NH2021_Popular_Computing_Weekly_Issue871113.pdf

£5

by Andrew Kermath in Las Vegas.

н A's have it - but it was Atari,
not Amstrad and its new portable,
that stole most of the glory at last

в Comdex show to the press.

w

C] CPC6128 Databases
C] Soundcheck..
Kenn Garroch
О Interfacing...

lory in Vegas

Comdex Fall, as it is more
strictly known, is to microcomput
ers what Winter CES is to the
consumer electronics industry. It's
the biggest US show of the year,
and although suits are more com:
mon there than at CES, practically
гуопе who's anyone is there,
and in that sense Atari has аг.
rived, complete with Saville Row
tailoring

The

loring comes courtesy of

British chip manufacturer Inmos
and development house Perihelion,
i with the

who have provided At
wherewithal to launch th
supermiero based on Inmos'
superchip, on the world. The
type Atari whieh was show.
ing at Las Vegas was by no means
finished, but Atari expects to have
it singing and dancing some more
by its first European showing,
currently scheduled for Hanover
next spring, and we should be

LQ ball in Epson’

AMSTRAD has made a detailed
response to the legal action initiat
ed last month by Epson over the
use of the LQ designation on Из
new range of printers.

‘The affair has placed the Brent.
wood-based company on the ге
ceiving end of legal action itself - a
strange state of affairs for a com-
pany which has embroiled itself in
litigation against others several
times in the past year.

Epson has produced its range of
LQ printers for four years, and
considers the letters are connected
with Epson as PC has come to
mean IBM-compatible.

An Amstrad spokesperson
vowed that the company would
continue to market the LQ3500 and
would “strenuously defend” any
action taken by Epson.

looking for first shipments towards
the close of 1988,

The basic Авад comes with four
megabytes of Ram plus another
megabyte for the display, and
allows up to four T800 transputers
running at 10-12 mips (million
instructions per second) to be con
nected together for parallel pro

sing purposes. Its own operating
system will be Helios, currently
being developed by Perihelion, but
Atari has also announced support
for Idris, a version of the Unix
rating system,

Pricing of the machine is likely
to be on the end of the $3-5,000
scale, Inevitably a PC emulator for
the machine is under development,
but the transputer is so powerful
this should actually be faster than
the PC AT. Alongside the Арад
Atari beefed up its PC range, first
shown last winter at CES, and was
showing a PC/ST/ Apple local area

Epson public relations manager
Tony Westray last week confirmed
that Amstrad has responded point
by point to each of the allegations
levelled at the company over the
matter.

network, genlock for the ST and its
laser printer.

The new PCs, the РС? and РСА,
should be shipping in the UK any
time now, with the PC2 being a
5499 8088-based machine with
built-in EGA (Enhanced Graphics
Adaptor). The РСА uses an 80286,
again has EGA, and has а VGA
(Video Graphics Adaptor, IBM's
mew graphics standard) option
Barring the launch of another
dozen STs at CES the next major
move from Atari should be the
80386 machine,

The first publie showing of this
is scheduled for Hanover, with
machines starting to ship next
July. The spec of the machine is.
now starting to firm up, with Atari
talking about optional 16MHz ог
20MHz speed processors (this will
probably firm up to 20MHz as the
supply position on these chips
eases),

s court

"They responded to each of the
points that we raised,” he said
"Хоу we have to respond to each
of the points that they've made,

A further announcement is ex-
pected later this week

10 3500 Printer

"omgi

Here’s the
new style
again...

Y: another incarnation of Popular Computing Weekly

hits the stands! Onee again it's all change at Britain

only computer weekly - we've moved offices, there's
юте new additions to the team, and over the past few weeks
we've been busy planning and preparing a new look, and
dreaming up new ideas and new things to put in the pages of
the revamped magazine. Now we can reveal the fruits of our la-
bours in this week's issue,

Some of you might be holding your hands up in horror at the
new style - but we think you'll find it better than eyer before.
The magazine might look different, but it doesn’t stop there.
There're also a lot of new things which will be happening in the
future,

Important news

It's our intention to bring you the important news first - as we
always have done, Whether it's new machines, company news,
new software releases or just interesting stories from any area
of computing, no other magazine can compete when it comes to
finding out what's going on. But we think you deserve more of
and so do you, Judging by the results of our last rea-

urvey.
We've also got a mixture of your favourite features - Kenn
Garroch's still here, with a squeaky-clean new picture - and

new ideas, starting today with more news and better games
coverage. We also hope to bring you the return of the puzzle
very shortly!

Please let us know what you think about the new-look
Popular Computing Weekly, and what you would like to see
covered. In the weeks to come there'll be even more happening
than usual, with new machines, new software, price reduc-
tions, price rises - plus all the usual gossip from the computer
industry. You'll read it all first in Popular Computing Weekly.

The perfect
incentive

AS an incentive to buy Amiga for
Christmas, Sentinel is reducing its
WordPerfect Amiga word proces-
sor from $255 to £199,

According to Jags Alfred, sales
director at Sentinel, there were
two reasons for this decision:
"Firstly, worldwide demand has
enabled WordPerfect Corporation
to exceed projected sales so that
initial production costs have been
reduced more quickly than
expected."

CHARTS

Top Twenty

1 (1) Joe Blade
2 (4) Soccer Boss

3 (2) Grand Prix Simulator
4 (5) Indiana Jones

5 (6) Pro Ski Simulator

6 (3) Renegade

7 (10) Back To The Future

в (8) BMX Simulator

9 (11) Dizy

10 (14) Paperboy

11 (18) World Class Leaderboard
12 (85) Game Set Match

13 (NE) Live Ammo

14 (9) International Karate
18 (15) Super Robin Hood

16 (7) Fruit Machine Simulator
17 (19) UchiMata

18 (16) АТУ Simulator

19 (84) Comp. Hits 10 Vol, 4
20 (NE) Six Pak 2

All figures compiled by Gallup/Computer Trade Weekly

EDITORIAL.

Alfred then went on to say that
Sentinel really just wanted to give
‘consumers the chance to buy the
best Amiga, if they wanted to get
оле for Christmas.

As well as the offer оп Amiga,
Sentinel is still offering Scribble
owners a trade-in, this is with 550
off the WordPerfect in return for
old master discs, the manual ani a
copy of the invoice for the
WordPerfect.

Players
Alternative
Code Masters
US сом.
Code Masters.
iagine
Firebird

Code Masters,
Code Masters.
Elite.

Access. US Gold
Ocean

Ocean
Endurance
Code Masters
Code Masters
Alternative
Code Masters
Beau Jolly

t Pak

A vacas шили новия.
Tim Owen

Classified Executives Robert Cole,

Printed by McCorquodale Magazines,
Andover, Hampshire

POPULAR
COMPUTING
WEEKLY

Executive Editor Francis Jago
Deputy Editor John Brissenden
Features Editor Duncan Evans
Production Editor Yvonne Hartland
Staff Writer Nikki Carvey
Advertisement Manager David Osen
Advertisement Executive Athena
Peerman

Classified Manager Susannah King

Managing Editor Brendan Gore
Publisher Trish Philtips

Group Publisher Paul Coster

Chief Executive Richard Hease
Financial Director Brendan McGrath
Published by Focus Magazines,
Greencoat House, Francis Street, London
SWIP IDG

Typeset by Magazine Typesetters, 6
Parnell Court, East Portway, Andover,
Hampshire

Distributed by SM Distribution, London
5079, Telephone: 01-274 8611, Telex
261643

© Focus Magazines 1987,

ISSN 0265-0509

Popular Computing Weekly. Tel: 01-834
1717. Fax: 01-630 6165

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/3

NEWS DESK

Music Machine goes multi-track

By Tony Sachs

GOOD news for owners of the
Amstrad CPC version of RAM's
Music Machine package: you will
soon be able to buy a Software
package that turns the CPC into a
multi-track MIDU recorder using
the Music Machine hardware as a
MIDI interface,

When the $49.95 Music Machine
made its debut last year it was
widely praised for offering ex-
tremely good value for money. It
includes a sound sampler, drum
machine, effects box and MIDI
interface in a single package.

But the software originally sup-
plied with the package demon:
strated only a fraction of the
hardware potential. In particu-

lar, its use of MIDI was extremely
rudimentary

Ram has now teamed up with
DHOP Electronies, a specialist in
MIDI software for Amstrad ma-
chines, to produce an eight-track
MIDI sequencer program based on
the Musie Machine hardware. The
33495 package will act like a
multi-track tape recorder, storing
MIDI data from synthesizers, drum
machines and other MIDI-
equipped electronic instruments
This data can later be played back
by up to eight instruments or
groups of instruments,

In addition, DHCP has produced
editing packages for the Casio
CZI00 and CZ230 synthesizers
which will also run on the Music
Machine. For CPC owners who do

not have a Music Machine, DHCP
will supply a more comprehensive
MIDI interface costing $60,

‘There are no immediate plans to
produce a sequencer for the Spec-
trum version of Music Machine.

DHCP is also developing MIDI
products for the Amstrad PC and
PCW machines.

Items for the PC (and similar
IBM compatibles). include а
$134.95 MIDI interface with two
independent MIDI Out ports, allow-
ing up to 32 different groups of
instruments to be controlled simul-
taneously, and a 899 Music Compo-
sition Language package which
will drive the interface. Also in the
PC pipeline are a $70 editor for
Yamaha's ЕВО! synthesizer mod.
ule, and a rhythm programmer

package,

For the PCW series, DHCP has
produced а $79.95 MIDI interface
and a matching 12-track sequencer
program costing $60 (for $45 if you
hurry) A range of editors and
toolkits for synthesizers including
Casio's С2101 and С2280, Yama-
ha’s FBOL and Korg’s DW6000 is
planned.

Addresses
Ram Electronics, Unit 16, Red-
fields Industrial Park, Redfield
Lane, Church Crookham, Hants
GUIS ORE. (0252) 850085,

DHCP Electronics, 32 Boyton
Close, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9
002. (0440) 61207.

Quantum
Leap

SINCLAIR QL users can now ех
periment with Artificial Intelli-
fence аз Compware has just
launched its Expert System Shell.

Designed for both the experi
enced and the amateur user, the
produét enables you to produce

useful rule based systems at a low
cost

The Expert System Shell has a
wide range of features, including
tokenised rules to save memory,
intelligent scanning and pre-
scanning of rule base and on-line
sensitive help. It comes complete
with a comprehensive manual
which provides examples and a
tutorial section.

The Expert System Shell cost
349,95, including postage and VAT,
and is available from Compwat
57 Repton Drive, Haslington,
Crewe CW! ISA.

Professional release

THE Mini Office Professional is
the latest product to be released by
Database Software.

Costing just $20.95, the pro
gramme goes further than its pre-
decessors, Mini Office and Mini
Office II. The five integrated то:
dules ~ word processor, Database,
graphics, spreadsheet and commu:
nications have now been enhanced
by a host of new features,

The modules are easily accessed

Stalking the mazes

DEMON Stalker is a new one or
two-player arcade game being re-
leased this month by Electronic
Arts. Produced for the Commodore
64, the game offers 99 levels of
mazes on which you will encounter
various things from keys to mon:
sters to magic

Whilst some of the items will be
good, many such as Calurak the
Demon, will be evil and you must
destroy their sources if you are to
increase your health and strength
points and win the game.

Since Demon Stalker contains a
complete menu-driven construc
tion set which enables you to
practise play any level, m
existing levels or even create your
own game from scratch.

The Commodore cassette costs
30.95 and the disc, released next
month, is $14.

amd the system assists the user
with built-in messages and con
tent keystroke commands. Since
the modules are interconnected
you cam use them together, for
stance, to create graphs from
spreadsheet figures

The word processor has been
improved upon so that you can now
scroll from top to bottom of your
text in less than a second. You will
also find a word count permanent-
ly displayed on screen.

The new graphics module is a
feature that will enable you to
display three bar charts or overlay D
up to three line graphs, and hold а)
many as ten sets of data in
memory
Tn addition, the free-format da-
ase will give you 256 fields with
characters per field, search
facilities, and various type styles
Similarly, the spreadsheet has up
to 255 rows or columns with 12,000
cell available,

‘The communications feature, on
the other hand, embodies full ter-
minal emulation with a viewdata

option for accessing Prestel
graphics
Mini Office Professional comes

оп two discs containing machine
code programs and example files
It is accompanied by a 70-page text
and graphics manual, complete
with tutorials.

For further information contact
Database Software, Europa House,
68 Chester Road, Hazel Grove,
Stockport 8КТ БМУ.

A/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

ACCORDING to a report in the
Sunday Times, computers may be
the solution to the exam failures of
dyslexic children,

Richard Challi year-old
public schoolboy from Wiltshire, is
currently appealing to his exam
authorities to let him use his
Amstrad PC 1512 when he takes
his GCSE exams next year.

Having dystexia means that Ri-
Rhard has great reading and spell-

ing difficulties and is therefore at
a disadvantage to his class-mates.
According to Sandra Maloney, PR
person for the Dyslexia Associa
tion, "Exams are the worst time
for dyslexic children because of
the pressure and the need to write
quickly. Often they know all the
answers but just. can’t put it on

PC help for
dyslexics

paper properly." With a word pro-
cessor, however, Richard makes
fewer spelling errors and can write
faster.

From this, one would assume
that the authorities couldn't poss
bly refuse Richard. But they will
be contemplating the matter for
some time, saying that they have
to study the effect of a computer
оп other children taking exams,
whether a technician has to be
present and whether the print-out
time is incorporated into the exam
time.

If Richard does win his ease, he
will set a precedent for 320,000
other school children who suffer
from severe dyslexia. Рог them the
fear of exams is well and truly
Justified.

ELITE publisher Superior Soft-
ware was taking legal advice last
(Greek over the appearance of a ВВС

game Star Clash, published by
Gremlin.

Superior Software claims that
the game is a clone of its best
selling game, and as a gesture
Gremlin boss lan Stewart has
agreed to withdraw Star Clash
from sale while both companies
continue their investigations.

Several of the original features
first used in Elite also occur in
Gremlin Graphics’ game," said Su-
perior managing director Richard
Hanson last week

“There is even a slight bug in
the Star Clash program which is
identical to a bug that is evident in
Flite, Indeed many of the machine
code routines appear to have been
copied verbatim from Elie."

Star Clash programmer Julian
Bushell offered an early version of
the game to Superior some months
‘ago, but it was refused.

“We took one look at the game
and refused to publish it because it

Elite legal row
over Star Clash

Elite = the original

was so similar to Elite,"
Hanson. "

said
must say that my anger
is mainly directed towards the
programmer, because I have con-
tacted Gremlin Graphics and 1

firmly believe they have been
duped by Julian Bushell.”

an Stewart confirmed that the
company has written to Bushell
about the affair, but was unwilling
to comment further pending his
reply.

“it’s no great hassle as far as
I'm concerned - but 1 don't con-
done programmers re-using other
people's code."

SOFTWARE
HOTLINES

People said they could not do it,
they said it was impossible, Büt,
take one look at the picture and
prepare to be astonished. Yes, it's
Outrun on the Commodore 64.

Judging by the preprodu.
version, as far as one can judge in
these circumstances, it's going to
be pretty fabby. Outrun is very
fast, and the way the ground
undulates, just like in Enduro
Racer, is very well done.

Release date is provisionally
scheduled for mid-November, but
even if there are delays US Gold
should have it out for Christmas,
The ST version is also under devel
opment, but is пос due until the
turn of the year.

‘The Microdeal machine motors
oh. Tanglewood on the ST is
nearing completion, mid-November
again. It features 3000 locations,
which you can visit, out of a total
of 12000, 1 wonder what the other
9000 are for?

The press release for the game
claims that “You've never played
an adventure like Tanglewood."
Since there is no text input and it's
all graphics I imagine not.

Also from Microdeal, but this
time for the Amiga, /nsanily
Fight, programmed by a Swiss
team would you believe, is another.
vertically scrolling shoot ‘em up.
This one looks quite good, and you
cannot say that about many games
of this type on the ‘ultimate’ home
computer. Price will be $24.95 and
release is... Guess?

Those nice lads from Outlaw
Productions, the Palace Software
offshoot, showed us something
very interesting on the Commodore
64 last week. The Shoot 'Em-Up
Construction Kit allows you to
design professional looking hori-
zontal scrollers, single screeners,
or Commando-style games. For

such a complicated package it
looks remarkably simple to use,
and the results, if you use some
imagination, are well up to budget
software standard. Price is $14.95
оп tape and $19.95 on disc. It hits
the streets next week, and me
thinks they are going to sell quite а
few

US Gold is, as always, planning
а bumper crop of games for your
delectation this Xmas, and of
these, Captain America is a fav-
ourite to storm his way into unsus:
pecting stockings as few will be
able to resist a game that takes
place in ‘the doom tube of Dr
Meglomann

All the games for US Gold and
GO! will be similarly priced. $8.09.
on cassette for Commodore and
Amstrad, S898 for Spectrum,
31199 on disc for Amstrad and
$11.99 or $14.99 on Commodore
dise.

Well, last week was Guy Fawkes
Night, and 1 have heard that a
game to commemorate the event is
planned for next year. However,
you cannot get by without having a
big licence or name involved, so I
сап see it now = David Owen's
Gunpowder Plot.

Pirate Software is putting
three of its most tasteful games on
3” dise for all those Spectrum +3
owners out there with nothing to
run on their machines. The titles
are Call Me Psycho, Holiday in
Sumaría and Smash 0ш.

Dunean Evans

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/5

“NEWS DESK

DIARY
DATES

NOVEMBER

13-15 November

Electron and BBC Micro
User Show

New Horticultural Hall, London
БИ

Details: Latest hardware and
software across the Acorn range
Organiser: Database Exhibitions,
001-456 8388

21 November

Wales and West Computer
Show

Central Hotel, Cardiff

Details: Regional computer show.
оГ particular interest to Dragon
users

‘Tickets $1 adults, 50р children
Organiser: R & А J Preston,
(0056) 880065

DECEMBER

5 December

6809 Colour Show

Grand Hall, Connaught Rooms, Gt
Queen Street, London

Details: Show for Dragon and
‘Tandy owners

Tickets $2 adults, $1 children
Organiser: John Penn, (04203)
5970

12 December

Christmas ZX Microfair
New Horticultural Hall, London.
SWI

Details: Latest innovations for
Sinclair users

Advanced tickets: $1.50 adults, $1
children

‘Tickets on the door: 82 adults,
£1.50 children

Organiser: Mike Johnson,
01-801 8172

alterations — to
arrangements.

Electric’ goodies

FOLLOWING last week's review of
Ocean's Christmas software, this
week we look at Electronic Arts
and US Gold.

Electronic Arts announced it
would be releasing eight new
games for Christmas - Skate or
Die, Ferrari Formula One, Test
Drive, the fantasy Bard's Tale II,
Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight
Trainer, PHM Pegasus - a hydro-
foil combat simulation, Apollo 18
and Mini Put. In addition its
original Bard's Tale will be avail
able for all popular home comput-
ers and Marble Madness will be
ош for the Atari ST and IBM РС.

You will also be able to purchase
Wiz Wars, a compilation of Archon
and Archon П: Adept. Of these the
skateboarding simulation, Skate or
Die, is Electronic Arts’ pride and
Joy. With professional contests,
special events and computer oppo.
nents, the game offers a multitude
of moves and is graphically rich,
Available on the Commodore 64, it
will cost $14.95 on disc and $9.95
on cassette,

Also of interest are Ferrari

Christmas treats from Electronic Arts

Formula One and Test Drive. The
first has you racing a Ferrari
F1/36 on 16 top-class racetracks,
whilst Test Drive enables you to
speed in several top sports cars
including the Lamborghini

Countach.

Both games are available on the
Amiga, priced $24.95. Test Drive
will also be out on the ІВМ at
$24.95 and the Commodore, $9.95
оп cassette and $14.95 on disc,

Going for gold

EXCITING things are also going on
at US Gold for Christmas.

Five new games are scheduled
for release, including a conversion
of the coin-op hit Outrun. A chal-
lenging motor sports simulation,
Ошғип comes with the original
soundtrack which you сал slot into
your hi-fi.

The other games are Rygar,
another coin-op conversion, set in
prehistoric times, the skateboard:
ing simulation - 720 degrees, and
Gauntlet П, The latest game is a
sequel to Gauntlet but also has
many new features such as the evil
Dragon and ‘IT’ creature, over 100
different levels and extra amulets
- Temporary Repulsiveness, Trans-
portability and Supershots.

Tn addition to these games there
is also the Solid Gold compilation,
consisting of five top games -
Gauntlet, Ace of Aces, Leader-
board, Winter Games and Infit-
trator. Solid Gold is priced at
9.99 on cassette for C64, Spec-
trum and Amstrad, $12.99 on disc.
for the Spectrum +3 and $14.99 for
the others.

THE PHENOMEN

IN CONTINGES....:

Gauntlet (Кот US Gold

Gold's new GO! label, which
licences predominantly British
products, is also set to release five
games - Bravestar - Mattel’s New
Texan hero, Ramparts ~ a medi-

eval jaunt, Side Arms - Cameom’s
shoot ‘em up, Wiz Warz - the
magical strategy/action game and
Captain America. GO's first
adventure,

6/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987.

Amiga 500 is here.

With a mind-blowing array of
features and capabilities,

And a £499.99: price ticket
(inc. VAT), hundreds of pounds less
than anyone could have predicted.
а miracle of compression.
writes Popular Computing Week
itall adds up to a formidable
stem which is clearly better than
anything else at the price”

This elegant little machine
family computing into new
dimensions of creativity, excitement
and producti

It outruns and outguns office
а business multi-tasker,
performing a deskful of different
jobs simultaneously, at over 7 million
Steps per second in realtime.

So other home computers may
not be the only machines it consigns
to the toy cupboard.
AMAZING SCIENCE FACT.

Amiga is used by Disney,
Universal and other Hollywood
studios for its dazzling 3D graphics

manipulation and animation powers.

A sophisticated high-speed
graphics processor called a blitter

chip transforms images in realtime.

You can paint the screen with
more than 4,000 colours. Create and
modify designs and effects as you
like, with pin-sharp resolution.

You command an almost
limitless workshopful of stunning
professional graphics capabilities.

With an optional Genlock
interface, you can capture images
off videotape. Manipulate and mix

NEW AN
NOW OTHER HOME COW

them with graphics. Then re-transfer
them to videotape!

‘This means you can produce
spectacular special effects like those
created by Amiga computers for
Channel 45 Chart Show and the
American TV science fiction series
Amazing Stories,

Includes DeluxePaint from Electronic Arts worth £79 + VAT! (Excludes monitor or TV modulator)

COMMODORE BUSINESS MACHINES (UK) то, COMMODORE HOUSE. THE SWI

te on ү

Len 4

YOU AIN'T HEARD NOTHING YE?
Concealed within the sleek

Amiga shape, there is also

a pro-quality sound synthesiser ап

four-track stereo sound system.
Driven by another powerful

and unique custom chip, it can

synthesise musical instruments an

GARDNER ROAD. MAIDENHEAD, BERKSHIRE SLB 7XA. TELEPHONE: 0828] 770088. TELEX. 848157 CBMUN|

UTERS ARE JUST TOYS.

Your Amiga can also
synthesise the human voice.
Itcan speak back anything
you care to write on the keyboard.
So this is one computer
that can not only word process with
faultless professionalism, and
incorporate superlative graphicsinto
the text, it can also read the text back
to you aloud.
GAMESMANSHIP
AND WORKMANSHIP!
The new Amiga 500, in
fact, dumbfounds its competitors in
every way.
Graphics, stereo sound, multi
windowing, multi screens, 512K to
1Mb RAM (expandable by an
incredible 8 further megabytes
externally**), 3/2” internal disk drive
with 880K of mass memory,
4 unique dedicated chips plus the
16/32-bit power and 714MHz speed
of its central processor, communica-
tions and vast expansion potential
| 3 all add up to a computer of
immense professional capability.
Yet the same technology
allows the Amiga 500 to play games
so mind bending that only full-
scale arcade machines
have been able to play
them until now.

sound effects. | AND AMIGA MEANS

T An optional digitiser allows ‘FRIEND’!
you to take onboard real sounds. However many of the

| Mix and modify the two. Translate Amiga's extraordinary talents you

| your compositions from keyboard find yourself using, they will all be
to sheet music. Play them back beautifully simple and natural.

| through the monitor's speaker or You will be totally at home
your hi-fi. in the friendly and effortless Amiga

“Popular Computing Weekly, 22-28 May 1987. "Personal Computer World, February 1987, == Subject to availability.
AMIGA IS A TRADEMARK OF COMMODORE- AMIGA INC © 1987 COMMODORE BUSINESS MACHINES (UK) ТО ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

environment, where everything
happens by windows, icons, mouse
and pulldown menus.

And the Amiga 500 simplifies
life in another way too.

‘There is now no comparable
home computer. At any price.

INCREDIBLY

ONLY 49 9. 99:

—_ INCLUDING Va

Try the astonishing new
Amiga 500 at your nearest
Commodore Amiga dealer.

And discover why Personal
Computer World’, having tested the
graphics performance of Amiga's
latest and most powerful rival,
concluded “..Amiga still reigns
supreme.

Commodore

Subscribe to

Yin ы ДА

А new look for an established magazine

Your Computer is now taking a new approach to satisfying ils readership. More in-depth
reviews, more features, more style, and more to satisfy computer owners who want to do
more than just play games. We are sure that existing subscribers will immediately find the
magazine changes for the good, but if you have yet to subscribe, now's the time!

Special offer

0 % OFF

Anyone subscribing to Your Computer this issue will save 1000“ on the new subscription
price of £15 per annum. This means that for twelve months, you will receive the best
computer magazine avallable, earlier than your friends, and cheaper too!

A subscription to Your Computer makes an ideal present for a friend with an interest in
computers. Just complete the appropriate section below, make your cheque payable to
Focus Magazines Ltd and send to TIL, P.O. Box 64, Tonbridge, Kent TNi2 6BW.

I would like to Lake advantage of the Your Computer special offer. Please begin my subscription with
the next Issue of the magazine. I enclose a cheque/postal order for £13.50.

Name
Address

Postcode

Please send the subscription to the person named below starting with the next Issue.
Name
Address

Postcode

UK Residents Only

0

D)

10/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY 13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

HE launch of the Amstrad
portable two weeks ago was a
hard sell affair.

Chairman Alan Sugar laid spe-
cial emphasis on the ‘Amstrad
Effet of the PCIBI2, whereby
Amstrad produced the ‘right
machine at the right price’ and so
managed to succeed where others
failed,

Sugar maintained that this
would continue with the Amstrad
portable. But since portables cur-
rently occupy only 3 per cent of the
market and even IBM has declined
to produce one, a question. mark
hangs over the success of this new
venture.

All times, all places

gs But Sugar is adamant that there is
Da large market for the portable
since demands now extend beyond
the home and office, with people
requlting access to computers at
all times and all places.

He sees the target consumers as
“people who recognise where they
would could use it and who find
the portability an incentive.”

He added that the PPC was “a
hive off between a Laptop and a
luggable.

‘The crucial aspect is of course,
price. With Toshiba and Compaq
selling their portables from around
$1000 to 82000, Sugar believes that
the customer is simply not pre-
pared to buy such a large amount.

Despite Amstrad's faith in its
product, however, the scepties re-
main, A spokesperson for Boots
stated that it would not be stocking.
the portable "purely for commer-
cial reasons”. In other words they
do not think there will be enough
demand for it.

Will the

imminent

launch of

Amstrad's Portable PC be a re-run
of the huge success of the
PC1512? Nikki Carvey reports.

Whilst Rymans will be stocking
the product, it is more the result of
а ‘give them a chance’ attitude
than a belief in the market.

Machines buyer, Graham Green,
was interested to hear of Boots’
decision since it confirmed his own
doubts,

He commented, “I'm not person-
ally convinced there is а huge
market for them. People will be
buying them as toys and not really
using them." He added that there
һай, as yet, been no advance

orders from any of the Rymans
shops.

The two other main retailers
likely to stock the Amstrad port-
able are W.H. Smiths and Dixons.

Whereas Dixons has been un-
available for comment, W.H.
Smiths was, although its computer
buyer, lan Laurie, was noncommi-
tal. “We have not yet reached a
decision as we still have to evalu-
ate the machine”. But he did say
that 1988 was the year for the
portable to succeed if it was going

NEWS ANALYSIS-

Amstrad Effect 2

to take off,

So when the Amstrad PPC goes
on sale in January 1988, it will
probably meet with mixed
reaction

Some support Sugar's view that
the portable market is a viable
‘one, whilst others believe that this.
time Amstrad won't succeed where
others have failed.

Getting to grips

What seems to be the biggest
problem in sight for Alan Sugar
and the Portable Personal Comput-
er is the continuing difficulty Am-
strad is having getting to grips
with the ‘corporate’ market,

Whilst the PC1512 and PC1640
have both been well received by
the press and public, the large
corporations are still backing PC
specialists such as Compaq and
Zenith, and IBM themselves.

For the portable to succeed, it
too will have to broach the corpo-
rate gap.

The machine may, and T suspect.
will, sell well to computer users
who purchase their own machines
(if only on its price to performance
basis) but will companies to whom
price is not the biggest considera-
tion take the PPC seriously?

Ironic as it may seem, the gen-
eral conclusion is that Amstrad is
under-pricing itself out of
contention.

When asked to comment on
expected sales figures, Sugar him-
self conceded that it was “dodgy
territory" but said that Amstrad
was looking for figures in the
hundreds of thousands. Will this
be achieved. Will the ‘Amstrad
Effect’ continue? Next year will
reveal ай. ü

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/11

— S тен

"LETTERS

An open letter to
Micronet

was interested to read your
reaction in Vol 6 No 41 of
Popular Computing Weekly to my
article on the French Teletel sys-
tem. I don't blame you for plugging
Micronet on the back of my article.
But honestly Mieronet and Minitel
are not really that comparable!

Minitel is à silicon substitute for
the national telephone directory ~
а free alternative for registered
telephone subscribers. So you in-
clude a modem for the price of a
306 subscription for access to a
system in which many services are
free (as with Minitel). Fine. But
for many of us that means forking
ош more cash for an RS232 to join
Modem and Micro, unless yours
takes this into account.

Does Micronet include free on-
line access to the Telecom national
phone directory? Or hardware on
which games can ~ at a price - be
played?

Tmay not have to pay to access a
free service, but I'll have to pay to
use telephone lines, This isn't so
straightforward for someone living
outside the urban areas,

‘The PSS network in France goes
someyhat further than the British
system to equalise the costs of
access nationally. The cheaper you
make entry level, the easier it is
for more people to get into the
habit of using the system. This
reduces costs, and people become
more willing to pay the extra for
leisure and less essential online
services.

100 or so, plus the costs of local
phone calls to start becoming fa-
miliar with the whole concept of
online information, is to many
home computer users a luxury that.
they cannot afford. H's yet another
price threshold people are reluc-
tant to cross unless the usefulness
of doing so can be justified, Look at
the way more people will fork out a
couple of quid for a budget game
today, than pay a tenner for just
one - however good.

In the end budget game prices
may lead people to spend more
money on games, but they'll do so
convinced they're getting better
value for money.

Т work from home for a third
world church charity, which is cost.
conscious, So Гуе paid for the
computer tools most colleagues
prefer to do without, It’s unlikely 1
could improve my business effi-
ciency dramatically with online
services. Am I losing out by not
subserit ?

Та like to discover how Micronet
could be useful in my modest
office, but simply cannot afford

Wow! This “Jack The Ripper” game
certainly is realistic!

the cash outlay for equipment,
membership and call charges.

My financial controller's ques-
tion about the value of a service is:
"What does it cost not to have
what you feel is essential?" So I do
without, yet curiosity and intuition
tell me I should be exploring - not
only to get quick access to travel
info, telephone numbers etc; but to
see if 105 possible to update my
information on third world issues
which matter to people I work
with.

ЇЇ do you а deal. Lend me a
modem and RS232 for my CPC6128
for a year, and free access. ГЇ pay
the phone bills, and ГИ pay the
year's subscription retrospectively
if Т get what | want out of the
system. Moreover, I'll keep a diary
of my exploits which you'll be
welcome to publish in whatever
magazine you persuade to take it,
Who knows - perhaps Popular
Computing Weekly might be
interested?

Keith Kimber
Chepstow, Gwent

This is a genuine letter, honest -
Ed.

ST adventures -
results

ark Sarul of Barwell, Leics,

asked on the October 30 let-
ters page if there were any adven-
ture writing utilities available for
the Atari ST, The reply given was
that there were only the GAC and
another by Gilsoft name unknown
(which is obviously the Quill), but
neither is out for the ST.

You asked if anyone knows
different. | haven't got an ST yet
but according to various public
domain software lists this is
what's available with each lib-
rary's disc numbers:

Page 6, PO Box 54, Stafford ST16
IDR, has ST50 The Eamon Adven-
ture System, ported from the Apple
(it doesn't mention whether it's
the Apple 1 or the Macintosh) and
now fully implemented on the ST.
The disc contains several adven-
tures and full documentation.
There's also 5159 Adventure Writ-
er, including a Gem.IMG graphics
screen.

Floppyshop ST, 50 Stewart Cres-
cent, Northfield, Aberdeen АВ?
SSR has САМ.04 Adventure
Writer.

STAR UK, Elmdale House, 8 Elm
Place, Aberdeen AB2 3SU has 226
Adventure Writer,

MCSOFT, 9 Abingdon Gardens,
Bath, Avon BA2 2UY has GAM
05H - an adventure building sys-
tem complete with a sample adven-
ture, and GAM ОБН Eamon Ad-

Obviously 1 can't say which
discs apart from the Eamon Ad-
venture System are duplicated on
this list until I get an ST, but 1 hope
this has been of some help, As for
using an ST with an Amstrad CTM
monitor, as supplied with their
CPCs, I thought 1 should mention
that a ready made lead for this
purpose is available from Micro-
snips, 37 Seaview Road, Wallasey,
Merseyside 145 49%, telephone
(051) 830 3013, Credit card hotline
оп (051) 691 2008, for $9.95 plus $1
p&p.

Paul Brown
Sidcup, Kent

Faith in a
cruel world

irst, thanks and praise to your

advertiser, Schoen Keyboards, 1
bought а board for my QL but
made a terminal cods of fitting the
terminal tails, Chris Smith charita-
bly suggested a now-corrected de-
sign frailty as well as my banana
fingers deserved blame, and fitted
ап immediate free replacement. 1
have now a splendid keyboard and
the warmth of а good deed shining
іп а naughty world.

Second, 1 put your publication to
ordeal by dilemma. Mrs Seager (5
Oct) will forsake you if you don't
refurbish the public face of Kenn
Garroch. 1 will consign you to
Robert Maxwell if you do, And
what's my reason? Week on week
and month upon month through
your pages and over your columns
‘strides the wild sage of Och na
Garr calling Forth in the tongues
of Lisp and C and Modula 2, man-
handling monitors, out-facing in-
terfaces, and unthreading all the
labyrinths that could interlink an
Archimedes, a Cray 1 and an

orphan Orie via the French Midi
with а comb and paper. As a Basic
Basher whose highest flight is a
pert peek or a pragmatic poke, 1
am rebuked, cast down. Then I
glance at that tortured picture
the hunted, staring eyes, the pai
stitched lips, the endless deformity
of that left shoulder thrice the size
of ts other, the giant hand clawed
їп a timeless spasm - and I can say
“Genius maybe, but my God how
he's paid for it!" Here is a terrible
levelling, Reconciliation, word over
all, beautiful as the sky, is spoken:
and | am free to return humbly to
ту next loop for ay, och ay. Would
you and Mrs Seager conspire to rob
me of this?

Lastly, а little knock to help
David Talbot (5 Oct) persuade the
trade to turn on its hearing aid, I
have just bought from the local
Dixons a Spectrum +8, 1 like
printing from RS232 or Centronics
parallel im full printer cont
without having to buy a ransom 0
interfaces to do it; a Copy com-
mand for Ad-wide screen dumps;
an integral compact Spectrum sys-
tem. My heart sang a leaping song
as the manual confirmed my brief-
ing that I could transfer my golden
heritage of home-grown programs
Via cassette and the special lead to
the Sound/Tape sock

“Be still, my heart" says quite
another song. So too say Dixon
"The special lead is specially un-
available. The only reason why I
did and any other would buy a +3
rather than another similarly
priced discequipped machine is
onward compatibility of softwar
If Alan Sugar can't stick so essen-
tial a lead in with the main pack,
should not Dixons feel bound in
commercial honour to have th
thing available at sale? Why do
who want only to be a customer
find myself coursing around Croy-
Чоп like a demented Aneka Rice
without her helicopter looking for | |
REN ы Ө

|
|

I have to order the special lead
with a special order form specially
for те. It will take а week while
my genius lies fallow, How long
then at Xmas time? And what is | |
the sage of Och na Garr going todo | |
about it?
George Watson.
Croydon

12/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

AMIGA ‘OFFICIAL COMMODORE DEALERS ATARI ST |
SPECIALS SPECIALS
Barbarian Palace. £11.50
Barbarian Palace £11.50 Defender Of The Crown ..£22,00
Defender Of The Crown .. £22.00 Flight Simulator Il £35.00
Flight Simulator I £35.00 Impact £11.50
Faery Tale Adventure... £37.00
Impact £11.50 M Barbarian (Psygnosis) ..... £22.00 |
Безе тыйа Colonial Conquest £25.00 |
Aegis Sonics £69.00 Guild Of Thieves. £20.00 |
Arozales Tombs. £28.00 AMIGA A500 Hollywood Poker £15.00 I
Barbarian (Psygnosis) £20.00 STRAIGHT £450.00 Leaderboard. £20.00
Deja vu £24.00 ? Mouse Trap £12.00 |
Digipaint. £52.00 А500 + Deluxe Paint Pawn. £20.00
Guild Of Thieves £20.00 SPECIAL — £474.00 Pluto's £11.50
Hollywood Poker £15.00 А500 + Modulator + Textcraft Wordprocessor Portal. £28.00 |
Mouse Trap £12.00 ог Goldrunner + Deluxe Paint Silent Service £20.00 |
Pawn. £20.00 ‘Starglider £20.00
Pluto's £11.50 @ MEGA £575.00
Portal £28.00 A500 + modulator + 1МВ upgrade Textcraft Word TEN |
Silent Service £20.00 Processor or Goldrunner + int
Sie £20.00 SS ШЫП |
Uni tad £24.00 е JUMBO £747.00 mem ch |
А500 + Monitor + Texteraft Word Processor. Commodore ИТ
ог Goldrunner + Deluxe Paint Monitor. £299.00
TEN Cumana 1МЬ Disc Drive. £139.95
At 520 STEM 27500,
DS/DDDISCS | Ф MEGA JUMBO £848.00 fiw 104 ST £459.00
£14.50 | А500 + Monitor + 1Mb Upgrade + Textcraft Word At 1040 SY «$4 S
Processor Moro Montor 8900
ог Goldrunner + Deluxe Paint
= Ф All prices inc VAT Ө Please make cheques payable ta: Systems Architects Lid. Ф Telephone orders on 01-549 3028. Ф Please add 50р Ф Callers welcome at the shop. ES
“Stas vial берис within 10 dye Айн up t 28 бял dee |
| SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS
Systems Architects (PCW), Syndicate Store, 6-9 Market Place, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey KT1 4BR.
| Р Tel: 01-549 3028 (24-hr ansaphone)
^4 mi п П] |
| Don't miss the BIG Atari event of 1987! The record-breaking Азан User
mec eee ra С с
| Show is back at the Novotel,
|

>

Snap up the never-to-be-
repeated bargains

Expand your system with
powerful new add-ons

Hammersmith — with three action-
packed days devoted to the ever-
expanding Atari market.
eee IR. Try out the very latest UK
and US 8-bit software.
See the full ST range,
CHRISTMAS X ee ales ear
*
*
x

г Get helpful advice from |
Champagne Suite Sunday Atari User's own experts |
| Novotel, 22 ЗЖ Experience the fascinating
| Hammersmith, November са communications
London W6 Mamapm. and much, much mo
| ‘Exhibitors include: ни ин ин ип EE ип иш пш eee "m H
| as В 2 this coupon to the Show to get 50р Ef
per person off the normal admission price
Aor nra ST Uter of £3 (adults), £2 (children). [|
EOM. ; Е т |
ше E П 10am-6pm Friday, November 20 Щ
| pu Concepts = E i 10am-6pm Saturday, November 21g
| on MC Земен В I 10am-4pm Sunday, November 22 E
| E ees E 5
| Dupon Mostra ES i Champagne Suite, Novotel, Г]
Ba ырк Mere Meta Computer Sun p з=» Hammersmith, London W6 A209 Е
iuum Monto Maganne Nearest Tube: Hammersmih Ample car parking nearby
mummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmud —

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/13

Jk 33 Ormskirk Road, Jk
Preston, Lancs.

The leading North West ADBROKE 77577221474

ATARI Specialist ATARI Dealer OMPUTING маі Order: 203166 ATARI

INTERNATIONAL Bul/Board 27236 брт to 9am

This Company has given years of full support to ATARI users Countrywide from their retail shop
premises at Ormskirk Road, Preston. Now from their NEW Mail Order Depot they can offer the same
Excellent service to all Mail Order Customers.

All Software and Hardware is fully tested prior to selling. This ensures Customers receive working items
so that returned goods, and all the attendant frustration are a thing of the past. All Hardware is
supported by our own ‘ON SITE" engineers, therefore quick turn round on all repairs is Guaranteed.
All prices quoted are fully VAT inc. and there are no ‘hidden extras’, what you see is what you get.

Prices include delivery. Items despatched same day. Ring for latest price changes.

зи D/S |5% D/S
D/D |D/D 46ТРІ

Per Disk s £199 £0.80
10 Disks 16.00 |......£6.50

10 Disks+Piastic
lib case ...£17.50 £7.50 | 6205ТЕМ+Моше
100 Disks *Cases £150.00 | .....£60.00 Бону. „..—....5285.00
500 Disks +Cases £650.00 |..£280.00 | вәовтЕм+Меше
SSoftwr
All Disks are covered by an +1Meg Upgrade.........£350.00
unconditional lifetime guarantee. 520STFM Megs Pack
520STFM+Mouse
са Softw
*1Meg Upgrade
Ca *1Meg 2nd Опме......6485.00
Equal to 1040STF * Мед Drive
Же sae, stock a full range of ау +Modulator
P/D ST Ў sk
AC ome pec UE For Med Res Col Mon add.......£299.00
10405TF «Mouse DUAL | Fer High Res Mono Mon add... £129.00.
PSONE жыз. £480.00 PETS E MM
10405ТЕ+Моше All Hardware is covered fof 12 months
+HicRes Mon by our service dept, and is tested
*Softwr.. nnne E 580,00 prior to delivery to assure satisfaction.
Додо повара Our ATARI trained engineers will uc a че
n repair all Hardware in minimum time
ome m. nem | iste mar a rs | — Mm gm)
uotation. All repai
1Meg Upgrades are available for the QUSE Ad. Ан аршу AS UNT

We have 2 complete range of Software

520STM. These are our own design Mitac жб ЙҮ,

and are very simple to fit. NEWLY IMPORTED

Using the same-board, all ST's can be | Imager. Easily fixed to your printer it We also stock a full range of ATARI

Upgraded to 2mg or 4mg. So no need will digitise anything placed in the BBit Hardware and Software including

us DER 520 just Upgrade to a printer and save to Disk to be used the new XE range. Please ring for prices
еи лр CMT with Degas, Elite etc. RRP £99.99. ————

1Meg Upgrade (STFM)............£70,00 PERIPHERALS

1Meg Upgrade (All ST's). .....Е135.00 All Printers, Disk Drives etc supplied x

2,5Мед Upgrade *Board........PHONE | with cables etc. NO HIDDEN EXTRAS | Triangle 1mg D/Drive £139.00

4Мед Upgrade *Board..... PHONE | ——————————————— | Triangle 2x1ma D/Drive. -£229.00
If any of the above Upgrades are Mega ST's .. ..PHONE | Pro Draw Graphics Tab'......... £310.00.
purchased with Hardware then deduct Lazer Printers PHONE | Cumana 1Meg D/Drive £139.00
£5 from total, PC Clones .PHONE | Ай Drives come complete with Software

PRINTERS DUST COVERS HARD DRIVES
Dot Matrix Computers. No £399 | Atari 20mg... -£550,00
Star NL10..... Monitors. .£4.99 | Triangle 20mg Hard Disk..........£669.00
NL10 Sheetfeede Disk Drives -£2.99 £550.00
Printers. £7.99

МР165.
MP135..
LXB6 Tractor Feed,
LX86 Sheetfeeder.

LQ800 24pin D/M..
All Others....

PHONE | IF IT'S AVAILABLE we have it!
19.00 | Send SAE for full catalogue.

Any Software problems? Queries?
M — — —— | give us a ring we usually have the
All Dedicated books and mags in stock | answer

TO ORDER Simply send, or phone your order, stating Full Name, Address, FOR MORE INFO CALL ON THE
Visa or Access Nos, Cheque or Money order. Make payable to Ladbroke ABOVE NUMBERS OR SEND SAE
Computing International, 33, Ormskirk Road, Preston, Lancs. PR1 2QP. AND STATE FULL REQUIREMENTS

14/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY 13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

псе upon a time there was a
game called Dandy. In most
respects it was a pretty bor

ing game, with one major attrac-

tion; four people could pla the

game simultaneously. Although a

{#0 ordinary game, Dandy’s one

claim to fame is that it was
responsible for a bod at Atari
Games creating Gauntlet

Once upon another time, there

was an arcade game called баин.
let. It was tremendously successful
d, as tends to happen, lots of
software houses wanted to release

it. Only US Gold, however, had the
rights to publish Gauntlet.

Once upon another time (last
time, honest) Firebird released a
game called Druid, to be followed
shortly afterwards by Dandy from
Electric Dreams, These games had
опе thing in common, they were
both closely modelled on Gauntiet

‘The reason for this laborious
introduction is that yet another
Gauntlet clone has been launched,
only with two major differences.
Firstly it is for the Amiga, and
secondly it is as good, if not better,
than the arcade original,

Garrison is set to be released
any day this week, priced at $23
and sold, in the UK at least by an

Amiga specialist called Simply
Megaware, They were not, how
ever, responsible for the program-
ming of the game. The team behind
Garrison are collectively known
as Digital Dreams, a German com-
pany of whom I for one have never
previously heard.

Perhaps the most immediately
impressive thing about Garrison is
the music. Strictly for head.
bangers, it consists of a bastardisa-
tion of Dire Straits Money For
Nothing reproduced immaculately
оп the Amiga. Although not the

same atmospheric music as the
original, this is a pretty good
alternative.

In play the game allows two
people to play simultaneously (this
is limited by the two joystick
ports), with each player choosing
any one of the five available
characters (Dwarf, Valkyrie, Wiz-
ard, Warrior and Elf). Each of the
five characters has different
strengths, which manifest them-
selves in good and bad points.

Graphically, Garrison is a
curate clone of Gauntlet, with a
number of notable changes. All the
dungeon floors are complicatedly
designed, and the baddies (ghosts,
devils, ete) all well defined. One

criticism 1 would level at the game
is that, unless you have a 1024K
Amiga (and how many of those are
there?) your men ай look the
same, thus making life somewhat
confusing

Throughout the game, sound
effects are used well, with some
xeruciatimgly painful sounding
noises as you despatch of various
baddies. People unused to the ins
and outs of Gauntlet will find the
game confusing at first, but after a
few nights play, you will be
hooked.

Garrison is quite simply the

САМЕ OF THE WEEK-

Garrison Throws Down
the Gauntlet

teeta Add

best arcade game yet to be re
leased on the Amiga. It combines
excellent gameplay with graphics
and sound that matches the origi-
nal arcade machine - what more
could you possibly want?

If you own an Amiga and you
don't crack open the piggy bank for
Garrison then you're а fo

Daniel MeGrath

Program Garrison Type Ar-
cade Price 528 Supplier Simply
Megaware, 49 Links Drive, Soli-
hull, West Midlands,

Warrior
Бер ра

Elf
d

Valkyrie
эзим позавро вее

Dwarf

пи: ча

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/15

|
|

“ТТТ 27 COOMBE ROAD, SOUTHMINSTER, ESSEX. CMO ТАН
«== “TEL! 0621 772589 for 24-HOUR CREDIT CARD SALES

SOFTWARE PROJECTS Snocttrooper £2.99 BLABY
deSeWayMancMoer TWIN Space Wax €299
PACK — ONLY E195. Pone 302.99
DESIGN DESIGN Tanglewood £2.99
Dark StarfRommels Revenge — Пе Dax Pe t299
TWIN PACK — ONLY £795 Speed Racer £2.99
Tubeway Army — £2.99 Tepon 2.28
А & F SOFTWARE Желин
к-нан и
seaming Alps 2 99 eal
peris Sione Rader 1 6299

“Time Banat £2.99
Magness and Minotaur ы
artery Wizards Quest £2.99

E EE
cuca Oneng
ERMER „лил
une ГЫ
ee
netum e Ping 2.99
СЫН

Gu |
{ае есета
Ене алани.
‘Bug Driver £199. Fire Force £9.95. COMPUTING
Се К ca
MICROVISION ‘Shaolin Master £8.45. cm
[lo NET
[I 28
a Ahn
NC SEE с

a Nerd
NST Exec Disk. INCENTIVE
see pu
ТЕ mno сс

оран,

Aroan "Мен £2.99
Жаштай! E299 Ке og £4.00 tes

Mason Macr C1 99
SMITHSON

PERIPHIALS

CONSUMER,
ELECTRONICS.
Siria Contr узек
£1795 (Pair
asset Load €395

То order the above please send Cheque/Postal Order made payable to
COWPUTAPE io ihe above adürens For Catalogue oniy, please send SAE,

PRICES INCLUDE FIRST-CLASS POSTAGE and
Welcomed. COMPUTARE: THE ONLY SOFTWARE COMPANY TO MAKE
NOUR DRAGON CHIPS FRY NOT CAY!

JOHN PENN DISCOUNT SOFTWARE
FOR THE DRAGON

We carry a huge range ol programs for the Dragon (and Tandy), both games and utilities. Send
for ош full price list or соте along to the next 6809 COLOUR COMPUTER SHOW on Saturday 5
December 1987, 10.00-2.30 in the Grand Hall of the Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Steet,
onion. Tickets in advance: Adults £2, Children £1 from us, or
£2.50/£1.50 at the door. (See address below.)

JUST SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS

Games
Total Eclipse (Eclipse-Fenmar) £6.50
Larkspur Waldorf is Trapped (Prestonsoft) Ad. £3.50
Football Manager (Addictive) 2:64:00
Gin Champion (Radio Shack) cartr. £10.00
Bridge Tutor (Radio Shack) сапт... £10.00
Tim Loves Cricket (Peaksoft) £4.00
Manic Miner (Software Projects) £3.50
Back Track (incentive) £3.50
Dominoes (Oasis) £3.00

"and a whole rangs of tities in our Bargain Basement
i at £1.50 each i
Utilities
Art Gallery (Radio Shack) cartr. 1
Color- File (Radio Shack) cartr. 1
Music Maker (David Maken) ; E
Hi-Res-Text (Starship). e £i
Mailer Address Book (MST) £
‘ond seven different O88 programs

n^

Educational
Infant Pack (Shards) £1.50
Monster Maths (Shards) £150
Number Puzzler (Dragon Data) £2.00
'O' Level Maths (1) (Ampalsoft) £3.50

REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY, MANY MORE ITEMS IN STOCK |.)

HOW TO ORDER
ie or ples with an Aces order) gag hei the rans you woui a oq md
мо s 5p on one бөл. ad Т8р for two or mor роли ae, Postage 1o E
Frese pe a telephone urbe prse as wal в your пата ond ul deret A soia
ject to malabity, We try to despatch orders within 24 hours, but allow up to 21 days Не il
necessary Cheques /postal orders made payable to
JOHN PENN DISCOUNT SOFTWARE
Dean Farm Cottage, Kingsley, Bordon, Hants GU35 ING кч
Telephone Bordon (04203) 5970
For your Dragon hardware contact Harry Whitehouse on 0636 705230

What's new from
Prestons

We are pleased to offer our new range.
of disk games at Budget Prices
KungFu the Master £4.99
Copta Snatch £4.99

Double offer —
Temple of Doom and The Sword and the Sorcerer £4.99

Triple offer -
Ruba Robba, Perilous Pit, Desperado Dan £4.99
AND THERE ARE MORE TO COME

New on Cassette —
а double feature Star Trek and Reversi £2.99

SPECIAL OFFERS THIS MONTH

Dragon Light Pen £12.95
Joystick Interface £4.95
Speedking Joystick £12.95
574" Disks D/S DID 10for £4.99

ALL PRICES INCLUDE P & P AND VAT.

‘Send now for aur new catalogue

R. & A. J. Preston

KINGS HALL COURT,
ST. BRIDES MAJOR, MID. GLAMORGAN

Telephone: 0656 880965

The Second Wales & West
Computer Show

incorporating DRAGON

in the Central Hotel, Cardiff
100 yards from Bus
and Railway Stations

on Saturday 21st November 1987
10 ат - 4pm

Admission £1 Adults
50p Children

Come and see the

ATARI ST, AMIGA & ARCHIMEDES &
SOFTWARE GALORE

16/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

Да" or Tau Ceti 1, flops
onto the ST. One of the more
eagerly awaited conversions of
the year for the average ST
owner has arrived, and if sighs of
disappointment were heard
around the office, it was only
because so much was expected of
the program,

You play а cadet at the Gal
corp Academy, set up to train
skimmer pilots for colonisation
and reconnaissance work. To
graduate from the Academy you
must score 90% on 20 missions,
grouped in five levels of four.

You have a choice of three
skimmers, or you design your
own with its own capabilities,
weapons systems and power
plants, Once you've got your
wheels the next thing to do is

lorizontally serolling screen,

men running around firing at
you, the action viewed from

ebove, prisoners to rescue from
(Wine clutches of an evil enemy.
What could it possibly be? Cc
mando? No, not quite. This
Konami's Jackal, a home сот.
puter version of their popular
arcade game.

The idea is a simple one. Drive
through enemy territory in a
Jeep, mowing down gooks with a
machine gun, or simply running
them over (hee hee). You must
rescue the prisoners from their
huts and deliver them to safety
at the helipads where a heli-
copter will arrive and whisk them
away to safety.

Having done the decent thing
you can then progress on
towards the enemy headquarters
and try to finish the game by
blowing it off the map.

As well as the soldiers firing at
you, care must be taken when
there are tanks around as these
аге very proficient at relieving
you of the odd life.

check out the mission briefing
before passing out into the bar-
теп wastelands where the action
commences. I don't think barren
is quite the word though, feature-
less is more appropriate.

The front panel of your space-
ship is disappointingly plain.
Rather than fancy instruments,
monitors and dials, the display is
boringly similar to the Spectrum
version. The small viewport
through which the alien planet
Surface can be seen reveals stars,
the sun, and the oncoming enemy
complete with laser fire. AL
though you can speed up and
slow down, there is no indication
of such action on the scenery, no
sensation of going anywhere. A
counter creeps up or down ac-
cordingly on the control panel

On the Spectrum version,
which as one might expect is not
the best implementation, the
scrolling is quite good, and the
use of colour is up to scratch, but
the soldiers, tanks and jeep are
not much better than black blobs.

While running the opposition
over is fun, the general gameplay
is below par. The Amstrad and

but I'm afraid that's not good
enough.

The extra equipment that a
standard skimmer can take on
board is interesting as well as
useful. A scanner gives you a 360
degree radar scan of the sur-
rounding area, which is extreme-
ly useful for locating the guy
that's blowing your tail to pieces.
Оп worlds where the sun sets it
gets pretty dark out there on the
plain, so remember to pack a few
flares to illuminate the scene.
You could always use the infra-
red viewer as well.

It’s not all destruction though,
many of the larger buildings
have docking facilities, and jump
pads to enable you to leap from
location to location and so save
time (and avoid danger). Talking
to your computer while docked
allows а few useful functions to
be carried out, including, ma-
nipulating code pieces found
while on the mission.

What was a cracking game on
the Spectrum has turned into a
mediocre one on the ST, complete
with fairly poor graphics and
sound.

Duncan Evans

Program Acai Micro
Atari ST Price $19.95 Supplier
CRL, CRL House, 9 Kings Yard,
Carpenters Road, London El
2HD.

C64 versions are a good deal
better.
Duncan Evans

GAMES-

Your complete
guide to all the
software released
this week

Amiga

Program Ninja Mission Type Ar-
cade Price 50.95 Supplier Master-
tronic, 8-10 Paul Street, London
ЕС?

Mastertronic moves into the Amiga
market with this conversion
Graphically it is very similar to the
ST version, something of a disap-
pointment when the Amiga is ca-
pable of better, but the sound is
noticeably less tinny, The mi
quite good, in a Europop sort of
жау, and accompanies the limited
martial action proceedings. Good
enough for а wet afternoon, but
worth a tenner?

Program Jackal Micro Spec-
trum Price $7.95 Supplier Kon
ami, Bank Building, Bank
Street, Newton Abbot, Devon
TQI2 2IL.

Amstrad PCW

Program Countdown to Doom
‘Type Adventure Price £9.95 (disc)
Supplier Topologika, PO Box 30,
Stilton, Peterborough РЕТ SBR.

Program Philosophers Quest
Туре Adventure Price $9.95 (
Supplier Topologika, PO Box 39,
Stilton, Peterborough РЕТ SBR,

Program Kingdom of Hamil Type
Adventure Price $9.95 (disc) Sup-
plier Topologika, PO Box 39, Stil-
ton, Peterborough РЕТ SBR.

continued on page 18 D>

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/17

GAMES

Software guide
continued

Program Acheton Type Adven-
ture Price $9.95 (disc) Supplier
Topologika, PO Box 38, Stilton,
Peterborough РЕТ 3BR.

Amstrad CPC

Program Peter Shiliow's Hand-
ball Maradona Type Arcade Price
$2.95 Supplier Bug-Byte, Victory
House, Leicester Place, London
WO2H ТАВ,

Oh по, The naffest licence ever
reaches the Amstrad. Owners of
said machine steer well clear.

Program Aliens Type Arcade
Price $9.95 Supplier Electrie
Dreams, Terminus House, Termi:
mus Terrace, Southampton 801
IFE.

Some attractive graphics and at
mospheric games make this US

version of Aliens a reasonable
alternative,

The first game though, dropping
into the asteroids atmosphere, is
still ridiculously hard, but at least.

you can skip that section.

Even less palatable is the fact
that this is a multi-load job on
cassette,

Program Guild of Thieves Type
Adventure Price £19.95 Supplier
Rainbird, Wellington House, Upper
St Martins Lane, London WC2H
§DL,

‘This 6128 only version features
similar graphics to the ST version,
but not quite as good obviously.
Still, excellent adventure in which
you undertake mass thievery

AIL 6128 owners should rush out
and buy immediately

Program Super Sprint Type Ar
cade Price $9.95 Supplier Electric
Dreams, Terminus House, Termi-
nus Terrace, Southampton 801
ІЕЕ,

The officially licensed version of
the arcade classic. Oh, you've al-
ready bought the Codemasters
budget version. Never mind. The
Official version still looks
antiquated.

Program Jackal Type Arcade
Price $7.95 Supplier Konami,
Bank Building, Bank Street, New-
ton Abbot, Devon 7912 2JL.

continued on page 21 D>

the production line over at
Infogrames HQ has recently

cranked into full gear, and
Phoenix is one of the latest
offerings.

Programmed by Ere Informati-
que, Phoenix resembles a cut
down version of Stargliders;
has wire frame graphics,
your

ut
movements are strictly
limited.

{г о cam be President Re
gan in the latest release from
PSS on their Classic Conflicts
label. No, I don’t mean it shrinks
your brain or gives you wrinkles,
merely that you can control East
or West in a game of ‘Super-
power Politics’,

Although the C64 doesn't have
the capability for displaying high
res, colour graphics with loads of
detail, the actual world map in
the central window of the display
is still effective. A blow up of the
area under the map cursor ap-
pears in the bottom left of the
screen anyway

Every turn, each player has a
number of options points, doing
anything takes up a few points.
Your options including attacking
adjacent countries, building up
the industrial strength, enforc-
ing countries with the forces
from the one next door, exerting
political influence and building
factori

You are the pilot of the
Phoenix AY21, with orders to re-
open some disused space lanes by
flying down them and shooting
anything that gets in the way.
The control panel is fairly
pretty, but doesn't offer a great
deal of information, Your energy
level, level number and a short
range scanner are about it. That.
latter item isn't much use, be

а oneplayer game it is
interesting enough for a couple
of plays, but the lack of sophisti-
cation and strategy (this isn't an
bit Balance of Power) results in
it becoming stale before too long.
As a two-player game, the thing
has more longer lasting appeal.
Quite а nice, easy game for
indulging in the odd bout of

cause everything moves во fast
you don’t have time to look away
from the out-of-the-cockpit view.
Rushing towards you in wire
frame 3D are tracks of panels
which mark the space lane, along
with coloured squares which can
mean bad news, and large ob-
structions, which definitely mean
bad news.

To start with, the space lane is
three blocks wide and wrapped
into a canyon shape, it does level
ош into а plain later on though,
and expand to six lanes. ‘The
greatest problems arise when
sections of the space lane are
simply missing, and you must
change lane in order to avoid
disappearing into a black hole (is
this the A1 or what?). Given that
everything hurtles at great speed
towards you, your reactions need
to be quite quick initially, When
great chunks of the space a)
are missing, and you have й
swap lane at every panel,
thought goes out of the window
and you simply have to react
correctly and in time. It can be
quite exhilarating when you
flash through a particularly hard
sector, but equally annoying
when you blow it, just short of
the end of the level.

Very reminiscent of the Star
Wars game, Phoenix is one for
those with only the fastest of
reactions and sharpest of minds.

Duncan Evans

Program Phoenix Micro Atari
ST Price £19.95 Supplier Info-
grames, Mitre House, Abbey
Road, Enfield, Middlesex,

megalomania. INF treaties? Fahy:
Duncan Evans

Program Power Struggle Mi-
сто Obi Price 54,99 (tape),
30.95 (disc) Supplier PSS, 452
y Stanton Road, Coventry
DG

18/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

Computer Music at it’s best...
MONNIERACE

For ZX SPECTRUM - Compatible with 48/128k/+2

* MIDI DELAY FACILITY + STORES THOUSANDS OF NOTES

+ MIDIINOUT/THROUGH + FULL MIDI COMPATIBLE ASSIGNMENTS

+ CONTROL ANY MIDI COMPATIBLE INSTRUMENT

+ FORWARD AND REVERSE SEQUENCE PLAYBACK

+ REAL OR STEP TIME INPUT FROM INSTRUMENT OR COMPUTER

+ SUITABLE FOR HOME OR PROFESSIONAL USE

+ FULLSYNC FACILITY 8 TRACK MIDI SEQUENCER

* COMPLETE WITH HARDWARE / FULL SOFTWARE

+ TRANSPOSE FACILITY MICRODRIVE COMPATIBLE

+ COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTION MANUAL

*MIDILEADINCLUDED [ётю сенат

+ EXCEPTIONAL VALUE a atarte Sp DIN || o pin DIN Ма Loads
erem" ||ONLY £4.99

For ZX SPECTRUM - Compatible with 48/128k/+2

е SAMPLE ANY SOUND # SYNC FACILITY ө MIXING OF SAMPLES.
е SUITABLE FOR HOME OR PROFESSIONAL USE е SIMPLE TO USE
* REPLAY AT VARIOUS PITCHES FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS

е POWERFUL EDITING FACILITY ө ECHO, REVERB ETC.

е SAMPLE SOUND EFFECTS INCLUDED е COMPLETE SYSTEM

е EACH SAMPLE SOUND STORED AS FILES IN MEMORY

е BANDWIDTH-AN AMAZING 17.5KHz

е OUTPUT THROUGH MOST HI FI'S # MICRODRIVE COMPATIBLE
е GRAPHICS SAMPLE DISPLAY ө PLAYBACK FROM KEYBOARD

S REALTIME Um.
SBEGDRUM

Digital Drum System for the Spectrun
and Amstrad 464.664.6128.
е 8 DIGITALLY RECORDED REAL DRUM SOUNDS.
е SIMPLE TO USE— UP AND RUNNING IN ONLY MINUTES
A TRUE DIGITAL DRUM MACHINE
REAL TIME’ OR ON SCREEN PROGRAMMING
е COMPLETE WITH SOFTWARE
* EXTRA SOUNDS CAN BE LOADED FROM TAPE
е CREATIVE, EDUCATIONAL AND FUN
е THE MOST EXCITING PERIPHERAL EVER DEVELOPED
* DYNAMIC FILING SYSTEM — STORE OVER ROW AVAILABLE
1000 PROGRAMMED RHYTHMS ва
SONGS САМ BE SAVED ON TAPE
TAPE SYNC FACILITY
POLYPHONIC + COMPREHENSIVE MANUAL
JUST PLUGS IN TO MOST HI FI'S
Price ccn VAT postage à pacing Delivery normaly 14 dar
Боол orders s no өкүз cont бовма аазга welcome

Chetan. products availabe irom banches ot ДВР Dixons Порой «ШУ LAWS
[12810 Midi Lead WHSMITH @ High St. Stores and эй good computer shopa

Eri d

Telex: 497455 Fax: (0222) 555527

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987 POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/19

Z

POT THE DIFFERENCE? «

write, telex We can't promise you a Porsche or a Ferrari. We can't guarantee that next years holiday

or fax will be on a Caribbean Island. We leave wild promises to others.
JOHN LEWIS What we can promise is that if you have the talent, we can turn that talent into success.

Every Cascade release is backed by a PR, Marketing and Sales effort second fo none.
Our distribution covers every territory with a home computer market worldwide, But without
original, quality products, no software company survives — for long. And that is where you
come in.

By joining one of our development groups, we offer the opportunity of letting your talent
shine through. You can work on staff, or free-lance — iis up to you.

Our creative staff are equipped with the most up to date IBM software development
systems and we release on 6502, 280, 68000 and 8086 formats.

IF you are interested in working with one of the country’s most successful independent
software companies, or if you have already written a potential number one, then telephone.

You don'thaveto be the biggest to be successful!
4444444 4444 44 4 4

20/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY 13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

GAMES-

low to ruin a potentially good

game, part 1: perfectly rea-
sonable basic idea and add inter-
esting weapons systems. Throw
in fourway movement for the
players, ship and docks for re-
fuelling and rearming. Give the
game three different paths so as
to cater for all levels of players
and mix it all together. Finally,
give your cake-mix to people with
little talent at baking.

‘The result: a limp, irritating
and unprofessional product. Call
it Gunboat and try to pass it off
as a game,

Piranha’s game of life and
death in a maze of internal water-
ways where the object was to
destroy enemy command sta
tions had a lot going for it, on the
drawing board.

The ship sports hydrofolls
which can carry it over sandbars

shallow water, and engines
slow reversing.

‘The weapons systems include a
deck gun with 360 degree field of
fire, torpedoes, mines and a mis.
sile which automatically goes for
the biggest target on the screen.

‘The problems start when you
realise that this is a joystick and
Keyboard affair, and that when
you start firing the deck gun you
lose control of the ship. When
you're in a tight corner this can
be fatal,

The answer is supposedly
don't use the deck gun in those
circumstances, but when you're

surrounded by foes on land, sea
and in the air there's not much
choice.

What really lets Gunboat
down are the flickery sprites, the
dismal background graphics, ap-
palling horizontal scrolling and
mediocre sound effects.

As a game released in early
1984 this wouldn't be too bad,

Software guide
continued

Atari XE/XL

but it isn't 1984, need I say
more?
Duncan Evans

Program Gunboat Мито СМ
Price $895 (tape), S13.
(disc) Supplier Piranha,
ton House, 1 Melbourne
London,

eath or Glory was pretty

dreary on the Commodore 64,
but on the Spectrum it takes on
whole new levels of dreadfuülness.
Lavishly illustrated with screen-
shots (hah!) the packaging in-
forms you that your task is to

fleet (after the souvenirs
should think).

Harrassed by what look like
swarms of angry saltshakers,
you fly your spaceship across the
resolutely non-scrolling starfield,
avoiding missiles until you locate

The bits I particularly like are
the edges, which consist of a thin.
coloured strip and lots of black
space - still, the space explodes
too when you bomb it, so what
the heck?

Complete one mothership, and
you're thrown into another wave
of salt shakers and have to chase
after another lego leviathan.
Since 1 scored 290,000 on my
first go with both hands shut and
my eyes tied behind my back,
EITHER I am the galaxy's great-
est arcade game player OR
“Death or Glory” is hideously
uncomplicated and unsatisfying.

Could I just say that the high-
score table is pretty? Because 1
wouldn’t want to be accused of
ignoring the good points.

John Renwick

Program Death or Glory Ar-
cade Price 3895 Machine
spectrum Supplier CRL, CRL

Program Henry's House Type Ar-
cade Price $1.99 Supplier Master
nic, 8-10 Paul Street, London

ШҮ

Engaging oasis in a software de.
t. Platform and ladders conver
sion with four channel sound and
music

Program Knight Ore Type Adven:

ture Price $14.95 (dise and tape)
Supplier Rainbitd, 74 New Oxford
Street, London WCIA IPS.
Another version of Level 9's latest,
without graphics, even on the disc
version

BBC B

Program Ransack Type Arcade
Price 57.09 Supplier Audiogenic,
Winchester House, Canning Road,
Harrow НАЗ 78),

Program Ziggy Type Arcade Price
$7.95 Supplier Audiogenic, Win.
chester House, Canning Road, Har-
том HAS 784,

Program Life of Repton Type
cade Price $6.95 (tape), $7.95
Supi

Superior Software,

House, 9 King's Yard, Carpen- Regent Hoi Skinner Lane, Leeds
defend the colony of New Strat- the mothership on your scanner. 5 n Е E ЭА
ford, presumably just off the Then Пу over it, bombing off | irs Ros Stratford, London | | 157 1AX
Avon Nebula, from an invading great square chunks. continued on page 23 В».
13-19 MOVEMBER 1987 POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/21

А MUCH BETTER DEAL - WEEK AFTER WEEK

HARDWARE & PERIPHERALS. RRP WAVE

Amstrad CPCABA Computer + Colour Sereen + Recorder 38899 30957 (ANC)
Amstrad POWE256 Computar Мо Proc. + Monitor & Primer 458.85 28505 (А)
Amstrad PONSSTZ Computer/W.P + Mon + Daisy Wheel Printar57385 A1898 (А)
Amstrad РСТВ4О double drive ECD colour 103385 80910 (ANC)
SOFTOBO? i Amstrad/Pace RS232 nterface Inc: Comstar -CPC 5995 — 4809 (C)
‘SOFTOBOS4 Amstrad/Pace Nightingale Мойт Inc. RS232 Lead14000 7826 (0)
‘itn, Printer - ПМР2000/3000 (Ри 5) 2915 ми 0
AMS AMX Mouse - CPC вв so 0
Romanic Robot Muhiface Two - CPC (tape/dise backup) 4695 ©
AMPL 1 lead, Printer Centronics Paralel - CPC 335 ©
РБОЗАС Pace 2nd 5257 Disc Drive ис. TOOS utility dse 19090 ©
‘Assad ОМР2000 Printer Inc. FREE Cable fr CPC 1639 щ
Мао Риўйегиз NPT35 DM, В0си. 135cpe. FAT, NLO, Parallel194.35 а
Panasonic KXP1081 ОМ, Bücol T20cps, FAT, NLO, Paralel 281.75 А
Epson LXB DM, 800, 120сре, Tractor, NLO, Paralal/IM 31625 (А
‘Star МЛО OM, 60си, 120ра, FBT, NLO, Paral, Regs Cat /Р274 8S [^]
32 Amstrad Joystick - CPC 898 [4
Sinclair Spectrum PLUS 2 ис. recorder, joystick & games 20000 А
Sinclair Expansion pack inc. interface Y, microdrive, lead, demo-cartidge

+ usor puide 3985

Commodore Ата A500 inc. fre deae paint 499.98

ari 20 STEM 20898

ari 1040 STF 40999

Atari 1040 STF System inc. 1040 STF, + 12 Н. mono monitor599.99

Atari SM 125 12” HR. mono monitor 14999

Commodore Amiga Systems 1 ис. Amiga А1000 512K + А1081 НЯ.

Colour monitor. This Amiga tomes with 12 months onsight waren

Y 1258.10
SOFTWARE

CF2 3” Blank Dises 0$/Р all 3” Ores, cased Box 10 29.90
ВИК by Bast Хб, RPS etc. 55" 05/00 40T (РА 25)

All curent chart games software retail less 30% + £1 PBP
WAVE PRICES EXCLUDE VAT.
ANC 3 day 900. Not day £12.00. Admin Offices. Callers by appointment ony,
‘UK Post 8 из. (А) £6.00 (8) £400 (C) £3.00 (0) 62.00 (E) £1.00 (F) 50.
Despatched by etum ol post, Pre inthis advert ме valid for 14 days.

ММ. ДА. W.E. (Dept. POP 1311)

Walney Audio Video & Electrical
53 Shearwater Crescent, Barrow-in-Fu
Cumbria LA14 3JP. Telephone: 0229 44753/29109
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 105.00

PRODUCTION
ENGINEER

Electronic Arts is looking for a quallitied
Production Engineer. Candidates should have
а working knowledge of 6502, 8086, 280 and
68000 Assembly language as well as a
foundation in “С”. This position will require
good communication skills and will act as
our interface with media duplicators, Duties
will include but not be limited to protecting
program masters, qualifying potential
duplication vendors and archiving
production masters.

The qualified candidate will work closely
with the Product Engineering Group in our
San Mateo office and will report to the
Director of European Distribution. Electronic
Arts offers а comprehensive employment
package. Salary is £12,000-$14,000 р.а.
depending on experience.
Qualified applicants should send a CV for
the attention of D. J. Dozier at Electronic Arts,
11/49 Station Road, Langley, Berks,
England SL3 8YN.

ЕА

ELECTRONIC ARTS *

Home Computer Software

AMAZING OFFERS!

Brand New

SPECTRUM PLUS's 48k

A scoop purchase for Christmas at

only £69.95

With power supply, User Guide,
introductory cass, TV aerial & 90 day warranty

ELECTRON COMPUTERS

Superb value — only £5 9 a 95
ELECTRON PLUS 15

only £43.95

with View & Viewsheet — only £65.95

Please add 95p for P.&P.
Cheques, PO or quote Access or Visa

ЕЧ = SOFTWARE BARGAINS

DEPT. PCW
ҶӮ 0532 687735 8/Ва REGENT STREET
SAE for latest product offers LEEDS LS7 АРЕ
Please state which machine

TRADE OR EXPORT ENQUIRES WELCOME

SPECTRUM SOFT ON CASS AL C199 (eo ТАСИ
аилы

БЕКА

pent

Bee ie ie e Победи

mn
RESET
лош =

‘COMMODORE ва DISCS £399 EACH
rr be ean. Se rn Ra ce ah,
Ft lo Bra go Fa
VEM e eter fere i Dui

ери Db emm ee malen не

Lu
Eme Jet ed et
DN aes du uen Ms Dt

METRUM Pere лүен Sem. po A a
COMMODORE VA UNUNES

‘ope Van. AA Den мене

[sie Ra fs detonate ip od

Ere

COMMODORE в CASSETTES ALL СТ 99 EACH
иска [emer WE Ury

EXEC yey ан Seep 2

Soe

if
|
}
P
HH
Hn

resta ire ts We Ren, Qa ас t LES
E eB ta s emnt Tem Un 'ODORE $4 COMPILATIONS
ВЛЕЗ DATI pt

Exec i I a —.—._-
Serene reunite | D
ае ОЗ |
Extr E Seer
Exito p MEUS
[LO CT DONE ee MN
серен ШЫДЫР конен | |
SES LITE шышы к»
Sites me E
cem aaa a CHEQUES PAYABLE ТО

Ш

LOGIC SALES LTD

17 Leofric Square, Easter Industry,
Peterborough, Cambs РЕТ STN.
Tel: 0733 313870.

22/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

l good games eventually
spawn imitators, and Thun-
dercats is pretty clearly derived
from that ultimate slash'n'hack
feast, Nemesis the Warlock.
However, rather than simply
hewing your way through screens
full of platforms and ladders,
here you have to keep moving,
running through parallax hori
zontally scrolling backgrounds
while you do your bloodthirsty
work.

‘Thundercats is licensed from а
cartoon series, but don't lets
hold that against it. Tidily pro-
grammed, colourful, and accom.
panied by one of those insistent
weebly music tracks, it's a fine
example of what the Commodore
64 is good at. You play the heroic
Liono (can you believe that?),
leaping chasms, jumping over
obstacles and slashing down

grdes of Molemen on your way

retrieve the Eye of Thundera
from the wicked Mumm-Ra (stop
this, it's getting too silly).

Leaping to catch shields of
power, ducking to cut down teeny
little moles, and keeping an eye
оп the timer, Lion-o speeds to the
rescue, You get а bonus accord.
ing to how many enemies you

kill, and another if you complete
a level in time. Bonus levels give
you one chance to rescue a caged
pussycat; fall, and it's back to
the main game,

You can pick up time bonuses,
and extra weapons such as fire
balls, along the way. Here the
resemblance to Nemesis is stron
gest, as you must decide whether
to use sword or fireball to get out
of tough spots. In a pinch, you
ean sometimes leap over your
enemy and do him in from be-
hind. Collide with а moleman or

get hit by a flying raven and you
do а most NemesisJike backflip
and keel over.

Fine, then, apart from a few
very obvious similarities to the
otherwise less sophisticated

wW.

John Renwick

Program Thundercats Type
Arcade Price $0.95 Machine
CBM64 Supplier Elite, Anch
House, Anchor Road, Aldridge,
Walsall

Деве tany вата tee
at least this time it's from
Disney, which gives it something
of a pedigree. Despite the cutesy
animal tag, Basil is a pretty good
example of the platformsand-
ladder - arcade - adventure
strategy genre. You're a mouse
detective, spiritual descendent of
eat Man of Baker Street (or
Weu could be an actual descen
dent - old Sherlock had some
funny habits . . .), and your task
is t0 rescue your kidnapped
partner,
Each

scene contains eight

clues, which you must collect by
examining objects while avoiding
the rodent henchmen of the evil
Professor Ratigan. Only five of
these clues are genuine, but you
won't know which to keep and
which to discard until you have
filled all your Clue Pockets, and
can activate your magnifying
glass.

When assembled, the clues will
also indicate the way ont of the
level and onto the next. The three
levels depict the seedy water-
front, the sewers, and finally
Ratigan’s hideout. Finding

cheese boosts your energy and
allows you to make longer leaps,
and mousetraps can be collected
and later dropped in front of the
henchmen to paralyse them.

Here's a clue which will gain
you access to hidden sections of
the game; letter boxes are made
for jumping in

The larger single colour graph
ies are very stylish, nicely de.
signed and perfectly masked to
avoid all colour clashes with the
detailed backgrounds.

The only annoying aspect of
the game is the plipplip-PLIP.
plipplip Basil makes every time
he jumps, which can become a
tad tiresome.

Otherwise, Basil is excellent,
in fact the best programmed
Spectrum game I've seen for
some time. I hope the enjoyment
lasts long enough for me to
complete the quest.

John Renwick

Program Basil the Great
Mouse Detective Type Arcade/
adventure Price $7.99 Machine
Spectrum Supplier Gremlin
Graphics, Alpha House, 10
Carver Street, Sheffield SI 4FS.

GAMES-

Software guide
continued

Program Cops 'n' Robbers Type
Arcade Price 51.99 Supplier At-
lantis, 28 Station Road, London
SE25 546.

Commodore
C16

Program Survivors Type Arcade
Price $1.99 Supplier Atlantis, 28

Commodore 64

Program Survivors Type Arcade
Price $1.90 Supplier Atlantis, 28
Station Road, London SE25 БАС.

Program Knight Ore Type Adven.
ture Price $14.95 Supplier Rain.
bird, Wellington House, Upper St

Martins Lane, London WC2H 901,
Program Radius Type Arcade
Price $1.90 Supplier Players, Mer
сшу House, Calleva Park, Alder

maston, Berks RG7 4QW

m

continued on pape 24 pe

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/23

GAMES

|
| Software guide

continued

IBM PC

Program Quantum Type Utility
Price 580 Supplier Brigite Neese
& Associates, 53 Osborne Terrace,
Bacup, Lancashire

Spectrum

Program 3D Game Maker Type
Utility Price $8.95 Supplier CRL,
CRL House, 9 Kings Yard, Carpen-
ter's Road, London B15 2HD.

Program Ball Breaker Type Ar-
cade Price $8.95 Supplier CRL,
CRL House, 9 Kings Yard, Carpen-
ter's Road, London E15 2HD.

Program Home Builder Type
Educational Price $4.95 Supplier
Coxsoft, 31 Fullwell Avenue, Bark-
ingside, Ilford, Essex.

Program World Class Leader.
board "Type Sport Simulation
Price $0.95 Supplier US Gold, U
2-4, Holford Way, Holford, Bi
mingham B6 ТАХ.

$ lation fans will probably
ave spent the last few
months bemused at the lack of
noise from one particular com-
pany: Digital Integration. Now
this silence has ended with the
arrival in this morning’s post of
Bobsleigh.

The stage is set immediately
after the game has loaded with a
rendition of the theme from Ski
Sunday (quite what this has to
do with bobsleighing, Pm not
sure, but it's pretty good
nevertheless).

Anyone who has played World
Games from Epyx will be famil
iar with the concept of this game,
although to be fair to DI, this
game has taken the concept of
Bobsleigh considerably further
than World Games even attempt-
ed to do.

‘The object of this game is пос
only to compete with the rest of
the world, but to manage your
finances, and make decisions
that will prove crucial to the long
term challenge your team will, or
won't, be at the Olympics (your
ultimate goal).

To be painfully honest, the
first half an hour with this game
only reinforced my doubts about
the game as а concept. After a
few more goes, however, as I

began to master the techniques
of getting through each course,
my feelings started to change.

What makes the game so play-
able is the level of concentration
and planning needed to make a
series of successful runs.

You must reach optimum fit-
ness, choose the right bob, and
make all the right decisions on
runs that can last up to one and a
half minutes.

Graphically, Bobsleigh is simi-
lar in many ways to previous
Digital Integration launches, It
may not be quite up to 7T Racer,

[623 УТ

TEME

6-16-56

but it is both representative and
fast enough.

Bobsleigh is another winner
from DI. It may not (quite) be in
the ТТ Racer league, but it
still well above the recent ore)
blast games. Miss it at your pé

Francis Jago

Program Bobsleigh Micro Var-
ious Price $8.95 Supplier Digi-
tal Integration, Watchmoor
Trade Centre, Watchmoor
Road, Camberley, Surrey,

while ago now, Metrocross

was all the rage. In case you
missed it, it featured horizontal
scrolling and a hero who had to
leap over obstacles, dodge
hazards and generally mess
around with all the objects to
score bonus points, go faster,
etc.

Dateline November 5th, and
Audiogenic has released Des-
patch Rider for the BBC. Its
programmed by Phil Whitehurst
and it does bear something of a
resemblance to the aforemen-
tioned US Gold game.

The plot this time cases you as
а motorbike courier, delivering
mail, avoiding obstacles, and
picking up gas, as you speed on
your way to the end of the level
and to meet your girlfriend. How
sweet.

Anyone who has spent more
than five minutes on the roads of
London will know that in fact,
most Despateh riders spend their
time screaming around on GSXR
1100 Suzukis pretending to be
Barry Sheene, and avoiding the
unwanted attention of the eagle-
eyed constabulary.

And as for the likelihood of
them having girlfriends; who
needs them anyway? (Оовег
sounds a bit dodgy!),

The similarities between this
and Metrocross are obvious, but
Despatch Rider is a much more
inferior product.

It runs in Mode S so that
means four colours and chunky
graphi

Fair enough, but to have blue
and green all over the place
makes it look prefty disgusting.

‘The horizontal scrolling leaves
a lot to be desired, as does the
gameplay, although the sprites
are large so at least that's
something.

You can speed up or slow
down, but if you take too long,
then you start to run out of time
and before you can say Kamikazi
you've lost another of your seven
lives. You're definitely running
out of lives by now.

In the audio department
there's not much happening
either.

Хо music on the title page or
anywhere else, and entirely pre-
dictable noises for the bike and
collisions.

‘There is nothing in the way of
glossy frills. The control key
arrangement is standard and you
can redefine them if you want to.

Ага couple of quid, Despatch
Rider would make a decent bud-
get game for the Beeb, but at this
price it really can’t be
recommended,

Duncan Evans

Program Despatch Rider Mi-
cro BBC/Electron Price $7.95
Supplier Audiogenic, Winch
ter House, Canning Road, Har-
row HAS 78].

24/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

SIMPLY MEGA !! | ES н =H
Bm ВУТЕВАСК
HAUTE CUISINE FOR YOUR AMIGA —
RUAKERWAY PRICES THE ATARI ST SPECIALIST
BEST PRICES FASTEST DELIVERY!
cir ia | -GETANT [c gem eR C Ves e К
У Defender of the Crown. 2250 Alternate Reality. 18.50
FDA МЮ Usi EE]
poly ME den Dale EE]
9 H3 fm 1650
EXTERNAL 3.5" DRIVE Hollywood Poker. 1100 Winnie the Pooh. 1850
(NEC 1036A, ESPECIALLY MODIFIED) amag: та ое мато эш
(FOR 500, 1000 & 2000) Máctaball Hem SÉ
£125.00 [opm jso ARTE DESIGN ONLY
pos, ИЮ мре An Sole 1850
Tam БҮТ И
AEGIS VIDEOSCAPE 30 GARRISON Road Runner Degas Еме. 1850
Hives c [m Sirius (d рена
На Nr os i на
= дит Dre i ш
WORD PERFECT ilo porn 0
ен руда [14 EF]
n inis
зган, 30 Developers Disk 2400
-— oot Dat иш
PRICES INCLUDE VAT & POSTAGE AND PACKING. [m Sete 30 бик sito
САЦ OR WRITE FOR OUR LATEST LIST. има Госа Напа. ЕБ omy
Ee umm Му
Вер etu Реза 75
Ern fan your EE]
Steve Е VI deen зш
rd Sims EE]
Trl Pus jun! иш
(Chessmaster БЛ
е. Pro Sound Designer. 45.00
EC КЕ за
ЕТ
= EE]
[rpm ELI
КЕ na
Prisa Tu na
К аю
Ead 2350
ages ht 5980
coe Fen Word Рин EE
E) па
Proton ию Roane Er]
po tae zr
p hr] no
See ey ИЮ Felis ТЕГЕ
Soe 150 ym 14500
nese JB Wet Wi it Di Was Sot
porem 100 e Suppor Sere
шие ДАДЕ з n
fed Wa i0 ts) LANGUAGES on
Maza Тар 110 sabe 55
Тшей. 750 Fast Basic (Disk) 3600
КО 259 Gib. ER
ADVENTURES %МҮ rug 790
| Nord and Burt 2250 Ғам ASM. 15.50
бош re T fast Bae ен ла
| р Jaso GA Bae Come На
| perm МЫ MC Ase ER
| Shree nh jaso Maa na
AMIGA Perry Mason. 1450
Bards Tae £24.00 дү гаш] | Sema вю MESE a
Chess Master 2000. £24.00 Backlash. £19.00 Hitch Hikers Gude. 2250 Locking Disk Box (40) 900
Deluxe Paint I £69.00 Barbarian, " £16.00 Zork (12 oF 3). 2250 3.5" Disks 55/00 (x10). 1200
Река Мик. £69.00 Bards Tale | £24.00 Sáscon Dreams. 1450 — Arcade Microswitch Joystick. 17.00.
ри D £2400 Chess Master 2000. £24.00 Back Сабл. 2250 — Joysid/Mouse Extension. 518
Ferrari Formula | 4400 D пены наа 2250 Furry Mouse Cover. 10
Jefender Of The Crown. £23.00 "
Hollywood Strip Poker. £15.00 р ком 0с 7450 Mouse Mat. 900
dmpact...... £12.00 jegas Elite...... (was £69.95) £24.00 Keyboud Cover. 800
Imp: Annais of Rome. 1850
I Instant Music £24.00 Gauntlet. £19.00 Farenheit 451. 3450 Олз Turbo. 1300
King's Quest ЇЙ. £15.00 Marble Madness. £24.00 att Зи тека 2250 бийи! 800
Майне Madness £19.00 Мизїс Construction Set. £24.00
fm ns Dim шу £18.00] | Torak nos Seo fone ELITS
трой, 2
Test Dive Е fm Ste tek oe АЦ PRICES INCLUDE VAT AND FIRST CLASS POST
Над беа i) e LN £18.00 TELEPHONE (0636) 79097 FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE
hy tt ofthe above programmas and got 25% axira ес
"Over 200 tiles in stock. All prices ne VATE PAP Send Cheque/PO to:
MPC SOFTWARE
is Е А Dept. PCW, 6 MUMBY CLOSE,
пала ret Was ar, eta ног SAN BYTEBACK ОТА:
13-19 NOVEMBER 1987 POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/25

; SOFTWARE

ly marked path of evolution from the

character-based displays of machines
like the Commodore Pet and original Apple
1I through low resolution pixel graphics on
Spectrums, Amstrads and Có4s to the very
high resolutions possible on the Amiga and
ST.

And as the hardware facilities im-
proved, so did the software, Paint and
üraw programs for producing two dimen-
sional images are now commonplace. But
Sculpt 8D, the latest. graphies package for
the Amiga, represents another step for-
ward on the evolutionary path: full three
dimensional image processing.

То date such software has been confined
to dedicated graphics workstations or large
mini and mainframe systems. Of course
there have been many 3D wireframe
graphics programs for older 8-bit comput-
ers but Sculpt 3D goes well beyond this to
handling solid filled objects in full colour
and as icing on the саке adds ray tracing
facilities too.

Ray tracing is something of a flavour of
the month thanks (0 the well known
graphies demos Juggler on the Amiga and
Shiny Bubbles on the Atari ST (in fact
Sculpt 3D was written by Eric Graham
creator of Juggler). Sculpt 2D is a very
powerful program and will allow you to
create your own sophisticated images but
there are some major drawbacks.

Ci graphics has followed a clear-

Features

The program comes on a single 34” disc
accompanied by a 96-page laser-printed
manual, The dise as supplied is close to full
with the program file and several demo
files and therefore lacks Workbench or a
CLI boot routine. To load Sculpt 3D you
therefore either have to load Workbench
separately or create a CLI boot disc.

Once the program has loaded you are
presented with the main work screen
which comprises three viewing windows
and the Amiga's usual hidden menu bar.
‘The three windows show a bird's eye view,
the view from east to west and the view
from south to north, corresponding to the

Shapely Creations

Peter Worlock reviews Sculpt 3D -а
program which will allow you to create
three-dimensional images.

familiar plan views and elevations used in
architects’ drawings and blueprints.

This can take some getting used to since
you have to visualise your objects from
these three viewpoints and as you create
an image in one window it is rendered from
the appropriate viewpoints in the other
two windows,

Objects are created by defining points in
3D space (called vertices) and edges link-
ing these points. Once again, this is not a
natural process for anyone used to draw
and paint programs. To create а square
face (a tabletop or a wall for example)
requires the following steps.

Method

First select one window, say the top down
view for a tabletop. Holding the left mouse
button down you move the cursor to the
desired location and then with the left
button still down press the right button to
create the first point, Repeat for the other
three corners.

Next, you have to select only two or
three points to create the edges. If you
select three then click on the edge-building
tool you create a triangular face with three
edges, ie, half of the tabletop cut diagonal-
ly. Then deselect the first three points,
select the fourth plus the two adjacent
ones and then click on the edge building
tool again.

This creates a rectangle composed of

two touching triangles. In the top down
window this looks like a rectangle with a.
diagonal line through it. In the other two
windows the image is a single horizontal
line since these are edge-on views.

This process sounds complicated and
time consuming and in the early stages it
сап be both, However, once you get used to
the method of working it does become
quicker, The main thing to remember is
that edges can only be created by connect-
ing two or three points.

If all objects had to be created like this
Sculpt 3D would be a very tedious program
to use. Instead, it provides quick and easy
tools for creating a variety of shapes. From
а menu selection you сап add cubes,
spheres hemispheres, cones and other
shapes and solids to your image.

Creative facilities

Moreover, there are a number of other
useful facilities to make the process of
building 3D shapes easier. One of these is
the extrude tool which takes a 2D image
and then builds it up layer by layer. This is
a quick and easy way of making three
dimensional lettering for example:

Once your image has been created you
then have a number of options of how to
view it. Helpfully, these options are pre-
sented in a way that lets you treat your
objects as a film set. First you can position
your camera (called the observer) any-
where in the scene and specify а target
which governs where the camera is
pointed.

Next you can light the scene with one or
more lamps hanging these in different
positions to cast shadows and to illuminate
areas that would otherwise be unlit

Finally, you can specify the lens on the
imaginary camera, using another from a
telephoto wide angle to a fish eye.

So you've created your image, positioned
your camera and lighting but you still
haven't seen anything except the three 2D
windows. Sculpt 3D creates the full scene
on a separate screen in one of five sizes
tiny, small, medium, full and jumbo, Start
things going and sit back. And wait and
wait and wait.

The quickest image is wireframe in
which only the edges are portrayed, Next
is painting in which visible faces are filled
in solid colour but there is no shading or
shadows and no difference in texture.
Third up is snapshot which adds crude
shadows and some difference in texture,
Finally there is photo which reveals your
image in all its realistic glory.

Apart from the increasing time needed
to calculate these images they carry an
increasing penalty on memory overhead
(more on this later).

So much for the basics, there's a lot
more. For example. you can change all of.

w

26/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

the colours in an image using the full 32-
colour palette from the Amiga 4096 shades
and different faces be painted different
colours,

Moreover each face can be a different
texture ranging from dull through shiny to
mirror, There is also glass texture which
features varying degrees of, transparency
and reflection depending on the angle from
which it is being viewed.

You can also add a sky and а chequer-
"board ground pattern stretching away
towards the horizon. The software handles
perspective automatically aid calculates
shadows from your lamps, too

The really clever stuff and the most
impressive visually is the ray tracing
facility, which will calculate, reflections
(and indeed reflections in refléctions) on
surfaces defined as glass and mirror. This
is what gives Sculpt 3D pictures their
realism.

What all this means is that you can
Pereate on your Amiga something like the
following, a town with roads, streetlights,
shopwindows and office blocks. Define
Windows as glass texture and put some
lamps inside the buildings and Sculpt 3D.
will realistically draw all the shadowing
and reflections and the varying light
levels.

Next position your observer within the
model, generate a finished image and save
this to disc. Move your observer and
generate a new image, Save this one to
disc. Repeat umpteen squillion times. Write
a batch file to successively display these
images and bingo, you have an astounding
ly realistic computer-generated cartoon of
someone moving through this solid-looking
world,

This kind of project is possible but -
here we come crashing back to reality. А
large project such as the one just described
‘would be a lifetime's work because power-
ful though the Amiga is itis a dinosaur at
this kind of application

Problems

The first problem is that the kind of 3D
images Sculpt creates require an awful lot
of memory to calculate. On a 512K Amiga
you won't have room to do anything except
he crudest scenes of simple blocks and
spheres and no reflections either. On a 1МЪ
system you can go further but 2 or 4
megabytes is preferable. (Once the image
is created, of course, it сап be stored on
dise, occupying only the memory required
for the sereen display.)

Secondly ray tracing involves unimagin-
able numbers of calculations and not even
the Amiga’s 68000 processor can rattle
these off at anything like a sufficient
speed. A maths co-processor might help
but there's no mention of this in the
manual so I imagine it isn't supported. This

speed problem is why computer generated
animation is largely confined in mega
mainframes like the Cray used for The
Last Starfighter.

А very simple image can take 10 to 15
minutes calculation in photo mode assum:
ing you have the memory to accommodate.
it, Complex images will take hours and
possibly days to develop.

Conclusions

Sculpt 3D is an incredibly powerful pro-
gram which can create truly astounding
displays, Provided you can get to grips with
the system of using points in three sep
rate windows and the problems of visualis-
ing 3D objects in three 2D windows it is
relatively easy to use,

Unfortunately on a 512K Amiga it is
little more than a curiosity since you
cannot do more than create the most basic
images. To fully exploit the software you
will need a massively expanded system
with a megabyte or more of RAM and two
disc drives or a hard disc.

Apart from these limitations of the
hardware (not the fault of Sculpt 3D)
there are one or two snags with the
software. Least among these is the lack of
а line-drawing tool. 1 suppose there's a
good reason why the software works in

points rather than edges but for us humans
edges are a more natural reference point,
A line drawing facility with rubber band-
ing would make Sculpt 3D a great deal
easier to use.

Another improvement would be the
ability to correct drawings by specifying
co-ordinates for points, There is a co-
ordinate system in the software, but trying
to adjust using the mouse can require a
great deal of trial and error, Typing in a
couple of numbers would be a lot easier.

Most importantly, however, the memory
problems do not appear to have been
properly catered for. Usually if Sculpt 3D
runs out of memory it simply tells you so
and lets you carry on working but on one
оссазїоп it threw me back to Workbench
trashing the image I was working on and a
second time it simply crashed.

Anyone seriously interested in solid
modelling and ray tracing will jump at
Sculpt 3D but you should be prepared to
pay for the hardware expansion you'll
need. The rest of us will probably stick to
Deluxe Paint. a

Peter Worlock

Program Sculpt 3D Micro Commodore

Amiga Price £79.00 Supplier The Amiga
Centre.

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/27

HAVE YOUR FABRIC RIBBONS RE-INKED FOR ONLY £1.50

or re-ink your own DMP 2000/DMP 3000 by using our kit comprising of 1 spare ribbon, 1 bottle of special ink
апа full instructions. Each ribbon will re-ink on average 40 times.

ONLY £42-95 £10.00 сув тноткой5амо unis sou ALL READY

5 CF2 3” discs suitable for 1st and 2nd drive...
NEW LOW PRICE 10 CF2 3” discs suitable for 1st and 2nd drive ...

PCW STARTER PACK 10 CF2 3” discs — 1 AMS 20L storage box — 2000 sheets paper
1 PCW ribbon = 100 70 x 70 disc labels - 100 address зен. £49.95

CONTINUOUS PAPER AND DISC LABELS ‘OUR PRICE DISC STORAGE BOXES

2000 Shoots 60gm Draft AMS 201 holds 20 x 3" discs + boxes
1000 Sheots 80gm T МО 1001 holds 100 x 31" discs .20
500 Address labels. t DD 100L holds 100 x 51" discs

100 3" 31” Floppy disc labels 69 x 70 I 1037 Spare disc boxes.

100 Standard disc labels-55 x 35 AMX Mouse + desktop programme
100 Cassotte labels 89 x 41 with cut outs AMX Mouse + desktop publisher

FREE SOFTWARE WITH EVERY COMPUTER
th 127 mono monitor 4 4 U.S. Gold gomos & Migent Ability Дрен:
145 colour monitor 14055 Gola Games & Migent Ability LAF
& Migent Abily дават.

rai к

double disc arive with 4 U.S. Gold дотовв Migent Ability LEF
W9512 disc based word processor with daisywheel printer p
PCW8256 disc based word processor with monitor and printer щат.

games + joystick tree 0097

Somes + joystick troe Lames

Somes + joystick troo деят
stick tree Zar. £37835
БМР2ООО over 100 typeface combinations including NLO our ribbon re-ink kit free £15800
BMP3000 wil operate with Amstrad PC cr any IBM $ Gur ribbon голок kit fros £22225
DMP4000 16" carriage print speed 200 chrs ~ NLQ spoed БО chrs per second ° 4 nibbons frae £40735

10380024 pin dot-matrix printer.
PRICE ON APPLICATION FOR PC1640

1

Т
if

Н
zi

ЗНАЕ ЕЕЕ

E
mR
i

curae
аз:

дЕЕниучазеввев ри. свива

Saauangashasssseasssseesaessaususssszezsesss.

ЕТШ
"y

Е:
Е

т

кукук

I
H
т

iit
ЧІ

i
1
ЁШ
ЕЧ

8
H
i

i
[HET

gn
LIE

S
T

E
t
i?
SNEINEN
T
i
t
if
i

ИНН

БИ
ГОЗЕР

и
1
if

885885283 RGSSRSRRÓ

Т
Hd
i
i
i
i Ttt
i
à

T
f
г

ym
1
i

i
i

mm
й Ё
|
mm
|
f
шиш
DEI
f

i
|

i
es
|

"
ay
H
n
ү
iH

АЕН

П

i

3
ЇЇ

4444144444
il

Їй
|
i

НИ
НЕЯ
ү

Essensen

Pani
"m

i
г
ng

rH
iff
hu
їй:

i
и

F
RY

i
PERE:
ИП
i"

atian~sinusuyee й

os Rn RR
BRBRRRRRRRSE SA AS TSR
изевушаезиити

HIR

d
if

"n
'H

i
d

ШШЩ
ii

ИР
i

[

Н
i
:

АНА

ни
|

ШШ
pum
i

{j
ни.
à
1

I
ШИН
H

E
a
Ip
Т

in
{
li
ifi
п
i
Ti

PERTANT

eem

{

ш. 355 88 ГЕ
Send for our catalogue of over three thousand titles for Amstrad СРС — PCW — PC. Commodore, Spectrum, Atari/
Atari ST, BBC, MSX, Electron Apple Series 2 — Apple Macintosh computers all at discount prices.
= All prices include VAT post & packing UK only. Export orders welcome. кч
Comsoft Appointed Amstrad Business Computer Dealer

Coldstream Computer Centre, 48 Duke Street, Coldstream, Berwickshire TD12 4LF
Shop open Mon/Sat 9.30-12.00 1.00-5.30. Те! 0890 2979. 24 hour order service on 0890 2854.

28/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY 13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

i
i
ff
г
й

FREE STARTER ir Only Fi

DEDICATED SERVICING - "Only. ly Erom Silica

THE FULL STOCK RANGE Оп)

Fe ATO UES = Олу тыт, US sn ere

FREE OVERNIGHT DELIVERY - From Silica

СЕ MATCH; DIETO SCE

There is nothing that can compare with the incredible value for money offered by Alaris
S?OST-FM. For only £260 (*VAT-£299), you can purchase а powerlul 512K RAM computer,
with a 95 key keyboard (including numeric keypad), MIDI Interface. GEM, a palette of 512
mouse control
and comes with

са Shop, you will
the ONLY FROM
r, low price 5205Т-

FREE Silica ST Starter Kit worth over £100. Re
to see why you should buy your new high po

UK's Мот Atari Specialists. For further dotails of the range of Atari

ST computers and the FREE Silica ST Starter Kit, complete and return the reply coupon below.

ATARI 520S T-FM NOW ONLY £260 (4/1129)

"ono monior £399 (nc VAT) ` Upgrade from Si2K RAM to 104K RAM £100 (nc VAT

=з =н ни ни на ни ви ши ши ни ши ши ши пн ти шш иш ниш,
(fs ser te rome затен авн ид ek OK

- SOFTWARE

hilst there are a good number of
Wis: programs available, some of
them do not exploit the full capabili-
ties of the machine, especially in games
software, However, in the business/
creative section and primarily, graphics
packages, the standard is much higher.
Two such programs, DelureVideo and
DeluxePrint, both from the makers of
Райи, Electronic Arts, combine power
with ease of use.

DELUXEVIDEO

DelusceVideo is а powerful graphics
manipulation tool which combines static
pictures, moving objects, sound effects,
music and various graphic effects such as
rotations, colour cycling, move to, fade
in/out, strobe and resizing.

The package comes with three dises and
а fairly large manual, The main disc is
called the Maker disc where you put
together your videos, together with a
Player disc and a Utilities disc.

The whole system is controlled by
Intuition, the Amiga menu and window
system. 16 is easy to understand for a
complex program, but the theory of the
video hierarchy will mislead, unless the
user has read the tutorial section in the
manual beforehand,

Е:

DELUXE PRINT
Sample made with

AMIGA Asoo
and PANISONIC 1081 printer, (

The main video seript contains the
scenes and music on different ‘tracks’. The
tracks are where you place the effects and
there are four different ones for back-
ground, foreground, music and control on
the video script, For each scene on the
video, there is a separate scene script just
like the main screen, complete with more
tracks and effects. The tracks on each
scene allow background, foreground, con-
trol, picture, object, sound, text line and
polygon text effects.

Selecting a picture track will load in any
IFF picture and the ability either to
display immediately or to fade in the
picture. One restraint is that DeluxeVideo
only uses eight colours and the pictures
will be displayed in the best or current
palette. However, the display is still quite
good. Objects are selected in the same way
and can be loaded in on the video and made
to appear, disappear, move, shrink and
expand. Any brushes made in DPaint can
be used as an object.

Text can be put on the screen in two
ways. Text in the usual fonts can appear,
move or disappear. Polygon text, though
not giving different fonts, can be rotated in
three axes to give better effects,

Sound effects can be incorporated and
changed in DeluxeVideo. Even IFF sam-
pled sounds may be included, memory
permitting. Music files can be used to play
at the same time as the graphic effects.
Electronic Art's own Instant Music and
DeluxeMusic programs, or any other using
IFF format, can be used to compose your
soundtracks. Included with DeluxeVideo
are ready-made 3D bar and pie chart
videos, as well as a text slide show,
enabling you to create a video in minutes,

The whole video or a separate scene can
be viewed at any time and controlled with
the DeluxeVideo control panel which will
play, fast forward, rewind, pause, mute,
stop and restart the video. А timer shows
the time in seconds and can be used for
exact timings. The time at which the video
runs can be changed from normal to
realtime, half or quarter speed and
Superslow.

Finished videos can be played using the
Player disc, without the Maker program.
The final disc, DeluxeVideo Parts, has
drawers for music, instruments, objects,
pietures and videos. It also includes Un-
pack, a program that unpacks the demo

Delicious Deluxe

Matthew Palmer reviews two graphics
programs for the Amiga

videos into their corresponding drawers
and Vidcheck, a video file compressor. One
last utility is The Framer, which loads in a
Райи picture and using a six frame box,
splits the picture into six and animates
through all six of them.

Overall, DeluzeVideo is a sophisticated
graphics tool, able to put together files
from other Amiga programs and make
them work well together. DeluceVideo
costs $69.95 and if you can afford it is a
very good program.

DELUXEPRINT

DeluxePrint is an easy to use printing
program, enabling you to design greeting.
cards, letterheads, signs, banners, posters
and calendars. Upon loading the program,
you are presented with the main format
menu, from which you choose one type of
design. Choosing one of them with the
mouse will display the blank page, occupy-
ing about half the screen for greeting cards
and posters and half the area again for
letterheads or banners. On each one, you
are given the choice of selecting a border,
images (small pictures) from the library of
clip art or placing text on the page, in a.
variety of fonts and sizes.

Selecting a border from the range of
designs on the disc is the first thing to do.
There is a good range available, in any
colour. Once you have selected a border,
you have the option of removing it again if
you don't like it, or editing the pattern,
Choosing the edit will allow you to use
basic drawing functions such as line, box,
draw and oval, as well as the ability to
move or reverse the design.

There are a wide range of cartoon type
images to choose from, including such
subjects as school, computers, sport, travel, |
thes, space, buildings and others, As Ñ}
with the border, once selected, images can
be placed on the workslate, moved, re-
moved, copied, flipped, enlarged and edit-
ed. They can also be placed in patterns,

The last thing to add to a document is
the text, in a limited variety of fonts and
sizes. As with before the text can be moved
or enlarged. One useful feature is a built-in
calendar of every month of every year
since 1 AD.

Once you have completed your page, you
can save it or print it out. As you can see
from the sample, printing gives good
results on dot matrix printers. Greeting
cards, signs and banners which take up
half the screen will be printed double the
size, but letterheads remain as they are
shown.

As with DeluxeVideo, this package
combines ease of use with powerful fea-
tures, Its also quite cheap at only $24.95.
All-in-all, another good program from Elec-
tronic Arts. a

‘30/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AT THE

SIZZLING SINCLAR BARGAINS ON THE 12th DECEMBER 87

Come along and join in the fun at the Chri

nd oftware
* Full hardware support
drives, light pen

printers, tables, monitors, dise
nd lots of new products

settes, dises, labels

* Top magazines
* Special Christmas competitions and prizes
ж Restaurant, licensed bar

It's the user-friendly show that has out-lasted all the rest
because everyone enjoys themselves. . . and you can always find
а bargain

Why not send today for cut-priced advanced tickets.

Exhibitors ring Mike or Moira on 01 801 9172 for
stand availablity.

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

oria, and

N ‚29,
DY 70,76 and Red Arrow 507
Road: Signposted

(RAC AA) Horticultural
Halls.

m SEND NOW FOR REDUCED 1
| PRICE ADVANCE TICKETS і
J Send to Mike Johnston (Organiser) Dept S-U.. ZX 1

MICROFAIRS, 71 Park Lai London N17 0HG. 1
| Please send те. vance tickets (Adults @ £1.50) |

| Please send me.........advance tickets (Child under 14 @ £1. n

pe 25th hes |

| reso clas a stamped self adäresnod envelope and make che
V payable а a x 1

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/31

-SOUNDCHECK —

Sharp Syncopations

Mark Jenkins ends his series on music
software for the Commodore 64, with
a look at two more programs in the
Sonus range of music packages.

dore 64 will be beside themselves with

glee to hear that this is our last look -
for the moment - at the Sonus range of
(64/0128 musie packages,

The packages, which include two
sequencers, an event editor, a Yamaha К
drum machine librarian and a Yamaha РУ
synth editor/librarian will run on most
MIDI interfaces such as those from Datel
SIEL, Jellinghaus and the fortheoming
model from Cheetah, although it would be
as well to check out the interface you
intend to use before purchasing.

Prices for most of the packages are very
reasonable, and the last two we have to
look at are ScoreTrack, a musie notation.
package, and Sonic Editor, a sample editing
package available for the Ensonia Mirage
(or its rack-mounted version) and the
Sequential Prophet 2000 or its rack-mount-
ing version, the 2002/2002 Plus. We will
cover Sonic Editor as soon as we can get
our sticky hands on the appropriate
samplers.

ScoreTrack will convert files from the
Sonus SuperSequencer and Studio 1 pack-
ages into conventional musical notation
and allow you to print them out. The file
convertor is on the reverse of the master
disk and you must save the routines
needed for your particular printer onto the
front side of the disk before replacing the
write protect sticker.

ScoreTrack comes with a large and
fearsome-looking anti-copying dongle for
the User port - this can be replaced for
395, but only if you have already registered
ав a purchaser. ScoreTrack displays treble
and bassclefs with unlimited polyphony,
notes down to 1/32nd notes, double sharp
and double flat and other less common
pieces of notation, all rest values, and key
signatures. The package includes its own
sequencer routines, which may be easier to
use in some cases than importing music

Т: ве of you who do not own a Commo-

from SuperSequencer. Alternatively, notes
can be placed on the screen using a cursor,
moving on to the next note with the +/—
keys.

SeoreTrack can hold 69 patterns each
with 16 tracks, so theoretically you can
store 1,008 short musical passages. There
is а 255-position Song Table, and it is
possible to mute tracks on some passes зо a
passage need not always sound the same,
ScoreTrack gives out MIDI clocks when
playing so you can synchronise a drum
machine or other sequencer, and you с
quantise your performances to exact divi-
sions of notes,

!ScoreTrack is about the
cheapest notation package

available on the market at
the moment, and having its
own sequencer built-in makes
it unmatched if you need to
score out your music without
having the budget available

for a professional music
copyist.""

If you choose any recorded track and
then press "E" for "Edit", ScoreTrack will
do some calculations and then display the
passage in musical notation. This could be
а pretty slow process if you have used
many tracks, but the relative cheapness of
the package can excuse this.

The way notes are displayed on the
screen is subject to the chosen quantisa-
tion, a minimum length value, a legate
function which specifies the minimum
amount of time by which notes have to

overlap before being considered as a single
chord, a staccato function which definesQ"
minimum rest length, and the chosen key
with up to 7 sharps or flats, You can also
transpose the whole display and alter the
colours of the display

ScoreTrack uses two linked cursors, one
showing the current note, one the MIDI
event which created that note. The F5, 6, 7
and 8 keys move the display to new notes,
and а change in any Note On time will
automatically be matched with a change in
the appropriate Note Off.

You can delete and insert notes with the
Inst/Del key and delete and insert more
specific MIDI events (pitch bends, patch
changes and so on) using the Event Editor
section. After-touch is not recorded as it
uses up too much memory, although you
can insert it using the Event Editor section.

On the Note Editor page, pressing P will
print out the whole screen display, апд.
Epson, Panasonic and Star printers ar
currently compatible. There is also a
routine on the disk to set up ScoreTrack for
other printers as well.

ScoreTrack is about the cheapest nota-
tion package on the market at the moment,
and having its own sequencer built-in
makes it unmatched if you need to score
out your music without having the budget
available for a professional music copyist.

If you intend to use other players who
read, or if you want to copyright any of
your compositions, ScoreTrack could be
invaluable.

Also included in the Sonus range are the
MIDITech System Exclusive Librarian
(860), The Sonic Editor ($60), the basic
Glasstracks sequencer ($47), the RX drum
machine Librarian ($80), and the Double
Banked Librarian/Programmer ($60) for
the Yamaha DXT/TXT. ScoreTrack costs
5100 [a

Sonus UK, PO Box 18, Wokingham,
Berks RG11 4BP, 0734 792601

‘32/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

Evesham Micros

All prices include VAT and delivery
Жс STFM NEW LOW PRICE

Only £279.00 Jk
ATARI Good availability ATARI

5205ТЕМ £338.00
1040 STF £469.00 5М125 мпомо £ 134.00

MEGAST2 £899.00 МЕСА 574 1199.00
All ST prices include: mouse etc. PLUS 5 disks full
of s'ware including demos, utility, wordpro & game

Philips CM8833 Hi-res союш monitor cw ST cabio — £279.00
(ONLY $269.00 k bought win an ST)

Atari SC1224 Hi-res colur monitor К

Atari SMM804 Printer (Special, few only) £149.00

1MEG MEMORY UPGRADE (stem ony) £ 59.00
Requires soldering, tree fitting И you buy а new ST trom us)

' Е 1195 in 10 cap plastic case 13.95

3 В 5 £27.95 (140 cap plastic cass 34.95
Шу guaranteed досы aided media.

only £149.05 Connoisseurs pack £ 199.95
r only £199.95 C128 starter pack £239.95
1541C D.drive £189.95 Music exp. pack Е 75.00
ог CBM compat. disk drive (inc. GEOS) Е 159.95

above c/w Freeze Machine cart. — £179.95
‘Complete brand new "64 circuit
boards. Use for repair, spare or
ДА upgrade a VIC-20. Last fow.

£279.00

Tf bought with an AMIGA)

Select ап Amstrad PC from our wide range
We have а full range of models including the high
i ur single floppy 21/32 MEG тод

professional.

'aximum expansion room. The twin floppy
а hardeard, 1812 models can be supplied with 640K RAM
upgrade installed for £20.00 extra, Prices In light уре are ex VAT.

FREE with 1512... Migont Ability & 4 gamos
t 200.00)

retail value over

"COLOUR
1512

al Filecard, supplied with
FREE (Normally £50.00)
.ONLY.. £299.00
rn Digital Filecard, supplied with
t software FREE (Normally £50.00)
sans ONLY £249.00

PRINTERS ресе.
VAT, DELIVERY & CABLE

New low price (state cart е) £219.00
L: "ribbons value £73.60: FREE with ШЕП.

iage version of MIEST] £319.00
2% pin primor 2isepe zope LO £479.00
Star ШЕЯ Н Wide carriage 24 pin £599.00
PANASONIC КХР-1081 Best sub £200.00 model £179.00

NEW..Amstrad LQ3500, 24 pi

. In stock now..£379.00..NEW.

in stock at competitive prices

prd ches p.o. or acce

‚азууда Фи 5
БЕИ Eve

sevsa sham Micros
63 BRIDGE STREET
EVESHAM
wores wait аве

- O386 765500

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

Once Bytten
59 SWANLEY ROAD
WELLING, KENT DA16 11.
Tel: 01-304 2631
(Callers by appointment only)
Cheques and P.0.s to AMTEN LIMITED please

HOT 16-BIT SOFTWARE AT COOL 2-BIT PRICES!
FIO E E AE E A E учн р III IIT OI TI IIIA

Amiga Software Atari ST Software

BH па

ALL SOFTWARE PRICES INCLUDE VAT AND РАР,
‘OVERSEAS ORDERS WELCOME PLEASE AOD ON fr sa postage
IGA ASO0 Ки including modulator, 10 discs of PD sofware, Delore Paint, Mouse
ot ond Karate Ko I ‘ony £499.95
‘hice боша VAT, carriage waira)

ATARI 520ST-FM le tor cs d PU swe ж £279.
"Price includes VAT. cari

THERE
Par ae ie
Ex TELEPHONE: 01-304 2631 кз

Sam-10pm for all orders, prices and technical info

ii
EUROMAXT

WIGHT COMPUTING HOME MICRO'S
HARDWARE

Atari 520 STEM (in stock]
Commodore 64 C Sports Paci.
Amstrad CPC 464 colour monitor
PCW 8256 includes 2 blank discs
Amiga 500A includes modulator & sporis pack.
SEGA System
Spectrum Plu
PCW 9512 includes disc Box includes 2 blank disce
DMP 3160 printer
Used Spectrum 48K + 3 month warranty
Used Spectrum + 2. 3 month warranty
Used Opus Disc Drive, Spectrum 128 compatible.
Reconditioned VIC 20 modulators.
Part exchanges welcome minimum £20
Phone for prices on: Printers, PC's and Hardware not listed, normally
10% discount

REPAIRS

Spectrum Keyboard Fauls. £500
ботбот b Vic 30 and CTE E
Acor Electron non ULA faut. £25.00
TV and tape lesde ог Spectrum

Spectrum m £22.00
Vie 20 Modulators #1730
We co repa other machines, phone for derali, normal 48 hours

NEW SEGA GAMES

Enoruo Racer £18.95 Анно атстРи Pot #18.95
World Grand Prix -£18.95 — Wonder Buy. £18.95
Rocky. #2395 Quartet £18.95
Space Hamer Chap Ulter £18.95
Secret Command. Alex Kidd in ihe Miracle
Ninja Wort £18.95

STOP PRESS: Palace Barbarian їп stock, SEGA cards & cartridges deduct
£1.00 from RRP. Write o

Wight Computing Home Micro’s,122 High Street, Ryde, Isle of
Wight PO33 250. Enquiries or Barclaycard phone orders 0983 68928.
Ай prices include VAT at 15% and postage and packing (UK)

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/33

; SOFTWARE

ав a serious personal computer for the

home; more recently, though, Amstrad
have instead been pushing their newer
IBM compatibles, and POWs, to the serious
home user, and the serious side to the CPC
micros seems to have tailed off.

After a wordprocessor, a database is
probably the most frequently used serious
software package їп the home, and despite
the trend away from serious software for
the OPCs, there are several available to the
6128 owner, Each, of course, claims to be
the ultimate in databases = with the most
power and yet easy to use. How do these
claims stand up? In this short piece we aim
to reveal the relative strengths and weak-
nesses of three packages.

Databases are basically great for access-
ing information in all sorts of different
ways, far faster than could be done
manually, But before you can manipulate
the files, you have to install them. You
need to set up what form you want to store
your chosen data in terms of what informa-
tion you want for each record (name,
address, ‘phone number, ete) and how
much space you want for each entry. This
requires substantial planning before you
actually touch the keys. It also means that
а successful database needs to be easy to
operate, so that you spend your time using
the data, rather than working around the
limitations of the software.

Tt is this which is to my mind the biggest
disadvantage of At Last, by Rational Solu-
tions. It comes on dise for both the СРС
6128 and the PCW computers - useful if
you have both, or at some stage wish to
change, It also comes with a pretty hefty
tome as a manual. Whether it is a fault of
the manual or of the program, 1 do not
know, but I must confess to finding the
combined package very hard to come to
terms with. This could be because I have
used other databases, while the manual is
aimed at first-time users; but be warned.

When starting to use At Last, it soon
becomes clear that setting up is going to

T: CPC 6128 was promoted by Amstrad

take an awful long time. For a start,
cannot simply load it up and have a look at
а few sample databases. It works under
CP/M, and because it consists of several
separate programs (to set up the keyboard,
define a database, and use a database),
your dise-drive will be working overtime
from the word go. Having a second drive
will make things considerably easier; not
that that is mentioned in the ads, of
course! You even need to go through the
entire initialising process just to look at the
worked examples!

On Page 1, the manual makes a point of
explaining that there are no short cuts to
reading the manual in its entirety and
working through all the examples. For
anyone who has read a database before
this is infuriating, since much of what is
said is pretty basic. It is, though, excellent
for beginners; especially since things are
spelt out in painstaking detail. A concise
reference section would have helped a lot
here.

Still, At Last offers some tremendously
powerful features for a program of this
price - its search commands being of
special note. Being more specific, At Last is
а true relational database. For the unini-
tiated, this means, in short, that it сап
"relate" data between more than one file,
ie, that you do not need to repeat the same
entries on several files, saving both time

“<Databases are basically
great for accessing
information in all sorts of
different ways, far faster
than could be done
тапиайу.??

Pump That Base

David Lester looks at the more serious side of
computing and compares three database pro-
grams for the Amstrad CPC 6128.

and memory. While it is nowhere near as
powerful as something like DBase II or Ill,
it does not aspire to be. It stands up well,
though, in comparison with other cheap
database programs, including those on
view here.

Other points of note include an excellent
screen editing facility, and a large capacity
(only limited, in fact, by the capacity of
your disc).

Indexes are used to put files in a.
database into order; normally, you need to
constantly update these index files as you
alter your records - At Last scores highly
by doing this automatically, saving pre-
cious time. It is also very flexible in terms
of how to print any information reports
you might want. The disadvantage to this
flexibility, though, is that even for simple.
reports, there is a fairly lengthy process
you need to plough through prior to
printing,

Yet another disadvantage is that At Last
does not allow you to perform calculations
on any arithmetical data you may have
stored, This means that you could not use
the database to, for example, keep track of
any savings or investments you might have
(as you could very easily with professional
programs).

Campbell Systems’ Masterfile Ш is, in
contrast to At Last, a sheer delight to get to
know and use. Menu-driven, the package is
easy to learn how to use, and is extremely
versatile. It, too, comes with а comprehen-
sive manual, which is well-written, and
easy to follow. One key difference is that
this is designed so that you do not need to
spend а weekend reading it prior to seeing
the program in action, If you know any-
thing about database management soft-
ware, you can dip into the clearly divided
manual to find out just how Masterfile
works, and be off.

Hence getting started with the program
is relatively simple. The program uses
AMSDOS - so you do not need the hassle of
booting up CP/M all the time. For first
time users, this allows you to take your

34/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

disc out of the box, and load it up there and
then; you can load in the example files
which come as a tutorial, and learn by
doing in a very simple and easy-going way
Not using CP/M also has the added bonus
that you can adapt the program for your
own needs, from BASIC, This is well
described in the manual, and adds huge
Potential for you to tailor the program to
exactly how you want it.

Masterfite has the relational facility
touted by At Last, and is second to At Last
only in terms of capacity. With two dise
drives. At Last has a much higher storage
capacity. One less obvious advantage
which Masterfile Ш has is that it has
almost become the standard for СРС
computers; which means that relevant
software such as spreadsheets and word-
processors tend to be compatible with it
Whereas they may not be with some of the
others.

Minerva Systems, despite having a lower
profile for their Random Access competi-
tor, make some pretty strong claims for it
("the most powerful ever for the price").
Perhaps,

Like Masterfile, it uses Amsdos so that.
it is tailor-made to fit the CPC, rather than
happening to run on it via CP/M, which
makes it significantly easier to start to use.
‘And its emphasis is different. As part of
Minerva’s almost unique approach to uti-

lity software, it is very user-friendly. And
simpler, too. I do not mean this in a
derogatory sense; compared to At Last it is
а positive advantage. It is much easier to
use, and more clear. But one cannot deny
the lack of power relative to the first two
packages, not only by not being a relational
database, but also by virtue of its having a
smaller storage capacity, and having
simpler search commands.

Ав suggested by its пате, this package
uses a random access system to reduce the
time taken to find data, this is important
unless you have time to waste. This works
well, and is a very useful feature

It allows you to use BASIC to customise
it to your own needs, like Masterfile, and
provides more arithmetic calculations than
the other two. Furthermore, you can
incorporate your own feel to it by designing
the “record cards” on which you will s
your data to include graphics and boxes,
and even different sizes of characters.
(Quite how useful this is depends upon
what you are using it for; I confess to not
needing that feature at the moment, but
you never know . .!)

Which really brings me to the crux of
the article. There can be no one outright
winner in terms of features, power, or ease
of use. The three packages tested are
clearly very strong in their own ways, and
it is for you to decide whether or not you

require the extra storage of At Last, the
power and compatibility of Masterftle III,
or the simplicity and speed of access
provided by Random Access. It makes a
pleasant change for a reviewer to be able
to conclude that all three packages work
well. It merely remains for you to sort out
your own priorities, and choose
cordingly

If the old adage that the customer is
always right holds true, Masterfile wins
the day by outselling the other two by
quite a large extent. It offers the most
power for the least effort, and is to my
mind far preferable to At Last, But 1
cannot deny that there is always the other
hand... n

PROGRAMS EVALUATED:

1) Database Manager (At Last)
528.95 from Rational Solutions Ltd.

2) Masterfile III
339.05 from Campbell Systems,

3) Random Access Database
330.05 from Minerva Systems.

SOFTWARE-

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/35

T

Time for a
change

Minmy Grubb, of Carlisle, writes:

Tam at present the owner of

а 016 with which I use a

1541 disk drive, a great
little machine, little referring to
the memory. In the near future I
intend to upgrade to either a C64
or C128, Lam in my thirties and
completely self-taught about
‘computing I am finding the C16 a
bit restrictive but with money a
little short, I will be purchasing
Second hand one, во 1 wonder if
you could clear up a few points
for me?

1) What advantages and disad-
vantages the C64 has over the
128 and vice versa?

2) When buying second hand,
are there any simple tests I could
carry out on either computer to
check for faults?

3) What are likely to be the
main faults with either
computer?

4) A friend reckons that only
about. 75% of C64 software will
work on the 128 in 64 mode, why
is this, or is he wrong?

5) I have, at present, got Lazer
Basie (Disk), Simons Basic (Cart)
and in future was thinking about
the Phanton add ons. Will these
work on the 128 in 64 mode or
not?

Your help will be greatly ap-
preciated on this matter. I see
that second hand 64's are rough-
ly 880-8110 wheras C128's are
5140-5200, is it really worth
saving up the extra?

As far as | know, the 064

doesn't have any advantages

over the C128, since the 128
includes a 64 mode. The 64 is
physically а smaller machine but
that’s about all. On the other hand,
the C128 has a number of advan-
tages, larger memory, better Basic,
three machines in one (C64, C128,
and (P/M), and a better keyboard.
Basically the C128 is an improve-

"KENN GARROCH

ment, by quite a long way on the
би.

When buying second hand, the
first and most obvious thing is to
set-up the machine and see that it
works. While it is running, rattle
the power leads around to see if
there are any faults in them - not
usually too difficult to fix but you
may reduce the price a little.
Check all the keys on the keyboard
to make sure that they work, and.
take a good look at the display to
make sure it is steady. It's a good
idea to take along a game that you
know and run it. Something that
makes use of all the machine's
facilities including the joysticks,
the graphics and sound. I all these.
are fine then the machine is proba-
bly in good shape,

If you have chance with either
of the machines, leave it on for 20
minutes or ко, and then touch the
power supply casing. If this burns
your hand then its reasonably
likely to pack up in the next few
months. If it is only warm then it
should be OK. There are two types.
of supply for the 64, the old green
shoe type, and the newer black
ribbed box. The latter is better and
should give much less trouble over
the years to come. Apart from the
above tips and a good look at the
bodywork, 1 cannot think of much
else to suggest. In general, comput-
ers are fairly reliable, and only the
moving parts ever get a chance to
wear out. Obviously, if the
machine is looking battered then
second thoughts might be in order
(unless, of course, its very clean).

Where faults are concerned, I'm
not a great expert on the C128 and
so, 1 cannot say what they may be.
The 064 however, sometimes
suffers from bad power supplies
and knackered VIC and sound
chips. Leaving the machine on for
an hour or so will turn up th
faults and, as 1 said above, running
a well-known game also helps:

As far as I know, the compatibi-
lity between the C64 and the 128 in
64 mode is about 99%. Most 64
software that has been written
since the advent of the 128 will run
in 64 mode, Older stuff is not
guaranteed to, but it should. You
may have problems with car-
tridges and interfaces as the 128
has different hardware that is not
completely 64 compatible. I cannot
го into details since 1 don't have
any, but. most, if not all, Commo-
dore peripherals should work.

As to which you should buy, if
depends on what you want. The 64
is great for games and game pro-
gramming (machine code) but is a
little naff when it comes to word
processing. The 128 on the other
hand is capable of running an 80-

column screen (but only with а
monitor 1 suspect) and has a better
keyboard. Since most 64 games will
run in 64 mode, I would think it
better to save up the extra money
and go for the larger machine, On
the other hand, you might be able
to get a second hand non-Commo-
dore machine for around the same
price as the 128 - this is worth
considering.

Confusions

M 1 Armstrong, of Welton, Lin-
сот, writ
I have just purchased an
Amstrad 9512 and would
like to ask a couple of
questions about the disc system.
The first is: what kind of disc
should I use, the СЕ or CF-2DD?
I read in another publication
comments referring to the use of
discs from the 8256/8512, both
A drive (SD) and B drive (DD)
which I find confusing. Could you
perhaps explain which you would
recommend and why?

I also notice the caveat
‘almost’ used with monotonous
regularity with reference to the
use of 8000 series software on
the 9512. Could you perhaps
enlarge upon this?

Finally, page 25 of the manual
mentions the possibility of add-
ing an extra disc drive, specifi-
cally the FD4. Is this an integral
drive or simply a bolt on addition
and would it involve changing the
type of discs used ie, single or
double density?

There are basically four
types of disc which can be
split into two groups: single-
sided (SS), and double-sided (DS).
Each of these can be either single
or double density. The CF-2 ap-
pears to come in the double-sided
category and can be either single
or double density (SD or DD). SD
dises normally have 40 tracks per
side giving approximately 360K of
storage whereas DD dises have 80
tracks giving roughly twice the
storage with 720K. The 9152 is
quoted as having 720K of storage
оп its drive and so must be using
DD discs.
The way in which dises are
manufactured means that after
testing, those that do not qualify
for DD status are sold as SS and
those that don't make that are
junk. However, it is possible for a
DD disk drive to read a SD disc in
DD format since, most of the time,
the discs are of quite a high
quality - the only drawback being
that they are not quaranteed

against loss of data if you use them
in this way. What is also usually
possible is for a DD disc
read a SD disc in SD format. This is
easy since the read/write head of
the drive simply jumps two steps
ага time to access every other
track effectively, halving the num-
ber of tracks.

‘The 8000 series of PCW comput-
ers uses one drive of each type ie, a
SD as A and a DD as B. This daft
arrangement means that the B
drive, which is usually used for
storage only, has twice the amount
of space as the A drive but needs
higher quality discs. Since DD
dises work easily with SD drives,
most POW users will end up buying
DD discs all of the time.

The ‘almost’ you mention presu-
mably refers to the compatibility
of software between the two ma-
chines. Not being a great expert on
either, I can't expound a great deal
оп the subject. However, the best
thing to do when acquiring soft
ware for your system is to make
absolutely sure that it will run ie,
get some kind of guarantee from
the dealer. This then p
the position that if something does
go wrong, you can take steps to
rectify the problem st someone
else's expense.

From the look of the 9152 (I've
never actually used one). I'd say
that it is possible to fit an extra
drive in the slot to the right of the
one thatis already there. Judging
by Amstrad's usual marketing
strategy, they will produce either
an upgrade or, more likely, another
machine that uses both slots.

Tm afraid | have to admit
(again?) that I know nothing about
the FDA; however, I'd guess that it
is an external drive. The best way
to find out is to look for expansion
slots at the back of the machine, If
one of these is labelled disc drive
or even PDS then you have the
answer, As to whether it is single
ог double density, 1 suggest you
contact a dealer and ask.

Keyed-up

Pearce Jameson, Clapham, Lon
don, writes:

As you probably know, the

Atari ST keyboard is ac-

cessed by way of an exter-
mal processor (Hitachi 6301).
The problem I have is reading
multiple keypresses from it. It
appears to only reveal the last
two keys pressed, if you hold
down any more, they are ignored.
What I would like to know is how
to read more or alternatively,
since I can read the ROM of the

36/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

6301, obtain a data sheet for the
processor so that I can disassem-
ble the commands and see how it
works with a view to changing
things round for multiple keys.

Obviously, the best answer
would be to recommend a book
that explains ‘in detail” how the
keyboard system operates. As
far as 1 can see from my re
searches, there are no published
details on the subject. Гат at my
wits end ~ can you help?

Mmmm this is a hard one - в
A you say, there doesn’t appear
lo be any details on the
subject. AIL I can find is a list of
the Intelligent Keyboard Command
Set in Anatomy of the Atari ST but
these are of no use with this
problem, It would be quite useful
for games programming to be able
to poll the keys as on other micros;
owever, I'm afraid Т don't know
Son it's done, If any reader's know
the details, please send them to
Peek and Роке so that I can let
everyone in on the secret,

Load of...

H Spencer, of Wirral, Cheshire,
writes:

1 faye heard rumours that

there are some problems

with games that use the
internal disk drives on the
520STFM. The rumour says that
some games will not load, is there
any truth to this, and if so, what
is the problem?

Apparently this rumour is

true, some of the software

houses have used a form of
protection that involves accessing
rack numbers above 40. This is
Useful in that validity information
can be held here that will not
normally be copied by disk copiers.
However, the problem arises that
some (perhaps many) of the inter-
mal drives cannot cope with read-
ing these extra tracks, and so the.
disk looks like it's а copy, As far as
I'm aware, the problem has now
been acknowledged and the soft-
ware houses are using other forms
of protection. If you have any
software that causes problems and
won't load, send it back to the
software house and complain,
making sure you have receipt and
proof that it is an original.
--

Link up

J Bentham, of Thornton, Black-
pool, writes:

Firstly, my friend has a
mono Amstrad CPC 464
which he wants to use with

the Commodore 1701 monitor.
This would require an RGB to
‘composite video converter.

Secondly, I require the oppo-
site, composite video to analogue
RGB, to use my Commodore 64
with my NEC Multiscan monitor
which I use with my Atari 1040
ST.

Does any company supply
these RGB - composite con-
verters? Also, does any company
sell a TV Tuner that I could use
with my RGB monitor?

1 must say first of all that I
know of no-one selling such
devices - which doesn't mean
that there aren't any. Considering
the number of different video for-
mats, such devices would be quite
useful and, as far as 1 know, there
is no technical reason why they
cannot be built.
If any Popular readers know of
а company which supplies them or
who knows how they are designed,
then please write to Peek and Poke
with the details, I need all the help
Т can get.

Stubborn
revolutions

А D Bishop, of Sidmouth, Devon,
writes

1 have а 1541 disk drive

(CBM) which is refusing to

rotate the disk most of the
time. I believe that the central
hub which looks like a segmented
plastic ring which mates with
another receptor ring and grips
‘the disk from the inside edge - is
worn. Do you know anyone who
сап fit another clamp ring or
where I can get one please?

The best thing to do is look

through the adverts at the

back of the magazine and
find a reasonably priced repair
service. Make sure, if you сап, that
payment can be made via credit
card (this has numerous advan-
tages over а cheque).

After looking inside my 1541, it
seems more likely that there are
problems with the motor or the
drive belt than with the clamp.

To check the clamp, try a disk
with hub supports (usually a white
ring in the middle) and then one
without. The supports make the
hub a little thicker and should
improve the grip. If there is no
difference then the clamp is proba-
bly OK. It is well worth getting the
drive completely serviced and re-
aligned, especially if it is getting
old. l'm afraid that I cannot recom-
mend anyone in particular since
this would, first of all, be free

advertising, and secondly, not hav-
ing used them, I don't know of any.

Games master

Geoff Salter, of Dinas Powis,
8 Glamorgan, writes:
Town a Toshiba T300 com-
puter and wonder if you or
any of your readers could
help with the following points:

1) Where could 1 get the
Graphics Package 1 from?

2) What software will my
machine run ie, games?

At present the system is fine
for the reason I bought it, name-
ly COBOL programming but, as I
wish to begin writing games, I
need to find the answers to the
above questions.

Unfortunately, 1 have never

heard of the 7300 let alone

acquired any software for it,
However, if you want to begin
writing games, the two main pack-
ages you will need are an assem.
bler, and, as you mentioned above
graphic package. Probably the best.
place to look is in the various
computer magazines and their ad-
vertising pages. l'm sorry I can't be
of more help, perhaps our readers
know more?

Discovered

Gerry Fisher, of Duffield, Derby.
shire. В Manning, of Kiddermin-
ster, Wores. L W Dewhurst, of
Leaington Spa, Warwickshire.
And others.

My thanks to the above, all
who wrote in with solutions
to G Thibaudeau's letter in
the 9th October issue of PCW
concerning the Opus Discovery
disk drive problems. First of ali,
two user's clubs for this gadget
are:
Mr D Lilley,
The Spectrum Discovery Club,
8 Rayham Crescent,
Black Hill,
Keighley,
West Yorks
and,
Mr Mike Kuklewsky,
The Discovery User's Club,
Urkwal 92,
1824 HR Almere,
The Netherlands,

Mr Dewhurst says that the first
is quite helpful and the second can
supply (presumably to members
only) а dissassembiy of the Discov-
егу ROM in English. This costs 18
Gilders (about $6) and covers
versions 21, 22 and 222 of the
ROM. The club also produces a

KENN CARROCH-
RE TES EE E ae A TY SEE)

magazine in English and also re-
plies 10 queries in English, al-
though they can be a little slow
about it.

Suggestions for loading in the
very long program start off simply
with trying CLEAR 65585 ro re-
move the UDGs.

The explanation for the problem.
is that the Discovery allocates a
small amount of space below the
Basic program (blocks of 198
bytes) before saving or loading,
giving it back after the operation.
Since the program was very long
(41K), running the program allo-
cates variables and saving the
program saves these as well, Due
to the increased size of the pro-
gram, the Discovery is unable to
allocate enough work space al-
though it was able to save, On
trying to load the program back in,
the header on the disk tells the
Discovery that there is not enough
RAM ie, the program was too large
to allocate the work space, and
then load it in. The answer to this
is to doctor the header so that the
Discovery thinks that there are no
variables present, thus reducing
the size of the progam, The best
жау to do this is to get hold of the
Opus Disk Manager from Bradway
Software of 33 Conalan Avenue,
Sheffield 517 4PG.

Other solutions are to make sure
that no channels have been opened
ie, #8 for the printer, before load-
ing the program in the 48K Spec-
trum, use random access on the
file - or а copy of the file - to
produce a shorter version of the
file which will load. Other possibi-
lities are to edit the file and cut off
the last line or so instead of the
line ending with chr$13, termina-

tion can be achieved with chr$128.
With а 128K Spectrum, the Dis-
covery RAM disk 6 can be used,
MOVE the program file to disk 6
and load it from there ie,
MOVE

lj"program" TO

LOAD #6; "program"

‘The Discovery normally uses a
256 byte buffer (equivalent to one
disk block) whereas the RAM disk
only uses 32 bytes, The 224 bytes
that are saved should release suffi-
cient memory to load the program.

‘Once loaded, it is a good idea to
shorten the program by VALing -
use GOTO VAL"1234" instead of
GOTO 1234 as this save 3 bytes.
When saving CLEAR will delete
the variables and shorten the file,
remove REM statements and join
lines as this save 4 bytes each
time.

Finally, thanks to all the people
who have written in on this sub-
ject, hopefully Mr. Thibaudeau
will be able to fix the problem now.

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/37

-PROGRAMMING

looking at how to connect computers

to the real world, and make them
control and sense much more than simple
keyboards and video screens, which is all
they normally do,

All home micros ean be connected to the
outside world, some far more easily than
others.

‘The two main processors in use today,
the 6502 and the 280, show the two main
methods of input/output (i/o) control, The
6502 (also used in 6800, 6809 and 68000)
system is simplest and relies on the fact
that the i/o controller is part of the
memory тар,

A set of memory locations are directly
connected to an i/o chip such as the
commonly used 6522 VIA. This has a
number of registers that can be directly
written or read as though they were any
other memory location. The most impor-
tant of these is the i/o port itself.

Input/output port

An Мо port usually has eight lines (see Fig
1), one corresponding to each bit of the
memory byte.

Each of these can be either input or
output, in the first case, voltages placed on
them can be read simply by looking at the
memory location eg, with PEEK.

In the second case, values written to the
memory location set up voltages on the
output pins of the i/o chip. As with all
computers, the only values possible are
zero or one, corresponding to the voltages
OV and 5У ie, off or on.

The direction in which the signals travel
lie, for input or output, is set up in another
register of the chip, usually an adjacent
memory location, known as the data direc-
tion register. A bit set in this register tells
the chip that the corresponding line is an
output, zero defining in.

0: the next few weeks I will be

The 280

The 780 (8080, 8085 ie Intel /Zilog) employs
а different format for its i/o. Instead of
using up valuable memory space for i/o
and data a direction registers, the miero-
processor chip has an extra output that
informs the system that the information on
the address and data buses refers to i/o
and not memory.

The INP and OUT instructions are used
for the access and hence the i/o section
does not appear on the memory map, There
аге similar chips to the 6522 VIA that work
with this extra line known as PIO's
(Parallel Input/Output) but they are sel-
dom used. Instead, the whole of the system
bus is usually available at the back of the
machine as on the Spectrum and Amstrad
machines.

“ДИ home micros can be
connected to the outside
world, some far more easily
than others . . . in this
series we take a look at how
to do this, and make them
control much more than
simple keyboards and video
screens, which is all they
normally йо.??

Ground Control to Major Kenn

In the first of another Kenn Garroch series,
this time on interfacing, Kenn looks at the
two basic input/output systems to use on
home microcomputers.

Connecting things up to this is reasona; -
bly easy, but nowhere near as simple аи
using a VIA chip where the address
decoding is automatically taken care of.

Looking at the system bus of a 280
machine (Fig 2), the lines that are impor-
tant are the address bus lines A0-A15, the
data bus lines D0-D7 the RD (Read), WR
(Write), and TORO (Input/Output Re-
quest). Note that the last three have lines
or bars above them denoting that they are
active when low (zero volts).

Logic circuit

Some simple electronic logic circuits are
needed to make some sense of these
signals, basically, because, i/o ports use
the same address and data buses as the
memory but are not active until an i/o
request is made.

То see how the decoding is done, the
basics of logic circuits have to big
understood.

There are three basic forms of circuit,
the simplest being NOT or invert, then
come the two standards AND and OR. NOT
takes its input voltage and reverses it ie, 5
Volts at the input gives OV at the output,
and OV at the input gives 5V at the output.

AND and OR are a little more complex,
however, but their operation сап easily be
seen in the diagrams in Fig 3. AND and OR
gates can have two or more inputs, and the
operation is performed on all of them,

The tables in Fig 3. show the two inputs
with all their possible states and are
known as truth tables,

Simply stated, AND gates show OV at
their outputs unless all of the inputs are 1
(БҮ is usually denoted as 1 and OV as 0). OR
gates show 1 at their outputs unless all of
the inputs are zero.

This may make them sound opposites
which, after careful examination of the
truth tables, is not the case. The inverse of

38/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

PROGRAMMING-

Directly addressable memory

sv
|

bor

[ | sy

| Le sy

oreg [т Тоа [1 [о То 1 То | mis
tere []vTeTo Ts Jot To per 7

Lay

pe

Reading i/o reg gives 00110000
DD (Data direction) sets in and out

FIG 1 the ‘in memory' type of i/o.

“Once contact with the
outside world has been
achieved, what can be done
with it? . . . the only limit is
your imagination,
microprocessors can control
anything." "

WRIT -)2V. RESR А10
+

an AND is known as NAND (NOT AND)
and is an AND gate with a NOT gate after
it, the inverse of OR is NOR,

sequence to obtain the required function
and are available in a number of different
forms and chip packages.

SB 12V | MI 8
E
ШЕ Т
E RT ja an
в
КО A? 5 ROMS #9
AND OR NOT
ia ib | out іа ib] out Та | out
9 0 [0 0 0 То 1 То
к Out 0 Q0 1 1 0 1
Logie gates can be connected together in се (M
КТ 1 Фа 1
lel it S t J>et
andard symbols (or rather the | $4 & }-™ + = А

Тһе
symbols 1 shall изе) are shown below to
their truth tables,

Once contact with the outside world has
been achieved, what can be done with it?
Attaching such things as ADCs (Analogue
to Digital Converters and their comple-
ments DACs (Digital to Analogue Con-
verters) allow reading of varying voltages
from sensors such as thermometers and
microphones,

The switchable outputs can control
relays that can switch things on and off.

In fact, the only limit is your imagina-
tion, microprocessors can control
anything. a

Fig 3 AND/OR/NOT/NAND/NOR truth tables and symbols

+ Means invert (NOT)

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/39

bi

-PROGRAMMING: ST
Film Show

D Eaton

his GPA Basic program is a Degas picture
show utility. When the program is run,
after being debugged, all files on drive A
with the extender „РП will be shown one after
another in ten interesting ways. As can be seen
from the extender, this program is only suitable
for displaying low resolution pictur п

Start:
Rez%=Xbios (4)
If Rez%=2
System
Endit
If Rez%=1
Void Xbios(5,L:-1,L:-1,W:0)
Endi f
Hi dem
On Error Gosub Fixit
For T%=0 To 15
Setcolor T%,0,0,0
Next T%
Deftext 1,1,,52
Text 15,50, "Degas Picture Show"
Deftext ‚0
Text 75,105, "Written Буг"
Deftext ‚1
Text 70,160, "David Eaton"
Poy
Dim 8%(5),0%(5›,РЖ%(В›
Мате
aGet_dir

To Fix
@Get_pic
Pause 175

S=Varptr (A$) +34
Physbase-Xbi os (2)
5%(0)=5

Su
5702.
5705) 2320/16
зи (4
5%(5:

D%(3) =320/16
DZ(4)-0
DX(5)-4
P*.CO|

РУ (2) =3520
PAG

Fx7,FxB,Fx9,Fx10

lumi

If Numz-ii
Numi

Endif

XKf** degas low res picture show program ##к&#
X***** written by David Eaton 29-Sep-1987 %#%4%%

Оп Num% Gosub Fx1,Fx2,Fx3,Fx4,FxS,Fx6,

Next PX

Loop

Procedure Ех1
асо1
For T%=0 To 50

Bmove S+(160%T%) ,Physbase* (160KT7) , 160.

Bmove S+( (50%160) +160%T%) ,Physbase*(
(508160) +160%T%) , 160

Bmove S+((100#160)+160%T%) , Physbase+(

(1008160) +1604T%) , 160
Bmove S+( (1508160) +160ЖТХ) , Physbase+
(0150160) +1608T%) „160
Pause 1

Next TX

Return

Procedure Ек2
ӘСо!
For T%=0 To 100
Bmove S+1608T%, Physbaset 160877.

160

Bmove (8+52000) -160ЕТУ, (Physbase+32000)

-1возтх, 160
Pause 1
Next TX
Return

Procedure Fx

2со1

Р (0) =0

Р2(1)=0

РХ (4) =0

РЖ (5) 50

For X%=0 To 320 Step 3
PX(2)7XY
PXGYEXX/1.6
PUG) =X%
P%(7)=X%/1.6
Bitblt 820 ,DZO, PXO

Next x%
Bmove S,Physbase, 52000
Return

Procedure Fx4
acol
For T%=0 To 200 Step 2
Bmove S+T%#160,Physbase+T%#160, 160
Pause 1
Next T%
For TZ=1 То 200 Step 2
Bmove S+T%#160,Physbase+T2#160, 160
Pause 1
Next T%
Return

Procedure FxS
$Col
For Т/=0 To 200
Bmove S+T%#160,Physbase+T%#160, 40

Втоуе S+80+T/%160, Physbase+80+T%8160, 40

Vsync
Next TX
For T%=200 Downto 0

Bmove S*40*TZK160,Physbase*404T74160, 40

Bmove S+120+TZ#160, Physbase+120+T%
4160, 40
Vsync
Next T%
Return

Procedure Fxé

40/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

PROGRAMMING: ST-

aCol

For T%=0 To 201 Step 2
Bmove S+T%#160,Physbase+T%#160, 160

¥160, 160
Pause 1
Next T%
Return

Procedure Fx7
Color 0
For T%=0 To 200
Line 0,T2,320, TX
Vsync
Next TX
acol
For T%=200 Downto 0
Bmove S+T%#160,Physbase+T%#160, 160
Pause 1
Next TX
Return

Procedure Fx8
Color 0
ф For T%=200 Downto 0
Line 0,T4,320, TX.
Vsync
Next T%
ӘСо1
For T%=0 To 200
Bmove S+T%#160,Physbase+T%#160, 140

Pause 1
Next T%
Return
Procedure Fx9
$Col
For Ти! To 3000
X%=Int (Rnd (0) #510)

Y%=Int (Rnd (0) £190)
PLC) =X%
PLG)SYX
РИ (2) X10
PLCS) =VL+10
РА (4) =X%
Yu
=x%+10
7)=ҮЖ+10
» Bitblt SXO,DZO,PXO
Next T%
Bmove S,Physbase, 32000
Return

Procedure Fx10
2со1
хж=о

(о)=хх

Bmove 5+ (201-ТХ) #16О,РһузЬаве+(201-Т%)

PZD =Y%

PG)
PD
РХ (5)

Bitblt SZO,DXO,
Next TX
' Bmove S,Physbase, 32000

Return

Procedure P.
Setcolor 0,7,7,7
Setcolor 15,0,0,0

Return

Procedure Get dir
Dim D$(512)

Fiz=0
Sudz-o
Sdirs-"

Pths="\"

‘Sdd%=0
Fu=0
Pu=1

While РХ0
Buf #=Spaces (45)
Pth$-Sdir$

Евъз"

Dec PX

Attry
Get.
Whi

9Get next

мепа
мепа
Return

Procedure Get_first
Void Gemdos(kHia,L:Varptr (Buf$))
Ax=Gemdos (&H4E,L:Varptr (Ев?) , Bt tr)
1€ A%=0

зка вие

Endit
Return

Procedure Get_next
Void Gemdos(&H1A,L:Varptr (Bu£$))
Аў=бетдов (&HAF)

If _A%=0
ƏRd_buff

Endif

Return

epii”

"Аг "+Sdir$+"%, E" «Chr$ (0)

мно
first
Ax=0

continued next week.

you're armed likewise, with a solitary missile.
However, the enemy sometimes has shields
which make him impervious to your fire, so

UFO2

Steven Pattullo

reade action and graphical splendour in
Steven Pattullo's successor to UFO, The
objective is to fly to the end of each level.

‘and shoot the thingy that floats down.
On level one, one of the enemy fighters will
try and shoot you down, so it's a good job that

watch out!

‘The game will be presented over a number of
weeks, in a number of parts. Simply type in
each listing and save
two next week, but i

More details

Уой can't wait and you
want a copy of the game with excellent
graphics and fast moving sprites then send 52
(turbo-load tape) or $3 (disc) to 34 Birchfield
Road, Widnes, Cheshire WAS 7SU.

PROGRAMMING: C64

on level

о continued on page 42 ye

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/41

т

‘PROGRAMMING: C64

NO

ARS THEM Ef="ERROR. . CHAI
SCREEN AT SAME AODRESS" GOTO 50000

40 IF_INT(SCREEN/16384 )-IMTCCHRRS/16584 THEN
60

"ERROR. «CHARS AND

AME BANK" :сото E0000

WeINT(SCREEN/16384 )

645/64

REEN NOT IN THE

200 PRINTCHR$CL47);"DOME"
60000 POKE 44,4:POHE 1024,0:MEH

READY.

READY.
5 PRINT "дананс ABOUT READING SPRITE DATA!!!"
10 б=57344

20 FOR М=і то 19

30 FOR Р=@ TO 62

40 READ X:POKE AFF, X:NEXT F

50 6464: МЕХТ М

50000 REM

50010 DATA 000,000,000, 000, 252,000,003

50020 DATA 255;000,015,250,192,015,251

50050 DATA 128,063,234, 160,063, 174, 150

50040 DATA 252,048, 088,252,032, 154,250

50050 DATA 186,148,254, 223, 148,250,233

50060 DATA 084,224, 000,020, 163, 156,148

50070 DATA 042, 169,030,042, 101,080, 005

50080 DATA 095, 064,005,085, 064,001,085

50090 DATA 000, 000, 064, ооо, оде, 000, 000

50100 REM
50110 DATA
50120 DATA
50130 DATA

ооо, 000, 000, 000,252, 000, 003
255, 000,015,250, 192,015,251
128, 063,234, 160,063,174, 160
50140 DATA 255,186,088,252,032,164,250
S0150 DATA 186,148,254,222,148,246,000
50160 DATA 084,224,204,020,162,002,148
50170 DATA 042, 169,050,042, 101,060,005
50180 DATA 085, 064,005,085,064,001,055
50150 DATA 000, 000,054,000, 000,000,000
50200 REM
50210 DATA
50220 DATA
50230 DATA
50240 DATA
50250 DATA
50260 DATA

000, 000, 000 , 000,252,000, 003
255, 000,015,250, 132,015,251
128, 063,234, 150, 063, 174, 160
252, 048,085,252, 032, 164,250
186, 148,254,001 , 148,249, 204
084,224,204, 020, 163, 000, 148
50270 DATA 042, 137,080,042, 101,080,005
50280 DATA 085,064, 005,085, 064,001,085
50230 DATA 000, 000,054,000, 000, ооо. асо
50300 REM

ва. Z=(CHARS-X#16354)/ 1024

30 IF Zc54 AND 226 THEM

1800 PRINTCHRE(147 "HANG ABOUT THIS WILL TAKE
A COUPLE 0

11@ POKE 56534,

120 POKE 1,PEEK(1)nND251

130 FOR I-0 TO 2047:РОКЕ CHRRS«I,PEER(53248«15
NEXT

140 POKE1,PEEKC130R 4

150 POKE 56554,PEEK(S6354)0R1

150 POKE 56578,РЕЕК(56578 ОВ

170 POKE 56576, (PEEK(S6576 УАНО:

180 POKE 53272,14

190 POKE 645, ЗСБЕЕМ/256

50310
50320
50330
50340
sesso
50360
50370
50380
50390
50400
50410
50420
50430
50440
50450
50460
50470
50460
50450
50500
50510
50520
50530
50540
50550
50560
50570
50580
50530
50500
s0510
Sacco
50650
50540
Sesso
50560
50670
50650
50630
50700
50710
50720
50730
50740
50750
50760
50770
50780
50750
50500
50510
50820
Sesso
50840

50860
50870
Sesso
sesso
50900
50510
50320
50230
50340
50952
50960
50370
50350
sesso
51000
51010
51020
51030
51040

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA

осо, оса, ооо, оор, ооо, 000, 00O
084,000,001,153,000,001,155.
064,006, 166, 144, 023, 085, 050
206, 154, 164, 006, 056, 084, 001
117,080, 001,253, 128,001,117
030, 006, 086, 084, 006, 154, 164
023,085, 050, 006, 155, 144, 001
155,064,001, 153, 000 , 000, 054
ооо, ооо, ога, ооо, 200,000,000

200, O00, 000, ооа, 000, 000, 000
009, 000, 000, ооо, ооо, ого, 000
040, 064, 000,170,085, 000,170
085,000, 171, 085, 000,175,086
000, 151,050, 000, 254, 106, 000
250, 170, 000,234, 170, 000, 170
170,000, 163, 171, 194, 165, 175
234,143,131, 170,085, 254, 163
085,250, 165,085,042, 143, 084

осо, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, ооа
ооо, ооо, 000, 000, 00A, 021, 106
240,085, 171,248,086, 175,232
030, 191, 160, 106, 128,000, 170
ово, 000, 171 , 00, 000, 175,000
000, 191,170, 000, 254, 153, 000
250, 165,000,234, 128,000, 170
900, ооо, 170, 000, 000, 165, 000
000, 165, 000, 000, 148, 000, 000

ого, ооо, оса, ооо, ога, гоо, 000
ооо, 008, 000, 000,000, 221,106
168,085, 170, 170, 086, 170, 170
90, 000,171, 104, 000,047, 168
000, 063, 165, 000, O63, 158, 000
052, 163, 000, 053, 165,000,042
168,000,042, 165, 000,042,172
000,041 , 131,000, 165,255, 170
143,254, 170,085,055, 163,084

200, 000, 000, 000
000, 000, 048, 000.
250,118, 171,234
106,130, 170,010.

200, 000,048
200,253, 170
122, 175, 170
134,176,011

134,240,015, 131,224,014, 131
160,010, 130, 16@, 010,194,160
011,194,176,015,130,240,014

131,224,170
165,170,250

175,163, 170,190
149.171.234.088 I

900,000, 000, 008, ого, 000, 000
ооо, ооо, ооо, осо, ооо, ооо, ооо
ооо, 000, 000, ооо, 020, 000, 000
оро, 000, ооо, 000, ооо, 000,000
900,000, 000,000, 000, 085,055
065,170, 170,170, 160,002,126
160, 002,126,000, 000,000,255
195, 132, 000, 000, 000, 002, 130
126, 170, 130, 128, 085) 065,064

оро, 000, ега, 200, 000, 000, 252
051,000, 195,051, 000,130,054
O00, 136, 042, 000, 123,001,000
123,001 , 000, 984, 021, 000, 000
ооо, ооо, ога, ооо, 000,055, 065
985,170,170.170,160,002,128
160,002, 125, 000, 000 , 000, 255
003, 132, 002, 000, 000, 160, 002
128, 170, 130, 125, 085, 065, 064

оро, ооо, ооо, ооо, ооо, ооа, ооа
009, ооо, 000, 000, 000,000,000
ооа, 000, ооа, ога, ого, ооа, ова
200,909, 000, оро, 200, 000, 000

42/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

PROGRAMMING: C64-
ааа a a БАЛИ OE TS SN, HS ETE

51050
51060
51070
51050
51030
51100
51110
51120
51130
51140
5115@
5116@
51170
51180
51130
51200
51210
51220
51гз@
51240
51250
51260
51270
51280

51290
I 51500
51310
51320
51330
51340
51350
51360
51370
51380
51339
51400
51419
51420
51430
51440
51450
51460
51470
51480
51430
51500
51510
51520
ще

51540
51550
51560
51570
51560
51530
51500
51610
51520
51630
51640
51650
$1660
51670
51660
51690.
51700
51719
51720
51750
51740
51750
51750
51770
51780

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
REM

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA

200, 000, ооо, ооо, OO, 055, 064
ооо, 170, 125, 000, 160,000,000
150, 000, 000, 000, 000,000,255
132, 000, 000, 000, 00, 002, 123
000, 170, 135, 000, 085,053, 000

282,000,000, 000,000,000, ова
000,000,000,000,000,250,163
085,000, 000, 000, 062, 170, 085
ооа, 200,080,000, 000,000,000
000,000,062,178,035, 000, 000
ооо, 200,080, 000, 000,000,000
O62, 170,085, 000, 000,000,250
165,085.000,000,000,000, 200
280, 000, 000, ооо, 000,000,000

200, 200, 000, ооо, ово, 000, 201
085,000, 022, 166,064, 126,154
144,021, 085,084 ,@01,163,215
O06, 170,095,026, 055, 153,024
050, 163,027,254, 183, 024, 050
163,026,058, 153, 006, 170,093
001,163,213, 021,055,084, 126
154,144,022, 156, 064,001,085
200, 000, 000, 000, 000, ооо, 000

200, 000, 900, 001 , 298, 000, 023
064,000,122, 144,000,022, 060
000, 091 , 100,000,000, 105,000
000, 025, 050, 005, 005, 164, 026
083,217,111, 170,093,111, 170
093,026,089, 217,005,006, 154
000, 025,080, 000, 105, O00, 001
100, 000,022, 080, 000, 122, 144
000,023,054, 000, 001, 008,000

200, 000, 000, 021, 030, 000, 126
164,000,022, 153, 000,001,030
264,001,070, 144, 006, 145, 144
027, 165,084, 104, 223, 165,096
217, 153.111, 154,109,096.217
183, 104,229, 165,027, 165,084
006, 145,144, 001,070, 144,001
030,064,022, 169, 000,126,164
200,021 , 060, ога, 000, 000, 000

200, 000, 000, ога, 000, 000, 000
000,000, 000, 000, 000, 000,255
000,015,255, 240,063, 255,252
063,255,252, 255,255, 255,170
165, 106,157,290, 224,170,167
234,085, 035, 055,021,085, 084
021 , 085, 084, 005, 085, 050, 000
085, ооо, ооа, ооо, ооо, 000, 000
900,000, 000, 200,000,000, 000

ооо, 200, ода, одо, ооо, ооо, 000
009, 000, 000, 000, ооо, 200, 200
200, 000,200, 200, 000, 000, 000
000, 000, 000, поо, 000. 000, 000
290, 000,021, 196, 188,000, 000
ооо, 200, 000,000, воо, воо, ого
ога, 000, 000, 020, еее, 000, ооо
ооо, 000, 000, 220,000, 200,000
000, 200, 200, осо, ооо, O00, 000

ооо, 090,000, ога, ога, ого, 000
202,000, 00, 000, 000,255,255
900,003,255,192,015, 255,240
063,255,252,255,255,255,182
218,170,182,218.175,182,218
170,035,035, 025, 021,035, 054
205,085,030, 001, 055,064,085
285, 000, 000, ооа, оса, ова, 000

51730

51800 REM

51810
51820
51830
51840
51850
51860
51870
51580
51530

READY.

READY.

DATA ога, 000, 000, ога, 000,000,000

DATA оса, 000, 000, 000,000,000, 000
DATA ова, аго, ого, ооо, 000,000,255
DATA 080,015, 255,240,063, 255,252
DATA 063,255,252,255,255,255,255
DATA 255,255,255, 255,224, 255,255
DATA 255,255, 255,255, 063,255,252
DATA 063,255,252, 015,255,240, 000
DATA 255,000, 000, 00, 090,000,000
DATA ого, ооо, 200,200, 000, ооо, ооа

190 FOR Ме51480 TO S12504(5478):RERD А:РОКЕ
м, в: NEXT

1000
1002
1004
1006
1008
1010
1012
1914
1016
1015
1038
1040
1042
1043

1044
1045
1046

1447.
1048
1050
1052
1054
1966
1068
1070
1072
1074
1076
1078
1050
1082
1084
1986
1088
1050
1092
1054
1036
1098
1108
1102
1194
1106
1105
1110
1112
1114
1415

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA

255,255,213,213,213,219,213,213
255,255,85,85,85,85,85,85
255,254,86,86,86,86,86,86
213,213,213,213,213,213,213,213
56,56,86,86,86,86,86,86
213,213,219,213,213,213,234,170
85,85,85,85,85,95,170,170
56,86,66,86,86,86,170,170
85,105,125,85,85,105,125,85
128, 128, 128, 128, 128, 128, 128, 128
170, 170, 149, 149, 143, 143, 145, 143
170, 170,85,85, 85,85,85, 85

DATA 170,171,87,87,87,87,87,87.

DATA 0,126,70,74,86,102,126,0,0,8,8,8,
24,24,24,0

DATA Q, 126, 66,2, 126,96, 126,0, 0, 124,66.

30,6, 70, 126,0,0,124,68,68,66, 126,12

DATA

0,0,126,64,126,6,70,126,0,0, 126

64,126,70,70,126,0,0,124,4,4, 12, 12,12

DATA

0,0,50,36,126,70,70,126,0,0,126

66,66,125,6,6,0

DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
DATA
Сата
DATA
DATA
DATA

READY.

149,143, 149, 143, 143, 143,143,143
149, 143, 143, 143, 143, 143, 191,255.
85,85,85,85,85,85,255,255
27,87,87,87,97,87,255,255
87,87,87,87,87,87,87,87
3,3,13,13,53,53,213,213
213,213,53,53,13,13,3,3
86,86,68,88,36,36,128,128
128,128,26,96,88,86,66,86
85,85, 106, 106,106,106, 106,106
85,85, 170, 170, 170, 170, 170,170
106,106,106, 106, 106, 106, 106, 106
170, 170, 170, 170,170,170, 170,170
283,253,253, 253,253, 253,85,85
255,255, 255,255,255, 255,85,85
253,253,253, 253,253, 253, 253, 253
255,255,255, 255,255, 255,255,255
255,254,214,214,214,214,294,170
255,285,213, 222,222, 222,222,222
255,255,85,65, 121,121,121, 121
222,222,222, 222,222, 213,234,170
121,121,121, 121,85,85, 170, 170 ,
0,126, 160, 104, 30, 230, 230, 230
230,230,230, 90, 104, 150, 128,0
170,170, 190, 174, 142, 130, 174, 142
170, 170, 251, 186,56,251 , 186,56
170,171,239,235,227,239,235,227
190, 174,142,190, 174,142, 191,255
251, 186,56,251, 186,56, 255,255
233,235,227, 239,235,227, 255,255
@,2,0,0,0,0,0,0

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/43

MICRO-FILE

FOR SALE

CRIBBAGE

The popular pub game six card cribbage is now
available for the Spectrum 48K/128K
Features include:

IMPRESSIVE FULL COLOUR
PLAYING CARD GRAPHICS
100% MACHINE CODE
TWO LEVELS OF PLAY
AUTOMATIC SCORING
HELP OPTION FOR BEGINNERS
Six card cribbage is suitable for both beginners and

experienced crib players and comes with full
instructions and rules of the game:

* k k ж MONEY BACK GUARANTEE Ж Ж Ж Ж

If you are not delighted with six card cribbage then
simply return the tape within 5 days and your cash
will be refunded

ook coe oe oe ЖКК 0x00 жж

Send cheque or postal order for £6.95 to

ESEM SOFTWARE

95 Rodway Road, Patchway, Bristol BS12 5PH
Tel: 0272 236064

n Cheshire SK6 7RQ

QL USERS

There is now a mouse available that is
compatible with hundreds if not
thousands of OL programmes, as
standard.

How much would you expect to pay
for this degree of high quality power?
The Smiling mouse costs, fully
inclusive, £40. Too good to be true?
Why not write for further details or
see our ad in OL World. Lots of other
OL goodies available.

Send cheque/POs to, or write for further
details, to:

SMILING SOFTWARE

Dept PCW1
8 Croxton Close
Marple.
Stockport

La Фа

STORT SOFT OFFER
Ifyou have an ATARI 8-bit system, why not part
exchange your hardware/original software for
an exciting new ST system from STORT SOFT.
Ring with full details or just drop us a line
Write for more information. Cheques etc. payable to STORT SOFT (International
orders remit in pounds Sterling by bank draft or international money order and send.
amount quoted which will [47 exclusive of VAT but inciude additional postage. Write
for quote in any other currency)
ACCESS /MASTERCARD/EUROCARD/VISA accepted
CREDIT CARD ORDER LINE - 0279 89509
24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK - VAT & РР. INC. NO HIDDEN EXTRAS -
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU PAY
18 CROWN CLOSE, SHEERING, BISHOP"S STORTFORD
HERTS CM22 7NX (880)

Central Media shop now open at address below

CENTRAL ПЕША

3.5 INCH DISCS
[ WESüL | О sounsranoeD s/s bo
ATARI ST 10 UNBRANDED D/S 0/0
RARE 5.25 INCH DISCS
Ring for 10 DATATECH D/S 0/0 ЭВ
details 10 DATATECH D/S D/D.
10 TOK 5/5 D/D. 9
520 STEM 10 AMSOFT CF2 3” 24.00
£275
1040 - £475 All prices inc. VAT & PAP.
TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME

"ALL CHEQUES & PO's PAYABLE TO
CENTRAL MEDIA
101 SPRING BANK, HULL НОЗ 18H TEL: (0482) 2658 fhison,

ADVERTISING RATES FOR MICRO-FILE

Semi Display
Lineage

£8 per single column centimetre (+VAT)
35p per word (+VAT)

CALL SUSANNAH KING or ROBERT COLE on 01-834 1717 FOR SEMI DISPLAY ADVERTISING

AA/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

STORT SOFT

ATARI MAIL ORDER SPECIALISTS
INCREDIBLE LOW PRICES! 35 SPECIAL OFFERS

25 55/00 135 TPIMFIDD) & BD or 60/90 locking dischox — £35.00
| ‘ALL DISKS CARRY A NO QUIBBLE REPLACEMENT GUARANTEE ARE CERTIFIED

50 55/00 135 TPI(MF 100) & 80 or 60/90 locking бас box £59.95
25 05/00 135 ТРИМЕ200) & 80 or 60/30 locking disc box £39.95,

| 100% ERROR FREE AND COME WITH LABELS, 51^ ALSO HAVE SLEEVES AND 50 05/00 135 ТРІМР200) & 80 or 60/30 locking dise box 18900
WRITE PROTECTS. FLIP SIDED DISCS HAVE TWO INDEX HOLES AND TWO зоре 0 5 5 1 58) 0
NOTCHES. сад
ss/00 mewo) п® зш sim зш — 12%
КИСКЕН 08/00 (4200) — i39 3300 6200 100 Z $$
25 SS 48TPI 5.25" DISCS & 100 CAP LOCKING DISC BOX
ATARI ST 1 MEGABYTE 1
50. 35 ABTPI 5 25" DISCS & 100 CAP LOCKING DISC BOX AMIGA. MEGABYTE Bt
100 SS 48ТРІ 5.25” DISCS & 100 CAP LOCKING DISC BOX - г:
25 DS 48ТРІ 5.25" DISCS & 100 CAP LOCKING DISC BOX Th
50 DS 48ТР! 5.25” DISCS 8 100 CAP LOCKING DISC BOX 520 STFM £279.95
100 05 487PI 6.25" DISCS & 100 CAP LOCKING DISC ВОХ 520 STM, SFAS4 (4 mag dive) £27995
с 520 STM, SF314 (Í may eve) £398.95
51 DISCS FROM AS LITTLE AS 33 PENCE 520 STM, SF354 В SM125 mono monitor £374.95
| {0 STE & SMS meno m ЕЛ
i "mono mando
От АМ Яш Mega ST (2 megabyte RAM & 1 meg drive) £845.00
DISK NOTCHER FREE WITH EACH 100 DISKS PURCHASED Mega ST (2 megabyte RAM & 1 meg drive) & SM125 £935.00
10 ша Mega ST (4 megabyte RAM & 1 meg drive) £1095 00
UNBRANDED TRIALIO 25 50 100 plastic lib. case Маса ST (4 megabyte RAM & 1 me drive) & SM125 £11900
$948 TP E450 £900 £1700 £3300 £550 ‘A acre comes wh Iree sco AN STs come wih publ domain disks includ
0548 TPI £550 £11.00 £1900 Е3500 {650 срама а ди Mm Matta; t HM dec M pieh sis ca 1 MN
0596 ТР £650 £1300 £2100 £3700 — £750 520 STM ONLY comes wath It Word word proces эм speling checkar
0596 ТР! FLIP SIDED £700 £1400 £22.00 £38.00 £8.00
MIMIC FLP 5060 0596 ТИ £8.95 £2000 £3800 £7000 995
MIMIC HIGH DENSITY 1 Блед £23.00 £52.00 £100.00 £180.00 #2400 Sis рох NOTCHER 0 ‘your бай capacty on a single БЯ Ss £395
T TS Leid погна fpe - protect your vati software
Kj RE bu nel: eam и
F + Si /IBM/AMSTRAD 1512 TO CENTROMCS PRINTER LEAD (2 mete) Et]
^ HOLDS 60 £7.95 54" HOLDS 100 £9.95 — SITO RS232 MODEM LEAD (2 metres) (895
3j" HOLDS 40 £195 60/90 (HOLDS 60 3" or 90 3}")£9.95 BATTERY POWERED MINI-VAC - for keyboards, printers etc. £9.95

Just write for more information. Cheques ete. payable to STORT SOFT (international orders remit in pounds Sterling by bank

or international money order and send amount quoted which
will be excusive of VAT but incide addtional postage Wit for quote in any other currency)
ACCESS/MASTERCARD/EUROCARD/VISA accepted. CREDIT CARD ORDER LINE - 0279 89509

24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK - VAT & Р.Р INC. NO HIDDEN EXTRAS - WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU PAY

18 CROWN CLOSE, SHEERING, BISHOP'S STORTFORD, HERTS CM22 7NX

SPECIAL OFFERS
* EXCEPTIONAL VALUE
*

25x 525, Dg DD Discs
100 CAPACITY LOCKABLE DISC BOX

ONLY £17.60

OR
50 5:25" 05.00 DISCS
PLUS.
100 CAPACITY LOCKABLE DISC BOX
R

d
M, — onty £27.10

£399.00 + free modulator

AUTUMN OFFERS FROM CITY CENTRE

AMIGA A500 (with modulator) ..... sone £899
езе ee COMMODORE 64/Vic 20 power packs. £11.50
40 CAPACIY LOCKABLE вох к
DISCS! DISCS! DISCS! D
QNEY 22850 All discs come complete with labels
X 3.5" ds/dd discs 10 £10
поза IDEO DEC 3.5" ds/dd discs 25 £24
оти 3.5" ds/dd discs 50.................. при £47
3.5" ds/dd discs 100 (plus free lockable disc box).... £93
ONLY £68.20 3.5” ds/dd discs 200 (plus two lockable disc boxes) £183
3.5” ds/dd discs 600 (plus five lockable disc boxes) £447
REMEMBER THE PRICE YOU SEE IS ALL
YOU PAY. (U.K. ONLY) Lockable disc box – for 80+ 3.5” discs — £9.95
THEY INCLUDE VAT AND CARRIAGE Disc labels 1,000 for £14.95

Cheque or Postal Order to. Plastic library case holds 10 £1.25

iV] Manor Court Supplies Ltd Prices include VAT and carriage in the UK

C | Dept YC10, Glen Celyn House, Penybont,
©) Landrindod Wells, Powys LD1 55Ү.
Telephone: 0597 87784 or 0597 87792

CITY CENTRE COMPUTERS

Orders accepted from educational and government depts 136 муза Sree, Glasgow G1. Tek 041-552 4222

Dealer enquiries invited. 10)

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987 POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/45

—— - =

SOFTWARE SPECIALS ATARI520STFM | LATEST SOFTWARE
COMMODORE 64 ‘SPECTRUM 48K AMSTRAD ‘AS!
£1.89 each £1.88 each £1.99 each. £269.95 RELE. ES
toe пада EI Fics cites: поща UK language dic com se aM
КЕ сет c owner's handbook, Base reference | wewmmstumd — tm c tu
E pu fog ade, fve dece ciómmed win | bron vens im oim Ba
pede E па dorain sohware = ае иа
Soe er Pt LM я cheque and get a | demam. im oam =
Tena Me ree rs Poy ty oc chema танка са 525 ss Z
m m A Sa aso өз
сони tontes 4 ET iso
A m ACE Ерани We юв
Many othe Ron Future ш eee AMIGA А500 Sera Va 2 bss 1696
ша Арта а Be Fan Vo 2 em as
Stu pe ae па Е £469.95 жш баша S ge
Sater oe Me 5 вв sm Z
Es онна Е de жы ее
ome ) Come нө 10 Vel Де
ON m e must esha od gts вв —
Tomahawk >ч £3.95 each FREE modulator!! ок —
om 21 * od
кол е] ы Hes US, Version = ts =
Little Computer People — Gunship =
АА кз E COMMODORE C64 |, "у '%
= cron Mia
Sois Tie = SPORTS PACK ATARI ST SOFTWARE
BOOKS tice neues 69-95 csi, co | NEW LOWER PRICES
(ant стайна | эсли вести | terere, | modore СОМ cassano Unt. уви, | шю о мюйюш, ш
phus 5p ach book, | 60 Games And Applications - - Commodore sports hoidall bag, Barr id n сим
ie mica wig | Commode ba rre | Моготоасто Bong. Groat Бод. Вату | Тимо. £1155 Ima озан. 8486
COMMODORE 64 Crenting Arcade Games. intro 64 Machine Code Road Race, Decathlon, On Field Football, | Pase! EIS. Mn n tss
Det conem awe Cae Maser "tar League Baseball area s DUE ‘aig nd DE
DW Ricci er ee, | рай FREE During Novemb edo |S Пиш OE
[m топо Basie рат P s C EET S | Bete ES Rm Dux
Software 64 SUA тми Sierra on line cartridge. RRP £14.95 | бшен — (1795 TNT fuss
itt hon [gl Kmsn (юй мама {МЮ
mike Ganas | hoz Specnm | gerentem
риш eu бота err AMI FTWARE
дыны шаб | лм ыкта | шшш бшш AMSTRAD Па i.
ж - du
GENERAL eda ,AMSMB. | PCW8256 | PCW9512 | с: САИ
[кейүү 40 Educational Games кага £289 £449 edid hane DE
ets А Eso бин са
пан а жет | PLUSVAT | PLUS УАТ | ен ШЫ
EX „„ 17 Campbell Street, Belper, Derbyshire DES 1AP. Telephone: 077 382 6830
ere nai shequst i OD paratis o Mel Ceres Velo
Fowage: ОК FREE over E5 (not

KENT BARGAINS.
nerous discount on

ATARI ST COMMODORE software
SPECIALISTS IN BBC, AMIGA AND AMSTRAD

Master Compact.
— BUSINESS OFFER

Amstrad PC1512.
— BUSINESS РАСК.
BUY A PRINTER AND
WE PAY THE

This is the verdict from all our customers who purchased э copy of "The

Gamestar'. This is a truly unique utility that allows the user то gain in

lives on most types of games, and includes the briliant Siomo" devico, to

slow down most programs to your desired speed. Win эй those top prizes
‘with "The Gamester*

“Well worth buying . . '" CRASH

“Very easy to use...” A.S.D. Mid-Glamorgan

“Absolutely brilliant, now I play all those impossible games and easily

gain high scores." R D. Manchester

Spectrum 48/+/128/+2/+3
Compatible with Multiface 1/Multiface 128/Snapshot
RRP. £9.99.. MAIL ORDER £5

EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE A SPECIALITY Chegues/ POs 10
Lighthouse Ci Service 8.0., 155 Wash Lane, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8PX
4 Park Avenue, Deal. Tel: (0304) 362049 „| SAME DAY DESPATCH ва

BRADWAY SOFTWARE (PW) Phone for the best price
The specialists in Really Useful Utilities for the Spectrum 48 and 128 and +? ПИСТИ к
Күс 28 бик ores aoe the gated сыры onsen рк А be сори Yu 2611250 25 “£23.50
need Pcs ony 8 50 1988 50. £45.00
DUMPY 3 Produces over 100 ciaren sie, shape, density and shaded sereendumps 5 nac OT аю

"Price los than Tp per dumpi! £8.50.

LIN-O-TYPE. Print out any ASCI wordprocessor fie in high density МО иа сһоке о! 25 | | 80 capacity 53" LSB... 4800 Spectrum 128^... £99.00
fonts, or turn your Spectrum nto a ful WYSIWYG electrons typewriter Price £8 50. 100 capacity 54” LSB. £11.00 Сел 2 col. dot matrix printer £28.95
АБТ. The very best Z80 assembler and monitor package. Ful wordorocessor style | | 317/517 library cases E Datex Microstick joystick... £8.88
‘editor, unlimited source code on microdrives ог Opus Discovery. Command driven 20 capacity 32^ LSB. £195 СОМ data recorder... £28.98

Monitor with три breakpoints. angle stepping, slow run ete Price £13 50 (state
microdrive or Opus version)
DISC MANAGER. Discovery disc sector editor and fie mahagement program. Erase,
тепате, сору groups of fle, examine, modiy and understand дес dieciory, recover
"damaged data. Price £10.80 on 3jin. dse only,

printer interfaces and are compatible with Microdrive, Wafadrive
а, Dumpy and Ur-O-Type require an Epson compatible printer. Prices

All prices include VAT and postage.
ALL TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME.

M.D.S. Computer Supplies

11 Church Street, Banbridge BT32 4АА

clude fuil instructions. Р.Р. within Europe. Please scd £2 per program 24-hour Credit Card Hotline кч
all postage, СТ SO for merodrwva сапда or вас Send for ыл етйн 08206 23477
Бы Enquiries — Tel: 08206 23399
33 Conalan Avenue, Sheffield S17 4PG А Division of Brockls Enterprises Ltd. Cid

46/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY 13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

FOR SALE

QUANTUM

youu ony version of das, Он page kak, үш end
arin

QUANTUM is a new gusto ранен ly fe weh a versions ot
sh cere т

1. PRODUCE PROFESSIONAL QUALITY
‘SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION
base ow nt ШАЙТ а С marae тр е a
fen боички Ths тан toy э а nnm em etn
Проста

2 our этеп, vog Gai т det
Wd a ita abner - Pn] Der Tl =

lA VENT WARUESSTM

DOCUMENTATION

ЕЛЕП
ШЧ

FI йди, system STRUCTURE cuanr
FU ANALYSE DATABASES AND НОВ
T DATABASE ANO INDEX MATCHING
15 ANALYSE SYSTEM HERANGI

(бо MAIN MENU

2. PROPERLY INDENT CODE
Sg có pris а лөп m wy bags can ем p сее

A Ver pan DANTON vl stet et ans i ya

frat it cy rere ge Oe ol ot

A NEW GENERATION AID TO
dBASE PROGRAM WRITING

З. PRINTOUT PROGRAMS:
er ie print әй М Ве poro e a qun? QUANTUM mas
‘sy data ум i res p aram op el rap

4. QUICK SCAN FOR LOGIC BUGS
Хоско ths pen wal mae QUANTI earch reg vus systema
ert бус prs wan uncon asd

5. PROCEDURE FILE BUILDING
ОМА wil плоти dvi prid Vn ol yr en
grum = Um өй wey prom manent ip. обеми.
erm

6. GLOBAL SEARCH/CHANGE
Je omit were a hut wich cn тиш үө cg a
nil peser Саду аш wes caer m atts Cape ө
tos tru vr бы ta wi ra im va iori d

EASY-TO-READ DOCUMENTATION
LANTUN cos cont wth ey to snd багт o шс which
quas end Т1 dog cay Да cad wt lap и е het
М Pdl you орела би тий төп port Фа 6 ov ely

шы ИТ Ойы TER WRTS — — RI SER
MEN) CHOICES Е

Er ECL TE Ша!
1 ВЕК телде А LT ©
И йм А сатен FERATE ne OR MDD И
патот арои п A TAAL 08 D OFF) [1
М NONI coot МО COLOR ос наз deme Urt LONE D V "
HE p м wont OMY VA D
В Ge SCC once etre Шем on vita ©
TI REN TOT PES QUAM GUT Коза au so PROS YN Li]
FEBR A PROCEDURE RE Ноти outro мй
Кт Ei |
RACE mh |

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

м P/T/A1/3270 Pers yt wl Packard Vero 180
24 1008 compatibles what 304 КЫРАМ ao 2 Pap Da e A
fir Dac Owe merde

UPDATE POLICY:

ee a er ANT e н М иу wt et se
н Ano A you had eon of DANTON oe
plan соп ма or gat. Үш wil тийиб ed wn pte
База mii Рака ит you ше ean бий
EXCHANGE/REFUND POLICY:

не any rs оз ін Ви QUANTUM dos тми оу пей үш
‘nga туп би eal ос eg ей a поа emg Vul ou
тт ded М сыз fhe pap ve il шу Т nd
BE d icon wo V oe 0 case

CUSTOMER LIAISON POLICY:

We op och who сути io and woe мү ирен
wich cod pert кодол, Catone wi ogy at ssw
rc ioni wd poywseg ii wd ty

SITE LICENCE POLICY. А

Sie (AND ar ony an St балон

fpa wi Nt Soc Pega, Бег;

TR et ш. tha бини rh rur gu Мм

apes d QUANTUM, pate crat шу Сорин Мили билин"

Brief description: 1. Produces pro/syst
help 4. Works with either single or entire

IF YOU UNDERSTAND THIS THIS PRODUCT IS A MUSTI
QUANTUM

tem bugs. 3. Simple to use menu driven format with on-line
г controlled indentation, 6. Use with dos/2.XX or line. 7. Not copy protected

53 Osborne Terrace, Stacksteads,

Bacup OL13 8JY. Tel: 0706 876072

(668)

WHILE STOCKS LAST.
SPECTRUM + £54
MICRODRIVES £20
CARTRIDGES 10 for £16

PRINTERS

ALPHACOM 32 £35
*ALPHACOM 42 £38

*ALPHACOM 81 £40
"Only for COM and Atari

PLEASE ADD 15% VAT and £2 p.&p.

JRC CAMERAS

[3 CHESTNUT WALK, CHALFONT-ST-PETER, BU

WACCI — A WORLDWIDE AMSTRAD CPC FANZINE

AF YOU OWN AN AMSTRAD СРС, THEN YOU'LL LOVE WACCI, WE THINK IT'S THE
VES ENGEL нес v

E BUT WHAT DO THE PROFESSIONALS THINK?
ришсе р

ENDE EDU a ons

cm

ro inan

С AM

money mer.
TIVE GERAARD (енда wri: very professa ig pro"
GARY MAYS (PSS "OF rhe 3 wr 40 Aranes se ech mot WAGE y rand amay те

* PROPER A4 FORMAT *
" OVER 20.000 ILLUSTRATED EVERY MONTH *
" ONE MEGABYTE PD SOFTWARE LIBRARY *
* ONE MEGABYTE HOMEGROWN SOFTWARE LIBRARY *
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES: UK £12.00 Europe £18.00, Overseas £26.00
‘OR SEND £1.00 FOR A SAMPLE COPY ТО:
WACCI RC
75 GREATFIELDS DRIVE
'HILLINGDON, UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX UB8 ЗАМ

CONTACT JEFF ON (0895) 52430

PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE

FOR IBM/AMSTRAD PCs

We have an excellent selection of software including — PC-Write,
New York Word, PC File, PC File+, PC Calc, Spelling Checker,
Chiwriter, PC Tutor, PC Deskteam, PC Outline, Ргосотт, DOS
Utilities, file utilities, hard disk utilities, backup utilities, graphics.
utilities, dozens of games and adventures, and much, much more.
New US imports every month. 10 disk Startrite pack only £25.00,
5 disk compilation sets only £ 12.00, all others only £3.00 per
disk.

SEND SAE for FREE 'Shareware News and Catalogue"
NO MEMBERSHIP FEES!

Overseas enquiries welcome. (2

PC-STAR

P.O. Box 164, Cardiff CF5 3YB

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE?

NOT ALL SUN WHY NOT USE

DISCS THE SAME

ARE EQUAL AS THE PRO'S
To make your computer SMILE!!

Professional discs at unprofessional prices!
537 d/s d/d discs with free plastic case £6.00
31" d/s d/d discs with free cases £14.50
51^ Lockable disc boxes 100) £8.75
32" Lockable disc boxes (holds 80) £8.75

‘We offer you a wonderful service all because you come first.
All prices inc. VAT & P.P.
These discs are exceptional high quality and are used throughout
the industry. FUE
Me NOW M. Wood Discs 0952 590156
27 Burford, Brookside, Telford ТЕЗ ILQA ^ ню

ж MEMOTECH
MTX 512 x

Plus £3.05 postage (total £43)

vx 64K User Ram ус
Ж 780 Processor +x
3 3 Channel Sound +
7 16 Colours +
з Extensive Software x
Ж CP/M 2.2 Adaptable +
*x Fully Guaranteed +

Yo oe te ok Ye Yee ok te xo
Further details/orders to:

UK HOME COMPUTERS
2 Churchward Avenue, Swindon, Wilts SN2 INH
Tel: 0793 695034

Z88 FROM
SECTOR SOFTWARE

288 Сөрїшөг.....................;.......Ё287
OL 288 File transfer .. £23
Mains adaptor . £10
32K RAM pack..... 1, ZO.
128K RAM pack. - Ево
32K Eprom «£20
128K Eprom ..£50
PC Z88 link . .£25

£40
£10
£30
£25

Eprom eraser with in built in in timer
RS 232 printer lead ...
Parallel printer interface .
BBC to 288 Ііпк.........
4 rechargeable batteries
Battery charger

Portable battery powered printer .... £400

39 Wray Crescent,
Ulnes, Walton, Leyland, Lancs. PR5 3NA
0772 454328

enm

YOUR LAST CHANCE TO BUY!!
* SPECTRUM
BEY [MMC ern

RECONDITIONED, TESTED, AS NEW.

ALPHACOM 32 PRINTERBG.................. £42.00.

EXPANSION PACKS. ; £59.95
INCLUDES MICRODRIVE, KLET, NET-
WORK LEAD, INSTRUCTION CARTRIDGE AND FLEX.

MICRODRIVES WITH SOLID CONNECTOR... £24.95

SUPADRIVE UTILITY .... mene EED
FORMATS TO LOOK, FINDS FILES ETC. `

ACCESSORIES
MICRODRIVE FLEX CONNECTOR...
MICRODRIVE SOLID CONNECTOR.

DEMOANTHO CARTRIDGE.”
CARTRIDGE BLANKS (10). icem
CARTRIDGE SINGLE.......... £1.28.

POWER SUPPLIES
SPECTRUM AND SP+ (400m). .£8.98
128K (1850mÀ). : £9.95

* RS 232 PRINTER LEADS s £12.95

MINIMUM ORDER £10, UNDER £35 ADD £2 P.&P. OVERSEAS
ADD £4. TERMS СЛМ.О. OR VISA.

ORDERS TO EEC LTD, 18-21 MISBOURNE HOUSE,
CHILTERN HILL, CHALFONT-ST-PETER,
BUCKS 51,9 9UE. Tol: 0753 888866.

RAMSOFT COMP

AMIGA 500 Various packages now
Phone £ available
опе
ATARI With free mouse, Atari Basic,
manual, and 5 public domain
520 STFM discs and software, lus
Abacus book of your choice
Phone £ worth £14.95

20 day replacement on our computers
1 year full warranty

Other computers not listed here/enquiries,
please phone 0706 43519 (after 1pm please)

FES recess wtephone orders accepta. АЗ

(Not Visa)

Ramsoft, 24 Bankfield Lane
Norden, Rochdale, Lancashire 0111 581

воз)

FOR SALE

AMIGA A500 NOW IN STOCK
FOR ONLY £429

AMIGA HARDWARE

Amiga Internal 1 Meg Upgrade.

Triangle 1 Disc.

Eum

слота

Commodore 64 C рад £159.00
‘Now in rut SEGA Моле Syn Li, Y saa son Bk

AMIGA SOFTWARE

King's Quest (3 pack... £2.95 Chess Master 2000...

Barberian £18.75 Ear Weaver Baseball.

Gold Runner. £18.75 Seven Cities of Gold...

Тетрож = £18.78 Mean 18 Gal. x
ye б E1875 Deep Space

Archonjtoni £17.95 Areo/Bratticus

Flight Sm 1L... £37.95 Diablo У

Deluxe Paint il £57.95 Allon Strike.

Marble Madness £14.95 Mouse Trap.

Instant Music... £18.75 Putos.

Sinbad....... £29.95 Road War 2000

‘Super Huey £14.95 Ропа!

Bards Tale 1 618:76.

BUSINESS SOFTWARE
Word Perfect £239.95
Super Base -£79.95

Моге Software than we can show please ring.

PC CASINGS
OEMs/TRADE WELCOME

SOFTMACHINE DISTRIBUTION LTD 4
Сш,

UNIT F25, HARBET ROAD, EDMONTON,
LONDON, ENGLAND, U.K. N18 3LR
NEW TLX: 9312100158 - TD G
жи“
Те: 01-807 7644
Fax: 01-807 2748

Office Hours: 10.00am-8.00pm =
(051)

SOFTTACHINE

We are a Commodore appointed dealer
All trade enquiries welcome

ATARI 520 STFM NOW IN STOCK FOR
NEW PRICE ONLY £289.95

Includes mouse controller, manual, language disc and starter pack
ВАР ‘OUR

Atari 1040 ST...

£499.95 £459.95

Atari 1040 ST + SM125 mono monitor £599.95 £559.95

Atari 520 STEM.

£299.95 £289.00

‘Atari Mega ST 2 + SM125 mono monitor £999.95 £894.95

Maga ST4 + SM128 mono monitor

Atari 12" medium ros colour monitor.

‘Triangle 1 meg drive,
Cumana 1 meg drive,

f120595 61149.95
£39999 £369.95
£169.95 £139.95
£15995 £144.85

ST SOFTWARE AT GIVEAWAY PRICES

Blight Sim. £37.95 Barbarian
Knight Hawk (1496 Mud Рис.

Arctic Fox £14.95 Indiana Jonos.

Musie Солис $90... £185. Tv Purus

Barda Talo. nnns £18.75 Impact

Gato. £19.95 Barbarian (Palaca).
Engles Nest £14.95 Rama Rama

Fip Side £695 Timablast

Terrapods £18.75 Pinos.

Gentine! £14.95 Diablo

Dogan cite £19.98 30 Galax

Chess Master 2000, £18.75 Defender of the Crown
Sty Fos 11489 Sur Trok,

Director £39.95 Chopper X...
Fantasy П E1875

BLANK DISCS
20

50
£21.50 £49.95
Trade enquiries welcome

100

10
£10.95 £97.00

Lockable disc boxes 3.5" holds 80

SOUND м VISION [«]

11 Silk St, Leigh, Lancs WN7 1AW.
Phone now for details — Tel: (0942) 673689
Cheques and P/Orders payable to: Sound N Vision P.RP./VAT INCLUDED
‘ome in d S.A E. гр

JACKPOT 1

The ultimate pools development program
for the ATARI ST

Analyses every team's past performance and predicts the
result. Not only draws but home and away wins. Also create
your own lines with guarantees that if a specific amount of
your selections are correct you will have winning lines. It can
be used for any events, not only football. It comes with the
latest league tables.
Colour and b/w. State single(s) of double(s) diskette.

ONLY £24.95 (inc. VAT & P.&P.)

‘Send cheques or postal order to:

FUTURESOFT
11 Meath Close, На) ling Island
Hants PO11

54” 48ТРІ 96 TPI

10-£5.50 inc. 10-£6.50 inc.

25-£12.50 inc. 25-£13.00 inc.
100+ Silly Prices; please call.

Despatch by Return—no quibble guarantee!!

Cheques/P.O. to:
V. MARSHALL
35 Rochford Way, Croydon

Surrey CRO 3AE Tel: 01-689 3487
500

Athene Consultants
33 Holly Grove, Fareham, Hants PO16 7UP. Tel: 0329 282083
ALL DISCS SUPPLIED WITH LABELS AND LIFETIME GUARANTEE
Аа

12 80 ine. вар each + Va
#2: ‘Duby £4590 nc. [838 sach + VA
їй позна Ы
Сууны 151 class oat
кесе per eie VAT, лык odia A prices
i em ie re
Venu à tov se end sums Soar Teel y
г a та"
пи да

Athene

Dept (РОР), 33 Holy Grove, Fareham, Hants РОТВ
Т. те: 1528 282083 Prestel MBX 228282083
CALL FOR THE LOWEST PRICES FOR QUANTITY IN UX. мав)

FOR SALE

MICROWARE COMPUTE

AMIGA HARDWARE

‘Amiga 500 inc. Deluxe Paint modulator & Starter Pack £499
‘Amiga 500 inc. Deluxe Paint modulator & Starter Pack & 1081 Colour
Medium res monitor £739
Amiga 500 inc. Deluxe Paint modulator & Starter Pack + NEC 33” Disc
Drive. £559
‘Amiga 800 inc. Deluxe Paint modulator & Starter Pack + 1081 Monitor & NEC
disc... £849
PERIPHERALS

1081 medium res. colour monitor £328
Philips ATH43 med. res. colour monitor stereo £279
Philips 8852 med/hi res. colour monitor stereo £319
NEC 31^ ВВОК disc drive £129
512K RAM expansion with clock £99
Diggi view II with A500 £189
Easy drawing tablets for ASOO £289
20Mb hard disc for А1000 £669
2Mb RAM expansion for A 1000 £410
ATARI HARDWARE

Atari STM with {Mb disc drive, mouse and software. £279
Atari STM as above + mono monitor. £369
1040 STF 1Mb drive mono monitor 24K RAM £499
Atari XE and computer games consul with joystick £79
PRINTERS

Cannon PJ1080A colour inkjet printer £479
Citizen 1200 120CPS with interface of your choice £189
Epson LX86 Parallel interface 100 (16 CPS) £259
Star NL1O with parallel interface 120/30CPS £249

Full range of printers from lasers to plotters. Phone for details
Desktop publishing mono package includes Amiga 500 mono monitor,

Citizen 1200 printer page setter software all cables £869
Colour version as above but with 1081 colour monitor £1049
PCW 9512 Word processing system 1499

THIS IS ONLY A VERY SMALL SELECTION OF OVER 250 PRODUCTS. PLEASE PHONE FOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL OFFERS

PO Box 2, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 2QL. Tel: 0754 610217

Order instructions: write name, ac

cheques or POs payable to Microware Computer Servi

All prices are fully inclusive. Prices subject to

вот TIMESOFT.. 01-685 9849

MEE OU DO WOT SEE WHAT YOU WANT H4 Ex]

postcode and phone number. Write order out clearly stating quantity, description and price, make
and send to above address
ange without notice on availability. E. & O.E.
+
CROWN COMPUTERS!
ANY PRICE AND WE WILL MATCH ITH!
In Stock now
Atari 520 STFM bss 20269.95
Amiga 500 Sports Bundle =. 519,00
NEW
PC 1640 Mono Single Drive... 539.95 | |
РС 1640 Colour Single Drive........ 699.95 в
PWW 9512 Mono/M Daisy Printer + Software ..... 539.95
PC 1512 Mono Single Drive. 445 45
РС 1512 Colour Single Drive. 599,00
‘Commodore, Amstrad, Spec 10% off RRP
6 High Street,
Boston, Lincs.
Tel: (0205) 53611
Phone now for orders! sn]

ATARI ST AMIGA
NEW RELEASES NEW RELEASES.
Defender Of The Crown.....£2405 Marble Madness £15.95
Marble Madness ............. £19.85 ыз mel Pea Va au Е
‘Academy £19.95 лее быу
Baristale #1895 Kins Ouest 3. Bed
к ne Вт
Цък Ва Winter Games £18.95
Starter K но. DEN Tele Advers £34.95
Bally Yhoo. £1295 Chess Master 2000. £1995
Chopper X £7.95 бой Runner £18.95
Fahrenheit 451 6986. Мас Fox £14.95
Perry Mason „8% Defender OF The Crow......£19.95
Impact #118 Юри E50
FIS Strike Eagle fuas. Se ae £1885
Boulderdash Con. Set DT MD bares
Barhstáe.......—. £19.95
Winter Games... ETAS Rocket Anal m
Golden Path £1295 Fight Simulator 2 £3495
Strike Force Harer.........£ M50 — Mouse Trap... £1150
Silicon Dreams... £995 Barbarian, = £1795
Chessmaster 2000. 1895 Оре... £150
Thai Boxing £9.95 Guild Of Thieves £17.95
Barbarian £11.95 Phalanx m -£895
PLEASE MAKE ALL CHEQUES
PAYABLE TO TIMESOFT!
IF YOU DO NOT SEE WHAT YOU REQUIRE PLEASE
PHONE FOR A LOW PRICE.
sa

RVICE

BBC Master 128 £399
Acorn Archimedes taking order now, prices from £799 to £1199
8 BIT HARDWARE

Commodore 64 package includes Computer data recorder joystick, 11 top.

ames. 159
Bommodore 64 + 84 16 disc drive + joystick à 17 games £299
1541C disc drive 22159
Commodore music expansion system. 1.98
Commodore Sound sampler £69
Atari XE computer games consul, with game and Joystick £79
AMSTRAD PC

PC1640 SDM mono monitor 1 x 54” disc drive. £575
PC1640 DDM mono monitor 2 x 51" disc drive £688
PC1640 SDC colour monitor 1 x 53” disc dive £746
РС1640 DDC colour monitor 2 x 54” disc drive £859

РС1640 SDECG extended colour graphics monitor 1 x 5j" disc drive £899
PC 1640 DDECG extended colour graphics monitor 2 x 51” disc drive £999
PC160 HDECG extended colour graphics monitor 1 x 54” disc drive,

20Mb hard disc. £1299
AMIGA SOFTWARE Small selection of over 200 titles

Maxi Plan 500 Spread Shoet.....€99 igi Pit сө
Max Plan Pas TMS ^ She Ray Tracing im
Scrabble Vera i 80 Barbarian £n
Аиввот Poner iia —— £i
Sige Base Personal Bran боз Fatal £n
Aen Fires £34 Defender of бе Crown. ооф.
Borrowed Tane E22 Demolition. £10
Marte Madness 2198 Faty Tale advert. м
WordPerfect word processor £285 Fight бао t
Lists £99 Визи гл
V pressions £129 Тен pods, £n

Aegis Communications programme £68 Winter Games. £21

* We deal in the whole range of
computers from PCs to Spectrums
* Atari STFM now at the new price —
£275
with Ferguson colour monitor — £450
Amiga A500 - £499 inc. VAT
Send S.A.E. for list of software
We are now also at
1000 Uxbridge Road, Hayes
Tel: 01-573 2726

45 Boston Road, London W7
Tel: 01-579 6133 wa

FOR SALE

ва.

SERVICES

m

BLANK CASSETTES

WITH LIBRARY CASES

Cio cis czo coo
20 7% 370 7% 870
50 1600 1620 1680 1850
100 2900 3000 3100 3500

Ру ncusive (C.O.D. СТ екта)!
DISKS
10 5} DS/DD
£6.00 inc. case

193}; эз/рр
£11 inc. case

10 MAXELL 3° CF2
£20

SPECULATOR ROM £30.00
| mb. DISK DRIVE а INTERFACE E160
A mb: DISK DRIVE В INTERFACE. £160,
кз ISO compurens
[Ur
24. mone Sannea 0793 коза

‘A ma ns chi We
о ©шлогидло AVE это.

AAD DINK

TATIC RIBBON CASSETTE RE-INKING
Trial offer: ЕГ рес ribbon с.
utt caste wh open

Ee
Sasi
summum
SESS
Floppy Shop ST.

30 mar О erit is AB,

AMIGA
PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE

съ PSOE NIRE e
George Thompson Services Ltd.
Soi lr и eda ee

Sender M ЫИ св

ATARIST
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Why reinvent the wheel? We hav
Lage section of languages, demo
avaiable: A siarp for out tt wil save
"You hours of rusratan.
Discs from £2.
Mcsorr
9 Abingdon Gardens, Bath,
AvonBA22UY — (uw

QUALITY DISCS
DD/DS BOXES OF 10
Ди £7.90
3; £12
Es £20|
189 Gloucester Rond, Bishopstone,

Bristol BS7 APW. Access/Visa
Tol: 0272 47632/428381

E

LABELS
Self Adhesive
Disk & Cassette Labels

DISK LABELS -1r BI" Оча з=, 71 «68
m. on tractor leed backing for computer
venere Wie. S00. C1585, 100,
2%. 2008 E256 Tinted abes in Bu,
Pink; Grey, Cream, Yalow, Orange, Gree
S00: C21 36. бо: E3105 2000. Вие.
5a" Dist, 95 36 rom, Wit. 800
1-1) 75. 2000 io S6 Той,
500+ тъ 20 1000 EM 65, P000 ЕМ.
CASSETTE LABELS On actor ead ioci
Falis of SO ate, Whe £1466. Tris
E1690" At sets 12 рөн per sheet
Tabs (330.200 £00 1000 (2185
A prices are тешине o VAT carriage
or price iat and ampie t

E Simingbourne (0735) 28425 (24 Мз)

=
Computer REPAIRS FIRST Ао
Fixed Super Low Prices! TECHNOLOGY
Inclusive of parts, labour and VAT

1 week turnround
Free collections/delivery available for local area
ж AUTUMN OFFERS x

SPECTRUMS £14 inc. + Free Game
Сва £22 inc. + Free Game
£18 inc.
£22 inc.
£32 inc.
£18 ine.
£32 inc. + Free Game
£16 inc.
£20 inc.

with item - 3 month warranty on repair
‘enclose advert with repair

W.T.S. NICS "a
5-8 Portand Rond, Luton, Beds ША BAT. Tel: 0882 458375, Telex: 265071

cie
ViC20, C+4
BBC

p «8
©} осе этте

Set Adhesive abus SUPERFAST

DISCIPLE DISC MANAGER

areca
оперите
сас ро
Весов
URS mut
она
SEE
Мс с
TENERE
wr
Ee
ELE

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER
ON ALL COMPUTER REPAIRS

AMSTRAD CPC 128. £17.60 AMSTRAD PCW 8512 (+ pars) £18.00.
BBC B £17.60 ACORN COMPACT £18.00
COMMODORE 64 £16.00 COMMODORE 128 £18.00
ATARI 130 XE £17.60 ATARI 520 ST £18.00
тов NOT INC. PARTS OR VAT

1 week turnover. Free collection for businesses,

WYNTER ELECTRONICS

Unit 30Р, Atlas Village, Oxgate Lane,
Staples Corner, London NW2 THU.
Telephone office hours 9-5.
01-452 5660

COME ALONG AND DROP IT IN
OR PHONE US PLEASE BEFORE SENDING.

жт ee BS. Tonteg п KELSOFT
PAW Tex Ани wih SFX

scare NTO УМ 250

PENN мерек METEORITE STRAE би ва Seay

‘comets tr PAW, ба wd GAC
EDA SA E for detni i
KELSOFT
25 Quen Svest Sundord Unes PED 105
Тара (O780)56118 Bea)

] DRILLER WANTED. Wil travel, S.

LO K NOW) Саре, Freedom Road, Froescape DRI
ЦЕВ
зле s
ATARI OWNERS COMPUTERS at lowost prices. IBM,
ЮЕГЫШИШШШОШШДЫШЫЫЗ| Toshiba and Compaq. Tel: 01-403

4139.

EAST LONDON MICRO
SERVICE CENTRE

Spectrum, Commodore, Amstrad,

MSX COMPUTER SHOW
Sunday 6th December
11am-5pm
Leisure Contre
Market Deeping
Nr. Peterborough

For details phone MSX link
0775 3433 ssn

ATARI ST

ad original еби WANTED FOR CASH
‘Sed t л rad ST ктен ве acu
‘try rer ра tre rad Tr
"си
Lir Ir сш

MICRODRIVES MICRODRIVES
limited number of clean, unlabelled,
used once cartridges: £2 65 for four.

Chegues/POs to: V. 1. JENKINSON,
Beausite House, Meadow Lane, Over,
Cambridge СВА SNF э

Atari, MSX plus репрпогав
Turnaround typical of 2-Б days.
Three months warranty.
guaranteed,

Postal repairs undortaken,
Computer IC's components sold.
Budget games, software and
accessories sold. Mail order

ELM COMPUTING
Amiga A500 - £469 + VAT
(Vouchers accepted)
Atari 520 STM — £269
Software for all machines at discount
incting ST Amiga, MSX, BBC ес.

TW Out wacom trace мар
c. 7m ir etched)
Бай Да cae Open 9am-8pm Mon.—Sot
аа и Саа
тоа
E geo erstes
Tel 01472 4871
Fan manes with Fe i ван
Lj
16-BIT CENTRE
For Amiga and Atari ST.
hardware and software and
service contre
‘Amiga A500. £399] DUPLICATION
Алан 620 STEM £289

Monitors, leads and drives
Blank discs D/D D/S....£1 each
Ай prices include VAT and

D
COMPUTER PROGRAMS

postage ситите
57 Swinton Court, Harrogate ср
North Yorkshire JUIENONGLTO ка Reconos on

PR 8 Sag Wi Иан,

Tei: (0423) 500735

ses]

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY/51

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA LONDON,

PERSONAL СОМЕ! Nace es

Amiga A500 + Deluxe Paint + 100 PD Discs
(Value of extras over £180)
+ Mouse Mat + Book + Game ....... £499 inc.

520 STFM + st Word + 5 PD Discs.

+ 3 Games (extras value £115)..... £299 inc.
Victoria Circus Shopping Centre
Up escalator from Rail Station
SOUTHEND ON SEA, ESSEX

(070) 614131

5 WALES

A.S. and T. Ltd. VETA LTD

Largest Atari St dealer in са орг прага
Essex Business/home computers

Tel: 0702 510151

Unit 32/33 "E" mall order service SW
Rutherford Close я

Eastwood Industrial Estate Mole cod Abercwmboi, Aberdore.
Leigh-on-Sea маките.

е. Tel 0443 478777

24-hour answer service.
Approved dealers for Amstr
ра.

(Progress Road/AI2T) сл,

DEALERS!
You can reach 40,000 readers for as little as £25 a week!

For more details phone Susannah on 01-834 1717

D SHADES LTD |
A Amiga 500

Special offers

Ж A500 plus starter kit & modulator
* £499 5с

aM Atari ST

Special offers

* Atari 520 STFM plus starter kit э

* £260 yx

if you can't see the machine, peripheral, or
software you want, then ring now for new low
prices or send S.A.E. for mailing list.

am

Mail order hotline 01-471 7969
All prices include VAT

9 Selsdon Road, Upton Park, London E13 9BY

‘52/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

AIRDRIE

NORTHERN ENGLAND

|-с.5.

Jr Atari 520 STFM - £299

Including starter pack

зх Amiga A500 — £449

пойт starter pack
yy Sega Master Systems – £94.95
ALL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE AVAILABLE
моми!
MAIL ORDER OFFER
4 Graham Street, Airdrie,

Scotland ML6 6BU
Telephone: (0236) 69874

6 SPECIAL

OFFERS

Atari 520 STFM... 292 .. £279.95
Monitor 12” mono ... 59.96
Telemod modem.......... nu. £24.95
Fantastik joystick ........... £4.95

£22.50
..£9.95

CBM power supply...
‘Spectrum power supply...

PRINTERS

Star NL1O
Citizen 1200
Olivetti, spark jet.
51" discs (box of 10)
3” discs (box of 10)

COMPUTER DEPOT
205 Buchanan Street
Glasgow G1 2JZ
Telephone: 041-332 3944

- £219.95
.£179.95

(569)

EDINBURGH GLASGOW

GLASGOW
COMPUTER CENTRE

Atari appointed dealer.
and Service Contre

CENTRE SCOTLAND
Commodore Business Centre
Amiga Specialis since 1885.

Amiga А500 and A2000 пон maii.

КАЗУ TEE M сагс in Atari ST Computers
= WE'VE MOVED ТО:
es flint Suse live’ pe 122 WEST MAIL STREET

FREE итн Ен! Зям fe!

Tel: 031-557 4242 (24 hrs.)
ста.

GLASGOW G1 207
TEL: 041-552 1522 im

оо. PRINTERS ps

NEVER BEATEN ON PRICE

TAR ее. gm
соммовот.
d Rees m

xc Ice WELCOME,
EXPORT ENGUIRIES WELCOME
STANDARD DELIVERY £758 AND MEIT DAY 00 TOX TO onoen оти.
Соте House, 28 Bradgate Road,
[X OE A

M hardware

M. keyboard/mouse/0.5 meg drive 25995

Е keyboard/mouse/1 meg drive £43995
1040 STF plus colour monitor. £799.95
SF 314 1 meg drive. £169.95

Commodore Amiga range

A500 + Otfer Pack + modulator £435.00
A1010 disc-drive. £24995
35 inch discs DD/DS guaranteed (packed in 10s) £12.00
25 bulk packed 3.5 inch discs DS/DD guaranteed £25.00

Free public domain software on request wi discs. Ай products МЛ guaranteed
Amazing prices on peripherals and all software. All prices include VAT at 15%
and РАВ on UK mainland. For more information cail us on (0830) 411485 or
send SAE for full price list. To order send cheques/PO or Visa/Access detalis
to the address below or phone with credit card.

ASHCOM
10 The Green, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire LEG 5JU

fies ра ABERDEEN... 74]

omma mmm

TT STar U.K. Computers Ltd

ЗТаг UK. Ltd. 491-493 Union Street, На Scotland. AB1 208
02:

MNT row

ATARI s20 теме! s TM FREE MOUSE
SOFTWARE ETC

ATARLLASER PAINTERS 595 ношвме

qs
ATARI SPOUSE SOFTWARE ETC. £22999

APCHMEDES - AXIS BASE SYSTEM C879 95
“ARCHIMEDES - MONO SYSTEM E093.
ARCHIMEDES - COLOUR SYSTEME W9

COMMODORE,
AMIGA A500: £ 480 95. FREE DISKS,
AMA Azo са OUS MENTO tid 99

TV MODULATOR Е:
Аз EXPANSION KIT SENE. RTA
CAL ABOUT OUR SPECIAL ОТР PACKAGE!

AMSTRA(
ges sou tus Ма посметаа
Ско SDMM ESSO. PC DOCM E799

AMSTRAD РС 3640 20MB MONO SYSTEM C909

PRINTERS.
CITIZEN 1200 £199 CITIZEN LSP100 £260.35,

| |
Н
CITIZEN OVERTURE 10 LASER PRINTER өй 50
AUSTRAD месте ВИС XU £508
мома
AMSTRAD Ро CARD MODEM V21V23 £168
MOHTINGALE a COMSTARE 129
i
| ВАРНА SOFTWARE: МЕС AMSTRAD, SAGESOET. GEMINI,
Н

£189 FOR MODEM, SOFTWARE. LEAD ETC! AS
WE HAVE MUCH, MUCH MORE ғоя vou CALL [я

‘SANDPIPER, GEM MIGENT, CAXTON, ACORN ETC,

(COMMENT

No Business Like
Micro Business

М: computer pricing policy has
М virtually unchanged
since the launch of the ZX8I in

the dim and not so distant past.

The majority of new micros have alw;
been launched with an almost mandator;
substantial price tag. Once the company
has recouped enough to offset its initia
investment, the machine suddenly drops
£100 or so in price. Why? Because that's
business.

Although computers have tended to
follow this trend, many of their associated
peripherals have not. Disc-drives, printers
and notably monitors, admittedly costing
than they did a few
remain on a relatively high, yet static
price plateau, Why?

One reason may be that not enough
units are sold in relation to the number of
computers to enable peripheral prices to be
lower. But, by the same token, if the prices
were to drop, would not more people
consider adding these peripherals to their
system?

Many home computer users must соп-
tend with the tortuously slow, unreliable
and often frustrating cassette filing зу
tems of their micros simply because a
faster and more efficient dise filing system
is out of their financial reach,

I (and Т am sure many others will agree)
find it difficult to justify the expense

HACKERS

involved in building a reasonably efficient
system around a micro which cost probably
well under $200. The computer is pre-
dominantly master and all peripherals are
merely servants, or so one is led to believe.

‘To make an analogy, imagine a company
director, he is the decision maker and the
delegator, and therefore is normally the
highest paid, thus the most expensive
asset. When we look at computer systems
we find that this is not necessarily the
case.

This facet appears inherent throughout
the computer industry, Look at the intro-
duction of the cheap PC clones. Many of
the existing PC software packages were, in
several cases, more expensive than the
machines they were destined to be used on.

When the existing user-base decides to
upgrade many users will be turning their
attention to the 16-bit market. This means
that they will be paying, roughly, the same
price for a 16-bit machine now that they
would have paid for an §-bit machine a
couple of years ago. Features which cost
the 8-bit user extra at the moment eg, a
mouse, disc-drive ete, are included in the
price of the 16-bit machines.

When will the third party support
manufacturers realise that they must take
stock of their position, They have a
responsibility to take an objective view of
their industry and should endeavour to

5 , Taccept tha the Prunette И But surely it has enough.

doesnt have enough ram to
п уеп...

noughis-&- crosses?

provide the items the consumer wants at a
price he can afford,

Pricing policies must be reviewed before
the end of the decade if this faction hopes
to survive the dramatic changes which, 1
feel, the industry is about to experience,
technology takes another leap forward.

With the price of electronic component
steadily decreasing in tandem with the
extensive automation of the produetion
line it is only fair that a percentage of the
increased profit margin should be passed
on to the end user.

In an area as volatile as computing the
peripheral manufacturers must strive to
counter each new move adopted by the
major computing companies. With in-
creased sales they could provide a larger
turnover, some of which could be invested.
in advanced research and development
technology.

The software sector, at least, has begun
to realise that by adopting realistic pricing,
levels their continued success and profit-
ability is greatly enhanced.

If radical changes are not forthcoming
in the very near future, the dependants of
-bit technology will only succeed in си
ting their own throats as well as inflicting
serious subsequent damage on the rest of
the micro-computing community. o

STUART LOW

54/POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY

13-19 NOVEMBER 1987

When the Creators of
PARALLAX and WIZBALL
decide to give away their Trade Secrets
it has to be Something Special...

ee ЕТ Мер, Bes ЗЕ ЭГ OGF TM АВЕ

Holders -278-0751 А
Outlaw Productions, 275 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NL

= part of the PALACE Group of Companies. _.