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!

Source: RUN: The Home User’s Guide to Commodore Computing – Issue Number 13 – January 1985

RUN was one of the most popular Commodore 8-bit computer magazines, mostly covering the Commodore 64. It was also one of the magazines I bought the most growing up. The January 1985 issue includes:

Features

• Trapped in the Maze – Creating a maze game in BASIC on the VIC-20.

• Writing Word Games – A guide to creating word games (like Hangman).

• Smoking Joe – Some tips and a program for creating sprites.

• Quatro – A type-in tic-tac-toe game for the Commodore 64 with the twist that you have to get four in a row instead of three.

• Don’t Forget! – A type-in program for the Commodore 64 that gives you a calendar and the ability to create appointments.

• Selecting The Right Printer – A guide to choosing the best printer for you. Some models mentioned here include the 1520 Plotter, 1525e, MPS-801, Prowriter, Okidata 82 and 92 series, Epson MX, RX, and FX series, Gemini 10X/15X, and more.

• Three Printers From Commodore – Reviews of the Commodore DPS-1101 Daisy Whee printer, and the Commodore 1526 and MPS-803 Dot Matrix printers.

• Disk Tips For Beginner – A guide to managing your floppy disks.

• Let There Be Light Pens – At one point in time, before the mouse took over for good, light pens seemed to be the up and coming input device. This article is an introductory guide to light pens.

Departments

• RUNning Ruminations – A look ahead to what is in this issue and a request for articles on the new Plus/4 and Commodore 16.

• Magic – Short programs for recovering an erased program, extracting lines from an existing program, tracing the execution of BASIC programs, reading raw data from tape, using a voice synthesizer for debugging, and more.

• Software Gallery – Reviews of Questprobe: The Hulk, Kidwriter, Saucer Attack!, Space Taxi (one of my all time favorites though it only gets a ‘B’ rating here), abd Word Processor – Professional.

• Clubs – A list of Commodore computer related clubs and user groups.

• Commodore Clinic – Questions answered about documentation for the Commodore B128, compiling BASIC programs, word processing programs on cassette, CP/M on the Commodore 64, 1541 disk drivr problems, blowing fuses on the VIC-20, keypads for the Commodore 64, and much more.

• Mail RUN – Letters from readers about CP/M problems on the Commodore 64, Commodore in South Africa, Panasonic printers, and more.

• RUN’s 1984 Index – An index of articles and reviews from RUN covering all of 1984.

• New Products RUNdown – A look at new producs including Suspect from Infocom, Breakdance from Epyx, President Elect from SSI, F-15 Strike Eagle from MicroProse, The Operating System from Hacker’s Hardware, The Professor from Progressive Peripherals, and more.

_{Back cover of the January 1985 issue of RUN}…and more!