{"id":36495,"date":"2026-01-28T12:05:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T17:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/?p=36495"},"modified":"2026-03-09T22:43:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T02:43:58","slug":"popular-computing-weekly-october-23rd-1986","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/01\/28\/popular-computing-weekly-october-23rd-1986\/","title":{"rendered":"Popular Computing Weekly October 23rd, 1986)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"\/magazines\/index.php?twg_album=Computer_Magazines%2FPopularComputingWeekly%2FIssue861023&amp;twg_show=PopularComputingWeekly86102300001.jpg\" class=\"keychainify-checked\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300001-748x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"748\" height=\"1024\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-36498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300001-748x1024.jpg 748w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300001-219x300.jpg 219w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300001-768x1052.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300001-88x120.jpg 88w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300001.jpg 969w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Popular Computing Weekly was, as the title suggests, a weekly publication that covered the popular computers at the time in the U.K. where it was published. The October 23-29 issue includes:<\/p>\n<h1>Software<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Forecasting<\/b> &#8211; A program for the Amstrad CPC that helps business sales.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>K-Switch<\/b> &#8211; A utility for the Atari ST that will allow you to load two programs in memory and switch between them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1>Hardware<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Sega Master System<\/b> &#8211; The Sega Master System as just becoming available in the U.K. This article covers the system and the initial games to be available. While consoles would play a role i the downfall of 8-bit computers, the NES had a bigger impact than the Master System.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1>Games<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Adventure Corner<\/b> &#8211; A look at some of the fanzines available for adventure gamers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Adventure Helpline<\/b> &#8211; Readers ask for help on Zork 1 (Commodore Plus\/4), Spiderman (Commodore 16), House of Doom (Spectrum), Finders Keepers (MSX), Macbeth (Commodore 64), Hampstead (BBC B), Shadow of the Unknown (Spectrum), Seabase Delta (Spectrum), See-Kaa of Assiah (Spectrum), The Pawn (Atari ST), and Zhul (Sinclair QL).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Arcade Action<\/b> &#8211; Tips for Knight Type (Commodore 64), Light Force (Spectrum), and more. Plus a list of the top 20 games with Paperboy coming in at the top.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Reviews<\/b> &#8211; Reviews of The Great Escape (Spectrum), Galvan (Amstrad CPC, Spectrum), Twice Shy (Spectrum), Dragon&#8217;s Lair (Spectrum), Rogue (Atari ST), and Camelot Warriors (Amstrad CPC).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"\/wordpress\/?attachment_id=36497\" class=\"attachment wp-att-36497 keychainify-checked\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300003-748x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"748\" height=\"1024\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-36497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300003-748x1024.jpg 748w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300003-219x300.jpg 219w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300003-768x1052.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300003-88x120.jpg 88w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300003.jpg 969w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h1>Programming<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>BBC<\/b> &#8211; A type-in program that creates screens similar to games like Jet Pac and Atac-Atac.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Atari ST<\/b> &#8211; A machine language program for the Atari ST that will count the words in a document.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Spectrum<\/b> &#8211; A type-in utility that can be used to slow the execution of games or other programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Amstrad CPC<\/b> &#8211; Part two of a type-in program to help you predict racehorse winners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Commodore 64<\/b> &#8211; Part two of a type-in program that provides various disk utilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Bytes and Pieces<\/b> &#8211; Short type-in programs to use italics on the Spectrum, dump hi-res screens on the Oric 1\/Atmos, access shadow RAM on the Atari 130XE<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Peek and Poke<\/b> &#8211; Questions answered from readers about word processing software for the PCW8256, Commodore 64 power supply issues, using an Amstrad monitor with a Commodore 64, Dragon 32 video connections, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h1>Regulars<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><b>News Desk<\/b> &#8211; Game consoles challenge 8-bit computer sales; Amstrad PC reliability issues, new computer from Saga, new Memotech Business 2 computer, person jailed for exporting computer equipment to the Soviet Union, Cobol for the PC from Micro Focus, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Letters<\/b> &#8211; Letters from readers about making full use of the Spectrum 128, the Einstein 256, power supply options for the Amstrad, screen dumps from Koala Painter, the MTX 512, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Soundcheck<\/b> &#8211; A look at music software for the beginner, intermediate, and expert musician.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Communications<\/b> &#8211; A look at the Musictel network of BBSes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>New Releases<\/b> &#8211; A brief look at new releases for the Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari, Atari ST, BBC\/Electron, Commodore 64, Sinclair QL, and Spectrum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Ziggurat<\/b> &#8211; Pondering where all the women users are&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300048-748x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"748\" height=\"1024\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-36496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300048-748x1024.jpg 748w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300048-219x300.jpg 219w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300048-768x1052.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300048-88x120.jpg 88w, https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PopularComputingWeekly86102300048.jpg 969w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&#8230;and more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Popular Computing Weekly was, as the title suggests, a weekly publication that covered the popular computers at the time in the U.K. where it was published. The October 23-29 issue includes: Software Forecasting &#8211; A program for the Amstrad CPC that helps business sales. K-Switch &#8211; A utility for the Atari ST that will allow you to load two programs in memory and switch between them. Hardware Sega Master System &#8211; The Sega Master System as just becoming available in the U.K. This article covers the system and the initial games to be available. While consoles would play a role i the downfall of 8-bit computers, the NES had a bigger impact than the Master System. Games Adventure Corner &#8211; A look at some of the fanzines available for adventure gamers. Adventure Helpline &#8211; Readers ask for help on Zork 1 (Commodore Plus\/4), Spiderman (Commodore 16), House of Doom (Spectrum), Finders Keepers (MSX), Macbeth (Commodore 64), Hampstead (BBC B), Shadow of the Unknown (Spectrum), Seabase Delta (Spectrum), See-Kaa of Assiah (Spectrum), The Pawn (Atari ST), and Zhul (Sinclair QL). Arcade Action &#8211; Tips for Knight Type (Commodore 64), Light Force (Spectrum), and more. Plus a list of the top 20 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36498,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[486,4187,2362],"class_list":["post-36495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-computer-arcana","tag-computers","tag-popular-computing-weekly","tag-retrocomputing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36495"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36674,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36495\/revisions\/36674"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.megalextoria.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}