Page 24 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #5

W

hen CBS's "Robinson Crusoe-by-way-of-Price is Right" game
show, "Survivor," was about to air, I thought it was a great con-
cept for a show. And, not without a bit of humility, I thought I could easily
win. After all, I'm a huge "Gilligan's Island" fan, so I already had compiled
a bit of useful survival knowledge, such as how to make a record player
out of a boat's steering wheel and how to build your own pedal-powered
bamboo Oldsmobile. Being able to Outlast, Outwit, and Outplay the other
contestants would be child's play.

One problem kept me from the million bucks: I wasn't a contestant.

However, to prove my mettle to myself, I decided to become the un-
known 14th contestant and play the game at home. I broke out my copy of
Starpath's Supercharger game "Survival Island" and prepared to parallel
the travails of the castaways. For those of you who have never played,
"Survival Island" is a multipart action-adventure for the Atari 2600. After a
shipwreck at sea, you must row your life raft to the beach of a desert is-
land, picking up supplies bobbing in the ocean. Upon reaching the island,
you must explore every mile of it, looking for a means of rescue. Luckily,
the game comes with a password system which allows you to pick up
where you left off.

To challenge myself, I decided to play only while the TV show was on.
My goal: To escape from my video game island before the end of the final
episode of "Survivor," airing in 13 weeks.

Here then are excerpts from my
weekly journal:

Week 2eek 2
WWeek 2
Week 2
WWeek 1
Week 1
Week 1eek 1
Finally ar-
Booted up the game for rived on
the first time and the island!
found myself in a However,
makeshift raft miles had one
from the shore of the ration of
island. A smoking vol- water and
cano is visible in the no food
distance. Furiously when I arrived. Died of hunger before
paddled to shore, pick- I got three screens into the jungle.
ing up supplies all the way. Started over again to try to arrive bet-
Drowned twice, got eaten by a shark ter equipped. Saw the TV castaways
twice, got shot by a submarine three eat live grubs. I had a Spam sandwich
times. The folks on TV have an easier for lunch. Drink deep from the irony
time of it. Both Pagong and Tagi tribes well, folks. (I make no further journal
arrive and set up camp on the beach. entries for fear of legal retaliation
I'll flounder in the ocean until next from the good folks at Hormel, makers
week, I guess. of fine luncheon products.)

Classic Gamer Magazine December 2000 24