Aug 30 septs. 1981 NO 26 I Test your iving skill — well help =res a great software 4Agame writers' in on from sharp prat-lice ware companies II be protected I us program- The working liile of the nci group is Ihc Sociel* of Sofiwar Hit the pools Authors, under ihe umbrella a jackpot and I he Computer Trade Associa CTA secretary Nige play bingo — Baclthursi put ihe proposal ai Ih two Spectrum software writers — whether ihc workfull-orpart-time — togetin I programs much with him. Already Ihe CTA ii working | covering terms of publkariot code of conduct and payment of I royalties Royally percentages vic-20 ski v. ill not be covered. Mr Backhursi gave two ex- game to type ample", of poor behaviour which he honed would be stamped out. in — page 21 ConlmurrJonpagrS vour choice of cable Sprites the i software easy way 'next year* with the 6a different dealslo operators have signed deals io make it pan of their services. iocecn is Thom-EMI planning to serve people who already own computers, starling with ihe I Aiari.V[C-20andTI-W/4Aanc' " followed by Ihe Commodore e> FOR THE ZX SPECTRUM Subscribers would be supplied I with soft ware on cassette 01 plug- KONG in module 10 enable their com- puters to download from cable. Bui vV.H. Smith has signed a ARMAGEDDON deal with The Games Ni designed computer. Its soltwar would be mainly CEAN SOFTWARE American d start with, but UK program would be encouraged. ' : i i . ATTENTION! - all ZX81 (16K) and Spectrum (48K) users - get this, the . MicrO'Myte It's the high speed computer phone link you have bsen wailing for: No fuss, no hidden Transmits/receives at 1,000 Baud: Three times the speed of most other extras, no rental acoustic modems (including professionals] costs Economic to use: Communcates data direct between compatible users. Typically 120,000 bits per two minutes of telephone time. (Cheaper than a first class letter.) Also twelve times faster than a telex. Simple to operate: Connects directly to your cassette input/output sockets Use your home computer like an on line terminal. Link up with your friends by telephone or cable. The Micro-Myte 60, in its sturdy moulded plastic housing, complements your home computer equipment. YOU CAN PRE RECORD PROGRAM OR SCREEN CONTENTS ON TAPE. YOU CAN TRANSMIT PRESS! OFF TAPE OVER THE PHONE AND YOU CAN STOP Micro-Myle will RECEIVE ON TAPE. 60 operate with all makes of home computer software I ZX8!/Spectrum (spi Micro-Myte am 3 user available soon Please send me.... Micro-Myte ( Communications Ltd each. I enclose cheque/poslal c Polo House 27 Prince St. YOU CAN NOW 3ristol 1 TRANSMIT AND Telephone (0272] 299373 RECEIVE OFF TAPE! HOME COMPUTING WHLKLY .II August 10-september s, 1983 No 26 V Software reviews 27 JmJPZ Dragon deeds of daring Profile: Richard Shepherd 29 From tent to Top 10 spectrum programming 31 Why did Hits couple Bestsellers . 33 Paul 1 jptroi* \"i^:nil .AihiTlivd-riieiic Manager: ski program <in page 2 Candicc Goodwin Barry Bingham iiii" [he une\panded \ i-^i DttjfjKTj Classified Advertising: .* M-inniiiriu l.lhi.r: Manaeing IXrKlnr: Ron Harris Jim Connell Argus Specialist Publications Ltd. S!!!-5m 145 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H OEE. 01-437 1002 So™X^r^Rl^S™w^OEE m " FOR FIRST Get Knotted! TIME USERS... A new series of books which introduce newcomers to the most widely used micros in the marketplace. The books assume absolutely no knowledge aboul computers and the reader is shown even the most fundamental operations such as "switching on" and "loading a program" The books lead the reader through simple programming and then onto graphics, with several programs which show how to achieve pictures and even animation. The books contain a number of specially written programs which show the full potential of these machines. The lexl is liberally supported by all manner ol useful diagrams and illustrations (including many black and white photographs ot the screen). The overall presentation is excellent. The printing, setting out and listings are clear and positively invite the reader to have a go. With the latest creation from New Generation £5.95 An action game that needs nerve and quick reactions! Hurtling through a void, your task is to travel as long as possible, scoring points along the way. Be careful though as you will have to avoid your own trail and those of up to four chasers. As trails are left you will have to thread your way through, but don't forget the more trails the less space for manoeuvring. You will be terminated when you finally get caught in 'the Knot'. For 48K Spectrum and compatible with Kempston, AGF and Mikrogen joysticks. NOW AVAILABLE 'It is the most astounding thing you'll ... copy.ies all al £5.95 ei see for a long time' - Popular Computing Weekly. Make cheques payable lo Newlech Publishing Lid I enclose my cheque lor £ Please debll my Access a "iiini mi rrm I---READ-OUT---„ r.°j New Generation Software FREEPOST BalhBA24TD Pig. 4 HOME COMPUTING WEEKLV 30 A software gramma ble by the user and can lie siressed that the company's accept software on cassette. principal interest at present was society Derek Kul fell, manager of cor- porate planning and develop- ing the service — then it would be Continuedfrttm front page ment lor W.H. Smith, said: "What differentiates this service subscribers. • When discussing royalt o check thai from the others in America is that One possibility was lhal. as in payments, a sort ware house toll "s'ol"g you don't have io provide a com- America, new games would be an aulhor that only 200 cassette already being puter. One operator requires you licensed from software houses for had been sold when one rem: establish their titles. It would act to spend 150 dollars on a the eielusive use of subscribers, 5.000. chain alone had laken only as an information service as months before Ihcy wem on names are at present registered "With 01 - Vint don. with the Patent Office. To ] t piracy. Computer Trade Association, Each cable operator would 108 htarmna Street, Coalville, nave two mini -computers — plus Leics LE6 2LX a smaller one to add and delete ing [0 bring oul [he ;mK game. subscribers — linked io a large Two school boys had submitted W.H. Smith base computer the program under different cable which would feed the operators system, there would even be a check on theft. Each day ihehosi CTA, the society Through the Continuedfrom from pat He could give no estimate on computer would check if the could lobby the Government on the cost lo Ihe subscribers, say- subscriber's computer was pre- subjects like grants and rem and ing: "If you sell anything ii'sgot rale rebaies for fledgling in- to relate to the traffic and. in this And, in a further develop mem. dustries. manager of the home computer each address would be matched Video. division or Thorn-EMI to the computer's code number. for saul iiis company had technicians started at £50,000 and were So if the computer was moved big projects. What was needed at work but field tests had not yet iicm door and plugged into a scheme for [hose begun. was a revamped important lhal there is a UK con- neighbour's cable it would be it means who needed only perhaps £2.000 He .,m initially a- a ot refused software. to buy a couple of computers. distributing Thorn-EMI's own With two-way cable systems Thorn-EMI Video, Thorn-EMI Mr' Backhurst said: "We have software at a price cheaper than lire possibilities widened. House, U/i/ier St Martin s Lane. the ridiculous sit ,-0,^ Mr Ruffell said: "We have I.omlm, WC2H9ED of been asked by several actual and W.H. Smith and Son. Strand product . ervone aerccs is a good potential cable operators about House, IOI\'e\\ Fetter Lane, Lon- and all he needs is £5.000io finish don ECAA IAD n off over the neNi sn month 1.. "But because the figure is so uld put up a range or small hecan'tget the money. And just games but educa- it would lake home management as even if he could you could be : at ing by 20 per cent on our pages up — as a sub-group ol'ihetTA, an associate, like the newly- of Software formed Group PROGRAMS should, if possible, be computer loii.es. affiliated. I or printed to a width of 08 characters luse a new ribbon) and/or sent on cassette. Check applications Chandler expected a ship of 134. with 60 Mr carefully that they are bug-free, include going through, and the annual number of systems to be on offer details of what your program does, how it v.ihsciipuoii is £50. bv laic ne\i year. Did he see the and hints on W.H. works, variables you have used Mr Buckhursl sees the CTA a' competition from Smith as conversion. a forum through which various "1 don't know what parts of the industry c He said: ARTICLES on using home computers should ciikuh i you mean a threat. Healthy . W be no longer than 2,000 words. Don't worry is heme -cr up. competition is a good thing. another group about your writing ability — Just try to keep This will called the Society There will be a lot around, bui be to the style in hcw. Articles most likely to be Healer, and is hc- ill be broadly-based and of Retail Micro published will help our readers make better mg established by Barry Jones, of softwar use of their micros by giving useful ideas, The: would ens possibly with programming examples, we Other points from the meeting: will convert any sketched illustrations into software ' of n theji finished artwork.