Producer: Temptation, 16K
£5.95
Author: Neil Streeter

This tape contains 2 programs, 'Super Nudge' and 'Black Jack'. The first is a fruit machine which features the usual options: nudge, hold, gamble and cross wins. The nudge feature is slightly odd in as much as you can't see how many you have won and they only seem to nudge in one direction. Black Jack is Pontoon, the card game where you try to get as close to 21 as possible. You can't split hands, burn or buy cards. The graphics are good, especially on the cards, but both games suffer with the usual lack of fun in playing gambling games against a computer. Overall CRASH rating 48%. Programmed in Basic with UDG.

GAMBLING WITHOUT CASH

Temptation Software brings the bright lights of Las Vegas a little closer to home with two games on one cassette for the 16K Spectrum. Fruit Machine is a faithful replica of the familiar pub game, complete with spinning symbols and nudge, hold and cancel keys. You can collect or gamble and your score is bid out neatly at the side of the screen. Fruit Machine cannot claim originality, nor does it offer the thrills of gambling for money, but the graphics are excellent and, within its limits, the game is presented professionally.

Black Jack on the same tape is a version of the card game, Pontoon. You start with £10 and lose or win 10 pence at each tussle with the computer. True to the rules of any gambling den, the computer as the banker has the edge over the other player in case of a draw and you will probably see your winnings decrease steadily.

If you win a hand, you can choose to collect or try to double your stake. Black Jack does no hold the excitement of a genuine card game played for cash but the responses are fast and the challenge of trying to beat the computer is addictive.

The cassette insert explains the rules of both games clearly. Las Vegas is available from Temptation Software, 27 Cinque Ports Street, Rye, Sussex.

YOU LOSE, PAL

MAKER: Temptation Software
MACHINE: Spectrum 48K
FORMAT: cassette
PRICE: £5.95

Hmm, THIS is interesting: an emasculated slice of vice for out-of-pocket gamblers. Or, to be more precise, a low key double bill featuring that indefatigable old pub dog, the fruit machine and a version of the popular card game, Blackjack.

The former boasts all the features you'd expect from a quality Fruit such as nudge, hold and gamble but it's cursed with a cluttered screen layout and some poor animation. Those all-important reels refuse to scroll the way reels should. They merely change in flickering sequence. It's far too crude a display to really satiate the discerning punter.

The Blackjack program is marginally more interesting. As with Pontoon (or 21), the idea is to break the bank with a five card trick. The game's a doddle to play and the visuals are quite neat, with the 'puter speedily unveiling your hand as you bravely twist. Unfortunately, though, there's no option to alter the stakes. A 10p wager is mandatory - not much help for us strategic players. Not that it would have made much difference anyway as I'm sure the deck was rigged. Those smarmy 'You Bust!' proclamations were far too frequent to be kosher. Still I guess it's cheaper than a Greyhound to Vegas...