• Tag Archives Commodore 128

  • Compute!’s Gazette (November 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute!’s Gazette was a Commodore 8-bit specific spin-off of their main publication which was just called Compute!. While I mostly bought Commodore Magazine and RUN because they happened to be available within bike riding distance, Gazette was definitely one of the more popular Commodore 64 magazines. The November 1985 issue includes:

    Features

    • CD-ROMS: The Ultimate Database – CD-ROM storage for personal computer use wouldn’t become mainstream for almost another decade but the technology existed long before. Here’s a look at early CD-ROM tech including the new CDU-1 from Sony.
    • Anatomy of a Spreadsheet – For a long time, the spreadsheet was THE killer app for personal computers. Here’s a look at some of the spreadsheet software available for Commodore 8-bit computers.
    • Getting the Most Out of Your Printer – An article that addresses common printer problems and their solutions (or how to avoid them in the first place).

    Reviews

    • Field of Fire – A World War II infantry strategy game from SSI.
    • Homewriter 10 Printer – An inexpensive easy to use dot-matrix printer from Epson for the Commodore 128, Commodore 64, and VIC-20.
    • Project: Space Station – A simulation of planning, building, and operating a space station from HesWare.
    • Carriers at War – A game from SSG that puts you in charge of various aircraft carriers during World War II.
    • Mickey’s Space Adventure – An educational game about the planets from Sierra On-Line featuring Mickey Mouse.
    • Also Worth Noting – A brief look at other new software including Adventure Construction Set, The Sea Voyagers, Homebase, Colonial Conquest, Show Director, and Rescue On Fractalus!

    Games

    • Backgammon – A type-in version of this classic game for the Commodore 64, VIC-20, Plus/4 and C-16.
    • Power Poker – A type-in poker game that features play on a 5×5 grid.
    • Chicken Catcher – A type-in arcade style game in which you must catch falling chickens in a net.

    Education/Home Applications

    • 64 Music Maker – A short type-in machine language program that turns the Commodore 64 into a musical keyboard.
    • Computing for Families: Gobbledygook Processing – A look at ways to turn your Commodore 64 into a sandbox for kids to explore.

    Programming

    • Exploring 128 BASIC – BASIC 7.0 was much more powerful than previous BASIC versions for Commodore computers. This article looks at some of the new commands and provides examples for the Commodore 128.
    • Power BASIC: Screen Customizer – A type-in utility that will allow you to set your screen colors and keep them from changing even when using other machine language programs. For the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.
    • Auto File – A type-in utility that automatically loads and runs both BASIC and machine language programs on the Commodore 64.
    • Preview-80 for Speedscript – The display on a Commodore 64 was only 40 columns but this type-in utility would allow you to preview SpeedScript files in 80 columns.
    • Disk Encoder – A type-in program for encrypting your disk files.
    • Digi-Clock – A type-in real-time clock for the Commodore 64 that stays resident in memory and operates even when running other programs.
    • BASIC Magic: More About Screen Titles – The second part in a series on creating screen titles with the Commodore 64 and VIC-20. This part discusses the LEN command.
    • Machine Language for Beginners: ML Mailbag – Questions answered about SYS commands, flags, and more.
    • Hints & Tips: 64 Disk Boot for BASIC Programs – A guide to making your programs automatically run after loading.

    Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – Commodore’s great computers and poor marketing.
    • Gazette Feedback – Letters from readers about typing on a powered off computer, resaving a program, DATA statements, TurboTape, doublespacing on the 1526 printer, random numbers, making text flash, telecommunications costs, saving data in sequential files, customizing the cursor, and more.
    • Simple Answers to Common Questions – Questions answered about EEPROMs and parsers.
    • Horizons: A New Data Storage Device – A look at the Quick Data Drive (QDD). This was a so-called “stringy floppy” that used magnetic tape in a continuous loop.
    • News & Products – A brief look at new software and hardware including General Ledger and Payroll from Info Designs, new printers from Blue Chip Electronics, Hardball from Accolade, new MIDI hardware and software from Passport Designs, a new printer interface from Omnitronix, Grade Manager III for the Commodore 64/128 from Smoky Mountain Software, Karate Champ from Data East, International Hockey from Artworx, more Print Shop graphics, Silent Service from Broderbund, and much more.

    …and more!


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  • Compute!’s Gazette (April 1988)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute!’s Gazette was a spin-off of Compute! and, along with RUN, was one of the most popular Commodore 64/128 magazines in the U.S. The April 1988 issue includes:

    Features

    • Report from the 1988 Winter Consumer Electronics Show – While game consoles were making a huge comeback, there was still plenty of new games for the Commodore 64 from companies like Activision, Epyx, Mindscape, Accolade, Broderbund, Cinemaware, Data East and others. Some games on display included Star Rank Boxing II, The Train, Power At Sea, Card Sharks, Rampage, Arcade Construction Kit, The Three Stooges, Rocket Ranger, The President Is Missing, NAVCOM 6: The Gulf Defense, Ikari Warriors, Victory Road, Speed Buggy, Karnov, The Hunt For Red October, Red Storm Rising, Spirit of War, Global Commander, Strike Fleet, The Games: Winter Edition, L.A. Crackdown, Sporting News Baseball, Impossible Mission II, 4×4 Offroad Racing, Death Sword, Dive Bomber, Zorkquest, Land of Legends, The Faery Tale Adventure, Fire Power, Sons of Liberty, Panzer Strike, Questron II, and lots more.
    • Close Up: The Commodore 128D – The Commodore 128D replaced the Commodore and included a detachable keyboard, built-in 1571 floppy drive, and increased video RAM.
    • Super CP/M Software for the 128, Part 2: Programmer’s Toolbox – The second and final part of a series providing a round-up of CP/M tools for the Commodore 128, including programming languages.

    Reviews

    • Paperboy and Gauntlet – Both of these arcade conversions were excellent on the Commodore 64.
    • Echelon – Other than than the dumb “LipStik” headset that came with this game that provided the ability to fire your weapon with your voice, this was an excellent space sim/mystery game.
    • Halls of Montezuma – A strategy game featuring historic battles in which the Marines were involved.
    • The Sentry – A unique sci-fi strategy game from Firebird.

    Games

    • 3-D Speedway – A type-in racing game for the Commodore 64.
    • Spy Defense – A type-in action game for the Commodore 64 in which you must rescue spies from aliens.

    Programming

      • BASIC for Beginners: Number Drills – Random numbers and string comparison.
    • Machine Language Programming: File Handling – Includes a sample machine language program for reading and writing files.
    • Power BASIC: Power POKE – A short program that alters the syntax of the POKE command to be more efficient and easier to read.
    • Key Clicker – A type-in program that can add different keyclick sounds to your Commodore 64 or 128.
    • Mirrors – A type-in program that produces a kaleidoscopic display in hi-res mode on the Commodore 64.
    • Speed File for the 64 – A type-in full-featured database program for the Commodore 64.
    • Phantom LIST – A short machine language program that lists BASIC programs from disk to screen without modifying memory.
    • DGraph: Hi-Res Commands for BASIC – A type-in BASIC extension that adds commands for generating graphs.
    • Smart VAL – A short type-in machine language program that extends the VAL command by adding the ability to evaluate complex mathematical expressions.
    • Ramdisk 128 – A type-in program for adding a ramdisk to your Commodore 128.
    • Four for the 64 – Short programs for adding enhanced machine language capabilities to BASIC programs on the C64.

    Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – Introducing the “Letters to the Editor” column and a GEOS programming contest.
    • Letters to the Editor – Letters from readers about Commodore 128 specific software, structured vs. unstructured programming, VIC-20s for education, and more.
    • Gazette Feedback – Feedback from readers about organizing a users group, baud vs. bps, freezing BASIC programs, and more.
    • The GEOS Column: GeoPublish – A Close Look – A look at geoPublish, a desktop publishing program for GEOS. This column was even created using geoPublish.
    • Horizons: Faster and Faster – Ways to improve the speed of your BASIC programs.
    • Computing for Families: What Type of Person Likes Computers? – A look at the different reasons people like computers.

    …and more!


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  • Compute!’s Gazette (June 1990)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Compute!’s Gazette was Compute!’s Commodore 64 spin-off magazine. It was one of the most popular Commodore 64 magazines but the June 1990 issue would be the last. However, it would continue on as a disk only publication for another 5 years. This issue includes:

    Features

    • Into the Crystal Ball: Software Leaders’ Outlook on the 64 – Despite its age, some publishers still report consistent sales including Virgin Mastertronic, SportsTime Computer Software, SSI, and others. However, by 1991 the game market for the C64 has pretty much collapsed with the last two major releases (in the U.S. anyway) occurring that year (Ultima VI and The Simpsons).
    • Commodore Computer Shows: How to Get the Most out of Them – A guide to attending computer shows along with a list of upcoming Commodore related shows including Commodore/Amiga Users Fair, World of Commodore/Amiga (Chicago), and World of Commodore/Amiga (Toronto).
    • A Guide to Commodore User Groups, Part 2 – The second part of Gazette’s annual list of user groups.

    Reviews

    • Search for the Titanic – This game from Capstone Software simulates the search for the Titanic.
    • FaceOff! – The classic hockey game from Gamestar.
    • Batman: The Movie – This Data East game is one of the few good games that are based on a movie.
    • Spanada 128 – A Spanish to English translator exclusively for the Commodore 128.

    Games

    • Mudfrog Math – A type-in educational math game for the Commodore 128.
    • Spheroids – A type-in game for the C64 in which you must collect spheres and hurl them at your opponent across uneven terrain.

    Programming

    • BASIC for Beginners: More on Timers – The second part of a series are creating accurate timers on the Commodore 64 in BASIC.
    • The Programmer’s Page: Printer Spooling – A way to spool ASCII files from disk to the printer without tying up the computer.
    • Machine Language Programming: Split Screen – A tutorial on creating a split screen and controlling each screen separately.
    • Starburst Graphics – A type-in machine language program for creating high resolution Commodore 64 graphics.
    • 1581 Path – A short program that allows you to access partitions on the 1581 drive similar to MS-DOS subdirectories.
    • Playfields – A type in program for the Commodore 64 that allows you to create animation similar to Amiga’s dual-playfield video mode.
    • Electronic Billboard – A type-in program for creating vertically scrolling messages on the Commodore 64.

    Departments

    • Commodore Clips – Lucasfilm offers special deal on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade VHS and game combo, Virgin Mastertronic releases Mega Pack collection of ten games, QuantumLink offers downloadable graphics, new C64 game from Japan called Curse of Babylon, and more.
    • The Editor’s Notes – Comments on the 1989 Gazette Readership Survey and recent changes to the magazine.
    • Letters to the Editor – Letters from readers about a Commodore 64 TV appearance, Commodore 64 BBSes, Speedscript, genealogy software, and more.
    • D’Iversions: Highways of the Future – Predictions of the future of computing including the combination of computer, TV, stereo, compact discs, and telephone.
    • Horizons: Design-a-64 Contest Winners – The results of a competition involving custom Commodore 64 mods. One can be seen on the cover.

    …and more!


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