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  • Zzap! 64 (November 1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Here in the U.S., we never had a gaming magazine dedicated to the Commodore 64. I would have loved such a thing, especially as this one, published in the U.K. was published well into the 1990s and I was still using my Commodore 64 as my primary computer up through most of 1993. The November 1987 issue of Zzap! 64 includes:

    Redoubtable Regulars

    • Editorial – Info on a new editor at the magazine.
    • The Rrap – Letters from readers about arcade conversions, the cost of Zzap! in Ireland, competition questions, Microprose, and more.
    • Enter The Harlequin – A solution to Kayleth, an adventure game from US Gold. Plus, news about an upcoming adventures games, including Jack the Ripper.
    • Compunet – A look at the latest demos available via Compunet.
    • What’s New – SSI to work with TSR and US Gold to develop Dungeons & Dragons computer games (these would become the gold box series), a promotion for Bangkok Knights, and more.
    • Manoeuvres – Reviews of strategy games Armageddon Man and High Frontier.
    • Postmark – Games played via the postal service.
    • Cheap and Cheerful – Reviews of budget games Joe Blade, Anarchy, On Cue, Tunnel Vision, Special Agent, Pyramid of Time, Defcom, and Land of Neverwhere.
    • The Chart Show – A list of the top 30 games for the month. At the top of the list is World Games. Some others on this list I have played include Gauntlet (number 5), Paperboy (number 14), California Games (number 16), Kikstart II (number 17), Arkanoid (number 22), and Green Beret (number 24).

    November Novelties

    • International Karate + – A review of this fighting game from System 3. I never played it but it reminds me a bit of Yie ar King-Fu.
    • Solomon’s Key – A review of this arcade conversion by US Gold.
    • Morpheus – A review of this scrolling shooter from Hewson.
    • Starfox – Not to be confused with the famous series that got its start on the Super NES, this game is a space combat sim.
    • Quedex – A review of this game which is sort of like Marble Madness without the isometric viewpoint.
    • Enlightenment – Druid II – I don’t think I ever played this sequel but the original Druid was a fun Gauntlet-like game.

    Features

    • Hit Me With Your Best Shot – A history of Shoot ‘Em Up games. Some game mentioned here include Pastfinder from Activision (I loved this one), Spy Hunter (another great game), Paradroid, Hypercircuit, Dropzone, and many others.
    • Accolade’s Comics – An adventure game in comic book format.
    • The Tips Supplement – Tips for Impossible Mission, Quartet, Joustie, Master of Magic, The Evil Dead, Hercules, Gods and Heroes, Nodes of Yesod, 1942, and lots more.
    • RPG’s Scrutinised – A look at new RPGs including Moebius (Microprose/Origin), Alternate Reality: The Dungeon (Datasoft), and Legacy of the Ancients (Electronic Arts).
    • Combat Zone – A real-life capture the flag paintball game.
    • Minson Meets Microprose – A sneak peek at the latest from Microprose including Project Stealth Fighter and Airborne Ranger.

    …and more!


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  • Compute!’s Gazette (March 1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute!’s Gazette was a spin-off of Compute! magazine that exclusively covered Commodore 8-bit computers (mostly the Commodore 64). It was probably one of the two most popular Commodore 64 magazines with RUN being the other one. The March 1987 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Commodore Graphics Connection – The Commodore 64 had perhaps the most advanced graphics of any 8-bit home computer. In fact, the VIC-II graphics chip (along with the SID sound chip) were originally conceived as the basis for a new video game machine.
    • A Buyer’s Guide to Commodore Graphics Progams – A brief overview of some of the many graphics applications available for the Commodore 64. Some of the titles mentioned here include Blazing Paddles (drawing and painting program), Cadpak-64 and Cadpak-128 (computer-aided design package), Certificate Maker (design and printing program), Chartpak-64 and Chartpak-128 (for creating pie, bar and line charts), ColorMe: The Computer Coloring Kit (introductory drawing package for kids), Desk Pack I (includes Graphics Grabber which converts clip-art from Print Shop, Print Master, and Newsroom to GEOS), Doodle (high res drawing program), Flexidraw Light Pen Graphics, Version 5 (advanced graphics and light-pen package), and many more.
    • The Fundamentals of Commodore Graphics – An introduction to the Commodore 64’s array of graphics modes and features.

    Reviews

    • The Commodore 1670 Modem – While the Commodore 64 could use most standard external modems with an adapter, Commodore’s 1670 Modem (1200bps) was an inexpensive modem that could connect directly to the user port.
    • Alter Ego and Mind Mirror – Alter Ego is ‘what if’ fantasy role playing game from Activision while Mind Mirror was designed in part with Timothy Leary (published by Electronic Arts) and is a little harder to classify.
    • Trinity – The latest in interactive fiction from Infocom. In this text adventure you must, in part, survive a nuclear holocaust.

    Games

    • Tile Trader – A type-in puzzle game in which you must slide the tiles around to get them in the correct order.
    • Ringside Boxing – A type-in two player arcade style boxing game.

    Education/Home Applications

    • Color Craft – A type-in art program for the Commodore 64.
    • Computing for Families: Beyond the Desktop – Soap Bubbles, Forests, and Hot-Air Balloons – Metaphors, other than the Desktop, to make computers easier to use.

    Programming

    • RAM Expansion for the Commodore 128 – A guide to using the new 1700 (128K) and 1750 (512K) ram expansions on the Commodore 128.
    • Using RAM Expansion With CP/M – A guide to using RAM expansion when using the Commodore 128’s CP/M mode.
    • Text Sequencer – A type-in machine language program that can be used from within your own BASIC programs to print sequential files to the screen 15 times faster than with BASIC alone.
    • Sprite Manager – A type-in sprite designer, editor, and animator for the Commodore 64.
    • RAM Plus – A type-in machine language routine that can free up an additional 4K of RAM for BASIC programs.
    • CP/M PIP on the Commodore 128 – A detailed look at using CP/M’s PIP command on the Commodore 128. This command can be used for file copying among other things.
    • Custom Keys – A couple of type-in utility programs that let you redefine the Commodore 64’s keyboard.
    • ROM Enhancer – A short machine language program that offers improvements to BASIC 2.0.
    • Power BASIC: 128 Partitioner – A type-in program that allows you to load up to four independent programs in to BASIC at once on the Commodore 128.
    • BASIC for Beginners: More on IF-THEN – Part two of a guide on using IF statements.
    • Machine Language for Beginners: ML Mailbag – Questions answered from readers about learning machine language, using flags, and more.
    • Hints & Tips: Useful WAITS – A guide to effectively using Commodore BASIC’s WAIT statement.

    Departments

    • The Editor’s Note – Reprinted from the February issue of Compute!.
    • Gazette Feedback – Letters from readers about printing biorhythms, disk problems, using exponents in BASIC, and more.
    • Simple Answers to Common Questions – Questions answered about using an Apple disk drive with a Commodore 64, fixing disk drive alignment issues, and more.
    • Horizons: What Is Memory? – A look at how memory works on the Commodore 64.
    • News & Products – Accountant, Inc. for the Commodore 128, 128K ROMDISK with Hyperboot for the Commodore 64 and 128, Killed Until Dead from Accolade, and more.

    …and more!


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  • The Australian Commodore Review (October 1986)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    The Australian Commodore Review was a magazine published in Australia that covered Commodore computers, including the Commodore 64 and Amiga. The October 1986 issue includes:

    Features – Utilities

    • Utilities – Useful utilities to use when programming, including things such a Pet Emulator, DOS Wedge, SIDMON, Graphics Master, and more.
    • Which Utility – A guide to utilities and their prices. Some items listed here include Final Cartridge, Fast Load, Vorpal Utility Kit, and more.
    • Freeze Frame Mark III – A review of this cartridge the primary purpose of which is to capture the contents of memory and save it to disk.
    • Quickdisc+ II – The stock Commodore 64 disk drive was notoriously slow but there were many solutions to this, including a variety of cartridges that would speed up loading (and other operations) by 5-10x. I’m most familiar with Fast Load and Warp Speed but this is another.
    • Dolphin DOS – In addition to cartridges, there were also various DOS replacements for Commodore 64 disk drives that involved replacing the ROMs. The most famous of which is probably JiffyDOS but Dolphin Dos is another These not only sped up loading but also added additional functionality.
    • Capture Cartridge – There were many other devices similar to the Freeze Frame Mark III cartridge mentioned above. While they had various functions, more often than not though, I’m pretty sure they were used to pirate games.
    • The Printer Connection – Compatibility issues with the Commodore 128 and using a printer with multiple computers.

    Software Reviews

    • Out-Think – This was outlining software that was written for CP/M and could run in the Commodore 64’s CP/M mode.

    Book Reviews

    • C-128 Programmers Reference Guide – If you were serious about programming on the Commodore 128 then this was a must have book.

    Regular Appearances

    • Amiga Software Overview – A brief look at some of the software available for the Amiga in the categories of business, graphics, sound, and video.
    • Beginners Guide to the Amiga – A introductory guide to the Amiga published by Compute!.
    • Amiga Programmers Guide – Getting started with programming on the Amiga.
    • Ram Ramblings – A brief look at new products including Print Shop Library Disk One, and Adventure Notepad.
    • Adventurer’s Realm – A map of Zork including the items that appear at each location.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about printers and a calendar bug.
    • Titanic – A game in which you must bring the Titanic back to the surface.
    • Leader Board – The classic golf game from Access.
    • Now Games – A brief look at new games including Lords of Midnight, Pyjamarama, and Tales of the Arabian Nights.
    • Critical Mass – This game was known as Power in the U.S. The goal was to disable a power station on an asteroid that has been taken over by aliens in your trusty hovercraft.
    • World’s Greatest Football Game – A football game from Epyx. Not sure it was the world’s greatest but it was decent for its time.

    …and more!


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