Source: Big K – Issue Number 5 – August 1984

Big K is a gaming magazine that was published in the U.K. in the 1980s. It mostly covered the popular home computers of the time and included type-in games. The August 1984 issue includes:

Games Programs

• Mines! for BBC – A type-in game in which you have to navigate a minefield and rescue damsels in distress.

• Space Seeker for Spectrum – Avoid obstacles and find prizes in this type-in game for the ZX-Spectrum.

• Speed Arena for VIC-20 – A type-in racing game for the VIC-20.

• Boggle for ZX81 – A type-in computerized version of this word game for the ZX81.

• Platform Leaper for Spectrum – A type-in game in which you must make from one platform to another to the top of the screen while avoiding robots.

• Planet Electro for VIC-20 – A type-in space battle game for the VIC-20.

Utility Program

• Sprite Creator for CBM 64 – A type-in program that lets you create your own sprites on the Commodore 64.

Software Reviews

• Pick of the Month – A review of Aviator by Acornsoft for the BBC Model B. This is a flight simulator with wireframe graphics.

• Review Pages – Reviews of Deep Space (Spectrum), Red Meanies (Dragon 32), Rubble Trouble (BBC Model B), Trom (Spectrum), Horace Goes Skiing (Commodore 64), Heathrow Air Traffic Control (BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrum), Transistors Revenge (BBC Model B), CityAttak (Commodore 64), Wheeler Dealer (Commodore 64), Red Alert (Commodore 64), Fruity Freddy (BBC Model B), Odyssey (Commodore 64), Jammin (Commodore 64), Flint’s Gold (BBC Model B), Mindbender (Spectrum), Zodiac (Commodore 64), Pit Stop (ColecoVision), Triad (Commodore 64), Space Shuttle (Atari 400/800/XL), Klartz & The Dark Forces (Dragon 32), Zalaga (BBC B), and more.

Hardware

• 68000 Assembler Part 2 – Part 2 of an assembly language programming tutorial for the Motorola 68000.

• Boost Your Beeb’s Memory – A guide to adding an additional 2K of RAM to the BBC Model B.

• Wonder Widgets – A look at some joysticks from Wico along with various other controllers, plus a plotter for the Aquarius, and expansion module for the Electron (including printer port, two ROM slots, and a joystick port), a new keyboard for the Spectrum, and more.

Features

• A Windy City Wind Up – Coverage of the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago. Some new items on display there include the Commodore Plus 4 and Commodore 16, the Atari 7800, Star Wars The Arcade Game and Frogger II for various systems, a variety of Activision games including H.E.R.O., Zenji, Space Shuttle, River Raid, Pitfall II, and lots more.

• Where Are Next Year’s Games Coming From? – The lack of originality in many recent games and where gaming is going in the future.

• The Image Benders – A look at specialized computers for creating special effects including Quantel’s Paintbox and Mirage.

• Atari Graphics – The third part in a series on graphics on Atari 8-bit computers. This part covers manipulating the display list to create jewel-like effects, redefine character sets, and more.

• Richard Taylor’s Spectrum Graphics – Creating animation on the Sinclair Spectrum.

Regulars

• On-Line News – Seiko introduces computer watch, Dragon 32 support dries up, Sabre Wulf released, new fast load program for the Commodore 64, Imagine faces financial difficulties, Atari releases Pole Position on various home systems, and more.

• Classic Games of Our Time – A look back at Atari’s Star Raiders.

• Dorkslayer – A look at a first batch of games created with The Quill adventure writing tool including Barsak the Dwarf, Devil’s Island, Mindbender, Magic Castle, and Spyplane among others.

• Charts – A list of the top 30 games and top video games (for dedicated consoles). At the top of the first list is Jet Set Willy and at the top of the second list is Pole Position.

• He Wrote One – An interview with Terry Watts, a programmer at K-Tel.

• Zip Code – A look at things going on in the U.S. market including Apple’s comeback with the Macintosh and IIc, Atari tries to recover from previous year’s losses, Commodore and RCA may join forces, new ColecoVision games, and more.

• Books – A look at some computer related books including Step-By-Step Programming on the BBC Micro, Awesome Games For Your Atari Computer, Crazy Games For Your Commodore 64, Astounding Games For Your Apple Computer, and Exploring Adventures on the BBC.

• Arcade Alley – A look at the Tazmi TX1 three screen racing game.

• Letterbase – Letters from readers about submitting programs to Big K, game censorship, back issues, and more.

Competition

• Win a Trip to Florida, U.S.A. – Though short on details, entering this competition could win you a week in Florida.

…and more!