[{"TitleName":"The Legend of Apache Gold","Publisher":"Incentive Software Ltd","Author":"Peter Torrance","YearOfRelease":"1986","ZxDbId":"0006573","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 38, Mar 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-02-26","Editor":"Graeme Kidd","TotalPages":124,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Publishers: Roger Kean, Oliver Frey, Franco Frey\r\nPublishing Executive/Editor: Graeme Kidd\r\nSub Editor: Ciaran Brennan\r\nStaff Writers: Lloyd Mangram, Lee Paddon, Hannah Smith\r\nAdventure Editor: Derek Brewster\r\nStrategy Editor: Philippa Irving\r\nTech Tipster: Simon Goodwin\r\nContributing Writers: Jon Bates, Brendon Kavanagh, John Minson\r\nProduction Controller: David Western\r\nArt Director: Gordon Druce\r\nIllustrators: Oliver Frey\r\nProduction: Seb Clare, Tim Croton, Mark Kendrick, Tony Lorton, Nick Orchard, Michael Parkinson, Cameron Pound, Jonathan Rignall, Matthew Uffindell\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":"THE LEGEND OF APACHE GOLD\r\n\r\nProducer: Incentive\r\nRetail Price: £7.95\r\nAuthor: Peter Torrance\r\n\r\nA touch of the old Blazing Saddles and Little Big Man with this, the first MEDALLION release from INCENTIVE produced with their Graphic Adventure Creator. Peter Torrance is the chap who Quilled those cheapie classics Subsunk and Seabase Delta put out by FIREBIRD, so it will be interesting to see how he performs with this new adventure medium at full-price level.\r\n\r\nIt's 2am in the saloon bar of an old west town - known as Skintsvllle for good reason, as its inhabitants, including yourself, are short of readies. You are Luke Warm, by both name and nature, as you sip on your tenth and last shot of liquor. Through the smoky atmosphere you make out the rotund outlines of some old-timers sitting in the corner, and presently their voices drift over above the din of the bar. \"Yap Jake, the legend I their gold in the grave of their chief, goes that them pesky indians bury I hear that one of the Apache chiefs has just kicked the bean-can. Only trouble is there are some mighty strange powers at work in their territory... \" Our chap isn't too keen on the spooky stuff, but is quite excited at the prospect of seeing the glint of gold in his eyes and sets off to find the injun's grave...\r\n\r\nGroan. Yes - an irritant is spotted as soon as you start playing. Your input begins straight after the end of the location description (and on the same line). This is not altogether untidy, but what makes it worse is the splitting of words between lines. Groan Number Two is the way the program leaves one or two lines of the previous location description on the top of anew location description when the graphics are on (although this seems to be a GAC trait). All-in-all, there's a slightly scruffy look to this game. The pictures would be considered quite good for a budget release, but when you get to the dizzy heights of £7.95 they don't look so good.\r\n\r\nLoading leads you straight into the first frame, where you find yourself in the back of a wagon on a wild open plain. This first part is remarkably straightforward, with a brief and cursory examination of what you see quickly leading onto tangible progress. These early problems are just a little too easily solved for anyone other than a beginner. For example, after your inevitable capture by the indians, simply wearing a blanket gives the guard the creeps as he flees what he regards as a great white spirit. \"I'm 'um off!\" he screams.\r\n\r\nReading the sign on the totem pole reveals that the indians are out to lunch (or more correctly, out hunting it). This gives you time to explore their cosy little settlement, but you'll encounter your first real difficulty in finding out exactly what the somethin' glitterin' atop the totem pole is. All attempts to dislodge said item with the tomahawk or spirit stick from the medicine man's wigwam come to nothing, as did the obvious attempt to chop the pole down. This isn't the only problem to be resolved in this area: getting the canoe under way in the fast flowing river also requires some thought.\r\n\r\nOnce you get the wagon going again (it had lost a wheel) there is a large area to the east to explore. Picking up all the items on your journey (and you are allowed to carry a considerable numbs you are then left in the familiar adventure dilemma - which objects are associated with which problems? Objects I can remember include a spirit stick, tomahawk, a bottle of dirty water, a doctor's medicine cure, a hanging rope, a sack, some dirt, and a squaw's handbag. Problems abound in the east, with a skull on a stick guarding the entrance to a mine, a huge eagle on its nest on top of a rock face, and the painful problem of negotiating the hot desert sand without burning your feet.\r\n\r\nThe adventure has some fine touches, like when you throw the dirt on the fire which gives off puffs of smoke. Examining the smoke reveals your total lack of understanding of smoke language - \"Wish I knew Smoke Code\" is the amusing riposte.\r\n\r\nThe Legend of Apache Gold is an entertaining adventure which is far from difficult. Both experienced players and novices would find much to do and explore in this land of the indians.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nDifficulty: not difficult, easy start\r\nGraphics: reasonable\r\nPresentation: blinding bright white background\r\nInput facility: basically verb/noun\r\nResponse: reasonable, not as fast as Quilled games","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Good.","Page":"90,91","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Derek Brewster","Score":"88","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Atmosphere","Score":"88%","Text":""},{"Header":"Vocabulary","Score":"87%","Text":""},{"Header":"Logic","Score":"90%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Quality","Score":"89%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"88%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 15, Mar 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-02-12","Editor":"Teresa Maughan","TotalPages":98,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Teresa Maughan\r\nArt Editor: Caroline Clayton\r\nProduction Editor: Sara Biggs\r\nAssistant Editor: Phil South\r\nStaff Writer: Markus Berkmann\r\nDesigner: Darrell King\r\nContributors: Luke C, Mike Gerrard, Ian Hoare, Gwyn Hughes, ZZKJ, Tommy Nash, Max Phillips, Rick Robson, 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 Sportscene Specialist Press 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":"FAX BOX\nTitle: The Legend of Apache Gold\nPublisher: Incentive\nPrice: £7.95\nReviewer: Mike Gerrard\n\nThe first of Incentive's releases on its Medallion label, Apache Gold was written using GAC by Peter Torrance, of Seabase Delta and Subsunk fame. Also bad pun fame, for instead of playing Ed Lines, you're now playing Luke Warme, the dimeless cowboy who hears the legend that Apache gold is to be found in an Indian burial ground. Any resemblance to the real west is purely accidental, as Luke is given the benefit of eternal life - yep, folks, an adventure game in which you can't die! Why did no-one think of it before?\n\nYou start this enchanted existence in the back of your wagon in a wide open plain. Ah, just fill your lungs with the rich smell of the tall wild grass... and the horse droppings. In your wagon you can see a bag of oats and some reins, though you're strangely not allowed to get the bag. You can feed the horse and flick the reins, soon finding yourself attacked by Apaches and bunged in a wigwam, with only one exit and an Indian guard who's easily scared off. Then you explore the Indian camp, finding such indigenous (good word, eh?) objects as a tomahawk, a pipe of peace and a squaw's handbag. A handbag? Well, you do get a chance to show it off later.\n\nThe first few problems are fairly easy, but as you might expect from this author's previous titles, there's a lot of humour about as well. I found a fairly friendly eagle at the top of a rock formation, and for no logical reason tried giving it a jar of Doctor Dodgy's Miracle Cure, that I'd already discovered was rather a thick viscous liquid. Now I'm left with an extremely annoyed eagle with sticky wings. Examine a fern and you discover it's a peculiar Indian variety: a tomtomato plant.\n\nThe game's fun if not stunning, though it's slightly spoiled by lazy screen layout which leaves odd letters and even full stops on their own at the start of a line. At budget price it would be a must, at full price its more of a maybe.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"59","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Mike Gerrard","Score":"6","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Text","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"6/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Personal Rating","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"6/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 60, Mar 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-02-18","Editor":"David Kelly","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: David Kelly\r\nDeputy Editor: John Gilbert\r\nSenior Staff Writer: Graham Taylor\r\nStaff Writer: Jim Douglas\r\nDesigner: Gareth Jones\r\nAdventure Help: Gordo Greatbelly\r\nZapchat: Jon Riglar\r\nHelpline: Andrew Hewson\r\nContributors: Chris Jenkins, Clare Edgeley\r\nHardware Correspondent: Rupert Goodwins\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: Lee Sullivan\r\n\r\nIf you would like to contribute to Sinclair User please send programs or articles to:\r\nSinclair User\r\nEMAP Business & Computer Publications\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nOriginal programs should be on cassette and articles should be typed. Please write Program Printout on the envelopes of all cassettes submitted. We cannot undertake to return cassettes unless an SAE is enclosed. We pay £20 for each program printed and £50 for star programs.\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 1987 Sinclair User ISSN No 0262-5458\r\n\r\nABC 90,215 July-Dec 1985"},"MainText":"Label: Incentive\r\nAuthor: Peter Torrance\r\nPrice: £7.95\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nReviewer: Gary Rook\r\n\r\nLegend of Apache Gold is one of two adventures written using the Graphic Adventure Creator by incentive Software.\r\n\r\nFor anyone who hasn't read the review of Winter Wonderland (elsewhere this issue). Incentive's GAC is their version of Gilsoft's Quill.\r\n\r\nApache Gold is at least reasonably original. I can only think of one other adventure off hand that is set in the Wild West. But at the same time, it's a little too regimented. Things are very neat. In an adventure like this, you get the idea that someone has sat down and worked out the best solution. There's nothing really spontaneous or particularly inventive about it.\r\n\r\nThe story is as follows: you, Luke Warme, are a cowboy down on your luck. Hearing of a legend that says that the Apaches bury gold with their dead chiefs, and knowing that one has just died, you decide to do a quick bit of grave robbing. Not, I would have thought, particularly heroic, but then Luke seems hardly John Wayne material.\r\n\r\nSo here you are in your dusty wagon. The first problem is to get the horse moving: the second is to escape the Apaches who turn up. Actually, I'm not sure that you are supposed to escape them, as you get transported to their encampment remarkably quickly. Plus, it's very easy to escape the one guard they've left behind. This Indian at least seems more like one from the Beano than any real threat.\r\n\r\nYou then find, much to your surprise that the Indians have gone out hunting lunch. You know this because they have left you a note telling you. This means that you are at liberty to explore the encampment and the surrounding countryside - a place of magic, mystery and some very strange furniture.\r\n\r\nThe game plays well enough, and the graphics are OK, but there's nothing really exciting here. The graphics are a bit repetitive too - rather too many wigwam interiors, I thought.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"A bit dull and disappointing. Not one to lift your scalp. A lot more could have been done with the plot.","Page":"99","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Gary Rook","Score":"3","ScoreSuffix":"/5"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"3/5","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"C&VG (Computer & Video Games) Issue 65, Mar 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-02-16","Editor":"Tim Metcalfe","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Tim Metcalfe\r\nDeputy Editor: Paul Boughton\r\nEditorial Assistant: Lesly Walker\r\nSub-Editor: Seamus St. John\r\nDesign: Craig Kennedy\r\nAdventure Writers: Keith Campbell, Steve Donoghue, Matthew Woodley\r\nAmerican Correspondent: Marshall M. Rosenthal\r\nArcades: Clare Edgeley\r\nSoftware Consultant: Tony Takoushi\r\nPublicity: Marcus Rich\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Garry Williams\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Katherine Lee\r\nAd Production: Debbie Pearson\r\nPublisher: Rita Lewis\r\nCover: Craig Kennedy\r\n\r\n© Jerry Paris\r\n\r\nEditorial and Advertisement Offices: [redacted]\r\n\r\nJuly-December 98,258"},"MainText":"SUPPLIER: Incentive Software\r\nMACHINE: CBM 64/Spectrum 48K/Amstrad CPC\r\nPRICE: £7.95\r\n\r\nLegend has it that when an Indian chief dies, his gold is with him. Down at the Skintsville saloon, rumour says one such has just kicked the bean can. Not knowing where your next drink is coming from, you, Luke Warme (second cousin twice removed from Ed Lines) decide to go in search of the grave.\r\n\r\nAboard your wagon, with a deft flick of the reins, your faithful horse trots off clip, clop, down the trail. Unfortunately, some Apaches are waiting in ambush, and before long you find yourself in a wigwam, with an Indian guard between you and the open flap of the tent.\r\n\r\nEscaping from your captors (well, of course you do!) you find the settlement is deserted - all the Apaches have gone off to hunt for lunch. This is. convenient, for there're some mightily useful things lying around in the other tents. The snag is, your wagon's busted.\r\n\r\nEventually you hit the trail again, and start the exploration proper. Near a water hole lies the town of Jakesville, inhabited, it seems, entirely by Jakes.\r\n\r\nWhat secret property does the tree hold - and can you exhume Wyatt Burp? What use is the eagle out in the desert, and bow can you enter the mine?\r\n\r\nBack at the settlement everything is not yet settled, though, for there is something strange at the top of the totem pole, which could, perhaps, help with the mine... But how do you get it? How do you use the tom tom, and what will put paid to the croc whose beady eyes never stray from the handy canoe?\r\n\r\nThis is a graphic adventure, with a WORDS/PICTURES option, although there is not a picture to go with every location. The GAC problem of disappearing text behind the graphic has been largely overcome by having been deliberately written to fit the text area, although dropping a number of objects in the same place can cause problems even then.\r\n\r\nThe vocabulary is adequate, and response, with pictures, fairly fast. On the Amstrad version I played, you can also type ahead, which is useful when wanting to make a number of predetermined moves.\r\n\r\nWritten by Peter Torrance I enjoyed it more than Peter's previous efforts, Subsunk and Seabase Delta. While retaining humour, the THANKS BUT NO THANKS message (thankfully) been replaced with the rather more subdued THANK YOU KINDLY... BUT NO SIREE!\r\n\r\nThis is the first adventure released by Incentive Software written using Incentive's own Graphic Adventure Creator.\r\n\r\nIt is on the special Medallion label, reserved for \"the very best adventures...\" using the GAC. It is certainly the best GAC'd adventure I have yet seen, with a range of problems from basic to head-scratching. Recommended as a good lighthearted game - pity about the price!","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"71","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Keith Campbell","Score":"7","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Vocabulary","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Atmosphere","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Personal","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Value","Score":"7/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Computer Issue 2, Feb 1987","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1987-01-15","Editor":"Gary Evans","TotalPages":84,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Gary Evans\r\nDeputy Editor: Francis Jago\r\nStaff Writer: John Barnes\r\nSub Editor: Harold Mayes MBE\r\nProduction Editor: Jim McClure\r\nProduction Assistants: Nick Fry\r\nEditorial Secretary: Sheila Baker\r\nDesigner: Chris Winch\r\nDesign Assistant: Neil Tookey\r\nHead Of Advertising Sales: Dory Mackay\r\nAdvertisement Manager: David Lake\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Tim Seymour\r\nClassified: Paul Monaf\r\nPublisher: Paul Coster\r\nFinancial Director: Brendan McGrath\r\nManaging Director: Richard Hease\r\n\r\nYour Computer, [redacted]\r\nISS 0263 0885\r\n\r\n©1987 Focus Magazines Limited\r\nPrinted by The Riverside Press Ltd, England.\r\nTypeset by Time Graphics Ltd, [redacted]\r\n\r\nDistributed by Quadrant Publishing Services, [redacted].\r\n\r\nReasonable care is taken to avoid errors in this magazine but no liability is accepted for any errors which may occur. No material in this publication may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publishers. The publishers will not accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, listings, data tapes or discs.\r\n\r\nWe will assume permission to publish all unsolicited material unless otherwise stated. We cannot be held responsible for the safe return of any material submitted for publication. Please keep a copy of all your work and do not send us original artwork.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately we are unable to answer lengthy enquiries by telephone. Any written query requiring a personal answer MUST be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope; please allow up to 28 days for a reply.\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: UK £15 for 12 issues. Overseas (surface mail) £25 - airmail rates on request. Please make a cheque/postal orders payable to Focus Magazines (allow 5 weeks from receipt of order to delivery of first subscription copy). Send orders to Your Computer Subscriptions, [redacted].\r\n\r\nBack issues of the magazine from January onwards are available for £1.50 (UK), £3 (Overseas) from the Back Issues Department, [redacted].\r\n\r\nDistributed by Business Press International, [redacted]."},"MainText":"Spectrum 48K/CBM64\r\nIncentive Software\r\nText Adventure\r\n£7.95\r\n\r\nWe have seen a few adventures written on the GAC but this is the first of two new releases on the new Incentive adventure label Medallion, the other being Winter Wonderland which I was hoping to review but had loading problems with. Apache Gold , written by Pete Torrance, the man responsible for baffling us with Seabase Delta and Subsunk, sets you firmly among ancient tribal burial grounds, hot dry deserts and other equally disturbing locations as you endeavour to find if there is any truth in the legend of Apache Gold.\r\n\r\nIn your trusty old wagon, a quick flick of reins and off you trot into the wild west but it is not long before a band of unfriendly Apaches attack and take you prisoner. After solving an infantile problem you make your escape and travel to the nearest town, there to collect sundry items which will help you to progress further towards your goal.\r\n\r\nHaving played and enjoyed Torrance's earlier games I was a little disappointed with this. The problems are very basic and do not take any figuring out. The graphics, which were very good in the previous releases, are of the type we saw in very early adventures and do little to add anything to the game.\r\n\r\nIf Incentive intends to make a name in the adventure market, releasing games like this at top prices will do little to enhance its reputation. At £1.99 the game would have been passable but at £7.95 I feel many people will pass.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"22","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Roger Garrett","Score":"2","ScoreSuffix":"/5"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"2/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Atmosphere","Score":"2/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"2/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"1/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"2/5","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"ZX Computing Issue 35, Mar 1987","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1987-02-19","Editor":"Bryan Ralph","TotalPages":92,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Bryan Ralph\r\nAssistant Editor: Cliff Joseph\r\nConsultant Editor: Ray Elder\r\nAdvertising Manager: John McGarry\r\nDesign: Argus Design\r\nA.S.P. Advertising and Editorial [redacted]\r\n\r\nPrinted by Chase Web, [redacted]\r\n\r\nAdvertisement Copy Controller: Andy Selwood\r\n\r\nDistributed by: Argus Press Sales and Distribution Ltd, [redacted]\r\n\r\nZX Computing Monthly is published on the fourth Friday of each month. Subscription rates can be obtained from ZX Subscriptions, [redacted]\r\n\r\nThe contents of this publication, including all articles, designs plans, drawings and other intellectual property rights herein belong to Argus Specialist Publications Limited. All rights conferred by the law of Copyright and other intellectual property rights and by virtue of international copyright conventions are specifically reserved to Argus Specialist Publications Limited and any reproduction requires the prior written consent of the company.\r\n\r\nArgus Specialist Publications Limited. ©1987"},"MainText":"Medallion Graphic Adventures (Incentive)\r\n£7.95 each\r\n\r\nThese two adventures are reviewed together because their faults are similar; and they're the first I've seen written with Incentive's Graphic Adventure Creator, so are they better than your average Quilled piece?\r\n\r\nApache Gold sees you as cowboy Luke Warm (groan), in search of the treasure buried with an Indian Chief. The writer is Peter Torrance, described as a \"fantasy author\" on the packaging; in fact a credit arising from his previous successes, Firebird cheapies Subsunk and Seabase Delta. Winter Wonderland casts you as an anthropologist - original at least - who must investigate a Tibetan civilisation, which has never been in contact with the rest of mankind, yet developed at the same rate.\r\n\r\nImmediately you notice the graphics - appropriately so considering the utility's name - which are faster, bolder and much bigger than in Quilled games, and remain on screen rather than scroll up. The pics are jolly enough in Apache Gold, but poor and repetitive in Winter Wonderland. In neither game are they consistently up to the design standard of The Hobbit from four years ago! The text window is too small, with no border separating it from the graphics. Because everything scrolls out of sight so soon, you have to keep LOOKing, but this causes the picture to draw again on top of itself, with a resulting, unnecessary delay. Text display is black on white (or on blue, deeper into Winter Wonderland), with no redesigned character set. Combined with slightly sluggish printing times, this means that the games don't appear anything like as slick as, for example, The (Quilled) Colour Of Magic.\r\n\r\nAn advantage of GACed games over Quilled ones is the editing facilities: you can enter commands in upper and lower case punctuate, and use cursor keys. Also, these games sometimes require sentences with more than two key words. However, despite their technical superiority, the actual adventures are fairly primitive by today's standards. Description in both is below par, dull in Winter Wonderland and simple almost childish, in Apache Gold. Torrance STILL has an ANNOYING habit of breaking into CAPITALS for no APPARENT reason, and PUNCTUATION problems. Neither game is particularly atmospheric or innovative - just fairly traditional puzzle solving, marred in Winter Wonderland by \"instant death locations\", a dumb idea which should have died out aeons ago. Torrance gives clues which are laughable for their lack of subtlety. Both games have limited vocabularies and a disappointing lack of responses. And the instructions are too skimpy - nothing on tape storage, or (in Winter Wonderland) on how to communicate with other characters.\r\n\r\nIn short, what we have here are two unremarkable adventures, which could have been written a year or two ago. They would make ideal, indeed particularly entertaining, budget games. However, eight pounds is a ridiculous price for such mediocrity, so steer clear. What I find surprising is that these were the best of the many games Incentive were sent (Medallion is Incentive's own label for such games). Evidently there are no hordes of potential McNeills and Austins out there - unless you can prove otherwise...","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"78,79","Denied":false,"Award":"Glob Minor","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Peter Sweasy","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":"Grim"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Apache Gold."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"Grim","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]