• Tag Archives Commodore 128

  • Compute!’s Gazette (April 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute!’s Gazette was a spin-off of Compute! and, along with RUN, was one of the most popular Commodore 64/128 magazines in the U.S. The April 1988 issue includes:

    Features

    • Report from the 1988 Winter Consumer Electronics Show – While game consoles were making a huge comeback, there was still plenty of new games for the Commodore 64 from companies like Activision, Epyx, Mindscape, Accolade, Broderbund, Cinemaware, Data East and others. Some games on display included Star Rank Boxing II, The Train, Power At Sea, Card Sharks, Rampage, Arcade Construction Kit, The Three Stooges, Rocket Ranger, The President Is Missing, NAVCOM 6: The Gulf Defense, Ikari Warriors, Victory Road, Speed Buggy, Karnov, The Hunt For Red October, Red Storm Rising, Spirit of War, Global Commander, Strike Fleet, The Games: Winter Edition, L.A. Crackdown, Sporting News Baseball, Impossible Mission II, 4×4 Offroad Racing, Death Sword, Dive Bomber, Zorkquest, Land of Legends, The Faery Tale Adventure, Fire Power, Sons of Liberty, Panzer Strike, Questron II, and lots more.
    • Close Up: The Commodore 128D – The Commodore 128D replaced the Commodore and included a detachable keyboard, built-in 1571 floppy drive, and increased video RAM.
    • Super CP/M Software for the 128, Part 2: Programmer’s Toolbox – The second and final part of a series providing a round-up of CP/M tools for the Commodore 128, including programming languages.

    Reviews

    • Paperboy and Gauntlet – Both of these arcade conversions were excellent on the Commodore 64.
    • Echelon – Other than than the dumb “LipStik” headset that came with this game that provided the ability to fire your weapon with your voice, this was an excellent space sim/mystery game.
    • Halls of Montezuma – A strategy game featuring historic battles in which the Marines were involved.
    • The Sentry – A unique sci-fi strategy game from Firebird.

    Games

    • 3-D Speedway – A type-in racing game for the Commodore 64.
    • Spy Defense – A type-in action game for the Commodore 64 in which you must rescue spies from aliens.

    Programming

      • BASIC for Beginners: Number Drills – Random numbers and string comparison.
    • Machine Language Programming: File Handling – Includes a sample machine language program for reading and writing files.
    • Power BASIC: Power POKE – A short program that alters the syntax of the POKE command to be more efficient and easier to read.
    • Key Clicker – A type-in program that can add different keyclick sounds to your Commodore 64 or 128.
    • Mirrors – A type-in program that produces a kaleidoscopic display in hi-res mode on the Commodore 64.
    • Speed File for the 64 – A type-in full-featured database program for the Commodore 64.
    • Phantom LIST – A short machine language program that lists BASIC programs from disk to screen without modifying memory.
    • DGraph: Hi-Res Commands for BASIC – A type-in BASIC extension that adds commands for generating graphs.
    • Smart VAL – A short type-in machine language program that extends the VAL command by adding the ability to evaluate complex mathematical expressions.
    • Ramdisk 128 – A type-in program for adding a ramdisk to your Commodore 128.
    • Four for the 64 – Short programs for adding enhanced machine language capabilities to BASIC programs on the C64.

    Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – Introducing the “Letters to the Editor” column and a GEOS programming contest.
    • Letters to the Editor – Letters from readers about Commodore 128 specific software, structured vs. unstructured programming, VIC-20s for education, and more.
    • Gazette Feedback – Feedback from readers about organizing a users group, baud vs. bps, freezing BASIC programs, and more.
    • The GEOS Column: GeoPublish – A Close Look – A look at geoPublish, a desktop publishing program for GEOS. This column was even created using geoPublish.
    • Horizons: Faster and Faster – Ways to improve the speed of your BASIC programs.
    • Computing for Families: What Type of Person Likes Computers? – A look at the different reasons people like computers.

    …and more!


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  • Compute!’s Gazette (June 1990)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute!’s Gazette was Compute!’s Commodore 64 spin-off magazine. It was one of the most popular Commodore 64 magazines but the June 1990 issue would be the last. However, it would continue on as a disk only publication for another 5 years. This issue includes:

    Features

    • Into the Crystal Ball: Software Leaders’ Outlook on the 64 – Despite its age, some publishers still report consistent sales including Virgin Mastertronic, SportsTime Computer Software, SSI, and others. However, by 1991 the game market for the C64 has pretty much collapsed with the last two major releases (in the U.S. anyway) occurring that year (Ultima VI and The Simpsons).
    • Commodore Computer Shows: How to Get the Most out of Them – A guide to attending computer shows along with a list of upcoming Commodore related shows including Commodore/Amiga Users Fair, World of Commodore/Amiga (Chicago), and World of Commodore/Amiga (Toronto).
    • A Guide to Commodore User Groups, Part 2 – The second part of Gazette’s annual list of user groups.

    Reviews

    • Search for the Titanic – This game from Capstone Software simulates the search for the Titanic.
    • FaceOff! – The classic hockey game from Gamestar.
    • Batman: The Movie – This Data East game is one of the few good games that are based on a movie.
    • Spanada 128 – A Spanish to English translator exclusively for the Commodore 128.

    Games

    • Mudfrog Math – A type-in educational math game for the Commodore 128.
    • Spheroids – A type-in game for the C64 in which you must collect spheres and hurl them at your opponent across uneven terrain.

    Programming

    • BASIC for Beginners: More on Timers – The second part of a series are creating accurate timers on the Commodore 64 in BASIC.
    • The Programmer’s Page: Printer Spooling – A way to spool ASCII files from disk to the printer without tying up the computer.
    • Machine Language Programming: Split Screen – A tutorial on creating a split screen and controlling each screen separately.
    • Starburst Graphics – A type-in machine language program for creating high resolution Commodore 64 graphics.
    • 1581 Path – A short program that allows you to access partitions on the 1581 drive similar to MS-DOS subdirectories.
    • Playfields – A type in program for the Commodore 64 that allows you to create animation similar to Amiga’s dual-playfield video mode.
    • Electronic Billboard – A type-in program for creating vertically scrolling messages on the Commodore 64.

    Departments

    • Commodore Clips – Lucasfilm offers special deal on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade VHS and game combo, Virgin Mastertronic releases Mega Pack collection of ten games, QuantumLink offers downloadable graphics, new C64 game from Japan called Curse of Babylon, and more.
    • The Editor’s Notes – Comments on the 1989 Gazette Readership Survey and recent changes to the magazine.
    • Letters to the Editor – Letters from readers about a Commodore 64 TV appearance, Commodore 64 BBSes, Speedscript, genealogy software, and more.
    • D’Iversions: Highways of the Future – Predictions of the future of computing including the combination of computer, TV, stereo, compact discs, and telephone.
    • Horizons: Design-a-64 Contest Winners – The results of a competition involving custom Commodore 64 mods. One can be seen on the cover.

    …and more!


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