19.73MB - View From The Trenches

Computer games subm itted to Microcomputer Games areevaluated by an in-house staff of playtesters consisting of gamedesigners, developers, programmers and computer game enthusiasts.One of the first things our evaluators look for whenthey playtest a game are loading and playing instructions. Youwould be surprised by how many programmers submit games tous with no loading or playing instructions. It is very difficult toevaluate a game if you cannot load it or figure out how to play it.Also, a lack of loading and playing instructions is usually a goodindication as to what we can expect in the way of programdocumentation if we do elect to market the game. Because weconvert most of our programs to play on more than one computer,documentation is very important. So when a computergame arrives without loading and playing instructions, it alreadyhas one strike against it.Next we check to see if the program is a complete game. Manyof the programs submitted to us are only boardgame player assistaids. So far, we have not found a market for game assist programs.When a consumer purchases a computer game, he doesnot want to have to buy a boardgame in order to play it, or doeshe? Occasionally a listing and commentary of a boardgame computerassist program is printed in one of our magazines, but theseshould be submitted as magazine articles to The Avalon Hilleditorial staff.Once the program has been loaded, the playing instructionsdigested and it has been determined that it is a complete game,the real evaluation begins. Generally we look for smoothness ofgame flow, realism where applicable, presentation of information,ease of learning, difficulty to win, sound and GRAPHICSDISPLAY. Because of the current "state of the art" ofmicrocomputer games, one of the greatest determinant factorsin selecting a computer game for marketing is its graphicdisplays. No matter how good the game may be, unless it hassome sort of graphic display, perferably Hi-Res, it too has astrike against it. The only exception to this is the computer/boardgamecombination game which has done very well.Following closely behind the graphic display in importance arethe sound effects in the game. Though this is not as importanton some computers (TRS-80) as on others (Atari).We also try to make a determination as to the level of interest,challenge and enjoyment the average consumer wouldget from the program. Finally we determine if the game isoriginal and not just a take off or copy of some other computergame, and if it is based upon a boardgame, that it does not infringeupon another company's copyrights. As a rule, programsborrowing conceptively upon another company's game will notbe marketed by us.After all of the playtesters have evaluated the program, adecision is made to either send a contract or a reject letter tothe programmer. Rejected games are maintained in our files forone year and then destroyed. Programmers that want theirgame submission returned should enclose a stamped selfaddressedenvelope with their submission. If you would like tosubmit a program to Microcomputer Games for evaluation contacteither Jack Dott or Mike Cullum at Microcomputer Games,Inc., A Division of The Avalon Hill Game Co., 4517 HarfordRoad, Baltimore, MD 21214***********The EndOVERMIND******UNDERMINED*****It has now been confirmed that the once impregnable evilmaster of the Red and Blue Planets has been liquidated! Thegallant adventurer responsible for ridding the two worlds of thetechnological tyrant is Richard M. Sigler, shown below holding"Betsy," his trusty Xenon pistol. Sigler persevered, destroyingskeletons, moving crocodiles, man-eating cactus, and severaldata disks; ignoring the pain of the mind-whip, the deprevationof the deserts, and the length of his lawn to finally discover thesecret nesting place of the evil sphere. But even then, the battlewas not over. Coming face-to-face with quintessential evil, theepitome of bad guys, Sigler fell again and again, only to risewith expletives deleted to continue the fight.And when it seemed that the final victory would forever successfullyevade his weary grasp, inspiration blossomed in hisfogged brain like Alka Seltzer on raw meatloaf, and he closed infor the kill!!!So, with the sweet champagne of victory sending bubbles uphis nose, Mr. Sigler paused when asked to comment on his unprecedentedconquest, and remarked, "Shucks, twern't nothin'."His mother-in-law agreed.When not liberating planets, Richard Sigler sleeps, eats, andwrites a book about investments.----~----mic~QcQm~ute~ gcmes®a division ofThe Avalon Hill Came CompanyBaltimore, Maryland 21214