Best of Compute! and Gazette (1988)

Compute! had a number of spin-off magazines that covered specific computers. Compute!'s Gazette for the Commodore 64 was by far the most popular of these. One of the things published in this magazine (and virtually all computer magazines of the 1980s) were type-in programs. This was a way to get software basically for free and some of it was quite good. You just had to put in a little work. If you didn't want to put in that work, often these programs were also available on disk for a reasonable price. This particular issue of Gazette is a best of issue that includes some of the best software published by Gazette. There are 68 programs included and you didn't have to type them in because it came with a disk. Contents includes:

Strategy Games

Chess - Includes some details of the algorithm used. Allows you to add and remove pieces so that you can undo mistakes or setup specific scenarios.

Power Poker - Can be played against the computer or another player. This is sort of a two-dimensional poker game played on a 5x5 grid so that each card is part of two hands. The goal is to order the 25 cards that you get in a way to get the most points.

Solitaire - A pretty straightforward version of solitaire.

Sea Route to India - Similar to games like Westward Ho and Oregon Trail. In this game you must sail from Lisbon around Africa to India while overcoming various obstacles and managing your resources.

Campaign Manager - An election simulation. Choose the right states to campaign in, balance campaigning and rest and make other decisions that could win or lose the presidency.

Pool - A one or two player pool game in which you must sink as many balls as possible.

Bingo 64 - Up to four players can play this computerized version of Bingo.

Action Games

Q-Bird - A Q*Bert like game in which you control a baby bluebird that can't quite fly as he avoids predators out to get him.

Space Gallery - An arcade game reminiscent of Galaga or Galaxian.

Whirlybird - A more complex version of breakout in which you are a spinning bird flinging eggs at the bricks below you.

Prisonball - A two player game that combines the features of Pong and Breakout.

Quickchange - A combination of three puzzle games: Flip Flop - step on all of the squares on the grid to change their color while avoiding the moving black squares; Missing Pieces - Similar to Flip Flop but now there are holes to avoid; No Turning Back - Similar to the previous two games but now when you step on a square it disappears.

Saloon Shootout - Shoot mugs before they fall off the bar while making sure bandits don't steal your bullets.

Props - As a pigeon, find the coop with your mate while avoiding the spinning propellers.

Powerball - Another variation of breakout. In this one adds in some of the elements of Arkanoid (i.e. power-ups that give you increased abilities).

Laser Beam - Avoid the bouncing balls, shoot them to make them safe to touch and then catch them. There is a safe zone you can stand in for a rest as well.

_{Table of Contents from The Best of Compute! and Gazette (1988)}

Programming Utilities

Fast Assembler - A compact assembler that only uses 2600 bytes and can assemble to disk or memory.

Disk Editor - View and alter individual bytes on disk.

Fast File Copier - Quickly make single or multiple backups of individual files. Also allows deleting, renaming and more.

Omega Sort - A fast sort routine for multi-dimensional arrays.

Automatic Syntax Checker - Checks that every BASIC line you enter is a valid statement.

X BASIC - This extension to BASIC adds a variety of commands to make adding graphics and sound to your programs easier.

Graphics Utilities

Fontier - An 80-column character editor for the Commodore 128 that can be used in CP/M and Commodore 64 mode in addition to Commodore 128 mode.

Expandable Graphics Dumps - Gives you the ability to print hi-res screens from Print Shop, Doodle, Koala and other programs straight to the Commodore 1526 or MPS-802 printer.

Hi-Res Screen Dump - Somewhat similar to the above but works with the Commodore 1525 and MPS-801 printers.

Sprite Magic - A sprite editor for the Commodore 64.

Fast Hi-Res Screen Dump - A high speed screen dump program that works with Epson, Gemini and compatible printers.

Applications

Skyscape - Displays constellations and planets as seen from any position on Earth and date from 1977 onward.

Number Construction Kit - An educations math program for kids with a construction theme.

Home Financial Calculator - Allows you to calculate a wide variety of budgetary items. The main menu lets you chose Future Value with Periodic Interest, Future Value with Interest Compounded Continuously, Future Value with Cash Flows, Withdrawal of Funds, Net Present Value and Calculator Mode. Designed to be easily modifiable so that you can add your own calculations.

Budget Planner - A mini spreadsheet designed to handle weekly and monthly income and expenses for a year.

Cataloger - A tool to aid in organizing your disk library.

_{Back cover of The Best of Compute! and Gazette (1988)}

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Tuesday, May 10, 2022