This original magazine advertisement from 1988 showcases the Electronic Arts fantasy role-playing game, The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate. The layout features a dark, textured background that highlights the intricate box art illustration depicting a group of adventurers facing a demonic figure amidst a fiery landscape. The ad captures the immersive storytelling of the 1980s gaming era, detailing the transition from the previous installments to this new chapter where players take on the role of a thief to 'fight the Mad God... alone.' The design includes several gameplay screenshots displaying the 8-bit graphics, character stats, and the new auto-map feature, which were hallmark technological advancements for the Apple II platform during the late 80s.

Prominently displayed are the Electronic Arts and Interplay Productions logos, alongside the tagline 'When the Bard's scared sober, trust a thief.' The text provides a narrative backstory involving characters like Lagoth Zanta and Mangar, while promoting game features such as 'over 500 colorful, animated kinds of monsters' and '84 dungeon levels and seven dimensions.' This piece is a significant artifact of 1980s yuppie-era hobbyist computing and high-fantasy gaming culture, reflecting the high-tech aesthetic of early home computer software marketing.

Verified Specifications:
- Brand: Electronic Arts
- Product/Line: The Bard's Tale III: Thief of Fate (Video Game)
- Item Type: Magazine Ad
- Artist/Illustrator: Uncredited (Interplay Productions logo present)
- Art Style/Historical Context: 1980s Fantasy Illustration / Early Home Computing Culture
- Publication Details: Circle 148 on Reader Service Card (typically found in computing magazines like Computer Gaming World or A+)
- City/State/Province/Country: San Mateo, CA
- Logos/Graphics: Electronic Arts (E/A/L bars logo), Interplay Productions, The Bard's Tale III title art, gameplay screenshots, 'FREE CLUES' starburst
- On-piece claims: 'Over 500 colorful, animated kinds of monsters,' '84 dungeon levels and seven dimensions,' 'No copy protection to slow you down.'
- Substrate/Material: Paper
- Identifiers: Apple II version $49.95; P.O. Box 7530, San Mateo, CA 94403