The Editors Rage Zapp! Gets Zapped! It was a hot, humid, sticky, cloudy, day. One of those days that makes you feel as though your head is going to explode from the pressure in the air. You can feel a thunderstorm, the only question is when it will happen. Zapp! #6 was almost ready for press, and I had just finished laying-out the last file. I had plans to head-out to a local arcade, but before I left, I un-pluged my computer just in case. After all, I lost my keyboard a few years back to a power surge. The arcade was packed. On cloudy days, arcades around here are always crowded - today was incredible! Almost every game had a line, and the ones that didn't were of the "Centipede" generation. I did, however, get to play a couple titles before I left. When I left the arcade, I was greeted by a massive thunder storm. That day Rhode Island received more rain in a couple of hours than it received all summer! The storm drains on the highway were flooded like you wouldn't believe. There was water everywhere, and It was coming-down so fast that the windshield wiper on the car couldn't work fast enough. When I finally got back, I was given the news that our building was struck by lighting. At the time, I really didn't think that anything could of happened to the computer. I looked over the situation.....There was a black spot on one outside wall. On the other side of the wall, an electrical socket was totally destroyed - there were pieces of the socket all over the floor. The odor of melting wires was in the air. The next thing on my agenda was to check the computer......Was it working? I reached to the power switch, hoping the computer would go on, start a memory count, etc. I flicked the switch.....The power supply went on.....The fan when on.....The monitor went on.....The hard drive light went on...... Then everything stopped. Hysteria set in. I knew at that point that the computer was fried, but didn't want to believe it. I tried to boot it with a floppy disk, but to no avail. It turned out that a massive power surge (obviously) went through our phone line, as well as our electrical lines, and totally fried the computer by going through the modem. We also lost some other machines in the office. A whole issue of Zapp! (issue #6) was lost with the now obliterated hard drive, and I wanted to kick myself for not backing-up the files before I had left.... ......That is why Zapp! #6 may be a little late. It was by no means a small feat to reconstruct the lost files. After many late nights, here is Zapp! #6. That storm was a nemesis I wish had never happened. But every thundercloud has a silver lining; Disaster Insurance. I up-graded to a 486! This officially "Zapped!" issue includes some newer sections. We have come a long way for a electronic gaming newsletter; We're still here! Issue #6 is really a landmark. I Hope you like this issue, so let us know your comments. Scott N. Weller, Editor Zapp! Issue #6 Editor: Scott N. Weller Staff: Amber Weller Matthew Cataldi Simmers "Old M.C." Contributing Freelance Writers: Craig E. Engler Joe Cataudella This Issue's Contributors (Thanks guys!): "Mr. Super Nintendo" Tim Walker Sean Anderson Contents: Editor's Rage......................2 The Post Office..................3 "Old M.C.'s News"..............4 In Depth News...................5 Reviews........................6-10 The Video Game Dilemma......................11-14 Interview...........................15 Guerilla Video Games......18 Issue #6 Notice: Zapp!'s cover price is $1.25 everywhere, a subscription is $4.75 for four issues. It is distributed quarterly. All special issues are free to subscribers. Contributors receive one free issue for every contribution published, so start writing! We welcome products and product information - we are not responsible for un-solicited materials. Hardware, software and product titles are copyright of their respectful manufacture. Zapp! is neither published nor indorsed by ANY video game company, and is copyright Scott N. Weller, 1992. Make all subscription checks payable to Scott N. Weller. All information should be sent to the address below. If you have a question about Zapp!, fell free to call the number below, Monday threw Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST, and ask for the editor, Scott. Enjoy Zapp! Zapp! 135 Ten Rod Road Exeter, R.I. 02922 (401) 294-4942