Compute Gazette - Hosted by www.commodore.ca

10 Top-Quality Programs In This Issue!
COMPUTE'S
June 1989
^FOR >—■'■' ' fw> ^s^ USEpS
COMMODORE 64/128
BEST ARCADE
SPORTS
50 Starter
for the Gold!
Which 7 Mac
the Cut?
i4
1989 USER GROUf»
More Than 250 Listing
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4 4 COMPUTED COMPUTE!'1 Gazeito ruZ(!no Juno June 1989
l(TT(RS
LETTERS
to tiifi fditnr
Semi Sendquestions questions or comments to Lttters
Letters programs and so few for the 128. It's a
given, offering to pay for the docs, only
to the Editor, COMPUTE!'s COMPUTED CueHe,
Gazette, matter of practicality." Practicality?
to find the programmer has moved,
P,O. P.O. Box 5406, Gree Greensboro, Pl sboro, North
You're kidding! LQzilltss Laziness is the real rea­
leaving no forwarding address. This is is
Ca Carolina rolina 27403. We reserve tile the righ' right son! There are more than 2 million 128s
especiall especially y frustrating when the pro­
to edit letters for clarity and length.
in the U.s. U.S. alone, and those of us who
gram proves to be very useful and
are dedicated to the 128 are tired of the
you'd like to get the updates the pro­
geoSurprlse
geoSurnrlse
major software companies and individgrammer
has offered for a small addi­
I've searched every magazine rack in
ual programmers ignoring the 128 and
tional fee. Three fellows our club would
town and have yet to find the one thing
its capabilities.
especially like to find are Dennis Co­
that thai every GEOS user needs desperate­
Although some software compalombo,
author of "Electronic Cottage"
ly: a GEOS-dedicated GEOS-dedicated publication. After After nies have converted some of their en­
(iast (last known address: Orcutt, Califor­
nearly nearly four years years of GEOS, I'm very very tertainment programs [or for the 128
nia); Will Corley, author of " "Lynx" Lynx" (last
surprised that the the people people at COM­ COM (Infocom now makes Commodore
known address: Sacramento, Califor­
PUTE! have have not not seen to this need. reed. games only only for the 128; Origin gave
nia); and Mike Apsey, whose name ap­
music music to Ultima V in 128 mode), the real
Bob EasEy
Ultima Vin 128 mode), the real
Easly
pears at the end of the listing of "64
Indianapolis, IN
reason for lack of 128 software is lazi
lIrdianapolis, IN
reason for lack of 128 software is lazi­ Morse R/ R/T" T" (last known address: Van
ness. ness. The The software companies companies say,
Alstyne, Texas).
Sorry, but wt we prcliy prt:lty much have our hauds
hands " "100,000 100,000 copies sold!" That number
Perhaps it's naive of me to think
full filII lvillr with Gazette, COMPUTE!, Amiga would would easily easily double double if if they they made made sepa­
any of them might read this and drop us
Resource, COMPUTE!'s COMPUTED PC, and the
rate rate 64 64 and and 128 versions, but bUI they just just a line, but I figured it was worth a try.
various magazine /IIagazine complmio" companion disks. How How­ don't want to spend any more time
Pete Baker Baku
ever, there thue is 0 a publication—and publication-and it's a than they have toon to on the 128. However,
Librarian LibrariQn
good one-that one—that might mighl meet your needs. Irel'ds. if a new 16-bit computer came out, they
Marysviile-Yuba Marysvillt-Yuba City HACC
GEOWORLD, in jll its second year, is pro­ would rush rush their rear rear ends off making
7127 Arrowhead Arrowhead Trail TrQil
duced using ushlg GEOS GEOS and is laser-printed.
last'r-prinled. games for that machine.
Browns Valley, Vallty. CA 0\ 95918-9630
It's available by subscription subscriplioll (12 issues issuts for far
As for Mr. Johnson and those who
$20). S20). For more more information, illformatioll, write write feel as he does: Sell your 128 and get a All Greek to Me
GEOWORLD, CEOWORLD, 38 Santa Sall la Ynez Yntz Street, Santa Sa lJla 64! It's obvious you wasted your money I'd like to type in "Monthly " Monthly Calendar,"
Barbara, California Califomia 93103.
on a computer you won't even use!
found in your March 1989 issue. How­
Learning Lament
John lolrn Berger ever, there are some characters I don't
G'day down under here! Thanks for
Scran SCrQllton, ton, PA understand, nor do I find them ex­
C'day down under here! Thanks for
your wonderful magazine, which has
plained in the typing instructions. Line
your wonderful magazine, which has
brought much enjoyment to myself and File-Copy Solution
1010 (and several others) have a letter
brought much enjoyment to myself and File-Copy So/ullon
1010 (and several others) have a letter
enclosed in in brackets with greater-than
my children; not so for my wife, I've subscribed to the Gazette Gazelte Disk since
though, who is now a golf and com
and lesser-than symbols typed over
though, who is now a golf and com­ 1986. How can I1 get just one program
puter widow, but I'm working on her.
them, followed follov.-ed by an underlined string
puter widow, but I'm working on her. copied to another disk, d isk, for my own use,
of of asterisks.
For some months now, I've noticed without copying the whole disk?
that you've not had any educational
Barkley Barkley Vineyard VineyQrd
Marjorie Webber Webbtr
programs listed. I've found these help­
Sanibel, Sanibd, FL FL
Oklahoma OklallomQ City, OK
ful for my preschool and school-age school-age
children. Please let me know if if you Since Siuct you've subscribed since sillu 1986, you In III every tVtry issue, we wt include ineludt "How to 10 Ti/pe Typt
plan on publishing any in the future. already olreody have hQve aQ couple of programs progroms that thQt In III COMPUTED COMPUTE!'s Gazette Cazette Programs." It's 11'5
will do the job. in the December 1987 is usually found on the last page of the mag
John Jollu Forster
will do ti,e job. III tht Dectlllbcr 1987 is­ usually foulIIl all tilt' last page of Ihe /IIag ­
Kellerberrin, Western Australia
sue, we published "Disk Rapid Transit," azine. We list it in the table of contents,
Kellerbtrrin, Westtrn Australia
sue, we published "Disk Rapid Trallsit," azine. Wt Iisl it ill the lable of COII/rllts,
which copies copit's any allY file—BASIC fi/t-BASIC or machine and aud tee Wf' spot the tht program listings section sl;'(tioll
In lu Gazette's Cazette's first firsl couple of years, we Wt pub­ language—at /allguage-al lightning-fast fighlllillg-fasl speed spud on all the IIle with willI boxes reminding rtminding readers rtadtrs to 10 consult cOllsult
lished dozens dOUIIS of educational programs— programs­ 64. 64.lnlhe In the March 1988 issue, we wt' published this Illis page pagt before btfOTt typing in ill programs. The Tht
mostly in ill the tire areas of math, spelling, speJli llg, and "ML Cloner," Cloller." which wlrich copies any I2Ily machine mQc/lint characters chQrtlcters you're having Ilavillg trouble with with are Qre
early reading. readillg. Over OVIT the past two to to three thrtt language lall8uage program. progrQm. It/I works on all the IIle 128, noted /lotrd in ill the tile "How to to Type" Typt" article QTtielr (page (pagr
years, we've We've stopped seeing sttiug submissions submissiolls 64, Plus/4, Plus /4, and 16. 16. Also, if if you have Ilavt aQ
92 92 in ill the the March issue), issut). the Tht symbols you're you'rt
of these tilt'S/! kinds of programs. We'd gladly 1571 drive, you can call use USt' the tlrr file !i'e copier referring rtftrrillg to—brackets to-brQckels with willI greater- gualrr- and and
publish some good ones OlltS if if we wt' had lIad some found on all the companion comporrioll Test/Demo Tesl/ Drmo disk. lesser-than Itsstr-Ihan symbols—indicate symbols-indicalt that thQt you you
from which whiclr to to choose.
should hold Irold down dowI, the tile Commodore key key and Qud
Programmers PrOgrammers In In the
Victims of Sloth
press prtss the tht character cilaraclrr enclosed inill the tilt special sptciol
Victims of Sloth
Bermuda Triangle?
brackets. bTacktlS. The Tilt underlined uudtrlinrd characters chQracters indi indi­
In In your March column, you printed aa
I I wonder how many others have down­ cate catt that that you you should sllould hold hold down dOllm SHIFT SHiFf
letter from E. E. Stuart Johnson saying, loaded freeware or or shareware s hareware from and alld type typt the tht character clloTacler that thQI is is under I//Ider­
"Now 1 I know why there are so so many 64 64 BBSs and sent letters to to the addresses scored—in scored-ill this this case, cast', the Ih(' asterisk. Giii

COMMODORE CLIPS
COMMODORE CLIPS
- - Edited
NEW S , NOTES , AND NEW
NEWS, NOTES, AND NEW PRODUCTS
Double Dare, out' of a new series of software packages based on popular TV game s'iou'5.
Circle Gets the Square
Have you ever felt you could could do do better than th,an the game-show contestants the
producers had selected? Now you can eno find out in the privacy of your own
home. home. GameTek GamcTek (Navarre, (Navarre, 6750 6750 West West Broadway, Broadway, Brooklyn Drooklyn Park, Park, Minnesota Minnesota
55428) 55428) has released computer computer versions versions ($!4.95 ($ 14.95 each) each) of the popular popular game game
shows "Hollywood " Hollywood Squares," "Super Password," and and "Double " Double Dare!."
Hollywood Hollywood Squares Squarts asks asks players to second-guess second-guess computer computer celebrities celebrities in
the popular popular game game of tic-tac-toe. tic-tac-toe. The The game game comes comes complete complete with the show's
theme music and wisecrack wisecrack comments. comments. Two computer computer contestants conteslimts can com compete
head-to-head, head-ta-head, or one One can play Gametek's Gametek's expert player, plarer, Microkid. Microkid.
In [n Super Password, one or two players are paired with computer computer celebri celebrities
to give and receive word clues. dues, Players go through the same rounds their
television counterparts cou nterparts do, including the $10,000 $ 10,000 speed round, where the
champion champion must correctly correctly guess ten words in 90 seconds. seconds.
Double Dare, based on the syndicated syndicated game show produced produced by MTV,
combines combines the challenge challenge of answering questions with physical challenges challenges such
as launching launching yourself yourself off a teetertotter to land on a trampoline. trampoline, Computer
players control their onscreen character's ability to jump over, throw, or toss
objects.
Long-Distance Long-Distance Larceny
A North Carolina teenager has been charged with using his Commodore Commodore 64
and modem to access a long-distance telephone service's computer and acquire
customer security secu rity codes. With these codes, he allegedly made calls and
charged them to other people's bills.
The Greensboro Greelrsboro News & Record reported that he has been charged with il illegally
accessing Atlanta-based Atlanta·based Southernet USA's South Carolina computer
and running up approximately $12,000 in long-distance charges. He allegedly
used a program to test a series of random numbers to find customer security
codes. It was reported that he was online for more than a week.
Officials seized his computer, printer, modem, and disk drives. The teenager
could face up to 12 years yea rs in prison.
6 COMPUTE'S COMpuTEr s GszBfre GU(lU(l June 1989
PRESS ANY KEY TO BEGIN
Edited by Mickey McLean
PRODUCTS
Low-Cost Educational
Software
KlOware KIDware (1380 156th NE, NB, Suite H2,
Bellevue, Washington 98007) has released
20 new disks containing educational
programs for children ages
2-16. Each disk (5 ($11.95) 11.95) has six
menu-driven programs that feature
music and graphics.
music and graphics.
New for the 128
Heme Data Systems (P.O. Box 714,
Station C, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M6J 351) 3S1) and Brown Boxes (26 Concord
Road, Bedford, Massachusetts
01730) have announced the release of
QDisk version 2.1 (S9.95), ($9.95), a device
driver for the Quick Brown Box. A
battery-backed CMOS-static RAM cartridge
for the 64 and 128, the Quick
Brown Box is available in 16K ($69), (569),
32K ($99), and 64K ($129) configurations.
The two together allow QDisk
to be used as a nonvolatile ramdisk in
128 mode. QDisk is application-trans
application-trans·
parent and can be used with standard
CP/M CP 1M software.
]ugg'ler-128 Jugg'ltr-128 ($19.95) (519.95) has also been
released by Herne Heme Data. The program
provides read, write, and formatting fonnatting
support for more than 130 types of
MFM CP/M CP 1M disks. Features include
menu screens for selecting and installing
disk types and formatting fonnatting new
disks, a user-definable set of up to
three default disk types, and support
under all versions of 128 CP/M for
the 1570, 1571, 1571 , and 1581 drives.
The program also 3lso features total
support by 128 CP/M DOS com rommands
for the extra disk types without
the need for special programming. Users
have the ability with \ ... ith litgg'ler-128 Jugg'ler-128 to
analyze 3nalyzc an unknown CP/M disk type
and report possible matches from its
internal database of disk types. t}'pes.
The primary distributor for ror both
QDisk and jugg'ler-128 Jugg'ltr-128 is is Poseidon
Electronics (103 Waverly Place, New
York, New York 10011)* 10011). Poseidon of orfers
lugg'ler-128 Jugg'la-128 for $16 and QDisk for
$10. Both prices include postage.
$10. Both prices include postage.
•

......
COMMODORE CLIPS
NEWS, NOTES, AND NEW PRODUCTS
Rolling Along
You'll need your best joystick skills to to
maneuver a ball through a multidimensional
puzzle on on ten tcn different
planes in in Mind-Roll Mi"d-Roll ($29.95), from (rom
Epyx (600 Galveston Drive, P.O. Box
8020, Redwood City, City. California
94063). Each successive plane increases
in in difficulty, di(ficutty. but you can re rearrange
the planes in any lin)' order for
play or practice.
You'll need to walk w

Witlt With all all the tlte great great sports sports software software available for the tlte 64 alld and 128,
picking pickillg tile the best best games gallles is is I/O no easy easy lIIatter. matter. But Bllt we we cOllver converted ted tlte the
office office into ill to a locker locker rOOIll, room, and alld 1l0W now tltat that we've we've tested enough ellollglt games
to develop a cltarley charley horse IlOrse ill in ollr our joystick arlllS, arms, here Itere are are ollr our picks
for" for
Elllted and complied compiled b'l Ay Micke, Mickey Mclean McLean and Tom Hetsel
Hetsel

(' orne games are based
ome games are based
Oon " on movies; others,
on books; but jack
'-' on books; but Jack
Nick/arls' Greatest 18 Holes of
Nicklaus' Greatest 18 Holes of
Major Clrampiollsltip Championship Golf is
based on a video. ABC
Sports asked' asked golf's Golden
Bear to select his favorite 18
holes from the U.S. and Brit
ish courses that play host to
holes from the U.S. and British
courses that play host to
major tournaments. Jack dis­
major tournaments. Jack dis
cusses those holes on the
video and explains why they
rank among his favor­
ites. Then he shows
viewers how he
plays them.
Now you have
the opportunity to play
those same holes on
ites. Then he shows R A T N G s
AnimatIOn CJ:XX; oooo
Graphics cx::x::x::x::)
those same holes on
OOOOG
your 64 or 128. Visit Sound oc:::D ooo
Play,bllllY CJ:XX;
your 64 or 128. Visit
Augusta, Baltusrol, BaltusroL Muirfield,
Merion, Oakmont, Pebble Beach,
Riviera, Royal Lytham, and and St. 51. Andrews.
For added variety, the disk
also includes two courses Nicklaus designed
himself. Test your golfing skills
at Castle Pines, Colorado, and Desert
Mountain, Arizona.
The graphics in this package are firstrate.
Each hole is a careful reproduction of
the original. From the clubhouse at St.
the original. From the clubhouse at St.
Andrews to the Pacific Ocean bordering
Pebble Beach, you'll find plenty of detail
Andrews to the Pacific Ocean bordering
Pebble Beach, you'll find plenty of detail
18 COAIPUI'EJ'. aueue
16 COMPUTE!*
oooo
oooo
Ratings; ",t/II,S; 5—excellent, 5-freel/u/, t—gooH, 4-.0011, 3—average, 3-"e" " ,
2—below average, I—wry poor
2- l/e/o. "etil,e, '-ret, P Ot
FOP CONTENDE DO
World Tour Goll - flectronlc Arts
World Class Leader Board - Access
Leader Board - Access
World Tour Golf - Electronic Arts
World Class Leader Board - Access
Leader Board - Access
Accolade
in th this is topnotch golfing simulation.
This attention to
ulation. This attention to
detail doesn't come without
a price, however. Greatest
a price, however. Greatest
18's screens build more
slowly than the ones in some
golf games, but the wait is
worth it.
worth it.
Animation, though limited
to the golfer and to the
ball in flight, is smooth and
realistic. Players can compete
against up to three human
opponents or a variety
opponents or a variety
of computer-generated
male and female
golfers, including
Nicklaus himself.
A large part of
Grealest Greatest 18's appeal
stems from the way the
game feels through the joystick.
Even at the expert level and
playing from the pro tees, you get
the feeling you have more control
over the ball than with other
golf games.
golf games.
Skins scoring or match play, deter­
mining mini ng wind intensity and direction, the
ability to change your perspective, computer
or manual club selection, and a statistics
page are just a few of the features
that tha t make this outstanding package from
Accolade our choice for best golf game.

13
"1 ost computer boxing
I yH ost computer boxing
^ I games put you at
I ringside, watching watching two
brawlers trade punches. With
TKO, Accolade puts you in ­
side the ring, with your op­
side the ring, with your op
ponent staring you straight
in the eye.
in the eye.
A split-screen features
large large images of you and and your your
opponent seen from the waist
up. Your boxer throws throws a
punch to the jaw and you
punch to the jaw and you
see your opponent's head
snap back as your
glove connects. Fail
glove connects. Fail
to to block your your opponent's
jab, however,
and and your your face face gets gets cut cut or or
turns black and blue.
turns black and blue.
TKO features both oneand
two-player options. Create
your own fighter with specialized
attributes, ca calibrate librate his
strengths and weaknesses, and then
work work your your way up up through through the ranks
ranks
of contenders. You can even select a
face for your boxer. If he's gal got what it
takes, you ca cann gel get a shot at th thee champ.
A fighter's fighter's win/loss win/loss record record is is saved to to
disk after each bout, so you can take him
right to the top if he's good enough. If you
start losing bouts, try to find a strategy that
x
Animation
Graphic.
Sound
rI

ihu
FOR FDR
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64, or Commodore 128 personal computer.
COMPUTEt's Gazette Disk brings you all the latest, most chal­
COMPUTEVs Gazette Disk brings you all the latest, most chal
lenging, lenging, most most fascinating programs programs published in the the corresponding
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issue of COMPUTEt's COMPUTE!* Gazette, Gazette. So instead of spending hours typing typing
in in each each program, now now all al! you you do do is is insert the the disk disk... ... and and your your
programs load in seconds.
RESULT: You have hours more time to enjoy all those great
RESULT: You have hours more time to enjoy all those great
programs programs which appear in COMPUTEt's COMPUTE!* Gazette-programs Gazette—programs like like
Speed SpeedScript SCript 128, Arcade Arcade Volleyball, 3-D 3-D Sprites, Sketch Pad, Sound
Manager, 1541 Speed and Alignment Tester, and hundreds more.
Manager, 1541 Speed and Alignment Tester, and hundreds more.
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Greensboro, N.C. 27403.
Greensboro, N.C. 27403,

Reviews
Reviews
that that a a group group of of scientists scientists in in the the year year
2040 2040 have have sent sent you you these these objects via via a
lime machine. They hope you can use
time machine. They hope you can use
them to change the course of history
and prevent the Nazis from winning
World War II.
World War II.
Apparently, a a cosmic cosmic error error has has given
given
Nazi technology a tremendous boost—
Nazi technology a tremendous boostallowing
this gruesome gang of goose­
allowing this gruesome gang of goosesteppers
to win the \\'ar war in 1940 without
America's America's having having a a chance chance to to intervene.
All All this revolves revolves around around a a base base on on the the
moon where the Nazis mine iunarium,
moon where the Nazis mine lunarium,
i\ a powerful element that fuels rockets
and rocket packs.
As Rocket Ranger, you must delay
As Rocket Ranger, you must delay
the the Nazis Nazis long long enough enough to to locale locate the the five
secret secret rocket rocket parts parts needed to to build build your your
own own spaceship. spaceship. Then, Then, try try to to capture
capture
enough enough lunarium lunarium to to power power it to to the the
moon, where you hope to slOp stop the Nazi
war machine.
Chapter Chapter 1 9f of this this two-disk two-disk game game
begins begins in in Ft. Ft. Dix, Dix, your your base of of opera-
. .-■■ -:.; ■■■■ ■-■■■: -. --■;■
Strap Strap orr on Q a rocket rocket pack
and and bash bash the bad bad guys in in
jet-propelled jet· propelled arcade
arcade
style.
tions. America's top scientist, Professor
Otto Otto Barnstorff, Barnstorff, and and his beautiful beautiful
daughter, daughter, Jane, Jane, have have been been kidnapped
kidnapped
by by the the Nazis. Nazis. The The pair pair are are being being trans­
ported ported by Zeppelin Zeppelin to to Germany, and and
from from there there to to a desert desert rocket rocket base base for for a a
trip trip to to the the moon. moon. The The Nazis Nazis plan plan to to use use
the professor to increase the efficiency
of of their their lunarium lunarium operation. operation. In In addition
addition
to to performing performing your your other other chores, chores, you you
must must prevent prevent this this from happening.
happening.
At Ft. Dix, Rocket Ranger's joystick­
At Ft. Dix, Rocket Ranger's joystickcontrolled
mcnu menu gives you four choices:
War War Room, Fuel Fuel Depot, Depot, Rocket Lab,
and Takeoff. Military intelligence has
and TakE'Off. Military intelligence has
assigned five agents to work for you, to
assigned five agents to work for you, to
help you locate the rocket factories,
lunarium bases, and military targets.
lunarium bases, and military targets.
You You contact contact them them in in the the War War Room,
Room,
read their reports, and order them to in­
road their reports, and order them to in
filtrate and and develop develop resistance resistance efforts efforts in in
any of 26 different countries.
Since you need fuel for both your
rocket suit and the moon rocket, it's im
rocket suit and the moon rocket, it's im­
perative perative that that your your agents agents and and their resistance
fighte rs locate supplies of
sistance fighters locate supplies of
lunarium. Your agents are trained for
this kind of work, but you must give
them their orders. Send them where
them their orders. Send them where
they can do the most gOOd-but watch
they can do the most good—but watch
out for the Gestapo and the sinister
Colonel Leermeister. You can also raid
Colonelleermeister. You can also raid
the the lunarium lunarium bases bases yourself yourself to to augment
augment
your your supplies; supplies; you you should should send send the the element
ment back back to to the the Fuel Fuel Depot, Depot, which
which
keeps keeps track track of your your quantity.
quantity.
26 COMPurE.'":r COMPUTED GlIlllrr" Gazette June June 1969 1989
The The Nazi Nazi Zeppelin Zeppelin Fleet spreads
spreads
across across Europe, Europe, Africa, Africa, and and South South America
with increasing speed unless you
slow its progress. Rescuing the brilliant
professor and and his beautiful beautiful daughter
daughter
will will buy you more more time time to to assemble
assemble
your your moon moon rocket. rocket. And since since this this is
war, it also helps if you blast a few of
Herr Herr Hitler's Hitler's henchmen with your your
trusty trusty radium radium pistol. pistol.
But you can't can't fight the the entire entire war war
from Ft. Ft. Dix. You You need need the the rocket rocket pack
to to make a rescue rescue attempt, to to steal steal rocket
rocket
parts, parts, and and to to destroy destroy targets. targets. Your Your decoder
wheel lets you know how many
units of lunarium lunarium your your rocket pack pack
needs needs for each each destination. destination. It It also also
serves serves as as a a form of of copy copy protection. protection.
Getting Getting off off the the ground ground takes takes a a litt!e
little
practice. practice. Takeoffs Takeoffs can can be be tricky-and
tricky—and
humorous-when humorous—when you're you're carrying carrying a a
heavy load load of of lunarium; the animation animation is is
particularly particularly good during this sequence.
In In a typical typical encounter encounter with with the the Nazis,
zis, Rocket Rocket Ranger Ranger must must box box his his way
past past a a brawny brawny Nazi Nazi guard, avoid avoid aerial
aerial
torpedoes torpedoes fired fired from enemy enemy Zeppelins,
Zeppelins,
take take on on squadrons of fighter fighter planes, planes,
trade trade shots shots with with gunners gunners hiding hiding in jungle
gle temples, temples, and and blast blast away away at at hostile
hostile
antiaircraft batteries. batteries. All All this this happens
happens
before he even reaches the moon and
faces a a legion legion of of Amazon Amazon guards.
guards.
The The graphics graphics and and animation animation are are
impressive in all these arcade-style scenarios.
The artists did a particularly
good good job job when when they they created created Jane Jane BarnBarnstorff.storff.
Any Any red-blooded red-blooded American American hero hero
would want to rescue her before the
Nazis were able to turn her into a zom­
bie bie and and force her her to to mine mine the the moon's
moon's
lunarium.
lunarium.
Cinemaware didn't skimp on the
audio, audio, either. Each Each sound sound adds adds to to the the
drama-from drama—from the the takeoff takeoff to to the the realistic
realistic
SOS SOS of your your wrist wrist computer. computer. Bob Bob lindLindstrom'sstrom's
original original musical musical compositions
compositions
especially especially capture capture the the feel of of the the campy
campy
Saturday Saturday serials. serials. An An unexpected unexpected bonus bonus
to the aud audio io effects is ReelTalk,
Cinemaware's Cinemaware's own own technique for makinganimated
ing animated characters speak with digitized
itized voices.
voices.
Cinema Cinemaware ware has put a lot of
thought thought and and effort into Rocket Rocket Ranger, Rallser,
and it shows, right down to the documentation.
The instructions needed to
play play the the game game are are in in one one booklet, booklet, making
it easy to find operational answers
when when you're you're playing playing the game.
game.
Another Another entertaining entertaining booklet booklet (this
(this
one sent from the future) explains the
plot and includes training manuals for
the the rocket rocket pack pack and and other other items. items. It's It's fun
to read for its tongue-in-cheek Teutonic
flavor and its numerous under penalty of
death warnings. It also includes includes a brief brief
history history of of the the Rocket Ra/!gt'f Ranger movie movie serials.
als. This This adds adds a a nostalgic nostalgic touch touch for those
those
old enough to remember the black-andwhite
adventures, adventures, and and it it provides provides back-
ground for those too young to remember
the the likes likes of Commando Commando Cody.
In In addition addition to to capturing capturing the the atmosphere,
plot, and sounds of the Saturday
day serials, serials, Rocket Rocket Ranger is is fun on on both both
a a strategic strategic and and an an arcade arcade level. level. You can can
put put on on your your jet jet jacket and and zoom zoom around
around
the the globe, but but you you can't defeat defeat the dia­
bolical bolical fiends fiends just just by by playing playing superhero.
It takes some strategiC planning to
hero. It takes some strategic planning to
develop an effective network of agents
and resistance fighters. You need their
and resistance fighters. You need their
help to locate and infiltrate rocket factories
tories and and to to capture capture supplies supplies of of lunarium.
ium. With With your your agents agents in in place, you can can
strap strap on on a rocket rocket pack and and bash bash the the bad bad
guys in in jet-propelled jet-propelled arcade arcade style.
-Tom —Tom Nelset Nrtsd
Rocket Rocket Ranger
Ci Cinemaware ,wmllware
4165 Thousand Oaks Oaks Blvd. Blud.
Westlake Villase, Village, CA. CA 91362
91362
$34.95
$34.95
Predator
Is this game one of Activision's better
efforts? Predator is an arcade shoot-'emup
combined with some text-adventure
puzzles, but but somehow somehow the the game game fails to to
involve involve me. me.
Appa Apparently, rently, the writers of the documentation
assume everyone has seen
the movie on which Predator is based. If
you you haven't, haven't, you'll you'll probably probably have have no no
idea why you're leaving a helicopter in
the midst of what seems to be a jungle junglc
war.
For that that matter, matter, you you won't even even
know how to leave the chopper. As the
game game begins, begins, men men slide down what what appears
to be a fixed pole pote (probably a
rope) rope) and and then then run off off the the right edge edge of
the screen.
Though the documentation
doesn't mention mention it, it, each each man man carries carries a
different different weapon. weapon. When one one appears
appears
carrying a weapon you wish to use, usc,
click click on on the the fire button. Now you've you've asassusumed med control of Major Dutch
Schaefer-the Schaefer—the role Arnold Sch Schwarzen .... -arzenegger
played in the movie.
Next, you move to the right, across
a screen screen that that scrolls scrolls as as you you near near the the

edge. Along the way, enemy soldiers
appear and shoot at you. It's a good
idea to to shoot back. Scoring a hit on a
soldier (or having a soldier score a hit
on you) causes blood and gore to erupt
from the victim's back. (It's not as as gruesome
as you might think—1 think-I didn't no­
tice lice the Ihe blood and gore until my wife
pointed il it out.)
Along the way you'll you'lJ discover the
bodies of your fallen comrades. If If you
think one of their weapons "'eapons contains
more ammunition than yours does, you
can swap. Simply drop your weapon
and pick up another one. Check the status
bar at the top of the screen to see if
you've made .1 a good trade.
The status bar also lets you know
about your other weapons, such as
hand grenades and bulletproof vests, as
well as the proper function keys to 10 activate
them. There's also a clock and a
Scoreboard. scoreboard.
You start with three hand grenades,
but you can get other weapons
and ammunition by searching the
chests that litter the jungle path. Some
chests that litter the jungle path. Some
chests contain booby traps, and the
only way to find out whether they do is
to open them. Even then, some of the
icons that represent the weapons are
hard to identify on the monitor. The
hard to identify on the monitor. The
grenades and extra ammo are fairly
clear, but I 1 have no idea what some of
the other weapons are or when to use
them. Good luck.
them. Good luck.
From time to time, )'ou'l\ you'll hear a
strange sound and see a glowing trian­
strange sound and see a glowing trian
gular object move across the screen.
This is the targeting device of an alien
This is the targeting device of an alien
creature, the Predator of the title. Don't
let it it center on you. While you can be
shot several times by the soldiers, the
alien needs to zap you only once for the
game to end.
game to end.
When you've made it to the village
where soldiers shoot at you from win­
dows, you've completed level I 1. . You'll
be awarded bonus points based on the
be awarded bonus points based on the
length of time it took you to get there.
Level 2 begins in another section of
the jungle. After only one scroll of the
screen, I found myself stopped by a
screen, 1 found myself stopped by a
brush-covered barrier that I 1 couldn't
get through. [ Itried tried everything to get by:
shooting, throwing hand grenades,
jumping, pulling, kicking, and running.
jumping, pulling, kicking, and running.
Whatever it it was, 1I was stuck there until
the clock ran out and the game ended. It It
seemed a shame, since the package
boasts that the game has 30 screens of
nonstop terror. Once you've you' ve fought
your way through a level a few times,
you're you 're supposed to learn [earn its pitfalls so
that it's it 's easier to complete the level the
next time.
After a lot of trial and error, II managed
to overcome level 2's brush-covered
obstacle. It turned out to be a large rotten
log. You have to stand sland at just the
right spot to jump on top of the log;
once you've landed, you fight your way
along it to the next level.
The game is an existential dilemma
in that your only purpose seems to be to
stay alive and accumulate points. Since
you have no other apparent appiu ent reason for
being there, it would have been better
to remain in bed. In fact, fa ct, following the
frustration fru stration of level 2, I'm inclined to return
to bed, assume a prenatal prenat .. 1 position,
and turn the electric blanket up to 9.
(Though after thinking it over, perhaps
I'd have better luck if I swapped my M-
16 for a flamethrower.)
flamethro\\'er.)
Now Now for for the the technical technical aspect aspect of the the
game. I'm a great believer in brief documentation,
but Predator's is so brief that
you don't don't know know what you're doing doing in
the jungle or whether there's anything
at the end of your your quest. Maybe it's a
good idea to to see the the movie movie first.
The packaging packaging and and documentation
are are no help help in in determining determining whether
you'll you'll see see any any sign sign of the the Predator other
other
than than its triangular triangular image. image. [ I still don't
know if you you eventually eventually fa face ce it it in in direct
combat. combat. I I have liave a a fee feeling ling the the Predator Predator is is
that armor-dad armor-clad bad bad guy who who keeps keeps zap· zap
ping ping me off the the second log. I 1 know know
there's a way way past him, him, but this is anotherofthe
er of the game's game's puzzles I've yet to solve.
Prl'dator's Predator's graphics graphics arC! arc small, but
they range in quality from adequate to
good. The same can be said for the
sound effects. effects. Unfortunately, I 1 haven't
haven't
advanced (ar far enough into the game to
discover the excitement of what I 1 assume
was a rousing good movie. Once
again, again, [ 1 assume that excitement is lurking
somewhere down the path.
Computer adaptations of movies
usuall usually y contain only simplified sequences
or the bare outlines of the
plot-so plot—so I won't fault Pudalar Predator for that.
But I've always been impatient with
those who buy a movie title and then
write a game for it, hoping to cash in on
the movie's popularity. This has happened
too often in the past, and I'm
afraid it's also the case with Predator.
Predator
Aclivisiafl
Activision
P.O. Bo.r 3048
Mellio Park, CA. 94025
514.95
P.O. Box 3048
MenlO Park, CA 94025
$14.95
-—Ervin Eroi /! Babo Bobo
Deathlord
Reviews
Reviews
Electronic Arts, publisher of the excellent
Bard's Tale series, has come out
with another solid fantasy adventure.
Electronic Arts, publisher of the excel
lent Bard's Tale series, has come out
with another solid fantasy adventure.
While it it may not be a breakthrough,
Deathiord Dt'allrlord is a very enjoyable game.
Deathlord Dt'atlzlord is different from the
standard fantasy game. Instead of being
staged in the usual European-flavored
scenario, it is set in Japan and has a com
scenario, it is set in Japan and has a complement
of samurai, ninja, yakuza, and
plement of samurai, ninja, yakuza, and
other Oriental characters. You may at
first have a problem identifying so many
different characters and recognizing
their attributes. But as you play, you'll
soon learn all their names and skills.
After you've made two scenario
disks, you assemble assemble a party of characters.
You can choose from 16 classes, classes, including
fighters, thieves, peasants, and
four different users of magic. Instead of
creating all new characters, you can import
your favorites from either the
Bard's Bard 's Tale series or Ultima Ult ima 111. 1If. Once
you've selected a party of up to six char
you've sele

Games
Games
___ JERICHO 11 __ _
JERICHO II
THEREVE
THE REVENGE
Last Last year, year, Jericho Jericho the the supermoth
supermoth
broke into your competitor's kilt
factory and-with a little help from
you-consumed you—consumed every every scrap scrap of of fabric
ric found in in the the warehouse. warehouse. Now Now
your competitor has devised a way
broke into your competitor's kilt
factory and—with a little help from
your competitor has devised a way
to to get get even. even. In In a a one-on-one war war of of
the kilts, you must fight to keep Jer
the kilts, you must fight to keep Jericho
and his equally voracious
icho and his equally voracious
friends friends within within your your opponent's opponent's fa­
cilities and away from your own.
cilities and away from your own.
"Jericho II " is a unique two­
"Jericho II" is a unique twoplayerplayer
variation variation of of the the popular popular
Breakollt-style Breakou(-style game, game, in in which which you you
try to keep a ball bouncing in ­
try to keep a ball bouncing in-
bounds bounds until until all all the the bricks bricks on on the the
screen are are gone. In In Jericho Jericho II, II, the the
balls balls arc are moths, moths, and and the the bricks are are
colorful pieces of cloth.
colorful pieces of doth.
Typing It In
Typing It In
Jericho II is written in machine language.
guage. Type Type it it in in using using "MLX," "MLX," the
machine machine language language entry entry program program
found eelsewhere lsewhere in this iss issue. ue.
When MLX MLX prompts prompts you you for starl­
start
ing ing and and ending ending addresses, addresses, respond
respond
with with the the values values given given below.
Starling address: address: 0801 0801
Ending Ending address: address: 1518 1518
Enter Enter the the data data for Jericho Jericho II. Be Be sure sure
to to save save a a copy copy to to tape tape or or disk before before
you you exit exit MLX. MLX.
When When you're you're ready to to play play Jericho
II, load and run the program.
cho II, load and run the program.
Although Jericho II is written in
machine machine language, language, it it can can be be loaded,
loaded,
saved, and run like a BASIC
program. program.
Roberl Robert Bixby
Bixby
"Jericho "Jericho II" picks picks up up where
where
the original " Jericho"­
the original "Jericho"—
June June 19BB 1988 Gazette-left
Gazette—left
off. This unusual game of
off. This unusual game of
Breakout has two players,
Breakout has two players,
four paddles, and more
four paddles, and more
balls balls to deflect deflect than than in in the
original. Two joysticks
original. Two joysticks
Pest Control
required,
required.
Pest Control
Plug one one joystick joystick into into port po rt 1 and
another another into into port 2. When When you you type
RUN, th thee game game goes goes into into demo demo
mode, which is very much like the
game itself. On each side of the
screen screen is a a piece of of the cl cloth oth used used to to
make make the the kilts. kilts. One One belongs belongs to to you;
the the other other belongs belongs to to your your opponent.
opponent.
Jericho Jericho Ih thee moth moth naps flaps around,
around,
soaring soaring from place to to place, place, until until he he
bumps the cloth. He then eats a a section
tion and and moves moves on. on. As Jericho Jericho takes
takes
a bite of fabric, the cloth changes
color. color. When When it it turns orange, it's it's
nearly eaten through.
Press any key to start the game.
Each Each player player has has control control over over two two
large large paddles—the paddles-the joystick in in port port 1
controls controls the the paddles paddles on on the the left,
left,
while while the the joystick in in port port 2 controls
controls
the the paddles paddles on on the the right. right. Your Your paddles
surround the fabric contained
in your opponent's warehouse.
Joystick control is easy. Press
Joystick control is easy. Press
the stick forward to move the paddles
cl clockwise ockwise and pull back to
move them counterclockwise.
move them counterclockwise.
It's mt'I, men agaills/ against motlls moths in "Jericho II," II ," II a
two-II/llyer two-player flight of of fancy. fIl Il CY·
Use the paddles paddles to to keep keep Jericho
within your opponent's warehouse
within your opponent's warehouse
and and awa awayy from your your warehouse, warehouse, located
on the other side of the screen.
The more pieces of fabric missing
from your opponent's warehouse,
the faster faster your your score score increases. To To
make make things things more more difficult, Jericho Jericho is is
joined by several of his kilt-eating
joined by several of his kilt-eating
friends as as the the game game progresses. progresses.
Ea ch player has five wa re­
Each player has five ware
houses' houses' worth worth of of fabric. When When a a
player pla yer loses loses all all of of his his or or her her fabric,
the the game game ends ends and and the the player player with with
the mosl most points wins. The number
of warehouses your opponent has
of warehouses your opponent has
lost lost and and your your total total score score appear appear at at
the the top top of of the the screen above above your your
paddles. paddles.
See Sec program prog ram /istillg listing 011 on page 82. G 6
COMPU COMPUTERS TEt's Galarra Gazette June Jgne 1989 1989 29
29

Games
Games
" Match Mania" presents a series of
"Match Mania" presents a series of
visual puzzles. Four rectang rectangular ul a r
patterns aTC are drawn on the screen;
three of them are identical, and one
is slightly different. Your goal is to
select the oddball pattern pattern. .
If the task sounds easy, consider
this: A clock is counting the time
and you're being judged not only
on your accuracy. accuracy, but olso also on you yourr
speed speed. . Bo Both th one-and two-player
games are included.
Getting Slarted
Getting Started
Match Mania is written entirely in
BASIC. Using " "The The Automatic
Proofreader" to ensu ensure re accu accurate rate
typing, enter the program and save
it to tape or disk. To play the game,
load the program and type RUN.
Match Mania prompts you for
the number of players. Enter 1 or 2,
then press RETURN. Next, type in
the players' names (also followed
by RETURN). Now select the puz· puz
zJe zle size. The greater the number of
lines and characters, the more diffi·
diffi
cult the game.
If you choose to play the two· two-
pplayer layer game, you must decide
whether you wou would ld like to have the
TCH
Donovan E. Anderson, Anderson, Jr.
Test Test your your visual visual and and
mental perception with with
this this mind mind boggier for one
or two players. For the 64.
or two players. For the 64.
winner judged by the number of
correct responses or by the total
elapsed elapsed time. Press Press C and the win· win
ner will be selected by the number
of guesses (the lower the number of
guesses, the better) better). . Press T to
choose choose a winner winner based upon total
elapsed time (the less time, the bet· bet
ter). U If you select T, you can option·
option
ally request that a time penalty of
45 seconds be given to a player who
makes an incorrect selection. This
helps prevent players from making
random selections to try to beat the
clock.
The game begins after you've
answered all the prompts. The first
player's name will be shown at the
top of the screen screen. . That player
should sit at the keyboard and wait
for the puzzle to appear. The rec· rec
tangles are numbered so that the
tangles are numbered so that the
pattern pattern that doesn't belong belong can be be
indicated by typing its number. If
indicated by typing its number. If
the response is correct, the program
program
tell tells s how many seconds passed
before the correct response was en·
before the correct response was en
tered tered. o Otherw Otherwise, ise, the player gets an· an
other chance to guess. guess, In in the the two· twoplayer
game, players alternate turns.
player game, players alterna te turns.
Dilly Ollt.' of IIr cst.' rcctlHlglcs is uniquc.
Spot tire differences 1/1 "Match Marria."
Only one of these rectangles is unique.
Spot the differences in "Match Mania."
The game continues indefinite·
indefinite
Iy. To end the game, enter O. A two·
ly. To end the game, enter 0. A two-
player game can be ended only on
the first playe player's r's turn. The total
points aare re displayed wwhen hen tthe he
game ends. ends.
See program listing on page 84. G
See program listhlg all page 84. G
COMPUTEr, COMPUTE'SGuene Gazette June 1989 31

Programming
Programming
cCONVERTER o N V E R T E R
If you start drawing a picture with
If you start drawing a picture with
one one paint paint program program and and then then decide
decide
you'd like to use a certain feature of
you'd like to use a certain feature of
another, another, you you usually usually can't can't just just save save
it to disk and load it into the other
it to disk and load it into the other
program. Paint programs programs for the the 64
have vastly different capabilities,
and they use a a large variety of storage
age formats.
" "Grafix Grafix Converter" bridges the
gap. gap. It It allows allows you you to to convert convert picture picture
files from one one paint-program paint-program format
to another. Grafix Converter
does have its limitations, however;
does have its limitations, however;
it can't convert from hi hi-res -res to multi­
color or vice versa.
color or vice versa.
Gelling Started
Getting Started
Grafix Converter Converter is is a BASIC BASIC program.
Be Be sure sure to to use use "The "The Automatic
Automatic
Proofreader," found elsewhere in
this issue, whil whilee entering it. Save
the program to disk before you at ­
tempt to to run it. it. To To begin, begin, type type RUN RUN
and and press press RETURN.
Grafix Converter first presents
you you with with the the main main menu. menu. Press 1 to to
convert a a high-resolution picture
file, 2 to to convert convert a a multicolor multicolor file, or or
3 to to quit. quit. Grafix Grafix Converter Converter can can con- con-
Steve Emstey
Steve Emsley
Because of the variety of
Because of the variety of
storage formats used by
64 paint programs, a
picture drawn in one paint
picture drawn in one paint
program is offen
program is often
inaccessible to another.
With this utility, you can
use as many paint
use as many paint
programs programs as as you need to
complete your
complete your
masterpiece. For the 64
masterpiece. For the 64
with a disk drive.
vert fil es from the follow ing hi-res
vert files from the following hi-res
paint paint programs: Doodle, Paint Pail1t Now!,
Tile The Print S/wp, Shop, and Art Studio. It
also also supports supports these these multicolor multicolor paint paint
programs: programs : KoalaPad, Create with with
Garfield, Garfield, Arti$t64, Artist64, Rainbow Rainbow Painter,
Blazing Paddies, Paddles, Advanced Advll1lccd Art Art Studio,
dio, and and Micro lIlus/rator.
Illustrator.
Once the format is selected, .selected, the
program asks for the name of the
program asks for the name of the
paint paint program program used used to to create create the the
original file (FROM:) and the name
of of the the one one to to convert convert to to (TO:). (TO:). Sim­
ply ply press press the numbers numbers corresponding
to the correct programs. Next,
ing to the correct programs. Next,
Grafix Grafix Converter Converter prompts you you fo forr
the the name name of of the original original file. Type Type
the name name of of the the picture picture without without any any
extensions. (For example, if you 've
extensions. (For example, if you've
saved a file from Doodle! with the
name STUFF, it will appear in the
disk directory as DDSTUFF. When
prompted prompted for the the fil filename ename by by Grafix
Grafix
Converter, you should enter
Converter, you shou ld enter
STUFF, not DDSTUFF.) Grafix
Grafix
Converter prompts you for the new
fi filename. lenam e. Again Again, , type type the the name name
without without any any extensions.
extensions.
After After you've you've entered entered the the necessary
information, Grafix Grafix Converter
Converter
prompts you to place the source
prompts you to place the source
disk into the disk drive. Place the
di disk sk containing the original file in into to
the drive and press RETURN. If
you've you've changed changed your your mind, press press
the left-arrow key to abort. The
program reads the picture fil file e and
prompts you you for the the destination
destination
disk. disk. If If you you press RETURN RETURN, , the the
converted file is written to disk. If
converted file is written to disk. If
you you press press the left-arrow left-arrow key, key, the the
operation is aborted. Grafix Con­
operation is aborted. Grafix Con
verter returns to the main menu
when it has finished.
See program listing on page 80. G
See progra m listing all page 80. G
COMPU7Ef COMPUTE'S! Galelle Gaiette Juoe Jura 1989 37

Shawn Shawn K. K. Smith
Smith
Add four useful commmtds to tlJe
Add four useful commands to the
128'5 128's machine machine ta/tguage language monitor
monitor
alld and give it it bidirectional bidirectional scrolling, scrollhzg,
disk-edith'8 disk-editing capabilities, capabilities, alld and a
FAST-modc FAST -mode toggle for full-speed I'tll-speed
80-colIWI1I 80-coltimn comptltillg.
computing.
One of the 128'5 strongest features
One of the 128's strongest features
is is its its built-in built-in machine machine language
monitor. monitor. This This monitor oHers offers many many
standard standard commands, commands, induding including hunt,
hunt,
fill, assemble, assemble, and and disassemble.
Nevertheless, there's still room for
improvement. For instance, instance, the the 128 128
monitor monitor doesn't doesn't support support bidirectional
tional scrolling, nor nor is it it capable capable of of
reading reading from and and writing to to a specific
cific disk sector. But But now now there's
there's
" "128 128 Monitor Monitor Enhancer"-a Enhancer"—a RAMRAMbasedbased monitor monitor extension extension which
which
gives gives you you all all of of the the aforementioned
features and more.
Gelling Started
Getting Started
128 128 Monitor Enhancer Enhancer is a a short
short
(964 {964 bytes), bytes), relocatable relocatable machine
machine
language language program program written in in the the
form of a BASIC loader. To avoid
typing typing mistakes, mistakes, enler enter it it using using "The "The
Automatic Proofreader," Proofreader," found
elsewhere elsewhere in in this this issue. issue. Be Be sure sure to to
save a a copy copy of 128 128 Monitor Enhancer
hancer to to disk disk or or tape tape before before you you
run it. it.
Before you use the 128's machine
language monitor, load and
run 128 Monitor Enhancer. The
program program will will display display the the prompt
STARTING ADDRESS? $1400. If Ii this
address is suitable for your current
application, simply press RETURN.
Otherwise, Otherwise, enter enter another another address;
address;
you you can can express express this this address address in in decimal
or hexadecimal notation. If
you you choose choose hex, hex, be be sure to to precede precede
the address with a $.
After you've chosen a starting
location, the BASIC loader POKEs
the the machine machine language language routine into into
memory memory and activates activates it it using using a
50 SO COMPUTEI"II COMPUTED Glllotte Gazelle Jooe June '989 1989
power
BAS I C
SYS command. In case you want to
save save 128 Monitor Monitor Enhancer as as a a
BlOADable BLOADable machine machine language language file,
the the loader loader displays displays the the starting and and
ending ending addresses addresses for the the routine.
routine.
You may use use these these numbers numbers to to
BSAVE BSAVE the the program program to to disk.
disk.
Scrolling and fAST Mode
Scrolling and FAST Mode
Once Once the program program is enabled, enabled, four
additional additional monitor monitor commands commands are are
available. available. To see see each in in action, first
enter enter the the monitor monitor by pressing pressing F8 F8 or
typing typing MONITOR.
The new command that you'll
probably probably use use most most often often is is bidirectional
tional scrolling. scrolling. To To activate activate this this
function, enter enter B and and press RE RE ­
TURN. (To tum turn it of[, off, enter B a second
time or exit the monitor with
the X command.) With bidirectional
scrolling scrolling activated, activated, you can can use use the
cursor cursor keys keys to to scroll scroll backward backward and and
forward through through a disassembly disassembly (D {D
command) command) or or memory memory dump dump (M (M
command). command). The cursor cursor must must be be in in
the the far far left left column column when when you hit hit the the
cursor-up cursor-up or or cursor-down cursor-down keys for
bidirectional scrolling to work.
The The £ £ command command toggles the the
microprocessor between SlOW SLOW (1
MHz) and FAST (2 MHz) mode.
The first time you use this command,
mand, the the computer computer is is placed in in
FAST FAST mode; mode; the the second second time, time, it returns
turns to to normal operating operating speed.
speed.
Since 5ince the the 40-column 40-column screen screen is is
turned turned off off in in FAST FAST mode, mode, this this command
mand is useful useful only only if if you're you're working
ing in in SO-column 80-column mode.
Reading and Wrillng
Reading and Writing
The The remaining commands, commands, !R !R and and
!W, allow you to read from or write
to to any any disk disk sector sector using a 1541 1541, ,
1571,1581, 1571, 1581, or or compatible disk disk
drive. drive. The!R The !R command command reads reads the the selected
lected sector sector (256 (256 bytes) bytes) into into the the cassette
sette buffer buffer at at $0800 $0B00 (2816). The The lW !W
command command docs does just the the opposite: It It
writes writes 256 256 bytes bytes from the the cassette
cassette
buffer buffer to to the given given disk sector.
sector.
128 128 Monitor Enhancer
The read command uses the
following format:
IRtrack IRtra(k sector sutor {drvict [device numbtrJ
number]
The track and sector values can be in
The track and sector values can be in
hexadecimal hexadecimal or or they they can can be be expressed
using the monitor's own
numbering conventions. The device
number IlIll11ber is is optional; optional; if if none none is is given,
given,
it it defaults defaults to to 8. 8. To To read track track 18 IB
($12), ($ 12), sector sector 1 from device device S, 8, for example,
you enter !R12 Ol. 01.
The The syntax syntax for the the !W !W command
is the same as for the !R
command:
command:
IWtruck IWtmck sector sector [l/l'uiu [device number] I/Ilmber]
When writing to the disk with
When writing to the disk with
the !W !VV command, exercise extreme
care. care. Be Be aware aware that that any any changes changes you you
make to a disk may damage one or
make to a disk may damage one or
more of the files. Also, to be on the
more of the files. Also, to be on the
safe side, the first time you use the
!W command, try it on a scratch
!W command, try it on a scratch
disk. disk. Only Only when you're sure sure that that the the
command command works works properly properly should
should
you you use use it it on on your your other other disks.
disks.
Program Notes
Program Notes
Enhancer Enhancer works works by by redirecting redirecting the
monitor's monitor's command-evaluation
command-evaluation
vector vector at $032E $032E (814) (814) to to itself. Thus,
Thus,
whenever whenever you enter enter a command
command
from the monitor, monitor, the routine routine first
checks checks to to see see if if it's it's one of of 128 128 Monitor
Enhancer's four commands. If it
is, is, the the program executes the the necessary
code. Other Otherwise, wise, it exits
through through the the normal normal commandcommandevaluationevaluation
routine.
routine.
Bidirectional scrolling scrolling is is
achieved by similar similar means: means: The The
program program wedges \vcdges the the command into into
the the keyboard·scanning keyboard-scanning routine routine at
$033C (S2B). (828). Unfortunately, this
approach approach results results in in a slight timing
timing
problem. On occasion, as you're
cursoring cursoring around around the the screen, an an inverse
space is left behind. (This occurs
curs only only on on the the 40·column 40-column screen.)
screen.)
Fortunately, Fortunately, this this minor minor glitch glitch has
no no effect on on the the program's operation.
operation.
See See program listing 011 on page 77. 77. G
6

Rhett Anderson
Rhelt Anderson
Almost a year ago, the original Com­
Almost a year ago, the original Com
modore 128 128 ddisappeared. isappeared. Commodore
1571 disk drives and 1750
RAM expanders expanders became became scarce.
scarce.
After years years of of being being one one of of the the bestbestsellingselling computers computers around, the tho 128 128
was abruptly abruptly pulled pulled off off the the shelves.
The 128D, 1280 , a higher-priced version of
the the computer computer that sports sports a a detachable
keyboard keyboard and and built-in drive, drive, be­
came the only 64-compatible
came the o nly 6 4 -compatible
computer around.
computer around.
Now, if we believe a a current
rumor, th thee 128D has also gone the
way of the dinosaur. This will likely
way of the dinosaur. This willlikcly
come as a shock to many of OUf
come as a shock to many of our
readers, especially especially when you you consider
sider that, that, according according to to our our last
readership survey, one-third of the
respondents respondents who who planned planned on buying
ing a a new new computer computer in in the the next next yea yearr
were planning on a 128.
Fortunately, the the Co Commodore mmodore
64 is still in production, but pessi­
mists ask how long even that com
mists ask how long even that com­
puter puter (purported (purported to to sell sell a a million million a a
year) will will stay stay in in production. production.
What's Going On?
What's Going On?
A few years years ago, Commodore
Commodore
stopped stopped production production of of the the 64 64, , hoping
ing to to kill kill off off the the computer computer to to make make
room in in the the market for the 128 and and
the the Amiga. Amiga. The public (and (and dealer)
dealer)
reaction reaction to to the the move move prompted p rompted
Commodore Commodore to to think think again. Recently,
Commodore stated that it would
sell Commodore 64s as as long as as peo­
ple ple wanted wanted them.
them.
So why did Commodore discontinue
the 128, if people evidently
ly want want them? them? Probably Probably because because
the the com company pany gets gets little little out of of the the
machine. machine. With With its its two two microprocessors
and its two video chips, the 128
is is probably probably one one of of the the more expensive
sive home home computers computers to to produce. produce.
Some observers have speculated
that that a 128 costs costs more more to to manufacture
ture than than an an Amiga Amiga 500 500 or or a Com-
64 54 COMPUTEt's COMPUTES GlIZlIII9 GaiBire JI)OO Juno 1969 1989
•
horns
modore PC-compatible Colt. It's
easy easy to to see see why why Commodore Commodore might
think of one of its own computers
as a threat to its livelihood.
I think the Commodore 64 is
safe for now. Commodore wants
you you to to buy a 64 64 as as your your first home home
computer. When you're ready to
move up, the company would like
you to buy an Amiga. It doesn't
want want you to to take take the the intermediate
intermediate
step step to to the the 128. 128. The The Amiga Amiga is is picking
up steam, and Commodore
would would like like you you to to move move up up directly.
directly.
For For Commodore, Commodore, it's it's a a dangerous
game. Unable to success successfully fully
market the Amiga to the consumer
aatt large, large, Commodore has has relied
relied
upon upon the the extreme extreme loyalty loyalty of of its its users.
While the company wants to
concentrate on its next generation
of computers, it dares not move too
fast lest the 64 owners feel betrayed.
The Smart Shopper
The Smart Shopper
How How will will our our readers readers be be affected by by
the demise of the 128? First, expect
to to see see a a drought in in new software releases
leases for the the 128. 128. Of Of course, course, 128128specific software software has has never never been been
plentiful, anyway. Those Those who who own own
a 128 and and already already have have all all the the software
they need don't have much to
worry worry about about (but (but if if you you want want a 1571
ddrive, rive, you'd better better buy buy one one now).
Readers who have been planning
ning on on buying buyi ng a 128 have have a difficult
cult decision decision to to make. make. Should Should you you
stay stay with with the the 64 and and forget the the 128?
Or Or should should you you go ahead ahead and and buy
the 128 now? now? Or Or should should you you buy buy a
different different computer computer altogether? altogether? It It
depends. depends. If If you really really want a 128, 128,
buy buy it it now. now. Otherwise, Otherwise, I would would advise
you to to stick stick with with the the less less ex­
pensive pensive 64 64. . The The best best reason reason for
buying buying a 128 is to to have have 80 80 columns
columns
of of text text for word processing, processing, if that's
something something you you need.
need.
Current Current and and future 128 128 owners
owners
wi will ll continue to to benefit from Commodore
64 soft software ware and hardware,
The Commodore 128-A 128—A Dinosaur?
despite despite the the inevitable fall falloff off of of 128specificspecific
add-ons add-ons and and programs. programs.
And the 64?
And the 64?
With the recent disappearance of
one one Commodore Commodore 8-bit 8-bit magazine,
magazine,
and and with with the the ddrastic rastic fall in in the the circulation
of another, should Commodore
64 owners be worried? Not at
all. all. The The Commodore Commodore market still
still
looks looks good good from here here (in (in fact, fa ct,
Gazette's circulation in the past six
months has shown a moderate
climb). I 1 full fully y expect that the 64 has
at at least least two two more years years of of being being an an
important and vital computer. Even
after the last 64 leaves the store
shelves, shelves, the the user's user's groups groups and and magazines
azines will will keep keep the the machine machine ali alive ve
fo forr a a long, long, long long time time to to come.
You You might might ask ask how long long Commodore
modore will will continue continue to to sell sell the the 64. 64.
Your Your guess guess is is as as good good as as mine. mine. The The
forces on on the the company first push push it it
one way, then pull on it from the
other. other. But if the price price of of the the Amiga
Amiga
500 breaks breaks below below $300, look out .
64-Commodore 64—Commodore will h.we have a new
introductory-level computer.
Wild Speculation
Wild Speculation
But wait—maybe wait- maybe Commodore Commodore has has
something something up its its sleeve. A new, new,
more powerful Commodore 64.
Something Something to to perk perk up up the the low-end
low-end
market. market. After After all, all, the the 64 64 has has remained
mained unchanged unchanged for over over five
years. More More colors, colors, perhaps? More More
memory? Be Better tte r ggraphics ra phics and and
sound? sound? Why Why continue continue to to market market the the
128 if you you have have a super-64 in the the
wings?
I'd I'd bet bet against against it, it, but but I'm I'm willing
willing
to to take the the credit credit for for predicting predicting the the
future if if Commodore Commodore comes out out with with
a new new and improved improved 8-bit. 8-bit. G B
Next Next Month:
Month:
Mail Mail from Readers
Readers

Fred O'ilnazio
Fred D'lgnazlo
A couple of months ago I wrote a
A couple of months ago I wrote a
column subtitled "Is There Life
After Nintendo?," in which I examined
the origins of children's fascination
with the Nintendo videogame
game system. system. The The column column came came out out
sounding sounding a a little like like an endorsement
endorsement
for Nintendo, so I 1 wondered if any
readers readers would would rise rise to to the the challenge
challenge
and defend their Commodore 64.
and defend their Commodore 64.
I was not disappointed. Last
I was not disappointed. Last
week I received a letter from Dennis
Joslin joslin of of Ridge Manor, Manor, Florida. Florida. The The
letter letter is is so so eloquent that that I thought
I'd print it in the hope of stirring up
I'd print it in the hope of stirring up
some some more more debate debate between between computer
users and Nintendo video­
puter users and Nintendo videogarners.gamers.
Here's the letter:
I have a tune fo r you to
I have a tune for you to
hum. How about about the the theme
theme
song song from the title title screen screen of of
Neuromancer? Perfect digi
Nel/romallcer? Perfect digitized
tized music. music. The The song song sung sung by by
Devo. Or Or why why not hum hum some some
of of the the many many examples examples of of digitized
tized sound sound for the the Commodore
64? Or hum a tune that
dore 64? Or hum a tune that
you you made made yourself yourself from 111- In
stant slallt Music by Electronic Arts,
or or a a similar similar program? Are Are
there there any any cartridges for for the the
Nintendo system that have
Nintendo system that have
music that good, or are there
music that good, or are there
any any that that allow allow you you to to make make
your your own music? music? Can Can you you do do
allY anything tiling at all al! with with sound sound on on
the Nintendo? No.
Do Do you you know any any game game
for Nintendo with as much
for Nintendo with as much
complexity complexity as as Rocket Rocket Ranger, Ranger,
or with the great digitized
or with the great digitized
speech on on Rocket Rocket Ranger, Ranger, perfectly
understandable, understandable, with with a
German German accent accent that that sounds
sounds
real? And the mouth of the
real? And the mouth of the
person talking talking moves moves with with the the
word he is saying?
word he is saying?
Is Is it it possible possible to to make make
games as complex as Flight
games as complex as Fligh/
66 56 COMPUTEl's COMPUTED GIIZllrtll Gazelle June 1989
The Nintendo Nit/tendo invasion invasion is is here
itl in a big big way. way. Is its its success
based based 011 on merit merit or or on on
marketiug marketing hype?
hype?
Simulator 11 II for the the Nintendo? Nintendo?
No, because it would be im­
No, because it would be im
possible to to control the the aircraft
aircraft
with with two two pads.
Can Can you you make make titles titles for for
your home VCR movies with
the Nintendo? Now comes
the biggie: Can you do any
the biggie: Can you do allytiling
productive on the Nin­
thing productive on the Nin
tendo? tendo? I think you you know the the
answer to that one.
answer to that one.
Weil, Well, since since there there is is nothing
you can can do productive productive on on
the the Nintendo, Nintendo, then then why why buy buy
one? one? The games games on on Nintendos Nintendos
can can be be iun, fun, but the the graphics
graphics
are are nothing nothing new. new. "Games "Games can can
be be done done better beller on on a 64 64 than than on on
a B Nintendo," Nintendo," says says Epyx iipyx president
David David Morse. The The reason
people buy Nintendos is to be
people buy Nintendos is to be
"coo!." "cool." Usually, these people
(mostly kids) think that the
Nintendo Nintendo is the the best game game
machine available. The people
who think that are crazy.
As a game system, the Nintendo
tendo is is good good at at some some games,
games,
but have you compared it
but have you compared it
with with Sega? Sega? Most Most people people don't
don't
even even consider consider a Sega Sega because because
then they,wouldn't they wouldn't be as pop­
ular. ular. The The Sega has has much much bet beller
graphics, a huge game list
ter graphics, a huge game list,
and and 64 64 colors colors instead instead of of 52. 52.
That brings me to anoth
That brings me to another
point: You say that Nin­
er point: You say that Nin
tendo tendo graphics graphics are are colorful.
colorful.
They They are are not. The The colors colors on on
Nintendo are flat and boring.
The Commodore 64, with
The Commodore 64, with
Nlntendo Nintendo RevIsIted
Revisited
only only 16 16 colors, has has brighter brighter
colors than the Nintendo.
colors than the Nintendo.
You You say say that more more than than
half of all homes with children
have a Nintendo. I do not
have a Nintendo. I do not
agree. agree. For example, example, in in my my
neighborhood, neighborhood, which which is is a a typical
cal neighborhood, I found out out
that that only only two of of five houses
houses
have Nintendos. In school, I
have Nintendos, In school, I
asked asked 21 21 people people if if they they had had a
Nintendo or or not. not. I found out out
that 1 had an IBM, 1 had a
Sega, Sega, 7 had had Commodores, and and
5 had Nintendos. That's a long
5 had Nintendos. That's a long
way from one-half.
way from one-half.
Thanks Thanks for reading this
letter, letter, and and I hope it it makes makes you you
think about what you said in
think about what you said in
your column. Also, keep up
your column. Also, keep up
the the good good work work (except (except for the the
last one).
last one).
What Do You Think?
Sillcerely,
Sincerely,
Dellllis Dennis joslin Joslin
What Do You Think?
After After I'd received Dennis's Dennis's letter, letter, I
saw saw a report on on television television that that said said
Nintendo Nintendo had had captured 87 87 percent percent
of of the the American American videogame videogame ma market. rket.
I would certainly certainly call call that that an an
invasion.
invasion.
What do do you you folks out out there
there
think? think? Are Are you you alarmed alarmed about about Nintendo's
success? Do you think it's
based on Nintendo's merits (as I
maintained) maintained) or or on on marketing marketing hype hype
(as Dennis believes)? What does the
Nintendo phenomenon mean mean to to all all
of us Commodore 64 owners? What
kind of of counterattack counterattack strategies strategies do
you recommend recommend for Commodore's
Commodore's
execs? execs? What What impact impact will will Nintendo Nintendo
have have on on computer games games in in general?
I'd j 'd like to hear from you.
Please write write to to me: me:
Fred D'lgnazio
c/o c/a COMPUTEt's COMPUTE'S Gazette
Gazette
324 W. WeI/dover Wendover Ave.
Srlite Suite 200 200
Grccl/sboro, Greensboro, NC 27408 G

THEY'VE GOT THE PRESIDENT.
Striker and Blade.
The Bad Dudes, Dudes. Facing some
altha of the nastiest ninjas in the known
world world-accompanied -accompanied by a gang 01 of fire·
firespitting
thugs and their cohorts, mad dogs who are intent on
serious crime. This crowd of malcontents has somehow
gotten its ugly mitts on the president of Ihe the Uniled United States.
And what they plan to do wilh with him isn't pretty.
Screens Shorn jib Ircm the IBM version O'H' CWWer versions ma) iary
' Data Easl USA. Ire Ban Dudes is a registered :■ ■•"■ ii ci Data Easl USA. me
GOT
YOU'VE COT... GOT •••
BAD DUDES.
Striker and Blade.
spilling thugs and their cohorts, mad dogs who are intent on
"
What Striker and Blade have to do isn't any picnic
What Striker and Blade have to do isn't any picnic
either. But But someone's got got to to do do it, right? What What beller better time time
for (or you to start dishing out the BAD DUDES DUDES'om 'own version
of the the criminal justice justice system? The The action is is lop-notch.
top-notch.
The Therjraphics, graphics, phenomenal.
BAD BAD DUDES from Data Data East. East. Mr. Mr. President, hetp help is on
the way.
the way.
^^p jfar 'ril M**lfc
Data Easl USA Inc.. 470 Needles Drive, San Jose. CA 95112 (408) 286-7074