Commodore Force

Commodore Force

Editor	Steve Shields James Price
Categories	Computer and video games
Frequency	Monthly
First issue	January 1993
Final issue — Number	March 1994 16
Company	Europress Impact
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Website	http://www.zzap64.co.uk/
ISSN	0967-7461

Commodore Force was a computer games magazine covering games for the Commodore 64. It was published in the UK by Europress Impact. Its predecessor was Zzap!64.

Background

Commodore Force was launched primarily because Zzap!64 had changed drastically since the early days and the publishers had decided to re-launch the magazine completely with a new name and design. The name change was not only in line with the, then, current Europress Impact titles, Sega Force, N-Force, Amiga Force, but to distance itself away from the old Zzap! 64 style.

The editorial team included Steve Shields (managing editor), Phil King (deputy editor), Chris Hayward, Ian Osborne and James Price; all staff writers. Issue 1 had the cover date of January 1993. Regular editorial content included What’s Happening (news), Reel Action (2x cover tapes), Lloyd Mangram’s Mail Bag (letters), The Tipster, Public Sector (PD column), Bash Yer Brains (Adventure section) and The Mighty Brian (a technical section). First Samurai receives the first new Commodore Force "Hurricane Hit" accolade with a 97% overall rating.

Issue 2 and Phil King had gone; replacing his vacant Deputy Editor position Ian Osborne. Miles Guttery joins as staff writer to replace James Price who is also gone.

Issue 4 and publishers Europress Impact change their name to Impact Magazines. Controversy as Emlyn Hughes International Soccer is released on budget and, harshly, reviewed by Chris Hayward and Miles Guttery, giving ratings of 46% and 70% respectively. Needless to say countless Emlyn Hughes International Soccer fans bombarded the magazine with complaints. The magazine would later retract the rating in a games round up in issue 10 and awarded it a middle-of-the-road 75%.

Issue 10 and Zzap! 64, or Commodore Force (incorporating Zzap! 64), reaches 100 issues. A pull out Zzap!64 100th issue special featuring all the Gold Medal games in the magazines history. Steve Shields has left, to go to Sega Force Mega / Sega Master Force, leaving the Editor’s position to James Price, who had previously returned in issue 6. Ian Osborne had also left, going over to Amiga Force.

Issue 11 and Commodore Force lists its Top 100 Commodore 64 games of all time. Top three games listed included Head over Heels, runner up Laser Squad and top spot goes to Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Chris Hayward also leaves during this time.

A triple whammy of Hurricanes reviewed in issue 12. The long awaited Mayhem In Monsterland and Lemmings both receive an overall rating of 97%, while Alien 3 gets a 93% rating.

The readers get their chance to have a top 100 Commodore 64 game of all time list. Creatures comes out on top, followed by The Blues Brothers, Creatures 2, Turrican 2 and Bubble Bobble.

A readers awards of 1993 is listed in issue 15. Main awards included Beat ‘em up for Barbarian 2, best sport game was Emlyn Hughes International Soccer. The Blues Brothers won best movie tie-in, while the main best game overall went to Mayhem In Monsterland.

Issue 16’s next month page announces that the next issue will feature the CF teams favourite game. "Issue 17 – on sale, March 10", though it never did go on sale due to Impact Magazines closing down. Issue 16 also did not contain any new game reviews, with much space taken up by re-printing old cheats and tips.

Trivia

"The Mighty Brian", also known as Professor Brian Strain, was a dig at rival Commodore Format's "The Mighty Brain" who answered the readers' letters.

See also

• Video game journalism
• Magazine
• Computer and video game industry
• Video game
• Computer
• Computing

Links

• Zzap! 64 website containing info on Zzap! 64 and Commodore Force