Source: Computer & Video Game Magazines – Popular Computing Weekly – 30 October – 5 November 1986 –

Popular Computing Weekly was a weekly computer magazine that covered a multitude of popular 1980s computers in the U.K. The October 30th-November 5th, 1986 issue includes:

Software

• Windos II – Yes, that misspelling is intentional. This was a Windows-like (loosely speaking) graphical environment for the Spectrum.

• Newfile – A simple database management system for the IBM PC (DOS). IT is basically the same as Flexifile for CP/M and Microfile.

Hardware

• Haba Digitiser – This is a device for the Atari ST that allows the capture of still images from video sources.

Games

• Adventure Corner – An overview Escape From Enthar 7 for the BBC, a text adventure with graphics, plus an update regarding Demonic World, a tool for creating your own adventure games.

• Arcade Action – A cheat for getting to any room in Spellbound for the Amstrad CPC plus more tips and cheats for Sorcery and Frost Byte for the same system. A map of the first level of Frost Byte is also included.

• Reviews
  • Gallipoli – A world War I strategy game for the Spectrum which sounds like it was a pretty awful game.
  • Trailblazer – A two-player 3D sort of futuristic soccer game for the Commodore 64.
  • Last of the Free – A puzzle oriented platform game for the BBC/Electron.
  • Red Max – A sort of sequel to The Last V8 in which you ride a futuristic motorcycle on the moon. This one is for the Commodore 64.
  • Firelord – A rather nice looking adventure game for the Spectrum.
  • Sepulcri – An oddly themed game for the Amstrad CPC in which you must control miniature robots to fix your SDI satellite circuits while avoiding killer sheep.

Programming

• BBC/Electron – A type-in program that gives a a basic spreadsheet…appropriately called Spreadsheet.

• Commodore 64 – A type-in program to transfer files from tape to disk.

• Spectrum – This type-in program takes an image/screen shot and, in today’s terminology, applies a spherical filter.

• Amstrad CPC – This type-in program adds keyword shortcuts allowing you to press Ctrl. and a letter instead of typing the whole word.

Regulars

• News Desk – Do Amstrad computers overheat? Amstrad denies it… Plus, Commodore reduces the price of the Amiga 1000, stories about Mastertronic and Power Up! software, and more.

• Letters – Praise for the Einstein 256, Criticism for Amstrad, a request for help with the Plus/4 and MPS 803 printer, and more.

• Communications – A review of the book “Hotline – A personal Guide to Computer Communications” and of Commstar II, a communications package for BBC computers.

• Soundcheck – A look at Music Box and Music Composer, two music composition programs for the Spectrum 128.

• New Releases
  • Amstrad CPC – Pipeline II (Mastertronic), Amsoccer (IJK), Timetrax (Mind Games), Rocketball (IJK), Hi-Soft Forth (Hi-Soft), Hi-Soft SeaChest (Hi-Soft)
  • Amstrad PC 1512 – Knife-86 (Hi-Soft)
  • Amstrad PCW – Write-Hand Man (Hi-Soft),Hi-Soft Forth (Hi-Soft), Hi-Soft SeaChest (Hi-Soft), Rotate (Proteus), QMail (Proteus)
  • Atari ST – The Pinball Factory (Microdeal), Electronic Pool (Microdeal)
  • BBC/Electron – Quest For Freedom (IJK), Cluedo (Virgin)
  • C16/Plus 4 – Saboteur (Durell), POD (Mastertronic), Video Meanies (Mastertronic)
  • Commodore 64 – Street Surfer (Mastertronic), Glider Rider (Quicksilva), Rocketball (IJK), Fist II (Melbourne House), Shanghai (Activision)
  • Spectrum – 180 (Mastertronic), Crimebusters Inc. (IJK), Caretaker (The Boo Software), Hi-Soft BASIC (Hi-Soft)

• Ziggurat – A lamentation of the fact that change seemed to have stopped with regards to home computers. Examples given of upgrades/new models that really weren’t include the ZX Spectrum 128+2 (a mostly cosmetic upgrade to the Spectrum 128), Commodore 64C (better looks and reliability but functionally the same as the original Commodore 64), BBC Master Compact (another style change) and Amstrad PC1512 (a cheap PC clone).

Special Supplement: The Spectrum

• Home Automation – Long before Alexa came along, home automation was a popular thing with home computer users. Here the Red Box system for the Spectrum is reviewed in detail.

• The Artist 2 – A review of this upgrade to the original, well regarded “The Artist”, a graphics art program for the Spectrum.

• Saga’s Upgrade – A hardware package to upgrade a Spectrum to a more business capable computer. Included is a printer and interface, 3.5″ disk drive, and a real keyboard (the Spectrum keyboard is a terrible membrane thing).

• Games Explosion! – Overview of a bunch of recent Spectrum games including Uridium, Shao-Lin’s Road, Starglider, Infiltrator, 180, Thanatos, Fairlight 2, and War.

• Printer Problem Solver – Review of a device called the RamPrint interface that plugs into the Spectrum and provides a printer interface and built-in word processing software.

…and more!