• Tag Archives Atari 800XL

  • 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 (September 1983)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    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!


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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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