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  • Your Commodore (May 1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Your Commodore – Issue Number 32 – May 1987

    Your Commodore was a U.K. published magazine for Commodore 8-bit computers. This mostly meant the Commodore 64 and 128 but it also covered machines like the C16 and Plus/4. The May 1987 issue includes:

    Features

    • Gunship – This month’s game of the month. This is a combat flight simulator featuring the Apache AH-64A. It was about as realistic as it got at the time.
    • Byting Into The 6510 – The first in a series of articles on machine code programming for the 6410.
    • Platform Panic – A look at some of the most influential platform games of the time, including Impossible Mission, Wizard, Bounty Bob Strikes Back, Cauldron II, Hercules, and Monty on the Run.
    • Image System – A detailed look at this graphics software for the Commodore 64.
    • Graphix Pax – A look at some of the better graphics packages and tools for the Commodore 64, including Koala Pad, Doodle Pad, Drawing Board, PIcasso, Blazing Paddles, Cadpak, Art Studio, Artist 64, and Simon’s Basic.
    • Guide To Graphics – A guide to understanding and using the Commodore 64’s graphics power.
    • Spanner In The Works – A guide to troubleshooting and repairing your computer.

    Regulars

    • Data Statements – News and new products including a new “face lift” package for the C64 to make it look more like the 64C, Aqua Racer from Bubble Bus Software, new SSI releases from U.S. Gold, a new joystick from Epyx, and more.
    • Games Reviews – Reviews of new games including Agent Orange, Indoor Sports, Eagles Nest, Chickin Chase, Big Deal, Krakout, Mutants, Leviathan, Paperboy, Feud, Terror of the Deep, Aliens, Tomahawk, Future Knight, and Escape From Singe’s Castle.
    • I.Q. – A look at some adventure games and other types of games that require more brain power than reflex, including Hollywood Hijinks, Murder Off Miami, Masters of the Universe, Adrian Mole, and Portal.

    Programs and Utilities

    • Lower Case Graphics – A program for using the lower case character set on the C16 and Plus/4.
    • Plus/4 and C16 Character Generator – A type-in character editor for the Plus/4 and C16.
    • Sprite Editor – A type-in sprite editor for the Commodore 64.
    • Cedit – A type-in full-featured character editor for the Commodore 64.

    …and more!


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  • Commodore Magazine (February 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Commodore Magazine – February 1988

    I absolutely loved this magazine for the short couple of years I bought it. It covered the computer I had (Commodore 64), the computer I wanted (Amiga), and even Commodore’s PC compatible machines. The February 1988 issue includes:

    Features

    • Software “Fan”atics – Amusing stories from the Commodore 64 development world and its fans.
    • Mail Order Mania – A guide to buying your computer hardware and software via mail order…sort of like buying via the Internet today.
    • Cover Story: 101 Tips For Commodore Game Players – A compendium of tips and tricks for Commodore 64 games.

    Departments

    • Letters – Letters from readers about bowling software, disk drive repair, and setting up a Commodore 64 in limited space.
    • News – A contest related to the game President Elect, new Amiga products revealed at Comdex, an Assembly Language programming book for the Amiga, Airborne Ranger and Project Stealth Fighter released for the C64 by MicroProse, 4th & Inches released for the C64 by Accolade, Galactic Frontier releaed by Spirit Software for the C64, the SupraDrive FD-10 (10 MB removeable floppy disk drive) released for the C64, and much more.
    • Tips & Tricks – Tips and brief coding trick including a short fireworks program for the C64, a programmable caterpillar for the C64, tips for Faery Tale Adventure for the Amiga, and more.
    • 64 and 128 Software Reviews – Reviews of Rush’n Attack, Yie Ar Kung-Fu (one of my personal favorites), Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, Jeopardy, Stationfall, Dan Dare, and Telegames Vol. 1-3.
    • Amiga Software Reviews – Reviews of DigiPaint, Phantasie I, Phatasie III (no idea why they skipped porting the second game in the series), LexCheck, Karate Kid II, City Desk, and TimeSaver.
    • Amiga Book Reviews – Reviews of Amiga Technical Reference Series, Amiga Intuition Reference Manual, Amiga Hardware Reference Manual, Amiga ROM Kernal Reference Manual: Exec, Libraries and Devices, Programmer’s Guide to the Amiga, Amiga programmer’s HandBook Second Edition, The AmigaDOS Manual Second Edition, The Amiga, and Inside the Amiga.
    • Adventure Road – A look at adventure games including Knight Orc and Phantasie III.
    • Technical Tips – Part 6 of a guide to interfacing with the Commodore 64’s user port – this is part 2 of building a digital camera.
    • Telecommunications – Inside Q-Link – Using e-mail on this online service for the Commodore 64. It would eventually become America Online.
    • Computer Tutor – A type-in vocabulary application for the Commodore 64.
    • Game Programs – A type-in game for the Commodore 64 called Kamikaze Duck in which you must catch ducks plumeting from the sky.
    • Jiffies – A short type-in program called Lil’ Helper for the Commodore 64 that helps you catalog the contents of your disks.
    • 128 Users Only – A type-in routine for the Commodore 128 that lets you easily find all of the variables in your BASIC programs.
    • Amiga Update – A type-in program for the Amiga that will speak text files as well as an update on the latest available public domain software.

    …and more!


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  •  Commodore World – Volume 1, Number 4

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Commodore World – Volume 1, Number 4

    I think that Commodore World was the last professional Commodore 8-bit magazine published in the U.S. It was published bi-monthly in the mid to late 1990s. This issue isn’t dated that I see but I believe it would have been from near the end of 1994. Issue number four of Commodore World includes:

    Features

    • Telecommunications – A guide to getting online with your Commodore 64.
    • A Glossary of Telecommunications Terms – Definitions for terms such as “baud”, “BBS”, and “echo”, as well as modem communications standards and much more.
    • Bad File Names – How to fix various file problems on Commodore 64 disks.
    • Copyrights: Who Owns The Right To Copy? – A discussion of copyright law, especially how it applies to computer software.
    • Hard Tips: Build A Simple RS-232 Interface – A guide to building your own modem interface.

    Reviews

    • Software: Fun Graphics Machine – A review of this high-resolution graphics editor that can be used for desktop publishing and to create everything from video titles to business cards and much more.
    • Games: Miniviews – Brief reviews of Menace (Psygnosis), The Amazing Spider-Man (Paragon), Marble Madness (Electronic Arts), Laser Squad (MicroIllusions), and Skate or Die (Electronic Arts).
    • Hardware: Boca 144EW Fax/Data Modem – A detailed review of this 14.4Kbps modem.
    • Hardware: The Boca 2400 – I review of this 2400bps modem. This was about as fast as you could go on the Commodore 64 with a basic RS-232 interface. You had to get fancier interfaces if you wanted faster speeds.

    Columns

    • Just For Starters – A guide for computer beginners on the types of software available for the Commodore 64 and what they can be used for.
    • Foreign Exchange – A look at the Flash 8, an add-on for the Commodore 64 that provides a 65C816 CPU and up to 8 MHz speeds.
    • Graphic Interpretation – A guide to importing and exporting graphics to and from GEOS.
    • geoProgrammist – Using macros and managing memory in GEOS.
    • BASIC Instincts – The third installment of a five part series on building a large game called Starship Combat.
    • Advanced Techniques – A type-in program that will let you autoboot your own programs.
    • Peripheral Vision – Identifying and handling SCSI errors on CMD’s HD.
    • Carrier Detect – A guide to offline BBS mail reading. I never did much of this with the Commodore 64 but I do remember doing a lot with Bluewave on the PC.

    Departments

    • From The Editor – Planned obsolescence in the computer world.
    • BackTalk – Letters from readers about the first issue of the magazine.
    • Just Asking – Questions answered about the CBM 8032 printer and GEOS, gamepads for the C64, using larger disks under CP/M, and more.
    • On The Horizon – Disposition of Commodore’s assets after bankruptcy still undetermined; Grapevine Group ceases operations; CMD releases GeoCable II which can be used to connect printers to The C64’s parallel port for high speed printing; Commodore RoundTable on GEnie offers gifts to new members; and more.
    • The Connection – News about file compression from Loadstar, dieHard, Fun Graphics Machine, and more.
    • Top Tips – Tips about switch settings for printer interfaces, better video via the Commodore 128 composite video port, and more.

    …and more!


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