{{Infobox magazine, , based =

Ludlow, Shropshire Ludlow () is a market town in Shropshire, England. The town is significant in the history of the Welsh Marches and in relation to Wales. It is located south of Shrewsbury and north of Hereford, on the A49 road which bypasses the town. The ...

, editor = Steve Shields
James Price , image_file = File:Commodore_Force_Issue_12_November_1993_Issue_Cover.jpg , image_caption = November 1993 cover , frequency = Monthly , category =

Computer and video games ''Computer and Video Games'' (also known as ''CVG'', ''Computer & Video Games'', ''C&VG'', ''Computer + Video Games'', or ''C+VG'') was a UK-based video game magazine, published in its original form between 1981 and 2004. Its offshoot website ...

, company =

Europress Impact Europress was a British magazine and software publisher based in Adlington, near Macclesfield, Cheshire. Their magazine publishing business was previously known as Database Publications. The software division was renamed in 1999 to Actualize. His ...

, firstdate = January 1993 , finaldate = March 1994 , finalnumber = 16 , issn = 0967-7461 , country =

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

, language =

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

, website = {{URL, www.zzap64.co.uk ''Commodore Force'' was a

computer game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device to gener ...

magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

covering games for the

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness ...

. It was published in the UK by

. Its predecessor was ''

Zzap!64 ''Zzap!64'' was a computer games magazine covering games on the Commodore International series of computers, especially the Commodore 64 (C64). It was published in the UK by Newsfield Publications Ltd and later by Europress Impact. The magazine ...

''.

Background

''Commodore Force'' was created when ''Zzap! 64'' was re-launched with a new name and design. The name change was not only in line with the then current

titles, ''

Sega Force ''Sega Force'' was an early 1990s publication that covered the Sega console range (Sega Mega Drive, Mega-CD, Master System and Game Gear). History ''Sega Force'', along with ''Nintendo Force'', was initially announced in mid-1991 by Newsfield. ...

'', ''N-Force'', ''

Amiga Force ''Amiga Force'' was a video games magazine launched towards the end of 1992 by Europress Impact. It lasted for 16 issues before being closed by its publishers. The first issue of ''Amiga Force'' went on sale around September 1992. The magazine wou ...

'', but served to distance the magazine 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'' received the first new Commodore Force "Hurricane Hit" accolade with a 97% overall rating. By issue 2 Phil King had gone, his vacant Deputy Editor position filled by Ian Osborne. Miles Guttery joined as staff writer to replace James Price who had also left. In issue 4, publishers Europress Impact changed their name to Impact Magazines. Controversy ensued as ''

Emlyn Hughes International Soccer ''Emlyn Hughes International Soccer'' (EHIS) is a soccer computer game first released in 1988 by Audiogenic Software Ltd. The game is named after the popular English footballer Emlyn Hughes. It initially appeared on the Commodore 64, with other ...

'' was released on budget and harshly reviewed by Chris Hayward and Miles Guttery, who gave ratings of 46% and 70%. Countless ''Emlyn Hughes International Soccer'' fans bombarded the magazine with complaints. The magazine later retracted the rating in a games round up in issue 10 and awarded it a middle-of-the-road 75%. With issue 10 ''Zzap! 64'', or ''Commodore Force'' (incorporating ''Zzap! 64''), reached 100 issues. A pull-out ''Zzap!64'' 100th issue special featured all the gold medal games in the magazine's history. Steve Shields had 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''. In Issue 11 and ''Commodore Force'' listed its Top 100 Commodore 64 games of all time. Top three games listed included '' Head over Heels'', runner up ''

Laser Squad ''Laser Squad'' is a turn-based tactics video game, originally released for the ZX Spectrum and later for the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Amiga, Sharp MZ-800 and Atari ST and PC computers between 1988 and 1992. It was designed by Julian Gollo ...

'' and top spot goes to ''

Frankie Goes To Hollywood Frankie Goes to Hollywood were an English synth-pop band formed in Liverpool in 1980. The group's best-known line-up comprised Holly Johnson (vocals), Paul Rutherford (backing vocals), Peter Gill (drums, percussion), Mark O'Toole (bass guit ...

''. Chris Hayward also departed during this time. A triple whammy of Hurricanes were reviewed in issue 12. The long-awaited ''

Mayhem In Monsterland ''Mayhem in Monsterland'' is a 1993 platform game for the Commodore 64. Its titular hero, "Mayhem", is a yellow triceratops blessed with the gift of speed. His goal is to return his world from sad to happy, ridding the world of monsters along t ...

'' and ''

Lemmings A lemming is a small rodent, usually found in or near the Arctic in tundra biomes. Lemmings form the subfamily Arvicolinae (also known as Microtinae) together with voles and muskrats, which form part of the superfamily Muroidea, which also include ...

'' both received an overall rating of 97%, while ''

Alien 3 ''Alien 3'' (stylized as ''A''LIEN³) is a 1992 American science fiction horror film directed by David Fincher and written by David Giler, Walter Hill, and Larry Ferguson, from a story by Vincent Ward. It stars Sigourney Weaver, reprising her r ...

'' was awarded 93%. The readers got their chance to have a top 100 Commodore 64 game of all-time list. '' Creatures'' came out on top, followed by ''The Blues Brothers'', ''

Creatures 2 ''Creatures 2'' is the second game in the '' Creatures'' artificial life game series made by Creature Labs, and the sequel to the 1996 game '' Creatures''. It features three species: the cute, dependent Norns, the cantankerous Grendels and the ...

'', ''

Turrican 2 ''Turrican II: The Final Fight'' is the second game of the ''Turrican'' series. The game, developed by Factor 5 was released in 1991 for the Commodore Amiga. This version was finished before the C64 version, but Manfred Trenz cites the C64 vers ...

'' and ''

Bubble Bobble is a 1986 platform video game, platform arcade game developed and published by Taito. It was distributed in the United States by Romstar, and in Europe by Electrocoin. Players control Bub and Bob, two dragons that set out to save their girlfrien ...

''. 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 ''

''. Issue 16’s next-month page announced that the next issue would feature the CF team's favourite game. "Issue 17 – on sale, March 10", though it never did go on sale due to Impact Magazines closing down. Issue 16 also contained no new game reviews, with much space taken up by reprinting old cheats and tips.

Links

''Zzap! 64'' website
containing info on ''Zzap! 64'' and ''Commodore Force''
Archived Commodore Force magazines
on the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

1993 establishments in England 1994 disestablishments in England Defunct computer magazines published in the United Kingdom Home computer magazines Commodore 8-bit computer magazines Magazines established in 1993 Magazines disestablished in 1994 Video game magazines published in the United Kingdom Mass media in Shropshire

Background

See also

Links