[{"TitleName":"Blockbusters","Publisher":"Macsen Software","Author":"Chris Jones, Tim Williams","YearOfRelease":"1984","ZxDbId":"0000577","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 13, Feb 1985","Price":"£0.85","ReleaseDate":"1985-01-24","Editor":"Roger Kean","TotalPages":132,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Kean\r\nConsultant Editor: Franco Frey\r\nArt Editor: Oliver Frey\r\nProduction Designer: David Western\r\nAdventure Editor: Derek Brewster\r\nStrategy Editor: Angus Ryall\r\nStaff Writer: Lloyd Mangram\r\nContributing Writers: Matthew Uffindel, Chris Passey, Robin Candy\r\nClient Liaison: John Edwards\r\nSubscription Manager: Denise Roberts\r\n\r\n©1985 Newsfield Limited.\r\nCrash Magazine is published monthly by Newsfield Ltd. [redacted]\r\n\r\nTelephone numbers\r\nSubscriptions [redacted]\r\nEditorial/studio [redacted]\r\nAdvertising [redacted]\r\nHot Line [redacted]\r\n\r\nPhotosetting by The Tortoise Shell Press, Ludlow; Colour origination by Scan Studios, [redacted]; Printed in England by Carlisle Web Offset Ltd (Member of the BPCC Group), [redacted].\r\nDistribution by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: 12 issues £10.50 (UK Mainland post free), Europe: 12 issues £17.50 post free. Outside Europe by arrangement in writing.\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. The opinions and views of correspondents are their own and not necessarily in accord with those of the publishers.\r\n\r\nCover by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: Macsen Software\r\nMemory Required: 48K\r\nRetail Price: £7.95\r\nLanguage: Machine code\r\n\r\nNot long ago we reviewed a game based on the well known Central TV quiz show, which was released by Compusound. Unfortunately this was not properly licensed and Compusound have been forced to withdraw it. The version under review here is the official one. It is not the same program as that released by Compusound.\r\n\r\nThe game is surely well enough known not to have to describe it in detail. Basically two players attempt to beat each other across a matrix of hexagons in a 4 by 4 shape. Each hexagon contains a letter of the alphabet. The players take turns to select a letter, at which point a question appears at the bottom of the screen, the initial letter of the answer being the selected hexagon letter. Either player may interrupt and answer it against the time limit. A successful answer results in the hexagon being coloured in the player's colour. The first to blaze a trail right across the playing space from top to bottom or from either side is the winner.\r\n\r\nA set of questions is automatically loaded with the game, but there are other question sets on tape which will be loaded if requested. Players may select from nine difficulty levels and on a series of games from 1 to 9.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: A and L for interrupt keys, general inputs\r\nKeyboard play: responsive, fast response time\r\nUse of colour: sensible rather than exciting\r\nGraphics: hardly applies\r\nSound: good tune, entry beeps and warning signal\r\nSkill levels: 9","ReviewerComments":["It's best to play this game with only two people in the room as the others can't resist joining in and they always know how to spell better than me and always help my opponent. The graphics are as good as you would expect on this type of game and you can't hear the sound for the other people yelling out answers. This is quite a good game that tests your spelling and vocabulary. It turns out to be quite addictive, although it rather depends on who you're playing with.\r\r\nUnknown","This has to be one of the most fun and addictive educational games on the market where the entire family can join in, but in only two separate groups. It does seem to have a massive vocabulary, and I've yet to see a repeat question. This does have a distinct advantage in giving the player a considerable variety of questions. Screen layout couldn't really be better, everything is precise, bold and clear. Overall, if you enjoy the TV series you'll love this game. Well worth the money.\r\r\nUnknown","Here we have an example of a game where the computer is a very suitable medium. The game is good, not because of the program (which seems like a very good one) but because the original game idea as seen on TV is enjoyable. The result is a compelling home computer game where the utilitarian graphics work well and the sufficiency of questions make for plenty of playability. Good family entertainment value, with the added advantage over the TV programme of not having that horrible little man in your sitting room.\r\nUnknown"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Excellent family entertainment and a good two-player quiz game, good value.","Page":"52","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"I don't think we're giving much away by saying the answer's ROCKET - the official version of BLOCKBUSTERS."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Use of Computer","Score":"80%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"N/A","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"88%","Text":""},{"Header":"Getting Started","Score":"78%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictiveness","Score":"83%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"80%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"82%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Spectrum Issue 12, Mar 1985","Price":"£0.95","ReleaseDate":"1985-02-21","Editor":"Roger Munford","TotalPages":74,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Munford\r\nArt Editor: Hazel Bennington\r\nDeputy Editor: Tina Boylan\r\nTechnical Editor: Peter Shaw\r\nProduction Editor: Louise Cook\r\nArt Assistant: Martin Dixon\r\nEditorial Consultant: Andrew Pennell\r\nSoftware Consultant: Gavin Monk\r\nContributors: John Torofex, Ian Beardsmore, Tony Samuels, Stephen Adams, Dave Nicholls, Ross Holman, Roger Willis, Stuart Jamieson, Clive Gifford, Simon Goodwin, Adrian Wagner, Chris Somerville, Chris Wood, Hunt Emerson\r\nAdvertising Manager: Joe Harrower\r\nAdvertising: Dave Baskerville\r\nGroup Advertising Manager: Jill Harris\r\nGroup Art Director: Perry Neville\r\nPublisher: Stephen England\r\n\r\nPublished by Sportscene Specialist Press Ltd, [redacted] Company registered in England. Telephone (all departments): [redacted]\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 Spectrum ©1985 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."},"MainText":"BUSTING MAKES MAC FEEL GOOD\r\n\r\nMacsen Software and Central Television have now finished final arrangements for the release of a computer game based around the TV' series Blockbusters.\r\n\r\nThe game itself consists of two players competing with each other to answer general questions selected from hundreds stored on cassette. Each correct answer extends the successful competitor's path across an on-screen matrix of four-by-four hexagons. The player who completes this path first wins that round... and the player who wins most rounds is the winner of the game. Get the picture?\r\n\r\nPlayers can set the number of rounds and the level of difficulty; the higher the difficulty level, the shorter the time allowed for answers by the onscreen clock. There's also a sound on/off feature.\r\n\r\nBlockbusters is also supported by the follow-up tape, Questionmaster - this allows the user to create a database of questions to be used within Blockbusters. Blockbusters is priced at £7.95 and Questionmaster is £5.95. If you're interested, give Macsen Software a ring on [redacted]. (Who ya gonna call? Ed.) (Blockbusters!! T.P.)","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"12","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Peter Shaw","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]