ANALOG Computing (March 1989)

ANALOG was probably the most popular Atari 8-bit magazine in the U.S. and had the longest life among Atari 8-bit magazines. Of course, it only had one serious competitor. The March 1989 issue includes:

Features

• Cartridge Games for Your XEGS - An overview of the cartridge based games available for the Atari XEGS. Basing a game system on Atari XE computers wasn't necessarily a bad idea but most games that Atari released were really just re-releases of old games.

• Pebbles - A type-in puzzle game from ancient Egypt featuring stones and holes.

• Master Memory Map, Part VIII - Part 8 of a massive series on the entire Atari 8-bit memory map.

• Un-Sprites - A type-in program for creating software based sprites along with a couple of demo programs.

• Atari Videodisc System - Using an Atari 8-bit computer as a laserdisc controller.

• DUPing BASIC - A way to automatically enable and disable BASIC when entering and leaving DOS.

• Disk Games for Your XEGS - Though the XEGS was a cartridge based game system, you could still connect a standard Atari floppy disk drive externally and play disk based games that work with Atari 8-bit computers.

• Electra-Ball - A type-in futuristic sports games in which you manipulate deflectors to get the ball to go where you want.

Reviews

• Turboword - The first full-featured 80-column word processor for the Atari 8-bit. It required an 80-column expansion board and monitor which were non-standard for the Atari.

• Quintopus - Basically a port expander for Atari 8-bit computers that allows for more peripherals to be attached.

Columns

• Database DELPHI - Help using the Delphi online service from an Atari user's perspective.

• The End User - A look back at the last four years of the column which included various interviews, new products, etc.

• Game Design Workshop - A continuation of a tutorial on Player/Missile graphics as well as continued work on BASIC Invaders, a Space Invaders clone.

Departments

• Editorial - Some newspaper column gives a half-baked criticism of video games in general. Meanwhile, this issue of ANALOG is dedicated to gaming.

• Reader Comment - One reader writes in about his perception of the lack of support for Atari 8-bit machines.

• 8-Bit News - Covox announces text adventure game Escape From Planet X featuring speech synthesis; Super Database 1-2-3 database and report generator available for Atari 8-bit; Cheat!, a program that allows modifications of 120 games to add unlimited lives, released; SpartaDOS X released; and more.

• M/L Editor - A type-in program designed to assist with entering machine language programs published in ANALOG.

• Basic Editor II - A type-in program designed to assist with entering BASIC programs that are published in ANALOG.

...and more!