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  • The Bottom Line (Apple II)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: inCider – Issue Number 1 – January 1983



    This particular ad is from the premiere issue of inCider from January 1983. inCider was a magazine dedicated to the Apple II line of computers. Back in the day, there were tons of computer mail order places advertised in computer magazines. I’m more familiar with those specializing in Commodore 64 related items but many of these places sold systems of all types. “The Bottom Line” is not one I recognize but this is a few years before I got my first computer and obviously in this ad thay are pushing Apple II related items.

    The price for the Apple compatible Franklin Ace 1000 was $1549. That includes a disk drive and amber monitor. That sounds like a lot (and it was) but it’s a bargain compared to the price of real Apple equipment at the time. But who wants an amber monitor? Not much good for games…

    It’s amazing how much a dot matrix printer cost. The Star Micronics Gemini-10, quite a popular printer at the time, was $419.88 in 1983. That number already sounds expensive but adjusted for inflation, that would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,300 today.

    Modems weren’t much better. An abysmally slow 300 Baud modem was $239. A more respectable 1200bps would cost you $569. And that was about as fast as you could get at the time.

    But for a real demonstration of just how far prices for technology have fallen, take a look at the hard drive prices. A whopping 5 MB would cost you at least $2000. That’s more like $5,400 in today’s dollars. For some more fun, take a look at the RAM prices…


    Apple ][ Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Home Computer Magazine (August 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Home Computer Magazine – August 1984

    Home Computer Magazine started life as a magazine dedicated to the TI-99/4A under a different name. As it became clear that the TI-99/4A was not going to maintain its success, the magazine branched out to cover other popular systems as well, in particular the Commodore 64, IBM PC and Apple II. The August 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • Snap-Calc – Creating this mighty math matrix is a snap.
    • Bars and Plots – Colorful graphs can chart your figures.
    • Elementary Addition and Subtraction – An educational program for the preschool crowd.
    • Spider Graphics – Ah, what a tangled (and colorful) web we can weave.
    • Convertible for Comfort – Automatic conversion of machine language programs to DATA statements.
    • Programming: The Name of the Game – Pick a game, any game…and design it.
    • Colorfun – Match the color swatch to its name.

    Product Reviews

    • Personal Editor – Ease of use makes this an outstanding text editor.
    • EasyWriter II – A powerful word processor for the PC…and Junior.
    • PFS: File, PFS: Report – Database management without intimidation.
    • Home Accountant – Financial management comes home.
    • Count-Sil – A Spreadsheet program for home use.
    • Doublestuff – Double the Apple’s normal color and resolution.
    • Chivalry – Knights and Ladies abound in this board/video game.
    • Burgertime – Burger-building in a chaotic kitchen.
    • Alpha-Pak – Learning the alphabet is as easy as A-B-C.
    • In Search of the Most Amazing Thing – A nonviolent, educational, fantasy adventure.
    • Murder by the Dozen – Use your wits to track down “who ‘dun’ it.”
    • Necromancer – Chasing zombies was never like this.
    • Microsurgeon – A “fantastic voyage” through your patient’s bloodstream.
    • Trickster Coyote – Don’t let the wily coyote cry wolf.
    • EasyScript – An inexpensive word processor for the C-64.
    • Companion – A helpful companion can esy writing’s burdens.
    • Home Budget Jr. – A valuable program that’s easy on your budget.

    Logo Times

    • Binary Forest – ‘Branching Out’ with Smokey the Bear.
    • LOGO Flakes – Creative explorations with snowflake desings.

    Gameware Buffet

    • Robochase – Pits you against rampaging robots.
    • Cyber-Cipher – Break the top-secret computer access code.
    • Wild Kingdom – Trapping tigers in a jungle maze.
    • Speeder – A game to make your own.
    • Boolean Brain – Wander down logic paths inside your computer.
    • Missile Math – Launching interest in multiplication.

    Deparments

    • Inside/Outside HCM
    • On Screen
    • Letters to the Editor
    • HCM Review Criteria
    • Contents
    • HCM Product News
    • Program Listing Contents
    • Program Typing Guide
    • Industry Watch
    • Group Grapevine
    • DeBugs on Display
    • Index to Advertisers
    • HCM Classifieds
    • Home Computer Tech Notes:
      • TI
      • IBM
      • Apple
      • Commodore

    …and more!


    Apple ][ Commodore 64 Computer Arcana DOS 📎and tagged

  • Avalon Hill’s Under Fire! (Commodore 64)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    https://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/189715749036/retrocgads-usa-1988


    Avalon Hill’s Under Fire! was the war game to have when it was released, at least if you were a war game aficionado. It was a tactical World War II land combat simulator. The graphics were pretty basic but it was the game play that mattered. Based on the ads, it looks like the Apple II version was released first, followed later by ports for DOS and the Commodore 64. The ad above is from 1988 and is advertising the DOS and Commodore 64 versions as a “new conversion”. While not advertised as such, Under Fire was very much like a computer version of Avalon Hill’s board game, Squad Leader.

    While the graphics weren’t terrific on any system, they were better on the Apple II and Commodore 64 than the DOS version but that was a trade off for slightly slower game play. The main screen was a simple map divided into squares. The scale of the game or how much space each square represented was user selectable. Units were represented by simple symbols…soldier, tank and halftrack. Under Fire can be played with one or two players. In either case, each “player” enters their orders and then the results play out simultaneously. Depending on the scenario, games can last from 10 minutes to many hours.

    There were two “Extended Capabilities Disk” expansions that added various improvements, units, maps, and scenarios. These were both released only for the Apple II and I believe they were both released before the DOS and Commodore 64 ports. I am unsure whether these additions and improvements were incorporated into those versions or not.

    Tactical turn based games like Under Fire used to be a lot more common than they are now. This is a case where many of the best games in this category are very old games. Under Fire is still worth playing if you like this style of gaming. There aren’t any new versions or ports of this game so you’ll have to track down an original disk or use emulation. I would go with the Commodore 64 version but pick your favorite platform as it doesn’t make a huge difference.

    Screen shots above are from the Commodore 64 version of the game.


    Apple ][ Commodore 64 Computer Arcana DOS Retro Games 📎and tagged