[{"TitleName":"Earth Defence","Publisher":"Artic Computing Ltd","Author":"Donald J. Campbell","YearOfRelease":"1984","ZxDbId":"0001562","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 2, Mar 1984","Price":"£0.75","ReleaseDate":"1984-02-23","Editor":"Roger Kean","TotalPages":112,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Kean\r\nDesigner: Oliver Frey\r\nConsultant Editor: Franco Frey\r\nStaff Writers: Lloyd Mangram, Rod Bellamy\r\nAdvertisement Manager: John Edwards\r\nProduction Designer: Michael Arienti\r\n\r\n©1984 Newsfield Ltd.\r\n\r\nCrash Micro is published monthly by Newsfield Ltd. [redacted]\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent from the copyright holders.\r\n\r\nMono printing, typesetting & finishing by Feb Edge Litho Ltd. [redacted]\r\nColour printing by Allan-Denver Web Offset Ltd. [redacted].\r\nColour origination by Scan Studios, [redacted]\r\nDistributed by Wells Gardner, Darton & Co. [redacted]\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: 12 issues £9.00 UK Mainland (post included)\r\nEurope: 12 issues £15 (post included).\r\nSingle copy: 75p\r\n\r\nIf you would like to contribute to CRASH please send articles or ideas for projects to the above address. Articles should be typed. We cannot undertake to return them unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope\r\n\r\nCover Illustration:Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: Artic\r\nMemory Required: 16K\r\nRetail Price: £4.95\r\nLanguage: Machine code\r\nAuthor: Donald Cam,pbell\r\n\r\n'Missile Command' games for the Spectrum must rapidly be coming up for a comparison article - almost every major software house has now had a go at a version, one of the most recent being Artic. In Earth Defence you are given the usual 6 cities to defend with your three missile bases. In this version only the middle one actually fires, the other two supplying missiles. It also features a moving cross hair sight like other versions, but when the fire key is pressed a cross is left until the missile arrives, leaving your main sight free to dash off to the next incoming enemy missile trail. Since the game is well known there's little point in describing it further.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: poor, 6/7 left/right, 8/9 up/down, zero to fire. These are keys for the Sinclair Interface 2, and an alternative should have been provided\r\nJoystick: Sinclair, Kempston\r\nKeyboard play: responsive, but difficult to control well\r\nColour: Average to good, changes with screens\r\nGraphics: simple with good explosion effects\r\nSound: reasonable\r\nSkill levels: 3\r\nLives: 6 cities","ReviewerComments":["The graphics are fairly simple with nice explosions, but with only one of the three bases firing it's difficult to cope, especially with the poor control key layout provided. The original used a tracker ball for controlling missiles, and unless you have a compatible joystick, I would not personally recommend this game.\r\nUnknown","I thought the use of colour was good, the graphics are smooth and the sound is also good. A very addictive game.\r\nUnknown","It has simpler looking graphics than some of the other versions, but the explosions are about the best I've seen. All three levels are fast, the highest being virtually impossible without a great deal of practice. Pity about the silly control keys though - it's not an arrangement for what is a very difficult game to play.\r\nUnknown"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Above average to good.","Page":"37","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"All seems lost as Earth's defences crumble."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Use of Computer","Score":"62%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"64%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"60%","Text":""},{"Header":"Getting Started","Score":"68%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"62%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"64%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"63%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"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: Artic, 16K\r\n£4.95 (2)\r\nAuthor: Donald Campbell\r\n\r\nAnother 'Missile Command' of course. Six cities, three missile silos, no satellites or torpedoes. A useful feature is the cross hair sight which leaves an after image when the firing key is pressed while the main sight dashes off somewhere else on the screen. Fairly simple looking graphics and a very fast version. Pity, then, that the control keys are badly placed 6/7/8/9 and 0, 3 skill levels, joystick: Kempston, Sinclair 2. Above average, overall CRASH rating 63% M/C.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"65","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"63%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"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":"Earth Defence by Artic\r\nRetail Price: £4.95\r\nMemory: 16K\r\n\r\nThis another game which falls down on the keyboard layout - all along the top row. The game itself has fairly simple graphics, the explosions being reasonable, but inferior to those of Anirog or Ocean. It is reasonable as a game, but due to keys, only a joystick game really (Kempston and Sinclair). Three skill levels and a 2 player option are also provided.\r\nCP\r\n\r\nWith this version one or two players can play, with a choice of 3 skill levels. There are missiles for your defence in this comparatively tame version. Every 1,000 points scored awards you an extra city. The cross hair moves quickly and smoothly, and firing a missile results in a realistic explosion with good sound too. I like the colour, and it is a good noisy version, but its addictive qualities are slight, and its appeal wears off after a couple of hours.\r\nMU\r\n\r\nNote on ratings: To be enjoyed to the full, 'Missile Command' games should be played with a joystick (shame there is not a track ball) because keyboard play, in general, cannot give the same degree of accuracy and control. Although the same may be said for many other types of game, we are sure 'Missile Command' fans will agree that this is the game which needs it the most badly. Therefore the ratings given below have been split in two, one for keyboard only play, and one for joystick play. The two reviewers figures have been averaged as, in general, they turned out to be in agreement.\r\n\r\nRatings are given on a scale between zero and 100 points, and do not reflect what a game may receive in a regular review.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"99","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Chris Passey","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Matthew Uffindell","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Use of Computer (Keyboard)","Score":"10%","Text":""},{"Header":"Use of Computer (Joystick)","Score":"65%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"40%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability (Keyboard)","Score":"15%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability (Joystick)","Score":"60%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities (Keyboard)","Score":"10%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities (Joystick)","Score":"47%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value for Money (Keyboard)","Score":"25%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value for Money (Joystick)","Score":"60%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Personal Computer News Issue 59, Apr 1984","Price":"","ReleaseDate":"1984-04-28","Editor":"Cyndy Miles","TotalPages":58,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editorial\r\nEditor: Cyndy Miles\r\nDeputy Editor: Geof Wheelwright\r\nManaging Editor: Peter Worlock\r\nSub-Editors: Harriet Arnold, Leah Batham\r\nNews Editor: David Guest\r\nNews Writer: Ralph Bancroft\r\nHardware Editor: Ian Scales\r\nFeatures Editor: John Lettice\r\nSoftware Editor: Bryan Skinner\r\nPrograms Editor: Ken Garroch\r\nPeripherals Editor: Piers Letcher\r\nListings Editor: Wendie Pearson\r\nEditor's Assistant: Nickie Robinson\r\nArt Director: Jim Dansie\r\nArt Editor: David Robinson\r\nAssistant Art Editor: Floyd Sayers\r\nLayout Artist: Nigel Wingrove\r\nPublishing Manager: Mark Eisen\r\nPublishing Secretary: Jenny Dunne\r\n\r\nAdvertising\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Bettina Williams\r\nAssistant Advertisement Manager: Sarah Barron\r\nSales Executives: Christian McCarthy, John Bryan, Laura Cade, Paul Evans\r\nProduction: Nikki Payne\r\nAdvertisement Assistant: Karen Isaac\r\nSubscription Enquiries: Gill Stevens\r\nSubscription Address: [redacted]\r\nEditorial Address: [redacted]\r\nAdvertising Address: [redacted]\r\n\r\nPublished by VNU Business Publications, [redacted]\r\n© VNU 1983. No material maybe reproduced in whole or in part without written consent from the copyright holders.\r\nPhotoset by Quickset, [redacted]\r\nPrinted by Chase Web Offset, [redacted]\r\nDistributed by Seymour Press, [redacted]\r\nRegistered at the PO as a newspaper"},"MainText":"NAME: Earth Defence\r\nSYSTEM: 16/48K Spectrum\r\nPRICE: £4.95\r\nPUBLISHER: Artic Computing, [redacted]\r\nFORMAT: Cassette\r\nLANGUAGE: Machine code\r\nOTHER VERSIONS: None\r\nOUTLETS: Spectrum retailers\r\n\r\nMissile Command is an arcade classic and there are plenty of versions around for most home micros. Artic Computing, which has been on the Sinclair scene quite awhile, has at last got round to bringing out a version of its own.\r\n\r\nWave upon wave of multiple warheaded missiles rain down upon your three cities. Armed with a limited supply of ground to air missiles, it is your task to defend Earth by intercepting as many of the warheads as possible. The aliens also send in smart bombs; these are small yet deadly and try to roll around any detonations. They must be hit fair and square or else blasted out of the sky by saturating their path with explosions.\r\n\r\nYou control a small cross-haired sight. This moves about the screen very quickly in response to the joystick/keyboards control. When firing, a marker is left at the current cross-sight position, leaving the sight free to continue moving about the screen. At the same moment, a ground to air missile is launched from your base at bottom-centre of the screen - the missile tracks unerringly to the planted marker and explodes into a cloud on arrival. Any warhead tracking down the screen which encounters the cloud is instantly destroyed.\r\n\r\nSeveral of your missiles can be in flight at one time, so you can blanket-bomb a fairly wide area of the screen.\r\n\r\nAt the termination of every wave your score is totted up and displayed. Every city, base and missile remaining earns bonus points. For every 1,000 points reached, you gain a bonus city.\r\n\r\nWith each wave, the screen colours change, adding extra variety to the action.\r\n\r\nAn excellent version of a classic, and exceptional value for money.\r\n\r\nMicropaedia Editor: Geof Wheelwright\r\nDesign: Paul Clarkson\r\nContributors: Jim Ballard, Bob Chappell, Bill Davies, Mike Gerrard and Simon Williams\r\n\r\nNEXT WEEK\r\n\r\nWe begin a five-part series of detailed graphics techniques for the BBC Micro, the Acorn Electron, the Oric Atmos, the Oric-1, the Atari series of home computers, the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair Spectrum.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"26","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Geof Wheelwight","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Jim Ballard","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Bob Chappell","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Bill Davies","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Mike Gerrard","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Simon Williams","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Lasting Appeal","Score":"4/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"4/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Use Of Machine","Score":"4/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall Value","Score":"4/5","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]