• Tag Archives Radio Shack

  • 80-US (January 1979)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: 80-US – January 1979



    The TRS-80 was one of the first home computers available and therefore had some of the earliest computer publications dedicated to it. 80-US is one of those. The January 1979 issue includes:

    • Going First Class – Our experience with a new Selectra-Print
    • Text 80 – A text editor without frills, for those who can’t remember all the sub-commands
    • Bowling Revisited – An authentic Level II version of the Computerized Bowling Alley
    • An Audio-Visual Demo – How to connect pictures with sound, using existing equipment
    • Notes on BASIC Programming – Keeping track of your Level I variables
    • Renew That Program – A sometimes successful way to bring a disk basic program back to life
    • Math Drill Ala King – A fun math program, with some Level I tutorial material included
    • Erode – For your mid-winter madness, try and break thru the barrier in the time allowed – 4 levels of expertise
    • View from the top of the Stack
    • Reviews
    • Hangups
    • Editorial
    • Random Access
    • Letters

    …and more!


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  • K-Power (November/December 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment


    Source: K-Power – Issue Number 8 – November/December 1984

    In the early 1980s, there were several computer magazines oriented towards kids. Most of them didn’t really last very long. K-Power, despite incorporating another short-lived kids computer magazine, didn’t survive much longer than a year. The November/December 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • Space: The Fun Frontier – A look at computer games for Trekkies!
    • Let Your Computer Organize Your Hobby! – Need help sorting out your collection? Here it is! Plus, a look at hobby software. And a program to help you organize your hobby!
    • Computer To Go – K-POWER’s guide to buying a portable computer. And a chart of portables you might go for.

    Departments

    • Editor’s Note – How to make your computer part of the holidays.
    • Logon – Pen pal information, reader requests, and a coconut!
    • Compuzine – The lowdown on new computer TV shows. Plus, an exclusive repot from a computer trade show, Silicon Alley, and Scrolling Dough.
    • Dr. Kursor’s Klinic – The Dvorak keyboard, and big news for Timex owners.
    • K-Net – How to battle on-line frustration.
    • Screening Room – Reviews of Amazon, Cell Defense, Beyond Castle Wolfenstein, Jack Attack, and Castles of Dr. Creep.
    • Strategy – Zork hints! And, how to survive fantasy/role playing games.
    • Classified
    • Contest – What’s the use of computers?

    Hacker Heaven

    • Programs – Palindrome Construction Kit, Music Gizmo, Amazing Drumulator, and Melodies from Mars. Plus, the winners of the Word Twister Contest.
    • Pixel That! – Take off with the E-Z Flight Simulator.
    • Compucopia – Encoder/Decoder Contest winners.
    • Microtones – Musical Stings – mini-routines that play tunes! For the Apple, ADAM, CoCo, and more.


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  • Dungeons of Daggorath (TRS-80 Color Computer)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Dungeons of Daggorath (TRS-80 Color Computer)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/177285712699/dungeons-of-daggorath-trs-80-color-computer

    While many games released for the TRS-80 Color Computer were mediocre and derivative, if not direct rip-offs of more popular games, Dungeons of Daggorath is an exception. This early role-playing game was among the first to offer a real-time, first-person point of view. This game has made an impact on popular culture including appearances in “Ready Player One” (the book…apparently it didn’t make it into the movie) and as album cover artwork.

    Dungeons of Daggorath was quite sophisticated for its time (released in 1982), featuring a number of complex mazes to navigate, various weapons and items to use and a variety of monsters. Instead of numbered stats, the game featured a heartbeat that got faster the more at risk the player was. The game was played by typing in simple commands (turn, move, attack, etc.) The goal is to ultimately defeat the wizard at the end of the last level of the dungeon (level 5).

    Dungeons of Daggorath was one of the best selling games for the Color Computer. Tandy produced a sequel titled Castle of Tharoggad but the original team was not involved and the game was not as good and sold poorly. In 2001, Dungeons of Daggorath was released as freeware by the author and the source code became available for a small fee. This led to ports for Windows, Linux, PSP and other platforms. The original Windows port was done way back in 2003 but there is a newer Windows 10 port available for free on the Microsoft store as well. Of course, there is always the option of using original hardware or emulation as well.

     


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