac Man, Defender, Galaxians and Centipede over the next few months.

That might have been the plan but Centipede and Defender didn't even happen!

[Stefan]

On the other hand it gets a mention in issue 1 of Crash Magazine (Feb 1984) - not sure why Galaxians is not linked as magazine ref:

That might have been the plan but Centipede and Defender didn't even happen!

It's all a bit uncertain, there only being one review seems a bit odd, maybe everybody was bored with Galaxian clones - even if this was the official port.

The loading screen shows 1983 and MobyGames has a picture of the cassette showing (C) 1984 - so I'd say keep it at 1984 unless there is more compelling evidence to the contrary.

[StooB]

Limited Edition Chart Attack

is not MIA, it's on this page -link removed*- , complete with wav files and hi-res scans.

According to the box, the release year is 1989 and the machine type is 48/128, not 128k only.

*R-Tape - this is material from a denied publisher, and there were many more in the link. PM Sent. Sorry!

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

It's all a bit uncertain, there only being one review seems a bit odd, maybe everybody was bored with Galaxian clones - even if this was the official port.

The loading screen shows 1983 and MobyGames has a picture of the cassette showing (C) 1984 - so I'd say keep it at 1984 unless there is more compelling evidence to the contrary.

The loading screen of Ms Pac-Man shows 1983 and MobyGames has a picture of the cassette showing (C) 1984 and both reviews for that are in March/April 1985 too.

Pole Position was supposed to be released in mid-1984, but the earliest review for that is in the Crash 1984 Christmas special with the rest in 1985. So there is evidence that Atarisoft's releases were significantly delayed.

[StooB]

Winners (1990)
Coin-Op Hits (1990)
Epyx Action (1990)

All three are advertised/reviewed/previewed in late 1989 and are obviously aimed at the 1989 Christmas market.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Human Killing Machine (1988)

was released in 1989. (C) 1989 on the back cover.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Limited Edition Chart Attack

is not MIA, it's on this page -link removed*- , complete with wav files and hi-res scans.

According to the box, the release year is 1989 and the machine type is 48/128, not 128k only.

*R-Tape - this is material from a denied publisher, and there were many more in the link. PM Sent. Sorry!

from the box scans, 48/128k and 1989:

[StooB]

Black Tiger (1989)

Originally scheduled for October 1989, the back of the box shows (C)1990, and the YS preview gives a date of February 1990.

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Epyx 21

isn't for the Spectrum +3, but 48/128 as the side of the box shows.

✓ Reviewed

[8BitAG]

Epyx 21

isn't for the Spectrum +3, but 48/128 as the side of the box shows.

Well, the version on the site is for the +3; but yes, it would be more correct to say that the compilation itself was available for tape too.

There are differences between the functionality in the Summer Games on disk, compared to the tape versions.

✓ Reviewed

[+3code]

Epyx 21

isn't for the Spectrum +3, but 48/128 as the side of the box shows.

I think it is +3 (disk version) AND 48/128 (tape version).

✓ Reviewed

[StooB]

Epyx 21

isn't for the Spectrum +3, but 48/128 as the side of the box shows.

Well, the version on the site is for the +3; but yes, it would be more correct to say that the compilation itself was available for tape too.

There are differences between the functionality in the Summer Games on disk, compared to the tape versions.

I think it is +3 (disk version) AND 48/128 (tape version).

Yes, this is right, but that's not how it seems to work in zxdb. The "ZX-Spectrum 128 +3" machinetype is for titles like Guild of Thieves which were only released for that machine. The Games - Summer Edition was released on tape and +3 disk, but it's machine type is still 48/128 because it works on the 48k with 128k enhancements.

✓ Reviewed

[PeterJ]

[mention]StooB[/mention] is quite right. Because there is a 1:1 relationship between each title in the database and the machine type, the machine type is generally (there will be edge cases) the minimum specification required to run that title.

✓ Reviewed