• Tag Archives Atari ST

  • Compute! (March 1986)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – Issue Number 70 – March 1986

    Compute! was an excellent magazine that covered most popular computers of the time. I was partial to the spin-off Gazette because I had a Commodore 64 but this one was excellent as well. It was a little less technical that Byte but all magazines at the time were technical compared to today. The March 1986 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Future of Mass Storage – The future was bright for mass storage. 3.5″ floppies were replacing 5.25″ floppies, Hard drives were becoming affordable, and optical storage for the average user was on the horizon.
    • The Computerized Home – Computerized home automation was a thing long before Alexa. The X-10 interface was the de-facto standard and X-10 modules were available for pretty much any platform.
    • Switchbox – A type-in puzzle game with versions specifically for the Commodore 128, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, PC, and Amiga.
    • SpeedCalc for Atari – A type-in professional quality spreadsheet program for the Atari 8-bit.

    Reviews

    • The Works! – A software package for the Commodore 64 and Apple II that includes 13 programs in the categories of tools, organizers, arts, and learning.
    • Under Fire – A World War II strategy game for the Apple II.
    • M-Disk – Software for creating a RAM Disk on the Atari ST.
    • Atari XM301 Modem – A 300bps direct connect modem for Atari 8-bit computers.
    • EduCalc and NoteCard Maker – A combination of a simplified spreadsheet program and simplified database manager with versions for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and PC (Apple II version reviewed here).
    • Hex – A puzzle/strategy game for the Atari ST.
    • Sylvia Porter’s Personal Financial Planner – This software package includes six programs including Transaction Manager, Budget Manager, Asset/Liability Manager, Balance Sheet, and Financial Planner. The Commodore 64 version is reviewed here with versions also available for the PC and Apple II.

    Columns and Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – A comparison of the new Amiga and Atari ST.
    • Readers’ Feedback – Letters from readers about code comments, computers for charity, recording music on the Amiga, and more.
    • HOTWARE – The top five selling software titles in three different categories. In the top places were F-15 Strike Eagle (Entertainment), Typing Tutor III (Education), and Print Shop (Home Management).
    • INSIGHT: Atari – A look at Atari character codes. Atari 8-bit computers used a variant of ASCII called ATASCII.
    • The Beginner’s Page: Cutting Strings Without Scissors – How to split strings in BASIC.
    • Computers and Society: Humanizing the User Interface, Part 1 – Exploring ways to make the user interface easier to use and more intuitive.
    • The World Inside the Computer: Snowflakes, Quilts, and Stained Glass Windows – Art on the Amiga.
    • Telecomputing Today Games Modern People Play – A look at online multiplayer gaming. At the time, that typically meant turn based gaming on BBS systems or services like CompuServe.
    • IBM Personal Computing: The Ultimate Entertainment Center – A guide for using your PC or PCjr with a TV.
    • Programming the TI: IF-THEN Statements – Using IF-THEN statements including examples for simulating AN/OR, doing Algebra, and more.
    • News & Products – Valhalla announced for the Commodore 64; MIDI Ensemble for the PC; AtariWriter and AtariWriter Plus word processors for the Atari ST; What’s Our Worth? home inventory package for the Commodore 64; and more.

    The Journal

    • IBM Fractal Graphics – Three type-in programs for creating fractals on the IBM PC and PCjr.
    • Commodore ML Saver – A type-in program for saving machine language programs directly from memory to disk on the Commodore 64.
    • Loading and Linking Commodore Programs, Part 1 – The first in a series of article on loading, chaining, and overlaying programs on Commodore computers.
    • Atari P/M Graphics Toolkit – Atari Player/Missile graphics is the Atari 8-bit version of sprites. This type-in toolkit makes it easier to develop and use P/M graphics on the Atari.
    • MultiMemory for Commodore 64 and Apple – Short type-in programs for the Commodore 64 and Apple II that allow you to segment memory for loading multiple BASIC programs.
    • Experimenting with SID Sound – Some examples for controlling the Commodore 64’s SID sound chip.
    • Mousify Your Applesoft Programs, Part 1 – The first of a two-part guide to using a mouse (or joystick or paddles) with your own programs.
    • Atari BootStuffer – This short type-in program for the Atari 8-bit allows you to create a menu system to load up to 8 different programs with one key press.
    • Requester Windows in Amiga BASIC – A guide to adding requester windows (dialog boxes) to Amiga BASIC programs.
    • Softkeys for Atari BASIC – This type-in program gives you automatic line numbering and various hotkeys when writing your own BASIC programs.
    • BASIC Sound on the Atari ST – A guide to getting started with creating basic sound effects on your Atari ST.

    …and more!


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  • Advanced Computer Entertainment (October 1989)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Advanced Computer Entertainment – Issue Number 25 – October 1989

    Advanced Computer Entertainment, or ACE for short, was published in the U.K. and mostly covered computer games but also covered console games to some degree. In late 1989 that included the Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Sinclair Spectrum, PC (DOS), Nintendo (NES), and the Sega Master System. The October 1989 issue includes:

    Specials

    • Konix: The Review – The Konix Multisystem got rave reviews and was unique in the number of control options, however, the company making it ran out of cash before it could be released.
    • Arcadeology – A look back at arcade history including a bug in Breakout, how Donkey Kong got its name, and more.
    • Games Get Mean – Addressing complaints that games are getting too difficult, complex and unfriendly.
    • Are You A Weirdo? – A test to calculate how weird you are.
    • Making It – A guide to making a living with MIDI.
    • Enter Cyberspace! – A look at the state of virtual reality with Cyberspace from AutoDesk.

    Gameplay

    • Screen Test – Reviews of F15 Strike Eagle II (DOS), Strider (Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad), Xenon II (Atari ST, Amiga), Rick Dangerous (Amiga), APB, Shadow of the Beast (Amiga), Bloodwych (Atari ST), Castle Warrior (Amstrad), Eye of Horus (Atari ST), Fast Break (Amiga), Oil Imperium (Amiga), Shufflepuck Cafe (Amiga, Atari ST), Tank Attack (Amiga), Turbo (Amiga) and Battle Valley (Amiga).
    • Arcade Ace – A look at Sega’s System 24 arcade motherboard and its capabilities, Escape From The Planet of The Robot Monsters from Atari, Wnning Run from Namco, Y Spy from Data East, Arch Rivals from Data East, and Rastan Saga II.
    • Updates – A look at some of the latest game conversions including Rocket Ranger for the Atari ST, Jack Nicholas’ Greatest 18 Holes for the Amiga, Robocop for the Amiga, New Zealand Story for the Commodore 64 and Spectrum, Paperboy for the Amiga, Firepower for the Commodore 64, and Trivial Pursuit for the Amiga.
    • Tricks ‘N’ Tactics – Strategy guide for Battletech and Conflict Europe plus more tips, codes and hints for Spherical, Voyager, Vigilante, Thunderbirds, Altered Beast, Navy Moves, and more.
    • Previews – A look at games still in development including Tower of Babel, M1 Tank Command, Stunt Car, Star Lord, and more.

    Regulars

    • News – Atari announces new Atari ST models including a portable model, the Acorn Archimedes A3000 gets games support, a giant tower case for the Amiga, Integrated Flight and Entertainment Services System to provide gaming on airplanes, Software Horizons blames software piracy for its demise, Philips announces high-end VCR with built-in 3″ screen, and more.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about linking Atari STs together for gaming, Commodore computer shows, gaming design, the FM Towns, and more.
    • Adventures – A look at Hound of Shadow from Electronic Arts, a review of Sword of Aragon from SSI, and help with Chronoquest and Manhunter.

    …and more!


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  • Advanced Computer Entertainment (June 1989)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Advanced Computer Entertainment – Issue Number 21 – June 1989

    Advanced Computer Entertainment (ACE for short) covered games for various computer platforms as well as console platform over the years it was published in the U.K. In 1989 that included the Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Spectrum, PC (DOS), the Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Master System. The June 1989 issue includes:

    Specials

    • Games Without Frontiers – An article on the impact that CD-ROM will have on gaming. One prediction was that games would become multimillion dollar productions in seven or eight years.
    • Playing Roles – The first part in a three-part guide to RPG games. Some games discussed here include The Black Crystal, Ring of Darkness, Swords and Sorcery, Questron II, Wizards Crown, Legend of Blacksilver, Might and Magic, and more.

    Gameplay

    • Up and Coming – Previews of Xenon II, DDT, RVF, Inner Space, Sporting Triangles, Bomber, Shinobi, Hyperforce, Nightbreed, Tangled Tales, Dominator, Vendetta, Tusker, and more.
    • Arcade Ace – A look at some of the latest arcade games including Saint Dragon, Ikari III, Fighting Hawk, Nastar, and Rally Bike.
    • Screen Test – Reviews of Voyager (Atari ST), Raider (Amiga), Silkworm (Atari ST), Typhoon Thompson (Atari ST), Grand Monster Slam (Amiga), Hillsfar (Commodore 64), Bio Challenge (Atari ST, Amiga), Stormlord (Spectrum), Fright Night (Amiga), California Games (Sega), Vigilante (Sega), Time Soldier (Sega), Altered Beast (Sega), Time Scanner (Amiga), Run the Guantlet (Atari ST), Kick Off (Atari ST), Danger Freak (Commodore 64), Skweek (Atari ST), Steve Davis World Snooker (Atari ST), The Real Ghostbusters (Spectrum), Renegade III (Spectrum),
    • Tricks ‘N’ Tactics – Tips and strategies for R-Type, Heroes of the Lance, Fusion, The President is Missing, Golvellius, Wonderboy in Monsterland, TV Sports Football, War in Middle Earth, Robocop, Incredibly Shrinking Sphere, Xenon, and more.
    • Adventures – A look at two adventure games, Shogun and Journey.

    Regulars

    • News – The Atari 7800 and Sega Genesis coming soon to the U.K.; Circus Attractions coming soon; an updated port of Federation of Free Traders coming for the Amiga, Dungeon Master port for Amiga cancelled, and more.
    • Letters – Letters from readers about video game value, the effects of violence in video games, Federation of Free Traders on the Atari ST, and more.
    • Graphics – An article on object-oriented drawing systems and specifically Professional Draw on the Amiga.
    • Music – A detailed look at Track 24 and The Waddington Sequencer for the Atari ST plus an overview of sequencers for other computers.

    …and more!


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