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October 1982 The independent magazine for the independent user How to choose your cassette player Clive gives his views on our golden future We profile one of the leaders in the export boom Meet the winner of ur EPROM blower competition New home ta computer launched 1 Plus I I pages of programs, software d hardware reviews, helpline, mindgames, news and your letters MICHAEL ORWIN'S ZX131 CASSETTES THE BEST SO F T WARE ( BY VAR I O U S AUT HO RS) AT LO W PRICES Q UO T ES "Mic hael Orwin's E5 Cassette Two Is very good value. It contains 10 stolid well designed games which work, offer plenty of variety and choice, and are fun." From the ZX Software review in Your Computer, May '82 issue. " I h a d y o u r Inv ader s / React c as s ette I was delighted with this fi rst cassette." P. Rubython, London NW10 "I have been intending to write to you for some days to say h o w muc h I enjoy the games on 'Cassette O ne' which you s upplied me with earlier this month.'' EH . , London SW4 I pr ev ious ly b o u g h t y our Cassette O ne and consider it to be good value for money !" CASSETTE 2 Ten games in Bas ic f o r 16k ZX81 Cassette Two contains Reversi, Awari, Laser Bases, Word Mastermind, Rec tangles , C r a s h , R oulet t e, Po n t o o n , Penny Shoot and Gun Command. Cas s ette T w o c os ts £5. CASSET T E 3 8 pr ogr ams f o r 16k 2)(81 ST AR SH IP T R O J AN disaster s trik es . Haz ar ds inc lude asphyxiation, r a d ia t io n , es c aped biological specimens and plunging into a Supernova. = R Ric har d Ros s - Langley ST ART REK T h i s v er s ion o f t h e w e l l k n o w n s pac e e M a n a g in g D ir ec t or adventure game features variable Klingon mobillity , and M in e o f I n f o r m a t io n Ltd. p graphic photon torpedo tracking. a PRINCESS OF K R A A L An adventure game. i BAT T LE Strategy game for 1 to 4 players. CASSETTE 1 r K A L A B R I A S Z World's silliest card game, full of pointless y (elev en l k pr ogr ams ) complicated rules. o R u b ik C u b e s imulator , w i t h lo t s o f func tions machine code: CUBE u React, Invaders, Phantom aliens, Maz e of death, Planet inc luding 'Backstep'. r lander, Bounc ing letters, Bug splat. SECRET M ESSAG ES This message c oding program is Basic: veryS tx lp gexi jf I C hing, Mas ter mind, Robots , Bas ic Hangman. P L U S .M AtR T I A N C R I C K E T A s imple b u t addic tiv e g a m e a unlike Earth cricket) in machine code. The speed is Large screen versions o f Invaders and Maz e o f Death, (totally variable, r and its top speed is very fast. Ready for when you get 16k Cassette One costs [ 3.80 Casss ette 3 c os ts E5. h i p CASSET T E 4 8 games f o r 16k ZX81 b G UNFIG HT I N VA D ER S Z X- SCRAMBL E (machine code) w it h 3 stages. e (machine code) ( m a c h i n e code) Bomb and shoot your w ay through the fortifi ed caves. f o r API O W M N A l a al % • • a • • • • e a a . a • %OP • • a , a , a , • P u N G P L I T I F •I t m E ' . . R E A C H T H E S K Y T H E Y DE RDLV S P O R E S . Y O U M. I N T U I N O R OY T i l e P U N GA LOID S eo A. 7 0 DN E S T C AN T I - F U N O U S s o m a . . O N , T LH. R O L + A . F F 6 n L O Y t E t R e A t N I D U T Y A O N U T R H I S S L O H a G AL AXY IN VA D ER S (machine code) Fleets of s wooping and div ing alien c raft to fi ght of f . SNAKEBIT E (machine code) Eat the snake before it eats you. Variable speed. (very fast at top speed). LIFE (machine code) A ZX81 version of the well k nown game. 3D TIC-TAC-TO E (Basic) Played on a 4 x 4 x 4 board, this is a game for the brain, it is very hard to beat the c omputer at it. 7 of the 8 games are in machine code, because this is much faster than Basic. ( So me of these games w ere previously available from J. St ead man ) . Cassette 4 costs E5. Recorded on quality cassettes, sent by fi rst class post, from: Michael Orwin, 26 Brow nlow Rd., Willesden, London NW10 9QL (mail order only please) sinclair User STORKROSE LTD. --Dolo-ossette Editorial director John Sterlicchi r Tope- trooKs P o r c b c page 37 page 50 t e 5 S 1 NCLAI RV O Y ANCE Cl i ve Si ncl ai r makes hi s excuses for delays i n Spectr um P be better, delivery. The product may be good but production could o 7 S I NCLAI R USER CLUB Mor e news on the club scene. w e 1.1. N E W S ZX•81 Softwar e and har dwar e prices star r t to fall: the designers of the Spectrum branch-out on their own. Advertisement director Simon Horgan 1 3 Y O U R LETTERS You give us your views on the wor l d of Sinclair computer, Advertisement manager John Ross 1 4 G O LDE N AGES Clive Sinclair gives his views on the future. Editorialiproduction assistant Margaret Hawkins 1 7 S O FTWARE SCENE The invaders are let loose on the Spectrum and the mysterinq of the Sinclair Horizons give-away are probed. Managi ng director Terry Cartwright Chairman Richard Hease 2 1 H A R D W A R E WO RLD Stephen Adams looks at the latest add-ons for Sinclair computers. Sinclair User is published monthly by ECC Publications Ltd. It is not in any way connected wi th Sinclair Research Ltd. 2 7 P RO G RAM PRI NTOUT Eight more pages of our popular programs. Editor Nigel Clark Consultant editor Mil(e Johnston Production editor Harold Moves MBE Staff writer John Gilbert Design William Scolding telephone All departments 01-359 7481 If you would like to contribute to Sinclair User, please send typed (or beautifully hand-written) articles or programs to: Sinclair User ECC Publications. 30-31 Islington Green, London Ni We will pay EIO for each program printed and E50 for each article. which should be approximately 1,000 words long. c Copyright 1982 Sinclair User ISSN No, 0262-5458 Origination by Outline Graphics. Printed by Eden Fisher (Southend) Ltd Distributed by Spotlight Magazine Distribution Ltd, 1Benvvell Road, Holloway, London N7 01-607 8411 SI NCLAI R USER O c t obe r 1982 2 5 S TARTI NG FROM SCRATCH Our guide to how to learn to use your 2X-81. 3 7 T A P E RECORDERS AND COMPUTERS Mi ke Salem gives hints on tape storage 4 1 H E L P U N E Andr ew Hewson answers readers* questions. 44 COMPETI TI ON WI NNER The wi nner of our EPROM blower competition. 5 0 C O M P A N Y PROFILE Data-Assette entered the 2X-81 market via Its tape businesIt now sees its future tied closely to the machine. 5 3 M I N D GAMES Philip Joy explores chess, one of the oldest mind games. FREE INSIDE — Spectrum User devoted to news about the Spectrum, its uses and its problems. NEXT MONTH • We assess the growing amount of software available for the business user • Another look behind the scenes in Sinclair Research • More software for the Spectrum 3 NO RIVING oks THE SPECTRUM 4 • 4 • • 46.1 • 1# • • • * • 4 • • 10 • ' • Dr I on Logan is the acknowledged leading authority on Sinclair computers. In this book, he gives a complete overview of the way the Spectrum operates. both for BASIC and machine l anguage programming, A special section on the ROM operating system will give you insight into this computer as well as provide you with information on how to use many of the routines present in the ROM. This book is a must if you ore serious about programming the Spectrum O nl y E7.95, lop • 4 1 6 M TN, ; 1 01 0 • 0 Over the Spectrum . is the book: wher e s 2 0 do come true! your dreams really With t w the full listing of over 30 programs for a book will show you your Spectrum, this . how to use the computer's complete facilities. Exciting games such as Meteor Storm, Eliminator and Spectrum invaders, together wi th utilities, educati onal programs, pr ogr ammi ng tips and hints, make this the definitive book for every Spectrum user. Onl y E6.95_ After leading the way in Sinclair ZXfil software, we've produced the highest quality, most exciting Spectrum software available. From the three excellent books depicted above to fast-action games on cassette, we're providing the best choice in Sinclair Spectrum software today. Whether it's for your new Spectrum or ZX81 Melbourne House has books and programs perfectly suited to your needs. r This title speaks for itself, it's everything you need to understand about Spectrum Machi ne Language when you're just starting off. A must for all new Spectrum owners. Onl y Eto 95 — Melbourne House Publishers, 131 Tr afal gar Road, Gr eenwi ch, London SEUL k TJ Rood, Cor r espondence t o : G l e b e C o t t a g e , S t a t i o n Cheddi ngton, Lei ghton Buz z ar d, BEDS LU7 7NA. e Please send m e your Spectr um/ ZX81 catal ogue (pl ease I specify). Please send me ( p l e a s e add 80p for post, pack & V A T . ) Name 1 1 1 1 1 Addr ess Send for your Spectrum or ZX81 catalogue today. Post Code i S U 1 C SI NCLAI R USER O c t obe : r 1082 1 ViaOPMELBOURNE HOUSE PUBLISHERS 4 Spectrum excuses run out Spectrum in a blaze of publicity in April. At the S time th e company w a s stating th at t h e I machine was ready to be despatched and that production wa s ready t o meet t h e expected N demand. C The confidence of the company was matched by L the enthusiasm with which people placed their A orders. Since then, nothing seems to have gone right and I the disillusion of customers throughout the R R E S E country has grown. Sinclair User has been flooded A telephone calls and letters from people with R expressing their dissatisfaction with the way they have been treated. C of the anger has filtered through to HThe level Sinclear Research and Clive Sinclair considered a situation to be so bad that he wrote to the magathe n explaining the problems. I t is printed in zine Spectrum User. A voucher for 1 0 and a promise n that o the backlog should be cleared by the end of September is being offered to customers, some of u whom have been waiting for three months. nThe most unfortunate feature is that it could easily have been avoided. Sinclair Research makes c great e play of the fact that it can work to strict deadlines. It is an ability of which to be proud — if it can d achieved. There is no reputation to be gained be t making claims which cannot be justified. from hThe company can advance an y number o f excuses but the fact remains that it has not been e able to substantiate the claims it made at the time of the launch. Problems in gearing-up to full production, obscure faults discovered after production began, and unexpected demand are all acceptable in companies new to the market but Sinclair Research has had the experience of two previous machines, yet still seems unable to profit from experience. SI NCLAI R USER O c t obe r 1982 The only excuse for not making sure that the Spectrum was ready to go ahead as soon as it was announced, with a suitable stock to ensure that unexpected demand could be met, was that it had to rush to market a machine to beat the opposition. That does not apply in this case. It would have made n o difference t o t h e competitive position of Sinclair if the machine had not been announced until September. I t would. however, have made a great difference to its position with its customers. It has been said that Sinclair Research is a company with a technology bias. That is used as an excuse for its poor customer relations. That is a reasonable comment for a company which is doing research work for other companies. It is not acceptable for one wishing to deal so closely with the public. It is also inconsistent. Clive Sinclair is scarcely an innocent where employing the media to publicise his successes i s concerned. The shortcomings appear once the machine has been developed and the market has been created. None of that should detract from the achievements of the company. In a very short time it has developed a dominant position i n t h e home computer market. Such success, however, brings its own pressures. Others see the profits which can be made and in a short time methods which worked less than a year ago are no longer sufficient to ensure that the leading position is maintained. Clive Sinclair is worried, and probably rightly so, about the threat from the Japanese. I t has not appeared yet. The only competition has been from other British companies, which seem to suffer from the same delivery problems as Sinclair Research. It will not last for ever. The best way to meet the threat is to have the proper product at the proper place at the proper time and the ability to meet the demand satisfactorily. Sinclair scores on the product side. Once it can organise its production effectively it should have no difficulty in justifying the image it has built for itself. 5 PERSONAL BU SI N ESS A N D F I N AN C I AL PLANNING C AL C U L AT I ON S Ther e le c tr onic wor k s he e t gross y ou morass/0nel w we t to th e 1 X 8 1 th a n thought possibit. LataTIIINTIN L Aa VP. li, tw - A T H R EE D I M EN SI O N AL M AZ E G A M E , P DP•orb few .• • k ipt uovv0 an310. 1• • s I J U N U V I R All these titles are available now from your local Bookstore or Computershop. In case of diffi culty, send cOst of tape plus 25p postage per tape with the coupon to: Software Masters Ltd., 30 Lincoln Road, Olton, Birmingham B27 6PA. Trade enquiries welcome! SM2015 Breakout 16K 5, 95 SM2011 Cornputacalc 16K 7. 95 SM2022 Constellation 16K 8. 00 SM2023 16K 7. 95 Football Manager SM2003 16K 5. 95 Labyrinth SM2025 16K 9. 95 Magnus SM2021 16K 10.00 Mazogs SM2017 16K 5. 95 Mugsy SM2018 16K 5. 95 Murgal royds SM2019 16K 5. 95 Murgatroyds Revenge SM2005 16K 6. 95 Nightmare P a r k SM2027 P. i6K 5. 95 / SM2012 16K 9. 95 Personal Banking System M u s i c SM2024 Pilot 16K 5. 95 SM2020 16K 5. 95 Prog merge SM2026 Puckman 16K 5. 95 SM2008 Space Intruders 16K 5. 95 SM2014 Space invaders/Space Rescue 16K 6. 95 SM2013 Star Trekf3D Os & Xs 16K 6. 95 SM2007 ZX 81 Chess 16K 6. 90 SM2001 Bumper 7 1K 5. 95 SM2016 1K Games Pack 1K 6.00 SM 2002 1K 7.95 1K Super Trio Prices Include VAT *mace 6 Please send me Code o m a n r a t i o n e n d a n a l y s t s c o l d a t a . h r i n g o n g m o r the e tisHE Lt IS A l LAST " A N T SIMULATION PROGRAM FOP Y Oul. COMPUTE N following programs Cost Postage:I enclose Postal Order/Cheque for Total E Name Address Su Software Masters Lid. 30 Lincoln Road, Olton, Birmingham B27 6PA, England. Telephone: 021-707 7544. likS7kbatillEYSKIIIERMOSIMEIM11110011111101t111111E1SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 sinclair user club Telephone service answers problems Major Savings on software for business Prices of Hilderbay range are cut by 10pc OUR O F F E R t o c l u b members this month has a stro n g b i a s t o w a r d s people who p re fe r to use their Sinclair machines for serious applications. The major p a r t o f th e offer, w h i ch a s usual i s exclusive t o members o f the Sinclair User Club. is a 10 percent reduction in the price o f th e products o f Hilderbay. T h e company range includes a te ste d tape r e c o r d e r a n d a loading aid, as w e l l as a large ra n g e o f business software. The p r i c e re d u cti o n s, listed below, a re a major saving and w i l l go a long Tape Recorder Hilderhay loading aid Software for the ZX-81: Beamscan Payroll Stock Control Optimax Budget I and II Time Ledger Critical Path Financial Pack Gold Program Planning Package Spectrum software: Payroll Stock Control Gold Program Planning Package SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 way to off-setting the cost of membership. All t h e p ri ce s q u o te d include V A T and postage and packing except for the tape recorder, fo r w h i ch an extra E2 is charged. As seen i n th e listing, some o f th e so ftw a re i s also a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e Spectrum. The rest of this month's Star Offe r is made up by the Mi cro Gen chess program f o r t h e Sp e ctru m, known a s Ma ste r Chess. Again this is being offered at a discount to members of 1 0 p e r c e n t . T h a t reduces the normal price of E9.90 to E8.90 fo r club members. A s u s u a l , t o permit n e w members t o take advantage o f these offers you can include an o rd er w i t h application form. Members ca n ta ke advantage o f th e discounts until the end of October. Usual C l u b Price P r i c e E22 E 1 9 . 8 0 E5.95 E 5 . 3 5 E25 E 2 2 . 5 0 E25 [ 2 2 . 5 0 E25 E 2 2 . 5 0 E40 E 3 6 . 0 0 E17 E 1 5 . 3 0 E15 E 1 3 . 5 0 £15 E 1 3 . 5 0 E8 E 7 . 2 0 E5 E 4 . 5 0 E138 E 1 2 4 . 2 0 E25 E 2 2 . 5 0 E25 E 2 2 . 5 0 E8 E 7 . 2 0 E138 E 1 2 4 . 2 0 y o u r A N E W service i s a va i l able fo r members o f o u r popular S i n c l a i r U s e r Club. A telephone p ro b l e manswering service is now available, e x c l u s i v e t o members. The number has been announced o n t h e cassette sent to members midway through August. Members will be able to telephone the number with any problems th e y m a y have in using the Sinclair machines. We started the service b e c a u s e w e thought i t important th a t members s h o u l d h a v e somewhere t h e y c o u l d obtain e xp e rt advice i mmediately. The A u g u s t c a s s e tte was th e fi r s t t o b e sent continued on page 8 MEMBERSHIP FORM I wish to join the Sinclair User Club and enclose my subscription of E12 Name Address Which computer do you own? ZX-01 l S p e c t r u m Send y o u r coupons t o Si n cl a i r U s e r C l u b . ECC Publications, 3 0 N - i 8131. Cheques should be made payable to Sinclair User Club. 31 I s l i n g t o n G r 7e e n , The cassettes also contain a s pe c ia l bom be r game, w i t h versions f o r both t he ZX-81 a n d the continued from page 7 Spectrum. Cassettes ha v e be e n since w e b e g a n t h e Sinclair User Club. They sent t o a l l pe ople w h o were produced f or both joined t he Sinclair User the Z X Club by the second week in -Spectrum. August. Those who joined 8 1They contain the first in after that date will receive a of articles on how their first cassette at the a series n to use machine code i n beginning of October. d As we ll as the second programming. The intr ot article in the machine code ductory a r tic le , wr it t e n h for e people w h o already programming series i t is know how to program in intended t o have a pr oBasic, c om pa r e s c om - blem pa ge service, w i t h mands in Basic to those in matters w h i c h a r e o f machine code. s pe c i a l c o n c e r n t o m e m - Britain Aylesbury Z X Computer Cl ub: Ke n Kni ght, 2 2 Mount Str eet Aylesbury (5181 or 630867). Meetings: first Wednesday and third Thursday of the month_ Doncaster and District Mi cr o Club: !aim Woods. 80 Dundas Road. Wheatley, Doncaster DN2 4DR; (0302) 29357, Edi nbur gh ZX Users' Club: J. Palmer (031 881 3183) or K Mitchell (031 3 3 4 8483). Meeti ngs: second Wednesday of the month a t Claremont Hotel, EZUG-Educational ZX-80411 User s' Group: Eric Deeson. Highgate School, Birmingham B12 9D.S. Glasgow ZX-80181 User s' Cl ub: I an Watt, 107 Gr eenwood Road. Clarkston, Glasgow G76 71W (041 638 1241). Meetings: second and fourth monday of each month. Hassocks ZX Mi cr o User Club, Sussex: Paul King (Hassocks 4530). I nver tl yde ZX-81 Users* Cl ub: Rober t W a l t 9 St. John's Road, Gourock. RenfreiNshire, P A1 9 1 P L (Gour ock 39967). Meeti ngs: Every other week on Monday at Greenock Society of the Deaf, Kelly Street, Greenock. Keighley Computer Club: Colin Price. Redholt. I ngr ow, Keighley (603133)_ Merseyside Co-op ZX User s' Gr oup: Kei th Driscoll. 5 3 Melville Road. Bootle, Merseyside 1.20 6NE; 051-922 3163. National ZX-80 and ZX81 User s' Cl ub: 44-46 Earls Cour t Road, London WEI 6E1 Nor th Her tfor dshi r e Hom e Computer Cl ub: R Cr utchfiel d, 2 Durham Road. Stevenage; Meetings: first Friday of the month at the Settlement, NeveIls Road. Letchworth. Nor th London Hobby Computer Club: ZX users' gr oup meets at North London Pol ytechni c. Hol l oway Road, London N 7 e a c h Monday. 6pm. Nottingham Mi cr ocomputer Cl ub: ZX-80'81 user s gr oup, G E Basford. 9 Hoime Close, The Pastures, Woodborough, Nottingham. Orpington Com put e r Cl ub: Roge r Pyatt, 2 3 Ar unde l Dr i ve. Orpington, Kent, (Orpington 20281). Per th a n d Di s t r i c t A m a t e u r Com put e r Soci ety: Al a s t a i r MacPherson, 1 5 4 O a k ba nk Roa d, P e r t h P H I 11-i A (29633). Meetings: thi r d Tuesday of each month at Hunter s Lodge Motel , Bankfoot. Scunthorpe ZX Club: C P HazeIton, 26 Rilestone Place. Botlesford, Scunthorpe; (0724 63466). Sheffield: Andr ew Moor e. 1 Ketton Avenue, Sheffiel d S8 8 P A would like people interested in starting a club in the area to contact him enclosing a stamped-addressed envelope for details. Swindon ZX Computer Club: Andr ew Bartlett. 47 Grosvenor Road. Swindon, Wi l ts SN1 4 LT; (0793) 3077. Monthl y meeti ngs a nd software library. 8 hers, more games for the offe r ing l o n g e r - t e r m ZX-81 and Spectrum, and discounts on a variety of news about the activities items i n t h e g r o w i n g of club members. market for hardware addThe cassette a n d t h e ons and software. telephone pr oble m -line A y e a r 's subscription are j u s t t w o o f t h e costs E1 2 a n d t ha t c a n advantages t o be gained easily b e r e c oupe d b y from joining the Sinclair taking advantage o f the User C l u b . I t i s a l s o special discounts whic h possible t o o b t a i n we ne got ia t e f o r o u r discounts on a number of members. popular items which a r e To take advantage of all available to enhance their these benefits, complete Sinclair machines. the a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m Each month we arrange today, making sure tha t a special Star Offer which you i n d i c a t e w h i c h is usually available until machine you own so that the end of the month. We we c a n s e nd y o u t h e are a l s o c o n s i d e r i n g correct cassette. Thames Valley ZX Users' Club: Richard Shepherd, 22 Green Lays, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 7EZ; (0628)21107 (evenings and weekends). Hopes to start meetings on a regular basis. Wor ts Computer Cl ub: S W Rabone, 1 8 Castl e Road, War ta, Weston-super -Mar e BS 2 2 9 1 W (Weston-super -Mar e 513068). Meetings: Woodsprings Inn. Worle, on alternate Mondays. ZX Guaranteed: GA Bobker, 29 Chadderton Drive, Unsworth, Bury, Lancashire. Exchanges information and programs thr oughout the country. ZX-80/ZX/11 User s' Cl ub: P O Box 159. Kingston-on-Thames, A postal club. Overseas Belgium. Fr ance. Luxembour g: Cl ub Sinclair. Raymond Betz. 3 8 Chemin du Moul i n 38. B-1328 Ohain, Belgium (322 6537468) Belgium. Nether l ands: Mi cr ocomputer Ver eni gi ng BZW, P a ul Glenisson, Priester de l'Epeestrant 14, B-1200 Brussels. Belgium (322 7349954) Denmark: Danmarks National ZX-80/81 Kl ub (DNZK). lens Larson. Skovmosevej 6.4200 Slagelese. post giro 1 46 24 66. ZX-Br uger gr uppen i Danmar k. Boks 44, 2650 Hvidovre. Gr ati s medlemskab og gratis bled tit enhver interesseret_ East Netherlands: Jonathon Meyer. Van Speen Street 22.6524 H,N. Nijmegen; (080 223411). Germany: ZX - 8 0 Cl ub. a postal cl ub; contact Thomas jenczyk. I lameln, Postfach 65 D-3250 Hameln, Germany. Indonesia: Jakar ta ZX-80/ 81 User s' Cl ub, LS, Wiley's, Jakarta. Indonesia. Republic of Ireland: Irish ZX-80/81 Users' Club. 73 Cnoc Crionain. Ballo Atha, Cliath 1_ Singapore: Sinclair Users' Group; Eric Mortimer, 1D Wilmer Court. Leonie Hill Road. Singapore. South Afr i ca: Johannesburg Z,X80/81 Computer User s' Cl ub; S Lucas, cto Hoechst S A (Pty) Ltd. P O Box 8692, Johannesburg, Teaches Basic and machine code, interest in hardware. Johannesburg ZX Users' Club: LOnnert ER Fisher, PO Box 61446, Marshallstown. Johannesburg. Spain: Cl ub Nacional de Usuarios del ZX-81. Joseph-Oriol Tomas. Avda. de Madr i d, No 203 207. 10. 3a esc. A Barcelona-14 Espana. International ZX Spectrum Club: Gabriel Indalecio Cam, Sardana. 4 atrico 2a, San Andr es de la Barca, Barcelona. Send international reply coupon. Produces a hi-monthly magazine. Uni ted States: Bay Ar ea ZX-80 User Group. 2660 Las Aromas. Oakland CA94611. — Har var d Group. Bolton Road, Har var d MA 01451; (617 456 3967), SI NCLAI R USER O c t obe r 1982 PIEPIOTECHExplores the Excellence of y E(81 our 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 / 1 1 1 1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • IIIETEMEIME• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1110f I N V 1 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •1 El r • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • M I it V it • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 111 A i • mindEt E I m m oom a nnonom m e m om m i na m o • • 1 1 1 1 1 dE ME E ME • • • E E I E ME ME • • E • 1 1 • illemotedis illemopah Range All fi ve of t he c urrent ly av ailable Memopak s are hous ed in elegant blac k anodis ed a l u mi n i u m cases, and are s t y led t o fi t wobble-f ree ont o t he bac k of t he ZX81, allowing more add-ons (f rom Memot ec h or Sinc lair) to be c onnec t ed MEMOPAK 64K MEMORY EXTENSION plusUAT The 64K Memopak ex t ends t he memory of t he ZX81 by 56K, and wit h t he 2X81 giv es 64K. whic h is neit her s wit c hed nor paged and is direc t ly addres s able. The unit is us er t rans parent and ac c ept s c ommands such as 10 DI M A(9000). Break down of me mo r y areas , . . 0-8K-Sinc lair ROM. 8-16K-This area can be used t o hold mac hine c ode for c o mmu n i c a t i o n bet ween p r o g r a mme s or peripherals . 16-64ICA s t raight 413K f or normal Bas ic use. MEMOPAK 32K and 16K MEMORY EXTENSIONS Thes e t wo pac k s ex t end and c omplet e t h e Me mo t e c h RAM range (for t he t ime being! ) A not able f eat ure of t he 32K pack is t hat it will run in t andem wit h t he Sinc lair 16K memory ex t ens ion t o give 48K RAM t ot al sa plus i UAT m Emlo pkis MEMOPAK HIGH RES GRAPHICS PACK HAG Main Feat ures — • Fully p r o g r a mma b l e Hi-Res (192 x 248 pix els ) • Video page is bot h memory and bit mapped and can be loc at ed any where in RAM. • Nu mb e r of Video pages is limit ed only by RAM size (each t ak es about 6.5K RAM) • I ns t ant inv ers e v ideo on/ of f gives fl as hing c harac t ers • Video pages can be Superimpos ed • Video page ac c es s is s imilar to Bas ic plot t unplot c o mma n d s • Cont ains 2K EPROM monit or wit h f ull range of graphic s s ubrout ines c ont rolled by mac hine c ode or USA f unc t ion MEMOPAK CENTRONICS TYPE PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE Main Feat ures — • I nt erf ac es ZX81 and parallel print ers of t he Cent ronic s t y pe • Enables use of a range of dot mat rix and dais y wheel print ers wit h ZX8I • Compat ible wit h ZX8I Bas ic , print s f rom LUST. LPRI NT and COPY • Cont ains fi rmware to c onv ert ZX8I c harac t ers to ASCII c ode • Gives lower-c as e c harac t ers f rom ZX8I inv ers e c harac t er set M ENOPAK RAM I li CENTROMCS I R E S G R A c omplet e range of ZXS I p luAo -in p e r ip h e r a ' Digit is ing Tablet R S 2 P3 2 I nt erlac e H We regret we are asI yet unable to accept orders or enquiries Cconcerning the abov e S ComingSoon... products, but well let you know as soon as they bec ome available Please send me P r i c 84K RAM E68.70 + 0 0 , 3 0 VAT 32K RAM E 4 3 . 4 3 + E81,52 VAT 16K RAM E 2 6 00 + E3,90 VAT Please Debit my Ac c es s iBerc is y c ard• HRG C52 00 + £7 80 VAT ac c ount number CENTRONICS I F C3 4 . 7 0 • £5.20 VAT Packaging & Pos tage E2.00 per unit acre, nor appo, Please mak e cheques pay able to MEMOTECH Ltd I A h r a s e a . f i g t . 0 4 1 , C h a e No ToI al E79.00 E49.95 E29.90 E59 80 E39.90 1 1 TOTAL ENC SIGNATURE D NAN% T A E D L A D E T R P o E E l S O S N E • • • • • We want to be sure you are satisfied with your Memopak - so we offer a 14-day money back Guarantee on all our products Memotech Limited, 3 Collins Street, Oxford 0X4 1XL, England Tel: Oxford (0865) 722102 Telex: 837220 Orchid G SINCLAIR USER O c t o b e r 1982 9 THE BUFFER OPEN TUES. TO SAT. 10.30am to 5.30pm. MICRO SHOP (NEXT TO S TRE A THA M S T A T I O N OLDEST SOFTWARE SHOP EXCLUSIVELY FOR ZX81 PROGRAMS. GA ME S , " A D D 1 ONS" MO S T OF THE MAIL ORDER ITEMS ADVERTISED I N THIS MA G A ZI NE AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTE R and DCP packs LOADING PROBLEMS? TRY OUR INTERFACE BUSINESS Si TECHNICAL DA TA HA NDL ING PROGS. PROPER KEYBOARDS, CONSOL ES; V DUS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Tel: 01- 769 2887 Cambridge Computer Store 1Emmanuel Street Cambridge CBI 1NE Telephone (0223) 358264/65334 S.A E. APPRECIATED FOR CA TA L OGUE (closed 12 30 - 1. 15 except Saturday) 374A STREATHAM HIGH ROAD, LONDON SW16 New for ZX81 users EVENMORE MEMORY WITH OURBYGERBYTE 32K+ RAM PACK Why put aside your 16K RA M Pack when you can use it together with the new Byger Byte 32K + Ram Pack to give you 48K of me mo ry: No trailing leads or wires — all you need do is plug the existing 16K Ra m Pack in to the back o f th e n e w Byger Byte 32K + Rain Pack and Bingo 48K of memory. Uses existing power supply. New 32K Rain Pack is tested and guaranteed with the following 16K Rain Packs-Byg Byte, Sinclair, Downsway. Also available: 16K Ram Packs €22, new 32K + Rain Pack £39.50, Standard 32K Ram Pack E35, 64K Ram Pack f 53.95. Tape loading interface for trouble tree loading of program C9.93. New high quality keyboard with bleep and reset C49.95. All pnces are inclusive. of VAT and free postage and packing. Name Address Make cheques payable to Pheonix Marketing and I enclose my cheque/ PO for E Please debit my Access/ Barclay Card 11111111111T1 Date Signature • 16K Ram Pack £ 7 2 . 0 0 • New 32K Ram Pack f 33.50 •Standard 32K Ram Pack £ 3 5 . 0 0 •64K Ram Pack E 5 3 . 9 5 • Tape boarding interface £ 9 . 5 0 • New high-quality, fully cased keyboard E 4 9 . 9 5 0 0 El • Please indicate order by ticking boxes PHOENIX MARKETING OAKLANDS HOUSE, SOLARTRON ROAD, FARNBOROUGH, HANTS. TEL: (09552) 514990 1 0 SINCLAIR USER O ct o b e r 1982 LINE „ Spectrum designers use s Forth in new home micro ANOTHER c he a p m ic r o has been produced for the home market. The Jupiter Ace is the first computer to be designed b y Richard Altwasser a n d S t e v e n Vickers since they finished design work on the Spectrum. The n e w m a c h i n e , which will be sold by mail order for E89.95, uses the language Forth instead of the more usual Basic used on other microcomputers. Forth was chosen because of i t s " c om bina tion o f speed, versatility and ease of programming". The c om put e r look s rather lik e a cross be tween a ZX-80 and a Spectrum. I t ha s a full-size moving-key k e y boa r d. although one thing it does not have is the one-key en- 1100 is offered to beat Z X 81 A SOFTWARE company is confident that it has produced one of the most difficult games for the ZX-81 that it is offering a prize of E100 to anyone who can beat the computer. The game, A'Aari, is produced by Understanding of London. It is in three levels of difficulty — r a bbit . beast a nd monster. T h e prize is being offered to the first person to send a soluSINCLAIR USER O c t o b e r 1982 Nigel Boyle Prices are set to tumble PRICES of ZX-81 software and hardware are on the way down. Software cassettes f o r ga m e s a n d gr a phic s c h a r a c t e r s business a pplic a t ions and 6 4 present characwhich formerly ha d cost ters. E6 o f E 7 m a y n o w b e There will be a range of cheaper by up to El or E2. optional accessories, i n Quicksilva is one of the cluding a printer interface companies to have started cable, pr inte r , t w o joy the move. Its software cassticks, a position-detecting settes S c r a m b l e a n d light pe n a nd a cassette Asteroids a re down fro m recorder. A full range of E5.50 to E4.95. software is due to be launHardware i s a ls o be ched after the launch of coming cheaper a nd not the machine. only because of the drop Lowe n o w h a s e ight in market demand. T h e Genie models in its range Quicksilva high-resolution of computers, inc luding graphics boa r d i s down the new Genie HI Business from E85 t o E60. QuickSystem whic h wa s a ls o silva says that the drop in due to appear ot the PCW price is to keep the ZX-81 Show. hardware moving. Data-Assette has reduced the price o f its da ta r e tr ie v a l s y s t e m , t h e tion to beat the computer ster level and the person ZX-99. t o E4 9 .9 5 . T h e at the monster level play- who wr ote t he program reason, s a i d t h e s a le s ing both first and second. has not passed the beast. manager Nigel Boyle, was A de a dline i n e a r l y Awari was developed as "because Sinclair brought January h a s b e e n s e t a teaching a id a nd wa s down prices to around E10 because o f fears tha t i t adapted for micros when cheaper than the ZX-99". may not be possible. If no- home computing began to Boyle sees no difficulty one has provided a solu- take off. It is based on a in continuing to sell Z.X-81 tion by then, the prize will West A fr ic a n ga m e i n - add-ons. go to the person nearest to volving distributing beans "The ZX-99 makes the winning. between seven cups. computer more advanced. Staff a t Understanding Entry forms a r e avail- Even i f t h e machine i s have managed to win only able w h e n buy ing t h e black and white it gives it playing first a t the mon- cassette. data retrieval." Colour Genie launch THE COLOUR Ge nie i s another computer t o b e unveiled a t the Personal Computer W o r l d Show. The machine has been produced by Lowe Electronics of Matlock, Derbyshire, and will cost E199. The new computer will have 16K Basic ROM and 16K o f user R A M . T h e typewriter-style keyboard is s im ila r t o pr e v ious Genies. The machine c a n us e up to 1 6 colours on the screen with a resolution of 1 6 0 x 9 6 f o r gr a phics characters. The r e are 1 2 8 programmable try system for which the Sinclair machines ha v e become famous. As w i t h t h e Sinc la ir machines, the Ace can be used with a domestic television set and uses an ordinary cassette recorder for back-up memory. The basic unit ha s only 3 K RAM. The screen is memorymapped w i t h a 2 4 x 32 character fl ic k e r - f r e e display and user-definable high-resolution graphics. The cassette int e r f a c e performs a t 1 ,5 0 0 ba ud and ha s a Ve r ify command. It also has a programmable s ound generator. "We hope it will be louder tha n t h a t o f t h e Spectrum," said Vickers. The Ace will be manufactured b y T W E le c tronics. I t has a n expansion socket a t t he r e a r which the designers hope to us e f o r peripherals, RAM expansion and a colour board. The machine was due for unveiling a t the Pe r s ona l C om pute r World Show in September. ,pv 1the leaders L I E t a l , r ; a U z l i j in ZXgames t! Masterchess i t9f r o ol n r y o uOthergreat ZXgames and add-ons Mikro-Gen: A/D ConverterBoard rfrom SpaceInvaders SBreakout pBomber Joysticks eScramble Disassembier/Monftor cSorcerer's Castle t r u m the program for the real player! The makers of the original ZX Chess have now produc e d the most adventurous and enjoyable chess program you can buy for your Spectrum Ten levels of play + graphic display of board + can change sides or level in midgame + set board to any position + scrolling history of moves 4- copy display & history to printer at any time + can save game at any point + displays your Clock moveso and thene' computer's + PLUS tournament-style Chess rev ers * MSS PROGRAMSAVAILABLE EASILY ONE .• OF u THE s qMOST m POW , , ERFUL O N L Y toar y c a s p E 9 . 9 5 the best you can get, with ever-increasing rate of play with seven bat angles to make it really difficult Oositively addictive the fastest arcade-type game available takes you into a world of magical adventure Above gamesaui ',replied on ,-_assetie. wah library case E315 sad Lets you connect analogue loysticks to the ZX81 digit al input s Suitable for many other applications, easy to connect and it improves RAM pack stability' ONLYE.18.50 Connec t via our A/D Boardmakes your ZX81 a true programmable games mac hine ONLYE9.50EACH • An absolute must when learning mac hine Codelets you enter and run your own code ONLY£3.95 Write for full details of the NA kro-Gen range 01 programs and add-ons, available from local stockists or direct from the manufacturers (please make ch e q u e S/ PO's p a ya b le t e M ikro •Ge n a n d a d d 4 0 p p o st & p a ckin g ) Si-tDbliers ol Software io S r i c ia r Lliii;b4 ZX Spectrum 20 Programs £6.95 The ZX Spectrum has brought advanced computing power into your home, The Cambridge Colour Collection, a book of 20 programs, is all you need to make it come alive. No experience required. Sim ply enter t he programs from the book or load them from tape (E2.95 extra) arid run. Amazing e f f e c t s . A l l programs a r e f ully animated using hi-res graphics, colour and sound wherever possible. Entirely original. None of these programs has ever been published before. Proven Quality. The author already has 30,000 satisfied purchasers of his book of ZX81 programs. Hours of entertainment • Lunar Landing. C o n tr o l the angle of descent and jet thrust to steer the lunar module to a safe landing on the moons surface. • Maze. F i n d your way out from the centre of a random maze. • Android N i m . P l a y th e Spectrum a t th e ancient game of Nim using creatures from outerspace. • Biorhythms. P l o t t h e c y c le s o f y o u r Emotional, Intellectual a n d Physical activity. Some would say this is not a game at all. Improve your mind • Morse. A complete morse-code training kit. This program will take a complete beginner to R.A.E. proficiency. • Maths. Adjustable t o various levels, this program is an invaluable aid to anyone trying to improve their arithmetic. Run your life mo re efficiently • H o me A c c o u n ts . K e e p i n g tr a c k o f y o u r finances w i t h t h i s easy-to-use p ro g ra m w i l l enable you to see at a glance where the money goes and plan your spending more effectively. • Telephone Address Pad. Ins t a nt access to many pages o f information. • Calendar. D i sp l a ys a 3 month calendar past or future, ideal f o r planning o r tracing p a s t events. ORDER FORM: Send Cheque or P.O. wit h order t o: Dept. D.. Richard Francis AloNasser, 22 Foxhollow, Bar Hill, Cambridge C B3 BEP Please send me El Copies Cambridge Colour Collection Book only E6. 95 each. El Copies Cambridge Colour Collection Book Et Cassette £9. 90 each Name: Address: 24 Agar Crescent Bracknell Berks RG12 2BK Tel: Bracknell (0344) 27317 12 SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 iJs a t c c! . t 1 o n 51 v a b l ic•CC , 3 1 1 " I1 r 0l t e7d ‘c 0 4 , Doubt over accuracy lest IN HIS letter in the August issue, M P Campbell refers to the consecutive application of sin, cos, tan. a rctan, arccos. a n d arcsin — to get b a ck t o th e original value — as a check for the accuracy of a calculator in handling tr i g o n o m e tr i c functions, That artifi cial test is not a good one as i t can give poor r e s u l t s w i t h calculators w h i c h a r e satisfactory f o r handling complex t r i g o n o m e t r i c functions in real problems. Campbell q u o te s a h a l f percent e r r o r o n C a si o calculators a n d 3 3 p e r cent e r r o r o n S i n c l a i r calculators. Using a starting value o f pii4 (45 deg.) my 1 0 0 - s te p p r o g r a m mable N o vu s ca l cu l a to r does not even complete the sequence a s a n i n termediate re su l t i s o u tside the permitted range of the argument fo r the next function. When th a t te s t i s a p plied to the ZX-81 your correspondent sta te s: " Y o u will be amazed and aghast alternately at the results", You m a y b e amazed, because the ZX-81 h a s a much b e tte r ca l cu l a ti n g ability t h a n m o s t d e s k c a l c u l a to r s , b u t y o u should n o t b e a g h a s t unless y o u overlook t h e argument a n d r e s u l t ranges for which the functions are valid. For example, sin p114. sin 3pii4 and sin 90/4 all give the value 0.70710678 (SQR 2)12) b u t a r c s i n SINCLAIR USER O c t o b e r 1982 0.70710678 g i v e s p i / 4 (0.78539816) because th e result o f a rcsi n mu st b e one value and is therefore limited to the range-pi/2 to pi/2. If the sin cos sequence is started w i th 3pi14. i t w i l l finish with p1/4. C. Cuthbert, Penwortham, Preston. Lancs. Rooting for family trees I SHOULD b e g ra te fu l i f you would let me know i f there is any software suitable fo r recording family trees designed f o r ZX-81 plus 16K R AM. I may b e wrong b u t I th i n k th e r e may be more to such a program t h a n a si mp l e r e corded list. I Gross. London. N12. •teVe have n o t seen a n y programs fo r family trees but perhaps readers might be able to help. Program points cleared I READyour magazine with interest and always try the programs in it. Only about four out of every five work; for instance, T i m Crossley's p ro g ra m f o r Sn a p contained several errors. First. I believe l i n e 1 1 0 sh o u l d r e a d : 1 1 0 I F INT(C12)= C/2 T H E L E T B = 18 Also i f B a r i s p ri n te d 1 after the word cherry, you get a new word —BARRRY. Inserting the line: 120 PRINT AT .0.0,B;AS: " (3 spaces) instead o f line 120 deals with the problem. One of the problems for any magazine i s th e general p ri n ti n g o f th e p ro grams. I k n o w t h a t t h e quality of some printers is not 100 percent b u t I am sure h a d l i n e s co u l d b e printed a g a i n , i n c l e a r letters. Take fo r instance Tim C rossl ey's p r o g r a m again; I could not tell what line 110 read — the fi rst + , if it is a plus, whichI believe is " = ", is very confusing. Alex Clark, Lichfield. Staffs. Black Tack error code IN PUBLISHING my letter regarding Black lack in the lupe issue, an e rro r crept into lines 20 and 50. They should read: LET CA = I N T (RND * 13) +2 Ted Maynell, Penrith, Cumbria. Adding 16K can be easy removing the memory expansion. I h a v e fo u n d , o n m y ZX-81 a t least, th a t is not true. You simply load the program, r u n i t o n c e , 'break' i t and run it again. It should work perfectly. I have bought every issue of your magazine and I think i t is great. Andrew Smith. (aged 12). Harlow, Essex. Plea for notes on listing I LIKE your magazine very much; I find livery helpful. There is still a great deal which I fi nd very baffling but tha t is probably m y fault. I have tried some of your p ro g ra ms b u t t h e clarity is not very good. In a program there must be notes on what the lines do, s o i f th e re a r e va ri ables w h i c h c a n b e changed to alter speed and numbers, I ca n d o so. I t helps i f I co u l d b e to l d whether t o m a k e t h e m smaller o r l a rg e r; I fi n d that a n e a s i e r w a y o f learning programing than wading t h r o u g h h a n d books a n d th e i r useless examples. Michael Jones. Delivery difficulties I SOMETIMES have problems o b ta i n i n g S i n c l a i r User, Could you inform me where I can buy it? John Durant, I HAVE read that i f a program has been SAVED by a computer w i t h o n l y 1 K RAM and subsequently a 16K RAM has been added the 1K program could not be r e - l o a d e d w i t h o u t 3 Lowestoft. Suffolk. •Thebest way is to takean annual s u b s c r i p ti o n . A l te r n a ti v e l y y o u c a n order i t fro m yo u r newsagent. q u o ti n g o u r ISSN number, 0262-5458. Clive Sinclair gives his views on the future of the Western civilised world to a British Mensa symposium in Cambridge Computers will bring a new Golden Age Sinclair R e se a rch , C l i v e A Sinclair i s c h a i r m a n o f British Mensa, a n exclusive c l u b S whose members h a ve IQs w h i c h W reach the genius level. E In a speech a t the Mensa Golden L Ages symposium a t Cambridge. L Sinclair outlined his ideas fo r th e a future, not of his range of personal s computers b u t o f th e We ste rn civilised world. He said: " I intend b arguing e that the most Golden Age of man's history may well lie before us, i if w e ca n only move i n th e ri g h t n direction." g The new age would need to be h triggered b y a n event w h i ch w i l l e startle society. The trigger. Sinclair a explained, w o u l d b e so me th i n g similar to the invention of writing or d omoving type. He said: "Both of those developments reduced th e cost o f f data transmission b y a fa c to r o f 100." He saw leisure, or periods of time not occupied by formal work, as an opportunity to broaden the mind. If the trigger occurs at the proper time individual, a typ e o f philosopherprince, e .g ., Pe ri cl e s, Au g u stu s, Lorenzo de Medici, Elizabeth I and Louis )U V.' In business operations. Sinclair seems t o r e g a r d t h e p e r s o n a l approach best. One man at the head of a company. He has stressed that approach m a n y t i m e s t h r o u g h Sinclair Research, so that now he is as famous as his machines, whereas o th e r m a n u f a c t u r e r s r e m a i n masked by their company exteriors. During h i s s p e e c h S i n c l a i r referred h i s ideas t o th e present day. He saw the Golden Age as being very close. Some o f th e features which marked the Golden Ages o f the past could be identified within our time. That could place us on the threshold of a new Golden Age. To demonstrate it, Sinclair returned to the idea of a trigger. "Is there a trigger? It so happens that a n o th e r hundred-fold re d u ction i n the cost o f data publication and transmission is about to occur. A single 12in. diameter optical disc, being developed f o r use w i th T V 'I believe that our move away from the industrial t y p e o f organisation w i l l restore the potential of the individual' and th e Golden Ag e a rri ve s " t h e body of men arises which can tu rn its attention to matters other than necessities. Thus wealthy patrons produce the great flowerings of arts which are a feature o f the Golden Ages. "Equally, th e Golden Ages a r e o fte n m a r k e d b y o n e g r e a t 14 can, re ma rka b l y enough, co n ta i n the information of 10,000 books and that disc w i l l cost not much more than a few books — almost, in fact, a thousand-fold reduction in costs," The reduction i n costs a n d th e innovations i n mass marketing are compared t o w h a t Si n cl a i r ca l l s "the potential o f th e i n d i vi d u a l ". Until now, society has accepted that people w i l l w o rk together i n large groups. People w o rk i n large companies, th e y commute i n to to w n s and cities every working day. That massing of the working population is the motive force behind the present state of the economy. Sinclair said: W e have for some time been passing through a great i n d u s tr i a l a g e i n w h i c h t h e economic b a s i s o f s o c i e ty h a s demanded the bringing together o f people i n g r e a t n u mb e rs, m a n y thousands p e r f a c t o r y , m a n y millions per city. I believe that our move a w a y f r o m t h i s t y p e o f o rg a n i sa ti o n w i l l r e s t o r e t h e potential of the individual." Individual h u m a n p o te n ti a l i s something Sinclair seems largely to favour. While Sinclair Research is a company, like many others, where everyone pulls together. i t i s sti l l mo stl y a o n e - m a n o p e r a t i o n . Sinclair i s t h e m a n w h o defi nes what he wants and lays-out the timetable fo r its development. That style of operation has so far proved successful, fi r s t w i t h th e ZX-80 and ZX-81 and now with the Spectrum. Th e hundreds o f fi rms SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1982 -••••• • d •d• •a•l. i-t .6 .7 1 . ,1 e f ..• . ‹ . . . W / . • tm . l., . .. . ". 0 . 1 1. 1 1 . . 1 . " I " ' d i t , S 1 • • add' 'mo n 0 0 r" . . . . I C . . . Z% I 11. S E NO de ,.... . . d . , r e _ - a r 4 ...of „ d or ..d —— ....—..., _____ . -; lil the Lorenzo de Niedici. Elizabeth I anti Louis XI V were pat rons ol eut her golden ages. Wi computer be the pat ron of the next? 1 radiwhich giv e s uppor t t o Sinc la ir automated systems a r e now microcomputers would also seem to cally cheaper than manual costs." The r e s u l t i n g f a c t o r1s o f prove his point to be correct. Sinclair sees the new Golden Age unemployment due to technological 1 as being a time of the mind, with less innovation a n d automation w i l l stress put on the body and building leave the population with a1lot of culture rather than labouring. H e spare t i m e i f pr e s e nt t r e nds feels t ha t a nothe r Golde n A g e c ontinue . I f t h e n u m b:e r o f requirement is an abundant supply of pa t r ons , p e o p l e w h o c a n appreciate, as well as create. art. "We h a v e a we ll- e duc a t e d population, a society which reveres the arts, and have become a world centre for music and for the written word.•" The reason for the swing towards cultural pursuits is marked with the stigma of a current curse on society. Sinclair said: "We have potential artists, partly for the sad reason that w e h a v e t h r e e m i l l i o n unemployed; this is not a passing phase o f recession b u t a t r e nd which will last until the end of the century. during which I expect the manufacturing industry to shed a further seven million jobs and for the proportion employed in manufacturing to decline from some 42 percent of the population to less than 10 percent. This will occur as SINCLAIR USER O c t o b e r 1 9 2 unemployed rises to more than 90 "Many, if not all, of today's young people will always work for small organisations a n d inde e d m us t found them. W e must encourage people to follow this route if we are to create futur e employment — whether i n high technology, i n a revival o f a class, o r i n service industries." Sinclair foresees a new 'creative endeavour'. Pe ople a r e e x pe r iencing new technology, seeing what it can do for them. I t can relieve them of manual tasks so that they can use their minds more fully. Young people were just beginning to le a r n a bout n e w technology. According to Sinclair. the learning process would only be the beginning. Learning t he techniques o f putting ink on to paper was only the beginning of writing creative prose and poetry — learning to communicate successfully. Learning about new technology through machines such as the ZX-8I and the Spectrum which, because of low prices, were within the reach of nearly everybody, was the beginning of a process which may le a d to wha t Sinclair believes is a new Golden Age. devote the bulk of our time to the B production of objects, I can see the e plateau of a Golden Age before us. c Certainly we may need inspiration a u s e w e n and o leadership, great building, a bridge over rather than a tunnel l under the Channel. o"Early in the next century we will n m a de intelligent machines have g ending for a ll time the pattern of drudgery e — with them we can start the exploration of the universe. It r may be tha t Western civilisation, n seeded in seventh-century Ireland e is only just about to flower." eTo some, Sinclair's ideas may d like science fiction but some seem t cynics said that a machine like the o Spectrum was not possible only last year. 'Early in the next century we will have made intelligent machines ending for all time the pattern of drudgery' percent it may be necessary to redefine the term altogether. The type of work people do would change drastically. A new concept of work would have to be created. That is where culture and the processes o f the m ind would enter. People would have more time t o learn and so understanding of many areas of science would improve. "We must change the pattern of expectation — no longer to prepare people f o r a life-time*s wor k i n major organisations but to give them the self-reliance for a broader role in smaller groups. 1 5 • Use your computer in the case... Foam rubber gives complete protection... Purpose-built for the ZX system... E L- 11 • de MB Znal & Spectrum Custom Cases. Just E 3 4 • 95 "" a t • Eno • I I • • • — —M • E6 JEI N 111111Ma • • • . • • • 11D F f - J V 2, 10 -P R 1 IN T 1 0N E X T I 4 0 PR I N T AT 11 , 0 2 2 Turn your ZX system into a portable computing centre! Your ZX hardware -ZX81 or Spectrum is designed to work together as a system. And now there's a simple way to make the most of the fact. The portable computing centre in a briefcase. A ZX Custom Case holds all your hardware in the most ergonomically sensible positions for easy operation Each ZX Spectrum Custom Case now minable! ". ' 1 l a 1 ••• mr A me ow MP 1 t aar M a Ji b MO 1 1 • 1 1 • dir ail I N O E O M I MP 1 M 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 1 piece of equipment is gripped securely by shock-absorbing foam. Each connecting lead fits under the foam, so there's no chance of tangles. And as each piece is held firmly, connections are excellent. You can forget wasted time setting up or unhooking the system, too. When you've finished, simply tuck in the mains and TV leads and replace the hinged, lift-offl id. And of course, if you're taking your ZX system to college or the office, ZX Custom Cases are a lot less cumbersome than a bag or rucksack. And a lot more protective and professional. Designed by ZX enthusiastsfor ZX enthusiasts. Both the 1,X81 and Spectrum Custom Cases were designed by a group ofZX system users and manufactured by Britain's leading case makers. Made from impactresistant ABS, each case holds every piece of Sinclair hardware available for the respective computers p lu s Learning Lab, manual, software cassettes and any cassette player up to 1 0 1the hardware, simply leave the pre-cut . 2loam " xin position, then remove it as you get extra pieces of equipment. 5 1 And / 2 when " . brand neW hardware is I introduced, f or you upgrade from ZY81 to y o simply u Spectrum, contact us for a replacement foam h ainsert v forjust 9 5 (+p&p). e n ' t Send for your ZX Custom Case -now! ZX81 and Spectrum Custom Cases are guaranteed for two years, and cost just ,C14.95 (+p&p) each. Remember you could pay more for an ordinary briefcase. To order, simply use the FREEPOST coupon. Or if you have a credit card, telephone 0276 62155, Mon-En, 930-5.30. COMPUTEX CASES Computex Cases (IBS), Stanhope Road, Camberley, Surrey, GUIS 3PS. ile a , : alloy. 2S day, lor de live r" 1 4 LI a, mone .-t, a tk anderiaktnit F :.amberley, Surrey, GUIS 3B11 r i'1a c : L3 e , :I L2 C 6Please 5 send a me • tp3r. Spectrum Custom Case! s e, letAIS tn.; i:,2.00 post, packing, insurance.; each 62. o sat1: 0a 0 d mn• lam:lilac N u t ) P.0 (OIL mmade payable p in Commie a ellbCV pg n imy Arc:cal./Vise u • Pi ease debit aL,t,unt nu. t i , • Please delete as appropriate PL EASE PR I N T e p a Signature i C Name: MrlhissiMiss c a Address k . t i i n ( g SI7S 210 J Reg in England nu:99128El . Zeta software e m aims at schools SOLENT S O F T W A R E Engine e r ing L t d , o f Brookvale, Wa te r wor k s Road, Otterbourne, W i n chester SO2 2DP produces the Ze ta r a nge o f e ducational software, whic h Solent states ha s be e n fully-tested and developed by middle school teachers in Hampshire. Eight t i t l e s w e r e provided f or review, o n high-quality c a s s e tte s which ensured first-time loads; 1 6 K R A M i s required. Each program is litera tur e -s uppor te d w i t h comprehensive operating instructions, a description of the game, how it works, what it does, and how to restart it after a break. Full marks f o r s uc h a good documentation. Graphs d r a w s b a r charts of the class birthdays. It ran well and, like a ll t h e o t h e r Z e t a programs, is very robust. I would, howe v e r , h a v e liked to see a more general graph-drawing program, with provision for copying the results to a printer. Depth Charge and Zilog are ordered triple (X,Y,Z) and ordered pair (X,Y) coordinate games. In Depth Charge, a submarine has to b e hunt e d w h i l e i n Zilog a n incoming spaceship must b e destroyed. The games a r e good but the gr a phic s dis pla y s could have been a little larger. Spell Inv a de r s t e s t s words set by a teacher, up to a limit of 10. A word is displayed, t he n blankedout; t h e c h i l d h a s t o "spell" i t b y s hooting letters o f t h e alphabet, Space I n v a d e r s s t y le . Three incorect letters only are allowed. It is a very good game, which would ha v e be e n even be t t e r w i t h s om e means o f printing-out a certificate w i t h na m e , score and words tested on it. Oxo-. Oxox a nd Oxo are simple mathematics games based on noughts and crosses, w i t h sums displayed o n t he boa r d, two c h i l d r e n p l a y i n g against each other to win the game by solving the problems and thus getting a row of their symbols. The only trouble with the game is that you may have difficulty getting the children using it to let someone else do so. Reaction Test is a compu in which letters are tgame e displayed and the appror f a m i maze game called Puckman. Y o u must imagine l you are a small humanoid i scouring t h e maze f or a magic strawberries which rkeep at bay the monsters itrying t o de v our y o u . s There are many monsters ato make it exciting and you can work up a good speed t dodging round t he i corners. o Both cassettes a r e o n n 16K. costing E5.95 each, and a r e available f r om Hewson Consultants, 60A St M a r y ' s S t r e e t , Wallingford, Ox on OX1 0 OEL. Flights of fancy from Hewson ' 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 SINCLAIR USER O c t obe r 1982 BUDDING AVIATORS can test the ir skills wit h the Hewson Consultants Pilot — not a game but a flight s im ula tion p r o g r a m . There are seven modes — including landing, heading towards a beacon, taking off — a n d point s a r e awarded for correct execution of each manoeuvre. Tired pilots can choose the A utola nding m ode , i n which the computer does everything f or you. Nonfliers abstain. The s a m e fi r m a l s o offers a n above-average priate keyboard letter has to b e p r e s s e d . T h e response of the children is timed. At E5.75p each, or E42 the set, these may seem a little expensive. That is not so. Solent Software states in i t s l i t e r a t u r e t h a t "where the original pur chaser i s a s c hool o r college, additional copies of the programs may be made f o r us e o n ot he r computers only within the said school or college." Considering t h a t t he y worked we ll, a nd taught specific things, the set of programs would be a good addition t o the software library of any school, Particularly as you would not have to rely on only the one set of tapes. Byte Man in the Mindseye MI N D SEYE o f f e r s g o o d value with three games on one 16K cassette for E2.95. The t i t l e g a m e i s B y t e Man, in which a cheerfullooking monster chases you round a maze littered with food pills. The aim is to score points by eating the pills before the monster — a nd his brothers and sisters — eat you. You have three lives and the computer w i l l e nte r your s c or e , s o s e v e r a l people can play. Space Fighter is a fastmoving s hooting ba t t le against swarms of enemy spacecraft. You will need quick wits and fingers to obta in a h i g h s c o r e . Finally. Bomber, a simple, absorbing game, in which you ha v e 3 0 bombs t o destroy a dam. Different parts of the dam are worth continued on puge 18 17 Vggt, -t continued f rom page 17 varying numbers of points, so some careful planning, as well as accurate bombing. is needed to improve your score. The Byte Man cassette i s obt a ina ble from Mindseye, 12 North Grove D r iv e , Leeds, W . Yorkshire, LS8 2NI. Episode 4 by Michael Orwin MICHAEL O R W I N h a s built a r e put a t ion f o r value-for-money software and his Cassette 4 offers quantity as well as quality. There are eight games on the cassette, s e v e n o f which are in machine code and s i x o f t h e m a r e arcade-type games. Guns i s a marvellous moving graphics version of the Gunshooter game, for one or two players. Bullet speed and skill level can be e nte r e d a n d e a c h gunslinger ha s s ix shots per r ound. I n t h e one player game, the computer would give Clint Eastwood a run for his money. ZX-Scramble is another arcade game; you tr y t o manoeuvre y o u r s h i p through a c a v e w h i l e bombing t he enemy a nd shooting t he ir defending fighters. E v e r - popula r Invaders a n d G a l a x y Inv a de r s a r e o n t h e cassette, along with Life, 3D-Tic-Tac-Toe, Funga loids — a moving graphics bombing g a m e — a n d Snakebite. a n or igina l graphics c h a s e g a m e which can be tailored by the player. Cassette 4 costs E5 from M ic ha e l O r w i n . 2 6 Brownlow Road, Willesden, London NW 10 90QL. Roll over, Beethoven V. HAYNET of Streatham produced a n entertaining program called the Multi. sequencer. I t h a s o n e major disadvangage — its almost incomprehensible instructions. Once loaded, each key plays a different tune, part of a tune or sound effect. The s ound e ffe c ts a r e mainly space or laser guntype noises and the tunes range f r o m a b i t o f Beethoven to Star Wars. The sound quality is similar to that of a Casio-tone organ. It i s a ls o possible t o make keys play a tune of your o w n composition: and. i f y ou de c ide t h e second not e o f Sailors' Hornpipe s hould b e F sharp, i t i s possible t o change it. This machine code program whic h loa ds fi r s t time compares favourably to other similar programs on the market. It is available from V Haynet, 1 0 Ashlake Road. Streatham, London SW16. PS PERSONAL SOFTWARE SERVICES. 112 OLIVER STREET. COVENTRY CV6 5FE. ZX-81 OWN ER S - Y OU CAN N OW LOAD/SAVE 16K IN 29 SECS WI T H THE I NCRE DI BLE ()S AV E P ACKAG E F ROM PSS * V eri fy successful saving of program s * Compatible wi th your existing recorder * No hardware m odifi cations needed * No extra p o wer supply necessary * NO M O RE WAS T E D TI M E WAI T I NG FOR P RO G RAM S TO L OAD OR S AV E OSAVE comes in t wo parts: A H A R D W A R E s i m p l y plug the CISave amplifi er' filter between your existing tdpe recorder and the 2X-81 lall leads supplied). B S O F T W A R E - load the ()Save cassette before you load a tape or key in a program. You can then save and reload a full 16K (including RAMTOP) in only 26 seconds, LE. A data transfer rate of 4000+ BAUD compared wit h only 250 on the standard ZX-81. CtSave also gives your ZX•131 a verify function just like the Spectrum whic h allows you to check that your programs have saved properly, REVOLUTIONISE YOUR PROGRAMMING NOW FOR THE ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE OF E15.95 Make cheques P/O 's payable to PSS. Full money back guarantee. Nor mal delivery within 7 ZX SOFTWARE FROM PSS 14 d a y s . We also have the widest range of high quality software for the ZX-81 available anywhere. Whatever your needs we have the program for you. From a superb version of Puckman to a compiler of a complete Word Processor package y o u need look no further than PSS. In addition, all of our software is available through the ZX Software Library. For a once only payment of E5.50 you can have any five of our packages lf10 for ten). You take one tape at a time and make your own copies — save yourself Cs on list prices. Send 2 first class stamp., for a fully detailed catalogue of all our products. 113 SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 1 ,44 1-44 U.4 144 L4•4 114 ' 1 4 s E s tid ac- u ccuEL a_ a - cid ag c s 1 E N c t 1 : 5 mmmmm ,. _in nAl:I : ' 30, V O V V i i4 q1 i ° ° 2 1 7 4 ! I 'pf.,-4? t k i 2 , 5 0 4P . .‘ E i l tot . . . t . t a _ 4 5 , - 19 - 41 .- 22 1 0 fi s h' i a i l l i A: l7 i- t1 ; , s - t 4 §1 M „ 2 ?,gEt 4.3', ”t, 5 I , 7. LA4 t 0 •M ,w L 4 1 4 0 0 Z M • SINCLAIR USER O ct o b e r I 982 19 NEWSOFTWARESUPERMARKET YOUR ONE-STOP POSTAL SHOP FOR ALL THE BEST 1X81 PROGRAMS. FROM E4.50. Now you can order the very best Z.X8I programs with lust one postage stamp We've started SOFTWARE SUPERMARKET to make it easy for you to buy more programs. Arid, to help you choose. we've selected the games we've enjoyed most: games that give lasting pleasure. games that stretch the ZX8I. All games need a 71481 with16K Ram. th tAzo Gs (Bug Byte) E9.95. "Great: Weekly Its a maze game - s a i "a d grossly P o addictive p u l agame':Weagree. r with great graphics. 'h u ll really feel you're running through the C o sword m pin hand. u t 3 idifferent n g variations on this one maze, tape Great value. 2- WO MA N. 1 DLL) E5.95."Very user-friendly...a fast and interesting g a me (Sinclair User) A very good version of the famous arcade game. If you're skillful, your name and score are displayed in the Zuckman Hall of Fame for your friends to admire. 13D MONSTER MAZE.(I. incredible K. G r e ..and y e ) the . game is very good indeed." (ZX Computing.) Until you've seen E 4 . 9 5 . the full-screen tyrannosaurus rex chase you through his 3-D maze, you won't believe it either. " T h e(I_K, Greye). E4.95_ 4.3D DEFENDER. g are created r a as p the henemy closer...another winner." (Sinclair A ma z in g 3 - draws D User). WItch through your spacecraft windows as the alien craft giattack rc ainsastonishing p h i c 3-D s detail. ea&TRADER. f f r (Pixel) e c t The s most astonishing graphics as you E10.50 e travel round 6 planets. This is a 48K game but only needs I6K Ram. The print-out alone is 6frimetres long l Usually starts with a 25second Test load 6.THE VC ARCADE PACK (Control technology). E4.95. A brilliant collection of fastmoving machine code arcade games. Two kinds of invaders, one traditional, the other swooping, soaring Gala xians. Plus 6 more games, including a great graphic. Astonishing value. 7. VOLCANIC DUNGE13N. (Carnell). E4.50. One of the great adventure games Rescue the princess, if you can. It took us 3 months - and we never got bored... Fast, single-key entry: map included. PLUS a good graphic HANGMAN game: 400 word vocabulary (or enter your own words) Our children's favourite. &THE DAMSEL. AND THE BEAst ( Bug Byte). E6.50. Another exciting adventure. Find the damsel, then kill the beast (club and torches provided), lead the damsel out before she starves But wait until she screams... 3 game variations. 9. =OTHELLO. TM (M.o.)) E6.95. "Recommended without reserve... it is a superb opponent." hiour Computer) The classic board game in its very best computer form. You'll see plenty of 'Reversi' listings, but this program makes it as challenging as chess. ZX CHESS IL (Artic). E9.95. "The seemingly impossible has happened - you can play high resolution chess on a Sinclair' (Card VG.) The strongest ZX81Chess Game around, All legal moves: 32 opening moves, 7 play levels - 4 within competition time limits. (Full Board Graphics available with Ouicksilva CHR Board). To order these games, please complete the coupon ADDRESSES ABROAD, please add 20p per E for extra p&p. PROGRAMMERS! If you would like us to evaluate your software for possible future inclusion, please send cassette, price list. r I have a toK ZX81 Please send me the programs indicated below s I enclose a cheque.'PO for E ( t o t a l order value) made payable to T Software Supermarket I 181.111 Name IMr/MrsiMiss) D S Address O Postcode F ADDRESSESONLYFOREIGNADDRESSESADD20ppetE T K PRICE NOORDERED TOTALPRICE W PROGRAM E995 A ' 1 MAZOGS ES 9 5 2ZUCKMAN R E4Q5 E • 3MONSTERMAZE E495 430DEFENDER S E950 Ur E49S 6THEZXARCADEPACK P T E4 SO E • 7VOLCANICDUNGEONHANGMAN E6 5 0 R R 8THEDAMSELANDTHEBEAST Et, 95 M A 9ZXOTHELLO CO95 A D T.ZYCHEC5" rDTALORDERVALUE E R E K E R T 20 , 8 THE BOOK YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! Programming rur ZX SPECTRUM BY TIM HARTNELI AND WPM% JONES Examines and explains every function on the ZX Spectrum Just £6.95 Interface. Dept. SC 44-46 Earls Court Road, London W8 6E.J. Please send me the following: ( P r o g r a mmi n g Your ZX Spectrum - t 6. 96 ( A sample issue of INTERFACE, t he mont hly ZX magazine published b y the National ZX Users' Club - 11.00 ( G e t t i n g Acquainted wit h your ZXI31 - 15. 95 ( 2 0 Simple Electronic Projects for the Z.X81 - £6. 45 ( M a s t e r i n g Machine Code on your ZX81 - 17.50 34 Amazing Games for the 1K ZX81 - 14. 95 49 Explosive Games for the Z X 8 1 - 15 95 I T h e Gateway Guide to the ZX81 and 21<80 - f 6 45 I enclose a total of t Name Address SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 hardware world Sound booster for Spectrum THE TELESOUND 82 audio modulator by Compusound can make a gr e a t d i f ference to the Spectrum. The Spectrum has a builtin loudspeaker b u t t h e reproduction c a n b e s o faint t ha t i t cannot b e heard except i n a v e r y quiet room. The Telesound 82 amplifies the sound by sending it with the video signal to the TV set, where the amplifier a n d loudspeaker c a n m a k e t ha t small sound deafening. All sounds produced by the loudspeaker can be reproduced, from the BEEP command t o t h e c lic k sound emitted from every key. There a r e only t wo connections to make inside the Spectrum. one to each of the two wires going into the video modulator, and that i s a c h i e v e d b y crocodile clips. The jack plug provided is then plugged into the EAR or MIC socket and the unit is i n use. Y ou c a n obtain the Telesound 8 2 from C om pus ound. 3 2 Langley Close, Redditch, Worcs., price E9.95. Haven has 16 colours HAVEN HARDWARE has produced a colour board for the ZX-81 which can provide up to 1 6 colours for each of the character squares. The colours are POKEd into the top part of the 16K memory into 1K of on-board memory whic h retains the colour. The position in memory SINCLAIR USER O c t o b e r 1982 varies with the movement display file and so must be calculated every time it is POKE& Only one internal connection has to be made, as ULA and it requires only four connections t o t h e ZX-8 1 . T w o o f t h o s e connections a r e made to the power supply and the other two are obtained by soldering a wir e to each side of a break which is made i n t he video le a d going i n t o t h e v i d e o modulator. The video signal is also made sharper on the TV Lander Mic ro Systems LMX EPROM programmer. all the other signals a r e obtained from the expansion connector. Mor e details can be obtained from Haven Hardware, 4 Asby Road, Asby, Workington, Cumbria CA14 4RR. The cost of the colour board is E39.95 as a k it and E49.95 as a ready-built unit. A ll prices include V A T a nd postage. Video inverter rests on VLA D FRITSCH has produced a video inverter kit for the Z.X-81 which rests on the screen by the use of a n amplifier instead o f t he usual integrated c ir c uit gates. A switch is provided — w i t h a template f o r cutting the hole in the back of t h e Z X - 8 1 — f o r switching between normal and inverse video as the ta pe L O A D i n g a n d SAVEing cannot be seen so clear in inverse video. The price in kit form is E4 and for E7.50 the unit will be fitted to your ZX-81 for y ou, including V A T and postage. Contact D Fritsch at 6 Stanton Road, Thelwa ll, W a r r i n g t o n . Cheshire WA4 2HS. Programmer for EPROM LANDER M ic r o Systems has produced a n EPROM programmer for the ZX-81, called the LMX. Using a pr inte d c i r c u i t b o a r d which plugs into the back of t h e ZX-8 1 , t h e pr ogrammer can be used as an EPROM card containing 2K of pre-programmed memory (ROM) or t o r e program a 2 7 1 6 - t y pe EPROM. To r e - p r o g r a m a n EPROM it first has to be treated w i t h ultra-violet light to clear all the bits to is. It is then inserted into the b o a r d a n d a 3 6 V supply made up from four PP3 b a t t e r i e s — n o t provided — applied. A s p e c i a l k e y boa r d overlay and program tape is pr ov ide d whic h w i l l allow you to step through the a ddr e s s e s i n t h e EPROM and change them. The de v ic e covers t h e whole o f t h e 8 K - 1 6 K memory space. The LMK system a s a k i t costs E17.50 including post and VAT from Lander Mic r o Systems, 3 2 Clockhouse La ne . C o l l i e r R o w . Romford, Essex RM5 3Q). Tel: Romford 26325. Toolkit from Orme ORME ELECTRONICS has a 2 K EPR OM whic h contains a Toolkit f or a ZX-81. The EPROM card which takes the EPROM can be bought separately from the EPROM at E9.25. The c a r d contains one socket for the EPROM and an extension board to plug in other equipment like the continued on page 22 21 continued f rom poke 21 16K RAM pack at the back. The Toolk it c onta ins routines s u c h a s r e number, block delete, hexto-decimal conversion and vice-versa. READ-DATA and loa d machine c ode from tape. The E P R O M a l s o contains a fast version of the games o f L i f e a n d Breakout. A l l t his costs 0 .2 5 . C onta c t Or m e Electronics at 2 Barripper Road. Camborne, Cornwall. Cornwall. Custom Cases packaging CUSTOM CASES packs all your ZX-81 o r Spectrum equipment into one port- 3 n able briefcase, 1 9 in. x 14in. x 41/2in. The case is filled w i t h polyurethane foam and has cut-outs for the computer, printer and RAM pack a nd, whe n i t a r r iv e s , t he Z X Microdrive. The f oa m i s covered with a red nylon finish and looks very attractive a s well a s us e f ul i n t h e a lum inium -fr a m e d, plastic-covered briefcase. The case is lockable and keeps the ZX system neat, tidy and ready for use at any time by plugging-in the TV leads a nd the power supply. The cost of the case is E36.95, including VAT and postage. f r o m C us tom Cases. C us tom H ous e , Britannia Road, Waltham Cross, Herts. i ' J Iguias - PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN Et PRODUCED SOFTWARE FOR J 1THE 1 9 HOME . 1 1 COMPUTER r tFrom a iM Et . Evans the author of : MDEFENDER ON StTE z R aMAZE t F o r the ZX81 comes a game for the S P E C T R U M Cobra brings out interface AN RS232 interface for a printer is available from a new company specialising in Z X equipment. Cobra Computer Services, a t a EAST LONDON Robotics cost of E30. It works from has produced a 64K addthe Z X power pack a nd on RAM board for a 16K can b e us e d w i t h most Spectrum costing E50. I t RS232 printers to produce fits inside the Spectrum in graphics and text. the sockets provided for Cobra is also offering a the Sinclair 3 2 K boa r d. business c ons ult a nc y The RAM is in two banks of service for those who want 32K and is switched over to use a ZX machine on the by a n O U T instruction. basis o f a c o m p u t e r LEDs indicate which block system. The company will is in use. Contact E a s t London be a ble t o put together packages for users involv- Robotics, Finlandia House, ing dis c systems hi-r e s 14 D a r we ll Close, Ea s t graphics a nd printers a t Ham, London. f o r y our low cost. Contact Cobra at 80K Spectrum. Tel: 01-471 378 C a le donia n R o a d , 3308. Expansion for the Spectrum ZETA TEACHING PROGRAMS ZX81 1 6 K A Ra nge o f Professionally Produced Programs for Junior & Middle Schools Ages: 8 - 12 ZES1 S P E L L INVADERS b a s e d on the Space Invaders theme, this encourages children to improve their spelling ZSK1 R E A C T I O N TEST : improves key board familiarity. ZMG1 G R A P H S ESCAPE Can y ou fi nd t he axe t o break down the exit door of the maze and ESCAPE. The maze is inhabited by 5 hunting dinosaurs including a TRICERATOPS who has the habit of hiding behind the hedges, and a PTERANODON that soars over the maze to s woop down on you. Send to NEW GENERATION SOFTWARE FREEPOST, Oldland Common (no stamp regd. in UKI BRISTOL 9S15 6BR or for I NS TA NT CREDI T CA RD sales ring 01-930 9232 PLEASE SEND ME A COPY OF ESCAPE FOR THE 16K SPECTRUM. I ENCLOSE CHEQUE/P.O. FOR £4.95. Mr/ Mrs Address P o s t Code 22 London N 1 M Y ( m a i l order only) for a brochure. enclosing a SAE. : used as an electronic blackboard to diov, bar charts 'level 1 S,M P.I ZMC1 D E P T H CHARGE : practice in ordered triple c o 3 dimensions while hunting enemy submarines. o r d i n a t e s i n ZMC2 Z I G O L : practice in ordered pair c o 2 dimensions on a space-shg) theme ZMA1 0 ) ( 0 + a d d i t i o n lest ordinates ZMA2 O X 0 - r n subtraction test. ZMA3 O X 0 x Price Each Tape Full Set : multiplication test E5.75 incl. VAT Please add f 1 for post Et packing 1 4 Pfease tick whic h cassette fequAred 2 . HSI SPELL I NVADERS ZMC2 ZIGOL C ZMA1 OX0 + ZSK1 REACTION TEST X ZMG1 GRAPHS 1 ZMA2 OX0 MCI DEPTH CHARG E ZMA3 OX0 a i n Name c Ad d re ss l . Please m a ke ch e q u e / PO p a ya b le t o So le n t So f t w a re En g •n e e n n g L t d . a n d V le . Wa t e r w o r ks Rn a d , Ot t e rb o u rn e . Win ch e st e r post t o : SSEL . St o u lkva S021 2DP A T SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r i 9d2 Z X 9 •DATAPROCESSING 9 O •RS2F 32CINTE RFACE R •SPE TCIALFEATURES H E S I N C L A data-curette, I R D N a C • l 1 l 7 ft AUTOMATIC TAPECONTROLLER The ZX99 gives you software control of up to four tape drives (two for reading, two for writing) allowing merging of data files. This is achieved by using the remote sockets of the tape drives, controlled b y USR statements o r commands. The ZX99 has an RS232C output allowing connection with any such p rin te r using the f u ll ASClich a ra cte r code (yo u can now print on plain paper in upper or lo we r case, and u p to 132 characters per line) a t a variable baud rate up to 9,600 There are so many special features it is d if fi cu lt to list them all, fo r example: AUTOMATIC TAPE COPY: You can copy a data fi le regardless of your memory capacity as it is processed through the Sinclair block by block. TAPE BLOCK SKIP: Without destroying the contents of RAM DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION: To assist in achieving the best recording settings. We now have available "Editor 99", a quality word processing program including mail-merge, supplied on cassette for 0 , 9 5 . Also following soon: * Stock Control (October) • Sales Ledger (November) • Debtors Ledger The ZX 9 9 contains a 2K RO M wh ich acts as an extension to the firmware in the Sinclair ROM. The ZX99's ROM contains the tape drive operating system and the conversion to ASCII for the RS232C output. There is an extension board on the rear to plug in your RAM pack (larger than 16K if required). The unit is supplied with * Business Accounts one special tape drive lead, mo re are available at El each. • Ta x Accounting Dept.SU6 Data As s e t t e , 44 Shroton Street, London NW1 6 UG. 01-258 0409 •FERGUSONCASSETTERECORDERE28inc.p&p. Tes ted w i t h Z X81, A c o rn , B B C, Dra g o n etc . etc . Features : D i n , Ear, Mic . and Re m o t e sockets, Tape Co u n t e r, To n e Co n t ro l, B u i l t a n Mic . , Aut os t op_ B a t t e ry / ma in s . Re c o m m e n d e d by A c o rn f o r use w i t h B B C c o mp u t e r. 44. Sh ro t o n Stre e t London N W i Te l 0 1 - 2 5 8 0 4 0 9 •ZX99SOFTWARE •STARDP8480 RS232C(SERIAL)E285plusE6 Securicor delivery C ENTRONC I S(PARALLEL)E265 plus E6 Securicor delivery •1 This prof es s ional p r in t e r wo rk s w i t h almos t any c o mp u t e r w i t h v ery g o o d u p p e r and lo we r case ty pefac e. • B i-d ire c t io n a l • Eto c o lu mn w i d t h ( 1 0 •- S p wit a pc hea br le ) - Tr a c t o r o r Fr ic t io n Fe e d • 8 0 chrs, p e r s ec ond •BBCCA1 SSETTELEAD , 7 COMPUTERCASSETTES 7 p in p lu g t o t w u 3 . 5 m m plugs and one 2 , 5 m m plug. O nly E2 inc . P & P. O t her leads av ailable - pleas e t elephone. •2P ,0R 0N SE HR EP EA TP SE OR F I0T E19.50plusE3.50p&p •E690REVOLVINGCASSETTERACK Single - £ 2 . 9 9 (holds 3 2 tapes o r 2 0 in cases) Do u b le - E 5 , 9 9 (holds 6 4 tapes o r 4 0 in cases) Tre b le - E 8 , 9 9 (holds 9 6 tapes or 6 0 in cases) Q uad - E 1 1 . 9 9 (holds 1 2 8 tapes or 8 0 in cases) FRDERFORM Code A ll plus E l p & p . u m s o = m o o um Dept.SU6 D a t a - Assette, 44 Shroton Street, LondonNAM6UG0 .1-2580409 No. Item Price P&P Total High q u a lit y , s c rew as s embled cassettes s u p p lie d wit h lib ra ry box es . A n y lengt hs av ailable. C5 - 35p C 1 0 - 37p C 1 2 - 38p C15 - 39p C 2 0 - 41p C 2 5 - 43p C30 - 44p Cheques / PO made pay able t o St or loos e L t d - aC imh i x oat r g e P&P 10% (min charge E1.501 SINCLAIR USER O ct o b e r 1982 Signed I A d d r e s s N um.••• ••• my Ac c es s /Vis a N o a m ▪ E I M e M i n EMI 23 ? ) . \ a t t S " C P . 0 A. V '1 ? . * # C ) i x 0 .0) 6 0, ( I C qc‘ 6 ' i' . , 0 1V'''e: N 4 1 A4CHANCE - with tyour Sinclair ZX 81 GIVE Y O UR ( CHILD and our pr ogr am s - award - winning softw ar e fr om 4 ' ' Richard David Fisher' and Marriott k i BOMBERc E\6 •0 0 They have fun. learn their tables andecom e back for more. Si ncl ai r Educational Awar d Winner 1 9 8 2 t4 ; ; k . ‘ * ‘ C S A \ * 0 O < C BIGSPELL C 6 -0 0 The near est a dum b micro can com e to teaching you to spell_ S i ncl ai r Educational Award Winner 1 9 8 2 They A can envoy learning their al phabet all in big chunky Sinclair graphics. 'ALPHA will teach them to L m atch "capital" and "small how -P l e to t t use e r sO WE RTY keyboar d. a n d H Cheques 's payable to: Fi sher -Mar r i ott Softw ar e s h oP . O w 9c Abbey Hill Kenilworth_ CVO 1 LW tA h e m " C 6 •SPECTRUM GA M E S rOn161c CartaiStle platy•VtlfriP, A0 IR P OR T r hos Lvold bd ALIE N S e a r c h for the ahen h!.,. the maz e o f air duc ts on the , orghltherre A s a member o f the spacecraft. Y our only we a pon is a airport ..! 0 grOundstaft your task is l e allataltNO the S uCteatiful landing of a n hamothrower s o prowess careltrally as Success retires on your sloe la id aircraft but beware the r e are r oa m obstacles in your pa th judgement Foe animated mstructions included with each game , BOTH ON ONE CASSETTI FOR ONLY (495 BATTLESHIPS Et CRUISERS 16K•ZX81 First computer yersion ot th e popular d e s t r o y the computer a fl eet V e s ta l game ot strategy and tactics S o r b d o s p l a y shows Tars and misses , grids n a d ion r n e w together E stablish the a n d gapes running sctoe r• °Char. o f your head the n locate and ONLY 14.95 09901 G R A P H I C S T O O L K I T 22 corcitiong M A C H IN E C OD E ro,,tales M a l give you upntror m o t v o w screen as never oelore ,IZX81 -16K RAM ONLY) Draw . Undress P r i n t posdion controls S c r o l l Fa r a dic ; O n l i C r e e n Ofts !• .• . , Foreground On.'Crti U P , DOVVka LE FT, U P S C A O L L B a C i g r o u n c l On t i l t Border .'Unborder R I G H T .. Editpront m o vSe a C ne s tRLE FTS aw Fill screen Ro I G H T O CLR OLL C S Sq euwa er re. dr and Reverse screen P R I N T paartron to torsi r erld fine oA l the m routines are in ' ,whom , code for S UP E R FA S T response' GRAP HICS iTOOLK . IT uses only 2K o f your R A M a nd tha t orodurtes space to loa d thy oprograrnrnees ' WOLK IT described bekoka ALL FOR ONLY 13,95 ($11.901 . o iAn ESSENTIAL addition to your 164( RAM 1k81 24 STAn SOCCEli AN E X C ITIN G NEW GAME FOR TH E ZX8 1 ( 1 6 K ) ALL T H E ACT I O N O F RE AL FO O TBALL )11v1-•• PASS — S HO OT — BBLE — TACKLE CORNERS — FRE E DRI KI CKS — THROW-INS * Y IN OU HI P GLAN H SPEED THE GRAPHICS MOVES — SEE THE PLAY * MAT ANDCHE 1 2 S* S BETWEEN TAR 1 2 TOP CLUB SIDES • W O THAN R L DA SIMULATION MORE C U P S 'AQtrulyUoriginal and absorbing game' A D S * M O R ON LY E5.95 E T Please make cheques and postal orders payable to H A N I, Ivy Cottages, Long Road West. Dedham. Essex CO7 6E1 A Allow 14 clays for delivery N A R C AOK S P E CTRUM + E42.50 = LIKI .1 fu r l i t . LA 81 w s t v e n o w 48K S P E CTRUM D done it To ,E t hon Add e memory a t a n amaz ingly lOwo :atce Z XIncrease your TEA to a m a s e r ,. the ONLY G S r< worn P E 32K RAM BOARD A C MERGE whe n your entre 321C R A M Using fewer c om pone nts on a Iv or T BOARD arrives withran 21 days M quakty doubre sided board tO give tnstaltaloon is sombre t h e mown R top performance. telestalory a nd you Sitting is completed m lust a fe w E economy U M INIM S w i t h the aid of a screwdriver WZit,011 60114 r c tScry icci Ltd. You M can sally on wr iting larger programmes in sections ready to , NO SOLDERING.' FOR 16K SPECTRUM ONLY 1 A.- r e k o te m t , 5 4 2 18K RAM P ACK CONO4 2TECH d lim o fe the E o We be o m est low and econorrocal way to -TechCis the . R; A M power' e• oand your ZKE tt sayese nor m 18K f r , available N o N L Y r ) t r o l l s g l VV.th u a d sva n ce s in rn icro t e ch n o t o g y w e a re n o w a b le t o o rt i, i A t D or i v e t having enhernal diertensionti u no larger m a n the l e tt R A M a Same g quality as the le K R A M be tow r e l i ONLY C62 95 ($119 95! hot giving rnas,nre olertlefa 10 your a b, l e M K RAM P ACK 1 E 1 4s reviewed in 'Your Computer March 82 16K R A M P ACK Jude simply rho hes! C o m o a t i b I e w i n T O O L K I T nadataa plus FREE p r i n t e r Allen Attack • I7 K N o wobble ;emblems P r o v i id Elenurntme n cel u d i n g H y p e r graphics m ode c o d e a nd together to . . GOTO s F r a s c r e e n up only I K o f your M c ode l o n cassette G o l d pr a te l e dge s and GOS ..rlue IS 75 !$ i t CIO/ “ a c c e i c t o r tor perfect T h UeB a R e v e r s e screen p r e c i o u s R A M a n Search wa it i n c r e d i b l e I b u i l t . te s te d a nd c o n t a c t with your i n t M e and o kmt T a p e Search and r e pa id, A l l these roulones are a c h i e v e m e n t . guaranteed N o i r v i a l l y despatched w i n g ,Free space w r o t t e n in machine ' AP S trai startg p o we t * w r e n t o d ay% o f ' K 1 0 1 ONLY f26 50 r$49 951 soPPIV , FOR 161( • ONLY (495 1$9 901 1 E 1 4 M in , a act and packrng All lancers are fully inclusive of pe 1 4 0 000ras CUSTOMERS P t EASE NOTE A . ! P lartE S ACE APPLiCARTE FOR EXPORT INCLUDING o AIRMAIL POSTAGE P AV M E N! k la v BE kakoir oki stE llotragoM ONTy ORDER f a c ,ArLAILE AT YOUR BANK! DO VOU01 OWN Li S CKE DUE . MADE PAYABLE TO IRS SOFTWARE DeS P AICH NORMAL! T S FP • • , m i l i E CE IP T O F V O U t t ° R O S A a t i e I s r e c e i p t 19 WAYSI DE AVENUE, WORTHI NG, SUSSEX. 131913 3JU Tel ephone: I0903) o f y o u r o r SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1982 starting from scratch Come to the ZX-81 with a clear mind to make the best use of your new machine. A lifetime's obsession can easily be acquired start of a lifetime obsession B with home computing. I t is U easy.however, t o b e c o m e discouraged if everything does not Y go to plan from the beginning. I For thos e w i t h only a l i t t l e N knowledge of computers and their G capabilities, t h e b e s t w a y t o aapproach the Z.X-81 is to abandon Z any ideas for special uses. While the X basic machine is ideal for learning -how to use computers, it is too small 8for any major uses. I t is better to 1become accustomed t o the many facilities and then decide how you cwish to use them. a Begin by unpacking the machine, novercoming your surprise at its size band we ight a n d , following t h e emanual, set up the system. I f you tcannot get the K on the screen, hcheck tha t everything is plugged into its correct socket and re-set the e machine by pulling-out the power plug for a second and try tuning-in again. If still nothing appears, check the power supply unit by shaking it. If it rattles, return it. If it is satisfactory, check your system with that of a friend. Once the K appears you are ready to begin learning about the ZX-81. It can save family _arguments if you can afford a separate television set for your system. It also makes life easier if you can find somewhere to leave your equipment set up permanently. You will find that a few power sockets a r e needed a nd a four-way block connector on a short length of extension cable will help to SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1982 tidy trailing leads. The manual is written i n gr e a t de t a il a n d i s reasonably easy to follow. Some of the c h a p t e r s m a y n o t s e e m immediately r e le v a nt b u t i t i s worthwhile reading them a s y ou might m is s something whic h i s important. Patience is needed at that stage to learn t h e w a y s i n w h i c h t h e computer will accept information. It is tempting to try to enter programs before you are really ready but that is lik e ly t o le a d t o errors. F o r example. words like AND. THEN, and AT should not be typed-in letter by letter. B y t he tim e you have reached chapter 1 1 . y ou should have accumulated sufficient knowledge t o be a ble to type-in other people's programs. such as those in Sinclair U s e r a n d Sinc la ir Pr ograms. without too much difficulty. It is important that when using the machine it is not jolted. Some of the connections can easily work loose and everything which has been put in will be lost. The manual is not to everyone's taste and if you fi nd it difficult to follow, a number of books on the market can help you. Find the one which suits you best. As a way of relaxing, you can buy some o f t h e gr owing r a nge o f commercially-produced software. That c a n be loaded directly from cassette but make sure tha t your machine is big enough to take the tapes y ou buy . The r e a r e some programs for the tmexpanded 1 K machine but most of them require a 16K RAM pack. The tapes vary in quality. It is advisable to read the reviews i n Sinclair User a nd use your judgment to find the best. An alternative method to learn about the Z X deep end and see what the computer will do. 8 1 i sRefer to the manual when you t ohave difficulties. You can ignore the func tions a n d calculations p l u n initially and experiment with PRINT g e statements to obtain the feel of the imachine. n a You m a y ha v e he a r d a lr e a dy t about t h e pr oble m inv olv e d i n SAVEing t h a nd LOADing your own cassettes. The manual again gives e detailed instructions but many of the e a r ly machines w o u l d n o t accept tapes from some recorders. That problem is said to have been overcome but there can still be difficulties. They u s u a l l y o c c u r w h e n LOADing tapes recorded by other people. One simple method to overcome this is to wind the tape to the middle o f the program a nd type LOAD" " followed by NEWLINE; then slowly increase the volume of the recorder with the tape running until the television screen shows four or five thick horizontal black bands. If you then re-wind the tape, the program should LOAD normally. Finally, a health warning. Apart from any practical uses, computing with your Z X taining h o b b y a n d i s a lm os t certainly habit-forming. Y ou may 81 easily c a nfi nd yourself crouched over your machine, red-eyed, in the early b e of the morning, thinking that hours a in another five minutes you will sort v e problem. r out the y Try to break that habit by getting the fresh air and meeting other einto n t Sinclair users. • e r By obtaining a ZX-81 you find that you have joined a not very exclusive club w i t h m a ny thous a nds o f members, many of whom would be only too happy to advise you if you have difficulties. Make sure of your regular copies of S i n c l a i r U s e r a n d S i n c l a i r Programs a n d you can be guaranteed many happy hours with your Sinclair machine. 25 THE PROFESSIONAL ONE ZX81 THERMAL PRINTER The Computer Printer high speed matrix printer combines contemporary printer mechanism design with advanced microprocessor based VLS I control electronics and distinctive functional styling. • Professional high performance 40 column line printer. • Attractively styled durable housing. • Tot a l interfacing. • Quie t operation. • Graphics capability standard. ▪ U s e s Olivetti dot matrix thermal print mechanism. E L o w cost thermal paper supply. E Pr ic e includes ZX interface and one roll of paper. E94.50 Inclusive of ZX interface and one roll of paper. Please add E16.47 to cover postage, packing and VAT (total E110.97). Please allow maximum of 28 days for delivery. a l e DEAN ELEC TR ON IC S LIM ITE D Glendale C O Park Fernbank Road Ascot Berkshire England Telephone 0344 885661 T e l e x 849242 M P U T E R P ( •E1' R 4 I WITH THIS BACK-UP RECHARGEABLE BATTERY PACK AND MAINS FILTER. 110P N P) NO MORE PROGRAMME CRASHES DUE TO MAINS T FLUCTUATIONS AND/ TRANSIENTS E If you use or programme computers you know the frustration and problems caused by sudden drops in the mains supply or high voltage transients. R Hours of tedious programming can be lost in a fraction of a second. Here at Adaptors and Eliminators, who are one of the largest suppliers of mains D adaptors to the computer industry, we have developed this Rechargable Battery Pack and mains filter. I • No more programme crashes due to mains fluctuations. • In the event of a power cut your computer will run for up to 30 mins, allowing V you to record your programme on a battery cassette, or print a hard copy on your printer. I • The Battery Pack is also a useful source of 9v power, for use on radios, tape recorders etc. Use your adaptor to charge overnight. S Operation could not be simpler. Plug the lead from your ZX adaptor into the socket on the Battery Pack (male or female are provided). Then using I the lead supplied connect the battery pack to your ZX Comput er or Spectrum. O ZX 130 BATTERY ZX 81 N POWER TROUBLE FREE PROGRAMMING FOR ONLY C13-95 INCVAT SUPPLY PACK — SPECTRUM The Battery Pack then provides instant back up o the adaptor leav ing you to programme wit hout fear of crashes due to the mains. (Poor mains supplies are responsible for about 90% of all programming faults). The pack is housed in a smart ABS case and comes complete with full instructions. No wiring required — jus t plug it inli We urge you to protect your programmes ORDER NO W — ONLY E13.96 + P I P PLEASE NOTE this pack is suitable for all computers using a 9v supply but you may need to change the plugs. FOR TROUBLE FREE COMPUTING ORDER NOW. MAIL ORDER ONLY SEND TO: ADAPTORS AND ELIMINATORS LTD. K T H A M E S ST LOUTH.LINCOLNSHIRE PLEASE SUPPLY ( W O -NAME A D D 40P/P Rechargeable Battery Packs at E13 -95 + E 1 R E S TOTAL S ALLOW 2 8 DAYS FOR DELIVERY MO NE Y BACK GUARANTEE I F NOT ENTI RELY SATISFIED. 26 SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 T • if 416 &to m& • Ammmm & might b e a b l e to handle o u r F Minefields game fo r the 16K ZX-81. O Y o u r mission i s t o s te e r across 10 minefields a t a dizzying R speed using cu rso r keys 6 a n d 7. M Cross a fi eld successfully and you U will fi nd your next tri p will be Lmore diffithat cult. A We found ourselves out of breath O after every excursion, because o f N the speed o r because w e w e r e E destroyed. Perhaps a l i ttl e PAUSE rsomewhere. a Submitted b y D G L o ma s o f cDukinfielci Cheshire. i n S=0 g 1 LE T 2 LE T H=0 d 5 LET P=10 6 LE T pt=le r 10 8 FO R U=1 T O g CLS i 10 F R 5 T v 15 FO R 1 = 1 T O 11+100 20 P RI NT A T I N T ( R N O * 2 e RND,2-4)4-.511r 33 50 SN LEOX WT I s 40 P RI NT A T R, O;;"•5" 0 44 12 FN OE XR T I =I 1 T O 2 0 2 , I N T 45 P RI NT R T SO F O R T = 0 T O 3 1 55 L E T H = H 4 1 60 LE T P = P 4 - t I N E $ =. 0 LET P = P 4 - ( P - t P 2 1 ) - 7 e5 0s =P R I N T R T 7 " -SO P R I N T A T P , T ; ) 1 60 0 L E T t i = P E E K f r r E E t t . PEEK 1 5 5 S S 1 -1 0 I F E = 1 2 5 T H E N G O T O 1 . 5 0 / -2 & 0 PRI NT AT 130 L E T P L = P 140 NE X T 2./ 41 m PRI NT AT 1 0 , 2 H - .A V E 5 U R E D 42 P A T N T A T 1 - 1 , 5 " O N N I N E -1 Wt .EE Ly L O G N E Y O U 1. SNCLAI R USER O c t obe r 1982 t F / E L ", LI 143 FO R 0 = 1 TO 1 5 0 144 NE X T 0 145 NEXT U 145 GOTO 2 0 0 150 FOR R = I TO 1 5 155 P RI NT AT P , T ; A l 158 P RI NT R T 1 5 9 N E X T R. 150 P RI NT A T R , T " 170 P RI NT A T l i a , a , - DESTROVEV 1 -7 2 P R I N T A T 1 1 , 5 " O N M I N E F I E L H A V E O y" o , Lu 1 75 L E T E 5 = 5 + 1 b E 1 180 FOR Y = 1 TO 1 5 0 ISO NEXT 195 NEXT U 200 C t 5 202 LE T 205 I F 5 = 1 THEN LE T R $ = a - -l e P R I N T R T 1 0 0 " Y O U H A V E H I T 2; 1 5 L E T D = H - t E * 5 3 220 P RI NT AT 1 5 , 0 , 5 , 2-" 3 0 P R I N T A T t e , s - D o Y OU w r s m U RR G A I N T T OV O GO - 2S 4 0 C I FO I NR K EEY S = 2 0 I F 1 N K E Y $ = -21 5 0 GOTO / -s 5 • T H E N W T N G O H TE O 5 7 0 P 2 4 0 eft cf 2 1 that w e cannot te a r ourselves I away to write the review. Ferry F passes. I t i s n o t a complicated routine but the cursor keys produce T such an instantaneous reaction that H the game h a s a strange hypnotic E fascination of its own. T The display shows one port at the E top a n d three a t th e bottom. One S point is awarded for each round trip Tand an extra ship once all the cargo o— 12 loads — i s transported sucfcessfully. C o n tro l t h e f e r r y w i t h akeys 5 and 8. and do not go back to an quay. Se n t b y Michael gemptied Simmonds f o r t h e 1 6 K ZX - 8 1 . oGraphics notes: o80 — G ra p h i c 4. d135 — Graphic B, inverse space. p r o 28 g 1 0 L E T T =2 20 L ET X = 0 30 L ET T = T 4 1 40 L ET G =2 5 50 L ET B =4 60 L ET C = 6 70 L ET D =C 60 L ET F $="o 90 L ET E = 2 5 100 L E T 6 $= 110 L ET c s . e t 120 L E T D $ = 5 $ 125 C L S 130 I F 5 = 0 RND C = 0 RND D = 0 R N ' T >0 T H E N G O T O 3 0 135 PR I N T T R 5 1 0 RIB ; X -1 420 5 P R I N T A T I , 1 5 F $ , RT a e , a $ T T• T2 R ; R 0 ,51 3 F •$ R T 2 0 , 2 3 , F $ 11 5 04 P _R I N; T R T 2 1 , fl; 5 $ ( T O 5 ) A T 21,13; C$( T O C ) A T 2 1 " 0 A) 1 8 5 L E T E = I N T R . N 0 . 4 5 0 4 1 1 1 1 " ; 2 1 3 7; 00 F$O( R Z = T 40 TO 2 STEP - 1 Tl e e I F I N K E Y $ = 1 5 190 I F I N K E Y $ = 1 -- T H E N 2L 0 0 E PLOT E , Z 6 210 NEXT Z 2E 6 NT H E N L E T 5 = B - 1 - 3 0 T I =FH E E= E 2- 4 0 I F E = 2 5 T H E N L E T C = C - 1 2L 5 0 IE F ET= 4 5 T H E N L E T D = D - 1 2E5 . 5 I =F 5 =E- 1 O R C = - I O R 0 = - 1 T H E N 4G O T O 3 2 5 260 I F E = 5 OR_E=26 OR E=4 6 THEN GOTO 2 5 S 262 GOTO 3 3 0 285 FOR Y=2 TO 4 0 270 I F I N K E 1280 I F 1 N t : E $ =" 8 " THEN L ET G=G4 1• e l : = L ' E 2 - 90 PLOT G , Y 295 NEXT Y -3 0 0 I F G = 3 0 T H E N G O T O 3 1 5 T 1H0 EGNO- T4O= 3 3 E 3T 0 3 - 15 L ET X=X4 1 320 GOTO 1 2 5 C 1=F 5 = - 1 T H E N L E T 5 = & .3 2 6 IGF C = - 1 T H E N L E T C = 0 327 I F 0 = - 1 THEN LET 0 = 0 330 PRINT RT 1 0 , 1 6 . 3 ET T T - 1 -3 44 13 L FOP P = I TO 5 0 C 3 4R4 AN5E H XT P -3 4 8 I F T = 0 T H E N C L 5 E NE ' 3 5 1 I F T=s zt T H E N P R I N T " G A M E ED.SCO RE= 353 I F T = 0 THEN GOTO 1 0 0 0 , X 360 GOTO 1 2 5 1000 PRINT ‘RGAIN0e0141 1 - 020 LET Q $=/NREY$ 1030 I F 0 $ = 1 0 I F 0 % =" " T H EN GOTO 1 0 2 0 -1 00 4 50 RUN N T H E N S T O SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1982 P ART IHMETC I T 2 1. .teit •74I f *ilull! ' • *- I " 14 1 4t1i:b o o 1p i / l d l i f 4 1 p1 • 11 4 : 1 , 1i t i • dr 4. BOUM 10 P R I N T , • A IM E E S L? "L O . 20 I NP UT AS PP UT BS 3O0 HI N 4. 0 I N P U T C s 50 CL5 6e 0 F 0 OR D= 0 TO 3 1 7W0 F O ; R E = 3 TO 1 5 STEP 6 SO P R I N T A T E , D ; " S " 90 NE X T E 100 NEXT D 110 FOR D= 0 TO 3 1 120 FOR E = 4 TO l e s r E p 6 130 P R I N T A T 14-0 N E X T E 150 NE X T D 160 P RI NT A T I _ A T . AT P . 0 1 ; 1 0 " ; P r 1 0 , 0 ; " 0 " ; P T "a0 LE T 5 = 0 - Al e7 o LE T T = 0 ; 190 LE , U = 0 P2 0 0 L E T Z S = A S 210 GOSUB 5 0 0 T220 I F K = J THE N LE T S = S + 1 1230 I F K= J THEN P RI NT AT 3 , 5 - 1 616" A T 4 - 5 —3.; " N " R I , -2 4 -30 ,I F 3 =; 3 1 T H E N G O T O 1 0 0 0 e"2 5 0C L Ef T 2 5 0. SG =I : O 1 5SU B S O O" t .2 T 70 I F K = J THEN LE T T= 7 3 1 A T ; 250 I F K= J THEN PRI NT A T 9 , T - 1 ; ; A4T 1 0 -, T - 1 ; " A " ; R T S , T ; ; A T - SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1982 -4* Race a n d teach themselves C to add in the process. It is an H educational game for three children Iwhich challenges t he m t o r a c e Lagainst e a c h ot he r across t h e screen. E a c h c or r e c t a n s w e r D advances their asterisk one place. R Seasoned programmers rnight try E tightening the listing and perhaps N adding a few extra graphics. Sent w by Janet Whittaker of Bilsborrow, inear Preston for the 16K DC-81. l l l o v e A 1 r 4 Alf i t 1 h , m e t C i — c C 1 2 9 0 I F T = 3 1 THE N GOTO 1 0 0 0 300 LE T ZS=CS 3 1 0 GOSUB S O O 320 I F K = J THEN LE T U=V41 330 I F K= J THEN P AI NT P T 1 5 , U - 1 ; - 3 4l -e0 , uI ;FA 5u1 3 1 T H E N G O T O 1 0 0 0 M 3 5- 0 G O T O 2 0 0 OO L E T G = I N T t R N D * 2 0 i S 505 LET H = I N T I RND* 20A "510 LE T J =G +H . 520 P RI NT P T 19, 0; 11$; ", UHPT I S + ? " P5 5 I NP UT K T5 3 0 I F K = 0 T H E N G O T O 5 6 0 154-0 I F t e . J T H E N P R I N T A T 2 0 , 0 6 DI O U E T H I S 1 N 5' 5 M 0 GOTO 5 6 S , -O 560 P RI NT AT a v e a . y o u CAN U VE O N. " '4 . 10 1 -T- 5 5 5 P A U S E 2 0 0 • 15 7 0 P R I N T A T 1 . 9 H "0 E5 8 0 P R I N T C P 1 2 0 , 0 ; " _ S0 ; % R ‘912$ P R I N T A T 2 1 , 0 ; " N ; 600 RETURN S 1000 P RI NT W E L L DONE. VOU HAVE P 3 R D L UN T H E 1 T0 1 0 S T O P ,E I1 T I O N R 5 A C IR , E " S U " 1 ; 29 tIonal program tor the anelkpancled 7)(...61.1t is a good I s A . O concept-VI-1.e t t aser inpatst4, S ,Y. a V nN iN d to direct D th r o a h a maze to the N 7V a t M o n s th e Wa v, th e r e a r e raaths monsters which va st - 1 deadVi . be a p p e a s e d w i t h a c o r r e c t i ca v e reachedOthe lettera s s v011 I c a al n e e ti d o x n. l c e a 100 - - S v e r ' spaces, two graphic Ns, tnverse O. two graphic Ns-, icor ph spaces. graphic N, inverse O. two 0g, rtw a ioc graphic N s . th r e e sp a ce s, tIN 0 t w o graphtc N s , invers eNs., two graphic Ns, ON 0 egaphic t s eNs. two spaces. two graphic Ns, ONj erse 0, tSINIO %POW Ns, three , spaces, graphiC N, itiNt etSe kr epeat second %IDA); Vepeat ti r s t 30 SI NCLAI R USER O c t obe r 1982 f or wa r d g a m e f o r t h e F computer novice. It works on [the unexpended LX-81. S You a r e t h e e p o n y m o u s fisherman. Cast with key F and, if H successful, continue the game with E any k e y . F r o m C o l i n L i n k o f R Rickmansworth. Herts. M10 — Space 0 ; space, inverse A space, graphic 7; graphic 3, graphic N 1. graphic 5. i410 — Graphic 3. graphic E, three s graphic spaces. graphic W , t w o spaces. graphic 3 . inverse space. a graphic 1. v 420 — Ten inverse spaces. e 430 — Gr a phic R . nine inverse rspaces. y 440 — Graphic 2, inverse shifted V. sthree inverse spaces. two spaces, t graphic 2. inverse space, graphic 4. r a i g h t 0 o, o 43 • • t 0 4 : o 1 2 3 4 10 00 1Y 0 21 0 21 5 30 3 • 0 " : T 1 1 A 1 B 1 Y 1 N ; e140 I " f E N 150 I e 2 X 0 0 =G t 2 2 0 P " 2 3 0 L 2 4 0 G 3 0 0 I HE 2 N GO 3 - 1 0 OI 320 C S 3 0= R 3 " 0 0 3P 4 4 -– 1 0 P 4 T 2A0 P R 430 f 40 4 4 e30 E t ; SINCLAIR USER C k tuber 1982 L E T FI = I NT fRND*14A-0.5 L E T B=CODE " 2 " L E T X = B L E T Y=X—X P R I N T T A B Y ; 0 " ; T A B L E T B = 6 - 1 ; I N T" A T Y , 3 ; " : " P R 1 T A T R, E k " O • P1 R I N I. F Y = I R T H E N G O T O 3 0 0 I F I N K E V $ = " F " T I F N O T X T H E N L E T Y=Y441.eR FL e E= o T T H E N G O T O 2 2 0 O TYO : — Lao R I N T A T A , B ; " — E T 6 =CO DE " 3 " O T O 1 0 0 F B = V R L - 3LIB 4 0 0 FR I N K E Y $ = ' L 3 L UV N A R I N T A T R R I N T " R I N T P R I N T P R I N T RE TURN T H E N GOTO 3 1 0 • • 31 1000 1010 1020 LE T LE T S = 0 K$ = DI M 8 * ( 1 0 , 2 ) 7 0 0 L ET M=0 1040 LE T N= 0 1050 LE T J = 1 1060 GOSUB 1 0 9 0 1070 GOTO 1 2 3 0 1080 REM BATTLE 5 HI P 5 1090 FAST 1100 RE M 5 E 7 U P BOARD 1110 FOR X = 0 TO 1 6 STEP 1 6 1120 FOR 1 = 4 TO 1 3 1 1 3 0 F O P z . =2 T O L I 1140 P RI NT AT 1, 4-4X; 1 1 5 0 P R I N T A T I . Z +Xs 1160 NEXT 1170 PRI NT P T I , 0 T P B 1 - 4 1180 NEXT / 1190 P RI NT AT 5 , 2 + X ; 1 2 S0 0C N EEX F T GX H I J " A D 1210 SLOU 1220 RETURN 1 2 3 0 P R I N T A T 2 1 , 0 ; ” TO E N T E R C O ORDI NATES P RE S S No -1 2 4 0 I N P U T Z $ 1250 FOP A=1 TO 4 L1 2 6 0 P R I N T P T 2 1 , 0 , K $ , AM 2 1 N -0 T E P B A T T L E S H I P 1 2 6 5 I N P U T E $ ( R) 0 1 2; 7 0 "P REI N T P T C O D E ( 8 * ( A , 2 ) ) - 2 e 4 . 4 , CO DE ( 8 * ( A, 1 ) ) - 3 8 + 2 ; 280 NEXT A 61 1290 FOR R=B TO 8 -1 3 0 0 P R I N T A T 2 1 , 0 K S ; A T 2 / , 0 ; N - 4 ET E P F P TO RTE " 1310 I NP UT E$4R1 1 3 2 0 P R I N T P T C O D E B $ I P, 2) ) - 2 e 4 4 . C O D E ( 5 * ( A, 1 ) ) - 3 6 + 2 ; F1 3 3 0 N E X T A 1340 FOR A= 9 TO l e -1 3 5 0 P R I N T A T 2 1 , 0 ; t t $ ; A T 2 1 , 0 ; ‘ • E NTER S UBMARI NE - ; R- 8 1 3 6 0 I N P U T 8 * ( A) 1370 P R I N T A T CO DE ( 5 $ 4 A 0 2 ) ) -2844, CO DE ( B $ ( 1 38et N E X T A 71 1 3 9 0 P R I N T A T 2 1 , 0 , K$ ; AT 2 1 , 0 ; 4. ,.W 1 I) LI L ) C H O O S E K Y C O - O R D / N A T E S ' I M2A $ ( 1 0 , 2 ) -1 4 30 0 8 D + 1410 FOP A = I TO 4 -1 4 2 0 L E T R $ ( A , 1 ) = C M R $ ( I N T ( R N D * 51 0 ) + 3 8 ) 4 3 0 L E T A $ ( A , 21 = C M R $ L I N T ( R N D 4 -1 10) +28) 1 .• school? Blunt pencils gripped D Iin D grubby Y OU p l alingers. y Battleships at Hands cupped around the graph paper to prevent t h e o t h e r f e l l o w f r o m cribbing. We h a v e a n a l to g e th e r m o r e elegant w a y o f d o i n g t h i n g s . supplied b y M i c h a e l O w e n o f Southport, Merseyside fo r the 16K ZX-81. T h e d i s p l a y s h o w s t w o boards, y o u r s a n d t h a t o f t h e computer. P r e s s N E WL IN E a n d enter the co-ordinates of your navy, letter fi rst. When you have finished, the s c r e e n w i l l b e m o d e s t l y obscured while the machine lays out its own battle-line. Each si d e th e n ta ke s tu r n s a t firing three shells into the midst of the opposing armada. You do i t by entering co-ordinates as above. And England expects. IM P • • ill• • • • 4 ••• •• 0 3 1 " . • 32 " * 4 4 4 0 4 1 SI NCLAI R USER O c t obe r i t 8 2 6 1440 NEXT A 1450 C L 5 1460 FO R A = 5 TO 1470 LE T AS I A, 1 1 =CHRS 10)4.364 1460 LE T A S f A , 2 f . C H A S 1 0 )4 . 2 e ) . "/ 5ANK YOUR - : 1e.20 IF + 1 4 e N ( I N T ( R N D * D I N T ( A N D * 1490 NEXT A 1500 FO R A = 9 TO 1 0 1510 LE T A S I A , 1 1 . 1 01438) -1 5 20 LE T R S I A , 2 = C H A s ( I N T ( A N D * C 0H) +R 2S 8 ) ( I N T 1 1 8 3R0 N IE X T (1 5 1 5 AD 40 G 0 5 0 1 0 S* 0 ISSO FO R A . 1 T O 4 1560 P RI NT A T CODE ( 8 $ ( A , 2 * ) - 2 8 4 4,CODE ( M S f A , I ) ) - 5 6 4 - 2 , -1 7 1550 P RI NT A T 0,eW".e0uR S H/ P 6 67 1 - 590 FO R P1 -0 - 600 P AI NT A T CODE t e i s t R 0 2 » - . 2 e 4 4N. C O D E ( 6 1 1 A , 1 ) - S 5 4 - 2 -1 51 4 7 *T N O EXT A -E 1 5620 FOR A = 9 TO 1 0 F1 X6 3 0 P R I N T A T C O D E t 8 S i A . 2 ) 1 - 2 6 4 4-T, C O D E ( 5 $ A , I f f - S 6 4 - 2 " 540 NEXT A .11 P6 5 0 P R I N T A T 2 1 , 0 , K S , A r r 5 UR G O O -1 6 6 0 P R I N T A T I 9 , 1 9 , T- 2 0 670 FO R E . L TO S 11 Y 6O8 U 1 0 P R I =N T A T 1 5 , 0 K S 21 5 06 9" 0H, L E TA G r - 1 5 0 E1 7 0 0 I N P U T c s 1710 LE T N.N4-1 "1 7 2 0 F O R A m l T O 1 0 ,1 7 3 0 I F C S . A S f A ) T H E N G O T O 1 5 1 0 1740 NEXT R H1750 CO DE -11 77 67 00 *1 7 8 0 --1 7 9 0 1800 C 8C1 0 1 P R IN T A T CODE t c s 1 2 » - 2 8 4 - 4 , ( C S ( 1 ) - S 5 + 1 5 LE T K=RND* * AND P RI NT A T 1 , 1 " P RI NT A T 1 , 1 5 , " H I 5 5 E D . NE x T E G O TO 1 9 6 0 I F G . 1 4 5 THE N P AI NT AT 1. 5, 0 0 " Y O U 5ANK 1E30 I F A< = 4 THE N 1840 AND WO " I F F.1=5 PR IN T P T 1 5 , P AI NT Ac = 6 'THE N P R / N T 18E0 I F A N D A * = 1 0 THEN FRI t . 1 8 6 N 1 5 THE N LE T M=H+1 M8 7 0 I F 0 = I 4 5 0 THEN P RI NT AT CO D e1I T5( 800* (I2F) - 12 =s -41. 4 .,co D e U 1590 I F G =1 4 5 THE N P RI NT A T CODE T T 13 ( 6 , 2 ) - 2 6 + 4 , C O D E ( D 6 f 6 . 1 * - S ( D 51 + 2 , 1 2 1900 I F H = i e THEN P AI NT AT 2 0 , 2 0 -5 0 LI TN " J V 1T 9 1 0 I F 5 = 1 0 T H E N P R I N T A T 1 9 , 1 9 ;"1 1H - .9 2 0 I F G = - 1 5 0 T H E N L E T A S 4 F 0 u D30 I F 0 = 1 4 5 THE N LE T 6 $ ( A ) = ,I1E 0— u -N-9 4 0 L E T K = R N D . * * A N D * * R N D 1W9 5 0 G O T O 1 9 3 0 4 - 0 - 5 1L 9 6 0 P R I N T A T 2 1 , 0 , K $ ; A T 2 1 . 0 I v -E G O " N 1 970 D I M D S ( T H 1 =1 4 5 ' 91 95 00 FLO TR G 13 6 = 1 TO S 5 , 000 LE T DI t(8 , I 1 =c HP $ L I N T ( R N E , 2L = lo 4.3a) VD1). .2 5 010 L E T E , . $ 6 , 2 1 = C H R * I I N T tr oNV t. 10)4-2.5 4 2020 FOR p = 1 T o 1 0 1030 I F 2 c , ,21 0 040 NEXT A s 0m5 0) =P 6R $I NA T A T 1 , 1 = , 2 .-T2 0 5 ' H P R IE N T A T C O D E 4.C6DE ( D $ ( 6 , 1 * ) - S 8 4 - 2 , N 2 - *0 6 0 P R I N T A T 1 , 1 6 , 8 G O EEXDT . 6 t 0t" 7i 0s S 2 N + T 0, . 50 OP R I N T A T 1 7 , 0 , -2 0 9 0 G O T O 1 6 5 0 1 ,2 1D 0$0 t S A V E " E i A T T L E , F , H / P I P 62 1 1 0 G O T O I - " SINCLAIR USER O ct o b e r 1982 33 10 P R I N T " I N P U T Y E A R , H O N T H NO D A Y " 20 I NP UT AS 30 I NP UT 5 40 I NP UT C 50 LE T A=V RL A $ ( 3 TO 4 ) SO L E T A = R t i - / N T ( A e 4 ) + C 70 I F I N T ( V R L A g e LE - T A=A+4 80 I F / N T ( V AL A$ e 1 0 0 ) = I S THE N 1 T0 0A )= = 1 27 LE A4 g T 0 IHF VE R L N A $ / 4 = / N T ( V R L R $ • A N D- 5 < = 2 T H E N L E T A = A - 1 100 L E T A $ = " 1 4 4 0 2 5 0 3 5 1 4 5 " ) L E T A= R4 V AL A$(15) 1 41 0 120 L E T R=R, r 7 130 L E T A = A - I N T A 1 4 0 L E T A=Ri 1 . 7 150 LE T R$="SATSUNHONTUEUEDTHUF PI " 180 P RI NT A T 1 0 , 1 0 , A$ ( 1 4 - A* 3 TO 1 4 - A* 3 4 - 2 ) wizards, w e have a quick E method of calculating the day ,on which people were born. No tongue of toad required. O Input the date — anything from R 1752 to 1999 - and the computer A will display the day of the week on which that date fell. L L Calendar is the neatest program we have h ad o n thi s subject, w submitted by William Mitchell of iWelton. L i n c o l n , f o r t h e tunexpanded Z X - 8 1 . T h programming is well worth close e c examination. h e ;•••; s 1 L E T H=ta 5 L E T C =. 0 20 P R I N T ' D O YOU RE A D T H E M A N U A L w 30 I N P U T U $ THEN L E T C=C4-(RND 4 0 I F U t =a" V ?* 6 ) t 1 ( Y 4 5 I F U $ =r " Y " T H E N L E T H = 3 50 P R I N T " D O YOU E UY A S P ANNE R /l N( ) 5 5 I N P U T 0 $ 6 0 I F 0 $ =o" Y " THEN L E T C=C4-(RND "Y +5)+1 THEN L E T M = M f 2 / 65 I F 0 $ c 6 7 I F 1 D) - 5 T H E N G O T O I S O N 70 P RI NT k "00 YOU S / NK A TREBLE ) G I N7 (1e/ N) 8 0 I N P U T svs g0 I F QS = • • • • THEN L E T C=C4-(RN0 *4)4-1 a 100 I F V $ = " Y " THEN L E T M=1 1 1 0 P R I N T n" I T I S A TREMBLER 5 U I T C H . W I P E 1 T O -" , 8 - H 112 LE T Rm d I N T 1( 4R- N1 O * 8 - M ) + 1 CALENINR .•:•; • 34 room, your watch a t th e y repairers, and you discover a time bomb in the cellars. You have O minutes to defuse it. Ueight You have a choice of different Aactions, each of which will take Rdifferent lengths of time and give Eyou greater chances of survival. aFirst, you can study a Bomb Disposal manual. That takes one to l six minutes but gives you a greater oability to narrow the choice of wires nto snip. Second, you can spend one to five minutes looking for a spanner. eYou will have some advantage from i that. Last, quickest and least useful, nyou can try a treble gin. An interesting idea though i t ysuffers from the limitations of all opurely random games. Perhaps our ureaders can introduce a little skill into the routine. r Submitted b y Ti m Grubb o f l Leicestershire for the 1K ZX-81. i v i n g 115 130 ' I NP UT I F R=V THEN P RI NT RT 5 140 I F R. -1. ' W R O N G U / R E " . 2 f fi E W ' 01 T H E N 150 I F C:•0 THE N P P / NT A T TM/PH E R I S I U NP . . . T I C K g i P P I N " 5T DA I T S1 0 P, O4 i S E D " 4• " 7 / - V 10, 10. ; ••• 1 0 , 5 ........ , IIOAtII INSPIONMA SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1982 MICROWARE L- A U ' from J.K. A GREVE S O F T W A R E LTD int_ I L 7 L s t u i _ ,•uf w r i t K L $ 'Lou_ / 0 7 E 1 / 2 Retail shop in LEICESTER for SINCL AIR comput er accessories On 1st October we ark moving to' 12 S I . PET ER 'S L AN E. LEI C ESTER (clOidt to Clock Towe r Es a rge Cat Pa cks. Easy reach of Railway Stetson S A E for Catalogue Et M ap. OPENING SOON M I C R O W A R E OF MANCHESTERI The tam REAL shop T u c N C I S r C N C r t r i T t r o N C o l C T I ' u r i c Lon, Ic l E " With o u t t o d a y " J . N . R O W L A N D P r oduct Manager fur W . H. S M I T H . q GARIESTAPE u e 1 te r1 k m a y CLIII s 10t Ga i om e s in c l AST ER O I D S. U F O C O D E , SOM BER GUILLOTINE, I(ALEIDESCOPE, e tc n PROBABLY THE M S T VALU E la TAPE AVAI LABLE. t h We've done in lk, games wh irh some o f our competitors reouire 16k to Opt e GAMIEST API 2 for I RK o r g y CLIO fi • STARHOHTER Supe rb machine code Spa ce Ba ttle S e t n e a ge i explopons t you can hit the enemy! s t PYR e ir AM I D Cain you move the Pyramid? M ake a mistake and it will co lle m a AI I M ST The ultine te Graphac Desagners ard 8 CarectiOna 1 0 u bMemories. SAVE. COPY, RUBOUT C LS, etc a -a l A a T h a n c c GAM EST APE 3 he TIPS k e gr * r e y I NAS h •C ATAC OM BS A M u lt kgi Level a Gra phics Adve nture E a ch ca r contain u p to 9g mRooms. e 8 Passages, 7 Monsters, i evei Food, Gold, Tra ps, Pha ntoms a n Exit I t o the ne a t le ve ll, r and there's an infinite number of n NOTE. , T h e aa N OT oone ofsevers the necesaaniv 'muted te xt u e Adventures as sold eleirweere 4 'An eeesaenr eddictrve ganme M u ch mot0 ke e p yo u amused c Of 0 d o o ,0 4 f GAM ESTAPE 4 for I SK o n l y EL M d 0 •313 h M ON ST ER M AZ E T h e Ga m e t o T o p A l l Othe rs Unbeire,abre Graphics! Ca n you find your wa y through the m e , M a ze The E X I T . there somewhere. but than so is a I e lEx, 5 n and it s a fte r YO U g k ,towards A l l you i .nn full perspecievell, yOu've never teen anything C like before l this a 3 0 '3 0 M ONSTER M AZE is the be st game 0 ha ve se e r O ,i ( OW t h e mM ,L t o t t h e n T . R to ;m o m s on oudoente me t the capebtkoes 01 ,g btogratnene P ts.0 la choose N st one e "rf) the ZOP, the n J K Gre ve E 's 3XD M ONSTER M AZE would be the one oe hout doubt U EX COMPUTING - C s w i s T O tl E ke t a n t , l M a GAN E tI ESTAPEElor w i l l a n 111K t a l y EC M a c o t n P R 0 DEFENDER ru b n i b e nT ht er Ultima v •3 ate Spa l ce Ga me Su p e r Past U Michele 3D nereron o f the Arca de favourite, You have E • Code s . . y your home planet lT a to t Oise ,rfrom the rryaroading Ale n SIAlicecreft P O P This a l l in 3 0 yo u r vererscreen shows you the we w out E w u fighters t i Vof your cockpat window u T h e backdrop moves when R Iyou turn. i A or Ply up or down (8 flight diaectronst. r n l Dwere b YOU AR E u s t Rreally a $flyingi tt't But tthen y V will lectuelhr zoom towa rd, you in 3 0 . e nd shoot yOu if you le t the m Tu(h e a E,oincludes 1 . E 4n 1e mh y ld ,S YaPo uScore *e H O uc r c. Shie r Strength sAIs W Aretucle Pronmary, c o r d Radar end your Vit 1 WI shows your rotating home plainer. ba ckdrop o f Sta rs. M e te ors. Emplosions. b G,which D t Plaine , Sleets yo u r Photon Beams, u p to 4 Enemy Saucers end o f course its ati M0 E A l tjli u . 1A1SM ASH out e t the ZX O n M icr o * , boost ot the othe r softwa re hawses wa rde d • 1 0 6 . 1 e M ,E copy), a gams not to be G nm e w l ' the North We st tor SINCLAIR COM PUTERS. 0 A ; W t r V t i t "ALI EN C O M M A N D " (16K) Ver y exciting, fast Et challenging. If you have tried Missile Command or Space Invaders you will like this game even morel Features brilliant User-Definable graphics Et gives REAL arcade type displays. Very good sound effects Et colour...OS.50 ' ' B A C K G A M M O N ' 116K) Play against your micro in this version of the popular board game. £ 5 . 5 0 Both games available fr om shops or by mall order fr om LEI CESTER Br anch. 0 A SOFTWARE WRITERS: Good original software required for SPECTRUM Et DRAGON. Excellent royalties paid. TRADE ENQUIRIES T a i t 0.111111,1 S Check wit h Leicester Branch f or opening details • • • Keyboards, Ram Packs, I / O Ports. G/Roms, Light Pens, Sound Boxes • • • Games. Home/Business, Serious. Educational Programs, Books and Magazines ALSO - Now Stocking NEW DRAGON 32 + hardware Et software. AND Books and Software for BBC and VI C 20. S P E C/ AL MI CRO W ARE SOFTWARE for SPECTRUM " MICROWARE WELCOME 131 ME LTO N RO AD O p e n : 9.30-12.00 LEICESTER 1 2 . 3 0 - 5 . 3 0 Tel: 0533 681812 C l o s e d Thursday MICROWARE Spectrum MONITOR MACHINECODEDEBLIGIDISASSEMBLER H 4 . , c o d e p,r ,y r aoo £1.50 • CE 3 , 1 0 1 3 ( 1 b l e o a t h B a s i c •ereakpontsEt Registers DeCiltry •ise re m b ly to Screenaf14:110.ZX Printer ItNarnhei converter a t e s r Cecikilas •1RK arid 485 versions on one CaSilette • 30pa9e Manual EDITINIASSEM BLERa va ila ble , ' , KW , A 4KtoliSK E5.70 in MOREPOWERTOYOURSCREEN SCREENKIT11 A i M o n l y M OS n GAM E STAPE S for 1K E g * BR EAKOU T Super Fa st Full Scre e n Displa y Ga me Yo u r S al. time Favourite with art added twist Se e how much MOnet ,you ca n win e nd we lch the pounds conve rt t o Dollars A l l in Machine Code for Fest Actron with I Screeds. 2 Ba t Size s end three angles of reboondl The be st BR EAKOU T around mod at the price you can't g0 wrong! f mall your BASIC ProgrdnIS K l a n sal S te a nr e he r e on serge ,4directions W M and !MEM M E OF Wleitt R D R or•roo'hoce : VMS* . A$ MCO AM M i n Fr t ,aINPUT s i rM r IaAa M a St SAVE e Double Speed , 1+1 n e w o o d e tea INSTANT RESPONSE e a , con MACHINECODEOEBUGIMONITOR COM P UTE FREEDOM FROM BAS IC tnr m il,. • , d e anagyarnmera sarade G AME S M A R K E D • I N C L. M A C H I N E CO DE . Prices include V AT and U. K. P. & P. (Add appropriate Postage on Foreign Orders). Cheques/P.0.5 to £1.50 J.K. G R E V E S O F T W A R E LTD 16 Br e ndon Cl ose, O l dl a nd Com m on, Br i stol BS 1 5 6 0 1 CREDI T CARD SALES: Phone - 0 1 9FOR 3 I0NS TANT DESPATCH 9 2 3 2 If you prefer to see bef Ore buying. our range of GAM ESTAPE S ( 9 are ste tte d by the following stores 3 7 4 A Streatham alagh Rd . London SW1 6 a BUFFER M I CROSHOP_ GA M E R . . . _ _ 2 4 Gloucester A d.. B r ighton, m GEORGES 1 3 9 Park Sit,, Elostral. Avon, M I C R O srvii 2 9 Belvedere, Lansdown Rd . Bath, Avon, - m ice o w AR E 1 3 1 Melton Rd , Lercester, 1. 4 4 5 1 Georges Rd.. Cheltenham, Glos, p SCREEN . SC EN mE W H SM I T H O V e l 200 Computer Branches. ) ZE OX TR A S S chool Lane, KinsOn. S our ne r nOuth D or s e t TR ADO& EXPORT ENQUI RI ES WELCOME SINCLAIR USER O c t obe r 1982 ENTER, RUN. OEBUG macninio code SAVE. LOAD, VERIFY AT double speed BRE AKPOINS end REGISTERS DISPLAY Se lf compiled Cannot be used with &sac Cassette plus M a me Manuel MACHINECODEENTRYIDERUG A laCdliV ENTER RUN. DEBUG machine code Instantly CREATE A REM LINE °te rry length M Compete% yeln Basic Swoch between Program ElREMLOAD screen d r M £6.95 , Registers display p 1 4 y% f u e r t a n n i n O t s 11: a i d I 6CORKSCREW HILL WEST WICKHAM, KENT 1 , au o ri • , S a m , V o n . , 1 1 9 1 t o 6 5 4 meicipier orty 1 4 daysdelYerf N 1 4 . S A 1ro tur se sAl tie 35 B E AT THIS 11 11 1 P The 1 ultimate FOR ZX81 1 6 K E1 0 0 PR I Z E to the fi rst person to win tw o games agains t highest level of play. I e n cl o se ch e q u e P / 0 I f o r £6.95 including VAT. p & p payable to Understanding L i mi te d Name Address Full details w i th game I M I C R O - C O M P U T E R SERVI CES he Produc t ion Village 100 Cr i c k l e wo o d L a n e L o n d o n NW2 2 DS _J A l l o w 14 d a y s deliv ery . L I U N D E R S T A N by DALE HUBBARD D I Fed up w ith boring games — mak e y our ZXE31 w or k f or y ou! N The one you've been waiting fo r!! G Cassette based LClear "menu" operation I Facilities include sort, search, list, delete, change, total numeric field, save and load file, line print, etc. MComplete with demonstration file and full instruction/application leaflet. I Requires 16K Ram pack. Applications: Recipe file T Stamp/coin collections E Inventory Control Employee Data D Record Collections Magazine article catalogue May be used for any application where fast access is required to stored information SINCLAIR ZX 81 (16K) DATABASE FILING SYSTEM Access accepted Send cheque or P.O. or credit card number to: GEMIN I M A R K E TIN G LTD . 9 Solartron R oa d, Ex m outh, D e v on EX8 2BR. OR telephone us with your credit card order on Exmouth (03952) 5832 DESPATCH BY RETURN ONLY E5.95 FULLY INCLUSIVE! %t;b• o c• 6 - 0 Ne 1 < (..., cP < 0 r 0 , 9 SI NCLAI RUSER ( ) ( tuber 1982 7 ( 0 - 36 tape storage orchestra will be almost as loud as if you were at the front, without you making any adjustments — background noise will be more noticeable. ALC circuits are designed for voice and music: some ALC circuits never have the recording level absolutely correct and 'fiddle' with it all the time when computer signals are used. Technically, the ALC control loop hunts. That produces a tape with fluctuating volume which may be difficult or impossible to load. You cannot blame the manufacturer of either the tape recorder or the computer — they ar e not compatible. That kind of behaviour is not correlated with price or quality; the problem cannot be solved — use a different recorder. Detection is not easy — an oscilloscope can be used by the technically-minded; otherwise use a recorder known to be suitable. Dirty heads can be a problem. Various cleaning tapes and fluids are marketed. Rath er shamefacedly, we must confess to doing no more t h a n gi vi ng h ead s a n occasional wipe with a dry handkerown programs but not anyone else's. chief before they become caked. Some machines will work with To use a tape recorder with programs from different sources it is imperative that the gap be very close to true vertical. This problem can be solved by having the head gap angle adjusted correctly. The way to set up a gap is to measure the output from a special test tape with an audio voltmeter, adjusting the head for best output. That is called azimuth alignment. Many tape re- batteries but not SAVE loadable corders — including, surprisingly, programs wh en running from some very expensive hi-fi machines mains. Those machines may also — have poorly-aligned heads. That produce audible hum. Batteries, of will cause some loss of treble, which course, gradually drop in voltage may not be noticed on a machine with deleterious effect on tape with a cheap loudspeaker, wi th speed and signal level. Solutions are audio signals; it may cause a com- to use reasonably fresh batteries puter signal to fail to load entirely. only, or use machines which operate Almost all cheap mono portables reliably from the mains. Machines wi th stereo heads have an automatic level control circuit. T h a t ci rcui t sets th e should not, in general, be used. I f recording level to give a reasonable they must be used, use single track, output level for a very wide range of rather than two-track-in-parallel inputs. If you record a concert from mono mode. Stereo machines have continued on page 38 near the back seat, the sound of the Mike Salem considers the problems of keeping information on cassettes Finding better ways of storing on tape microcomputers i s fraught T with difficulties. All can be overcome, so that reliable loading R and saving become routine. T h e E tape storage and retrieval systems U of all microcomputers are designed S with mono portabl e cassette recorders in mind Wh at are the E problems, why do they occur, and o how can they be solved? f The metal head of a tape recorder thas an almost invisible vertical gap ain its structure. The gap is what magnetises the tape, when recordp ing, and picks up the signal — when eplaying back. The gap should be rtruly vertical to allow interchangeeability of tapes. If tapes were always to be played cback on the recorder on which they owere made, it would be necessary ronly for the gap to be in the same orientation for both recording and dplayback. This would always be so if ethe head was never re-aligned. That ris why many people can load their s SINCLAIR USER O c t obe r 1982 w i 'The systems are designed with mono portable cassette recorders in mind' 3 7 continued f rom page 37 two head gaps, which should be aligned vertically. If the gaps are offset by a few micrometres relative to each other, the effect in mono mode is similar to a head with poor azimuth alignment. As stereo head gap offset is not a figure which is specified by manufacturers — it is irrelevant to stereo operation — not even the best recorders can be guaranteed free of this problem. Head wear can be a significant problem. It can even be significant in a machine used heavily for computing only. On machines muchused for general purposes, head wear should be watched for. The symptoms occur gradually and may be missed. Performance d e t e r i o r a t e s gradually. Bad head wear can be seen — the working part of the head becomes visibly concave, instead of Once you have a suitable tape recorder, you should be able to SAVE and LOAD your tapes without trouble. If you always use the same brand of tape. recorder and computer. you should always be able to work at the same volume control setting when loading — volume control setting is ignored by all tape recorders with ALC when SAVEing. Loading other people's tapes is more of a problem, due to differing recording l evel s, q u al i ty o f machines and azimuth alignment. The level-setting problem is easily solved b y u si n g a su i tab l e monitoring device. An ordinary AC voltmeter can be used but is not ideal. A purpose-designed loading aid is available from Hilderbay Ltd. If it is desperately important to load a tape, it is possible to mis-align your head azimuth temporarily to match the bad tape. but do not forget to put 'Loading other people's tapes is more of a problem, due to differing recording levels, machine quality and azimuth alignment'. following the convex curvature of the rest of the head. In some cases — Z X ticular — program corruption may occur: that is worse than straight8 1 i failure n forward to load, as it may be p a and r -corrupted versions of missed, the program s a n d d a t a c a n gradually replace out-of-date, but correct, versions. If you are technically-minded. you may be able to buy, for about E3, a replacement head. Otherwise i t may be more cost-effective to buy a new recorder. Keep it for computing only, which will prolong head life. It is worth noting that head wear shows o n cassettes wi th foam rubber — usually dark — pressure pads long before it affects the use of cassettes with felt — usually lightcoloured — pressure pads. What you may gain on the swings you lose on the roundabouts. Of course, felt pressure pads wear heads faster than foam ones. Nonetheless, we prefer felt. 36 it back the way it should be. A final trick which has been known to work with tapes with a good deal of hum is to use a machine with a poor bass response. The cheaper machines are better at that. Standard audio tape o f good quality is satisfactory. Only uniformity and adherence of coating matter — noise, frequency response are unimportant. The shorter the better. all else being equal. TDK D-C46 is good. A few comments on the use of tape recorders and tape: • If you can save and load your own tapes but cannot load anyone else's, your recorder is probably of a satisfactory type but is in need of azimuth adjustment. • If you can load other people's tapes but not your own, your recorder is probably unsuitable. • If the volume setting is exceedingly critical you might find it worth trying another recorder. A loading aid will be very useful. • If performance deteriorates, or is not so good as you know your make of recorder to be capable of, the head may be worn. • Always re-wind tapes to keep the fragile magnetic coating out of harm's way. • Do not use the first and last 1.0 seconds of the magnetised part of each tape. It is far less reliable than the rest of the tape. • The best tape for critical applications is one of good make which you have used successfully once or twice. • Keep tapes away from magnetic fields — motors, transformers, magnets. That holds in particular when travelling by train. Problems rarely seem to happen in the post. Airport X-rays are probably not a serious problem — we do not know for sure. • If you cannot save and load tapes with the certain knowledge that you can load them next time, you are not getting as much from your equipment as you should. How to choose a tape recorder. First, the tape recorder must be suitable for computer use. This feature can only be tested, never predicted from a specification. If the machine is suitable, some useful features are: m ains operation; a ta p e counter; cue and review facility — machine plays squeakily in fast forward and re-wind modes; useful for locating programs. analysing dropouts; i t should not have a tone control — most better-quality machines have a tone control; keep it set to its maximum position. Some frills found on a few fairly expensive machines ar e manual level control instead of, o r i n addition to, ALC: a limiter circuit in addition to manual and automatic level control; a recording level meter — very useful — mainly as a sure indicator that the signal is getting through leads and connectors to the tape recorder: variable speed playback. SINCLAIR USER O c tober 1 9 8 2 PET MAKE AMAZING SOUND EFFECTS WITH YOUR ZX-81 THEPROGRAME NE H EN TH 2A XN 8C 1E (1M 6K )TPACKAGEFOR A s u i t e o f e a s y t o u s e m a c h i n e c o d e r o u t in e s d e s i g n e d IIDEFINEDSCROLLREGION1linetowholescreen •CHANG EB K G R O U NO D••C H A N G E FR OE R E GROUND •IN VA EC R S E V ID E FL A S H S C E N to t rans f orm y our Basic programs . • SCROLL u p or d o wn • FILL SCREEN any character E25.95 THE ZON X-81 • CLEAR SCREEN wit hout c hanging print pos it ion Supplied o n t ape wit h a 6K DEMO PROGRAM and a FULL ins t ruc t ion book let ONLY E5.95 Incl. p & Inc p&p & VAT SEND T O SOFTWARE The ZON X•81 SOUND UNIT is completely sett-contained and especially designed for use with the ZX431 II just plugs in— no dismantling or soldering Na power pock, banenes leads or Other extras Manual Volume Control on panel - ample volume from built-in loudspeaker Standard iX-131 - 16K Rampock or printer can be plugged into ZON X -Huge range of possible sounds fOl games or Music. 8I Helicopters. Sci-Fi Space Invaders: Explosions. Gun-shots, Drums. S o Planes las ers Organs Bells. Tunes. Chords etc o r whatever you devise u n ,Uses 3 d volume at tones and noise, all with envelope control. -U cnEasily h a nadded to existing games or programmes using a lev,, simple BASIC lines n i et l FULL sinstructions with many examples of how to obtain effects and the o w programmes. supplied Fully Guaranteed u n i t d h co h u it p a g f if ve SEEN IN THE 4TH ZX-MICROFAIR AS ic n • 3D SPACEtg BATTLE Superior Machine programming. Incredible i complex 3D graphics: Alien Spaceships, Explosions, super fast and p n Destroy as many Alien Spaceships as you can and Laser beams. rg avoid their laser beams while you have energy. Full 8 direction flight control wi t hon jus t 3 keys. Th e screen is y our wi n d o w ov er an g unlimited Universe background, and t he enemy spaceships and o laser beams rcome to you in full 3D. r a m m a • ORCHESTRA. The ZX81 plays your favourite melodies wit hout m l don't need to know playing any instrument; just enter add ans. You e a sequence Zof note names and durations. Stores up t o 3,000 note melodies oncX cassette. Full edit ing capabilities. Us er re-defi nable o music notation. Perfectly t uned on A440. Allows s ound ov er 3 octaves wi tn8h s emit ones and pauses. Sounds t hrough t he T V speaker or an t1 amplifi er connected to the MI C output of the ZX81. ro Only E4•95 each (including airmail). Send cash, cheque or money o o r d e r . P a yp a b l e t o J o s e p le number Pleas e a l l o w u p t o 1 4 day s t ot -Access/Barclaycard o delivery. rT o Oriol m a s fa o r p t q ii o Fas tt and ecomplex t rue 161( ZX81 mac hine c ode Comingu soon: arcade games. to Spec t rum versions. SAE for details. cn h . NEWEXPLOSIVE ZX81 (16K) PROGRAMS ATTENTO I NZXSUPPLIERS:Weareinterestedinacquirng licensing rights to translate and market your ZX software in Spain (this is also the best way to protect y our copyright), we are also interested i n dis t ribut ing Z X hardware a n d book s . Samples welcome. V E NTAMATI C PAI CRO-I NFORMATI CA I osep•O rico! Tomas, Director A wda. de Rhode, No. 253 R o&ls (G econal. Spain SLNCLAIR USER O c t obe r 1982 & 34 B OU R TON R OA D GLoucesTER Gos ot S P E CTRUM V E R S ION N O W A V A ILA B LE ON L Y E3 7 5 GOL F l e k l A I . I fe a tu r e g a m e fo r I o r 2 play er s 9 o r 1 9 h o l e COUrSe t o te s t y o u r s k i l l FanIS S fi c f u l l s c r e e n g r a p h i c s w i t h r o u g h , b u n k e r s , tr e e s , w a t e r haz ar ds , fa i r w a y a n d t h e g r e e n ON LY L3.75 l I MINEFIELD ISE O w d e y o u r r a n k t o s a fe ty H i d d e r . m i n e r ' w i l l e x p l o d e o n c Oo ta c t s o i l s e n d y o u b a c k t o th e s ta r t W i t h o r o i nine by es l o p l a y w r th y o u m u s t r e m e m b e r y o u r m u l e s o te r BOMBER MEI D e s tr o y t h e e n e m y c i ty i n t h i s a l l aCtiOn m a c h i n e c o d e g a m e B e w a r e t h e c l u e s d e f e n d e r s fi g h t b a c k C o m p l e te w i t h h i g h s c or e fe a tu r , 16K GAMES oGOBIBLERS PUCKMAN FOR 16K ZKEll B E A TB TLH A TO HS IG H SC ORE! G O B E T H E D O T S B E FO R ET H O SY EO M ER AO NIE S G O B B L E Y O U I U N L Y A I D E S A R E F O U R P " O W E R P IL LN S M E A IE SLE DN IBG LE .BUT N O T F O R O ! -FASTACTION ••E M A C H N I E C O D E D F O R XT R A "G O B B L ER RIN "F OR10,000POINTS ••O N S C R E E N S C O G W HU IG H S4C O H"EN TERNAME"FACILITY S PT O P LR AE YW ERITS H ANANNOYINGLYFRUSTRAT INGIGAMEFORONLYE5.95 C H M A K MAILORDERONLY-PLEASEMA EKECHEQUE/POPAYABLETO 5 T F H 0ASTER I1DS FO R IOW Z X81 S TA Y A L I V E A S L O N G A S P OS S IB LE I N OP E N SPACE F I L L E D W I T H F L Y I N G R OC K S . S CORE B Y S H O O T I N G TH E M W H I C H A LS O CAUS E S TH E M T O B R E A K I N T O LOTS OF L I T T L E B ITS A N D M A K E S L IFE E V E N WOR S E , ' • x t R A SHIP FOi l 1,000 P IS • FIRE S IN A LL M OT AS EASY AS I T DIRE CTIONS , FAST A C TION S OUNOS II • INCRE AS ING NUM BE R OCIN SCREEN S CORING M OF A S TE ROIDS • H I G H SCOPE WITH • S HIP MOVES JUS T LIK E A 'E NTE R NAM E ' FA C ILITY ARCADE V E RS ION " ' THRE E A S TE R OID W E L • R O T A T E LE E V R OTA IE • 1 4 A S TY ' A LIE N SPACE •Cu p TO a P LA Y E RS R iGH Te IH R us T SHIP IFIRE S IIA CK • I H I N E C O D E D F O R THIS GAME IS JUST AS BAD — AND ONLY E5.95 AN OFFER FOR REAL MASOCHISTS-BOTH TAPES FOR E9.95 THE SOFTWARE FARM Great games packs for 16K V a l EXPLORI NG S P E CTRUM BASI C Mik e Lord's lates t book tak es t he reader bey ond the S in c la ir Ma n u a l. I t c o n t a in s a w e a l t h o f programs a n d ex planations o f S pec t rum B A S I C programming tec hniques . Topic s inc lude writ in g games p r o g r a m s , p e r s o n a l , b u s i n e s s a n d engineering applic at ions , a n d u t ilit y programs . Wort h far more than E 4 . 9 5 THE EXPLORERS GUI DE TO THE ZXEll Mik e L o r d ' s a c c la ime d b o o k f o r t h e Z ) ( 8 1 enthusiast. Inc ludes games, business, engineering and u t ilit y p ro g ra ms f o r b o t h 1 K a n d 1 6 K machines, an int roduc t ion t o Mac hine Language. wit h a lis t o f us eful RO M routines , hint s & t ips , and h a rd wa re n o t e s in c lu d in g R A M a n d I / O circuits " o f t he greates t v a lu e " I ZX Co mp u t in g rev iewl £ 4 . 9 5 MAS TE RI NG MACHI NE CODE ON YOUR ZX81 By Toni Bak er: 1 8 0 pages o f immens e v alue t o beginner and expert alike E 7 . 5 0 All prices include UK, P & P n o VAT on books. Overseas customers add E1. 50 carriage per order. TIM E D A TA Ltd. Dept H 57 S wa llo wd a le , B as ildon, Es s e• 5 S 1 6 5J G Tel: (0 2 6 8 I 4 1 1 1 2 5 ( M o n - Fr i l -_,---------_,-; \ , ' TAITIEDAELI PACK 1 AS T RO -I NV ADE RS Just look at these features then look at the price! •Superior machine code programming •Rapid-fi ring with explosive onscreen kill effect •iiigh•s c oring saucers 8 5 4 aliens eaccetetating attack •Des truc table defence shields • O n screen kill count * High score update • a s t action space graphics - a new dimension in lX81 view, Astro-Invaders is yours on cassette Fol ONLY £3.66 with FOUR BO NUS GAMES: A RCA DE G RA ND - PRIX d r i v e four levels of machine code skill PENALTY d e f e n d your goal against the sharp-shooting M i t GOLF - iudge your shot strength, angles, bunkers. plus machine code insect fun with S WA T PACK 2 PLANET DE FE NDE R — blast aliens in planet orbit eultra-dynamic machine code action • o s t i l e alien-waves * las t responsive controls; ship up/ down, thrust, laser -bolt, and smart bomb ecomprehensive scoring Ibexplosive graphics • e x p l o s i v e pric Planet Defender comes on cassettes for O NLY C3.66 wit h mac hine code S TO RM through space. B RE A K O UT (machine code) r a c e against the clock, plus -GRAPHIC HANG MAN. FI G HT 16K 2X81 cassette packs l and 2 are 13•66 each (post free in U.K.I. Fast E RS despatch from John Prince c o 29 Brook Avenue, Levenshulme, m b Manchester M19 a t 5 fl e e t s o f s w o o p i n g a l i e n s a O L D N E W 81 SPEC TR U M s PROGRAM y Chess 1.4 1 0 00 8 . 9 5 o 10 levels m,c u b Adventure 1 0 . 0 0 8 9 5 9 9 5 l a 140 focations based o n th e original s (At CIO 00 well worth th e money t Sinclair User Issue 2 review) A; 7ZX81 &Games Spectrum R S 1 F T N 7 MAESAFALLEN, BOW ST, O M ° , SV24 SBA F T P i f 2X81 ADV E NTURE SPECI ALI STS C2: VOLCANI C DUNG E O N/ HANG MAN £ 4 . 5 0 C.RNIEL S O Al V O LCA NI C DUNGEON Res c ue if you can the Elfin Princess. Mythical monsters, prts, fiery caverns, diminishing strength and water make your quest anything but easy. FULL 16K PROGRAM * * S A V E GAME ROUTINE * * S I NG LE KEY ENTRY * "Volcanic Dungeon is terrifi c value and I would recommend it to any one 13/ HA NG MA - N: Debut v ers ion o f t he classic game. Play agains t a n opponent or the computer's 400 word vocabulary. Good graphics. C3: ALI EN MI NTRUDER/ HI EROGLYPHI CS M O O Al A L I E N INTRUDER! r You awaken to find you are the only survivor on the Explorer s Class 3 Starship. Can you escape before you also fall victim to the Alien monstrosity that devoured the crew? There are many ways to end thisT adventure but only one way to survive! hFULL 16K PROGRAM * * I NTERACTI VE GRAPHICS * * S A V E GAME ROUTINE * * o B) HEIROGLYPHICS Dec ode the ancient 39 symbol alphabet in time to m save the famous explorer. "Wullie Make'!" from a sandy grave. a 16K PROGRAM * * A NI MA TE D GRAPHIC DISPLAY FULL * RANDOM CODE * s C4: WUMP US ADV E NTURE / MO V I E MO G UL M O O C A) W U M P U S ADVENTURE FOR 1 TO 4 PLAYERS: Seek the famous creatureo in t he mos t dangerous VVumpus hunt ever. A ll t he usual featuresr are there! SUPERBATS * P I TS * TRE MO RS * S W A MP S * MA G I C ARROWS n PLUS Exciting new features EVIL GOBLINS that will try to sacrifice you w to the Wumpus. * G I AaNT SERPENTS * W U M P U S MUCK * MAGIC SPRINGS * FULL 16K PROGRAM * R A N D O M Et PRESET CAVE PATTERNS l * * Y Ol U CONTROL THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY * * G RE A T FUN FOR YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS * Of MO V I E MOGUL: Guide your fi lm through the often hilarious traumas of production. Us e VOW budget wis ely and y ou may make a fortune. Success depends on many factors and not lust luck. FULL 16K PROGRAM * * ORDERS P lu s 50p P&P or large S.A.E. f or lis t to:- C A R N E L L S O F T W A R E D I R E C T O R : - R. CARNELL S TAUNTO N ROAD, SLOUGH, BERKS. SL2 1NT The above are elan onanlable horn BUFFER MICROSHOP, STR EATH AM . LONDON 40 Now NEW LOW prices!!!! Invaders 5 _ 0 0 Fast m c arcade action 4 45 Mazeman 5 _ 0 0 4 4 5 All the features o f the original arcade version m c 4 . 9 5 •requires 48k Spectrum All prices are inclusive Return o f post service SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 256 * PEEK 16397 9120 FOR! = 0 to 792 9130 POKE D + I. PEEK (30000 + I) 9140 NEXT I Both these routines are slow but there is a machine code instruction called LDIR which is designed for moving blocks of data from one part of RAM to another. To use LDIR. the address to which the item is to be moved is put in the HL register pair. Then the address to which the item is to be moved is put into the DE register pair. Finally the number of bytes to be moved is put into the BC register pair and the LDIR instruction is invoked. The following routine uses LDIR to save the display file: Andrew Hewson How Dan sorts out different variables this month and answered them in I detail because I feel they will be Hof interest to everyone. A "1 wish to transfer the whole of Vwhat is on the display area t o a Edifferent area in memory, say a t s30000. and then recall it. How can I do so?" asks Kevin Kwantes o f eSwansea. l The first job is to move RAMTOP edown from 32768 to 30000 so that cthe copy of the display will not intert fere wit h t he functioning o f the eZX-81. To do this enter: POKE 16388, 48 d POKE 16389, 117 j CLS u A M I display normally consists of s33 x 24 x 1 = 793 characters. 33 of t which are the Newline character t (code 118). Hence a Basic routine wwhich transfers 7 9 3 bytes fr om o D-FILE onwards to 30.000 will save l the display. For example: 9010 LET D = PEEK 16396 + e 256 * PEEK 16397 t 9020 FOR I = 0 to 792 t e SNCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 r 9030 POKE 30000 + L PEEK (D + I) 9040 NEXT I When recovering a previous display a little more care must be taken because i f t he screen ha s be e n SCROLLed the display fi le will be less than the full size and so it is Decimal H e x O p 42 1 2 64 2 A OC 40 L D 17 4 8 1 1 7 1 1 3 0 7 5 L D 25 3 0 1 19 03 L D 237 176 E D BO L D I 201 C 9 R E T Code FEL, (D-FILE) DE. 30000 BC, 793 R With RAMTOP set at 30000 there is plenty of room to put the routine above RAMTOP. a t say 32000, by POKEing t he decimal codes int o each location in turn as follows: POKE 32000. 42 POKE 32001, 12 POKE 32002. 64 POKE 32003. 17 etc To execute the routine enter: RAND USR 32000 To recover the display file use this routine: s t 1-0 R A 1C1 .e 4e . 0 / 5 P P . )341 .1 r0)i I r1t 1. 4 21 e 7sl .t : i , •3"s40•.0 •R • R• a,?, • . •- s— P 06, , .. N1-01Pe P1 - 2 e 0 6 2 v e c l e ' 80 1 7 . . . . f t e F T Ef t ' 0 0 C t UI 1 5' .-- 3 r4- -0 __M / 1 • vitper,-, 1 Nt \ 6 t o 10,,„ 0 0 - ' _132 1, v- IIp•-A oL C P '' 134- 0 e 4 -C 1 4 0 i 1l t '1,S. 0 30_ _4. 4-mow%eer 7 wa te 1 2 0 - " c t . . A ' ,-.c-• r‘ ' • ' 0 0 ' . , nd, Dec imal H e x O py Code .'Pt 60 t3 o clearIipthea essential screen a t 205 4 2 1 0 C D 2A OA CeA L L CI S s1f t that a full-size hence0i1ensure display 33 4 8 117 2 1 30 75 L D 3 0 0 0 0 4 , s / s 5 e 1 b 'f o exists e r e r e c ov e r ing t h e , , c , 237 9 1 1 2 64ED 5B OC 40 I D DE, (D-F1LE) Ss e 3 4 1 2 5 3 0 1 19 03 L 'D BC. 793 previous yo .. T h e following T•I ce0cdis pla routine R bet9 used: ED BO LDIR 176 6i%occan e1 o t 237 RET C9 201 9100 CLS 6 00 pl 1 LED D =:.PEEKt16396 + c ont inued on page 42 9110 o e 2c ) • • 41 1t -t 1 4 1 2 :l .-, . %Mb continued from page 41 Notice th a t a call is made to the ROM r o u ti n e w h i c h c l e a r s t h e screen. The routine can be loaded immediately a fte r the save routine at 32012. Keith Francis of Stamford raises an interesting question. He asks: the ZX-81 uses two bytes to store line numbers, w h y i s 9 9 9 9 t h e largest line number permitted?" The question i s v e r y sensible. Each b yte contains eight b i ts a n d each bit can take two values giving 2le = 65536 arrangements of the 16 bits in the two bytes. Hence the two bytes could be used to represent any positive i n te g e r b e tw e e n 0 a n d 65535 i n cl u si ve . W h y l i m i t l i n e numbers to 9999? The reason is that by limiting i n this w a y and b y manipulating th e numeric codes f o r vari abl es th e Z.X-81 has a device fo r distinguishing lines in the program area from variables in the variables area. To understand the mechanism at work, consider the representation of 9999. Line numbers are held with their mo st si g n i fi ca n t b y te fi r s t, c o n tr a r y t o t h e u s u a l Z - 8 0 convention, so th a t l i n e n u mb e r 9999 is held as a byte containing 39 followed b y a byte containing 1 5 15 T I R Mt 9 5 1 Now look a t pages 172 to 174 o f the ZX - 8 1 B a s i c P r o g r a m m i n g manual a n d y o u w i l l s e e illustrations of the different types of variables as they are represented in the variables area. In each case the fi rst byte contains a numeric code related to the code of the letter; i n the case of a number whose name is longer th a n o n e l e tte r , th e fi r s t letter, which identifies the variable. The largest possible l e tte r code is 63. t h e c o d e f o r Z . w h i c h i s 00111111 i n b i n a r y , a n d t h e smallest is 38, the code for A. which is 00100110 in binary. Clearly, bits 7 and 6 are not needed when distinguishing between letter codes and bit 5 i s always set to one, so th e ZX-81 uses them to distinguish between t h e d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f variable, subtracting 20h, o r 32 i n decimal, f r o m th e l e tte r code i n three of the six cases. Three bits can be set in 23, or 8, different ways. The table lists the eight ways and their interpretation. Hi I pattern 000 001 Interpretation Line number less than 5192 Line number between 8192 and 9999 010 S t r i n g 011 N u m b e r with single character name 1 4 1 1;:t . 1 20 3 S e4 I N s e e 0 120 S 00 N , • ' R 13e S 0 sF Tz ER e 6' u* vs132 t e f6fi , ' 0T O 00 05 T t. 0 1 ? 0 0 - 0 P P Ito' 0 P 2i 1134 t- r e 14.0 iT . 5 •• V W , c 0t c1 - 53te H0 S e 1 -, . o m a' rCt t i k o e l tt 5 eIi, t : "1 2 Il 9 9 . Th e l 9 100 A r r a y of numbers because •15 -a 9 4 +'•3 e' 39*256 W a g e• r with multiple character 4 1 t , bit pattern of the- fi r_rst byte, obtained 101 N u m bname P s by c o n p v e r ti n g r3 1 9 t -o bCi n a r y , i s 110 C h a r a cvt e r array 00100111. N o ti ce t e th re e il l C o n t r o l variable for a ct h a tt th -p l FOR-NEXT loop i numbers most significant bits — bit m 0 p 7. 6 and 5 are set to 0, 0Cand 1 fo r I do not know - why Sinclair should 4 take such elaborate precautions to this, t hp e l a r g e s t p e r m ittte d l i n e f number. Hence bit -numbers t 7,6 and distinguish a l i n e number fr o m a I o the same purpose 5 o f the fi r s t byte o f all 4permitted variable because v set to 0,0 and 1, could be served line numbers t will be by comparing the s or in the byte in question to the o case o f line numbers less address of the 5 pointers. It allows D-FILE or VARS than 8192, they will be set to 0. 0, 0. ; 1 • e j n I 1 c ) X . : 1 42 the ZX-81 to use the same routine, at 2546 t o 2 5 7 6 , t o s t e p th r o u g h memory to th e " n e x t " line o r the "n e xt" va ri a b l e b u t th a t seems a small advantage. Perhaps i t is merely a hangover from th e ZX-80, because i n th a t machine the variables area follows immediately after the program area and so a device which "knows" from the contents of the byte that the end of th e program has been reached serves some purpose. If any reader has a more credible explanation. I should be interested to hear it. It is w o rth noting th a t while the ZX-81 p re ve n ts yo u entering l i n e numbers greater than 9999 from the keyboard, i f you manipulate the line numbers b y P O K E i n g t h e appropriate locations your program will s t i l l r u n , p ro vi d e d t h e l i n e numbers do not exceed 16383 as the follawing routine demonstrates: 10 LET I 1 0 0 0 0 20 SCROLL 30 PRINT I 40 POKE 16634, INT (I1256) 50 POKE 16635, 1-256*INT (I/256) 60 LETI=14- 1 9999 COTO 20 Line numbers 40 and 50 POKE the current value of I into the locations originally occupied by 9999. I f you run the program for a fe w cycles and then BREAK it you will see that 9999 h a s b e e n updated t o , sa y, A029 f o r I = 10029. C l e a rl y t h e ZX-81 does not decode line numbers greater than 9999 correctly but the result i s comprehensible i f y o u remember A f o l l o w s 9 i n t h e sequence of character codes. If you leave the program running for long enough i t w i l l stop when I = 16384 a n d a LISTing w i l l then omit the final line because the LIST command does not recognise it as a line. You can use this quirk to make programs "d i s a p p e a r " b y POKE 16509, 6 4 . S u c h " i n v i s i b l e " programs c a n b e S A V E d a n d LOADed as usual and w i l l RUN i f 16509 is reset to its original value. SINCLAIR USER O ct o b e r I 952 CUT-PRICE COMPANIONS "Far and away the best" Y o u r Computer magazine THE ZX81 CO M PANI O N by Bob Maunder is now available at ONLY £4.95 with a FREE SUPPLEMENT on the ZX Spectrum! This offer ends on 30 September, so hurry! LINSAC is also producing a SPECT RUM COM PANION series, and the first title. 'The Spectrum Games companion' is available from October at E5.95. The above prices include UK postage. Send cheques to: L1NSAC LINSAC (SU), 68 Barker Road, Middlesbrough TS5 5ES. ZX81/SPECTRUM A fantastic range of 16K games, each complete with fully comprehensive instructions from: M.C.-LOTHLORIEN. (incorporating M C . Associates and Lothlorien Compute r Group). 1. T Y R A N T OF ATHE NS . Can you survive long enough to turn Athens into the most feared state in the Mediterranean? Train troops, build airships, fight battles by land and sea against hostile Greek States and the vast Persian Empire. Many more features in this very addictive game. Price: Daill 14.95. S P E CTRUM E6.50 2. R O M A N EMPIRE. Your aim is to conquer the hostile countries surrounding Rome. Build armies, appoint Generals and fight campaigns_ This challenging game takes full account of morale, fighting efficiencies, leadership ability, etc. 3 levels of play. Price: 2X81 £5.96. Spectrum available November. 1 P E LO P O NNE S I AN WAR. Set in Ancient Greece from 431-404 BC, covering the Great War between Athens and Sparta Your goal is a final victory over the Spartans but you will need all your skill in a combination of diplomacy and military force before you even stand a chance. Price ZXBI only 15.95 3 levels of play. 4. S A M U R A I WARRI O R. How could you have fared as a Samurai in 13th Century Japan? Face challenges and bandits. Are you a survivor? Or will you be forced to commit ritual suicide? 7 levels of play. Price: D(81 15.95. Spectrum available November. 5. WA R L O R D . A challenging game of analytical skill, similar to Tyrant of Athens. Set in 13th Century Japan as a companion to Samurai Warrior. P r i c e : n ( 8 1 only. E4.95 SPECIAL OFFER: Buy 3 or more games and de duc t E2 from your total order. Cheques and PO's please, ma de payable to: !WC. LOTHORIE N, 4 Granby Road, Cheadle Hulme , Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 6LS SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1982 4 3 %Mu The June competition for Spectrum and printer attracted a high standard of entries. The prize was awarded to a design which strikes good balance between hardware and software MOS chip is used in winning EPROM blower contest number routine or perhaps that fast that th e theme fo r th i s com- screen display which can be calledA petition w a s a l i ttl e o u t o f up in a Basic program and executed Tcontext f o r a magazine su ch a s almost immediately. Any program or routine written in FSinclair User. On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that more main memory — o r RAM — is lost I and m o r e p r o g r a m m e r s a r e whenever the computer is switchedR introducing machine code into their off. To keep a permanent copy of a S programs whenever Basic becomes program we can either record it on Ttoo slow in execution. cassette o r backing store o r we S If w e look a t th e n e xt stage, a can co p y i t i n to a me mo ry c h i p Ilogical extension would be to keep a which keeps its contents intact even G permanent copy o f th a t useful re- after power has been removed. H T 1 0 0 P ' R T N T " W H A T R D D R E 5 5 I N T HE EPRO M" , 110 I N PU T Y i 120 R EM 7; M 5 5 N E E D T O B E R L O G I C 1 t 1 3 0 L E T Y =Y * 5 7 3 4 4 w PO KE I E „ — 2 5 6 *IN T t Y _fr o 1 S 0 P- O K E I B S / 5 / N T cr . . u 1 6 0 P2RS I6 N T " E N T E R N O O F - BYTES T O BE S E N T " l 2 170 INPUT H d 1 8 0 D /1 5 1 9 0 F O P C = 1 T O F4 s B 2 0 0 I N P U T P, (C e E iP R I N T B ( e ) 21 1 0 ) 24 2 0R N) E X T C e 230 FO R C = 1 T O f4 m 240 POKE ' B S I & „ t ,C) That type of memory chip is called a ROM, which stands for read-only memory. A n 8K R OM is used i n a ZX-81 to store the Basic interpreter and operating system. A disadvantage, s o f a r a s th e experimenter is concerned, w i th a ROM i s th a t once i t has been programmed i t is impossible to change. There is also available an erasable programmable read-only memory, or EPROM, w h i ch caters fo r such needs. That was the idea o f the competition, to design a n EPROM blower which could be produced cheaply. work on a LX-61 and allow the other Sinclair peripherals, su ch a s th e 16K memory and printer, to be used with it. The response w a s ve ry favourable and illustrated the wide variety of backgrounds o f readers. I t was most encouraging t o se e e n tri e s from sch o o l p u p i l s w i t h l i m i te d resources but nevertheless original ideas. The w i n n e r o f th e competition was S t e p h e n C h u r c h m a n , o f Bl a n d fo rd C a m p , D o r s e t , w h o designed a n d b u i l t a p ro to typ e which p e rfo rme d v e r y w e l l . H i s design s t r u c k a g o o d b a l a n c e between the hardware used and the driving so ftw a re . T h e documentation contained good, c l e a r d i a grams. th e ma i n one o f w h i ch i s shown and which should be possible to follow by an amateur. The text accompanying the entry was w e l l -w ri tte n a n d included a Basic listing, shown, which not only programmed th e EPROM b u t also checked t h e c o n te n ts o f e a c h memory location a fte r programming. I f the memory contents o f the 2 6 0 L ET = L I S P I B S /5 2130 I F P E E K P E E K 1 6 5 1 7 T H E N G O T 0 1 0 0 0 2 7 0 L E T s'e =Y + 1 2' 80 P O K E 1 6 5 1 4 . . Y —256 * I N T t Y z 2 5 B 44 2 ' 9 0 P O K E 1 6 ' 5 1 5 I N T C Y •••25G1 3 0 0 NEXT C 3 1 0 PRI N T " J O B F O RS" I N X H E . 3 2 0 PR I N T " D O YOU REQ UIRE T O P P O G R R M NH O P Eu D A T r4 I N " 3 E R 3 - 4 0 IRF 7 _ = " Y " T 7t5"E N 5 T O G P H O T 1 30 0 0 P R I N T " E R R O R H A - S O C C U R R E D " 10 00 1 0 L E T Y - 5 7 % 7 4 4 1 10 2 e , 0P R I N0 T " E R R O R O C C U R R E D I 1 READ- R C M , . 0A3 0 TP R " I N T • "DAT R y LN O C AT I O N I " PEEK_ 1 ,1P0 4 0 S T O P 5 U5 1 7 T S I N C L A Z I R USER O c t obe r 2982 competition winner EPROM differ from those sent to it, an error message is issued giving the exact memory location of the error. The design catered for the Texas Instruments 2516 EPROM as well as the 2532. A word of explanation is needed o n EPROM specification. Like RAM chips, there are various types o f EPROM chips available which differ i n memory size a nd power requirements. There are two categories of power requirements. namely those requiring three voltage supplies — + 12V. -1 2V and + 5V — and those needing only a single power supply — + 5V. The most popular type of EPROM used is a 2K x 8 using a single 5 V power supply, and therefore the TI 2516 is a good choice of chip, since 2K of memory is adequate for the use of most experimenters and the power supply, which was part of the design specification, wa s kept a s simple as possible. Also, it is possible to obtain a 2516 EPROM f or about E 3 from one of the many mail order companies. The heart of the design was a n 8255 programmable pe r iphe r a l interface which has 24 lines of input or output which can be defined by software. I t wa s regarded a s a n excellent choice, since it is a MOS chip and places almost no DC load on the data lines and only a slight AC load on the address lines. The chip is selected whe n the following conditions are met. Address A O Al A2 A3 A7 IOREQ Logic Level H H H H L This means tha t machine code must be used to address the chip but that was not considered to be a disadvantage, since the programmer must be familiar with machine code SINCLAIRUSEROctober1982 to use the EPROM anyway. Apart from that, the normal ZX memory map is left free and, in fact, the area between where the Sinclair R OM finishes (8K) and where free RAM starts (16K) wa s chosen, whic h could well be used to hold routines to enhance Sinclair Basic. The a ddr e s s w a s n o t f u l l y decoded b u t some readers w i l l notice t ha t t he c hip select conditions mean that other ports used by ZX-81 a r e not affected — e.g.. the printer. The designer us e d a two-tie r approach to accommodate the two PCBs inside a plastic box . Considering the short time allowed to complete t h e de s ign, t h e fi n a l hardware was considered to be well DIODEandGATE SWT ICH made, since the unit was completely self-contained, including the power supply. There is no doubt that the biggest impact that computers will have in the future is in the area of process control. There is therefore a need to design small systems capable of executing a given sequence of instructions without further attention from human operators. The set of instructions must, of course, b e tested thoroughly t o account for every likely event, but once t h a t h a s be e n done , t h e program needs to be stored in some convenient package which is both reliable and cheap. An EPROM fi ts those requirements and the fact that a hobbyist can experiment with work of this nature on an inexpensive ZX-81 is a very positive recommendation to the further development of this work. The range of entries received has proved that there is a great deal of enthusiasm and dedication among readers of Sinclair User. It was a tall order to produce a working prototype in the time allowed but it has been proved possible. N ow, wha t can be done for the Spectrum? 74 LSOD ID EPROM SOCKET C A To 2B)L (8E1 RjEIBQN 74 23 13255 PP! 74. 50 m SO TN IM INTG C O MP EN S 4 5 Sinclair ZX Sped' 16K or 48K RAM.0 full-size movingkey keyboard... colour and sound... high-resolution graphics... From only 025! L PRINT First, there was the world-beating Sinclair ZX80. The first personal computer for under E100. Then, the ZX81. With up to 16K RAM available, and the ZX Printer. Giving more power and more flexibility. Together. they've sold over 500,00050 far, to make Sinclair world leaders in personal computing. And the ZX81 remains the ideal low-cost introduction to computing. Now there's the ZX Spectrum! With up to 48K of RAM. A full-size moving-key keyboard. Vivid colour and sound. Highresolution graphics. And a low price that's unrivalled. Professional powerpersonal computer price! The ZX Spectrum incorporates all the proven features of the ZX81. But its new 16K BASIC ROM dramatically increases your computing power You have access to a range of 8 colours for foreground, background and border, together with a sound generator and high-resolution graphics. You have the facility to support separate data files. You have a choice of storage capacities (governed by the amount of RAM). 16K of RAM (which you can uprate later to 48K of RAM) or a massive 48K of RAM. Yet the price of the Spectrum 16K is an amazing £125! Even the popular 48K version costs only £175! You may decide to begin with the 16K version. If so. you can still return it later for an upgrade. The cost?Around £60. 46 S I N Ready to use today, easy to expand tomorrow Your ZX Spectrum comes with a mains adaptor and all the necessary leads to connect to most cassette recorders and TVs (colour or black and white). Employing Sinclair BASIC (now used in over 500.000 computers worldwide) the ZX Spectrum comes complete with two manuals which together represent a detailed course in BASIC programming. Whether you're a beginner or a competent programmer, you'll find them both of immense help. Depending on your computer experience, you'll quickly be moving into the colourful world of ZX Spectrum professional-level computing. There's no need to stop there. The ZX Printer-available now- is fully compatible with the ZX Spectrum. And later this year there will be Microdhves for massive amounts of extra on-line storage, plus an RS232 /network interface board. L LIST I N Key features of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum • Full colour - 8 colours each for foreground, background and border, plus flashing and brightness-intensity control. • Sound -BEEP command with variable pitch and duration • Massive RAM -16K or 48K. • Full-size moving-key keyboard- all keys at normal typewriter pitch, with repeat facility on each key. • High-resolution - 256 dots horizontally x 192 vertically, each individually addressable for true highresolution graphics. , • ASCII character set-with upper- and lower-case characters. • Teletext-compatible-user software can generate 40 characters per line or other settings • High speed LOAD & SAVE-16K in 100 seconds via cassette, with VERIFY& MERGE for programs and separate data files • Sinclair 16K extended BASICincorporating unique 'one-touch' keyword entry, syntax check, and report codes. C L A I R USER O c t obe r 1982 rum The ZX Printeravailable now The ZX Microdrive coming soon De sig n e d e xclu sive ly for use with the Sin cla ir ZX range of co mp u te rs, the p rin te r offers ZX Sp e ctru m o wn e rs the full The new Microdrives, designed especially for the ZX Spectrum, are set to change the face of personal computing. Each Microdrive is capable of holding up to 100K bytes using a single interchangeable microfloppy. The transfer rate is 16K bytes per second, with average access time of 3.5 seconds. And you'll be able to connect up to 8 ZX Microdrives to your ZX Spectrum. All the BASIC commands required for the Microdrives are included on the Spectrum. A remarkable breakthrough at a remarkable price. The Microdrives are available later this year, for around E ASCII character set -inc luding lower-case characters and high-resolution graphics. A special feature is COPY which prints out exactly what is on the whole TV screen without the need for further instructions. Printing speed is SO characters per second, with 32 characters per line and 9 lines per vertical inch. The ZX Printer connects to the rear of your ZX Spectrum. A roll of paper (65ft long and 4in wide) is supplied, along with full instructions_ Further supplies of paper are available in packs of five rolls. How to order your ZX Spectrum RS232 /network interface board This interface, available later this year, will enable you to connect your ZX Spectrum to a whole host of printers, terminals and other computers. The potential is enormous. And the astonishingly low price of only E20 is possible only because the operating systems are already designed into the ROM. ZX Spectrum Available only by mail order and only from Sinclair Research Ltd, Stanhope Road. Camberley, Surrey. GU15 3PS Tel Ca mb e rle y (0276) 685311 SINCLAIR USER O ct o b e r 1982 BY PHONE-Access, Barclaycard or Trustcard holders can call 01-200 0200 for personal attention 24 hours a day, every day. BY FREEPOST-use the no-stamp needed coupon below. You can pay by cheque, postal order, Barclaycard, Access or Trustcard EITHER WAY-please allow up to 28 days for delivery. And there's a 14-day money-back option, of course. We want you to be satisfied beyond doubt -and we have no doubt that you will be. Or de r F Code Item Price T o t T al T City I t e m 1 100 125.00 T Sinclair ZX Spectrum -16K RAM version 101 175.00 Sinclair ZX Spectrum -48K RAM version o 59.95 27 Sinclair ZX Printer : 16 11,95 Printer paper (pack of 5 rolls) S 28 2.95 Postage and packing: orders under E100 i 29 4.95 5 orders over E,100 n Total E c l Please tick if you require a VAT receipt E a *I enclose a cheque/postal order payable to Sinclair Research Ltd for E i *please charge to my A cce ss/B a rcla yca rd /Tru stca rd a cco u n t no. delete/c omplete I I r *Please as applicable I R [Signature t l e PLEASE PRINT I I s I I 11 iName: Mr/Mrs/Miss I I I e I I I I II I a [Address I I I I I l Il I r ! I M P I I t I I I I t SUS 810 c I1 1 L I I I h FRE E P O S T- no stamp needed. P r i c e s apply to UK only. E x p o r t prices on application. , F 47 R E L 1 _ _ _ Now! For the SPECTRUM 48K! 1 EDUCATIONAL C O M P U T I N G on t h e AiktratelLat Addictive Vames • THE for Door SPECTRUM TRS80 VIDEO GENIE LI TTLE APAIMES W HI CH ARE BIG EOUCAT ORS N collec N o on offer c kW so $O ItItip P . 411 ke st A s e t 0 1 p e O g rarn M 0 1 1 0 t as m r no r a w $111Cletat TX 111 I n to a 0 0 P r Ot e d u c e h o n e t t o o t m P A nd y o u d o e r A v o n n e e d t o * n o w w o e te n u n tn e r a a r s a r a W e a l tn e ttu c to o n s e n d p l e nu tay o l t i p s e dr ic e . O e u i e n o d t o pito r o u n d d i n t I o t e c t t o e ct 1,0• D e m m e r . A s a r ne te t h r o w n antedectoon a dte c oe te ly . ta Inc t ides Educ are s , * gomolittA V _ I R T A T I K E V i t i n t fi r E T I N I M Y l i w . A i f I E laliNAT EL WIf f IrlIE imf S _ nCitATIE D Ami = . M N i t t osl tlutni ro n t n ro n E MIL - 1 1 1 = A T I M 11Mb— _ dia 4 lMEMIEr wr Em e m l,1 1 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 7 1 ffi t= 1 ric•A• RS T E A t t FOR EA ( i l , 1 r t M 1MTW I iS1W I W A W A V A M V A W A NA iI1M1f M- u nC0A1rM re simula tkon. T h is is a n e xciting a nd highly e njoya ble ga me in •••• I This - is N OT a me N vv. i c h yom u p la g y therpae rt a t a Footba ll M a na ge r coping w it h the proble m s a nd t wrhW N •u MnVs -in IN I1Md Iin.MruAn nMin gMyoI uMr clu I NbI. TMh eVreI aI reS sVo im a n y fe a tu re s it i s - A d e cisio vo.lve them m here but include d a re torm (top te e ms N OR M ALLY win). l impossible l u i to n list g • ge b ills t o pa y, a n d yo u ca n e ve n b e sa cke d ! I t i s a g a m e .••• g ia n t - killin g s. wa re quiring a gre)a t de a l 01 skill. a nd pe ople p la y I t tor lite ra lly hours o n e nd Ives have PROOF!). WE GU AR AN TF EE t h a t t h is i s o n e o l t h e b e st co m p u te r g a m e s yo u 've e ve r Pialsod! * - B U T BEWAR E, th is ga me is e xtre me ly a ddictive ! 4 r i t ‘ i M D RE Q UI RE D I DARDV k ARE r ar air Nen(' ( A r o , P E 7,95 wad.' p u n l m , let 411111( TIO' ( A W E S O I M MSpec W t rat"( TRS80/ a r D e w S .C . P . O . 8 0 .1 ( 1111 ns RAM L Video Genie M A ImiW ON V IIITIO1 1 0 1 4 i x Eli LE V E L II TO% A t T1 1 ,S % TA U M t A s 16KRAM 15K R A M 1 I , i V O M M 1 o 1 S I M M A N W S V I S S T A 5 I d 1 I M M I , r ZX81 All programmes IK Creative use of graphics Many innovative odeas Ful l y doc um e nt e d includes m a ny garnets l TORTOISE d A sin sp irt wersion •of t fhamous Tu rt le e pr ogr arome COOED MISSILE IK PROGRAMMES Co mb in e s t h e fun o f a rca d e P RI MARY E DUCATI O N games w i t h tear ntoq f4.95 onl y • Times-tattleP e • Sets Graeh-pintter • Histogram 0 Simon-spell • Ski, iLlibuard Series-quiz • X Y coordinates • Count • EquatiOns • Areas • Guess-a -Volume Angles • Upstairs -Downstairs • Music - notes • 5 , Mastermind •• Number • + •26Snake more Temperature Clock shoot • Money E D u c A R ' ,. s a i . s • W 17 o1 E eD U•C AOR Eo I f I encl ose c he • que pos ta l or der t o t I , S p e l l E 1 1 3 9 a S l oane S t i l yi nne P I I l SVVI X 9AY l A c k i l e s ' ' 1 L e o a Las r a w 'owe aerieci e . I , S e n d insple• n s d e o s n e n d m 1 M M I I e 1 M W M , 1 A C u O GOBOLEMAN E t . r . we p Iron. mum- riiii•• M _m as ts to a t poor er d ai i s a n d th e n g o b b i e P A L oame E3 95 t o ' Nt A M TIR R A ID E R S r i l .i g t h i s p e e d . q u i c k a ahc ti o n a r c a d e w i t h l o u r s e p a r a te R ger Ou p s o f a tta c k e r s CI3 .9 5 Who lean a rec onnais anc e GA L A X i A N S Sg c o o p i n g ar lar ,k er sd. e x p l o s i o n s a n d mis s ion your plane loses Control and you arr. sed scoring £1195 h forced 10 land, Can you survive and escapf o witrt the is land's hidden secret? MOO o , i UTILITIES: s PLANET OF DEATH (Adventure Al rt OOL KIT F i e poWer _ tut ne w runCliOnS YOU fi nd y ours elf s tranded On ac. s • • c alien planet Ca n you reac h y our s hip and S . o g r a r n M ingo s ir ing escape? MOO t CS•95 i i••••].•• l ZX CHESS II • 3 0 in t u I NCA CURSE 'Adventure 8) SPEC BUG — A , T i r r d ei tool and A new improv ed version. wit h a laSter response itis a s s e m ble r oFor vour d• “le c tr U M r e . 9 5 In a 'tingle c learing you Come ac ros s an a time. seven levels of play. analy s is option ,3nd in a F u l l e doi to r a s s e m tr i e r a n d m o n i to r A S S E M B LE R — anc ient Inca t emple Y our mis s ion to enter addit ion a rec ommended move option f 9 , 9 5 t s guying an eKtremehr TiOn• n nriut W O For wr iting a nd c ollec t the treas ure and es c ape aliv e B u t SPECTRUM CHESS f 1 3 _ 9 5 r u n n i n g m a c h tm e c o d e g p r o g r a m s o n[ y our ZX 81 a n d beware S p e c tr u m I n c lou d e s us er m a n u a l £ 9 . 9 5 r , ZX CHESS I SHIP OF DOOM 'Adventure Ci ZS t w o - A 3 a0 i n m a c he i n e c o d e to7o l a n d d i s a s s e r n h l e r rIn , .o u .ZtC H l f 9 . 9 5 I n care l unav oidably drawn to an alien c ruis er 0 You r v er c Can you reac h the c ontrol room and free i u d e levels of play and an analy s is Option A v ailable y a y Ours elP Or will they gel y ou fi rs t / Inc ludes a v for ZX81 E6•50 s 1 d Cassette save routine £7.00 p a e a FORTH l ZX o 1 Z X 1K CHESS : c a Supplied on c as s ette with editor cassette p 1 16A R a m P ac k k se rs manuals and k ey board Overlay ZX Fort h P t U S • A rrot only E2.95 E29.50 u s u l 0 32K R a m P a c k s , b l e E38 95 c o em bt i n e s the s implic it y of bas ic wit h the r ( a) *a SnP Et C T R U M C H ESS 48K 6.40c R a m P a c k s (64.95 s p e e d of mac hine Code all for only E35.00. e l t e i r n i 1 K s n m e a pay able to Art ic Comput ing a c heques & 0 made Limited s v your order is tor 7X111 or Spec trum Please state whether c e h r i o I R T I fi l C O M P U T I N G ALWAY S A n u , e t c HEAD W I T H Z X 8 1 / i S P E C T R U M 48 o ', I NCLAI R USER O c t obe r 19112 n d S O F T W A R E e e m L _ _ _ _ ARCADE GAMES _ _ _ t • vONNI„,_ ADDITIONAL cO S , 1 Push your Sinclair tothe m i t A GREAT CHESS GAME FOR YOUR ZX81 OR SPECTRUM * R • H U L R A M 396 JAMES RECKITI P L - ,A VN. HU8 OJA N U E AEHUMBERSIDE, C K p,OVGAMES EN TLifio 4 s o ESPIONAGE ISLAND „ Simple English. PtUs At long last, someone has written a book on computers that even Aunt Emily can understand That someone is none other than Dennis Jarrett: doyen of simple English and former Managing Editor of WHICH COMPUTER? and Practical Computing. And his book is called The Good Computing Book for Beginners. If you're not a beginner, don't let the title put you off. Because this book provides a wonderful opportunity of clearing up any grey areas of your knowledge. And a glance at the chapter headings down below may well give the impression that this book is fun to read. You would be right. It's the brightest way imaginable of learning all about computers. There's also a complete language guide to computer-jargon mumbo-jumbo in a glossary of terms that's as comprehensive as you'll find anywhere. All in all, you'll find this book does for computers what Berlitz did for languages. In 304 pages. And at a modest 0.95. Enrol here! Your course in computers. Introduction to the introduction - computer myths, why they ore beong dispelled, and the truth about computers. 2 What goes on inside-a swift canter thiough the heavy technology, avoiding irrelevant and/or difficult ideas: processors, chips. memory, I/O. What's a persona/ computer?- new readers start here, because this is all you need to know: what can it do? What's available? And where do you buy a computer? What to look for- how to buy a small computer, or at least how to avoid complete disappointment. SINCLAIR USER O ct o b e r I 982 I ilenclose cheque for E m a d e payable to FCC Publications. Name Address I ]Please charge my credit card the sum off Name of credit card Number practical glossary- facts, makes 6 Aopinions, 3 Programmes-what references and a the computer tick, or at least where the noise comes from: system software, applications, the pleasant and unpleasant faces of programming. ' l e a s e send me c o p y ( le s ) of the Good Computing Book for Beginners at E1.95 each plus 50p for postage and packing. few personalities. Signed Now read on - Now post please to ECC Publications, 30-31 Islington Green, London N1 811I. Telephone enquiries: 01-359 7481. recommended reading, with notes. 4 9 Data-Assette entered the ZX-81 market via its tape business. It now sees its future tied closely to the Sinclair machine Leading the way into new export markets anonymous blue door in a sideA treet in the centre of London S is the only clue that behind it is one of t h e fa s t- g r o w i n g co mp a n i e s M which i s taking advantage o f th e A Lexplosion in demand fo r the ZX-81. It is a company which is becoming Lmuch better-known overseas than it w is in this country. o Despite i t s business i n Bri ta i n ohaving grown substantially i n th e dlast ye a r, i t s e x p o r t sa l e s h a v e egrown e v e n fa s te r . I t a n s w e r s nqueries re g u l a rl y fr o m a n d plays host to ZX-8 1 enthusiasts fro m all sover the world. i Data-Assette attracted the attengtion o f Z.X-81 users when i t intronduced the ZX-99 tape control system oin April. It entered an add-on market nwhich w a s depressed i n B r i ta i n abecause of the launch o f the Specntrum. The market for exports, however, was just beginning to expand. "We launched th e ZX-99 when the market was reasonably mature in Britain but i t was only just starting i n the re st o f the w o rl d and I order with us they were also asking for o th e r i te ms f r o m o th e r companies. "We are finding that people from overseas p re fe r t o go to a single supplier i n th e ce n tre o f London rather th a n having to visit a l l the add-on su p p l i e rs th ro u g h o u t t h e country." The re su l t i s th a t th e company now acts as an export agent in most of Western Europe and the Englishspeaking world for a number of companies, i n c l u d i n g K a y d e a n d Phoenix Ma rke ti n g f o r hardware, and software houses such as IRS. Arti c and Carnet!. Data-Assette is the latest venture by a n American, Pete Wi l l s, w h o bought a small Bri ti sh ma i l o rd e r company which was i n diffi culties two-and-a-half years ago. He managed t o t u r n ro u n d th e company initially b y se l l i n g c l o c k r a d i o recorders aimed at Open University students w h o co u l d u se th e m t o record t h e i r l e ctu re s, b ro a d ca st usually at awkward hours. The company then expanded into range of personal computers but the biggest proportion o f them a re fo r the Sinclair market," Boyle says. The company expanded later into the mass production o f tapes f o r software houses and then development of the ZX-99. "Both the owner and I have Sinclairs and we soon realised th a t i t did not do all we wanted it to do, so we found someone to build what we wanted," Bo yl e sa ys. " W e w e r e talking initially about a switching unit a n d w e w e n t fr o m th e re t o something which would work under program control." He adds that after developing the tape control system, th e company found it had some spare space in the read-only memory. It was decided to use it by adding an RS232C printer interface. the market for hi-fi accessories. One allows of th e ma j o r markets w a s selling W people to have all the facilicassette tapes wholesale. It became ties e of the Spectrum, apart from aware of the home computer market sound n and colour graphics, just by when it began to have a demand for buying a ZX-81 add-on," Boyle says. o short tapes on which to record pro"The response has been phenow We a re receiving about 20 grams. Data-Assette was set up to menal. h take advantage of that. enquiries a day about it. We realised "We now supply tapes for the full theamarket was big but we did not v e C L A I R USER Oc tobe r 1982 a 'The ZX-99 entered a depressed British add-on market but the market for exports was just beginning to expand' think that helped us a great deal." says sales manager Nigel Boyle. "Whereas users i n this country already h a d many o f th e add-ons available i n th e market a n d w e re buying t h e ZX-9 9 t o supplement them, people overseas w e r e o n l y just beginning to look a t the add-on market a n d when th e y placed a n 50 S I N company profile Gwen Shal:cian and Nigel Boyle study their new copying machine. realise how big." Company growth can b e seen f rom t he turnov er figures. In April. 1981 sales were slightly more than E1.200. In April. 1982 they were E16,000 in Britain, with another E3,000 in exports. By June. ex port sales had ris en t o E9,000 but sales i n Britain had fallen to E6,000. "Sales a r e v ary ing bet ween E15,000 a n d E20,000 a mo n t h a n d we are aiming for profi t on that of about 30 percent," says Mrs Gwen Shafieian. She adds that although the company still sells goods in the old markets, by far the largest part of its turnover is i n the Sinclair market. As the company is growing so quickly, all the profi t is ploughed back for further development and keeping Da ta-Assette working from day to day. In common with all small, rapidlyexpanding bus ines s es . D a t a Assette has t o be careful that i t keeps tight control on its fi nancial position. Cash-flow always has to be watched carefully t o make s ure there is sufficient to pay bills when they arrive. Suppliers usually are SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1 982 wary of new, small companies in the volatile mail-order, home-computer market and can be unwilling to give extended credit facilities. "Luckily the owner has a good deal of business experience and makes sure we can walk before we try to run. Often he is able to spot the problems before they arise and so we can take steps to reduce them," Mrs Shafieian says. She adds that the move into the export market was an example of the difficulties which could arise. She says that Data-Assette also needs t o take ex t ra c are o f it s customers, as mail-order companies generally have a poor reputation for delivery. "We k eep plenty o f stock t o ensure that we can satisfy orders in a reasonable time and i f we are unable to meet an order immediately, we keep customers informed of what is happening." she says. Although the company is wary of expanding rapidly. it has plenty of plans f or growth. I t is looking t o increase the export side and the mass p ro d u c t i o n o f p r o g r a m cassettes. Talks are being held with Mitsui, the firm which sells the ZX-81 in the Far East, to sell hardware and programs i n Japan, Singapore and Hong-kong. I t is also looking f or more manufacturers in Britain for which it can act as agent. Mills is at present in the States to oversee the increasing business there. To cope with growth in tape duplication it has had a special copying machine bui l t whi c h allows 5 0 copies to be made at a time. It has opted for the slower copying system to achieve higher quality and fewer bad tapes. At present t he company buys high-quality Agfa PE68 tape for the blank tapes it sells wholesale and has them wound by a sub-contractor but is thinking of doing it itself. Another possibility is to set up a retail outlet in the centre of London to serve the many overseas visitors. At present, the offices in Shroton 'In April, 1981 sales were slightly more than ELMO. I n April, 1982 they were E16,000 in Britain with E3,000 in exports' Although the company would like the market to grow, it has to be sure that it has sufficient capital to cover the increase in the payment period. We sen t 3 0 9 9 s t o F ran ce i n April and the payment has only just been cleared. W e had t o hav e sufficient to pay the bills while that money was tied-up." Street. near Marylebone Station, serve as showroom; the company would like premises where it could sell a full range of hardware and software. Other schemes included are an adaptation of the Z X Spectrum and the development of software for the business market. 99 t o fi t t h e 51 Make sure you get it each month What is the best way to guarantee that you never become bored with your Sinclair computer? The answer is to subscribe to Sinclair User, written specifically for owners of ZX-80s, ZX-81s and Spectrums. Sinclair User is the latest montly from ECC Publications — pioneers of Practical Computing, WHICH COMPUTER?, and Computer & Video Games. Whether you bought your system yesterday or are an old hand, you are probably an enthusiast for your machine ad your biggest problem is likely to be obtaining all the information to satisfy your interest. Sinclair User is devoted to quenching your thirst for information. As the name suggests, the content is geared specifically to helping you, the user. There are pages of information on available hardware and software. Our aim is to make Sinclair User invaluable and we chronicle applications which are of special interest. 52 Can you continue to obtain the most from your Sinclair without reading Sinclair User every month? So why not fill the subscription order form today? Send it to Sinclair User, ECC Publications, 30-31 Islington Green, London N1 813J 1 Overseas rile s Eure pe EiS . Ourude Europe EN Including air ma ll poPadel Lheques should l'se made payable to I C r Subscription Order Form wish to start a subscription to Sinclair User. I understand that I may cancel my subscription at any time and you will refund the balance. D I enclose a cheque for E9 for 12 issues o n l y including postage). El Please charge my credit card. Card Name N o . Address Signed Date SI NCLA IR USER O c t o b e r 1982 Taking the short route to success Philip Joy looks at readers' chess games draw i t is much longer. I f you send the games I would prefer you to use the fi rst method of notation; it is the more standard one and is easier to read. I f you have another method which you feel is just as good, please send it. Gross, who has looked closely at Arti c ZXchessII. spent many hours playing i t a n d fo u n d so me v e r y interesting results but they did not prove how the game played. He has sent a table showing what he thinks i s th e number o f moves that chessII looks ahead o n each level: written saying th a t th i s page S does n o t i n c l u d e s u ffi c i e n t Idetails about the famous mind game, chess. Wi th details fro m his letter M and t w o chess games I hope t o O rectify this. First, a game sent by D N Egdoll, of Glasgow w i th details of a G game i n w h i ch h e played against rArtic Computing ZXchessII. o DE 7 i ( c h e s s i l Whit s1 e 2 - e 4 e eB 7l -a ec 5k s2 8 1 - f 3 b 8 e 6 o34 flc -4 c 4x f7 ch 0 f 7 4 - g6 6 f5 1 3 - 8 5 ch f 7 - g 6 I67 hh 42 -- hh 54 ch h 7f - 6 h 6x h5 Level no. of moves looked ahead 2 p8 d l x h5 ch g 6 - 1 6 0 9 h 5 - f 7 1 6 x g5 4 s10 h l - h 5 g 5 g 4 4 2 3 4 w11 f 7 - 1 5 checkmate 5 4 i Another game is from P Robertson 6 5 7 or more. cof Birmingham, w h o p l a ye d t h e Micro-Gen version of chess at level Where the moves are the same, in h2. j l , 2 and 3, the time taken for a move . PC Mic ro-gen hwhit e black e5 1 e4 a2 Nc 6 N13 Nf 5 Bc4 s3 d5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 17 18 B Q R Q Q Q Ng5 ad Nf7 QI3 + Nc3 a3 Kdl Nd5 d4 f 4 1 4 + e l 1 5 + e 5 + e 6 checkmate Nd5 Kf7 Ke6 Nb4 Nc2 + Na l Kd6 c8 of Kd7 b5 Kd6 Kd7 'For the player to win, it is a short game; if the computer wins it is much longer' was nine, 12 and 80 seconds. This might show th a t th e game uses a different method to w o r k o u t th e Both games w e r e w o n b y t h e person who sent them. Wh y do you moves on those levels. He adds that not se n d a g a me i n w h i c h t h e to look five moves ahead at the start of t h e g a m e m a y s h o w m a n y computer won? Both show th a t you can win in a thousands of possibilities but in the few moves, w h i ch should prove to end game, fi ve moves ahead might people who fi n d a ZX-81 program not be possible, as checkmate is in diffi cult to beat that it can be done. two. From the letters I receive it seems I think the computer should look ahead as much as possible until its that for the player to win, it is a short game; i f the computer wins or it is a memory c a n h o l d n o mo re . T h e SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 5 levels should decide h o w l o n g spends doing this. If you have done similar work on the version of chess you have, send the results. I shall leave you w i th a problem sent by Gross which you to can tr y on your version of chess for ZX-81. If your version lets the computer play itself, d o th a t, otherwise l e t th e computer play black. I t is black's move and it has to avoid being mated in three. The position, i n standard chess notation, i s : Wh i te : k i n g o n h i , queen e l . rooks e2 and e3, pawns h2, g2, f2 and a5; Black: king h8, queen a6. rooks b8 and a8, pawns ctl, f7. g7 and h7. ZXchessIl w a s ma te d i n th re e moves at levels 0 to 5. It escaped in level 6 but took 7,200 seconds. Send your re su l ts a n d ma ke th e m a s detailed as possible. One good fi rst move for black is a6-c6. The winner of the competition, in which I asked fo r th e address to which a program should j u mp to give the amount of free memory was Colin N o rri s o f S t a n f o r d -Essex. l e Congratulations and if he sends a -blank tape, with at least 20 minutes each side. I will record a copy of my H ope. Adventure. The answer was 61. So to find the amount o f spare memory p ri n t the line PRINT USR 61. Anyone wishing t o w r i te to me about items in this column, or other Mind Games, can contact me at 130 Rush Green Road, Romford, Essex. If you send tapes or other information which y o u w o u l d l i k e re tu rn e d , p l e a se e n c l o s e a s t a m p e d addressed envelope. 3 1 ZX SPECTRUM CITY Within a few weeks of getting our first z x -el we had a good working version of • 'MONOPOLY been kicking one another ever since! However, it was developed in parallel to a mainframe g a me c alled " C I T Y " wh ic h WEIS a n enhanc ed v ers ion o f . W e "MONOPOLY" played on a street map of London rather than the standard d i d board. The street map took up a few hundred kilobytes and thus was not easily n o t put into the ZX-81 Th e basic mechanics& the game are available tor the ZX-81 tbut h i the game is played on a blank map. The streets are constructed with the n k buildings. Now, along came the SPECTRUM with 481( of RAM and in went the i street map, not London but an imaginary town, The colour facilities made the t program simpler than the mainframe version because much more information can w beodisplayed to the player on one screen. In the end 'CITY" is not at all like the that inspired it. Everyone that we have invited to test it says that it is u game l much better d , 16K ZX-81 CITY EC 4 8 K ZX SPECTRUM CITY 18, s e l l s o A w variable format database on which nothing need to pre-defi ned. It adapts to your needs as you use it. Conventional searches. sorts, updates. merges, etc. e become s c a thing of the past. Our local "EXPERTS SYSTEMS" expert is quite worried about it r a 16K p p ZX-81 A DB S 19, 1 6 or 48K ZX SPECTRUM A DB S (14 e d SPECIAL OFFER i You can now buy our top three z x -at games together for the special price of t19.95. The Planet Game, Elephant and Castlc plus Dominoes vvnold normally .cost 114. This offer is until December only W e h a v e 161 Walmers ley Road, Bury , Lanc as hire B19 SUE. ZX ASSOCIATIVE DATABASE SYSTEM DOCIMODUS NEW FROM AFDEC ZX Ei Ei I Serious Application Software for your 16K ZX-81/SPECTRUM IN C OM E TA X I Please specifyl Checks PAYE coding by offering you all likely allowances displays a nd prints your coding a nd its make-up, the n powerful facilities automatically calculate N I a nd P AY E deductions to five years net pay for next week or month. Options for overtime, salary increases, etc. Plan your income for (6.50. BRIDGE Ideal for all bridge players. Enter contract bid and made, BRIDGE does the rest for you. Al l over — trick, slam, doubled points etc. Displays and prints scorecard, totals for 5 rubbers a nd all hands played. A high-class program excellent value at E6.50. SALES LEDGER Excellent small business system, prints cash received/sales day books on monthly basis, maintains ledger for 5 0 + accounts, prints statements, names and addresses, etc. Only E10. Also RE TAI L ACCO UNTI NG (LW. INDE X /RE TRIE V AL SYSTEM ([6.50) • • E2 off any 2 • • E5 off any 4 ** *Tailor-made software developed — please contact us for a prompt quotation ZX SA S 42/ (sae45 forNew more Broad details) St, London EC2M 10Y AFDEC ELECTRONICSLTD ELECTRONICSLTD KEYBOARDNOWREADY ZX-PANDA EXPANDABLE 16K RAM for ZX-81 * * * * * * • • * * 1 6 3 8 4 bytes of extra random access memory (16K) Ex pandable to 32K with easily fitted internal plug-in module * S i mp l y plugs into rear expansion port of the ZX-81 c omput er N o additional power supply required L e d power indicator At t rac t iv e black custom made case contoured for stability Compac t size (76 x 9 1 x 2 8 mm approx.) Compat ible wit h most expansion systems Fu l l 1 year parts and labour guarantee Ex c ept ionally low fully inclusive prices ZX-PANDA 16K Expandable RAM pack — E25_00 ZX-PANDA 16K Expansion RAM module — E19.95 Prices include VAT and Deliv ery * Deliv ery from Stock * The only available 16K RAM pack that is directly * ex pandable to 32K using a plug-in module that * fi t s neatly inside the original RAM pack case A professional quality Keyboard for your ZX-81. Only E25 On built, tested. cased. Incl. VAT and delivery, Easily fitted Repeat facility High quality engraved keys Fully tested, cased and guaranteed Long life heysw itch 1 0 Tactile feel 7 o p e r a t i o n s m i n Cheques/PO please to -318AItempshott F D E Clane, Basingstoke, Hants Please E L ESupply C T R Z XN- PI ACN S D A 16KExpandableRAMpacks O Z X - P A N D A 16KExpanderto32Kforabove L 3 2 KT RAMpack D P r o f e s s i o n a l Key boards (25 00 (19 95 (39 95 (25 00 Total Name Address ME C ELECTRONICS LTD. 318 Kernosholl Lane, Basingstoke, Hants. 54 SINCLAIR USER Oc tobe r 1982 As s e e n o n B B C TV "Comput er Programme" * B I G EARS ZX 8 1 & 16K SPEECH THE TOMB OF INPUT FOR ANY COMPUTER -lugely s uc c es s ful Speec h Rec ognit ion Sy s tem D U ) H O R R O R complete with microphone, software and full ms t ruc l, o BUILT TESTED & GUARANTEED O N L Y E 4 9 , PLEASE STATE COMPUTER. 01(101. SUPERBOARD. NASCOM2. ;, A D VEN TU R E G A M E ! Vic 20 M i r r o n ZXBa'81 P E T. TRS80 M7FICK. A P I , LE I : , B B C M I C R O O c c u p y in g o v e r 1 3 7 . A o f m e m o r y , a s u p e r b 3 D g r a p h ic s ZX80 Z X 8 1 adventure g a me f or t he ZX 8 1 w i t h 1 6K RA M, f o r o n l y E3.95! Ent er Drac ula' s t o mb at 3 0 minut es t o sunset wa n d e r t hrough t h e t o m b s p r e - ma p p e d 3 0 0 v ault s i n search of the fabled Vampire's Treasure p i c k up valuable silver stakes and use t hem t o def end y ours elf agains t t he lurking horrors g h o u l s , zombies. pits of primaev al slime See t hem all on t he ZX8 1 's plan of t he t o mb , w h e n it will let you' Tak e a chance on a Mystery Vault i f you dare! And all t he t ime t he minut es are t ic k ing by t o s uns et when Drac ula rises f rom his c of fi n and c omes af t er y_t_:_at! Each of the infi nite levels of the t omb has its own 3 0 0 vaults go as deep as you like. t he Princ e of Dark nes s will seek you O u t i n h i s blood-lus t ' W A R N I N G : p e o p l e o f a n exceptionally nerv ous dis pos it ion s hould play t his g a me only during t he hours of day light ' Spec ial facility enables a game in progress to be saved on tape so you can c ont inue it whenev er you choose MUSIC SYN TH ESISER + 1 6 LIN E C ON TR OL POR T P lay 3 • P a r t m u S i C , s o u n a e l e c t s , drums etc Fu l l c ont rol of attac k , dec ay and frequency InputiOutput lines provide control and monit or facility f or Rome Security. Robot Control Model Railway etc. etc Works with or without 16K RAM Add k ey board t o mak e a liv e perf ormanc e p o l v o • Full ins truc tions iIs oftware inc luded. AMAZING AT ONLY E l 9 • iExtra c n i c 23sway v -connectors I n e s i VALUE sate C 2- SO 5 0 (K I T) The "Compos er - M u s i c MODULATOR KIT El 2 COLOUR P BUILT R G rB , 9o g 0 r „ t r o t ' or ZX , a m KIT E 4 5 UK101/NASCOM COLOUR GRAPHICS ( 1 6 BUILT E60 Inc Mo d u la t o r S t ill the best s ellin• s s t em! K ) Please add VAT at t o all prices All anthill' es E S A E oleas€• Barclayi'Access orders ac c epted by t elephone 7 01101I t - ip Dower Rous e, Billeric ay Roac A Herongate, B rent woo0i C Essex CM13 3S0 E S Y S 2T E M S Lt d Telephone B re n t wo o d (02771810244 5 . 5 0 ( B U I L T ) Price of only E 3 . 9 5 inc ludes ready -t o-load c as s et t e wi t h library case and inlay, full instructions, postage and packing. Order t oday ' Mo n e y ref unded if not delight ed! Send cash. P 0 or cheque to \A/ILLIAN/1 STUART MO V I E DRO ME V I DE O (Dept St.13). 19 Leight on Avenue, Pinner, HAS 3 B W DOI / S pectrum C om pute r Software 'ORBITER' Si 'GROUND ATTACK: Simply the most amaz ing ZX-Spec t rum arcade games available. O R B I T E R Fast end tunous action is what you get in this dirldiing D e f e n d e r All the excitement of the arcade inhabits your micro Aggressive aliens flash detOSS the screen as you try to destroy style them wit h your laser-bolts and smart bombs, while rescuing pther humanoids o g r a m f o Orbit r er is writ t en ent irely in m•c arcade features, reverse, hyper-specie, a n scanners, d t h c eo d einc luding continuous scoring and sound effects, plus humanoids, h d s Zhanders, X - mutants and all the other alien nesties whic h mak e it f e hest uc tgames l l around. S one pof the rG Ru O U m N .D A T T A C K Surv iv al is the name ot the t we e i ZX n -S p e c t rt im. Your mis s ion is to p ilo t y o u r s pac es hip t h ro u g h t tortureous caverns while destroying the enemy missile h launchers and fuel dumps. Enduranc e as well as quick ti hink ing are needed to survive dS the caves become sprogressively s maller and airborne aliens start to appear. e No-one has yet survived!! G RO UND ATTAC7K is writ t en completely in mischief. x code. It has 26 zones, full: up. down, f orward and reverse. c controls. Lasers, bombs, explosions, continuous scoring and i sound effects, plus rockets. fuel dumps and airborne aliens. t Both games will me in either I t iK or 46K Spectrum iand cost £5.95 each. n Programmers NO W you can mek e money Ir0111 your gmicro. Send your programs to us today. We pay pmbribly thy best royellies around. S C GENEROUS DEALER DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE ISilv ers of t Lt d. 20 O ra n g e Street. L O N D O N W C 2 H 7 E D a n t h SI NCLAI i R USER O c t o b e r 1962 e • N E W ! Z X 8 1 - C O M P I L E R Yes! No w you can writ e mac hine code on your ZX81. No more messing about wit h assemblers and disessemblers s imply type in the BASIC program and the mac hine does the rest. You'll never need to buy another mac hine code progtent again!! ONLY ZX81 ARCADE A C TION MUNCHE R - Exciting pacrnan game for the ZX81 E 4 . 9 5 ASTEROI DS -"Just the thing for asteroid addicts" PCW Sept 82 E 4 . 9 5 I NVADERS -"Pr obabl y the best version of I NVADERS you will gel for the ZX81" - PCW '82 1 2 . 9 5 ALI EN-DROPOUT - Exciting ORI GI NAL arcade game for your ZX8I E . 3 . 9 5 STARTREK - YES/ you can be a starship commander 0 9 5 GRAPHI C GOLF - 18 graphically displayed holes to lest even the best golfer E 3 . 9 5 SUPERWUMP(JS - An enthralling under gr ound adventure for your E Z.X81 3 . 9 5 GAMES PACK -Fantasti c value tor money, nearly 50K of programs on one cassette! Only 0 . 9 5 1 7 Ie a m • s r itr i m t. 1 I t• n cl o w P C I N a 1 l lL i ! S v e o s o l l L t — I IcOt su 55 SPECTRUM Et ZX-81 KEYBOARDS MA IL ORDER ADVERTISING British Code of Advertising Practice Advertisements in this public at ion are required t o c onf orm to the Brit is h Code of Adv ert is ing Practice. In respect of mail order •idvertisements wh e r e money i s p a i d i n adv anc e, t h e c ode requires adv ert is ers t o f ulfi l orders wi t hi n 28 days, unless a longer deliv ery period is stated. Where goods are ret urned undamaged wi t h i n seven days. t he purc has er's money mus t he refunded. Please ret ain proof of postage/despatch. as this may be needed. Mail Order Protection Scheme Also for above 4 single key cursor control keys — extra E3 If y ou o r d e r goods f r o m Ma i l O r d e r adv ert is ement s i n t his magazine and pay by post in advance of delivery, Sinc lair User wi l l c ons ider y ou f o r c ompens at ion i f t he Adv ert is er s hould become insolvent or bankrupt, prov ided: I) You h a v e n o t rec eiv ed t h e goods o r h a d y o u r money ret urned: and 2) You writ e to the Publisher of Sinclair User s ummariz ing the situation not earlier than 28 days from the day you sent your order and not lat er t han t wo months f rom that day. ZX S P E CTRUM E28.915 4 Shift keys - one for each level_ No more awkward, finger knotting exercises! Please do not wait unt il the last moment to inf orm us. When you do writ e, we wi l l t ell y ou how t o mak e y our c laim and what evidence of pay ment is required. All keyboards are fully assembled and just plug into your ZX81 or Spectrum. All keywords etc are in 3 colours 14 for Spectrum) under hard wearing clear caps. Proper keyswitches - f ull size. Full fi tting instructions and 12 mont h guarantee naturally. We guarant ee to meet c laims f rom readers in accordance wit h the above proc edure as soon as possible after the Adv ert is er has been dec lared bank rupt or insolvent (up to a limit of £4,250 per annum f or any one Adv ert is er so affected and up to E10.000 per annum in respect of all insolvent Adv ert is ers . Claims may be paid f or higher amounts, or when the above proc edure has not been c omplied wit h at the discretion of Sinc lair User, but we do riot guarant ee to do so in view of the need to set some limit to this c ommit ment and to learn quickly of readers ' diffi culties). ZX80/81 K E Y B O A RD E24.96 !illustrated). 2 Shift keys Single keys for EDIT, RUBOUT and FUNCTI ON Large space key Full repeat Large Newline key Payment: Cheque, Postal Orders Access or Cash on delivery. Phone orders welcome. Prices include postage loverseas add E2) etc. HARRI S Et LOCKYER ASSOCI ATES Phone: Redditch 10527/ DEPT SU 24452. 33 PEDMORE CLOSE WOOD ROW SOUTH R ED DITC H WORCS B97 7XB ENGLAND. KEMPSTON (Micro) ELECTRONICS ZX81 Klik-Keyboard •I'his guarant ee c ov ers only adv anc e pay ment s ent i n direc t response to an adv ert is ement in this magazine (not, for example. payment made in response to catalogues etc. received as a result or ans wering such advertisements). Clas s ifi ed advertisements are excluded, ZX81 H IR E S GRAPHICS BOARD This is a full, forty key, mov ing keyboard •:•: whic h fits into the recess left after Peeling on the existing 'touchsensitive keypad Cons ider the following advantages. :-:- • Positive feedback from keys • Fits onto the 2X81 • No trailing wires • No special case needed I-1:- • Elegant design with two colour legends The fully built keyboard requires absolutely no soklerrng since two fl exible connectors plug into the ZX81 sockets Alternatively, the keyboard is available as an easy build kit at a considerable saving Now available with 41 keys, the extra key can be used to give a repeat facility 1 41 key version: 1 2- 6 . 5 0 (built) ( 2 3 . 0 0 ik iti All prices inclusive of VAT, 2 but postage must be added at 70 pence for a singly item, 100 pence for 2 or 2more items. Payment by cheque or P.O. Available by mail order from: . KEMPSTON (Micro) ELECTRONICS 5 •:-: so Adamson Court. Hillgrounds Road. Kampston, Bedfor d MK42 ECU 0 Please allow 21 days ( for delivery. S.A.E. in all correspondence. •••• S e e us atk the PCW Show lalso ZX Mic rolair) • i Your Name and Address SUS ••••••• t ) :•::• ....• 1 Ouantity D e s c r i p t i o n U n i t Price A m o u n t 2 ZX81 Kiik6 Keyboard kit (40 keys) 0 ZX81 Xlik-Keyboard built OD keys) 0 Z.X81 i .•:• b Date P o s t a g e T o t a l • u i l 56 l ) • Fully programmable 256 by 192 pixel resolution • Powerful BASIC commands for USER DEFINABLE GRAPHICS • 2K EPROM with graphics routines including PLOT, PRINT, PAGE. CLS, COPY • Simple to generate your own exciting displays • Stylish case whic h fits between ZX81 and RAM pack • No additional power supply or soldering necessary • Full instructions provided, fully guaranteed Price br eakthr ough at £49 95 SAE for data sheet * * * NI G HT GUNNE R * * * Enemy aircraft approaching B A T TIE STATIONS. Survival depends upon your skill to shoot down the enemy lighters as they move in for the attack. Beware, the going gets fast and furious as you survive each mission in this entertaining and challenging machine code game with excellent graphics Requires 16K RAM only H i g h l y addictive, 1 4 95 * * * FIGHTER PI L O T *** 15feet 7 feet T O U C H D O W N ! Instrument landings are not always as easy as this. You are on full control from take of f to landing during this real time flight simulation of a jet fighter Written by pilots - tested by pilots - for you to fly like a pilot 'An excellent pr ogr am l ' Capt. H . Seni or British Air ways pi l ot Requires 16K RAM only S u p e r value at (4.46 All prices inclusive I Overseas add £0.56 pfl p per tape. £2.00 for HAG board) A ll produc ts guaranteed, ref und if not satisfi ed. DI G I TAL Dept SU 22 Ash Chur ch Road. Ash. Alder shot Hants GU '12 6LX MAI L ORDER ONLY I NTE G RATI O N SI NCLAI R USER O c t o b e r 1982 SPECTRUM? NEW GAM E • 2 PLAYER S • 16X Spectromi • • • STELLAR D U E L " One one Ste rship Captain will survive 10 command the imperial Fleet. WILL IT BE YOU? • L AN D ON PLAN ETS • PH ASOR S • SEN D IN ASSAU LT TROOPS • W AR P b SU B LI GHT SPEED • C OLOU R SPECRUM ON I TS WAY? Haw S O the U SUPER NEW GAM E ieadV. Fey, N Dtoed . cassette (5 .7 5 inc post etc. TRICODER C AM BR I D GE. C A (Mud order) R N 75, Oxford R d.. A G Cambridge C84 3P1-1 E ! MAKE BETTER WINES WITH YOUR 16K ZX81 Enjoy s uperb wines o f commercial quality f r o m r e a d i l y a v a ila b le ingredienm, Based On years of practical and theoretical research int o winemaking, these easy-to-use programs enable you to design your awn reopen for dry and medium wines, with COn -trolled p H. t ot al acidity. body and alcohol content. 6 0 minute program cassette a n d de ta ile d m a n u a l lo ve r 6.000 wordsl of w i n e Wall a s f u ll operating instructions. All programs recorded twice. nPar or kt io i nnga l tape. h(7,95 i n including t s , KIP aCheques s and PO's t o: COMPUTAWINE (Deat. SI, 9 Laburnum Way, Etwall. Derby DE6 6JU. CAR LOG Anew USEFUL suite of professional programs for the z x ri 116K) a Spectrum. 1. V e r y s imp le t o u s e w i t h f u l l instructions. 2. C o m p l e t e c as s et t e re c o rd o f mileage and itemised expenses. 3, A l l conceivable ratios, totals and protections computed. CAR LOG is suitable for your car. your dads car or your whole fleet of trucks. Only E8.95. NI MRO D SOFTWARE A Stanley Rd.. London SW1I4 /DZ. FOR SALE. Spectrum barely used. E15 more for immediat e use. Als o printer. S ma l l wo o d , Tref f s orne (043757) 644. GOLD D I A M O N D S . L e t y our 2)(81 help you win money from the book ies . T h e fi r s t t i m e t h i s p r o g r a mme w a s e v e r t r i e d 120_3.821. It picked 8 winners from 8 races!! Send a Cheque or PO E8 for 1K and 112 for 16K to the Butronics Co., 4 4 Earls Court Rd. , London W8 SEJ 'mail order only please). ,,,s e b k *FROGGER : ANOTHER DOD l i n t ' • M oving Cars. Lops, Turtles • Allsgators. Diving Tune s • Four •Screens' ot Action • All Arcade Features • Entirety Machine Code ONLY 13.95 Inc PUP. r it0 6 t1 1010111elell 0 BEI SEOCE EROSUVOL COW 0 Cla-IkkE 0 SKONLISL AS1Ef1106141SERNACE 9t4 pal.re REplats litoot 0 0 0 3 6140 pE$ . %CNC ZUCKMAN First Authentic DUD I16k Version of •PLICKMA N• • AL L Machine Code 1 0 k * FOU R Indepiedent Ghosts * Tqaii, Ene rip Posts etc * High-score •Hail of Faroe • Authe ntic Arcade Action ONLY 1 5 95 1rit7 PEW Send PO or cheque to ZX-80 OLD RO M + N E W RO M (ZX-811 plus 16K RA M c omplet e wit h Z X 8 0 a n d 2 X 8 1 t r a i n i n g manuals + software ichess games, business and hous e holdings ) + extra manuals and books for sale all together s t g LSO. Perfect work ing order. Co n t a c t A n d r e a d a y t i me Monday to Friday 01-600 8651, ext 251. SPECTRUM ft M i l 16k SOFTWARE ZX SPECTRUM ASSEMBLER All 280 opcodes. with error Lhecks and labels for addresses after JP. CALL Et LD BACKGAMMON, uses machine code high speed (48K only) G AMES TA P E ': versions of Nieman. breakout. battleships Er 3D Ds and Xs (with machine code/ E3,26 each Ind pErp Cheque. PO to. PI Software. l a Pligrim's Lana. London NW31S N. COSMOS - patrol the galactic convoy r TABLE TUTOR - menu driven course out in tuition £ 3 . 9 9 e smultiplication , QUARTET - crosswords, puzzles n and m e m o ry gam e I m u l tip lo ye r I 1 3 .9 9 e TRI A D - 3 new puzzles t o perplex w frustrate even Cubists £ 3 . 9 9 and aSuplied on cassette. SAE for catalogue rVORTEX SOFTWA RE 26 Crawford Rd. cHatfield, Hertfordshire ALIO OPG a d e g a m e SEP E CTRUM SPEAKER to boost 4 your beep, wi t h v olume c ont rol. . Cased, c omplet e, ready t o us e, e5.50 9 inc . c l a p . J . Hu n t e r , 1 1 Nettleton Clos e, Canf ord Heat h, 9 s uspi hecrl m a i ar r tI A to Z SOFTWARE ZX81 I k FUN. Hangman. Simple Simon. Maseru mind Es 5 othergamete N g G AM BL E R . Guineapig Derby b Shoot R o AR u lCeAD t tE eI M I c) . 16K .Basher. 2 Player Breakout P nc hI tTInON M uoTR n AD i aAL n Su p e r Mastermind. 16/( oSuper n ngme . . o Ha n. Ba ttle ships n d Luna r M Lander o l e ALL programs recorcrod nee eft documented Any one fit 2 ET 50 3 1 1 A i l 4 (1 4 Pi:X Cheques to P . Adshead, A to 2 Softwa re . Wa te rworks. Lange:ton. Stoke on Tra ni ST9 9 0 8 ZX S P E CTRUM TAPES. A: Fruit Machine, Wall Street Crash, Reactor, Logi c . B : Ha n g ma n , A l i e n Escape, Sweeper. Box Trap. Each SI NC. Built ZX81 1 K R A M plus tape £3.95. Cheques to J. Brown, leads, Manual, P. S. U, s t ill boxed Dept.1, 2 9 Curt is A d , Fenham, with QS mot her board £60. Dairen Newcastle. Fitehew, 25 Woodleigh Ave, Leighon-Sea, Es s ex S S 9 & I A . T e l : Southend 712632. SPECTRUM S O FTWARE . D s assembler iZ8onrnemonics) m i c handler. Fo r 16K o r 48K model. ZX-131 + 3 2 K R A M wi th many tapes o f games , adv ent , t oolk it s Recorded o n quality CS cassette. plus books. Bargain 015. Andrew Only 1 4 . 0 0 r- 50p p & p . J o h n Nesbitt. Hampton, Middx. Tel: Day O'Harrow, 3 Drumf ork Rd, Helens01-242 6844, eve 01-979 4258. burgh, Dunbart ons hire G84 MN. Poole, Dorset 8H17 7PL. DJL SOFTWAR E 9 Twe e d Close . Swindon. Wilts SN2 3 PU. 031:030%6 trf Tn4:14 OSOSe ( 0 0 5 8 reocOtnelogaMet . v d t t PO/CW*161ot E9.00 to toctaie cordage, ot cod ko 242 0 4 WO Rood, toodoo BE15L 1B i i i r i f fi di a n SI NCLAI R USER O c t obe r 1982 o s ZX131 16K GAMES. Missile Command, ZX version o f t he arc ade game. S a f e Break er, c rac k t h e combination. Both games recorded on cassette - E2.25. 61 Wat f ord Rd, Crox ley Green, Hert s . W D 3 3DS. 57 SPECTRUM30 GRAPHICS, 16K or 48K machines Spet , lac ular plotting under User Control of sharqe. size and perspective. Only M95, AGM) IL Powerful numeric database gives you seasonal forecasting, statistics, graphs, data files a nd m uc h m or e V e r y friendly. N o statistics k now SPECTRUM AN D BitEll SOFTWAR E COSM OS. Sa ve yo u r he e ls from the marauding airens in this new ine c space game wit h dra ma tic gra phics o n your s hips sensor screen E l IS TA B LE T U T O R . A com plete menu driven Course i n m u l ti p l i c a ti o n t a b l e s w i t h examples. te sts. homework a nd answer service for the under ID's. E 3 . 9 9 QUARTE T. A compendium o t crosswords, puz2les a nd me mory game Im ufhplayer/ wr th up to 10 dofficultses. E3.110 TR I AD . Three new puzzles to perplex and f rust ra te even the C ulsis s E 3 IS Supphed on cassette SAE for catalogue VORTEX SO F T WAR E. Z S C ra wf o rd Road, Ha tfie ld. Hentlotdshire AL100PG ZX81 1 6 K FOOTBALLPOOLS PROGRAM TIREO O F HI G H PRI CES? F o r excellent 1K and 16K software send SAE to PS, 11 Sidegate, Haddington, East Lothian EH41 4BZ • Lists out, in order of prelerence. the 10 most Wery s c or e - dr a ws a ls o th e 1 6 m o s t likely homes. domes and ewers • P icks o u t th e results o n th e bookmakers Reed Odds morons that havebeengNen over generous m k t; Calculable; your a v e c fed profit' • M o ws the user to update the tables week by week as HUM S Ccanis in PRE-SCHOOLCONCEPTS For a cassame a l the program, plus an Anstruc eon leaflet gostog a boo' explenaoon 0 ' the theory send ES 96 to 6educational programs f or the 2X-81 HARTLAND SOFTWARE 'the y e a ch fi t into t K I. Dept_ SI a PENZANCE PLACE, LONDON W i l SPA Counting Keytest Sketchpad Match it Gobbler How many? Cassette and instruction booklet only £3.45 fi nd. pEtpl from: Dept. Si, Prolog Hom e Software, 22 Rectory Drive. Yatton, Briatai RS19 4HIF. S P E CTRUM G R A P H I C GAMES. Set one, five great games including Breakout, E5.00 incl p&p (first class). Others available SAE details Mik e O'Neill, 5 Castlehelds Rd, Cheltenham, Glos GL52 BYW Sell your used com put er or per i pher al s thr ough Si ncl ai r S upe r m a n at l ow cost . — up to 30 wor ds for onl y ES. 16K ZX-81, Sinclair built, manual, leads, a da pt or , t w o book s . 'Monster Maz e ga m e , a doz en assorted computi ng magaz i nes. Total v a l u e E130; E 1 0 0 o . n . o . Andrew Grant . 01-472 6073 Evenings (not Thurday or Friday). Is u p e r m a r t s ZX - S P E CTRUM S O F T W A R E : Ten Mi n u t e s t o Liv e, A i r / S e a i Attack, Mo n s t e r Maz e, Las ered Staircase. Programs inc orporat e n sound, c olour and graphics, O n cassette. £4.75. Send to: B. Baker, 87 Murray Avenue, Bromley, Kent c BR1 313,1 l a i Advertisement Index r ADAPTORS ELIMINATORS 26 ADDICTIVE GAMES 48 MEMOTECH 9 AFDEC 54 M. ORWI N 2 ABERSOFT 40 MICRO GEN 12 ALTWASSER R. 12 MOVIEDROME 55 ARTIC 46 M.C. ASSOCIATES 43 BUFFER MICRO SHOP 10 MI CROWARE 34 BI PAK 39 NEW GENERATION 22 PICTURESQUE 34 P.S,S, 18 CAMBRI DGE COMPUTER STORE Have you updated your compute r or do you no longer use tha t add-on , Instead of leaving it lying a round turn It into ca sh be pla cing a cla ssifie d a dve rtise me nt in Sincla ir Supe rma n and re a ch around 6 5 , 0 0 0 use rs of the Sincla ir ZX syste ms PleaSe wtite your advertisement in the box e%below. one word per box Underline words required in bold type Yo u r name a ddre ss a n d io r telephone number should be include d Please m o t so bloc* capitals Note—this se rvice is open only to prove' t a dve rtise rs The a dve rtise me nt will ;,npear in the e a rlie st possible issue r ,A ,d a d Have you include d the fe e of ES m r e e Tel s Cam M K . • Is. , A.4 .• • • ,.....-.,1 0 ,,,,,, 4, ,....o * a . . . , at• v o wa. . s..bow ,,. . ,,. ,. aOnli . p, .p4, r. e. . .n. .•. 4a.. o . . . . . . / I . 0 . ,n.n ., . .. . 1., . . . .. . •, . to, n, . . . ww, u •l . m o s h i s , . . . . . . 1 • . , , , , r . , pronato I A o u r S..e t , . 1 . . .0 1 . 6. , , .. . . , . . . . . . . . . . . •, gi , ., ., ,,,. I. t. , , , , , , a. . , , , , „ , , , ., t n ‘,,,,, .I0 ...n. . . . . . l.e u l l u .•, . . I n n t . n , . I,N • n i ,e l .u, . . t .,a . , g m 1 , p •,• r t t . e . a l , o I, . n o n . ., . .. . , l u .o.o . . on . . k .t . a. , lb g o • l 4. . , . . 1 , . . .n u l ,.l . , .., , . ., . 1 . . 1 , . .. -. , . . .4• . . . , 0, , . , •o 58 l ow n o t t O M , R i . . a . . . . , .6•. , . . . , ol . . . , . . . . . . ,,,., ..,,,, . . , _ . . . . . .I.I .NI I I M T I O 1 , l i t o , • . . I . . . . . . , u ., a , , . . , I n n . 61 COMPUTEX CASES 49 PHOENIX MARKETI NG 10 COMPUTER GUIDES 30 READ-OUT 59 CARNELLS/ W 67 REtR 39 DEAN ELECTRONICS 26 TRONICS — I Ilia manual g Access and EiarderArrt **erne SAXONCOMPUTING, e 3 St Catherwies Drive, lacenliale, l Elaver. Humberside. ? = n e e d e d SP 1 E CTRUM/ 8 1 S O F T W A R E g a4me s e d u c a t i o n a l u t i l i t i e s including Ma r t i a n inv as ion 0 / A 8 Phy s ic s M C H a n d l e r e t c . K Programs Wanted. 60% royalties paid. o SAE f or free list. P Devsi, 68 Crookston Road, Eltham, London n SEW l y I E 1 4 2 5 4 MELBOURNE HOUSE SINCLAIR 46 47 19 SILVERSOFT 55 DATA ASSETTE 13 SUPERMART 57-58 DOCI MODUS 54 SOLENT DIGITAL INTEGRATION 56 SOFTWARE EDUCARE 48 FULLER MICRO 60 SOFTWARE MASTERS FISHER MARRI OTT 24 S W FARM 39 GEMINI 36 TIME DATA 40 „LK GREVE 35 UNDERSTANDI NG 36 HARRI S LOCKYER 56 VENTAMAT IC 39 INTERFACE 20 W. STUART SYSTEMS 55 KEMPSTON 56 WATSON S W 24 LINSAC 43 ZX SAS 54 SUPERMARKET 22 20 6 SI NCLAI R USER O c t obe r 1982 RE,A Rio THE FIRST INrlisr A NEW SERIES FOR FIRST TIME USERS l # Learning to Use the PET Computer by Garry Marshall is the first title in a n e w series of books wh ich introduces newcomers to the most wid e ly used micros in the marketplace. The book assumes absolutely no knowledge about computers and the reader is shown even the most fundamental operations such as "switching on" and "loading a program". The book leads the reader through simple p ro g ra mmin g and then on to graphics, with several p ro g ra ms which sh o w h o w to achieve pictures and even animation!. The user friendly approach is consistent throughout the text — not only are program listings clearly shown, but, in many cases, a photograph is included to sh o w what the program looks like when actually loaded and run! E5.95 (incl. postage) Go we r —A Read-Out Publication • Other titles in the series due August/September 1982 Learning t o Use the ZX Spectrum by Robin Brad beer E5.95 (incl. postage) LearningtoUsetheBBCMicrocomputer by P. M. Dane £ 5 . 9 5 (incl. postage) Learning to Use the VIC-20 by Ron Greere 5 . 9 5 (incl. postage) Learning to Use the ZX81 by Robin Bradbeer f 5 . 9 5 (inci_ postage) Reserve yo u r copies today! Complete the order form b e lo w and your order will be reserved and sent you on publication. READ-OUT PUBLISHING COM PANY LTD 8 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU24 6EW Telephone: 0252 510331 2 Telex 858001 GOWER G ROAD, FARNBOROUGH. HAMPSHI RE G U N 6EW P l a s I R824CAMP EhourAanswer D - Oi ngUservice. T PUBLISHING COM PA NeY LTD Tel ephone: 0252 510331i2 copy'les of e prices send me : postage. All include Name L I Learning to Use the PET Computer E5,95 Addres s L I Learning to Use the ZX Spectrum £5.95 E l Learning to Use the BBC Microcomputer ,' E5.95 Make cheques payable to Read-Out Publishing Company Ltd. ! enclose my cheque for C. I n Please debit my Access Signed Number Date L SINCLAIR USER O ct o b e r 1902 - L i Learning to Use the VIC-20 (51 E5•95 E l Learning to Use the 2X81 E 5 . 9 5 59 N e w From F u l l e r FD System f o r the , Z X SPECTRUM E39•95 + E2.50 p & p. Professional Keyboard et Case — This unit has the j Tough s a m eA.B.S:PlaStic case encloses our Keyboard. the Spectrum Printed Circuit Board and the h i Power g h Supply. Our own Power supply is available:- 9 volts DC at 2 amps. sMains t aeither n d110v a or 240v AC at E5.95 8 0 p . p & p. rThed Keyboard has 42 keys with all the spectrum functions printed onto them, the full travel a s key switches have gold plated contacts and a guaranteed life o f 1 0 o u INSTALLATION 6 o p e r a t i -o Simply n s . unscrew the ZX printed circuit board from its case and screw it r into the FD case, plug in the keyboard and that's it. No technical know how or soldering required, Z X th e built unit is tested and comes with a money back guarantee. Spectrum 8 1 Keyboard and Case Kit E33.95 Our Mother Board for the spectrum has 2 slots at E15.95 or 3 slots at E19.95, this unit also u n fixes inside the case. p & p sop. i t .SPECTRUM SOUND AMPLIFIER E5.95 + 80p p & p. Complete with leads, volume control and loud speaker in tough ABS Plastic case measuring 5" x 3' x 1" just plugs into your spectrum MIC input First A nniversary Offe r The FD System is now one year old and Fuller are celebrating with this amazing offer on the FD42 Professional Keyboard and Case. Makes an i d e a l Christmas present to expand the new low priced Sinclair ZX81. Or why not buy a new ZX81 based system directly from us, consisting of ZX81. FD42 keyboard and case with power supply and reset switch, E29.95 + £2.50 p & p leads and manual E69.95 4 E2.50 p & p FD42 Keyboard and Case Kit E24.95 + £2.50 p & p FD42 Keyboard kit E14.9580p p & p STAR TREK FOR ZX 16K SPECTRUM Play this popular adventure game on your Spectrum with ship display and sound E5.00 + 50p p & p G UARANTE E D 14 DAYS DELIVERY FRO M RE CE IP T OF ORDE R. OR CALL TO THE ZX CE NTRE Mail to FULLER MICRO SYSTEMS, The ZX Centre, Sweeting Street. Liverpool 2. England. U.K. Please Supply:Name F U LE R F D S Y E T M Address i• SAE for m or e iletalls — Enquir ies Te l , 051-236 6109 -