• Tag Archives commodore

  • The Australian Commodore Review (October 1986)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    The Australian Commodore Review was a magazine published in Australia that covered Commodore computers, including the Commodore 64 and Amiga. The October 1986 issue includes:

    Features – Utilities

    • Utilities – Useful utilities to use when programming, including things such a Pet Emulator, DOS Wedge, SIDMON, Graphics Master, and more.
    • Which Utility – A guide to utilities and their prices. Some items listed here include Final Cartridge, Fast Load, Vorpal Utility Kit, and more.
    • Freeze Frame Mark III – A review of this cartridge the primary purpose of which is to capture the contents of memory and save it to disk.
    • Quickdisc+ II – The stock Commodore 64 disk drive was notoriously slow but there were many solutions to this, including a variety of cartridges that would speed up loading (and other operations) by 5-10x. I’m most familiar with Fast Load and Warp Speed but this is another.
    • Dolphin DOS – In addition to cartridges, there were also various DOS replacements for Commodore 64 disk drives that involved replacing the ROMs. The most famous of which is probably JiffyDOS but Dolphin Dos is another These not only sped up loading but also added additional functionality.
    • Capture Cartridge – There were many other devices similar to the Freeze Frame Mark III cartridge mentioned above. While they had various functions, more often than not though, I’m pretty sure they were used to pirate games.
    • The Printer Connection – Compatibility issues with the Commodore 128 and using a printer with multiple computers.

    Software Reviews

    • Out-Think – This was outlining software that was written for CP/M and could run in the Commodore 64’s CP/M mode.

    Book Reviews

    • C-128 Programmers Reference Guide – If you were serious about programming on the Commodore 128 then this was a must have book.

    Regular Appearances

    • Amiga Software Overview – A brief look at some of the software available for the Amiga in the categories of business, graphics, sound, and video.
    • Beginners Guide to the Amiga – A introductory guide to the Amiga published by Compute!.
    • Amiga Programmers Guide – Getting started with programming on the Amiga.
    • Ram Ramblings – A brief look at new products including Print Shop Library Disk One, and Adventure Notepad.
    • Adventurer’s Realm – A map of Zork including the items that appear at each location.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about printers and a calendar bug.
    • Titanic – A game in which you must bring the Titanic back to the surface.
    • Leader Board – The classic golf game from Access.
    • Now Games – A brief look at new games including Lords of Midnight, Pyjamarama, and Tales of the Arabian Nights.
    • Critical Mass – This game was known as Power in the U.S. The goal was to disable a power station on an asteroid that has been taken over by aliens in your trusty hovercraft.
    • World’s Greatest Football Game – A football game from Epyx. Not sure it was the world’s greatest but it was decent for its time.

    …and more!


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  • Commodore Magazine (February 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Commodore Magazine – February 1988

    I absolutely loved this magazine for the short couple of years I bought it. It covered the computer I had (Commodore 64), the computer I wanted (Amiga), and even Commodore’s PC compatible machines. The February 1988 issue includes:

    Features

    • Software “Fan”atics – Amusing stories from the Commodore 64 development world and its fans.
    • Mail Order Mania – A guide to buying your computer hardware and software via mail order…sort of like buying via the Internet today.
    • Cover Story: 101 Tips For Commodore Game Players – A compendium of tips and tricks for Commodore 64 games.

    Departments

    • Letters – Letters from readers about bowling software, disk drive repair, and setting up a Commodore 64 in limited space.
    • News – A contest related to the game President Elect, new Amiga products revealed at Comdex, an Assembly Language programming book for the Amiga, Airborne Ranger and Project Stealth Fighter released for the C64 by MicroProse, 4th & Inches released for the C64 by Accolade, Galactic Frontier releaed by Spirit Software for the C64, the SupraDrive FD-10 (10 MB removeable floppy disk drive) released for the C64, and much more.
    • Tips & Tricks – Tips and brief coding trick including a short fireworks program for the C64, a programmable caterpillar for the C64, tips for Faery Tale Adventure for the Amiga, and more.
    • 64 and 128 Software Reviews – Reviews of Rush’n Attack, Yie Ar Kung-Fu (one of my personal favorites), Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, Jeopardy, Stationfall, Dan Dare, and Telegames Vol. 1-3.
    • Amiga Software Reviews – Reviews of DigiPaint, Phantasie I, Phatasie III (no idea why they skipped porting the second game in the series), LexCheck, Karate Kid II, City Desk, and TimeSaver.
    • Amiga Book Reviews – Reviews of Amiga Technical Reference Series, Amiga Intuition Reference Manual, Amiga Hardware Reference Manual, Amiga ROM Kernal Reference Manual: Exec, Libraries and Devices, Programmer’s Guide to the Amiga, Amiga programmer’s HandBook Second Edition, The AmigaDOS Manual Second Edition, The Amiga, and Inside the Amiga.
    • Adventure Road – A look at adventure games including Knight Orc and Phantasie III.
    • Technical Tips – Part 6 of a guide to interfacing with the Commodore 64’s user port – this is part 2 of building a digital camera.
    • Telecommunications – Inside Q-Link – Using e-mail on this online service for the Commodore 64. It would eventually become America Online.
    • Computer Tutor – A type-in vocabulary application for the Commodore 64.
    • Game Programs – A type-in game for the Commodore 64 called Kamikaze Duck in which you must catch ducks plumeting from the sky.
    • Jiffies – A short type-in program called Lil’ Helper for the Commodore 64 that helps you catalog the contents of your disks.
    • 128 Users Only – A type-in routine for the Commodore 128 that lets you easily find all of the variables in your BASIC programs.
    • Amiga Update – A type-in program for the Amiga that will speak text files as well as an update on the latest available public domain software.

    …and more!


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  • Compute! (March 1986)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 70 – March 1986

    Compute! was an excellent magazine that covered most popular computers of the time. I was partial to the spin-off Gazette because I had a Commodore 64 but this one was excellent as well. It was a little less technical that Byte but all magazines at the time were technical compared to today. The March 1986 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Future of Mass Storage – The future was bright for mass storage. 3.5″ floppies were replacing 5.25″ floppies, Hard drives were becoming affordable, and optical storage for the average user was on the horizon.
    • The Computerized Home – Computerized home automation was a thing long before Alexa. The X-10 interface was the de-facto standard and X-10 modules were available for pretty much any platform.
    • Switchbox – A type-in puzzle game with versions specifically for the Commodore 128, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, PC, and Amiga.
    • SpeedCalc for Atari – A type-in professional quality spreadsheet program for the Atari 8-bit.

    Reviews

    • The Works! – A software package for the Commodore 64 and Apple II that includes 13 programs in the categories of tools, organizers, arts, and learning.
    • Under Fire – A World War II strategy game for the Apple II.
    • M-Disk – Software for creating a RAM Disk on the Atari ST.
    • Atari XM301 Modem – A 300bps direct connect modem for Atari 8-bit computers.
    • EduCalc and NoteCard Maker – A combination of a simplified spreadsheet program and simplified database manager with versions for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and PC (Apple II version reviewed here).
    • Hex – A puzzle/strategy game for the Atari ST.
    • Sylvia Porter’s Personal Financial Planner – This software package includes six programs including Transaction Manager, Budget Manager, Asset/Liability Manager, Balance Sheet, and Financial Planner. The Commodore 64 version is reviewed here with versions also available for the PC and Apple II.

    Columns and Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – A comparison of the new Amiga and Atari ST.
    • Readers’ Feedback – Letters from readers about code comments, computers for charity, recording music on the Amiga, and more.
    • HOTWARE – The top five selling software titles in three different categories. In the top places were F-15 Strike Eagle (Entertainment), Typing Tutor III (Education), and Print Shop (Home Management).
    • INSIGHT: Atari – A look at Atari character codes. Atari 8-bit computers used a variant of ASCII called ATASCII.
    • The Beginner’s Page: Cutting Strings Without Scissors – How to split strings in BASIC.
    • Computers and Society: Humanizing the User Interface, Part 1 – Exploring ways to make the user interface easier to use and more intuitive.
    • The World Inside the Computer: Snowflakes, Quilts, and Stained Glass Windows – Art on the Amiga.
    • Telecomputing Today Games Modern People Play – A look at online multiplayer gaming. At the time, that typically meant turn based gaming on BBS systems or services like CompuServe.
    • IBM Personal Computing: The Ultimate Entertainment Center – A guide for using your PC or PCjr with a TV.
    • Programming the TI: IF-THEN Statements – Using IF-THEN statements including examples for simulating AN/OR, doing Algebra, and more.
    • News & Products – Valhalla announced for the Commodore 64; MIDI Ensemble for the PC; AtariWriter and AtariWriter Plus word processors for the Atari ST; What’s Our Worth? home inventory package for the Commodore 64; and more.

    The Journal

    • IBM Fractal Graphics – Three type-in programs for creating fractals on the IBM PC and PCjr.
    • Commodore ML Saver – A type-in program for saving machine language programs directly from memory to disk on the Commodore 64.
    • Loading and Linking Commodore Programs, Part 1 – The first in a series of article on loading, chaining, and overlaying programs on Commodore computers.
    • Atari P/M Graphics Toolkit – Atari Player/Missile graphics is the Atari 8-bit version of sprites. This type-in toolkit makes it easier to develop and use P/M graphics on the Atari.
    • MultiMemory for Commodore 64 and Apple – Short type-in programs for the Commodore 64 and Apple II that allow you to segment memory for loading multiple BASIC programs.
    • Experimenting with SID Sound – Some examples for controlling the Commodore 64’s SID sound chip.
    • Mousify Your Applesoft Programs, Part 1 – The first of a two-part guide to using a mouse (or joystick or paddles) with your own programs.
    • Atari BootStuffer – This short type-in program for the Atari 8-bit allows you to create a menu system to load up to 8 different programs with one key press.
    • Requester Windows in Amiga BASIC – A guide to adding requester windows (dialog boxes) to Amiga BASIC programs.
    • Softkeys for Atari BASIC – This type-in program gives you automatic line numbering and various hotkeys when writing your own BASIC programs.
    • BASIC Sound on the Atari ST – A guide to getting started with creating basic sound effects on your Atari ST.

    …and more!


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