• Tag Archives Atari 130XE

  • ANALOG Computing (July 1986)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: ANALOG Computing – July 1986

    ANALOG computing was probably the best Atari 8-bit computer magazine published in the U.S. (though I suppose some might make an argument for Antic). They dabbled in Atari ST coverage when it came along but for the most part they stuck with 8-bit coverage. The July 1986 issue includes:

    Features

    • The 810 Flip Switch – It was common practice to punch a hole (really a notch) in the side of a floppy disk in order to make it useable as a double-sided disk. The instructions here are to build a switch for the Atari 810 disk drive that accomplishes the same thing without having to clip your disk.
    • RAMcopy! – A type-in program that will automatically copy specified files to a RAMdisk upon startup.
    • An interview with Russell Smith and Wayne Smith – An interview with the people behind the ATR-8000, an Atari 8-bit expansion that adds CP/M capability.
    • The 8-Bit Parallel Interface – Instructions for building a parallel interface for Atari 8-bits.
    • D:CHECK in Action! – A type-in program designed to correctly typing errors in the Action! development system.
    • Cassette LogWriter – A type-in program for printing labels/inserts for Cassettes.
    • Bits & Pieces – Part of a series on Atari hardware. This part focuses on using the joystick ports to control external devices.
    • ST-Log – An insert for the Atari ST. Included are a type-in program for creating function key templates, a program that helps you use fractions instead of decimals in LOGO, reviews o Personal Pascal, Easy Draw and Typing Tutor, a guide to ST software, a column on keyboard and disk I/O in C, and more.
    • Personal Robots – Robots that can be used with Atari computers.
    • Arm your Atari – Using the Armatron robotic arm with an Atari 8-bit computer.
    • Blast! – A type-in sci-fi themed shoot-em-up game.

    Reviews

    • Panak Strikes! – Reviews of various games including Spy vs. Spy Volume II: The Island Caper (First Star Software), The Mask of the Sun (Broderbund), and Ankh (Datamost).
    • Critical Connection – A software/hardware combo designed to allow you to use CP/M devices wth your Atari.
    • RAM Upgrade Kits – Reviews of RAM upgrade kits including the 256K XL RAM Upgrade Kit and the ICD Rambo XL Upgrade Kit (also 256K).

    Columns

    • Editorial – Recent updates to the magazine.
    • Reader Comment – Letters from readers about the Gemini SG-10 printer, Atari ST monitors, sound capabilities of the Atari ST, and more.
    • 8-Bit News – Super BoulderDash released along with a re-release of the original, Microflyte ATC joystick released made especially for Flight Simulator, Star Fleet I released, new Atari 8-bit hardware announced, and more.
    • BASIC Editor – A new type-in program designed to help you accurately type-in BASIC listings from ANALOG.
    • The End User – Financial Cookbook from Electronic Arts for the Atari ST, a real-time clock add-on for the Atari ST, a new Supra hard drive for the Atari ST, CHAT – a new telecommunications software package for the Atari ST, and more.
    • Boot Camp – Graphics programming in machine language.

    …and more!


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  • ANALOG Computing (June 1989)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: ANALOG Computing – Issue Number 73 – June 1989

    ANALOG Computing was the longest running and most popular Atari 8-bit magazine in the U.S. In 1989 it was getting close to the end of its days. The June 1989 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Adventure Game Showdown – How adding pictures to text adventure style games changed adventure gaming.
    • Secret Agent: Mission 1 – A type-in text adventure game with a secret agent theme.
    • Sector to Printer – A type-in program that creates map print outs of adventure games by extracting map related data stored on disk. This is a demo program tailored for Ultima III.
    • Disk Directory Alphabetizer – A type-in program that will reorganize your disk directories to be in alphabetical order.
    • Super Command Processor, Part 2 – Creating external commands for BBKCP.
    • Accessing Atari XL Hidden Memory – The Atari 800XL contains 64K of RAM but since that is the maximum amount addressable by the 6502 processor, parts are disabled when BASIC ROM or the OS is being used. This article shows how to access that memory.
    • Marble Magic – A type-in game that recreates a board game called Peg Board, Peg Checkers or Hi-Q on the Atari 8-bit.

    Reviews

    • Mario Bros. – Mario Bros. was a 1983 arcade game so this was a pretty late conversion fort he Atari 8-bit. But if there was one thing Atari was good at, it was releasing and re-releasing old games.
    • Desert Falcon – This Zaxxon-like game was one of the last major Atari releases for 8-bit computers. It was really an Atari XEGS game but would also work on the XL and XE computers.

    Columns

    • Database DELPHI – An introduction to the DELPHI online service, the Atari SIG (Special Interest Group) in particular.
    • Boot Camp – A look at the 6502 instruction set and how it addresses memory.
    • The End User – Info about user groups and a look at SpartDOS X.
    • BASIC Training – A tutorial on BASIC INPUT and PRINT statements.

    Departments

    • Editorial – A sort of intro to the “Adventure Game Showdown” article above. There seems to be a concern that adding graphics to text adventures was a bad thing. Ironically, text adventures (with or without graphics) were already pretty much a dead genre by this time.
    • Reader Comment – Letters from readers about reviews, previous type-in programs, internal troubles at Atari and the Atari 850 interface.

    …and more!


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