• Tag Archives Atari 800XL
  • ANALOG Computing (November 1984)

    Source: ANALOG Computing – November 1984

    ANALOG Computing was probably the most popular Atari 8-bit computer magazine published in the U.S. It covered all of Atari’s 8-bit computers through its life including the Atari 400, Atari 800, Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 1200XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE and more. It also occasionally had Atari ST coverage though it was always primarily an 8-bit magazine. The November 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • AtariCon Report – A report on the first international Atari users convention which was held August 24th and August 25th 1984 in Southfield, Michigan.
    • Bopotron! – A type-in platform game in which you must control a robot running around a spaceship trying to keep all of the power packs charged.
    • Circuit Database – A type-in program designed to store and organize circuit diagrams.
    • XL-DOS – A type-in modification of Atari’s DOS 2.0S for XL computers to make it faster and more efficient.
    • Cassette Compressor – A type-in program for compressing programs on cassette and making them load faster.
    • BOFFO! – A type-in program that will convert object code into data statements.
    • Bopotron Construction Set – A type-in construction set for the Bopotron game above that allows you to create your own levels.
    • Race in Space – A type-in machine language game for one or two players in which you race through an asteroid field.
    • An Interview with Free Fall Associates – An interview with Jon Freeman and Anne Westfall of Freefall Associates. They were known for games such as Archon, Archon II, and Murder on the Zinderneuf.

    Reviews

    • A Software Cornucopia – Reviews of Pengo (Atari), Infidel (Infocom), Mr. Robot and his Robot Factory (Datamost), Flak (Funsoft), and Questron (Strategic Simulations, Inc.).
    • Archon II: Adept – An in-depth review of Archon II: Adept, from Electronic Arts.

    Columns

    • Rader Comment – Letters from readers about the Ape-Face printer interface, Micro-Puzzler, plotting 3D images, and more.
    • Griffin’s Lair – Reviews of educational programs including Seastalker from Infocom, Dragon’s Keep: Troll’s Tale from Sierra On-Line, and Tonk in the Land of Buddy-Bots from Mindscape.
    • New Products – A brief look at new Atari related products including the Hush 80S printer, Gumball from Broderbund, Getting Started with the Atari 600XL (book), the Anchor Signalman Mark XII 1200bps modem ($399), Pitfall II and H.E.R.O. from Activision, Quest of the Space Beagle from Avalon Hill, and more.
    • Ask Mr. Forth – A FORTH tutorial with demo code.
    • BASIC Training – A continuing series on how to write a game in BASIC which uses a Battleship clone called High Seas as the game to be written.

    …and more!


  • ANALOG Computing (July 1986)

    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!


  • ANALOG Computing (September 1983)

    Source: ANALOG Computing – September 1983

    ANALOG Computing was probably the most popular and longest running magazine for Atari 8-bit computers in the U.S. The September 1983 issue includes:

    Features/Articles

    • The New ATARI Peripherals – The 1983 Summer CES was a pretty big event for Atari. New products announced or show there include the 600XL, 800XL, 1400XL, and 1450XLD computers. In addition, there were numerous new peripherals including three different printers, the 1050 Disk Drive, 1030 Direct Connect Modem (300 baud), CX77 Touch Tablet, CX80 Trackball, Atari CP/M Module, and lots more.
    • ATARI Graph – A cryptographic puzzle.
    • Fine Scrolling – Part one of a tutorial on scrolling on the Atari 8-bit including programming examples and a discussion of what various games do, including Defender, Caverns of Mars and Eastern Front.

    Reviews/Profiles

    • Family Cash Flow – Software for keeping track of your money.
    • Electronic Arts/Games Review – Reviews of several Electronic Arts games including Archon, M.U.L.E., Pinball Construction Set, and Worms?
    • Donkey Kong – A conversion of the arcade classic on cartridge.
    • Pole Position – Another arcade conversion on cartridge. I got really good at this game on the Commodore 64.
    • Dark Crystal – A graphics adventure game based on the movie of the same name.
    • BASIC Utilities Compared – A look at three different programming utility packages including BAIC Commander, BASIC Debugger, and Monkey Wrench II.
    • Alpha Shield – An action game in which you must defeat the alien base.
    • Starbowl Football – A pretty good though difficult football game.

    Program Listings

    • Observational Astronomy – A type-in program that allows you to enter your latitude and longitude as well as the date and it will tell you what objects are in the night sky.
    • Livewire Paddle Default – A modification to a previous type-in game that sets the paddle controllers as the default instead of the joystick.
    • Roundup – A type-in game in which you must herd and lasso cattle.
    • CIO Utilities – Utilities to speed up disk and cassette input and output.
    • Space Assault – A type-in game in which you must protect your colony from invading aliens. It sounds like a cross between space invaders and missile command.

    Columns

    • Editorial – Alan Alda’s endorsement deal with Atari and crediting programmers for their work.
    • Reader Comment – Letters from readers regarding hardware add-ons, the San Diego Computer Society Computer Fair, software piracy, and more.
    • New Products – A look at new products including Blue Max, Zaxxon, Dimension X, Drelbs, Shadow World, Rainbow Walker, Wavy Navy, The Dark Crystal, Mr. Cool, Moon Shuttle, Pooyan, Satan’s Hollow, Lord of the Rings, Operation Whirlwind, Silicon Warrior, Gateway to Apshai, Jumpman Jr., River Raid, and lots more.
    • Our Game – A column on game design in which reader ideas are explored.
    • Boot Camp – An introduction to assembly language.
    • Ask Sally Forth – Comparing the speed of FORTH with BASIC.

    …and more!