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Return to adamcon.org | Adam News Index | Volume 89
ADAMCON.TXT:Ad for ADAMCON 01
ALNK3PLS.TXT:ADAMLink III+ REVIEW
AMERDESG.TXT:PRICE LIST FOR GROUP SALES
AWAUGPGM.TXT: GENERAL PROGRAMING TIPS
BARRYS1B.TXT: BARRYS BABBLINGS HOW TO START A LOCAL AUG
BARRYS2B.TXT: BARRYS BABBLINGS SOME REALITIES
BARRYSB2.TXT: BARRYS BABBLINGS SOME REALITIES
BARYPTCH.TXT: THE BARRY PATCH
BAWGOBAS.TXT: GOBASIC REVIEW:By HARDNOSED HARRY
BBSNTWRK.TXT: NATIONAL ADAM BBS NETWORK
BOBPICT.PGM: Rle Picture
BROWSE1.TXT: BROWSING NEWSLETTERS
BROWSE2.TXT: JULY PSAN (Puget Sound Annual Retreat Info.)
FRAGILE.TXT: TIMELESS BATTLE
LINKCITY.TXT: STARLINK CITIES(Starlink is a discount phone service)
MMSGNEWS.TXT: MMSG NEWS COMING SOON
MOD3TEC2.TXT: TECHNICAL INFO ON MODULE #3 CON'T
MOD3TEK2.TXT: TECHNICAL INFO ON MODULE #3 CON'T
NATIONL1.TXT: NATIONAL AUG
NATIONL2.TXT: NATIONAL AUG
PRACTPGM.TXT: NEWS FROM PRACTICAL PROGRAMS
PSANREVU.TXT: Review of "Easy as A,B,C & 1,2,3"
PSANRLEV: Basic program
README.TXT:ADAM NEWS NETWORK......ANN
REEDY.TXT: REEDY SOFTWARE
RND.TXT: RANDOM (?) NUMBERS
RVEZCMGO.TXT: REVIEW EASY COME, EASY GO
STARLINK.TXT: GENERAL STARLINK INFORMATION
Special Printing
Most of my word processing is preparing newsletters, labels, list, etc. I seldom use italics and often need double wide printing for titles, headlines, an such. I know you can imbed print codes in a SpeedyWrite document to change the print font, but it is much easier to use the (CTR) / for double wide. When booting SpeedyWrite, I type in the code for double wide when it asks for italics. If you have a different favorite, just input the code for that instead.
Catalog files
I have been searching for years to come up with a good way to print out the catalogs from disks and tapes. I have seen the double and triple column programs, but you can't edit these. A very simple solution has been in front of my face for quite some time but I didn't see it until now. SpeedyWrite has the capability to capture anything on the screen to the current workspace. All you have to do is: 1) Catalog the disk or tape. 2) Press - shift + SmartKey IV. 3) Press escape. Now your catalog is in the workspace and can be edited, printed, stored, etc. I have been capturing similar catalogs into one file; 'PD Clips', 'PaintFORMS', 'N&B issue vol'. I can add new volumes at any time and print out all or any portion for labels or pages to keep in a book. I can keep my file books up-to-date without patching or scribbling.
EASY AS A,B,C & 1,2,3
Wizard's Lair Software
A great new educational program for the Adam has just been introduced by Wizard's Lair Software. This is the first of a planned series and includes two different types of exercises.
The program comes on two disks. The first disk is a loader for the program and the second disk contains the individual exercises and data. One of the nicest parts of this program is the unique way it uses clip art from such programs as PowerPaint, Clipper, FontPower, and SpritePower to enhance its exercises. To load the program you place disk #1 in your drive and select which exercise you wish to do. You have a choice between EA Spell and EA Compare. To make your selection you use the joystick up for Spell, down for Compare and to the left to quit. You make your selection to the bright music of Turkey in the Straw. After making your selection, you are told to remove disk #1 and replace it with disk #2. The only real problem my children and I had with this program was the necessity to change disks often. EA Spell is for children in the third grade and above. My son James (a third grader and a rotten speller) found some of the words difficult but enjoyed the challenge. The computer shows you a picture of the word, spells it for you and then asks you to copy the word. After copying the word correctly, you are asked to type the word again without any help. If you catch an error in your spelling before you press enter, you can backup and retype the part that is incorrect. Note: The backspace does not erase the letters as it backs up. When you are ready to leave EA Spell, type "END" to return to the menu. At this point you must remove disk #2 and replace it with disk #1.
EA Compare was the favorite part of the program for my sons, especially Johnny (age 4) and Joey (age 6). You are shown three pictures and are asked to pick the picture that is different from the others. You push up on the joystick to select the center picture, right for the one to the right and left for the one on the left. You score 10 points for each correct answer. You are then asked if you wish to continue. If you finish the exercise, you will receive a final score. The only thing I'd change about Compare would be to add a random factor so that the same pictures would not be presented in the exact same order everytime the exercise is booted. I hope that Wizard's Lair will continue this series and maybe add data packs that you could buy to supplement the two exercises in this set. We need more educational programs of this caliber.
**************
DON'T MISS IT!!
The FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION of the ADAM USERS OF
NORTH AMERICAwill be taking place in
Orlando, Florida
on October 7-10!!!
It would seem that every major Adam User Group and hardware and software supplier as well as the GREAT PROGRAMMERS who are keeping Adam Users excited to be ALIVE....are all going to be
there.JUST IMAGINE SEEING SOL SWIFT IN THE FLESH, and BIG JOHN, AND THE LUSCIOUS MISS AMERICA OF THE ADAM WORLD, PAT HARRINGTON and TONY MOREHEN and GUY COUSINEAU .....just to name a few.
And rumor has it that Mickey Mouse will be in the area and....and... WOULD YOU BELIEVE ONE OF THE DOOR PRIZES WILL BE A HARD DRIVE PROVIDED BY CLASSIC COMPUTERS!!
Want to know more? Contact: Monte Neece
1048 Winter Springs Blvd.
Winter Springs, FL 32708
(407) 699-6887
Your SYSOP
HELP SPREAD THE WORD.
Thanks to Bob Stroud and to Gerry St Peter, who authored this article. ED.
The following item was provived by the ADAM News Network and originated with Dean Roades of the 463 ADAM User's Group.
SpeedyWrite Tips FROM DEAN ROADES OF 463 AUG.
Special Printing
Most of my word processing is preparing newsletters, labels, list, etc. I seldom use italics and often need double wide.
printing for titles, headlines, and such. I know you can imbed print codes in a SpeedyWrite document to change the print font, but it is much easier to use the (CTR) / for double wide. When booting SpeedyWrite, I type in the code for double wide when it asks for italics. If you have a different favorite, just input the code for that instead.
Catalog files
I have been searching for years to come up with a good way to print out the catalogs from disks and tapes. I have seen the double and triple column programs, but you can't edit these. A very simple solution has been in front of my face for quite some time but I didn't see it until now.
SpeedyWrite has the capability to capture anything on the screen to the current workspace. All you have to do is:
1) Catalog the disk or tape. 2) Press- Shift + SmartKey IV. 3) Press escape.
Now your catalog is in the workspace and can be edited, printed, stored, etc. I have been capturing similar catalogs into one file; 'PD Clips', 'PaintFORMS', 'N&B issue vol'. I can add new volumes at any time and print out all or any portion for labels or pages to keep in a book. I can keep my file books up-to-date without patching or scribbling.
GAME REVIEWS
The following Game reviews were provided by the ADAM News Network, ANN.
MYSTERY
by S & A Software
Mystery beckons. You have just received an invitation to solve a gruesome murder in the swank mansion of Mr. Vic Tim.
When you arrive, all the suspects and possible murder weapons have already been assembled in the Drawing Room. You must carefully analyse all the clues given in order to determine who killed Mr. Tim, in what room, and with which weapon. The killer is sly and devious. You must use all your powers of deduction and have some faith in Lady Luck to find all the correct answers as quickly as possible.
Using the joystick, you first move the cursor to the room of your choice. You have a choice of five rooms: the Gym room, the Bedroom, the Hall, the Pool room, and the Steam room.
Next you pick the murderer from clips of several lethal beauties on the left side of the screen by placing the cursor on your selection. Then you move the cursor to the left side of the screen to choose the weapon.
MYSTERY CONT.,
After your selections are made, the computer goes over your choices and then gives you hints as to which ones are correct or incorrect. This hints range from rather vague to extremely helpful. It would help to make a chart and check off all eliminated persons/items/rooms as you go.
On solving the mystery correctly, you are told how many turns it took, what your final score is, and asks if you wish to play again. In all the times I played this game, I never noticed any repetition and found the game enjoyable each time.
This game reminds me of similar games previously released for the Adam--but the presentation and ease of use were much better than in the other similar type games. I liked the use of what appeared to be clip art of women's faces as the murder suspects as opposed to just lists of names that has been used before.
This is a great game and I hope there will be more games in the future from S & A Software.
DRAGONFIRE
by Imagic
My sons and I have been avid players of Dragonfire on our Atari 2600 for quiet some time. It was always one of our favorite games although we seldom got past the White Dragon.
When we received the Adam version, we couldn't wait to sit down and boot it up. Wow!! There is no comparing it to the 2600 version.
Its a whole new and definitely more exciting (also more dangerous according to my oldest) game.
Dragonfire is a one or two player game and you can start at any of 9 levels. On levels 1 and two it is very similar to the 2600 version. You must cross the moat and then pick up all the treasures without getting burned to a crisp by the dragon (which changes colors on each level as in the 2600 version). Beginning on level 3, crossing the moat becomes more dangerous as the drawbridge starts opening and closing. It is safest to time your crossing when the drawbridge is closed, although my son has had some success with jumping the open bridge. (I always end up hitting my face against the castle wall when I try to jump.) Once you enter the room with the dragon, you also have to face an elfin like creature who will try his best to slay your man. Levels 4 and 5 are just tougher versions of Level 3.
Starting with Level 6, you have a new danger to contend with. There is an archer in the castle tower shooting arrows at you. You cannot afford to stay in any one spot more than a few seconds as his aim is deadly on target. On both this and Level 7, you do not have to worry with the moving drawbridge. Once you clear the moat, you have the dragon and elfin creature to deal with as you gather treasures and you now have a hidden archer shooting arrows at you.
Beginning with Level 8, you have the moving drawbridge again, as well as all the opponents in the previous rounds.
In comparing this to the Atari version, everything is a great improvement. The graphics are superb. When your man falls in the water while trying to cross the moat, you see and hear the water splash. My youngest likes to jump his man against the castle wall just to see him slide in to the water after his collision. In the room with the dragon, the dragon does not move as in the Atari version, but just sits in one place and directs his fiery breath in random directions (usually right where you are standing if you are unlucky enough to have stayed in one place more than a second). In this room, the treasures are drawn in great detail so you see what you are picking up. Also your man is much larger than when crossing the moat and you can see him actually running.
This is really a great adaptation of the arcade game. My sons have already informed me that they will only go back to the Atari version, if the Adam is not available when they want to play.
FACEMAKER
by Spinnaker
This is probably my youngest's favorite Adam program. He also enjoys the Smurf Paint and Play cartridge, but he isn't big enough to understand it as well as this one.
This great program is actually three in one. First you can choose to build a face, by pressing "1" on your joystick. You then see a list of parts that you can build your face from. The list is made up of the graphic part of the face, so a child who cannot yet read can still enjoy the exercises. You can select any of the following parts to make your face: mouth, eyes, ears, noses, and hair.
To make your selection of a body part you wish to define, press the "*" button on the joystick. For example, if you wish to select a mouth, move the cursor to the graphic lips and press "*". You will then have a selection of six different mouths. After placing the cursor by the mouth you wish to select, you can then change the color of the mouth by pressing the "#" button. When the mouth is the color and shape you desire, press "*" again to return to the main Build a Face menu. Each face part has six different styles and can be in a variety of colors. My youngest made a man with green lips, magenta eyes and red ears.
After building your face, you can use the face in the second part of the program. In this part you can animate the face by using a simple form of programming. The program comes with a keypad template which looks like this:
1 2 3 S F C W TE * #
Here is a quick definition of each of the keys on the
template:
1--Build A Face 2--Program Face 3--Memory Game S--Smile F--Frown C--Cry W--Wink T--Tongue E--Ear Wiggle
After pressing "2" for Program, you are instructed to press "*" when you are ready to program. When you press "*" a long rectangular box is drawn at the bottom of the screen. As you press the various letter (S,F,etc.) these will appear in the box. You may continue pressing the different letters until the box is full or you wish to end (by pressing "*" again), whichever comes first. The face then performs as you have programmed it. This is fun even for adults. This part of the program helps children become familiar with some computer fundamentals such as: menus, cursors, return keys, space bars, simple programming and simple graphics.
The last part of the program is selected by pressing "3". This is a variation on the Simon games. Instead of repeating the same tune, you have to repeat the same animation game sequence. For example, if the face winks, frown, and then sticks it tongue out at you, you must press the keys on the keypad (W, F,T) to make it repeat the same exact sequence. You must start over when you get out of sequence. This is a great educational game for the very young to those of us that are still young at heart.
The foregoing reviews were authored by
ADAMLink III+ REVIEW
BY Hardnosed Harry* & Barry Wilson.
[*As you no doubt are well aware, Hardnosed Harry is the critics' critic, having nothing positive to say about anything. It is even said that immediately after his delivery at the age of 2 minutes, he was critical of the physicians delivery technique as well as the delivery room lighting. HARRY'S COMMENTSD WILL APPEAR IN CAPITAL LETTERS AS HARRY ALWAYS SEEMS TO SPEAK & WRITE
IN LOUD CAPITAL LETTERS.]
ADAMLink III+ is a terminal program that supports the use of theinternal ADAMLink modem or external HAYES compatible serial modems at baud rates up to 2400 baud, the SMARTWriter or parallel dot maxtrix printer, and video or 80 column serial terminal output in terminal mode or output to both devices at one time.
ADAMLink III+ supports file transfers using capture for text files andXModem for binary or text files.
ADAMLink III+ can be split into FIVE functional parts:
1. Dialing
1. Enter Number to Dial
2. Hang Up
3. Answer
4. Re-dial
2. Terminal Mode Commands
3. Parameter Setup
1. Printer
1. SmartWriter
2. Parallel Printer
2. Terminal
1. Graphics
2. 80 Column serial terminal
3. Combined output
3. Modem
1. ADAMLink Modem
2. Serial Modem
4. Saving or recalling of parameter setup
4. File transfer
1. Text Capture
2. XModem
5. Documentation
5. This review is in a large part based on the excellent documentation
as it expresses the concepts in a much better way than I could.
OF COURSE IT DOES, ANYTHING WOULD EXPRESS ITSELF BETTER THAN YOU.
Why thank you Hardnosed Harry, I think that is the nicest thing you ever
said about me.
THINK, YOU THINK, VERY FUNNY.
The author, who has done an excellent job identifies himself and asks you to:
Please report any problems or bugs to the author at:
Tom Clary
9015 Esther Dr.
Loveland, Ohio 45140
Include S.A.S.E. for reply
or send message to author on CompuServe ID#71330,3636
2. Terminal Mode Commands:
Certain keys have special functions assigned to them.
a) <HOME> will erase the graphics display of any text. It will not
affect a serial terminal.
b) <WILD CARD> switchs between TERMINAL and COMMAND mode .
c) <UNDO> will stop printing.
d) <PRINT> will print a selected portion of the graphics
display. The <UP> and <DOWN> arrows can be used to select which portion of the
screen to print.
e) <SHIFT> + <PRINT> will start or stop the printing of characterscontinuously as they are received.
f) <CLEAR> will erase all characters received but not displayed.
g) <INSERT> will pause or restart characters being received from the
host.
3. Parameter Setup:
The SELECT OPTIONS choice selects the setup menu options.
3.1. Printer:
3.1.1 SmartWriter:
3.1.2 Parallel Printer:
3.2. Terminal:
Terminal output can be directed to graphics, a serial terminal, or to
both.
3.3. Modem:
ADAMLink modem or external RS-232 HAYES compatible modems connected
with an Orphanware RS-232 or compatible interface.
4. File Transfer:
File transfer is initiated from the FILE menu choice. Text Capture or
XModem file transfer options are available.
I found that the above features make this the most powerful, easy to use (SmartKey driven), and versatile Modum program ( or set of programs around). The update from AdamLink III to AdamLink III + is only $ 5.00.
I very highly recommend this program to anyone with a modem of any time and to those without modems, I would recommend this program & a modem. It will open
new worlds to you.
Now for the part of the review I know you are waiting for, Hardnosed Harry's comments. Let me first say, Harry loaded the program & used it for several hours, cursing and mumbling the whole time. I heard him say I KNOW THERE'S A BUG OR DEFECTIVE IN HERE SOMEWHERE. DAMN IT, I'LL FIND IT YET, CURSE, CURSE.
After 2 hours a sparkle came into Harry's eye, I know that sparkle, he finally found something to be critical of.
I said well Harry let's have it.
NO BUILT IN SPELLING CHECKER. THATS THE DEFECT. I GIVE IT A LOWER RATING BASED ON NO BUILT IN SPELLING CHECKER.
Well folks, there you have it. If you are looking for a modem program with a built in spelling checker, this is not for you. But if you just want a modem progrma that does every thing and anything you ever wanted in a modem program, including supporting parrell, serial interfaces, modems, printers, xmodem transfer, etc. then I would recommend this to you.
YOU TALK TOO MUCH WILSON, NO BUILT IN SPELLING CHECKER SUMS IT UP.
Amie of American Designs indicated that there are special prices temporarily in effect for GROUP purchases. These are NOT for sales to individuals. They will only accept an order from a group in the quantities indicated and will then bulk ship to the group which will have to make the distribution to their members.
As near as I can remember the following are the prices she gave me. (check with Amie at 800-524-0809 just prior to ordering to be sure. GROUP SALES ONLY, NO INDIVIDUAL CALLERS).
Coleco Disk Drives: 5-10 $ l35 each ll-50 $ 125 each 50+ $ 120 each.
Data Drives: ll-50 $ l5 each 50+ $ l4 each
Key Boards: (Same price as Data Drives).
Blank Tapes : 5-50 $ 2 each 50+ $1.75 each
Joy Stick: 5-50 $ 2 each 50+ $ l.75 each.
Adam Printers: 5-10 $ 60 each ll-25 $ 55 each 26-100 $ 50 each
Also ask for other items: software (Electronic Flash Card Maker; Smart Letters & Forms, Zaxxon, ExperType); power supplies, etc.
REMEMBER ONLY GROUP SALES.
ARTILLERY DUEL
by Xonox
This game was written with a great sense of humor. This program is based on the old artillery games that have been around for ages. You know the ones...that you have to figure out the angle of the barrel, the amount of powder ot use, etc. in order to blow up the other persons cannon.
Although the graphics are for the most part simple, they are beautiful--clear crisp images. Each scene is a mountain with cannons facing each other on either side of the mountain. The object is to blow away the cannon of your opponent. This is a two player game with three optional levels. Each person can choose their own level independently of the other player.
After choosing the level of play, the first cannoneer must make his decisions as to the angle of the barrel (from 00 to 90 in increments of 5) and how much powder (from 00 to 99 in increments of 1). The player moves the cursor with his joystick to select his choices. You only have 50 seconds in which to make your decision. As soon as you have made your choice press the fire button to fire. Your opponent then has the same opportunity to blow your cannon away. If either cannon has in any way been shot, the screen will show a damage report. The damage could be anywhere from 1% up.
When one side succeeds in blowing up the other side's cannon, the screen explodes. Then to the beat of the drums, out march a group of the winning side's soldiers. Sometimes they must be suffering from shell shock as they forget which way they're marching and get out of formation. The sounds used are terrific. Before the battle begins, you can even hear birds calling.
This is a terrific game except for one problem. When does it quit? We've played to a score of 15 to 20 (35 battles in all) without any indication that the game was getting any nearer to the end. For adults, this possibly wouldn't be a problem, but it begins to get old after about 20 games for children.
This is a modification of an excellent article by Peter Hartzler which appeared in the June AWAUG (Wash.DC area) newsletter. I particularly liked this article as I feel not enough is being written for the beginning programmer and this article gives an excellent approach to some of the problems involved. I have modified it slightly to attempt to save space & to give explanations as to what each line actually does. We have this newsletter available in our newsletter library and suggest you read the actual article also. It is very good article.
A good first step in program writing is to WRITE down exactly what you want the program to do, including: what data will be used, where it will come from, what the output will be, and how ADAM will arrive at it's results. This can be very difficult but once you have this much, the rest of the program design will be easy.
Take a program which takes two numbers from the operator, and divides the first by the second, and then displays the answer. Also remembering that if the second number is zero (division by zero), then the program should display a message such as "ILLEGAL DENOMINATOR", and recycle to the beginning for another try. AT THIS POINT, WHY DON'T YOU TRY TO WRITE SUCH A PROGRAM BEFORE FINISHING THIS ARTICLE.
^DPeter Hartzler^E continues that once you have decided just what you want the program to do, your next step is to design the structure of the program, wlhich means setting down what the machine will do first, next, etc. until it complete's its run of the program. If your program uses many branches orloops you may find flow charts to be an aid. Another approach is to write out the program structure in outline form (this is also called pseudocode).
START GET NUMERATOR GET DENOMINATOR IF DENOMINATOR = 0 DISPLAY "ILLEGAL DENOMINATOR" GO TO START ELSE COMPUTE RESUT = NUMERATOR/DENOMINATOR END IF DISPLAY RESULT END:
You may go through several revisions before you are finished with the preliminary program design. Also when you go back and modify your program you can use the design as a reference to see just where you need to make what changes.
As you design the program, look for operations which you need to do more than once. Rather than writing these out each time you need them, you can save a lot of trouble by writing the routine once and calling it (GOSUB in basic) from the places you need it. This will save time and better if there is an error in a subroutine, one set of changes will be all that is needed, rather than changing it throughout the program for each repetition of that operation.
The strategy of using a section of code more than once, as a subroutine is key to the concept of modular programming. It also makes debugging programs a lot easier.
Peter Hartzler then gives these thoughts on variable names. There is really no excuse for using only single letters for variable lnames. Most interpreters allow quite a few characters in a variable name (smartbasic does), and you should take advantage of this. If you write code which has lots of x's, y's and z's and other sorts of alphabet soup, it may run fine but is very hard to read, especially after it has set on the shelf for awhile and you forgot what "q" represents. Avoid cryptic variable names.
Smart Basic allows long variable names, but ONLY looks at the first two characters to decide what variable it is (not counting subscripts). So, NU is equivalent to NUMERATOR and/or NUMBER for SmartBasic purposes. Watch out for this but make your vairable names readable (plain english variable names are easier to remember & use, especially if you are working on a program longer than one screen).
Our (Peter's) little program might come out looking like this.
00 REM THIS PROGRAM TAKES TWO NUMBERS AND DIVIDES THE FIRST BY THE SECOND 10 REM START 20 INPUT "Numerator? "; NUMERATOR 30 INPUT "Denuminator? "; DENOMINATOR 40 IF DENOMINATOR = 0 THEN PRINT "ILLEGAL DENOMINATOR": GOTO 10: REM START. 50 RESULT = NUMBERATOR/ DENOMINATOR 60 PRINT NUMBERATOR; " ? "; DENOMINATOR; " = "; RESULT 99 END.
While this example may seem trivial, it is the first embrionic skeleton of a full blown calculator, or even a spread sheet program. You have to start somewhere, and you have to plan ahead. This is also a good simple example for beginners which will show them the steps necessary to go from an idea to a program to carry out that idea.
Peter Hartzier continues, indicating that it is a good idea to embed little messages (or REM statements) in your program telling yourself what you are doing at a particular point in the program. This is a great help when you later go back to a program and try to figure out why you wrote it that why or how it actually works. Also if you are writing this for someone else it will allow them to follow your thought process and will make it easier for them to modify or customize for their own purposes.
The who purpose of computer languages (such as Basic) is to make it possible for humans to read the instructions in something approaching Enlgish. To this end it is worthwhile to use self explanitory variable names, include comments to explain what you're doing, and use subroutines to centralize specific operations.
Besides summarizing and modifying the above article of Peter Hartzier slightly, I have had the following explanation:
LINE EXPLANATIONS.
00 REM is a REM(ark) or note to yourself & does not have any actual effect on the program.
10 Also a REM statement
20 INPUT whens ADAM is waiting for you to input or type in some information. The word(s) in the "s after Input are printed to the screen so you have an idea what ADAM is asking you to input, in this case Numerator. The ; NUMERATOR means that from now on whatever value was input will be called NUMERATOR for the purposes of this program and whever the program asks for NUMERATOR, the actual value previously typed in by you as an input will be used.
30 (Same as 20 but for Denominator).
40 The IF means exactly that IF the following is true, then do what is indicated. IF the following was not true, then this line would not be used in the program but skipped over. This line only comes into use IF the condition specified is true. Here IF the (value input for ) denominator is 0, the the program prints to the screen "ILLEGAL DENOMINATOR". Next this line 40 has GOTO 10, this sends the program back to line l0 and it reruns from that point. The REM start, is merely to tell us why it is going back to line l0 or what line l0 actually did.
50 We are creating another variable which is called RESULT and we are setting result equal to NUMERATOR/DENOMINATOR (numerator divided by denominator).
60 Prints to the screen the value for NUMERATOR which we previously input , then what is in the "s (which is /), then the value we previously input for DENOMINATOR, then what is in the next set of "s (which is =) and finally the value which ADAM calculated in line 50 for Result. 99 END, ends the program at this point. This program could be modified so that lines after line 60 and before line 99 asked if we wished to calculate another division and then if the answer was Yes, send the program back to line l0 and if the answer will other than yes, allow the program to go to line 99 and end. Such lines could be as follows: 70 INPUT "DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE? Y OR N "; answer$ [Line 70 has ADAM ask you if you want to continue and then wait for your answer. Your answer will now become the variable answer$. The $ is necessary as we are dealing with words or letters and not numbers at this point]
80 IF answer$ = "Y" or if answer$ = "y" THEN GOTO 10.
Line 80 has ADAM see if your answer was Y or y and if it was it sends the program back to line l0 to repeat or continue. If the answer was NOT Y or y then the program continues to line 99 and ends. Since some people may not have been using capital letters, the or statement was necessary to cover an input of y instead of Y.
Try playing around with this program. Can you think how the use of HOME to clear the screen might improve the program at some point ? Can you think of how the use of a delay routine such as FOR X = 1 to 1000 : NEXT X might improve the program at some point ? Try adding these features to the program. Again I want to thank Peter Hartzier and AWAUG (June 89 issue) for this excellent article on Programming tips and the step by step writing of a simple program.
HOW TO START A LOCAL AUG CONT
This article continued from last issue. We have discussed obtaining names for local AUG,setting up BBS, starting a newsletter. Once you have the names of prospective members who must offer them a reason to join. The BBS & newsletter are two possibilities. PD (public domain, NON-copy righted) software is another. These can be sold to members for cost of media (disk,tape), postage,if any & small profit for AUG to help pay costs of mailings etc. Many of the AUGS, national & local have excellent PD libraries & will be happy to at least sell you some of these at a low price & a few will probably give you a few to get you started. Since they are PD you are free to duplicate them & sell or distribute to your members. ^Q^DREMEMBER WITH COPYRIGHTED SOFTWARE IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL OR DISTRIBUTE & the Adam world considers the Piracy of copyrighted software a very serious offense.
But with the PD materials you can use a large PD library as another reason for members to join your new local AUG. PD comes in all types, games, utilities,pictures, music, etc. and most other AUGS will be glad to help you get started. Group projects are another great reason for members to join your AUG. You will need someone with some technical ability. Most other AUGS which do group projects will usually be willing to share the instructions, details, etc. with you. AWAUG (Wash.DC) has done some excellent work, such as producing memory expanders, 80 col. terminals, etc. for their members. With their plans & details, your group could also work on such projects. Of course the spread of Adam information is also a drawing card and your other activities such as the BBS, newsletter,etc. can serve to give you new Adam info for your members.
VERY IMPORTANT KEEP IN TOUCH WITH AS MANY OF THE OTHER AUGS AS POSSIBLE, whether this be by exchanging newsletters with them, subscribing to their newsletters, calling their BBS,etc. Much information can be gained in this manner. ALSO work with other AUGS on projects (for the good of Adam) that they may be promoting or having. Then when you need similar help it will be available to you. SINCE COLECO DESERTED US WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, MUST HELP EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP ADAM AS GREAT AS ITS POTENTIAL ALWAYS WAS.
Postage costs money, printing costs money, discs & tapes cost money. IT COSTS MONEY TO RUN AN AUG. Some people are takers and not givers, some Adamites are people and therefore are takers and not givers. You cannot be a one man AUG. Eventually you will go broke, go crazy, or both.
In the beginning it is OK to expect to do most of the work & put out most of the money but at some point you must realize that you cannot force an AUG on takers and if they will not give with their time, money, etc. there is no point in trying to maintain the AUG. Try to involve as many people as possible in the effort. Even if they have NO experience, no knowledge, etc. they can still make phone calls, copy discs or tapes, type in programs or other articles for you, help assemble the newsletter, type mailing labels,etc. This is important to preserve your sanity and to let others feel involved, that they are doing their part. What you are doing has value, what you are offering them has value and it they will not pay for this value, eventually you must no longer count them as members. This is very difficult as you will want members so badly, want you AUG to grow in size, that you will over look many things. But at some point it is not fair to those paying dues, doing working, etc. to carry others who are not. That is not to say that we (St.Louis AUG) has not done this. Usually it will be with a young (teenage) member who cannot afford the dues,etc. but then I try to make them do some typing or other work for the group. Costs are a continuing problem for AUGs. If you are lucky you may pick up some advertising in your newsletter from either local or national Adam suppliers, computer stores, etc. But don't count on it, I mean it when I say if you are lucky. You must charge for the services of the group, whether it be dues, subscription to newsletter, for items you are re-selling, etc. Adam supplies is another good service as many Adamites have no diea where to find replacement tapes, ribbons, etc. You can obtain these from various sources and stock some on hand for sale. You MUST make a small profit from these to help pay some of the AUG expenses and you MUST charge non-members more than members. There must be an incentive to join your AUG. These are just some of my thougths on Starting an AUG. It is hoped that others will respond with their hints & tips for future articles. CONTACT THE AUG IN WHICH THIS APPEARED OR THE ST.LOUIS AUG for further information or assistance in starting your own local AUG.
Postage costs money, printing costs money, discs & tapes cost money. IT COSTS MONEY TO RUN AN AUG. Some people are takers and not givers, some Adamites are people and therefore are takers and not givers. You cannot be a one man AUG. Eventually you will go broke, go crazy, or both.
In the beginning it is OK to expect to do most of the work & put out most of the money but at some point you must realize that you cannot force an AUG on takers and if they will not give with their time, money, etc. there is no point in trying to maintain the AUG.
Try to involve as many people as possible in the effort. Even if they have NO experience, no knowledge, etc. they can still make phone calls, copy discs or tapes, type in programs or other articles for you, help assemble the newsletter, type mailing labels,etc. This is important to preserve your sanity and to let others feel involved, that they are doing their part.
What you are doing has value, what you are offering them has value and it they will not pay for this value, eventually you must no longer count them as members. This is very difficult as you will want members so badly, want you AUG to grow in size, that you will over look many things. But at some point it is not fair to those paying dues, doing working, etc. to carry others who are not. That is not to say that we (St.Louis AUG) has not done this. Usually it will be with a young (teenage) member who cannot afford the dues,etc. but then I try to make them do some typing or other work for the group. Costs are a continuing problem for AUGs. If you are lucky you may pick up some advertising in your newsletter from either local or national Adam suppliers, computer stores, etc. But don't count on it, I mean it when I say if you are lucky. You must charge for the services of the group, whether it be dues, subscription to newsletter, for items you are re-selling, etc. Adam supplies is another good service as many Adamites have no diea where to find replacement tapes, ribbons, etc. You can obtain these from various sources and stock some on hand for sale. You MUST make a small profit from these to help pay some of the AUG expenses and you MUST charge non-members more than members. There must be an incentive to join your AUG. These are just some of my thougths on Starting an AUG. It is hoped that others will respond with their hints & tips for future articles. CONTACT THE AUG IN WHICH THIS APPEARED OR THE ST.LOUIS AUG for further information or assistance in starting your own local AUG.
This will be a collection of miscellaneous thoughts including those generated by the fact that most things have not two sides but three or more sides and that little interest is paid to the third or forth side of issues. I welcome your contributions and ideas for this column.
To continue from a previous column: MORE USES FOR YOUR MODEM.
A. Use as door stop. (This assumes you are not already using your Adam console as the door stop).
B. As a ray gun to scare small children. ZAP you are going to disappear.
C. On your house windows as a fake burglar alarm. Print out a neat notice with PRINT WORKS or some other program, saying "This house protected by ADAM Security Services & Alarms." There is no way the buglar will know it is only an Adam modem taped to your window.
D. To help balance out your Adam Set Up. My set up has my disk drive on the bottom with the printer balanced on it, the CPU then is balanced on the printer, with my second disk drive on top of that. I forget where ther power supply is but its in there some where. Anyway, some times you will find this does not balance well and the entire stack falls over on the floor. This is very upsetting as you must then rebuild the whole thing. I have found that a modum placed with care can help stabilize and balance out the set up. This is a very good use for your modem and I am suprised that the Coleco people did not mention it in their manual.
LETTERS TO ADAM
The following letter was received from an Adam owner whose name has been deleted in the interests of good taste and protection of that person's reputation, etc.
Dear Adam:
When I have a member of the opposite sex over to my apartment late at night and we start to get comfortable, my Adam Computer starts making sounds, throwing blue sparks, turning on and off. I do not know what to do. Please advise.
Very truly yours, Single Adam Owner
Dear Single Adam Owner:
I was quickly able to narrow your problem down to one of two possibilities. (l) You need to see your psychiatrist as you are obviously over-sexed in that you prefer someone of the opposite sex to your Adam computer, sick, very sick OR (2) You need to see your local AUG as you are obviously under-utilizing your Adam Computer if you have time to think of members of the opposite sex.
Once you have determined (by consulatation with your psychiatrist or local AUG) whcih problem is yours, you should (l) send your picture & phone number if it turns out you are oversexed or (2) join a local AUG immediately if your Adam is under-utilized.
The Barry Patch Advisor
Adam owners having similar problems are invited to write in with these problems and we shall attempt to handle them in a similar manner.
GOBASIC REVIEW By HARDNOSED HARRY
[Hardnosed Harry as you may well know is the most particular Adamite alive. He finds fault with everything. When I gave him the GOBASIC demo disk to review, he complained because I hadn't gift wrapped it]
[This review is ONLY of the demo GOBASIC disk distributed by TSF and it is expected that the final product will be more polished.]
First there are NEW COMMANDS that you will have to learn. I would have liked it better if they made less commands, maybe cut it down to one or two. Who wants all those commands.
GOBASIC has 28 BUILT IN ICONS (or little figures or symbols) that you can call just be typing PUTICON X at h,v (X is # of icon, h is horizontal and v is vertical). BUT WHAT if I wanted to have my icons play foot ball. Well with ll icons on a side, 2 more for each side for punting & field goals,that makes 26 and ONLY leaves 2 icons for officials and you need more than 2 officals for a football game. Only 28 icons is very impractical.
Then there is the PULL DOWN MENUS, well what about liability insurance. What if some user pulls a menu down on top of a letter or worse an incon. They could sue. No I don't want pull down menus.
Dialog boxes. All you do is type startdialog and you get a dialog box and exitdialog and it disappears. Seems simple enough but then you must put some dialog in it. Well thats the catch, you have to think of some dialog to put in the dialog box. If I could think of dialog, I would write novels or screen plays or something, so there, again a totally useless feature.
Changing the foreground color by using FCLOR = X or the Background color to be painted by using PCLOR = X, or the border color by using OUTERCOLOR X or even the window color by WDWCOLOR f,b is simple. BUT I have a green monitor and I will assure you that all these color changes didn't do much for me on my green monitor. MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED, FREE, A COLOR MONITOR WITH EACH GOBASIC SOLD. YAA, THATS A GOOD IDEA.
Also while I think of it you only get one kind of window. What if I wanted a bay window, or picture window, or full lenght floor to ceiling window. No very much of a choice is given you.
NOW THIS ONE WILL REALLY MAKE YOU ANGRY, THEY ONLY GIVE YOU A CHOICE OF SIX DIFFERENT FONTS. What if you want a different font for each day of the week, well what about that guys. You either have to design a 7th font (they do give you that option) or use one of the 6 build in fonts twice in one week. I mean, they make underwear for each day of the week. Come on guys, get with it.
As far as being able to underline fonts, make horizontal mirror images of fonts, vertical mirror images, rotate fonts, reverse fonts, and even more. Well its just going to make the fonts dizzy or upset or something and next thing you know we will have a strike on our hands.
Another flaw in GOBASIC is while you can put the windows up, down, left or right, what if you have them up and it rains. What about that. Maybe it would be safer without any windows at all. Also what about screens for the windows and what about storm windows. There is no option for storm windows. (Unless you paint the storm in grapics mode yourself, I guess).
GOBASIC can handle Disk drives ONE THRU SIX, a HARD DRIVE, TWO TAPE DRIVES & A RAMDRIVE. Well where are you going to get the money to buy 6 disk drives and even if you do, where will you put them. You can only stack about 4 on top of each before they all fall over. Another flaw.
Then they give you the ability to calculate Cosines, arctangents, logs, square roots, tangents,etc. Well I thought I was finished with all that when I flunked trigonometry or was it solid geometry. Anyway, who needs to be reminded of all those bad memories, anyway.
I am just hitting those points that upset me the most. Take output settings. Now here is where they really stick it to you. The go from PR#0 all the way to PR#15. Thats just too many choices. I like it simple, yes or no, black or white. Giving you l5 output choices, I mean to screen, Adam printer, other printer, 80 col. terminal (either EVE or OBS), etc. That means I have to buy an 80 col. terminal to be able to use all l5 outputs. Maybe the reason GOBASIC is so cheap is that they are going to make money selling 80 col. terminals so you can use PR#8 & PR#9. Who knows.
NOW ANOTHER BUMMER. You can draw a circle by typing RADIUS = x, CIRCLE h,v, thats it, it draws you a circle. If you use FCIRCLE you get a filled in circle. For a SQUARE all you need is LENGHT = X, SQUARE h,v. Also FSQUARE is a filled square. You can do rectangles just as easy. BUT WHAT IF YOU WANT A PENTAGON OR HEXAGON OR 99 SIDED FIGURE. Well they don't automatically give you those. You can still get them but not with an automatic command. They should have gone from l sided to 99 sided figures at least.
I won't even tell you what they do to sprites as it is too horrible to imagine, (rotation, coloration, hiding, finding, mirroring,reversing,etc.) . Its enough to give a sprite a nervous breakdown. They even STAMP those poor fragile sprites. Just inhuman.
Then you get choices like 30 column, 40 column, 60 column screens. Who wants to have to count all those characters to see if you are really getting them. For all I know, I might have 29, 39, and 59 columns.
These are only some of the things I don't like about GOBASIC. There is also its price. Hell, if you don't pay at least $99.99 for a program, it can't be worth much can it???
[I must ask that you consider the source of this review, HARDNOSED HARRY, before making a decision on GOBASIC. I have heard NO other commplaints about GOBASIC and in fact only very good things about it. But we felt for balance that HARDNOSED HARRY had a right to present his point of view.]
NATIONAL ADAM BBS NETWORK
Below is some information on a National Adam BBS Network being setup for Adam by BJ of Arkon BBS, Bob Blair of AWAUG and Larry of SOCAL (So.CA) BBS.
All ADAM BBSs are welcome, including ANET and BJs system. ALSO BJ & AWAUG HAVE MADE SOME WONDERFUL OFFERS AND INDUCEMENTS TO GET NEW BBSs TO JOIN IN.
The following are taken from exchanges of messages on AWAUG BBS.
FROM: Big John TO ALL SUBJ: BBSs
I am going to propose to Bob Blair (AWAUG) and Larry (SOCAL) that the three of us start to pick up the messages from each board once a week or so and start to pass them on. That way we c an start a real ¨ADAM COMM NET for the whole country. The cost to all thi s way would be considerably less than using CIS or PLINK, and we would h ave a dedicated user base. This could be the way to start the National U sers Group that many have talked about. BJ What do you think BOB? BJ
TO BIG JOHN FROM BOB BLAIR SUBJ: BBS Network
Starlink does give us the opportunity to reach out. Your idea of sharing a capture file of messages, and bulletins etc is a good one. I would propose that we initiate contacts with ADAM BBS' throughout the US, to include the A Net and others - a truly National ¨(non-denominational but a ll ADAM) linkage. I suspect it may have a snowball effect and from it something akin to a national users group may emerge - modern style Use r/Communication Group. I am anxious to contact groups that do not seem linked to the SOCAL/ AKRON/UP-AN-ADAM/TRADING POST kind of association that exists loosely now, and to firm up our relationships with the A-Net boards. (Kind of ¨l ike the "today" version of one tribe of cavemen deciding that another t ribe that also stands upright but looks a little different might be w orth visiting periodically and sharing hunting stories) - Zonker will l ike that one! Comments are welcome !! BOB
TO BOB BLAIR FROM BIG JOHN SUBJ: BBSs
Larry and I decided that you should be known as NET CENTRAL BJ
TO ALL : FROM HERMAN MASON JR. SUBJ: BBS/NET
Well this must be my LUCKY DAY, for me to call and see a TRUE ADAM HOOK- UP, without no discrimination. I do like the idea, and would love to see it nation wide. Will also mention the BBS/NET to all of my co-operators, and do whatever is needed to assist in making this a ¨go. I t has been a LOOOOOONG time comming but I am glad it is a reality, or at least almost one. HERMAN
TO ALL: FROM LARRY OVERMAN: SUBJ: ADAM CENTRAL
Big John Lingrel(AKRON adam users BBS) and Larry Overman (SOuthern CAlifornia adam users BBS) have both decided unanimously That Bob Blair (of AWAUG BBS) should be ADAMNET CENTRAL for this National Adam users Group we all hope that this will happen soon and that we all(ADAM Owners) will have a better insight into the ¨ADAM world besides just what is goin g on locally so everyone lets get involved and get this thing started Like NOW!!!!!!!!!!! Have Fun Bob!!!!!!!!!!!!
TO BJ & LARRY: FROM BOB BLAIR SUBJ: ADAM BBS Network
It will be fun to pursue ¨the idea of bringing the ¨ADAM users closer toge ther through BBS communications. Just to "hatch around" on the idea a bit - one phase would be to obtain reciprocal agreements with the BB S SYSOP's and offer a description of how the system will work. The featur es of the system could include the regular exchange of a message file cove ring a set period of time (we'll need some mailmen to make and deliver th e files on a schedule); The exchange of bulletins; exchange o f on-line Newsletters; and exchange of information on the files located o n various BBS' (kind of like a locator service). BJ, what do you have in mind for the changes to the BBS to facilitate this? Perhaps we can dedicate a File Library Section or two to the storage of these files? BOB.
TO BOB BLAIR: FROM BIG JOHN SUBJ: NET
Sounds good to me. We will need to get this word out to all the BBSs around the country who wish to participate. My offer of clocks for those that want ot start up an AKRON COMPATIBLE BOARD REMAINS. Hope that that will allow some standardization. That way, we can use XMODEM and crunched files to save time and space. BJ
TO BJ: FROM BOB BLAIR SUBJ: Clock board
That is a very generous offer and I suspect we will be making an offer to go along with yours. Will get details after conferring with Jack & Pete. BOB BLAIR
TO ALL SYSOPS : FROM BIG JOHN SUBJ: NAT NET
I am offering a free clock board and 35% off the cost of a HARD DISK interface to anyone that wants to run an AKRON COMPATIBLE BBS that will tie into the National NET.. I am doing this so that we can have an ease of tie in. We will be able ot renumber ¨messages and attach them right into the existing message bases so that everyone will have the same format. We are also adding ZMODEM transfer in the very near f uture so that file transfers will be even faster than they are now. You will really appreciate ZMO then. Call the Akron board for more details a nd I will be attending the ADAM CON after all, so will be looking forward to meeting many of you there. BJ
TO ALL: FROM BOB BLAIR SUBJ: ADAM BBS NETWORK
The network is beginning tonight. First read the new Bulletin on this BBS, then, use the NET command and see what is in the new NET library section. It will grow from nothing to something that you will want to check into on a regular basis. If you want to add to, or correspond with any of the messages/users in the messages within the files in NET, just leave a message in the regular AWAUG BBS message (P command) on this BBS. It is important that, at the beginning especially, we communicate to the other BBS users to establish the link that the ADAM BBS NETWORK is being established for. Be a part of the history of the ADAM! Bob
TO BIG JOHN : FROM BOB BLAIR BBS NET
I propose to start the message/Bulletin sharing on Wednesday night. The files will be stored in a Files Section Called 'NET' a it will take the place of what is now called the INFO file library section (we will put the info somewhere else). The file names could look like this: AKRN0725.MSG AWAU0804.BUL. The BBS' of origin abbreviations could be: AKRN for AKRON, AWAU for AWAUG, POST for Trading Post; UP&A for Up & ADAM, SOCA as it already is, SLUG (St Louis User's Group), etc. I think that a minimum of once a week the messages should be refreshed, twice a week for the more active boards. the Bulletins should only be changed when new ones are available of course. I ¨would also propose that suppor t be provided to new and growing boards, including those that need help to get to 1200 baud. I will speak with the AWAUG Officers on what the club can do to help other BBS'. Some may need more assistance than others inclding some clubs do not operate BBS' at all or only a few nights a week. All will be welcome, including those operated by vendors. What ya think? Bob
THE NATIONAL ADAM BBS NETWORK
YES - You are here as it begins. You are now on the cutting edge of the national alliance of ADAM BBS' and we need your help. Beginning today, the AWAUG BBS becomes the focal point for the ¨linking of ADAM User's Gro ups around the country via on-line Buletin Board Services (BBS). Sta rting small (the right way to begin) we are linking with other BBS' by downloading their Bulletins and a weeks worth of their Message base (som e cases more where needed) and placing them in a library section on this BBS called ¨NET. There, you will be able to read the messages from and to the users of other BBS systems, and their bulletins also. More import antly - you will be able to communicate with their users, and they with you. Eventually, you will see more and more ADAM Users Groups lin king to this NETWORK. And, you will see this BBS adopting features that make reviewing the messages from other User's Groups easier.
TO ADD an INCENTIVE to the linking of ADAM User's Groups, we are teaming up with the AKRON BBS and the SOCA BBS to offer any established ADAM User Group that would like to initiate a BBS the following assistance: If the User Group joins the ADAM BBS NETWORK and operates a BBS system USING the BBS SOFTWARE USED HERE, they will be PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE the following: ALL SOFTWARE (including BBS system configured and supplemented to run on their hardware) A FREE CLOCK BOARD (compliments of John Lingrel), A FREE 1200 BAUD MODEM (compliments of AWAUG), AND 35% OFF THE purchase PRICE OF A HARD DRIVE INTERFACE from the Classic ADAM Company (John Lingrel). Should the BBS operate as a part of the Network for less than 12 full months - the hardware is to be returned to the source - with no charge. If it extends beyond one-year, the hardware belongs to the User's Group).
Keep your contacts here: You have the chance to be a part of the fulfillment of the ADAM.
BROWSING NEWSLETTERS
[These newsletters have been recently added to our library]
ADAMS BYTES (Gulf Coast AUG-Mobile AL). JULY ISSUE.
Adam Info. Abominable Snowman Game nearing completion, LOOK FOR IT. JIM'S MUSIC PROGRAM by James Casey Dr. apparently PD, listed in newsletter, LOOKS VERY GOOD. Review of Walter's Software's excellent new program Label Works. Info on Expansion Board & Disk Drive availability. NEW ADDRESS FOR THE SOFTWORKS FACTORY. INFO ON GODOS, DEMO, SHIPPING, ETC. ^D^IGEE BUT ITS NICE TO BE ABLE TO SIT BACK & READ ALL THIS GOOD INFO ON GODOS, SOFTWORKS FACTORY, ETC. AFTER NOT HEARING ANYTHING FOR MANY WEEKS ............Barry Wilson.
JULY 89 A.I.M. (Adam House) ^
More info on Sol Swift & GODOS.ADAM news & info, including NECESSITY ThAT ADAM OWNERS WRITE E&T SOFTWARE ABOUT DESIRE FOR OPTICAL SCANNER. Info on Hard Drives, info on new items being handled by Adam House. REVIEWS of The Label Works, Dinosaur Dig, Addictus. Newsupdates by Terry Fowler. Adam House special sales. Technical Corner tips by Gary Hoos ier. Terry Fowler on PaintAide Fonts. Program listing for Library Label Maker. Info on ADAMCON0l in Orlando this fall.
JULY 89 MOAUG (Metro-Orlando)
Local info, new officers,etc. Column by Rich Lefko on PD. UPDATE ON A DAMCON 0l including info on Door Prizes, Special Prices (IMAGINE 30% OFF MW RUTH CO. PRICES TO ALL ATTENDEES), CPM Article by Jerome Hess (Their new CPM librarian). VERY NICE ARTICLE ON STLAUG. MOAUG will feature different Adam groups in each issue as space,time,etc. permits. VERY GOOD IDEA, VERY INTERESTING. MINI-REVIEW on Software to be given away at ADAMCON 0l. Learning with Logo by Ricki Gerlach. Adam Info.
JUNE 89 AWAUG(Wash DC area).
Membership info. I belong to this AUG in addition to my local St.L.AUG and feel that it is very worth while to belong to AWAUG. Ramblings from Editor (general Adam info); Article by Ron Collins; Keyboard (repair) tips by Richard Bailey. Excellent article by Peter Hartzler on Programming Tips. Article by Big John on upgrades & how far can you go. Review of 22Disk (which is a CP/M to DOS interchange program) by Jack MacKenn. Pat Herrington's GODOS article. Info on ADAMCON 0l
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZY PROTECTION WAS AN OUT GROWTH OF RAMPANT PIRACY. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER BEING THERE FIRST-
Barry Wilson
I DO AGREE WITH RICK ON THE FINE PROGRAMS OF PRACTICAL PROGRAM CO. of Kalamazoo, Mi. in giving BOTH SBl & SB2 versions of programs purchased, free upgrades, etc., PD Workshop;
SmartBasic Worshop, Some more great instruction from L.C. Austill. This one on graphcis.
Used/Swap Corner. REVIEWS of Dinosaur Dig; ADAM CONNECTION ^DI STILL DO NOT THINK DAVID WHITE CAN LEGALLY USE THIS NAME AS THE ADAM CONNECTION OF NY, AN ADAM SUPPLIER HAS HAD & BEEN USING THIS NAME PREVIOUSLY--- Barry Wilson
Groovy Graphics ; TDOS; THE LABEL WORKS ANOTHER GREAT PRODUCT FROM WALTERS SOFTWARE.
ADAMCON INFO
NIAD product list. LOUISVILLE AUG JUNE ISSUE
Shawn Merrick writes on the Adam Scene giving information on directories, files, imaging, IMAGE.COM & CLONE.COM. Shawn also has an excellent article on Serial DOT-MATRIX Printers for ADAM. List of Some Original Adam Software their group is selling. Adam items for sale.
DONKEY KONG
by Nintendo
The great arcade classic!! Our family has played Donkey Kong on both our Atari 2600 and our TI99/4A computer as well as Donkey Kong clones on our Compaq, but the Donkey Kong version for the Adam is the best one we've tried yet.
On the Atari, you just have two scenes: the barrel scene and the fireball scene. After playing this a while it gets boring. On the TI, the graphics are very similar to the Adam and the play is more difficult than the Atari, but you still just have the two same scenes.
To be honest, I have only got to the fifth scene so far on the Adam version but I am anything but bored. First of all the graphics are terrific. In the first scene, the barrel scene, you must climb up the ladder to the top level to save the girl while avoiding the barrels the ape is tossing at you. You have two strategically placed hammers you can use to destroy the barrels if you wish.
On reaching the girl at the top, you go on to the next scene--the fireball screen. On this level you must cross over all the floor holes to be able to go on to the next scene without getting burned by the fireballs. Once you have crossed over the floorhole the first time causing the yellow joint to fall out, you must jump them to avoid falling and losing one life. The fireballs can not cross over the opened floorhole. If you are very careful, you can jump over the fireballs as you are maneuvering around trying to cross all the floorholes. On this scene there are also two hammers you can use to destroy the fireballs.
After crossing all the floorholes, you move on to the elevator scene. This was the hardest part for me until I was able to do it one time--and my sons really enjoyed all the action. In this scene, you move up and down the stairs to position yourself to jump to the elevator, preferably when the fireball is not at the top of the midsection where you want to get off the elevator. The first elevator goes up and you must time your jumps so you don't get squashed or fall off. As you near the top, get ready to jump to the midsection, hopefully avoiding the fireball. Then you need to jump to the down elevator in order to get to the right side of the screen. Don't jump too soon or your man will be killed. Once on the right side you will be jumping from on section to another in an upward movement while avoiding the two remaining fireballs. As quickly as possible make your way up to the top with the girl. The hardest part of this screen is jumping to and from the elevators.
After ths you will go to another fireball scene that seems to be the same as the second scene. After successfully crossing all the floorholes, your next scene is another elevator scene as in scene three. So far this is as far as we've gotten. I'm sure my oldest will soon leave me far behind as he did in Donkey Kong Jr.
This version can be played both as a one or two player game. It has four levels of difficulty to choose from. Another great Adam game!
DRAGONFIRE
by Imagic
My sons and I have been avid players of Dragonfire on our Atari 2600 for quiet some time. It was always one of our favorite games although we seldom got past the White Dragon.
When we received the Adam version, we couldn't wait to sit down and boot it up. Wow!! There is no comparing it to the 2600 version. Its a whole new and definately more exciting (also more dangerous according to my oldest) game.
Dragonfire is a one or two player game and you can start at any of 9 levels. On levels 1 and two it is very similar to the 2600 version. You must cross the moat and then pick up all the treasures without getting burned to a crisp by the dragon (which changes colors on each level as in the 2600 version). Beginning on level 3, crossing the moat becomes more dangerous as the drawbridge starts opening and closing. It is safest to time your crossing when the drawbridge is closed, although my son has had some success with jumping the open bridge. (I always end up hitting my face against the castle wall when I try to jump.) Once you enter the room with the dragon, you also have to face an elfin like creature who will try his best to slay your man. Levels 4 and 5 are just tougher versions of Level 3.
Starting with Level 6, you have a new danger to contend with. There is an archer in the castle tower shooting arrows at you. You cannot afford to stay in any one spot more than a few seconds as his aim is deadly on target. On both this and Level 7, you do not have to worry with the moving drawbridge. Once you clear the moat, you have the dragon and elfin creature to deal with as you gather treasures and you now have a hidden archer shooting arrows at you.
Beginning with Level 8, you have the moving drawbridge again, as well as all the opponents in the previous rounds.
In comparing this to the Atari version, everything is a great improvement. The graphics are superb. When your man falls in the water while trying to cross the moat, you see and hear the water splash. My youngest likes to jump his man against the castle wall just to see him slide in to the water after his collision. In the room with the dragon, the dragon does not move as in the Atari version, but just sits in one place and directs his fiery breath in random directions (usually right where you are standing if you are unlucky enough to have stayed in one place more than a second). In this room, the treasures are drawn in great detail so you see what you are picking up. Also your man is much larger than when crossing the moat and you can see him actually running.
This is really a great adaptation of the arcade game. My sons have already informed me that they will only go back to the Atari version, if the Adam is not available when they want to play.
FACEMAKER
by Spinnaker
This is probably my youngest's favorite Adam program. He also enjoys the Smurf Paint and Play cartridge, but he isn't big enough to understand it as well as this one.
This great program is actually three in one. First you can choose to build a face, by pressing "1" on your joystick. You then see a list of parts that you can build your face from. The list is made up of the graphic part of the face, so a child who cannot yet read can still enjoy the exercises. You can select any of the following parts to make your face: mouth, eyes, ears, noses, and hair.
To make your selection of a body part you wish to define, press the "*" button on the joystick. For example, if you wish to select a mouth, move the cursor to the graphic lips and press "*". You will then have a selection of six different mouths. After placing the cursor by the mouth you wish to select, you can then change the color of the mouth by pressing the "#" button. When the mouth is the color and shape you desire, press "*" again to return to the main Build a Face menu. Each face part has six different styles and can be in a variety of colors. My youngest made a man with green lips, magenta eyes and red ears.
After building your face, you can use the face in the second part of the program. In this part you can animate the face by using a simple form of programming. The program comes with a keypad template which looks like this:
1 2 3
S F C
W T E
* #
Here is a quick definition of each of the keys on the
template:
1--Build A Face 2--Program Face 3--Memory Game S--Smile F--Frown C--Cry W--Wink T--Tongue E--Ear Wiggle
After pressing "2" for Program, you are instructed to press "*" when you are ready to program. When you press "*" a long rectangular box is drawn at the bottom of the screen. As you press the various letter (S,F,etc.) these will appear in the box. You may continue pressing the different letters until the box is full or you wish to end (by pressing "*" again), whichever comes first. The face then performs as you have programmed it. This is fun even for adults. This part of the program helps children become familiar with some computer fundamentals such as: menus, cursors, return keys, space bars, simple programming and simple graphics.
The last part of the program is selected by pressing "3". This is a variation on the Simon games. Instead of repeating the same tune, you have to repeat the same animation game sequence. For example, if the face winks, frown, and then sticks it tongue out at you, you must press the keys on the keypad (W, F,T) to make it repeat the same exact sequence. You must start over when you get out of sequence. This is a great educational game for the very young to those of us that are still young at heart.
TIMELESS BATTLE
If I asked you what battle has been going on for all of time, you would probably answer "the battle of the sexes" or "the battle between good & evil" and you would probably be right.
But what is the next longest battle that has been going on ???????????????????????
RIGHT, the battle between the post office and those of us who mail software. Have you ever received a disk in the mail which was not only folded in half or 3rds or 4ths ????
What to do about this. There are several avenues of approach to this problem which I will list below. I am also interested in your approach to this problem, anything you have tried that works, etc.
Some people mail their disks in plain unidentified envelopes, figuring that postal office will not intentionally bind, fold, staple and mutilate them as that does take some effort and without being sure there is a software disk inside, will probably not waste the energy.
I personally use this approach sometimes but combine it with the decoy approach, in which you also simultaneously mail an identical package to the same person but mark this one with two or three of the following: (l) Fragile; (2) Do Not Bend; (3) Magnetic Media; (4) Do not Fold; (5) Computer Disk, etc.
Of course, they then put all their effort into folding, bending, staplling, mutilating, x-raying, holding under water, etc. the package marked with the caution warning. While they are doing this the unmarked package will often get through unharmed.
Another approach is to hand carry your software to the person you wish to have it. This is time consuming, especially if they live many miles from you.
Another approach is to label the package, explosive, hazardous material, etc. However this approach can led to your arrest which is at best an inconvenience and at worse puts another layer of mail handler (at the jail) between you and your software correspondant. The mail handler at the jail will also fold, staple, shoot, electricute, etc. your packages just for the sheer joy of it, so I do not suggest this approach.
One I like is to pay a auto body shop to cut a slice of the strongest metal they can find on your car, our of your car, then cut it into the shape of a computer disk. Sometimes it is necessary to sandwich several of these together until you get a piece of metal several inches thick. This is then mailed marked fragile, do not bend. You will notice that your mail man will have his hand bandaged or in a sling from his efforts to bend, fold and mutilate this piece of metal. Also the hole in your auto is really not big enough to cause much of a draft, except in extremely cold climates.
There are other approaches such using 12 boxes, each slightly larger than the other and placing the disk in the smaller box, adding insulation, then putting this in the next larger box, etc. But this takes time and is expensive. Further if you are not careful, the final package may be over their size limits and they will not mail it. I must warn you there have been l or 2 reported cases of reciptients dying in the midst of unwrapping their packages.
I realize that this issue will cause much controversy in the Adam and Postal world and am prepare to attempt to handle this problem. I am suggesting you mark your letters with comments, "URGENT, FRAGILE, TIME SENSITIVE, DELIVER PROMPTLY", thereby insuring that most will not reach me.
Barry Wilson
Eastern Time Zone -----------
State/City --------------- Connecticut Bloomfield Bridgeport Hartford Stamford
Delaware Wilmington
Florida Clearwater Fort Lauderdale Jacksonville Longwood Miami Naples Orlando Port St Lucie Tampa
Georgia Atlanta Doraville Marietta Martinez Norcross
Indiana Indianapolis South Bend
Kentucky Lexington Louisville
Maryland Baltimore Rockville Bethesda
Massachusetts Boston Cambridge Gorton Kingston Lowell Marlborough Springfield
Michigan Ann Arbor Detroit Grand Rapids Lansing Southfield
New Jersey Camden Englewood Cliffs Newark Pennsauken Piscataway Princeton South Brunswick Union City
New York Albany Buffalo Hempstead Lake Grove Melville New York Pittsford Rochester Syracuse White Plains
North Carolina Ashville Charlotte Durham Winston-Salem
Ohio Akron Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus Dayton Toledo
Pennsylvania Lemoyne Philadelphia Pittsburgh
Rhode Island Providence
South Carolina Columbia Greenville
Virginia Alexandria Arlington Fairfax Harrisonburg Midlothian Norfolk Portsmouth Richmond Virginia Beach
Central Time Zone --
State/City --------------- Alabama Birmingham Huntsville Mobile Opelika
Illinois Chicago Glen Ellyn Lake Bluff Peoria Rockford Springfield
Iowa Ames Des Moines
Kansas Mission Wichita
Louisiana Baton Rouge New Orleans
Minnesota Minneapolis St. Paul
Mississippi Hattiesburg Tupelo
Missouri Bridgeton Hazelwood Independence Kansas City St. Louis
Nebraska Omaha
Oklahoma Oklahoma City Tulsa
Tennessee Knoxville Memphis Nashville
Texas Amarillo Arlington Austin Corpus Christi Dallas Denton El Paso Fort Worth Houston Killeen San Antonio Waco
Wisconsin Brookfield Milwaukee
Mountain Time Zone -
State/ City --------------- - Arizona Flagstaff Mesa Phoenix Tucson Yuma
Colorado Aurora Boulder Denver Ft Collins Grand Junction
Idaho Boise Twin Falls << hit any key >>
New Mexico Albuquerque Las Cruces
Utah Salt Lake City
Wyoming Laramie
Pacific Time Zone --
State/City --------------- - California Alhambra Anaheim Cathedral City Colton El Segundo Lancaster Long Beach Moorpark Newport Beach Oakland Pasadena Pleasanton Redwood City Sacramento San Clemente San Diego San Francisco San Jose San Raphael Santa Barbara Santa Maria Sherman Oaks Vernon Walnut Creek
Nevada Boulder City
Oregon Eugene Portland
Washington Bellevue Bremerton Port Angeles Pullman Seattle Spokane Tacoma Vancouver Yakima
MMSG NEWS COMING SOON !!!!!!
It's 2150 A.D. & you're a mercenary from the Interplanetary Commerce Commission. Your job is to protect interplanetary merchant trade from space pirates (WHICH ARE AS BAD AS SOFTWARE PIRATES) and other alien craft. Bounty, earned from the destruction of unfriendly vessels must be used to keep your ship going. Energy for shields, hyperspace travel and weapons can be purchased at several landbase locations in the galaxy. This is to have Arcade Action, Realtime Graphics, etc. We hope to be able to review this as soon as it is released.
TECHNICAL INFO ON MODULE #3 CON
The following is technical informaton from the Coleco Vision Technical Manual. NOTE ! While this is NOT for the standalone unit but for the coleco vision unit only, there are obvious similarities between the two systems. CON'T. FROM LAST ISSUE.
The Z-80A uses two busses, address and data. The Address Bus (A0-Al5) provides addresses for the memory (upto 64K bytres unidirectional ) data exchanges and for I/O device data exchanges. The Data Bus (D0-D7) consists of an 8 bit tri-state bidirectional data bus. It is used for data exchanges with emmroy and I/O devices. In Addition to the two busses the Z-80A has several control signals.
MACHINE CYCLE ONE (Ml) indicates the current machine cycle is the OP code fetch cycle of an instruction execution. Ouput, active low.
MEMORY REQUESST (MREQ) signal indicates the address bus holds a valid address for a memory read or memory write operation. Tri-state output, active low.
INPUT/OUTPUT REQUEST(IORQ) signal indicates the lower half of the address bus holds a valid I/O address for an I/O read or write operations. An IORQ signal is also generated when an interrupt is being acknowledged to indicate that an interrupt response vector can be placed on the data bus. Tri-state output, active low.
MEMORY READ(RD) indicates the CPU wants to read data from memory or an I/O device. The addressed I/O device or memory should use this signal to gate data onto the CPU data bus. Tri-state output, active low. MEMORY WRITE (WR) indicates the CPU data bus holds valid data to be stored in the addressed memory or I/O device. Tri-state output, active low. REFRESH (RFSH) indictes the lower seven bits of the address bus contain a refresh address for dynamic memories and the current MREQ signal should be used to do a refresh read to all dynamic memories. Output active low.
HALT STATE (HALT) indicates the CPU has executed a HALT software instruciton and is awaiting either a non-maskable or a maskable interrupt (with the mask enabled) before operation can resume. While halted, the CPU executes NOP's to maintain memory refresh activity. Output, active low.
WAIT (WAIT) indicates to the Z-80A CPU that the addressed memory or I/O devices are not ready for data transfer. The CPU continues to enter wait states for as long as this signal is active. Input active low.
INTERRUPT REQUEST (INT) signal is generated by I/O devices. A request will be honored at the end of the current instruction if the internal software controlled interrupt enaable flip-flop (FF) is enabled. Input, active l0w.
NOTE: THERE IS MUCH MORE OF THIS TYPE INFORMATION IN THE TECH MANUAL.
HOWEVER, UNLESS SOME FEEDBACK IS RECEIVED INDICATING THAT YOU WISH MORE
OF THIS &/OR CAN MAKE ANY SENSE OF IT, THIS WILL BE THE LAST OF THIS
SERIES. NOT TO BE CONTINUED UNLESS REQUESTED.
TECHNICAL INFO ON MODULE #3 CON'TThe following is technical informaton from the Coleco Vision Technical Manual. NOTE ! While this is NOT for the standalone unit but for the coleco vision unit only, there are obvious similarities between the two systems. CON'T. FROM LAST ISSUE.
The Z-80A uses two busses, address and data. The Address Bus (A0-Al5) provides addresses for the memory (upto 64K bytres unidirectional ) data exchanges and for I/O device data exchanges. The Data Bus (D0-D7) consists of an 8 bit tri-state bidirectional data bus. It is used for data exchanges with emmroy and I/O devices. In Addition to the two busses the Z-80A has several control signals.
MACHINE CYCLE ONE (Ml) indicates the current machine cycle is the OP code fetch cycle of an instruction execution. Ouput, active low.
MEMORY REQUESST (MREQ) signal indicates the address bus holds a valid address for a memory read or memory write operation. Tri-state output, active low.
INPUT/OUTPUT REQUEST(IORQ) signal indicates the lower half of the address bus holds a valid I/O address for an I/O read or write operations. An IORQ signal is also generated when an interrupt is being acknowledged to indicate that an interrupt response vector can be placed on the data bus. Tri-state output, active low.
MEMORY READ(RD) indicates the CPU wants to read data from memory or an I/O device. The addressed I/O device or memory should use this signal to gate data onto the CPU data bus. Tri-state output, active low. MEMORY WRITE (WR) indicates the CPU data bus holds valid data to be stored in the addressed memory or I/O device. Tri-state output, active low. REFRESH (RFSH) indictes the lower seven bits of the address bus contain a refresh address for dynamic memories and the current MREQ signal should be used to do a refresh read to all dynamic memories. Output active low.
HALT STATE (HALT) indicates the CPU has executed a HALT software instruciton and is awaiting either a non-maskable or a maskable interrupt (with the mask enabled) before operation can resume. While halted, the CPU executes NOP's to maintain memory refresh activity. Output, active low.
WAIT (WAIT) indicates to the Z-80A CPU that the addressed memory or I/O devices are not ready for data transfer. The CPU continues to enter wait states for as long as this signal is active. Input active low.
INTERRUPT REQUEST (INT) signal is generated by I/O devices. A request will be honored at the end of the current instruction if the internal software controlled interrupt enaable flip-flop (FF) is enabled. Input, active l0w.
THERE IS MUCH MORE OF THIS TYPE INFORMATION IN THE TECH MANUAL. HOWEVER, UNLESS SOME FEEDBACK IS RECEIVED INDICATING THAT YOU WISH MORE OF THIS &/OR CAN MAKE ANY SENSE OF IT, THIS WILL BE THE LAST OF THIS SERIES. NOT TO BE CONTINUED UNLESS REQUESTED.
MYSTERY
by S & A Software
Mystery beckons. You have just received an invitation to solve a gruesome murder in the swank mansion of Mr. Vic Tim.
When you arrive, all the suspects and possible murder weapons have already been assembled in the Drawing Room. You must carefully analyse all the clues given in order to determine who killed Mr. Tim, in what room, and with which weapon. The killer is sly and devious. You must use all your powers of deduction and have some faith in Lady Luck to find all the correct answers as quickly as possible.
Using the joystick, you first move the cursor to the room of your choice. You have a choice of five rooms: the Gym room, the Bedroom, the Hall, the Pool room, and the Steam room.
Next you pick the murderer from clips of several lethal beauties on the left side of the screen by placing the cursor on your selection. Then you move the cursor to the left side of the screen to choose the weapon.
After your selections are made, the computer goes over your choices and then gives you hints as to which ones are correct or incorrect. This hints range from rather vague to extremely helpful. It would help to make a chart and check off all eliminated persons/items/rooms as you go.
On solving the mystery correctly, you are told how many turns it took, what your final score is, and asks if you wish to play again. In all the times I played this game, I never noticed any repetition and found the game enjoyable each time.
This game reminds me of similar games previously released for the Adam--but the presentation and ease of use were much better than in the other similar type games. I liked the use of what appeared to be clip art of women's faces as the murder suspects as opposed to just lists of names that has been used before. This is a great game and I hope there will be more games in the future from S & A Software.
The positive response is that: AWAUG(WASH DC), Inland Empire AUG (CA), Omaha AUG (NE), ST.LAUG(MO), 463 AUG (IN), ADAM-LINK (UT), ARKON AUG (OH) have expressed interest in this concept.
The confusion is to be expected as this is just a very vague concept now without definate form or shape.
Perhaps this should be designated as a Federation of Adam Organizations across the USA or something similar.
It is NOT dissolving your local AUG, it is NOT giving up your independence, etc. I know what it is not but I don't know what it is.
Actually that is part of the whole idea, some nationwide organization or loosely aligned group made up of local AUGS, etc. For such a creature to actually be national, it cannot be made up of my ideas or thoughts, etc. It must be a sharing of the ideas and thoughts of all the member AUGS.
All that I am trying to do is get some discussion started, get members or representatives from the various AUGS in contact, so that THEY MAY FIRM OUT THIS CONCEPT AND PERHAPS THEY WILL DETERMINE THE TIME IS NOT YET RIPE FOR SUCH AN ORGANIZATION. I do not know what they will decide , I only want to get such discuss started.
There have been suggestions that some type survey be taken, perhaps as part of the ADAMCON89 in Orland this year, where we can get ideas from as many Adamites as possible.
WHAT WE (I) NEED IS FOR SOMEONE TO STEP FORWARD TO TAKE THIS PROJECT OVER AND KEEP IT RUNNING UNTIL THE VARIOUS GROUPS DECIDE IT IS A GOOD IDEA OR NOT A GOOD IDEA. ANY VOLUNTEERS ?????????????????
I think the initial group working on this should consider the following, along with whatever else is suggested: How the various AUG members will communicate amongst themselves. What other Adamites should be added to this initial discuss group. Should organizations other than Local AUGS be involved. (I think so, I think there would be room for suppliers, distributors, programmers, national newsletters-NAID-Adams Alive-etc. to be part of this group). How to bring the BBSs into the organization and discussion group. What about FUTURE conventions (EVERYONE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING ADAMCON 89 TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS AND THEREBY PROMOTE FUTURE CONVENTIONS) would be appropriate; national, region, coordination between them, etc. How to raise $$$ to get the NATIONAL AUG or FEDERATION OF ADAM GROUPS, some operating capital. How much capitial is needed, how to raise it.
Contributions from suppliers, deals, buy lottery tickets, etc.Small membership fees from Adamites (maybe $l,2 in addition to local dues, local AUG to collect & send to National) ???? What about Adamites not in local AUGS (none in their area, etc.). Just pay dues to National AUG, assign them to the nearest local AUG (at least they could get newsletter from nearest local AUG) and collect the extra $l,2 for National ????? Newsletter. Would we want a National Newsletter (costs, work,etc.). Should there be a national AUG page or column in the local newsletters. Some means of National communication. National efforts on group purchases (let producers know that they would have a market of xxxx people, etc.) Buy disks in huge quantity from suppliers, get very low price, sell at slightly higher price to raise money for National Organization. United stand against Piracy, rip offs, etc. Function as Better Busines Bureau, handle consumer complaints, etc. ???? Joint projects. If no regular producer will make an optical scanner,e tc. for ADAM, maybe the National Organization can help finance the researach & development on such an item by any Adamite or organization having the ability and interest to develope the item. National Organization repaid out of lst sales,etc. YOUR IDEAS, THOUGHTS, ETC.
These are just some of the items I think the discussion group could consider. I know you must have others.
VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET : l. YOUR IDEAS 2. SOME PERSON TO TAKE THIS PROJECT OVER & PUSH IT. 3. THE DISCUSSION GROUP STARTED.
Look beyond your little space, your local group, etc. there is a whole great big wonderful world out there just waiting for you to take the lst step towards it.
Barry Wilson
The positive response is that: AWAUG(WASH DC), Inland Empire AUG (CA), Omaha AUG (NE), ST.LAUG(MO), 463 AUG (IN), ADAM-LINK (UT), ARKON AUG (OH) have expressed interest in this concept.
The confusion is to be expected as this is just a very vague concept now without definate form or shape.
Perhaps this should be designated as a Federation of Adam Organizations across the USA or something similar.
It is NOT dissolving your local AUG, it is NOT giving up your independence, etc. I know what it is not but I don't know what it is.
Actually that is part of the whole idea, some nationwide organization or loosely aligned group made up of local AUGS, etc. For such a creature to actually be national, it cannot be made up of my ideas or thoughts, etc. It must be a sharing of the ideas and thoughts of all the member AUGS.
All that I am trying to do is get some discussion started, get members or representatives from the various AUGS in contact, so that THEY MAY FIRM OUT THIS CONCEPT AND PERHAPS THEY WILL DETERMINE THE TIME IS NOT YET RIPE FOR SUCH AN ORGANIZATION. I do not know what they will decide , I only want to get such discuss started.
There have been suggestions that some type survey be taken, perhaps as part of the ADAMCON89 in Orland this year, where we can get ideas from as many Adamites as possible.
WHAT WE (I) NEED IS FOR SOMEONE TO STEP FORWARD TO TAKE THIS PROJECT OVER AND KEEP IT RUNNING UNTIL THE VARIOUS GROUPS DECIDE IT IS A GOOD IDEA OR NOT A GOOD IDEA. ANY VOLUNTEERS ?????????????????
I think the initial group working on this should consider the following, along with whatever else is suggested: How the various AUG members will communicate amongst themselves. What other Adamites should be added to this initial discuss group. Should organizations other than Local AUGS be involved. (I think so, I think there would be room for suppliers, distributors, programmers, national newsletters-NAID-Adams Alive-etc. to be part of this group). How to bring the BBSs into the organization and discussion group. What about FUTURE conventions (EVERYONE SHOULD BE SUPPORTING ADAMCON 89 TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS AND THEREBY PROMOTE FUTURE CONVENTIONS) would be appropriate; national, region, coordination between them, etc. How to raise $$$ to get the NATIONAL AUG or FEDERATION OF ADAM GROUPS, some operating capital. How much capitial is needed, how to raise it.
Contributions from suppliers, deals, buy lottery tickets, etc.Small membership fees from Adamites (maybe $l,2 in addition to local dues, local AUG to collect & send to National) ???? What about Adamites not in local AUGS (none in their area, etc.). Just pay dues to National AUG, assign them to the nearest local AUG (at least they could get newsletter from nearest local AUG) and collect the extra $l,2 for National ????? Newsletter. Would we want a National Newsletter (costs, work,etc.). Should there be a national AUG page or column in the local newsletters. Some means of National communication. National efforts on group purchases (let producers know that they would have a market of xxxx people, etc.) Buy disks in huge quantity from suppliers, get very low price, sell at slightly higher price to raise money for National Organization. United stand against Piracy, rip offs, etc. Function as Better Busines Bureau, handle consumer complaints, etc. ???? Joint projects. If no regular producer will make an optical scanner,e tc. for ADAM, maybe the National Organization can help finance the researach & development on such an item by any Adamite or organization having the ability and interest to develope the item. National Organization repaid out of lst sales,etc. YOUR IDEAS, THOUGHTS, ETC.
These are just some of the items I think the discussion group could consider. I know you must have others.
VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET : l. YOUR IDEAS 2. SOME PERSON TO TAKE THIS PROJECT OVER & PUSH IT. 3. THE DISCUSSION GROUP STARTED.
Look beyond your little space, your local group, etc. there is a whole great big wonderful world out there just waiting for you to take the lst step towards it.
Barry Wilson
NOVA BLAST
by Imagic
In this graphic space game, you start with four domed cities you are supposed to defend against waves of alien attacks. You have bombs and lasers to blast the alien waterwalkers and spaceships. The waterwalkers will shoot back at you while the spaceships can only collide into you. Each time the attackers hit the cities the shield is weakened. After the shield is destroyed, it will only take one more hit to destroy the city. In order to restore the shield, you must first hover over an energy pylon and beam up energy then position yourself over a damaged shield and beam down the energy. The energy pylons will continue to produce energy unless you drain them completely.
The main problem in this game will be finding time to replenish the shields between and during attack waves. If you carefully monitor your radar screen and listen for the attack siren, you will have time to replenish at least two shields.
Always eliminate the waterwalkers first--before they have time to reach the cities, then concentrate on the spaceships. After you have destroyed almost all the spaceships, go back to replenishing the most needy shields.
The action gets fast very quickly in this game and you'll find it challenging just trying to defend one city. This game is like a combination of Buck Rogers and Defender. You can use either your joysticks or the Super Action Controllers on this game.
This game was very hard for my youngest son to comprehend, but my six year old and my nine year old really enjoyed it.
NEWS FROM PRACTICAL PROGRAMS
New version of Basic Manager Package and FASTRUN due out shortly. As per their excellent policy, PRACTICAL PROGRAMS will upgrade FREE upon returning your purchased earlier version. This is one of the very few companies that upgrades without charge.
COMING SHORTLY:
FASTRUN v3.0. Works just like the SAVE command. No more typing over the BSAVE command.
Colors V.2.0. Now written in machine language to allow you to run this program (to change screen colors0 without disturbing the program you currently have in memory.
Pro-Copy vl.0. This program replaces the copyFR or copy MS programs previouslly issued. Pro-copy will copy single or mutliple files to datapacks, flippy datapacks or disks with single or multiple block file directories. Allows you to copy user files, system files or the boot block (Block 0). Pro-Copy uses column selection and ring menus for option selection.
REVIEWS TO BE AVAILABLE AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE OUR DEMO COPIES.
Review by Brad Raspet, Puget Sound ADAM Network
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
"Easy as A,B,C & 1,2,3" is an educational program for children. There are actually two different programs, (1) a spelling tutor and (2) exercises doing cognitive thinking comparisons.
(1) The Spell Program. You are shown a picture of an object and the spelling for that object. You are then prompted to spell the item. If the spelling is wrong, you can try again or move on. If the spelling is correct, you are prompted to spell the item again but this time without the correct spelling being displayed on the screen. Again, if you miss, you can try again or proceed to the next picture. This program increases spelling skills, keyboard familiarization and builds "hunt & peck" typing skills.
(2) The Compare Program. You practice cognitive thinking by comparing the three pictures shown and choosing the one that doesn't belong. All input for this program is through the joystick. You have to think a bit before deciding which picture does not belong, as the relationships may be more subtle than you think. After making a choice you are told if you were correct and a running score is kept for you on the bottom of the screen. At the end of the exercise or if you choose to quit early, then the total score is displayed with your percentage and final grade.
The "Easy as A,B,C & 1,2,3" program is by Wizard's Lair Software and available through NIAD for $11.95 (2 disk set).
EASE OF USE AND PLAY:
The program itself is self-loading and the joystick controller is used to select from the menu. The instructions are well written and accessible for printing through your word processor from disk 1. One note: if you don't read the instructions you won't know that to quit the Spell program you must type "end" when it's your turn. Otherwise the program cycles forever. While in the Compare program, you are prompted at each turn and asked if you'd like to continue or quit.
PROGRAM VALUE:
These programs have GREAT graphics, the instructions are simple and well written; and both programs are easy to follow or play.
(1) Spell program:Here are quotations from my children. First, my 8-year old: "It's fun typing." Now, my 10-year old: "It's stupid. The only thing I like are the pictures." As you can see, just a couple of years difference in the age of the user makes a difference. The Spell program is too easy for children 10 years or older. It doesnot have the challenge to hold their interest. Yet, those kids that are 8 or younger enjoy the spelling drills and keyboard typing very much.
(2) Compare program:The percentage and final grading system add to the kid's enjoyment of this program. Here are quotations from my children. My 8-year old: "It's fun and interesting." My 10-year old: "This is fun! I like it; I want to keep playing!" The Compare program is more challenging for older children than the Spell program. Some of the comparisons are even a challenge for adults. Both tutorials could be improved slightly if a series of 10 turns took place, with a program "que" asking if the player would like to continue or quit. The Spell program has no "ques" at all. You have to remember to type "end" to quit. The Compare program has a "que" at each and every turn, slowing down the exercise.
All and all, it's a good educational software set with excellent graphics. I would recommend the Spell program for use by children 8 years or younger, and the Compare program for children 6 years and older.
RATING:
The Spell program gets a "B-" and the Compare program gets a "B+". This software is a bargain, priced at only $11.95. The disk set would be a worthwhile addition to your family's software library.
1 REM: This program was received from PSAN. 2 REM: I am not sure of its actual author 3 REM: We appreciate PSAN sharing this program with us. It is excellent. 4 REM: It not only allows you to view RLE files but also to change colors. 5 REM: Further it gives you information on RLE pictures. 10TEXT 15?:?:?:?:? " <<<RLE FILE VIEWER>>> " 16POKE 25471, 0 20VTAB (18):? "Would you like more informationon RLE Graphics? (y/n) "; :GET t$25IF t$="y" OR t$="Y" THEN 40 30IF t$="n" OR t$="N" THEN 200 35GOTO 10 40HOME:?:?:? "RLE stands for RUN LENGTH ENCODED. These are computer" 45? "graphics that have been changedinto text files so that they" 46? "may easily telecomunicated and displayed on any computer that" 47? "is capable of displaying HIGH RESOLUTION GRAPHICS." 48?:? "These graphics may have been created using a 'paint' program"; 49? "such as PAINTMASTER or MacPAINTor they may be digitalized" 50? "photographics." 51?:? "This program will allow you to display these on your ADAM." 52?:?:?:? " <PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE>" 53GET t$ 54HOME:?:?:? "RLE Files are available on manylocal BBS and on Compuserve." 55?:? "On Compuserve, many may be Downloaded from the Picture Support Forum (GO PICS)"
56? "More may be found in other forums, CB Society. You may also download weather maps" 57? "(GO WEATHER) or the FBI's TEN MOST WANTED LIST." 58?:? "RLE Files may be downloaded using ADAMLINK II or may be " 59? "captured using MADEM7 of ADAMEXjust as you would any text file" 60VTAB (20):? " <PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE>" 61GET t$ 62HOME:?:?:?:? "You may be told that your terminal can't display the "
63? "graphics you have requested. We KNOW better. Open your file"; 64? "and tell CIS you want to see them anyway" 65?:? "When you have loged off, if you have captured the RLE file" 66? "to CP/M, transfer the file to ADAM format using CPMADAM.COM." 67?:? "Now boot SmartBASIC, and run this program just as you did toget this far"
68VTAB (20):? " <PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE> "; :GET t$ 69HOME:?:?:? "RLE files are most often viewedin black and white, but since" 70? "ADAM has such good colors, you will be given a selection of colors to use."
71?:? "Since RLE files are created in different ways, the terms" 72? "'FOREGROUND' and 'BACKGROUND' are reletive." 73?:? "It may take some expermentationto discover the best choice of" 74? "colors for each graphic." 75VTAB (20):? "WOULD YOU LIKE TO VIEW A RLE FILE NOW? (y/n) "; :GET t$ 76IF t$="y" OR t$="Y" THEN 200 77IF t$="n" OR t$="N" THEN HOME:END 78GOTO 75 199ONERR GOTO 2000 200HOME:?:?:?:?:? "When you have finished enjoyingyour display. Press any key toto view another or exit."
201VTAB (20):? " <PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE>" 202GET t$ 204HOME:?:?:?:?:? " <<<SELECT DRIVE>>>" 205?:?:? " 1. DATA DRIVE 1" 206? " 2. DATA DRIVE 2" 207? " 3. DISK DRIVE 1" 208? " 4. DISK DRIVE 2" 209?:?:?:? "ENTER # OF DRIVE THAT CONTAINS THE RLE FILE YOU WISH TO VIEW: " 210GET dr 211IF dr<1 OR dr>4 THEN 200 212HOME 213 d$=CHR 214IF dr=3 OR dr=4 THEN dr=dr+2 219ONERR GOTO 2000 220? d$; "CATALOG, D"; dr 277?:? 280INPUT "ENTER FILE NAME: "; f$ 281GOSUB 1000 282GOSUB 800 290ONERR GOTO 2010 291? d$; "OPEN "; f$ 295? d$; "READ "; f$ 296ONERR GOTO 3000 300HOME:HGR2 305HCOLOR =c 310 y=0: x=0 315REM 330GET b$:IF b$<>"G" THEN 330 340GET b$:IF b$<>"H" THEN 330 350GET b$: b=ASC(b$)-32:IF b<0 THEN 500 360 x=x+b:IF x>255 THEN y=y+1: x=x-256 370GET b$: w=ASC(b$)-32:IF w<0 THEN 500 380IF w=0 THEN 350 390 j=w+x-1 400IF j>255 THEN 440 410HPLOT x, y TO j, y 420 x=x+w 430GOTO 350 440HPLOT x, y TO 255, y 450 i=y+1 460 j=j-256 470HPLOT 0, i TO j, i 480 x=x+w 490GOTO 350 500? d$; "CLOSE "; f$ 510GET t$ 515TEXT:?:?:?:?:? " Would you like to diplay another? (y/n)":GET tc$ 520IF tc$="n" OR t$="N" THEN POKE 25431, 1:POKE 16777, 255:TEXT:NEW:END 525IF tc$="y" OR t$="Y" THEN 200 530GOTO 515 800TEXT 801?:?:?:? " <<<FOREGROUND COLOR>>> " 805?:? " 1-GREEN 8-DARK GREEN" 810? " 2-DARK RED 9-DARK BLUE" 815? " 3-WHITE 10-GREY" 820? " 4-BLACK 11-LIGHT RED" 825? " 5-MED. RED 12-DARK GREEN" 830? " 6-MED. BLUE 13-LIGHT YELLOW" 835? " 7-WHITE 14-SKY BLUE" 840? " 15-MAGENTA" 845?:? 850INPUT " ENTER COLOR CODE: "; c 855IF c<1 OR c>15 THEN 800 860IF c=1 THEN c$="GREEN" 861IF c=2 THEN c$="DARK RED" 862IF c=3 THEN c$="WHITE" 863IF c=4 THEN c$="BLACK" 864IF c=5 THEN c$="MEDIUM RED" 865IF c=6 THEN c$="MEDIUM BLUE" 866IF c=7 THEN c$="WHITE" 867IF c=8 THEN c$="DARK YELLOW" 868IF c=9 THEN c$="DARK BLUE" 869IF c=10 THEN c$="GREY" 870IF c=11 THEN c$="LIGHT RED" 871IF c=12 THEN c$="DARK GREEN" 872IF c=13 THEN c$="LIGHT YELLOW" 873IF c=14 THEN c$="SKY BLUE" 874IF c=15 THEN c$="MAGENTA" 875TEXT 880?:?:?:? " <<<BACKGOUND COLOR>>>":? 890? " 1-BLACK 8-MEDIUM RED" 895? " 2-MED. GREEN 9-LIGHT RED" 900? " 3-LIGHT GREEN 10-DARK YELLOW" 905? " 4-DARK BLUE 11-LIGHT YELLOW"; 910? " 5-LIGHT BLUE 12-DARK GREEN" 915? " 6-DARK RED 13-MAGENTA" 920? " 7-CYAN 14-GREY" 925? " 15-WHITE" 930?:? " FOREGROUND COLOR IS" 935? " "; c$ 940? 945INPUT "ENTER COLOR CODE: "; bg 950IF bg<1 OR bg>15 THEN 875 955POKE 25471, 0:POKE 25431, bg 960RETURN 1000HOME:?:?:?:? " Your current colors are:" 1001 cr=PEEK(16777) 1002IF cr<1 OR cr>15 THEN HCOLOR =3: c=3 1003 cr=PEEK(16777) 1004GOSUB 1500 1005?:?:? " Foreground - "; cr$ 1006 cr=PEEK(25431) 1007GOSUB 1500 1008?:? " Background - "; cr$ 1009VTAB (20):? "Would you like to change these colors? (y/n) ":GET ts$ 1010IF ts$="n" OR ts$="N" THEN 290 1011IF ts$="y" OR ts$="Y" THEN 282 1500REM 1501IF cr=1 THEN cr$="BLACK" 1502IF cr=2 THEN cr$="MEDIUM GREEN" 1503IF cr=3 THEN cr$="LIGHT GREEN" 1504IF cr=4 THEN cr$="DARK BLUE" 1505IF cr=5 THEN cr$="LIGHT BLUE" 1506IF cr=6 THEN cr$="DARK RED" 1507IF cr=7 THEN cr$="CYAN" 1508IF cr=8 THEN cr$="MEDIUM RED" 1509IF cr=9 THEN cr$="LIGHT RED" 1510IF cr=10 THEN cr$="DARK YELLOW" 1511IF cr=11 THEN cr$="LIGHT YELLOW" 1512IF cr=12 THEN cr$="DARK GREEN" 1513IF cr=13 THEN cr$="MAGENTA" 1514IF cr=14 THEN cr$="GREY" 1515IF cr=15 THEN cr$="WHITE" 1520RETURN 2000HOME:?:?:?:?:?:? " DRIVE NOT LOADED" 2001VTAB (20):? " <PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE>" 2002GET ta$ 2003GOTO 204 2010HOME:?:?:?:?:?:? " FILE NOT ON " 2011? " DRIVE "; dr 2012VTAB (20):? " <PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE>" 2013GET tb$ 2014GOTO 204 3000? d$; "CLOSE "; f$ 3010GOTO 510
End of listing.
Presently the following REQUIREMENTS are in effect for using & being a part of this system:
l. YOU MUST GIVE PROPER CREDIT TO THE GROUP, ORGANIZATION AND THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHOR of any material taken from here. Failure to do so may result in your being excluded from this system.
2. To help cut down my time & expenses in producing these monthly mailings each person on the mailing list is REQUIRED to make copies and distribute to at least one other person or group (WHICH I WILL ASSIGN TO YOU) or upto THREE copies & remailings. Obviously, the more (3) you do, the more people we can reach. At this time I will assign these mailings, although you can make your suggestions as to who you would like to remail to or who you think should be added onto the list.
3. IF you would prefer to pay a cash fee rather than do a remailing, contact me and we will see what we can work out. However, this is NOT meant to be a profit making venture (& has costs me considerable in disks & postage upto this point), so I would prefer you do remailings rather than pay a cash fee at this time. But if the remailings are a problem, contact me.
4. BBS SYSOPS ARE ASKED TO UPLOAD TO THEIR AND OTHER ADAM BBSs ANY INFORMATION WHICH APPEARS TO BE OF INTEREST OR IMPORTANCE. This can take the place of your doing a remailing. YOU are invited to upload the entire mailing as one or two large files on your BBS for downing loading etc.
5. YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH your newsletter editor, your BBS sysop, your members & officers.
6. WHILE it is felt that information included is correct and accurate, I take no responsibility for its accuracy, correctness, content, suggestions,etc. and you should use the same at your own risk.
7. I will try to indicate the source of the item in either the file name or internally in the file. Some things may have their own separate disk.
8. IF you do not wish to continue on the mailing list, please inform me so you name can be removed and someone else be added in your place.
9. WHILE IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT AT THIS TIME THAT YOU SUBMIT ITEMS TO ME for this mailing, that is the ONLY way in which we can make this work.
l0. Miscellaneous: Each disk will have a file showing its (intended) distribution. Each disk will be marked to indicate when the material can be used. Usually it will be usable after the first day of the month shown on the label. Of course,material can be saved to fill in at future times when you are short of items. The initial distribution will be approximately the middle of the month for material to be used starting the lst of the next month.
I hope this will serve to encourage other Adamites to write for several different newsletters. Most of the newsletters do not have a large overlap of coverage or subscribers and therefore no newsletter is really hurt by the items appearing in several newsletters.
By distributing these to you in this way, you are NOT reprinting items, these are all duplicate original items being sent to several newsletters for possible use.
Your suggestions are always welcome. I encourage you all to support the ADAM BBS NET pioneered by BJ, Larry Overman(So.Cal) and Bob Blair A(AWAUG-Wash.DC) which is exchanging messages & information from the various BBSs on a weekly basis.
Best regards, Barry A. Wilson
REEDY SOFTWARE
New catalog from Reedy Software, l0085 60th St. Alto MI 49320 includes: New for MageQuest Players, MageQuest Construction Set. UPGRADE POLICY: For $l.00 copy charge & shipping of $ 2.50 when you return your original older version disk or DDT they will upgrade you to the current version. Their catalog (send stamped addressed envelope to above address, ask for catalog) indicates which of their items have been upgraded. They also carry PD software, Coleco software, ADAM supplies including ribbons and much more.
REVIEW BY JIM DUFFY OF STLAUG
This review was written using SpeedyWrite 2.0 you may re-format with this or any other word processer.If you use another word processer you will have to delete the control carectors which are highlited.You may also add pictures expanded letters or anything else to make the title or review look better. Good Luck,Jim
SCHOOL DAZE Review by Jim Duffy
Wizard's Lair Software has come out with another fine program called School Daze.This is the first math learning program I have seen that is not just user friendly but also is fun to use with all of the different graphic features included in this program.
All you have to do to get things going is to put the disk or DDP in and pull the reset.Then after a nice title screen and some fine music you will see a multi-colored menu with the following Smartkey numbers:
I=MATH II=MATH CLIMBER III=READ INSTRUCTIONS IV=ADAM SUPPORT V=RESET ADAM
Every area you go into is Smartkey driven and easy to get in and out of.
By selecting Smartkey I you go to the Math menu where you can select I=ADD,II=SUBTRACT,III=MULTIPLY,IV=DIVIDE or V=ESCAPE.Within each of these areas the Math table can be increased by 1 up to and including 12.This screen looks very nice with a report card on the left and with a right answer you get a series of smiling faces and with the wrong answer you get frowning faces.You can also change screen colors upon being asked at the beginning of the game.
Selecting Smartkey II takes you to the MATH CLIMBER game where the object of the game is to climb 16 steps of a ladder and you do this by giving 16 correct answers to random math problems that appear on the screen in a window of the wall the ladder is on.For each incorrect answer the climber comes down a step and if you miss five answers you lose.You are also shown the high score,current score,number of right and wrong answers and the percentage of correct answers.MATH CLIMBER really makes learning math fun.
Smartkey III of the main menu gives you a nice set of instructions one screenfull at a time with easy to read bold fonts.
Pressing Smartkey IV from the main menu takes you to the Adam Support area of this program.This is a very good feature and one that is seldom seen in the world of Adam.Here you are given the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and type of groups (AUG,Vendor or Developer) that deal with the Adam and you can either read them or print them out on an Adam or a Dot Matrix printer buy pressing a Smartkey.I counted at least 60 different Adam groups,vendors or developers on this list.
With Smartkey V on the main menu you have to be careful because it does just what it says which is Reset Adam.
The developer of this program gives Sol Swift,Power Paint,Sprite Power, Font Power and Super Basic Plus credit for making the program easier to develope.And if Wizard's Lair Sofware continues to develope new programs for the Adam as good as this one,I can see nothing but good happening in the world of Adam.
RATING-A+
Jim also put the following related programs on this disk: Jim lC - Jim 5C; Liss DEMOl; IFS DEMO. All of which I believe have to do with Groovy Graphics and may require that program to use or see them.
*************************************************************************
CAROL TAPIA the mother of three and her three children have agreed to do reviews for us. Carol includes the input of her three children which we feel gives a much better review of these programs from a child's viewpoint and for the parents of children.
Carol Tapia is a member of SLAUG from Wylie Tx. and should receive credit for the following reviews: Easy As ABC,123; Mystery; Dragon Fire; Donkey Kong; Word Feud; NovaBlast; Space Panic; Artillery Duel; Robin Hood; Facemaker; DragonFire.
RANDOM (?) NUMBERS
CONTINUED FROM LAST ISSUE. Methods of generating random numbers in SmartBasic. Similar to one of last month but this one uses a controller keypad response rather than a keyboard response.
10 PRINT "PRESS # ON KEYPAD TO BEGIN"
This message is printed on screen.
20 a% = a% -1: IF not PDL(11) THEN GOTO 20
the value a% will decrease by l each time this line is run. If the # on keypad is touched then PDL(ll) will register and the program goes to line 30. However, if # on the keypad has not been push, PDL(11) does not register and the line 20 is run again, which causes the value of a% to decrease again. Based on the time it takes to push the # on the keypad the value a% will have decreased by varying amounts.
30 rn = RND(a%)
This sets the random number equal to a random number based on a%. As a% will vary (see line 20 above), the random number series will vary with it.
40 REM Continue with your program
Again REM is merely a remark and the program does not try to run it.
A similar program creates an input polling loop (asks if a certain input has been made) which such loop can be exited when the user presses a certain key. The loop updates the potential seed number on each loop, as a result the randomness of the seed is based on pressing a key at a random time.
100 For seed = 1 to 5000
Beginning of loop
110 IF PDL(9) = l THEN l30
When proper key is pressed, PDL(9) then the program goes to line l30 where it determines a random number for the balance of the progran.
120 NEXT seed
completes the FOR-THEN loop and loops back to 100
130 seed = RND (-seed)
Use the random seed from the loop to get a random number for your program.
Another technique uses the computer's clock. This involveds a short machine code routine. The routine takes a number of the refresher register of the Z80CPU and stores it a location l056. The refresher register is incremented by the computer clock. The routine should be loaded at the beginning of the program, as indicated.
100 FOR i = 0 to 5: READ d: POKE l056+i,d: NEXT i 110 DATA 237,95,50,38,4,20l
The routine is loaded in a safe place in the Basic Interpreter so no LOMEM or HIMEM statemebts are necessary. You use the routine as follows:
200 CALL l056: x = RND (-PEEK(l062))
Sounds nice, if anyone has tried this, let me know. I have just found this one in an old Adam journal but not exactly sure how it works. But since no one every responses, I am sure no one will let me know more about this.
AT THIS POINT I RECEIVED MY COPY OF GODOS WITH GOBASIC and decided to finish this article by indicating what you must go through to get a true random number with GODOS.
GODOS RANDOM NUMBERS
To generate a TRUE random number in GODOS, forget about all the above which has to do with SmartBasic and:
Type in RND wherever you want a random number, such as ..........
l0 IF RND (l) > 0.56 THEN .........
Thats all you need, just type in RND wherever you want a TRUE RND and thats what you get. No fancy manipulations as with SmartBasic.
ROBIN HOOD
by Xonox
Travel back in time to life in Merry Ole England. Don't forget your bow and arrows or your quarter staff. Come on now, Robin Hood is in dire need of your assistance to combat the evil Sheriff of Notingham's men.
This is a fun game with great graphics (especially the Castle scene). There is a two player option and one to four levels of skill to choose from.
In the first scene, you are Robin minus all your jolly band. You have to fight off all the Sheriff's men. You fire arrows by turning the joystick in the direction you wish to fire and pressing the fire button. Do not stand in one place as there maybe as many as six of the Sheriff's men on the screen at any one time firing arrows back at you. If you are hit, you lose one life.
After you completely eliminate all the Sheriff's men in this screen, you will be able to cross the bridge in the lower right corner to the next screen. In the second screen, you are facing the Sheriff's men with your quarter staff. In this section, you won't lose any lives but you will have to go back to the bridge each time you are knocked down. If you position Robin just a fraction above the man you are attacking you will knock him down.
After knocking down all the men in this area, you can cross over to the right of the screen to go on to the Castle. Now you will change back to your bow and arrow and fight the sheriff's men both in the fields around you and in the Castle above. Here, as in the first scene, if you are hit by an arrow you will lose a life. So far no one in my family has rated higher than a Stable cleaner when we got killed off but it doesn't stop the boys from wanting to play this everytime they have a chance. Now, I have to go out in the backyard and get a little target practice..........
REVIEW EASY COME, EASY GO
I know that Easy Come, Easy Go is NOT a new program. But I was using it the other day in my business and I found it to be the excellent program I remembered from prior use, so I thought I would bring it to your attention again, should you have the need for such a program.
"Easy Come Easy Go" is a collection of financially based program modules designed to compute, summarize, and report how a given sum of money, whether borrowed or saved, is affected by interest rates and time. These modules are designed to be easy to use and they can help you better manage your financial resources.
PROGRAM ORGANIZATION
Once the program has been loaded the "MAIN MENU" screen will appear and you will be prompted to select one of six functional catagories. Four of these functions (ie. Amortization Schedule, Payment Table, Loan Totals Table, Quit) perform a single specific function. The other two functions (Loan Calculations, Savings Calculations) will display an additional menu screen from which a specific function can be selected. You can exit the program entirely by selecting "QUIT" (Smartkey VI) from the "MAIN MENU" screen.
PRINTER DRIVERS
"Easy Come-Easy Go" contains the necessary software to drive the
standard ADAM printer or a parallel printer interface card.
When the "MAIN MENU" is displayed, the program checks to see if a
parallel printer card has been installed. If so, an additional prompt is
displayed on the menu screen (A/P Adam or Parallel Printer). Depressing
the A or P key at this time will toggle the system between the two
different drivers. This feature will allow you to switch printers any
time the "MAIN MENU" screen is displayed.
NOTE: You will not receive the prompt (described above) if your system is
not equipped with a printer card and all printed output will be sent to the ADAM printer.
SPECIAL KEYS
The program modules make use of Speical Keys to make it even easier for you to use these program modules. program functions.
I found this to be an excellent set of programs which are very well written and very helpful. They are easy to use and MMSG put in many helpful features, such as printer choice and use of specail keys.
I would highly recommend it.
Barry Wilson
SPACE PANIC
by Universal for Coleco
Space Panic is pure entertainment. The game starts with your spacemen pitted against read, green, and blue space monsters. You must dig holes in the girder floors to trap the monsters and then fill them quickly in order to make the monsters fall to their doom on the floor below. The Creature (red) only has to fall through one floor but the Boss (green) must fall through two floors and the Don (blue) must fall through three. An exception to this rule can occur if you can maneuver them into a pattern where either the Boss or Don falls on any other monster, or is fallen on top of by any other monster.
You must hurry to complete each level before you run out of
oxygen. Your spaceman can fall through one or even up to
four floors without hurting himself. A quick way to get the
levels completed is to trick the monsters into falling on
another monster--it also earns you extra points. You
receive bonus points for any time remaining on your OXYGEN
REMAINING TIMER after you have cleared the entire level.
CAUTION: If a creature escapes from your trap or the Boss
doesn't fall through two floors, they will change. The
Creature will become a Boss and the Boss will be come a Don.
levels
This game can be played by one or two players. There are four different levels of skills to choose from. In level one, the player receives five men to start with. On the other levels the player starts with only three men.
GENERAL STARLINK INFORMATION
STARLINK CHARGES ---------------- REGISTRATION
STARLINK registration is a one-time non-refundable fee of $35.00 if the payment method you select is Visa or Mastercard. The registration fee is $50.00 if you choose Checkfree direct checking account debit.
USAGE
All STARLINK accounts are charged a monthly $10.00 service fee. Users in the Continental US are charged $1.50/hr and NO KCHAR fee. 5.Kchar. STARLINK Canada accountsare charged $3.00/hr and $.02/Kchar. These charges are for usage from 7pm - 6am Monday - Friday, all day Saturday , Sunday, and major US holidays based on your local access time zone. Charges for prime time are $14.00/hr. OTHER FEES Change of Password, ID, or Username: $20.00 Detailed Billing : $5.00 Dishonored Checking Debit or CreditCard Charge: $20.00 Change of payment method: $25.00.
STARLINK! What is it? STARLINK is an asynchronous outdial service that uses the superiorTYMNET Data Communications Network. There are presently over 130 cities that can be reached through the outdial service and over 1000 local access numbers in most U.S. cities and Canada.
CITIES REACHABLE VIA STARLINK
Eastern Time Zone -----------
--------------- Connecticut Bloomfield Bridgeport Hartford Stamford
Delaware Wilmington
Florida Clearwater Fort Lauderdale Jacksonville Longwood Miami Naples Orlando Port St Lucie Tampa
Georgia Atlanta Doraville Marietta Martinez Norcross
Indiana Indianapolis South Bend
Kentucky Lexington Louisville
Maryland Baltimore Rockville Bethesda
Massachusetts Boston Cambridge Gorton Kingston Lowell Marlborough Springfield
Michigan Ann Arbor Detroit Grand Rapids Lansing Southfield
New Jersey Camden Englewood Cliffs Newark Pennsauken Piscataway Princeton South Brunswick Union City
New York Albany Buffalo
Hello Adamites!
The purpose of this newsletter is to help inform Adam users about our products, and different ways that our products can be used. We would really appreciate articles submitted by Walters Software product owners on how they're using our products. The more ways you can use a product, the more valuable it becomes. If you would like to submit an article for the newsletter (just a few paragraphs), please send it to Walters Software in SmartWriter format on disk if possible, anything would be appreciated.
The Label Works
We have just released The Label Works. This program is written entirely in Z80 machine code using our new SmartDSK operating system. The new system includes a more compacted standard system, (7K), ramdisk, printer drivers, screen routines and related routines. The Label Works is the first program to use our new file folder, the folder has a 3D look and when selecting the next catalog it changes to resemble the next folder. The file name is highlighted making it very easy to see the file being selected. If you forget to insert a disk/D.D.P. before trying to select a device the smartkey won't be displayed, no problem, just insert the media and the smartkey will light up. The main purpose of The Label Works is to give the Adam user the ability to create professional looking labels using a dot matrix printer. Four type styles are available, elite, italized, expanded, and compressed. A clip art picture can also be included with standard labels.
The Vase of Turr
The Vase of Turr, our first adventure game, is progressing very well, should be finished some time this fall. We also plan a special surprise with the release of this game, to the best of my knowledge it has never been done before. Watch For Details!
Upgrades
Printer drivers for The Print Works are available for the Epson RX-80, Epson MX-III and IBM Proprinter. The IBM drivers have been upgraded, 6/15/89. All SmartDSK programs upgraded 11/8/88, operating system. SmartDSK III utilities upgraded 4/26/88. The Label Works (#1-#14) 6/28/89, few bugs in program. Double Disk Formatter upgraded to Formatter II. Some upgrades can be done with a block editor like SmartDSK III's Toolkit, but most require you to send the original media to Walters Software Co. Contact us for instructions to upgrade your software.
Software Backups
Some users have the idea that copyprotection of a software product is to keep them from obtaining a backup. This is not correct, copyprotection is to protect our hard work from software pirates, we will provide a backup for any software product we produce for a small fee. This also includes a lifetime warranty, and one free replacement no matter what caused the failure. We also bend the rules for special situations. The main reasons we don't include a backup with the package is it would raise the retail price, and gives the purchaser a reason to return the warranty card. Several users have expressed their concern about keeping the prices down. Most users never have any problems and a disk can last several years even under heavy use. I also know of no other companies that include a backup with the package, and most charge at least $10.00.
Copy Protection
Another question that has been asked alot, is why does some software companies use copyprotection and some don't. There are several reasons why, I will try to explain why we decided to. First we feel it isn,t right for an honest person to pay hard earned money for a software package when a dishonest person receives one for free from a friend. We also need more time to receive a return for our investment because of the small amount of Adam users. I have also been told by some Adam users that they would not purchase a product that is copyprotected. This does not hurt us as much as it does the Adam users, and would force us to develop software for another computer. We really like our Adam computers and hope you continue to purchase our software. We always welcome your views on this subject.
SmartDSK III
Adam users are always looking for short cuts, here is one I use every day. Once you load SmartDSK III it will stay in memory untill you pull the computer reset switch, turn off your computer or have a system crash. To use other programs like AutoBackup or PrBoot from SmartBASIC, first remove all medias from your drives. Insert the program to be used, then type (CALL 64560) and push the return key. This will boot the program without having to load SmartDSK III again. You can also use PrBOOT to boot a program from the ramdisk after loading it with AutoLoad. A modification to SmartDSK is available to put any self booting program like PrBoot, SmartBasic 1 and 2, SuperBASIC (P.D.), AutoLoad, AutoSave, ect., on the same media as SmartDSK III. This eliminates booting SmartDSK III before booting the program you wish to use. You can also boot any program that uses the SmartDSK III operating system from, The Print Works, Formatter II, or The Label Works. Remove all medias from your drives, insert the program to be used, select the EOS option from the Exit screen. Again this eliminates booting SmartDSK III before booting a program. This is called keeping programs compatible and easier to use, we are working hard at Walters Software Co. to make using your Adam more enjoyable.
Ramdisks
Ramdisks are great, they are the fastest way to access utility programs or store data files. They also save considerable wear and tear on a drive. Have you ever Purged a media that had a deleted file near the beginning of the catalog, followed by 40 or 50 files. This can take several minutes, but not in the ramdisk. Copy the disk or d.d.p. to the ramdisk then Purge it, then copy it back to the media. Also, if you plan to copy a disk or d.d.p. to several other medias, the best way is to copy it to the ramdisk and use it as the source to copy to your other medias. SmartDSK is the only ramdisk that will do this, our first ramdisk (RAMDSK) and others use block zero as a buffer. This means that if you copy a block of data to block zero it will be destroyed as soon as you use the ramdisk. This is one reason why SmartDSK is so superior.
Utility Cartridge
We are looking at making a utility cartridge for the Adam. This will give you the ability to pull the cartridge reset switch and have a complete set of utilities available. The utilities would use the same format as our Formatter II program. Drop us a line if you are interested.
Memory expander test
I have just finished a 256K sip test program for E. & T. Software. He has found a source for sips that are cheaper, but need tested. If everything works out, look for Megaram prices to come down.
Catalogs and Flyers
Catalogs and flyers are available from Walters Software, send us a note as to what your interests are and a business size self address, stamped envelope.
If you would like to receive this newsletter, all you have to do is send a Self-Address, stamped envelope to Walters Software Co., if you have purchased a Walters Software product in the last six months you will receive one automatically. User groups that wish to use articles from this newsletter in there own, can receive it on disk by contacting Walters Software Co. for more information.
WORD FEUD
by K-tel
Word Feud is a unique spelling game. You have a variety of game options. First press "1" on your joystick to choose the type of words you wish to work with. You have a choice between three letter words, four letter words, and a combination of three and four letter words. After selecting the type of words you wish to work with, you press "2" to select the player options. There are three options to choose from. "One player" is your slowest option. You can play at your own rate of speed to find the two matching words among all the other miscellaneous letters and occasional words. (Only one word will appear more than once each screen.)
The next option is "One player against the Computer's butterfly or frog". This option was the hardest for my family. While you are trying to find the two matching words, either the butterfly (which removes a lot of letters quickly from the board) or the frog (which removes letters one at a time) trys to beat you.
The last option is "Two player". In this option, you try to beat the other player in locating the two matching words. The challenge in this option depends on how well matched the two players are. After choosing your player options, you then press "3" to begin the game. The object is to find the two words that match on the screen. Unless you have chosen the "one player" option, you will be racing against time. You must be careful to get the cursor exactly at the beginning of the word--if you misplace the cursor, your answer will be considered wrong. On choosing what you feel is the pair of words, place your cursor over one of them and press the fire button. If you are correct, you will score one man. If you are wrong, you will lose two men. You start out with three men and end the game when you have accumulated men all the way across the bottom of the screen. The game then starts over with three men.
This game was too advanced for my two youngest sons as neither of them know how to spell, but my 9 year old enjoyed playing against me. I'm sure it would have been alot more fun if he could have played it against someone his own age. I liked the way they used different colored letters--it helped alleviate eye strain as well as make the game attractive.
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