• Tag Archives VIC-20

  • Compute! (March 1982)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Compute! – March 1982

    Compute! was an early multi-format computer magazine that prospered from the early 1980s until the early 1990s. In 1982, computers such as the Commodore PET, VIC-20, Atari 400/800 and Apple II were covered among others. The March 1982 issue includes:

    Features

    • The Winter of Our Content: A Report on the January Consumer Electronics Show – There was an impressive line-up of new products revealed at this CES including the Commodore Ultimax, Commodore 64, Bally Astrocade plus the official home version of Pac-Man was released among many other items.
    • Twenty Questions Revisited – A type-in program for a computerized version of twenty questions.
    • Energy Workbook – A type-in program to help you determine the best improvements you can make to your home to increase energy efficiency.
    • Two Short Programs of CAI for Teaching BASIC – I was trying to work out what CAI even stands for. Computer Aided Intelligence maybe?
    • Infinite Precision Multiply – Normally, the Commodore PET has 9 digits of precision for mathematical operations. This program gets around that limitation.
    • More About Numbers – Proving Ulam’s Conjecture and the 6174 problem.
    • Word Hunt – A type in program to generate word hunt games in a 10 by 10 letter matrix.
    • Count the Hearts – A type-in counting game for kids for the VIC-20.

    Education and Recreation

    • Family: A Simulation in Genetics – A type-in program for the PET that demonstrates heredity with a hypothetical Martian couple.
    • Large Alphabet for the VIC – Generating a double size character set on the VIC-20.
    • Concentration – A type-in game based on the classic card game, Concentration.
    • Comment Your Catalog – A program to add comments to disk directory listings on you Atari 8-bit computer.
    • Starfight3 – Involves Klingons and the Enterprise. Sounds suspiciously like Star Trek to me? For the VIC-20.
    • Swirl and Scribble Two type-in Atari programs. The first generates various swirl patterns on the screen. The second is a simple drawing program that can be used with a joystick.
    • WEBS – A type-in game for the PET.

    Reviews

    • Votrax Type ‘N Talk: TNT – A simple to program speech synthesizer that works with various computers via an RS-232 interface…for $375.
    • Olympia’s ES 100 KRO Typewriter/Printer – An typewriter that also works as a printer (or is it the other way around?). It isn’t cheap though at $1680.
    • RPL: A FORTH Sequel? – RPL is a FORTH-like computer programming language. Versions for PET/CBM machines are looked at here.
    • Ricochet – An odd combo of checkers and pool by Automated Simulations (which would later become Epyx) for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit and TRS-80.
    • Atari Microsoft BASIC (Part I) – The first part of a three part review of Microsoft BASIC for Atari 8-bit computers.

    Columns/Departments

    • The Editor’s Notes – Editorial commentary on the new format of the magazine, the importance of reader feedback, and more.
    • Ask The Readers – Various question and answers about Atari BASIC, support for the 6502 processor, programming, and more.
    • Computers And Society – The merging of technology and art from lasers, to cameras to computers.
    • The Beginner’s Page: How Computers Remember – A discussion of computer memory and how it works.
    • Basically Useful BASIC: Tabulation – A subroutine for justifying text the way you want in BASIC.
    • Learning With Computers: Word Processing In The Classroom – Even as early as 1982 computers were being used in the classroom and word processing was one of the first truly useful applications. This article discusses using word processors to make the physical act of writing easier so more attention can be paid to the creative aspects.
    • Friends Of The Turtle – Drawing using Atari PILOT.
    • Telecommunications: MODEM Applications – A discussion of Computerized Bulletin Boards (BBS), multiuser systems (time-share computer systems), and more.
    • Machine Language: Loops and Quality – Creating efficient and reliable loops in machine language.
    • Insight: Atari – Using interrupts on Atari 8-bit computers.

    The Journal

    • Disk Checkout For 2040, 4040, and 8050 Disks – Part 1 of 2. This part discusses manipulating disks/disk drives via machine language.
    • Organizing Data Storage – Sequential vs. Random files.
    • Machine Language Sort Utility – An efficient, machine language sorting routine. Why machine language? The fastest BASIC sort of 200 records in this test was 8 minutes but only 3 seconds for Machine Language.
    • Dynamic Renumber – A program to renumber your BASIC programs.
    • Disk Data Structures: An Interactive Tutorial – The details on how data is structured on a disk.
    • Apple Addresses – Addressing memory in machine language, BASIC floating point and BASIC integer on Apple II computers.
    • More VIC Maps – A discussion on VIC-20 memory maps continued from the previous issue.
    • EPROM Reliability – A detailed analysis for determining EPROM reliability focusing on the 2708 EPROM.
    • Random Music Composition On The PET – A type-in program for generating random music on the PET with various parameters that can be easily changed.
    • Ghost Programming – A method for running many BASIC programs that normally require 24 or 32K of RAM on an Atari with only 16K.
    • BASIC 4.0 To Upgrade Conversion Kit – Converting BASIC 4.0 programs to run on PETs that have been upgraded.
    • Screen Save Routine – A type in program routine for capturing a screen and saving it to disk.
    • A Superboard II Monitor (Part I) – An improved, faster monitor for the Superboard II.
    • New Products – New products mentioned include the VICMODEM, a 300 baud modem for the VIC-20 for $109.95; MatheMagic which turns your computer into a programmable calculator; Scratchpad, mailing list software for Commodore computers; Dragon’s Eye, a fantasy role-playing game for the Atari 400/800 by Epyx; several new Atari 8-bit games and applications including Pac-Man, Centipede, Caverns of Mars, The Bookkeeper and The Home Filing Manager; and more.

    …and more!


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  • Commander (January 1983)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Commander – January 1983

    Subtitled “The Monthly Journal for Commodore Computer Users”, this was one of the early magazine for Commodore related computers. In 1983 the Commodore 64, VIC-20, and PET/CBM were being covered. The January 1983 issue includes:

    VIC-20

    • Enterprise – A type-in Star Trek themed game. It was supposed to be in the previous issue but the code listing was left out.
    • Ravings of a Madman – An overview of where to get games for the VIC-20 and what is available.
    • Gobble – A type in program that generates random mazes that you must navigate while eating dots and avoiding the enemy.

    64

    • Peek & Poke – Programming the SID, the Commodore 64’s sound chip.

    PET/CBM

    • Review: A ROM for the PET “COMMANDER” – A ROM chip for the PET that could be added to provide additional high level commands that can be used from BASIC. Some examples include RE-DIMENSION which resizes arrays and COMPUTED GOTO which allows a GOTO statement based on a variable.

    Special Features

    • Single Drive Copy – A type-in program for making disk copies with a single disk drive.
    • RADIX-50: Pack & Unpack – A program for packing ASCII bits (24-bits to 16-bits) in order to save memory and disk space. Originally developed for the PDP-8.
    • COMAL: A Closer look – A look at the COMAL programming language and a sample program.
    • Assembly Language Programming on the VIC – Part II – Part 2 of a multipart series on using assembly language on the VIC-20. This part covers assemblers and monitors.
    • USCD PASCAL for the Commodore 8096 – A look at the PASCAL programming language, in particular some speed test between PASCAL and BASIC.
    • Commodore Character Set vs. ASCII – Commodore defined two sets of 8-bit character sets vs. one 7-bit set for ASCII.

    Departments

    • Letters to Editor – One reader’s opinion of various VIC-20 games plus praise for the new magazine.
    • Editorial – As some computer makers suffer huge loses (Atari lost $1 billion in 1982), they turn to distributing the product in retail chains such as Sears and K-Mart. Just don’t expect to get your technical questions answered there…
    • News Releases – A list of companies and retail establishments supporting the VIC-20.
    • New Products – Vanilla Pilot for the Commodore 4000,8000,9000 and Commodore 64; Magnum Insulator, a spike/surge protector; and Smartcom II communications software from Hayes.
    • Game Contest – Complete all nine levels of Escape MCP, a Tron inspired game, for your chance to win Comm*Data VIC-20 software packages valued from $50 to $200.

    …and more!


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  • Ahoy! (January 1984)

    Posted on by Azrael Comment

    Source: Ahoy! – Issue Number 1 – January 1984

    While not quite as popular as RUN or Compute!’s Gazette, Ahoy! was another major Commodore magazine covering Commodore’s 8-bit computers (primarily the Commodore 64). The premiere issue claims to have a circulation of 190,000 and includes:

    Features

    • The Computer as Communications Device – All about going online with your Commodore 64 or VIC-20 and a modem calling the modem the “indispensable appliance of the ’80s.” At the time, a 300 BPS modem would set you back at least $100 and 1200 bps was generally considered unaffordable costing more than a Commodore 64 itself at the time.
    • The Interrupt Music Maker/Editor – A type-in program that includes a small music making program and a ‘driver’ that allows music to be played while doing other things with your Commodore 64.
    • An Interview with Protecto’s Bill Badser – Protecto was one of the majory mail-order shops for Commodore computers and other Commodore related hardware. Bill Badser was one of the co-founders.
    • Multi-Draw 64: A Graphics Tablet – A type-in drawing program for the Commodore 64.
    • Can the 64 Crack the Peanut? – Peanut was the code name for IBM’s PCjr. This article contemplates how successful the Commodore 64 could be against it. Apparently when rumors of the Peanut first appeared, Apple’s stock dropped by half and there was similar panic regarding other computer makers. It was felt IBM would easily dominate the home market. It turned out to be an accurate but premature fear. Other computers would have years more of success and it would not be the PCjr that finally led to the PC standards dominance but cheap clones. The PCjr on the other hand was a complete flop.
    • Tales of the Commodore: John von Neumann – A bit of computer history focusing on John von Neumann, inventor of game theory among other things.
    • A Peek at Memory – A detailed look and Commodore 64’s memory map.
    • Programming Sequential Files – How to manipulate SEQuential files with your Commodore 64 and 1541 disk drive.

    Departments

    • Editorial – Editorial by Ben Bova about the Microcomputer Revolution, prominently featuring the Commodore 64.
    • Scuttlebutt – New products coming soon include the portable Commodore 64 (SX-64 or Executive 64), low cost printers from Alphacom, an EPROM burner called The Promqueen/64, new speech add-ons from Commodore and Alien Group, and much more.
    • The Rupert Report – How to manipulate the Commodore 64’s cursor including some programming examples.
    • Reviews
      • Astroblitz – A Defender clone for the Commodore 64.
      • Fort Apocalypse – A decent attack and rescue arcade type game somewhat similar to games like Choplifter.
      • Keyword Cross Reference – A couple of BASIC programs designed to generate a cross reference list given a series of inputs.
      • Moondust – A rather unique game available in cartridge format for both the C-64 and VIC-20.
      • Speed Racer – No relation to the anime, this is a not so good racing game.
      • Candy Bandit – An apparently terrible game for the Commodore 64.
      • Mailing List and Labels – A program designed for keeping track of mailing lists and printing mailing labels.
      • Suspended – Another Infocom classic text adventure for the Commodore 64.
      • Hometax – An income tax program for the Commodore 64 provided that you have a CP/M add-on.
      • Cannonball Blitz – A game by Sierra On-Line for the VIC-20 that happens to be very much like Donkey Kong.
      • Snake Byte – Another snake game for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20 in which you must eat stuff, grow bigger, and avoid running into yourself.
      • The Blade of Blackpoole – A graphical adventure for the Commodore 64.
      • Repton – A pretty average Defender clone for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.
      • Type Attack – A game designed to teach typing skills for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20.

    …and more!


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