Space Age Games (Starlog - February 1983)

Last year I acquired an assortment of Starlog issues from the early 1980s, and they often include video game articles, among other interesting features. This four-page story from 1983 was written to help Starlog readers choose the video game console that is right for them. It compares the price, microprocessor, controllers, and game library of the Atari VCS (2600), Odyssey 2, Intellivision, Emerson Arcadia 2001, Colecovision, and Atari 5200. Near the end of the article, there is a mention of possibly renting Atari 5200 games by downloading them through a phone line to a module made by a third-party. I don't believe this ever materialized, though I wonder if there are any prototypes of the module out there. It's not far-fetched, as Intellivision did have game streaming through its PlayCable service in 1981, but I've never heard of renting 5200 games before.

[YouTube] Kenner's Ewok Village Playset & Accessories (1983)

https://youtu.be/pANWmEf65tw

It's May 4th and the final Star Wars post this week is for Kenner's Ewok Village Playset. While it didn't include any action figures, it's a nice playset and one of the larger ones for Kenner's original Star Wars line, perhaps only outdone by the towering Death Star. The village could have used a bit more standing room as Kenner squeezed a lot in here. There are three trees holding the main platform that features railings, a campfire with spit, and drum. One tree has a hut inside of it and another has a chute that action figures can drop down. Around the exterior are an elevator and swinging boulder, along with a net trap underneath. Shown in the video are two additional Ewok accessories: the Assault Catapult and Combat Glider. Kenner made an Ewok Battle Wagon for its "Power of the Force" series but I do not own that one. Although I didn't include the Rebel Commando action figure in the video, he can be seen in an outdoor photo below and I scanned his packaging along with many of the other Return of the Jedi characters. I put together an Ewok cheat sheet to help with the names too, though I'm missing Paploo's card so I made a name tag for him.

Ewok Village Playset

Assault Catapult & Combat Glider

Action Figures

Outdoor Photos

May the Force (4th) Be With You

[YouTube] Kenner's Star Wars Speeder Bike (1983)

https://youtu.be/K16faqoZRtM

The Star Wars speeder bike debuted in Return of the Jedi and accounted for one of the most exciting action scenes in the film. Kenner's toy representation does a good job of recreating the vehicle, complete with an exploding mechanism. Unfortunately, as seen in the video, my bike won't stay together any longer as the clip that is supposed to hold the spring-loaded part is failing. In the video I use a twisty tie to hold it together which I also did for the photos below but you won't see it since I removed it in editing.

Indoor Photos

Outdoor Photos

Documentation, Catalog Image, & Biker Scout

 

Kenner's 1995-97 Speeder Bikes