@database CD남VIEW.guide @$ver CD남View1.04 @node main "CD남VIEW, Vol. 1, No. 4 - June 1, 1994" C D 3 2 V I E W ---------------------------- The MONTHLY information source for the Amiga CD남 ---------------------------- Vol. 1, Issue 4 - June 1, 1994 Table of Contents: @{" The Front Page "link front} @{" New CD남 Reviews "link reviews} @{" Amiga News/Stuff "link anews} @{" The Back Page "link back} ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This issue: Commodore is gone...Now what? CD남View ends, but a new newsletter emerges! Gunship 2000, Diggers, Alfred Chicken and Defender of the Crown II reviewed! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CD남View (c) 1994 Sean Caszatt All Rights Reserved Although freely distributable, no part of this electronic publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright holder. @ENDNODE @NODE FRONT "Welcome!" The Front Page @{" Editorial Column " link edit} - The end of the beginning. @{" The Serial Port " link mail} - Mail from the Readers! @{" The Bulletin Board " link corr} - Corrections/Comments @{" How to Reach Us " link addr} - How to contact CD남View @ENDNODE @NODE edit "Editorial Page" Well, this is the last issue of CD남View. Before you throw your hands up and say, "Gee, another fly-by-night newsletter!", let me say that we're changing, not disappearing. Next month, the July issue, the focus of the magazine will turn towards the Amiga. We won't be ignoring the CD남, but we will start to include reviews of Amiga games both AGA and non-AGA. We will remain a gaming oriented magazine. Amiga Report has a firm grasp on the general, all-around Amiga news/commentary area, and I don't wish to compete head-on with it. (Plus, I just cannot crank these issues out every week!) However, there will be general Amiga news regarding products and software, not just gaming news. Why the change? Well, for one thing, the CD남's future is not too clear. It's hard to come up with material on a machine that is not currently being produced and may not be produced anymore. (You may have noticed the size of this issue is considerably smaller than previous issues.) Also, I feel that CD남View had a narrow scope and it was hard to find an audience. How many CD남 owners even had access to the newsletter? An Amiga newsletter will be read on an Amiga by Amiga users. The perfect captive audience! Other changes? The GIF files are gone for good. If I include pictures in future issues, they will be IFF format only. This will keep the size to a more accessable level for those with slower modems as well as keeping with the new Amiga direction of the newsletter. If PC owners really want to view the pictures, there _ARE_ IFF viewers out there for the PC. The name will be changing as well. To make things interesting, I'm asking you, the readers, to name it. CD남View was my idea and it never seemed to catch on. It was mangled into CD남Review, CDReview, CDVIEW, and some other interesting variations. Can YOU come up with a cool, memorable name? If so, send it to me at one of my several E-Mail addresses. I'll pick the best one..and give you complete credit. With Commodore gone, the Amiga needs all the support it can get. I remain strongly committed to the Amiga and plan to keep this newsletter going as long as I can. I work very hard at producing this newsletter and I try to keep the quality as high as I can. If you would like to submit something to the magazine, please E-Mail it to me. Don't worry about the form or the structure. If it's just an article or something you thought up, send it to me. You'll get all the credit, and I'll find a space for it. Sean Caszatt, editor & founder of CD남View Click here for @{"electronic addresses." link ADDR} @ENDNODE @NODE MAIL "The Serial Port - Mail from our readers!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FROM: Marc Buhmann Hia man! Must say that the magazine you are putting out each month is superb! It gives out lots of information and is very enjoyable to read at the same time. But I have a few questions that I think you may be able to answer for me. Since the fall of Commodore, what will happen about the free games you were supposed to get with the CD남? When I bought it, it didn't come with any games... only the manuals. Luckily when I bought it I had just gotten back from a trip from England where I had purchased two games. I also bought CD! and Amiga CD남 User (two CD남 magazines... but I'm sure you knew this =-) right away when I got the CD남 so I had a few things to play around with. But back to the point, do you know if Commodore is going to send CD남 users the games via mail or how are they (or were) planning this? Lastly... do you know of anyplace I could get a cheat sheet for Labyrinth of Time? I'm stuck in this fantastic game. Thanks for any response. bye and keep up the good work!!! Stay UNREAL ~~~~~~ /V\arc Buhmann Internet: WL-UNREAL-WOW@SOCIETY.COM [CD남View Replies: Thanks for the kind words. We don't hear enough of those! Does anyone out there have a cheat sheet for LABYRINTH OF TIME for Marc? If so, send it to us! We'd love to publish it!] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ @ENDNODE @NODE ADDR "How to Contact CD남View" CD남VIEW can be contacted via the following means: FIDONet Netmail: 1:2601/512 (Sean Caszatt) BBS Number: (412) 962-1590 Internet: Sean.Caszatt@f512.n2601.z1.fidonet.org CASZATT@DELPHI.COM (preferred address) Compuserve: 72143,521 Or good old Snail Mail: 2978 Ford Avenue Sharpsville, PA 16150 @ENDNODE @NODE CORR "The Bulletin Board" The Bulletin Board ------------------ @{" Thank You! " link thanks} - Our way of saying thanks! @{" Whoops!!! " link errors} - The board of corrections. @{" Credits " link credits} - Informational stuff @ENDNODE @NODE THANKS "Thanks and Kudos!" This month, I'd like to thank Jurgen Arnold for his European report. Thanks, Jurgen! @ENDNODE @NODE ERRORS "Whoops! We goofed." Well... ------- Last month, I apologized for the umpteenth time about not having the MPEG module to review. Now, with Commodore permanently out of the picture, it doesn't look like we'll be reviewing it at all. (Unless someone else puts it out.) We managed to get DEFENDER OF THE CROWN II this month. Hopefully, next month, we'll get ahold of GROLIER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA and finally get that out of the way. @ENDNODE @NODE CREDITS "CD남View Credits" This newsletter is created on Amiga computers. It is worked on in various stages using an Amiga 2500 or an Amiga 3000T. It all depends on where I am sitting at the time I'm typing...and I'm always carrying a disk in my jacket with the most current version. Software used: MEmacs, the editor supplied with every Amiga. It's SIMPLY the best. I've tried others, but only MEmacs works for me. Hey, at least I don't use ED! Guide2Doc, by Bernd Koesling, is used to produce the ASCII/ANSI version of the newsletter. Thanks Koessi! BadLinks, by Roger Nedel, is used to test the links in the Amigaguide version of the newsletter. Thanks, Roger! @ENDNODE @NODE REVIEWS "CD남 REVIEWS" CD남 REVIEWS @{" Gunship 2000 " link GAME1} - Death from above! @{" Defender of the Crown II " link GAME2} - Jim Sachs is back! @{" Alfred Chicken " link GAME3} - This is 32-bit gaming? @{" Diggers " link GAME4} - Lemmings or not? @{" Previously Reviewed... " link PREV} - Previous Reviews @{" Rating Explanation " link RATINGS} - How we rate the games. @ENDNODE @NODE GAME1 "Gunship 2000 Review" I don't want to sound like a broken record, but these straight ports from the Amiga versions of games to the CD남 really have got to stop. Here, with GUNSHIP 2000, we have an excellent Amiga game ported to the CD남 with some nice packaging and a fancy 3D rendered intro. This has been pretty much the extent of software development for the CD남. Yes, GUNSHIP 2000 is a good, solid playable game. The CD남 is up to its ears in platform games and a flight simulator with a lot of shooting and destruction is more than overdue. Is this all that the CD남쟧s capable of? No. Until TFX arrives, this looks like all we're gonna get though. For those unfamiliar with the game, GUNSHIP 2000 allows you to strap into one of several helicopters to carry out missions against an unnamed enemy. You can choose missions in the Persian Gulf or in Europe. As you move up in ranks by completing missions, you are able to fly stronger and more agile helicopters. GUNSHIP 2000 was fairly speedy on an unaccelerated Amiga 500. On the CD남, it moves a long at a good, comfortable pace. It never seems too slow. The graphics, the intro animation not included, are nothing fantastic and don't seem to use the AGA chipset at all. They serve their purpose and everything's laid out well on the cockpit screen. I was really expecting more from the CD남 version of the game, but I guess that's going to have to stop. The companies making CD남 games just don't seem to want to put anything else into the games after they make the intro animations. It's a real let down to see these brilliant animations and then be offered the same game I played on my Amiga 500 last summer. I want more than that. I can't count anything against the actual game. It's good. The controls are slightly confusing, but never awkward. The graphics aren't pretty but they're acceptable. GUNSHIP 2000 is a game that fills a niche in the CD남 line-up, but will be overshadowed if something more glamorous and fun arrives. @{"Ratings:" link RATINGS} Graphics: 75% Manufacturer: Sound: 85% Microprose Ltd. Gameplay: 85% The Ridge, Chipping Sodbury Control: 85% Avon BS17 6AY UK OVERALL RATING: 82.5% Video Mode: NTSC @ENDNODE @NODE GAME2 "Defender of the Crown II Review" Jim Sachs. The name brings back memories of the Commodore 64. When the graphics on that machine seemed like the ultimate...until I saw the Amiga's graphic power. The man responsible for my appreciation of the graphics on both machines was Jim Sachs. His SAUCER ATTACK game for the 64 really had some impressive graphics, with a keen attention to detail. His artwork on the Amiga was stunning to someone used seeing the 16 color graphics of the Commodore 64 on a daily basis. In these times of digitized cinematic intro animations and full motion video, hand drawn graphics have grown to be less appreciated. That's a shame because some of them are really indicative of the time and work that's gone into them. The graphics of DEFENDER OF THE CROWN II may not be state of the art, but they've got quality written all over them. Unfortunately, they don't save the game. As a whole, DEFENDER OF THE CROWN II is a dressed-up version of some of the EMPIRE-type games that have been around almost as long as computer gaming. It's a good version of those games, but it breaks no new ground. The basic scenario requires you to capture as much land as possible in the British Isles. You can raid nearby castles or attack the forces of your enemies to do so. Other minor subplots are thrown in occasionally to keep things from becoming too monotonous. You can also enlist the help of Robin Hood if you're a little low in experience or manpower. After a few plays, DEFENDER OF THE CROWN II becomes quite dull. It's never boring to look at, but it just gets too repetitive. There are various ways to try and make it more interesting through different option screens but, inevitably, it still gets boring to play. This title is another of those caught in the pipeline when the CDTV was discontinued. Although unlike CD FOOTBALL, which was altered so as not to run on the CDTV now, this one does run on that machine. It's exactly the same on that machine, which goes to show you how little of the CD남's power it uses. A nostalgic game, but one with with little longevity. Might be fun for younger kids. Die-hard gamers may want to pass this one over. @{"Ratings:" link RATINGS} Graphics: 85% Manufacturer: Sound: 80% Commodore Electronics, Ltd. Gameplay: 45% 1200 Wilson Drive Control: 75% West Chester, PA 19380 USA OVERALL RATING: 71% Video Mode: NTSC @ENDNODE @NODE GAME3 "Alfred Chicken Review" Can someone please tell somebody who can do something about it that we don't need any more platform games on the CD남? Even if some of them are good, we don't need so many. Half of the first wave of games released for the machine were platform games. I think we've had our fill now...thank you. That said, ALFRED CHICKEN is not a bad game. It's not particularly noteworthy or charming, but it's a pleasant enough game. It's graphics would look stunning on a Nintendo Entertainment System, the 8-bit one. That should give you a clue as to what's going on here. Another mindless SUPER MARIO type game with the cuteness-intensity level turned to 11. The mechanics are the same as with any other platform game released after SUPER MARIO BROS. You jump around collecting things while avoiding enemies and finding "secret" levels and entering bonus rounds. Definitely not ground-breaking stuff here. The CD남's control pad is serviceable with A.C. It provides adequate control with the occasional non-responding tendency that is unfortunately becoming familiar to CD남 owners. You won't find yourself wanting to throw it through the wall with ALFRED CHICKEN though. If you don't own OSCAR, ARABIAN NIGHTS, TROLLS, ZOOL, SUPER METHANE BROTHERS, FURY OF THE FURRIES or any of the other CD남 platform games, then you might want to take a look at this. Otherwise, let it sit on the shelf. You wouldn't be getting anything you don't already have. @{"Ratings:" link ratings} Graphics: 50% Manufacturer: Sound: 70% Mindscape International, Ltd. Gameplay: 70% Priority House, Charles Avenue Control: 70% Maltings Park, Burgess Hill West Sussex RH15 9PQ UK OVERALL RATING: 65% Video Mode: PAL @ENDNODE @NODE GAME4 "Diggers Review" DIGGERS is a game I just didn't quite get. It's a LEMMINGS clone, minus the easy control method, the personality, and that "sit down and play without a manual" charm. The object is to dig into the ground and mine various objects while avoiding other miners (seen as competitors) and various underground dwellers. I was never able to quite understand what was going on. The control method used to move the diggers around was clumsy and felt very awkward. The diggers would sometimes do what I wanted and other times acted as if they had minds of their own. Others would accept one command and then act as if they were deaf, never listening to another thing I asked them to do. After several attempts to get things to work, I decided that I really didn't care and didn't want to play the game. To me that's not the sign of a game worth playing. Reading the instructions was little help. The packaging is nice and well put together, but didn't provide me with many clues on how to play the game to get any fun out of it. The graphics were OK. The sounds were OK. I just couldn't get much out of the game. I know some people really enjoy the game. I asked one of them if he could give me a clue so I could at least feel that I knew what I was doing. His clue was "Visualize the whole play area as a grid." That didn't help me much, but I pass it along to you. Maybe you can get some enjoyment out of this game. I just couldn't seem to. @{"Ratings:" link ratings} Graphics: 70% Manufacturer: Sound: 50% Millennium Interactive, Ltd. Gameplay: 50% Quern House, Mill Court Control: 30% Great Shelford, Cambridge CB2 SLD UK OVERALL RATING: 45% Video Mode: NTSC @ENDNODE @NODE prev "Previous CD남View Reviews" Here are the ratings of the titles previously reviewed by CD남View. Title Overall Rating Issue Date ----- -------------- ---------- AMIGA CD FOOTBALL 79% 4/1/94 ARABIAN NIGHTS 60% 3/1/94� BRUTAL FOOTBALL 87.5% 5/1/94 CASTLES II 50% 3/1/94� CHAOS ENGINE 90% 5/1/94 D/GENERATION 65% 3/1/94� DANGEROUS STREETS 17.5% 5/1/94 DEEP CORE 80% 3/1/94� FRONTIER: ELITE II 45% 5/1/94 INSIGHT: TECHNOLOGY 80% 5/1/94 INTERNATIONAL KARATE + 45% 4/1/94 JOHN BARNES EUROPEAN FOOTBALL 46% 4/1/94 LABYRINTH OF TIME 79% 3/1/94 LIBERATION 90% 3/1/94� MEAN ARENAS 75% 3/1/94 MICROCOSM 91% 4/1/94 NIGEL MANSEL CHAMPIONSHIP RACING 85% 3/1/94� OSCAR 80% 3/1/94� PINBALL FANTASIES 90% 3/1/94� PIRATES! GOLD 87.5% 3/1/94 ROBOCOD: JAMES POND 2 80% 3/1/94� SLEEPWALKER 20% 3/1/94� SUMMER OLYMPIX 54% 5/1/94 TROLLS 75% 3/1/94� WHALE'S VOYAGE 3% 3/1/94� ZOOL 80% 3/1/94� � - Games were not originally reviewed in CD남View and the rating given is translated from a different rating method. @ENDNODE @NODE RATINGS "The Ratings - Explained" We judge the games we review in four different categories: Graphics -------- This is pretty self explanatory. The higher the percentile, the better the graphics are. Sound ----- Another no-brainer. The higher the percentile, the better the sound. Although, this also relates to it's coordination with the gameplay. If the sound seems inappropriate for the type of game it is, the game will score lower in the Sound category even if the sounds are technically well done. Gameplay -------- The gameplay refers to the addictive quality of the game as well as the way the game plays. If you find your self sitting and watching rather than interacting with the game, the game will score lower than one that actually involves you. Control ------- This refers to how easy the game is to control given the standard CD남 controller. A game requiring a special controller that is not specified or not included will be penalized. A game that comes with a special controller or one that recommends that, say, an Amiga mouse might work better than the standard CD남 controller will not be penalized. @ENDNODE @NODE ANEWS "Amiga/CD남 News & Stuff" Amiga & CD남 News @{" Rumors/Rumors/Rumors " link NEWS1} - What's buzzing around. @{" News from Europe " link NEWS2} - European news Columns @{" Hints & Tips " link COL1} - Stuck or out of luck? @ENDNODE @NODE NEWS1 "Rumors/Rumors/Rumors" Rumors...oh, those nasty rumors: @{" The SX-1 Module " link RUM1} - What's it's fate now? Please remember that all information found in this section is based on information from sources that may or may not know what's really going on. Rumors make for interesting conversation. Rumors make for active imaginations. Don't base purchasing decisions on anything other than something you've seen or know is true. @ENDNODE @NODE RUM1 "The SX-1 Module" The SX-1 still has not been released. At press time, the unit was still expected to be 2-3 WEEKS from shipping. Many potential buyers are now beginning to doubt the thing will ever ship. Paravision, the company that will be releasing the SX-1 through their Microbotics division, have plans to release a low cost, black AT-style keyboard for use with the SX-1. Look for it to sell for about $50.00. Of course, the CD남 can also use an Amiga 4000 keyboard or an A2000/A3000 keyboard with the use of a small adapter. @ENDNODE @NODE NEWS2 "European News" Here are the latest in European rumors from Jurgen Arnold [FIDO:2:286/407.23] - Lemmings 3 will come out on the CD남 - Dutch hardware company Eureka is making the final touches to the CD남 Photo CD sytem called "Photolite", price will be fixed at around $ 80. Unfortunately there will be no zoom mode avialable. Also the Communicator will be ready "within 2 weeks". - Due to C= fortunes lately Dutch electronics store network Dixons (bit like Tandy) has recalled all CD남 machines and software. No explanation was given. Now only specialized Amiga retailers and mailorder companies sell the CD남 in Holland. This following is an article from "Cd32 Gamer", a new title dedicated to our machine: "Japanese coin-op maker Namco is leading a tide of arcade companies interested in CD남 technology. MD UK David Pleasance hinted numerous coin-op makers were eager to put games onto cd32 "because it allows them to do a good representation of their arcade titles." He refused to name names since negotiations were still underway, but Namco has revealed it is definitely involved. Namco owns the world largest chain of arcades and has long been an front runner in developing coin-ops. Its most recent release is the stunning Ridge Racer, a race game with near photographic quality polygon graphics. Although there are no plans, as yet, to convert Ridge Racer, past-hits such as the spectacular Starblade are under active discussion. Starblade is a brilliant sc-fi shoot-'em-'up which was a major source of inspiration for Starwing (StarFox in the U.S.), although obviously even a SNES with a Super FX Chip could hardly match the coin-op's fantastic graphics. The CD남 conversion would make heavy use of its CD-ROM technology, in similair fashion to a nearly finished Mega-CD (Sega-CD) verison, but would obviously be far superior given its technological edge." Bye, Jurgen @ENDNODE @NODE COL1 "Hints & Tips" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This month's tip: SUMMER OLYMPIX When playing the javelin event, try to start your throw when the distance counter at the right hand side of the screen is around 35.00. Through some experimentation, you should be able to get the timing right and start hitting about 90 meter throws everytime. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you have a tip for a CD남 game that you'd like to share with us? Please send it to us via one of our E-Mail addresses. @ENDNODE @NODE back "The Back Page" CD남View's The Back Page @{" Amiga/CD남 Dealers " link dealers} @{" What's coming next month? " link next} @{"CD남View Distribution Sites" link sites} @ENDNODE @NODE DEALERS "Amiga/CD남 Dealer Directory" CD남View Dealer Directory @{" Dealer Listing " link DEALLIST} @{"HOW TO GET IN THE LISTING" link HOWTO} @ENDNODE @NODE DEALLIST "CD남View's Amiga/CD남 Dealer Listing" CD남View Dealer Listing: Amiga Crossing 176 Gray Road, Unit 5 Cumberland, ME 04021 Phone: (207) 829-3959 Fax: (207) 829-3522 Applied Computer Systems 6108 Watt Avenue North Highlands, CA 95660 Phone: (916) 338-2000 Fax: (916) 338-2004 BBS: (916) 338-2543 Computer Basics, Inc./Amigaman 1490 N. Hermitage Road Hermitage, PA 16148 Phone: (412) 962-0533 Fax: (412) 962-0279 BBS: (412) 962-0961 Moebius Computer Concepts Suite #101-306 Burnside Road West Victoria, BC V8Z 1M1 CANADA Phone: (604) 386-2667 Fax: (604) 380-3032 Video Computer Resources 1200 N. Battlefield Blvd, Suite 110 Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: (804) 436-9508 Fax: (804) 436-9508 Note: CD남View does not endorse the dealers listed here. They are listed for the convienence of our readers. No compensation is required to be listed. @ENDNODE @NODE HOWTO "How to get listed in the CD남View Dealer Listing" If you're an Amiga dealer or CD남 dealer, big or small, please send us your business' name, address, telephone number and fax number to be listed here. We'd like to provide our readership with a list of places where accessories and software can be found. We can be reached via the Internet, FIDONet Netmail or US Mail. Internet: Sean.Caszatt@f512.n2601.z1.fidonet.org CASZATT@DELPHI.COM (preferred address) Compuserve: 72143,521 FIDONet Netmail: Sean Caszatt at 1:2601/512.0 US Mail: Sean Caszatt 2978 Ford Avenue Sharpsville, PA 16150 @ENDNODE @NODE NEXT "What's coming next issue?" In the July, 1994 issue of CD남View, look for the following: Well, there won't be a July issue of CD남View. We'll still be covering the CD남 as much as possible, so don't stop reading! Remember to send your suggestions for the new name of this newsletter to us at one of our E-Mail addresses! Whatever we're calling this newsletter in July, we'll try to have some of the following: o Reviews of Mortal Kombat, The Blue and the Gray, and Innocent Until Caught for the Amiga o A look at some of the joysticks available for the Amiga and which are the best! o Hopefully we'll have some contributions from readers! (Send in those articles!!!) This is a tenative list. (I hope I can have these in next time!) @ENDNODE @NODE SITES "CD남View Distribution Sites" CD남View Distribution Sites --------------------------- The latest issue of CD남View can be file-requested (FREQ'd) at these BBS' under the magic name CD남VIEW. You can also download the magazine from these systems in the traditional way as well. (File-requests not available from non-FIDO sites.) United States Distribution Sites: Project Aurora Harbour Lights Sharpsville, PA Kennebunkport, ME (412)962-1590 (207)967-3719 FIDONet 1:2601/512 FIDONet 1:326/209 Sysop: Sean Caszatt Sysop: Rick Lembree Mike's Video House Applied Computer Systems Glendale, CA North Highlands, CA (818)240-5769 (916)338-2543 FIDONet 1:102/852 FIDONet 1:203/227 Sysop: Mike Moon Sysop: Jeff Hayer The Gateway BBS Pioneers BBS Biloxi, MS Edmonds, WA (601)374-2697 (206)775-7983 FIDONet 1:3604/60 FIDONet 1:343/54 Sysop: Stace Cunningham Sysops: Mike & Marthe Arends Glenn's World Amiga Haven Salem, OR Ellerbe, NC (503)581-6524 (910)562-2367 FIDONet 1:3406/32 FIDONet 1:3634/40 Sysop: Glenn Schworak Sysop: Tom Clayton International Distribution Sites: Guru Meditation BBS Continental Drift BBS Madrid, Spain Sydney, Australia +34-1-383-1317 +612 949 4256 FIDONet N/A FIDONet 3:714/911 Sysop: Javier Frias Sysops: M. Chaffer & A. Lackmann We're also looking for non-FIDONet sites as well, so if you run a BBS and would like to be a distribution site, don't hesitate to ask. To become an official distribution site, please leave netmail to Sean Caszatt at 1:2601/512 or call Project Aurora direct. More sites are needed!!!! @ENDNODE