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As long as there are computers, there will be fruit machine simulators. We've probably seen even more of the things in this office over the years than road race games, and that's saying something. Mastertronic has released a good half of them under its various labels, and here's yet another - bigger better and more like a real fruit machine than ever before. It's brill.

Of course you need a PhD in electronic engineering (or three years at NASA) to play most fruit machines these days, and Super Nudge reflects the trend. It's got super hold, nudge, win spin, skill climb, pound bank, penny bank and (deep breath) cash stop - that is, all the wazzy features you'd see on the real thing. You start with 10.20 or 30 credits and it's then up to you to maximise your winnings. Gambling your winnings is, I find, easier than on the real thing, but actually winning is perhaps a little harder. With all the extra bits and bobs, a game of luck is transformed into a game of skill, and not surprisingly the high score table take some getting on to.

Personally I'm a sucker for these games, but this is a particularly good one. Time, I'd say, for another autonudge. [Eh? - Ed]