The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

DIAMOND MINE

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Maze And Patrolling Nasties Game

Author             :

Standalone Release(s)   : 1986: DIAMOND MINE, Blue Ribbon, £2.50

Compilation Release(s) : 1987: BLUE RIBBON GAMES DISC 1, Blue Ribbon, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128

Supplier            : BLUE RIBBON, CDS House, Beckett Road, DONCASTER DN2 4AD

                    Tel: 01322 21134

Disc compatibility     : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00

Instructions

Guide the pipe through the mine towards the diamonds avoiding walls and bugs.

If you hit a wall or a bug then twice as much pipe is lost. If you reach the diamonds or the pipe is eaten by bugs only that length is used. The pipe start length is decreased for each level.

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   * - Up,   ? - Down,   <RETURN> - Retract Pipe

Instructions' Source   : DIAMOND MINE (Blue Ribbon) Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User)

At just two pounds fifty, this program is aimed quite definitely at the "pocket money" market. However, the low cost is well matched by a low interest level, little originality and little in the way of addiction. It's not that the program is particularly bad, but just that I cannot really find very much to get enthusiastic about.

Imagine a mine - which is essentially a vertical maze - and at the top is the beginning of a pipeline. You must guide the pipeline through the mine in search of diamonds. There are a number of rather cute bugs which have a disconcerting habit
of eating the pipeline and these must be avoided using the usual Z, X, *, ? combination of keys.

The walls of the mine must also be negotiated, or else a length of pipeline is lost.

Having said that, there is remarkably little to add. It is not a particularly easy game to play, although naturally success comes with practice.

Sadly, I found that boredom also set in, although the game might keep some younger players interested for a few hours.

The Electron has been around a long time now, and the level of much other software makes this particular program look rather poor in comparison.

Pat Hillery, ELECTRON USER 3. 6