ZXComputing_Oct_1986.pdf

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OCTOBER 1986
£1.50
An Argus Specialist Publication
FOR ALL SINCLAIR USERS
mm
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SPECTRUM'"
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GRANDMASTERS
Colossus 4 V
Psi Chess
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SPECTRUM 128 PLUS 2
Reviewed inside
B U G FREE
by Hewson's Steve Turner
P R O G R A M M I N G
Dynamite Dan II •
Stainless Steel • Mindstone
WIN!
•
•
•
•
•
•
>
Dan Dare • Colossus 4 Chess
Magnum Joystick*
FEATURES
THE PROFESSIONAL TOUCH:
programming advice from
Steve Turner.
20
RANDOM MEMORY:
memory saving tips from Clyde
Blsh.
28
READER SURVEY:
reveal your Innermost thoughts on ZX
and win a free suh.
45
COLOSSUS CREATOR:
Interview with programmer
Martin Bryant.
50
TRAILBLAZING W I T H GREMLIN:
ZX visits the Sheffield
based software house.
58
MACHINE CODE CALCULATOR:
secrets of the
Spectrum's ROM.
62
ART STUDIO ARTIST:
goes pop
80
COMPETITIONS
DAN DARE:
books and games to be won.
9
MASTERTRONIC:
name the game.
41
COLOSSUS:
become a Grandmaster and win CDS'
new Chess game.
60
u
REGULARS
a first look at the new Amstrad/Slnclalr
machine.
Readers' letters,
problem page,
the new Media Manager reviewed.
news from the States,
text handling for the
Pil Chen from the Edge. Chen feature
begin* on page 43.
SOFTWARE REVIEWS
SPECTRUf
Xarq (17), Stainless Steel
, Dynamite
Dan II
), Operation Omega
57),
Mlndstone
,
short reviews s e c t i o n . . .
the Bogglt has arrived from CRL.
PROGRAMMING PROJECTS
SHORTCUTS:
more readers' routines.
26
DISCOVERY TRICKS:
some hints on using the Discovery
disc drive.
68
BMHtNKKCY
•vcom
•
1
PG TPKEN!COMPUTER DXSPBLED!!
ID
1
H M B J
VENTURESPEAK:
Alan Davis
1
adventure language
series.
51
MACRO LIFE:
a new version of the game of Life.
54
GHOST CHASER:
a QL arcade game.
32
S
Can you name thlt game? (41).
SPECTRUM/QL LINK UP:
communications between the
two machines.
72
3
ZX Computing Monthly • October 1986
IIIIJ
Getting
technical
Spectrum 128+2
£149 (Inc VAT)
Memory
RAM 128 Kbytes
ROM 32 Kbytes
CPU
Z80 running at 3.54690 Mz
Screen
256 x 192 Pixel resolution
24 x 32 colour resolution
8 colours foreground. 8 colours
background plus Intensity and
flash settings
Independently controllable
border
Sound
Three voice tone and/or noise
with 16 envelope setting. One
voice CPU generated. O i
)utput
via TV or audio socket
Keyboard
58 keys full
keyboard
travel 'Qwerty'
Spectrum 128+2 launched at PCW Shew
Amstrad have made their
first move as new guardians ot
the Sinclair name — an
Impressive redesign of the
Spectrum 128 incorporating
features that Spectrum owners
have been calling for ever
since Its introduction.
The 'black box' look of
previous Speclrums has gone,
replaced by a more robust
looking grey/green casing
reminiscent of the Amsirad CPC
series.
The 'glued on tape recorder'
promised by Alan Sugar has
been included In the form of an
Integral datacorder so that
fiddling with volume controls on
cassette players is now a thing
of the past.
The flat keyboard, bane of
many a Spectrum programmer
has disappeared, to be
replaced by a far more pro-
fessional looking 58 key full
travel type writer style 'Qwerty
keyboard".
In keeping with Amstrad's
vision of the 128+2 as a
powerful
game
playing
machine two joystick ports
have been Included. These are
non-standard ports accepting
only new Sinclair SJS1 Joysticks.
This Is a matching colour
coordinated joystick which wilt
be available either bundled
with the machine or separately
at £14.99. Joysticks that are not
compatible with the porl can
still be attached via Interlace In
the time honoured fashion.
Despite the emphasis on
games playing there are still
many options open for other
uses with ports provided for
keypad, serial printer and MIDI.
The Plus 2 is compatible wilh
Interlace one and mlcrodrlves
and other peripherals.
So those Spectrum owners
who are looking for a computer
with more possibilites than
games playing will not be
disappointed
with
the
capabilities ol Ihe Plus 2.
Internally there are no real
changes from the original 128.
the redesign concentrates on
Improving ease of use One
minor change In the ROM is
however apparent from the title
screen, for Sinclair 1982 now
reads Amstrad.
One Sinclair tradition that
has been adhered to is pricing.
The 128+2 comes with a power
supply, arlel lead and manual
for £149 (Inc VAT). That's £30 less
than the cost of the mark 1 128
when It was launched.
One quibble with the first 128
was the discovery lhat some 48K
software would not run on it.
Amsirad hope to improve this
situation by badglna Spectrum
software with a "Sinclair Quality
Control" seal of approval which
guarantees lhat the software
will be compatible with the
128+2.
Amstrad have shrewdly
redesigned the 128 in the
Amstrad Image and with a
decent keyboard and built in
tape recorder now added and
a highly competetive price tag
it seems that Amstrad under the
guise of Sinclair have another
success story on their hands.
Storage
Integral datacoder.
silicon disc
Volatile
Firmware
48K Spectrum Basic (compata-
billty mode)
128K e n h a n c e d Spectrum
basic with full screen editor and
men driven command system
Calculator
Single-key program loading
system
Interfaces
UPH PAL TV port
Serial printer port
RGB monitor port
Keypad port
Midi port (out only)
2 joystick ports
Audio Out port
Expansion
10
port (full Z80 bus)
Editor:
Bryan Ralph
Assistant Editor
Cliff Joseph
Consultant Editor:
Ray Elder
Advertising Manager
John McGarry
Design:
Argus Design
A.S.P Advertising ond Editorial
No. 1 Golden Square, London W1R 3AB 01-437-0626
Printed by AJabaster Poiimofo and Son* ltd. tovil, Moidttone Kent
Advertisement Copy Controller Lynn CoJlii
J
r
Distributed by Atgus Pre« Soles and Distribution lid. 12-18 Raul Street. London EC2A 4JS
ZX Computing Monthly is published on the tourm Friday ol each month Subscription rotes cn be obtained from ZX Subscription* Internet. Times House.
179 The Marlowe* Heme! Hempstead. Herts HP$1 IBB
The contents ol this publication, including all of tic lot designs, plans, drawings and other intellectual property rights herein belong to Argus Specialist
Publications limited All rights conferred by the
low
ol Copyright and other intellectual property rights and by virtue ol Inlet national copyright conventions
ore specifically reserved to Argus Specialist Publications Limited ond any reproduction requires the prior written consent ol the company
Argus Specialist Publications Limited
1966
4
ZX Computing Monthly • October 1986
m
PCW Show Diary
The software houses In previous years have tried to outdo
each other by stands of sheer size. This year the status standard
had shifted towards height with several of the major
companies opting to go for two-tier stands. From their lofty
positions software house execs coutd peer down into the
crowded hall below where the serious business of hunting
down the latest games was going on. But, as always, a vas!
majority of what was on view wasln an "unfinished preview
state. But here's a taste of things to come In the near (or distant)
future from the software houses.
Act I vision — Spin off games from the Howard the Duck
cartoon strip and the forthcoming David Bowie film Labyrtnthe.
Addictive — President, a new game from Kevin "Football
Manager" Toms.
Arlolasofl — Deactivators an android bomb disposal team
flghl against the clock In a 3D maze of rooms. Hanna Barbara
spin offs - Centurion and The Challenge of The Gobots.
Beyond — With a stand decked out like the bridge of the
Enterprise Beyond were heralding Star Trek (ETA mid October).
Domark — A new Bond game, Live and Let Die.
The Edge — Fairllght II, a full 128K version designed with
the Plus 2 In mind. It will load in two parts for the 48K machine.
Shao-Llns road, an arcade conversion from an original
Konaml martial combat game. Palltron - 3D scl-fl game from
the author of Strangeloop.
Electric Dreams — Scl-fl horror film Aliens will get the
computer game treatment; ETA November. Dauntless, an
arcade conversion by the Ram Jam Corporation; ETA
November. Explorer, an arcade adventure set on a '|ungle
planet'; ETA October. Chameleon, a game based on me
battle between the four elements, 100 scrolling screens and
3D'Pana motion! (whatever that Is); ETA unknown. Big Trouble
In Little China, a film spin oft with mystical martial arts
elements; ETA November. Circus of Fear, described as a
mixture of "adventure, strategy and arcade" — a murder
mystery set under the big top. Other games In the pipeline
are Prodigy and Star Raiders II.
Firebird/Odin — Hypo ball a futuristic sports game and The
Plot an arcade shoot-em-up.
Hewson — Uridium, a great success on the C64 Is being
converted. A high speed space combat game which
Incorporates impressive aerobatic flying. Flreiord, from the
author of Starquake and Devils Lair, an arcade adventure, set
in a medieval world.
Melbourne House — Hot on the heels of the Spectrum
128+2 have Ihree books due for release. Spectrum Plus TWo
Machine Code for the Absolute Beginner, Spectrum Plus TWo
Programmer's Guide and Spectrum Plus Two ROM
Disassembly. On the games front there Is Asterlx the Gaul,
Dodgy Geezers (from the writers of Hampstead and
Terromellnos) and Inspector Gadget.
Ocean/Imagine — The Great Escape, a 3D POW escape
drama, Parallax, a space shoot-em-up and film spin offs. Top
Gun and Cobra are Just a few of Oceans forthcoming
releases. From Imagine there's Konamfs Golf, a coin op
conversion. Mag Max and a new soccer simulation — Super
Soccer.
Uridium
Cheetah Mach1+
New
at PCW
Cheetah spotted the need for Joystick adaptors for the
new Spectrum 128+2 and the Cheetah Mach1+ (£14.95) and
the 125+ (£8.95) come with standard and 128+2 compatible
connectors. An adaptor for standard to 128+2 Joystick
compatibility Is available for £2.99.
Ram Electronics have launched the Music Machine, a
complete add-on music system for £49.95. Also released is
Ramprtnt (£34.95), a Centronics printer Interlace with Joystick
port and 'instant access' word processing.
Spectrum Games Top Ten
1 (D Jack the Nipper
2 (2)
Ghosts n Goblins
3 ( ) Atlantic Challenger Game
4 (4) Green Beret
5 ( ) The Bogglt
6 ( ) Mission Omega
7
I )
Stainless Steel
8 (9) Bobby Bearing
Gremlin
Elite
Virgin
Imagine
CRL
Mlndgames
Mlkrogen
The Edge
Domark
Design Design
10 ( >
Nexor
9
( )
Trivial Pursuit
(Chart supplied by W.H. Smith)
Little change at the top this month as the software houses hold
back their new games for en masse release at the PCW show.
Jack the Nipper remains at No 1 and Ihe longest stayer Green
Beref seems to have permanently claimed tne No 4 spot with
its third showing Just inside the lop five.
£
ZX Computing Monthly • October 1986
5

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