====================================== FILTHY RICH? ====================================== MANY OF THE POPULAR board games have made their way quickly over to the computer scene: The screen is your board and the play is done on your keys. With these versions you can no longer loose those scrabble letters or all those Hotels and Houses, Chess men, checker balls etc etc. A new generation of games entertainment have been attracted to the computer screen, without the advantages of their classical forbears. They probably would have made it into production as 'boardware' were it not for the ready availability of the software market. FILTHY RICH, from WADD SOFT of Lytham St. Annes in Lancashire, is based upon the American 'Glam' soap operas where vice, blackmail and scandal are liberally interweaved into the storyline. With Filthy Rich however, you choose the character you wish to play before launching yourself directly into mainstream Yankee comedy. You could play Filthy Rich as a demanding game of strategy which requires considerable accuracy and all your attention to win. I preferred to keep it at a much lower level and played purely for fun. The game is supplied with twenty variations on a theme, before starting you choose which one by selecting a number between 1 and 20. These variations revolve around the sordid details of one of Filthy Rich's key objectives: Blackmail! You are also asked for the Surname you would like the characters to take on. You may well wish to keep it impersonal to start with, especially if playing with guests, until you get the feel of the play. Now you are free to examine each individuals character before deciding to choose which one you wish to portray. This will give you details regarding the individuals temperament, age, sex drive, problems such as cocaine addiction etc., drinking habits, number of shares owned and level of difficulty. This level of difficulty will give you an idea of how easy, or impossible, it will be for that character to attain control of at least 51 shares and become President of the family Corporation. This is the objective of the game. If you choose a character with a high sex drive or excessive drinking habits, for example, you will need to frequently divert your attention during the game to satisfy those needs. Unless you do the individual is unable to function properly in other aspects of the game. This also has some bearing upon the likelihood of being Blackmailed, yourself, by other members of the 'family'. There are a number of suitably named 'spots' you can visit to satisfy your urgent needs as well: Pancho's Columbian Cafe if you need a snort, the Humpalot Massage Parlor can only guarantee one thing. I'll leave you to discover the delights to be found at 'Shakeyafunkies Nitespot' and 'L'Hotel du Bonk'. To get back to the main object of the game, 'to gain control of at least 51 shares in the family Corporation' you will need to apply your skill and judgement to the wheeling and dealing activities as well - if you can tear yourself away from the other diversions! The basic family comprises of the parents, two married sons and an unmarried son or daughter. Each has control of ten shares, for you to gain control of an individuals shares you need to gather enough information to Blackmail him or her. You may also buy and sell shares and you have $1,000,000 to start off with. Then there are the subsidiary Companies to get involved in, Imports and Exports to control but don't forget to keep your 'drives' under control. You have three turns per episode and 26 episodes a game. For me each game was far too short to take control of the 'board'. Was I spending too much time at the 'Skinnydip Marina'? You'll have to wait until the next episode to find out! WADD SOFT have also released 'LINEBACKER' - The American Football Game - just right for when you need a workout, but can't muster up the energy. This is a tactical game for two players to try and outguess each other (or one player versus Joyce) in the selection of game plays and NOT an arcade style game. Written in Mallard BASIC specially for all the PCW's Linebacker would make an interesting alternative for a wet Saturday afternoon when the football pitch is washed out. Unlike 'real' football, American football is played by two teams of forty five players. That's right, forty five players each, but only eleven players from each team may be on the field at any one time. The object of the game is similar to conventional Rugby, get the ball down into your opponents' half and score a touchdown which is worth six points. This may be converted for an additional point but a field goal, made during normal play, is worth three points. The team that has possession of the ball have four attempts to move the ball ten yards down the field. If successful they have another four attempts to advance a further ten yards down the field. But if they fail, the defence gain possession of the ball and so on. The game will give you about an hours play, which is divided into four quarters. If you enjoy a game of American football, or even Rugby then Linebacker is worth a try! Don't expect an action packed graphics special, it's a game of strategy for the football enthusiast. Linebacker comes with two booklet, the Users' Manual and the Play Book. I found the scenario difficult to get into and the play rather slow, but then I'm not football minded. I caught myself reliving my sordid experiences of Filthy Rich when I should have been concentrating on the gameplay. Oh well, ho hum. Order through PCW-FILE and save yourself #1 per disc. If you want more details about either game contact WADD SOFT, 227 Church Road, St Annes, Lancs. FY8 3NN