[{"TitleName":"Dinky Digger","Publisher":"Postern Ltd","Author":"Ragrob","YearOfRelease":"1983","ZxDbId":"0001398","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 3, Apr 1984","Price":"£0.75","ReleaseDate":"1984-03-16","Editor":"Roger Kean","TotalPages":128,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Kean\r\nConsultant Editor: Franco Frey\r\nProduction Designer: David Western\r\nArt Editor: Oliver Frey\r\nClient Liaison: John Edwards\r\nStaff Writer: Lloyd Mangram\r\nContributing Writers: Matthew Uffindel, Chris Passey\r\nSubscription Manager: Denise Roberts\r\n\r\n©1984 Newsfield Ltd.\r\nCrash Micro is published monthly by Newsfield Ltd. [redacted]\r\n\r\nTelephone numbers\r\nEditorial [redacted]\r\nSubscriptions [redacted]\r\nAdvertising [redacted]\r\nHot Line [redacted]\r\nNo material may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent from the copyright holders.\r\n\r\nColour origination by Scan Studio, [redacted]\r\nPrinted in England by Plymouth Web Offset Ltd, [redacted].\r\nDistribution by Comag, [redacted]\r\nAdditional setting and process work by The Tortoise Shell Press, [redacted].\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: 12 issues £9.00 UK Mainland (post free)\r\nEurope: 12 issues £15 (post free).\r\n\r\nWe cannot undertake to return any written or photographic material sent to CRASH MICRO unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.\r\n\r\nCover by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: Postern\r\nMemory Required: 48K\r\nRetail Price: £6.95\r\nLanguage: Machine code\r\n\r\nAs its name implies, this is another 'Dig-Dug' digger game, where you wander the screen, creating pathways along which monsters will chase you. The object is to collect the many cherries on the screen and avoid the chasers by undermining the large apples to either block a passageway or, better still, squash them dead. The ultimate prize for Dinky is the lime cake at the centre of the screen.\r\n\r\nClearing a screen results in another with even faster monsters. Apart from apples, Dinky can use crystal balls to throw at the approaching monsters, throwing in the direction of movement but he's only given two to use.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: top row = throw ball, second row = up, third row = down, left & right, alternate keys on bottom row\r\nJoystick: none\r\nKeyboard play: responsive\r\nUse of colour poor, a rather yucky green screen\r\nSound: just average\r\nSkill levels: progressive impossibility\r\nLives: 3","ReviewerComments":["I found this game very unplayable. The monsters seem to be super fast while Dinky has feet of lead. On most occasions there's not even time to tunnel enough to be able to turn around and throw your crystal ball. The odds are heavily stacked against you, making the game very hard. But not 'hard' as in 'challenging' or 'difficult', but 'hard' as in not given a chance. The graphics are reasonable, but the so-called 'mind-blowing sound effects' tend to leave a little to be desired. Fair to poor and for kamikazes only. If this is priced at Postern's usual £7 price, then it's terrible value for money.\r\r\nUnknown","If this was skill level 50, then I might understand it, but as there is only the one speed/skill level option, I don't. Did the author or producer of the game try it out? Did anyone play test it? if they did, then all I can say is that Cheltenham must breed super heroic arcade players. In my opinion all the skill elements of this game have been got wrong. It just doesn't work! A pity for the graphics, which are quite good.\r\r\nUnknown","I'm afraid Dinky Digger is unplayable because the monsters move too fast - Dinky doesn't stand a chance, especially with only two crystal balls. If he'd had more balls (not guts, just balls) it might have been a better game. In a sense, it doesn't matter but, why did they have to put that tune in between each very short life - it soon becomes maddening.\r\nUnknown"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Poor to fair, and poor value.","Page":"54","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Chance would be a fine thing in Dinky Digger."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Use of Computer","Score":"42%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"50%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"23%","Text":""},{"Header":"Getting Started","Score":"30%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"30%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"25%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"33%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Spectrum Issue 3, May 1984","Price":"£0.85","ReleaseDate":"1984-04-09","Editor":"Roger Munford","TotalPages":122,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Munford\r\nManaging Editor: Bruce Sawford\r\nDeputy Editor: Tina Boylan\r\nEditorial Assistant: Pete Shaw\r\nSoftware Consultant: Gavin Monk\r\nSub Editor: Nik Lumsden\r\nContributors: Phil Manchester, Ian Beardsmore, Ron Smith, Mike Mepham, Sandy Dewhurst, Colin Young, Andrew Wright, Richard Archdeacon, Stephen Adams, Damir Skrgatic, Dilwyn Jones, Simon Goodwin, Toni Baker, SQ Factor\r\nArt Editor: Jimmy Egerton\r\nArt Assistant: Steve Broadhurst\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: Jeff Raggett\r\nAdvertisement Managers: Shane Campbell, Gill Harris, Jason Wood\r\nProduction Editor: Derek Cohen\r\nTypesetters: Beverley Douglas, Maggie Kayley, Velma Miller\r\nProduction Manager: Sonia Hunt\r\nGroup Art Director: Perry Neville\r\nPublisher: Stephen England\r\nDistribution Manager: Colin James\r\n\r\nPublished by Sportscene Specialist Press Ltd, [redacted] Company registered in England. Telephone (all departments): [redacted]\r\nReproduction: Graphic Ideas, London\r\nPrinters: Chase Web Offset [redacted]\r\nDistribution: Seymour Press [redacted]\r\n\r\nAll material in Your Spectrum ©1984 Felden productions, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publishers. Your Spectrum is a monthly publication.\r\n\r\nCover photography by Ian McKinnell"},"MainText":"DINKY DIGGER\r\nPostern\r\n£6.95\r\n\r\nThe player takes on the role of the Dinky Digger, whose job it is to dig his way underground and eat all the cherries. At the same time, irate chasers are desperately trying to halt your progress, and these need to be stopped.","ReviewerComments":["When playing, it soon becomes clear that the baddies move a lot faster than the Dinky Digger — which makes the securing of their destruction virtually impossible.\r\nJohn Hall\r\n5/10","The main fault with this game is that it's simply too hard. The poor presentation spoils the overall appearance of what is essentially a good idea.\r\nTony Samuels\r\n6/10","The idea behind this game is a good one but it gets lost somewhere, due to the unsophisticated and unpolished finished product. Nevertheless, it's playable and moderately enjoyable.\r\nMark Knight\r\n6/10"],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"69","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"John Hall","Score":"5","ScoreSuffix":"/10"},{"Name":"Tony Samuels","Score":"6","ScoreSuffix":"/10"},{"Name":"Mark Knight","Score":"6","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 25, Apr 1984","Price":"£0.85","ReleaseDate":"1984-03-15","Editor":"Bill Scolding","TotalPages":148,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Bill Scolding\r\nDeputy Editor: Nicole Segre\r\nConsultant Editor: Mike Johnston\r\nManaging Production Editor: Harold Mayes MBE\r\nSoftware Editor: John Gilbert\r\nProgram Reviewer: June Mortimer\r\nIllustrator/Designer: Brian King\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: John Ross\r\nSales Executive: Annette Burrows\r\nProduction Assistant: Dezi Epaminondou\r\nEditorial Assistant: Colette McDermott\r\nManaging Editor: Nigel Clark\r\nAssistant Managing Director: Barry Hazel\r\nManaging Director: Terry Cartwright\r\nChairman: Richard Hease\r\n\r\nSinclair User is published monthly by ECC Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\nTelephone\r\nAll departments\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nIf you would like to contribute to Sinclair User please send programs, articles or ideas for hardware projects to:\r\nSinclair User and Programs\r\nECC Publications\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nPrograms should be on cassette and articles should be typed. We cannot undertake to return them unless a stamped-addressed envelope is included.\r\n\r\nWe will pay £10 for the copyright of each program published and £50 per 1,000 words for each article used.\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1984\r\nSinclair User\r\nISSN NO. 0262-5458\r\n\r\nPrinted and typeset by Cradley Print PLC, [redacted]\r\n\r\nDistributed by Spotlight Magazine Distribution Ltd, [redacted]"},"MainText":"DIGGER TAKES THE CAKE\r\n\r\nMemory: 48K\r\nPrice: £6.95\r\n\r\nDinky Digger from Postern may well remind you of Pac-Man but this time the monsters are trying to eat you, and probably succeeding most of the time.\r\n\r\nThe object is to clear the screen of cherries, eventually grabbing the cake to be found at the centre. The Pac-man-like monsters meanwhile are doing their best to prevent you achieving your aim, but it is possible to eliminate the monsters by throwing a crystal ball at them, or by running under an apple in the hope that it will fall and flatten them.\r\n\r\nEven if you succeed in getting rid of a monster or two, unless you have extremely nimble fingers you are unlikely to progress very far into the game. One monster is followed quickly by another and slow response to the movement keys makes it almost impossible to out-run them.\r\n\r\nMost people will find they have lost a life in no time and it is a pity that the authors have added to the frustration of the game by making the player wait for an infuriating little tune to finish before embarking on another attempt. When the game is finished, a score table is displayed which features an action sequence of the hero throwing a ball at one of the monsters and, appealing though that may be the first time, it serves only to slow the action when it is repeated.\r\n\r\nDinky Digger is definitely not for the novice: although it might appeal to experienced players eager to improve their keyboard skills.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"40","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Gilbert Factor","Score":"4/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Personal Computer Games Issue 5, Apr 1984","Price":"£0.75","ReleaseDate":"1984-03-15","Editor":"Chris Anderson","TotalPages":176,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Chris Anderson\r\nProduction Editor: Roderick George\r\nArt Editor: Ian Findlay\r\nTechnical Editor: Stuart Cooke\r\nStaff Writers: Steve Cooke, Peter Connor\r\nEditorial Assistant: Samantha Hemens\r\nSoftware Consultant: Tony Takoushi\r\nCartoons: Kipper Williams\r\nProgram Control Guardians: Jeff Riddle\r\nGame-of-the-month poster: Pat Weedon\r\nScreenshots: Chris Bell\r\nCover Illustration: Richard Evans\r\nGroup Editor: Cyndy Miles\r\nArt Director: Jim Dansie\r\nPublisher: Mark Eisen\r\nAssistant Publishing Manager: Sue Clements\r\nPublishing Secretary: Jenny Dunne\r\nAdvertising Manager: Herbert Wright\r\nAssistant Advertisement Manager: Jan Martin\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: Pat Dolan\r\nAdvertisement Production: Simon Carter\r\nAdvertisement Assistant: Coraline Turner\r\nSales Executives: Joey Davies, Marion O'Neill\r\n\r\nPublished by VNU Business Publications, [redacted]. Typesetting by Spectrum Typesetting, [redacted] Origination by Fourmost Colour [redacted]. Printed and bound by Chase Web Offset [redacted]. © VNU Business Publications 1984."},"MainText":"MACHINE: Spectrum 48K\r\nJOYSTICK: No\r\nCATEGORY: Arcade\r\nSUPPLIER: Postern\r\nPRICE: £6.95\r\n\r\nThe buffoon who wrote this program appears to be one of those people who believe that to make a game challenging it has to be virtually unplayable.\r\n\r\nJust picture it. You're digging a tunnel and coming down it after you is a succession of monsters. Your only defence against them is to hurl a ball at them. That kills the first one, the rest keep coming, and you have to wait a few seconds for a new ball.\r\n\r\nWhat often happens is that even if you're moving away as fast as possible, a second monster catches you up before your new ball arrives. So at best this game is a lottery, and worst it's mass murder of the defenceless.\r\n\r\nThe programmer had some other duff ideas: like including a really awful little tune which after your first few random deaths will make you tear your hair out.\r\n\r\nIncidentally the aim of the game is to gobble cherries, apples and lime-cake but you'll find it all pretty fruitless. Even if you succeed you only get the same again, except even more unplayable.\r\n\r\nThe cassette inlay tells you that this game is as fast, furious and mean as they come. There is a certain truth in this.\r\n\r\nThe game is extremely mean, and if you buy it you'll fast become furious.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"86","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Chris Anderson","Score":"2","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"2/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Ease Of Use","Score":"5/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Originality","Score":"4/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Lasting Interest","Score":"1/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"2/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair Programs Issue 18, Apr 1984","Price":"£0.95","ReleaseDate":"1984-03-15","Editor":"Rebecca Ferguson","TotalPages":60,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Rebecca Ferguson\r\nManaging Production Editor: Harold Mayes MBE\r\nStaff Writer: June Mortimer\r\nDesign: Elaine Bishop\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Gary Price\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Frank Humphrey-Gaskin\r\nProduction Assistant: Dezi Epaminondou\r\nEditorial Assistant: Colette McDermott\r\nManaging Editor: Nigel Clark\r\nManaging Director: Terry Cartwright\r\nAssistant Managing Director: Barry Hazel\r\nChairman: Richard Hease\r\n\r\nU.S. Press representative Mr J. Eisenberg, JE Publishers' representative, [redacted]\r\n\r\nSinclair Programs is published monthly by ECC Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\nTelephone [redacted]\r\n\r\nIf you would like your original programs to be published in Sinclair Programs, please send your contributions, which must not have appeared elsewhere, to\r\nSinclair Programs\r\nEEC Publications\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nPrograms should be on cassette. We cannot undertake to return them unless a stamped-addressed envelope is included. We pay £10 for the copyright of each program published.\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1984 Sinclair Programs\r\nISSN No. 0263-0265\r\n\r\nPrinted and typeset by: Cradley Print PLC, [redacted]\r\n\r\nDistributed by Spotlight Magazine Distribution Ltd, [redacted]\r\n\r\nCover Design/Illustrations: Ivan Hissey"},"MainText":"WELL-WORN THEMES RE-APPEAR\r\n\r\nThe trend in software production appears to be to take stock, build on successful ideas and await new developments. New games tend to be new variations on well-worn themes rather than startlingly original concepts. The number of games based on the premise that all computer owners love shooting as many things as possible is decreasing and giving way to games which need thought and strategy as well as fast reactions.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately for ZX-81 owners, although their computer has remained consistently among the top five bestselling computers, new software for the ZX-81 is almost non-existent and W H Smith is not intending to accept any new ZX-81 software for sale in its shops. Due to the shortage of new software, no ZX-81 programs have been received for review this month.\r\n\r\nTHE SNOWMAN\r\n\r\nThe Snowman - Quicksilva, 48K Spectrum - is based loosely on the book of the same name by Raymond Briggs. The aim is to collect snow and build a snowman. The wandering flames must be avoided, as they melt your snow and turn it to water.\r\n\r\nFalling off the ice structure of pathways and ladders will result in the player being sent back to bed, as will running out of energy. On the higher levels, sleep monsters must also be avoided or confronted with alarm clocks. The Snowman combines the best of many games already on the market and should become a best-seller.\r\n\r\nThe latest sequel to Pimania, Pi-Eyed and other Automata productions is Pi-Balled - 48K Spectrum. Once again the Pi-man is the hero of the game, this time accompanied by two bouncing balls and Sid the Snake.\r\n\r\nIt is a fairly straightforward arcade game. The mystical pyramid of Pi must be changed in colour by jumping from square to square. Sid the Snake must be avoided, as must the bouncing balls, which can also change the colour of the pyramid but not necessarily in a way which is helpful.\r\n\r\nPi-balled has lively graphics; the bouncing balls and spinning discs are particularly convincing and the degree of difficulty is well-judged to suit beginners and experienced players. Shades of Manic Miner are apparent in Loony Zoo - Phipps Associates, 48K Spectrum. The storyline is that, while surveying another planet, you have been captured by its vastly superior inhabitants and placed in one of their zoos, together with various other alien specimens.\r\n\r\nIt is possible to escape by jumping from ledge to ledge to reach the door pressure-pad at the top of the screen. Needless to say, you escape only into other cages from which it is more difficult to escape. Despite its simple graphics and slow pace, Loony Zoo is a difficult and addictive game.\r\n\r\nKiller Knight - Phipps Associates, 48K Spectrum - thinly disguises a Kong-type game with medieval trappings. The player must climb from platform to platform, using ladders and avoiding rolling objects. Beginners will find it difficult to progress very far, while experienced players will soon realise that a high score can be obtained simply by running back and forth along the bottom level.\r\n\r\nMONKEY BIZNESS\r\n\r\nIn a very similar vein is Monkey Bizness - Artic, 48K Spectrum. The monkey mentioned in the title is King Kong and the object is to rush up the scaffolding, dodging or destroying the barrels which Kong rolls at you, to rescue the woman at the top of the scaffolding.\r\n\r\nMonkey Bizness is an amusing and colourful game, although many Spectrum owners will find they already possess similar games.\r\n\r\nLike Donkey Kong, Pac-man is a game which spawned a multitude of imitations. Dinky Digger - Postern, 48K Spectrum - has a distinctly Pac-man-like air to it. The object is to clear the screen of cherries and grab the cake in the middle, while avoiding the monsters which are trying to eat you.\r\n\r\nOne monster is followed quickly by another and the game is so difficult that it should be attempted only by the experienced or very nimble-fingered user.\r\n\r\n3D Star Wars - Addon Electronics, 48K Spectrum - is one of the less worthwhile pieces of software on the market. The graphics are lifeless and confusing, the three-dimensional effect is jumbled, and the number of keys to be used complicates the game still further.\r\n\r\nTHE GUARDIAN\r\n\r\nThe Guardian - PSS, 48K Spectrum - is the first version of the arcade game The Tempest to appear for the Spectrum. The site is a spaceship on the edge of a vortex to another universe. Aliens appear through the doorway and must be destroyed by the use of laser bolt gun or star smasher weapons. The game has had to be simplified for micro-computer use but it is easy and fun to play.\r\n\r\nCCS has begun its Games for Girls series with three games for the 48K Spectrum. Hicksted, a simulation of a show jumping event; Diamond Quest, which is a straightforward adventure; and Jungle Maze, in which prizes are won with a Mastermind-style guessing game which is fun, although unoriginal. Apart from a tenuous link with show jumping in one game and a heroine rather than a hero in another, it is difficult to see in what way CCS has changed its strategy to aim it at females rather than males.\r\n\r\nComputers are bound to affect everyone's future in some way, so encouraging more people to use and understand them is a worthwhile project.\r\n\r\nTo attempt to increase a software company's market vastly by selling to women is unlikely to succeed unless the software market is changed substantially.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"9","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"June Mortimer","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]