• Tag Archives computers

  • Your Commodore (May 1987)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Your Commodore – Issue Number 32 – May 1987

    Your Commodore was a U.K. published magazine for Commodore 8-bit computers. This mostly meant the Commodore 64 and 128 but it also covered machines like the C16 and Plus/4. The May 1987 issue includes:

    Features

    • Gunship – This month’s game of the month. This is a combat flight simulator featuring the Apache AH-64A. It was about as realistic as it got at the time.
    • Byting Into The 6510 – The first in a series of articles on machine code programming for the 6410.
    • Platform Panic – A look at some of the most influential platform games of the time, including Impossible Mission, Wizard, Bounty Bob Strikes Back, Cauldron II, Hercules, and Monty on the Run.
    • Image System – A detailed look at this graphics software for the Commodore 64.
    • Graphix Pax – A look at some of the better graphics packages and tools for the Commodore 64, including Koala Pad, Doodle Pad, Drawing Board, PIcasso, Blazing Paddles, Cadpak, Art Studio, Artist 64, and Simon’s Basic.
    • Guide To Graphics – A guide to understanding and using the Commodore 64’s graphics power.
    • Spanner In The Works – A guide to troubleshooting and repairing your computer.

    Regulars

    • Data Statements – News and new products including a new “face lift” package for the C64 to make it look more like the 64C, Aqua Racer from Bubble Bus Software, new SSI releases from U.S. Gold, a new joystick from Epyx, and more.
    • Games Reviews – Reviews of new games including Agent Orange, Indoor Sports, Eagles Nest, Chickin Chase, Big Deal, Krakout, Mutants, Leviathan, Paperboy, Feud, Terror of the Deep, Aliens, Tomahawk, Future Knight, and Escape From Singe’s Castle.
    • I.Q. – A look at some adventure games and other types of games that require more brain power than reflex, including Hollywood Hijinks, Murder Off Miami, Masters of the Universe, Adrian Mole, and Portal.

    Programs and Utilities

    • Lower Case Graphics – A program for using the lower case character set on the C16 and Plus/4.
    • Plus/4 and C16 Character Generator – A type-in character editor for the Plus/4 and C16.
    • Sprite Editor – A type-in sprite editor for the Commodore 64.
    • Cedit – A type-in full-featured character editor for the Commodore 64.

    …and more!


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  • RUN: The Home User’s Guide to Commodore Computing (January 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: RUN: The Home User’s Guide to Commodore Computing – Issue Number 13 – January 1985

    RUN was one of the most popular Commodore 8-bit computer magazines, mostly covering the Commodore 64. It was also one of the magazines I bought the most growing up. The January 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • Trapped in the Maze – Creating a maze game in BASIC on the VIC-20.
    • Writing Word Games – A guide to creating word games (like Hangman).
    • Smoking Joe – Some tips and a program for creating sprites.
    • Quatro – A type-in tic-tac-toe game for the Commodore 64 with the twist that you have to get four in a row instead of three.
    • Don’t Forget! – A type-in program for the Commodore 64 that gives you a calendar and the ability to create appointments.
    • Selecting The Right Printer – A guide to choosing the best printer for you. Some models mentioned here include the 1520 Plotter, 1525e, MPS-801, Prowriter, Okidata 82 and 92 series, Epson MX, RX, and FX series, Gemini 10X/15X, and more.
    • Three Printers From Commodore – Reviews of the Commodore DPS-1101 Daisy Whee printer, and the Commodore 1526 and MPS-803 Dot Matrix printers.
    • Disk Tips For Beginner – A guide to managing your floppy disks.
    • Let There Be Light Pens – At one point in time, before the mouse took over for good, light pens seemed to be the up and coming input device. This article is an introductory guide to light pens.

    Departments

    • RUNning Ruminations – A look ahead to what is in this issue and a request for articles on the new Plus/4 and Commodore 16.
    • Magic – Short programs for recovering an erased program, extracting lines from an existing program, tracing the execution of BASIC programs, reading raw data from tape, using a voice synthesizer for debugging, and more.
    • Software Gallery – Reviews of Questprobe: The Hulk, Kidwriter, Saucer Attack!, Space Taxi (one of my all time favorites though it only gets a ‘B’ rating here), abd Word Processor – Professional.
    • Clubs – A list of Commodore computer related clubs and user groups.
    • Commodore Clinic – Questions answered about documentation for the Commodore B128, compiling BASIC programs, word processing programs on cassette, CP/M on the Commodore 64, 1541 disk drivr problems, blowing fuses on the VIC-20, keypads for the Commodore 64, and much more.
    • Mail RUN – Letters from readers about CP/M problems on the Commodore 64, Commodore in South Africa, Panasonic printers, and more.
    • RUN’s 1984 Index – An index of articles and reviews from RUN covering all of 1984.
    • New Products RUNdown – A look at new producs including Suspect from Infocom, Breakdance from Epyx, President Elect from SSI, F-15 Strike Eagle from MicroProse, The Operating System from Hacker’s Hardware, The Professor from Progressive Peripherals, and more.


    Back cover of the January 1985 issue of RUN
    …and more!


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  • ANALOG Computing (July 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: ANALOG Computing – Issue Number 20 – July 1984

    ANALOG was one of the most popular Atari 8-bit computer magazines in the U.S. It was published from 1981 to 1989. It had all the typical stuff you would expect in 8-bit computer magazine of the 1980s including reviews, type-in programs, and more. The July 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Winners (ANALOG’s Favorite Games) – ANALOG editors pick their all time favorite games. Some of these games include Star Raiders, MiG Alley Ace, Breakout, Boulder Dash, Archon, Miner 2049er, Missile Command, Pac-Man, Gateway to Apshai, Donkey Kong, Pole Position, Choplifter, M.U.L.E., Agent USA, Shamus, Wizard of Wor, and others.
    • Buzz-zap! – A type-in maze game in which you control a bee who must avoid killer strawberries and other obstacles to make it back to the hive.
    • Bacterion! – This type-in game is described as a sort of sequel to Robotron though it plays more like Asteroids.
    • What Is It? – A type-in educational game for younger kids in which they must type the name of the object that appears on screen.
    • AlterDOS – A type-in program that modifies DOS to recognize files other than AUTORUN.SYS as the autorun file on a disk.
    • Auto Line Numbering+ – This type-in program will assist you in writing your own programs by autonumbering them and performing other tasks.
    • ConTEXT – This type-in program will convert Letter Perfect word processing files into a more standard format that can be used with other programs on the Atari.
    • Stars 3-D in Action! – Action! is a programming language and IDE provided on cartridge and available only for Atari 8-bit computers. This type-in program is rewrite of a previously published type-in program in ANALOG rewritten here in Action!.
    • Bounce in Action! – An Action! version of a previously published type-in program in which you place obstacles to change the direction of a bouncing ball. This version has higher resolution and more colors than the original.
    • Scredit – A type-in program for helping you to design smooth scrolling screens.

    Product Reviews

    • Boulder Dash – A review of the classic Boulder Dash by First Star Software.
    • Universe – A rather ambitious (for its time) sci-fi adventure game that shipped on four disks and cost $89.95.
    • Seven Cities of Gold – An action/adventure/strategy game from Electronic Arts in which you play the role of a sixteenth century Spanish conquistador.
    • Movie Maker – This software allows you to create animated movies 30 to 60 seconds long.

    Columns

    • Reader Comment – Readers write in about modem usage.
    • Griffin’s Lair – Reviews of educational software with an emphasis on typing skills this month, including Mastertype, Type Attack, Typo, and Touch Typing.
    • Our Game – Game development in which the readers participate.
    • BASIC Training – Useful BASIC tips for those writing games including using vector routines and ways to speed up games.
    • Boot Camp – An ongoing assembly language tutorial. This edition covers multiplying numbers.

    …and more!


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