[{"TitleName":"Fernando Martin Basket Master","Publisher":"Dinamic Software","Author":"Florentino Pertejo, Julio A. Martin Erro, Manuel Cubedo, Paco Martin, Snatcho, Victor Ruiz Tejedor, Angel Luis Gonzalez","YearOfRelease":"1987","ZxDbId":"0001741","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 51, Apr 1988","Price":"£1.25","ReleaseDate":"1988-03-31","Editor":"Steve Jarratt","TotalPages":124,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Steven Jarratt\r\nSubeditor: Barnaby Page\r\nStaff Writers: Katharina Hamza, Mark Caswell, Nick Roberts, Lloyd Mangram\r\nEditorial Assistant: Frances Mable\r\nPhotography: Cameron Pound, Michael Parkinson (Assistant)\r\nTechnical Writers: Simon N Goodwin, Jon Bates\r\nStrategy Writer: Philippa Irving\r\nContributors: Matthew Stibbe, Paul Evans, Roger Kean, Paul Sumner, Paul Glancey, Julian Rignall\r\nEditorial Director: Roger Kean\r\nPublishing Controller: David Western\r\nArt Director: Markie Kendrick\r\nDesign & Layout: Wayne Allen, Yvonne Priest, Melvyn Fisher\r\nPre-Print Manager: Jonathan Rignall\r\nReprographics/Film Planning: Matthew Uffindell, Nick Orchard, Ian Chubb, Robert Millichamp\r\n\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nSales Executive: Andrew Smales\r\nAssistant: Jackie Morris [redacted]\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\nSubscriptions: Denise Roberts\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nTypesetting by The Tortoise Shell Press, Ludlow. Colour origination by Scan Studios [redacted]. Printed in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group. Distribution by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced whole or in part without the written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return anything sent into CRASH - including written and photographic material, software and hardware - unless it is accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material is welcome and if used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\nTotal: 96,590\r\nUK/EIRE: 90,822\r\n\r\n©CRASH Ltd, 1988\r\n\r\nCover Design & Illustration by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: Imagine\r\nRetail Price: £7.95\r\nAuthor: Dinamic\r\n\r\nCynics may call it just an American version of netball, but basketball is last, furious and athletic - and Spanish programming house Dinamic will have you jumping through hoops in Basket Master, CRASH's favourite basketball simulation so far.\r\n\r\nAt each end of a basketball court is a netted hoop, and players attempt to throw the basketball through the other side's hoop (a goal, in effect). Two points are awarded for each successful throw or 'basket', and an extra point if the throw is made from outside a marked arc.\r\n\r\nFive players make up a basketball side, but Basket Master has been simplified to have just one on each side, and there are three skill levels to choose from: beginner, amateur, and NBA (America's National Basketball Association is the sport's main organisation).\r\n\r\nPlaying against the Spectrum or another joystick-wielder, you can move in any direction and dribble with the ball to keep it away from the opposition. Players try to steal the ball by constantly pressuring whoever's carrying it and snatching it as soon as it's not protected by his body; Basket Master helps by indicating onscreen when it's the perfect moment for a steal.\r\n\r\nAnd players can always intercept the opposition's shots toward the basket.\r\n\r\nThrows at the basket can be made in various styles, ranging from the sky-hook to the spectacular slam-dunk, which can only be made from the zone directly beneath the basket and requires much more energy than other shots. A successful slamdunk is followed by a slow-motion action replay with enlarged graphics for you to glory in or wince at.\r\n\r\nAfter a basket has been scored, the ball passes to the other side, which must then bring it forward from its own basket.\r\n\r\nBasketball is meant to have no physical contact, but sometimes when the pressure is on things can get out of hand. Barging into an opponent can result in a personal foul; each player is allowed only five fouls, and loses the game if he commits a sixth.\r\n\r\nThe time remaining in each half is shown beneath the main screen, and when the half ends there's a breakdown of baskets scored, shots taken, free shots made, and fouls committed.\r\n\r\nPrevious basketball games include Imagine's own World Series Basketball (Issue 23/81%), Gamester's Championship Basketball (Issue 44/37%) and Ariolasoft's One On One (Issue 21/ 39%) Incidentally, cynics still reading should note that basketball was invented in 1891 - a year before netball, which was also originally American!\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nJoysticks: Cursor. Kempston, Sinclair\r\nGraphics: well-defined cartoon characters and a superb magnified action replay bring the game to life\r\nSound: simple title tune; few spot effects\r\nOptions: definable keys; one or two players","ReviewerComments":["I never was any good at basketball, and it shows when I play this - whatever skill level I'm on the computer always wins! But there are lots of little things to make Basket Master addictive: the slam-dunk action replay, for instance, and (if you can master the controls) some fantastic trick shot combinations.\r\n\r\nThe crowd doesn't give much atmosphere except by bobbing up and down now and then as if it were on springs, but otherwise Dinamic has done an excellent job on the graphics and animation. Basket Master should be good for anyone into sport simulations, but watch out - that computer is a dirty fouler!\r\nNick Roberts","Basket Master is an impressive game. The graphics are extremely well-defined; the movement of the sprites is realistic and shown in plenty of detail, particularly under the magnification of the action replay; even the cheering audience performs its own little actions.\r\n\r\nStrategy is as important as quick reaction (just rushing in and tackling your opponent only results in fouls), so the initial appeal should last - the only drawback is that on all the levels, even the beginner's, the computer is hard to beat. Still, presumably even the Harlem Globetrotters had to work hard at first.\r\n\r\nIf you're looking for an unusual sports simulation and you're not put off by stiff computer opposition, go for a slam-dunk with Basket Master.\r\nKati Hamza","Go for the two-player option in Basket Master-the computer opponent is almost impossible to beat. When you have control of the ball he piles in, nicks it, and often scores a basket before you can even move! Basket Master is graphically nice but suffers because it's far too hard to play properly.\r\nMark Caswell"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Attractive, enjoyable and action-packed - but the computer opponent is much too hard for beginners.","Page":"109","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Nick Roberts","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Kati Hamza","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Mark Caswell","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"A basket full of fun."},{"Text":"The all-important statistics."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Presentation","Score":"77%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"79%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"72%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"69%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"73%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 71, Feb 1988","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1988-01-18","Editor":"David Kelly","TotalPages":108,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Graham Taylor\r\nStaff Writer: Jim Douglas\r\nStaff Writer: Tamara Howard\r\nArt Editor: Gareth Jones\r\nAdventure Help: Gordo Greatbelly\r\nZapchat: Jon Riglar\r\nHelpline: Andrew Hewson\r\nContributors: Richard Price, Tony Bridge, Chris Jenkins, Tony Dillon, Gary Rook\r\nHardware Correspondent: Rupert Goodwins\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Mike Corr\r\nSales Executive: Steve Prescott\r\nClassified Sales/Production: Alison Morton\r\nPublisher's Secretary: Debbie Pearson\r\nSubscriptions Manager: Carl Dunne\r\nPublisher: Terry Pratt\r\n\r\nTelephone [redacted]\r\n\r\nSubscription Enquiries [redacted]\r\n\r\nSinclair User is published monthly by EMAP Business & Computer Publications\r\n\r\nCover Illustration: Jim Davis\r\n\r\nSinclair User\r\nEMAP Business & Computer Publications\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nPrinted by Nene River Press, [redacted]\r\nDistributed by EMAP Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1988 Sinclair User ISSN No 0262-5458\r\n\r\nABC 84,699 July-Dec 1986"},"MainText":"Label: Imagine\r\nAuthor: Dinamic\r\nPrice: £7.95\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nJoystick: various\r\nReviewer: Tamara Howard\r\n\r\nI know I'm in a minority of one, but I normally hate sports simulations. If they're not realistic, they're a waste of time and even if they are realistic, why don't you get out and play the real thing instead?\r\n\r\nBasket Master may yet have converted me, though. Nothing to do with wickerwork (or being a loony) it's a product of Spanish maestros Dinamic, and so features a guest celebrity one Fernando Martin, who is apparently something big down Madrid way. Rather than try to create a full team game, the programmers have sensibly opted for a one-on-one format which makes it possible to concentrate much more on the animation and computer player intelligence.\r\n\r\nThe cartoon-style graphics show you and your opponent, human or computer, facing off across the court (field? pitch?) The crowd jiggles with excitement... the ball bounces centre court... the match is on!\r\n\r\nThe players jog convincingly towards the ball, and from then on it's a case of jostling for possession without performing any fouls. If you capture the ball by pressing the Fire button when the proximity indicator shows that you are within range, your next task is to prevent your opponent from tackling, to do this, you must turn your back to him while you run, by selecting a direction control then pressing the function button. He can't try to tackle you from behind without risking pushing you, and conceding two free shots at the basket.\r\n\r\nIf you get near enough to the basket to risk a shot, one press of the Fire button makes you leap in the air, and a second makes the shot. If you hit the rim, the ball will bounce back into play and you must watch its shadow, time your leap and fight for possession again. If you score a basket, the crowd goes wild, and you see a brilliant close-up slow-motion replay of your glorious victory.\r\n\r\nOne clever part is the way the computer chooses which kind of shot you make. For instance, if you are standing right under the basket, you'll make a slamdunk (ramming the ball straight down through the hoop). You can also perform back-twists, sky-hooks and straight shots, all of which look great in the action replays.\r\n\r\nSince I don't know any basketball jokes to end on, let's just say that Basket Master is refreshingly different and playable, and you should get down to the shops and slam one in your basket at once.\r\n\r\n(You're right - you don't know any basketball jokes - Ed)","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"One of the more enjoyable recent sports simulations, combining neat graphics with skillful gameplay.","Page":"36","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Tamara Howard","Score":"9","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"9/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) Issue 6, Mar 1988","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1988-02-04","Editor":"Peter Connor, Steve Cooke","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Advanced Computer Entertainment\r\nFuture Publishing [redacted]\r\nTelephone [redacted], Fax [redacted], Telecom Gold 84:TXT152, Prestel/Micronet [redacted]\r\n\r\nCo-editors: Peter Connor, Steve Cooke\r\nReviews Editor: Andy Wilton\r\nStaff Writer: Andy Smith\r\nArt Editor: Trevor Gilham\r\nArt Team: Angela Neal, Sally Meddings\r\nPublisher: Chris Anderson\r\nAdvertising Manager: Jon Beales\r\n\r\nCOVER PHOTOGRAPHY\r\nStuart Baynes Photography [redacted]\r\n\r\nSUBSCRIPTIONS & SPECIAL OFFERS\r\nCarrie-Anne Porter [redacted]\r\n\r\nCOLOUR ORIGINATION\r\nWessex Reproduction [redacted]\r\n\r\nDISTRIBUTION\r\nSM Distribution [redacted]\r\n\r\nPRINTING\r\nChase Web Offset [redacted]\r\n\r\nCopyright - FUTURE PUBLISHING LTD 1988 - No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without our permission."},"MainText":"Slam-dunking Imagine style.\r\n\r\nOne on one is the order of the day for this basketball simulation. Play against either a friend or the computer and dribble, intercept, shoot or slam-dunk your way into the lead. Instant replay facility allows you to watch those glorious baskets in slow-mo. However, incredibly tough gameplay makes this a frustrating game to master and a tedious one to play. Strictly one for basketball fans.\r\n\r\nReviewer: Andy Smith\r\n\r\nRELEASE BOX\r\nSpec, £7.95cs, Out Now\r\nC64/128, £8.95cs, £14.95dk, Imminent\r\nAmstrad, £8.95cs, £14.95dk, Imminent\r\n\r\nPredicted Interest Curve\r\n\r\n1 min: 65/100\r\n1 hour: 50/100\r\n1 day: 55/100\r\n1 week: 35/100\r\n1 month: 20/100\r\n1 year: 0/100","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"59","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Andy Smith","Score":"480","ScoreSuffix":"/1000"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Ace Rating","Score":"480/1000","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]