880 Gamer Magazine Issue 8

Updated 30 July 2023

Magazine Edition 8 - December 2015

Issue 8 of 880 Gamer squeezes in before the end of 2015. Forty pages of commentary on the past and present with excellent reviews and a cover disk to boot. This issues demo disk is all about speed, with the third title from the famous Lotus trilogy teaming up with the even faster Tearaway Thomas! So suit up, strap in, and don't forget to bring your doggie poop bag for two of the fastest games to ever grace the Amiga!

Editorial Review

The 2014 issue of 880 Magazine provides a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of gaming and car culture, a theme that remains relevant today. The editorial by Mark Stanner reveals his personal journey from casual car enthusiast to a passionate aficionado, largely influenced by the game Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge. This narrative underscores the impact of gaming on shaping interests and hobbies, a phenomenon that has only grown more pronounced with the rise of immersive and realistic gaming experiences in recent years.

The magazine also explores the influence of the Amiga demo scene on Stanner's love for electronic music, demonstrating how different forms of media can converge to shape an individual's tastes and interests. This cross-pollination of interests is even more prevalent today, with the boundaries between different forms of media becoming increasingly blurred.

The issue also includes reader-requested game reviews, a feature that underscores the importance of community engagement in media, a trend that has only grown in the years since this issue was published. The review of Belial, an Australian game, and the Cartoon Classics Amiga 500+ pack, reflects the global reach of gaming culture, a theme that continues to resonate in today's interconnected world. I discuss more about this trend in my article, Crossovers in Pop Culture.

Finally, the mention of Star Wars, a franchise that has remained a cultural touchstone over the years, underscores the enduring appeal of certain narratives and themes. The anticipation for the seventh movie at the time of this issue's publication mirrors the excitement around new releases in popular franchises today. Now is a good time to mention our feature on the audio capability of Atari's Star Wars Coin-op game.

Overall, this vintage issue of 880 Magazine offers a snapshot of gaming and car culture in 2014, providing modern readers with a historical perspective on trends that continue to shape these communities today.

Magazine Features

Star Wars Commodore Amiga port

The Commodore Amiga port of the smash hit Atari coin op game, Star Wars, was published in 1998 but Doomark. This game was released 5 years after the coin-op release. Obviously the wireframe graphics were ancient by Commodore Amiga standards, consider the bouncing ball demo. This port does give some improvements in sound with clearer sampled speech direct from the movie. Take a look at our article on the the audio capability of the Star Wars Coin-op game.