• Tag Archives Atari 600XL

  • ANALOG Computing (July 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: ANALOG Computing – Issue Number 20 – July 1984

    ANALOG was one of the most popular Atari 8-bit computer magazines in the U.S. It was published from 1981 to 1989. It had all the typical stuff you would expect in 8-bit computer magazine of the 1980s including reviews, type-in programs, and more. The July 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Winners (ANALOG’s Favorite Games) – ANALOG editors pick their all time favorite games. Some of these games include Star Raiders, MiG Alley Ace, Breakout, Boulder Dash, Archon, Miner 2049er, Missile Command, Pac-Man, Gateway to Apshai, Donkey Kong, Pole Position, Choplifter, M.U.L.E., Agent USA, Shamus, Wizard of Wor, and others.
    • Buzz-zap! – A type-in maze game in which you control a bee who must avoid killer strawberries and other obstacles to make it back to the hive.
    • Bacterion! – This type-in game is described as a sort of sequel to Robotron though it plays more like Asteroids.
    • What Is It? – A type-in educational game for younger kids in which they must type the name of the object that appears on screen.
    • AlterDOS – A type-in program that modifies DOS to recognize files other than AUTORUN.SYS as the autorun file on a disk.
    • Auto Line Numbering+ – This type-in program will assist you in writing your own programs by autonumbering them and performing other tasks.
    • ConTEXT – This type-in program will convert Letter Perfect word processing files into a more standard format that can be used with other programs on the Atari.
    • Stars 3-D in Action! – Action! is a programming language and IDE provided on cartridge and available only for Atari 8-bit computers. This type-in program is rewrite of a previously published type-in program in ANALOG rewritten here in Action!.
    • Bounce in Action! – An Action! version of a previously published type-in program in which you place obstacles to change the direction of a bouncing ball. This version has higher resolution and more colors than the original.
    • Scredit – A type-in program for helping you to design smooth scrolling screens.

    Product Reviews

    • Boulder Dash – A review of the classic Boulder Dash by First Star Software.
    • Universe – A rather ambitious (for its time) sci-fi adventure game that shipped on four disks and cost $89.95.
    • Seven Cities of Gold – An action/adventure/strategy game from Electronic Arts in which you play the role of a sixteenth century Spanish conquistador.
    • Movie Maker – This software allows you to create animated movies 30 to 60 seconds long.

    Columns

    • Reader Comment – Readers write in about modem usage.
    • Griffin’s Lair – Reviews of educational software with an emphasis on typing skills this month, including Mastertype, Type Attack, Typo, and Touch Typing.
    • Our Game – Game development in which the readers participate.
    • BASIC Training – Useful BASIC tips for those writing games including using vector routines and ways to speed up games.
    • Boot Camp – An ongoing assembly language tutorial. This edition covers multiplying numbers.

    …and more!


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  • Antic (May 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Antic – May 1985

    Antic was one of the major 8-bit Atari magazines published in the U.S. It also covered the Atari ST though it is better known for its 8-bit coverage. The May 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • Antic Bookshelf – Revews of Atari related books including Book of Adventure Games, Atari Graphics & Arcade Game Design, Atari Color Graphics, and 1 2 3 My Computer & Me! A Logo Funbook for Kids, Logo Fun.
    • Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – A review of this classic interactive fiction game from Infocom based on the Douglas Adams book of the same name.
    • Gem of Atari – A look at the OS of the new 16-bit Atari ST.
    • Paper Clip – A detailed look at what turned out to be one of the best word processors for the Atari 8-bit.
    • Meet the 68000 – A look at the 68000 CPU which was at the heart of the Atari ST and its effect on assembler and BASIC programming.
    • Manipulating Strings – A tutorial on manipulating strings in Atari BASIC.
    • Lazy Loader – A type in utility for allowing you to load your BASIC programs via a menu.
    • Mode Mixer – A type in utility that allows you to display multiple graphics modes on one screen.
    • Beer Party Atari – A type-in application program designed for rating beer.
    • Son of Infobits – A type-in database program that is an expansion of a program published in a previous issue.

    Departments

    • Communications: TScope Autodialer – A type-in add-on for the public domain communications program TScope that allow automatically dialing and logging in to a BBS.
    • Game of the Month: Area Racer – A type-in game in which you race your “Huntercraft” through caverns while avoiding laser fire.
    • Toolbox: Handy USR Routines – A collection of short machine language routines that you can use in your own programs. Functions range from evaluating boolean expressions to playing music and much more.
    • Bonus Game: Amazing – This type-in maze chase game requires the Action! cartridge.
    • Assembly Language: Fader II – A type-in program that implements a dot-by-dot picture dissolve effect.
    • Edtorial – A reflection of Antic’s history as it begins its fourth year of publication.
    • I/O Board – Letters from readers about Broderbund, repairing the Trak disk drive, the Sears Performance TV/Monitor, and more.
    • Product Reviews – Reviews of Ghostbusters (Activision), Spy Vs. Spy (First Star Software), MAC/65 Toolkit (Optimized Systems Software), U.S. Adventure (First Star Software). 50 Mission Crush (Strategic Simulations Inc.), and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein (Muse Software).
    • New Products – A brief look at new Atari related products including Hush 80 thermal printer, Bounty Bob Strikes Back, Masteri 8 BASIC ng Your Atari Through 8 BASIC Projects (book), U-Print A64 printer interface, Smartmodem 2400, Print Shop, and the Homewriter 10 printer.

    …and more!


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  • ANALOG Computing (May 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Computer & Video Game Magazines – ANALOG Computing – May 1985

    There were a couple of good Atari 8-bit magazines published in the U.S. Overall, I think ANALOG was probably the best. The May 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • BASIC AUTORUN.SYS File – A type-in BASIC AUTORUN.SYS designed for autobooting BASIC programs.
    • Basic Burger – A type-in game that, from the description, sounds like a clone of Burger Time.
    • Z-Plotter – A type-in program for plotting graphs of formulas that you enter.
    • Boulder Bombers – A type-in game in which you must drop bombs to clear away a landslide that is blocking flood waters from receding.
    • Loan Shark – A type-in payment calculator that allows you to calculate payments based on loan amounts and interest rates.
    • Two-Fifty-Siz – A type-in program that will display 256 colors on screen at once.

    Reviews

    • US Doubler – The US Doubler is a hardware upgrade for the Atari 1050 disk drives that adds the capability to read and write double-density disks. With the included Sparta DOS, it also speeds it up significantly.
    • Tax Command – Tax preparation software for your Atari 8-bit.
    • Panak Strikes! – Reviews of various games including Realm of Impossibility (Electronic Arts), The Scrolls of Abadon (Access Software), Beach-Head (Access Software) – one of my personal favorites but on the Commodore 64, Spy vs. Spy (First Star Software), and The Serpent’s Star (Broderbund).
    • Enhancement to BASIC – An enhancement to BASIC on Atari computers that adds new functions.

    Columns

    • Editorial – An overview of recent changes to the magazine including changes to the format, increase in telecommunications coverage, and more.
    • Reader Comment – Letters from readers about back issues on disk, coverage in the U.K, a modification to Planetary Defense that allows you to use the Atari Touch Tablet, uses of a VCR with Atari 8-bit computers, and more.
    • New Products – A brief look at new products including a new online game service called Games Computer Play, The Atari Computer Workout (book), Castle Cobbler and Subtraction Fair from Mindscape (kids educational software), The Print Shop from Broderbund, Bounty Bob Strikes Back, and more.
    • Griffin’s Lair – A look at recent educational software titles including Tink’s Adventure (Mindscape) and Tuk Goes to Town (Mindscape).
    • Ask Mr. Forth – A demonstration of the differences between FORTH and BASIC via FORTH versions of a couple of previously published BASIC graphics programs.
    • On-Line – An argument against software piracy using unruly kids in a movie theater as an analogy.
    • The End User – How to take the perfect screen shot. At this time, that meant using a film camera and photographing the monitor.

    …and more!


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