Computer + Video Games - Commodore Is Awesome

Keith Campbell's deadlyadversary, The Fiend ofFaringdon, traditionally makesa furtive and unobserved visitto the Ci-VG stand at the PCWShow. Did he turn up this year?You bet he did!•SO you wish you hadbeen to the PCW• Show? Someone wisheshe hadn't! Here's a rundownof what was on offer foradventure players, from a aFiendish point of view!' Those of you who were inthe vicinity of the V Gstand on Friday afternoon,may have been aware of aslight altercation.Now, I ask you, what elsedid that nice Mr Campbellexpect? After all, he did askme to expose myself on theC- VG stand. What a thingto say to a Fiend!KC rushed off in a panic,probably to fortify himself inthe nearest bar, havingsuffered the ordeal ofmeeting The Fiend face toface. And for ten gloriousminutes the Fiend foundhimself in sole charge ofthe HelplinelThere can Only be half adozen games that haveeluded the Fiend's greatintellect, and blow medown if those who came tobeg my aid didn't ask aboutthose very games!"Stuck at the river, sonny?So am II" This was swiftlyfollowed by a "Don't askme," and a final "Push off!".Oh, the joy! Not only did I reveal the t-shirt, made it allget ten minutes of sheer seem worthwhile.unadulterated publicAt first I thought thenuisancing, but I managed moisture on his brow wasto shatter the Helpline's caused by fear, but inreputation simultaneously! retrospect it was probablyMind you, even if I had snow melting.known the answers, my I ended up with a stiffreplies would hove beenneck from looking up, andthe same.sore feet from trying toThose of you who suffered stand on tiptoe.should consider yourselves So what did the Fienddeeply honoured, for after make of the show? As aall these years the Fiend Spectrum-owningchose to make a public adventure player. I found itappearance.the most disappointingThe look upon KC's face PCW ever.as I unzipped my jacket to Where was that lovelylady of last year who soldme no less than eightadventure games for thepaltry sum of E1.50 each?Mind you, this bundle didinclude Seas of Blood. 'Nuffsaid.Oh yes, it was all right forall you strutting about withyour ST's and Amigos. Therewere parsers for you tochoose from, and lots ofpretty graphics, too. Butsuch are not for the poorrelation. your Spectrumowner. I could only fondlethe Leather Goddesseswistfullly, and caress ThePorn with longing. BAH!All was not a total loss. Ienjoyed a nice chat on theLevel 9 stand, andelsewhere saw Rebel Planeton sale for a mere E2.50. Allthose of you who didn'tsnap up this bargain, hangyour heads in shame, for thisis THE one game that alonehas received the Fiend'sstamp of approval thistwelve months gone.If you haven't played it,then do yourself a bigfavour, for I have seen itrecently as part of acompilation, and it must begood value.In summary, then, was theshow for adventurers at all?Or was it for arcade freaks,and an excuse for thoseinvolved in adventurewriting to get together inorder to quaff ale? Thelatter, I suspect.Had it not been for theHelpline, any pureadventurer would havebeen badly served.If anything, the wholeshow resembled one hugegames arcade, completewith sweaty, shoving bodies,flashing lights andintolerable zapping noises.Add to this the queues forthe indifferent andexpensive refreshments.In desperation I wasforced to take refuge in oneor two of the inner sancta,those closed off little areasthat the bigger standsboast.If you have everwondered what goes onbehind the curtains the'Invited Guests Only' notices.then eat your heart out. Forthe Fiend has seen, andwhat he has seen defieswords.So I am not going to tellyou.