[{"TitleName":"City","Publisher":"Docimodus","Author":"Docimodus","YearOfRelease":"1982","ZxDbId":"0000971","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: Terminal Software\r\nMemory Required: 48K\r\nRetail Price: £6.95\r\nLanguage: BASIC\r\n\r\nThis is a board game for between one and four players, with the computer always taking part. Each player is given a coloured diamond marker to move around the board, a company name is entered, and the computer takes the green marker. The screen is formed by a complex grid of streets, intersections and T-junctions. When it is a player's turn to move the computer allots a random number of spaces which may be taken, the cursor keys controlling direction, When the move is complete there is an option to build a variety of institutions such as pubs, banks, factories, houses, apartments and shops. Each construction costs a set amount and there are a limited number of each type of construction available in a game. If a player builds something, a symbol appears in the location chosen in the company colour.\r\n\r\nBetween each move a black square crosses the screen, descending one line each time. He is the rent collector, who takes the rent for each property and puts it into the bank for the player. Money in the bank earns interest, but there are also taxes to pay.\r\n\r\nEach player starts the game with £200,000 and the winner is the first to reach a million. As soon as the game starts, players must enter their names or the computer will take the turn and start building. When a player's turn is indicated, it must be taken immediately, or the turn passes to the next player. Bumping into another player's marker will send you to jail for a period depending on the number of previous offences. Four types of game of different lengths are available.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: cursors, plus prompt inputs\r\nKeyboard play: slow\r\nUse of colour: reasonable\r\nGraphics: small and uninteresting\r\nSound: poor\r\nSkill levels: 1","ReviewerComments":["The game takes ages to play and is very slow. Key responses are also very slow because of the BASIC. The graphics are small and not really detailed, and I found the game generally uninteresting. \r\r\nUnknown","This is a sort of computerised Monopoly game. It has four playing lengths, but even the short game is extremely long. After an hour of playing with a friend we were just beginning to make money, but that million was a long way off. It requires some practice, is above average but not very addictive, and left me indifferent as to a verdict. In some respects it is better than Monopoly, but l quite like Monopoly whereas l wasn't very bothered with this game.\r\r\nUnknown","Based on Monopoly, The City doesn't play like Monopoly, the board isn't divided into rigid or traditional properties. The graphics are not very interesting, and left to its own devices for a moment, the computer just carries on playing and winning. Not very exciting.\r\nUnknown"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Fair, not at all addictive.","Page":"37","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Get in smartish with the City of the computer will monopolise the board."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Use of Computer","Score":"48%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"49%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"35%","Text":""},{"Header":"Getting Started","Score":"49%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"36%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"48%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"44%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Big K Issue 3, Jun 1984","Price":"£0.85","ReleaseDate":"1984-05-20","Editor":"Tony Tyler","TotalPages":100,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Tony Tyler\r\nAssisted By: Richard Burton\r\nContributors: Paul Walton (Features); Paul Rambali (Arcades); Andy Green (Technical); Nicky Xikluna; Steve Keaton; David Rimmer; Richard Taylor; Bernard Turner; David Ellis; David Eastbury; Tony Benyon\r\nArt/Design: Central Art Studio\r\nGroup Art Editor: Doug Church\r\nGroup Advert Controller: Luis Bartlett\r\nPublishing Director: John Purdie\r\nEditorial Address: [redacted]\r\nTelephone: [redacted]\r\nAdvertising: Robin Johnson [redacted]\r\nFront Cover: Global Handshake by Ron Embleton\r\n\r\nPublished approximately on the 20th of each month by IPC Magazines Ltd. [redacted]. Monotone and colour origination by G.M. Litho Ltd [redacted]. Printed in England by Chase Web Offset, Cornwall. Sole Agents: Australia and New Zealand, Gordon& Gotch (A/sia) Ltd.; South Africa, Central News Agency Ltd. BIG K is sold subject to the following conditions, namely that it shall not, without the written consent of the Publishers first given, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade at more than the recommended selling price shown on the cover, and that it shall not be lent, resold or hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated constitute or any unauthorised cover by way of trade or affixed to as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever. IPC MAGAZINES 1984."},"MainText":"DAWSON? SELL!\r\n\r\nMAKER: Terminal Software\r\nMACHINE: Spectrum 48K\r\nFORMAT: cassette\r\nPRICE: £6.95\r\n\r\nInteresting attempt to style a board game for the Spectrum. In City you get to chomp on a stogie and play property developer with land hungry for urban decay.\r\n\r\nStarting with a bank balance of some £200,000 you must develop a city (what else?) and try and make a million. This isn't too easy as the computer quickly assumes the guise of a rival company and callously attempts to sabotage your constructions.\r\n\r\nIt's a deceptively complex game. You can erect a variety of buildings such as banks, shops and factories all of which effect the relative values of each other. This necessitates much strategic planning. F'rinstance the property value of your spanking new apartment block can be severely shaken should your cunning opponent build a smelly old pub directly opposite. Decidedly snobby don't you think?\r\n\r\nEach months rents are calculated, overdrafts totalled and profits assessed. There's provision for up to 4 players and a jail routine for the more shady developers. I've always found the desire for micro board games somewhat curious but this attempt works surprisingly well. The game is both original and demanding. I wonder if they'll do a board version...","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"24,25","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Steve Keaton","Score":"2","ScoreSuffix":"/3"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"2/3","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]