[{"TitleName":"Milk Race","Publisher":"Mastertronic Ltd","Author":"David Whittaker, Phil Berry, Stuart J. Ruecroft","YearOfRelease":"1987","ZxDbId":"0003201","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 42, Jul 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-06-25","Editor":"Roger Kean","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Kean\r\nAssistant Editor: Barnaby Page\r\nStaff Writers: Lloyd Mangram, Richard Eddy, Ian Phillipson\r\nAdventure Editor: Derek Brewster\r\nStrategy Editor: Philippa Irving\r\nTech Tipster: Simon Goodwin\r\nContributing Writers: Jon Bates, Brendon Kavanagh, John Minson, Nik Wild\r\nProduction Controller: David Western\r\nArt Director: Gordon Druce\r\nIllustrator: Oliver Frey\r\nProduction: Tony Lorton, Mark Kendrick, Tim Croton, Seb Clare\r\nProcess and Planning: Matthew Uffindell, Jonathan Rignall, Nick Orchard\r\nPhotography: Cameron Pound, Michael Parkinson\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nAdvertisement Assistant: Nick Wild\r\nSubscriptions: Denise Roberts\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\n\r\nEditorial and Production: [redacted]\r\n\r\nMail Order and Subscriptions: [redacted]\r\n\r\nADVERTISING\r\nBookings [redacted]\r\n\r\nPrinted in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group.\r\n\r\nDistributed by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced whole or in part without written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return any written material sent to CRASH Magazine unless accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material which may be used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\n©1987 Newsfield Limited\r\n\r\nCover by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: Mastertronic\r\nRetail Price: £2.99\r\nAuthor: Icon Design\r\n\r\nSummer sees bikers take to the roads in Britain's prestigious Milk Race. 84 entrants, you included, pedal and pant through 13 stages, displayed on a map screen, over the thousand-mile route from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to London.\r\n\r\nAs the road scrolls along horizontally, you can move from side to side to avoid potholes, other riders and the marshal's cruelty errant car. The bike has 12 gears; the higher the gear the faster you go, but the greater your energy loss in comparison with lower gears, especially when climbing uphill.\r\n\r\nGradients are indicated onscreen, and ascending steeper hills uses more energy. Complete exhaustion drops you out of the tour, but reserves can be restored by picking up milk bottles standing beside the road - pints for points, so to speak.\r\n\r\nHazard collisions cause time loss, with some more serious than others, and you can be eliminated altogether on time-trial stages where a specified distance must be covered in a set time.\r\n\r\nPoints are awarded for the distance travelled along each stage, with a bonus received for its completion. The winner is the cyclist who takes the lowest total time to complete the course.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: Q/A up/down, O/P decrease/increase speed, M (plus Q and A) to select gears\r\nJoystick: Kempston, Interface 2\r\nUse of colour: black road, white sprites, simply-coloured background\r\nGraphics: large, and adequate for the job, though jerkily animated\r\nSound: simple intro screen tune, few spot FX\r\nSkill levels: one\r\nScreens: scrolling play area","ReviewerComments":["There aren't any other cycle race games on the Spectrum, so I loaded Milk Race with anticipation. Sadly, the reality was a disappointment. The inlay says keys can be redefined, but I looked high and low for an option, to no avail. It's very simple to play; it's not long before control of the cycle has been mastered and you can race against the minimal and often jerky graphics. Milk Race was enjoyable to play at first but it lacked challenge and variety, and becomes boring by its repetitiveness. The idea is good.\r\nRobin Candy","The graphics are awful, the riders look like hunchbacks as they wobble along the road, the buildings in the background are cardboard cutouts; only the map of Britain on the intro screen is reasonable. Sound isn't too bad - quite a nice little tune plays on the map screen, but there's not much else. It's annoyingly hard to keep out of the many potholes, and out of the way of other riders. Milk Race didn't interest me enough to keep me playing, and though it might appeal to the younger player my advice is to steer well clear.\r\r\nMark Rothwell","I enjoyed my first race, but the game quickly became tedious. The graphics aren't revolutionary, but they're satisfactory. It's the simplicity that's the main problem; I didn't even find it necessary to change gear down hills. If you try and get all the milk bottles you can, and make sure you stay out of the way of the other riders and the marshal's car, then you're in the clear. There's not enough content to justify even a price of £1.99.\r\r\nMike Dunn"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Insufficient game challenge, content and graphic variety make Milk Race an indifferent choice for the average games player.","Page":"20,21","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Robin Candy","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Mark Rothwell","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Mike Dunn","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"At 25mph, you home in on a bottle of milk to rebuild all that expended energy."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Presentation","Score":"51%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"42%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"45%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"35%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"41%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 20, Aug 1987","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1987-07-09","Editor":"Teresa Maughan","TotalPages":98,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Teresa Maughan\r\nArt Editor: Peter George\r\nProduction Editor: Sara Biggs\r\nTechnical Editor: Phil South\r\nSoftware Editor: Marcus Berkmann\r\nDesigner: Darrell King\r\nEditorial Assistant: Angela Eager\r\nContributors: Audrey Bishop, Owen Bishop, Richard Blaine, Chris Donald, Mike Gerrard, Ian Hoare, Gwyn Hughes, ZZKJ, Cliff Joseph, Tony Lee, John O'Molly, Rick Robson, Peter Shaw, Rachael Smith\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Mark Salmon\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Julian Harriott\r\nProduction Manager: Sonia Hunt\r\nManaging Editor: Kevin Cox\r\nPublisher: Roger Munford\r\nPublishing Director: Stephen England\r\n\r\nPublished by Dennis Publishing Ltd, [redacted] Company registered in England.\r\nTypesetters: Carlinpoint [redacted]\r\nReproduction: Graphic Ideas, London\r\nPrinters: Chase Web Offset [redacted]\r\nDistribution: Seymour Press [redacted]\r\n\r\nAll material in Your Sinclair ©1987 Felden Productions, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publishers. Your Sinclair is a monthly publication."},"MainText":"Mastertronic\n£2.99\nReviewer: Rick Robson\n\nA sort of poor man's Tour De France, (dig around in your memory circuits, everyone), Milk Race is a thrills and spills arcade simulation of the round Britain cycling race of the same name. You are one of eighty-four riders scrapping it out over a thousand thigh burning miles for the honour of the yellow jersey and victory.\n\nIt takes a lot of bottle to complete the thirteen stages, but luckily enough there are plenty of pintas to pick up along the way. These'll boost your energy supplies. But beware - swerving about these bendy roads is a dangerous occupation. Just touching one of your speeding compatriots will send you Adidas over titfer, while perilous potholes will slow you appreciably. You can control speed as well as direction but, more importantly, gauge your energy level to the road's gradient to accurately choose which gear you should be in.\n\nThe screens scroll smoothly enough, while the on-screen info of speed, energy, time elapse, score, gradient, gear and position mean you never need take your eyes from the road.\n\nSo if true love to you is a double butted 531 Reynolds framed Evans with wall greased campags, you are a) cu-raaaayy-zeee or b) you need a trick cyclist. Milk Race will keep you mega-chipper while you're locked away in the padded cell.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Fast moving cheapie that's taken the chart by storm. Not likely to provide long-term enjoyment, though.","Page":"59","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Rick Robson","Score":"6","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictiveness","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"6/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 47, Dec 1987","Price":"£1.25","ReleaseDate":"1987-11-26","Editor":"Barnaby Page","TotalPages":148,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Managing Editor: Barnaby Page\r\nStaff Writers: Dominic Handy, Lloyd Mangram, Ian Phillipson\r\nSubeditor: David Peters\r\nPhotographers: Cameron Pound, Michael Parkinson\r\nOffice: Frances Mable, Glenys Powell\r\nTechnical Writers: Simon N Goodwin, Jon Bates\r\nAdventure Writer: Derek Brewster\r\nPBM Writer: Brendon Kavanagh\r\nStrategy Writer: Philippa Irving\r\nEducation Writer: Rosetta McLeod\r\nContributors: Robin Candy, Mike Dunn, Paul Evans, Ben Stone, Paul Sumner, Bym Welthy\r\nEditorial Director: Roger Kean\r\nProduction Controller: David Western\r\nArt Director: Gordon Druce\r\nIllustrator: Oliver Frey\r\nDesign: Markie Kendrick, Wayne Allen\r\nProcess and Planning: Jonathan Rignall (Supervisor), Matthew Uffindell, Nick Orchard\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Andrew Smales\r\nSubscriptions: Denise Roberts\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\n\r\nEditorial and Production: [redacted]\r\nPlease address correspondence to the appropriate person!\r\n\r\nMail Order and Subscriptions: [redacted]\r\n\r\nADVERTISING\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nTypesetting by The Tortoise Shell Press, Ludlow\r\n\r\nPrinted in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group.\r\n\r\nDistributed by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced whole or in part without written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return any written material sent to CRASH - including written and photographic software and hardware - unless it is accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material which may be used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\n©1987 Newsfield Limited\r\n\r\nCover by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Milk Race\r\nMastertronic\r\n\r\n41% Issue 42\r\n\r\nMIKE: Take to the saddle of your trusty Peugeot in this 13-stage simulation of the thousand-mile race from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to London. It's a very simple game; collect bottles of milk to keep your energy up, synchronise your gear with the incline of the road, avoid the other riders and you're home and dry. The graphics are basic and jerky, and the addictivity very low.\r\n33%\r\n\r\nDOMINIC: A nice idea, but launched too late for big sales, and lacking many aspects of the 'real' Milk Race. There's a superb little tune, but it's an infuriating game.\r\n36%","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"102","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Mike Dunn","Score":"33","ScoreSuffix":"%"},{"Name":"Dominic Handy","Score":"36","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"MORE WHEELS THAN ISIAH!\r\n\r\nBMX Simulator\r\nEndurance\r\nEnduro Racer\r\nGlider Rider\r\nKnight Rider\r\nMiami Vice\r\nMilk Race\r\nNightmare Rally\r\nPaperboy\r\nPole Position\r\nScalextric\r\nSpeed King II\r\nStreet Hawk\r\nSuper Cycle\r\nTT Racer\r\nTurbo Esprit"}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall (Mike Dunn)","Score":"33%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall (Dominic Handy)","Score":"36%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 64, Jul 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-06-18","Editor":"David Kelly","TotalPages":100,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: David Kelly\r\nDeputy 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, Andy Moss, Gary Rook\r\nHardware Correspondent: Rupert Goodwins\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Louise Fanthorpe\r\nDeputy Advertisement Manager: Mike Corr\r\nProduction Assistant: Alison Morton\r\nAdvertisement Secretary: Linda Everest\r\nSubscriptions Manager: Carl Dunne\r\nPublisher: Terry Pratt\r\n\r\nTelephone [redacted]\r\n\r\nSinclair User is published monthly by EMAP Business & Computer Publications\r\n\r\nCover Illustration: Warner Bros\r\n\r\nTypeset by PRS Ltd, [redacted]\r\nPrinted by Nene River Press, [redacted]\r\nDistributed by EMAP Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1986 Sinclair User ISSN No 0262-5458\r\n\r\nABC 90,215 July-Dec 1985"},"MainText":"Label: Mastertronic\r\nAuthor: Icon\r\nPrice: £1.99\r\nJoystick: various\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nReviewer: Tamara Howard\r\n\r\nThere's nothing like a refreshing bike ride across the country to leave you feeling really knackered.\r\n\r\nSo Mastertronic has gone completely over the top and given you one that lasts for a thousand miles and takes you to places of interest such as Lincoln, Peterborough and London.\r\n\r\nIt's the Milk Race, that internationally famous and exceedingly popular sporting event that takes place across England every May. And you're in it, about halfway down the list of 84 entrants.\r\n\r\nIt's a left to right scrolly affair in thirteen stages, and you've got to win all of them to end up first at the finish and get to wear the cute little yellow vest.\r\n\r\nFor a budget game, this is pretty hot stuff. There are lots of twiddly bits to be considered, like speed, energy, gear and the slope of the road. It's certainly not just a question of riding around very fast and dodging the other riders.\r\n\r\nOne of the most important things to consider (as well as pedalling about like a bat out of hell) is your energy level. This being the Milk Race, your sources of energy are the milk churns lying by the roadside. Once your energy level starts to drop, you're in trouble, so keep those churns coming, folks. Whilst picking up the churns it's important to watch the curves in the road, since some of them come together, and if you catch your wheel, you're down and in trouble.\r\n\r\nAnd a word about coming off yer bike. It's necessary to be picked up by a friendly person who'll give you a bit of a push. And that person is a schizophrenic in an Escort Cabriolet.\r\n\r\nWhy is he a schizo you ask. Well, it's either that, or he's got serious clutch trouble with the Escort. As well as picking you up, he also knocks you over again, by bouncing all over the road in a frenzied attempt to mash you into the ground. But then he always comes back to send you on your way again.\r\n\r\nWhile the graphics aren't brilliant (what do you want for £1.99 blood? And no, there isn't any in this one), they are quite nice: pedalling, coasting along and falling over are all realistically handled.\r\n\r\nMy one big gripe is that all the riders are the same colour, which makes identification tricky. It's OK when you're plodding along in second at the back, but when you get into the pack, it's too easy to get knocked over because you can't tell which bike is you. And that means the Cabriolet gets to come back again.\r\n\r\nWith spot time trials to win, pot holes to dodge, gears to change, milk to drink and many Escort drivers to escape, Milk Race has an awful lot going for it. It'll really shake you up. (I don't know any other milk jokes, you'll be glad to know)","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"A nice spoof on the real race. Entertaining with a touch of suspense, when's that next milk churn coming along?","Page":"80","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Tamara Howard","Score":"8","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"8/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]