• Tag Archives VIC20

  • Ahoy! (March 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    ahoy_issue_03_1984_mar-01

    Source: Ahoy! – Issue Number 3 – March 1984

    Ahoy! was a Commodore specific magazine that covered a number of Commodore computers over the years. In 1984 it was covering the then new Commodore 64 and the VIC-20. Contents of the March 1984 issue include:

    Departments

    • A View from the Bridge – An introduction to Ahoy! (this was only the third issue) and an overview of what is inside.
    • Editorial – Raymond Z. Gallun writes about the future of computers, artificial intelligence and more.
    • Scuttlebutt – The latest Commodore news, including: and update on the Koala Pad; new music software for the Commodore 64 including MusicCalc 1 (synthesizer and sequencer), MusicCalc 2 (score writer), MusicCalc 3 (keyboard maker), and Studio 64 (described as a “music word processor”); the introduction of the Commodore 264 series (Commodore 16, Plus/4)…these were originally inteded to replace both the VIC-20 and the Commodore 64; the Magic Voice speech module along with software that supports it; 3-Plus-1 word processor/spreadsheet/file manager/businesss graphics software; Commodore LOGO; Magic Desk II; Superscript 264; Easycalc 64 and Easycalc 264; B/Graph; Financial Advisor; Teligraphics; International Soccer; Viduzzles; Jack Attack and more new software; Tramiel resigns from Commodore; and much more.
    • The Rupert Report – Computers and logic.
    • Book Review – A review of ‘The Commodore Puzzle Book: BASIC Brainteasers’. This is a book that helps you to write programs to solve puzzles.
    • Commodares – Several problems for you to solve via programming including identifying palindromes, reversing user input, and a logic problem.
    • Flotsam – Letters from readers about a previous John Von Neumann related article, PCJr vs. the Commodore 64, adding a proofreading program, and more.
    • Reviews
      • Master Type – A game from Broderbund to teach you typing for the VIC-20
      • Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom – a 3D arcade game from Sega for the VIC-20 and Commodore 64
      • Wavy Navy – A Space Invaders type game with a nautical theme from Sirius Software for the Commodore 64
      • Enchanter – The latest piece of interactive fiction from Infocom for the Commodore 64
      • Bible Baseball – Play baseball via multiple choice questions about the Bible. From Davka for the C64.
      • Lode Runner – Classic action game from Broderbund for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20
      • Congo Bongo – Conversion of the Sega arcade game for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20
      • Wayout – A 3D maze game from Sirius Software for the Commodore 64
      • Computer War – A game for the VIC-20 from Thorn EMI Software that is based on the movie WarGames
      • DTL BASIC 64 – An expanded compiled BASIC for the Commodore 64
      • Analogies – Educational software from PDI for the Commodore 64
      • Nukewar – A strategy war game from Avalon Hill for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20
      • Threshold – Another Space Invaders type game from Sierra On-Line for the Commodore 64
      • Pooyan – A conversion of the Konami arcade game by Datasoft for the Commodore 64
      • Pac-Man/Donkey Kong/Centipde/Robotron: 2084 – Conversions of classic arcade games by Atarisoft for the Commodore 64
      • Reading Comprehension: What’s Different – Educational software from PDI for the Commodore 64
      • Preschool IQ Builder – More educational software from PDI for the C64
      • Rescue Squad – A simple but fun arcade game from Muse Software for the Commodore 64
      • Dragonriders of Pern – An action/strategy game from Epyx for the Commodore 64 based on the Anne McCaffrey books.

    Features

    • Anatomy of the Commodore 64 – A detailed look at the hardware of the Commodore 64, inside and out.
    • Printer Interfacing for the 64 & VIC – This article details the options for connecting printers to the Commodore 64 and VIC-20, including available RS-232 interfaces.
    • Beyond the Golden Gateway – The prospects for biological based microchips in the near future.
    • Educational Software Guide – A parents guide to educational software available for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.
    • VIC Games Buyer’s Guide – For a couple of years, the VIC-20 was THE machine to have for the best quality games, particularly arcade conversions. This article provides a guide to many of the game avaialble for the VIC-20.

    Programs

    • Space Lanes – Pilot your spaceship through a maze avoiding obstacles and destroying enemies in this type-in game for the both the VIC-20 and Commodore 64.
    • Random Files on the C-64 – A guide to using random files on the Commodore 64 and 1541 disk drive with code examples.
    • Easy Access Address Book – A type-in program that gives you an electronic address book for your Commodore 64.
    • Dynamic Power for your 64! – Creating programs that modify themselves.

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Commodore 64 Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • Ahoy! (August 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    ahoy-08-august-1984-001

    Source: Ahoy! – Issue Number 8 – August 1984 

    Ahoy! was one of several dedicated to Commodore computers in the 1980s. In 1984, the Commodore 64 was very popular and the VIC-20 was still hanging on.

    The August 1984 issue of Ahoy! (issue number 8) included the following:

    Departments

    • A View from the Bridge – An overview of the contents of this issue.
    • Scuttlebutt – News about the continuing management exodus at Commodore that started with Jack Tramiel in January; new Commodore compatible Sakata SC-100 monitor; new graphics programs including Flying Colors and Flexidraw 3.0; new word processors including Word Writer, Wordsmith 64, Quickwriter II and C64 Type Right; new education programs including Square pairs, Turtle Tracks, Bannercatch, Spelldiver, and more; new games including Spy vs. Spy (C64), Hot Wheels (C64), G.I. Joe (C64), Barbie (C64), Ankh (C64), Jet Boot Jack (C64), Mychess II (C64), Polar Pierre (C64), Video Vermin (VIC-20), Forbidden Forest (C64), Caverns of Khafka (C64), Aztec Challenge (C64, VIC-20), Spider Invasion (C64, VIC-20), and Slinky (C64, VIC-20); new “science simulations” including Project: Space Station (C64), Life Force (C64), Ocean Quest (C64), Cel Defense (C64), Reflections (C64), and Calmpute (C64); new Okidata Okimate 10 printer; and more.
    • Reviews
      • Paint Magic – A paint program for the C64.
      • Pitstop – Classic racing game for the C64 kind of like Pole Position but expanded with pit stops and more.
      • The Heist – A game in which the object is to steal all the objects from a museum. Looks like it plays like a cross between Impossible Mission and Pitfall.
      • Math SAT I – Designed to prepare students for the math portion of the SAT.
      • Word Processor, Professional Version – Word processor with a rather generic name.
      • Ultrabasic 64 – An enhanced BASIC for the Commodore 64.
      • CIE IEEE-488 Interface – An IEEE-488 interface for the C64. Useful for interfacing certain disk drives and other things.
      • Edumate Light Pen – Once upon a time, light pens were all the rage.
      • Commander Ultra Terminal-64 – A cartridge based terminal program designed to work with a VIC Modem.
      • Rootin’ Tootin’ – A musical instrument themed arcade game.
      • C232 RS-232 Interface – An RS-232 interface for the Commodore 64. Useful for connecting modems and printers.
      • Synthy-64 – A program to simplify music creation on the C64.
      • Cohen’s Towers – An arcade style game in which you must collect mail in an office building.
    • Commodares – Small programming challenges to find a certain character on the screen, calculate letter frequency and more.
    • Flotsam – Letters from readers about BBSes run on Commodores, type-in programs, and more.

    Features

    • Editorial – Buying technology (specifically computers) in a swiftly moving market.
    • In Search of a Word Processor – An overview and comparison of the various word processors on the market at the time for the Commodore 64. Software covered includes 3+1, The Bank Street Writer, Better Letter & Writer, Biztext 1.1, Circascript, Copy-Writer, C64 Type-Write, Cut and Paste, Heswriter, Homeword, Insta Writer, Janewrite, Magic Desk, Omniwriter, Paper Clip, Script 64-PCS, Script 64-Richvale, SM-Text 64, SuperText, Textmaster, Totl Text 2.6, Word Commander 64, Wordcraft 40, WordManager, Wordpro 3 Plus/64, Word Processor (Professional), The Word Processor-PCS, WordProcessor 64, Wordsmith, Write Now!, and The Writer’s Assistant.
    • Rupert Report: Computational Wizardry – Calculating Mersenne prime numbers with a Cray-1 and determining the mega-flop rating of a Commodore 64. In BASIC it is about 184 flops or 0.0002 mega-flops. Not quite up to Cray-1 standards but then a Commodore 64 cost about $15 million less at the time.
    • Unraveling the Mysteries of Sound – A look at how sound works with the SID chip on the Commodore 64.
    • Educational Software Guide, Part VI – This part talks about the characteristics of good educational software as well as the social effects of computer usage for education.

    Programs

    • Micro-Minder – A type-in calendar program for the C64.
    • Creating Your Own Games: Words Worth – An article from Orson Scott Card on creating quality games, focusing on the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.
    • Directory Assistance – A type-in program for generating hard copies of directory listings on the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.
    • The Terrible Twins – A type-in kids game that involves timing and pattern matching.
    • Bug Repellent – A type-in game for both the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.

    …and more!


    📂This entry was posted in Commodore 64 Computer Arcana 📎and tagged

  • VIC Graphics (VIC-20)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    The mountain and the red wire circles actually take several minutes to properly render.  They’re a 3D representations of 2D functions.  Both of the programs you see here (in various forms) came from VIC Graphics.

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/161665542893/commodorez-those-are-definitely-graphics-way






    📂This entry was posted in Commodore 64 Computer Arcana 📎and tagged