Computist (originally titled Hardcore Computing) was an interesting magazine in that its primary focus was on defeating copy protection on and otherwise hacking Apple II software. This was most often done through the publication of “softkeys” which were short pieces of code designed to work with an Apple II program called Super IOB. For this reason it was quite controversial but it did have a long life with publication not ending until 1993.
The December 1987 issue includes the following:
Features
- Super Boulderdash – M.A. Horton’s program automatically modifies Super Boulderdash so that you can get extra men or move on to the next cave any time you want.
- Activision software – William Green’s quick-n-easy softkeys for: Game Maker, Hacker II, Little Computer People, Great American Road Race, Spindizzy, Master of the Lamps, Rocky Horror Show.
- Double Your F-8 ROM Space Without Motherboard Surgery
- MECC Software – Jack Moravetz’s Super IOB controller will completely deprotect Arithmetic Critters, Counting Critters, Clock Works, First Letter Fun, Fun From A to Z, Jenny’s Journey, Dataquest Fift States, Number Munchers, Paint with Words, Path Tactics, Phonics prime Time, Quickflash!, Skylab, Sound Tracks, Speedway Math, Amazing Reading Machines, Market Place, Word Munchers, Words at Work.
- Ace-Apple Bimodal Switch: Two machines in one – Ron Balewski’s hardware project will give your Franklin Ace 1000 complete Apple-compatibility (or make your Apple completely Ace-compatible) with the flick of a switch.
- PFS ProDOS software – A.L. Head’s key to unlocking Software Publishing Corporations’s pfs ProDOS series: pfs:Write, pfs:File, pfs:Graph, pfs:Report, pfs:Plan.
- Using Sider hard drives, 3.5″ 800K drives, & 5.25″ drives in a DOS 3.3 Environment
Plus more softkeys too numerous to mention, game playing tips and more!
