The Rifts of Time

Crash

Atmosphere 8/10

Vocabulary 7/10

Logic 7/10

Addictive Quality 7/10

Overall 7/10

Derek Brewster 7/10

DEREK BREWSTER'S ADVENTURE TRAIL IS THE PRICE RIGHT? As has often been said before, the games software world has much in common with the music industry. Leaving aside the connoisseur's direct metal mastered LP discs, and the new technology-priced compact discs, the popular music LP has found its pricing niche in the £4-16 range. Above the six pounds mark the product begins to meet consumer resistance: within the mind of every potential pop purchaser is a set of scales which comes out with a value-for-money readout working on the figures of pocket money/disposable income and the real worth of bass guitars, leads, snares and high-hats syncopated into some sort of harmony. In case, as a young pop consumer, you think the above pretty obvious, it might be worth putting a historical perspective on this by pointing out the LPs dogged persistence for keeping its token value pegged at the £5 mark since 1976, a date from which inflation spring-boarded. This pegging of the price was not done without some modifications and cost-cutting, most noticably a thinning of the plastic and a reduction in quality which meant people like myself buying three records at a time in the sure knowledge that at least one of them would be a bad pressing. Now let's have a look at what's been happening in software in 1985. Figures show that Spectrum software sales are way ahead of those for Commodore, The BBC and C16 markets are much smaller than the two big boys but are significant, while the third biggest, Amstrad, is continuing to improve and catch up. The most successful company in terms of units sold was Mastertronic followed by US Gold and Ocean. Since US Gold and Ocean are in reality the same stable you might take them combined to be the greatest force in software. Mastertronic are famed for their cheap software selling in newsagents and petrol stations, though their £2.99 range has recently appeared in the high street multiple stores and is fast gaining a respectability previously thought beyond the budget game. The US Gold and Ocean group are famed for their top quality games selling at the seven and eight pounds mark. To confuse matters, rumours abound of both groups each planning to release games in the other's domain. A software house makes far less profit, after paying product costs and royalties, on a cheap game when compared to the margin on a full-priced product. A cheap game has to sell eight to nine times more to make the same profit as a full-priced game. But the more expensive game needs advertising and involves a greater risk - kids aren't going to part with eight pounds on a whim. Clearly there are many pros and cons to full- and budget-priced software but what I'd like to suggest is a price for software which will encourage both high consumer sales (with reduced copying), and quality programs. This figure I believe is somewhere around the five pounds mark, much the same as record prices. RIFTS OF TIME Producer: Pocket Money Software Retail Price: Very cheap! Author: Dave Walls Rifts of Time is a real cheapie, although I have no documentation with these games this time I assume they still retail at 99p or thereabouts. I say 'these games' because I was sent a whole wad of cheapies, either by themselves or with another such on a cassette marked'Double Play '. This month more than ever a load of games have been dumped in my lap with no help or hint sheets which is bad enough, but worse many don't even tell me how much the games will retail for. If you're confused so am I, but let's for the time being assume one or two of these will end up in the shops and have a look at the best of them. The blurb on this one goes like this. It is said that, in an unknown world there lie three relics of great power. You must command me throughout my quest in gaining those relics and taking them through a time portal to the God named Odin. But beware, it is not an easy quest for there are evil creatures who will do their utmost to destroy you. All commands can be shortened to their first four letters and mid-points, such as NE and SW, are accepted. The first frame goes like this: 'I am resting for the night in a ransacked, dirty hut when a small winged humanoid with pointed ears enters. He says, 'Good Evening, I am Dave the sprite. I have been commanded to help you in your quest.' Dave is a kind of pet who accompanies you on your adventures. Rifts of Time isn't such a bad adventure for the price, considering it was written way back in 1984. Exits and objects are clearly marked in a manner typical of Quilled games and the humour developed around your companion Dave keeps you going through the trickiest moments. Most of the time Dave comes out with some amusing comments which, unlike many a poorer game, make sense and are appropriate to the situation in which you find yourself. The game is potted with many a fine and endearing character (some from Dungeons & Dragons) such as a scaly-green water dragon, a beautiful tree-nymph named Dryad who gives you a silver-banded black rod without which you will perish in the woods, and a pot-bellied genie who can't give you a wish. What use he is, if any, I'll leave you to find out. COMMENTS Difficulty: easy Graphics: none Presentation: Spectrum text Input facility: verb/noun Response: Quill (immediate)