• Category Archives Commodore 64

  • The best selling computer model of all time

  • Computer Arcana » Commodore 64

  • RUN (January/February 1992)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    run_issue_89_1992_jan-feb-01

    Source: RUN – The Commodore 64/128 User’s Guide – Issue Number 89 – January February 1992


    RUN was the last surviving major Commodore 64 magazine in the U.S. Compute!’RUN was the last surviving major Commodore 64 magazine in the U.S. Compute!’s Gazette lasted a little longer as an insert and then as a disk only magazine. 1992 was very late in the life of the Commodore 64 and it was pretty clear that the writing was on the wall for that machine. The January/February 1992 issue of RUN only had about 64 pages and it started shrinking significantly after that. The contents includes:

    Features

    • Hardware RAMpage – An overview of the powerful expansions available for the Commodore 64. These include the RAMLink which was a device that let you use older Commodore 64 memory expansions (REUs) or the newer RAMdrive as a RAM drive. The RAMdrive could be used with the RAMLink or by itself. Both the RAMDrive and RAMLink were about $200 each (before adding RAM). The RAMDrive could hold up to 2 MB.
    • Mah Jongg – Type-in game but unfortunately this is the tile matching variety as opposed to the actual game of Mahjong.
    • Past, Present and Future – A type-in calendar/planner/memo book. It also came with the ability to use a mouse which couldn’t be taken for granted with the C64.
    • Hip Hop – A type-in game that is a bit reminiscent of Q*Bert.
    • Perfect Companions – A review of two different Panasonic dot matrix printers including the KX-P1123 for $399.95 and the KX-P1124i for $499.95.
    • File Packer – A type-in file compressor for the Commodore 64.

      Departments

      • RUNning Ruminations – The Commodore 64 survives another year with a new CEO at Commodore, actually increased support for the C64 from Commodore and a new trade-in program. Also, Ultima VI and a new version of Word Writer were a couple of big 1991 releases and there were even rumors of an accelerator chip for the Commodore 128.
      • Magic – Short programs to create buzzword phrases, fake a reset of the Commodore 64, hide files in GEOS, create a 2nd screen that can be toggled to, and more.
      • News and New Products – New products include a new AD&D Gold Box game, Gateway to the Savage Frontier; Elvira: Mistress of the Dark; Dr. Evil Laboratories (provides support for CMD among other things) announces that it will cease all operations; Hangman’s Hazard; Tie Break Tennis; M1 Librarian (MIDI library package); Calc II (spreadsheet); Chip’s Challenge (a puzzle game from Epyx). Also, according to the SPA, at this time the Commodore 64 was the 3rd largest platform for computer games behind the IBM (DOS) and Amiga. This means it beats out the Atari ST, Macintosh, Apple II, Apple IIgs and Atari 8-bit.
      • Mail RUN – Letters from readers about finding Commodore 64 software, word processors on cartridge, converting graphics files, and the future of Commodore among other topics.
      • Software Gallery
        • Iron Lord – A fantasy RPG/action/strategy hybrid game from Europe.
        • Golden Axe – A pretty good conversion of the arcade classic.
        • SEC Check Register 128 – A checking account manager that includes check printing and tracking loans and investments.
        • The Amazing Spider-Man – An ok action game featuring Spider-Man.
      • geoWatch – How to automate actions in GEOS during startup.
      • 128 Mode – A rewrite of the 1351 mouse driver for the Commodore 128 in 40-column mode that lets you actually move the cursor.
      • Commodore Clinic – Questions answered about the Star NX1000C printer and GEOS, the Commodore 1526 printer and graphics, CP/M cartridges for the Commodore 64, and using an AT&T 4000 modem with a Commodore 128.
      • Gold Mine – Game tips and tricks for Amazing Spider-Man, Baal, Back to the Future Part II, Beyond Zork, Carmen Sandiego, Castlevania, Dragon Wars, Flight Simulator, Gary Kitchen’s Gamemaker, Kings of the Beach, Sky Shark, Strike Aces, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
      • Coming Attractions – The next issue will include REU modifications, a type-in graphics capture and manipulation program, and a type-in air hockey game among many other things.

      … and more!


      Commodore 64 Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

    • Epyx  – Seawolf II/Gun Fight, Star Fire/Fire One

      Posted on by Azrael Comment

      004

      Source: Computer Fun – April 1984

      Epyx is probably best known for the games they released on the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit line of computers though they also released some games for the PC, Atari video game systems and others as well as developed the Atari Lynx. Generally speaking, their games were very good and some of the most fun, particularly the 8-bit computer games.

      This particular ad is for some early arcade conversions they did. In my opinion these aren’t the best examples of their work. It’s not that they aren’t decent conversions, it’s just that these were very simplistic games to begin with. The ad is for four separate games: Seawolf II, Star Fire, Gun Fight, and Fire One. They were released in packs of two with Sea Wolf II and Gun Fight being in one pack and Star Fire and Fire One being in the other. Sea Wolf II and Gun Fight were available only for Atari computers (Atari 400/800) while Star Fire and Fire One were available for both the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computers.

      This ad is from the April 1984 issue of Computer Fun though I believe these games were released in late 1983. They were released early enough that they were available on cassette and disk. I don’t think cassette games were very common much later than this, at least in the U.S.





      Atari 8-bit Commodore 64 Computer Arcana Retro Games 📎and tagged

    • The Wizard of Id’s WizType

      Posted on by Azrael 1 Comment

      [APP2 / ATARI 8-BIT / C64 / DOS]
      [USA] [MAGAZINE] [1984]

      • Electronic Games, November 1984 (#33)

        • Scanned by Jason Scott, via The Internet Archive

      http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/160809623018/vgprintads-the-wizard-of-ids-wiztype-app2

      At one time there were a variety of software products on the market for teaching you how to type. I’m not sure what that market is like today but in 1984 The Wizard of Id’s WizType by Sierra was one of the better such products out there. It was available for many of the computers available at the type including the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit line, DOS and Apple II.

      Like most software of its type, WizType offered various options including practice, a game and testing. The most interesting in the options in WizType were probably the game, own lesson, and paragraphs.

      The game, along with the theme for all the other sections, was based on The Wizard of Id comic strip. In the game, typing accurately and quickly enough caused the Wizard to zap the spirit from the well. Too slow or inaccurate and the spirit eventually turns into a dragon and breathes fire on the wizard.

      The ‘Own Lesson’ option allowed you to enter words or letter combinations for you to practice. This was useful if you had difficulty with something in particular or were just tired of the provided content.

      Paragraphs provided paragraphs out of various literary works (Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities for example) for you to practice on. It also allowed you to enter and store your own paragraphs for practice. This feature is what really gave WizType longevity.





      Apple ][ Atari 8-bit Commodore 64 Computer Arcana DOS 📎and tagged