Ahoy! (April 1984)

Source: Ahoy! – Issue Number 4 – April 1984

Ahoy! is a magazine dedicated to Commodore computers and covered most of them throughout the years. In 1984 it was primarily the Commodore 64 with some VIC-20 and a little bit of PET thrown in for good measure. The Commodore 128 and Amiga would come the following year and later the C-16/Plus 4 though its life would be short. The April 1984 issue includes:

Departments

A View from the Bridge – A look at how the magazine has improved in its short existence thus far and an overview of what’s in the issue.

Scuttlebutt – The latest Commodore related news including More on Tramiel’s resignation; delays in the proposed 264 and 364 models; Leonard Nimoy to appear in Hes-Ware ads; a variety of educational software including one of my all time favorite games, Agent USA; a music synthesizer system for the Commodore 64 called “When I’m 64”; a bunch of new games including Sorcerer, Slamball and and much more.

Book Reviews – Reviews of new Commodore 64 books including Sprite Graphics For The Commodore 64 by Sally Greenwood Larson and The Commodore 64 Music Book: A Guide To Programming And Sound by James Vogel and Nevin B. Scrimshaw.

The Rupert Report – A short guide to math on the Commodore 64 and how you may not always get the results you expect.

Reviews – Reviews of Dino Eggs (Micro Fun, Commodore 64), Oil’s Well (Sierra On-Line, Commodore 64), Blue Max (Synapse, Commodore 64), Lunar Leeper (Sierra On-Line, Commodore 64), Learning With Leeper (Sierra On-Line, Commodore 64), Final Orbit/Bumper Bash (Sirius, VIC-20), Cross Fire (Sierra On-line, Commodore 64 and VIC-20), Jumpman Junior (Epyx, Commodore 64), Purple Turtles (Quicksilva, Commodore 64), Beach-Head (Access, Commodore 64), The Search Series (T & F, Commodore 64), and Gateway to Apshai (Epyx, Commodore 64). Of the games in this list, there are several I played extensively including Blue Max, Jumpman Junior, Beach-Head, and Gateway to Apshai. Those were all outstanding games.

Commodares – Problems for the reader to solve by writing (or fixing) small programs.

Glossary – A glossary of computer terms.

Features

Easy Script and Easy Spell – A review of this relatively inexpensive, full featured word processor (and spell checker) for the Commodore 64.

Printer Interfacing, Part II – The results of a series of tests on a couple of printer interfaces for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20, including the Tymac Connection and the Cardco Cart?/+G.

Introduction to Petspeed – Review of Petspeed, a BASIC Compiler for the Commodore PET/CBM.

Playing the Light Fantastic – A look at lasedisc technology including laserdisc games.

Who Programmed J.R.? – A detailed look at The Dallas Quest, based on the extraordinarily popular prime time soap opera. Includes a conversation with the creators.