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As Rik, the roadie for the top pop group Alternative Rock, you have quite a problem on your hands. Their next concert is due to start in just six hours and you have all the gear in the van 160 miles away. First you've got to make the motorway dash, then move all the amps into the hall and finally set the correct sound levels on all four channels.

The first stage, the drive, is effectively a motor racing game. A plan view of the road is shown with large, brightly coloured cars. The usual alternate coloured road edging is used to generate a good impression of speed. The sound effects are quite pleasing but can be turned on or off at any time.

You need to travel fast because of the six hour limit, but the entire roadway is cluttered up with drivers who are presumably out for a Sunday afternoon potter. It needs careful use of accelerator and brakes to be able to weave a course between them. At times, the route ahead seems completely blocked. You must then slow right down to allow the dithery drivers to sort themselves out.

After about 100 miles, driving fatigue (or is it screen watcher's tiredness?) sets in. This can result in many more accidents each of which puts half an hour on the clock. It is worth travelling more slowly to avoid crashes. Alternatively, you can do what every good driver should do - take a rest. The game has a pause facility which will not cost you any time faults.

When your journey is finally completed, the scene changes and a moonlit, star-spangled sky provides the backdrop to your attempt to shift the equipment. In fact only three items need to be moved, and to achieve success you must hit two keys to control Rik's left and right feet. Pure speed on the keys is no good for this - care and coordination are required.

To set the sound levels you must ensure that four meters are kept in the red area. Too low a level will mean the audience won't hear the concert, but too high is worse as fuses will blow.

If you complete the three tasks within the six hour limit (about six minutes real time) You are rewarded with a display by that fab group Alternative Rock.

Alternative Software hasreleased a number of games for Acorn computers in recent months. Rik The Roadie is the best I have seen. The graphics are neat and interesting, and the various sections of the game, which all require different playing skills, are well linked by an unusual theme. I look toward to more programs of this quality from the alternative people.

Rog Frost