(:: c ommodore n ews from a round t h e world
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official publication of commodore electronics limited· nassau, bahamas ·volume 1, numbe r 2 1 983 Personal Computers And The Consumer Electronics Markets
While the personal computer market ESTIMATED SIZE OF U.S.A. CONSUMER ELECTRONICS MARKETS 1982 has been growing rapidly over recent years it is an interesting exercise to see how the 30-- 29Million apparent massive size of today's market really does compare with some of the more 26.5Million 25-- mature markets for products that have something in common with personal com puters. For the purpose of this exercise 20-'- 17Million some figures have been taken from a recent analysis of the U.S.A. market for "consumer 15-- Radios Calculators electronics" done by "Merchandising" Color magazine. Another valid exercise would 10-- T.V.'s have been to compare the markets for of 6.5Million 4.5Million fice equipment such as typewriters and 5 -- 2Million Video 2Million word processors. The estimates given by B&W Games ITelephones II Video I IComputers I Recorders T.V.'s Contents Marketing News 1 Source: Merchandising Magazine Exhibition News 3 "Merchandising" are precisely that-" esti fancy if they were to gain a similar size to Editorial 5 mates" and while one might take argument either the total T.V. market of 17 million Commodore History 6 with some of the particular numbers given units or 29 million units if they were ever Company News 10 such as that for Personal Computers, which to gain the same market size as the calcula Software News 12 depends a lot on definition, this is not tor-a product that was once considered Financial News 16 really the main point which is the relative the prerogative of the office more than Technology News 17 sizes of each market. the home. Application News 18 As can be seen the size of the markets It is interesting to note that three of General News 19 for the two fastest growing products listed, the growing products; computers, video People News 20 computers and video cassette recorders, is games and video recorders are all forms of © 1983 Commodore Electronics ltd. VIC 20™, Commodore 64™, SUPERPET™ are much the same at around 2 million units interactive products where the initial pur trademarks of Commodore Electronics Ltd. in 1982. But both are still in a relative in- chase is in many ways only the beginning.
Commodore International 1 Markeflng
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The owner can expand his purchase with cassettes and 61 million videogames similar level to some of the more mature peripherals such as cameras, joysticks and respectively. markets shown here within five years printers as well as building up a library of While we are not making any predic the two computer family is already com software titles. In this area "Merchandis tions for just how large the personal com mon news and the younger generation are ing'' reports that the hardware markets for puter market will grow, our President and growing up with them at home, school videorecorders and videogames generated Founder has been heard to talk potential and in work so who are we to argue! sales for 6.5 million prerecorded video- figures that would put computers on a
nice to know that many of our users appre ciate this. The third most commonly cited Who Really Buys reason was its "user friendliness". The VIC 20 has a friendly basic computer lan A Home Computer guage built in, the best keyboard of any low cost computer, expansion peripherals that need no interfaces and plug directly into the And Why? computer itself; and VIC documentation Over recent months extraordinary Well first to the reasons why people is exceptionally user friendly from the numbers of "home" computers have been chose a VIC 20. The most commonly cited beginners manual included to the Program sold by our company. As yet another VIC reason was its low price and outstanding mers Reference Guide and the Introduction 20 goes past you on the production line value. However most users had obviously To Basic computer language courses. or you see another ever increasing order looked alittle deeper than this as the sec As to the age of most owners the major come across your desk have you ever stopped ond most common reason given was the ity were over 30 years old but a further clue and asked yourself the question-who is expandability of the VIC system-unlike to the attraction of VIC to the young was buying all our computers and why? Well, many of our competitors who may also given when half the respondents replied if you have, you might be interested to com have a low entry price the VIC has two that 3 to 9 people would use their VIC pare your own theories with an analysis major advantages. First it can, unlike presumably an indication that the com done recently on some of the warranty card some, be expanded into a full system com puter was often considered a family present. returns to us. While such surveys should plete with disc drives, expanded memory, As to their area of computing interest never be taken literally and we don't want a modem and printers. And second the the most commonly cited reason was to tell our competitors everything the fol cost of doing this with a VIC 20 can be al "self teaching" followed by "recreation lowing are some selected highlights. most half that of many competitors. It's and hobby" with "education" following in third place. When the respondents were asked to try and recall where they had first heard about their Commodore computer the most commonly cited source was from "friends" an endorsement for the impor tance of word of mouth in our industry and the good reputation the VIC 20 enjoys among users. With over a million users out there this also bodes well for the fu ture. The second most commonly cited source was "newspaper/magazine stories" although when "T.V. commercials" and "newspaper/magazine adverts" were com bined they did manage to edge the jour nalists' stories into third place. For the chauvinists and social analysts among us it was noted that the vast major ity of owners were male and two thirds of them were married. And a final answer to find out whether our respondents really just wanted to play video garpes or would admit to it if they did. Well almost half said they bought their VIC 20 "to use as a real computer" and half said they bought it "as a com puter and to play games with"-fortunately we don't really have to make a judgement on that one as VIC is a real computer and it does play excellent video games!
Commodore International 2 Exhibition
-----=-::;___--- -==---=- News -- -- The German Hanover Show- A Great Success When first visiting the Hanover Show ten years ago the Commodore floor space was less than a tenth of that now occupied by us and it was a single story exhibit. Now our impressive stand occupies two levels complete with offices and a refreshment area for customers. Even then our exh ibit was busy, although despite the growth in floor area the crowds visiting us seem to have grown at an even greater rate. Indeed we were reported by many people to be the busiest stand at this massive international show. While such statements can never be proved, or disproved(!) , it certainly must have felt that way to the hard working and efficient staff from Commodore Buro maschinen, Germany who were manning the stand and organizing the associated logistics. A Crowded Our German factory at Braunschweig near Hanover. Press Conference A crowded press Even the press conference, supposedly conference. held in peace and comfort over lunch, found there was standing room only for many journalists. For in addition to the large turnout of German press there were numerous overseas journalists who ap peared from many countries including one group flown over from the U.K. in the Commodore jet. In addition to the presentation by our German general manager, Harold Speyer, who has presided over our affairs there for the last six years, our President and founder, Jack Tramiel, added his usual bold and illuminating outlook on the future of Our booth at the Commodore and the personal computer Hanover show. industry which he has done so much to create. Among the messages Jack Tramiel gave was the hint of a "Lisa and Star" type of workstation product but at a "Commodore" price within the year, a forecast of 50 mil lion computers to be sold annually on a worldwide basis by 1985, Commodore's turnover to double again and a major emphasis to come on software with it accounting for as much as a third of our sales within the next couple of years.
CommodOJSJ.lnternational 3 Exhibition
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A Busy Exhibition Stand The Commodore exhibit was broken down into several main areas-a business area, a home and personal computer area and a new products section. In the business area the main emphasis was on complete systems including soft A low cost daisy wheel printer. ware and peripherals. The 8700 business computer featured strongly along with the additional add in boards for second co processors for CP/M and MS-DOS running on the Z80 and 8088 microprocessors. A popular product being demonstrated was the leading CP/M wordprocessor package -Wordstar. A positive reaction was re ceived from many dealers and users to the fact that these new computers can utilize The portable Executive 64-A show winner. High speed dot matrix printer prototype at Hanover. all the existing range of CBM peripherals such as discs and printers. This apparently will help dealers in their stockholding requirements and in continuing to address our strength in a large existing user base. A good reaction was also obtained to the relaunched CBM 8000 series in the stylish new cabinets of the 8700 series where the emphasis was on the great wealth of soft ware available in many different languages. One particularly popular product was the new spreadsheet product Calcresult that at the press of a key turns data into graphs. This product is also to be shortly available for the 8700 series complete with an inte grated database and communications link. In the home and personal computer A color printer prototype on display. area the million selling VIC and the Com modore 64 were well displayed along with a host of software and some of the new periph erals first shown at the January C.E.S. show. Once again the color monitor and the low cost printer plotter received a good reac tion although many of the public often seemed to be more interested in the host of games being played on them and a new record may well have been created for the arcade classic-Omega Race!
A digitizer system on display at Hanover. New Products product an electronic spreadsheet car tridge was being demonstrated, although On Show because of the crowds around this product In the "NEU" products section a the additional output into a large screen number of forthcoming and potential monitor/T.V. was utilized in addition to The 110 Controller on show. products were being demonstrated and the built in screen which was designed for reactions gauged. The "Executive 64" ver more personal use than seemed appropri sion of the popular Commodore 64 com ate for the show crowds! The "NEU" prod printer with a bit image mode capable of plete with built in disc drives and .5 inch ucts section also featured a large number producing some extraordinary pictures on color monitor in a briefcase size portable of printer products and prototypes. These paper in addition to the normal letters and case weighing only 20 lbs was once again included a low cost daisywheel letter qual graphic character set reproduction. Other the hit of this area. Because of the poten ity printer for the VIC and 64 series of com printer prototypes being demonstrated for tial home and office business use of this puters. Also for this series was a 7 color the CBM peripheral range included letter
Commodore International 4 quality printers and a high-speed 420 cps, 136 column printer wi th a large variety of print modes including a three pass pseudo Editorial letter quality mode. Anoth er product area was the model 4270 I/O controll er dem onstrating the large German market fo r us in laboratory and industrial control. Also being shown in this same general area of interest was the 8072 digitizer which was demonstrating some CAD-computer aided design.
COMMODORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS, as Calcresult "spreadsheet and graphics" package. well as providing an opportunity to focus on the achievements of yesterday and today, shows a window into the products of tomorrow. While the management philosophy of Commodore has changed little through the years, (and why should it with such successful results?), there have been many changes in the size of the Awards For company and in the markets in which we operate. In terms of the products we offer the Commodore public and our trade customers there is perhaps less change than generally perceived-the price, technology and component make-up of At the show Commodore was given an a computer or printer today is not so different industrial design award by the organizers from some of the calculators and typewriters of for the new 8700 series styling. This was yesterday-as is the "value for money" we offer. in addition to the recent award given to However it is in our ability to recognize and adapt to these changes that the greatest oppor Commodore Germany by their leading mi tunities occur. Unfortunately it is in the way crocomputer magazine CHIP for the out of" human nature" to resist change and the standing microcomputer product of 1982 unknown. But happily this has not been the case with the management of Commodore and we -the Commodore VIC 20, or VC 20 as it is have generally been successful at recruiting known in Germany due to an unfortunate and motivating people to follow this lead. These association of the sound of VIC in their lan changes will doubtless continue to occur and guage with a well known four letter word! while we should retain the best of the past and Harald Speyer and our designer Ira Vilinsky with learn lessons from our experience it is up to all of us to think and react positively to these changes Harald Speyer receiving an award the design award and the computer that won it. in order to best exploit the opportunities in the from Chip Magazine. marketplace-for if we don't our competitors surely will. Anticipation, entrepreneurialism, and speed of reaction are some of Commodore's greatest weapons so we should maintain these while adapting the new skills required to be one of the largest electronics companies around. Our goal is to be THE NUMBER ONE PERSONAL COMPUTER company-we are already well on the way. If we look at some of the goals, directions and opportunities our founder Jack Tramiel has focused on recent ly, it is not hard to see some of the new ways ahead-we will soon be past the first billion dollar mark. As Jack Tramiel has said recently, we are a TOTAL personal computer company with a full range of home, business and educational computers backed up by a complete range of peripherals that have inter national distribution. Perhaps it is not surprising that we are selling more computers worldwide than any other company. In this issue we can see that some of the emphasis is currently being given to the software side of our business which is both essential to our continuing growth in computer sales and to a massive business opportunity in its own right-WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY OF CHANGE. ~ ~~... =- "' Kit Spencer Vice President Commodore Electronics Sasson House P.O. Box N10256 Nassau, Bahamas
Commodore Internationa l 5 Commodore ------History The Story Of
The VIC-20 was first announced by In this section Commodore's Jack Tramiel-Commodore's founder and The First Michael Tomczyk, the original President- at an international manager's $300 Color product manager for the VIC 20, meeting in London in April ~980. Ther~ , at a quaint inn on the outskirts of the city, Computer tells the story of the world's first the representatives of half a dozen "Com million unit selling color com modore countries" gathered to discuss We knew there was price resistance puter. Thanks to Compute maga problems and exchange ideas. at the $300 price point: but how could zine and their top selling book Commodore make a $300 color computer profitably? Commodore has ~ne terr~fic "Compute's First Book of VIC" We Will advantage-vertical integrat10n, which from which this extract has means we design and manufacture our en been adapted. Become tire product. Most important, it means "!'"e The Japanese design and make our own computer chips, On the second day of the meeting, and computer chips are the heart of any computer. Tramiel surprised everyone by announcing Many people still don't know that MOS his intention to develop and market a "$300 Technology (a Commodore subsidiary) de personal computer." He reminded his veloped the 6502 Microprocessor, the key management group that Commodore was computer chip used in Apple, Atari, and a pioneer in low-priced pocket calculat.ors several other popular computers, in addi and had introduced the first self-contamed tion to Commodore. MOS also designed personal computer-the PET- in 19~6. the Video Interface Chip, one of the key Now it was time to introduce a low-pnced chips used in the VIC-20 computer. color computer. When it was suggested that we create a A debate ensued, with several groups talking simultaneously. Some felt it wasn't computer based on the VIC chip, some of the engineers resisted the idea, claiming time for a computer priced that low. Others the chip was too "limited." They scoffed at felt the new computer might undercut the idea of a VIC chip computer and com sales of the PET, and still others questioned plained that the VIC chip allowed only 22 whether it was economically and techno logically feasible . columns on the screen compared to PET's 40columns. Finally, about twenty minutes later, Finally, two groups of engineers, ?n Tramiel stood up, pounded his fist one~ the East and West coasts, wound up ma on the table, and said in his deep boommg race to build a prototype computer using voice, "The Japanese are coming, so we the VIC chip. At MOS in Pennsylvania, the will become the Japanese!" The room fell designer of the VIC chip spent several sleep silent as he explained that several Japanese less nights building his prototype. He computer companies (known collectively put the computer in an old Commodore as "Japan, Inc:') were already poised to enter desktop calculator housing and used a the U.S. market. Japanese companies had keyboard from one of the original PET already captured the television, radio, and computers. The original keyboard was a . small car markets, and personal comput calculator-style keyboard with red metallic ers were next on their list. He said we have to compete with our keys. In a few days, the prototype was done. selves by making computers that do more and cost less, and that meant breaking the $300 price barrier.
Commodore International 6 Introducing The User-Friendly VIC The first prototypes were taken to the National Computer Convention in Chicago in June 1980, but the new com puters weren't put on display. They were set up at our booth in a room enclosed by tinted Plexiglas walls. Only a few people were allowed inside to see the new com puter, but lots of noses pressed against the windows as passers-by peered in to get a glimpse of our new "secret" computer. The next job was to put together the marketing program to launch the product in the United States. We began with a very simple premise: computers are not per ceived as being "friendly," so we have to make the VIC-20 as "user friendly " as pos sible. A lot of people chuckled because we waved the "user friendly " banner so force fully. Some people even resisted the idea when we dubbed the VIC "The Friendly Computer" and trademarked the phrase. thumbing through our thesauri searching But in the end, "user friendliness" turned for an obscure but clever name like Atari The Japanese out to be one of the VI C's most important or a cute name like Apple. features. Finally, we decided to name the com Didn't Come Commodore engineers all picked up puter after the Video Interface Chip We first introduced the VIC not in the on the phrase and built some very friendly VIC-which became Video Interface United States but in Japan, where the computing features into the VIC-20 , like Computer. VIC sounded naked by itself, VIC's potential competition was already two graphic symbols on each key, color however, so we decided to add a number. brewing. It was sort of like carrying coals abbreviations on the color control keys, But the only meaningful number was to Newcastle, but we knew if the VIC and included an L-shaped pound sign for VIC-22 (based on its 22 columns). For succeeded in the Japanese market, it our English friends. In Autumn 1980, we some reason, the number 22 didn't seem would succeed in the rest of the world. took the "user friendly" banner to Japan, very friendly, so we settled on the name Our Japanese VIC, called the VIC-1001, where we held engineering consultations VIC-20 because the number 20 sounded included uppercase English letters, PET and finalized the product. "friendlier." graphics, and Japanese characters. It was Ironically, as a sidenote, we originally introduced in September 1980 at a major vetoed the name Vixen because it had un computer exhibit at Seibu Department Store desirable connotations in German, but in downtown Tokyo. Over 100 orders were VIC ... VIC later turned out to mean something taken the first day. even worse. As a result, the German model When we introduced the VIC-20 in Vickie .. . was called VC-20 and translated as "Yolks the U.S., in the spring of 1981, we still ex Computer" (the "People's Computer"). pected some low-priced Japanese computers Vixen .. . For awhile, the name "Yolks Computer" to hit our market by Christmas. Incredibly, One of the hardest challenges was giv was so well-liked that we considered using that didn't happen. The Japanese didn't come! ing the VIC-20 its name. In the early days, it worldwide, but the only U.S. tie-in was Instead, most Japanese companies the VIC-20 really didn't have a name. Volkswagen, and Volkswagens were no ignored the low end of the market and Most of the engineers liked the name longer being made. Except for Germany entered the U.S. with higher priced com Vixen. The name Vickie was mentioned, (VC-20) and Japan (VIC-1001), we stuck puters in the $2000-6000 price range. . too, but never seriously considered. Over with VIC-20. In the end, the short, snappy As a result, throughout 1981 and much the next few months we considered quite a name turned out to be easy to remember, of 1982, the Commodore VIC-20 was the long list of names which might be accept convenient for magazine headlines, and first and only full-featured color com able internationally. We all spent long hours very "user friendly." puter priced under $300.
Commodore International 7 Commodore
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A Computer Friendly Priced Like Computing A Video In Action Game Owning a personal computer used to Personal computers had been mean you had to know how to program available since the mid-1970s, in BASIC. but by 1980 they still hadn't But user friendliness in marketing become a mass market item. means giving the customer an item that Three major obstacles stood in requires little or no special expertise to the way: 1) computers were too use, apply, or enjoy. One way to do this is expensive, 2) computers weren't to include a really nice instruction book very "friendly'', and 3) nobody that lets you have fun and do interesting knew what to do with them! things without expensive peripherals or The long-awaited "Home Computer packaged software. Revolution" had not caught fire, and the largest advertising campaign in Commo You don't have to be an auto mechanic popular use of computers was limited to dore's history. Shatner introduced the VIC to drive a car. So why should you have to hobbyists, engineers, and classrooms. as the "Wonder Computer of the 80s," add be a programmer to use a computer? Our U.S.A. advertising started out com ing, "It plays great space games, too! " The user friendly manual we wrote for paring the VIC-20 to our closest competi Commodore also negotiated a long the VIC-20 doesn't even mention the word tion, but we soon realized that there wasn 't term arrangement for conversion of Bally "programming" until the last chapter. Our any competition at our price point. And Midway coin-operated games to cartridge manual teaches you how to "compute," those higher priced computers weren't -including best-sellers like Corf and which we interpret as meaning "to have selling very well anyway, so why compare Omega Race. Sargon II Chess gave us one fun." So we talk about cartoon animation, the VIC-20 to them? Why not compare of the best chess games in personal com sound and music, color graphics, and the VIC-20 to a product that was selling puting, and five Scott Adams Adventure other topics. We also wrote the book so well, like video game machines? games gave us possibly the best assortment you can turn to any chapter and start After all, the VIC-20 was selling for of adventure games available from a com computing from that point, with little or the same price as a video game machine, puter manufacturer. We also introduced no experience. If you want to write com and VIC software includes cartridge games a low-priced six-pack of games on cassette puter music, you turn to the music chap as well as practical programs. In other tape, with names like Blue Meanies From ter and start there. If you want to work words, why buy a video game when you Outer Space. These games helped persuade with color and graphics, you start with can buy a full-fledged computer for the a lot of people to buy the VIC-20. The next that chapter. same price? That message became our step was to take those VIC-owners from What we didn't say is that if you work advertising slogan. video games to other computing. To do through the book, you'll learn how to pro Actor William Shatner of" Star Trek" that, we had to cross the second obstacle gram in BASIC, by osmosis, since most of was chosen as our spokesperson, and in to mass market computing and make our examples included a very subtle intro the first months of 1982 we kicked off the computing "friendly." duction to programming. It was a sneaky
Commodore Internationa l 8 coming up with their own unique applica tions. A ninth grader wrote a program that VIC-20 keeps track of his paper route. A computer artist found a way to create new designs. A As Home container executive uses the VIC to calcu Appliance late complicated paper trim percentages. After owning his VIC for two months, Computers had a hard time being ac one VIC owner wrote a program and sold cepted as retail home appliances because it to Commodore. And he'd never used a of the chicken and the egg phenomenon. computer before. For example, the VIC-20 couldn't be accepted as a home appliance until a housewife or student could walk into a department store and buy the VIC-20 off the shelf, like a radio or an alarm clock. On the other hand, department stores weren't ready to put computers on their shelves until the general public was ready to come into their stores to buy computers off the shelf. Commodore put together a consumer products team which went after the retail market and persuaded large department stores, toy stores, audio-video stores, and even discount chains to carry the VIC in -but helpful-way to ease new computer large quantities. owners into the fundamentals of computer We provided regional training for store programming, and it meant new VIC own personnel, designed an in-store display ers had an excellent head start if they fixture containing a full selection of VIC decided they wanted to learn computer products, and put together co-operative programming. We also wrote a technical advertising and other merchandising pro manual for programmers, called the VIC-20 grams which appealed to mass merchan Programmer's Reference Guide. This Story Of The dising chains. The result is that the VIC-20 manual set the standard for future Com VIC Modem is now being sold in places like Macy's, modore programmer's reference guides. Toys R Us, and even Kmart, and is in The device which lets you connect cluded on the back cover and inside your computer to the telephone is called Montgomery Ward's catalog. a modem, but modems cost as much as What's next? There are some exciting $400. In 1981 we wanted to develop a "VIC surprises in VIC's future. And we will con modem" which could retail for about $100, tinue to produce new and better software What Do You but no one wanted to build a modem we for the VIC-20, including more "practical" could sell for that price. Everyone wanted software which most serious computerists Do With A to "protect" their price levels, or felt it will appreciate. wasn't "time" for a hundred dollar modem, The "story of the VIC" goes on. Computer? or that it was technically impossible. The last obstacle to selling personal Finally, a small company that made computers was that nobody knew what to industrial modems for food processing do with them. This was the toughest chal plants offered to help design our modem. lenge of all. After several tough sessions we came up The key point in using a computer is with a modem on a cartridge which plugs that if you can find one useful, interesting, directly into the VIC-20 and connects to or which has practical application, you've any modular telephone handset. A non justified its use. However, everyone has modular telephone adapter for connecting his/her own special need for a computer, the modem into the wall phone socket was and that's what makes this challenge also designed for those who didn't own mod so difficult. ular telephones, and for users in Canada. One of the answers is to provide a use The final VICmodem includes a free ful selection of software. So, in addition to subscription to and complimentary hour games, we introduced a Home Calculation on CompuServe's information service (in Six-Pack and a Personal Finance program, cluding "Commodore Information Net and we developed some unique educational work," a VICterm terminal program on programs like the Home Babysitter car tape) and several other special offers, all tridge, which contains three separate skill for only $109.95. VICmodem went on sale building programs for pre-schoolers. only six months from the day the original We've also found that VIC owners are idea popped into our heads.
Commodore International 9 Company
------=""--- --==---..:... News --- -- An Outlook On Commodore In Canada As most ofus know, Commodore :S exciting history began in Toronto, A Steel Canada with a typewriter repair shop Jack Tramiel opened in 1958. What may not be as obvious is that Commodore Canada has maintained tre Fumiture mendous growth, along with her sister companies in the Commodore Manufacturer family. One area which has helped fuel our growth in Canada and which makes A steel furniture line. Commodore Canada a little bit different from other Commodore companies, is that we operate a steel plant for office furniture production. In 1965 Commodore pur chased an office furniture manufacturing company for which it had previously dis tributed and expanded its operations to a plant located in Scarborough, Ontario. This plant is still producing commercial furniture and accessories. When Commo dore broke into lhe microcomputer field in 1977, the furniture plant became a sepa rate division in the company, and added the manufacture of PET Computer hous ings and related parts to the product list. Ed Kellow, President of Commodore Business Machines Limited, is very proud of the growth Commodore Canada has achieved in the eleven years he has been there. "In 1972, when I came on board, we had 21 production employees. Today, there are over 450 production employees in two plants producing filing cabinets, office desks, lateral filing cabinets, computer desks, and VIC-20s and 64s," Ed said. Canadian steel furniture plant.
Commodore International 10 Largest Mal Commodore International 11 Software ---- ___.;::=..:;;.__ --=~ News Commodore's ''Intro To Basic'' Program Sells 100,000 Copies Commodore's teach-yourself pro programming techniques, followed some gram-INTRODUCTION TO BASIC 6 months later. Each part consists of a A Course At (PART ONE)-has already sold well workbook which contains both printed Strathclyde over 100,000 copies-making it Com course material and space for writing modore U.K.'s best-selling program for down results, two cassettes containing University the Commodore VIC and also the most demonstration and self-assessment The author of the course is Profes popular 'family' microcomputer learn programs and, finally, a plastic stencil sor Andrew Colin, one of the world's ing program in the world. with the most frequently used program pioneering figures in the use of micro The Commodore VIC computer, to flowchart symbols. computers to teach computer literacy. gether with INTRODUCTION TO BASIC The course is split into 15 units. Back in 1978-at a time when most of -which makes full use of the VI C's Each unit takes typically one or two his academic colleagues were running sound and colour graphics facilities evenings of solid work. Most units in such courses with 'mainframe' com are together one of the most effective, clude some reading, some practical work puters-he set up a microcomputer and most popular, ways of learning the on the VIC, some programming, and a laboratory at Strathclyde University, methods and disciplines of computer self-test questionnaire to measure how in Glasgow, Scotland equipped with 50 programming. The course has been well the unit has been understood. Commodore 'PET' microcomputers, to translated into French, Spanish, Italian, run a special course devised by himself Swedish and Dutch and other language to teach students how to program in versions are in the course of preparation. the BASIC computer language. A re A special version for Commodore's search study by a second British Univer brand new 64K 'super family micro' sity-the University of Leeds-showed the Commodore 64-has recently that Professor Colin's course was one been released. of the most effective methods of teaching PART ONE of INTRODUCTION BASIC that was available. Commodore TO BASIC deals with the first stages was so impressed by the success of the of programming and was published by Professor's methods that they packaged Commodore towards the end of 1981. the course and sold it commercially PART TWO, which covers more advanced under the name "Strathclyde Basic" Andrew Colin, Professor for the PET computer. of Computer Sciences, When in 1981 Commodore launched Strathclyde University and the VIC computer and aimed it firmly author of the best selling at the 'family micro' market, Professor Introduction to Basic Parts I and II. Colin agreed to produce a brand new course around the new machine. The new course, unlike Strathclyde Basic, was to assume that the people using the material had little or no scientific or mathematical background, but at the same time it was to use the interactive 'learning by doing' methods that had made Stratchclyde Basic so effective. The new course was called INTRODUC TION TO BASIC. Outselling The Arcai:ie Games Today INTRODUCTION TO BASIC (PART ONE) is Commodore's top selling ... .. :. .. educational program, and in the U.K. out -.-.. ... ----- Commodore International 12 Commodore And The MIDWAYT.M. Agreement Back in 1981 and the very early days of aliens were incorporated in a host of in late 1981 with the leading supplier of the VIC 20 computer most people were amusement arcade machines and the most these alien life forms. The alliance took wondering whether there really was a popular converted into software game car the form of a license agreement to the "HOME" computer market outside of the tridges. Fortunately the potential for game marketing rights for game cartridge ver dedicated computer hobbyist who had playing had been realized in the original sions on Commodore computers of any given much of the early impetus to the development of the VIC 20 computer games developed by Bally-Midway for their microcomputer revolution. However which included a joystick port and a plug amusement arcade machines. planet Earth had already been overrun by in software cartridge slot as well as the Now that Commodore has become the an invasion of"SPACE INVADERS" in the necessary color and sound effects. On the number one world supplier of home and form of large amusement arcade ma other hand, the then popular video games personal computers over the last 12 chines. These had rapidly evolved after had not been designed with computing months and the necessary conversion time their first landings into a much larger in mind and did not realize that their has elapsed to produce the computer ver population of "VIDEO GAME" machines. greatest threat lay not in the alien space sions of these games, it is interesting to These video games sported in their wake invaders but in the ever increasing price/ review the current status-particularly in an even greater myriad of other alien performance ratio of computers and their view of all the software currently being forms to be shot down, chased, jumped expanding software libraries. released for the Commodore 64. over and almost anything done to in the It was with this in mind that Commo name of entertainment. This multitude of dore International entered into an alliance Commodore International 13 Software ------"-"----- News -- The Bally-Midway Amusement Arcade Presents This is the ever popular area e classic that now tops the home charts. In the game you fight your way through 4 completely different screens shooting down invaders, gorfies, laser rockets, death ships, flying saucers and a host of aliens in a superb display of sound and 11011111 graphics. (Currently available on the VIC and soon to be released KICKMAN is another extremely color on the Commodore 64) . ful game from the amusement arcades that uses a clown theme and in which there is no shooting. You are a clown steering a unicycle through a three dimensional city popping and balancing fall ing balloons on your head. Should you fail at this you can always get a second chance by "KICKING" them. Although, as you would expect, Another classic arcade game which while extremely there is a penalty for this in the form of popular in the arcades never made the number one slot. an increasing difficulty. (Just released However among "game aficionados" many consider this for the Commodore 64). the most enjoyable and sophisticated from a game playing point of view. An especially important point for home play ing where quick appeal and the need to put in another coin are relegated in importance to a prolonged challenge. In this "ultimate" space game one Omegan fighter maneu SEA vers against droid ships, death ships, photon mines and vapor mines. Fantastic "rubber band" boundaries and WOLF multiple levels of difficulty give this game its own unique SEA WOLF is another early arcade appeal. (Versions for both VIC 20 and just released for classic with perennial appeal. In a vari COMMODORE 64). ation on outer space Sea Wolf takes you underwater for its challenge. As a sub marine commander you are in charge of sinking and destroying all enemy ships .. . destroyers, freighters and P.T. boats ... but watch out, fo r like all enemies, they will CLOWNS WIZARD fight back at you. (Available for both VIC In a respite from the alien 20 and Commodore 64). shooting games this is a very popular game among the younger members of the family with the OFWOR ageless appeal of the circus. Two Yes "WOR" is spelled correctly. WIZARD OF WOR acrobatic clowns bounce up is another of the all time arcade classic greats that is and down while piercing balloons enjoying renewed popularity with the release of home in the sky-a simple game to versions. This game was a turning point in the evo understand but like any arcade lution of the arcade game for it combines the ever classic difficult to master. Clowns popular shooting feature with a maze in which you is operated with paddles and has seek out, track and destroy enemy monsters, worlucks the additional benefit of being and wizards which you kill for bonus points while a one or two player game. (Avail advancing to increasing levels of difficulty until you able for both VIC 20 and yourself ultimately fail ... but hopefully with a new Commodore 64). high score. (Just released fo r the Commodore 64) . Commodore International 14 Kickman lazarian Clowns Corf against all types of hazards. In phase 1 a sister ship has to be rescued from a field of HIGH SCORES New meteors. In phase 2 the pilot must work his way through four levels of a space tun ON VIC GAMES Arcade Hits For those of our employees who are game nel to rescue another ship in distress. And lovers we are including the highest reported Commodore's agreement with Bally fi nally in phase 3 the pilot battles the one scores as recorded in our North American Users Midway should ensure an ever continuing eyed space leviathan, LAZARIAN . Lazarian Magazine-"Powerplay" which incidentally now has a circulation of over 100,000 copies supply of new hits from the amusement can only be destroyed by shooting its eye and is starting to be distributed on bookshelves arcades as we increasingly gear up our and the ship's lasers are needed to cut along with famous magazines such as Time and Newsweek-it's not only software we software development and marketing op away the monster and get to this. are publishing! erations from that early start in "home en BLUE MEANIES tertainment" when we launched the VIC 1,260 Alan S. Newman, Fairfield, CT 20 into the mass consumer market in Other CAR CHASE 1982. Indeed two further new Bally 75,865 Zach Coleman, Charlotte, NC Midway titles are to be released at the Arcade COSMIC CRUNCHER June Consumer Electronics Show in the 215,000 U.S.A. These will be for the Commodore Games Barbara Schrieber, New York , NY DRAW POKER 64 and are: Another new arcade game release 17,410 for the Commodore 64 is "LE MANS ". R. Callia, Torrance, CA JUPITER LANDER Although "LE MANS" is not part of the 207,400 Bally-Midway series it borrows much of Christopher Champlain, St. Petersburg; FL GORF its exciting play from the many arcade car 60,410 racing games. It's race day at Le Mans, Andy Ralston, Fairfax, VA BLUEPRINT is a game with a differ and your car is in the pole position. The MIDNIGHT DRIVE 14.11 km ence in which an ogre is chasing J.J .'s countdown lights signal the start of the Nathan Mehl, Newark, DE girlfriend, Loni, across the top of the race. Hold down the FIRE BUTTON, MOLE ATTACK 331 screen, and he's catching up to her! J.J.'s which is your gas pedal, and you're off and Heda Takaya, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan only hope fo r saving Loni is the AMMO running on a tricky, sometimes hazardous OMEGA RACE MACHINE , but first he has to build it. J.J. Grand Prix track. Your goal is to pass as 260,050- 5 ships Ben Piper, Chico, CA must go to all the houses in the maze so many cars as you can. The more cars you PINBALL he can collect all the parts he needs. Then pass the more points you make. Every 10 1,500,000 he has to put the parts in their proper lo If Joe Ferrari, Commodore, Toronto cars passed gives you 1000 bonus points. RADAR RAT RACE cation on the BLUE PRINT at the bottom you score more than 20,000 points before 122,240 center of the screen. J .J . has a number of time runs out, you're still in the lead and John Higginson, South Holland, IL SEA WOLF obstacles to overcome, including a time can continue the race. Passing the other 10,080 limit, bomb pits, killer flower pots, Weird drivers is not easy; they will try to block Jimmy Kuhn, Norfolk, VA Willie and a time limit before he can get SKY IS FALLING you whenever they can. And, since this is 13,810 the Ammo Machine built. Grand Prix racing at its best, you must Rachel Koons, Drexel Hill, PA maneuver your car over a variety of SLITHER 261 terrains, including icy roads, divided Amy Miles, Mt. Pleasant, Ml highways, night driving, and the famous SUPER ALIEN 45,700 l.OZORIOD "Le Mans Esses". Robert Schaeffer, Brookline, MA This is another classic space game in In the next issue we will describe SUPER SLITHER "TOOTH INVADERS"-a unique game 167 ' the mold of Corf. There are three separate David Goldberg, Richardson, TX phases and five different screens to be exclusive to Commodore that we believe SUPER SLOT completed in a quest as the pilot of a space could become one of the hottest hits 7, 306coins Jerry Krueger, Cary, IL fighter stationed in a remote sector of our of 1983. VIC AVENGER galaxy. The mission is to rescue stranded 10,190 . starships and to defend a sector of space Chad McCubblns, Coatesville, IN Commodore International 15 Financial ~~------:--- ~--==-- News - Commodore International Reports Record Third Quarter and Nine Month Results. THIRD QUARTER COMMODORE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED SALES RISE 130% AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS NET INCOME UP 128% $(000) PER SHARE NET UP 128% (unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended Mr. Irving Gould, Chairman of the March 31, March 31, Board of Commodore International 1983 1982 1983 1982 Limited announced that Commodore had achieved record sales, net income *Net Sales $189,575 $82,130 $469,146 $206,336 and earnings per share for the third Income before Income Taxes 31,794 13,719 77,938 34,394 quarter and nine month period ended Provision for Income Taxes __!_J75 2,762 16,600 6,852 March 31, 1983, the results of which Net Income before Tax Credit 25,019 10,957 61,338 27,542 are summarized here. Extraordinary Itemm - --209 3,680 509 In commenting upon these results, *Net Income $ 25,019 $11,166 $ 65,018 $ 28,051 Mr. Gould stated that "the primary con tributor to Commodore's record results Earnings Per Share in the third quarter and nine month pe Before Extraordinary Item $ 1.62 $ .71 $ 3.98 $ 1.79 Extraordinary Itemm .01 .24 .03 riod were continuing and accelerating --- extremely strong sales of Commodore's Net Income Per Share $ 1.62 $ .72 L__!~ $ 1.82 microcomputer systems to the business, Average common shares educational and home markets." and common share Mr. Gould continued by noting that equivalents 15,422,000 15,433,000 15,397 ,000 15,420,000 "during the most recent quarter ended March 31, 1983, Commodore recorded mExtraordinary item relates to net tax loss carryforward benefit. excellent microcomputer systems sales gains, especially of its now under $400 COMMODORE 64 personal computer, as well as its VIC 20 home computer." Mr. Gould went on to say that "the current final quarter's results are ex pected to benefit from both continuing GROWTH CHARTS strong demand for the COMMODORE 64 KEY . NET INCOME · SALES and VIC 20, as well as from new orders 500 recently received from several very large mass merchandisers and chain stores, including two of the largest in the world, 400 that have decided to carry Commodore computers for the very first time." 300 Mr. Gould concluded by noting that "the positive sales and earnings trends 200 witnessed over the first nine months of the current fiscal year are expected to 100 continue through the current final quar ter of fiscal 1983 and into our new fiscal year beginning July 1st. We fully expect 0 further significant sales and earnings 1982 1983 1982 1983 gains in both the fourth quarter of fiscal 1983 and into fiscal 1984." LATEST 3 MONTHS Fl RST 9 MONTHS Commodore International 16 Technology -----='--- -='--"- News --- -- numerous programs, I became really inter ested in looking into the possibility of A Breakthrough In interfacing an organ keyboard to the Commodore-64, so that the SID could be played to its fullest potential. Much to my delight, another development facility Sound Technology located at Commodore's office in Dallas, Over recent months we have seen the classical music, I began to see an enor Texas, developed this, and with the firm incorporation of an unique device from mous potential in sound creation. ware I have been developing, Commodore Commodore's technical development Commodore's research and develop is now set to enter the musical instrument groups into a number of Commodore end ment company, MOS Technology saw that market. The add-on keyboard also has products with more to come. This device great things could be done with computer MORE SID chips in it, so that a whole is the SID chip (sound interface device) generated sound, and embarked upon the orchestra of sound can be created by any the first complete music synthesizer on a development of a truly innovative chip one! Commodore is also introducing chip. Here Paul Higginbottom, from our known as "SID." SID is an acronym for a drum pad unit, which allows the user to Canadian operation, takes a general look Sound Interface Device. explore the SID's capability as a sophisti at our involvement with "the remarkable This chip boldly goes where no sound cated percussion machine. SID chip". chip has gone before! In the future, it is certain that Com Its features surpass any sound chip modore computers will be making whole and many commercially available music orchestras of sound, including ALL the The Remarkable synthesizers costing many thousands of stringed, brass, reed, wind, and percussive dollars. It can produce an enormous instruments. I look forward to seeing the SID Chip variety of sounds from the ones you're first "Commodore computer performing When Commodore introduced the used to computers making, such as those live, without humans." We needn't fear first PET computer in 1977, we really were in games, to many far more esthetically that this eliminates our musical creativity; not sure where we were headed with it. We pleasing sounds like real instruments quite the reverse is true: it will bring all knew it could do many things, but no one ranging from stringed, brass, and even of the "bathroom musicians" out of the could have predicted then, some of the percussive ones. closet, and let them express their musi things that are being done with Commo This little 28 pin chip opened up a cal desires. dore computers today. lot of possibilities for new products for This, however, is only the beginning. I One aspect of our computers that Commodore. When I was first learning think many people believed that electronic has developed tremendously, is the area about the Commodore-64 which has synthesizers were only a passing craze. of sound creation. When the first PETS a SID chip built right in, I spent a large They are now used by ALL musical fields. made a few beeps in an early game, I was amount of time experimenting with the The flexibility and capability of music syn intrigued that a computer could actually sound capabilities, because of my interest thesizers would have brought a tear of make sounds, and when they began to play in electronic music. After having written happiness to Bach's eyes. A Technical Overview The Commodore SID-6581 sound interface device is a single chip, 3 voice electronic music synthesizer/sound effect generator compatible with the 6500 and similar microprocessor families. SID pro duces three independent voices, each with a nine octave range. Four waveforms are available: sawtooth, triangle, variable pulse and noise. The chip includes a pro grammable ADSR (attack, decay, sustain, release) generator. A programmable filter can be selected for each voice which pro vides low-pass, high-pass, band-pass or notch outputs. Also included is variable resonance and master volume control. The block diagram gives an overview of the SID chip layout. Commodore International 17 Application -----==------="-- News Commodore Computer Helps German Butcher For more than a year and a half Achim Schmalhorst from Opel, West Germany has been using a Commodore computer to help calculate the gains and losses of his butcher's meat business. He starts with a calculation on the economics of differe nt meat cuts and stores the target prices for various types of meat such as pork, beef and veal. For instance a pig of a particular trade class should yield certain compo nents of cutlets, ham, and bacon. The computer compares these expected yields with the actuals and while the actuals ex ceed the expected everything is in order. ... However when the reverse appears then ~ the supplier may well have delivered an Achim Schmalhorst at work with his computer! inferior class of merchandise. This used to be a very time consuming part of the busi ness and essential in calculating and The Commodore computers have proved achieving the maximum profitability of Commodore to be so reliable and successful as a the operation and tying this back to teaching tool that in January of 1983, the specific cuts of meat and suppliers. In this Computers program was expanded once more and the way likely profitability of purchasing vari UsedTo Teach Commodore 64 was installed in 11 centers ous cuts and types of meat from different in the Montgomery, Alabama area. We suppliers can be made. Another option look forward to the day when Commodore open to Achim Schmalhorst is to butcher Preschoolers In the U. S.A. preschoolers are stepping computer may be incorporated into all 759 the meat himself or to buy it from a main Kindercare Learning Centers. distributor already butchered into individ into the future as they use the Commo ual cuts. Once again his computer program dore PET and the Commodore 64 to de can give him an instantaneous read out on velop their basic skills. The children, ages the more profitable of these options. three to six, attend Kindercare Learning Over a period of time Achim Schmal Centers in three cities, Minneapolis, Min horst has built up a database on alternative nesota; Houston, Texas; and Montgomery, suppliers to check on the yields, discounts Alabama, where an innovative computer and quality etc. In this way he is able to make learning program is available. rational buying decisions on actual facts, Since the preschoolers do not yet read, rather than the claims of competing sup they are given directions by a natural voice pliers with regard to their quality and yields. recording played on a tape recorder con Achim Schmalhorst has been working with nected to the computer. The children who his Commodore computer for a year and a use a light pen to answer questions, are half now and says that the Commodore is being taught pre-math and pre-reading an ideal computer for his type of small concepts, memory skills, colors, shapes, business operation. The reasons he gives and concepts such as over/under. for this are not only the competitive price Working with Fisher Scientific, Inc., and ease of programming but Achim a Commodore Dealer specializing in says that the robustness and reliability of educational sales, Kindercare, the largest Commodore equipment is a necessity for his nationwide childcare facility, started type of operation where there is no separate using the Commodore PET to teach computer office and the equipment must preschoolers in June of 1982 at eight be close at hand for him as he carries out centers in Minneapolis. As this advanced his day to day operations. In the photo educational technique proved to be suc graph Achim can be seen at work in his cessful, the program was expanded to "day to day" operations! 35 centers in Houston. The program has been accepted with enthusiasm by both parents and students. Commodore International 18 General =---=------~~ News Commodore and Friends We recently received U.S.A. Leases New the following letter from 2011 Tiara Court >, 9th grader David Cummins Dayton~ Ohip 454~9 Facility U.S.A. t " ~ in Dayton, Ohio, to Jack Commodore Business Machines, Inc., Tramiel. David thought it Dear Mr. Jack Tramiell U.S.A. has announced the completion of might help in "advertising I thought this pictµre 'mighUgiveyou the negotiations for a 17 year lease on the our products"-we're very som.~ enjoyment and ,a break fr;Rm your Norcross Rustcraft facility. This half mil pleased to include it here busy day. · ' . , · · , lion square foot facility is located at Wil and the photograph of the ' . It is bf my two sisters playing with son Drive, Brandywine Industrial Park in "friends" that his sisters our VIC-20. 1 \ \. , 1 West Goshen Township, adjacent to the attracted around his VIC Ip !so thought ft might help ~n, q Commodore International 19 People ------'=--- --o=,-,-- News --- -- Commodore Forms Software Division; Appoints Sig Hartmann President Sig Hartmann Mr. Jack Tramiel, President of Commo a huge aftermarket for software sales Hartmann's dore International Limited has announced which, as a goal, are expected to reach the formation of a Commodore Software 20 percent of the company's hardware Background Division and named Mr. Sigmund sales over the next 18 to 24 months." Sig Hartmann's responsibilities at Hartmann as president. "One of the things we've learned in the TRW included Manager, Communication Mr. Hartmann, who reports to Mr. Tra past year," he said, "is that major retail and Digital Development Laboratory and miel, has over 25 years of management chains and computer dealers prefrr 'one Computer Development Laboratory, which experience in the computer hardware, stop' shopping for software. Mass mer designed data processing and digital com software and data processing fields-most chants, especially, want us to provide a munication systems. recently at TRW, Inc. in Los Angeles where complete hardware/software package. In the 1970's, as vice president of TRW's he held a variety of senior positions over That's what we're doing now ... and will Data Systems Inc., he was responsible for an 18 year period. do even better in the future." development of the first computerized According to Mr. Tramiel, "Sig Hart "In the small business market, the soft credit verification system used widely by mann's immediate responsibilities ware is the computer. The manufacturer retail stores, airlines and other commer include establishing a broader nucleus has to provide top quality wordprocessing, cial organizations. of small business, educational, home and electronic spreadsheet, accounting, data He was also president of Comtec Data recreational software for Commodore base and management software-and Systems, Inc., a data communications microcomputers, including several new we're doing that. Our new "B" series company in Santa Clara, California which models planned for introduction later small business microcomputers will be developed sophisticated front-end pro this year." introduced this summer with some of cessors for computer systems used by "This represents a major commitment the most powerful, best-selling software major government agencies and financial by Commodore to the development and packages in the industry." institutions. marketing of software,'' Mr. Tramiel said. Mr. Tramiel emphasized that "the Mr. Hartmann has lectured widely in "In the past, our emphasis was in com company will continue to work closely computer technology at various colleges puter hardware. Today our philosophy has with third party software developers, by and universities. broadened. We design and manufacture inviting them to become partners with Sig previously worked at Commodore computer systems- and that includes Commodore. The company has already in the early 1970's as general manager of software as well as hardware and peripher launched a major software acquisition ef U.S. operations and so is well acquainted als. We intend to be a major factor in the fort to contract existing quality software with the philosophy and style of Commo software business." and to develop innovative new programs. dore- a company which he has followed Mr. Tramiel also noted that "Commo Commodore is also exploring new tech closely and admired since that time. He dore sold more computers in 1982 than niques for marketing software. is pleased to be back with such an exciting any other company in the world, creating company and opportunity. Commodore International 20 brought to you by http://commodore.international/ commodore international historical society this document was generously donated by don greenbaum