Priscilla Brooten, 46, a keen computer gamer from California, was last seen in the Brisbane suburb of Bracken Ridge in July last year but was not reported missing until December.
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Mad Max: Fury Road (97%) from The Arts Desk: Mainly, the movie is structured as two gigantic chase sequences – everyone goes all the way out, and then they turn round and go back again... If you're a hardcore computer gamer inured to marathon sessions of annihilation while being pulverised by Death Metal from wall-to-wall speaker stacks, this may be the movie for you.
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Computer Gamer awarded this "very playable" game an overall score of 75%.Computer Gamer 22 (1987-01), p. 43.
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Judy Daniel from Sinclair User called the gameplay "dodgy" and thought it was not one of Singleton's best games. A reviewer for Computer Gamer was more negative towards the game. While saying that the game had interesting ideas in it, they did not think that the ideas worked together. Computer Gamer also called the action on screen confusing and considered the game to be "tedious" overall.
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Ice Palace was mostly received positively by gaming press, It was awarded four out of five stars from Computer Gamer. Other review scores included 32/40 from Computer and Video Games, who noted its "good" graphics, "excellent" sound, and "totally addictive" gameplay, and 72% from Zzap!. However, Your Commodore opined that "while being quite appealing, the game was on the whole tedious." According to Computer Gamer, this "excellent" game "appeared to be ahead of its time and didn't do particularly well" upon its original release.
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64 summed it up as "harmless claptrap", while CVG Magazine commented on the "extremeley basic" graphics. Computer Gamer praised the intuitiveness of the game's parser, as opposed to other games that require a persnickety combination of words.
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Retro Gamer called it "notorious Lenslok" in retrospect. Computer Gamer gave the Amstrad version 85%, praising the gameplay and graphics. They noted that it was an approachable flight simulator that can be played without reading the manual. Amstrad Action rated this version at 54% calling it challenging, but lacking in action.
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64, 6/10 in Computer and Video Games, and 13/20 in Computer Gamer. Eurogamer published a retro game review on the C64 version in 2007, giving it 9/10. In Video Games Around the World, The Rats is described as one of the first horror games, being games that seek to frighten players.
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The game received fairly negative reviews. Computer Gamer gave an overall 55%, by stating "beautifully presented, and well-programmed, it rates as one of Activision's better recent releases and deserves consideration outside its unfortunate tie-in", predicting, however, low longevity. Aktueller Software Markt described the game as not fulfilling the expectancies and not worth the money.
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It will sell on the name rather than on the originality." Crash praised the graphics and music, while reviewers for Zzap!64 criticized these aspects, and concluded that it was an "unplayable, unoriginal, unprofessional, unimaginative and unacceptable licensing travesty." Computer Gamer described the graphics as "OK but nothing stunning", writing that the screen "can end up looking very messy.
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Crash praised the options, graphical detail and animation. Sinclair User claimed it was "the best boxing game on the market, for realism it knocks the others for six. It's more complex than Frank Bruno's or Rocco", while Your Sinclair summarised it as "a top-ten contender in the software boxing championships". Computer Gamer said it was realistic, gripping and long-lasting.
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Mermaid Madness received mostly positive reviews, including scores of 70% from Amstrad Action, 37/40 from ASM, 7/10 from Commodore User, 27/40 from Computer & Video Games, 15/20 from Computer Gamer, 66% from Crash, and 78% from Zzap!64. However, it also received some negative reviews such as 46% from Happy Computer and only one star out of five from Sinclair User.
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Several other contemporary computer magazines covered the ZX Spectrum as part of their regular coverage of the home computer industry at that time. These included Computer Gamer, Computer and Video Games, Computing Today, Popular Computing Weekly, Your Computer and The Games Machine. The Spectrum is affectionately known as the Speccy by elements of its fan following. More than 80 electronic magazines existed, many in Russian.
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In a July 1985 article published in July 1985 in Computer Gamer, Singleton disclosed quite a lot of details of the game. The game was to have 16,000 locations and 131,000 unique views, created with a new technique called Randscaping. The Randscaping engine made every view unique. In multiplayer mode, the two players would each control either Morkin or Tarithel on their quest to find the fabled jewel.
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Despite this, Computer and Video Games awarded it their "Game of the Month" award for January 1986. Robert Fripp of German magazine Aktueller Software Markt concluded that the game presented a "successful" adventure. Bob Wade of Amstrad Action praised the game's presentation, depth and atmosphere but criticized initial complexity and required time commitment. Computer Gamer received the game highly positively, calling it complex, difficult and immersive, giving particularly high points to atmosphere.
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64s reviewers—Julian Rignall, Gary Liddon, and Gary Penn—called the graphics "amazing", well-executed, and "varied"; but they described the audio as sparse. Rignall and Penn complimented the challenging gameplay and commented that its addictiveness outweighed any frustration experienced while playing. The three summarized by urging readers to purchase the game. Computer Gamer reviewer Mike Roberts praised Spindizzys gameplay, but mentioned that the screen's orientation can require a period of adjustment, particularly when using a joystick.
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Citing the "European" use of mission codes instead of save games and "pretty" but shallow gameplay, the reviewer unfavorably compared it to Doom, with "an almost identical (somewhat tired) premise" but of which "the execution makes all the difference". Despite the good graphics and "fast-paced" action, he concluded that Alien Breed was "not suitable for the average computer gamer on this continent", but might be for the "less demanding player" or one who wanted a Nintendo.
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Reviewers for Crash were surprised by how good the game was, and they offered particular praise for the two-player mode. Paul Boughton of Computer and Video Games described the game as "a pretty neat combination of flight simulation mixed with sky high duelling. With the Top Gun name it's a winner." Mike Roberts of Computer Gamer stated that Top Gun and Ace were the best flight games he had ever played up to that point.
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A reviewer of Computer and Video Games stated that the game was "historically good". Their only criticism was the unsuitability of using a joystick for the game, which they deemed "virtually unusable". David Buckingham of Computer Gamer considered Bismarck the best game Personal Software Studios had released at the time, and added that the two genres of strategy and action work "very well". Gary Rook of Sinclair User heralded the gameplay as an "exciting" blend of strategy and arcade simulation.
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So what you are really getting is a single game with four screens." Home Computing Weekly wrote, "The four arcade games on side one of the tape actually load as a single 48K block of code, so what you really get is a single game with four screens and none of them are particularly interesting". Computer Gamer found each of the four games boring. ZX Computing stated that the four games "are all reasonable and provide good though not very sophisticated entertainment.
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Another reviewer condemned the 3D animation, stating that it appeared out of proportion and "frustrating". Tony Hetherington of Computer Gamer similarly criticised the graphics, owing to the "duplicated landscapes" and identical usage of colours, concluding that it was a disappointing game. Lacey heralded the gameplay to be "purely addicting" and considered Blackwyche to the best of the series. Harding opinionated the game to be "miles better" than its predecessor, whereas Cooke thought the gameplay was repetitive, owing to its number of locations.
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A reviewer of Computer and Video Games praised the graphics as "excellent", whilst noting the resemblance to Indiana Jones. A reviewer of Computer Gamer similarly cited the graphics as "excellent", stating that it was "what he expected from an Ultimate game". However, they criticised the overall gameplay, stating it to be "very boring" and "slowly smegged". Cook praised the game's puzzle sections, comparing them more favourably than those of its predecessor, and summarised that the game was "definitely a must for any adventurer's collection".
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Computer Gamer gave both the C16 and Plus/4 version 5 out of 5 stars and described Ace as easy to use and understand. They later noted that Plus/4 version was the best yet among the available platforms. Your Commodore criticized the Plus/4 version for poor innovation, but scored it highly on gameplay and graphics, describing them as "realistic". The expanded C64 and ZX Spectrum versions received the highest critic attention and praise on release. Zzap!64 rated Ace 90% and described it as the most exciting flight simulator on C64 to date.
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Several reviewers regarded Ace as one of the best available flight simulators of the time. Overall, the critics agreed that the game's arcade- like gameplay was easy to get into and play, but ultimately difficult to master and challenging to finish. Reviewers also negatively remarked upon the inclusion of Lenslok copy protection system where the game would display a garbled image and the player would need to use the provided colored lens to view the two-letter code. ZX Computing and Computer Gamer reviewers had trouble getting it to work and pass.
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A reviewer of Computer and Video Games criticised the presentation, stating that the screen was too small and the lack of visual understanding made the game "completely unplayable". Mark Reed of Computer Gamer praised the graphics as being superior compared to Theatre Europe, heralding it as "much more detailed". However, Reed criticised the originality of the game and the lack of manual for the ZX Spectrum version. A reviewer of ZX Computing praised the game's difficulty, suggesting that it was "recommended" for advanced gamers in the wargame genre.
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A reviewer writing for ZX Computing similarly stated that the game was "superbly chilling" and "extremely" well-presented. A reviewer of Computer and Video Games criticised the inferior graphics on the ZX Spectrum, stating that they were "a bit flawed" in comparison to the Commodore 64 version. Mark Reed of Computer Gamer noted that the game attracted media attention, despite the objective of the game discouraging the use of nuclear weapons. Reed praised the presentation and gameplay, also stating that the use of a joystick and keyboard is "excellent".
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In 1993 Scorpia called The City "a fascinating premise that turned out rather poorly ... a game for those with great persistence and patience", and The Dungeon "better than the first, but not by much". Alternate Reality: The City and Alternate Reality: The Dungeon were both the subject of the feature review Dragon #135. The reviewers gave Alternate Reality: The City 3 stars, and Alternate Reality: The Dungeon 2½ stars. Alternate Reality: The City was reviewed in Computer Gamer #12 and got a value for money rating of 5/5.
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" ZX Computing wrote that the game "captures the atmosphere of crime fighting in the future although it has strayed from the comic character which will no doubt annoy the connoisseurs. The rest of us will love it." Jim Douglas of Sinclair User praised the game as a good use of the Judge Dredd licence. Mike Roberts of Computer Gamer had mixed feelings, writing that the game suffered from having "a nodding deference to Judge Dredd which restricted the gameplay slightly," but that it also failed by "not being accurate enough to the character.
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" Smith considered it one of the best film-based games available, and wrote that it "isn't very original, but it's furious fun". Jim Douglas of Sinclair User stated that Cobra "is just what we all expected," writing, "Not great, it's pleasant enough, and not as disastrous as most licence deals." Computer Gamer found "few addictive qualities" in the game and stated that it "offers nothing special." Paul Boughton of Computer and Video Games considered the graphics and sound okay, but concluded "it's the sort of game you've seen many times before.
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Rook also added that the game was well implemented and "inspiring". A reviewer of Computer and Video Games criticised the game for having an "awkward mechanism" due to the lack of a save feature and neglecting historic realism. However, he compared the historical accuracy of the Battle of Iwo Jima for being more accurate than Falklands '82s interpretation of the Falklands War. Mark Reed of Computer Gamer stated that the game is "ideal" for novice players and also praised the simplicity of the controls, despite suggesting that experienced gamers of the genre would prefer "something more complex".
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Text based screen on the ZX SpectrumGraphical highlight section on the ZX Spectrum. A goal has just been scoredThe game was written entirely in BASICInterview with Kevin Toms for the blog The Ball is Round"The Spectrum Collection", Tony Hetherington, Computer Gamer, August 1985 and, apart from the match highlights on some versions, used only text displays and keyboard entry. The player chooses a team and then must try to earn promotion from the fourth to the first division (although the player can then keep playing for as many seasons as they wish). The player also competes in the FA Cup.
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Rook criticised the interface of the game as "clumsily" executed and not "half as good" as that of other strategy games at the time of release. Regarding the arcade sequences of the game, Michael Sandford of ZX Computing recommended any player to avoid them, as its difficulty would affect gameplay. However, Sandford praised the overall experience of the game, stating that it was "one of the best" wargames and endorsed it to anybody interested in the genre. Mark Reed of Computer Gamer asserted that Tobruk was "undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable wargames ever" and heralded its originality and playability.
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Although "too short", the magazine recommended Loom to "the new computer gamer". Strategy Pluss Theo Clark wrote that Looms "story is absorbing and exciting, and there is plenty of pleasure to be gained from encounters and from discovering the effects of the various spells." He noted that players might consider it a "fatal flaw" that Bobbin cannot die, and that "any puzzle can be resolved by clicking on all of the available items and running through all of the known drafts". However, he argued that the game is "a rare treat" for players who see it as "a long, interactive video" rather than an adventure game.
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A reviewer for CVG suggested that the game's style and gameplay was a mix of Nightshade and Nintendo's Duck Hunt. Reviewing the MSX version, a reviewer for Computer Gamer praised the game's plot, and was complimentary of the way the game was able to separate itself from Ultimate's previous game, which had used the same Filmation engine. Reviewers writing for Crash praised the gameplay, stating that the game's "element" was considerably developed and that the several different stages were "highly addictive". Writers in CVG criticised the gameplay, noting that they found it difficult to distinguish the outlaws from other male inhabitants of the town.
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Double Fine has announced that they will also develop a version for the Android-based Ouya console. Technically, the game is being developed with the Microsoft Windows platform as the core, as Gilbert did not want this version to feel like a console port; Gilbert also attests that he is "primarily a [personal computer] gamer" and wanted to stay true to the platform. Windows users pre-ordering the title on Steam also obtained themed items for Team Fortress 2 based on the Hillbilly character's outfit. The Mac OS X version was announced alongside the release date, with Windows and Mac OS X users able to take advantage of Steam Play to use the title within either operating system.
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M. Evan Brooks reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "While Iwo/Falklands may not be to the taste of the experienced wargamer, they may prove just the ticket to gaining another convert to computer conflict simulations." A reviewer from ZX Computing heralded the graphics and details of the map but suggested that "hardened wargamers" would not be interested in graphical advancements. A reviewer from Computer Gamer praised its simplicity, stating that it was a "simple game" and would prove to be an "excellent" introduction to the wargame strategy genre. In a 1994 survey of wargames Computer Gaming World gave the title one star out of five, stating that "it has aged poorly".
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As a result, Computer and Video Games awarded it 6.5/10 (average), referring to it as an entertaining strategy game "but Grand Prix enthusiasts will soon find the novelty wearing off!" A four stars ranking was also attributed by Computer Gamer magazine, mentioning that with up to six players simultaneously the game "could get quite exciting". But on the negative side, it was also pointed out a simple user interface issue, that if corrected would have proportioned a better experience to the players. "It would be nice to be able to select from the menus using the joystick rather than the keyboard" When the game was included in the Burning Rubber compilation for the ZX Spectrum it was received less favourably.
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This game was created and released in response to "A Modest Video Game Proposal" issued in late 2005 by activist attorney Jack Thompson, known for his opposition to sex and violence in entertainment, including computer and video games. This challenge dared computer game producers to release a game following a "script" he outlined, in which the grieving father of a child killed by a computer gamer takes vengeance by murdering many people connected with the gaming industry in a brutal manner. Thompson promised to contribute a $10,000 donation to the charity of choice of Paul Eibeler (then-chairman of Take-Two Interactive, one of the game companies most heavily criticized by Thompson) if such a game were released. However, he has since claimed that the proposal was only a joke, and currently, no charity has been designated by Eibeler.
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Football Manager review, Dave Carlos, Electron User, April 1986 The game was nominated in the 1983 Golden Joystick Awards for best strategy game, eventually coming second to the Melbourne House adventure game The Hobbit."The Golden Joystick Award", C&VG;, Issue 29 In 1985, Tony Hetherington of Computer Gamer magazine included the game in "The Spectrum Collection" - "15 classic games that all Spectrum owners should have". By 1991, when reviewing the £2.99 budget release, Amiga Power awarded a score of only 19% as the game had been "out-featured by practically every other game in the genre" but was "still massively addictive" and referred to as a "classic" and "one of the legends of computer gaming".Football Manager review, Amiga Power, July 1991 The ZX Spectrum version was voted the 26th best game of all time in a special issue of Your Sinclair magazine in 2004.
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