• Tag Archives retrocomputing

  •  Home Computer Magazine Volume 4, Number 1 (1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Home Computer Magazine Volume 4, Number 1 (1985)

    Home Computer Magazine started life as TI99er which exclusively covered the the Texas Instruments TI-99 line of computers. With this issue (Volume 4, Number 1) it was re-branded and started covering the Commodore 64 and VIC-20, Apple II, and IBM PC (DOS) in addition to the TI-99. This issue was published some time in 1984 and includes:

    Features

    • Uncle Larry’s Fiddle Tunes – Type-in folk songs for the Commodore 64, TI-99/4A and PCjr.
    • Pocket Canon – More type-in music, this time for the TI-99/4A.
    • TI-Writer Tutorial – The third part of a tutorial TI-Writer, a word processor for the TI-99/4A.
    • I Write the Songs: Electronic Sheet Music – A type-in BASIC program for the TI-99/4A called Music Magic that lets you play, display, and save music.
    • Just Assemble Melody: Music in Mini Memory – A type-in program that makes writing music on the TI-99/4A easier.
    • PCjr: A Detailed Look Inside the Peanut’s Shell – An overview of IBM’s new PCjr. It was doomed to failure for a variety of reasons, including a terrible keyboard, incompatibility with PC parts, limited expansion ability, software compatibility issues, a relatively high price, and probably other reasons.
    • 66 Keys to Graphics Success: A Primer for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20 – A beginner’s guide to the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.
    • Have No Fear: Assembly Language Won’t Byte, Part 3 – The third part in a beginner’s assembly language tutorial for the TI-99/4A.
    • Porsches and Other Pipedreams: Computer Assisted Savings – A type-in program for the Apple II, PCjr, Commodore 64 and VIC-20 that does things like calculating compound interest, payment plans, future value, and more.
    • 3D-IIe: Apple Graphics in Three Dimensions – A type-in program for creating 3D line drawing on the Apple II.
    • The Future Is Now in Apple Graphics – A look at new graphics products for the Apple II including the Supersprite board and StarSprite software, plus an interview with Don Fudge.
    • Biting Into Your Apple – A guide to customizing and expanding your Apple II.
    • Movable Feasts – A type-in meal planner for the VIC-20.
    • Don’t Be a SlowPOKE – A type-in machine language routine to help you animated your sprites on the Commodore 64.
    • Down Memory Lane – A guide to rearranging the memory map of your Commodore 64 to squeeze out more memory.
    • Easy as Apple Pie – A guide to creating simple graphics on the Apple II.
    • Microcomputer Accuracy – A guide to testing the mathematical accuracy of your computer. Typically, home computers were not as precise as scientific calculators, at least not with built in math functions.

    LOGO Times

    • What Is LOGO – It’s a programming language.
    • Lyrical LOGO – Recursion using LOGO.
    • LOGO Shoots for the Moon – Structured programming using LOGO.

    Product Reviews

    • Henpecked – A cartridge based Joust clone for the TI-99/4A featuring chickens.
    • Hopper – A cartridge based Pengo clone for the TI-99/4A in which you control a kangaroo on a cargo ship trying to avoid capture.
    • Zeus – A game inspired by Space Invaders for the Commodore 64 in which you must avoid lightning bolts from Zeus.
    • Beach Head – This classic for the Commodore 64 plays kind of like a series of mini-games with a World War II theme. It is definitely among the best early games for the commodore 64.
    • Gruds in Space – A sci-fi themed graphic adventure for the Apple II.
    • Jumpman Junior – A cartridge version of this screen based platform game. The graphics were definitely simple but this game was a lot of fun (and also hard).
    • Stellar Seven – A wireframe space combat sim for the Apple II.
    • Coveted Mirror – A graphics adventure game for the Apple II with the somewhat unique feature for the time that the screens were animated.
    • Fly Snuffer – An action game on cartridge for the TI-99/4A in which you have to spray flies to kill them.
    • Homeword Bound – A review of HomeWord, a word processor from Sierra Online for the Apple II.
    • Bank Street Writer – A popular 1980s word processor for the Apple II (and later other machines).
    • Bigger Better Basic – Reviews of The Super Expander 64 and Simon’s Basic 64, both of which are extensions to Commodore 64’s BASIC that add things like graphics commands among others.
    • Getting it Out of Your System – A look at the Buffered Grappler and PSIO interface cards for the Apple II.
    • Facemaker – A educational/art game in which you create and must remember faces for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and TI-99/4A.
    • Art at Your Fingertips – A color graphics system for the Apple II consisting of a Koala Pad drawing pad, Microillustrator art program, Transtar 315 printer, and a PICS Interface card which can transfer color screen dumps to the printer.

    Gameware Buffet

    • Flak Attack – A type in game for the Apple II, Commodore 64, VIC-20, PCjr and TI-99/4A in which you must shoot down enemy aircraft.
    • Slots – A type-in slot game simulator for the TI-99/4A.
    • Meltdown – A type-in game in which you must prevent a nuclear power plant from melting down for the TI-99/4A.
    • Challenging the Tower of Hanoi – A type-in implementation of the Tower of Hanoi for the Apple II, Commodore 64, VIC-20, PCjr, and TI-99/4A.

    Departments

    • On Screen – TI exits the personal computer market and all about the changes in the magazine.
    • Group Grapevine – News and upcoming events related to computer users groups.
    • Letters to the Editor – Letters from readers including converting programs for the TI Editor/Assembler, the IBM PC vs. the IBM PCjr, and more comments on articles from previous issues.
    • HCM Product News – TI announces two new games for the TI-99/4A (Symoids and Pirate’s Isle); the Super Stik from Personal Peripherals; Persuasion, a strategy game from Orion Games for the PC; new printing service for TI users; Flight Simulator II from subLogic for the Commodore 64 and Atari; a new TI BASIC compiler; and much more.
    • Tech Notes: TI – A guide to setting up data files on cassette for the TI-99/4A.
    • Tech Notes: IBM – Demonstrating mathematical accuracy on the IBM PC.
    • Tech Notes: Commodore – Restoring DATA pointers on the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.
    • Tech Notes: Apple – Modifying, inserting, and deleting from existing programs on the Apple II.

    …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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  • PC Magazine (May 28, 1985)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: PC Magazine – May 28, 1985

    Not only were 1980s issues of PC Magazine quite large (this one is around 375 pages), for a while it was also published every other week. The May 28, 1985 issue includes:

    Cover Stories

    • Plug-ins: The Inside Story – Some of the best add-in devices including hard drives and half-height floppy drives, and backup devices such as tape drives (these weren’t officially supported by IBM until the XT and PCjr came along).
    • Installing Megabytes in Minutes – A comparison of some of the hard drives available for the PC, including the Mountain Computer XT Internal, Micro Design IS 10, Falcon Technology PC Extender, Everex Everdisk, Quadram QuadDisk (12 MB), Sigma Designs HHK-02000, Kamerman Labs Megaflight, Micro Design IS 30, and Quadram QuadDisk (72 MB).
    • Portability Meets Privacy – A comparison of available removeable-cartridge hard disk systems including the Genie XL 10P, Quadram QuadDisk, IDEAssociates IDEAdisk, and Tecmar PC-Mate. These all coast in the neighborhood of $2000 for a storage capacity of 5 to 10MB per cartridge.
    • Double Your Driving Pleasure – A comparison of half-height floppy drives for the PC including the Panasonic JU-455, Control Data 9428, TEAC FD-55B-01-U, and QUME QumeTrak 142.
    • An Up-Front Approach to Backup – A comparison of internal tape drives for the PC including the Everex EXCELL 4500, Micro Design MT 10, Mountain Computer FSI60-AT, Sigma Designs STK-45, and Tecmar QIC-60-AT.
    • New Frontiers for Add-in Technology – A look at some technologies so new that IBM does not officially support them (but that didn’t mean you couldn’t use them…if you had the money). These include quad-density floppy drives such as the Tandon TM64-4, embedded servo drives such as the TeamMate 1103, and CD-ROM technology.

    Features

    • OmniTel’s Encore Performance – A look at the Encore 1200B Hayes compatible internal modem (1200bps for only $449).
    • Get Smart with MaxThink – MaxThink is a “thought processor”, a category of software designed to sort out the pros and cons and other factors for making choices.
    • 2001: Futuristic Accounting? – 2001 from FIS is an accouting package designe for small businesses.
    • Macro Dynamos for the PC – A comparison of two pieces of software for creating macros: ProKey 3.0 and SmartKey 4.1.
    • Fine-Tuning Your Sales Technique – A review of The Sales Manager, software for tracking clients, expenses, commissions, and more.
    • Perfect Components: All in the Family – The Perfect series is an integrated software package with the advantage that you can buy only the components you need.

    Pro Columns

    • Finding Anything Anywhere – A type-in BASIC program for searching text in files on your disk.
    • Keeping the Wolves at Bay – A look at a bankruptcy-reorganization program from Arthur Anderson & Co. called The Reorganization Model.
    • Banking on Your Computer – Online banking has been around longer than you might think. In 1985, you could access your accounts via dial-up to systems such as PRONTO.
    • Restoring Matrix Commands to BASIC – The original Dartmouth BASIC including matrix functionality but this was cut when BASIC was created for PCs. Matrix 100 is a BASIC software package that adds back these BASIC matrix commands.
    • Enter at Your Own Risk – A review of The Computer-Assisted Investment Handbook which includes 50 type-in investment programs.
    • The Organized Writer – ThinkTank is software designed to help in planning the structure of writing projects.

    Departments

    • PC News – IBM enters the “phone-computer” market; IBM cuts prices and releases new XT models; AT&T’s STARLAN; Ericcsson releases 15-pound portable computer for $2995; Kodak makes offer for Verbatim; electronic mail privacy issues; Japan’s new PC JX (sort of a Japanese version of the PCjr), and much more.
    • The Mouse That Roared – Editors at PC Magazine experiment with using a mouse.
    • Letters to PC – Letters from readers about Professional BASIC, user software rights, sending files by modem vs. LAN, BBS lists, and more.
    • Complementary Comments – A look at new printers from IBM (Wheelprinter and Quietwriter Printer), the advantages of using non-IBM hard drives with the IBM AT, and a look at IBM’s new Enhanced Graphics Adapter.
    • User-To-User – Using the IBM’s low resolution graphics mode (160 x 100).
    • New On The Market – A look at new PC related items on the market including the EIT-PS Personal Scanner, Modemphone, new half-height removable cartridge drives, PcOS 100 dot matrix printer, Star Cal II (database of celestial events through 1990), and more.
    • Taming a Wild Language – A review of the book Assembly Language Safari on the IBM PC: First Explorations by John Socha.

    …and more!


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