[{"TitleName":"Glug Glug","Publisher":"CRL Group PLC","Author":"Steve Evans, Phil Gascoine","YearOfRelease":"1984","ZxDbId":"0002062","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 4, May 1984","Price":"£0.75","ReleaseDate":"1984-04-19","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: C.R.L.\r\nMemory Required: 48K\r\nRetail Price: £5.95\r\nLanguage: Machine code\r\nAuthor: Stephen Evans\r\n\r\nUnder-water games seem popular themes lately. Perhaps computer games are echoing the scientific interests of the late 60s and early 70s where a disaffection with the space race resulted in a development of what was referred to as the 'Inner Space.' Rather than go whooping through the caverns of some far off planet in a laser-equipped ship, we're now diving under the oceans of the computer game to collect valuables from the sea bed.\r\n\r\nIn Glug-Glug you are fitted out with a hefty deep sea diver's suit which should be protection against all but the biggest giant squids - only it doesn't seem to be! The screen depicts the sky as a thin sliver of pale blue at the top, with your somewhat insubstantial looking boat floating above the black void. The diver is connected to the boat by his life-line and may be lowered to the sea bed. Left and right movement is effected by moving the boat above, with the diver haplessly following.\r\n\r\nOn the sea bed are several glittering golden objects per screen to be recovered by touching them and carrying them up to the boat, where, by some scientific sleight of hand, they disappear into the boat, so that your diver may return for the next object. He can only carry one at a time.\r\n\r\nThe sea is filled with wild life: small yellow fish which later gang up into shoals which would make Piranha look tame, squids, jelly fish, sharks and crabs. Fortunately the diver is equipped with a gun to shoot them, for if any touch him he's dead. The crabs are the worst in a way because they linger on the sea bed, below the effective line of fire. The more screens you progress through the more the fish proliferate, until it begins to resemble a zoo aquarium. Floating mines attached to anchored tethers also make an appearance and effectively prevent you from taking advantage of the wrap-around screen to escape the fishy attentions. Sharks also have the endearing habit of eating through your diver's lifeline, with unenviable results: Scoring depends on how many fish you shoot and how much treasure you recover.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: A/Z up/down, /SYM SHIFT left/right, SPACE-fire\r\nJoystick: Kempston and Protek, AGF (cursor keys may also be used, if preferred, by selecting joystick mode on returnable menu)\r\nKeyboard play: very responsive\r\nUse of colour: good\r\nGraphics: smooth and detailed, very good\r\nSound: average\r\nSkill levels: 32 progressively difficult\r\nLives: 5\r\nScreens: 32\r\nFeatures: sound on/off selection","ReviewerComments":["The Piranha shoals act as though they had a heat-seeking ability, and head straight for you. Graphic smooth and detailed with some animation, and there is a good use of colour throughout. The game has an odd sort of addictive quality - I like it. With each screen it gets progressively more difficult and with 32 levels to get through it should take some time to master. My only criticism, on the negative side, is that the score line is too crowded so it's difficult to see what's going on.\r\r\nUnknown","Glug-Glug is almost a marine equipment of Ultimate's Jet pac, and it does have graphics of a very high quality, especially the explosions, which are very similar to those in Jet pac. A good, reasonably original, game with plenty of levels to play through.\r\r\nUnknown","With a few yellow tiddlers behaving more like goldfish than \"denziens of the deep,\" but Glug-Glug works itself up quite fast into a difficult game. The graphics are entertaining and nicely detailed, which makes it enjoyable to play. The controls are well placed and very responsive. I would say that it should appeal on most counts and prove medium addictive.\r\nUnknown"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Well above average to good, not necessarily very challenging but quite addictive anyway.","Page":"123","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Jetpac under water in CRL's Glug-glug."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Use of Computer","Score":"70%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"85%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"84%","Text":""},{"Header":"Getting Started","Score":"74%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"74%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"78%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"78%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Spectrum Issue 6, Aug 1984","Price":"£0.85","ReleaseDate":"1984-07-19","Editor":"Roger Munford","TotalPages":82,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Munford\r\nManaging Editor: Bruce Sawford\r\nDeputy Editor: Tina Boylan\r\nTechnical Editor: Peter Shaw\r\nEditorial Consultant: Andrew Pennell\r\nSoftware Consultant: Gavin Monk\r\nContributors: Ron Smith, Toni Baker, The Gloucester Computing Club, Phil Cornes, Phil Manchester, Peter Freebrey, John Flenley, Simon Goodwin, Simon Lane, Surya, Ross Holman, Dave Nicholls\r\nArt Editor: Hazel Bennington\r\nArt Assistant: Steve Broadhurst\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Shane Campbell\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Nik Saha\r\nTypesetters: Carlinpoint\r\nProduction Manager: Sonia Hunt\r\nGroup Art Director: Perry Neville\r\nPublisher: Steven England\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 by John Storey."},"MainText":"GLUG GLUG\r\nCRL\r\n£5.95\r\n\r\nDown on the ocean floor are goodies like gold, jewels and silver, and it's your job to go down there and get them. Naturally, the sea is full of vicious fish so you have to shoot them first, then bring up the treasure.","ReviewerComments":["The graphics in this game are simple but very good. Although the idea isn't new, the game is still playable and worth buying.\r\nGeorge Price","The diver is really easy to control, which makes playing the game a little more enjoyable than it might otherwise have been. The graphics are smooth and realistic. HIT\r\nMike Skinner","One look at the loading screen and you could be forgiven for thinking that this is another Scuba Dive. But you'd be completely wrong. The idea behind this game is very original. It's easy to play, and addictive.\r\nMark Manning"],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"41","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"George Price","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":"HIT"},{"Name":"Mike Skinner","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":"HIT"},{"Name":"Mark Manning","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":"HIT"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Personal Computer Games Issue 7, Jun 1984","Price":"£0.75","ReleaseDate":"1984-05-17","Editor":"Chris Anderson","TotalPages":132,"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\nScreenshots: Chris Bell\r\nCover Illustration: Pat Weedon\r\nGroup Editor: Cyndy Miles\r\nArt Director: Jim Dansie\r\nGroup Publisher: John Cade\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: Mike Caroll\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\nCONTROL: Keys, Prot, Kemp\r\nFROM: CRL, £5.95\r\n\r\nThe final frontier is no longer space, but the mysterious world beneath the waves where strangely beautiful creatures glide up your mask and block your snorkel.\r\n\r\nA little diver hangs by an airline from a boat on the surface. Armed with a spear-gun (and limitless spears), his task is to collect three items of treasure from the sea-bed beneath him.\r\n\r\nThere are 32 screens in Glug Glug, and the player's objective is the same in each one. The game isn't as easy as all that, though. In each screen there are all manner of marine nasties on the lookout for you.\r\n\r\nFish swim to and fro, jellyfish drift towards you, piranhas appear in shoals and follow you relentlessly, and crabs patrol the bottom of the screen.\r\n\r\nAs the game progresses you also have to keep an eye out for sharks who will attack your airline, and mines which rise up from the sea-bed at the end of long chains and block your progress.\r\n\r\nAs soon as you play Glug Glug you notice the resemblance with Ultimate's Jet Pac. There isn't a lot of difference between finding three pieces of treasure and collecting three stages for your rocket. There are also similarities between the two games' graphics and sound.\r\n\r\nGlug Glug can be played by one or two players. It's made more enjoyable by a good choice of control keys, and it doesn't take long to get the hang of the game and start notching up some high scores.\r\n\r\nCRL have produced a very playable game. The only possible objection could be that it is almost too playable and doesn't present enough of a challenge, but it's good fun and the later screens should get even the most hardened gamesters into deep water.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"58,59","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Steve Cooke","Score":"7","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"5/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Originality","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Lasting Interest","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"7/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair Programs Issue 19, May 1984","Price":"£0.95","ReleaseDate":"1984-04-19","Editor":"Rebecca Ferguson","TotalPages":68,"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":"Kill the giant squids. Dodge the killer crabs. Avoid the hunting piranha fish. Grab the sunken treasure. If those activities appeal to you, Glug Glug from CRL is a computer game you will enjoy.\r\n\r\nThe player's role is that of a diver, leaping from a ship on the surface of the ocean, dodging or killing the aquatic wildlife, and returning to the surface with treasure found in the sand at the bottom. Once all the treasure on a screen has been returned to the boat a new, more difficult screen is produced, stocked with bigger, more dangerous creatures .\r\n\r\nA strange feature is the use made of the wrapround screen which allows you to walk off the right-hand side and reappear on the left. It poses several questions. Why can many creatures move on and off the screen easily while the piranha fish appear to be completely confused by the wrapround feature? If all the sea is visible at any time, from where do all the new fish appear? More to the point, could CRL not have dispensed with an effect which shows half a giant squid on the left-hand side of the screen while the other half is on the right-hand side?\r\n\r\nGlug Glug is produced for the 48K Spectrum by Computer Rentals Ltd. [redacted] and costs £5.95.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"8","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"June Mortimer","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]