articles

here´s the place for g&w articles or reviews from books and magazines. a few reviews are really funny - the popeye review is my favourite!! i tried to translate them - i guess after that they sound even more funny, because my english is not the best ;-)

video-vis: bomb-duell of the penguins

"bienengräber - now with tabletop games for two players. (...) " source: video-vis; 10/1983, p.128-129.

j. fritz: the suction of video games - what parents should know

"cardgames - small format "video game-stressors" now there aren´t just only coin-operated video games or video games for your television at home. there are also video games with simple operation, a special development for children. the small games, equipped with batteries, are easy to use and learn. the smallest and most successful mini-video games are the "cardgames": they are small as a playing card and you can take them everywhere. the games have a liquid crystal display (lcd-display), as we know it from watches and calculators. a small screen shows a cartoon-like scene. the player has to push the buttons to keep the game running. the gameplay is multifaceted: once there are cartoon characters like popeye and mickey mouse, and then there are exiting scenes from popular narrations. the gameplay of octopus for example is about a diver and jewels. but the scope of action is small. more or less it´s just the skill and speed of reaction you need to survive these games. the worldwide success of these games in the early eighties (over 20 million units sold, price for one unit 50-100 dm) tails off. despite the fact that they have improved the quality, for example donkey kong (with two screens) and games for two players (donkey kong 3),the decline was unavoidable. all games require a high adaptation: the player has to accede to this request. he has to adapt his action to the "rythm" of the gadget to get a high score. this demand for skill - like we know it from school or work - grows up gradually. freedom of action, variety, fun and relaxation drop out of the running. the cardgames can be like "stress-machines": they always show that your skill is not good enough (yet). it´s sure that every player will have 3 mistakes at one moment and is "out of the game". player with wrong ambition can get into a vicious circle. they demand to much skill from theirselves, they want to achieve more and the result is, that they are not able to relax anymore. the constant readiness for action of these games reflect he constant readiness for action of humans - with watch and counter as a control for time and performance: the cardgames never stand still. they always demand for concentration and never get quiet. even the game is over, the characters still run over the screen. like a person, trapped in stress who can´t calm down even the work is over. the urge to act in the spare time is compulsive. the cardgames damp this urge. most of the kids don´t play these games for a long time. after the lure of novelty has gone (and this will happen very soon), the games will be put away. or the kids will change their games with other ones. After a short time, the kids will lose their interest in this kind of games at all: compared with video games which run with a television, the cardgames have not enough to offer. but the cardgames are the first step for computer-socialization: cargames are miniatures and simple copies of big video games, which are, for their part, miniatures and simple copies of other things. cardgames thread the kids into the world of computers. source: j. fritz: "im sog der videospiele - was eltern wissen sollten." 1985, p.44-47

g. obermair: video games report ´84

"nintendo (distributor: bienengraeber) developed extended mini stories from the popular tricotronic one screen series. now you can play on two screens" "the latest generation of electronic table top games has colourful characters, background music, a built in watch with alarm function and lcd displays with three dimensional effect. nintendo brings mario, snoopy, popeye and donkey kong junior to the small screen." source: g. obermair: "tele-spiele report ´84" 1983, p.90;94

j.u. rogge: heidi, pacman and the video zombies

i found a book called: "heidi, pacman and the video zombies - the media friends of the kids and the uneasiness of their parents" guess what this book is about...here are a few excerpts: "ursula glöckner, 36 years old, secretary, remembers: the first time was absolutely terrible. all day long: now it's my turn, now me, my husband in the middle: no! i want to play. and this strange sounds from the appliance, the clamor of the kids. till i got tired and decided to hide it. then they became reasonable. no, well, i never! you think you have a husband and then you suddenly got one more child. (...) in the beginning it was really bad, says Mrs. Glöckner. when the game started they were still relaxed but in time they got constrained. jan even got a real effusion of blood from this wretchedly pushing the lever. and they doesn't only got constrained, but also unresponsive. (...) while they are playing they don't talk to each other. once in a while you can hear: nonsense, shit, crap, you old ghost. (...) source: j.u. rogge: "heidi, pacman und die video-zombies" 1985, p.42-43; 58-59

news 1984

"almost unbelievable - the ideas and their realization from the mini-game-market-leader. the "micro vs. system" is a great lcd-game innovation. the two novices don´t show any technical differences. but: they have two rollable controller hidden in each game that enables two players to play at the same time. nintendo's well-known cross-controlling was put on a round pad. a big hit (our editorial office played it with enthusiasm) is boxing. in consideration of the lasting success of donkey kong games, the production of donkey kong 3 is no wonder. good that donkey kong is represented in this new shape. our big ape is also represented in the panorama screen series, but less ingenious: donkey kong circus is just a variation of mickey & donald circus." source: "super-gag from nintendo: mini's in different shape" in: telematch 9/1984, p.9.

c.kerler: pocket & small computergames (1982)

"the japanese manufacturer nimtendo (yes - written with m) has sold 12 million units of mini-computers [...] what kind of programs are available? how about 'mickey mouse in the henhouse'? walt disneys mickey mouse appears on the screen and has to catch eggs that fall on the floor. if you're not able to move the mickey quick enough you're unlucky: the eggs will fall and break. if three chicken are waddling over the screen the game is over - and lost. 'rescue in the lifenet' is a pretty macabre game. there are people jumping out of a burning house. if the small people miss the net, they will fall on the street and a little angel with halo appears. definitely more wit has the game 'the living bridge'. in a lone jungle a tourist has to get his luggage on the other side of the river. the bridge are five turtles. now this videogame-turtles are not calm at all. they namely have the bad habit to dive for a fish from time to time. that means big trouble for the man. if he doesn't calculate their moves he will fall into the water.[...] in another game there is a sailorman sitting in a boat. a girl is standing at the waters edge and is throwing yummy-things towards him. not easy to catch sugarpastries while sitting in a boat. to make matters worse, there are nasty people sitting on the other side of the river who are trying to hit the brave sailorman. if they hit he will fall into the water. and then the beauty on the beach doesn't have no muscleman anymore to throw sugarpastries at.[...] lots of skill is needed for the game 'grab the treasure'. there's a huge octopus sitting on a treasure. three divers are trying to get it, but the tentacles are very dangerous and if you are caught by one of them it's not good for your highscore. if you're going to buy a minicomputer be sure that it has a really big screen - the bigger the sprites, the more fun you have." source: c.kerler: "so gewinnt man gegen video- und computerspiele" 1982, p.29-34.

h.andersen: a few minis more... (1984)

"mickey mouse panorama has two disadvantages: it is unwieldy and there has to be enough light. without light you don't see anything. the gameplay isn't worth the money [...] nintendo's new g&w serie is called 'super color'. two titles, both in exclusive flat and silver design are available. they should have named it 'super silver' because you can't really speak about super coloured action on the screen. the black sprites are now pastel. you have to hold it skilfully to see these light and pale colours. [...] maybe the real nintendo glamour is missing but they are still fun." source: h.andersen: "ein paar minis mehr" in: telematch 5/6 1984, p.68.

h.andersen: the crisis of the minis (1984)

"nintendo's lcd games, known as tric-o-tronics, rank with the best mini games. no other manufacturer has this famous peculiarity. therefor it is not amazing that the company bienengraeber & co exclusively concentrates on nintendo's games which were often copied but hardly reached. among the weakest nintendo games ranks however mario's bombs away from the coloured panorama screen series. it's not the tension, but the action is unusually brutal for nintendo. mario, who only looks similar to the hero from donkey kong, transports bombs from one screen side to the other one. unfortunately there are a few careless people who handle with burning torches and cigars as if the dangerous bombs were firecracker for preschool-kids. no wonder that some bombs catch fire from time to time. the result is that 'men and mouse' are blown up. actually mario's bombs away doesn't have anything to do with a 'game' in common sense. even if the melody from the game start tries to pretend this. so just forget about this nintendo product. the next-to-last doublescreen game from the japanese manufacturer is lifeboat. there is much action on the two mini screens which is not easy for the player. a big passenger steamer is on fire! fortunately, there is land in sight. the player has to move the lifeboat which can only take four people. meanwhile a lot of frightened passengers are jumping in the water where a very hungry shark is waiting for them. if the player thinks he has a few moments left he can move the lifeboat to one of the shores where the lucky rescued people finally reach land. but keep on going - the other passengers won't stop jumping. lifeboat has no really new ideas but is fun to play. pinball is another release by nintendo/bienengraeber & co which has two screens. this is the smallest electronic flipper around! there are bonus points, bumbers, extra ball and especially four flippers which should keep the ball as long as possilble in the game. the outside of the game, which is all black, looks impressive! but more important is the gameplay which is not better than any other mini flipper. on the contrary: if you hold both buttons down you don't have to care about the ball anymore because it will stay in the game until your fingers get lame. apart from the fact that there are no different skills pinball can be fun for the younger players. the following three new nintendo minis were presented in nuernberg: the first one is called mickey mouse and is a panorama screen game. mickey is juggling dumb-bells in a circus tent. donald duck who has his 50th anniversary this year watches the scene. like all the panorama screens products this game is also colourful. a new series comes to life with spitball sparky and crab grab. nintendo calls it 'super color'. the metallic case of the games makes them look exclusively. once again your skills are needed. spitball sparky is similar to breakout video games where coloured blocks must be hit with a ball. in crab grab you have to push crabs out of the playfield. all in all the nintendo games are still the best around which is also proved by our telematch readers topten. this will surely last the next months even if really new ideas are still missing." source: h.andersen: "die krise der minis" in: telematch 4/1984, p.62-64.

h.andersen: games with time (1983)

"progressive liquid crystal technology makes the new mini-arcade-generation possible. we give a general idea of games with time. about two years ago the tiny lcd games started to attract attention in germany: smaller than a calculator, equiped with a screen as small as a matchbox. Hot was - and still is - the action with the small black figures. the whole competitors were shocked by the unusual games from the japanese manufacturer nintendo. today nintendo still dominates the market with the so-called tricotronics. cheaper games from different manufacturers couldn't change this. nintendo's are games always more witty and better to play. telematch presents the new lcd minigames which will be released the next weeks (distributor: bienengraeber & co., hamburg) (....) two series are available: the wide screen games and the games with two screens, the multi screen games. in 1982 two very impressing wide screen titles (exceptinonal big screen) were intodruced: the living bridge and snoopy is playing tennis. the gameplay of living bridge reminds of the arcade success frogger. a little man has to carry suitcases to his colleague who is waiting at the other side of the river. there is no bridge and it seems that the little man is not able to swim. but there are turtles living in the river. our friend has to jump on them to the other side and back. stupidly the animals are spotting fishes. the harassed little man has to jump before they are diving. the living bridge has the most colourful grafic of all which is near to 3d. snoopy is playing tennis, actually with charly brown und lucy. you can see the original peanut gang characters. charly serves the balls and snoopy returns them while standing on a tree. he's jumping from branch to branch, to get them all. if snoopy misses a ball he lays on his roof and snores innocently, while charly (actually without reason) says sorry to the player - a marvellous fun! the attraction of the latest nintendo games are two screens. there's is continuous action on both screens. the player has to keep an eye on both screens but this doesn't leads to eye diseases or schizophrenia! there is a leaking gas station. a little man has to catch the oil and pass it to his colleague. if your are overenthusiastic, you will babtize two customers who are waiting. name of the game: oil panic. mickey and donald, goofy, minnie and pluto are the stars of mickey & donald. mickey mouse has to keep goofy awake - donald duck needs enough water to fight the fire. unfortunately the hose is leaky. it's mickey's job to seal it. not only walt disney fans will have lots of fun! tricotronics latest sensations are donkey kong and donkey kong junior. donkey kong, a two-screen game is a simple version of the well known arcade game. donkey kong is absolutely the top lcd-game. it's clearly the number one! donkey kong junior, a new wide screen game is the next episode. monkey-dad is caught by mario and monkey-son is now trying to save him. he jumps from liana to liana and tries not to get hit by birds and snapping dentures. if he gets the key, the cage opens a bit. also this game brings fun and action. funnily enough that not even video game cartridges can reach this gameplay! the games for the vest pocket will surely get better the next months or years. at this moment nintendo is working on a neu lcd-sensation. we are looking forward to them!" source: h.andersen: "spiel mit zeit" in: telematch 2/3 1983, p.64-67.

h.andersen: the latest electronic games (1983)

"the offer of so-called handheld games seems to be immense. these small and even smaller electronic games fill their fans with enthusiasm and drive their opponents to despair. but it's obvious that we have to separate the wheat from the chaff. telematch gives a view on all latest games and tells you which games are recommandable and what is really new. a few years ago, the game-critics were not very amused about the new electronic table-games. they feared (not without good reason) isolation and that gaming loses it's real sense: instead of playing together, talking and having fun the isolated playing and the silent strive for highscores pushed itself to the fore. but it didn't come as worse as expected. the non-electronic games havn't died and the advance of electronic games is limited. but nobody can ignore the fact, that a flood of beep- and glow-games is offered every year. there are two groups of small games. to say it slangy: a) 'the midgets', the lcd games and b) the 'a little more compact table games'. for about two years the lcd games with watch and highscorememory are causing a sensation. they rank as the best ones. we will talk about them later on. first we want to start with the games which you can't put in your pocket [...] if you're talking about lcd games, you are thinking about the games of bienengraeber & co first because they are distributing the best flat-games ever: the tricotronics from nintendo. of course there is a flood of other games, so called cheap-games. worth mentioning is a game with medium-wave-earphone-radio from lindy. but the fun is the radio - not the game. there is also a game with triple screen - boring gameplay but funny three screens. it's always recommended to buy quality which is more expensive but the fun is so much better. so lets have a look at the new products from bienengraeber: (...) now to the creme de la creme of lcd games, the nintendo games. they are without exception full of wit, gripping and with perfect graphics. there are already generations exsisting now here is the new development: 1. manhole, the world success which came out two years ago now returns: bigger, more colorful and with better graphics. again you have to keep the small people from falling into the water. 2. rainshower. tha latest hit from the double screen series. once more it is proved that there don't have to be a gun battle to have a good game. a houseman has to keep his laundry dry. he has to move the four lines so that no raindrop reaches the clothes. a brillant game. 3. after donkey kong jr. and mario's cement factory, snoopy and popeye are the games number three and four from the bigger tabletop games. games that are colorful through and through and have a marvelous melody. both games can't really reach the quality of donkey kong jr. but all in all they are good games. snoopy has to smash notes so that the little bird woodstock doesn't wake up. popeye competes for a fist-fight with his permanent enemy brutus. there is also an exciting swordfish. these both games will be released in a new shape soon: flat again as panorama games. a new hit is coming soon." source: h.andersen: "die neuesten elektronikspiele" in: telematch 6 1983, p.72-74.

news (1984)

if there hadn't been nurembourg.... ...you would have found the announced review about the new minis in this magazine. because of the deadline it was impossible for us to present all the new titles in this issue - we only have short news for now, but more to come in our next issue. three brandnew games from nintendo were presented at the games-fair in nurembourg. spitball sparky, crab grab and mickey mouse (new in panoramascreen version). spitball sparky is a game where you have to hit colourful blocks with a ball. there are devil crabs at crab grab and they have to be kicked away. mickey mouse has the difficult job to balance on a ball while catching dumb-bells. the colourful sprites are presented on lcd screens which seem to be 3-dimensional. all the three minigames have a watch, an alarm and show the highscore. source: "news" in: telematch 3 1984, p.8.

pac man & co (1984)

source: g.seesslen: "pac man & co" 1984

the game & watch story (1997)

source: "the game & watch story" in: total! 1997, 50-51.

snoopy catalogue winter 1983/84

this catalogue contains all the merchandise stuff from the peanut gang that was available in winter 1983/84 (germany). they offered snoopy tennis (79 DM), snoopy panorama (99 DM) as well as the other licensed games (popeye & mickey mouse). the prices were already reduced - when the wide screen games came out first, they were sold for 99 DM. the description of the games uses the tricotronic names like "snoopy is playing tennis" - snoopy panorama is called "schröders piano lesson" - maybe there was also a trico-version of this game? source: advertising "snoopy kommt mit neuen sachen" from the shop "linus", hamburg.

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