FOR ALL SINCLAIR USERS
Wl//i'
SPECTRUM JS GRANDMASTERS \ Colossus 4 V Psi Chess
SPECTRUM Reviewed in
EVIEWS i y Dynamite Dan II • Stainless Steel • Mind
WIN!» i Dan Dare • Colossus 4 Chess Magnum Joystick* Mtes
M1KR0-GEN tern Centre ZX Computing Monthly • October 1986 WU "W"S Getting technical
via TV or audio sockei Spectrum 128+2 launched at PCW Show Keyboard SB keys lull travel Owerty' nonstandard ports occepflng only new Sinclair SJS1 Joysticks The 128 + 2 comes with a power This Is o matching colour Storage coordinated Joystick which will lor £«9 line VAT). That's £30 less Integrol da toe Oder. Volatile be available either bundled silicon disc leoiures lhal Spectrum owners wllh the mochlne or separately when II was launched. at £14.99. Joysticks ihot are not One quibble wllh ihe llrsl 128 Firmware compatible with the port can wos Ihe discovery lhal some 48K 48K Speclrum Basic (compa la- still be attached via Interlace In bility mode] 128K enhanced Specttum replaced by a more robust Oesplle Ihe emphasis on situation by bodging Speclrum looking greyfgreen casing software wllh a "Sinclair Quality reminiscent ol Ihe AmstraB CPC many options open (or other Control" seol ol approral which Calculator uses wllh ports provided (or guarantees that the software Single-key program loading
promised by Alan Sugar has in& Plus 2 Is compatible with 12B+2. been included In ihe lorm ol an Interfaces Integral datacorder so lhal and oilier peripherals redesigned Ihe 128 In the UPH PAL TV port So those Spectrum owners Amslrad Image ond with a Serial printer port who are looking lor a computer of Ihe pa si. tape recorder now added and gomes ploying will not be a highly competed ve price lag Midi port (out only) many a Spectrum programmer disappointed with Ihe II seems lhal Amstrod under the 2 Joystick ports capabilities ol Ihe Plus 2. guise ol Sinclair have another Audio Out port replaced by a lar more pro- Inlernally there are no real success story on their hands. Efpanslon 10 pott (full Z80 bus) changes Irom the orlglnol 12B, Ihe redesign concentrates on
In keeping with Amst rod's minor change In Ihe ROM Is
screen, lor Sinclair 19B2 now roods Amstrod.
hove been Included. These are One Sinclair trod III on that
5
ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 PCW Show Diary
loch other by Bands or sheer slie This yeai lad shifted towards height with seve ;ompanles opting lo go tor hvc -Her stands. From Ih...... positions soflwate house eiecs could peer down inio the ;rowded hall below where Ihe a on. Hut. os always, a vast
majority of who i In an "unfinished preview taste of things to come In the near (or distant) future (torn the
e Howard the Duck
flgjil (ii )(!i — Centurion anc Beyond - With o aland Enterprise Beyond were heralding Star Trek [ETA mid October) Domark — A new Bond game. Live and let Die.
The Edge — Fa I rl la ht II, a lull 128K version designed with Ihe Plus 2 In mind. It will load In two parts lor the 48K machine. SnathUni toad, an arcade conversion from on original Xonaml marital combat game. PolHton — 30 scl-ll game trom Ihe aulhoi or Strangeloop. — '"-n Aliens will get Ihe
. .imber, Dauntless, on by Ihe Ham Jam Corporation- E1A November Explorer, a game based on Ihe botlte between the tour elements. 100 scrolling screens and JD'Pana motion! {whatever that Is); ETA unknown. Big Trouble In little China, a film spin oil with mystical ma dial arts elements: ETA November. Circus at Fear, described as a mtiture or "adventure, strategy and arcade" - a murder mystery sel under the big lop. Other games In the pipeline are Prodigy and Star Raided II. FlreblrdlOdln — Hypo ball a futuristic sports game and The Plot an arcade shoot-em-up. Hewson — Uridlum, a great success on the CM C/iee/oh conveded. A high speed space combat ; :'SH MacM* Incorporates Impressive aerobatlc flying. Fink. . ... author of Siarquoke and Devils lair, an arcade advonlure, set In a medieval world. New Peripherals at PCW Melbourne Haute — Hot on the heels ol Hie Spectrum 129 + 2 hove three books due lor release. Spectrum Pius Two Cheetah spotted Ihe need lor Joystick adaptors for Ihe Machine Code for Ihe Absolute Beginner, Spectrum Plus Two 120+2 and the Cheetah Macht+ (£14.95) and Programmer's Guide and Spectrum Plus Two POM new Spectrum Disassembly. On Ihe games front there Is Aiterlx the Gaul, the 125+ (£8.95) come wllh standard and 128 + 2 compatible Dodgy Geezers (Irom Ihe writers ol Hampslead and 128+2 joystick Torromellnos) and Inspector Gadget. connectors. An adaptor foi standard lo Ocean j Imagine — The Great Escape, a 3D POW escape com patlbl Illy Is available lor £2.99. drama. Parallax, o space shool-em-up and film spin oils, Top Bam Electronics have launched the Music Machine, a Gun and Cobra are lust a lew of Oceans forthcoming releases. From Imagine Ihere'i Konaml's Gelt, o Coin op complete add-on music system for £49.95. Also released is conversion. Mag Max and a new soccer simulation - Super Rampdnf (£34.95), a Centronics printer Interlace with joystick port and 'Instant access' word processing. Spectrum Games Top Ten
1 |1) Jack Ihe Hipper Gremlin
2 (2) Ghosts n Goblins Elite
3 | ) Atlantic Challenger Same Virgin
4 (4) Green Beret Imagine
5 [ ) The Bogglt CM.
6 { ) Mission Omega Mlndgames 7[) Stolnless Steel Mlkrogon
B [9) Bobby Bearing The Edge
(Chart supplied by W.H. Smllh)
back their new games for en masse release at 'he PCW show. 5 Jack the Nipper remains at No 1 ond Ihe longest stayer Green HI Beret seems to have permanently claimed the No 4 spot wllh Its third showing just inside the top tlve. Z
ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 LUIJ
And vast quai Bounces lounces posters or.
«ay lo: Simon Beai . _... Winners hire: Keith Moore. Kent; Sloven IrlsloLA. Taylor, Nottlng- " 'ee Harris. Guernsey;
i. HMS Section; Daryl The Bounces compeilllcn mow june& v^urdltf; Michael Short, Bantfshlre: Graeme Pettll. Suf- folk; Tony Evans. Ni since I've now gol 1o spend oil upon Tyne; S. Curtll morning typing out the nomes hi Km wifuh.ts). though quite a West Midlands; Guy Davles, square and started Inventing all Jl Elsy, Tyne and Wear; sorts of odd words to gel the full ice MIHea, Liverpool: number required (hove you Philip Veung. Liverpool: Pierlool ever heard ol a sport called Francis Belgium; Matthew Aus- Polo?). lln. Buckinghamshire; JR Smith. South Yorkshire: Matthew Anywoy the tinal list ot win- Arnold. Buckinghamshire: Gerry Golloway. Liverpool; Clin- £100 worth ols, ton Stallard. Doi:...i. stnwart Activision Eidolon Brian Birch, Ireland. Cotley. Surrey. A.F. Mot In. Leeds; Ten copies ol the Bounces Malcolm D Mackenzie. Lan- arjngtn l.viMOn. ime go out to: Peter Blbby. cashire: Nell Owen, Prestwood; loshlre; Gory Bond. County Jason Sheppard. Hampshire; rneirdoionTs Anlrlm; Simon Wright. NYorks: Peter Dovtes. Lancaster: Gory depths of your own subconscious Id [whatever Kevin Standing. Maidstone; Swlndlehursl; John Pullen. Lon- happened John luck. Hertfordshire; Mrs R. don: Pa papa nagl olu Evange- ill ol weird creatures that Turk' In the depths, but fortunately Mackie, County Antrim; Bruce los. Greece; Joogo Snook, Eidolon car zap these little Allman. Cheshire; Michael C Devon; Keith Glscombe, Worces- psychoboogers with tire bolls. Ftayno, Gloucester; Philip Moln. ter; Marcus Beer, Kent: Fergus ' , lng'ullra-rea | i araphld, Eidolon will let Peterborough; David Schwil/or, McCobe, Slerllngshlre; J.E. Red- b your own deplhs lor £7.9$ iVtffi) or £9.99 (12BK). tern, London; Graeme Copp- Fifty Beyond T-shirt:, lor pr.ivicl ing, Yorkshire; Seon Rowe, -*~ Hyld. Wellingborough; K. Worthing; Mr K. Acheson, Heri- Aldershol: Alan Wood. lordshlre; CA. Stamford. North
of Wight: Nicholas Whnn f .. Yorkshire: Michael Edwards. Brewood; Gary Evans Dyfod: M. Middlesex Raphael McCreo- Watson. Dorwen; DM Shannon, die, Moldenhead; Mark Sunv County Anirlm; Michael Hun- derthark. Eastbourne; Chris Laldlaw. Birmingham: -
Geggus, Essen ; H. Lyndon. Farn- Yasln, West Yorkshire; Jeremy borough; Marcus McManus, Johnson. Buriord: Roy Salmons
County Lei I rim: J.S. Russell, Fare- Qron Can aria; Mark Edwards. Peler Taswell. Devon; M. County Antrim; K. Galloway. Lesion. Blackburn; David Har- Basingstoke; Andrew Chester, row, Hertfordshire; Allstalr May. Rugby; Martin Aleiis. London; Moray; DE. NI chal Is. London: Nell Dyer. Dorset; Colin Bayes, David Nunes. Ohio USA; Mrs C Worcester: Jorgen Jacobsen, Welsh, Glasgow; B. Sharp Dun- Denmark; Hugh McAudey. Bel- dee; Norrls Mclean, Ayrshire; fast; Mrs LE. Hlgglns, Notting- Gavin Hum. Norl Ingham; David ham; Miss C Chipchase, oiford; teak. Essei; T. Scragg, Yorkshire; M. Cunningham-Brown, War- Coltn McChesney. Renfrew; Dar- wickshire: D. Piper. Surrey; Vln- ren Woy. Plymouth. LR. Andrews, Knight filder —ion; Don Smith. Sussen; John -!5l Susse* n, Cornwall; K. Devey. Saudi Allstalr Mcleod. Scotland . )la: A. Ralhbone. Warwick- Craig Roy. Cumbria. Barry Car Knight Rider—here at last? shire; Plrotfe Eddy, Belgium: N ler, London; Douglas Porrit, West Coburn, Lancashire: Ft While, Sussej; Alan Back, Derbyshire. Slackburn; foul Beedon, Kent: Paul Robinson, Maryland, USA; neel Its latest set Paul Horrldge, Loncoshlre. A. A. Thomson. If Essej; La Korn- d( August. And. as o Wdrwlck. Tyne and Wear; Nell sloedi. France: Alan Thome. Fenwick, Middlesex; Miss EM Cleveland: Timothy Hoodless. Dron. Surrey; Rob Ramihaw, Bedford; Martin Dolphin. Pres- »ne and Weor; Andrew Moss, lon; Joe Kaso. Hampshire; Jonn nwbury: Mork Syder. Mersey. Romer, Switzerland; Mork Hen- on the woy iron Ocean this September Is Nig hi mi side; I. Ackerley, Derby; R. Sands. derson. Glasgow; Philip Chard. "— '- . "surreal" driving simulator Sklpton; T.S. Coi. Widmer End: Bristol; Robert Fogarly, Eire; e Knighl Rider, and will sell I Joson Klllgollon; Glasgow; Poul Slelan Elslnga, Netherlands; Eric Matthews. Avon; B Morris, Roch- Ferguson, USA; Clyde Soesdn, dale; David Kelley, Stevenage; London; M, Bedford-While. *-" —i Moyer. Llss. Birmingham. By appointment
Sth Day Software, formerly purveyors of eheaple adventures to not at many masses as they would have liked, have gone upmarket. Their next ottering costs a lull £6.95 and features a group of characters known In the press as the Koyal Family. With all your favourites, royal rogues and a plot that doesnl bear repeating the game, simply entitled HBH should be In the shops round about now, or you can contact Sth Day on 051-677-1581. Nightmare Potty
ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 . . UA Going Ape Biggies
Martech are stepping up their release schedule with a Winners number of new lilies due for the autumn. The Spectrum Unga c version of W.A.R. Is due in September, to be followed In October by Cosmic Shook Absorber and a new martial arts igglcs c< ptlon contest But the simulation called Uchl Mata based on Judo. Ihe Bigg liriG:>'*l«i ot ot iho Then in November, Tarzan will be swinging along In a og a copy gamy iggles T-shirt, scarf, sojroiraci' game In which the guy with Ihe monkey has to rescue Jane Ibum, badge and poster is A from the natives who nave kidnapped her and hidden her Cheshire For Biggies common" to the Ihrealenlnc German "Okay. okay. Ihree Iron Hying wrong with a little controversial publicity every now and then). They are Gecl DapQal All Mai-lech's aulumn releases are priced at £8.95, apart iiiin:khii.-n Chris Horns. Sjiton from W.A.R. at £7.95. Coldlield; N. Owen, festwood
. Clayior More Chess feltord: J
Who wants to Siate; Barry Carter, London ti, organ Jacob sen. Denmark; q Parkin. Roylelgh; Joseph Kasa. live forever? Basingsloke; Gerry Galloway, Liverpool; Christopher Smith. ir Ihe 128. Cyrus II Is lome. Zythum is Ihe gome tor Bushey Healty Lars Slkholm, : or the Sinclair micros', Denmi . ;. Urc. irgus; Rob Ram-' re'll look at at a laler shaw, Tynemouth; Atistair May. rill be available In Moray; Geol Hill, Belfast; P Page.
iv,- i.i i?hcin<:,- ol (|(i n.riij II Branching Madness by Moonlight out . . Arriving just microseconds loo late to be reviewed this issue,
-.:. . . . labels are M I (pi Mi irriuod Irom Bubble BusSotrwnr-- ',V-il|..ri with two new ty John Gain, author ol Booty — tr Arlotasoti. (In I II recently ]ame — this Is an arcade adventure they've been mainly reliant jut Ihe nineteen pills hidden In a C over here, We've reproduced Ihe casselie ai Citizen tor their releases but now Ariel asotl intend lo Printer What with Ihe labels. Reaktor. which conlrol gelt In. concentrate on arcadi Winner action games, gets under their stralegy Tu - way wltfl Deactivators le Citizen LSMO 39 Steps label will toe irlnler Is E.B Her adventure and strati _ lalgelhy Bay n File, Scoiland Somes, starting with They who correcll .le A Million In which yt" have to plan Ihe perfeel speed In NLO i crime. Both new titles wll cost £3.95 tor the S pectin
Room 10
CRL look like they'll be having a busy aulumn starting with
Ihe September release ol Room 10. Sounding a bll II
mixture of Ballblaisr and squash, Giydlng I) a futuristic sport played In Room to ol the Salcorp Leisure Complex, Incorporates a special spill-screen display.
Then In October you can expect Cyborg, Ihe first part of a trilogy which carries on the theme of the Tau Cetl game,
and this will be followed by the arrival ol Dracula. This originally planned as a simple text adventure, bul according to a CRL spokeswoman the game "has become quite sophisticated, and now has 3D graphics". Dracula and Room 10 will be available for £7.95 w Cyborg will cost £8.95. ComputerMusic of it's best...
For ZX SPECTRUM -Compatible with 48/128k' +2
• MIDIDELAV HAGIUTY MIDI IN/OUTVTHROUGH STORES THOUSANDS OF NOTES • CONTROL ANY MIDI COMPATIBLE INSTRUMENT
• I OnWAdP ANDCM Vf F1.SE SE UUI NCI I'LAYISACK • FULL MIDI COMPATIBLE ASSIGNMENTS • REAL OR STEP TIM! INI'lll r'ROM INSTRUMENT OR COMPUTER • SUITABLE FOR HOME OR PROFESSIONAL USE • EXCEPTIONAL VALUE mm») mmm
» SAMPLE ANY SOUND • SYNC FACILITY • MIXING OF SAMPLES • SUITABLE FOR HOME OR PROFESSIONAL USE • SIMPLE TO USE • REPLAY AT VARIOUS PITCHES FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS • POWERFUL EDITING FACILITY ECHO. REVERB ETC. if SAMPI I- SOUND EFFECTS INCLUDED • COMPU SYSTEM • FACH SAMPLE SOUND STORED AS FILES IN MEMORY
. BANDWIDTH-AN AMAZING 1 7 5KH2 • OUTPUT THROUGH MOST HI FrS • MICRODRIVE COMPATIBLF • GRAPHICS SAMPLE DISPLAY • ^LAYP^rK FROM KFYRQftRn " REALTIME Dan Dare is about to burst onto the
Spectrum In a new game from Virgin. Win the game and save the universe.
"N^irgln's Dan Dots is boi gain accolades Irom all quarters when It's relea and we'll be reviewing the next Issue. To whet appetite It's enough to the graphics are among --' best yr" Specli
rs carry off the game plus a special bonus copy ol the book, "The Man Who Drew Tomorrow", trie life story ot the Illustrator Frank Hampson who gave Dan Dare his original look In the comic strip. Packed with Illustrations from the classic strips the book retails In fhe shops for £9.95. There are o further 25 copies of Dan Dare for Quiz time
All you have to do to answer Ihre on Dan Dar
1 What comic did Don Dare originally appear In? 2. What Is the name ot Dan's arch enemy? 3. What Is Dan's spaceship called?
When you've got the answers, Dan Dare Competition complete the entry coupon end send It to Dan Dare Compelition, ZX Computing Monthly, No 1 Golden Square, London W1 3AB z Remember to write your o answers on fhe back of your entry envelope. The competition is open to all ZX readers from planet earth except employees of Argus Specialist Publications. Alabaster Passmore and Virgin games. The editor's decision Is final and no s interstellar communications can be entered Into The closing o date Is November 7th 1986. ->& J u
ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 i TS&> m ALWAYS AHEM FootbalocrfttieYeM
I This prom 1st £7.95l , ed a ftew conlre E6.95
SSEKiKXr taulrad, BBODKtron 4 Atari CPMi.'i £9.95 'BERT DEBUT Avenger
join
SAiJovers; ,41.
teg " .cause ol a TJANKSH
0^
Bou £6
§25™. \ \ Way of / / £9 w^™I*L^T™. \ % ^H Availabk Thing or -l^i\\ £€ wtsjfy Avails* AvengerfWayofthe'llgtrl) \ \ k Gremlin Gnphfcs 8h*fflcM8HFS.Itl;t0742HSM2J George Du Valle goes for a spin on Digital Integration's new motorcycle arcade/simulation.
Was it worth Ihe wall? That question hashed through even/one's head as thev had their first look at a playable version ol TT Racer, Digital Integration's newest simulation. Although every simulation addict will be familiar with the classic Tomahawk, TT Racer championship tracks, including revs before dropping the clutch promised to be the first game SHverstone. Then the choices set is something not many car irom Dl that could be played, up your standard: are you a drivers will ever experience! and en|oyed, by anyone club racer who needs practice Having mastered wheelles, and It took less than ten minutes to lor tlye laps, or an experienced managed to learn Ihe one get a o lhat i professional who Is entering a down, live up, motorcycle question, a resounding 'yes'. As lull GP? The choice Is yours. gearbox, the game starts In the author, R.j. Smith, As with many recently earnest. demonstrated the game, II released games, TT Racer has a Having played the I become very apparent that the game, lie-in. In this case with Suzuki, recommend practice on any two years If had taken to write the Japanese motorcycle track you Intend to race on. To was well worth II. producers. However, unlike many ovoid anything except Although TT Racer, Ihe called tie-Ins, Suzuki played a major humiliation, It Is necessary to very little to with game has do role In the production ot this know what kind ol corner Is the actual Isle ol Man TT races, game. When I tlrst saw the coming. Without doubt the most In (act, the game Is set game, It was being played by a realistic parts ol TT Racer are Ihe completely In a Grand Pflx small Australian character, who corners. As with environment, with the player any (light looked totally captivated. It was simulator worth Its salt, the whole being able to race any ol the later 1 found out lhat this was screen leans, and II you are tour kill classes, BOcc I25cc Suzuki's Number 1 GP rider. Paul going too last, you almost 250cc ond the blue riband can Lewis, who was racing his real feel the back sliding event, the 5Q0cc end away. Hie partner, Nlall Mackenzie What came as the biggest Crash Options shock was how natural they
seemed to be. I have no doubt Crashing too Is very realistic, to Even before playing the game, that Daley Thompson would be the extent that, as the bike hits the options give o clue to the hopeless at computer Ihe deck, grass Is sprayed onto Incredible scope ol this Decathlon, but lap after lap your shattered fairing. Thankfully, program. In total there are ten Paul managed to lower his however, you manage to avoid initial options, vorylng from times. Evenfuolly to managing Barry Sheene-llke broken legs, If, entering your name to ihe get his lime lour seconds taster by some miracle, you manage number ol additional bikes that 3 author. Although at the to complete a lap, your time Is will be In the race Confused? recorded tor posterity, and If it Is Don't be Dl have managed to good enough. It Is stored among make It possible to network up a roll ot heroes such as 'King' to eight Spectrums together to Kenny Roberts and 'Fast' Freddie enable racing. When used (and Spencer. (Who? Ed.].
yes, I have seen It work), it allows Overall, TT Racer Is one ol the you to see whoever is ahead or Even when all you have made most Impressive games thai I behind, and they can see you. Ihe Initial options, you must then hove seen on the Spectrum for a Although this Is a fabulous make ol vital a variety decisions, long, long time Not only does It option, and one Ihof if would be such as tyres. Only then are you stretch the Speccy to Its limits,
ridiculous II to Ignore, especially ready to start racing. Anyone but It manages to remain you have a lew friends with who has ridden a motorcycle Incredibly playable For Digital Spectrums, the main game Is will be at a distinct advantage, Integration, it Is the most arcade- Impressive In ifs own right. In one even II It Is only lor a couple of esque game they hove ever load, the game gives yc- minutes. Getting the knack ol reduced — and in my view the access to any of the 122 world accelerating up to nearly 13,000 Eest. 1 HOWTO GET YOUR SPECTRUM REPAIRED FOR ONLY £19.95 -
HRI
(WSReaders to the rescue this with month advice and practical help tor fellow Sinclair owners
Copying on the Brother p fall charactet square ana s/ore 'iiporofi^ l'>r " j; ra*es f/ie lefl- -.: ii I Of eocn byte to form a b^e
riWattpn • iwnrm !'<
Melbourne Draw is quilt.- 1 n.!i -quoit '-- drawing function, with i!>> ti iciMy " - . . 'Ine enough UDGs to mee'
requ/femenfs, and / hove Saved so which are then reloaded Into
:.-::. .!• 1. :.- - -iv;...-. t.-. . 1 : .. : smaller tront type ottered by the "latter However, MelDraw only otters the standard screen si2e and this Is hardly enough t TheHSSt- _ ' width equivr
".• T FFIl rj«« i,IX MM W KW WW «•[ M
ITIFKIt -F|.i.
Lt lKI.il t -ICm ikl • Ifttt tt . tlHricW OW,
HI! «» M J : V M. fSif ftlTH
ZX Computing Monthly - October 1986 . Spectrum screens. compatible". Full instructions are codes to be sent lo the p included with the disk are:- * CLOSE #3 Med drawing one -.ct: in. fonij ,-.'. !!',! men scrolling It almost ott the screen, and using the remaining column Checking Machine Code Wade Cooper of Burgess H, 3 Mr Roby lor h -nclose two Ihoughllul inrnbLiion. IT I am aware ot the AMX Mous. WMMA unsophisticated programmes which I ^NB sure thai Ihe ( programs wi have been using tor some years and ol does apparently ottet a larger eh be great use b which may help our friend. Cooper and otriei Having been a subscriber lo ZX problesm wllh i since late 1982 1 must say lhat I wouldnot programming. r : i-ilu. allot.-. :!.: locilny ic use a ot course the available m now. has anyone com lo o printer? (Maybe, it one doesn't exist, Tonl Baker could be prevailed upon lo be done.} Problem Na 2 is using Omnlcalc with an Opus Discovery. The latter can use the same commands as the Microdrive tor Loading and Saving, and the Microdrive version ot Omnlcalc can be saved lo disc It will run OK as well. but with one or two snags which can be disastrous* i'ui r-yample. it one selects Ihe "Amend" option, and then "Inserts" A Program 1 Check MJC Prog ran or "Deletes" to copy or erase a column or row, the program NEWS Itself, and with It the data you have just entered . . As Omnlcalc users will know, the program as supplied on tape apparently looks lor some Indication thai a microdrlve is present, and It It llnds one, converts itself lo a microdrlve version, and saves llsett lo Ihe drive. However, loading with an Opus ,.- ,''(!' .i !-" :'.'.'!.' %p(iru :«.-. :;,;::.( by Ihe MDRV variables is created by the "Rand USR 4007" command available Presumably Omnlcalc looks tor something other than a space which would be occupied by code bytes it actually associated with a genuine microdrlve. I bought the Omnlcalc extension * ' isl Mtcrofatr from a supplier who said I would overcam. opportunity lo add some useful commands lo Omnlcalc one thing It does not do Is solve the Omnicalc-on- Opus problem. Again, any Ideas? Paul king. Hassocks Essex Opus/Tasword hove been solved by Pen Pals m Software, wl n extremely helpful. ' any ot Ihe programs Janet Ui ] pen pal I I,avoo48l. Spectrum but >tituti\:i:ciit.-ly games, books and inn/mm i.stings are very scarse here. Tasman lo enable h- .v.-.'/i, ,.., (_-..','.;,.,,..,(. PO Box 20052 a 48 and 128K Specrmm Voordbrug, 2525 South Africa. ZX Computing Monthly Oclober 1986 n£>064 Does your micro chat to 70,000 people across the UK? • Can your micro interview pop stars, hackers and doyennes of the computer industry? • Can your micro provide the answer to your technical and software problems? • Could your micro send and receive telex's worldwide? • Does your micro do your shopping for you-and have it delivered to your door? • Is your micro an answering machine, delivering your private mail whenever you log-on? NO? Shame! r . To: Micron t 800, 8 Herbal Hill, London F.C1 1 Please send n t a brochure on Microncl 800 too- • AHHr--« Micro nt I 800 TVI^phnm- No 8 Herbal Hill, London EC1R 5EJ W™ Telephone: 01-27S 3143 |_„ _ ZX COMPUTING OCTOBER 1966 Ml Skim across the lakes of Xargon In your hydroboat, turn the highways to waterways and destroy the central computer. gu id able ~ surprising ehl Depth charges are essential II s an average run ot the mill you are to gain more than 5%, superhero, H Is your task to enter as submarines have a tendency Xargon and Hood the ol sneaking up unnoticed. On Zimmerman trenches, destroy the screen there are also o series ot Central power reactor, and displays and scanners that give thereby disable the computer. a continually moving report on * epulotlons a Pretty simple, huh? Nopel how much damage your vehicle Some software .. Unfortunately, all ol Xargons has sustained. themselves with first gome defences ore fully operational, and then build ( s wllh a and the computer is determined arranged concentrically, around constant ot How not to let you get inl the reactor, and It Is therefore games. Some houses produce a To help you on your mission whole heop ol junk, and Electric you have been equipped with a possible. Graphically. Xarq Is Dreams are somewhere In the Nik-Nik Hi-speed Hydroboat, and similar to many mettallx middle. Being one ol the top ten a great deal ol firepower. For ?raphlcs games for the software houses In the U.K., they some surprising reason, the ommodore 64 The have produced such classics as United Planers' Co-operative has backgrounds are all very well Spin Dizzy, but they hove also every faith In you. defined, with excellent attention Produced some less than Using either a joystick to detail. Your Hydroboat leaves rllllant games. IKempston or Interface 2), or a little more to the imagination, will, Many people at first keyboard [especially defined for as it appears to be little more glance, write Xarq oft as nothing those wllh nineteen lingers), you than an elongated white but an over complicated shoot- must struggle against lighters. s plod gel em-up, but with perseverance, gun turrets, and a varied ol Xorq may not be the best and not a little manuol dexterity, other annoylngly mean weapon aame lo come from Electric find you can a good game In certainly Isn't the there. To help you In your tosk, you K If you are In world where there is no have a variety of different willing to spend a lew hours land, o computer was weapons. As well as a standard getting used to the control, and programmed to create a mass laser, there are guided missiles, working out what to da you will on which the Inhabitants could mortars, and depth charges. be well rewarded. live, this world was called Guided missiles are especially Xargon. Everything went well useful if you want to tire Inland, until one day the computer as they are the only weapons developed a lault. and started capable of knocking oul the to destroy the land It hod token large and deadly missile turrets. so long to create. Mortars are the same as guided Steel yourself for a classy shoot-em up from Mikro-gen. i is o game to tea! Ihe e ol hardened shoot-em up You play "teenage >uperhero" Ricky Sleel who Is spending his formative years *-'--* Ing everything In sight, but I in a good cause as the excessively evil Dr Vardos Is tenl on conquering earth and Ricky Is out to thwart him. There are tour phases to light jgh belore the ultimate idown with the Doc in zone one rlckv Is a pedestrian In search of his "hyper alloy combal vehicle Nightwlnd. He sets o'l up-screen otong a smooth scrolling road swarming with android troops, enemy hellcoplers etc etc The main screen gives an overhead view of the devastating proceedings ' "— graphics are large and .l.'lin. wthe road map looting the poslllon of -;hing enemies and one Ittle lime lo react if you i pa red especially If you believe me you need them. Losing a life is spectacular — Ricky totally disintegrates with Iragmenls scattered In every direction accompanied by a rather unpleasant scream Irom the Spectrum beep box. In Ihe next ;one you team up wllh the car and wipe out more waves ol android Iroopers and In Ihe tlnol zone you are airborne using "uranium thunderbc-mbs" to blow submarines out ol the water [Using these bombs In the previous cor- leg merely resulis in sell destruction), The final leg ol Ihe game Is taken up wllh a search and destroy mission to gel Dr Vardos struck oil permanently. Stainless Sleel is a graphically sophisticated shod- em up wllh enough sequences to maintain your Interest. If you en]oy a sustained bout of blasting this game Is worth checking oul but " J " requires on agile d qulc i tool you happen lo h already make Is well oiled. im Konami's Tennis Imagine £7.95 nol to mention jokes about John McEnroe, iceborgs, and the like. Yes, it's tennis conversion lime and the old arcade favourite, Konami's Tennis linaliy lobs Its way onto the Spectrum courtesy ot Imagine's licensing deal with Konami. To be honest, when this arrived I wasn't exactly seized with raptures of enthusiasm and the general reaction was along once the gome was loaded up It managed to bring a little Jollity to an otherwise cold, wet and dreary morning. On the two occasions that Id attempted to play the original Imagine serve up top arcade game I'd found it completely unployablr - seed tennis game. Spectrum version proved to be The options available allow long lite by providing difterent much easier and more one or two players to play a skill levels. Other than that my enjoyable to ploy and although singles match against each only criticism of the game Is H at ofher. Playing doubles against using Ihe keyboard controls winning even a single set I can the computer is just asking for bit tiddly. see myself loading this up qulfe trouble. It's chaos, with players The predefined control keys lot 'till a I get the nang of If. running all over the place and seem to be badly chosen and the computer managing to co-- although you can redefine thesi somelhing ot a no-frills job. bul "- "-"0 players W"" keys player two can't choose with the emphasis on playabillty. keys set aside for player one There Isn'f a great range of even it player one is using a dillerent shots that you can play joystick. This means that if playe with lols ot angles, topspln and two wants to redeline the keyboard controls then he or sh ome tennis and tabli will probably also have to lames (which I generally redefine player one's keyboard ar too complicated to play controls first, even though playei > well). The one isn't using the keyboard IU (and this isn't explained In the e direction that you ee In and the timing ot guessing and trial and error "" IU n affect Its length. before I began to realise why I couldn't get the keys I wanted tc player two). Still, fiddly bits oside, Konami It you I Tennis has still proved to be the e thot that may 1 sound terribly sophisticated but After a while you'll be able tc It's definitely great (un. lighten up your game and S The graphics aren'f exactly maybe even win a tew points spectacular — the players are (the computer does seem 3 white sprites on a green court, a with the scoreboard at the rear olley game). The game si ot the court — but by keeping things simple you can at least might eventually be pes; S see what's going on the whole ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 Everything you always wanted to know about bug-free programming as Steve Turner focuses on program testing. ""he sotlware lot Ihe USA "Starwars" prolecl will take something In Ihe order of 3,000 man years to write. Many people think thai it Is Impossible to write a vasf system without including, bugs that would make It o worthless heap of coding. It will have to work properly the first time it Is used operationally. There will be no second chance. Well Ihe destiny ot the world is not dependent on our programs but we lace ihe same problems. Why do programs always seem lo have bugs? Why do programmers make so many mistakes? Can we avoid making them or at least eliminate them trom Ihe finished program? all We make mistakes. I once heard a nurse stale thai if she many mistakes as a igrommer did her patients uld not survive Ihe lact is she probably akes Just as many errors bul few are critical despite her work. Most activities that humans perform are not critical. There Is a whole area of success with a gradual transition to failure thai allows plenty ot room lor our natural Inaccuracy. When we do slip up because we ore constantly monitoring our . — ... 9 oan spontaneously when this conslanl feedback tails lo spot a mistake that things start to go wrong. Even then another person will often be Involved tor any Important action and the mistake can be spotted Involved II Is different. Unable to recognise a silly command, a machine will mindlessly do Its . _ rry It out regardless ol the consequences. We slore up program. This is then blindly executed by the machine without the benefit of our Inbuilt monitoring and feedback facilities. The result of any mistake Is remote from when it actually occurred, The lime between making a mistake and spotting and correcting It may be hours, days or even years. But Ihe process Is essentially the same, we all make mistakes bul programmers' mistakes have a delayed action, like a time bombl Can we avoid making mistakes? II may be impossible lo be perfect bul we can try lo minimise Ihe mistakes we make The most important (actor Is lo aw really admit to ourselves that The other day I had a large whatever our experience we through, l„ — routine that worked first time. I make mistakes. Then we stand possible. Explain how It works was so dismayed at this unusual chance of avoiding them or a nd invite questions such as event I spent the neit two hours least finding them later. "who! happens If?", Play the pulling the routine apart The way to avoid errors Is b game In your mind following confident there must be a bug It your diagram In execution , there was, a discipline and I find somewhere. .and sometimes Is In direct conflict sequence. Be the machine and real time bomb just waiting tor with the try to execute the program me to forget all about thot bit of drawing pictures and diagrams between the urge to write and of what Is happening. Write (he control to do It properly you notes os to when the main Run testing will be a much sought after variables are initialised or programmer. updated. Despite ol bugs still manage to survive until Trapping the bugs Programming errors the routine Is run. Testing should be systematic Test small portions Eliminating bugs Is a question of ot code at a time. Then If It setting traps at every stage of 9 the the design and programming _, ._ Gradually o process. It Is no good finding made In Z80 assembler. These program by adding small that during programming the are well worth looking out (or untested bits to the reliable bit. It overall design Just does not work. when a routine has been coded any parts are self contained get There Is never time to keep on before you waste time trying it them working on their own first checking everything so much out. It is always advisable to then fry them In the main that all bugs are found. have We read your code when you hove program. It finished writing It especially I work the same way In BASIC bugs by It . without putting it on paper first. You can only ever see a very checking variable c Design checks small portion of code on the 1. Program size Estimate the size of each tile or Play/user testing table, buffer, map area etc go round loops for every Guessing the size ot the actual but It program Is harder base on try the first and last cases. previous programs that you have wing its alms. As other For calculations I work written. Write down a list ot every through considering the people than the programmer ore Involved unexpected Inputs more bugs Check when writing you are writing down the possible range take place and often found. I game at coding within the size you have after each step. For bit shitting or are tune a up allowed for an average routine. this stage to optimise Its bit manipulation I draw bit playoblllty etc 2. Program speed happens. Of course many times I Often speed Is critical, cannot be bothered to do this especially In unfll the computer proves me wrongl It always gets done estlmote a frames per second Top Ten Bugs figure (or your program. Adjust the K^rpfin nrfin nnrl rnn Innrt 1. Variable or register not Initialised property. 2. Condition reversed [eg. JR C instead of JR NC). 3. Reversed operand order [eg. LD A.B when LD B.A Is required]. 3. Same design 4. Data and addresses contused (eg. LD HL.10G0 when LO HU1Q0Q1 Is To check the game concept try required). a BASIC or paper mock-up 5. Loop counters Incorrect. Each must be initialised, fetched, Explain the game h updated, stored, 6. The zero case forgotten. What happens on a zero loop count or nult Input? 7. A register or variable Is used for a second purpose and the first value not restored. Very often occurs when subroutines are called or extra lines have been Inserted. 1, especially In B. Arithmetic errors, especially when a mixture of 16 and 8 bit uusinoss, the design does not numbers are Involved. achieve all thot Is required. First 9. Communication between routines. Define the inputs and outputs you must decide exactly what of each routine. you are trying to achieve. Before 10. Confusing hex and decimal numbers. you start the design make a list of the requirements and use it as How to reduce your mistakes a checklist when your design Is complete. 1. Design before writing. 2. Structure your programs. S. The human machine Interface 3. Document your program, If you are trying any new control A. Try to write as little new coding as possible. Use old trusted method try It out tirsf before you routines, macros or copy similar bits ot coding. commit yourself to it. Is it too 5. Write In a consistent manner. For instance, always decrement loop dllllcull? Can the average user counters In the same place In the loop. handle It? 6. Keep your coding as simple os possible. Do nof use clever trie 7. Leave the stack alone 8. Write new routines on paper llrst. ZX Computing Monthly October 1966 lluj routine making sure I understand It. The odd last bug Is lound In this way. Then It Is the public's Making a test plan To run test a routine properly we need to be systematic The best way to do this is to make a test plan which can be used os a checklist as each lesl is complete. 11 also helps when lesl data has to be made up. Each lesl can be given a reference number. This Is written alongside the record of test data that has been made up to test that case. Very often the test data will be human input such as Joystick commands. You can still be systematic and list all the specific can use a progran your test plan. Mar "1" separate piece o' 2. MONITR — When Is MONDIG number to ' group of In between pressed MONON Is set to "I". minimum of 0? 3. MONITR - II MONON=1 9. - roll . — uctions. eg. DOWN Causes digit !o routine Is executed JRz , DJNZ . JP G etc. whatever key is "0". A test Is needed to make pressed except 10. UP - Causes digit to roll up 4. each set of Instructions execute. DELAY- Is speed slow enough? 11. TURNBT - Is each digit pair "0" Identity the condition and the 5. KEYSCAN - Exit working It In turn updated? function of the chunk of code Is pressed. 12. TURNBT - Do left and right "5", "6", '7" ond you have the test fhat is 6. KEYNO - Are keys digits In a pair update? "8" - required. When It comes to the and recognised and 13. OPTYPE Does MONOP = "0" actual testing many ot the tests control passed to eoch cause a peek. "2" cause on your list can be ticked off correct task, tl none are a poke and anything else do easily without any specific pressed does nothing nothing. setting up. You will then be left hoppeni 14. PEEK - Getting memory? with specific conditions to set 7. KEYNO - Right cursor test. 15. POKE — Changing memory? up. Does It Increment the 16. HEX - Digit pairs decoded? Prove each section of code MONDtG number to a 17. NULLOP - Print file built up really did its job. That does not )f6? OK7 mean lust seeing II It runs irtest. withoul crashing. Decide where you will break the routine to check all registers and variables are set up correctly. You do not How to find that hidden bug have to do this for every group 1. Start looking at the lines you lost The Is of instructions unless II Is a reotly changed. bug usually tricky routine. At the end ol each 2. Try to locate less subroutine for example, Is a the error by executing of the program. Execute good place each big routine In turn using a monitor unlll the error occurs. Then do the same for each section of the faulty routine. The li; stoo m porta nt 3. Write BASIC programs to validate any large data files. 1 4. Talk with friend. purpose It should Include e through a problem area o You usually see the major task that the design Sleep requires of that routine. A roi 5 o ally tough problems. Next morning you often find the y run It and plan a search strategy An example Test Plan How to debug a BASIC program Here is a test plan which you This list of ftps should help you If you have typed In a program ttom can use to check the example a magazine and It does not work. MONITR routine works. Before 1. Look at the magazine listing, tf It is typeset there may be a reading the list see how you can printing error but the error Is probably in your copying. If It looks do Turn to the program and like a printer listing any mistake wilt definitely be In yout typing Ir Identify all the (unctions to test. " 2. Check problem areas like pokes, d~'~ Then compare your list to mine 3. Execute the program a bit ot a tlm below. I have Included the Then print any changed variables name ot fhe routine performing use CONT to carry on the program. 4. Insert some extra print statements In toops etc lo print o counters or other variables. Test Monitor Plan 5. Look tor all the clues. Write down what exactly happens. Try It again. Vary the input and fry to pin down the exact 1. — action If MONITR No circumstances when the error occurs. Then try to find routines that '(]' MONON = if any key but process that eventuality. "1" Is pressed. ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 i im gaps? is the defaul resetting them). This is invaluable and you will have an escape It left behind? tor tuning up games. Constants It loops forever. There is a delay «. PUTMON - Is the m con be changed in High! to gel within Ihe monitor which con t> speeds right, positions right, rates of firing adjusted ere (lie? Merely coll Ihe monitor trom 20. HEXTWO - within your mainline loop, I put if the screen using the p Well, thai Is In Ihe keyboard soon routine In the August issue. Alternatively similarity b then it even operates In Ihe you could use RST 10 Instructions Ihe slructure diograr game's pause mode. This means by loading b=MONOUT as a laken Ihe structure li by pausing the game you can count and HL to step along enough level one b< MONLIN. diagram would be c The routine includes on exit you want you can u: trom your game if Ihe key is Instructions for use sliucture diagram a; pressed. The jump address provided vou list all should be changed to the entry poinl of your monitor or back to Although the list ma BASIC routine. I use the long it breakpoint takes about 30 i entry point of my 6 = decrease digit to run through the tests. That is it main monitor which allows me 7 = Increase digit thev work. If they do not you to get back and continue the Set op. Type to to PEEK s> hove precise definition ol the To find the entry oddress to byte ot the dump. II the value is Real Time Monitor et a breakpoint and look changing loo fast to read treeie it changing the op type Irom has been placed. It This month's eiample program may coll or 1 acts as a window Into the a jump Chonge 1 to set up selected byte. No JP EXITAD accordingly. ot machine. Unlike most monllors it update memory takes place and operates os yet (default mode). your prog oil the test session Irom yi 2 to POKE selected byte to the wotch you they change. its variables. Then Jump tt Ing by program under test. You can call the routln within any loop you a O —i< z o o a a. ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 ARE YOU A BUDDING PROGRAMMER? B ^.X is always looking for top —L JL quality games and utilities for publication. If you have a top —^ n notch or a useful utility for game I -J| the Spectrum or QL why not -^li send It to us for appraisal on ffl^i cassette or microdrive complete f- '; O* listing if possible. with a f _jg% There is also our new feature \ Short Cuts to showcase your __£ practical, novel or imaginative i short routines with cash prizes for / published listings. For longer • programs we pay competitive , rates, and if you have an idea V^ article or series for ZX — \i for an * drop us a line or phone Bryan or Cliff on 01-437 0626 to talk it over. ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 — Voullbe nuts to miss this show ...I Hall. V..-.I,,, ..., on computer under one roof! relay 2S(h Oc'obor 86' Talk lo 'he xperti on 'he See oil 'he New Seaion'i User Club ilondl or find ipocial SPECTRUM Injmi. - plus the ulual friendly olmoiphere IN MANCHESTER Send NOW lor 'he reduced -ore and loNwan. The Show oHflrt lull lupporl "I- ,;.„.,. fclll|< ONE OF THE BIGGEST! II SINCLAIR : You'll b* nut. to mill 1yiMr RANGES OF SOFTWAREl pal.bloij. wilh o huge range Ihit .how. rT '' I IN AND AROUNDl THE AUTUMN MICROFAIR 100's manchesterI of titlesii tsmsmsmm^antm ;> .'S.wSaiiJ' 25th October 86' \ JOYSTICKS, INTERFACES, LIGHT PENS, SPEECH SYNTHESISERS, MICRODRIVES, ETC. ETC. ETC.. A WIDE RANGE OF SOFTWARE FROM WORD PROCESSORS TO GAMES ALL GAMES AT BUDGET PRICES: AT ItAS J HLOFFtf SENS FOiTREDUCED PRICE TICKETS TODAY 5BJM BUDGET SOFTWARE CENTRE 'ft Mike or Moirion 01-81 or tel: 061 -834 2808 X COMPUTING OCTOBER 1986 shoi?t|;ijt8 Ray Elder presents an expanded Short Cuts this month reflecting the programming talent of ZX readers. So if you have an astonishing routine hidden away why not flaunt it In Short Cuts. Remember there's £10 awarded for published routines and the £20 Starcut prize for the outstanding mini- programme of the month. Sounding Out showing how it could create graphs, microphone to Ihe e A couple of points. First, some older computers need to be Robert Glavas of Bury supplies allowed to warm up for about message and play II our tlrsi program, a routine to five or ten minutes before the the Spectrum by Ihe delect sound entering the signal settles to a standard, and or put your recorder cassette port. This could lorm the secondly you have to provide and speak into Ihe b bosis of many programs. He the soundl Testing 1. 2, 3, 4. Te supplies us with a demo This can be done In several 1 REM sound itnior ERE'' RBEN DUMP; 10 DATA 33,129,92,54,0,6,1,219 ,254,203,119,32,1,52,16,-9,201 20 FOR +-50000 TO 50016: READ a: POKE *,a: NEXT * m 100 REM demo 1, graph generator 110 LET s*=l 120 POKE 50006,70 210 LET *•! LET o=0 300 LET 1=USR 50000 310 LET a-PEEK 236S1 320 PLOT X-S,o: DRAW o,a-D 330 LET o=a 340 LET 3fX*s: IF X>255 THEN L IT x=s: CLS 350 CO TO 300 m 100 REM dewo 2, try whistling ! 110 POKE 50006,50 120 LET 1™USR 50000: LET a-PEEK 23601: IF o>10 THEN BEEP .01,3 ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 Sound kit error m Double Up B J. Komphuis is a programmer who hails trom The Netherlands and Is a tegular ZXC contributor And now to Tim Ranee ot Bucks. He sent a short, simple BASIC correction to his last published routine to print a message In ptogtam. double height. I know we have In Ihe program we published used other variations before, but in our July issue the should code it's neat and ihere must be have read In the THIRD line thousands ol new readers who 35,126,35..etc and MOT 35,125,35. are looking for such a roulinel Slap on the wtlsts all round, but sample ol his wotk. a simple but Interesting machine code vu Calc Controlled to be changed, and some routine to convert numbers printers may use different between and 255 to Another reader from Holland. codes, check your manual. Hexadecimal. J.K.H. van den Bosch sent us o A useful program, anyone Load the program and RUN it. routine to allow all users of VU done anyihing similar for VII Lines 9,10 and 20 contain the CALC to print out onto a proper FILE? main M.Code and to use It In printer, although there is a built any adaption ol your own POKE In COPY lor Sinclair type printers, 64000 the number, call 64002 only four columns are printed at Irom 64000 and 64001. A little To use this program make sure exercise would be to make It your DATA has been saved then deal with numbers greater than quit the program, NEW the 255 [I have, tor my own usel). computer and LOAD and run the program given. Lines 1,2 and 3 Include interface control codes for Ihe Kempston £ Centronics IfF. They perform Ihe following I you may hove to II you are using a e 1. lurn Ihe Sinclair ens off. e 2. POKE 23679 sets tl Line 3. Checks, and puts the ' printer Info condensed It the number of mode £ characters per line Is greater than 80. Some printers may print more without needing > Cassette Labeller Finally for this month Is a program from Lawrence MHlea of Liverpool and It produces cassette labels for the actual cassette on a Sinclair or Alphacom or compatible printer. The main problem he found In writing this program was that o correct sized label wouldn't lit on the paper, so he solved It by printing It sldewaysl And so who gets this month's coveted Slarcul award? land twice the normal feel). Well this month we were unamlmous in awarding It to Lawrence lor his cunning routine, and tidying up of our office tapes! Bye for now, and keep 'em coming! ( J g O X ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 27 . IWJ 9999 PRINT "You're Dead! saving a copy of this amended showed you how to USE UP Rewind tape and play to try code with SAVE "n ewe ode" instead ol saving It, : memory so again" MERGE 'Wata" GOTO CODE 65091,277. This Is part ol for my penance I'll start this month with another byte-saving Three points. First, SAVE the data n you print your programe on the adventure lllustratlor may thollr tape at the beginning. II makes Now tor the udg data. You Part 1 I suggested saving space II much easier To find when you con design this as a 5 by 4 by holding the value of want to reset. Secondly when block as before, then use the variables only In Ihe variable you save the main program, Horizons' Character Generator area ol the computer's memory make sure the data In VARS Is program to convert each Into (called VARS], not In the and already on board, and finally, code and SAVE II as explained program area (PROG) well. as don't ever use RUN. You'll lose all last lime. If you v.""' For those who missed Part 1 the Ihe dotal I, Table gives progiam line: dalo lor a _ 10 LET a = 5 Graphics (and why not? Don'l you always takes up some 16 bytes ol find them laying around In memory really all space when Last month I left you with the adventures?). Load this In, you want Is the machine to kna problem of how to make larger reading ocross each line, using that the variable a has a value Illustrations with user defined FOR t = 6000Q TO 60159 : INPUT of 5. So type in, with no line graphics. We'll start this month i : POKE f.i : PRINT t.PEEK I I =' NEXTf LET a 5 You'll be using a statement and press ENTER, You'll get the 5by< O.K. message. Now LIST. Nolhlngl we've already made to double so when, in the luture. I refer to Not realty surprising since you thai size, provided you're codeloader" this Is the nove no program, but the prepared lo accept a slight loss statemenl I mean, machine does know the value of in resolution. (The sort of quality n prove this by typing: iound In the "Dangermouse" SAVE "bootg" CODE 60000,160 adventures.) To do this you need Now, to try out the Idea, type In to make use of Ihe large Program 2. Let's have a look at -' : "'" :! th!?r characters routine found on your going to do before you could only i present from Uncle — your tree RUN. variables which didn't get Horizons tape. You need a copy changed, not lor those which, of this to work on. loaded high for example, control strength, up In memory so. score, In objects held etc a CLEAR 65090 : LOAD 'V CODE games programe. Actually you 65091 (ENTER) ro are the required can use the same idea lor these and ploy side B ot the tape lagnlflcatlon. horizon provided that you reset them You'll get some programs and srtlcal, so the 2 In thl; start ' belore you again, having ' after about just lost your last life by bumping is thee Into Balrog. a What you do Is load In and you'll get Ihe s tor the udgs A to E. The write a short program to set up O.K. message Don't be tempted 2SS these variables. Something like to Iry It straight away or I" Line 20 sets up the value ot s, 10 LET s=10 : LET 1=5 : DIM it. '- ' The s that It less 1152. The f$(10,10) the rr. ..._ subtraction Is s where s. I strength, and ISO are CALL and JUMP. Each ol these Is worth an explanation. The lives and linds array. Now. RUN followed by an address to move looks In the ROM — the your program then delete all the to. but s because the code Is now computer's own memory — lor much higher up In memory than "he shape of charoclers to print, sounds crazy, bul what you'll be il should these o be jump rbu have to direct it to the udgs saving is just those Initial value instructions are Q not In the right nstead. but as the first udg Is In VARS. places, and have to be code 144 and there are eight All you have to do now Is corrected. Program 1 will do this bytes per character the routine MERGE this information with Ihe (or you. Type il In and RUN II will has to be directed 144x8 (=1152) n programe when you want tlnd those incorrect addresses bytes below the real slart. Ot to re t, with a and correct them. It's worth you're contused by that toke ZX Computing Monthly - October 1986 "Runestone" until laterl) Once you have these drawn out on a suitable pixel /character square grid help Is at hand to store and ir generator" program and convert each character square along the top row to an udg, then save these lo tape (remember you only want A to P). Repeal the process for Ihe second and subsequent rows and repeal for Ihe second picture, saving each ot the codes In order, one after the Clyde Bish returns with other on the tape. Now you need a utility lo store them os some more byte saving complete pictures In high memory, and also add colour advice information. Program 3 is whal you need. Type It In, SAVE for future use then RUN. Answer Ihe consolation In the fact thai I've RANDOMIZE row -8 + column first prompt wilh the number of only recently It sussed outlj + 22528 : POKE 65050,PEEK pictures to store (in this case Line 30 does an the hard 23670 : POKE 65051.PEEK 23671 two). The program clears the work. It resets the character To use this extra code make the required space and tells you the fainter as explained above, sets following changes to program 2: address of Ihe starl ol the first le row and column pointer Line 30 - add TNK 7 to the start picture. Make a note ol this (and each loop, then cads the routine of Ihe line, and append INK lo subsequent addresses], as you'll to print that row ol udgs. Each the e :! their, r You'll loop prints successively lower Line 40 - odd lo the end of the to play the data tape lithe line. RANDOMIZE s + 1312: POKE you made with those blocks ol character's pointer. 65047, PEEK 23670 : POKE 16 udgs. The program will load Now RUN and you'll see a big 65048, PEEK 23671 : RANDOMIZE Ihese In to the correct addresses. boot oppear centre left ol the USR 65046 When the eighth block ot a set is screen. If you want the Now RUN ond you'll find o multi- loaded, stop Ihe tape and odd Illustration elsewhere you must coloured boot suddenly Ihe colour. You'll see the picture change the POKE 23306 value In appears on screen. The reason displayed with the first character line 30 to the number pixels lor the sudden appearance is square flashing. Input Ihe across, first and the number In Ihe INK 7 . . . INK 0. The boot Is attribute tor this and subsequent the POKE 23307 expression to the drawn In white INK on white ol pixels ..:,,;. it number up. The chart PAPER and so is Invisible until the | e lasi is on page 76 ot your manual will colour is added. You could of course, use these Ideas lo produce other In colour tlHflOHOftt A double size 7 by 3 illuslration top cenlre could provide a location scene with text underneath. It you Information to Ihe bool graphic; understand Ihe system so far data. Agoln you could use the you'll find It quite easy to moke ' utility I supplied l( the changes. (If not, drop rne a 3 to g line at Golden Square and I'll tape, ready to load back In at These are found give you some help.) will produce a blue and red Now what aboul those To use this data you'll need a boot on yellow paper. Add these perfectionists who wanl lorge short machine code rouline lo extra 20 bytes, one lor each pictures plus maximum drop It down Instantly lo the Chora cter square, with resolution? No problem — Display ond Attribute Files. Use "codeloader". altering Ihe except the amount of memory "codeloader" lo enter Ihe data FORfTO volues to 60160 and they'll use up A full screen from Table D, changing the 61079. colour illuslration uses up 6336 FORTO values lo 65324 and You could get these onto the bytes, so you could only get live 65367, then save as screen using a BASIC program in Ihe lop 32K of memory. This SAVE 'yowncode" CODE os we have done before, but It may be QK. If Ihe controlling 65324,44. would be rather slow. We would program is quite simple, and I'll I'd like lo explain how Ihe do better lo resort to some show you how lo design your rouline works but space is fast machine code. What we need to own "Mugsy"lypesy"type gamegar In Ihe running out so I'll press on and do Is take each data value and but for Ihe give you the rouline you'll need POKE it inlo Ihe attributes (lie in >r fry How to hove In your program lo blocks ol 2 by 2 character about a 16 by 8 character make use ot it. One important squares. Enter the data tram Illuslration lop cenlre, with space polnl though, you must set the Table C using "codeloader'' with either side for scores, strength variable n lo Ihe storl of Ihe Ihe FOR'TO values at 65046 and etc. and scrolling text required picture dota (noted 65090 As this is added |ust underneath? Irom Program 3) before calling it. before the "newcode" which is Assuming lhat you did lust save already present, you can save It two pictures. Program 4 will all together with: allow you lo switch instantly SAVE "gcodo" CODE 65046,322 between them. Type this in and Note that the routine assumes First the pictures You'w try II out (making sure you still if the position of the lop left have your picture data and "downcode" on board). Fast, wasn't it? ZX Computing Monlhly October 1986 ii'-Vism 1 REM CCODE IT cm tape m a fttfr CLEAR 6509O 10 LET :- =65091 20 per f N a i.x) =INT 30 :>EF = N b txl »S+X- lO RE6TC RE ; FOR j s , : y x PO* E ; +y,FN b 1 ' *1,FN i 1 : NEXT i 50 I'ST* 105,32, 127, J:!* "mrm 1 REM Y ao poke" Of E 2 331 E £3312, i-s'. po^-E 1: E £3314, 4,7, pot-E 2Z IP input "No. of pictures, to i tore "jp : poke 23681, p 20 LET d=55367- r.p-iJ.52 + 4.4.: : Rfl NC'OMIZE d. POKE 23725. ^EEK 23670 -"! = PEE* 83671: CLEAR d -1: LET d=256-PEEK £3671+PEEK 23 670: LET = =d LET p -PEEK 23651: fop i = i TO P: CL5 " ; 25 PRINT "Picture ; i " StBfti 30 PRINT '"PLAY TOPE" 40 FOR f=l TO S: PRINT RT 4,0, "Loading row ";f; LOAD ""CODE d + (f-1) *1£8 60 NEXT f: PRINT '"8T0P THE Tfl PE" : PfiUSE 200: CLS 70 LET C=0: FOR f =rf TO d+1020 ;:-&' ;;.ir.7 . :^-i:;;-'.,ii:;:f < u.-k-;- ,. F.PflifK 2367? POKE £3676. PEEr, £3 |--.=:- - ;:.:,::, i-1 v i"- i . NOP": LET C»C+1: NEXT f: REM Caps in quotes are udgs. Enter in G made 80 LET d=d4l024: FOP (=22636 T 227-30 3TEP 32: FOP n = f TO f + 15 POKE n , 135 90 INPUT -attribute? ";aS: IF = '" Now (or the promised scrol = $ THEM POKE n,a: GO TO 110 LET This is called from Ihe ROM 100 a=UHL a*: POKE n,S 110 POKE LET d=d+l. NEXT n using RANDOMIZE USR 3583 II 0,8: . NEXT r" 120 NEXT i 130 input "Title for code? ";al 140 Sfi'.-'E aSCODE s,P*1152 Add the following lines to Program 4: 15 RANDOMIZE USR 3583 : PRINT - ESE2SE AT 21, 0; "Yhi- Liiei -c : 25 RANDOMIZE USR 3583 : PRINT AT 21,0; "This Is picture 2" Ihen change between them a few limes and you'll see the That's oil tor this issue. Tune in next month for the Big Time, IZE n POKE 650^ i- Including a way ot holding a fc 65326 . PEEK 23 ill :=: whole screen colour 66324 : RETURN in less than 200 bytes! ZX Computing Monthly October 19B4 1AVOID THE MONSTER RUSH FOR 5.00 for 12 li 8.00 for 12 U 161.20 fur 12 iv [RtawiH-Bin mi suh-i n(il!.in(M n. ZX COMI'ITIMJ MONTHLY •»"* <*• . >''j;ib»>< i»»"':> iSsSSsS^,,o tf C.«' ;i-«""^ i. 2£» "S 'NAMF(Mr.MrvMiss) | ADDRESS •esses"* Signature (Date ^B*^' »§• ''*&*# id Mil-- form : ii yum Ss5^-tf*£8gS5g{ iriTBt, Timet Home, l~9 Tbr Marl, 'lemel Hempslead. Herts. Hl'l IBB. aiu 7?" o»C jmo nOfaric ii<* ^ubhe tin 7£0 t«M «0 DCrine PROCedure jubbo WO »(o(j),p(JJ)-»l i"-" IWWorli Iin time HI! s s < 0! O /-" r-ic *- "-op j 1JW9 a ZX Computing Monthlv October 19B6 ^ by Tomai J on atson Capture the ghouls in this ghostly maze game a^- for the QL. DJ.Y s s ; < O O a ZX Computing Monthly Octobet 1986 LUU dilficuli, devious gome I also lore relaung with a straight- The five keys in this gome "there ore Hires types or blue-prims and I barrier key. red green and be ,„ lne same pass through Hie correspond formed, person! There ore objects which v lo Increase v°' KEF. will give you n 'hergy or y 0ur WQy | can | rap yOU antj Given just Ihls I woulc inspired to open the c Ihat would have been a Star Firebirds sitting pigeons, I hey insight ana saying thai il was'a laST one Is taral, /our live soon depleted. Sound liuulJ - 3 loo last, slow down it you run oft the Irack and stop il you collide frequent eveni (or me as Ihey II had passed through my mind weave around unpredictably al some time thai there was a lot ot lite left In some ol Ihe especially on Ihe olher rides and some colour clash when your cycle goes otf Ihe track. markel whai to us old hands sound Is a rather high pitched blipping which, wllh a bit of This program was originally produced by Micramega and the gome lo any real enlenl Birkm; (jomg into personal opinion 1 Ihink a description ol controlled machines, all 39 ot . r niutui 'JyL.li; r']. .iiki M.-T'LMilm.'i II wrj;. (j (j I lo nvkly this npBnl " «Va 3D and you have game, one ot my old tOTOurilES, conlrol over lellfright lurn and the original of winch lurH.n rh.? I«m accelerate and brakes depth ol my program Son, and CHEAT :u pro-nickel Instead DONINGTON your Ireedom is lo eiplore Ihe difficult tor you as the lie caslles mazes and jungles in such small blobs that Ih SPEED: 175 URP NO : Cagora and find ihe magic mstontly unrecognisab POSITION: 39 chalice A reasonable II hardly luted helicopter u would nolice, t.v; ha i:. '.upposed to tight your you (represented on screen by a medium siied blob) are chasing Ihrough a more and o GRG s s Of Virgin Atlantic Challenge Game You ve to to admire the men, il Branson will enplall it, 1 suppose anywov H's been some Time since 1 SIrotegy tvpe wllh Ifie nice trill boals ond icebergs Hooting Richard (a role I've been trying high, also In joysllck mode Ihe on his much publicised and limes. SINCLAIR TITLES H.!IIJI«,!IH»Tligl!» r^ kj\r, B>c r^j^i paw* IRU will argue the ortglnal gam' 8o1 along Jusi tine wiihaul h n Isely Domdrk have added i knowledge would hold over people I lo Ihe minute record ol al pursuil addicts kn< players performances, breakdown Is tor each I mes huge Importance player Is going tor the winning question you is no signs ol aballng ai knobble him by conlldently Graphically Ihe game Is or lacts you ave forgotten and amassing vast numbers or points. You are allowed a certain number ol aeroballc successful arcade game bul b I graphics ques- you* lake°ofSgoin°Once back lo do their blasting al home- nnnnVf*Wi IjuuII islJL coming at you. One phase has a huge bomber and bringing looking lor somelhlng more clear the screen ol attacking Ing Ihe enemy out ol the sky ZX Computing Monthly October 1996 _.__.lnrhemalnl1'sa 1^0011 ^ -' kill style II means lust thai. A game good ola fashioned em oil I on Ihe lines at Ihe classic gome. "Space Invaders" type, wave Al Ihe original pflce ol over wwwn ZX Computing Monlhly ' October 1986 am . iu've demolished moke sure ihal your old hoss doesn'l go slumbllng over any other than lo say Ihal 11 simply Once you've made H back Olympiad Is an attempt lo to lown you slill don't get lo rest produce a budget sports game as all the bad guys around along Ihe lines ol Daley Thomp- son's Sup'-r Tost and Includes '' Ighl lifting. Canoeing. ; Shooting am sForsc ii cleaning up Ihe ic tasks h'os been well pitched so iashloned ihal's because It is, Ihal you con get stalled easily bul lis enough lun ta while II. bul sim and slop Agai need to practice In away Ihe odd rainy allemoon when it reaches the 12 o'clock order lo get anywhere Going with and will probably appeal posh ion (the highest energy Ihrough Ihe some tour stages In lo younger compuler owners level] you just stab Ihe O button Iheir tlied order all Ihe lime whodonl require stale-oHhe-arl This Is how you play thu welghl gel boring, bul could sensibly mega gomes, llfllng and sprlnl sections and il there's a practice mode which doesn't give any of Ihe eiclle- allows you lo choose any stage menl thai the toystick .'keyboard -' " at Ihe game and onr pounding style of Super lest dim cully levels. This c thought thai 11 locked p telly nnnn\ ;^ y IjuuIJ islL LAP OF THE GODS The skeel shooting is Complexity ta It — you i rlghlJupfdown and llri scrolling gave me qulle an ei strain, as did Ihe ralher d iracting moving stripe j playing area. Mill ruplurad eyeballsaslc LOTG Is quite playable. It's or ol those games Ihal Is simp and (airly repel Hive bul whir draws you back lor one mo Iry to see it you can collect There isa lire' button, but Ihts The graphics aren't too bod. only pulls dawn a menu which but Ihey aren't good enough lo powers available to you (where ment In the games themselves. would Mosterlronlc games be accept |oystick control and. It would have helped Ihe when someone suggested that games playobilily II you were it might be simple Basic or com- piled Basic 1 Irled fo break Ihe program just by using Ihe BREAK key at which point a message they move faster than your own Hashed up saying 'Show Offl i nlere sting budget really game Irom Master-toslertranic In this, catch you tl tlgurs and can't be easily ond Ihen Ihe program crashed. elligy Irom yi avoided. No points lor user Irlendllness.' '.,.. :,-! I'm : LOTG probably Isn't the alroid the only thing that game lor fast reaction acrade Olympiad has got going tot 11 treaks. but il you've got a bil of is ihe budget price, but even in acquire Ihe gems you ' ed to gain special powers t if budyi -i '.oitware Irom many separate, and Ihe only connec- leleporl chambers, bul these will only work il you've collected Ihe right effigies The screen display u; TO m IjuuIJ IX Computing Monthly - October 1986 NAME THAT GAME! This is your chance to In order to escape he musf there will be a special prlia accomplish certain tasks like [Using psychic powers to find put a title to finding discs to place In disc Ihese titles is strictly forbidden). drives retrieving coins, locating As Maslertronlc are almost Masiertronic's Game energy packs and putting flags ready to release the game, the n l!o closing date for enlrles Is closer With No Name. I these tasks lhan normal so get your snappy enough there are a 1st title In quickly and remember to Iwlrling nosties stalking the write if on the outside of your VMastertronlc ore putting (he pathways to destroy him. entry envelope final touches to a new Spectrum The closing dale is October gome and ore giving ZX readers Your turn 2dth 1986. to the opportunity christen the The competition Is open to all release with a catchy So now It's time for you lo gel ZX readers except employees of Imaginative title. pondering on the title The prize Argus Specialist Publications. Not only will the winner get a will go to the originator ot the Alabaster Pasmore and kick out ol seeing his title on the most apt, original and above all shelves ol his local software calchy title lor the gama Send your entries to the emporium (and perhaps Maslertronlc have two Maslertronlc Game Wllh No climbing up the charts) but he provisional titles already Name Contest, ZX Computing or she will also receive one ot Monthly, No 1 Golden Square. Masiertronic's new Magnum W1R 3AB Joysticks, a Mostertronlc T-shirt, posters, the five latest Maslertronlc Spectrum releases and ot course a copy of the Game Wllh No Name. There will also be 10 prizes ot the Game With No Nome and T- shlrts tor runners up The Game The game has been written by Geoff Foley, author of Octagon Squad and Ticket To Ride, It features the exploits ot a strange being apparently hall toot, halt head that is trying to escape from a planet surface ot narrow pathways surrounded by water. Mastertronic Game With No Name Contest I name this game Address a. Send to Game With No Name Contest. ZX Computing Monthly, E No 1 Golden Square. London W1R 3AB Please remember lo put O your title on the envelope. >§•- O fcutlng Monthly October 1986 m Dynamite Dan is back to prove there's still life left In the platform game. \DYNAMITE DAN 11 .Just when you thought It was safe to come out of the cupboard, when vou were quite sure that Doctor Blitzen and his evil bunch ot cronies had finally been destroyed, and you hod managed to float away to safety {-'-• — - wings of a rtalla again, yes It's Dynamite Dan II. When Dynamite Don was first released, It had a lively aura about It, it was the type of game that you Imagine would have been as much fun to program as it was to play. Thankfully. DD II eight islands, collecting a strained that It soon lost seems to have none ot the record on each, and Inserting It I annoying. However, original charm and novelty. into o lukebox. Having done this even this cannot make DD II What the passing ot time has you must find some fuel (or your unenjovable. achieved Is a better standard of trusty Zeppelin, and tly away. To It Is probably because there game. All the definition is help you In this seemingly never- have been so tew ledge games excellent, and unlike the original ending task, there are a total of recently that DD II seemed so Is game, there very Utile colour thirty two dlfterenf objects, each good, but I still believe that anv with Us own effect, varying Irom arcade adventurer worth his salt Together with many other extra energy to Immunity to will relish the thought ot people, I slightly miss the days bullets. bouncing, lumping and when six hours spent lumping This may all sound very easy, swimming his way to success. from ledge to ledge was six but not surprisingly, life Is made Overall, DD II Is a programming hours well spent. I miss the days amazingly difficult by a stunning masterpiece, and on top of that when al least three new ledge variety of baddies. They lump, It Is real fun to play! games would be released every spin, twist and drop around ten minutes, and I miss Jet Set making lite lotol and utter Willy. Ploying DD II brought all misery, and very nearly this back to me with a destroying your Immaculately vengeance: the perfectly timed co Iff u red hairl jumps, the agonising falls, they're Perhaps the most ImpressI all here plus much more part ot the game are the As you would expect. DD II graphics. Varying fror does have an objective: you jungle, they are brillianlly il around r defined with cara The attention to detail as I havi ever seen on the Spectrum If and when you get to t the last lukebox, and than i a desperate run for your Zep, then will you have completed this 180+ screen masterpiece. My only criticism would be the sound. Although there Is a iPtHITE good attempt to get a tune anc ettects out of the Spectrum: the urn ..-tee Just been released for the Sp both are a 1 KhI^^ S3 Basic Features w^^m .„.,_ 2 Dimensional Board Displays 2 Dimensional Board 3-D Board 3-D Board 3-D Isle of Lewis Pieces [Board can be rotated and seen Irom oil lour sides) Seven 'Average' levels. Level* Average mode — Response time varying variable time limit Irom Instantaneous to 3 possible levels Six 'Correspondence' Tournament mode — time controls on Ihe Blitz Chess — variable number ot moves mode limes. Balance ol levels as in tournament play. mode — Ihe program All the Moves Mode — attempts to match your Blilz chess ogolnst the Beginner's level mode - Equity mode — Ihe the program handicaps program keeps pace Itself to play a less than with your elapsed lime brilliant game. Infinite Mode — lot puzzles or correspon- dence, the computer searches Indellnltely lor Ihe best move. Problems can be set up Problem mode Comprehensive mode using an algebraic lor salving check mating method or by joystick problems Can solve ahead also "Selfmotes II male mode" but on and helpmates". K»ain»aT». Instont replay.'tokebock. Other features Instant replaytlakebaek. Colour change options Colour changes options on board, pieces and and border. border. Invisible Mode - enables you to play "bllndlold chess" by making either block or while pieces (or bothl Invisible JoWiCWboM Control Joys 1 1 c k key b o a i d Psi CHESS MM-ft-K-HM Spectrum Chessmen have never looked this good. Psi Chess goes intellectual appeal. insta! READERSHIP SURVEY Win a free subscription! A" vou havB to do " "" ln ,ho «•**»"«*• £ ™ " and told into a postage paid envelope at in detailed on the tourlti page. We pay the postage to tend off your answers at toon possible mis is your chance to tell us exactly what you at a. because there are tree subscriptions think about ZX Computing Monthly. We want to to ZX to be know won for the senders ot the first 10 surveys pulled the feature* you en|oy and those you skip i/j over. Are there subjects out of the hat. Surveys mutt reach us by the i a. clo,lna do,e MtfB* November 7th. covered In more depth or subjects you would like Vour answers will to tee burled forever? be treated with the strictest a confidence. Vour answers will help ut to build up a picture < ot exactly the magazine you wont to read. Bryan Ralph (Editor) ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 ZX COMPUTING READERSHIP SURVEY , c , n 1, c , . . a c . a c . a 1 . _ c .. D.D D,D. D.D. D.D D.D. ,D.D. D.D d..d. .D„D,. ID. Whanypes ot gomas ao you enjoy playing? D.D, .1 .: AfpaOaD. AayBnluisD! StraleayDi SponsD. NoneDs ',. ' D.D :. ,.' |« [.].,, ,„. i r !„[ .. , ,D.,D., D.D. o.,n. n. n, D.D. „ , „ . d, .a. .[ U I. . . . n.,r, :.,! I. n.n. n.j , ,; !. o,u„ n„n,. y I. ,„, D.D, a.a. n.n. . a. i.<« n, D> Speclrum • D ! Olhei lple< a D, u. ITp'"^'.™"""" ideally Qboul Ihe advertising CO he Iwo lypes of advo-l unr: morn Disfjloy oi rms ol uselulnoss (please lick on ""I., TT"™ a a. a n. a, a. D. «snt» [ I, D. OyerESOO Hi rca_a.MM.MM . reading an D, ,« ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 , im 28. Which ol Dolly Moll 3, Do.l, «" n, Dally MI"or D,,».. 1. today , ih.,3 D.n»o ,, a. n.t».si a. " wto d Newspaper .si,™™,, , "3" e Zoo rn ,°s othTjT'" n, mpii , . < Sando . , Th.Sy , a. , •«*»'_ a, U, OlW.ild . 30. Do you re «, , Radio »„« a, 31. Please tici From £5,980 lo , F,Om E7.JB0 ,0 19 ,w . 32. II would b "0 following qua, Tfie answHip wi olo « , 35^4 D' < IS. Ale you owpra ol ZXs ,; «« a 5W . PS. 13. Marl.ol Ski IM * n. «. , ~ OP,ld,.„,.IIO„ a Zx Compoling? 2S. Dp you ppimolly Pblplp you, oopy by: N™B.n°',ho°p"oll.o,lon ! SSS^n'™™"' Q Aaao- »,,,,.u ob»,„ „,..„», „«,,„„.„,„ pp. ».„. i iS Suteoilpllon 1 too expprslyp i Se. MO D.F.P, p.. n, moi™^ i»».,., .,,.o : ;, s Ham soPscbad piously. Pol lopsed > z> 36. Finally, ho .«» o.yolh.i.op map,, IP m ke oppp, ZX? X2: s QIII < ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 Do nol alii* Postage Stam| Gt Britain, Channel Islands or the Isle ol Man I I ZX COMPUTING Argus Spec I si I *t Publications No 1. Golden Square. SECOND FOLD ///// Programmer Martin Bryant reflects on the grandmaster In the machine and its cheat- prone human opponent. started writing chess programs when I was at University back In 1977. Then In 1982 I wrote White Knight tor !.._ BBC I knew there could be a different approach so I decided to take the knowledge I'd aqulred and write a better program. Colossus I appeared first on the Apple In 1983 and since then there have been gradual Improvements on newer versions I usually take about six months Improving the program ond a year to wile versions lor other machines, On Improvements Trie catalyst to write a new version comes when someone brings out a new program to chalenge It. There Is no clear cut way ol Improving a chess program although there is always something lhat can be improved. The problem is making the program as strong as possible within the lime you There Is no magic algorithm bul the move evaluation function can be made more efficient. The values assigned to different capturing moves by the programmer give the program its specific style. Us Importanl lo make Ihe computer Ignore obviously stupid moves when deciding its next step. From any strategic position Ihe program can generafe all the possible moves In reply. This Is 'game tree' theory and hopefully the best move comes from the branch you are looking at. On fancy graphics On cheating 'Putting T Colossus on Ihe don't play as well as I used to. Spectrum caused a couple ol Obviously I spend o lot of lime problems with memory space playing against programs and bul Its playing strength Is still Ihe It's very dlflerenl because Ihere same as the Apple version. is nol the ego Involved lhat yourself. Bul what a chess Economising Is achieved comes out when by playing a program does Is to provide a writing the code more efficiently person, ready opponenl any time who and not getting carried Ifou away can cheat very easily doesn't get II red. Willi the graphics Obviously It — when you play Ihe computer 'Chess programming Is still of would be nice to have fancy 3-D lake back moves, swop sides, great Interest lo me and If never graphics as on Ihe larger and so on, and this can get you ceases lo make me aware ol ihe machines but playing strength Is into Alter bad habits all it's no beauty ol Ihe game of chess. It's the program's prime resource good when you are playing a marvellous to be able to do a and I! would be silly to cut back human opponent lo ask him to |ob of work that I really enjoy on In that department. memory give you your piece back, and I'M be playing any new So In consequence the 3D 'It depends on how you use I! programs that come oul until a pieces don't glide gracefully of course, II you keep faking rival appears — then If's time to moves back you ore ]ust kidding bring out Colossus 5 Chess.' ESPEAK It's olten said thai Ihe quality readily to mind, of on adventure game Is wnn us excruciatingly slow predominantly determined by responses coupled to a Ihe originality and Imaginative keyboard Input routine whose scape of Its plot, and really It sluggishness makes accurate would be hard to deny this. entry ol commands a sore test ot Virtuosity ot programming, text patience. Or how about those compression, complex language hordes ot Quilled adventures, analysis, and similar essenllolly rapid In response but sophistications have been loudly so often suffering from trumpeted by many a software stereotyped presentation, company, and equally loudly unfriendly vocabulary, and the hailed by many a reviewer; yet rigid restrlcllon of the slandard these count for nothing II the "verbfnoun" Inpul requirement heart of the game — Its plot and Faced with this situation, Ihe atmosphere — Is dull and BASIC programmer with a yen to uninspired. All this Is true, but of write adventures may well be 1 Alan Davis, recently put oft tor good. Even it he opts equally possible tor an for the simple "verbfnoun" Input I returned from the adventure to be wonderfully format, the need lor a large, Imaginative In concept, but friendly vocabulary necessarily •". Realms of Interaction rendered almost unplayable by Implies long delays In response f Inordinately long response times, whenever Ihe program decodes sets out once more on shabby on-screen presentation, the players Input and scans Ihe or sheer "unfriendliness". vocabulary lists Even then, II this a quest to produce a its not difficult to find limitation Is accepted, there are examples of this second ' nthe I superior command category, even among recent type of command commercial adventures: the analyser Is inadequate — tor the analysis system. grotesque "Lord ol the Rings" loot remains that you lust gon'l ///// write an interactive "Hobbit"style LEAVE THE ROOM) can be dealt us to use II for a adventure without some with, again at no cost In may care to wrl ; This, ir capability lor with dealing more response time. And finally, extra nutshell. Is what complex commands. loci Mies may be incorporated Ventures peak o Into the command analyser to analysis system has been Instant response permit, say, detailed edlllng designed lor. Even II you have (acuities to Improve "friendliness" no understanding ol machine The obvious solution to the or the option ol "real time" code programming, you can operation In the completed use Venturespeak yoursell lo code programming in order to adventure II required. write sophisticated '"" adventures "e command analysis Such a solution in turn raises which retain the flexibility and Its own dlllicullles - not least ease ol BASIC yet which are since this has many advantages. that ol interlacing the machine largely tree from Its speed First, program responses con be code routines with the rest ol a virtually Instant, regardless of size predominantly BASIC program. ol vocabulary. Second, complex We must also toce the problem and multiple commands (eg. ot (preferably) writing code PUT THE IN THE JEWEL CHEST AND which offers enough flexibility lor divided Into 3 sections a ' A Keyboard Input routine which accepts typed ccnisijV commands up to 63 characters long, complete with single key- press facilities for deleting! editing commands and a real- »>•• 016 lime option trw Ssr s?i :. 2) A Parser routine which decodes complex commands ii.ii containing up to three verbs and four nouns, such as "ASK SAM TO PUT THE COIN IN THE PURSE", as well as permitting several commands to be strung together in sequence using ,§"" commas, full stops, or 'AND" SSsH DE !!!!! llll 3) The menu-driven Venturespeak Editor which oilers comprehensive and easy-to-use facilities for adding, deleting, or '.On „ ,,» „.l "" changing vocabulary. It Is l capable of u*m generating a single ^:::: ..:: 3 b .Si ?i" block of code which JP ^RtPEH. nsr St' Incorporates both keyboard and CALL Z.CHECKH parsing routines together with the vocabulary needed for any ||i LO HjCCOUHtl jjj particular adventure. risr ?6° Assembly points Illii B i! B°r ?t This month we'll be dealing ,ER is:.; lis il Ji" the Input routine, and Ihe ol ospects ol Venturespeak wll Is!:! !!! S tackled In succeeding 1"" bst ?t°' i' Si before we begin Pd III make a strong recommendallon III i! that you equip yoursell with a decent assembler program (I! you don't have one already). :!!'! :1s You :• :, CM.L "ehS" con poke In the machine code routines from BASIC ol course - and I'll provide decimal LO 1b0UH*\,B dumps for those who wish to do so — ill I bul we'll be dealing with over 1K ol machine code altogether, and the scope for errors when lyplng in the long lists of r' ct"' sS'i? "S P^jj,,, numbers is considerable, even with checksums. An assembler Is well fhe — ill" P worth Investment I use Hisoft's "DEVPAC" and find It ellenl. t Ihe h 1 jj ||;" sis | " it of the way, we c a i'jsL", ' h this rr " Before you start, type CLEAR Is si "" §J:;r II" 59999 to lower RAMTOP so that I 1 Is 1 our code can be stored safely i!S si |: ?i at address 60000 and above. !! Is! is ?({i?^ sis 1 Incidentally, I've chosen this 1 address so that the H s: sss"" ,T ,..-.,,...... "- " Venturespeak routines will be compatible with those from the previous "Realms of Interaction" ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 builds up should be identical to the layout ot Listing 2. and this should help you to check everything as you go along. Once the whole thing has been entered without errors, the program will save your code to tope as "KEYBOARD" CODE 60000, 391. What. then, does this routine do when you colt il wilh LET m = USR 60000? Well, basically It prinls a small "prompt" symbol at the bottom of the screen and wails for you to start typing command. Each character you type is stored as a single byte above RAMTOR Ihe bytes being stored sequentially from address 60318 (START) onwards up to a an tesl PEEK6Q383,' maximum of 63 characters. and execute appropriate When you finally press ENTER, the subroutines (say tor Independent action of characters) if that return to BASIC, with the total memory location contains zero If length of your lyped command on the other hand it contoins the held at address 60315 (COUNT). value 1, we know that a All Is then ready tor the parser command analysis must be (which of course we don't yet rried o t first. have] to take over and analyse by no means all that the routine can do for you. The following facilities are avollable: 1) CAPS SHIFl'O acts ju:;S like lhr-> usual Spectrum "DELETE" key. might III erasing the last character typed. 2) CAPS SHIFTd deletes and one without]. Alternatively, if everything you've lyped so for. you want to keep the real time 3] CAPS SHIFT/2 enables you to feature but slow down the pace recall the whole ot the last of things, try poking different command you entered, either so values into 60032. POKE 60032. 4 that you can enter it again BASIC every 20 unchanged, or tor editing using j. lor the "DELETE" key. Zero time rln-g a Jling enable you lo check tt The n jilne routine out. First CLEAR 59999. facility which operates load in the bytes, type in the as lollows: it nothing has been lines of BASIC from Listing 4. and typed, then after about 10 then RUN. When you see the seconds a return to BASIC occurs prompt at screen botlom, type in with the address 60383 (TIME) any old command (note that holding the value zero II on the CAPS LOCK is set automatically) other hand a return to BASIC has and press ENTER. If all is well the occurred due to the player lower screen will clear, and your entering a command, the command will be exactly address 60383 holds the value 1. reproduced in the upper screen (confirming thai it has been stored correctly In memory). Try pressing CAPS SHIFT/2 to series, should you wish to check thai Ihe "recall last combine Ihem. (The code Is no! command" facility is working ieloco.lo.ble). correctly, and in addition check 1 Llsllng gives Ihe ossembly the delete functions. It's clear. I language program for the hope, what the benefits of these keyboard input routine. The icjcjliisH-y; are; suppose your last code Is organised at address command was "ASK SAM TO 60000. and is 391 bytes long. For ATTACK THE ORC", and lhat on Ihose assemblerless individuals, your next turn you'd like Sam to Listing 2 provides the (decimal] beol Ihe daylights out of a troll. byles you'll need in con|unction All you need do is recall your with Ihe BASIC loader giving in previous command using CS'2, Listing 3. Type In Llsllng 3, and delete the word "ORC", and add then RUN. Jusl follow the prompts Ihe word "TROLL" before pressing the program gives you, entering ENTER. Ihe individual byles from Listing All OK? Fine Make yourself a 2 one at a time, including the checksum after every filth byle. If a mistake Is found, the program Ihe complete Ventures peak will ask you to enter Ihe whole ol system safely slashed away o the offending line ol 5 bytes tape. See you nex 1 again. The screen display which ZX Computing Monthly • October 1986 MACRO-L/FE Toni Baker plumbs the The machine code pari ol this program does NOT create the mysteries ot creation Initial configuration (generation zero). Instead. I use BASIC for this with an Intriguing purpose. Lines 1000 and 1010 integrate the machine code into program for the I have seen quite a tew versions Ihe BASIC Line 1000 generates of Life in time. I my have seen the next pattern, while 1010 Is Spectrum. Just like real small, eight by eight version: I just a repeat loop, which also have seen a couple ot sixteen enables the user to break out by life, Macro Life is what by sixteen versions (this is the pressing BREAK (or CAPS SHIFT/SPACE) In between twenty-four by twenty-four version, " you make it. >. All BASIC lines which was also quite Interesting. 1 and 999 may be The largest version I have seen uatju io create generoflon zero. I This Is what you might call i so far Is a thirty-two by twenty- have provided seven examples artistic program. Not on artist four square version which used ot small BASIC programs which program, you understand, Pu the whole of the Spectrum's when merged with lines 1000 on artistic program, for It Is th and 1010 will provide beautiful program itselt which creates i square lor e e of the iples of the kind of thing the patterns — all you to hat Macro-vtacro-Lite Is capable of. S start It oil. This version of Life Is quile over Youc The program i; -J Mat Ihe top. it uses a grid ol 256 by BASIC programs to c .lially a 192, with a single pixel lor each ma initial configuration, ana ol Life, a progn grid-squqre. It Is the largest Indeed this was my deliberate supposed to represent the version of Life which could intention, and the reason that I birth/growth (death cycle ol a conceivably HI onto the left the conslrucllon ol this Initial colony of celts living on a grid. Spectrum's screen. The patterns pattern to BASIC It produces rather fascinating which It produces are The machine code begins at results. Before your eyes you see dramatically different Irom those — address 8000 [hex) and Is less a constantly evolving pattern produced by smaller versions — than two hundred bytes long. always changing, always The machine code runs Irom the growing — II it almost as were delicate, rather like a close up label NEXT_GEN - this Is the alive. Who knows — perhaps it is. ot a snowtlake [except that the address referred to in BASIC tine Life was Invented in 1970 by a symmetry here is four-fold, not 1000. In addition, whilst running. man called John Conway of six-fold). The program uses addresses Cambridge University, and I When I ran the program tor C000 to D7FF to store a back-up believe that the Tate Gallery Ihe first time after having written copy of the screen. The back-up really ought have version il It to a of and got working, I was quite copy contains the "lasf LIFE running at all times, slunned by the Intricacy and generation", while the current because although It Is Intended beouty of the designs It was generation is being calculated to represent the growth of cells producing, I felt that since the directly onto the screen. which follow hard and fast overall effect was markedly mathematical rules, In practice different from the smaller it becomes a rather effective versions of Life, then it needed a pattern generating algorithm. different name. Such The rules of Life (or indeed sanctimonious titles as "Mega- Macro-Life) are very simple A Life" and "Super-Lite" came fo grid Is initialised having it by a mind, but wos John Conway's interesting effects occur It you number of Ms available squares original idea which gave me place new live cells onto the filled with ceils (A square may the idea for the title I have used. grid between successive either contain a celi, or It may You see. Life is supposed to show generations. Try deleting all lines be empty. Only one cell at most cells multiplying and dying. before 1000 and adding a new Is allowed per square). This Living cells are, generally line 1005 CIRCLE 128.80t3G. initial configuration is called speaking, microscopic. In my The grid used for this program generation zero program, however, Individual exists in a strange warped sive generations are cells may nol even be space continuum, whereby the it by o fairly simple-lo- discemable (depending on the left hand edge Is Joined to the d process. Every quality ol TV picture), so that the right hand edge (and vice square on the grid is surrounded overall patterns are determined versa), and the top Is |olned to by eight other squares. These by large numbers ot cells the bottom (and vice versa), neighbouring squares mqy or collectively — cell structures. Technically fhis represents a may not contain cells, What you Large cell structures are doughnut shaped universe. You do is count how mony of the macroscopic (rather than might try changing this feature neighbouring squares contain microscopic), and are a result of Is quite Blly lr cells. Every cell which has the underlying microscopic BASIC by killing all cells around precisely either two or three cells. For this reason, and also tl-- seines. Adding line 1005 because of Ihe double meaning K-.VRSi; 1: PLOT 0,0: DRAW 255,0: next generation, and all other of the word "macro" (it also DRAW 0,175: DRAW -255,0; DRAW G I75 INVERSE will do the cells will be born in every empty procedure which may be trick. You can try out this, as well square which has precisely duplicated several times in a as many other experiments. Use three neighbouring cells. program) I decided to call the your imagination, sit back and Although these rules ore simple, program Macro-Life. watch the speccy go to work. ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 a . .... ,... , n dp z ., _ r t , LDA.H A,. kl(« p.rt of .do™. L".''' mi PCJi JB BZ.EX1T Juan ir within ora.ret.r »qu.r>. ;; Ev; HL>. Pi. ..dr. HHU, c ™ a.o from « r ' K DA.1 A,. M^^'rf L^"ir KM *iid A.oa HLi. oli.l Mdr... (.11 r.Hining «u»}. rear test TOP CP BF AX*A J0J1 jb kz.bxit Juap unl.aa off top of «„,», _/:: b°tt K "" :¥iV-^ *° " "** * "***" °" M JB^" """t rf k Ni-x-y » „» net Mr. on. Pi..l {—U.-, -i.hln ohr „q„.r.). ^ HO? nn.n, Ju.p ir wtthta BhWMtn ««-t, n LD A.t, • • low p.rt of Xtagg, «M imi«,!o BXl- u, rfdr U J|%_/ 7C LO A.H «:- M* art «co E?;r r:.tr.r.:r"",™:- \ ia» JB EXIT Ju-p to Bit, /••* \ *•***••/••»»< joot jn sc.iarr Ju.fi If .Ithln ohr ^ui». >•, Docrxunt (t= .p.. Uft), IK* JB L_B CTO BIGS- BBC C .M,( flight on. pliol (...uning within otir .que.). t W-l JB tt.IXIT Ju»P If within iluiul., oquar.. SNA (to -,.. 010018 LO JC, 1800 SCl. mwbtr of byli. In .croon. K R8HK MM^rin.^ * 7"' ei t TOO, r'poiZ \*. of K™, =oW . MOO LOOP LDB.OO "j^^Z^tP^^ ZX Compullng Manthlv October 1986 ZX Computing Monthly > October 1986 very real problem, so sticking together and using Ihe map Is ilia! for the first tew minutes. Ihe gome Is played, so Ihe hero, given a Knighthood, two n is updaled depending million pounds, elc II you (all, on which robot you are currently well It could be worse, but not controlling. Al any lime, you can swop from one robot lo another, Mission Is Omega Argus' I and Indeed this Is essential lo attempt lo have a hll, they and" allow each robol's batteries lo may Just have cracked I' recharge Also displayed on many gomes, It connot be fairly scteen is Ihe ever decreasing categorised, as It combines amouni of time you have lo Star Fleet Commond. It was Ihe arcade adventure, with strategy finish the mission, or die [mostly regular nlghlmare of a certain and shooting. And alt this Is icon the latter). Captain Allen. Thankfully, driven. Most ol these are pretty Most ol the UFO. Is made up Ihough. Captain Allen didn't obvious, with a bin halting any of sepatote rooms and corridors, control a big lighter, or a space Intended moves and Ihe rest wllh the odd computer, and carrier, so he wouldn't get a being labelled. even some baddies, who range Priority, would he? Al the top of Ihe first screen from very easy to dispose ol, to So his mission had been a are four Icon headings, and lo pretty Impossible. Both the failure, even Star Fleet Command start wllh you musl choose to graphics and the sound ore wouldn't execute a captain ot a build some robots, with which lo good, especially animation ol mining ship would they? Surely map Ihe Omega, and the robots, which enables them not. Flying back from the outer accomplish your Increasingly lo be distinguished al first reaches ot space, atl these dltticult task, Once you have glonca thoughts, together with many chosen to build a robot, you are Mission Omega Is one of the morft were skipping aboul Slven various different options. best gomes to come liom the Captain Allen's mind. Irslly you must choose the robot Argus stable ol companies, In How could he be expected to you wish to use as a base unit. this case Mind Games. It know that at that very minute an Some are last, bul con only combines neal graphics with unidentified flying object, carry a little weigh!. some excellent basic Ideas, and roughly Ihe size ot earth's moon, Consequently there are others comes up with a game thai was rushing ot 99.9% the speed that can carry anything, but are should appeal to everyone ot light, towards his home, earth. very slow. willing lo spend more than ten He could also hardly have Having chosen the robot, you mlnules trying lo save the world guessed that at o general musl choose a weapon, a from Imminent destruction. council meeting, the nowlgational device, and a Ambossador tor the Ukraine hod power pack. Again, there are ]usl passed a resolution stating different choices In each that a small ship called The category, with weight being Ihe Wlndwrallh should examine Ihe vital (actor. However much you object before II was blown apart would like o last robot wllh Infra- by missiles. red sensors, missiles and a thing One Captain Allen did nuclear battery, this Is Jusl nol know was thai his ship was possible I called The Wlndwrallh, and he Having decided on Ihe lint had lust received a priority 1 robot, you must name him. it you wish to start playing, you may This Is where you toke control however, build more than one otthe mission, now colled robot. As you tlnd out when you Omega otter the UFO. Having first embark Into the spaceship selected whether you wish to use having a few robots Is a very Joystick or keyboard, you are necessary precaution. then ready to take on this Controlling the robots Is o challenge You hove one hour — matter ot choice, and position. in tolal - to make Ihe Omega The three options ore automatic Inacllve, by shutting down all program, or manual. Using automatic Is good very early on. As II this were not enough, but to get anywhere It Is you must then escape, wllti all necessary fo either program o your crew. II you succeed, you previously used route, or to do II will probably be heralded as a all manually. Getting lost is a Sheffield based software house ©remllr are putting the finishing touches to four very different games. ZX blazed a trail northwards and found an outstanding rthur Scarglll Is not known tor his support ol ihe software industry but Indirectly he was responsible lor giving Gremlin a helping hand when they were starting out in business back In 1984. Monty Mole, one of Gremlin's tlrsl games lectured an effigy ol Arthur and the media picked up on It with coverage ol Ihe game given on BBC and ITV "We've really grown trom Ihere." said Gremlin director, Ian Stewart "and alter Monty we concentrated on animal characters like Potty Pigeon, Sam Sloal and Monty sequels. From Ihere we decided lo diversify with games like Bounder, Way of The Tiger and Jack Ihe Nipper," Since 1984 Gremlin has expanded lo the polnl where II now has 12 lull time programmers working together In Sheffield and other smaller learns working elsewhere on outside projects." I would Imagine that by neil year we will have about 30 programmers on the payroll," said Ian. Gremlin's immediate concern is gearing up lor the Christmas market and they have lour games lined up, an original arcade game, a combat adventure, a football strategy game and an arcade the ability to bounce and the Ihe next level. II you make II black spaces are conveniently within Ihe flme limit you get placed lor you to fall through bonus time to carry over onto once you think you've cracked Ihe game. There are 18 levels all with . ; Jack Ihe Ol these, Trailbiazer. a game that differing lengths and layouts Nipper showed me the liner """ looks as II It Is fresh Irom Ihe ' reflexes and Eolnts ot trallbtazing after the coin-op arcade is now complete skill ol e i the rr ounclng ball under my control and It is Immediately Impressive accomplished r. had fallen oft the path with from the first tug ot the Joystick. nice feolure Is that you can embarrassing regularity. "The The Idea behind the game Is proctlce any three levels before main Ihlng," said Greg as he very simple, so simple you you have a go at Ihe whole wrestled with Ihe Joystick, "Is to wonder why nobody had course and It's essential to build up a rhythm because II though! ol II before. Vou control lamlliarlse yourself with as much you miss a lump It's difficult lo as possible to give yoursell a make up Ihe lima" down an ever changing path lighting chance All runs are In keeping with one ol the limed and you need lo unbreakable laws of alarming speed. Some squares accomplish each level within a demonstrating games the slow you down, olhers give you time limit In order lo progress to bouncing ball disappeared m fliM further y old Fourth D ._ _ £500 In cash to Ihe pinnacle ol success — Ihe footballer ot the year award. FutureKnlghl. described by Gremlin as a "Blastventure" Is a retrieve the Princess story such as castles, spaceships and forests Spegbott the terrible has Ihe princess Amelia In his clutches and you have to leieport aboard a spacecraft, the SS Rustbuckel where she was last seen. There are twenty levels to battle Ihrough against Berserko robots before llnally reaching Castle Gremlin on a nearby planet where a Una! showdown with Ihe Henchodrold protecting Ihe princess awaits A decision « s being mode onlmoted acting Is smaller than it day o ._.her Ihe In similar games but It does not Spectrum version ol FulureKnlghl Ihrough a hole in the rood. "It's detract Irom the actuat would Include a scrolling funny how In at alwoys Happens gameplay. screen. "Al Ihe moment we when you are showing someone 'The reason for having the havent finally decided whether a game." said Gregg. smaller screen," said Greg, "Is Trallblaier looks set to that you con gel a larger map between local Ions. In the end become an InstanI classic when Into the and game you have the decision will be made on Il's released In November and more memory to play around whatever'; best for the product. although I'm wary of predictions with for characters and Although scrolling would be 1 would say thai unless the graphics." aesthetically pleasing the charts are abolished Trallblaier Without giving anything away gameplay may be Improved If will be a number ona aboul completing the game we use lllck screen. "We'll see," Greg said, "Theres a loTol said Ian. "mind you It would be nasties lo conlend wllh and a shame II we lost the scrolling," finding a monk Is Important but there's quite a few roaming around and you have lo findline Ihe Avenger, the tollow.up to Way ol right one before you can go on. the Tiger Is neorlng completion. There are three major villains Having polished up on your In the game ond each of their Gremlin have found that Ihe .Nlnja skills In the three stages of laces are set beside the main gomes business doesnl end wllh Way ot the Tiger you are now screen. When you kill one of lust producing games An 'tiller ready to start your mission ot them there Is a nice, II ghoulish, sales" service has developed for vengeance. Your foster lather touch as the lace gradually harrassed games players stuck Naljlshl. has been killed by sheds lis skin to reveal Ihe skull In the middle of Gremlin games Yaemon. Grandmaster of flame beneath. Although difficult to "We've experienced this with who has also stolen the Scrolls ot evaluate In Its present form games before buf nothing like Keltsuln Irom the temple. You Avenger certainly looks as II II the response we've had wllh hove sworn to the God Kwon that will be worth walling lor. Jack Ihe Nipper. There's always a you will avenge NalJIshl's dealh Gremlin have two other danger that games will be and recover the scrolls. games In the pipeline which played for a day and It they gel There are six levels to weren't — explore available tor preview nowhere they won't pick II up ond Gregg explained that In Footballer of the Year and again. Giving people hints If programming Ihe game the FulurelCnlght. Although football they are stuck Increases their emphasis had been on making strategy games wouTd oppeor lo enjoyment ollhe product," the Ninja figure move around be well trodden turt. Ian Stewart "It's always difficult pitching the locations quickly as most Is confident that Footballer ol the the degree ol difficulty ol a games of this sort lend to be Year will be breaking new game T think that In some of our very slow, "He's a Nlnja after all ground. "There's still a lot ol post games not enough so vou can't have him hanging mileage left In loolbali based Information has been given and about. We've left out things like games and this game Is different they have been too hard. On the diagonal movement so he can In (hot It's taken from Ihe other hand you dont wanf to Individual loolballer's polnf ol make II loo easy. view. You are really running With Trallblaier. at last, . _n ol this stage In producing yoursell as o business so that Gremlin seem lo have solved Ihe the aame and o lot of you can transfer yourself to dilemma, No one will complain Incidental detail Is Included. The Spain or Italy to gel cash and thai IIS too hard-they will be too ociual screen size ot the prestige" busy playing It. O . . CA] COLOSSUS Here's your chance to oapture Colossus Chess 4. There are 20 copies of this superlative program from CDS just waiting to be — won but there is a problem . . * i A ^^olossus Chess 4 is o lormldablelinvincible chess adversary depending on your level of play and the level at which you choose to play il. We've got together wllh CDS to give you the opportunity ol carrying oil Colossus ond oil you have to do Is solve a chess problem set by the writer ot Colossus. Martin Bryant. The Problem Look at the endgame si on the board illustration. You are playing the white pieces. White to move, and checkmate black in six moves. What you have to do is note down white's lirst move COLOSSUS COMPETITION Irom this situation to ensure victory in six moves. Pleose write your answer using the board coordinates, lor example Pawn B5-B6. Write your answer on the coupon provided and also clearly on the back ot your entry envelope It's your move. . The competition is open to all ZX readers except employees ol Argus Specialist Publications, Alabaster Pasmore and CDS. tost your entries to Colossus Competition, ZX Computing Monthly, No 1 Golden Squaqre. Posl this coupon to Colossus Competition, ZX Computlnq Monthly London W1 3AB The closing dole No 1 Golden Square, London W1R 3AB. -^ ' , lor entries Is November 7th 1986. >§._! ZX Computing Monlhly October 1986 urn Brother bother Dear Sir. W^m I own a Spectra CRQ VIRES RS232 Interlace. Ray Elder presents more readers' problems — and these programs. Your assistance would appreciated, Thank you. luseaSpeclrum+ with an Opus Dis- Cheam Kong Whea covery T. After a lew weeks use trie STOP keyword developed an intermittent lault. and subsequently tailed altogether. Since Ihis keyword Is used In Tasword 2 and Vu-File, this tault Is very annoying. m The keyboard is tine when the Spec- you have ZXLprlnl's trum Is not connected to the Discovery and. jusl lo add to the contusion, works OK with a ribbon cable attached to the Tasword 2 first and take it In easy steps. expansion slot, but not when Ihe mulli- 1 LOAD rcsword 2. tace or joystick is attached to the cable 1 2. Use the "STOP ' option to gef to the The Discovery works OK with another Spectrum, so I'm talrlysure that Isn't the 3. Selecl 'B' — Go Into Basic, 4. Type LIST 15 and press ENTER. I've sent Ihe Spectrum to Mancomp 5. Press key N In reply to the Scroll? tor repair, but they merely replaced the ie and Ignored my 6. Hold Caps Shift and press key 1 to njults when connec- $. The fault persists! essential). Now press Enter 1c El!; prob- M.'c Program B. Type GO TO 25 9. Now select menu opll 10 PressENTERIo move out graphics page. out. He showed me a BBC that w booklet you get with Ihe *1. Answer T to change c< perfectly, yet showed up on h. the codes Out not how ti be very grateful It you & I. S. White, lonbrldge lied program lor lulu re usoge. H -..(. n. hi ,i OK? So now oi • n connected loa particular piece of ZXC ful and skilful tt equipment because I hat Is slightly out appreclale your help and Invoivemen-i or a chip or diode which only lolls atlef I hand aver to M. Mysterious inCrnss a minute drop In the power level occurs, wires (July), two people hod problems with port usually due to a peripheral, as In using Ihe Spectrum 128 RS25? First you need a proper taanfll lead. I havea Brother M-1009-12B Si»* trum I tault. but tracking down Ihe precise and got Ihe lead from RSD i- !,-.: .!.. n.v, Connections Ltd Depl ZXC PO BOX 1, WABE, HEBTS It costs £12.0B and they most unhappy to let such a sltuailon continue, then your complete system To operate Ihe printer so that we can )nd control codes we have to resort lo will have lo be checked as It could be short machine code program. This 3ADs the A register with the code to be advantage ol Ihe lull BO colu various layouts will Involve usl d for a long w advanced programming r In ol drops and out basic fo I v computer! You are one o depend on Ihe layout and conlents each file and would lake at least stort by going to line 9990 [GO TO 99901. page In Use II to explain. I am afraid th< In line 10 you should set up PS to con you will have to study the manual an 128 Printer problems Ihe printer mode has been set then you Finally type GO TO USD R and the SAVE a copy ol your modllled prograi Dear Sir. wont to change the mode then you (option V). have to set up an appropriate PS and y GO SUB 9000 again. Els /our readers, bought a Lines 9030 and 9040 do o carriage A strange one .r-clrum 128 w.th a serial 8056 return and line feed, you may wish to Compact prmli-i M, problem ,-s with Ihe t use Ihe variable add which Is set £? / would be grc lormal text mode wllh FORMAT "P" 1200; [•lod-icef/m/p;. 'his however does not work In tho 48K £U a problem mot I computer equipment. So could you please explain how to ZX Compuling Monthly October 1986 m r More explorations of the Spectrum's calculator functions In Part 4 of Tonl Baker's series. There are many questions still unanswered. How do vou gel random numbers (the RND function}? How can vou calculate SCREENS(X.Y)? How do you reod the value ol a BASIC variable? How do you slice a string? These questions, and [=i m m y §j u b POINT: The machine code instruction CALL POINT SUB (address 22CB) will pop two numbers. XX tram the calculator stack, evaluate POINT(X.Y), and LJ ELJ El ED t2l El El will pul Ihe result back onlo fhe calculator slack. grophlcs instead o a ASCII on the calculator slock, and will ATTR: The machine code . Vourr replace It wllh the sliced string subroutine S ATTR S at address [CHARS] alter Ihe subrouline call. AS(BC TO DE). 2307 will take two numbers. V.X. The value returned by Ihe RND: The roullne labelled RND in from Ihe calculator slack, and subroutine will hove charade Figure Two will evaluate Ihe RND replace them with ATTR[Y.X). code 70h less than the UDG function, leaving a random SCREENS: The machine code subroutine S_SCRNS_S at More comprehensively, the address 2535 will lake two program which was listed in last numbers, V.X. from the calculator month's ZX Computing in the J tow 9 the k stack, and replace them with article "Elementary Graphi start subroutine, s the siring SCREErJS(Y.X} The Three" will detect and correctly you might just as well inclui SCREENS bug which is present In return all characters as il stands in your prograrr BASIC is lortunatetv nor present SLICING: Figure One lists a As with the BASIC RND program which I have called function it suffers trom the vou can happily use II with no SLICE. Its purpose is to slice disadvantage lhat it Is Incredibly problems (In BASIC the !.lrniL|i>. m Ihe same way thai yoi v. Fort expression ' * ' + SCREENS(Q.O) con in BASIC. To slice a siring programs. ill simply CALL SLICE (which must alrrn riably g c elled RANDOM and RNDO - trv it by printing written into the respectively. The purpose ot Ingsa memory at some RANDOM Is to assign (SEED) with n 0.01). location) and the {ol Ihe next value In the pseudo- The SCREENS (unction will only random sequence. On return HL detect ASCII characters. II will The subroutine will wlllc aln the not detect either block graphics thii'i- iiems trom Ihe c [SEED), being a random word or user defined graphics By C.AS.X belween 0000 and FFFF; also, the altering Ihe value ol Ihe syslem them with the sliced string AS(X A register will contain the high variable (CHARS) to (UDG) - TO Y). Also in Figure One is o par) ol fhis number, and will 100h prior to colling program colled SLICE. INT therefore be a random byte S_SCRNS_ S It is possible lo which only requires one Item between 00 and Ff. search for Ihe user defined (Ihe string to be sliced). AS say. The RNDQ subroutine (which relies on the existence ot the RANDOM subroutine) will do exactly the some job as RND — le will leave a random number between and 1 at the top ol the calculator stack — but will PI: Since the calculator has a built In procedure tor calculating pi/2, Ihe calculallon o! PI is particularly easy. Figure Three contains four different routines for calculallng PI — use whichever ol ihe Ihree you want. They are listed in order ol speed - Ihe first is the slowest. : : NKEYS (as opposed to INKEYS+iN) is particularly easy lo do In machine code. The program listed In Figure Four will do ihe job nicely, placing fhe siring result ol an immediate keyboard scan at Ihe top ol Ihe calculator stack. INKEYStfN. ol course, needs no special routine to do thai. ZX Computing Monthly October 19S6 UM Using machine code Ihroughoul is good practice, bul sometimes il makes things easier if von can use numbers and strings on the calculator which were specified in BASIC Better still il you could use machine code results in BASIC There are a number ol ways to do Ihis so let's look at thee ; rim address, but with a rather interesting property. At the time the parameter Q will be at the lop ol the calculator stack. This is really the easiest way ol passing a numeric parameter from BASIC to machine code. I'll give you an example — a little routine which works out SQR (Q+1). In other words, you will be able to use LET P=Q+USR address in place ot LET P=SQR(Q+1] You will notice that this technique lirstly accepts a numeric parameter passed from BASIC, and linally passes a numeric porameter calculated In machine code back to BASIC The example I mentioned is listed in Figure Five. The calculation ol SQR(Q+1) is really quite simple — since il Is the porameter passing which is the point ot the example. There are some things to watch oul tor: LET P=Q-t-R+USR address will poss O+R lo machine code IMP (expression)* USR address expression to machine code LET P=USR address+Q will not There are many other ways o! talking ol machine code from BASIC ond vice versa. I'll illustrate one such method with a routine which returns the difference in lengths ot two string!, The oil important BASIC DEF FN A(PS,QSJ=USR address. The trick is to write a machine address in such way thai whenever FN Afstring expression, siring expression] Is encounlered il will be regarded as ABS(LEN slring-LEN string). How we do this is to look at the woy that BASIC treats Ihe arguments ol ils user defined (FN) lunclions. It stores in memory o list of records, with one record lor each parameter required by elghl bytes tor each numeric porameter and nine bytes lor each siring parameter. Figure Six illustrates the formal for both types ol record, while Figure Seven lists Iwo programs relevant lo ihis technique. The first program per lorms the las pu, (ie II calculates ABS (LEN ZX Computing Monthly • October aw we h d atU possibility of returning string results as yet. but the technique Is dead easy. It Is similar to the LET P=Q+USR address technique, but here we have to use LET P5=QS AND USR address. In this M.lbrojhili' will bo :': led Willi one Item, the string PS. on the calculator stack. II we alter the fopmost Hem on the slack to a string ol our own choosing, and return to BASIC wilh BC containing a non- zero value (so that AND will not empty our string) then PS in the above example may be assigned with a string defined in machine code I II follows then, that you should be able lo combine these two techniques, and come up with a BASIC statement similar lo this: DEF FN AS[PS,Q)=PS AND USR address. Ol course you can have any number of arguments In the brackets — including none at all. The arguments can be either string or numeric. The pari of the '=" stalement In between and 'AND" doesn'l have to be PS — it can be any siring expression - even a string conslonf. On enlry to your machine code routine the value ot this siring expression will be at the tap of the calculator stack, whilst the arguments of the user defined function will be stored as usual s records pointed to by (DEFADD) Suppose you wanted a user defined function which had two numeric arguments and returned a siring resull — you could then use DEF FN ASIRQ]^"' AND address. Your own mochine code routine would replace the original (empty) siring on Ihe slack with a string ot your own choosing. Figure Eight lists a user defined function which returns a string result. The function is referred to as FN FS, and it is Ihe Spectrum equivalent to the QL's FILLS function. II requires two arguments — a string and a number of copies of Ihe string, all joined together (eg FN M FSr ,4) would equal \ And now (or a numeric function which you cannot define In a BASIC DEF FN statement using BASIC !< The function Is called Ihe Factorial function lis a very easy lunclion to define. The factorial ol lero Is one; the factorial of one Is one; the lactonal of two is 1 * 2 [=2); the factorial of three is 1 * 2 * 3 code programs (=6); Ihe factorial ol seven Is DEF FN, 1*2*3*4*5*6*7 (=5040), By using a and so on. In general, the calculator slack the value of both ot these factorial ol N (a positive integer) each function argument ir possible Is Ihe product ol all the integers ; intended to be defined fundi from one lo N all multiplied one argument. together, or written down called by your < 'mg im- ZX Computing Monthly > October 1986 1*2*3* ... *N. In mathematics the factorial of N Is usually N! (ie M followed By an exclamation mark) and Is renounced N factorial. In BASIC, Kowever, we ore going to write If as FN F(N], and we'll define it in machine code using the To define it you'll need the BASIC statement DEF FN F[N)=USR factorial somewhere In your BASIC program, and the program ol Figure Nine ot the relevant address. Note that the program hos a choice of two alternative endings. Version one Is what we would expecf; this is the normal way ol ending things, with oil the stacks balanced. This, however, has one big disadvantage — It can only return Integers (which can fit Into BC) This means that we can only calculate up to eight factorial. The second version o( the ending does not sutler from this disadvantage, and any numeric value whatsoever may be returned to BASIC The rules for using this, the best and simplest trick in all calculatordom. are as follows. The calculator slack must be unbalanced, with one Item too many on the slack. II is the extra (topmost) item which will be returned to BASIC SO any number (nol iust integers) may be returned). The machine stack must also be unbalanced, with n the st Then j| return address from USR will therefore be bypassed — this bypasses the subroutine STACK BC and hence causes the trick to work. The registers HL and DE must be correctly assigned, with DE=(STKEND), and III (SIKENDJ-5. The "end calc" instruction which is used to exit from calculotor code will leave HL and DE correctly assigned In this way. The shortest way to assign DE r ifthey are it up Is amSdc by 38). place bl numbers may be returned. may also use this same technlqi__ _ decimals (non-lnlegers). Now y< have complete factorial (unction defined as FN F. Perhaps Ihe advantages of the alcuiator a h beginning sink Ir Getting hold of BASIC variables Getting BASIC v<_ lor the numeric variable A. the calculator stack Is string "BS" lor the string variable most simple things imaginable. BS, the string 'TOTAL" for the EF 3B 3B). The first thing you hove to do is .iric variable TOTAL, and so This works because ID Is to ploce the name of the on. Then you must load the B code tor VAL. and 18 Is Ihe variable. In Ihe term ot a string, register with either 1D (if the for VALS. In other words, you at the top ol the calculator variable Is numericj or 18h (It the effectively calculating VAL['A"]. stack. For Instance, the string "A" variable Is string) and use fhe VALSI'BS"), VAL( TOTAL"), e' -=•—' ZJt Computing Mrjnlhly - October 1966 Note that you should not use "val" or "valS" directly as calculator Instructions, unless B Is also assigned with ID or 18 as before — this Is because the calculator Instructions "val" and "volS" are B register dependent (see Appendix In lost month's article). With single letter variable names, the process Is even easier, because the technique used to create the variable name string Is so easy. All you have to do is place an integer on the calculator stack — the character code ot the letter ol the variable name — and use the calculator "chrS" (unction to turn It Into a string. Figure Ten contains two programs which demonstrate this Idea - the first puts the value ot the BASIC variable A onto the stack, and the second, by a similar technique, puts the string value of the BASIC variable BS onto the Figure Eleven consists ot a table, giving you a single calculator code instruction which will stack each ot the strings "A" to "Z", without the need for CHRS. J in instruction with "execute B" (code 3B) with B assigned with ID. and the value of these single tetter numeric variables will be placed on the calculator stack speedily and efficiently. Also (perhapsl uselul to know Is the fact that the strings "BS". "WS". and "ZS" may be stacked in one single Instruction, This means that If you store a string whose value is needed by machine code in either BS, WS or ZS, then Its value may be retrieved as easily as PI. Just stack the string (see Figure Eleven lor Instructions code) and follow the instruction with "execute B" (code 3B) with B containing 18. you'll find that this will save the computer on awful lot of work. It is of course possible to stack ony string in a single instruction. but to do this the test of the string must be stored separately somewhere In memory See last month's article. Using a BASIC array - s 'store MO", "recal v13 , ef cetera, we are copyinq Ive byte stack and fhe Usually (here are six always the case. We can :hange t e whereabouts of fhe h- sysierr variable [MEM], Note ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 1 . IM array which, since II is the first variable encountered, will be the firs! voriable in the VARS area. Line 20 runs the machine code which follows. The machine code alters the value ol (MEM] so thai is points to Ihe variable A(1) in the VARS area. This has a rather stunning effect. The array elements have now each acquired two different names, and each element may be accessed in two different ways. Ihe firls element is known 17 °hr> both as Art) and MO. A(1) Is the Covert to atrln V by BASIC while MO Is the n i by > code. Similarly. A[2) is BASIC may be referred to in calculator A(32), which' may now be referred to in calculator code as 11 M-1F Notice thai Ihe number of available calculator it To 3lack ™.rl, .lrllH[ ™u.BB n„ cnlc „„ lor al„k . has now Increased from si thirty two. UtWIABLE CALCULATE of thirty two, possible, c d the number i by the dim AO. This no lhat any reference to a memory is In tact reference to an a Such elements mi n altered — by a machine code program. I JJB01 70201 V JnBWCOJOl The program of Figure Twelve will prove Ihis. by assigning — from wifhin machine code — the .1 A(16). that the program restores (Mi.: M) lo ils original value ol MEMBOT before returning to II BASIC This should always be 1 1 done. Note also (hot since A(1) to 11 ' e equivalent to MO to M2, 1II they are liable to be corrupted 1 by si is SIN e Appendix in last monlh's article). I think that's all there is to sa tor now on Ihe subject of passing parameters between BASIC and machine code. I'M The function generator There is Just one I Is the function "series", i known as the function generator, or series generator. Its code will be a value between 80h ana 9F The last five bits of Ihe code form a parameter, so that 86 means "series 6". 8C means "series 12d"', 99 means "series 25d". and so forth This Is the single most powerful instruction In Ihe whole of the calculator set. It is the lunction with which SIN and EXP ROW. Wilh it we may create our own designer functions, or implement mathematical functions which are not present unit Ilii:, iyslem variable always so on. land not otherwise possible) on points lo the slorl of memory Figure the Spectrum. The "series" zero. Memory one Is al ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 MORE TRICKS WITH DISCOVERY'S. CAT! John Wase presents a round-up of useful routines to take full advantage of the Discovery disc drive. s you type in the listing Irom figure 1. you will notice that this Botlttl proa program Is mi ' /ery' than the d Regular readers will recall that publisl this was Introduced last written with the Idea ol n wllh a very simple demonstration absolutely clear I program which _ b (Me. However, the then moved the general principles are exactly programs one by one Irom disc " sme. Much of the space Is to disc; these programs are 1 by defining a function In rather more sophisticated. The 10 which can then be used lirst is from Opus themselves; the ' i the program. A typical second is Irom S. Nutting ot printout Irom "lull cat'' Is shown In figure 2. Note Ihe third Item together with o bit ot basic to printed In the array of three run Hand to print the files on (number ol bytes used In the losf the disc. The results are shown In sector). figure 3. If prints Ihe disc title; is program gives more A quick glance at page 28 ot this ts given the heading ot the Opus manual confirms thai "cartridge name". Then It gives in the CAT file, part of the first the various program titles. It prints ifalogulng. out t number (the first two bytes in Ihe Alongside the name ot each at file, me the together file) represents the number ol program is the number ol bytes rs ol the start a bytes required minus 1; hence Then, on the same line, you get ir (or block); readers the addlfion ot 1 in statement 60. the start sector, the finish sector n (Irom the and the number of sectors U I. pages 10 and Supercat e told If the 11) It program is o BASIC program, or d each sector holds 256 bytes so o forty track This program read; character array, machine code disc will hold to Its up 180 Kbytes (1 headers', getting data from or a print file. II it's BASIC then K being 1024 bytes). In addition, the catalogue file, and prln" ing you get the number ol bytes lor the program also prinls out the out a wealth ol information the program ilselt. together with number ol byles used in the last attractive format. It Is as good the number of bytes tor the sector which has been written belter with disc headers as variables and the line number to; it is therefore very easy to many a professional tape Irom which Ihe program the precise calculate number of header reader. II consists ot a 's code, then you bytes which a program takes up. 100 byte machine code roulin e familiar start and length. ZX Computing Monthly • October 1986 5 LILU f i L e n a m e start end new F. 2S6 dumprog 7 9 4-1 dump 10 1 1 1 bu f f 1CODE 12 13 7 ZEUS 14- 4-0 15 1 assembler 4-1 4.3 1R5 code 4-4- 4-4. 4.3 c a t c 4-5 4.5 107 supercat 4-5 50 QS con Fig 81 S2 212 fulL cat S3 84. 229 8 5 112 7 CARTRIDGE NAME = ne w Blimp i 54.6 7 9 3 -dmE=li1ltiMFi!il=lnW ^^Fj^lPK Ja r i ; £BB3EHi BRSIC : 54-6 SIS. 28 dump ^ 50 10 ii 2 • us , 2se bU f f 1 CODE 255 12 13 2 296 , 255 MSfclS 5300 14. 4-0 27 i 1 . £ 5 7 34-4- , 6800 assembler e-sc 4-1 4-3 3 -'a r i BRSIC: 690 690 a ilpde 1 136 4-4- 4-4- 1 :.. 76S . 36 lee 4-5 4-5 1 BIS' :- . ! . 300 , 100 s u p ; e r cat 1 1 1 4-6 5 j B i c a = c RU Bas +ua ri b le Basi vari | to ;::.:; BRSIC I 1115 . liis.. a 5 1 73 2£ 4- p MfiCh. >E 15 3 © .. & 9 1 The program The BASIC program Is given In figure 4. This Is lyped in and saved with "SAVE'1['superca1" LINE 9999. II contains the following variables: a points tc the CAT area; i points to the sli end: type Is the type of program (0 for BASIC 1 lor a numeric array. 2 tor a character array, 3 lor machine code and 4 tor a print (lie); length is the program length; start is Ihe start address if the program Is machine code or o the auto-start line if BASIC; tlnolly, •A basic Is Ihe lenglh ol a BASIC program (without the variables). a ZX Compullng Monthly October 1986 aw ORG 64906 64300 205,003,023 ;Call Biscoueru MR in. 64303 006,000 LD 8.0 ;Find fro* Discovers Lookup Tables the I/O Read & Mr 64905 247 RST 134 ;Then Load HL kith the address. 64SOS 016 DEFB 19 64307 034,226,253 LB (ABBRESSJ.Kl ;POKE the Address in the Loadsect routine. 64910 033.000,000 LB HL.O ;KL= Sector (the start of the CHI info. 64913 017,048,242 LD BE, 62600 ;Address to load CAT info. 64316 014,000 ;25'8 bales to toad in. 6491B 205,219,253 CALL loads ect ;Load the Sector in. 64921 020 INC D iAdd 255 to corrent load CHI Address 34322 069 LB B,L IB-Sector no. £4923 062,005 LB A,S ;If sector no Just loaded : 6 Then JR to loading the in iuidual files in. CF 1 64326 040,003 JR Z, files 64928 035 IHC HL ;If Sector 06 Then load in next sector. 64929 024,241 JR loop snjj er;, 045, 249 lltS! LD HL, 63738 ;Address to Load file data. ava i2i,:!j;,uvj.^i.j LB IX, 52002 ;Poinis to Filenane info. S-:-J-3fl 517,0:!!, 300 .is;; tile; LB 5E.10 ;ftdd 10 to current L:aJ fill data Address. 54341 025 AM HL.DE 64342 235 EX DE.HL 54943 001,016, 000 LB BC16 ;Add 16 to current Filenane data, 64346 221,009 ADD IX, BC 64348 221,229 rilSH K 64350 213 PUSH BE 64951 221,076,002 LB C,(IX'2) ;If BC:65535 then ue have loaded all files in. 64954 221,070,003 LD B, Machine code line 40 so that it contains all the decimdl numbers In the second The next section contains on column of the assembly listing In assembly language listing ot Ihe Ihe order in which Ihey are machine code (figure 5). The printed. Run It and save the comments alongside it are code which hos been created pretty self explanatory. Thus, with SAVE'1'!catc"CODF: 64900. CALL 5896 pages in the 100. It will keep all those Discovery ROM and LD B, finds programs (you know, the ones from Discovery's ROM the LOAD you recorded last year] tidily address routine: this Is then sorted out. so that you know POKED into the loadseclor routine. The sector number, address to load the sector at And finally. and the number of bytes to load Basic loader (0=256 bytes) then follow. The Opus drive Is now, Then there is the option of For those of us without an Indisputably, the most commonly loading 2] assembler, is a sector (LD | or there a BASIC found and the most popular. If saving on disc (LD & 0): the drive program (figure 6) to POKE in the number to load from being decimal numbers. These are listed loaded Inlo A. The program then alongside the assembly please send it to the loops round to load the next file language listing, In the next Computing, marked data, so on, until it finally to list ol If and column the addresses. program'! We could I pages In the Sinclair ROM and you intend to use this program, perhaps, make this c returns to BASIC type it in carefully, amending regular feature. ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 LRU 11 hole to say "I told you so Informative and deliberately the Manager Is not protected by (but I did) and all is still quiet on humorous. Generally the the Lenslok security system the Amsfrad Front despite last program allows fo |ust you do (unlike Supercharge] which I llnd monlh's (lurry of over excitement about anything you might wish a blessing and I hope fhat a quick deal wilh the newly- with microdrlve or disc files and Digital is rewarded with sufficient formed QL Suppliers Group Avid to copy between them with profits to compensate for any Beckett [the olher one) readers more flexibility than I've seen In successful piracy lhaf might will also be glad to know that competing products (ol which Godot would seem to be olive there arent all that many and well and working for anyway). The program Is QL Bargains Amstrad's PR llrm as lm slill extensively menu driven, screen wailing for him to "check with displays are good and the By the time you read this, the the client ond get back to me" commands are generally easy PCW Show will have come and regarding last month's quest for to follow and operate. Facilities gone and we will probably a quofe on fhe QL's future [or exist for extensive sector editing know whether or not the QL is to lack ot it) so I could pass il on lo ond copying (disc and survive in anything like its an Information-starved public I Id. re present form. We should also This may actually be a rare have a pretty good idea II any case ot "no news" indeed being ot Ihe various "sons-of-QL" "good news". There's little doubt Manager tc schemes being bandied about that Amstrad would like to see are going to get off the ground. the QL quietly sink into oblivion slult on dodgy mic rod rives (so Either way you — unless you've but so for lis supporters have far my disc package has decided to consign your kept II ollool by steadfastly behaved decently enough] and beloved QL to the outer retusirg 'o accept defeat. was most impressed with the darkness and are busy looking Software houses and peripheral results The stuff I went after ot IBM clones — should keep a wasn't important but the facility sharp eye out for peripheral much money in QL producls fo to gel "lost'' data back again is simply give up without a fight olmost a prime directive — A lot ol companies have one the computer's 100.000 plus especially If you're solely invested in QL-speclfic : |i,:.l atioi.l i.TKHKih 0< dependent upon mlcrodrlves peripherals and a lot ot them a morkei to make the fight ""- 'n terms of fhe boia t. US ir Joined In the effort to acquire rights to Sir Cllve's brainchild and — as long as the talking goes on — Ihere Is very real possibility ot some sorl ol agreement soon fhat will keep II COLUMN alive in spile ol everything. QI Which ever way things go, however. I can look forward to a rive Ihe competition quote from Amsfrad's PR man — Brian Beckett reviews e computer lives on. Ihereby successfully ending an ' — is memory epic adventure that Is beginning Super Media Manager. lo rival Galahad's search lor the Grail. Managing Media re temperamental to say the As promised, my Super Media Manager Irom Digital Precision The Manager's most arrived o couple ol weeks ago impressive fealure is probobly its and looks to be Just about ability to read and copy data This Is not a crlllclsm of the everything thai Ihe company from non-QL discs and. In arlous products [although there claims lor It. The folks at Digital particular, from the IBM and IBM- ire a lot of criticisms one could compolible MS-DOS system. I understating things is not one ot really haven't had o chance to explore the full range of But the market isn't all that packages matches all fhe possibilities opened up by fhls healfhy and there's a lot of :,u|!'-rlntives [and the ones I've option but a couple ol quick test excess competition in a few ployed with do) you know that runs lived up lo Digital's promise you've got your hands on a without fault. BBC and CPIM for a bit of expansion, shop winner. If also sells tor £39.95 systems may olso be read or which — il not octually cheop - copied. I don't think I need lo because you will probably find dwell Is commendably reasonable on oil Ihe Implications It. Sadly [from Ihe buyer's polnf considering what you're gertlng offered by this facility and Ihe of view] this doesn'l yet apply to for the if benefits arising but suffice It money and you're fo software but - If the QL does go feeling a bll Mush you can save say lhaf it gives the QL a Ihe way ot all flesh - the time o tew bob by buying powerful boosl and goes a long will certainly come. Supercharge (£59.95] at the way towards bringing fhe QL into To close on a positive note. z the n*-'--' I same time and get Super Media > Ho Saga Systems Is releasing a QL will Manager (I do wish Digital Manager no version ot Its remote control 2001 2 would dig up a different compatible with all OL disc keyboard lor the Spectrum. It's superlative and do style- Interfaces (Ihose which have nof abouf time somebody gove us -J conscious writers a good turn) been manufactured to Include an attraclive. alternate keyboard tor o lenner less all fhe facilities of the QL's disc but [damn it) it doesn'l match o Super Media Manager comes operating ROM) and Digital my disc Interface. If if on either a single disc or lour suggest thai - If Ihere are any accommodates yours wlfhoul a o doubls — that would-be buyers hassle, I'd have a good look as check up on their systems Saga's Spectrum keyboards are beforehand. For what It's worlh. very good. ZX Computing Monlhly October 1986 SPECTRUM/QL LINK-UP David Nowotnik method ol operation, and the Transfer requests communication standards are exactly the same. Networking There must be many Spectrum examines the owners between groups ot QLs or who have upgraded to the QL. then would like to possibilities for network Spec! rums o\or\B Is very transfer BASIC programs straightforward, the manuals ot from communications both computers carry examples. their old micro to the 68008 machine. This usually rr Networking In systems containing between Spectrum and a mixture of the two micros Is not quite so simple, but applying a the Spectrum [plus Interlace 1) and QL are QL. lew simple rules, It can be made available, then to work reasonably well. transfer ot There can be many reasons programs via the network could be possible, Few transferred for wanting to link home i^»ne of Ihe major growth areas programs will work without some computers. In this article, we'll be lot the computer Industry Is examining just two; passing a communications — linking one typing can BASIC program from Spectrum to be saved by a computer with another. This relatively QL, and using the Spectrum to simple electronic Involves the movement ot transfer. drive on extra screen tor the OL. electronic Information between Looking With these examples the ground at the manuals ol the computers, distances may be two micros, simple LOAD/SAVE rules tor communication will matter of a few centimetres, or be established, allowing Instructions will transfer programs halt way round the world. Today, you to develop whichever between micros ot the same It Is considered trivial (or application you type. But such simplicity Is not computer users In the UK to be available to Spectrum-QL 'talking' to computers in Europe transfers. The QL saves and loads the and USA, accessing business Its SuperBASIC programs as ASCII and scientific databases In a tiles; what you see when you lis! matter ol seconds. the program is exactly what you of Ihe problems One main In get when the program Is saved supporting this communications on mlcrodrive. With the growth is the Incompatibility Spectrum, the way the program between different All computers. i urr::'i:jed In memory Is the sorts ot electronic 'black boxes' way II appears on tape, with line are employed to allow two r jmti«fi condensed to two computers to communicate by-Hs keywords tokenlsed, and when they were never designed numbers within the program to allow such a link. always appearing In two forms. For microcomputers, So 'o transter a program from communication Is normally quite Spectrum to QL, a translation Is simple. With the R5232 standard needed adopted by most manufacturers, A- r si glance, the simplest many microcomputers are able method of transfer would appear to talk to each other. Although to ov 'he LIST command. they are quite different micros, Whenever It Is used on the the ZX Spectrum (with Interface Spectrum, to screen, printer, or 1) and QL are fitted with RS232 via the RS232 line, this command ports. Linking the (wo micros with appears to carry out all a specially constructed lead, translations necessary to convert and setting equal baud rales, the tokenlsed version ot BASIC parity bits, etc, will allow data stored in the Spectrum to an and programs to be exchanged ASCII listing of a BASIC program. between these micros. But not so on the network. To But ihe Spectrum (via Its demonstrate this, try the simple Interface 1) and QL have example In flg.1. With the another option tor program lines typed Into both communication, which quite QL and Spectrum, and the simply Involves joining both network lead connecting both computers with the lead fitted computers, enter RUN on both with two mini jack plugs (the order, or precise timing supplied by Ihe manufacturer — does not matter; the Spectrum the network. will not broodcost until the QL Is In both QL and Spectrum, the listening, and vice versa). Note network was designed tor 'local that, on the Spectrum, 'OPEN* ' and 'CLOSE* ' are Individual computers. While the specific keywords, quite distinct Irom BASIC commands which operate 'OPEN' and 'CLOSE', whereas the network hove differences, the 'INPUT* ' has to be entered as ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 " LLLU INPUT' followed by #'. with a station numt 1 What vou should see is 'XXX opening a network on the top of ihe Speclrum Spectrum Is at screen, and. otter a pause of a comma encountered, and few seconds, something vaguely Not so with the QL In line 160 ot character code 13 ot the end ot close to listing of the Spectrum Ihe QL listing, channel 4 Is the print stream as default, as nc program or the QL screen. opened specifically for semi-colon has been added. transmission (netoj to micro Spectrum lines 220 to 240 Station to Station number 2. 'nell' Is the device send fhe program listing down name to be used on the OL for fhe network to station 1. The receiving transmissions (as li simple COPY command (line Line 120 in both listings in fig.l B220," 220, QL listing In fig.1.) takes sets up the station number ot the whatever Is presented on the Spectrum (FORMAT "n';2) and OL network and dumps It on the (NET 1) as 2 and 1 respectively. screen. What you'll see are a Network station numbers are used primarily when more lhan In line 160 in bofh listings. The The Spectrum LIST command hos two computers are linked Into Speclrum receives a stream of translated the line numbers, but the nelwork, so thot each micro bytes, and places them In the not the keywords. And the can be Identified uniquely. Both string 'aS' Those byfes a Spectrum's end of line code is micros have a default nelwork followed by c" not currently Interpreted by Ihe QL, so no new lines occur at the end ol BASIC lines So, to use LIST are In the network for them t on Ihe Speclrum requires further to take the default value. But e QL is character translation; Ihe listings In flg.2. all the examples In this artlc code 10. Forgetting Ir are routines to effect that the Spectrum Is assigned Ihe Incompatibility con cause q nurrber2. and OL 1. a lew problems! Normally, th In lines 160 to 1B0. Ihe QL computer will odd Ihe end c Reservations sends (and the spectrum line character to any PRINT receives) a message to sc that stream, unless specifically lold The shorf Speclrum program in both are ready. This isn't strictly not to by fhe PRINT statement For flg.2. should be MERGEd with necessary, as r example, in line 160 of the QL ony Spectrum program you wis station listing. always Ihe end ! prevents fhe QL to transfer, then the copy roulln end ot line character being sent. initiated wilh the direct In oil network command RUN 9990'. The QL communications between program in fig. 2 works by Speclrum and QL using the reserving space at the lop of PRINT command, the semicolon RAM (line 170) and creating an communication. Is the best spacer fo be used. array ot the keywords (lines In the Spectrum listing. Particularly In Speclrum to QL 200-250). The Spectrum Is told ti 160 opens channel 4 for n communications, use of commas start listing (lines 290-320), and communication to the mlc (eg. PRINT#4.aS,bS. CHRS 10) will the byfes received via the < O s £ O o ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 L11U nelwork are stored sequentially Spectrum ROM sequentially, with to occur when a large number in Ihe reserved area of HAM no gaps between each keyword. ot bytes are transferred at once. [lines 340-390]. Translation ol Ihe The end ot a keyword is morked In Listing Ihe program to Its BASIC keywords lakes place via by the value 126 being added network port. Ihe Spectrum the routines ol 600 to 870; the to the co-- — collects 256 bytes in a buffer first; program lines are displayed on is spotted in only when the buffer is full Is Ihe 1, and are saved onto line 420. SuperBASIC lines are data sent down ihe line Transfer B2unt r Ihe fi built up In the string oS, with lour ot this cascade of data Is keywords per line (line 500). satisfactory b Each line is stored in Ihe array Spectrums. oi rj lines 11000 onwards) lineS and its In i be typed In as listed. length recorded apparently n array line Ten [line 5S0J. Once Spectrum II these keywords exist ana ul. < all keywords have been n ROM. Waiting lor the buffer to till collected, the 23 DATA lines are »le to u i the before sending data also occurs written to a tile 'data _bas' on irthes e keywords when using PRINT to transmit microdrive 2 (lines 610 across, men creaie me DATA to 670). Intormation. So, you won't always The command 'LOAD lines automatically. This is gel an immediate response from mdv2 data bas' will load achieved using the program In the receiving computer sending these SuperBASIC lines, to which Fig.3. Ol course, by the time you data down the nelwork system. In fig.2. have typed in all the program con be added. lines in fig.3., you could have nelwork channel is closed, then v. back to flg.2.. and typed In the DATA lines two or the buffer is emptied, and any three limes over! But Fig.3. does data in it transmitted, no matter contain some more networking how lull (or empty] the butter how to happens to be. So to send small delta' I graphic packets ot data (which does e [128 to 164] a translated as 'I J' for block The Spectrum program in Spectrum/QL network transfers] Is graphics, and '( letter)' for Flg.3. causes Ihe Speclrum to possible by OPENing and udgs. where Tetter' corresponds become Ihe 'slave' ol the QL. CLOSEing channels Immediately to the letter defining the In obeying Instructions passed udg before and after PRINTIng data question. Otherwise, the translation should correspond PEEKs sequentially bytes Irom Ihe principle adopted by the closely with the program as Speclrum ROM unlil lold to slop programs in flg.4., which reliably LISTed on Ihe Spectrum by the OL In Ihe meantime, the transfers speclrum programs to QL is searching lor the start of the QL. Error terror the keyword table In the The Speclru -- Spectrum ROM {lines 190-260). the v. if the This search is necessary as the One thing you may notice as PROG and VARS system variables keyword table is stored in a the transferred program Is listed [line 9981-9982], their difference different place in different on Ihe QL screen Is that the being the length ol Ihe BASIC versions of the Spectrum ROM. number ol transfer errors is quite program. This information Is Once the first keyword (RND) is high. Unfortunately, networking passed lo the QL [line 9984). The i. then the o ir90 belween Spectrum and QL can Spectrum then passes the BASIC n. The i unacceptably program to the QL. byte by byte, Mann "III!, St until instructed to stop (lines 9991 ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 LWJ to 9994). Before PEEKing each Variable numbers Professional micros such as the byte, PROG is measured again IBM PC have this capability. It. (line 9986), os the BASIC program for example, you are Within the listings in fig. 4 is an con move about in RAM while constructing a complex diagram example ot how numeric on the QL with some computer variables can be transferred In typing In the QL program in aided design package, and from Spectrum to QL. In line 9983 ligA. remember to add the DATA want a HELP' message, you don't ol the Spectrum program, the lines (1000-1220) In fig.2., to really wont much ot your variable 'k' takes the length [in permit the translation of keyword diagram to be obscured by the bytes) of the BASIC program in codes This QL program works In help window. Far better to have the Spectrum's memory. This Is h ine those help messages appear on transmitted to the QL in line 9984 pregra i fig.2.. except thai by converting to string (SIRS) and lallon Is necessary; to The mple in lig.5. I: PRINTing the string. At the QL rod the line number (line 690) end. the number Is received as i to deal with the way QLsen a the a string and convened back to variable (line 300). a numeric function keys produces a help corresponding sequence for n transfer The screen on the Spectrum, leaving appearing o the transfer from QL to Spectrum the QL screen untouched. Each would be: temp bos' tile on mlcrodrlve 2; help screen has a number ot delete line 700 If you want to pages; the total for each is lisled transfer this routine OL in the DATA line 1010 of the l: OPEN 5, As before, MERGE the Spectrum fisting, for exomple. Spectrum program lines ot help screen 2 (obtained by um$; CHR$ fig, da. with the program you pressing F2' on the QL) has three wish to transfer, then type In 'RUN pages. 9980'. the S CLOSE 5 Switching and BUN OL program from one page to Transfer Is much slower than the another is effected by pressing Spectrum: LIST method used In fig.2.. but the appropriate lunctlon key a 200 OPEN 5; 'n errors are rare In preparation ot second, and third lime. The 210 INPUT zS: z = this ariicle. most of the Speclrum example help pages carry some 220 CLOSE 5 programs were transferred to the ol the important principles OL using this routine, then In this way, numt imported into Quill, to produce transferred be 1230 < the Speotru Stirlrj what you seen In the figures. computers. This the file If :le set ol Once lemp_bas' has application y | been created, II can be loaded number crunch for any o Into the QL RAM, and treated computer -"—could get page. V d add (subtract enact I y as a QL program. Where while the set ol messages for " e QL finds a mistake In syntax your own application. [where difference: The final example of a The Speclrum is operating as between Spectr m and QL), the networking application Is in the a slave' to the QL: apart from QL adds the wc 1 'Mistake' Just use ol the Spectrum to provide < typing in (or loading) the help after the line ni second screen for the QL. you spot al lea: Despite the QL window facility. routines in tig.5o., there is no changes which are get the program to convenienl keyboard; the Spectrum receives ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 all Its Instructions from the QL hers that It Isn't In this respect, and we'll be While the network can nsfer data and examining this method ot QL to connect QL and Spectrum very ' and quickly, Spectrum communication within easilv with the manutacturer's much better dot matrix printers which have crashed Instead of printing when Epson compatible quad, density a couple ot the fonts were graphics and are capaable ot loaded using LOAD "" CODE, but QUALITAS "" one-third or one-hall dot line all was well using LOAD CODE feeds. There ore two 10 cpi fonts. 50944. Pica (traditional), and Mercury Print speed Is slowed, Seven Stars (modern), two 12 opi, Elite because the head makes two Spectrum 48K/128K & (traditional). Piazza (italic), and a passes across each line, but the proportional tont, Clarion, which quality is excellent. Even my ord 2. gives a typset appearance. rafher tired old ribbon produced The program, with your clear typscript worthy ot a daisy- 35lly wheel, and the equal space iorgo< lu.ih'icoiion gives the most Tasword alrody customized for professional resulls It you need your printer and interface. The to align columns, character 'help' pages are lost, text spaces are available which will capacity reduced to 294 pages, not be proportionally justified. and the only graphics printer There is also a tont editor, controls available are underline enabling characters to be and emphasized. To access the modified, perhaps by adding other fonts, you exit to BASIC and accents, or defining tractions load the code (rom tape or Instead of unwanted characters. microarive. The program For the really adventurous, a blank character set can be generated to allow you to design your own complete typeface. Screen dumps are available to help keep a record ot your designs, or to produce paper copies ot the blank grid > to plan our characters. :: on which Mm Your modified or new fonts can a be saved lo tape or microdrlve. Qualitas is a useful program. making professional quality printouts available to those of us who like the versatility of the dot !) matrix, but regret Its sub- standard appearance. Carol Brooksbank ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 WHATEVER YOUR HOBBY. . YOU'LL CLICK WITH PHOTOGRAPHY Britain's newest, brightest and most exciting photographic magazine is on sale at your newsagent now. w compatible drives. These may be any size from three inch to eight Inch, either single or double sided. Although eight inch drives are limited to single density, all other drives may be single, double or quad density. AERCO has drives ovallable or you may supply your own, II you have drives (rom Ihe TfS 1000 (or almost any Shugart compatible drives) Ihey will work with the FD-68 Interface You may use any combination ot drives you want since AERCO will custom burn the EPROM which contains the DOS lot you. (AERCO does not charge to customize the original EPROM shipped wllh the Interface), The Interlace has an 8K RAM which holds the Disc Operating System (DOS) and requires no modification lo the compuler. POND: RGB output Is also available on the Interface so that you may use an RGB color monitor. One U.S. Sinclair users are enough standards required for ot the exciting features ol Ihe TfS data storage. Computer grade 2068 Is Ihe ability to bank switch better equipped with cassettes were necessary tor additional RAM memory. The security ol your data, and they FD-68 Interface Includes an disc systems than their could be cosily. additional 64K of RAM. bringing your TfS 2068 up to a total of 112K U.K. counterparts. Mark Gone floppy RAM. This RAM Is located In the Dock Bank and may b Fendrick looks at the rest of the home computer i8Kc iTheo Held had gone the route of board RAM may be expanded what's available. Hoppy discs tor mass storage. It lo 256K If you require. wasn't long before a disc Once set up, your llrsl step will Sack In the days of Ihe ZX-80 interlace was available lor Ihe be to run the System Bool Disc [and later the ZX-81] the (act that ZX-81. II was developed by Ihe The system will automatically we were able to save out Acme Electric Robot Company seek oul a program entitled programs and data onto a (AERCO) of Austin Texas. AERCO BOOT. BAS on disc A and standard cassette recorder was was to become a name familiar execute that program. With the nothing short of fantastic true, to )usi about every American System Boot Dlscin place you they were slow and error prone, Sinclair user before too long. To will get Ihe welcome screen but thev were inexpensive (most this date, the AERCO name has containing the AERCO logo, and families owned one already so more or less become a standard three menu selections; A — for another purchase was in Sinclair Interlaces in the US. an Amazing Demonstration unnecessaty) and the cassette ZX-81 owners had mostly which will snow off the system; D tapes were readily available. bought thai computer because — which will load the print Since most of us bought these of its low price, ond for the most driver's) (both serial and parallel computers because of their low part did not spend the money are Included) and terminal this suited price us line. required tor the Interface, disc emulator codes; I — tor Otlen though, loading and drive, power supply and case operating Instructions Pressing saving programs was a ma|or Noi many ZX-61s were being any olher key will show the Chore. First obstacle was the very used tor business purposes directory of Ihe disc c slow cassette Interlace. To lood (although I did use mine to keep or save a 16K program (data ol my business records as well as I.D. course was included with the lor many olher purposes) and program and not separately) did not lustily this expenditure The directory will show a disc I.D. took them about 11 or 12 When the DS 2068 made lis number. Illle and memory minutes. II you happened to appearance, II was wllh an remaining, followed by a listing nave a 64K memory expansion, improved cassette interlace — ol all files on that disc and Ihe you would have lo expect to lasler and less dependent on amount of memory remaining. wait as long as twenty-live volume and tone settings. But It You may have o total ot 31 minutes lor your program to the promise ol microdrlves entries on any directory even load. Sometimes after waiting lor ltral ':. d Ihe n though there may be space let! this lo be accomplished, you excitement. They never on a disc. Any attempt lo enter a would be greeted by some farm appeared, but It was AERCO to 32nd file will be greeted with a ol system crash. Indicating a the rescue once again wllh their 'directory lull" message To loading error. Making multiple Interlaces lor the VS 2068. Most access a program on the listing. TIS saves was hardly the answer as 2068 owners would not be II must be spelled exactly as It Ihe time involved was excessive. satisfied wilh using the TfS 2040 appears, although upper and The success ol a load was very printer (and the ZX printer would lower case may be Ignored. You dependent on Ihe volume ond not operate on the TfS 2068) and can view the directory at any lone set on your cassette player. turned to AERCO Centronics and time by issuing the command, Often a slight mlsadjuslment RS232C Interfaces. CAT "".. Viewing Ihe directory would cause a loading error. In The system for the TIS 206B Is does not disturb the system addition. It turned out that otten. called Ihe FD-68 Floppy Disc memoty and you may return to standard cassette tapes were not Interlace It is designed to what you were doing prior to ' clured to exacting control up to tour Shugart calling up the directory. ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 IM The AERCO DOS makes of use Time* rules (see the many US owners have is the lack many ol trie Sinclair keywords new Tlmex technical manual of quality software In the which were Included In the VS available from the Time Designs numbers available lor other 2068 lor future use, but which Magazine Company; 29722 Hult machines. It is almost were never Implemented. In Road: Colron. OR 97017; u.S.A unimaginable lor a U.S. Sinclair order to use a blank disc, you 1503] (24-265B) for operating an owner to walk into his will tlrsl to have format it by AROS (Application ROM neighborhood computer store using the keyword FORMAT, Orientated Software). The and be able lo buy software off FORMAT Is accessed on the T/S difference is that you will be the shell. Not only thai, but 2068 by entering extended running it in RAM Instead of being able to select the "big mode and then pressing symbol ROM. name" software - about which you shift i {This i .BAS is the standard save/load have been reading in the procedure ! can be used of a BASIC program along with computer magazines? A lantasy? completely erase a disc as well). its data. By adding Ihe number Not any more thanks to AERCO This will record track and sector Not long after Ihe T/S 2068. headers on your disc. from, you have the equivalent ot AERCO's ads started announcing Depending an what has been SAVE progname LINE nn. the upcoming release ot CPfM programmed Into the EPROM .BIN Is used to savelload for the new computer. Before IBM these can be the same of binary machine code data. As dlflerent for each drive wlfh the SAVE CODE command, personal computer scene, CPfM connected. It is there data you need to specify bolh a (Control Program lor already recorded on the disc starting address and the length Microcomputers] was last on Its you are attempting to format, of thelile In order to save the way to becoming the industry you will receive the lollowing lile. No parameters are required standard. Many ol the message: DISC A HAS OATAI OK to reload In the same memory computers which oppeared ot TO ERASE? YiN. II you choose any location, but you can reload to that time had CPfM as their key other than "Y" the format will any other location by simply operating system. Many classic be cancelled. It you try to lormat specifying Ihe address. software packages, such as a disc which has the write .BUT would be used for an Wordstar, were released tn the protecl opening covered, you assembly language program CPfM format and could run on will be told; DISC A WRITE written at 3410H (or D410K In any CP/M computer. A great PROTECTED. Spectrum mode]. It Is the cold deol ol public domain software The CAT keyword (extended boot loader In CPfM and other was. and is, available In this mode - symbol $hlW9] serves non-BASIC environments lormat. double duty in this DOS. First it Is .SCR would be used to But that was In 1984, and otter used to list the directory ol a ;reen, When Ihe a while, when ihe TfS CPfM did disc: CAT ™ will show the nol appear It was all but directory of the last drive used. liy Include the forgotten. But not by the folks at To catalog a different drive (such second display file if it is active. AERCO They were continuing as drive "B" In this example) you Loading a file with the .SCR wllh the necessary licensing enter "8:", CAT and that drive extension will return the Image negotiations as well as the becomes the default drive. If you lust as It appeared when saved. actual development of the OS. replace the drive deslgrt-"-- YAP Is an extension which Finally, not long belore the h the fi; 5 the allows you to savelload all ol the l jx Sinclair Compulerfest In . s the LOAD BASIC variables. It does not Cincinnati, RPIM (Resident keyword. A drive designation affect a program and can be Progrom Module) was released. may also be placed In this used to manipulate fhe It was given a showing al Ihe command if accessing variables even without a Compulerfest and was greeted drives Is necessary. As in program present. wllh great enthusiasm and cassette loads saves, and a There are three extensions Interest. RP/M is funclionally progrom which is saved as an which hove not yet been identical to CPfM version 2.2 and auto-run program will execute implemented In the current sottware that will run under CP/M upon loading. version. They are .CHR 2.2 will run under RPM Look for The equivalent DOS (character data), .DAT (numeric an In depth look at RPfM soon command to save a program Is data) and .LRO (runs In the dock here MOVE — In ZX Computing Monthly. (extended mode bank starting ol 0) AERCO has been responsive symbol shlfl/6). A program can A program named BOOT. BAS to the TlmexfSlnctalr user since be made to auto-run by placing will be autobooted by the FD-68 the day they lirst started Ihe line number after the DOS When powered up the line. comma: supporting Ihe Although MOVE 'name, exl".L In system searches for o program their products are well designed this example, execution would with that name, and II found will and come wilh excellent start with line one of the automatically load It. This documentation, there is always program when looded using fhe program can either be o BASIC that stray question or problem CAT commond. Other program, or a BASIC program that pops up Irom time to time. parameters are necessary when which loads a machine code Help, in all torms, Is only a saving other types of files, which program. FD-68 The AERCO telephone call away, I otten we will In examine just a bit. system comes with a very clear hear complaints aboul lack ol To remove a file from Ihe and complete 26 page responsiveness from many directory, you use the Sinclair Instruction manual, complete companies claiming lo support BASIC keyword. ERASE (extended with Instructions, information the end user, but only a lew mode - symbol ihlft/7). Ihis will about disc systems In general companies elicit the positive remove the file and Increase the and many pages ol diagrams feedback t have always memory available showing on and schematics. Even those received regarding Jerry and Till the directory. Files must be highly critical ot Ihe state ol Chamkis of AERCO. For more saved with three a character documentation should be information write to AERCO (Box extension. The extension you use pleased with this guide, 18093; Austin, IX 78760; US, A,; Is dependent the type on of file (512) (451-5874). [British Spectrum you are saving. owners can contact AERCO as .AHO is used lo save or load well as they moke thelf systems mr.-mory inlo the Dock Bank, Spectrum compatible as well). starting at address 8000H. This Tell them you heard about It orea Is governed by Ihe ZX Computing Monthly • October 1986 < O a ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 More tips (or the As given II leaves the print faithful old '81 from Ray position at the space Immediately following the last Elder. character printed. It you move step 5 to between steps 2 and 3 =lrst things Bret a quick then fhe print position will be correction to lost month's coda placed ot the beginning of the Yours tfulv must have been 1 REK ... ALL YOUR suffering from o surfeit ot So far so good. It's easy fo DOTS Spectrum ese as I wrote the call It from BASIC by using PRINT 10 LET code. I put the NEWLINE AT v,x; first, but setting the x and At-" 2 1 * *7EFE78C8D723 1BFB choracler as 13, that of fhe y position trom machine code Spectrum ENTER. Instead ot the needs a little program Itself. One ZX81's 118. Ol course this 100 FOR 1=17500 means such Is as follows, all it does is TO 17510 that It wouldn't work and, though set register H to the x or column 101 REM SET ABOVE ADDRESS TO most of you I'm It sure put to position and L fo the y pos or SUIT YOURSELF rights, some ot less our line number and store It In the 110 POKE I,16tC0DE AS+CODE AS ( experienced readers may be vars 16411. stuck. The remedy Is simple. i Mnemonics: LD H,col r LD Replace both codes OD in the I"- -: •.,! .'.-: •.-II A/- I .„,!.:: should be OK. Sorry! To business Text storage This I month am giving some While this Is tine for printing text code to print out the characters entered by last month's Input can also be used to print longer routine and then to develop an previously stored text tor all purpose text storage routine Instructions, messages, adventure that can be used with It. games etc. and so I otfer FIG 2 10 DIM A quick word tor relative as a means of storing larger text 20 PR: "ADDRESS TO S beginners. You will need a line 1 REM. TORE TEXT" . .with as many dots as you To use II decide where In your will hove characters In 30 IHFUT all your REM you wish to store II ond text. PLUS 30 tor the machine enter that address at the start. lo lb: code and It Is best not Several sets of lext can be stored 50 CLS attempted unless you hove a immediately after edch other 60 pr: HT AT TEXT EHTRY I rudimentary grasp ot machine ROGRAK" code programming at least. So given at each stage Make careful note of these addresses 70 pr: NT AT 2: "EBTER TEXT I ' But « print lor later use In loodlng the HL TKJ1 registers when you wish to use There are many variations 100 i BT AT 20,0; "AT t which we could use, for instance by Including the code 2. PEEK It Into register A. 21000D097EFE76C8D72318F8 at 110 PRINT AT 21.01*18 THIS CORR the start of 3. Compare It with 118. the each text Item all EOT Y newllne that would be required to print It character (111!!). 120 1BPUT AS 4. If II Is 118 end and return from would be a simple CALL to its 130 IF A*<>"Y" THEN address, but this Is merely a GOTO 50 suggestion tor advanced users 140 FOR I=A TO A+LES AS to pTay with. 150 POKE I, CODE TS (I+l-A) 160 BEXT I And so. 170 POKE I, 118 othe 180 LET A=I*1 And the code Is 190 PRINT AT 21,0; "MORE TEXT EH „ I would 1 ready lor loodlng Into your like to make my customary plea TRIES " REM at whatever address you for routines or even short ZX81 200 INPUT AS wish. Replace the •• wllh the programs or suggestions for 210 IF AS="Y n THEN GOTO 50 hex address where you stored further developments to our REM the code Input 220 STOP from last month which you would Ilka s s < at (9 Oa p a e i= a. *• Hi X ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 A familiar adventure role ot Kyle (the ng lust when to use which nd to lead hirr iart ol the skill ot tale given the Icon followers o _. _ ._ the game, Merel and Talna Shadow lands tc might be the specialists ol ihe driver treatment by the learn, but II you use them too Mindstone often you'll drain their abilities Edge. Kyle's three followers are and tlnd yourself lumbered just Merel. Taino, and Quin, ond like when you need them most.) Kyle they all have their own It's a bit tricky to describe Strength and Psyche scores Mindstone os It Incorporates which determine how succestul elements trom games os diverse they are likely to be In physical as Shodowllre, Tir Na Nog, and or magical combat, Each ot the even a bit ot Lords ot Midnight, four characters can carry lour but basically Ihe game Is a e old story, objects and a single spell, so graphic adventure with some is handsome young prince born Ihere an element of an I mot ion, icons, and o lew lirst in line to the throne and judgement involved in deciding other bells and whistles added doled over by his parents whilst how to allocate the items that on. That's not intended to sound the scraggy younger brother you llnd on your journey, too derogatory, since the whole gets all jealous and twisted and Merel Is physically strong but thing is very well presented and runs ofl with the magical psychically weak, whilst Talno is quite absorbing and doesn't heirloom that gives the king his the reverse. Quin and Kyle are make any cloims to be anything powers and keeps everything about average In both areas, so other than a graphic adventure. in Jolly the kingdom. obviously you use Merel ond but perhaps I was expecting That's the story behind the Taina as specialists in their respective areas while Kyle and Fairllghl, The Edge's last trip Into graphic adventure from The Quin are leally just back-up men Edge, called Mlndslone. The os tar os combat Is concerned The top third of Ihe screen is Mindstone Is the magical object [though when their strength used to show a graphical that has been stolen by the evil scores are at Iheir peak Ihey are representation of the current prince Nemesar, and it Is your both capoble ot knocking out location, along with any other task in the game to take on the the odd wolt or crocodile. And characters, gateways etc that in jj might have to deal with. >ur (our characters ore enerally shown standing ol ir led of this picture, but they n response to your nds as they attempt other characters. The remainder of display contains Ico lour characters and which you use to dlrecl movements. The author. Pitcher, has allowed (or _ Icon control ol (he game or < more conventional keyboard screen using joystick, and once you hove chosen the character you wish to Instruct you can choose either an Actions or Attock menu which oiler you a range ol options lor combal, spell casting or lor deollng with objects or other characters. These include obvious adventure command' such as Attack. Examine, and on, bul also a number of othe Including Trade, Buy, Medltale. and Dig. In Icon mode you choose the appropriate command by moving the Noshing cursor around the menu, bul In keyboard mode you have a system ol single key enlry (as In lords ol Midnlghl) whereby each key corresponds lo a speclllc command. Keyboard control means thai you've got mon tiddly at limes as you keep swopping (rem character lo character and all Ihe various menus. Bul the control system does work quite well, as Ihe l< syslem allows you to get started quickly and without having to memorise all the control keys, Ihen. as yog become accustomed lo Ihe gc can speed up play bi onto keyboard control (bul you can only use one control system In each game, you can'l swap from Icons to keyboard In the middle ol one). As with all adventures Its vital that you make a map as you go > along, although The Edge though, as usual, there are III Ihoughllully provide a rough always more objects lo carry Irlendly' and a sketch map ol the Shadowlands than you can use af any one vol :< on the cassette inlay. I suppose time so you've got to choose quickly and without hovlng to ui thai because ol the animoilon I which objects to take with you there wondering which is the was expecting more ol on and which ones to leave behind right word to use all the time, so S arcade In " element Ihe game, lor later use. When bartering lot 'indstone Is well worth having a -i. -. perhaps something like Enigma Items or deciding which luok :; whether you're an Force or Fairllght, bul as I character to use in a light there's jre novice or a hardened 3 mentioned earlier Mlndstone Is the added element ot really jusl a graphic adventure judgement that you've gol lo use with souped-up Icon driven and quite often the presentation, and once you treat consequences ot an acllon mi il as that both you and Ihe won'l become clear until much game are more likely lo do later in Ihe game each other Ju slice. The memory laken up by Ihe As with most adventures, Icon system means that e problem solving is mailer ot Mindslone Isn't as complex or as gathering together Ihe correct rich in brain-bubbling puzzles os objects In Ihe right place, a Level 9 game might be, but on MINDP£$$ Peter Sweasey reflects was announced earlier in the horrified to thing he was year. I dismissed the idea as a responsible for such madness. on the torrent of Tolkien particularly crass promotion We also have some budget designed to sell yet more copies titles. Including a rerelease of game. lis based adventures and ot an old The Hulk from Gold. I haven't In fact, July did turn out to be given It a good review because gives a selection of Totklen month, to my great it's basically a feeble adventure, surprise, and probably to the but I hope to see other Scott helpful hints to even greater surprise of the PR Adams games at this price. people. Because before the Splderman, Claymourge Castle budding adventure month was over, I received three and other of his better titles computer gomes based on the would be perfectly suited to a writers exploits ot creatures with £2.99 tag. lealhery-soled hairy feet who are Finally, before fhe reviews half our height, who live In holes start, a second look of '-hove no use for adventures. and encounter trolls, spiders, Hunchback The Adventure In my Nasty disturbing uncomfortable wizards and dragons In a review last month. I said I would (or things! Make you late dinner! reluctant quest for treasure. All reserve full judgement until I I can't think what anybody sees three are extremely good too. I had at least reached part two. insult in them." That immortal was never a great (an of the Now, thanks to John Wilson. I was uttered by Bilbo Bagglns In Tolkien — I enjoyed The Hobbit have completed the game, and > J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. July when young bul found the Rings my verdict was quite correct! The according to — lis a was Tolkeln month, trilogy dull so a pleasant solution is as I suspected mostly Melbourne House. Being surprise to find three superior finding ob|ects and dropping < something of a cynic, when this games. Bilbo would have been them In the right places If Is ZX Computing Monthly - October 19B6 likely to appeal most to Patch (more on which later). Inexperienced adventurers, and Quality is more important than people who don't play often. quantity — a few excellent pic; s If it Although on a general scale my are better than many poor one ;. Defins !~~ " rating stays the Vocabulary should be as readable or suitable c triendly as possible Use plenty set. Take care with spelling and raised to "Great", ot synomns. Get a trlend to particularly punctuation (why do playtest your gar"* so many writers know so little think ot word about apostrophes — make sure hadn't. The you know the difference be testing the player's ability tc between it's and its). What does an adventure guess what the author was Play other games. Level 9 give -" " reviewer actually do? Unlike thinking. EXAMINE is almost vitc you something to aim arcade games, we cannot these days. SEARCH Is useful. comment on animation, sound LOOK and the abbreviation L and basic categories like that — should redescrlbe a location. I so Is our job just opinion? No you bavs other characters In wayl I take Into account a wide your game, a TALK or SAY experience keen adventurers a range of points. I thought any command greatly enhances often the best games writers: play. If an object is mentioned they know what they dislike am game — and judging from my post, there's an increasing understood unless It is clearly just description. might be Interested in hearing The game should allow the " some thoughts from ' player to do thing: After all, If you want gome, either myself ... .. colleague in the reviewing world will have to see It sooner or later, for It to gain the necessary publicity and (you hope) acclaim). So why not cut out what I will criticise before you send it to me? The first point, and one of the most Important, is plot. IF VOU CANT THINK OF AN ORIGINAL PLOT, DON'T WRITE AN ADVENTURE. Except maybe If you are a really stunning writer, and even then my reception could be cool. No plot is totally original of course: but some ot your game should be reasonably new. By plot. I mean scenario above all. Please don'i set it In outer space or a cave network. . . I've seen It all belore and believe me, so have the game. Let him go up a your game is written, many adventurers. However, II complete blind alley II he wanls. mg it yourself through with messages to encourage id ads Is unlikely to bring outline, you might just get away him. It adds to the fun ana Ihe sense that the computer is doing soffwar Make the plot logical. Don't what the player wants, not vice better solution. Very few Quilled verca. For example, allow him to games ore sold for full price, bu EXAMINE everything. This means the budget market is thriving. many messages, but Is worth It. From what I've seen ot game; by 9 HOC Objects st As a general rule, the response Atlantis and Central Solutions, n logic; ;* your "You can't" should appear their standard is not too high, game is humourous. That i rarely. A reason why not, or what there's plenty ot room for your one of the hardest to succeed In irrelevant action happens it you Improvement, - humour is many things to do, should Instead be used. The emphasis in this article many people — and should not Again, thorough play testing by be seen as on excuse tor plot friends causes them to try actions which you hadn't though that, after all, my |ob is to Text should be atmospheric of, and can program a response recommend to the public which and lively. Long text Isn't to. game to buy. Flnotly. the best o( necessarily good text — It can It the utility you are using runs luck with your adventure-writing easily - of for be wasted bul location out room messages, career — I hope to give your description should be at least locations, flags or whatever — game a Monster Hit soon! Every ir three lines long. Scott split the game Into more than adventure sent to me is looked ; style Is too b one part. If you use the Quill, at but these days only good s gam nowadays you must use Patch products from small companies they re very poor e with It: this allows split-screen gain printed reviews. odventure writing, As for graphics and the ver useful graphics; unfortunately it you HAMLOAD and RAMSAVE commands, which greatly add Footnotes: "The Patch" Is they're almost essential. It you to a game's playabllity. Make available for E5.99 Irom Gilsoft. 2 put some In, take some lime or sure you use series C Quill — It's Park Crescent, South Glam, The them, ond make them split less memory consuming ond use of "him" for "the player" In screen. The lull screen more flexible. this article Is purely for "Mlluslraror" graphics are slow t Presentation Is extremely Important. Use colour, but represent any preludice against unprofessional; s e GAG or nothing garish. II you are using women using computers! IX Computing Monthly October 1986 , E L P L I N E HAller la; 's massive rr be reached with Ihe steps tram P. Ellaway wites obout the on your kto o ihe garden, but LOCK them superb fourth Protocol. He's manageable length. Where belore use Then CLIMB or scored 98% In 'The Nato better lo slait than with The DESCEND STEPS. As tor packing, Documents" but c >t progress Hobbit? [coming oul of my ears lust lake everything you (eel Is to Ihe next port wit " by now). Niclas Carlenius fiom necessary, plus 2%. The question would be Norrkoping in Sweden Is stuck lr impossible to answer If he hadn't Ihe Goblin's Dungeon. the program will do the rest, You sent me a complete list of what cannol— lake Ihe shaving loam he'd done. Turns oul he was belore him. To open Ihe ' ""^rpoon gun together; you giving the wrong answer to Irapdoor, you musl BREAK It inlyn i Ihe It f.Thc 3 tO some of Plumb's questions, which several times To escape, you Paul and Glenn Glbney (or are admittedly somewhat musl wait tor Thorln lo appear, sending a complete solution to ambiguous. These are Ihe Ihen SAY TO THORN "BREAK this game, which I've only responses you need: WINDOW, tell him to "CARRY recently obtained. Old Who is the traitor? - FAULKNER ME", Ihen to "GO WEST". He also correspondents from my days at What nationality Is his contact? asks how lo reach 'OUTSIDE Home Computing Weekly, Ihey - SWEDISH Goblin's gate" when he's found What name Is t ig?-NILSON the ring You need to WEAR II, you've been replaced In a new Whalls his real and as It keeps (ailing otl damp, dark dungeon with all STENBERIJ (though the program doesn'l mod cons". Hal This Is What proof do you have? — im mediately tell you], it's best lo unfortunately the same grotly FINGERPRINTS try this command belore every cell I've always been in (Argus Where did it happen? - GAZA move. Go N. SE, W. N, D, S. W, E, only has one), and unless you How was the traitor recruited? — and OPEN DOOR. call the two year old straw FALSE FLAG Jon Wilde wonis to go lo which lines the stone floor a Then provided you have done Tetiormollnos, trom Wombwell In "mod con", I'm alrald you're everything else, advance the Yorkshire But he asks "How to mistaken on the last point. A date a lew days and a message pack all the clothes and piliful shame. II (stop moaning or will appear. Burak Karsu writes equipment, how to gel the I'll send Leslie Crowlher down — from Istanbul — yes, Ihe one in camera and to reach the loft". Ed). No, anything but that, Turkey — with Ihe quesllon "How loft Alright. I The and camera can bolh please! Move It here, , can pass pari one". This is < im rather vague as I don't know Stuttgart In Germany (a rei what you have done but here jetsetter of a helpline this), are some general hints. When asking lor the five answers Bracton calls about Thorn, read guardians before Vran's In Bracton's tile, then put some Temple. John Wilson suppl Write to me watchers on. When you learn answers. Guardian 1 SAY D 2A.9. about his peculiar habits, Ignore the second guardian. Whether you're baffled by The 'phone medical security. Just Guardian 3: SAY ANAGRAM. Soggit. mystified by Mindshadow, analyse the leaked papers, soon Guardian 4: SAY G A. Guordion confounded by Colossal or Willis will be caught and you 5: SAY TLE. slumped by Splderman. we can can prosecute him. Keep a Andrew Jone addresses me help Fill in the coupon and large watch on Warburton, as "Sir/Madam" - at least that's send it to: Mindplay Helpline, Banister and JOhnston when you Deepest Dampest Darkest - and cannot ski in Valkyrie 17. Dungeons, ZX Computing. No 1 also Faulkner, access PIZZA tile He has the skis; well you need to Golden Squate, London W1R 3AF1 wear them , and tc take Ihe ski A lew ground rules: If you're And In answer to Jason Gibson's poles from outside the hut writing from Britain, please question, to tlnd the telephone (they're illustrated but not enclose a stamped, addressed numbers, ask tor TELEPHONE tile. mentioned), and to have read envelope lor my personal reply. A couple ol people have the book. This Is tound south If you are writing from abroad, asked tor help with Artie's trom the hotel room where you please lay out your address in a ancient Plane! Ol Death. I'm not found the sheets When you way that 1 can copy on to on sure why anyone bothers reach the bottom of the slope, envelope, and will reach you, I playing it when there Is so much there will still be some blood, try to respond within two months better stuff around. Still, Douglas though fortunately not yours. but I can take longer (on the Horter trom Enola In America Brian Coulthard osks some other hand, you might receive keeps being killed by the green Siestlons about Runestone. an immediole reply). I'm not loo man. You need to TAKE MAN. ese are the answers. Questor's DROP MAN (this moves him from lake Is found In the Deserted (Gargoyle games included). the mirror) then SHOOT MAN with Lands (see Ihe map) of Ihe north, Finally, please write the name ol r gun. I 9 you and Is useful for rejuvenation the garnets) concerned on the haven't lound 'hat, take t tier battles To enter Kordomir's back of the envelope. floorboard Irom the house then domain, follow these directions Next issue Ihe new Level 9 USE BOARD to cross ravine. Take Unless otherwise stated, you blockbuster will almost certainly and wear the gloves from near should move in the same way have reached me. And It's the Ihe man. To pass the force field. until blocked by mountains From PCW show soon - before I ne*t FIRE GUN - AT FIELD twice, then Saromundor's hut, N. W, S, W. S, write, though after you reod this DANCE. That should answer the then W unti lyou ore able to queerles of Peter Da vies ol move north. N. W until you ate lovely new adventures to review. lancaster. who also asks how to able to move north, N. E. N, E. N. Then again, considering losl escape the prison cell: |ust W. S, W, N, In. The purpose of the year's snow, It could mean ovoid It, you don't need to visit it Runestone will become clear at nothing of Ihe sort. Find out in to complete the game. the end. But to destroy Kordomir. the next enthralling episode ol Gerold Hofhelni writes trom . . . Mlndplayl EVERYDAY IANTALE OF A MINDPia^J SEEKER OF GOLD JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF EDDIE accomplished odventun SMITH'S HEAD Holphni' i.oiulions. He's u: great Fergus tor The Boggil I a rip-off ol e(iir e CRL's wo what I've seen, ond like In McNeil gam. jven'I Invest looted m lly because this Is m I'll show you why. Tl aborotory. Shelves an Ihe Bog git This mak lasanl change. < nii.'flifiK'ly CLAWS OF DESPAIR solve the others. puizles are tun. though re- quiring much thought. Vo- lions. friendly: and the game Is pleasingly responsive lo a range ol commands AETOASOG Is nol a closslc earlh type civil I sa Hon. « u'lfc-nrly viriually every ci Description Is above average, generally well writ- ten. The lull screen graphics ling. EXAM- leclable graphics Players Is are mosilv poor though, and not budget adventuring at It: excruclotlngly slow. This Is HS best: buy Seobase Delia or particularly nollceable, and AEIOASOG Instead. THE INCREDIBLE HULK ZX Computing Monthly October 1986 /ftiOSTIili version ol The Price ZX COMPUTING E3 S - Semi display; £9.00 per single column centimetre. 01 437 0699 Ring (or information on series bookings/discounts '-'nimum 2.5cm). Send your requirements to: DUNCAN NE1LSON ASP Ltd., 1 Golden Square, 9 London W1 ZX COMPUTING OCTOBER V. Trained to kill, you must penetrate the defenses of Abraxas, destroy the terrorist H.Q. and glide to safety. Q:.jick:ULv:L Ltd.. Victory Hon Leioe3ter Place, London WC2H 7NB. Daiwen, Lanes BBC3 r n&nssiwik Tel: 01-439 0666