• Tag Archives BBC

  • Your Computer (March 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Your Computer – March 1984

    Your computer is a magazine that was published in the U.K. that covered the popular computers there during the early to mid 1980s. Game coverage was pretty heavy though it was not exclusively a game magazine. The March 1984 issue includes:

    • Editorial and Your Letters -Letters from readers about the Lynx computer, the Dragon and saving machine language files, using the MicroDrive with the Spectrum, auto starting programs on the Spectrum, and more. Plus and editorial about the MSX.
    • News – Apple introduces the Macintosh; Romox introduces reprogrammable cartridges; an add-on that allows the Spectrum to output sound through the TV; Commodore introduces the 264; and more.
    • First Bytes – 32-bit computers vs. 16-bit computers and a look at the Sinclair QL; comparing printers for the Spectrum; and more.
    • Computer Club – A vision of computers in education.
    • Software Shortlist – Reviews of various games including Scuba Dive (Spectrum), Revenge of the Mutant Camels (Commodore 64), Oblivion (BBC B), Defender (VIC-20), Centipede (VIC-20), Dancing Feats (Commodore 64), Air Strike II (Atari 400/800), Astro Fighters (VIC-20), Zalaga (BBC B), and Lost In Space (Oric-1).
    • Quest Corner – A look at new adventure games including Snowball (Atari, Commodore 64), Streets of London (Commodore 64), and Mad Martha II (Spectrum).

    • Atmos – A look at the Oric Atmos, a new computer featuring a 6502A CPU @ 1 MHz, 48K RAM, 16K ROM (including BASIC), and more. This was basically an upgrade to the Oric-1.
    • MSX Invaders – A look at several new MSX computers including he Spectravideo SV-318, Spectravideo SV-328, Mitsubishi ML-8000, Toshiba Pasopia IQ HX-10, National CF-2000, and Yamaha YIS-503.
    • Spectrum Software – A look at some of the best and worst Spectrum software available.
    • Commodore Zagorsk – An adventure game writing tutorial and type-in adventure game for the Commodore 64 called Treasures of Zagorsk.
    • VIC Millipods – A type-in Millipede clone for the VIC-20.
    • ZX Pac-81 Man – A type-in variation of Pac-Man for the ZX-81.
    • Sinclair Clean-Up – How to keep your ZX Printer clean and in good working condition.
    • MTX-500 Start-Up – An introduction to the Memotech MTX-500 computer.
    • VIC CESIL – An introduction to low level programming on the VIC-20.
    • Oric Ape – A type-in program for the Oric called Krazy Ape that looks a lot like Donkey Kong.
    • BBC Sprite Graphics – A type-in sprite creator and animator for the BBC.
    • Dragon Graphics – Creating hi-res color graphics on the Dragon. Includes programming examples.
    • Spectrum Graphics – Creating graphics on the Spectrum.
    • Compander – A type-in text compression routine for the ZX-81.
    • Heartstop – A look at artificial intelligence and how it works. ChatGPT may be new but computers and AI go way back.
    • Review – A look at the supposed chip an computer shortage. Plus a look at some of the best selling and newest PCs including the Spectrum, IBM PCjr, Sinclair QL, and more.
    • ZX-81 Prograid – A type-in program for adding nine new functions to your ZX-81.
    • CBM-64 Asteroid Lander – A type-in game for the Commodore 64 that looks a bit like Lunar Lander.
    • Spectrum Cosmazoigs – An Asteroids-like type-in game for the Spectrum.
    • Cosmic Clash – A type-in game for the BBC that is reminiscent of Star Raiders.
    • Atari Maze Miner – A type-in maze game for Atari 8-bit computers in which you have to disarm mines.
    • Response Frame – Answers to reader questions about converting a type-in game to work with a joystick; the best CPU; upgrading Spectrum RAM; and more.
    • Software File – Short programs submitted by readers.

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Your Computer (December 1983)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Your Computer – December 1983

    Your Computer was a popular home computer magazine published in the U.K. in the 1980s. This particular issue is pretty massive with well over 300 pages. Looking at the table of contents, I thought it odd that the first thing listed is on page 74. I though maybe I was missing a page. However, it looks like this magazine (or at least this issue) is front-loaded with ads…so basically the first 73 pages are all advertisements.

    After all of the ads, this magazine starts off with sections common to many magazines, including competition info, editorial, letters and news. Competitions were common in this type of magazine though they seemed to be a much bigger deal in the U.K. than in the U.S. This one features computer software and hardware prizes of course. Near the end of the magazine, the results of the previous contest are given with the prize being an Atari 600XL. The Editorial and Letters are combined into one section and feature solutions to technical problems on the Spectrum and VIC-20. The news includes info about new hardware from Japan and a new expansion for the Electron (an unknown computer in the U.S.).

    Since this is a December issue, there is a lot of Christmas themed content. This includes a virtual Christmas Fair with mini-reviews and previews of Christmas presents for your computer as well as a Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come themed preview of new products coming in 1984. Also included is some Christmas music for the BBC Micro.

    Most of the rest of the magazine is split into different sections for different computers and features mostly type-in programs.

    For the Spectrum there are a few type-in programs including a drawing program.

    For the VIC-20 there are some fancy programming tricks in the form of code examples to include in your own programs.

    For the Atari 8-bit there is a programming article on interrupts and how to use them.

    For the BBC there is a type-in game called BBC Fruitworm.

    For the Commodore 64 we also have a couple of type-in programs.

    For the ZX-81 a type in program is provided that will let you run ZX-81 programs on your Spectrum…so I guess it is really more of a Spectrum program despite being in the ZX-81 section. There is also code for a bubble sort provided.

    For reference, the Sinclair Spectrum and Commodore 64 were in the process of becoming the most popular computers in the U.K. at this time. The ZX-81 and VIC-20 were their respective older cousins and probably had a bigger installed base still. The Atari 8-bit computer line was available in the U.K. but it was quite expensive and not very popular because of it. There were also some other UK centric computers like the BBC that had a fair amount of popularity.


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Big K (February 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Big K – Issue Number 11 – February 1985

    Big K is a gaming magazine that was published in the U.K. in the 1980s that was aimed at younger players. It covered primarily computer games but later added console coverage as well. The February 1985 issue includes:

    Games Programs

    • Shafter for Spectrum
    • Octonium Moon for BBC
    • Fruitbusters for VIC-20
    • Galactic Minefield for CBM64

    Software Reviews

    • Pick of the Month
    • Review Pages
    • Up Front: Mama Llama Exclusive
    • Goatbusters: The Compleat Jeff Minter!
      • The Interview
      • Origin of the Species
      • The Llamasoft Playlist

    Features

    • Games Reviewers Play

    Regulars

    • On-Line News
    • The Ferret
    • Arcade Alley
    • Dorkslayer: Adventuring with Keaton
    • Classic Games of Our Time
    • Charts
    • Zip Code
    • Letterbase
    • Big K Inlay Cards

    Competition

    • Win an Amstrad from Software Projects
    • Win a trip to Hampstead

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana Retro Games 📎and tagged