Tag: track and field

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 9

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 9

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Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s and 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Konami’s 3-in-1 sports games print ad

Long before the advent of major league sports video games, Konami was prolific with sports video games.

Back in the 1980s, Konami was a prominent gaming company as they released a lot of games that became hits in the arcades, on home computers and gaming consoles. Considering the limited amount of games publishers were allowed to release on the Nintendo Entertainment System in America, what Konami released were really fun games to play and their contributions of sports-based video games on the NES were significant. Possibly due to a lack of marketing budget at the time, they promoted Blades of Steel, Double Dribble and Track & Field II with this single-page ad showing the game box covers and screenshots. Ultimately, this print ad was sufficient in giving gamers a clear idea of what to expect with the three games.

2. The Adventures of Bayou Billy print ad

Bayou Billy looks inspired by the cinematic hero Crocodile Dundee. This video game even had a comic book adaptation published by Archie Comics.

Still with Konami, the Japanese publisher released in America the non-military adventure game The Adventures of Bayou Billy for the NES which was a revised version of their 1988 Family Computer game titled Mad City (see the differences by clicking here). This game really looked like it was influenced by Hollywood action/adventure movies of the era and it provided gamers gameplay styles of light gun shooting, beat-them-up action and racing. The titular hero looks very inspired by the cinematic hero Crocodile Dundee. This print ad is very stylish and also eye-catching. I think it has done a good job to make viewers interested in the video game.

3. Krull Atari video game print ad

I never got to play this Krull video game on Atari 2600, nor its arcade game.

Way back in 1983, I was fortunate to see the science fantasy movie Krull inside the movie theater here in the Philippines. When I saw this print ad, I easily got excited for the Atari 2600 video game adaptation but never got to play it. This print ad does its job showing what Krull’s game looked like and the ad makers cleverly used painted art reflecting the movie’s characters and the armored enemies from space. I should add that between the time I saw the movie and the time I first saw this print ad, I became aware of the existence of the Krull arcade game by watching an episode of Starcade on TV.

4. Rocket Ranger NES print ad

Really great and detailed painted artwork in this print ad.

When Rocket Ranger on the Amiga in 1988, it had fancy visuals and a strong cinematic vibe that worked smoothly with the game design. This game was developed by Cinemaware which developed a reputation of releasing games based on classic film genres. In 1990, a version of Rocket Ranger for the NES was published by Kemco/Seika and print ads using painted art were made to promote the game. This particular print ad made heavy use of painted art which was captivating to look at while conveniently keeping people’s minds off the downgraded visuals of the NES version.

5. Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City print ad with contest entry

Some gamers thought this was a basketball video game.

Yes, it was all true. There definitely was a video game that NBA legend Michael Jordan endorsed. First released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America in 1994, Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City was a side-scrolling action game in which gamers play a digital version of Jordan who has to save his friends, fight enemies and move from one location to the next in order to progress. The fact that an image of Michael Jordan holding two balls was used in this print ad (as well as on the game cover) in a dominating fashion made some gamers think this was a basketball game. The display of screenshots was so small, it did not help the situation. Lastly, the available of a contest entry form in this print ad was meant to promote not only the game but also GamePro magazine.  

6. Gun.Smoke print ad

Gun.Smoke was indeed a fun game to play on NES. Therefore, the promotion is justified.

This print ad of the NES port of Gun.Smoke has strong imagery and literary descriptions the strongly emphasize the Old West concept and setting. The screenshots displayed are too small but the descriptions more than made up for it. Ultimately, what this print ad emphasized was realized as the NES version of Gun.Smoke itself captured the continuous action and excitement of the arcade version and the graphical limitations of the console did not matter much. I myself played this game and it was a lot of fun.

7. Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage print ad

This add appeared in my comic books and magazines I read in 1994.

Back in 1993, Marvel Comics published the huge Maximum Carnage crossover storyline which covered many issues of the four monthly Spider-Man comic books and two issues of the quarterly Spider-Man Unlimited series. Considering the high popularities of Venom and Carnage at the time, it was not surprising that Marvel took advantage by having Maximum Carnage licensed to Acclaim to create a video game adaptation in the form of a beat-them-up.

Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage was released for SNES and Sega Genesis in 1994, and game developer Software Creations really adapted story to fit with their side-scrolling game design. Between playable stages are cutscenes that actually were digitized versions of actual comic book panels. This red-colored print ad had a dominating image of Carnage and screenshots with text descriptions. The ad makers even went the extra mile by inserting screenshot cut-outs showing individual characters such as Firestar, Venom, Spider-Man, Carnage, Cloak and Dagger, Iron Fist, Captain America and more. Whatever your opinion is about the Maximum Carnage storyline or the video game adaptation, there is no denying that this was a very eye-catching print ad.

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Muntinlupa City’s state-of-the-art Track and Field Oval inaugurated

Muntinlupa City’s state-of-the-art Track and Field Oval inaugurated

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As part of the local sports development plan, the City Government of Muntinlupa formally inaugurated the state-of-the-art Track and Field Oval, envisioned to be the breeding ground of future world-class athletes.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi unveiled the inaugural marker during the blessing ceremony at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex, Brgy. Tunasan on April 19 together with local officials and Long Jump Queen of the Philippines and Heptathlon Champion Elma Muros-Posadas.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi with Elma Muros-Posadas. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)
The ribbon-cutting ceremony. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

The local exec said that the infrastructure project will benefit local athletes and will hone their skills to be equipped for national and international competitions. Fresnedi commits to support Muntinlupeño athletes through the development of sporting facilities in the local Sports Complex and other programs.

Further, heptathlon champion Muros-Posadas lauded the City Government for constructing the Track and Field Oval as young athletes will now have an optimal place to train.

“Naoverwhelm ako…nagpapasalamat ako sa Muntinlupa dahil may ganito na (Track and Field Oval). Dati kailangan pang bumiyahe papuntang Ultra Complex o kaya delikado dahil nagpa-practice sa kalsada, pero ngayon meron na dito,” Muros-Posadas added.

The former Track and Field national athlete urged student-athletes and local coaches to persevere and do their best as form of gratitude for the efforts of the local government to construct world-class sports facilities.

Also joining the event were School Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla (CESO V), Coun. Ivee Arciaga Tadefa, Coun. Atty. Raul Corro, Coun. Louie Arciaga, Coun. Allan Camilon, Coun. Arlene Hilapo, Coun. Metong Sevilla, Mr. Jedi Presnedi, and Ms. Rachel Arciaga.

A drone shot of the newest sports facility in the city. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Designed by City Architect Don Causapin, the Muntinlupa Track and Field has an eight-lane 400m international standard oval with a lot area of two (2) hectares. The sporting venue has a warm up lane, soccer field, provision for control room, area for long and triple jump, shotput, javelin throw, discus throw, water jump, and provision for bleacher buildings.

Recently, the City Government has also inaugurated the Muntinlupa Aquatic Center, the first indoor Olympic-size swimming pool in the country, in celebration of the city’s 27th Founding Anniversary.

Mayor Fresnedi said the “world-class” facility is an investment of the city for the training of Muntinlupa athletes who will participate in national and international sporting events.

“We value the youth and athletes of Muntinlupa so we invest in facilities that will help them become champions in their respective fields,” Fresnedi said.

The Muntinlupa Aquatic Center is also designed by Arch. Don Causapin and caters to water sports such as Swimming, Water Polo, Artistic Swimming and others programs including Water Safety Training and Competition, Scuba Diving Pool Session, Swim and Survive Programs and PE programs.

The Aquatic Center is part of the Muntinlupa Sports Complex Development Plan. The local sports complex is envisioned to be a “sports tourism center” in the country.

Meanwhile, Muntinlupa will also host the 2022 Badminton Asia Championships at Muntinlupa Sports Complex from April 26 until May 1.

Top shuttlers from Asian countries will participate in the competition in a bid to raise their Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranking. This is the country’s third time to host the Asia Championships since 1961 and 2001.

It can be noted that Muntinlupa also hosted the Badminton event of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

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The above information was sourced from an official press release. Some parts were changed for this website.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

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