This is a very serious book from Collins, aimed at the QL user who wants to get heavily into games design and advanced programming. The authors declare that they are using the seven programs listed as vehicles for teaching readers the art of writing large programs. They aim to go through the stages of program design and implementation, pointing out problems and pitfalls and offering tips and solutions.

This is probably great news to the average QL user - who would not have bought such a sophisticated machine just to key in 20-line word quizzes. Each program is used to illustrate a fundamental aspect of games design, such as animation, and this is very thoroughly explained with several diagrams and the listing broken down into readable (and keyable) chunks.

As well as animations, other points covered are: sound effects, graphics, using random numbers and Boolean logic. It should be absorbing reading for ambitious QL programmers, who will probably be inspired to go back to their bedrooms and spend maybe even some of these summer evenings wrestling with the unresistable challenge of the unbeatable game.

The seven programs are: The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Ant Hill, Leap Frog, Frogling, Snake, Tadpole (a lot of frogs in this book!) and Snakes And Ladders. There is also a useful short chapter at the end on really polishing up your program and becoming a Master Programmer.

This is a thorough book that covers a lot of useful subjects and will be welcomed by avid QL programmers. The programs are all listed a second time in full at the end of each chapter, so you get seven good games into the bargain. Well recommended.