Game Covers - Skiing (Philips G7000)

This Videopac offers three competitive skiing events: Slalom, Giant Slalom and a Down Hill Race. The names of these events appear at the bottom of the screen, one after the other. Make your choice by pulling the joystick of your handset (either one will do) when the name of the chosen event shows on the screen.

Slalom

You follow a twisting course, marked out by posts. The route is indicated in the following way; you pass between two identical coloured posts when they are in a horizontal line, moving down towards the bottom of the screen. When the posts are in a single vertical line you pass between them from side to side, continuing down towards the finishing line. The computer keeps track of the time for both skiers. The time is recorded when the skier passes the finishing line.

When you make an error by missing one of the posts, your time-keeping will stop. Instead there will be a record of the number of errors you have made.

In the bottom centre of the screen you see some question marks. This is where the computer will register the best time made by a competitor (without making any errors of course) during a series of events.

You steer your skier with the joystick of your handset. He will only start when you pull the joystick towards you. You may also stop during the race. This can be done by pushing the joystick away from you.  It does mean that you are losing valuable time however!

When you press the action button, he will accelerate so there is the possibility to make up for lost time. 

Giant Slalom

This game follows the same rules as the Slalom, but the course is longer, and the posts are farther apart.

Down Hill

Again the same basic rules apply. The number of obstacles is the same (55) but the arrangement is different to allow a faster descent. 

Competition starts

Once you have made your choice, the computer will confirm that choice with a sound signal.  A second sound signal tells you that the count-down has started. Both skiers automatically assume their starting position. When the count-down is completed, you will hear a starting shot and the race begins. Do remember, that your skier will only start when you pull the joystick towards you.

When the race is over, it is followed automatically by a second one.  This will actually continue until you press the RESET button.

Alpine Events

You may also organise a complete Alpine event by competing in a combination of several events, each over one or more races.

3D View (hold and move to rotate) New Tab (Full Screen)

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 86 - Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride

There was a time when hearing this song was an extremely rare occurrence.  Now, it seems you can hear it everywhere, especially during television adverts.  

Break My Stride is probably Matthew Wilder's most famous track and was released as the lead single from his debut album "I Don't Speak the Language" on the 14th January 1984 (oooh, I was 7 years and 2 days old), entering the UK charts at 79.  It managed to peak at number 4 four weeks later.

Useless fact - Back in the late 90s, it seemed the only way to listen to this song was to find a dodgy MP3 on Napster, or whatever other dodgy website that was available at the time.  I remember feeling really chuffed with myself when I found a decent copy of it.  Mind you, it took me several hours to download it on my slow dial-up connection.  Essex FM used to broadcast a weekly 80s show every Sunday and one week I emailed them asking if they could play it. Not expecting they would, I was pleasantly surprised when a few weeks later they actually did play it.  It was probably the first time I had heard it played on the radio since the 80s.

Now, it's everywhere,  and can currently be heard during an advertisement for Screwfix of all things!

Anyway, I love it, so here it is on my list.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 85 - The Adventures - Broken Land

Broken Land by The Adventure is a song that really should have done much better when it was released on the 14th March 1988.  Despite being such an incredible song, it only managed to peak at 20 in the UK charts, back at the same time when that crap Harry Enfield song Loadsamoney (Doin' Up The House) managed to reach number 4.  Criminal!

An interesting fact according to Wikipedia is that the song was actually the most played song on BBC Radio 1.

I've always loved this song which is why I am including it in my list of favourite music. 

Enjoy.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 84 - Depeche Mode - Everything Counts

This is a great song by Depeche Mode, released back in July 1983 from their third studio album "Construction Time Again".  

It entered the UK charts at number 41 before peaking at number 6 just four weeks later.  It's one of my favourite DM tunes after Vince Clarke left the band a few years earlier, with this song being written by Martin Gore.  

Personally, I will always prefer the more upbeat, pop/disco songs from their first album Speak and Spell, but then I'm a sucker for anything written by Vince Clarke and his electronic wizardry with analogue synthesizers.  Still, this song along with a few others (People are People, See You, and Enjoy the Silence) proved that Depeche Mode could still pump out some memorable and catchy tunes without VC.

Enjoy...

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 82 - Erasure - Oh L' Amour

Considering Erasure are one of my all-time favourite bands, they haven't been featured much in my list of favourite songs so far.

Oh L'Amour was Erasure's third single from their debut album Wonderland, and it was released on the 21st April 1986 to a very luke-warm reception where it only managed to reach 85 in the UK Singles Charts.  Fortunately, time has been kind to the track, and when it was re-released in 2003, it managed to peak at a much more respectable (and well-deserved) 13th position.

I've been meaning to include this one in my list for quite some time but with the song being featured in Renaults' television advertisement for their Clio model car, I thought now would be a good time.

Sit back and enjoy the incredible synths of Vince Clarke, along with the ever-flamboyant Andy Bell and his amazing voice.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 81 - Kim Wilde - Kids in America

There are a few songs that instantly take me way back to my very young childhood, and Kim Wilde's Kids in America is one of them.  Specifically, this one reminds me of a local club my parents were members of and frequented often as a family (The Bluehouse Club, in Laindon). I guess they must have played it during one of our visits and that moment has been stuck in my head ever since.

Released way back on the 26th of January 1981, it was the debut single from Kim Wilde, taken from her self-titled first album, and peaked at number 2 in the UK Charts for two weeks

A great track, and another reminder of how great the music was in the 1980s.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 79 - Nik Kershaw - I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Today's song is a real feel-good track from 1983 by Nik Kershaw.  I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me was released exactly 40 years ago today, on Friday 9th September 1983 and was a single taken from his debut album Human Racing.  Initially, it didn't sell very well and only reached number 47 in the UK Top 100 charts.  However, following the success of Kershaw's next two singles (Wouldn't It Be Good and Dancing Girls), the song was re-released in June 1984 where it peaked at a rather impressive number 2.

As with previous Nik Kershaw tracks, listening to this song always brings back good memories of my childhood as it was quite often heard many times due to my sister being a big fan of his. 

I've got to admit though..,  Saying it's been 40 years since its release really makes me feel old.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 77 - The Human League - Don't You Want Me

Here's another banger from the 1980s, Don't You Want Me was a chart-topping hit for The Human League back in 1981.  Released on the 27th of November of that year, it entered the charts at number eight before shooting to number one for the following five weeks, thus becoming the Official UK Christmas Number One of 1981.  It also became the biggest-selling hit of the year too, and possibly their best-known track.  Crazy considering lead singer Phil Oakey wasn't particularly pleased with it and had the song as the last track on side two of the album it came from - Dare.

It's a true electronic-synth classic and one of the early 1980s' most defining songs.  It definitely makes it on my list of favourite tracks.

Enjoy!

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 76 - Fiction Factory - (Feels Like) Heaven

(Feels Like) Heaven was a one-hit-wonder for Scottish new-wave band Fiction Factory back at the tail end of 1983.  It always surprised me that the band didn't go on to better things but their other releases were either flops or just not popular enough to get anywhere in the charts.  Such a shame because they were more than capable of producing good songs, and (Feels Like) Heaven proves it.  

It only managed to reach number 6 in the UK Top 40 on the 14th of January 1984, but I include it here in my list of favourite songs because it really is a great 1980s synth-pop track that deserved much more recognition than it received.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 75 - A-ha - The Sun Always Shines on TV

Ranking alongside Take On Me as one of my all-time favourite 80s tracks.  It was A-ha's follow-up single and third from their album "Hunting High and Low".  Despite not being as popular as Take on Me, it still managed to perform really well, achieving number 1 in the UK charts on the 28th of December 1985 where it remained for 2 weeks.

Another defining music track from the 1980s.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 74 - Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen

A classic track from 1982 makes it to number 74 on my list of favourite music.  Come on Eileen was released on the 25th of June 1982 and was Dexy's Midnight Runners 2nd UK number one following Geno in 1980.  Released as a single from their second studio album Too-Rye-Ay, it did pretty well in America too, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Whenever I hear this song, it always takes me back to a childhood memory of visiting some sort of fate with my grandma and I vividly remember a stall that had a game where I had to place a toy car in a slot, and then let it roll down.  Whoever's car reached the bottom first won the game.

Happy memories from a simpler time.  Enjoy.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 71 - A-ha - Take On Me

Probably one of the most memorable music videos from the 1980s, and definitely one of the best songs from that decade, Take On Me actually had a troubled start when the first version of the song failed to chart in the UK in 1984.  It failed to generate much attention for a second time when it was released again in a slightly different form in early 1985.  It wasn't until the third release in September of the same year that the song gained popularity and plenty of air time on the radio which resulted in the song reaching an impressive number 2 on the UK singles charts in October.

This song ranks highly in my list of all time favourite songs and hopefully a whole new generation will get to experience the song thanks for its use in the trailer of the new The Last of Us TV series.  Players of the game TLOU Part 2 will know that Ellie finds a guitar whilst exploring a devastated Seattle and plays (and sings) an acoustic version of Take on Me.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 68 - Electric Light Orchestra - Calling America

Here's a cracker from 1986 that I had nearly completely forgotten about, but last night I decided to stick on some Electric Light Orchestra, and in between classics like 'Mr Blue Sky' and 'Sweet Talking Woman' this beauty came on, and the memories hit me.

I loved this song when it came out.  Released in the UK as a single from their album 'Balance of Power' on 21st February 1986, it only managed to peak at number 28.

It's a really upbeat, happy and bright song that really lifts your mood (well, it did mine).  Enjoy!

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 57 - New Order (Blue Monday)

Blue Monday is an amazing piece of 80s electronic synth-pop music and has to be included in my list of favourite songs.  Released in 1983, it peaked at number 9 and spent 38 weeks in the top 75.  It fared slightly better when it was re-released in 1988, and reached a much better number 3 in the UK charts.

As soon as this song comes on in the car, the volume goes straight up!

A small bit of personal trivia - Blue Monday was one of the very first songs I attempted to 'track' on my Commodore Amiga in the early 90s due to its simplistic bassline.

Enjoy

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 54 - Tears For Fears (Everybody Wants to Rule the World)

Here's another song from Tears for Fears, and probably one of their most well-known tracks.  I loved this song when growing up in the 80s and it will always remind me of a great 80s comedy flick called "Real Genius" that starred a young Val Kilmer and featured the song playing over the credits at the end (and a house full of popcorn!)

The song was released in March 1985 as a single from their second studio album "Songs from the Big Chair" and peaked at number 2 on the UK charts a month later.

This song is one of the defining new-wave/synth-pop tracks of the 1980s and is one of my all-time favourite songs.

Enjoy.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 53 - Tears For Fears (Mad World)

Today's song is a favourite of mine from 1982 by Tears For Fears.  Mad World was a single from their debut album "The Hunting", and it reached a pretty good number 3 in the UK charts.

A classic 80's track, and definitely one of my favourites.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 52 - El DeBarge (Who's Johnny)

Today's track is from one of my favourite 1980s movies - Short Circuit.  Who's Johnny by El DeBarge was released in 1986 and reached number 3 in the US Billboard Top 100 Charts.  

I remember the song not being as widely available in the UK (I don't think it even charted here), and this was in a time before the internet, so opportunities to listen to it were rare.  As I recall, the song only appeared a few times in the film (incomplete) - in a short scene when Stephanie Speck, played brilliantly by Ally Sheedy, is showing Johnny 5 around her home, and later when Johnny 5 has commandeered a Nova Robotics van.

A great tune, from a great movie.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 48 - Erasure (Sometimes)

So here we are with my 48th track, and it's surprising that I've only had one Erasure song on the list so far considering how much of a fan I am of the synth-pop duo.  Well, here we are with track number two!

For me, 'Sometimes' is one of the defining synth songs of the mid to late 1980s.  It's amazing and deservedly sat in the UK charts for an impressive 23 weeks, peaking at Number 2 in December 1986, and only being beaten from the top spot by Europe's "The Final Countdown".

Guaranteed to cheer me up when I feel down (which is a lot these days, but hey ho),  

It does make me think back to a comment my son Kieran made a few weeks ago about how happy songs sounded in the 1980s compared to what is in the popular charts today.

"It's not the way you lead me by the hand into the bedroom

It's not the way you throw your clothes upon the bathroom floor

Been thinking about ya, I just couldn't wait to see

Fling my arms around ya as we fall in ecstasy"

You know the rest :)

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 45 - The Piranhas (Tom Hark)

While searching for Zambezi by the Piranhas, their cover of Tom Hark popped up and instantly took me back in time to over 40 years ago.  Man, I forgot how much I loved this song when I was little.  It entered the charts in August 1980 (I was three years old), and remained there for twelve weeks, peaking at number six.  It was The Piranha's biggest hit.  Check the video out and enjoy the nostalgia.

"Does anybody know how long to World War III?

I wanna know, I gotta book me holiday

They want me in the Army but I just can't go

I'm far too busy listening to the radio"

What great lyrics!

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 44 - The Piranhas (Zambezi)

Flipping heck... this is a blast from the past!  I remember loving it when I was a kid

A cover of Zambezi by Lou Busch and his Orchestra, this version was released back in 1982 by The Piranhas (and featuring Boring Bob Grover - The Man With The Golden Trumpet) where it entered into the UK Top 40 in September/October.  I was but a 5 year old lad with obviously no decent taste in music.

"Well if my bank should phone, tell them I ain't at home,
Just say I packed my plastic bag and went away.
As for the landlord's rent, I spent it on a tent,
So if he's asking questions, you'll know what to say.

 You don't get lyrics like that anymore.