We continue this new series of closer looks at add-ons, which may (or may not) improve your game play, with a review of Nidd Valley Micro Products' Slomo.

Like last issue's volume/headphone socket, Slomo is a piece of hardware - this time a small box with controls, which connects to the Tube port on the Beeb.

The gadget's purpose is to slow down or freeze visual action on the Beeb, by interrupting the central processor and overwriting software in the vast majority of cases.

Smart gamers will already have worked out how Slomo can help them - that's right, by slowing down the action of games sufficiently to allow the player to study patterns or even just see what is happening on the screen!

The unit has two buttons: the first freeze frames the program (allowing visits to the fridge for extra refreshment, etc) whilst the more useful slips the computer into slow motion mode. A dial then allows the player to choose the speed at which the game can be played. By using this, is it possible to understand how some very fast games actually need to be played - I was struck, for instance, by the way in which Ultimate's Sabre Wulf can become playable once you gain this extra breathing space.

There are obvious other uses for Slomo - such as work with small children, the disabled, etc - but to the games player its delight is the ability to regain some sort of control over very fast games. One can also watch the build-up of some graphics screens and thus begin to piece together the machine code puzzle that is the latest Beeb game.

Whilst not the cheapest of add-ons, this unit is extremely good value and a welcome addition to any games player's collection.