• Tag Archives TI-99/4A

  • Family Computing (June 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Family Computing – Issue Number 10 – June 1984

    Family Computing was a 1980s U.S. computer magazine published by Scholastic, Inc. It covered all the major home computer platforms of the day including the Apple II series, Commodore Vic 20 and 64, Atari 8-bit family as well as the IBM PC and Apple Macintosh among others. The June 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • The “Hard-Boiled” School of Software – An interview with Infocom’s revolutionary adventure-game designers., the creators of Zork, Starcross, and The Witness.
    • Whistle While You Word Process – There’s a new crop of word-processing programs that are perfect for family use – they’re inexpensive and easy to operate. Inside…find out how they rate. Plus: How to Judge Word-Processing Software
    • Looking For A Summer Job? – Ten ways to earn money with the help of your computer.
    • A New-Age Mom-And-Pop Business – Many people dream of running a computer store. The Seran family of Colorado took the plunge. Plus: Starting A Computer Store – Tips From The Serans
    • Five-Year-Old Authors – IBM’s Writing to Read System has kindergartners reading and writing as if they were born knowing how.
    • Buyer’s Guide to Computers – A look at the 10 leading models for home use, with a comparison of prices, graphics capabilities, and other features.
    • A Preview: Apple IIc – Apple heads for the home market with its new product: a sleek 7.5-pound transportable computer with a built-in disk drive.

    Programming

    • The Programmer – For enthusiasts of all levels.
    • Beginner Programs – Print disk labels and create an original Father’s Day gift for your dad with programs for ADAM, Apple, Atari, Commodore, IBM, TI, Timex, and TRS-80 computers.
    • Puzzle – Recipe for Disaster: Can you retrieve the stolen recipe in time for the culinary competition?
    • Programming P.S. – Sorry, we goofed. Here are some corrections for programs from previous months, plus some program enhancements from readers.
    • Reader-Written Program – Fishtank: Create a sea of tropical fish on your computer screen.

    Products

    • What’s In Store – Ten pages of product announcements and reviews.
    • New Hardware Announcements – The latest in the field: the IBM Portable Computer; a new Kaypro 4; the Smart-Cable 817, a module that connects to the serial port on many computers; the MicroRam 64K Memory Board for the Atari 600XL; and Mikel’s serial interface for the Ti-99/4A.
    • Software Guide – Quick takes on two dozen new and noteworthy programs.
    • Software Reviews

    Departments

    • Editor’s Note
    • Letters
    • Behind The Screens – Keeping your Timex ticking; a programmer’s windfall; microfloppies; and more.
    • Home-School Connection – Tomorrow’s VisiFarmers: In Ortonville, Minnesota, teenagers are applying what they learn in school about computers to help their parents run the family farm.
    • Home Business – Keeping the Lincoln (Illinois) Log: The Strasmas tell how they run a national computer information service from their rec room.
    • Computer Clinic – Questions from readers are answered.
    • Games – Games People Play: The state of the art and a survey of your gaming habits.
    • BASIC Booth – A monthly cartoon.
    • Books
    • The Primer – A reference guide that appears each month.
    • Classified
    • Advertisers’ Index

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Miner 2049er

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Video & Arcade Games – Volume 1, Number 2 – Fall 1983



    In Miner 2049er, you play the role of Bounty Bob, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as he searches for the villain Yukon Yohan. This search occurs in an abandoned Uranium mine. Miner 2049er is a sort of juxtaposition of past and future. While the theme and even the title reflect gold mining in the 1840s, this is a Uranium mine and the obstacles you face are futuristic in nature. things like matter transporters and jet-speed floaters among other odd items. In addition, you will have to face various creatures that have mutated due to radiation. Only in video games and sci fi does radiation make you stronger.

    Game play is pretty straightforward. You must walk over all sections of the mine in order to “claim” it. Each screen consists of platforms and ladders. Along the way you’ll find weapons and other objects to help you in addition to the mutated creatures you must fight.

    Miner 2049er was first developed for the Atari 800 and then ported to a wide variety of other systems. Miner 2049er was unique for its time in terms of size. It was much larger than normal, especially for a platform game. Miner 2049er consisted of 10 separate screens at a time when most other similar style games only had 3 or 4. Because games for the Atari 800 were typically released on cartridge, this meant a cartridge size of 16K instead of the more typical 8K.

    The large size of Miner 2049er led to a fairly high priced game for the time. Miner 2049er initially sold for $49.99 which adjusted for inflation would be about $133 today. The Atari 2600 version was released as two separate games and in total still encompassed barely more than half the levels: Miner 2049er contained three levels and Miner 2049er Volume II contained three levels. Other computer ports were a bit easier because they were mostly on disk. Sure, you may have a bit of a load time between levels but it was much cheaper to produce that way.

    Despite the high price, especially for the Atari 8-bit cartridge version, Miner 2049er was a very popular game. It received outstanding reviews and even though the graphics were really only mediocre, even for the time, the playability was excellent. It’s truly one of the classics that every gamer should at least try. Without games like Miner 2049er, there may never have been games like Super Mario Bros.

    In addition to the Atari 8bit and Atari 2600 versions, Miner 2049er also made its way to the Commodore 64, Atari 5200, VIC-20, ColecoVision, Intellivision, Apple II, IBM PC, TI-99/4A and a variety of other platforms. There were also a couple of later re-releases on the Game Boy, Windows Mobile, Blackberry and iOS. There was even an official emulator released of the Atari 8-bit version but it only worked with older versions of Windows (pre Windows 7). If you want to play it today and don’t have original hardware, the best way is probably to emulate your favorite version.

    Screen shots above are from the Commodore 64 version…because the Commodore 64 is my favorite retro platform. The ads above are from the Fall 1983 issue of Video & Arcade Games.


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  • Home Computer Magazine (August 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Home Computer Magazine – August 1984

    Home Computer Magazine started life as a magazine dedicated to the TI-99/4A under a different name. As it became clear that the TI-99/4A was not going to maintain its success, the magazine branched out to cover other popular systems as well, in particular the Commodore 64, IBM PC and Apple II. The August 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • Snap-Calc – Creating this mighty math matrix is a snap.
    • Bars and Plots – Colorful graphs can chart your figures.
    • Elementary Addition and Subtraction – An educational program for the preschool crowd.
    • Spider Graphics – Ah, what a tangled (and colorful) web we can weave.
    • Convertible for Comfort – Automatic conversion of machine language programs to DATA statements.
    • Programming: The Name of the Game – Pick a game, any game…and design it.
    • Colorfun – Match the color swatch to its name.

    Product Reviews

    • Personal Editor – Ease of use makes this an outstanding text editor.
    • EasyWriter II – A powerful word processor for the PC…and Junior.
    • PFS: File, PFS: Report – Database management without intimidation.
    • Home Accountant – Financial management comes home.
    • Count-Sil – A Spreadsheet program for home use.
    • Doublestuff – Double the Apple’s normal color and resolution.
    • Chivalry – Knights and Ladies abound in this board/video game.
    • Burgertime – Burger-building in a chaotic kitchen.
    • Alpha-Pak – Learning the alphabet is as easy as A-B-C.
    • In Search of the Most Amazing Thing – A nonviolent, educational, fantasy adventure.
    • Murder by the Dozen – Use your wits to track down “who ‘dun’ it.”
    • Necromancer – Chasing zombies was never like this.
    • Microsurgeon – A “fantastic voyage” through your patient’s bloodstream.
    • Trickster Coyote – Don’t let the wily coyote cry wolf.
    • EasyScript – An inexpensive word processor for the C-64.
    • Companion – A helpful companion can esy writing’s burdens.
    • Home Budget Jr. – A valuable program that’s easy on your budget.

    Logo Times

    • Binary Forest – ‘Branching Out’ with Smokey the Bear.
    • LOGO Flakes – Creative explorations with snowflake desings.

    Gameware Buffet

    • Robochase – Pits you against rampaging robots.
    • Cyber-Cipher – Break the top-secret computer access code.
    • Wild Kingdom – Trapping tigers in a jungle maze.
    • Speeder – A game to make your own.
    • Boolean Brain – Wander down logic paths inside your computer.
    • Missile Math – Launching interest in multiplication.

    Deparments

    • Inside/Outside HCM
    • On Screen
    • Letters to the Editor
    • HCM Review Criteria
    • Contents
    • HCM Product News
    • Program Listing Contents
    • Program Typing Guide
    • Industry Watch
    • Group Grapevine
    • DeBugs on Display
    • Index to Advertisers
    • HCM Classifieds
    • Home Computer Tech Notes:
      • TI
      • IBM
      • Apple
      • Commodore

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Apple ][ Commodore 64 Computer Arcana DOS 📎and tagged