Which Computer Plays Games Best? by Martin Bass [Appeared in the December/January 1984 issue of "Computer Games"] Many people won't admit it, but their main motivation for buying a computer is to play games. Of course, the might also want to try their hand at programming, learn a lot about how computers work, or use it for practical applications at home, but the game's really the thing. If gaming's a factor in your choice or computers, then the question "Which computer plays games best?" is a very important one. The Establishment Apple and Atari hit the market in the late '70s and quickly became established as the premier game-playing machines, mainly due to their superior graphics. Each boasts a loyal following. Programmers have usually written for one or the other, investing thousands of hours developing techniques, that enabled them to wring every bit of power from the machines. As a result, there are now more games and a greater variety available for them than for any other computer. The future looks equally promising. The New Contender Since the Commodore 64 was released last November, it's set a new standard for value. Comparable in many ways to the "establishment" computers, the 64 costs only $200. With the Apple going for $1,200 and Atari's 800 about $300, you can see why the 64 has done so well--selling nearly a million units already. But why should you care how many Commodore has sold? Because the more they sell, the more lucrative a market the 64 becomes for the major software houses, which up to now have produced games almost exclusively for the Apple and Atari. Already more than 100 hit games for those machines have been translated for the 64. One advantage here is that only the best games are being translated, so though there are fewer 64 games out right now, you'll find a greater percentage of really worthwhile games. A number of new games have been written specifically for C-64, too. Dave Albert of Penguin Software, which is translating its entire line of hits like Spy's Demise for the 64, says that software manufacturers are "scrambling to write games for the 64." The Commodore 64, described as a ``sleeper'' when it first hit the market, may turn out to be the "Apple of the Eighties." Other Possibilities What about the IBM, Timex-Sinclair 1000 and 2000, Commodore's VIC-20, Radio Shack's computers and the "Bill Cosby special" the Texas Instruments 99/4A? All good computers, but with distinct disadvantages for game-playing. The price of IBM's PC, for example, is way out of line for this purpose. Relatively few games exist for the IBM, also. But if you intend to pick up an IBM for business applications and want to avoid buying a second computer for gaming, there's a neat solution. It's the Quadlink, from the Quadram Corporation. For $600, this accessory enables the IBM to emulate--"operate like"--the Apple. Most, though not all, disk-based games for the Apple will run on the Quadlinked IBM. It's like buying an Apple for half-price. At the other end of the price scale sits the tiny Timex-Sinclair 1000, selling for less than $50. Though it was designed as an introductory computer that's great for learning BASIC programming, hundreds of games-- all cassette-based--have been written for the TS-1000. Unfortunately, color and sound are missing (though they weren't overlooked in the TS-2000), and the unit crashes if you look at it sideways. For only $25 more, you can pick up an Atari 400 or Commodore VIC-20. The Atari's clearly superior. It is completely compatible with the Atari 800, so the same cartridges as well as disk and cassette-based games work on either one. Utilizing the same video chip that delivers such outstanding color and animation on the 800, the 400 boasts impressive sound effects, too. The big difference is that the 400 has only 16K memory, and the 800 has 48K. The smaller memory makes no difference if you're a fan of arcade-type games, which are usually marketed on cartridges. But the more elaborate adventure games are on disk and demand more memory. The 400's memory can be expanded and a disk drive added to meet these requirements, but for the cost of the additional memory, you can buy the 800 to begin with. With the Commodore line, the situation's different: the two are not software compatible. (They employ the same BASIC, but the machine code addresses used by sophisticated software are not the same.) They use different-sized cartridges, too, and the VIC's video chip is not as advanced. Combined with the fact that the VIC's memory is only 5K, this reduces the possibilities for really complex games, numerous screens and sharp graphics. The VIC's memory is expandable and it uses the 64's disk drive, but you may as well buy the 64--it 'll cost about the same. (Both the 64 and the VIC do feature excellent sound, though.) If you're mainly into arcade-type, maybe even educational games, the VIC's still a good bargain, and may be going for about $50 by Christmas. Plenty of cartridges are available, and more translations--like Shamus and Pipes--appear every day. Commodore's own programmers will certainly continue to support the VIC, with over one million units in homes across America. Despite the impressive number sold, the Radio Shack line has never appealed to game-writers, which means its game library is limited. And unless you shell out more money for enhanced graphics capability, you'll be looking at a screenful of VCS-like images. If you're considering the TI 99/4A, ask yourself this: would you buy a computer from a man who sells Jello? Seriously, TI is having major problems in dealing with independent programming houses. Few of the major Atari and Apple hits have been translated for Radio Shack or TI, and both suffer from a lack of gaming software. Then there are the really new computers: Mattel's Aquarius; Spectravideo's SV308, and the kamikaze squad of new Japanese imports. Any of these could become a tremendous game machine or a big flop. It's simply too soon to say. Right now, they obviously suffer from a lack of games. One computer that will probably do well is Coleco's Adam, which is actually the Coleco game machine with a computer keyboard, a wafer-tape memory unlt and a printer. It plays all the Coleco games, and enhanced versions of them as well. A CIoser Look Apple, Atari, Commodore-these are the names you should consider. The Apple is the most expensive. Does it offer any advantages? Programmers at Penguin Software say that the way they can utilize the Apple's disk drive makes it more suitable for elaborate games: adventure and fantasy role- playing. Dungeons and Dragons-type, war and strategy games and heavy-duty brainteasers. There are more of these available for the Apple than for any other computer. On the other hand, if you prefer arcade games-mazes, car chases, gobbling, climbing, hopping and outer space shoot'em ups-the Apple holds no advantage. In fact, it's relatively limited in this field. A big part of the arcade experience is sound, and the Apple is clearly inferior to Atari and Commodore on that score. Both Atari and Commodore's 64 feature true music generators--four and three voices respectively--but the Apple barely beeps and squeaks. Apple doesn't have movable graphic blocks--"sprites" on the 64 and "player-missiles" on Atari--one thing that makes animation so dazzling on the 400, 800 and C-64. Another disadvantage of the Apple is that you must have a disk drive, since it has no cartridge ports like the others. This adds about $500 to the Apple's price, boosting it to nearly $1,?00. The 64 and Ataris are rigged to hook right into your color TV, too, unlike the Apple. For most people, the choice will be either an Atari or a Commodore. If you're looking for a game machine under $100, the Atari 400 clearly beats the VIC-20. At the higher price level, there's either the Atari 800 (about $300) or Commodore 64 (around $200). What factors should you consider here? The 800's price has been cut from the $600 it sold for through most of 1982. This stems from the product change Atari is now going through. The venerable 400 and 800 are being phased out and replaced by the 600XL and 800XL. During this changeover, the 400 and 800 are selling at tremendous discounts. For bargain hunters, this is a great chance to pick up a sophisticated game machine at a tremendous discount. You'll also see Atari's 1200XL discounted, too, but there have been numerous bugs reported in the 1200, and it only has two joystick ports instead of four like the 800. This is important now that multi-player games such as Boulders and Bombs from CBS are becoming more popular. The new Atari computer will be software-compatible with the older machines, feature 88K memory and have two joystick ports like the 1200. The Atari game library is tilted toward arcade action, though many strategy and adventures are available. They're supplied on cartridge, cassette and disk. Often the disk version is released first, followed a few months later by the cartridge. If you don't mind waiting, you can save the $400 cost of a disk drive. As with the Apple, the most complex games, especially adventures, are usually marketed only on disk, so you'll have to figure in the extra cost if this is your favorite genre. Atari's tape drive costs about $50, and you can't use an ordinary tape recorder for playing cassette-based games. If you opt for the Commodore 64, you'll save money two ways: the computer costs a mere $200, and the 1541 disk drive goes for $300 or less. The Commodore cassette drive, mandatory like the Atari's, is about $70, but many games are sold on cartridges-so you may save money by buying the computer alone. You might have to wait a few months for new Apple and Atari hits to be translated, but this situation may soon be reversed as more programmers develop games exclusively for the 64. According to Mark Turmell, author of Fast Eddie, Sneakers and Turmoil, "The Commodore 64 has the poten- tial to display the most arcade-like games. It's leaps and bounds ahead of the Atari 800. The music and sound are incredible." Before choosing between an 800 and the 64, visit a store and do some comparison shopping. These are some hit games available for both: Choplifter, Frogger, Jawbreaker, The Pharoah's Curse and Fort Apocalypse. Some gamers think the Atari's graphics are cleaner and smoother, but others can't see any difference. If graphics are a key point for you, check out this point. Lower Prices in Sight The fast-paced computer world changes every day. New products hit the shelves, week-old computers become obsolete, prices are slashed left and right. According to Clive Smith, senior analyst with the Yankee Group, one of the most significant events of 1983 will be IBM's new computer. "We expect the product, code-named 'the Peanut,' to be introduced in October. It will likely sell in the $700 range. And it will have a major impact on the home computer market." How could this affect your decision? If you want an Apple but don't like the price, IBM's move is good news because Apple is expected to lower its price to match that of the Peanut. Other computer prices may also piummet. The consumer benefits from competition like this, and IBM's definitely going to accelerate the competition. Whichever computer you select, it's likely to cost less by Christmas than it does today. [Scanned and edited by Dennis Brown, dgbrown (at) pixesthesia (dot) com]