• Tag Archives TRS80

  • Galactic Attack (TRS-80 Color Computer)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Galactic Attack (TRS-80 Color Computer)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/177294163694/galactic-attack-trs-80-color-computer

    Radio Shack had a confusing array of similarly named, incompatible computers. The Color Computer (of which there were three models, each of which was mostly backwards compatible) was probably the most successful. There were a wide variety of games released for the Color Computer though most were marketed by Radio Shack themselves and were highly derivative of other popular games. They weren’t necessarily of low quality (though many were) but most were clones of more popular games of the time.

    Galactic Attack is one such game. It is essentially a Galaxian clone but with less variety. All of the enemies look like Tie Fighters and is essentially just their speed that changes from level to level. The graphics are not great but I suppose that for 1982 they are pretty average. There was definitely much better stuff on the Atari 8-bit computers and even the VIC-20 at the time though.


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  • K-Power (July/August 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    k-power_issue_06_1984_jul_aug-01

    Source: K-Power Issue (July/August 1984)

    K-Power was a magazine oriented towards teens published in 1984. Only eight standalone issues were published until it merged with Family Computing and became an insert there. The July/August 1984 issue includes:

    Features

    • How Teen Tycoons Take Care of Business – Some savvy hackers make big dough with their computer skills. How you can, too!
    • Computer Comix – Here’s a “Gee, Whiz!” another K-Power laff-riot!
    • Computers Go for the Gold – Will computers help cyclist Rebecca Twigg or archer Becky Liggett win a Gold Medal?
    • K-Power Picks – Olympics software get K-Power’s highest rating.
    • Test Run: IBM PCjr – Forget the rest – read the best! K-Power tells you how the much-heralded PCjr really rates.
    • The Making of a Hacker – Can anyone be a hacker? According to Andrea Leptich, the answer is Yes!
    • Computer Superstars – A look at some of everybody’s favorite computer cartoon characters – Q*bert, the Zerks, Rockford the bug, and more!

    Programming

    • Hacker Heaven – A 16-page pullout crammed with programs!
    • Compucopia – Byte-size programs.
    • Microtones – A new computer-music column with programs and music news!
    • Programs – Fireworks, fireworks, and more fireworks!

    Products

    • Screening Room – Software reviews and strategy.
    • Strategy – Exodus: Ultima III – How to kill the evil Exodus and save a world.
    • The Rating Game – Space Taxi – a futuristic driving game that talks! Also, Bruce Lee, Dimension X, and more.

    Departments

    • Editor’s Note – Introducing the K-Base – a computing pen-pal system.
    • Logon – Letters from you.
    • Compuzine – The experts talk piracy. Plus, Silicon Alley and Scrolling in Dough.
    • Dr. Kursor’s Klinic – Where the word “hacker” comes from; what an RGB monitor is.
    • K-Net – The winners of the K-Power “Win-a-Modem” contest. Plus, how the K-Net works!
    • Contest – Put words in K.I.T.T.’s mouth.

    …and more!


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  • Barbarossa (TRS-80 Color Computer)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Barbarossa (TRS-80 Color Computer)

    http://darth-azrael.tumblr.com/post/167696646419/retrocgadsusa-1985-barbarossa-trs-80-color

    This ad, circa 1985, is for a game called Barbarossa for the TRS-80 Color Computer. This is a turn-based strategy game that covers the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. That operation was called Operation Barbarossa, hence the name of the game.

    This game was developed and released by a company called Ark Royal Games. They were primarily known for their war games on the Color Computer, both historical and futuristic. However, they also developed a few other types of games as well including some adventure games. There have been a few other games with the same name over the years but to the best of my knowledge, other than covering the same material they are completely unrelated.

    I don’t know too much about this game so I’ll let the ad speak for itself:

    “The War in Russia 1941-44

    The first 64K wargame for the color computer. Barbarossa is total machine language so it’s fast! Completely hi-res so it’s beautiful. Scrolling map takes up more than two screens. Bit mapping allows for hi-res picto-character set consisting of panzer, grenadier, airflottes, infantry, mechanized infantry, Russian armor and infantry. Commands include Normal Movement, Blitzkreig attack, Cityscan, Intelligence, Air Operations, Scrolling, Group transfer, Advance 2nd movement, Game save.

    Player controls the German forces consisting of Army Groups North, Central and South, and must capture 16 Russian cities to win. In doing so he battles terrible weather conditions, attrition, Russian reserves and supply shortages.”

    The disk version was $33.95 and the cassette version was $30.95. The ad says that they are different but not in what way. Presumably the disk version is better.

    This ad also mentions a few other wargames including Phalanx, D-Day The 6th of June, and Anizo. These are all pretty obscure games so if you want to give them a try you’ll have to track down the originals or some disk images and an appropriate emulator.





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