All Our Yesterdays - July 1988 21/07/97

Although 8-bit machines like the C64 and Sinclair Spectrum were still grabbing the lion`s share of the world computer games market, the summer of 1988 saw the eventual appearance of lots of Amiga-only games from major publishers, like EA`s F18 Interceptor which had just been released to thunderous applause. Amiga owners hurried to buy `silver cheese slice` 512k upgrades in droves so that they could appreciate the 1 meg enhancements. At £115 a peice!

FRESHLY FORMATTED

"ST and Amiga owners will wake up on Thursday June 16th to find thier world changed forever...", shouted the advert in the July edition of ACE Magazine. The first issue of ST/Amiga Format was upon us, promising "a fat magazine plus dual format disk... for only £2.50". Amiga Format, the erstwhile fledgling launched when the magazine separated in 1989, celebrates its 100th issue this month in 1997. Happy Birthday to them, Happy Birthday to them (etc).

CRL BREAK

Worn out UK software developers CRL split from US giants Electronic Arts this month in 1988 after a year-long partnership. However, this was far from an amicable arrangement, with CRL sueing Electronic Arts for breach of contract, whilst EA claimed that CRL`s games were not up to the `high industry standard` as stipulated. It`s worth noting that CRL don`t exist any more.

SENTINEL SCEPTICISM

One leading magazine offered its definitive preview of Firebird`s forthcoming blockbuster Sentinel, advising its readers that "the signs are that the Amiga version`s gonna be red-hot... but it might turn out to be a turkey". The game surfaced later that month, to a mixed response.

PEOPLE DO THE FUNNIEST THINGS

When you tired of your Amiga games, or just needed a break, it`s quite probable that you would be watching East Enders on TV (if you`re British of course) since it was the top rated TV show that month, with Coronation Street, Strike It Lucky and Ronnie Corbett`s relentlessly funny "Sorry" in third place. Mr. Beadle was the rising star of the moment though, with his "Beadle`s About" tripe debuting at No 6. If you had switched on your radio, you might have heard Bruce Springsteen warbling at you, or most likely, Kylie Minogue, since her musical atrocity "I Should Be So Lucky" was still irritating the hell out of everyone in July of 1988.

TOP GAMES OF JULY 1988

Balance Of Power
Bubble Bobble
Starglider 2
Wizball
Impossible Mission II

HOT OFF THE PRESS

F18 Interceptor
Virus
The Three Stooges
Formula 1 Grand Prix
JET

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Computer Magazines that cost £1.20...
Poolswinner "The Ultimate Pools Predictor Program"...
Kevin Toms, the face of Addictive Software...
Imagine: The Name Of The Game...
Maria Whittaker, the breasts of the Barbarian advert...
Smiley Faces...
Cherry 7-Up...

DeeJay99