Page 47 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #6

V GAMESMAN CLUB - The Gamesmen was
ideo gamers are always interested
(and still is) an Australian chain of video
in finding out what new games are
game stores. At one time or another they
coming out for their systems. It’s
nice to get a sneak preview by see-
ing some screen shots and descriptions. It is carried every major game system. The
membership card was given out as a dis-
a natural curiosity, because one might con- count card to frequent purchasers. Mem-
sider a particular game as a future purchase bers received by mail, on a regular basis,
or maybe getting it as a gift on a special oc- their latest full color catalog. (Sort of how
casion. To find out if the game is worth Electronics Boutique operates today.) The
springing for, you have to trust the game Gamesmen was noted for being a source
magazines, and even then you have to be for the 2600 Pal carts that were not avail-
skeptical that they aren’t just giving out good able in the US (e.g Klax). One of their major
reviews so as not to offend the advertisers. suppliers was HES, who licensed and re-
The video game clubs were sometimes privy packaged a lot of Activision titles.
to exclusive information. To join some of
these clubs all you had to do was send back FUNCOLAND FUN CLUB - Funcoland is the
the registration card that came with the system or user site. Dan can be reached at Dan-Avc@usa.net or U.S. chain of stores that sells new games, but
game. This is always a good idea because some- http://avconline.atari.org. they are more well known for selling second
times you get free promo items. Here is a list of the hand games at bargain prices. I just received a
early game clubs that I have had experience with. NUMB THUMB CLUB - This was the Imagic's game notice and a new card from them saying that
Perhaps you may recall some of these: club. The free magazine was called the Numb Thumb the new card was good for discounts at several
News. Only 2 issues were published before it banged other stores such as Babbages, Software Etc.,
ATARI GAME CLUB - This video game club was up due to the crash of '84. They weren't afraid to men- and Game Stop. It is now issued by Game In-
definitely worth belonging to. Atari Age was originally tion the most common video game injury. There was former, which is an excellent and unbiased
a newsletter (more like a newspaper) and later went the usual game news and interviews, some game tips, magazine. They recently changed their format
on to become a magazine. There were articles on and a few items for direct sale. and page size and it looks like they have more
the latest games for the 2600 & 5200, including PC coverage. I thought it was fine the way it
those that they were working on. Unfortunately, ACTIVISION (various) - Had a "club" for almost every was and maybe they should have left it alone.
there weren't any interviews with programmers since game. By achieving a qualifying score in Dragster, for
it was against company policy. There were puzzles example, you received a merit badge and enrollment NINTENDO FUN CLUB - This was the original
and the obligatory catalog of game accessories for in the World Class Dragster Club. For Freeway it name. The publication was The Nintendo Fun
sale to members. By far the best items they had for was the "Save the Chicken Foundation." For Skiing Club News. That was before I joined. Now it is:
sale were the Club exclusives. Games like Crazy it was the "Activision Ski Team" etc. Activisions was
Climber, Quadrun, and Rubik's Cube were only their magazine and newsletter. THE NINTENDO POWER CLUB - Membership
available from the club. Other games like Water- got you a subscription to Nintendo Power, a
world and Atari Video Cube were first available here COLECOVISION VIDEO CLUB - All registered CV card, and a Mario pin. Nintendo Power had
before being released to the stores. Swordquest owners got their first issue of the ColecoVision Experi- what everybody else had as far as game news
contestants had an advantage because they could ence and became charter members. There were 4 and items for sale. It is still being published
buy their games early and have more time to work issues produced when the CV was in its heyday. today, and they are now actually giving honest
on the solution. You got the newest scoop on the ColecoVision and reviews and ratings for third party software,
the Adam Computer. which is surprising. It was not always that way.
ATARIAN VIDEO GAME CLUB - This was the res- They give out a lot of free promotional items
urrected Atari club that came into existence from the ODYSSEY ADVENTURE CLUB - Magnavox had an like guidebooks and demo tapes, trading cards,
renewed interest in video games following the intro- O2 owners magazine called Odyssey Adventure, of stickers, and posters that you can't get by buy-
duction of the NES. Atari had released their 7800 which there were 5 issues produced. The O3 was ing the magazine on the newsstand. I love to
and some additional 2600 games. The club maga- hinted at. The first issue was free for the returned reg- get freebies. The magazine is a slick publica-
zine was called the Atarian and membership entitled istration card. There were plenty of articles on Ed tion that was once even done in 3-D. Lately it
you to a subscription, membership card, and patch. Averett, their prolific programmer. has been too kiddie due to the Pokèmon craze.
Only 3 issues were published. There were two differ- Intellivision, as far as I can tell, never had a
ent "premiere issues" just to confuse things. I won- GAMELINE ACADEMY OF VIDEO ARTS - I was not club or magazine. There was a fanzine called
der if Cav got his inspiration from them. There was actually a member of this club. I had debated joining Intellivision Lines by Ralph Linne that was
an "Atari Advantage" sales promotion that offered until I saw that they were offering games that I couldn't around for a while. INTV Corp, the company
games and prizes. All to no avail, the NES had cor- play or get anywhere else. The membership cards that bought the rights to the Intellivision, sent
nered the market and Atari was eventually sold. Un- came with the Gameline system that I had found in a out color catalogs showing their new games.
fulfilled subscriptions were paid off in carts (e.g. Ra- video store many years later. The Gameline was a Some NES third parties (e.g. Acclaim, FCI,
dar Lock, Road Runner), which was cool. modem that was used to dial up their company and Electronic Arts) had their own publications.
download whatever games you wanted from their I'm sure that I may have missed a few of the
ATARI VIDEO CLUB - This is a small club, not actu- catalog. This would not be a permanent copy as you early video game clubs or company publica-
ally affiliated with Atari. There is no membership were limited to a certain number of plays per load. tions. Please don't feel slighted because I didn't
card that I recall. A club newsletter called The Atari The one game they had that was an exclusive was a mention one of your favorites. If you know of
Zone containing news, reviews and game competi- Spectravision prototype called Snowplow. This was others, feel free to contact me at
tions comes out occasionally. Owner Dan Iacovelli the only time this game was shown to the public. No albackiel@aol.com. I could use more info
started this group back in 1989. In the old days, Dan one seems to know what happened to it. CVC was about early club activity, especially those out-
received insider information from Atari. Today, the only in service for about a year. They eventually be- side the US. Today the only other club that I
publication gets most of its hot news from Jaguar came better known as, and evolved into, AOL. was considering was the one for the Play-
and Lynx developers. The text is a bit unpolished, Station. It is not free, but they send you demo
and it doesn't look like it gets proofread or spell- VECTREX OWNER'S CLUB - I don't know if there disks that allow you to play several levels of a
checked. I suggest a free sample issue, which may was an actual membership card. Only one issue of the game. I would like to close with a bit of wit. As
be downloaded, to see if it is your cup of tea. The newsletter PASSPORT made it out the door. Groucho Marx once said, "I refuse to join any
club has its own website and is also part of a Jag club that would have me as a member.”

Classic Gamer Magazine Spring 2001 47