Max Design 1992
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 2/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

In late 1992, two trading simulations were competing for the (German / European) market: Der Patrizier (also know as The Patrician abroad) and 1869. The latter came a little later (wow...) and it was generally considered the loser in this direct duel by the press. Only by a small margin, though - a very good second place.

Auswärtiges Amt 1991
Genre: Puzzle, Action
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Freeware
System: Amiga

In 1991, the EU wasn't nearly as prominent as it is now. In fact, it didn't even exist back then, because the treaties of Maastricht would only be signed a year later. However, there was the 'European Community' which was pretty much a predecessor of the EU. And it was obvious that the political and economic integration would continue, so there was a 'need' for political propaganda to soften the nationalist feelings of the population. Which part of the population is most easily influenced? Right, the children. Enter Auf dem Weg nach Europa.

Core Design 1994
Genre: Action
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Banshee is a very late arrival in the genre of shooters. In 1994, the gaming industry started moving everything towards 'three-dimensional' games, and classic concepts like this one slowly died out. Thankfully, this genre (at least the subgenre of 'vertical shooters') got one final hit with this game.

Blue Byte 1991
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Battle Isle - the game which got two different groups of games into public focus: wargames and German games. Both had had their loyal fan-base before, but both had been small. Tactical wargames turned into a very popular genre following this game. German games stayed a niche market in spite of this game's success.

Ocean 1989
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Yay, it's summer! Dig out your bathing shorts / suit, jump in the car and head for the beach. And hope you are one of these good-looking sport-types to avoid being laughed about. Or alternatively, hope there are even fatter people than you to keep the attention away from the result of your beer sessions. Hiring some people with visible mutations could also help...

Starbyte 1991
Genre: Strategy
Rating: 2/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Coal mining: an industry living 100% from subsidies. Here in Germany, they only stopped training new miners quite recently, i.e. until then, they let people go to their doom job-wise by pretending this still has a future. Unbelievable! Obviously, there were different times, too. 100 years ago, coal mining became the backbone of the industrial revolution. And that's the time this game is about.

Image Works 1989
Genre: Action
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Blasteroids, along with Phobia and Spidertronic, was one of the first three original games I owned. Ironically enough, I owned it before I even got an Amiga. Oh well - looking at a box cover can be fun, too.

Millenium 1993
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 4/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

In contrary to the potential expectations considering the name, Brutal Sports Football does not have very much in common with soccer or football (or even sports). Some elements have been adopted, though. Two teams try to put a ball into the enemy's goal while guarding their own.

Millenium 1994
Genre: Sport, Action
Rating: 5/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

In contrary to the potential expectations considering the name, Brutal Sports Football does not have very much in common with soccer or football (or even sports). Some elements have been adopted, though. Two teams try to put a ball into the enemy's goal while guarding their own.

Tynesoft 1989
Genre: Action, Sport
Rating: 3/6
Licence: Commercial
System: Amiga

Summer Games, California Games - you all know these games which consist of somehow sports-related mini games. Then there was was Circus Games - we're already getting a little more obscure here - and later, the same company released Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. And once again, the title says it all, so let's quickly go through the events of this game.