• Tag Archives Atari 8-bit

  • Family Computing (March 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    family_computing_issue_07_1984_mar-001

    Source: Family Computing – Issue Number 7 – March 1984

    Family Computing was an early, family oriented computer magazine. Many magazines of the time were oriented towards more technical users. This one had more mainstream appeal, especially for younger computer users. The March 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Computer: A New Tool for the Garden – A seasoned backyard gardener shares his foolproof technique that could increase your garden’s productivity. Plus: Some time and task managers for your computer.
    • Soup’s On-Line – A harvest of healthy software to bring order and nutritional awareness to your kitchen.
    • Users’ Groups: Strength in Numbers – Where to find answers to your computer questions? There are hundreds of machine-specific users’ groups throughout the country to guide you.
    • Rendevous With A Robot – With rapid advancements in robotics, your dream ‘droid may become a part of your family sooner than you think. Find out what it’s like to live with a ‘droid of your own.
    • The World Is Your Oyster – Used together, your computer, a phone line, and a modem can connect you with an extraordinary range of services, games, and information. It’s called telecomputing.
    • Buyers’ Guide to Modems

      • – An update of direct-connect modems and acoustic couplers, and capsule reviews of popular modems. Plus: Telecommunications software – three ways to get it.

    • She Just Keeps Scrolling Along – Carol Shaw, the creator of the best-selling game River Raid, has more on the way. She discusses the ups and downs of game design.
    • How to Build a Computer Carrel – Solve your where-to-put-it problem. Follow our 15 step-by-step instructions on how to build a “Murphy Bed” for your computer.

    Programming

    • The Programmer – For enthusiasts of all levels.
    • Spring Programs – Play a game of Musical Chairs, create the First Bloom of spring while snow’s still on the ground, plan your savings and purchases with the Kids’ Allowance Planner with programs for ADAM, Apple, Atari, Commodore 64 and VIC-20, IBM, TI, Timex, and TRS-80 computers.
    • Reader-Written Program – Test your logic and patience with this game of balance.

    Products

    • What’s In Store – A dozen pages of product announcements and reviews.
    • New Hardware Announcements – The latest in the field: the Apricot computer; Apple’s new direct-connect modem; Wico’s joystick; Alphacom, Canon and Smith-Corona printers; and more.
    • Novelties and Notions – A compendium of computer-related items including a microchip jigsaw puzzle, a classy disk filer, Computer Buff bumperstickers and pins, and more.
    • Software Guide – Quick takes on two dozen new and noteworthy programs
    • Software Reviews

    Departments

    • Home School Connection – To become computer-literate you need to master some basic skills – one of these is typing. Plus: A Guide to Typing Programs
    • Games – Adventure, strategy, hybrid, and arcade games: To shoot-’em-up or not to shoot-’em-up?
    • Home Business – A father-son computer repair team sets up shop in the Rockies.
    • Computing Clinic – Questions from readers are answered.

    …and more!


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  • K-Power (July/August 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    k-power_issue_06_1984_jul_aug-01

    Source: K-Power Issue (July/August 1984)

    K-Power was a magazine oriented towards teens published in 1984. Only eight standalone issues were published until it merged with Family Computing and became an insert there. The July/August 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • How Teen Tycoons Take Care of Business – Some savvy hackers make big dough with their computer skills. How you can, too!
    • Computer Comix – Here’s a “Gee, Whiz!” another K-Power laff-riot!
    • Computers Go for the Gold – Will computers help cyclist Rebecca Twigg or archer Becky Liggett win a Gold Medal?
    • K-Power Picks – Olympics software get K-Power’s highest rating.
    • Test Run: IBM PCjr – Forget the rest – read the best! K-Power tells you how the much-heralded PCjr really rates.
    • The Making of a Hacker – Can anyone be a hacker? According to Andrea Leptich, the answer is Yes!
    • Computer Superstars – A look at some of everybody’s favorite computer cartoon characters – Q*bert, the Zerks, Rockford the bug, and more!

    Programming

    • Hacker Heaven – A 16-page pullout crammed with programs!
    • Compucopia – Byte-size programs.
    • Microtones – A new computer-music column with programs and music news!
    • Programs – Fireworks, fireworks, and more fireworks!

    Products

    • Screening Room – Software reviews and strategy.
    • Strategy – Exodus: Ultima III – How to kill the evil Exodus and save a world.
    • The Rating Game – Space Taxi – a futuristic driving game that talks! Also, Bruce Lee, Dimension X, and more.

    Departments

    • Editor’s Note – Introducing the K-Base – a computing pen-pal system.
    • Logon – Letters from you.
    • Compuzine – The experts talk piracy. Plus, Silicon Alley and Scrolling in Dough.
    • Dr. Kursor’s Klinic – Where the word “hacker” comes from; what an RGB monitor is.
    • K-Net – The winners of the K-Power “Win-a-Modem” contest. Plus, how the K-Net works!
    • Contest – Put words in K.I.T.T.’s mouth.

    …and more!


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  • Star Wars: The Arcade Game

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Star Wars: The Arcade Game was how most of the home ports of the Star Wars arcade game were titled. Seems a bit redundant but there’s marketing for you. The original arcade game was an impressive looking (even today I think it looks impressive) vector graphics based space flight combat game. You pilot an X-Wing on approach to the Death Star and then take part in the trench run to destroy the Death Star. The original arcade game was released in 1983 with a large number of home ports to follow later in 1983, 1984 and beyond.

    Initially, Star Wars was ported by Parker Brothers to the Atari 8-bit, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Commodore 64 and ColecoVision. Later in 1987 and 1988 it was ported to the Amiga, Atari ST and DOS based PCs among others. In addition, it was ported again to the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit so there are multiple versions of this game out there for those platforms.

    Today, there’s not really any reason to track down these home versions. Quality varies among the different ports but the arcade original is much better. You’ll have to resort to emulation to play it though as there has been no official release of an arcade perfect home version as far as I know.

    The images above are from a commercial for the original 1983/84 home ports. The version of the game shown is the Atari 5200 version. Except for perhaps the game graphics I think this commercial probably would have been more likely to reduce sales than increase them.

    Star Wars (Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ColecoVision)





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