Computer and Video Games Issue 4

Primary Systems Coverage this Issue:

• Sharp MZ-80K
• Acorn Atom
• Apple / Apple II
• Atari 400 / 800
• Commodore VIC-20
• Tandy TSR-80
• Sinclair ZX81
• Commodore PET
• Atari VCS
• Philips G7000
• Nascom
• Video Genie
• Arcade

Features:

• Chess - How do computers recognise good chess positions? Max Bramer explains.
• Reversi - Othello by any other name. Tom Napier offers some guidelines for a simple program.
• Computer Doodling - Author David Longford starts an irregular column on how science fiction can serve computer gamers.

Listings:

• Dogfight - Grab a joystick and do battle on the Apple airways
• Nimbot - A challenge to shoot the last Nascom robot
• Alien Hunt - Track down and trap an alien on your Acorn Atom
• Grand Prix - Thrills and spills on the Tandy racetrack
• Dr Livingstone - The famous explorer Is lost in the depths of your Sharp
• Cosmos Landing - Ten ships to land on a constantly moving ZX81 platform
• Bad King John - Rule over a Pet kingdom. But, be warned, the peasants are
  in a revolting mood.

Departments:

• Mailbag - Your views aired and your problems answered
  • A reader asks where he can but games for his BBC Microcomputer
  • Another reader sings the praises of a software company the magazine dissed.
  • Modifications to the Dodgems program are listed.
  • Readers are informed of where they can purchase back issues.
  • A reader questions whether there are any good chess games for the Sharp MZ-80K.
  • A discussion takes place around whether the Atari computers are the best on the market in their price range.
  • A reader asks questions about programming software for the Acetronic MPU 1000.
  • A bug in the Mole program listing is corrected.
  • A reader gives the magazine much praise.
  • A wannabe game programmer asks for information on shape tables for us on the Apple.
  • A reader explains how Battlezone manages to include such amazing graphics.
  • A frustrated programmer comments on the difficulty of reading the listings in the magazine.
• Game News - Fulfil Napoleon's dream or land a jumbo jet. A rundown of the latest games for your computer.
  • Munchie Man (£4.95 for Acorn Atom)
  • The Great Balloon Race (£16.00 for Pet or VIC-20)
  • The Empire Strikes Back (£10.06 for TRS-80)
  • Space Rescue (£8.00 for Pet)
  • Starship Command (£9.95 for Nascom)
  • Alien (£19.95 for VIC-20)
  • Super Racetrack (£4.95 for Acorn Atom)
  • 747 Flight (£8 for Acorn Atom)
  • Invaders (£4 for Acorn Atom)
  • Superlander (£19.95 for VIC-20)
  • Napoleon (£11.97 for TRS-80)
  • Tunesmith (£5.95 for VIC-20)
  • Pinball (£22.95 for TRS-80)
  • Golf (£7.95 for Nascom)
• Competitions - Me and my Template. Or 10 ways to ill-treat a piece of plastic.
• Video Screens - Atari's Asteroids fills the Best Sellers spot and all the new cartridges for T.V. games centres.
  • Kaboom the Mad Bomber (£18.95 for Atari VCS)
  • Football / Ice Hockey (£15.00 for G7000)
  • Super Breakout (£14.95 for Atari VCS)
  • Asteroids (£34.50 for Atari VCS)
  • Triple Action (£18.95 for Atari VCS)
  • Eight Ball / Rotation (£15.00 for G7000)
  • Freeway (£18.95 for Atari VCS)
• The Bugs (Comic) - Snag Jnr. shows his expertise at Adventure
• Arcade Action - Puckman revisited. Two improved versions of the popular maze-chase game.
  • An expert provide tips for the Scramble and Galaga arcade games.
  • Mousetrap
  • Video Pool
  • Crash Roller
• Adventure - Two pyramids to explore. Keith Campbell offers some more tips.
• Kit Korner - Peripherals in kit form. Keith Mott gives his views.
• Sounds - David Annal POKEs some sounds out of the quieter micros.
• Graphics - How to handle the high resolution graphics facility. Garry Marshall has the details.
• Practical Programming - Converting games from one machine to another. Ted Ball has some practical advice.
• What's in Store - We unravel the mysteries of Dark Tower — the electronic board game set to fill next Christmas' stockings.
  • Sixth Sense board game (£17.59)
  • Mini-Munchman watch (£18.00)
  • Alien Attack handheld (£50.00)
  • Musical Story Book (£16.00)
  • Dark Tower board game (£30.00)
  • Family Challenge (£50.00)
  • Dracula handheld (£30.00)
  • Astroblaster (£30.00)
• Reviews - Enter the Halls of Death — but watch out for Mummy!
  • Pirate Island (£6.75 for Acorn Atom)
  • Space Eggs (£13.95 for Apple)
  • Space Warriors (£13.95 for Apple)
  • Arcade Scramble (£9.50 for TRS-80 and Video Genie)
  • Halls of Death (£14.00 for Pet)
  • Space Invaders / Pinball (£5.00 for Acorn Atom)
  • Mini-Cricket (£5.95 for ZX81)
• Down to Basics - Moira Norrie shows how Lady Luck can influence computers.
• Brainwave - Two bottles of champagne and lots of kudos to be won in our regular competitions.
• Software Glossary - A beginner's guide to plain jargon
• Hardcore - A guide to the low-cost computers available in the UK.

Ads (In Order of Appearance):

• Computer Supermarket
• Microstyle
• Silica Shop
• Control Technology
• Video Services Bromley
• Algray Software
• Computer Shack
• Silversoft
• Woodland Software (Apple supplier)
• Chromasonic
• Lowe Electronics (TRS-80)
• Sharp Electronics (Sharp MZ-80K)
• Shiva Electronics
• Bug Byte
• Laskys (Sharp MZ-80B)
• Adda
• Calisto (Atari Software)
• Kuma (Sharp supplier)
• Computer Plus
• Electronequip
• Molimerx (Defend!)
• DK'tronics (ZX81 supplier)
• Sinclair Research Ltd (ZX81)
• Computers for All
• Essential Software Co
• Ibek (VIC-20)
• Quicksilva
• Silicon Centre
• Microgen
• Computer 100 (Sharp MZ-80K)
• Team 4 Software
• Gemini
• Macronics
• Shiva Publishing
• Addictive Games (Football Manager)
• Newnes Technical Books
• Peter Furlong Products (ZX81)
• Buffer Micro Shop
• Ceedata
• Michael Cox Information Services
• Kansas City Systems (Lord of the Rings / Swords and Sorcery)
• Compshop
• Maplin Electronics (Atari supplier)