Ad copy: "A Game Player's Dream Come True! The U.S. National Video Game Team reveal their secret TRICKS, CODES, & STRATEGIES to you with accurate, step-by-step instructions on how to make your good game sensational! Become Video Invincible!"

The truth: This is definitely the most entertaining tape I own. Basically the US National Video Game Team go through 20 or so codes and secret little things (bugs in Double Dragon, for example). The US National Video Game Team, although their mastery certainly won't be contested by me (they're obviously "playing" a videotape of the game), definitely need some work on their verbal skills. As you can hear in the sound samples below, [pretending to] play games and talk at the same time is not the US National Video Game Team's strong suit.

The US National Video Game Team: (l to r) Jim Allee, Donn Nauert, Shane Olivo

The concept of a "US National Video Game Team" (I just love typing that) seems a little silly to me, somehow, though. Who do they play against? Do they have yearly contests against the All Japan Video Game Team? Was "Nintendo" an exhibition sport at Seoul in 1988? Many unanswered questions, but the Video Game Team attached their name to several products of the time (including, for a time, Electronic Gaming Monthly), and Donn Nauert did writing for several other magazines. So, although I won't deny their qualifications, I'd say that the US National Video Game Team should stick to gaming and lay off the tip videos from now on.

Sounds:

• The mysterious intro tune
• Donn Nauert has some trouble with his Star Soldier lines
• Jim Allee is too busy playing Blaster Master to talk to you right now
• Jim and just one of his amazing Blaster Master tips
• The Ikari Warriors stage select code, done twice, slooowly. Please do not download this unless you need to fall asleep quickly
• Some "outtakes" at the end of the video - Shane has some trouble following the videotape of himself playing Double Dragon
• Donn teaches kids how to fry their NESes

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