LBA2 is very special to me. At the time, I found out about a group of external testers for Activision called the Visioneers. Basically, Activision reached out to the gaming community, and pulled a few of us in to help test as if we were internal testers. And they listened! I'd helped somewhat on Interstate '76, but this was my first full experience from beginning to end. We didn't make money- just got our names in the credits and a free game. But the experience was great, and one I use as the example of a team thinking out of the box even today in my own development career. They weren't just concerned with getting a game out the door- they were concerned with the quality and depth, and what the testers were feeling and thinking... definitely a different time at Activision. And the people there were great, and loved what they were doing - a lot different from many of the people that I know there now. And it shows. I didn't think I'd like it; I hate these kind of adventure video games. But it pulls you in and engages you and before you know it, more time than you planned to spend playing as passed- but you still want to keep going! I can't say enough good things about this game!
A friend told me that he was hooked up with a group of external testers for Activision called the Visioneers. And that they were testing this great game, and that I should apply. So I did, and the first game I was presented with was Interstate '76. I was quite impressed with the quality of the game, and how much they cared about making a great game! I'd played Autoduel for the Apple II, and the Car Wars board game, but I'd wanted a game that actually let me sit in the car and drive through the wastelands with a machine gun strapped to a muscle car- I76 was a dream come true! The system is deep- close to a sim. But not so much that you lose the thrill of driving a car armed to the teeth, and the atmosphere is basically indescribable. My friend is a muscle car and gun aficionado, and they actually listened to him with his tuning hints and spreadsheets of data he derived- I was very impressed! By the time I82 came around, Activision had lost the magic that I found here. But I76 was an almost perfect game! Recommended!
