• Tag Archives C64

  • ACE (January 1991)

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    ACE Advanced Computer Entertainment, Issue Number 40, January 1991

    ACE, short for “Advanced Computer Entertainment” is a computer gaming magazine that was published in the U.K. in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It mostly covered computer games on various platforms but also covered video game systems. the January 1991 issue includes:

    Massive Xmas Gameplay Section

    • Gunship 2000 Sneak Preview – A preview of Microprose’s combat helicopter (AH-64 Apache) sim for the PC (DOS). It would later be ported to the Amiga, CD32 and (much later) the PlayStation.
    • ACE Updates – A look at the latest game conversion including Midwinter for the PC, Rick Dangerous 2 for the Commodore 64, Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday for the CPC 64, and Rick Dangerous 2 for the Spectrum.
    • Tricks and Tactics – Tips, tricks and cheats for Captive, Shadow of the Beast 2, Xenomorph, Drakkhen, and Xiphos.

    Specials

    • Far Out! – A detailed look at the first VR arcade game, the Virtuality 1000. It was actually a platform for which several games were ultimately available. It was powered primarily by an Amiga 3000. Later iterations were power by a 486 based PC and a Pentium based PC though in all cases there was additional hardware for graphics.
    • That’s Intertainment – The first of a two-part report on the Intertainment ’90, an interactive entertainment convention based in New York. It featured advanced game design, hyperfiction, interactive cinema and more.
    • Journeys in Virtual Reality – A report on the U.K.’s Computer Graphics exhibition, the UK’s premier showcase for the latest in digital art. Virtual Reality seemed to be a big topic this year.
    • DVI Workstation – The upcoming CD revolution and full motion video were all the rage. This is a look at Empruve’s Cornucipia which was a compact workstation which was CD based and sort of resembled a black and white tablet with a secondary smaller color screen all mounted to a base with a CD-ROM drive. It was based on Intel’s DVI chipset and also featured a 386 processor, 1 MB of RAM, a 20 or 40 MB hard drive and an optional 4 MB floppy drive of some kind. A cursory web search revealed absolutely nothing other than an old Popular Science article about the same device. I’m not sure these even made it to the prototype stage…
    • Gold Digging – ACE hosts a conference with U.S. Gold in which topics such as Mean Streets, CD-ROMs and Cybercon II are discussed, among other things.
    • Phone Power – ACE launches a phone (voice) based service that provides gaming news, tips and more.

    Regulars

    • ACE News – Castle of Illusion coming soon for the MegaDrive; Captive 2 in development; rumors of an imminent release of the Atari Panther…this was a 68000 based gaming system that was basically complete when cancelled in favor of the development of the Jaguar; Sega and IBM develop a combined PC/MegaDrive; Laser Games International develops a life role-playing system for amusement parks called LaserQuest; and more.
    • Letters – Letters this month include topics such as the Amiga CDTV, and complaints about console coverage.
    • In the Pink – A special Christmas section which includes a guide to gifts, this month’s top games, a look at games on store shelves for Christmas, a hardware buyer’s guide, a competition, a crossword puzzle, and more.

    Reviews

    • On Computer
      • 4D Sports Boxing – A blocky boxing game from Mindscape
      • 4D Sports Driving – A game similar to Stunt Driver for the PC, Atari ST and Amiga.
      • Alpha Waves – A sort of 3D puzzle game for the PC.
      • ATF 2 – A strategy/sim/arcade game in which you fly an advanced fighter jet for the PC, Atari ST and Amiga.
      • B.A.T. – A sci-fi themed adventure game. The ST version comes with a sound card.
      • Battle Chess 2 – A sequel to the classic animated chess game for the PC, Amiga and Atari ST.
      • Carv-Up – A cartoony action game for the Amiga.
      • Chip’s Challenge – A puzzle game for the Amiga and Atari ST.
      • Death Trap – An arcade adventure game (reminds me a little of Heroes of the Lance) for the Amiga and Atari ST.
      • Dragon Breed – A horizontal shooter for the Atari ST and Amiga.
      • Gauntlet 3 – A 3D version of Gauntlet for the Amiga and Atari ST.
      • Gunship 2000 – See the sneak peek above.
      • Hard Drivin’ 2 – Sequel to the 3D polygon low frame rate classic for the Amiga.
      • James Pond – A platform game featuring a secret agent fish for the Amiga and Atari ST.
      • Lemmings – The classic puzzle game for the Amiga, Atari ST and PC.
      • Line of Fire – An Operation Wolf type game for the Amiga and Atari ST.
      • Nitro – An overhead racing game from Psygnosis for the Amiga and Atari ST.
      • Obitus – An arcade adventure game pretending to be an RPG for the Amiga.
      • Operation Com Bat – A turn-based strategy game featuring tanks and other vehicles for the Amiga and Macintosh.
      • Prince of Persia – The classic follow-up to Karateka for the Amiga.
      • Rogue Trooper – A four level action game for the Amiga and Atari ST.
      • Sorcerors Get All The Girsl – A humorous adventure game written by ex-Infocom employees for the PC.
      • Speedball 2 – A futuristic cross between football and rollerball for the Atari ST, Amiga and PC.
      • Spindizzy Worlds – A Spindizzy game that plays a bit like Marble Madness for the Amiga and Atari ST.
      • SWIV – Basically a sequel to Silkworm but played from a top down view…for the Amiga, Atari ST, Spectrum, and Commodore 64.
      • Team Suzuki – A motorcycle racing game for the Amiga, Atari ST and PC.
      • The Ultimate Ride – A motorcycle racing game from Mindscape.
      • Wings of Death – A vertically scrolling shooter similar to Dragon Spirit for the Amiga and Atari ST.
    • On Console
      • Boulderdash – The classic action/puzzle game for the Game Boy.
      • Burning Force – A mediocre 3D shooter similar to Space Harrier for the MegaDrive.
      • Cyberlip – A side-scrolling platform shooter in which you hunt droids for the Neo Geo.
      • Hellfire – A shooter for the MegaDrive.
      • Pipe Dream – A decent puzzle game for the Game Boy.
      • Rabid Rabbit – Rabio Lepus, an interesting shooter for the PC Engine.
      • Strider – An excellent platform game for the MegaDrive.

    …and more!


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  • Family Computing, September 1983

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    Family Computing, Volume 1, Issue 1, September 1983 

    Family Computing, Volume 1, Issue 1, September 1983

    In the early days of Family Computing, it was very much like other multi-format computer magazines of the time. It supported multiple computers with type-in programs, reviews, and various articles. Family Computing was somewhat unique in that it supported, at least to some degree, a large number of computers, including ones that were orphaned or no longer supported by the manufacturer (e.g. the Coleco Adam). Family Computing was published from 1983 until 2001.

    Contents of the September 1983 issue include:

    Features

    • How to Program Success Into Your Computer – An articles about computers and education though not strictly about programming.
    • The Bad Boy of Computing – An interview with Peter McWilliams. Peter McWilliams was an author who ultimately wrote over 40 books. He wrote on a variety of subjects but he wrote several computer related books in the early 1980s.
    • Meet Tom Ball: Game Maker – An interview with Tom Ball, computer programmer and developer and co-developer of several fairly popular games at the time, including Falcons. Radar Rider and Warp Destroyer.
    • How to Build a Compact Computer Console for $25 – “Computer Console” in this context means computer desk.
    • Portrait of a Computing Family: Part 1 – The Conningtons Buy a Computer – The first part of a series of articles that cover a family’s journey of picking out, buying, setting up and learning to use a computer. In this installment they visit various retailers from Sears to Radio Shack to Toys R Us and more to pick out a computer. They considered several options, including the TI-99/4A, Radio Shack Color Computer and others. Ultimately, they wisely selected the Commodore 64.
    • Computer Buyer’s Guide: A Look at the Leading Brands – An overview of the various computers on the market, including features and price. Computers detailed include the Apple IIe ($1395), Atari 600XL ($199), Commodore 64 ($595), Commodore VIC-20 ($199), IBM PC ($1355), TI-99/4A ($225), Timex Sinclair 1000 ($49), TRS-80 Color Computer ($299), and TRS-80 Model IV ($999-$1995).
    • When Kerrie Holton Talks, Atari Listens – An article about Kerrie Holton, high school computer programmer and member of the Atari Youth Advisory Board.

    Programming

    • The Programmer – Simple programs to figure out how hold you will be on a certain date; answer some questions to get a Mad Lib style nursery rhyme; and memorize names.
    • Programming Guide – A detailed tutorial to help you understand how one of the programs above works (Aging Fast While Learning BASIC).
    • Puzzle – Program your way through a maze…with paper and pencil.
    • Reader Written Programs – A Pig Latin translator and a program to help you determine cost effective insulation.
    • Software Guide – A listing of two dozen of what Family Computing considers to be the most noteworthy and/or best programs on the market.

    • Software Reviews
      • The Alphabet Arcade – An educational game to help learn the alphabet for the Atari 400/800.
      • Ernie’s Quiz – An educational title for the Apple II that consists of four simple games for 4-7 year olds.
      • Gortek and the Microchips – Computer programming for kids for the VIC-20.
      • Hey Diddle Diddle – An educational game in which you unscramble nursery rhymes for the Apple II, Commodore 64, Atari 400/800 and IBM PC.
      • Square Pairs – An game in which you match pairs of things (e.g. country/capital city) for the Apple II, Atari 400/800, TI-99/4A and VIC-20.
      • Flight Simulator – A flight simulator for the TS 1000.
      • Key Quest – A simple collect the treasure and avoid the things that kill you arcade game for the VIC-20.
      • Wizardry – One of the original computer role-playing games for hte Apple II and IBM PC.
      • Zork I – The famous text adventure/interactive fiction game for the Apple II.
      • The Organizer – A sort of home database for the Timex 1000.
      • Screenwriter II – A word processor for the Apple II.
      • Computer Mechanic – A program for keeping track of car maintenance including diagnostic steps to take when you are having various problems. For the Commodore 64.
    • New Hardware Announcements – New hardware this month includes the SV-318 computer from Spectravideo, the Timex Sinclair 1500, the Atari 800XL, CS 4800 Printer/Plotter, Impact “40” Printer, Microline 82A printer, Gorilla Monitor (green-screen), Koalapad Touch Tablet, and Voice Box II speech synthesizer.
    • Novelties and Notions – Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Home Computers…on record and tape; The Official Computer Hater’s Handbook; Apple Harvest – autumn Apple Collection catalog; floppy disk pins; computer travel case; and more.
    • Book Reviews – Books reviewed in this issue include The Complete Handbook of Personal Computer Communications, Computers for Everybody, Katie and the Computer, Pilgrim in the Microworld, and others.

    Departments

    • Editor’s Note – About the focus of Family Computing going forward.
    • Behind the Screens – A look at the expected growth in careers in the computer and related industries; credit cards with a “mini-microcomputer chip”; a new TV series called Whiz Kids; and more.
    • The Primer – Part of a three part series on the basics of computers. This part covers the basics of what a computer does and how it works and includes a glossary.
    • Home-School Connection – The story of one school that decided to start investing in computers in a big way with help from parents.
    • Home Business – The story of a woman who runs her own word processing business from home using a Commodore PET 8032, two disk drives and NEC Spinwriter printer.
    • Computing Confidential – The story of one person’s transition from computer phobe to teacher.
    • Computing Clinic – Questions from readers about buying the same computer for home as their kids use at school, locating user groups, copying disks and more.

    …and more!


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  • Zzap! 64, December 1991

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    Computer Arcana / Zzap! 64, Issue 79, December 1991 

    Zzap! 64, Issue 79, December 1991






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