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An Argus Specialist Publication NOVEMBER 1986 £1.50

m FOR ALL SINCLAIR USERS

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REVOLUTION ^
grips the Spectrum
SOUNDTEST:
SOUND SAMPLER
THE MUSIC MACHINE
QL ERROR TRAPPING
JOYSTICK SPECIAL

/
MONSTER HITS! Dan Dare The Trap Door Cyrus II
W I N ! • Saga C o m p l i m e n t ^ L e v e l 9 Y e a r p l a n n e r s ^ G r e m l i n Clocks
Spectrum in October, Amstrad in November, Commodore 64 in December

Sales dept..
Castle Lodge, Castle Green,
Taunton, Somerset TA1 4AB
England TaUpho«w|0821)S4489*540Jt?

software getting harder

 FEA TURES SOFTWARE REVIEWS
SPECTRUM: Revolution (31), Nightmare Rally (48),
WAR OF THE SHIRES: an epic fantasy wargame from Deactivators (53), The Trapdoor (54), Cyrus II (56), Short
Alan Davis. 10 reviews begin 38

JOYSTICKS: a look at the latest ones, and a few old

favourites. 20

RANDOM MEMORY: Clyde Blsh with a Speedraw

routine and 3D adventure graphics. 26

PROFESSIONAL TOUCH: Programming advice from

Hewson's Steve Turner. 34

SPECTRUM/QL LINK UP: RS232 communications

between the two machines. 64

QL ERROR TRAPPING: an excellent programming utility

all the way from Alberquerque. 68

VENTURESPEAK: Alan Davis puts the finishing touches

to the Venturespeak editor. 75

OPUS COLUMN: hints and tips for the Discovery Disc.

80

MACHINE CODE CALCULATOR: everything you always

wanted to know about p o l y n o m i a l s . . . 84
SPECTRUM 48K - I7.BK
CASSETTE

REGULARS Dan Dare reviewed (46)

NEWS: meet the Code Masters, the new budget

software house. 4
MINDPLAY: Jewels of Darkness from Level 9 (82), plus
HRH The Game. 72
CROSSFIRE: Readers' letters. 15

CROSSWIRES: Readers' problems. 16 PROGRAMMING PROJECTS

HARDWARE: musical add-ons and a new printer EXTENDED BASIC: new commands for the Spectrum. 50
interface from RAM. 18
MONITOR: a machine code programming utility. 57
SHORTCUTS: readers' routines. 42

QL COLUMN: no news is good news (Isn't it?). 63 DfiN IS NOH IN SECTOR ~2~|

PAGE 81: some readers' routines for the '81. 79

COMPETITIONS

i t
SAGA: be one of the first to own Saga's new
Compliment set-ups. 8
J I I L
LEVEL 9: plan the year ahead with a Level 9
yearplanner calendar. 30

CLOCK THIS: win a snazzy Gremlin clock or Trallblazer. 01: 4-71 37

71

The Pilot of the Future in a c t i o n (44)

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

Fairlight II
Bo Jangeborg<s follow up to Fairllght Is now almost complete
and due tor on October release. Fairllght II carries straight
on from where the action In Fairllght left oft. But now, the
game's hero, Isvar, has to leave Castle Falrtlght and travel
through a forest beset by the powers of Darkness. The Edge
claim that this will be one of the first true 1 128 games for the
Spectrum and the 48K version will have to be loaded In two
parts In order to fit Into the smaller memory. Both versions
will cost £9.95.
Also due from The Edge this month are Shao-Lln's Road,
an arcade conversion of the sequel to Yle Ar Kung Ful, and
The Artist II. The latter Is an upgraded version of the rather
nitty Artist, which was also programmed by Bo Jangeborg,
and Includes many new features such as pull down menus,
icons, AMX and Kempston mouse control and tots more. As
with Fairlight II, The Artist II will be available in 48K and 128K
versions for £14.95 and £17.95.
g P.! - f t / P s J » - ' ^ ^ ^ g f t j j g
$ Ci
if }w&
m ho
!
ShaoLin's Road
12
The French Connection
Vera Cruz Is an interesting new game Irom French company
Infogrames. The aforementioneaVera is. or rather was* a well
known woman of 'ow-you-say. easy vlrtua Until she was
discovered dead In her apartment — which is where you come
in.
Using a police computer system to gather information you
must piece together clues to solve the murder and apprehend
the villain. But first you have lo (rack the game down In your
local software shop and bribe Ihe owner with £9.95 before you
can get on the trail.
> * u (Mi i n *
w;t cit j i truont
i tau
i i i t ; r « SKtarufc
>K tatt mr NCI
J • fhtuut
c * t*«rviiM
Codemasters
This little bunch of Darlings (Jim. David and Richard] are
collectively known as Code Master* which Is the name they've
given to their new budget software label. Jim Darling used to
work for Al Products who have provided many ol Maslerlronlc's
titles in the past, and his two sons have programmed a lew
games, such as the welt known The Last V8. Masters of Magic
and others.
Code Masters intends to release games as good as most
lull priced titles, but at a competitive £199. Their first Spectrum
titles include Vampire ('platform game with a difference").
Phantomas, a graphic adventure called Necris Dome, and
Terra-Incognita, the follow up to Mastertronic's odd game
Nonlerraqueous. Let's hope that those four get Code Masters
off to a good start.
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
Opus meet the Plus 2 Spectrum Games Top Ten
Opus Supplies wish to time at the PCW show, a n d ) Trivial Pursuit Domark
a n n o u n c e that yes. the everything went tine. So Plus 2 1 (
Discovery disc drive is owners looking lor a disc system 2 ( ) Dan Dare Virgin
c o m p a t i b l e with the new a n d nol wanting to wait tor the ) Headcoach Addictive
Spectrum Plus Two. Risking rumoured Amstrad system need 3 (
potential egg-onface of mega look no (urther. 4 ( ) Paperboy Elite
proportions, Opus' John Harris Discovery cost £99,95 plus
tried out the new Spectrum 5 ( ) Dragons Lair Software Projects
VAT, a n d Opus c a n b e
when It went on show for the first conlacted on 0737-65080. 6 (2) Ghosts 'n Goblins Elite
7 ( ) Heartland Odin
Gratuitous violence 8 ( ) Xarq Electric Dreams
9 (4) Green Beret Imagine
That's our only excuse tor printing this picture ol judo fiend Brian
Jacks beating Ihe daylights out of his poor old dad. That a n d 10 ( ) Strike Force Harrier Mlrrorsott
the upcoming release of the judo simulation Uchi-Mata from
Marlech, on whose stand the two Jacks were demonstrating
a few throws at last month's PCW show. (Chart supplied by W.H. Smith)
We would like lo point out that ZX doesn't necessarily
condone the mugging of one's father, though you hove lo admit
lhat it's one way ol getting him to go out a n d buy you a new All c h a n g e at the top with some heavyweight releases
Spectrum Plus 2, this month. The question is c a n any game displace Trivial
Pursuit before it comes Into its own as the tailor made
software stocking filler?
Strong contenders for the Christmas No 1 spot yet to be
released include Gauntlet, (US Gold), Uridlum (Hewson) and
Trailblazer (Gremlin).

Now!
Virgin have just put together the
third in their Now Games series.
Now Games 3 is a compilation
of live games, including a
brand new Spectrum version ol
Sorcery which is available for
the first lima The other titles on
the tape are Nick Faldo Plays
The Open. Codename Mai II.
Everyone's A Watly, a n d the
three part Bond Game, A View
To A Kill. Now Games 3 should
be in Ihe shops as you read this,
a n d costs £9.95.

At last, Antiriad
Despite a few last minute hitches, Palace Software's newie. The
Sacred Armour of Antiriad should b e released this monlh. This
epic ol barbarians a n d nuclear holocaust has already been
previewed In ZX, so we wilt only a d d lhat the release dale is
23rd October, a n d the price £8.99.

Dan Malone; Antirlad's author,

hard at work on Ihe graphics
using a barbarian machine.

Editor: Bryan Ralph

Assistant Editor: Cliff Joseph
Consultant Editor: Ray Elder
Advertising Manager: John McGarry r
Design: Argus Design
P u n l i x i by AlabaMer Povsmaro a n d Son* Ltd, lovll. Maidstone. Item A5.P. Advertising and Editorial
A d v e r l l t o m o n l C o p y C o n l r o l o c A n d y Solwood J
No. 1 Golden Square, London W1R 3AB 01-437 0626
Distributed by Argu* Pie** Sales a n d Distribution Ltd. 12-19 Paul Street. London EC2A 4JS

ZX C o m p u t i n g Monthly it p u b l i s h e d o n the l o m i h Friday o l e a c h month. Subscription rofo* c n b e o b t a i n e d from ZX S u b * c r i p u o n i mionof. Timet House.
17V I h o Marlowe*, Hemal Hempstood, Herh HPS1 IBB CO
£
The content) o l Ihls p u b l i c a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g all article*, designs. plans* drawings a n d other intellectual property rights herein b e l o n g to Argus Specialist
Publication* Limited All right* conferred by Ihe Low of Copyright a n d other Intellocluot property rights a n d by virtue ol Inlernotlonal c o p y r i g h t convention*
a r e specifically ro*erved lo Argu* Specialist Publication* Limned a n d o n y r e p r o d u c t i o n require* Iho prior written consent of Iho c o m p a n y
Argut Specialist Publication* Limited 1986

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 Not tonight Josephine... Mantronix very professionally presented
a n d he gets the c h a n c e to see
the professionals at work with a
Is a new strategy game In which Napoleon Bonaparte attempts
winners visit to Probe as they work on Ihe
thealrework for a new release
to no. let's try that again. The winner of our Inlay design Mr D. Nichols Irom Holborn,
Napoleon At War Is the latest release trom wargames competition is 17 year old Ian E. Bennet trom London SW11. Jay
specialists CCS. Based upon the Battle ot Eylau the g a m e puts Macaulay from Dudley, who Sachania. Milton Keynes a n d
you In control ol French troops as they battle the opposing sent In an Impressive redesign David Rademaker from Genf,
(computer controlled] Russian and Prussian forces. CCS say that ol Probe Sollware's Mantronix Belgium win runners up prizes
the game otters a high level of artificial Intelligence, both in cover, lan's winning entry was of a copy of Mantronix.
the computer opponent a n d in suggesting alternative tactics
for your own forces, so II you're Info wargames Ihls Is your
chance to meet your Bakerloo for £8.95
Further strategic info from CCS on 01-858 0763.

Once bitten...
Twice Shy is the latest g a m e from Moslac based on Ihe Dick
Francis horse racing thriller of the same n a m e In It. you'll ptay Elite Classic
Winners
the part of teacher Jonathan Derry who finds some computer
tapes that are wanted by shady underworld figures, a n d It's up
to you to get the tapes back to their rightful owner.
Winners
The gome is being wrilen by The RamJam Corporation and Five winners carry ofl Ihe llrst fen Thirty ZX readers have booked
Is priced at £9.95. So If you fancy thrilling some race horses releases In the Elite Classics their trip to the wacky land of
Twice Shy seems like a good bet. range. They are Tommy Tay, enchantment, Muddle Earth by
Oberusel, West Germany, emerging Ihe victors In our
Jeffrey Ford. Etwall. Tony Pdrrit, Boggit competition. They will
Cleveland, Richard Haggis. each receive a copy of CRL's

Cruising
London N3 a n d Cleasie Ward, Monster Hit game a n d set off on
Software Spllsby. this spoof adventure to discover
the dreaded horrid squelchy
Microsphere, the sollware
house that brought you Skool
Pirates things a n d other beings that
Tolkien thought were too funny

Graphic
to include In the original.
Daze, have been quiet of late Ariolasoft offer you the chance
but are about to surface again 1o plan Ihe crime ol the century The squad ot winners are:

with a detective mystery game
called Contact Sam Cruise.
Sam Cruise is a private eye In
Ihe Bogart tradition with a
permanently lurned up collar.
Microsphere a r e k e e p i n g
shlumm about Ihe plot thus far
but here's a screenshot to get
you Into that 'film noir' mood.
In their new game. They Stole A
Million, in November. You are
put In charge of a group of
small-time villains and, with the
help of some blueprints a n d
your handpicked henchman,
you can choose one of five
'targets' to rob a n d then you've
got to find yourself a fence who
c a n lake the merchandise ofl
your hands. If this sounds like
your sort ot thing, then beg.
borrow or possibly steal £8.95 to
get the goods from Ariolasoft.
Professional
Retouch
Pari of the listing In The Pro-
fessional Touch (September)
was printed out ot sequence
The section of the listing C125 to
C177 should be moved to the
end of the listing.
Adventure
Creator
Winners
ZX readers plumbed Ihe
depths of their Imaginations to
s u m m o n u p the o p e n i n g
scenes of a new adventure and
the results showed some fine
sparks of o r i g i n a l i t y . Ten
winners get the chance of
developing their ideas Into a
finished product with
Incentive's Graphic Adventure
Creator. They are Pete Polnton,
Walsal; J o r g e n J a c o b s e n ,
Glostrup, Denmark; A.F. Motln,
Leeds; J.S. Russel, Fareham;
Barry Carter, London E.2; D.M.
Shannon, Co Antrim; W.J.
Stewart, N o t t i n g h a m ; Emll
G r u b e r , Graz, Austria; P.
Newnham, Weston Super Mare;
Roger Morton. Normanton.
H.H. Nellson, Galashields; P.
Gow, Normanton, Bretf Coles,
Milton Keynes: Miss E. Dron,
Sutton; Trevor Boyd. Belfast;
Geoffrey Priced, Pulborough; JL
Rlddell, Heme Bay; Richard
Grant. West Lothian; Lelf
Kornstaedt, Colommleres,
France; Javier Packer Coryn.
Court St Ettienne. France; PR.
Ball. Brentwood; P.J. Nutter.
Catterick; A.L. McLellan. Paisley;
P.J.E. Williams, Fordingbridge; S.
Burnett, Tottenham; Mrs P.
Barclay, Plymouth; Gregory
Teeger, London NW6; Colin
MacKenzle, Fleel; D.J. Wagner,
London W3; Sean Weekes.
S a n d i a c r e ; Mark McEvllly,
Birmingham; Phillip Hlscock,
Shepton Mallet; John Jones,
Lechlade; N.S. Collet. BFPO 34;
N. Cashman, London E14; P
Harrison, Appleby; R. Record,
Clacton; David Watson.
Barnsley; Dirk Vanderreyken,
Heverlee, Belgium; Skancmlr
Kais, Myslavoklce. Poland.

12
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
fM COIIPUTER REPRIR
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we correct Colour, sound, Keyboard. Check the loading and saving chip. Put new feet on wtiim AjiueK m upviit Kuril 0 95.of computer £9 95
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SPECTRUM SPARES COMMODORE SPARES Spectrum Plus spare
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 COMPLIMENTS
MI'IUIM
Your c h a n c e to win a
complete word
processing set up from
£299-1-, that's £100 less t h a n the
Saga worth over £300. Amstrad word processor. But the
C o m p l i m e n t Is m a d e u p of characters per s e c o n d in LQM
h a r d w a r e that c a n b e used for a n d also features a n Epson
m a n y other uses — It's far more c o m p a t i b l e c h a r a c t e r set.
S a g a Systems has put together t h a n Just a word processor. Parallel printer I n t e r f a c e
a word processing p a c k a g e Saga +2 Keyboard
a i m e d at g i v i n g Spectrum The Prize Opus Discdrive
owners a v i a b l e alternative to Last W o r d S o f t w a r e
the temptations ol the Amstrad The C o m p l i m e n t consists of: Software Extentlon — includes
PCW8256. Known as the I Q Printer - prints 150 foreign c h a r a c t e r sets
C o m p l i m e n t If will b e selling at characters per s e c o n d a n d 25 Mallmerge

Compliment Competition
I I w o u l d like to w i n the S a g a C o m p l i m e n t b e c a u s e (in 50 words or
1 less) The competition
I In c o n j u n c t i o n with Saga, ZX is
g i v i n g o n e of its readers the
o p p o r t u n i t y to w i n a
C o m p l i m e n t system. All you have
to d o is give us In 50 words or
less your reason tor w a n t i n g to
win the S a g a C o m p l i m e n t .
The c o m p e t i t i o n Is o p e n to all
I readers of ZX e x c e p t e m p l o y e e s
of Argus Specialist publications,
j Name: Alabaster Passmore a n d S a g a
Systems. The editor's d e c i s i o n is
j Address: final a n d no c o r r e s p o n d e n c e
c a n b e e n t e r e d Into. The c l o s i n g
d a t e Is D e c e m b e r 5th 1986.
I Fill out the c o u p o n b e l o w a n d
post to C o m p l i m e n t
Post to C o m p l i m e n t C o m p e t i t i o n , ZX C o m p u t i n g Monthly, No 1 C o m p e t i t i o n , ZX C o m p u t i n g
G o l d e n Square, London W1R 3A& Monthly. No 1 G o l d e n Square,
London W1R 3AB.

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 DISK INTERFACE DUAL JOYSTICK PORTS
it Allows up to 1.6 Mb of storage on 2 drives * Sinclair and Kempston compatible.
-k Loads a full 48K program in 3.5 seconds NETWORKING
* Simple Basic Syntax , " .. • „ . . ,
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density, single/double sided. 40/80 track 3 . 3V? , 5V,. | h a r e d a c c e s s to Pnnter a n d d,sc dr,ve ,or UPto 64
Spectrums
SNAPSHOT BUTTON * Interface 1 Compatible
-k Saves any program instantly - at any point you wish and ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
as you
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PRINTER INTERFACE W
it Compatible with the whole range of Centronics Parallel W
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it Uses normal Sinclair commands - ^
L COPY
it Permits user defined and screen graphics.

Use the disciple with any Spectrum - even the new Plus Two model.

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the ultimate disk, printer, joystick and network controller for the Spectrum £73.70 (+VAT)
Designed by Miles Gordon Technology for Rockfort Products (a trading division of Vignesh Ltd)

To: Rocktort Products, 81 Church Road, London NW4 4DP

Please send me POST FREE (Quantity) DISCIPLE Interfaces
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Alan Davis begins a RPoland stood by the keep,
watching the folk of Greenways
three part series to gathering their crops from the
nearby fields. It had been a fine
create an original summer — one of the best he
could recall — and the Shirefolk
fantasy wargame. were in good heart. There would
be ample provision for Winter
this year, and he was content.
Suddenly the excited shouts
and gestures of the villagers
drew his attention towards the
forest ot Greenways in the west,
whence a solitary rider was
approaching at great speed
'What news, friend?" he
called, as the newcomer
dismounted and tethered his
beast.
"Ill, my Lord." gasped the
rider, gulping thankfully at a
proffered draught of water. "I

come in all haste from the
mountains ol Darkness, where
great armies are gathering In
fearsome numbers!"
Roland shook his head.
"Nay. trlend — we surely have
little to fear trom the Shire of
Darkness. The mountains are
Impassable. No army could
penetrate them and survive."
"My Lord, the forces of
Darkness are mounted upon
guruks — great beasts from the
far west, capable of carrying
many men over the most rugged
terrain, at speed. Even water Is
no obstacle to them, for they are
mighty swimmers. Believe me. my
Lord, I have seen these things
with my own eyes but three days
ago. and even now Deepmeads
and Northwood may have fallen!"
w
Roland needed no further
persuasion.
"Then all the Shires are In the
gravest peril! Freemen of
Greenways, rally to my banner
and prepare for war! We ride at
once to warn Ranolt ol
Deepmeads..." And as Roland
spoke, from the west came the
faint but ominous sound of
thunder
 the c o q r of t h e sbfRes
Don't worry — you haven't Now this Is g o o d news, b e c a u s e
of course it's very m u c h easier to
Maps a n d things
b o u g h t a r o l e - p l a y i n g fantasy
m a g a z i n e by mistake! This really e x p e r i m e n t with c h a n g e s in a This month, as you m i g h t hve
is ZXC Monthly, a n d w h a t you've BASIC p r o g r a m t h a n it is with g u e s s e d from the illustrations, is
just r e a d is the Introduction to a m a c h i n e c o d e . The final mostly a b o u t g r a p h i c s a n d
c o m p u t e r g a m e . I'd better requirements was merely that m a p s — specifically, the
explain... the g a m e s h o u l d b e fun to p l a y business of translating the
It a l l b e g a n with a bit of in its o w n right, regardless of a n y o r i g i n a l m a p of t h e Twelve Shires
d o o d l i n g , really. With p e n a n d further d e v e l o p m e n t s you m i g h t Into s o m e t h i n g that c a n b e
p a p e r to h a n d o n e m o r n i n g , I like to m a k e yourself In d u e r e a d i l y p r o g r a m m e d o n the
started sketching out a m a p of course. Spectrum. The S p e c t r u m u p p e r
a n i m a g i n a r y world, with So if, as I a m , you're a t t r a c t e d screen, as you know, consists of
n o t h i n g very p a r t i c u l a r in m i n d b y the I d e a of c r e a t i n g 22 rows of 32 c h a r a c t e r squares.
— not k n o w i n g where It m i g h t i m a g i n a r y worlds; or if you h a v e Suppose we let e a c h of these
l e a d , G r a d u a l l y the m a p took a taste for the "Lords of c h a r a c t e r squares represent o n e
shape, d i v i d i n g itself interestingly M i d n i g h t " t y p e of e p i c fantasy 'location* o n the m a p of the
into twelve Shires. Each Shire g a m e which can be played world, then. This will g i v e us 704
a c q u i r e d a keep a n d a over a n d a g a i n In different ways; locations to p l a y with — w h i c h
sprinkling of villages, a n d of or if you just f a n c y t a c k l i n g the s h o u l d give a m p l e s c o p e for our
course these in turn r e q u i r e d interesting p r o g r a m m i n g "mini-epic", a n d will e n a b l e us
inhabitants. So I started Inventing c h a l l e n g e s of a strategy g a m e to d i s p l a y the entire w o r l d m a p
some c h a r a c t e r s — thanes of the — why not Join m e for the next o n screen a t once.
Shires: Roland of Greenways, c o u p l e of months, a n d try w r i t i n g
But how s h o u l d w e store such
Ranolf of D e e p m e a d s , a n d so your o w n . . . . ?
a m a p in m e m o r y ? O n e m e t h o d
on.
w o u l d b e to d r a w it out on-
Now, s o m e o n e (GS. Lewis, I LISTING 1 screen, a n d then store the entire
think) o n c e c o m m e n t e d that M a p printing routine: screen as a c o d e b l o c k a b o v e
i m a g i n a r y worlds are a l l very Aisomblor program.
RAMTOP, c a l l i n g it u p as
well, but w h e n you've c r e a t e d r e q u i r e d d u r i n g t h e g a m e using
this interesting p l a c e a n d •HlSOFr GEHS3M2 iVjSI kIH.1 H •
ZX SPECTRUII a short LDIR-based m a c h i n e
p o p u l a t e d it with characters, c o d e routine. Well, if the m a p
Copyright fci Hisori 1903,4
s o m e t h i n g has to happen in it! It HI I r i g h t s r»5«rvcii were to r e m a i n u n c h a n g e d
was at a b o u t this stage that I 1 errors oo d u r i n g play, this w o u l d b e fine
b e g a n to realise that there were 10 »D* - but in "The War of the Shires" I
possibilities here for a c o m p u t e r 20 »C - w a n t e d c e r t a i n features of the
30 PRMHP
g a m e of the "fantasy-eplc- baooo 40 ORG 60000 m a p to b e a l t e r e d b y events.
w a r g a m e " variety, w h i c h m i g h t bBOOQ SO LO A.A
(Ships, for Instance, won't always
bOOO? SO CALL N 1 60 1
p r o v i d e some interesting 60005 70 CRLL H006B b e in the s a m e p l a c e , a n d
p r o g r a m m i n g e x a m p l e s (as well beoou 80 LO A.2
6001 0 90 CALL ulbOl keeps m a y b e r e d u c e d to
as a n e n t e r t a i n i n g g a m e ) for my 6001 3
6001 6
100
1 10
LO
LN
HL,(UARS
OE , 8 r u b b l e In battle.) I finally
friends the readers of ZXC — not <>UU 1 9 1 20 RUO HL , Ot d e c i d e d to store the m a p in a
to m e n t i o n myself! So I 60020 1 30 PUSH HL
60021 1 40 LO UL,704 BASIC c h a r a c t e r array, xS{22,32),
d i s c a r d e d the p e n a n d p a p e r , 6 00 4 ISO HUO HI. ,0E
60 025 I 60 EX Ot , HL so that e a c h c h a r a c t e r s q u a r e
p l u g g e d in the o l d Spectrum — 6002& 170 POP HL o n the screen c o u l d b e directly
a n d the eventual result was "THE 60027 100 STAAT LO 0 , 32
60029 1 90 LOOP LD ft, 16 r e l a t e d to a single e l e m e n t of
WAR OF THE SHIRES". 60031 200 RST 16
60032 210 LO A,1HL1 the array, for e a s e of
60033 220 LU 1CHRI,A
m a n i p u l a t i o n . Mountains, keeps,
60036 230 CALL COLOUR
60039 2 4 0
Building a world 60040 2SO
AST
LD
HS T 1 6
16
A,(CHRI a n d so on, c o u l d t h e n b e
60043 260 represented by UDGs o n screen,
60044 270 I HC 11L with the c o d e s for the UDGs
Right at the start, a n u m b e r ot G004S 200 OJHZ L OOP
60047 290 LD A,E b e i n g h e l d In the array.
decisions h a d to b e m a d e 6004 U 300 CP L
a b o u t the format of the g a m e . At 68049 310 JP H Z , 3 IHRT
So how d o w e a c t u a l l y get
60052 3 2 0 LD A,6
first I d i d briefly consider using a 60053 330 CP H the m a p onto the screen, with
60054 340 JP HZ.START
simplified form of l a n d s c a p e d 60057 350 14 L f e a c h UDG a p p e a r i n g in its
60050 3 6 0 COLOUR CP 144
graphics, but r e j e c t e d the i d e a 60060 370 JP Z,BLUE c o r r e c t colour? Well, it could b e
o n the g r o u n d s that the sheer 60063 380 CP 14 S d o n e in BASIC — b u t It's a
60065 390 JP Z,6AEEH
v o l u m e of g r a p h i c s d a t a w o u l d b006U 400 CP 146 painfully slow process w h i c h
60070 410 JP Z.CYAH
m a k e the p r o g r a m listings 60073 420 CP 147 w o u l d drive a n y p l a y e r of the
ridiculously long. However, there 60075 430 JP Z.GREEK g a m e to distraction (in play, the
60070 440 CP 1 48
s e e m e d to b e no reason why 6U08O 450 JP Z, RED g a m e involves a g o o d d e a l of
60083 460 CP 149
the o r i g i n a l " w o r l d m a p " itself 60005 470 JP Z.HAGE s w a p p i n g b e t w e e n the m a p a n d
c o u l d n t b e represented 60088 480 CP ISO the various text " p a g e s " d e a l i n g
60090 490 JP Z.CREEK
g r a p h i c a l l y — so I settled for 60093 500 CP 151 with battles a n d the like.) This,
60095 510 JP Z,GREEN
that. The next question 6 0 0 90 520 XOR fl then, must b e a m a c h i n e c o d e
c o n c e r n e d the a c t u a l 60099 530 HE T j o b — a n d the assembler
60100 540 BLUE LIT ft. 1
p r o g r a m m i n g , w h i c h , ideally, 60102 550 ALT p r o g r a m in Listing 1 will d o if for
60103 560 RED LO ft,2
s h o u l d b e sufficiently flexible tor 60105 570 AET us. It's a very s i m p l e routine
others to m o d i f y a n d a d d 60106 sou MAGE LD A, 3
60100 590 AET w h i c h assumes that the a r r a y
d e v e l o p m e n t s of their own. I 60109 600 6REEH LD xS(22,32) is stored at t h e
6 0 111 btO AET
c o u l d see from the start that 601 12 620 CYRII LD ft, 5 beginning of he BASIC v a r i a b l e s
601 14 6 3 0 RE (
some m a c h i n e c o d e 60 I 1 S 6 4 0 CHR OTIH 0 a r e a , a n d is simply prints the 704
programming would be 23627 650 •SAMS EDU 23627 c h a r a c t e r s c o n t a i n e d in the
necessary to prevent p o n d e r o u s P 4 S S 2 errors oo a r r a y in the a p p r o p r i a t e INK o n
response times, but I was IlLUt ERC4 CHR EA03 white PAPER. I must e m p h a s i s e
surprised to discover that in COLOUR Efl'HI CVrtrl EHOO that the routine won't work if the
GREEH EftCU LOOP EH70
practise only two m a c h i n e c o d e IIAGE EACH PRHRP 87f 4 a r r a y x$0 isn't at the start of the
RED ERC7 START EH7B
routines were strictly necessary, "HH'j SC4H v a r i a b l e s a r e a . This m e a n s that
a n d that BASIC was perfectly T 4 b t r used 137 rron 194 either the a r r a y must b e
a d e q u a t e for everything else. d i m e n s i o n e d before a n y other

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 prints continuously downwards Now for the m o m e n t of truth.
LISTING 2 from the current PRINT position,
BASIC p r o g r a m to g e n e r a t e m a c h i n e Somehow, we n e e d to get the
c o d e b l o c k a n d udg*s.
whereas the previous routine d a t a for 704 locations into our
p r o d u c e d a scrolling display. It's m a p array — a n d if I were to
convenient to have both the present you with a list of 704
I REM . o . n m . O ' t o . d K H
li.ich i nr c a d e a n d U O G s m a p a n d text printing routines numbers to type in. you wouldn't
10 C L E A R 5 9 9 9 9 : LET S > 0 stored on t a p e as a single c o d e b e very pleased, w o u l d you?
2 U F O R l a b O O O O TO 6 0 1 1 4
30 HERO X LET S = S » » P O K E i.X
b l o c k (saved as "PRINT* CODE Can't say I'd b l a m e you! Let's
40 HEXT I 60000,370) - w h i c h is why I've m a k e ourselves a m a p e d i t i n g
t>» FUR l e b O P O O TO 6 0 3 6 6
(.0 H E R D X LET s » 6 t * P O K E i.X given them together now even p r o g r a m instead. Type In Listing
7 0 HE X T i
uo r a n . =6B3CU TO 6 5 4 5 5
t h o u g h we won't b e using the 3, save it to t a p e with SAVE
9 0 R E A D x: LET S = S * X : P O K E i,X text printing routine unlil next "MAP EDITOR" LINE 1, a n d then
100 H E X T 4
lilt IF S 0 4 6 P 4 5 T H E N PfllHT RT 1 month. The c a l l addresses, by stop the t a p e in that position
0, I 2 i " E R R O R " I I STOP
1 ;><t PRIHT RT 1 0 . 7 ; " SRt1 IMC M R C H I
the way, are USR 60000 a n d USR a n d put it to o n e side. Enter
HE C O D E " 60200 respectively. CLEAR 59999 as a direct
130 SRUE ~ P R I H T " C O O E 6 0 0 0 0 , 3 7 0
140 C L S PR I H T HI 1(1, 1 1 ; " S R U 1 H c o m m a n d , a n d l o a d in the two
UDGs
G UOGS"
150 SH"E " U O C S - C O O E 6 5 3 6 8 , 8 8 c o d e blocks you saved from
300 Oil T II 6 2 , 2 , P U S , I , 2 2 , 2 0 5 , 1 0 7 ,
11,61.2 Listing 2 thus: LOAD "PRINT"
20 1 D R T H 2 0 5 , 1 , 2 2 , 4 2 , 7 5 , 9 2 , 1 7 , B
The last chunk of d a t a in Listing CODE: LOAD "UDGS" CODE
,0.25
2 6 ? URTlt 2 2 9 , 1 7 , 1 9 2 , 2 , 2 5 , 2 3 5 , 2 2 2 defines the UDGs required for Now r e p l a c e the editor t a p e
6,6,32,62
2 0 3 DRTR 16,215,126,SO,211,234, the g a m e a n d SAVE "PRINT" CODE
205,154.234,215
The p r o g r a m wilt save these 60000,370: SAVE "UDGS" CODE
204 DRTR 5 0 , 2 1 1 , 2 3 4 , 2 1 5 , 3 5 , 1 6 , 2
3ft,123.109,194
as separate c o d e b l o c k 65368,88. (They must b e saved in
2 0 5 OH T R 1 2 3 , 2 3 4 , 1 2 2 , 10S.,194,12
3.234.201,254,144 ("UDGS" CODE 65368,88). You this order). Rewind the tape, type
>06 DATA 2 « 2 , 1 9 6 , 2 3 4 , 2 5 4 , 1 4 5 , 2 0
should note that the m a p LOAD a n d wait for the m e n u
2,205,234,254,146
>07 OATH 2 0 2 . 2 0 0 , 2 3 4 , 2 5 4 , 1 4 7 , 2 0
printing routine will print the to a p p e a r .
2, 2 0 5 ,2 3 4 , 2 5 4 , 1 4 0
>08 OATH 202,199,234,2S4,149,20
2.202,234,254,ISO
correct colours tor the g r a p h i c s At the t o p of the screen you'll
> 0 9 OR IH 2 0 2 , 2 0 5 , 2 3 4 , 2 5 4 , 1 5 1 , 2 0 characters only as I've d e f i n e d see the various UDG shapes
2.205 ,234,175,201
210 ORTR 6 2 . 1 , 2 0 1 , 6 2 . 2 , 2 0 1 , 6 2 , 3 them in figure 1. presented for ease of reference
,201,62
211 O R T R 4 , 2 0 1 , 6 2 , 5 . 2 0 1
300 0R1R 4 2 , 7 5 , 9 2 . 1 2 6 , 2 5 4 , 9 0 , 2 0
2,56,235.205 Figure 1. C o d e * tor the m a p ' i g r a p h i c
"|0I O R l A 1 8 4 , 2 5 , 2 3 5 , 1 9 5 , 4 3 , 2 3 5 .
35.126,50,203 characters.
3 0 2 OfiTA 2 3 5 , 3 5 , 3 5 , 3 4 , 2 0 5 , 2 3 5 . 2
06.127,235,254
3 0 3 ORTR 1,202,181,235,205,146, CHRS CODE SHAPE COLOUR
235,205,101.235
3U4 ORTR 4 2 , 2 0 5 , 2 3 5 , 2 3 7 , 9 1 , 2 0 4 , 144 Mountain Blue
235,23.0,25
305 ORTR 3 4 , 2 0 5 , 2 3 5 , 6 8 , 2 0 4 , 2 3 5 , 145 Downs Green
71.58,203,235
30b O R T R 1 4 4 , 5 0 , 2 0 3 , 2 3 5 , 4 2 , 2 0 5 , 146 Water Cyan
235.12b,254,32 147 Woodland Green
307 ORTR 1 <»4 , 6 6 , 2 3 6 , 3 5 , 3 4 , 2 0 5 , 2
35,58,203,235 148 Village Red
308 DHIR 6 1 , 5 0 , 2 0 3 , 2 3 5 , 1 9 5 , 1 0 4 ,
235.50.203.235 149 Keep Magenta
3 0 9 OR TR 2 6 4 , 3 3 , 2 1 8 , 1 3 7 , 2 3 6 , 175 150 Meadows Green
,201,58.203,235
310 DHTR 5 0 , 2 0 4 , 2 3 5 , 6 2 , 1 , 2 0 1 , 4 2 151 Pine forest Green
,205,235.17
311 DR t R 3 1 , 0 , 2 5 , 1 2 6 , 2 5 4 , 3 1 , 2 1 0 152 Ship Black
, 165,235.19
312 DRTR 1 2 3 , 6 0 , 2 0 4 , 2 3 5 , 2 0 I,35,
153 (Plain) —

126,254.32,194 154 Army Black

313 DATA 175,235,195,159,235,27
,43,43.195.153
314 O R T R 2 3 5 , 6 2 , 2 , 2 0 5 , 1 , 2 2 , 2 3 7 ,
91,205,235
3)5 DRTR 2 3 7 , 7 5 , 2 0 4 , 2 3 5 , 6 , 0 . 2 0 5
,60,32.62 There's no reason at all why — except that the "Army"
76
3 I L ORTR 13,215,201,24,24,119,1 you shouldn't c h a n g e the g r a p h i c will b e missing since
4 0 0 OH TR 1 6 , 2 4 , 6 0 , 5 2 , 1 1 8 , 1 1 4 , 2 4 shapes themselves using your this doesn't form a p e r m a n e n t
2, I 0 5 . 0 . 0
401 O R T R 0 , 5 6 , 1 1 6 , 2 4 2 , 5 6 , 0 , 0 , 1 0 favourite UDG designer. If you part of the map. Ignore options 1
2,153.0
402 6RTR 0 , 1 0 2 , 1 5 3 , 0 . 0 , 4 8 , 1 0 8 , 5
wish. But you mustnt. at this a n d 2 for the present, a n d select
8,I10,124 stage, c h a n g e their meaning, or o p t i o n 3: "Edit map". You'll b e
403 ORTR 3 6 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 2 4 , 6 0 , 1 2 6 . 5 2 ,
52.0 their order i f you're to a v o i d g r e e t e d by a blank screen
4 04 ORTR 0 , 2 1 9 , 2 5 6 , 9 0 , 1 2 6 , 1 0 2 , 2
31,0,0,68
g e t t i n g Into a terrible mess later c o n t a i n i n g a white cursor
405 DMTA 0 , 4 0 , 2 , 0 , 8 0 , 0 , 0 , 1 6 , 5 6 , on! CHRS 144 (or GRAPHICS square, with brief instructions
16
406 D R I R 5 6 , 1 2 4 , 1 6 , 0 , 2 2 , 2 8 , 6 0 , I SHIFT/A,, if you prefer) must b e a d i s p l a y e d o n the b o t t o m two
2 4 , 2 5 4 , 16
407 ORTR 2 1 5 , 1 2 6 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 , 0 , mountain, a n d so on. lines. Try m o v i n g the cursor
O
408 OR T H 0,252,124,4,4,05,85,25
5 LISTING 3
Tho m a p editor BASIC p r o g r a m .
variables are assigned, or the I Rll 8 0 IHK PAPER 8 P R I H I OR I GIL
variables area must first b e MflP E D tI OH T I,RI y , x , O U E R 1; PAUSE 0
»**»»*t*»t*»tt»»l***4*»
CLEARed before l o a d i n g the LET if • I H K E V t
9 0 IF i f s ' q " T H E H G O TO 20
array from t a p e Into a BASIC 5 or r F N i(XI • ( X • 1 4 4 I *(2 R H O
X - 1 4 0 M I 3 HHO X * 1 4 9 l » ( 4 RHO < X » I 0
100 IT it:CHIIt 13 T H E H CO TO 2 0
program. 4 5 OR X a 14 7 OR X * 150 OR X > I 6 ! ) 1 + 110 IF i « * C H R l 12 THEH P R 1 H T RT
45 H H O X•I 4 6 I g,xi- - LET x»iy*I,x«11 G
Listing 2 will POKE In the 10 B O R D E R 6 CLEHR 59999 LORD O TO 8 0
,M
necessary bytes for the m a p "PRINT"CODE
0 1H it 1 2 2 , 3 2 1
LOHU "UOGS"COOE IPO P RKIiHmT u
1,'V
I," "
B RmIvGnHiT l>, A T« yv,.t
,x
LEI X = X - ( 1 | 1 " S " R H O X J 0 I
OULR

printing routine from BASIC — 20 CLS I'M I H I RT 10, 11, " H H P H

HKt H" , R T 1 3 , 1 1 1 / 1 Luad njp",RI
• C i » e " 8 " R H O X 1 3 1 I . LET y > y - ( i t «
"/" RHD 9 > 0 1 • I • R H D y<21)
but it also contains two other l5,lllj"P n.ip" i RT 1 7 , 1 0 , " 3 CO TO 8 0
Important c o d e blocks. The first E d i t n.lp"
2 5 P R I H T HI 1 , 1 4 , " U D C S " j H T 3 , 0
2 0 0 CO S U B 1 0 1 0
,R T 9 . x ; O D E R 1;" "
PRIHT BniGHT 1

of these "extras" is a m a c h i n e >••<1 II C U E I C II 1" i R T 4 , 6 )

R i - 1 4 4 TO 152; PIIIHT IHK IH ill
VO 2 1 0 P R i H T RT U , X ; F L H S H I. O U E R
1," " PRUSE 5 LET iI • IHKt Vt
c o d e roullne for printing text IjCHDl i " i : HtXI i IF i t c i " OR i « > " » " THEH QO T6 2
h e l d In the BASIC v a r i a b l e zS, in 3 0 P R I H T H I , 0 R 1 G H I 1 , RT 0 , 9 , "
S E L E C T OP T 1 OH : PR 1151 0 LET It-
to _
2 2 0 LET i f i C H R l ( 4 7 + C O D E i f ) : P
.

such a way lhat words are not IHKt Y t IF l H K E Y t < " t " OR 1 HKt: V t > R I H T RT g, X, IHK F"H i ( C 0 0 E i f > ,
" 3 " IIII. H C D 10 30 I LASH 0 , 1 * LET X % ( I , X•1 I• t *
broken at the ends of lines. 1 4 0 IF l * » " l " I HE H C L t R H : L O H O CO SUB 1 O D D CO Tli 80
haven't given the assembly " M A P " O A T R Kill
"Loading conp feted."
P R I H T RT 1 0 , 4 ,
PAUSE 50
1000 P R I H T Bt; BR IGHI I,HI 0 . 0 ,
P R P E R 6 , - 5 , 6 . 7 . 8 = H o w e c u r s o r "j
l a n g u a g e p r o g r a m for this, since C O TO 2 0
5 6 IF « » - " » " T H E H C L S SAUE "
P A P E R 7,"
l e t * "i
9= Q u i t " C S / 0 « Or
P A P E R 5 ; " E H T E R = Rdd 9 r 4
It's very similar to a routine I MflP" OR t R K f <I : P R I H T Rt I 8 , 4 , " S phic": RETURH
g a v e in the May 1986 issue of .IV i ng O O n p l f l f d . " : P R O S E 5 0
TO 2 0
GO 1 0 1 0 P R I H T CI; B R I G H T l.Hl 0 . 0 , "
P r e s s the a p p r o p r i a t e letter r o r
ZXC The only important It
6 0 L E T x » 15 : LET g • I 0
USR bOUUQ CO S U B 1 0 0 0
ARHDOMI t h e g r a p h i c g o u w i s h to add h e r *
RtIURH
difference is that this routine

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 t h ? e o x i R o £ t h ? e s t e t e e s

s q u a r e a r o u n d u s i n g keys 5,6,7.
a n d 8. OK?
Fine — now press ENTER, a n d
Ihe cursor will start flashing,
FIGURE 2 r e a d y tor y o u to insert a g r a p h i c
The on-scroen m a p of tho 12 shires. c h a r a c t e r . Press a letter key
b e t w e e n " a " a n d "I" Inclusive,
a n d the c o r r e s p o n d i n g g r a p h i c
^ M M A M M M A c h a r a c t e r will a p p e a r at the
» cursor position o n t h e screen, In
M * f r * * • f A the c o r r e c t colour. Finally, try
A A * f t ftft ft* p a s s i n g CAPS SHIFT/O to d e l e t e It.
M * w * ftft *
* * A # f?JtV Going to war
* * * * tt&ftiv'ftftftft
* * Now that you're t h e p r o u d
possessor of a m a p editor, you're
In a position to b u i l d u p the
ft ft* 4 : : • : • / f t ft m a p tor "War ot the Shires".
* * * * A--'::-** Figure 2 shows you w h a t the
m a p s h o u l d look like at Ihe e n d
* * M A A (except that yours will b e
c o l o u r e d , o n screen), a n d Figure
* A A • 3 shows you w h i c h keys you
A * • n e e d to pressat e a c h cursor
ft* « position, the b l a n k spaces, by
the way. r e q u i r e n o a c t i o n o n
your part; just l e a v e t h e m b l a n k .
At a n y s t a g e you c a n return to
the m a i n m e n u b y pressing "q",
a a a wiv-ft.' subsequently s a v i n g t h e m a p
a r r a y to t a p e using o p t i o n 2. At
the start of a n o t h e r session you
A A A A A A A A A A A M c a n l o a d in a p a r t l y c o m p l e t e d
m a p using o p t i o n 1, a n d t h e n
c a r r y o n w h e r e y o u left oft. G o
on, a d m i t it — ths Is a lot m o r e
fun t h a n t y p i n g in 704 numbers,
isn't it!
To a c e r t a i n extent y o u don't
n e e d to k e e p r i g i d l y to Figures 2
a n d 3 — you c a n shift forests,
hills, m e a d o w s a n d v i l l a g e s
a r o u n d as m u c h as y o u like,
FIGURE 3 really. However, d o p l e a s e c h e c k
Guide to key presses for m a p editor.
the positions of the keeps very
c a r e f u l l y (look for the letter "F" in
ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft ft M ft Figure 3). The k e e p s must b e in
ftFEBBftftftfiftft EEFftftODODL) ftftftft ftftft p r e c i s e l y t h e l o c a t i o n s shown in
ftEBBB ft ftftft ftftDb o n ftft r hft the Figures, a n d there must b e
12 ot t h e m . M o u n t a i n s will limit
ft B B 6 B ft ft H ft ftftDO EE 0 0 ftft E Eft
the m o v e m e n t of a r m i e s in the
ft B ftft ft ft ft D F D EE 0 ft ftftftft final g a m e , a n d so you s h o u l d
ft H ft Hh ft flDODDD 0 Oft ftft ftft m a k e sure that every l o c a t i o n at
ftfthH MHHHH • D O G 0 0 0 0 ftfift ft the e d g e s of t h e m a p c o n t a i n s
ftEHHHHHHE EHHG 0 0 GG ft ft H H H ftft a m o u n t a i n . Y o u d also b e well
a d v i s e d to a v o i d m a k i n g
ftftft HH H F H G G G G G G G H ft ft H ft H H H i1 ft ft ft c h a n g e s to the r e g i o n
ftftftft HHE E H H G G G G E E ft H ft ft 0 ft ft ft H H H ft ft s u r r o u n d i n g the k e e p of
ftftftftft HHKHH ftGGEE HftCCCCCflftHHFft Darkness o n the western e d g e ot
ft ftftftft H H h ft ft ft G G ftftCCC ICCftftftftft t h e m a p (say within seven or
e i g h t l o c a t i o n s from the keep)
ft F ftft B ftft G B f t f t C C E CCCCCftft
for reasons w h i c h will b e obvious
ft ftftftft B ftft B B ftftCC F CCCCCft later on. Also, m a k e sure that at
ftftftftftft GG ftB 6 B fiCCC CCCftCCft least o n e ship is a c c e s s i b l e from
ftftftftft G 0 0 B ftftCCCCCftftCCft t h e m a i n l a n d at the start, or your
CO ft ft B ft ft G 0 0 0 G GG ftftftCCftftCCCft a r m i e s will b e left h i g h a n d dry!
Ul Within these limits, there's no
ftBBBB GDOOOGGGEGG ftftftftftCCCftft reason why you shouldn't b u i l d
s ABB EBftftGOOOGGEGGGG ftftftftCCftftftft u p a small library of m a p arrays
< ftB F BBftftOOO F G E G G G f t ftft CCCCftEEft for use with the g a m e .
ftEE E B ft ft ft ft 0 GGG ftft F l f t f t C I F E B
0 ftftftftft ftftftftftft ftftftftftftftft ftftftft ft ft ftft ftftftft ft
Keep t h e m a c h i n e c o d e
bytes, t h e UDGs. a n d your
tt c o m p l e t e d m a p a r r a y safely o n
t a p e — they're a l l vital. Till next

1 month, w h e n the a c t i o n starts,

happy map-making

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 :
I:R©SSIIHI;
The elusive 128 Keypad tracked down at last a n d a chance for you to nominate
your choice in our quest to find The Greatest Unfinished Game of all time.

Keypad not required necessary at alll All of the keypad

are already on the Standard
keys
Spectrum
instance, the symbol
CURSOR DOWN TO END OF PROGRAM)
(which means

128 keyboard, although in rather is accompanied by the letter T in a

In Ihe June issue of ZX

peculiar
accompanying
positions. The diagram
this letter shows exactly E reen square, and the letter V in a
lack square. A glance at the key will
S3 Computing
program
there
I wrote
was
tor
a
a
where these new keys are. All of the
symbols from the keypad are visible In
tell you thai a green square
EXTEND MODE FOLLOWED BY. therefore,
means

machine code Interrupt routine which the diagram, and by each symbol is a pressing EXTEND MODE followed by T will
put all of Ihe new keys from the not yet coloured square containing a letter or move trie cursor down to the end of the
available plug-In keypad for the number (or In one case DELETE). The program. Similarly, since a black
Spectrum 128 in sensible positions on colours tell you which combination of square means GRAPHIC MODE, it follows
the Spectrum 128 keyboard. shift key and extend mode is required that pressing GRAPH followed by V
An interrupt routine, however, is not with the letter or number In question. For (followed by GRAPH again to exit
graphic mode) will have the same
effect.
Start to finish it you wish to make use ot the new
editing keys, but can t be bothered to
load in and set up an Interrupt routine
When it comes to games amnesty on games and adventure program each time you switch the
software is It a case of many playing and readers are Invited to point machine on. just cut the diagram out
are played but tew are the linger at those gomes which have ol Ihe magazine (or re-do your own
finished? In the world of books there are frustrated them most. Fill in the coupon copy) and stick it somewhere near your
"unread classics", tomes that sit proudly below and from your responses we will Spectrum 128 so thai you can refer to
on the owners' shelves but are never be able to Identify the most unfinished it whenever your Speccy is in use.
looked at. Are there games which have game and adventure of all time. Any Of course, perfectionists who don't
totally bamboozled you and been left additional comments on games like Ihe Idea ot having editing keys all
halfway through or adventures that playing are welcome and will form the over the place with strange
have left you totally stumped and basis ot an article in a future ZX. Please combinations ot shifts, would probably
languish somewhere at the back ot a send your nominations by December prefer to use the interrupt program,
cupboard? 5th 1986. Senders ot the first 10 coupons since that locates all of the new keys in
Here at ZX we are announcing an drawn out of the hat will win a prize sensible positions (on the cursor keys in
con/unction with TRU VID and INV VID)
so you don't need a table to remember
Great Unfinished Game Quest everthing.
Toni Baker.
My n o m i n a t i o n s (or the G r e a t Unfinished G a m e are

1 E3
(9
2
0
My n o m i n a t i o n s for the Great Unfinished Adventure a r e W
1 ] Q[2
2
w
m
What p r o p o r t i o n of g a m e s a n d adventures that you b u y d o y o u p l a y 00
m
right the w a y t h r o u g h to the bitter e n d ?

Name E)lglI]SH^©«<>BMBISiG]
Address to
• • ItMXJt wa>T oc
• •UHlnMi pull 111
l»I OOOf FOL
l OMIO o
• <
MOc
•
1*1 HOCK IONMIT>»T
Send to Great Unfinished G a m e Quest, ZX C o m p u t i n g Monthly. 1 G o l d e n IIIHIIH ITUKH B<IT I
Square, London W1R 3AB. ounwM

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 This month wo really have a variety
ol obscure enquiries a n d due to their
unusual nature, such as the operating
commands ol an ancient disk drive
CR VIRES
Interlace or the special commands of
the American TS computer, we hope
lhat p e r h a p s YOU c a n h e l p our
desperate readers...
Ray Elder tackles more readers' technical problems.
Dear Sir.
1 have the following question mochlne tor us to work with a n d so we Dear Sir,
• ^ • to ask, I recently bought a really know very little about II. I own a ZX Spectrum 128K.
M Viscount disk drive Interlace BUT. we have many readers In the When using It (programming
lor my Spectrum at a sale In a local USA a n d perhaps one may help us. The or game playing) I gel flickers
computer shop Characters which cause the confusion ol Interference across my television
But they didn't have a manual to go are a curly bracket a n d a copyright screen.
with it and they didn't know how or IIII sign which occur after a full colon. The flickers last only an instant and
worked. I bought II anyway as it cost me You could try simply deleting them come every seven seconds. They
only 10 guilders (about 2 pounds) but a n d hope that they are something appear as silvery lines and In no
now I am trying to find out what unimportant such as sound commands. continual place. As they are very
commands to use with It. If you rerun your computer then you'll distracting could you please tell me if
It seems to work all right, II didn't soon find out! this Is normal and If not Is It my
wreck my Spectrum when 1 connected I would suggest that you try this a n d computer or my television that is al fault.
II and gave me a message on p e r h a p s a d a a line 2185 LPRINT Yours Sincerely.
powering up The message was '(c) 1983 CHR$(0);CHR$(4);CHR$(13) Richard Finch, Southampton.
by Marconics Ltd." This is the interface initialisation

H
A friend of mine tried to find out what commands a n d In that line It should set Probably neither.
commands to use by reading the It up ready for the programs use. A
contents of the eprom ot the interface s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d COPY c o m m a n d
but couldn't work It out. replacing one ol the print routines This sounds like a case of
So I hope you can supply me with could solve the problem. interference from some other
the commands or an address ol Without my having Ihe software 1o try piece of electrical equipment. It could
Marconics Ltd. oul I'm afraid lhat you'll just have to be that the computer Is too close to
PS. I enjoy your magazine very much. experiment... your TV or that the PSU a n d the
Yours faithfully computer or the TV are Interfering with
Daniel Mullet. Haerlem. The e a c h olher.
Netherlands. Try moving e a c h unit to different
positions, but In the e n d I strongly
I a m alraid that the Viscount suspect that another TV or a Cooker,
was |ust a b o u t the least Video. Fridge etc. Is causing the
Dear Sir,
popular of all the Spectrum problem. The only sure way Is to turn
I wonder whether you can
Disk units, but at two q u i d you've got a everything oil a n d just have your
help me. I have a ZX
bargain! computer a n d TV on. Then again, a
Spectrum + and an Alpha
We have no address for Marconics neighbour's unit might be the source of
com 32 printer. All very satisfactory until
they seem to have disappeared, bul If the problem.
recently I purchased, after reading an
any of our readers owned such a beast Oflen one ot the special suppressing
article in ZX Computing by John Wase,
a n d would send us the operating plugs will cure or help allievlate the
a Discovery I disk drive.
details we would be only too pleased problem. It's a case of trial a n d error yel
to forward them to you. again!
I immediately started having
problems and found that these oniy
occurred when the printer was
plugged In. I w a s unable to load
Dear Sir, commercial tapes even from tape and

Q
Last month I read an article could nol convert Tasword II as advised
about a brilliant program sold at the end ot the Tasword manual. The
In America similar to the command LOAD'CODE would just ot A very helpful letler was received on
CARD DESIGNER tor the Commodore 64, be accepted. Without the printer all the topic of the Opus a n d Printers from
called "Greeting card designer" (or the worked as It should. Mr. Turner of Hull, it reads:
TS2068 BY ZEBRA systems, Woodhaven. I wrote to Opus before I discovered
New York, which I sent lor and back about the printer and they just advised Dear Sir,
came Ihe program with a catalogue me to buy multiface 1. I have written Reference Janet Watson's
full of goodies or so I thought. again since bul so tar they have not Suery in August edition of ZX
I w a s told the Timex 2068 computer been able to help omputing. I too have Ihe
was the same as the SPECTRUM 48K. I have also telephoned Dean Opus Discovery and Brother M1009
however alter the program loads I electronics to ask If they knew ot any printer and also experienced problems
come up against two problems The first reason of the apparent incompatibility. using Tasword 2. After hours ot work I
Is there are some different characters in They have supplied me with a diagram finally contacted Tasman Software Ltd.
the listing that my Spectrum doesn't of the pin connections to the plug but They were most helpful.
understand (enclosed Is an extract ol this is not a lot ot help The answer is Discovery will accept
the listing), the second problem is that Thanking you in anticipation. Ihe mlcrodrive version provided the
the program doesn't allow for the use Yours faithfully, following alterations are made to the
of my interface, only AERCO, TASMAN B. RJ. Lawman, Cardiff. basic program.
TASMAN C and AfkJ Is there any way I
o can convert the program
my set up I have a SPECTRUM 48K+. "ZX
to work with This has been a problem ADD LINES
6 CLOSE « 3
which arose after A l p h a c o m
8 OPEN It 3,'B"
2 LPRINT f i r Interface and a "EPSON LX-80"
printer.
h a d been supplying their
printer for some time. It Is simply not DELETE LINES 279 AND 281.
Your assistance in making this compatible wilh some peripherals a n d This Is because the Discovery will not
program work for me would be more unfortunately the Discovery is one of accept FORMAT "b'.'X Where X is the
than appreciated. them! baud rate
Yours sincerely The only real advice I c a n give you Printing may be stopped as normal
RA. Williams, BFP029. is 1o buy a Centronics type full spec by pressing and holding tj'but if BREAK
printer such as the GLP 2 or the Shlnwa Is used then you must restart by
I a m afraid that there are CP80. executing GO TO 6 or you will lose Ihe
0 several differences w h i c h
make the USA computer a n d
I know it will set you back around
£100-£200, but if you Intend using your
text. You will also have to start to print
from the beginning again.
the Spectrum incompatible Timex were computer for serious text output them Yours Faithfully,
01 rather unhelpful in supplying a TS you will never regret it. T.W. Turner

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 M H

L JL. • _

1., ——* a J

mm
mil in
•XI Ml

D ,

I A

W
RAF PILOT

"I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH THERE WAS IN IT" zza™ AV

•i1 i
cojcodc "ACE IS ONE OF THE BEST SIMULATORS I HAVE EVER PLAYED -M
t i H t i i r
"THERE ARE FLIGHT SIMULATORS AND THERE ARE FLIGHT
SIMULATORS - AND THEN THERE'S ACE'
CASCAOE GAMES HO COMPUTER AND VIDEOGAMES
HASROGATE HG1SKI,
ENGLAND
TR ^ t t i W ! SCRMN I^OTI O<» TOLEN FROMTHR C* CI4 .CMON
 The

Ray Elder enthuses
about the potential of
Ram's new
comprehensive musical
add-on.
The Music Machine
Ram Electronics
£49.95
" • " h i s smallish uninteresting
l o o k i n g b l a c k plastic box is
p e r h a p s the most powerful,
versatile a n d e x c i t i n g p e r i p h e r a l
that I have h a d the pleasure to
review for a g e s !
D e s c r i b e d as "The C o m p l e t e
Home C o m p u t e r Music System' I
consider this c l a i m to b e a
modest a p p r a i s a l of the unit. It
c o u l d b e used in professional
a p p l i c a t i o n s as welt. So w h a t
d o e s it do?
At Home
The great m a j o r i t y of purchasers
will g o for its s u p e r b s a m p l e d
d r u m sounds a n d built in
sequencer allowing complex
a n d carefully c o n s t r u c t e d
— , ;—
Machine
patterns to b e c r e a t e d bar by
b a r a n d l i n k e d together to form
a c o m p l e t e song.
A very versatile unit the
q u a l i t y a n d flexibility of w h i c h is
e q u a l to t h e £250+ Y a m a h a
d e d i c a t e d RX21 that I use. O n
the plus side is the fact that
e a c h b a r c a n b e set to
i n d i v i d u a l tempos, not feasible
with the RX. But there is a real
t i m e p l a y m o d e w h e r e your
fingers c a n a t t e m p t to m i m i c
B u d d y Rich. O n the minus side Is
there is n o "real time" pattern
c o n s t r u c t i n g a n d only two Toms,
the RX has three. However the
Music M a c h i n e has C o w b e l l
a n d the RX hasn't.
But this d o e s not matter!
If you want another Tom t h e n
you c a n h a v e It, or remove the
c o w b e l l or a n y of the sounds
a n d r e p l a c e t h e m with a n y
other you f a n c y b e c a u s e the
Music M a c h i n e is also a
Sampler! This m e a n s that you
c a n record digitally any sound
you like via the c h e a p
m i c r o p h o n e s u p p l i e d , t a p e or
line out of a n amplifier.
O n c e a s o u n d is in m e m o r y
t h e n you c a n set t h e start a n d
e n d p a r a m e t e r s a n d p l a y as
m u c h or as little of It as y o u
wish, even l o o p i n g it for
c o n t i n u o u s sustain. You c a n
reverse it a n d p l a y it b a c k w a r d s ,
wwuuwwwn nmmvRvmnv
ajTJI IT"' i* ' : «.' «'« M r ? )
interesting, or g o to the " p i a n o "
screen a n d p l a y It b a c k over a
12 note, o n e o c t a v e r a n g e rising
from m i d d l e C
O n c e you h a v e e x h a u s t e d the
novelty of that t h e n y o u c a n use
the tune s e q u e n c e r a n d p l a y it
over a m u c h e x t e n d e d three
o c t a v e r a n g e a n d In two parts. It
is here that s o m e of t h e
limitations of a n Inexpensive unit
m a y b e c o m e a u d i b l e , the
sustain effect is p l a y e d b y a very
fast s t a c c a t o r e p e a t a n d it c a n
b e h e a r d as such, also the tone
m a y b e c o m e u n p l e a s a n t in the
extremes of the range. A
£10,000+ Fairllght allows multi
s a m p l e s across t h e w h o l e r a n g e
to b e taken so w h a t c a n y o u ask
of a unit such as this?
For technicrats the s a m p l i n g
rate is 19.444KHz a n d this gives
a p p r o x 1,1 sees, It sounds short,
but In fact it gives p l e n t y of t i m e
to say " S a m a n t h a Fox" (should
you so wish). A start a n d e n d of
a sustain l o o p within t h e s a m p l e
feature w o u l d h a v e b e e n useful,
a n d the e n l a r g e d d i s p l a y of the
waveform often resembles a
burst from a n a i r b r u s h a n d this is
a pity.
The rear of the unit bristles
with sockets a n d t h e three w h i c h
most owners will use a r e the
m i c r o p h o n e IN, the Phono OUT
to a n a m p l i f i e r or stereo a n d a
kmhwim i •
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12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 H e a d p h o n e for p e r s o n a l full k e y b o a r d range, sync with
listening. Only the o u t p u t from e x t e r n a l sequencers, p l a y t h e
either the tune s e q u e n c e r or the Music M a c h i n e ' s s e q u e n c e r out
d r u m s e q u e n c e r c a n b e sent to to the k e y b o a r d (at the s a m e
the h e a d p h o n e or p h o n o socket t i m e as using the d r u m s via the
a l any o n e time. h e a d p h o n e or p h o n o out) or
Not just simply a f a s c i n a t i n g a n y other c o m b i n a t i o n you
toy as are most ot the s a m p l e r s I desire. This is possible from the
have se£n. i n c l u d i n g s o m e software w h i c h o p e r a t e s in b o t h
made well r e s p e c t e d the c o m m o n O m n i a n d Poly
c o m p a n i e s in this field, but m o d e s a l l o w i n g full c h a n n e l
a c t u a l l y u s a b l e to c r e a t e a s s i g n m e n t a n d internal or
genuine musical compositions. e x t e r n a l c l o c k control.
For a n y o n e with m u s i c a l
interests this is a n a b s o l u t l e y
essential p i e c e of e q u i p m e n t , Easy use
I've h e a r d 'Rap' records with less
b a c k i n g t h a n this c a n p r o d u c e , All this in o n e unit a n d p r o g r a m
a n d the q u a l i t y Is g o o d e n o u g h must m a k e It c o m p l i c a t e d to
for studio use. run.
Not a bit! The m a n u a l is
written to suit a l l abilities, step by
Midi step c h a t t y a p p r o a c h
t h r o u g h o u t but with full
Should you b e o n e ot t h e t e c h n i c a l d e t a i l tor those with
g r o w i n g n u m b e r of serious h o m e deeper understanding —
musicians w h o o w n a k e y b o a r d s o m e t h i n g m a n y ot the
such as the C a s i o CZ101 or a n y d e d i c a t e d "professional" units
of the other instruments fitted I've l o o k e d at d o not usually
with MIDI (Musical Instrument give.
Digilal Interface) then you c a n As (or o p e r a t i n g , the m e n u
greatly e x t e n d b o t h units' use. system has b e e n c a r e f u l y
There are three MIDI sockets d e s i g n e d with m a n y o p t i o n s
lifted, s t a n d a r d five p i n DIN, tor b e i n g consistent w h e t h e r you
MIDI IN. OUT a n d THROUGH a n d a r e in the Sampler. Piano. M i d i .
via these you c a n either p l a y Echo or a n y of the m a n y other
your s a m p l e d sounds over the o p e r a t i n g screens. You soon
wjwwnwjTT —•—i—> r r f j n r v r
1 V'J t '"t
C E 2 3 GSTD «.r' m i r , »
0UWUIMA < t t ' f l MWBWWJIW
TJX. .. I
i i f i i i ' U»> « J I
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it:.
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
l e a r n t h e essential c o m m a n d s
a n d the others a r e n e a r l y all self
evident.
I a m a l r a i d this review is
rather o n the enthusiastic side,
but t h e n I h a v e d e l i b e r a t e l y
c o m p a r e d this unit with others ol
m u c h h i g h e r p r i c e a n d it holds
its own. A s i m p l e MIDI interface
b y itself c a n cost over £100, this
has m u c h , m u c h m o r e to offer.
RAM ask tor ideas, there is no
limit w h e n y o u c o n s i d e r MIDI, for
e x a m p l e how a b o u t ; A real time
multitrack s e q u e n c e r with a u t o
c o r r e c t a n d v a r i a b l e quantize, or
a multitrack step t i m e
sequencer, b o t h with h i g h
resolution printout facilities, or a
m i d i p a t c h b a y system (give m e
a unit a n d I'll write o n e ot those!)
or, or . . . . the list is vast i n d e e d .
Yes. you m a y say, but it'll cost
the e a r t h a n d b e well out of my
r e a c h . I a g r e e it is a little m o r e
t h a n the a v e r a g e £15-£30
i n t e r f a c e but at a n a s t o u n d i n g
£49.95 it offers i n c r e d i b l e v a l u e
tor money, the c h a n c e tor
a n y o n e with a n interest in music
to get into the latest hi-tec
musical development a n d I
h a v e n o hesitation in g i v i n g It
the highest a c c o l a d e possible
trom a h a r d bitten, c y n i c a l
reviewer.
I will b u y one.
•1 ' .......... I. ,.pi
I 1 >uo>< •« «
O <• I LY »»P
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lit*i«I
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7
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Ml,
Joysricks
Joystick connoisseur
Chariton A p p l e b y takes
a critical look at
established Spectrum
joysticks a n d also
playtests Cheetah's
new 128+2 c o m p a t i b l e
sticks.
125+
Cheetah
£8.95
T h e C h e e t a h 125+ joystick is a
pistol-grip type of d e v i c e with a
t h u m b button o n the t o p of the
stick a n d a trigger for your fore-
finger. There is also the a d d i t i o n
of two buttons o n the a m p l e ,
r o u n d e d , base. The m o u l d i n g of
the stick Is very c u r v a c i o u s a n d
fits the h a n d nicely, the b a s e
has four suction c u p s o n it to
secure the stick firmly to a
smooth surface.
The c a b l e is a b o u t a y a r d
l o n g with two plugs o n the e n d .
This split a d a p t o r also features
o n the M a c h 1+ a n d is of
s p e c i a l interest to Sinclair
owners, e s p e c i a l l y prospective
purchasers of the ZX Spectrum
128+2. O n e of the plugs is a
n o r m a l Atari-type D9 suitable for
the majority of h o m e computers,
a n d the other o n e is a grey
c o n n e c t o r for the side of the
new Sinclair m a c h i n e . This
s e c o n d c o n n e c t o r is re-wired in
the m a n n e r that the new
m a c h i n e n e e d s to get its signals,
so you don't have to b u y those
awful SJSI things. My only worry
is that, whilst this is a g o o d i d e a ,
the w a y that the first c o n n e c t o r
has two wires c o m i n g out of it
m a y w e a k e n the link at the p l u g
a t t a c h m e n t point. As this is a n
a r e a w h e r e a lot of joysticks
break, a n d short of c u t t i n g the
c a b l e a n d r e p l a c i n g the p l u g , it
is irreparable.
Also o n the stick is the now
almost obligatory, auto-fire
switch. This is a switch to m a k e
the joystick function like a
m a c h i n e - g u n , a n d to save wear
a n d tear o n Ihe fire buttons (an
Mach 1 +
Cheetah
£14.95
The C h e e t a h M a c h 1+ is similar
to the 125+ In that it has four fire
buttons: two on the b a s e a n d
two o n the stick, a n d in the
Mach 1 + s a m e positions. However in this
c a s e the b o d y of the stick is
much bigger and angular and
thus more difficult to use a n d a
lot less c o m f o r t a b l e t h a n Is
e x p e c t e d for this k i n d of money.
Otherwise, the features of the
other m o d e l are r e t a i n e d — two
plugs, auto-fire, suction cups, e t c
The internal c o n s t r u c t i o n of Ihis
stick however, is with micro-
switches. These will last virtually
forever under n o r m a l conditions.
The stick is a w k w a r d to h o l d
a n d so is Ihe base. Micro-
switches are not very responsive
at the best ot times, a n d that
oint is p r o v e d a g a i n with the
K a c h 1+.
Apart from b e i n g very r e l i a b l e
it has little to r e c o m m e n d It over
the 125+. If you w a n t a joystick
that will never let you d o w n t h e n
you've f o u n d it with the M a c h 1
but for e n j o y a b l e p l a y opt for
the 125+. The substantial p r i c e
differential (£6) m a y also b e a
b i g i n f l u e n c e o n your c h o i c e .
a r e a w h e r e a joystick is likely to
fail first). A lot of m o d e r n g a m e s
have auto-fire detectors that will
cut out this facility or m a k e it
function to the d e t r e m e n t of the
player, but a lot of g a m e s wll b e
m a d e more p l a y a b l e — in fact,
some g a m e s are almost
impossible to c o n t e n d with
without a n auto-fire feature.
My m a i n g r i p e with this stick
is that it is not very responsive,
the internal construction is that
of c o l l a p s i b l e domes, w h i c h
usually give the best f e e d b a c k ,
however in this c a s e the stick is m
almost d e a d in my h a n d a n d
g a m e s c a n b e very tricky to
play.
However, I w o u l d definitely
am \
r e c o m m e n d the 125+ for owners — ^
of the Spectrum 128+. It has all
the features you w o u l d e x p e c t
" • H i
from a n u p to d a t e joystick a n d
a l t h o u g h a bit l a c k i n g In the
m
response d e p a r t m e n t it's a n
efficient multi-purpose stick a n d
at £8.95 it's a b a r g a i n .
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
E v e r since 1976 w h e n the first
Atari VCS reared its ugly h e a d in
a few p i o n e e r i n g homes, the
joystick has b e e n a major b o n e
of contention. Within a c o u p l e of
years, third party c o m p a n i e s
were p r o d u c i n g alternatives to
the Alari standard stick. When
the computer took over the Atari
D9 standard b e c a m e the de
facto m e t h o d of c o n n e c t i n g a
joystick or tracker b a l l to a
computer. This s t a n d a r d persists
to his d a y with even the mighty
machines like Ihe A m i g a a n d
Atari ST h a v i n g the s a m e Utile
socket on their sides.
All Spectrum joystick
interfaces have this D9
connector in them, some even
have two. The o n e n o t a b l e
exception is the new
Amstradified' Spectrum 128+2,
which has h a d the wires all
j u m b l e d u p in a n a t t e m p t to
make you buy Amstrad/Sinclair
Joysticks. For the purposes of this
article I will assume that
a n y b o d y with o n e of these
machines has either got a n
adaptor, or forgotten that they
exist at all a n d has gotten
himself a Kempston interface or
something similar.
So what d o you shove Into
that hole in the side of your
machine? Having b e e n p l a y i n g
g a m e s with joysticks for the last
eight years or so I c a n safely say
that I have some favourites. You
may not a g r e e with me, but then
joysticks are tike golt clubs,
different sticks perform a different
job, so select one that m a t c h e s
your needs.
Atari Standard
Atari
£6.95
The original, a n d some say the
best. This a w k w a r d l o o k i n g a n d
ungainly stick is notorious for
having started Ihe w h o l e b a l l
g a m e off. Internally if uses
collapsible d o m e t e c h n o l o g y to
make the c o n n e c t i o n , d e f o r m i n g
a d o m e of thin metal until the
electrical switch is m a d e .
This system has the a d v a n t a g e
of high tactile f e e d b a c k , but the
d i s a d v a n t a g e of poor reliability
a n d a short life time. These sticks
seem to n e e d a " b e d d i n g in'
period before they work to their
best efficiency. The greatest
a d v a n t a g e is that they're c h e a p ,
however their s h a p e is very
a n g u l a r a n d the corners c a n
d i g into your p a l m a n d hurt a
lot after a m a r a t h o n all-nlghl
session.
Atari Pro-line
Atari
£9.95
The successor to the previous
stick, this controller uses a
contoured grip with two fire
buttons lor left/right h a n d e d
operation, or fore-finger/thumb
interchange. The short stick is
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
Atari Pro-Line
steel a n d unlikely to wear out,
a n d is i n c r e d i b l y responsive.
The contacts are still
c o l l a p s i b l e domes, but this
seems to c o m b i n e with the short
shaft to m a k e this o n e of the
most responsive joysticks that I
have ever c o m e across. This is
my all-time favourite g e n e r a l
p u r p o s e stick, c a p a b l e of
p l a y i n g any g a m e that there is,
was, or c o u l d be!
Quickshot II
Spectravideo
£11.95
Probably the best known stick in
the business. The Quickshot II has
a c o n t o u r e d g r i p that fits the
h a n d in a m a n n e r so perfect
that it is a m i r a c l e of design. Two
fire buttons are provided, one in
a pistol trigger position a n d one
on the top that fits your thumb.
The base has four suction c u p s
on it to g r i p the stick to a flat,
smooth surface for o n e h a n d e d
operation. Also on the base is a
little switch for 'autofire'
operation. This switch connects
to a small circuit inside the
joystick that creates a m a c h i n e -
g u n effect w h e n using the fire
button. This is a c h i e v e d by
pulsing the fire button's output to
the computer. This allows
m u l t i p l e firing in a g a m e that
allows such things, t h o u g h a few
of the more m o d e r n g a m e s c a n
d e t e c t w h e n a n auto-fire switch
Is b e i n g used a n d will d i s a b l e
the fire button all together —
with disastrous results.
Atari S t a n d a r d
Internal construction Is with
c o l l a p s i b l e domes, t h o u g h with
the large a m o u n t of leverage
that such a stick affords, you
m a y find that in some
circumstances this stick will not
have a long-life span —
e s p e c i a l l y with younger players.
Fighter Pilot
Tandy
£8.95 #
This stick used to b e marketed
by S p e c t r a v i d e o under the
n a m e 'Quickshof before the
Quickshot II c a m e out. Now re-
b a d g e d . Tandy are selling it
under their own b r a n d name.
This stick has a fire button on
the base, o n e on the top of the
stick for your thumb, a n d a
c o n t o u r e d g r i p — t h o u g h not u p
to the s t a n d a r d of the Quickshot
II. The b a s e has suction cups on
it to provide a firm footing for
one h a n d e d operation, t h o u g h
there is no great p r o b l e m using
two hands as the base is also
d e s i g n e d to b e held.
Internal construction is o n c e
a g a i n by the c o l l a p s i b l e d o m e
method, with the usual
limitations of not b e i n g too hard
w e a r i n g , but with the
a d v a n t a g e s of g o o d control a n d
tactile f e e d b a c k .
Trackball
Atari
£22
Not really a joystick, but c a n b e
used as one. The t r a c k b a l l was
first i n t r o d u c e d into the coin-op
arcades on a g a m e called
Missile C o m m a n d , a n d more
recently on a g a m e c a l l e d
M a r b l e Madness.
The track b a l l consists of a
b i l l i a r d ball" m o u n t e d in a
c a s i n g with detectors to report Its
movement to the c o m p u t e r a n d
a c o u p l e of fire buttons. Instead
of b e n d i n g a stick in the
r e q u i r e d direction ou roll the
centre ball. This c a n give you a n
excellent control a d v a n t a g e in
some games, but c a n b e a
liability in others. A track b a l l is
at its best in Missile C o m m a n d
a n d M a r b l e Madness type
games, a n d c a n c o m e into its
o w n in a lot of m a z e g a m e s .
A useful c o n t r o l l e r to h a v e
h a n d y t h o u g h definitely as a
spare, rather t h a n as your o n l y
c o n t r o l system.

Speed King
Konyx
£12.99
This is a fairly n e w 'stick* with a
less t h a n c o n v e n t i o n a l
c o n f i g u r a t i o n . An
' e r g o n o m f c a l l y ' styled g r i p fits
Into your left h a n d like it was
p a r t of It. with the triger resting
n e a t l y b e n e a t h the c r o o k of your
index finger. The t o p of the stick
has a short, stiff stick p r o t r u d i n g
from it.
The s w i t c h i n g is v i a micro-
switches that will v i r u a l l y last
forever. However, their response
t i m e is a bit slow, a n d the t a c t i l e
f e e d b a c k is c l o s e to n o t h i n g .
You h e a r your stick m o v e b e f o r e
you c a n feel It or see ft.
The g r i p Is also a bit d i c k y at
times. W h e n y o u p l a y for a l o n g
time in a d i f f i c u l t g a m e , your
h a n d s c a n get a bit sweaty. With
this stick y o u start to let it slip
after a w h i l e a n d t h e w h o l e
situation gets out of control. If
you are lefl h a n d e d — forget It!

Trak-ball

Mazemaster
Tandy
£11.95
An interesting c o n c e p t here, a
joystick that c a n turn off its
d i a g o n a l m o v e m e n t . Most
joysticks a l l o w for d i a g o n a l
m o v e m e n t , but this stick lets y o u
switch b e t w e e n e i g h t - w a y a n d
four-way o p e r a t i o n . Why? For
m a z e g a m e s of course. Ever h a d
that t i m e w h e r e y o u skid
Spood K i n g
sideways into the spider? Well
n o w this joystick will a l l e v i a t e this
to s o m e d e g r e e .
The joystick Is a n a w k w a r d
s q u a r e shape, with a little stick C o n s t r u c t i o n is v i a micro- like to use. You m a y prefer
p r o t r u d i n g a b o v e it, this switch. a n d s h o u l d last others, b u t these h a v e stuck with
a r r a n g e m e n t is fine tor mazes, (effectively) forever, b a r r i n g a n y m e t h r o u g h thick a n d thin a n d I
t h o u g h I wouldn't w a n t to p l a y adverse c o n d i t i o n s . w o u l d n ' t give t h e m u p for the
an action game with it. Well, these a r e t h e sticks that I world.

ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986


Cheetah follow up the
success of their
Specdrum with a new
Sound Sampler.
SOUND SAMPLER
Cheetah Marketing
£44.95
S o u n d s a m p l i n g has b e c o m e
Ihe "In" thing in the music field
at the moment d u e to recent
developments in t e c h n o l o g y
a n d , since it is a c o m p u t e r
b a s e d technique, it is not
surprising that such a d e v i c e
should b e d e v e l o p e d for our
h o m e micros.
To put It rather simply, sound
s a m p l i n g involves m a k i n g a
d i g i t a l recording of a voice,
instrument, p i e c e of music, or
some other sound, processing it
as required a n d r e p l a y i n g it in a
c h o i c e of pitches.
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986 59
The C h e e t a h s a m p l i n g system
consists of a n interface, software
cassette a n d microphone. The
interface connects to the port at
the b a c k of the Spectrum (48K.
Plus or 128) a n d has two control
dials on the front, a mini j a c k
s o u n d input socket on the left
h a n d side a n d a six foot l e a d
fitted with a p h o n o p l u g to take
the output to a n amplifier or
stereo system. There is a
p r o b l e m in that the l e a d is not
really l o n g e n o u g h a n d the
p h o n o p l u g is only suitable for
stereo or expensive mixing desks.
The more usual p l u g is a
s t a n d a r d jack, a n d it might have
b e e n better if the control knobs
h a d b e e n positioned o n the top
a n d a s e c o n d socket h a d b e e n
fitted for output.
The m i c r o p h o n e is a fairly
basic o n e for use with a
p o r t a b l e cassette recorder a n d
is not really suitable for 'serious'
use.
A l t h o u g h a Microdrive
/
b a c k u p routine is supplied,
there is a dire w a r n i n g not to
use the interface with a n y t h i n g
other t h a n another C h e e t a h Unit.
Tech specs
The specifications are
impressive, replay over two
octaves, superb processing
a l l o w i n g very fine selection of
start a n d e n d points to b e m a d e ,
a n d sustain start a n d e n d points.
These are chosen on a g r a p h i c
waveform display. Samples c a n
b e reversed or c o n b i n e d , saved
or l o a d e d a n d reconfigured at
will.
The frequency or b a n d w i d t h
is 17.5KHz a n d this is as g o o d as
you'll get o n some d e d i c a t e d
samplers for m a n y times the
money. S a m p l e rate Is 70000
times a s e c o n d a n d m a x i m u m
length is a r o u n d one second.
Which is l o n g e n o u g h lo say
your n a m e or a simple Nineteen!
The utility or effects p r o g r a m is
great for p l a y i n g a r o u n d with,
providing echo, reverb, fuzz,
chop, b u b b l e , a n d p i t c h effects,
very noisy t h o u g h a n d there's not
e n o u g h control for serious
usage.
Usability
The p u b l i c i t y c l a i m s "Home or
Professional" use a n d I wouldn't
disagree. All I w o u l d say is that
the professional use m a y b e
rather limited, e s p e c i a l l y if It was
i n t e n d e d for r e c o r d i n g as the
sound quality is g o o d rather
than excellent, a n d the
b a c k g r o u n d noise is rather too
h i g h for professional standards
even under o p t i m u m conditions.
The input section is well
designed, allowing a wide
r a n g e of i m p e d e n c e s from
microphone, line or instrument
sources a n d the output m a t c h
proved c o m p a t i b l e with both my
power a m p a n d my cassette line
in.
O p e r a t i n g the sampler is a
joy. Everything is m e n u driven
a n d error trpiing seems to b e
very comprehensive, even with
my idiot a c t in full swing it
informed m e of where a n d why I
h a d g o n e w r o n g e a c h time.
I loved it. even at the level of
simply p l a y i n g a r o u n d it was
great. 1 took it into a l o c a l
school a n d the pupils h a d a
great time with the utility
p r o g r a m a n d the Science
teacher was devising ways of
using it for the new GCSE exams!
Finally, I have spent quite
some time using the sampler,
a n d I a m b e c o m i n g more a n d
more impressed with it. I w o u l d
even cautiously suggest that a
studio might b e a b l e to use it for
some short a n d limited effects,
p r o v i d e d e n o u g h noise
reduction was available.
 R AMP RIN T
Not only does RAM's wordprocessing facilities. I got
h o o k e d on wordprocessing
new interface have a b o u t a year a g o w h e n I
discovered Tasword 2, a n d I
everything but the w o u l d m u c h prefer wordpro to
using a typewriter if it weren't for
kitchen sink crammed my c o m p l e t e inability to c o p e
with printers. The words always
into it, the instructions look fine on the TV screen, but I
c a n never get t h e m to c o m e out
are easy to understand of the printer at the other end.
The trouble is lhat you can't
too! just p l u g a full size printer into
the Spectrum a n d get it to work
straight a w a y (you c o u l d d o this
Ramprint with Sinclair's new ZX Printer but
that was very limited In both
RAM Electronics q u a l i t y a n d options it offered).
£34.95 First of all you n e e d a n interface
a n d the l e a d to c o n n e c t the two
ow let's b e sensible a b o u t this: machines, then there's the awful
what are the reasons tor b u y i n g business of initialising the
a real' printer to use with your interface a n d shoving in all the
Spectrum. The m a i n ones have control codes. Then. If you're
to b e to get d e c e n t listings, using some sort of w o r d p r o
screen d u m p s a n d software, you'll p r o b a b l y have to
The RAMWrlte 32 c o l u m n w o r d p r o c e i t o r .
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
f i d d l e with that to get It to work
with the particular interface that
you're using. A n d if you get any
of that w r o n g the w h o l e setup
goes m a d a n d starts vomiting
u p reams of p a p e r c o v e r e d in a
l o n g - d e a d Greek d i a l e c t w h e n
all you w a n t e d was your laundry
list.
The w h o l e business is a p a i n ,
a n d it's driven m e b a c k to my
steam-driven typewriter m a n y a
time.
With that in m i n d it's strange
that n o b o d y has yet c o m e u p
with the I d e a of p r o d u c i n g a n
all-in-one printer interface with
its own wordprocessing software
so that the two are c o m p a t i b l e
a n d don't require hours of
f i d d l i n g to get them working
together. But that, at last, is what
RAM Elecronics have d o n e with
their new Centronics-type RAM
Print interface a n d RAM Write
software w h i c h is stored o n a
ROM c h i p within the Interface
itself, not to m e n t i o n some of the
other features i n c l u d e d .
Kitchen sink syndrome
To start off with, the Interface
c o m e s with its own Centronics
c a b l e built In, so there's no
a d d i t i o n a l expense involved in
b u y i n g o n e or working out what
to d o with it.
Then, surprisingly, RAM have
m a d e the Interface e m u l a t e the
o l d ZX Printer so that you c a n
use the Spectrum's o w n LUST.
LPRINT, a n d COPY c o m m a n d s for
listings a n d screen dumps, this is
very sensible as it c o m b i n e s the
simplicity of use of the ZX Printer
with the h i g h quality printing
a v a i l a b l e from the w h o l e r a n g e
of Centronics printers.
RAM have also a v o i d e d a
potential p r o b l e m here as the
Spectrum 128 isn't c o m p a t i b l e
with the ZX Printer w h e n
o p e r a t i n g in 128 mode. However
if you enter the c o m m a n d PRINT
IN 251 on power-up Ihen you
c a n sidestep that particular
p r o b l e m , the c o m m a n d s for the
128 are slightly different. LPRINT
c o p y " rather than simply
COPY, but that's not too m u c h of
a problem.
Now we c o m e to w h a t is
normally the tricky bit, the
conlrol codes. Thankfully though,
RAM, have given you some h e l p
here a l s o Entering the
c o m m a n d LPRINT " set" calls
u p a n options menu, a pull-
d o w n w i n d o w w h i c h overlays,
but doesn't w i p e out, w h a t is
a l r e a d y o n the screen. The
options a v a i l a b l e here aren't
exhaustive but they d o at least
cover the most often used
options; Line Feed, Tokens. C o p y
Text, Enlarge a n d Width, For
e a c h of these you c a n simply
choose the On or Off state as
required without any of the
business ot having to look u p
control codes a n d enter t h e m as
endless strings of CHRS. The RAM
Write software has its o w n set of
control codes for different types
ol printing, but it you want to d o
tancy things with listings then
you'll p r o b a b l y have to g o b a c k
to looking up the c o d e s in your
printer manual. C'est la vie.
As a final touch Ihe interface
also includes a Kempston
joystick interface — RAM are
certainly m a k i n g sure they've
covered all their bases. The
interface is well c o n s t r u c t e d in a
robust black plastic. There are
no exposed parts a n d there's
even a small ring that goes
around the power socket to
make sure that everything fits
nice a n d tidily.
RAM Writes
Ot course, the most obvious
attraction of this interface (tor
me anyway) is the inclusion ot a
wordprocessor p r o g r a m on ROM
a n d the c o n v e n i e n c e of instant
access a n d printer/interface
compatibility. Entering the
c o m m a n d LPRINT " word"
instantly calls u p the RAM Write
program a n d you are presented
with a screen in w h i c h the
upper 22 lines are b l a n k (tor text
entry), while the lower two lines
are for the status d i s p l a y a n d
choice of option. When the
cursor Is on the b o t t o m line you
c a n choose whatever options
you want simply by t y p i n g the
appropriate letter (b= Back to
Basic, c = C o p y text, d = Display
text a n d so on). The options
available cover all the usual
string search/replace, b l o c k
copy'delete, a n d so on. These
RAMPrlnt's pull d o w n o p t i o n s menu.
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
The Enlarge o p t i o n allows you to c o p y t w o sizes of screen dumps.
aren't as exhaustive as the
options a v a i l a b l e in Tasword or
The Writer, but they're a d e q u a t e
for most simple wordpro. a p a r t
from the omission of a
w o r d c o u n t (one d a y s o m e o n e
will p r o d u c e a w o r d p r o that has
its o w n word count . . . ) .
Entering 'e' puts you into Edit
m o d e a n d reveals the only real
d i s a p p o i n t m e n t in RAM Write.
You c a n only enter text in the
Spectrum's n o r m a l 32 characters
per line, a n d while the printed
output does have wordwrap. 64
c h a r a c t e r lines, justification on
a n d off, you can't see these
things on screen while you're
e d i t i n g the text. There is a
d i s p l a y m o d e w h i c h allows you
to see the text in 64 c h a r a c t e r
lines, just as it will b e w h e n
printed onto paper, but you
can't edit the text in this display.
If you want to m a k e any
c h a n g e s to the layout of your
text you'll you'll have to g o b a c k
into edit m o d e a n d 32 c h a r a c t e r
display.
This is a b i l of a bore. In
p r a c t i c e I found thai I c o u l d just
g o a h e a d a n d slap the text onto
the screen a n d it w o u l d c o m e
out of the printer l o o k i n g okay,
but I still w a n t e d to get a took at
the text as it w o u l d a p p e a r on
p a p e r a n d this m e a n t a lot of
switching to a n d from Display
mode. If you're used to the 64
c o l u m n display of Tasword or
The Writer this c a n seem a bit of
a step b a c k w a r d s a n d a lot
d e p e n d s on whether you find
the c o n v e n i e n c e of the
interface,'software c o m b i n a t i o n
a n a d e q u a t e c o m p e n s a t i o n for
the relatively unsophisticated
e d i t i n g facilities.
O n the other h a n d you c o u l d
easily use Tasword with RAM
Print, a n d this will give you the
best ot both worlds.
Despite the shortcomings of
RAM Write, the c o n v e n i e n c e of
h a v i n g so m u c h c r a m m e d into
the interface a n d the ease of
use that RAM Print offers m a k e
the w h o l e thing a g o d s e n d for
s o m e o n e like myself w h o is
totally b a f f l e d by the intricacies
of printers a n d control c o d e s
a n d the like. At last I've gotten
my h a n d s on a word processing
set-up that you c a n just p l u g in
a n d use straight away. Don't
forget that a d e c e n t Centronics
interface w o u l d cost a b o u t £30
anyway, a n d for just £35 RAM
Print otters a Centronics
interface, plus c a b l e , joystick
interface, a p a s s a b l e
wordprocessor a n d 'user
friendliness' that it's difficult to
put a p r i c e on. In other words I
liked it a lot. RAM Print is the
most useful bit of h a r d w a r e to
c o m e my way for ages.
 * T o u m a y r e m e m b e r a lew
issues a g o I s u g g e s t e d using a
series ot short subroutines, c a l l e d
in succession to p r o d u c e a n
PROGRAM 1
illustration. Now's the t i m e to
10 PLOT 1 6 . 1 7 5 DBrtu 4 5 , - 4 3 e 1 7 PLOT 2 2 3 1 2 7 ORflU - 3 2 O 0
tollow u p that i d e a . LOT 0 . 0 CRSU 6 4 . 3 2 RETURN RfiU 0 - 9 5 0R«u 3 2 . 0 RETURN
As 3-D pictures s e e m to b e in 1 1 PLOT £ 3 9 1 7 ? 0R*U - 4 3 - 4 3 1 8 PLOT 3 2 1 2 7 DRAU 3 2 . 0 C RA
PLOT £ 5 5 0 DRflU - 6 4 , 3 2 RETURN u O -95 Cfiflu - 3 2 , 0 RETURN
v o g u e ot the m o m e n t let's set 1 9 PLOT 6 5 1 2 6 OPflU 4 6 - 4 6 o
12 PLOT 15 1 7 5 C'pflu 1 6 . - 1 6 D wOT 1 9 0 1 2 6 ORflu - 4 6 . - 4 6 PLOT
obout p r o d u c i n g the graphics ROu 0 , - 1 * 3 DROU - 3 1 - 1 6 RETURN 64,32 l>R«u 4 6 . 2 3 PLOT 1 9 1 3 2
ORrtg - 4 6 2 3 f O R n = 1 6 TO 2<? STEP
tor a d u n g e o n / p a s s a g e - t y p e 13 P L O T £ 4 0 . 1 7 5 C'RflU - 1 6 , - 1 6 4 PLOT 9 5 + n , 96-r> PLOT 1 6 0 - n . S
adventure. We will n e e d views N
:RAU 0 . - 1 4 3 ORAL) 3 1 , - 1 6 PETuP 6-n PLOT n « 9 S . n < ' £ * 4 £
n n ' 2 + 46 NEXT n RETURN
PLOT 1 6 0 -
into rooms, a l o n g passages, 14 PLOT 32.127 C'RAU 1 5 1 . 0 PL 2 0 PLOT 1 9 1 i £ 7 DROU - i £ 7 O
0T 32 32 C'Pflu 1 9 1 O RETURN DRflU o - 9 5 DPfUJ 1 2 7 . 0 DRAu 0 9
a r o u n d corners, into d e a d - e n d s , 1 5 PLOT £ £ 3 X27 ORflu - 1 5 9 . 0 5 RETURN
t h r o u g h junctions etc. A l t h o u g h C.Cflu C - 9 5
16 P L O T
DROU 1 5 9 . 0
3£.1£7
RETURN
DRrtU 1 5 9 0 OP
2 1 PLOT 3 ^ . 1 5 9
OT 3 2 1 6 ORflu 1 9 1 , 0
ORflU 1 9 1 0
RETURN
PL
this m a y s e e m a little d a u n l i n g it flu 0 - 9 5 DRrtU - 1 5 9 . 0 RETURN
is in p r i n c i p l e q u i t e s i m p l e as all
of these views c a n b e m a d e u p
of just a few. often r e p e a t e d — It'll look m o r e " d u n g e o n y " in You s h o u l d get a view similar
lines. Type in P r o g r a m 1, white on b l a c k b a c k g r o u n d — to that shown in Fig. 1. Note
k e e p i n g to t h e line numbers, t h e n GOSUB to e a c h of the n e w that the v a l u e of c d e t e r m i n e s
a n d I'll show y o u w h a t I m e a n . fines in turn, with a CLS b e t w e e n the p o s i t i o n of o p e n i n g , a r c h or
Now c a l l a few lines with the e a c h c a l l a n d you'll see h o w h o l e o n the f a c i n g w a l l
c o m m a n d GOSUB (line number). various c o m b i n a t i o n s of those p r o d u c e d in lines 29-37. Also the
In e a c h c a s e a few lines will original picture elements c a n b e v a l u e of i in lines 41-44
a p p e a r o n screen. Not very j o i n e d to g i v e a series of rooms, d e t e r m i n e s the INK c o l o u r of the
impressive you m i g h t think, but junctions, passages, turns etc. h a n d l e ot the torches. (The
don't give u p yet. These a r e o n l y So far so g o o d , but our s h i m m e r i n g effect in Ihe torches
the p i c t u r e elements. A d d a d v e n t u r e r w o u l d b e rather is c a u s e d b y n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n
P r o g r a m 2 to the listing for restricted in his movements. Let's t h e Spectrum's Infamous "dot
Program 1 you h a v e o n b o a r d . a d d s o m e doors, arches, creep", There just h a d to b e a
Now set PAPER to 0 a n d INK to 7 o p e n i n g s , holes, l e d g e s , a n d a use for it!) I'll l e a v e y o u to
crevasse! While we're at If w e e x p e r i m e n t further — the
m i g h t as well s u p p l y s o m e f u n c t i o n of e a c h l i n e is REMed in

f l a m i n g torches to t h r o u g h a the listing — a n d to discover

g l i m m e r of light o n the
p r o c e e d i n g s . A d d P r o g r a m 3,
n o t i n g that the c a p i t a l letters are
all udgs, a n d must b e e n t e r e d in
the G m o d e . We'll also n e e d to
set these u d g s so input the d a l a
from T a b l e A, using
FOR 1=USR 'ta" TO USR " p " + 7 :
INPUT i : POKE f, i : NEXT f
Now y o u c a n a d d a lot m o r e
features to your b a s i c rooms a n d
passages. Try:
9999 LET 1=2 : LET c = 1 0 : GOSUB
36 : GOSUB 37 : GOSUB 3 :
GOSUB 22 : GOSUB 26 : GOSUB
27 : GOSUB 28 : GOSUB 39 :
GOSUB 41 : GOSUB 42 : GOSUB
44
i m p o s s i b l e c o m b i n a t i o n s . (Like
t r y i n g to i n c l u d e a crevasse in a
room!)
Instant Graphics
It m a y b e that the perfectionists
a m o n g s t ZXC readers a r e not
h a p y with the w a y t h e p i c t u r e is
d r a w n b e f o r e their very eyes. It
m a y b e that you w o u l d prefer
t h e illustration to s u d d e n l y
a p p e a r , c o m p l e t e , o n screen. All
t h a t is n e e d e d for this effect is a
c o m b i n a t i o n of trickery a n d a
short m a c h i n e c o d e routine. Use
the f o l l o w i n g line to input these
numbers: 33, 0, 88, 1, 192, 2, 22,

PROGRAM 2
i GO sue 12 G O sue 1 3 GO su B 14 RETURN REM r i j h l / L t l l
e 21 RETURM REM r D0» GO SUB l O CO 3 U 6 13 CO SU
< GO sue 10 G O SUB 1 1 GO su 5 17 00 SUB 19 RETURN REM to
e 19 RETURN REM f o r w a r d
GO SUB 1 0 G O sue ii GO su 6 GO Sue 11 GO Sue ti GO 5U
e 20
j.
RETURN
sue io
REM d i » d end e 16 GO sue 19 RETUR" REM to
GO G O Sue 1 5 GO su 'MS'd lift
e i:c- RETURN REM r I 9 n t 9 GO 5 U 0 12 GO sue 13 GO SU
GO sue ii CO sue 12 GO SU 6 16 GO S U B 19 GO sue i ; ReTU
e 16 RETURN OEM it f t RN REM f o r w a r d .-le f t r»9ht
e G O sue 12 GO sue 1 3 GO su

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 b e d r a w n on. G e n e r a l l y rows 0
to 5. c o l u m n s 8 to 23 a r e sale, or
PROGRAM 3 y o u c o u l d use the edit lines with
PRINT 0; "message".
Using different c o m b i n a t i o n s
of doors, o p e n i n g s , a r c h e s etc.
you c a n p r o d u c e a n enormous
2 2 - P R I N T AT 1 3 , ? , 0 " PLOT E * c t n v r e roo« door variety of illustrations. [There a r e
96 DPAU - 3 2 . 1 6 DRRU 0 . - 9 6 DRA 3 3 F O P n til T O 19 P R I N T AT n,
15 possible c o m b i n a t i o n s ol
u 32,16 DPAu 0 . 6 A RETURN C M i NEXT n RETURN PEM c
(.eft doe r en t re r oo» o p e n i n g torches for a start, even if you
2 3 P R I N T AT B . 4 . , ••«E" ; AT 9 - 4 . , 34 P R I N T A T 9 C, OP A T 10,C ;
• ^ P ' . A T 16 A , • • • C D " . A T 1 9 , 4 . , - C O " S RETURN O E M :er, ire roo - don't alter the v a l u e of i!)
FOE r, »10 T O 1? P R I N T AT n , A hi9h »rcn I'll follow u p this i d e a of
M M ttE'T r. R E T U R N REM I £ M 35 P P I N T A T 1 0 C 'EFAB R£TUR
opernno N R E n c e n t r e root io« arch p i c t u r e e l e m e n t s further in a
2A P R I N T AT 3 , 4 . ; ' E F P " , AT 9 . 4 . . 36 F O P n =7 T O 9 P R I N T AT n,c
M P RETURN r e m left i r c h M NE»T n RETURN REM n o u later a r t i c l e w h e n we'll look at
25 PRINT AT 1 3 . 2 4 , " 0 ' P L O T 19 3- PRINT AT 'OP' RETURN
"Lords of M i d n i g h P t y p e scenes,
1 32 DRAU 32.-16 D R A U if 9 6 DP REM arch
RU - 3 2 . - 1 6 D P A U 13,-64. RETURN 35 F O P n = 9 6 T O 9 ?
NE*.T n
P L O T 2i n but now to a c o m p l e t e l y
REM r i 9 M aoor DP-3'' 2 0 0 0 RETURN REM
26 PRINT AT d.26, 'EC AT 9 , 2 4 rovt ledge different solution to the p r o b l e m
EFM
GM
A T 18,24., " G r ^ " ; A T 1 9 . 2 6
FOR n =10 T O 1 ? PRINT AT n
35 . FOR n =96 T O 9 7 P L O T 6 0 n
DRflU 1 3 6 , 0 N E <T r, RETURN C£H of b i g p i c s in few bytes.
. 24, " M M NEXT N RETURN REM p a s s a g e >. i age
fI9ht o p e n i n g 4 0 FOR 1 1 1 ? T O 2 0 PRINT AT i
6, NEXT f PL
Speedraw
2 7 .PPINT AT 6 , 2 5 , " O A S AT 9 , 2 *
C M S RETURN REM right arc* OT 6 3 . 3 2 ORAU O'.'EP 1 -4c "24. C
23 PRINT AT 13,17, O P L O T 11 RA'J 2 2 A 0 DRPu OUEP i - 4 6 2 3 P
1.32 DRAU 33.0 DRAU 0,72 DPPU ETURN REM crevaii
-33 0 DPAU 0,-72 RETURN REM 4 1 PRINT AT 6 , 1 , BRIGHT 1 I Nr.
centre passage door 6 , " K L ' , A T 7,1;"HM" PT INK If we h a d m a c h i n e c o d e
29 FOR TO 17 P R I N T A T n,C t W .AT 9 , i • RETURN REM
M M next n RETURN REM ce near l e f t torch routines lo plot, draw, b l o c k in
nire p a s s a g e o p e n i n g
30 P R I N T « T 7 , £ , " O P . A T © , c '
* 2 PPINT AT 6 , 2 9 INi" 6
T 1,'>L' « T 7 2 9 . "MM" A T 6 . 2 9
BRIGm
I
a r e a s of p a p e r a n d fill a r e a s
CMP" RETURN REM centre pass w i. f at 9 , 2 9 . • RETURN with ink we c o u l d b u i l d u p a
age h i g h arch PEM n e a r r i g h t torch
31 P R I N T A T 3 , c , " E F A S RETURN A3 P R I N T A T 1 1 , 1 0 5RIC-M~ : I p i c t u r e o n screen very q u i c k l y
REM ccntrt p a s s a g e ion a r c h ( NK 6 , ' I ,AT 1 2 , 1 0 , INK j, J" RE
from a string of d a t a if this
cent r c i TURN R£M f a r i c f t torch
32 P R I N T A T 1 5 , 1 7 , " 0 P L O T 11 AA P R I N T AT 1 1 . 2 1 ERIJMT 1 I i n c l u d e d i n f o r m a t i o n for
i 16 OPflU 3 3 , 0 DPAU 0,?2 DPAU NH 6, I " , AT 1 2 , 2 1 , I Nr. 1 . J RE
-33,0 DPAU 0 , - 7 2 RETURN REM TURN REM f a r r i g h t torch c h o o s i n g the right routine. Ladies
a n d G e n t l e m e n , the Great
Wizard of Exon p r o u d l y presents
"Speedraw", a g r a p h i c s utility to
p r o d u c e h i g h resolution
illustrations d r a w n at h i g h s p e e d
a n d at a n a v e r a g e cost of only
250 bytes per screen. (Less if you
reuse parts of o n e p i c t u r e in
another).
A p a c k e d column this month with Clyde Bish For the t e c h n i c a l l y m i n d e d ,
this is h o w its done. The secret is
revealing the minimal memory route to 3-D in the s e q u e n c e of n u m b e r s the
routine encounters. Lets c a l l this
adventure graphics plus a useful the D r a w c o d e . The v a l u e 255
( a n d to s o m e extent ©) is
'Soeedraw' routine. reserved for use by the driver. 0
o n its o w n m e a n s return. The
n u m b e r of 225's at the
b e g i n n i n g of e a c h s e q u e n c e
d e t e r m i n e s w h i c h m o d e is
s e l e c t e d . Exit from or j u m p i n g
7, 114, 35, 11, 120, 177, 32, 249, It you w a n t your a d v e n t u r e r to within a routine is c o n t r o l l e d
201 h a v e s o m e t h i n g to look at in the a g a i n by 255's b e i n g
FOR f=USR " t " TO USR M u " + 7 : s e c o n d it takes to p r o d u c e the e n c o u n t e r e d . Figure 2 gives a
INPUT i : POKE 1, i : NEXT f p i c t u r e y o u c o u l d print a flow c h a r t for e a c h m o d e .
(II you w a n t to use a l l t h e u d g s m e s s a g e after the CLS. The Use
you c o u l d m o v e this c o d e g r a p h i c s won't affect it as l o n g CLEAR 64890 : FOR f = 64891
elsewhere). To c a l l a n illustration as y o u a v o i d a r e a s w h i c h will TO 65367 : INPUT i : POKE f,i :
use a line s u c h as 9999 CLS :
INK O : GOSUB f e a c h of t h e
element subroutines) : TABLE A
252 c. cr cr
RANDOMIZE USR ' T * : INK 7
This is h o w the trick works. INK £40 255 255 2^5 255 255
is set to O — the s a m e as PAPER 0 0 0 192 240 252 255 c! 5
- before c a l l i n g t h e subroutines 255 255 255 2 5 5 255 252 240 192
so they a r e d r a w n invisibly.
255 •-kcrC.--1 2 4 0
CL 192 0 >•»
0 L*
C a l l i n g the m a c h i n e c o d e
C ' C •_>
C
causes all the a t t r i b u t e lile bytes 0 0 0 1 ' -L 127 fc.
255 c. cr cr
r
-7 •-ICC
to b e a l t e r e d to 7, i.e. w h i t e INK
o n b l a c k PAPER, so the p i c t u r e
I 31 127 255 255 C. ~

a p p e a r s m o r e or less 2 ^ 5 63 15 <-• 0 0 0 0
Instantaneously. Finally INK is 255 255 255 255 2 55 F. 3 15 .1
reset to 7 or you w o u l d n ' t see 16 24 52 44 36 44 74 52
any subsequent p r i n t i n g ! Note 25FI 2 5 5 £0 60 60 60 60 F.0
lhat Ihe torch subroutines h a v e
1 5 R c 10 42 34
to b e c a l l e d after the m a c h i n e
c o d e or you'll get no colour. If 0 64 64 80 30 •1 C o
_L O 1 6 * 145
you want ot use. say, y e l l o w INK 55 41 40 42 32 i i c cr -T-
w-_>
o n b l u e PAPER,POKE t h e a t t r i b u t e
84 52 62 74 170 146 34 y <—1
you require — in this c a s e 6 +
1 3 15 31 •-.cc
127 e.
1x8=14 - into a d d r e s s (start 7) r
as well as m a k i n g Ihe o b v i o u s 128 152 224 2 4 0 243 252 254 c.- C•->w
c h a n g e s to the INK n u m b e r .

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 PRINT I,I : NEXT f to enter the
d a t a tor the m a c h i n e c o d e from
Table B, a n d save with SAVE
" s p e e d r a w " CODE 64891, 477.
Let's enter some e x a m p l e
\ d r a w c o d e s to use e a c h m o d e in
turn,
Hi.
>,V i v. Plot/Draw
!• I*»VI.» This p r o d u c e s the o u t l i n e

T
' • 1
vi ;•*/!
d r a w i n g . Use the l o a d e r line 10
FOR f = 40000 TO 40021 : INPUT
i : POKE f,l : NEXT f (RUN) to
enter the following s e q u e n c e of
i numbers, pressing ENTER where
there is a c o m m a .
t 10, 10, 50, 10, 50, 60, 10, 60, 10,
n 10, 225, 100, 40, 160, 40, 130,
100, 100, 40, 255, 255, 0.
Now use RANDOMIZE USR
64891 to d i s p l a y a box a n d
t r i a n g l e to screen. If you
c o m p a r e Ihe d a t a with Ihe
flowchart you will notice (a) that
this m o d e is c a l l e d w h e n NO
255 starts the s e q u e n c e , (b) The
first pair of numbers are the PLOT
FIGURE 1
coordinates, subsequent pairs
b e i n g a b s o l u t e DRAW
coordinates, I.e. you give the
a c t u a l c o o r d i n a t e s you want to
d r a w to. No m o r e messing a b o u t
with positive/negative offsets; (c)
a 255 starts a new PLOT position,
(d) two 255's m e a n s return to the
driver. Note that you c a n n o t
PLOT/DRAW to ) or 255. You don't
n e e d to a n y w a y as the routine
draws a border a r o u n d the
255 255 picture area. (This b e c o m e s very
PLOT:

I important in the FILL mode).

X coord.
I
I Attribute
255 Fill
PLOT:
Y coord.
value
I This m o d e "inks in" the pixels
within a n a r e a b o u n d e d by
1 Attribute lines. As you will n e e d a n a r e a
I value

\
PRINT AT
to fill alter the FOR/TO numbers
row in the l o a d e r line to 40021 a n d
DRAW: 40030 a n d a d d the following
X coord. data:
1 Stan
position. 255, 255, 57, 11, 15, 58, 100, 42,
X coord. 255, 0

\
PRINT AT
column RANDOMIZE USR 64891 to
DRAW: redraw Ihe square a n d t r i a n g l e
Y coord.
Start a n d fill t h e m with red a n d b l u e
position. inks. Work o u l how it runs using
Width Y coord. the llowchart, r e m e m b e r i n g that
of box the attribute values are ink +
paper *8.
O n e or two points to note
Yet I w h e n using fill, (a) the a r e a to
More to fill?
Height Yet b e filled must b e c o m p l e t e l y
of box e n c l o s e d . The smallest g a p a n d
No FILL leaks out. There m a y b e
It
255
"invisible" g a p s a l o n g a line. You
255 c a n close these with a n extra
PLOT-DRAW, but often just m o v i n g
^ More to
BLOCK? .
the start position of the fill will
solve the p r o b l e m , (b) in order to
Yet b e very fast the fill is only semi-
jfNo intelligent, so you n e e d to have
the start position against a left or
255 right b o u n d a r y . You will also
n e e d to h a v e more t h a n o n e
start point to fill s h a d o w e d areas
(e.g. filling a ring), a n d the full
m a y not s p r e a d to very narrow
areas. Either c o m p l e t e these with
PLOT-DRAW or don't have narrow
areas! Finally it is just possible to
FIGURE 2: C o n t r o l D a t a (or Spoodraw crash the routine so save the
modes
d r a w c o d e before trying it out.

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 TABLE B

17 34 255 26 103 19 26 -L
•1
A.-IJ. 32 220 225 201 125 230 192 31
6 4 197 19 1 y 19 26 c c' J 31 15 67
26 1 A. 173 230 243 173
79 213 205 21 254 209 193 16 •1 O A —>
t f —>
t 173 230 199 173
241 17 63 156 19 26 254 0 ( t 95 124 230 71 4
O e -
200 255 194 234 253 19 26 62 254 15 16 253 71 26 160
254 t— —' — 194 196 253 19 26 50 163 47 13 201 237 75 125 92
143 92 19 26 111 19 26 103 197 17 0 255 120 130 71 254
213 ••» A 254
W 125 92 205 151 209 255 40 114 254 176 40 110 197
19 26 222 255 32 232 195 151 205 170 34 60 71 197 126 —>
f
253 26 50 45 255 19 26 50 16 cr-w
C. 1
193 15 56 14 13 16
43 19 26 50 47 255 19 250 125 43 126 40 4
230 31
•1 A rt
26 50 ~ 50 255 19 26 50
r r .1
Am 6 0
b' 24 239 3 62 Q A. **
255 213 205 44 255 209 19 26 71 3 7 43 17 12 29 40
222 2 5 5 32 221 195 151 253 26 67 16 247 35 125 230 31 126
103 19 26 71 62 176 1 5 c.' 111 40 56 6 3 24 236 30 255
19 26 71 19 213 26 37 62 12 227 105 227 3 253 126 37
176 154 79 205 21 254 209 19 15 15 47 230 1 79 C- A. C t
A -> ->

26 222 255 32 236 19 26 222 23 16 17 119 229 213 205 219

255 32 220 195 151 253 1 0 11 209 225 35 125 230 31 40
1 1 197 205 111 254 19/3 17 16 6 3 126 -»
1 43 232 15
1 1 -1
120 146 43 4 c. A. 21 16 253 119 213 205 219 11
237 66 71 121 149 43 4 29 209 193 24 136 193 122 254 1
29 237 66 79 176 200 121 134 200 •L 7 0 1 193 24 136
229 96 107 34 19 254 46 0 175 Cm mt
•-1CC
—'1 7 5 255 0 0 0 0
56 4 101 107 72 71 34 •i ~>
J. t 175 62 32 1 15 10 17 12
254 96 120 203 63 111 125 129 6 - bp'
W -
223 •w
t 213 17 J- "cL 0
56 3 134 56 6 144 111 £37 4 25 16 4 .•ic-
w 16
253 65
91 19 254 24 cr
w 111 237 91 209 66 •35
ic! 1' 229 -»--i
t c. 67 119
17 254 227 124 130 103 125 131 16 252 225 213 17 32 0 25
111 1 9 7 205 111 254 193 cc 1
. - . .-i
37 209 65 16 239 201

(Of course, o n c e you have it picture d r a w n with S p e e d r a w RETURN h a v i n g first set v a r i a b l e

working correctly it won't crash
when in use in a program).
Block
This effectively " p a p e r s in" a
block of c h a r a c t e r squares. Alter
the FOR/TO numbers to 40000
a n d 40007 a n d enter the
following sequence, w h i c h
produces a b l u e b l o c k , 10 by 5
with top left corner at row 15,
c o l u m n 1 255, 14, 15. 1. 10. 5. 255,
0 own programs you'll n e e d to set
As before RANDOMIZE USR
64891 will d i s p l a y it. As it is the
attribute n u m b e r w h i c h is used
this m o d e c a n b e used to
c h a n g e the ink within a n a r e a
without a f f e c t i n g the paper, a n d
so alter just the outline colour.
If you want to see a large
use the l o a d e r line (with FOR/TO a to the d a t a start address less
set to 40000 a n d 40250) to enter 1 of the d r a w c o d e you wish to
the d a t a from Table C. use.
RANDOMIZE USR 64891 will You have p r o b a b l y worked
q u i c k l y d i s p l a y a Hobbitish p a t h out by now that to p r o d u c e a n
in the Misty Mountains l e a d i n g a c c u r a t e d r a w c o d e will take a
to the G o l d e n Key that you don't lot of working out on pixel
n e e d a n y w a y (Oops — Sorry!), If paper. This c a n n o t b e a v o i d e d ,
you look carefully you'll see that but I c a n otter you some h e l p in
the sky top left is BLOCKed. not the form of a n Editor/Assembler
F i l l e d , this is so you c a n FILL the w h i c h will find a n d h e l p you
m o o n . (Remember you can't correct Ihe errors. The listing is
have INK on INK), too l o n g to i n c l u d e here, but if
When using S p e e d r a w in your you're interested in f i n d i n g out
more a b o u t it write to m e c a r e
the d a t a start register to the of ZX C o m p u t i n g e n c l o s i n g a n
b e g i n n i n g of the d r a w c o d e you SAE.
want it to read. Do this with the Next time we'll return to the
subroutine: picture element i d e a a n d
p r o d u c e those promised "Lords
1 RANDOMIZE a: POKE 64917, of Midnight'-type l a n d s c a p e s at
PEEK 23670: POKE 64918, PEEK only 30 bytes e a c h .
23671: RANDOMIZE USR 64891: 'Til then, h a p p y d r a w i n g !

TABLE c

56 159 115 159 115 153 56 1 c

JL w ' V
- C- c
Cm W" 175 71 154 cc 255 133 39
56 159 67 159 71 174 255 163 17 C
C" C
' — 33 174 30 160 -ice
Cm mm'
159 33 52 44 47 55 44 76 143 174 123 123 255 193 174 160
43 74 34 76 33 gg 30 127 112 220 174 200 -5 6 255 Cm
c »
3 C w1
1

c. * 144 23 152 c. 160 19 164 163 24 7 152 232 255 39 167

i c 165 10 164
c.
159
6 4

A.
f 1 C. u' V 33 166 29 162 27 156 29 149
124 174 112 152 109 14i 112 139 A 1
u ' _• 145 39 144 36 150 35 156
120 132 127 127 159 111 199 3 7 36 162 39 167 36 166 255 -1
A.
215 77 231 63 24 7 254 Cm 174 4 170 17 142 31 123 40
255 110 152 106 143 104 14 3 10" 115 47 112 1 1-12 255 47 1
A. A»
112 123 144 104 157 a 3 176 4 111 255 114 • V0* •iAm~ f 50
135 4 3

72 132 56 134 39 '1

J. — A
31 176 130 50 120 4 9 120 4 9 130 255
15 163 1 255 34 157 e —<
c 45 i c e
Cm J W' 255 Q 0 0 3 3 255
A
255 103 141 1
t "t- 34 75 33 10 3 255 255 3 1 119 43 1 .1
A.
141 25 5 119 119 Oft 29 c-
Cm — —
c
143 4 9 43 174 14 23 156 50 169
103 126 25 255 167 79 146 c. 1 255 0

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 THE FUTURE IS HERE!
What better w a y to
plan your adventures
for 1987 than mark
them on a stunning
Level 9 year planner.
Fifty ZX readers c a n
rhyme their w a y to a
prize.

"There once was man

c a l l e d Clive,
Who one morning
brought the Spectrum
alive,
He thought «Oh well,
111 invent the QL',
And before lunch I'll
create the C5."

" • " h i s shining e x a m p l e of how to

write a limerick (okay there m a y
b e a few p o e t i c b u g s in it)
should give you some pointers
towards c r e a t i n g your own
rhyming masterpiece. To a d o r n P'onnor
your wall with a Level 9 year
planner a l l you have to d o is
c o m p l e t e the limerick b e l o w
Remember the last line must those w h o have thought u p the p e n c i l In your important
rhyme with the first two a n d the most a p t a n d humorous e n d i n g . e n g a g e m e n t s . A p a r t from b e i n g
third a n d fourth with e a c h other. The wall c h a r t is fully extremely useful the p l a n n e r is
Getting the right rhythm is laminated a n d washable and d e c o r a t e d with four s u p e r b full
important a n d prizes will g o to c o m e s with a fibretlp p e n to c o l o u r illustrations by Godfrey
Dowson.

Level 9 Yearplanner C o m p e t i t i o n
The limerick
A spokesman for Level 9.
said adventures are truly divine. Time to get into limerick mode.
The first two lines are. . .
A spokesman for Level 9,
s a i d adventures are truly divine,
Now it's over to you to
c o m p l e t e the last three lines. The
c o m p e t i t i o n is o p e n to a l l ZX
readers a p a r t from e m p l o y e e s of
Name: Argus Specialist Publications,
Alabaster Passmore a n d Level 9.
The c l o s i n g d a t e is D e c e m b e r
a.
Address: 5th 1986. Please r e m e m b e r to
write your three lines o n the
b a c k of your entry envelope.
Send your entry to Level 9
Post to Level 9 Yearplanner C o m p e t i t i o n , ZX C o m p u t i n g Monthly,
O No. 1 G o l d e n Square, London W1R 3AB.
Yearplanner C o m p e t i t i o n , ZX
C o m p u t i n g Monthly, No. 1
O G o l d e n Square. London W1R 3A&

12
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
 #/
EVOLUTION
Masterly graphics,
infuriating puzzles * all
you ever wanted from a
bouncing ball game.

Revolution
Vortex/U.S. Gold
£9.99
Costa Panayl, author of m a n y of
Vortex Software's previous hits,
has m a d e a c h a n g e In direction
after his recent g a m e s Allen
Highway a n d Highway Encounter
a n d c o m e u p with another
winner.
Revolution is o n e of those
games w h i c h Is q u i t e simple to
play (In p r i n c i p l e anyway), but
very difficult to master a n d
absolutely Infuriating w h e n you
get Into the later levels of the
g a m e where you c a n see w h a t
you want to d o but can't quite
pull it off In time.
The g a m e Is p l a y e d on a
multi-tiered structure consisting
of eight levels, a n d your task Is
to start on the b o t t o m level a n d
work your w a y to the very t o p
Each level Is m a d e u p of a n
assortment of platforms, a l l o n
the same level but s e p a r a t e d by
gaps w h i c h have to b e a v o i d e d ,
these platforms are a r r a n g e d In
a roughly square a r r a n g e m e n t
(which c h a n g e s In e a c h g a m e )
with the o c c a s i o n a l e m p t y
position w h i c h you m i g h t find
yourself p l u m m e t t i n g Into If you
look before you l e a p ( e a c h of
these levels Is a bit like o n e of

those sliding square puzzles In

w h i c h you c a n move the
squares a r o u n d to try a n d form
a picture or s e q u e n c e of
numbers).
You control a b a l l w h i c h c a n
b e b o u n c e d a r o u n d the
platforms a n d In order to
c o m p l e t e a level a n d progress
to the next you have to solve
four puzzles. Scattered a r o u n d 2

S
e a c h level you will find four
platforms w h i c h c a r r y various
brlck-llke structures a n d s h a d e d
pathways. O n e a c h of these
platforms there are two grey
blocks w h i c h turn white w h e n
you b o u n c e Into t h e m a n d
d e a c t i v a t e them. Each brick will
r e m a i n d e a c t i v a t e d for just a few
seconds before reactivating a n d
turning grey a g a i n , but If you
c a n get b o t h bricks d e a c t i v a t e d
o
III
at the s a m e time then they will OL
both vanish — p r o b l e m solved • • • </>
 EVOLUTION
a n d you c a n move o n to the
next p r o b l e m on that level.
Unfortunately you've also got
to c o n t e n d with the s h a d e d
palhways o n these platforms,
a n d these c a n have different
effects v a r y i n g from just killing
your b o u n c i n g or g r a b b i n g the
b a l l a n d shooting it over the
e d g e of the platform into
oblivion.
At the start of e a c h level you
are shown your position within
the overall structure, as well as a
m a p of the p a r t i c u l a r level that
your are on. This m a p highlights
both your o w n starting position
a n d the position of the puzzles
o n that level so you've got a few
tips to start off with. When you
see this m a p it's also a g o o d
i d e a to m a k e a m e n t a l note of
the e m p t y positions, as I f o u n d
that I often went b o u n c i n g from
o n e screen to the next only to
find myself b o u n c i n g into
nowhere. You only get five lives
(though there are a d d i t i o n a l
ones for c o m p l e t i n g levels) so
you can't afford to d o that too
often.
Controlling the b a l l is a n art
all in itself. It c a n move in any
direction lhat a joystick h a n d l e
c a n move in (a joystick is almost
c o m p u l s o r y for this g a m e I
should think), a n d responds very
smoothly to joystick control but
j u d g i n g the height a n d d i s t a n c e
of your b o u n c i n g is a skill that
will take a lot of refining,
e s p e c i a l l y o n some of the
trickier puzzles where you've got
to squeeze the b a l l through
some q u i t e tight spots.
There are four different heights
of b o u n c e , c o n t r o l l e d by using
the fire button, or you c a n kill
the b o u n c e altogether a n d just
roll a l o n g the surface of the
platforms. There is also a variety
of flying objects w h i c h patrol
e a c h level a n d t h o u g h few of
these are d e a d l y you c a n find
yourself a c c i d e n t a l l y c o l l i d i n g
with o n e a n d b o u n c i n g off in a
totally u n e x p e c t e d direction.
The g r a p h i c s are moslly in just
Iwo colours to a v o i d attribute
clashes, but as with Vortex's
Highway g a m e s the g r a p h i c
style Is quite distinctive, m a k i n g like a loony you're q u i t e free to
g o o d use of fine s h a d i n g effects d o so, but if you're content to
to create c l e a r a n d d e t a i l e d take things a little bit slower a n d
pictures. But where I f o u n d the just roll slowly a r o u n d while you
Highway g a m e s to b e a bit too try a n d figure out w h i c h w a y is
fast a n d furious for my gin- u p you c a n d o that too.
a d d l e d reflexes, Revolution is the At £9.99 Revolution is a bit
sort of g a m e that e a c h player pricey, but it's more likely to
c a n p l a y at his or her own provide a l o n g term c h a l l e n g e
pace. If you want to g o t h a n most other a r c a d e g a m e s
b o u n c i n g a r o u n d the platlorms a r o u n d at the moment.

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

ZX talks to Salford
based software house
Vortex about the
intricacies of
Revolution.

^ evolution, a c o m p l e x 3-D
brainteaser is a real test for
puzzle solvers as the g a m e
layout subtiey c h a n g e s with
e a c h new g a m e , Luke Andrews
of Vortex e x p l a i n e d the evolution
of Revolution.
"Firstly it was essential to
create the g a m e in 3-D. It offers
an attractive illusion a n d greater Vortex: Crete Panayl, Luke Andrews a n d
scope for c o m p l i c a t e d Costa Panayl
gameplay. The b o u n c i n g b a l l
idea was really a progression
from Highway Encounter but we
wanted to d o s o m e t h i n g it w o u l d just fall off rather t h a n
completely different with It. roll or p o p up. It was solved, but
"The i d e a h a d b e e n a r o u n d g e t t i n g the b a l l to look
in Costa's h e a d for over a year c o n v i n c i n g a n d realistic was
until he got the c o n f i d e n c e to p e r h a p s the hardest part.
create such a g a m e . What
happens Is that Costa c o m e s u p
with a n overall g r a p h i c
treatment a n d we discuss ideas
a n d ways of c r e a t i n g i m p r o v e d
gameplay.

On the level
"The levels i d e a c a m e at a later
stage. We knew the b o u n c i n g
ball was g o i n g to b e the m a i n
character but we w a n t e d a n
alternative to a l o n g d r a w n out
g a m e o n o n e level a n d
something different from the
usual map. With the I d e a of the
levels we solved both problems.
This way you c o u l d identify
where you are a n d the overall
layout very simply." Vortex's Allen Highway; S c h e d u l e d for
One of the Infuriating aspects budget re-rotoase o n U.S. Gold's
Amorlcana label
of puzzle b a s e d g a m e s Is
laboriously working through the
puzzles you've a l r e a d y solved to
get b a c k to the position you
r e a c h e d in your previous forays.
In Revolution this p r o b l e m
doesn't arise.
"There are eight layouts in the
stack a n d the c h a n c e s of
meeting those layouts in the
same order trwice are 1 in
10,000. There's also a
c h e c k e r b o a r d layout that you
encounter in the later levels. The
random element is built-in in two
ways. Firstly the puzzles are
mixed up in the various levels
a n d secondly you m a y find o n e
puzzle on a n early level a n d
a g a i n later but you will have
less time to c o m e u p with the "The i d e a of t o u c h i n g the two
solution. blocks to solve the puzzle c a m e
a b o u t half way through the
Complications d e v e l o p m e n t . The three of us
have b e e n together for a b o u t
"Programming g a m e s like this four years now a n d w h e n a n
presents immense difficulties i d e a c o m e s u p that we like we
a n d a l t h o u g h most of t h e m are all get enthusiastic. If any of us
Ironed out in the early stages. hesitate then we d i t c h it. With
One problem was that w h e n the the blocks we knew it was the
ball was p e r c h e d on a n o b j e c t vital ingredient we n e e d e d . "

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 r i-i IE
This month, Hewson's
•
Steve Turner has some
a d v i c e on how to

PROFESSIONAL Supercharge Your

Spectrum.

r o ui c: il-l
•
• n the past two years the
s t a n d a r d of Spectrum programs
has i n c r e a s e d d r a m a t i c a l l y . To
c o m p e t e In today's market you
have to push the Spectrum to its
p e r f o r m a n c e limits. This month I'll
look at a few tricks of the trade
that c a n b e used to realise the
full potential of the 48K m a c h i n e .

Increasing user RAM

To use all ot the RAM a p a r t from
the screen a n d attribute m a p s
you must shut off the Spectrum
ROM. Every 50th of a s e c o n d a
h a r d w a r e timer causes a n
Interrupt. This has the effect of
g i v i n g control to the ROM
k e y b o a r d s c a n routine. This
interrupt needs to b e switched
off with a d i s a b l e interrupt
instruction. Of course no ROM
routines c a n b e used or the
Spectrum ROM v a r i a b l e a r e o
m a y b e c o r r u p t e d (I have
always a v o i d e d using ROM
routines. It Is usually m u c h better
to design your o w n routines that
d o exactly w h a t is required).
You c a n also use more RAM
than there Is! This is a c h i e v e d by
using areas twice. Routines a n d
d a t a only used at the start of the
p r o g r a m c a n b e overlaid with
other routines l o a d i n g over
them. In AVALON for e x a m p l e ,
the c o d e for k e y b o a r d choice,
d i s p l a y i n g the pretty border a n d
Initialising everything is
overwritten by the m a i n g a m e .
Both ol these methods are
best i m p l e m e n t e d in the final
stages of testing. O n c e a p p l i e d
the g a m e is In a 'live' state a n d
c a n only b e started once. It is
also extremely difficult to get
b a c k to BASIC

Reducing the size of

your c o d e
It is best to write c o d e using as
few bytes as possible from the
outset of c o d i n g . This has to b e
b a l a n c e d with clarity a n d
e x e c u t i o n s p e e d requirements.
Here Is a list of tips to r e d u c e
the size of your c o d e .
1. Use XOR A instead of LD A,0
2. Use AND A Instead of CP A,0
3. Structure your programs to
a v o i d unnecessary repetition.
4. M a k e l a r g e m a c r o s into
subroutines.
5. To increment counts etc m a k e
use of INC (HL).
6. Use b l o c k moves a n d
"compares' w h e n a p p r o p r i a t e .
7. Use table-driven processing so
that e a c h routine performs a
greater r a n g e of tasks. For

Irregular shaped graphics
Graphic is divided into
byte size columns
So that our graphics data will consist of the
unshaded bits w i t h some data to indicate
their displacement w i t h i n the graphic; the
file format will be as follows:-
No. of pieces
Displacement x,y
size in bytes
(List of graphic
bytes)
Displacement x ( y
size in bytes
Displacement x,y
size in bytes
etc.
Instance, instead of c o d i n g a often will the d a t a b e used a n d
movement routine for e a c h how tightly c a n It b e p a c k e d ?
object In a g a m e t a b u l a t e the Generally, p a c k i n g d a t a
movement characteristics, then m e a n s a slower a c c e s s time so
write a general routine that often a c o m p r o m i s e is
accesses the t a b l e a n d necessary. Here are the
produces a different result for t e c h n i q u e s I use.
e a c h entry. 1. Use v a r i a b l e length d a t a
records where you c a n .
Reducing the size of 2. Use ROM or M a c h i n e c o d e as
t a b l e d a t a as "free" d a t a .
data B a c k g r o u n d wall objects in
When designing d a t a tables
AVALON were chosen a n d
p l a c e d using ROM as a d a t a
bear two things in mind; how table, a n d I adjusted the d a t a to
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986 59
/
b e in the r e q u i r e d ranges. It is
similar to using a r a n d o m value
e x c e p t if you get the same value
whenever you want it.
3. Design the d a t a so that as
m u c h information as possible
c a n b e d e d u c e d from the
record number. In AVALON room
colours were a function of room
number.
4. Do not i n c l u d e the record
n u m b e r in the record. The
p r o g r a m either knows it or c a n
d e d u c e it from the record's
position.
5. Look for c o m m o n or r e p e a t e d
d a t a a n d g r o u p these records,
s p e c i f y i n g the c o m m o n ones.
6. Pack m a p s or suitable d a t a
a n d u n p a c k them into a buffer
for fast access.
Reducing RAM usage
of graphics
G r a p h i c s d a t a usually takes u p
a major part of the RAM in a
state-of-the-art a r c a d e g a m e . The
graphics, w h e n used, m a y have
to b e a c c e s s e d m a n y times a
second, so we must d e c i d e
w h i c h g r a p h i c s we c a n p a c k
a n d w h i c h have to b e in a
format suitable for fast plotting.
O n e of Ihe easiest ways of
getting more g r a p h i c s in the
p r o g r a m is to use custom
c h a r a c t e r sets as b u i l d i n g
blocks. Large g r a p h i c s c a n then
b e constructed from the
characters. A d a t a record for
e a c h o b j e c t specifies its
dimensions a n d w h i c h
characters it is m a d e u p of. If
most of the characters are used
m a n y times the RAM savings are
considerable.
An extension of this i d e a is to
use a b u i l d i n g block larger than
a single character. This system
c o u l d b e used to p r o g r a m a
g a m e like Knightlore a n d its
derivatives. Each 3D b l o c k c o u l d
b e o n e of the basic b u i l d i n g
graphics. By plotting them on
top of one another, walls, towers
a n d arches c a n b e constructed.
The c h o i c e of the shape a n d
the size of b u i l d i n g b l o c k
d e p e n d s on the style of the
g a m e . I have used v a r i a b l e size
blocks w h i c h l e a d to a very
flexible system. You c a n even
b u i l d m a c r o blocks out of small
blocks using even less RAM,
t h o u g h there is a p r i c e to pay.
The CPU has more work to d o to
d e c o d e the d a t a a n d b u i l d the
graphics. This is why Quazatron
only scrolls slowly. The poor CPU
is busy constructing the bit of
the picture m o v i n g into view.
Another way to optimise
s p a c e used by g r a p h i c s is to
d e s i g n a g r a p h i c s format that
caters for o d d s h a p e d objects.
This also saves the CPU time as it
does not have to waste time
plotting blanks.
Increasing execution
speed
The p l a c e to c o n c e n t r a t e on
 p a r t o l a p i c t u r e off s c r e e n .
Structure of character editor Background objects are drawn
first, f o r e g r o u n d o b j e c t s last.
Finally this n e w f r a m e Is c o p i e d
to I h e s c r e e n .
The s p e e d is a f f e c t e d b y t h e
size of t h e b u f f e r or buffers t h a t
a r e b u i l t a n d c o p i e d . This Is w h y
so m a n y g a m e s r e d u c e t h e size
o l t h e m o v i n g s c r e e n a r e a . The
cleverest g a m e s m a n a g e to
maintain a large moving area
b y just p l o t t i n g t h e p a r t s of the
screen where c h a n g e s occur.
The r o u t i n e s t h a t c l e a r , b u i l d
a n d c o p y t h e buffers a r e w o r t h
o p t i m i s i n g . This is w h e r e t h e
craftiest t e c h n i q u e s a r e
e m p l o y e d . Lei us e x a m i n e t h e
v a r i o u s m e t h o d s a p p l i e d to
c l e a r i n g a b u f f e r to zeroes.
Using a LDIR i n s t r u c t i o n to
c o p y t h e buffer to itself is a
g o o d m e t h o d b u t n o l t h e fastest.
If W do draw tf P do put If S do uivo If J do load II takes 21 c y c l e s for e a c h of the
bytes to b e c l e a r e d , plus setting
u p o v e r h e a d s , If interrupts a r e
d i s a b l e d t h e stack p o i n t e r c a n
b e u s e d to PUSH two zeroes a
t i m e into t h e buffer. It o n l y takes
If G do get If C do paper If X do ink If E do edit
11 c y c l e s for e a c h two bytes
c l e a r e d p l u s 27 c y c l e s as a l o o p
c o n t r o l . If several PUSH
Instructions a r e c o d e d in a list
t h e n t h e 27 c y c l e l o o p c o n t r o l
If K D d o If V d o d o e s not h a v e to e x e c u t e for
select list clear display e a c h two bytes c l e a r e d . The
l o n g e r t h e list of PUSH
instructions t h e faster t h e routine.
s p e e d o p t i m i s a t i o n is in t h e a n i m a t i o n . This is d o n e b y S p a c e considerations usually
i n n e r m o s t l o o p s of the p r o g r a m . b u i l d i n g u p a n e w p i c t u r e or force a compromise.
O n e instruction s a v e d h e r e c a n
b e t h e e q u i v a l e n t of t h o u s a n d s 10 '.LtHK W J *
of instructions s a v e d e l s e w h e r e if 20 B0KW1R <> PAPER 6 INK 0 CLi
y o u c a n i d e n t i f y t h e routines that 3U LET I*-"" LEI c-« LET <«-c LtT .»c LLl ./«<
LET «*c LtT »-C LET 9=c Lfcl
LET i"C LfcT L»"C LEI d-t,
a r e u s e d Ihe most. It is 40 HflHl HI 0,4, "CHARACTER Et'ITOP CHAR LIST"
s o m e t i m e s useful to g e t a n i d e a se co sue 100
68 PR1HI AT 4,i|.-G*CEl P-PUt-,AT 5.11. ' E - E M T " .AT 6,tl."S«sA
of h o w l o n g a r o u t i n e is. VtE-.ftt /,U.-J»L0l*>*««T 8 - t l . " K » L I S T " . m ll.-Xmii# c-khr-.at lO.ll.-V-tLtf* PI
To d o this c o d e a HALT t"
70 PLOT IS. 0-"65 l/KAM -63,0 UfiU 0.63
instruction a n d set t h e b o r d e r to 88 PLOT 0.80 LK
' HW 163.0
a different c o l o u r . Restore t h e 30 PLOT 18'j.O W?HM 0.175
93 CO SUB 9900
b o r d e r to its o r i g i n a l c o l o u r a f t e r 100 REM function loo*
the t i m e d r o u t i n e has f i n i s h e d , 110 IF OR AS THEN CO SUB 400 CO TO 100
120 IF OR *t "P" TtCN GO SUB 4300 GO TO 100
t h e n r e p e a t e d l y c a l l I h e routine. 130 IF OR >» "8" THEN CO SUB 5000 CO TO 100
In most c a s e s I h e r o u t i n e w i l l 133 IF OR 4* - j- THEN CO SUB 6000 CO TU 100
OR »% THEN GO sua 4000 CO TO 100
a l r e a d y b e In s o m e sort of l o o p 140 IF
130 IF i l « " C OR I* -C" THEN CO SUB aooo CO TO 100
a n d t h e p r o g r a m c a n b e run as 160 IF OR It "X" THEN CO SUB 3000 CO to 100
n o r m a l . The size of t h e c o l o u r e d '|70 IF OR <1 THEN GO SUB 300 CO TO IDA
OR 4t -K- THEN GO SUB 300 GO TO 100
173 IF
stripe o n the u p p e r b o r d e r gives 177 IF OR It "v" THEN GO SUB 3000 GO 10 100
a n i n d i c a t i o n of e x e c u t i o n time. 180 CO SUB 300 CO 0 100
380 REM EL'IT CHRRRC ER
If t h e r o u t i n e e x e c u t e s for m o r e 385 LET l-X*<32»Y>*22394
t h a n a 50th of a s e c o n d t h e 386 LET j-120 if PEEK >-0 TH£M LET J-16
w h o l e b o r d e r will flash t h e 307 POKE I.J
310 C0 SUB 9900
chosen colour. 320 IF * M - 0 " OR it*" • THEN PLOT OVER 1 . | 3 9 - » GO TO 370
Usually t h e p l a c e w h e r e 336 LET J-0 IF PEEK 1-120 T>CN LET J-48
337 POKE I.J
s p e e d is most r e q u i r e d is in t h e 338 IF CODE *»>58 T K N RETURN
g r a p h i c s p l o t t i n g routines. In m y 340 LET <J*«d*+*
350 LET d»-d»+*
IF <J*>«0 HND <tx<8 THEN LET x"d<
IF <J»>-0 HMO d*<8 THEN LET »«d¥
g a m e s t h e CPU s p e n d s a b o u t 90 368 CO TO 300
p e r c e n t of its t i m e d r i v i n g t h e 370 LET i*16 IF PEEK 1*16 THEN LET ,t«120
373 IK I N K E Y t O * " THEN CO TO 373
p i c t u r e o n t h e s c r e e n . The 380 CO TO 30?
d e s i g n of the g r a p h i c s routines 400 REfl OftHUlNC.
403 LET I-fl+<32*B >+22912
m a k e s or b r e a k s a S p e c t r u m 410 POKE I,128+PEEK 1
g a m e , so I will d e l v e into t h e 420 UO bUB 9900
430 POKE l.E+<D»8>
t h e o r y of a n i m a t i o n so that the 460 IF CODE *t>38 THEN RETURN
problems c a n b e identified. 470 IF »»--0" OR * M " ' THEN • LET k-43800'C < C M >18 > FOR 1-0 TO 7 POKE USR "u
••I,PEEK <k + l >• NEXT I PRINT HT 12+b.i. If* • , PAPER d i C W t 164 CO TO 400

Animation
480 LET dx-dxt* IF dx>-0 UNO dx<22 THEN LET «-dx
490 LET dv-dv*b< IF d»>"8 AND d»<10 THEN LET t>-d»
493 CO TO 480
300 REH M l v c t ch*r
A n i m a t i o n is m o v i n g pictures. It 310 POKE 22383+< 32 Ic ). 243
is a c h i e v e d b y r e p l a c i n g o n e 320 CO SUB 9900
338 POKE 22363+< 32*c ># 120
p i c t u r e w i t h a n o t h e r in q u i c k 348 IF COOE if>38 ThCN RETURN
succession, the more frames per 343 POKE 22383+<32tc).48
s e c o n d the s m o o t h e r t h e 338 LET IF d»>-0 H*> cto<28 THEN LET c-d»

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 198

 /
360 IF c-d* ThCN CO TO 300
If interrupts a r e e n a b l e d
570 IF C-0 UNO « > C ThEN LET c-19' LET 1">»-Ze GO sue 1000' CO TO 300 slower m e t h o d s h a v e to b e used
580 IF C" 19 RND K1000 THEN LET C-fl' LET CO SUB lOOO CO TO 300 s u c h as listing LD (HL),A a n d INC
390 CO TO 3B0
teeo LET k-43000Kq»a>' HL instructions or LDI instructions.
1010 FOB r-0 TO 19
1820 FOR 1-0 TO 7 POKE USR "U"+1,PE£K <k + l)' NEXT 1 PRINT HT 1+r, 23.CHR« 164,"
"JFL+RJ" Fast a n d slow
1023 LET k-k+8' NEXT r
1027 POKE 22383+02*0,120
1030 RETURN
3000 REM CLS BOTTOM PREfl It is worth d e s i g n i n g your
3003 INPUT "CONFIRM CLS Y-YES
3010 IF ftf-"Y" OR ThCN FOR L-ll TO 21' PRINT AT LiO," • NEXT L
p r o g r a m so that h e a v i l y u s e d
3020 LET *f-"w"' RETURN d a t a a n d routines d o not
•4000 REM tt«t chtr frow list o c c u p y the lower 16k of RAM.
4810 LET K-C(qtC)*B)»43O0a
4020 LET H-16460 This is b e c a u s e all RAM from
4030 FOR L-l TO 8 4000h to 7FFFh is c o n s i d e r e d by
4033 LET o-PEEK k LET K-K+i
4037 POKE Hi0 LET N-N+236 the h a r d w a r e as the screen
4040 for n-i TO e b a n k of memory. Every time the
4045 LET P-0 LET O-INT <0'2> LET P»P-(0*2>
4030 LET J-0 IF p-0 TFEH LET j-4e v i d e o h a r d w a r e requires a byte
4033 POKE <22370-M>+<32*L>,J to put out to the TV, a n d the CPU
4060 NEXT n
4070 NEXT L is f e t c h i n g d a t a from the lower
4075 LET ft»--E" RAM. t h e CPU is t e m p o r a r i l y
4080 RETURN s t o p p e d in m i d instruction. This
4300 REM copy ch»r to I)*t
4310 LEI K«V<4+C>I8)*45000 c a n m a k e it 30 per c e n t slower.
4320 LET N"16460
4340 FOR L-0 TO 7 PUKE k*I.PEEK (n*<23$*l>>
4550 POKE UjF *u"+l,PEEK tk*l> NEXT L Character Generator
4>>U PR1N1 HI 164
4363 Pu*E 32 tc >. 120
4370 Lb 1 n*«"E- RETURM This month's p r o g r a m is a BASIC
-jOOO REM SFtVt
3003 1NPUI "NAME " LHST MO ",0 utility i use to d e s i g n g r a p h i c s
3010 SAVE rttCOOE 43*00.0*8 m a d e out of c h a r a c t e r size
3021 GU sue ?900
3030 RETURN b u i l d i n g blocks. It c a n also b e
60uu HEM LOHf u s e d to d e s i g n c u s t o m c h a r a c t e r
cOOt. INPUT "NHHt ".ri»,rtl 0,0,"FIRST lHhRmlieP HU ".U
6007 LOHLP H*<.OOE 4300y»<0li!> sets. It i n c l u d e s a l o a d a n d save
6010 QJ SUB 1000 routine so that sets c a n b e
6020 L H FL1UMI
fcOOOINPUT "PHPER=".l- IF l»7 THtN CO TO 3U00 stored o n t a p e or, with a small
•>•10 LET i » > V PET URN c h a n g e , to disk or microdrive. To
INPUT *iii> **-t
>010 LEI » * - V RETURN
if E/7 rmu co T O ?OOO use o n e of your custom sets in
LEI J«»lNKEYt IF )»•" I HEN WJ TU 'l.'UO BASIC p r o g r a m s POKE the
LEI J -0 LET S p e c t r u m v a r i a b l e CHARS with
.'.'1U II »«""S" IHEH Ltl <1
IT THEN LL1 J 1 256 less t h a n the address w h e r e
'.'.'JO 11 .t ••<,." THEN LL1 y o u l o a d the c h a r a c t e r set (see
It >*• "'."* IHEII LET d»=-l
•try • RETURN p a g e 173 of the S p e c t r u m
manual).

NOW AVAILABLE - t h e official s p e c t r u m Upgrade!

Turn your Spectrum into

a^pectrum + for lust £23 Professional full size keyboard
-includes 17 extra keys
Responsive typewriter style action
Accepts ail current Spectrum Trur video
software and peripherals
DtMf
Extended

jg* f
T
Here's some exciting news for Spectrum owners... ^ ' HOW TO ORDER BY MAIL
trie official Spectrum upgrade Kit The upgrade has everything you
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need an understanding of electronics. Just the ability to solder a few wires together' The
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yourself, don't worry. Simply return your 48K Spectrum to us and for £29.95 +• £1.50
p + p we'll upgrade It for you.
The bigger, better Spectrum keyboard
The Spectrum + measures \2W x 6". It has a large typewriter style keyboard
with hard, moulded keys, vou ii find the new keyboard has a smooth, positive
action - ideal for touch-typing, word processing, simulation programs, and
extended programming sessions Two retractable legs give a perfect typing position.
There are 58 keys in all including 17 new keys. Programmers will be pleased
to see dedicated punctuation keys, a space bar. and separate shift keys for graphics
and extended modes And a reset button allows you to clear a program from your
computer s memory without disconnecting the power supply
o
mode
CjpviMt
Senwoton
Inverted comma
The official S p e c t r u m Upgrade. Naturally your upgraded
computer will accept all the peripherals in your Sinclair system-
o
interface 1 Microdrives and so on • as well as all Spectrum software
Just as important, new Spectrum software and peripherals will be designed I
with the Spectrum + in mind So the Sinclair upgrade adds stylish looks, new |
capabilities . and new potential for the future
i. if you requireus todotheupgradeforyoupieasesend £29.95+ £i.50p + p Total £31.45.
2 Should you require the do-it-yourself kit Just send £23.00 - £15G p + p Total £24.50.
J. If you require your Spectrum tobe repaired and upgraded to a Spectrum Plus we have a
special offer price of just £50.00 complete
Orders can be placed by using your Access Card on the numbers below to
0
oc
01
upgrade Dept. W High Street west. Clossop. Derbyshire SK13 8HJ
Tel: (04574) 66555/67761 & Manchester 061-236 0376
© c o p y r i g h t Videovauit L i d NO 689032 37
#/
MOONLIGHT
MADNESS
Bubble Bus
t 7 9b
I always used to hate, loathe
and utterly detest Bob-oJob
Week when I was a cub scout,
and Judging from the scenario
of this latest Bubble Buss title,
things havent c h a n g e d much
over the last twenty years.
Having wandered down a
huge drive to an old mansion,
you ring the bell whereupon
your call Is answered by an
even older man. He explains
that he Is a mad professor and
Is somewhat surprised that you
have got even this far. having
managed to avoid his guards
and booby traps Such Is his
surprise that he promptly drops
down with a heart attack
although not before blurting
out that his pills are locked In
the safe and you will need
sixteen keys to open it.
Honestly, the lengths some
people will go to In order to
avoid paying up but you nobly
THE HAPPIEST
DAYS OF YOUR
LIFE
Firebird Silvc
C1 99
Firebirds latest pocket money
game is a schoolboy caper
featuring an animated scally-
wag out to retrieve the head-
masters wallet that he's nicked
and then lost. Can he avoid
expulsion? This largely depends
on your ability To steer him
through the school building
and grounds searching for
clues lo the wheareabouts ot
the heads dosh.
All the basics of the game
work well enough, the graphics
are large a n d bright a n d
despite the o d d annoying
attribute clash, quite pleasing
to look at. The number of rooms
and outside locations Is quite
surprising a n d Its quite a lot of
fun Just exploring. There are no
really nasty surprises as the
decide to do your g o o d d e e d
lor the day and try a n d get the
pills. The mansion consists of a
series ot doors* switches, plat-
forms and monsters a n d your
task Is to wander round, collect-
ing the keys and generally
avoiding getting killed. If you
are standing next to a door,
pressing lire wilt move you
through Into the room behind.
Stand next to a switch though
a n d the fire activates the
appropriate mechanism. Not
all of these are beneficial so the
templatlon to go round pres-
sing everything in sight must be
avoided. Typical effects Include
building exfra platforms, acti-
vating lifts a n d mobilising
monsters. Getting to where you
want to go otten requires both
timing a n d planning. One
annoying feature Is that certain
doors lead to a row of eight
doors with a large pair of eyes
above This Is some sort ot maze
a n d It Is possible to get out
a g a i n . It just takes some
patience So frustrating Is this
element of the game that two
people who tried the game
thought It was a bug and re-
loaded the g a m e (there Is no
way to abort your current
game).
flying energy sappers such as
hovering canes and twirling
Jellies In the school kitchen
present little hazard. You can
pick up any two objects of
which there seem to be an
almosi unlimited supply. Quite
which objects were meant to
help you eluded me a n d all
you get from the Instructions are
some rather cryptic hints such
as, "map your way to the secret
passage turning over a new
leaf en-route"
However If you like problem
solving games In the hunt the
object type vein this will prob-
ably appeal. Well worth the
price on presentation alone It
may not give you the happiest
day of your lite or even a wildly
exciting one but It you want to
settle for an afternoon of quiet
diversion this game will d a
n iinr r r
font r s i
Other features are annoying
too. You c a n redefine the
keyboard but the pause and
music on/oft keys are not
affected so I found that every
time I tried to move right, I
paused the g a m e This Is Just
b a d programming and some-
thing that should have been
picked up In playtesllng. The
g a m e looks a n d plays very
much like Booty which Is no
great surprise as John Cain
wrote them both. Like Booty.
Moonlight Madness would be
all right at budget price but Is
Mostertronic
£1.99
Here's something a Utile diflerent
for sports simulation lans —
doubles volleyball! This latest
offering from Mastertronlc's
Entertainment USA range Is o
highly enjoyable game and
the first attempt to my know-
ledge to put volleyball on Ihe
Spectrum.
You are In control ot two
players against a pair control-
led by tne computer. Its a
keyboard only g a m e a n d you
d e f i n e your own keys. Its
deceptively simple however to
work out the best arrangement
ol keys so that you can switch
easily b e t w e e n your two
players. I had to redetlne them
several times before I found an
arrangement that meant 1
wasn't accidentally hitting the
wrong key. This I should a d d
was down to my cackhanded-
ness. To get good team work
between your two players
rather than Just bashing Ihe ball
back first time requires a lot ot
dexterity on the keyboard.
Controlling the ball Is quite
simple when the ball comes to
your player a n d you are In a
position to hit It you press the fire
key and a cross Is she going
up the court to where the e ball
will land. Release the tire key
and the ball Is on Its way. It's not
perhaps the most sophisticated
of games but there are some
nice touches — for instance If
you hit the ball high Into the air
It crosses unexpectedly in front
of the scoreboard at the top of
the screen.
One g a m e p l a y i n g t i p
which Is not down to my skill but
rather an oversight in the pro-
... . iljwi
|P=|t!
11(11 "U
not very good value as It stands.
Keeping to the boy scout
theme, be prepared betore you
buy this o n e
<v
i;
K
M,
TJk
gramming is lhat there are
blind spots from where the
computer opponents seem
unable to return the boll. If you
serve on the left hand side of
the court to a point Just Inside
your opponents baseline they
are stymied. Using this tactic
will ot course take a lot of the
edge off the g a m e It you
choose to exploit it but Its
handy if you need a vital point
and certainly doesn't detract
from the g a m e If you are
sporting a n d choose to Ignore
the computers achlltes heel.
The animation Is fair and as
simulations g o It's pretty rep-
resentative ot the game itself
even though its only two a side
(but as even doubles will give
you a b a d case ot entangled
fingers two players are certainly
enough).
For the enjoyment it gives It's
more than good value for the
price and seems to suggest that
there is potential tor someone
somewhere to produce a fully
fledged tull price volleyball
simulation. For now though
Bump Set and Spike Is In a class
all by itself.
PS. There is however one
curious feature a b o u t the
g a m e The crowd, who are
totally Immobile throughout all
seem to be wearing white
masks over their (aces and the
entire game looks as though It's
being playing in tront of a
gathering ot the Klu Klux Klan or
are my eyes deceiving me?

SGRIZAM
Amoricana
£2.99
Not only does this g a m e have
an absolutely unpronouncable
name, It's also virtually unplay-
able — or at least It's not a
game that I c a n Imagine
anyone wanting to play.
Supposedly set in the 25th
century, Sgrlzam casts you In
the role of the warrior Mlrdav
who has been entrusted with
the task of rescuing the Princess
Doxaphln. Naturally, being a
princess. Doxaphln (Doxle to her
friends no doubt) Is d e a d
beautiful and if you can rescue
her you get to win a huge
dowry a n d her h a n d In
marriage, so off you go to
rescue ner from her captors on
the planet Klndos.
Tucked away in a cell in the
Castle ol Klndos, Doxaphln c a n
only be rescued by you battling
RETURN TO OZ
US G o l d
C f OS
Yet another spin otf from a tllm
tittle and no Ills not about going
back to Australia, but rather It
involves that magical land of
Yellow Brick Roads, Emerald
Cities and the Wicked Witch of
the West. Some time has passed
since your first visit a n d you are
desperate to return to see your
friends, especially as you have
a feeling that all Is not quite as
II should be with the Cowardly
Hon, the Scarecrow a n d the Tin
Woodman. The problem Is, Aunt
Em wonts you to stay (Irmly put
/ I
Sk X
tfKVtfKVi
Qvrt'i J * n t
1 i*.ll
HM •*i DlNAMlC
your way along the corrldoors,
dodging or killing the creatures
that will stand in your way.
These Include zombie ducks,
swordsmen, snakes rats and the
like Most of these can't be
killed, but by d u c k i n g or
jumping at the appropriate
moment you can avoid them.
in Kansas a n d doesn't like you
even mentioning Oz.
The game is a menu driven
g r a p h i c adventure that Is
designed to appeal especially
to young children. There is
nothing to type In apart (rom
your name at the beginning
a n d everything is controlled by
just three keys — space to high-
light a particular option from
the menu, enter to select that
option a n d shift to return to the
main menu. There are six main
options to choose (rom; Look,
Talk, Search, Get. List and leave,
The list option (Inventory) is
further subdivided Into Quit.
Drop a n d Use When you select
an option, all the relevant Items
on the screen are highlighted
a n d again, the space bar
switches between them.
iik
l - M
Getting hit three times ends the
game, a n d whenever t or
anyone else played Sgrlzam
each game lasted about three
seconds.
The trouble Is that there's so
little game In here — you can
walk a l o n g the corrldoor,
jump/duck to avoid the animal.
The main problem with the
game Is that the graphics ore
truly awtul. Plclures ot what you
hove found are small and not
easily distinguished and items
or areas thai are supposedly
highlighted remain indistinct
and wishy-washy. There are also
difficulties In using the space
bar to highlight dllterent objects
but this may be a peculiarity o(
my rubber keyboard. Certainly.
I found that I had to press the
keys up to half a dozen times
betore the next item was high-
lighted and it would be all too
easy to dismiss something as
not significant because you
couldn't select It.
The game Is designed to
make adventuring easy, but I
found that It h a d just the
opposite effect and my frustra-
IM
5
or jiggle your sword In the
direction ot one ot the armed
enemies that comes along
occasionally and that's about
It. There doesn't seem to be
much skill Involved in the sword-
play a n d simply avoiding the
stream ol creatures that comes
wandering along (always from
the same direction, so you don't
even get to run backwards and
(onwards to a d d a little variety
to the game) gets monotonous
In a very short time
The graphics are quite good
tor a budget garnet and" Mli
"dlrdav
Is a large, well animated spr
sprite
that wouldn't look out of place
In a more sophisticated
arcade/adventure It's just a pity
that the gameplay itself Is so
dreary
tion increased considerably,
the longer I played. As (or the
story, it follows the film closely
but I think that you would have
to be a real ton o( the tllm to get
much fun out ot the g a m e One
final quibble. All over Ihe
packaging ore notes crediting
the Walt Disney organisation
who produced the film but
there is not a single mention ot
L. Frank Baum the original
author. Take my advice and go
and read the book insiead.
U J
THRUST M j'tMjjrmraB
Firebird
£1
Tv
*
02
I'd seen this played on the C64 it
a n d I'd heard some good
things about It. so I was inter-
The s t a n d a r d of b u d g e t
software seems to be varying LIVES
ested to see a Spectrum version quite a lot these days. On one
ot Thrust turn up In the otllce a hand there's a small number ol
little while a g a games that make full price titles
Thrust Is a simple enough look overpriced, but at the
game, and quite old fashioned same time there are sllll a lot of
b u d g e t games that really
In many ways, being a sort of
cross between Asteroids and ought never to have seen the RRTING:
light of day. NO
Lunar Londer. The game puts COnnCrNT!
you in control of a small space Then, on the other hand,
craft shaped like an upside there are games like Thlngy
down V ' which hovers above and the Doodahs which are
the surface of a planet. At llrst neither Incredibly good nor
it is slowly drilting down towards Incredibly b a d a n d which
the ground, but quite quickly make a poor reviewer's life hell neighbouring countryside around the Doodahs and the
speeds up as gravity draws you because you can't rave over As usual though, there are passages of the maze is quite
downwards Using the rotate them or Indulge yourself by monsters out to get him. In this complex In places and the
left/right and thrust controls you giving them a good drubbing. case it's a bunch of creatures author has clearly put a bit of
have to guide your craft over So what do you say about known as Doodahs, which thought Into the layout of all the
the surface of the planet and •hem? come In various types There rooms.
collect the energy pod. Well, the plot of the game are Whatslsnames* Thlngummy- I can't really recommend
Controlling the craft is goes like this; Thingy (a Utile b o b i Whachamacalllts and Thingy a n d the Doodahs one
difficult enough, as there's sprite type person with an So-and-So, a n d they're all way or the other. It's not such a
gravity and your own momen- Idiotic grin) has gone and equally deadly. b a d game that you'll regret
tum to contend with, but there's broken his Spectrum and has to Thingy Is a g o o d o l d every penny you part with to
also the problem ot the Lympet replace It with a new one fashioned maze game with £1 buy It, but neither Is It the sort of
guns which defend the pods. before his parents (Ind out. The coins as the objects that you've game that is ever likely to be
The guns are powered by only way tor him to do this Is to got to collect, It's not badly remembered two months after
nuclear plants and If you can go of In search of (he money to done, but It does look fairly you bought It. The word that
(ire enough shots at the plants buy a replacement (just £60 dated — most of the passage describes it best is 'average*.
the guns can be deactivated apparently — do Americana ways and monsters are small
temporarily, but if you overdo it know more abut Amstrad's character sized blocks, making
you'll end up sending the plant plans tor the Speccy than use of the UDG facility, so the
critical a n d destroying the they're letting on?), and this will g a m e looks reminiscent of
whole planet (which Isn't a take him on a journey around others that you could hove
good Idea). some 200 locations. Including bought three years a g a It's not
rooms In his house and the fast and furious, but dodging
Then a d d to all that the
problem of your every decreas-
ing fuel supply and Ihe tricky
task of collecting additional
fuel from the supply pods on
the surface and you're faced
with a game that Is made up of
several simple tasks which
combine to moke quite a tricky
g a m e Hovering over the planet
Isn't too hard, and neither is
picking up the fuel or energy
pods, but when you try to do
both these things and conserve
your fuel and dodge bullets at
the same time that's when
things start to gel tricky.
There Is Just one pod on
each planet, and once you've
collected that you just head
skywards and the game will
move you on to the next planet.
The first couple of planets aren't
too much trouble, but on the
later planets the pods and
spare fuel get hidden away in
deeper and more complex
caves, and are protected by
more and more guns, so it's not
a game you'll master In a few
minutes
The graphics are quite
simple, but the animation and
responsiveness of your craft are
all quite smooth (and at least
the simplicity of the graphics
allows you to avoid attribute
problems). My only doubt
a b o u t the g a m e is that
b e c a u s e you have to g o
through all the planets In a starting from scratch and re- game that Isn't going to set the
fixed order you might get a bit loading the game again, so It's world alight, but it's b e e n well
fed up going through all those not a good idea to play the enough thought out to be chal-
early planets in order to master game with a triend unless lenging and fun for a few rainly
the later ones. Oh, and once he/she wants to use exactly the atlernoons and It's probably
you've chosen your control keys same controls. one of Firebird's better budget
you can't redefine them without Thrust is an old fashioned releases of recent months.
Compatible with ZX Spectrum +2 e Compatible with ZX Spectrum +2 • Compatible with ZX Spectrum +2

Probably the best joysticks in the world

/
" " CUP p r ^ t T a m F t
£

o
The Explosive Joystick
Compatible with ZX Spectrum.16k.48k.l28k+2.
Commodore 64. Vic 20, Amstrad. Atari, etc.
At only E8.95 the features on the 125 are second to none
Besides its unique internal structure, built to withstand
immense punishment from even the most vigorous games
player, the joystick contains no less lhan tour extremely
sensitive fire buttons Two are housed in the handgrip
which has been moulded lor extra comlofl and ease
ol operation The trigger tinger tire button provides
<1 ease and comlort (or your linger and the top lire
button is conlourod to tit your thumb tor sure tire
shooting The base tire buttons are positioned lor oxtra
control and two hand linng whether you are
righl or lett handed
A built in auto-lire switch provides continuous
shooting at the touch ol a tire button

ONLY Including Spectrum+2 Selector Connector

The 125 comes complete with a lull 12 months warranty
Pficatinclud* VAT, postag* k packing Delwy norma"* Uejayi
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MICROSWITCH JOYSTICK
^ M E T A L SHAFT ^ A U T O F I R E
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^ 1 2 MONTH WARRANTY
• Deluxe,robust construction. • C o m f o r t a b l e rugged
hand grip, 8directional control with automatic centering.
• Heavy duty base with strong stabilizing suction cups.
• Highly sensitive tight touch MICRO SWITCH fire buttons.
• Economically designed control handle with indestructable
METAL SHAFT • Built in AUTO FIRE function.
M a c h l t J o y s t i c k compatible with • Sinclair ZX Spectrum t6K.48K.l2aK. + 2
• Amstrad computers • C o m m o d o r e 64 & VIC 20 Computers
• Commodore C16 A Plus 4 Computers (adaptor sold separately)
• MSX Computers • Atari 2600 A Atari 5200 Video Game Systems
« Atari Home Computers

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Compatible with ZX Spectrum +2 • Compatible with ZX Spectrum +2 • Compatible with ZX Spectrum +2

 5H
Ray Elder presents
another prize winning
collection ot readers'
routines
Printing Windows
^ obert Glavas. a regular writer
from Bury, sent us a n unusual
p r o g r a m to a l l o w you to print a
section or w i n d o w of the screen
to a ZX or A l p h a c o m printer. The
M a c h i n e c o d e is r e l o c a t a b l e
a n d o n c e you e n t e r e d or
r e l o a d e d the p r o g r a m l o a d in
your previously save screen by
LOAD "" SCREENS a n d type G O
TO 1. Answer the p r o m p t a n d the
r e q u i r e d w i n d o w will b e
p r o d u c e d . (LISTING 1)
Reflections
Mark Batts ot Abbots Langly
s u p p l i e d us with LISTING 2. a
p r o g r a m to drive you r o u n d the
b e n d . Try it.
A Sound Program
S u p p l i e d by M i c h a e l Toner w h o
lives in Belfast, this short p r o g r a m
LISTING 5. will liven u p the o l d
Beep. O n c e e n t e r e d a n d RUN
just type RANDOMIZE USR 65511
to have your ears tickled.
Random Selection
Ian Skillen proves the ZX81/TS1000
is surviving in C h i c a g o , but his
routine for selecting non
r e p e a t e d r a n d o m numbers over
a set n u m b e r ot selection c a n
b e used o n any ZX computer.
(LISTING 6)
QLDump
A rare beast i n d e e d from Mr L.W.
Tomlin of London. More of a tip
really but for slowly f a d i n g QL.
He tells us that there is a screen
d u m p utility o n the EASEL
c a r t r i d g e c a l l e d GPRINT PRT
a n d should work with any Epsom
type printer.
Load it by t y p i n g
a=RESPR(2000):LBYTES
MDV1_GPRINT PRT,a
When you wnt to print a
screen either from within a
p r o g r a or after l o a d i n g a
p r e d e s i g n e d screen simply t y p e
CALL a
I tried It with a Shinwa CP80
a n d it worked.
Break & Display
From the Netherlands c o m e s
LISTING 3 a n d 4, courtesy of Rene
U i t t e n b o g a a r d , o n e is to a d d
some protection to your p r o g r a m
(3). a n d (4) splits the screen into
7,32,248,21,122,178,32,222,201
two sections, the top half staying
15 DEF FN p$(at> = (STRt USR 600
u n c h a n g e d but the lower half
scrolling up. Great for a d v e n t u r e
00 >< TO 0>+CHR* 22+CHRt 2 U C H R 1
0+a*
g a m e writers.
Your p r o g r a m goes from line
\
20 onwards a n d all you have to _ 7 • - . i
d o Is use the c o m m a n d PRINT FN
pSC'Text goes in the string"] with
a m a x i m u m of 32 characters at
a time.
a E V
LISTING 3
5 CLEAR 50898: FOR f=60899 TO
60970: READ a: POKE f.a: NEXT f
10 DATA 205,124.0.59,59,225,1.
15,0.9,235.42,61,92.115.35,114,2
01.118.205,142,2,123,254,255,32,
248,58.58,92,254.12,40,10,254,16
,40.6,254.20.40.2,24.25.60.50,12
9.92,253,54.0,255,33,0,0.34.66.9
2,33,0.0.34.68.92,59.59.195,125.
27.195.3,19
15 REM initialise with
RANDOMIZE USR 60899
LISTING 4
5 CLEAR 59999: FOR f=60000 TO
60081: READ a: POKE f,a: NEXT f
10 DATA 33.0.72,205,141,234.33
,224.72.22.8.30,32.1.32.7,9,126,
1,224.248,9,119,35,29.123.179.32
.240.1.224,0.9,21,122.178,32.229
,33.0,80,205,141.234.201
11 DATA 22,8,30,224,1,32,0,9,1 FHTIMftTC
26,1,224,255,9,119,35,29,123,179
,32,240,1,32,0,54.0,35.11,120,17 P L H y THE GRME
LISTING 1
10 LET KC=60000 LISTING 2
20 RESTORE : FOR F=MC TO MC+54
10 LET x=0: LET y=0
READ A: POKE F, A: NEXT F
20 INPUT "Type a word in pleas
30 DATA 62,3.205,1.22,1,0,0,81
.122,254,0,40,+6,62,32,235,21,24
,-11,42,132,92,9,197,17,248,255
30 IF LEN aS>10 THEN G O TO 20
40 PRINT AT 0,0;ot
40 DATA 6,8,126,18.197,1.0,1.9
50 FOR s=0 TO LEN at+8
,193,19,16,-11,62,164,215,193,3.
121,254,32,32,-31.62,13,215,201
60FOR t=175 TO 166 STEP -1
70 IF POINT <s.t)=l THEN GO SU
B 105
90 REM general program 80 LET y-y+5: NEXT t: LET y=0:
100 INPUT "STARTING R0V?";R1: I
LET x=x+3: NEXT s
F R1<0 OR R1>21 THEN G O TO 100 100 STOP
110 INPUT "FINISHING R0V?";R2:
105 PLOT 0.75: DRAV 2 5 5 , 0
IF R2<R1 OR R2>21 THEN G O TO 110
110 PLOT x.75+(y-3): DRAV 0,3
120 INPUT "STARTING COLUMN?";CI
120 PLOT x,75+y: DRAV 3,0
: IF C 1 < 0 OR Cl>31 THEN G O TO 12
130 PLOT x+3,75+y: DRAV 0,-3
0 140 PLOT x+3,75+ <y-3): DRAV -3,
130 INPUT "FINISHING C O L U M N ? " ; C 0
2: IF C2<C1 OR C2>31 THEN G O TO 150 CIRCLE x+1,80-'y+3>,2
130 160 RETURN
140 POKE MC+6.C1: POKE KC+48, <C
2+1)
150 FOR F=R1 TO R2: PRINT AT F.
0;: LET L=USR MC: NEXT F
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
LISTING 5 3D Window & Text
10 LET A=USR "P"
Two trom A l e c Goodyear, the first program, a n d the s e c o n d to
20 FOR J=0 TO 31: READ Bt POKE
to d r a w a 3D 'window' on the allows text to b e input to a
A+J.B: NEXT J
screen, as written you have to specified position a n d length.
30 DATA 6 . 2 5 5 , 1 9 7 , 6 , 7 5 . 6 2 , 0 . 2 1
enter the positions, but these A g a i n the parameters c o u l d b e
1,254,16,252,193,16.236,201
dimensions c o u l d b e built into a built into a p r o g r a m if desired.
40 DATA 33.0.10.43.126.211.254
,6.205.5,32.-3.175.132,200,24.-1 LISTING 9
4 40 INPUT "ROV : " ; R
LISTING 8
50 INPUT 'COLUMN : ";C
10 REM 3D Vlndow 60 INPUT "MAX NUMBER OF CHARS
20 INPUT "ROV : « R : "; M
LISTING 6 30 INPUT "COLUMN 70 PAUSE 50
40 INPUT "HEIGHT 100 LET 1*="": LET A=0: LET B=0
10 PRINT "HOV MANY SELECTIONS
50 INPUT "WIDTH : »;V 110 PRINT AT R,C;
• •
15 60 INPUT "COLOUR *;P 120 IF B=50 THEN LET B=0
INPUT No
100 LET A$= M 130 LET B=B+1
16 PRINT NS
140 IF B<26 THEN PRINT »_";: GO
20 PRINT "HOV MANY G A M E S ?";
110 FOR K-R TO R+H-l TO 160
22 INPUT HG
120 PRINT AT N,C; PAPER P;At<l 150 PRINT "
25 PRINT NG
TO V> 160 PRINT CHRt 8;
30 DIM N(NG>
130 NEXT N 170 LET K$=INKEYS: IF THE
40 FOR 1=1 TO NS
140 LET R^(22-R>«8 N G O TO 120
50 LET K=I NT (RND«NG)+1
150 LET C-C»8-l 175 PAUSE 70
60 IF N ( K ) 0 0 THEN GOTO 50
160 LET H=H*8+1 180 LET K=CODE K*
70 LET N(K)=K
170 LET V=Vt8+l 190 IF K<32 OR K>127 THEN GO TO
90 NEXT I 220
180 PLOT C.R: DRAV V, 0: DRAW 0,
92 STOP
-H: DRAV -V.0: DRAV 0,H 200 IF A=M THEN GO TO 120
100 PRINT "NUMBERS"
190 FOR N-R-H-l TO R-H-3 STEP 210 PRINT Kt;: LET A=A+1: LET i
1000 FOR 1=1 TO NG
1 $=I$+K»
1010 IF N<I><>0 THEN PRINT N d )
200 PLOT C*3.N: DRAV V, 0 220 IF K<>12 THEN GO TO 250
1020 NEXT I 230 IF A=0 THEN GO TO 120
210 NEXT N
1030 COPY 240 PRINT CHRt 8;" H ; C H R $ 6;CH
220 FOR H«C+V+1 TO C+V+3
1040 STOP RS 8;: LET A=A-1: LET Ifc«l$(l TO
230 PLOT N.R-3: DRAV 0.-H
240 NEXT N A>
250 IF K O 1 3 THEN GO TO 120

Program Protection 2
260 PRINT " "
300 PRINT AT 21.0;"THE STRING V
AS : ";ll
Tony Porritt offers the system they
use In C l e v e l a n d for protecting
their listings. At this rate ZXC
readers will have the most
secure programs in the world:
Remember to only a d d line o n e
after your p r o g r a m has b e e n
tested a n d is b u g free else
you're stuck LISTING 7

LISTING 7

1 LET L=USR "a"-768: POKE 236

06,L-256*I NT <L/256>: POKE 23607
.INT (L/256)-l: DATA 15,30,12.1.
9.31
2 REM program starts here

Topsy Turvey LISTING 10 17,0,64.33.160.87.6.6.14.3,197,6

This routine is a n interesting

10 RESTORE : LET t=0 .8,197,6,32.26,79.126.18.113 CO
20 FOR 1=0 TO 117: READ a: POK 60 DATA 19.35.16.247.229.235.1
means of turning the display
E 32000»l.a: LET t=t»a: NEXT 1 .224.0.9,235.225,1,32,1.167.237.
upside down, the c o d e is
O
30 IF t<>10795 THEN PRINT "ERR 66.193,16,227.229,235,1
l o a d e d to 32000 but it is
OR IN DATA!!" 70 DATA 224,7,167.237.66.235,2
relocatable a n d c a n b e p l a c e d
25,9,193,16,210,13.121,254,2,32,
anywhere you wish, Use it by 40 DATA 17.0.88,33,160.90.6,11

oc
10.17.192,64,33,224.79.6.2,24
RANDOMIZE USR address. This .14,32,197,26.79.126.18.113,193,
one c a m e from the I.O.W. a n d 19,35,13,32,244.197,1,64,0 80 DATA 194,254,1.121.192,17.0
was written by David Hlscock. 5 0 DATA 167,237,66,193.16.232. ,72.33.160.79.6.3.24.180
O
LISTING 10.
z
GO

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 The Andromedans
(alien flavour of the
month) have been
tinkering with an
awesome doomsday
machine. Your
interstellar DIY mission
is to put it b a c k
together.
NEXOR
Design Design
£7.95
T h e y ' r e at it a g a i n — it seems
that you can't g o near a
c o m p u t e r g a m e these days
without b e i n g b e s e i g e d by
hordes of aliens w h o are just
falling over themselves to invade
earth a n d s a m p l e the delights of
M i a m i Vice, Stephen King novels
a n d Chinese take aways.
This time It's the
A n d r o m e d a n s ' turn to have a
c r a c k at us, but fortunately Our
Boys have b e e n e a t i n g their
S h r e d d e d Wheat a n d have
p u s h e d the A n d r o m e d a n s b a c k
to their last stronghold in Orion.
All it n e e d e d was the
c o m p l e t i o n of Ihe Nemisis
w e a p o n to knock out that last
stronghold, but then the e n e m y
l a u n c h e d a desperate a t t a c k on
the NEXOR c o m p l e x where the
w e a p o n was b e i n g d e v e l o p e d
a n d only your have survived to
k e e p Nemisis out of their hands.
Scattered throughout the multi-
:HOR
levelled c o m p l e x are two sets of
five m o d u l e s ; only o n e set needs
to b e c o l l e c t e d to c o m p l e t e the
w e a p o n (the others will b e
destroyed w h e n the c o m p l e x
self-destructs), then if you c a n
find the blueprints a n d repair
the transporter b e a m you II b e
a b l e to k e e p the w e a p o n out of
e n e m y hands.
The NEXOR c o m p l e x might
look a little familiar, since it's
d r a w n in the style of two-
c o l o u r e d 3D g r a p i c s that have
b e c o m e more or less s t a n d a r d
for a r c a d e adventures ever since
Knight Lore arrived to harry the
nation's joysticks. All the usual
p a r a p h e n a l i a is here — m o v i n g
walkways, d e a d l y spikey things,
tables a n d blocks that have to
b e m o v e d a r o u n d to a l l o w you
to r e a c h i n a c c e s s i b l e exits, a n d
a n assortment of robot sprites
w h o sneakily don't a p p e a r until
the s e c o n d time you pass
through a room so that they c a n
take you by surprise.
You control the figure of the
h e a d of secruity as he attempts
to l o c a t e the Nemesis m o d u l e s
a n d repair the transporter
b e a m . You're u n a r m e d so the
only way to a v o i d fatal collisions
is by some smart movements
using the usual back/forwards,
left/right a n d j u m p controls.
M o d u l e s are c o l l e c t e d
a u t o m a t i c a l l y as soon as you
t o u c h Ihem, a n d as you c o l l e c t
e a c h o n e you are t o l d how l o n g
is left before the w h o l e p l a c e
self-destructs.
The presentation a n d
g r a p h i c s are a l l well u p to the
sort of s t a n d a r d that p e o p l e
e x p e c t from Spectrum g a m e s
these days, but I couldn't h e l p
thinking that NEXOR l a c k e d a bit
in g a m e p l a y . In these sort of
games, half the fun lies in the
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
e x p l o r a t i o n a n d discovery of all
those fiendish obstacles that lie
b e t w e e n you a n d the objects
you n e e d to collect, a n d
w o r k i n g out how to get past
them. But in Nexor m u c h of the
e x p l o r a t i o n simply isn't very
interesting, a n d f i n d i n g the
m o d u l e s just b e c o m e s a matter
of w a n d e r i n g a r o u n d for l o n g
e n o u g h . M a n y of the rooms are
full of b o m b s a n d other features,
yet present no other c h a l l e n g e
t h a n w a l k i n g in a n d then
straight out a g a i n b e c a u s e the
p a t h t h r o u g h the room is totally
obvious. There are a few rooms
with some tricky puzzles in, but
these are In the minority. Apart
from the m o d u l e s you c a n only
c a r r y o n e o b j e c t at a time, a n d
most of these c a n only b e used
in the room w h e r e you f o u n d
t h e m (you can't c a r r y them from
r o o m to room), so there's no
e l e m e n t of j u d g e m e n t involved
in d e c i d i n g w h i c h o b j e c t s to
take with you or to l e a v e b e h i n d .
A l t h o u g h the p r o g r a m m i n g of
NEXOR Is well u p to scratch the
d e s i g n of the g a m e is rather
unimaginative. It's n o use filling
a room full of nicely d r a w n
objects if n o n e of t h e m d o
anything. NEXOR has a d o p t e d
the style of g m e s like Knight Lore
a n d Alien 8. but with little of the
substance that m a d e them so
addictive.
1)881)
 ^ ^ • m w

Virgin Gomes prcwnis the third fontoslic compilation in the N O W G A M I S sorios., S

b e s t selling full price gomes on one tope for the price ol one full price new one!

H O W O m H J is o wide choice of high quality gomes Ihe whole family con enjoy.
A v a i l a b l e (or C O M M O M M H 64. SPICTWUM 1U and A M S T R A D C P C - ^ '

MICK FALDO PLAYS THE OPEN

i
Mind Gomes
li* beautifully presented simulation features 900 scrolling screens of authentic action
over the 18 holos of Iho Royal St George's course in Sandwich ft

VtrqinGonwi
iA
This b e a u t i f u l l y d e s i g n e d a r c a d e adventure features or. ( j ! g r a p h i c s a n d g a m e p l a y us ft
H H p ports you to a landWhcre evnlmust be defootea ond Iho power of good restoreaH

CODE NAME MAT II I

Domork I
B• < are ihe Captain of Centurion II in this exciting shoot-em-up. Your ship ho»a rongtof,.
w o a p o n ^ h i e l d s and a tracking system, but you mull decide Ihe best strategy to eliminate
httk^ tho attacking Myon craft. j

EVERYONE'S A KKALLY I fl
Mikto-Geei
Th>s is a muliisocenedarcadcodvoiituii.' featuring excel lent cartoon graphics and lot* of
humour Use your ingenuity to gel the gang working and uncover the combination to tHe
wages safe. I

VIEW TO A KILL
Oomark
5 pect ocular 3 port multi-screen arcade odvonturo based on the James Bond film Thero'io
car chase around the Eiffol Tower, a rescue from a flaming City Holt orvd some
Hj^i code-breaking ol Silicon Valley. •

Look out for N O W C A M I S and N O W O A M t t 3, still tho best vatuearound

for C O M M O O O t t f o n d S M C n N I M .

N O W GAMES 3 is available (rom all goad software stores or, if you have difficulty, directly from Virgin Games.
Pleoso moke your cheque or postal order poyoble to Virgin Gomos Ltd. Please do not post cash
N O W GAMES 3 is £ 9 . 9 5i , please tick the w r s i o n you require.
lh«; version requite. DCOHflMODORE
]C4 SPECTRUM I AMSTRAD
N O W GAMES 2 i t £ 8 . 9 55 (features: Air
A.r Wolf,
Wol! Chuckio
Cl.uc Egg, Tir Na Nog. Cauldron, World Cup II)
COMMODORE SPECTRUM.
N O W GAMES is £ 8 . 9 5 (feature;. Lords of Midnight, Brian Bloodoxe, Slrangeloop, Pyjamorama, A r o b i a n
Nights, f a l c o n Patrol II) [ 7 COMMODORE J SPECTRUM

• b s B
Nome Address
I
Virgin Games Ltd, 2/4 Vernon Yard. PoMobotlo Rood, London W11 2DX
Dan a n d the Mekon are
b a c k ! Dan Dare takes
to the skies in the new
biggie from Virgin.

Dan Dare
Virgin Games
£9.95

• t didn't take Virgin quite as

l o n g to get Dan Dare off the
g r o u n d as it's taken O c e a n with
Knight Rider, a n d now that the
g a m e is here it seems that, just
ior once, the wait was
w o r t h w h i l e In fact, Dan Dare
bears some r e s e m b l a n c e to
another O c e a n g a m e in that It's
like a simpler version of V . That's
not necessarily a criticism since
a l t h o u g h 'V' was q u i t e
impressive I f o u n d that g a m e a
bit too f i d d l y to b e a d d i c t i v e .
Dan Dare, o n the other h a n d ,
does a w a y with the
c o m p l i c a t e d icons of 'V' a n d
concentrates o n s h o o f e m - u p
action, with Just a t o u c h of
platform h o p p i n g a n d o b j e c t
c o l l e c t i n g thrown In as wed.
The plot is e x p l a i n e d by a
small c o m i c strip that c o m e s
p a c k a g e d with the g a m e : it all
starts w h e n a futuristic Eamonn
Andrews jumps a n d tells Dan —
"This Is your life'. At w h i c h point
n o n e other t h a n the Mekon By permission o l IPC M a g a z i n e Youlh G r o u p
himself makes a c o m e b a c k a n d
takes over the b r o a d c a s t , a prospect too horrifying to Within minutes Dan a n d Digby
w a r n i n g all the television viewers c o n t e m p l a t e , so the Earth are on course for the asteroid,
in the Solar System of his latest authorities have no c h o i c e but r e a d y to take o n the M e k o n a n d
fiendish plot. H e a d i n g towards to refuse his d e m a n d s . But how his followers, the Treens, a n d
the Earth under Mekon's control to save Earth? save the Earth — just tike the
is a h o l l o w e d out asteroid l a r g e g o o d o l d days.
e n o u g h to destroy the entire Inside, the h o l l o w e d out
plant u p o n collision. Inside the Dan's j a w asteroid contains five sectors tull
asteroid Is a self-destruct of a r m e d Treens, corridors,
m e c h a n i s m that c a n b e Back In the television studio l e d g e s a n d grav shafts (lifts,
a c t i v a t e d In order to prevent the Dan's j a w sets firmly, his u p p e r c o n n e c t i n g different floors). In
collision, but the M e k o n will only lip goes thrusting skywards a n d e a c h of the five sectors there is
destroy it if he Is d e c l a r e d Digby (the ever faithful, but o n e control e l e m e n t for the self
absolute Ruler of The Universe. utterly useless sidekick) h e a d s for destruct m e c h a n i s m , a n d only
Of course it goes without the nearest McDonalds, prior to w h e n you've c o l l e c t e d the
saying that h a v i n g o l d g r e e n g e t t i n g Dan's ship. The Anastasla. e l e m e n t in e a c h sector c a n you
b o n c e as ruler of the universe is r e a d y for take-off. g a i n e n t r a n c e to the next sector

(assuming that you've m a n a g e d
to find the relevant l o c k e d door).
The screen d i s p l a y shows two
lloors at a time, so you c a n often
see the Treens d e s c e n d i n g from
above or a n o b j e c t that you
might want to collect, a n d this
adds to the a t m o s p h e r e of the
g a m e as it makes the a c t i o n
seem that m u c h busier w h e n
you c a n see other things g o i n g
on a r o u n d Dan.
You've got just two hours to
complete your mission, a n d
allhough Dan can't b e killed,
the Treens c a n shoot at him a n d
drain his energy w h i c h results In
Dan b e i n g c a p t u r e d a n d
carried off to the cell in that
sector. Escape from the cells is
no p r o b l e m but It does result in
the toss of ten minutes a n d
much of the skill of the g a m e
lies In how g o o d you c a n get at
fighting the Treens as the loss of
time is likely to b e your major
obstacle in c o m p l e t i n g the
game.
The laser that Dan is a r m e d
with isn't 100% a c c u r a t e , a n d
your supply of a m m u n i t i o n is
limited so you have to learn
when to stand to fight a n d w h e n
to turn that jaw In the other
d i r e c t i o n a n d run away,
hopefully to p i c k off the Treens
on some other screen.
The a c t i o n here is similar to
that in the C o m m a n d o type of
g a m e , with Dan a n d his laser
f a c e d with hordes of a l i e n
soldiers, but the a n i m a t i o n Is
unusually g o o d a n d the e l e m e n t
of uncertainty In using your laser
a d d s to the excitement of Ihe
g a m e . And, since getting shot
too m a n y times cuts into your
time rather t h a n simply killing
you, c o m b a t b e c o m e s a matter
of j u d g e m e n t instead of Just
endless rounds of kill or b e
kilted. As I m e n t i o n e d earlier,
there are times w h e n r u n n i n g
a w a y is the wiser course.
Inside the asteroid
The five sectors of the asteroid
a d d u p to quite a lot of
corridors, a n d it's p r o b a b l y a
g o o d i d e a to m a k e some sort of
r o u g h m a p as you g o a l o n g in
order to r e m e m b e r some of the
important locations. Each time
you f i n d o n e of the control
elements these have to b e
returned to the control room in
sector 1. That's my only d o u b t
a b o u t the g a m e , since you have
to g o through the sectors In a
fixed order a n d return to the
control room e a c h time you
might eventually get a bit b o r e d
with retracing the same routes
by the time you get into the final
c o u p l e of sectors. Of course the
system of corridors is sufficiently
c o m p l e x to a l l o w you to vary
your routes but I found it quicker
to get around, a n d easier to
r e m e m b e r my way, if I stuck to
roughly the same routes e a c h
time.
JBLy
Still, that doesn't m a k e Dan
Dare any less e n j o y a b l e
e s p e c i a l l y as the m a i n
c h a l l e n g e Is to improve your
c o m b a t skill a n d s p e e d in
c o m p l e t i n g the mission, not
simply f i n d i n g the correct route
through the corridors. A n d the
g a m e Is very well presented,
with o n e n i c e t o u c h b e i n g the
w a y that the screen is presented
like a frame from a c o m i c strip,
with c a p t i o n s a n d messages
from the Mekon flashing on
screen every now a n d then in
the same w a y that d i a l o g u e
a c c o m p a n i e s the illustrations in
a comic
Because of the d e l a y in
getting the g a m e ready, a n d the
s p e e d at w h i c h software is
i m p r o v i n g these days, Dan Dare
Isn't q u i t e as impressive as it
might have b e e n h a d It
a p p e a r e d last year w h e n it was
o r i g i n a l l y p l a n n e d , but even so
It's still a highly e n j o y a b l e a n d
p l a y a b l e g a m e a n d might even
b e the best g a m e yet from
Virgin.
NIGHTMARE RALLY
A top notch rally g a m e
from Ocean with
detours into other
dimensions.
Nightmare Rally
Ocean
£7.95
This rally Is far m o r e t h a n a
straightforward d a s h from A to B
over difficult terrain. Strange
effects have b e e n built into the
route w h i c h transforms It into a
trip through the Twilight Z o n a
Not only d o you have to SCORE
c o m p l e t e e a c h stage within a • •E? 1I3EJD
set time limit you must also BONUS
amass bonus points to progress • C O 1 1 • •
a n d to d o this you g e t involved
In some very strange
manoeuvres I n d e e d .
The l a n d m a r k s d o t t e d over the
l a n d s c a p e I n c l u d e marker flags
i n d i c a t i n g the course a n d fuel course a r e essential to c o l l e c t not e n o u g h to get you to the
d u m p s w h i c h give you a n the necessary b o n u s points. next s t a g e Also on the course
instant tank up. It's Important to Sometimes the w e a t h e r a r e numerous c o n e s w h i c h you
g o r o u n d the flags the right side c o n d i t i o n s alter a n d fo 9 must c l i p to g e t you the r e q u i r e d
as I n d i c a t e d on the d a s h b o a r d d e s c e n d s c u t t i n g visibility d o w n points tally.
layout b e l o w the m a i n screen c o m p l e t e l y so that o b j e c t s seem N i g h t m a r e Rally Is a n
a n d refuelling Is essential for you to a p p e a r out of n o w h e r e Each excellent g a m e for a n y o n e w h o
to r e a c h the finishing g a t e o n stage presents different likes b e i n g b e h i n d the w h e e l of
the first s t a g e challenges. a c o m p u t e r simulation. Very
That's the b a s i c set u p but The first Is a flat p l a i n strewn c h a l l e n g i n g , very u n p r e d i c t a b l e ,
there are m a n y surprises in store with objects to c o l l i d e with for a this g a m e is highly a d d i c t i v e
Reckless d r i v i n g is in fact bonus point a c c u m u l a t i o n a n d a n d nlghly recommended.
e n c o u r a g e d — m a k e for the others to slrictly a v o i d . O n l y
hills, j u m p over t h e m a n d you e x p e r i e n c e will tell you w h i c h is
S 9t bonus points a n d if you hit
e m at a n a n g l e the c a r d o e s
a n Impressive somersault a n d
which.
The s e c o n d stage is
c o m p l e t e l y different b e i n g a
you get even more points. w i n d i n g course over a n icy
But It you want to s a m p l e the s u r f a c e C h o o s i n g the c o r r e c t
more bizarre side of the rally s p e e d Is Important here but
h e a d for the m a g i c a l s t a n d i n g you'll find that even successfully
stones. R a m m i n g these h e a d o n g e t t i n g t h r o u g h the f l a g gates is
p r o d u c e s a strange r a n g e ot
effects. Sometimes y o u will fust
stop d e a d but p a r t i c u l a r stones
will variously c a u s e your c a r to
take to the air, reverse the screen
so you a r e d r i v i n g with the sky
a b o v e you or c r e a t e a curious
blurring effect o n the l a n d s c a p e .
All these effects are
g r a p h i c a l l y so c o n v i n c i n g thai
you i m m e d i a t e l y a c c e p t t h e m
as a part of the g a m e The
perspective shifts are also very
smooth g i v i n g a real sensation
ot speed. S e a r c h i n g out a l l the
screen effects c a n distract you
from r e a c h i n g your o b j e c t i v e but
it's worth e x p e n d i n g a few lives
just to test t h e m out a n d after a
few outings you discover that
they c a n a c t u a l l y h e l p you.
Flvina over trees a n d obelisks, for
instance, brings In some ma
v a l u a b l e bonus p o i n t s O n some TIME
stages, diversions from the m a i n
 Wm,

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- ALSO
interface One owners
c a n a d d some new
commands to Sinclair
Basic, with this
program.
By Paul M a t t h e w s
^ . n y Spectrum user with
Interface 1 will know that it
allows the use of mlcrodrives,
RS232 devices, a n d the ZX net.
However a less well known
feature is the facility to extend
Speclrum BASIC by c h a n g i n g
the syntax of c e r t a i n keywords.
This feature is used by my
routine to provide the Spectrum
user with six extra c o m m a n d s .
They are:—
PLOT *x,y w h i c h will PLOT
a n y w h e r e o n the screen. Co-
ordinates (O.O) are in the very
bottom left h a n d corner, where it
is not usually possible to PLOT. So
the n o r m a l PLOT O O b e c o m e s
PLOT *0,16 a n d PLOT 0,175
b e c o m e s PLOT *0,191.
POKE *a,b where b is a n u m b e r
from 0-65535. This m e a n s that a
16-bit n u m b e r c a n b e POKEd
with the low order byte g o i n g
into l o c a t i o n a a n d the high
order byte g o i n g into the
l o c a t i o n (a+1). i.e. POKE '23735,
64900 Is equivalent to POKE
•23735, 132 a n d POKE 23736, 253.
POKE AT a, aS w h i c h will POKE a
h e x a d e c i m a l value h e l d in aS
into l o c a t i o n a. e.g. POKE AT
23296, "C9" will put C9 (201 d e c )
into l o c a t i o n 23296. If there is
more t h a n o n e h e x a d e c i m a l
n u m b e r (which c a n b e
s e p a r a t e d by spaces) then they
are put Into the locations
following a. e.g. POKE AT 23296.
"3EFEC9" a n d POKE AT 23296, "3E
FE C9" are b o t h possible a n d
will POKE 3E (62 d e c ) into
l o c a t i o n 23296, FE (254) into
23297 a n d C9 (201) Into 23298.
Therefore, this c o m m a n d c o u l d
b e used to enter m a c h i n e - c o d e
easily a n d quickly.
ATTR f,p,l TO nf,np,ni w h i c h will
search out s p e c i f i e d attributes
a n d r e p l a c e part or all of e a c h
found, with a new attribute, f is
the flash a n d brightness
intensities to b e c h a n g e d
(0=none, 1=bright only, 2=flash
only, 3 = b o t h , 8 = a n y
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
c o m b i n a t i o n ) , p a n d I are Ihe
PAPER a n d INK colours to b e
c h a n g e d (07=Black-White, 8 = a l l
colours), nf is the new flash a n d
brightness intensities (0=neither,
1=bright, 2=flash, 3 = b o t h .
8 = l e a v e as they are). Finally, n p
a n d ni are the new PAPER a n d
INK colours (0-7=Black-Whlte,
8 = l e a v e as it Is, 9=contrast).
ATTR 1,0,6 TO 1.7,1 will c h a n g e
all characters w h i c h are bright
yellow INK o n b l a c k PAPER to
bright b l u e INK o n white PAPER.
ATTR 8.8.0 TO 1,8,9 will c h a n g e
all characters with b l a c k INK (no
matter the PAPER c o l o u r a n d
flash or brightness intensities) to
bright contrasl INK (either b l a c k
or white) on the o r i g i n a l PAPER
colour. Note: one of the powerful
features of this c o m m a n d Is thai
the w h o l e screen c a n b e
c h a n g e d by setting the first
three numbers to '&'. e.g. ATTR
8,8,8 TO 8,1,8 will c h a n g e the
entire screen to b l u e PAPER.
INVERSE w h i c h swops over the
PAPER a n d INK colours in the
attribute file, without a l t e r i n g the
flash a n d brightness intensities.
SIN w h i c h stands for "Screen
INvert" a n d will Invert all the
c h a r a c t e r s on the screen.
NOTE: INVERSE a n d SIN have
the same visual effect but
INVERSE affects ATTR (as bits 0,1 &
2 a n d bits 3,4 & 5 of e a c h
attribute are s w o p p e d over) but
does not affect POINT whilst SIN
affects POINT (as all pixels set
are reset a n d vice-versa) but not
ATTR.
New Vector
The key to e x t e n d i n g the BASIC is
the " n e w " system v a r i a b l e
VECTOR. Whenever a syntax error
occurs, the "shadow" ROM (i.e.
that in Interface 1) is p a g e d in
a n d c h e c k s the syntax to see if
it's o n e of the Micro-drive
c o m m a n d s , if not, if j u m p s to the

m
location p o i n t e d to by VECTOR.
Therefore, to a d d c o m m a n d s you
need only c h a n g e VECTOR to
point to the b e g i n n i n g of your
own m a c h i n e - c o d e routine. This
is d o n e In the set-up routine
(lines 210 - 240 of the assembly
listing. Lines 210 - 20 set u p the
" n e w ' system variables, as these
are not usually set-up until a n
error occurs). Before you c a n use
the extra c o m m a n d s the set-up
routine must b e c a l l e d by a line
such as LET a = USR 64900
(64900 is where I p l a c e d the
routine in memory. However, if
you assemble it. you c a n put it
anywhere you want by
c h a n g i n g Lines 10 a n d 20. O n c e
assembled, though, the routine
cannot b e moved.
When a non s t a n d a r d
c o m m a n d Is found, the routine
will be c a l l e d . However, the
"shadow" ROM will b e p a g e d in
which means that if you want to
use of any of the " m a i n " ROM
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
routines you c a n n o t use c a l l as
that w o u l d CALL a " s h a d o w "
routine. Instead, you have to use
a n RST # 0010 instruction
( ^ d e n o t e s hex) followed by the
address of the " m a i n " routine.
This " s h a d o w " routine p a g e s in
the " m a i n " ROM. calls the
r e q u i r e d " m a i n " routine a n d
then p a g e s out the " m a i n " ROM.
In this article, the restart routine
has b e e n given the n a m e
CALBAS. O n entry to the routine
p o i n t e d to by VECTOR, another
system v a r i a b l e CH-ADD will b e
p o i n t i n g to the c o m m a n d of the
error-statement. To find out w h a t
c o m m a n d this is, the " m a i n "
routine GET CHAR (tt0018) is
used. This puts the c h a r a c t e r
p o i n t e d to by CH-ADD into the A
register. The next characters In
the statement c a n then b e f o u n d
by using NEXT CHAR (#0020)
w h i c h increases CH-ADD by o n e
a n d puts the c h a r a c t e r now
p o i n t e d to, into the A register.
a
Keywords
I have used five different
keywords a n d , as you c a n see.
they d o not all have to b e
c o m m o n c o m m a n d s e.g. ATTR (a
function) is b e i n g used. Also
note that if the syntax of your
new c o m m a n d is the s a m e as
that of the o r i g i n a l (e.g. PLOT a n d
POKE in this article) another
c h a r a c t e r (e.g. a n asterisk) has to
b e p l a c e d after the keyword or
the ROM will not recognise it.
However, if you d o not like the
present keywords, you c a n m a k e
your own u p e.g. *Renum or
'Delete, but these have to b e
t y p e d out in full a n d e a c h letter
must b e c h e c k e d by increasing
CH-ADD a n d then c o m p a r i n g
the character. The asterisk, w h i c h
c o u l d b e any shifted symbol, is
necessary to get the cursor out
of K mode.
It c a n b e seen (in lines 270 •
380) that the first t h i n g to b e
done, o n c e c a l l e d by the ROM.
is to get the c o d e of the error
c o m m a n d into A. a n d then
c h e c k this against the five new
c o m m a n d s (not six, POKE is used
twice). If o n e of these
c o m m a n d s Is f o u n d the
a p p r o p r i a t e routine is c a l l e d ,
otherwise the n o r m a l error
routine (tt01F0) is c a l l e d Instead,
w h i c h p r o d u c e s either a flashing
question mark or 'nonsense In
BASIC'.
Interesting points to note In
my routine i n c l u d e the fact that
POKE is used twice. This is d o n e
by Jumping to the s e c o n d
routine w h e n the asterisk after
the POKE fails. Only If the
c h a r a c t e r also fails to b e a n "AT"
sign is the error routine c a l l e d .
Another t h i n g to b e n o t e d Is that
the ATTR s c a n n i n g routine (i.e.
w h e n it a c t u a l l y looks at the
screen) is really only four lines in
length. However, this is i n c r e a s e d
by also a l l o w i n g ATTR to have
new INK a n d PAPER colours 9
w h i c h c a n n o t b e easily
c h a n g e d in the s a m e way.
t h o p e my routine provides
useful c o m m a n d s a n d that this
a r t i c l e will h e l p you to write your
o w n c o m m a n d s . For further
information. I advise you get Ian
Logan's "Spectrum Microdrive
Book", a n d "The C o m p l e t e
Spectrum ROM Dlssembly" by
Ian H o g a n a n d Frank O'Hara.
m

S P F C T R I I M " F X T F N D F D " B A S I C

Listing 1
33,174,234,1903 g l INK 1 - I INT (RND*8) AND 1 * 8 ) 1
220 DATA 9 1 , 3 2 , 2 3 0 , 1 9 3 , 1 9 3 , 3 , 2 1 BRIGHT INT (RND«2)| FLASH INT <R
3,121,28,213,123,28,234,204,194, NT)* 7 ) f PAPER p - C I N T (RND*8) AND
2 3 9 , 2 3 3 - 1 1 1 , 2 1 3 , 1 21 , 2 8 , 2986-m p = B> t * ( , ' : NEXT g
M a c h i n e c o d e looder. 230 DATA 2 1 3 , 1 2 3 , 2 8 , 2 0 3 , 1 8 3 , 3 , 2 180 PRINT M1 I AT 0 , 0 1 INK 3 | ' P r e
13,148,30,234,10,48,33,234,8,36, • • any koy t o d e m o n s t r a t e : * 1 AT 1
I REM 5 1 x E x t r a Commands 7,1,7,7,1861 ,01 INK 0|*ATTR * | INK l | 4 | " , * l
by Paul M a t t h e w s 240 DATA 3 2 , 2 , 1 4 , 0 , 1 9 7 , 2 1 3 , 1 4 8 , INK 2 | p | * , * | t | * TO * | INK 1 ) 4 1 1
IP CLEAR PEEK 25732•236»PEEK 2 30,234,10,48,36,234,8,36,9,1,36, *,'l INK 2 | p l | * , ' l l l : PAUSE 0
•5" , 33-&36: LET p«PEEK 2 3 7 3 0 * 2 3 6 » P 36,32,1438 700ATTR ( , p , t TO 4 1 , p l , l l
EEI' 2 3 7 3 1 * 1 : LET m-233-PEEK 2 3 7 3 2 4 3 REM A d d r e s s 63200: 230 POKE AT 2 3 2 9 6 , ' 0 6 0 1 CD000E
I 230 DATA 8 , 1 4 , 0 , 2 4 , 4 , 7 , 7 , 7 , 7 9 , 2 C 9 " : REM LD It, t 1 CALL 0E00 RET
20 CLS « : PRINT TAB 31 FLASH 1 23,9,229,193,203,37,233-m,197,21 260 LET a-USR 2 3 2 9 6 : PRINT N i l A
(• Lond in*} ~6 Command*" D a t a 3 , 1 1 8 , 3 0 , 1893-m T 1 , 0 1 INK 9 1 ' P r e s s any K e y t e x c e
30 FDR 4«p TO p » 4 3 9 STEP 20: L 260 DATA 6 , 2 3 3 , 2 3 4 , 8 , 4 0 , 3 , 3 6 , 6 , pt ~(-">to C o n t *
ET t - 0 : FOR g » 0 TO 19 213,68,34,1,0,248,197,213,148,30 300 PAUSE 0 : BEEP . 1 , 1 0 : BEEP .
1 0 READ a : LET t - t * a : POKE 4 * g ,193,234,2233 1 , 1 3 : BEEP . 1 , 2 0 : BEEP . 1 , 1 2 : IF
, a : NEXT g 270 DATA 8 , 3 2 , 6 , 1 2 0 , 2 3 8 , 3 6 , 7 1 , 2 PEEK 23360< >CODE ' I ' THEN GO T
30 READ c : IF « < > t THEN PRINT 4,7,48,233,7,7,7,177,79,203,37,2 O 20
' E r r o r in D a t a Between A d d r o s s e 33-m,209,1826-w 1000 DATA ' B l a c k ' , ' B l u e ' , ' R e d * , '
and * 1 4 » 1 9 : BEEP . 1 , 0 : BE 280 DATA 3 3 , 0 , 8 8 , 1 2 6 , 1 6 0 , 1 8 3 , 3 2 M a g e n t a ' , ' G r e e n * , ' C y a n * , ' Y e I low*
EP . 1 , 1 2 : BEEP . 1 , 0 : STOP ,40,126,162,171,119,123,162,203, ,*Wht t e '
60 NEXT 4: PRINT TAB 3 1 " D a t a E 87,40,18,230,36,2161 9000 REM I n s t r u c t i o n s
n t e r e d C o r r e c t l y * : BEEP . 1 , 1 2 : B 7 9 0 DATA 1 2 6 , 4 0 , 2 , 2 3 8 , 3 6 , 2 4 6 , 7 , 9 0 1 0 CLS : PRINT INK 31 AT 0 , 6 | *
EEP . 1 , 1 3 : BEEP . 1 , 2 0 : BEEP . 1 , 1 2 0 3 , 11 I , 4 0 . 2 , 2 3 8 , 7 , 1 1 9 , 1 2 3 , 1 6 2 , 2 S i x E x t r a Commands*I AT l , 7 | * b y P
3 30,36,40,8,2034 auI Mat t h e w s *
70 PRINT • • • • T h « Rout 1ne H i l l 7 9 3 REM A d d r e s s 6 3 3 0 0 : 9020 PRINT AT 3 , 0 | ' T h i s 440 B y t e
now be s a v e d . To r e - l o a d t h e 300 DATA 1 8 2 , 2 0 3 , 8 7 , 4 0 , 2 , 2 3 0 , 1 9 r o u t i n e g i v e s t h e u s e r t h e 4ol I
r o u t i n e a t any time, enter th 9,119,33,174,734,91,32,703,193,1 O H l n g new Commands:*
e ( o i l OH I rig CLEAR * | p - l ' t * L O 93,3,197,213,148,2736 9030 INK l : PRINT AT 6 , 0 | ' P L 0 T »
AD • • • • C O D E * S p ! * , 4 4 0 " 1 " L E T » - U S 3 1 0 DATA 3 0 , 1 9 3 , 2 3 4 , 8 , 3 2 , 3 , 1 2 0 , x , y * | INK 2 | - W h i c h can PLOT e v e
R "!p 238,192,71,201,234,4,48,149,13,1 n o n t h e b o t t o m two l i n e s . *
80 5AVE * 6 Command®'CODE p , 4 4 0 3,177,79,201,2286 9040 PRINT AT 9 , 0 1 " P O K E » a d d r , n u
03 REM or t o M i c r o d r i v e w i t h : n • t INK 2 | ' w h i c h H i l l POKE a l 6 -
SAVE » * m * l l l * ( S Commands * CODE p , b l t number I n t o a n a d d r e s s . *
9030 PRINT AT 1 2 , 0 1 ' P O K E AT addr

Listing 2
90 PRINT • • • • T o u s e t h e E x t r a
Commands now, you need o n l y » n t
or t h e l a s t o l t h e a b o v e s t a t e m e
nti. •
93 REM A d d r e s s 6 1 9 0 0 :
I00 DATA 2 0 7 , 4 9 , 3 3 , 1 4 1 , 2 3 3 - 1 1 1 , 3 1 Demo ot the now c o m m a n d * .
,183,92,201,213,24,0,234,246,202
, 189, 233-m, 234 , 244 , 2 0 2 , 3276-m-fc
1 1 0 DATA 2 2 3 , 2 3 3 - m , 2 3 4 , 1 7 1 , 2 8 2 , *Demo P r o g r a m , t y p e ln#
1 22 , 234 -•», 2 3 1 , 221 , 202, 84 , 2 3 4 - m , 2 •machine code f i r s t ' 4
3 1 , 1 7 8 , 1 9 4 , 2 4 0 , 1 , 2 1 3 , 3 2 , 0 , 3610-1 * * * • s n * R i * * i l l 1111 v 111 v
• •31 3 CLEAR 6 4 8 9 9 : LOAD * 6 Comman
120 DATA 2 0 3 , 1 8 3 , 3 , 3 3 , 0 , 6 4 , 1 2 6 , ds'CODE
47,119,33,124,234,08,32,247,24,3 10 LET a-USR 64900: GO TO 9000
3,213,32,0,1866 13 REM Change v a l u e s In l i n e s
130 DATA 2 3 4 , 4 2 , 3 2 , 4 3 , 2 1 3 , 1 2 1 , 2 3 and 10 l o r u s e In 16K
8,203,183,3,213,148,30,243,213,1 7.0 RESTORE
48,30,193,79,62,2493 30 FOR 4 - 0 TO 7 : FOR g - 0 TO 7
140 DATA 1 9 1 , 1 4 4 , 3 6 , 9 6 , 2 1 3 , 1 7 6 , 40 PRINT AT 4 * 2 , g * 4 1 INK f t PA
34,213,236,34,193,193,3,213,32,0 PER g f ' I FLASH 1 [ ' } BRIGHT 1
,234,172,32,83,2378 ! • I FLASH 0 1 •
143 REM A d d r e s s 63000: 30 PRINT AT 4 # 2 + 1 , g * 4 1 PAPER 4
130 DATA 2 1 3 , 1 2 8 , 2 8 , 2 3 4 , 4 4 , 4 0 , 2 i I N K . g t ' t FLASH 1 1 ' ! BRIGHT
,231,0,213,32,0,213,140,28,203,1 1 I ' t FLASH 0 | '
83,3,213,241,2421 60 NEXT g
160 DATA 4 3 , 1 9 7 , 2 1 3 , 2 1 3 , 1 3 3 , 3 0 , 70 READ • • : PRINT INK 8 ! PAPE
197,223,709,193,120,234,0,32,7,1 R 8I FLASH 81 BRIGHT 8IAT 4 * 2 , 0 1
77,234,1,40,223,2783 ' INK* ' [ . i f I AT 1 * 2 * 1 , 0 ) ' P A P E R - ' l a *
1 7 0 DATA 3 6 , 2 0 4 , 2 6 , 2 3 4 , 3 2 , 4 0 , 1 9 80 NEXT *
, 2 0 3 , 4 6 , 234 - 1 1 , 7 , 7 , 7 , 7 , 1 1 , 1 9 7 , 7 9 , 90 PRINT AT 1 7 . 0 1 INK l j ' l s t k
19,26,203,1701-m 4 t h Numbers: " " 0 = n o n e , 1 - B R , 2 « F L
180 DATA 4 6 , 2 3 4 - n , 1 7 7 , 1 9 3 , 1 1 9 , 3 , 3"FL • BR, 8"J> 1 I * ' INK 2 1 ' O t h e r s :
3,19, 11,24,216,214,48,234, 10,216 0 to 7*Black to White, 8-A11. A
,214,7,234,16,216,2343-w loo 9"Contrast tor 316th*
190 DATA 2 1 3 , 2 4 9 , 3 6 , 2 3 4 , 4 2 , 3 2 , 1 100 INPUT "AT TR ' I 4 I ' , ' I p l ' , ' | i
76,213,121,28,203,183,3,213,133, 1' TO • | « l | a , " l p l f a , a | 1 1
30,197,213,133,30,2734 1 1 0 IF 4<0 OR p<0 OR 1<0 OR 41<
193 REM A d d r e s s 6 3 1 0 0 : 0 OR o l < 0 OR I 1< 0 THEN GO TO 10
200 DATA 1 9 7 , 2 2 3 , 1 9 3 , 1 1 3 , 3 3 , 1 1 2 0 9 1 9 0 PRINT H i ; INK 31 A1 0 , 0 | *
,24,138,213,32,0,203,183,3,33,0, 120 IF H >3 AND 4 0 8 ) OR p >8 OR
88,126,230,192,2346 I >8 OR 14 1 >3 AND 4 1 O B ) OR p i >9
2 1 0 DATA 8 7 , 1 2 6 , 7 , 7 , 7 , 2 3 0 , 3 6 , 1 7 OR 1 1 > 9 THEN GO TO 100
8,87,126,13,13,13,230,7,178,119, 130 FOR g=0 TO 3 1 : PRINT AT 2 1 ,
,h* INK 2 1 ' w h i c h w i l l POKE ad
dr w i t h hex h e l d I n t h e s t r i n g *
9060 PRINT AT 1 3 , 0 1 * A T T R 4 , p , l T
O n 4 , n p , n i * | INK 2 f w h l c h oe
e k s o u t a t t r i b u t e s and c h a n g e s p a
r t or a l l o4 e a c h f o u n d . *
9070 PRINT AT 1 9 , 0 1 ' S I N ' | INK 2
t ' l . e , ""Snreen ! N v e r t ~ *
9080 PRINT AT 2 0 , 0 t INK 0 ( " a n d " [
INK 1 I AT 2 1 , 0 1 'INVERSE *1 INK 2
( • I . e . " " A t t r i b u t e Inverse""*
9090 PRINT N i l INK 3 ) * P r e s s any
hey ( o r D e m o n s t r a t i o n *
9 1 0 0 PAUSE 0: INPUT **
9 1 1 0 POKE AT 2 3 2 9 6 , ' 0 6 1 3 CD000E
C 9 * : REM I.D B , * 1 3 CALL 0E00 RET
9 120 FOR 4 - 0 T O . t l : LET a-USR 23
2 9 6 : NEXT 4
9 1 3 0 INK 0 : PRINT AT 1 1 , 0 1 * S 1 N e
M e e t s t h e POINT command a s e a c h
p i x e l changer. I t s s t a t e * ' * e . g . P
OINT t o , 0 1 - * IPOINT 1 0 , 0 )
9 1 4 0 PRINT Mil INK 3 | * P r e s s any
k e y 4or Demo o4 S I N * : PAUSE 0:
INPUT * *
9 1 3 0 S I N : PRINT AT 1 4 , 0 1 " a n d now
POINT ( 0 , 0 ) * * IPOINT ( 0 , 0 )
9160 PAUSE 3 0 : PRINT AT 1 6 , 0 ! * IN
VERSE e 4 4 e c t s ATTR AS a l l INK an
d PAPER c o l o u r s a r e swopped e.
g . AT TP ( 0 , 0 ) - * I AT TR ( 0 , 0 )
9|"«0 PRINT Hit OVER It INK 3 1 * P
r e s s any k e y 4or INVERSE Demo * :
PAUSE 0: INPUT * *
9 1 8 0 INVERSE : PRINT AT 1 9 , 0 1 * an
d nOH ATTR ( 0 , 0 ) - * I AT TR ( 0 , 0 ) '
• ( b u t s t i l l POINT ( 0 , 0 ) •> ' ( P O I N
T (0,0)I•)•
P
r o » any k e y (or ATTR Demo IN
O t o : To s t o p demo p r e s s "I"") *
9 7 0 0 PAUSE 0: CLS : GO TO 20
9999 SAVE m - 6 - Demo* LINE 1

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 c 3

Deactivators
Ariolasoft
£8.95
o ^ s chief of security at a top
secret research centre, you a r e
a l r e a d y In c o n s i d e r a b l e hot
water as a g r o u p of terrorists
have b y p a s s e d your security
system a n d p l a n t e d a series of
bombs, t i m e d to d e t o n a t e in
s e q u e n c e over a short p e r i o d of
t i m e As If that wasn't e n o u g h ,
they have also r e p r o g r a m m e d
the g u a r d s to a t t a c k everything
on sight. Your only h o p e of
r e g a i n i n g some of your lost
credibility Is to send In a t e a m
of d e a c t i v a t i n g droids a n d get
rid of the b o m b s as q u i c k l y as
possible.
The b u i l d i n g Is o n five levels
a n d e a c h o n e must b e c l e a r e d
In turn. At the b o t t o m of the
screen Is a m a p showing the
layout of the floor together with
the l o c a t i o n of your droids a n d rooms have d e c i d e d l y funny p e o p l e will find that they are
the b o m b s A series of Icons c a n p r o p e r t i e s The m a i n difference getting nowhere fast with the
be used to select a specific you will n o t i c e Is that they are g a m e . Certainly It Is very
droid a n d also to view a n y two a l l c o l o u r c o d e d a n d this refers d a u n t i n g at first a n d It w o u l d
a d j a c e n t r o o m s These are to the gravity level In the room. h e l p c o n s i d e r a b l y If you c o u l d
drawn In 3-D perspective a n d This ranges from V2G to 3G a n d get a d e c e n t demonstration
show details of all the exits a n d affects your a i m b a d l y w h e n you before d e c i d i n g if It is the g a m e
objects present. try to throw ob|ects o u l of a for you. Love it or hate It, It will
C l e a r i n g the level of b o m b s is room. At higher levels, rooms are definitely give your grey matter
no easy matler a n d there are rotated through 90 or 180 a g o o d working over.
several p r o b l e m s c o n f r o n t i n g the degrees, g i v i n g rise to another
droids Not the least of these is set of p r o b l e m s Or a room m a y
that they are limited In w h i c h b e b l a c k e d out totally.
rooms they h a v e a c c e s s to a n d Deactivators is a n excellent
this results In o n e d r o l d h a v i n g mixture of strategy a n d action. It
to pick u p a b o m b a n d throw it is not easy to work out the
through a w i n d o w Into a correct s e q u e n c e of events that
different sector. It helps If you you must organise a n d a lot of
have another d r o l d there w a i t i n g
to c a t c h it for there is always the
c h a n c e that the b o m b will
detonate prematurely. You will
also find circuit b o a r d s l y i n g
around a n d the o b j e c t with
these Is to return t h e m to the
computer room. These are
essential as they o p e n u p extra
windows a n d doors, a c t i v a t e
teleports a n d remove force
fields Your a i m Is to f i n d a room
at the corner of the b u i l d i n g
with a w i n d o w l e a d i n g to the
outside through w h i c h you c a n
dispose of the b o m b
On top of all this there are the
guards to c o n t e n d with. They will
destroy you o n c o n t a c t a n d the
only way to neutralise t h e m is by
persuading t h e m to follow you
through a nole In the floor onto
the next lower level. Do this often
enough a n d the g u a r d s will
blow up. Still your p r o b l e m s
aren't over. Because of the
nature of the research
establishment, some of the
 What is the Bad didn't set the world a i i g h t
(though I thought It was
shouted d o w n to you from
upstairs. This involves l o o k i n g for.
Tempered Thing, how excellent), but now Don Priestley
a n d his mega-sprites have
a n d also m a k i n g use of the
creatures that will p o p u p from
do you boil Slimies, a n d r e a p p e a r e d at the h e l m of the
first g a m e from Ihe new Piranha
the trap d o o r just a b o u t every
time you o p e n It. A l o n g the way
where does Terry label, The Trap Door, b a s e d o n a
new children's series p r o d u c e d
you'll have to solve some of the
most devious a n d i m a g i n a t i v e
Wogan fit in to all this? by Terry Wogan's own p r o d u c t i o n
c o m p a n y , a n d d u e to b e seen
p r o b l e m s that you're likely to
c o m e across in a n a r c a d e /
5 The answer's beneath o n television this a u t u m n . adventure. What, for instance, d o
you d o with the bullet if you
U I
> the Ttap Door. Berk a n d Drut haven't got a g u n a n d how d o
you m a k e the b i r d lay eggs?
The m a i n c h a r a c t e r in the series Fortunately Berk has a friend
iAI c a l l e d Bonl, a d i s e m b o d i e d skull
is a b l u e blob-like fellow by the
tt n a m e of Berk. Berk is the servant w h o c a n p r o v i d e the o d d bit of
The Trap Door of the Bad Tempered Thing w h o a d v i c e if you're not sure w h a t to
lives in the u p p e r regions of the d o next.
Piranha castle whilst Berk rushes a r o u n d
111 £7.95 in the castle c e l l a r d o i n g the
Thing's b i d d i n g (which n o r m a l l y Down in the d u n g e o n
of that l o n g ago, Programmer m e a n s g e t t i n g his m e a l s —

3
Don Priestley wrote a c o m p u t e r
g a m e b a s e d o n the Popeye
c o m i c strip a n d c a r t o o n series,
s
g
a n d for the g a m e he c a m e u p
with some new t e c h n i q u e s that
c r e a t e d some of the largest
c o l o u r e d sprites ever seen on
the Spectrum, as well as
masking t e c h n i q u e s that almost
UJ
m a d e you forget a b o u t the
a Speccy's attribute problems.
to Unfortunately, the Popeye g a m e
worms, b o i l e d slimies, that sort of
thing).
Also t u c k e d a w a y In the
c e l l a r is the Trap Door, b e n e a t h
w h i c h lurk a l l sorts of weird
creatures. Some of these things
c a n a c t u a l l y h e l p Berk in his
chores, t h o u g h others are jusl
plain awkward.
In the g a m e , you a r e in
control of Berk a n d have to
c o m p l e t e the tasks that will get
The p l a y i n g a r e a d o w n in the
c e l l a r isn't all that huge,
consisting of b a r e l y a dozen
screens, but, as with the Popeye
g a m e , o n e of the things that
makes the g a m e so e n j o y a b l e is
the 'layered' effect that allows
you to move c h a r a c t e r s a n d
objects not just u p / d o w n a n d
left/right in two dimensions, but
also into a n d out of the screen
to c r e a t e a real 3D effect. So,
 c j
w u
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B W c !

HBOBBBBBBBBbBBgBBBBBriBBBBB
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CCSZl - B lS30Cit> afflCj) • >i. » • 9 10PD

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QBBBBBBBBOBBBBBDBBBBBBBBDB BBBBBB a o o o o o a o o o a o o D a o o a a o a o D o a a a Q a o D a

although the n u m b e r of
Individual screens is q u i t e
limited, there is a lot m o r e fhat
c a n b e d o n e t h a n In most other
g a m e s There are passages a n d
staircases that you c a n w a n d e r
screen, a n d yet they move
a r o u n d the screen smoothly a n d
without any attribute p r o b l e m s
The a n i m a t i o n is so g o o d that It's
fun to just sit a n d w a t c h a l l the
a c t i o n in front of you. O n e of the
U l
>
experiments with this type of
g a m e haven't b e e n wildly
successful, p e r h a p s they fall
rather a w k w a r d l y b e t w e e n the
two types of a r c a d e a n d
adventure g a m e ( a n d also

through, a n d a n u m b e r of
objects that n e e d to b e
positioned carefully in order to
complete your tasks
Sprites
But the m a i n feature of Trap Door
Is p r o b a b l y the q u a l i t y of the
graphics a n d a n i m a t i o n . Berk
himself Is a sprite of not
Inconsiderable p r o p o r t i o n s but
some of the monsters that p o p
up out of the trap d o o r are
larger than a n y t h i n g that I've
ever seen d r a w n o n a Spectrum
n i c e things a b o u t the television
p r o g r a m Is the w a y that a l l sorts
of little c r e e p y crawlles just
w a n d e r a b o u t d o i n g o d d things
Irrespective of w h a t the m a i n
characters are u p to, a n d this
has b e e n c a r r i e d over Into the
c o m p u t e r g a m e so that you c a n
have Drut (a small yellow b l o b )
c h a s i n g worms a r o u n d the
screen while Berk is busy trying
to d o s o m e t h i n g else. This a d d s
to the a t m o s p h e r e of the g a m e
a n d makes it feet almost like a
real c a r t o o n world.
Don Priestley's earlier
s
b e c a u s e the a n i m a t i o n
t e c h n i q u e s are so costly in s
m e m o r y that a 48K doesn't really
d o t h e m justice). But hopefully
with the p u b l i c i t y surrounding
the TV series p e o p l e will take a
close look at Trap Door a n d
enjoy it as m u c h as I d i d .
o
III
CL
00
 with any d e g r e e of a c c u r a c y by
p l a y i n g t h e m off a g a i n s t e a c h
other requires a n a w f u l lot of
time — too m u c h to fall within
the parameters of this review. I'm
sure b o t h software houses will b e
letting us know the results soon
enough.
Leaving a s i d e the Issue of
w h i c h p r o g r a m c a n b e a t the
rest, it has to b e said the Cyrus II
is a very strong player a n d there
are a l l the features i n c l u d e d
w h i c h single it out as a n
excellent o p p o n e n t .
There a r e no 3-D g r a p h i c s (the
Mark 2 version for the 128 will
have them) but the screen
d i s p l a y is very bright a n d clear.
There are nine s t a n d a r d levels of
p l a y with thinking t i m e r a n g i n g
from two s e c o n d s to three a n d a
half minutes. In a d d i t i o n there is
a n a d a p t a b l e m o d e (Cyrus
a d a p t s to your response time),
infinite m o d e (Cyrus will wait
until you d e c i d e he c a n move)
a n d a p r o b l e m m o d e (Cyrus will
Chess fanatics have search for a c h e c k m a t e in five
moves or less).
never h a d it so g o o d as Other features i n c l u d e
r e p l a y i n g the g a m e ; t a k i n g
another strong b a c k moves, p l a y i n g b o t h sides,
c h a n g i n g sides, hints from Cyrus
contender for the a n d d e m o n s t r a t i o n g a m e s . There
is also a s i m p l e print-out facility,
Spectrum grandmaster If you want to r e c o r d g a m e
slluatlons for posterity.
crown enters the arena. O n e b i g a d v a n t a g e with
different m o d e s is very simple
with most c o m m a n d s b e i n g
m a d e with a single key entry.
M a k i n g the moves is also very
straight forward by use of cursor
keys (there is n o joystick option).
Simply move the cursor key to
your c h o s e n p i e c e , hit enter,
t h e n move a s e c o n d flashing
cursor to your c h o s e n square. Hit
enter a g a i n a n d the move is
made.
This p r o g r a m is a very
w e l c o m e a d d i t i o n to the
Spectrum chess s c e n e a n d is
r e c o m m e n d e d highly, the
d r a w b a c k however is the price.
At £11.95 It's two q u i d m o r e
expensive t h a n b o t h Psi Chess
a n d Colossus 4 a n d o n e
wonders why It c o u l d n ' t h a v e
b e e n r e l e a s e d at just under a
tenner, like Its rivals.
Cyrus II is a s u p e r b p r o g r a m
a n d still worthy of a Monster Hit
at the p r i c e but in a sector of
the market w h i c h is now fiercely
c o m p e t i t i v e it m a y h a v e spoilt Its
c h a n c e s with those w h o are
after just o n e chess g a m e .

|
Cyrus II is that a c c e s s i n g

Cyrus II Mark I

n n
Alligata
5
n
£11.95

n • El n
IAJ
>

Cyrus II arrives o n the Spectrum

U i

•
with a g o o d r e p u t a t i o n from its
Ot p e r f o r m a n c e o n other micros

n
a n d with the recent release of
in Psi Chess a n d Colossus 4 Chess,
S
<
Spectrum owners are b e i n g
spoilt for c h o i c e

• • £
There will obviously b e a lot of

i t•
0 d e b a t e on w h i c h is the strongest
program available a n d Alligata
have thrown d o w n the gauntlet
•
• 1• i x i •
with a statement from their F'LHYEP

1 m a n a g i n g director i n c l u d e d o n O Ol

* • g 2•
oc
the inlay w h i c h says, "I a m
c o n f i d e n t this g a m e will b e a t all
existing Sinclair Spectrum chess
O programs published."
No d o u b t the makers of a
a.
i i i Colossus 4 Chess will d i s p u t e
this. M a k i n g a c o m p a r a t i v e
t o assessment of the two p r o g r a m s

If you're writing your
own m a c h i n e c o d e
programs you'll need a
good monitor to help
debug them — so here
it is.
BY JON ELLIS
ver the course of w r i t i n g m a n y
m a c h i n e c o d e routines I
realised that I h a d n o g o o d
program for d e b u g g i n g them.
So. If you haven't got a p r o g r a m
— write it yourself. Here is that
program, a monitor w h i c h
should p r o v i d e a l l the functions
you w o u l d n o r m a l l y n e e d in the
course of d e b u g g i n g a m a c h i n e
code program.
Numbers c a n b e e n t e r e d in
either hex or d e c i m a l ,
regardless of the state of the
number b a s e toggle. D e c i m a l
numbers must all b e five digits
long, b e i n g b u l k e d out with
l e a d i n g zeros If necessary. To
enter a n u m b e r In hex, t y p e '&'
as the first c h a r a c t e r , a n d then
the n u m b e r in four hex digits,
a g a i n using l e a d i n g zeros if
necessary. Tf only o n e byte is
required then the low byte is
taken, ie if you enter a n u m b e r
greater t h a n 255 w h e n the
Monitor Is e x p e c t i n g a n u m b e r
in the r a n g e 0 to 255, then your
input will b e taken as m o d u l o
256.
After most functions h a v e
been e x e c u t e d the Monitor will
pause tor you to e x a m i n e the
results of the function, if any. To
terminate this p a u s e press either
'X' or BREAK a n d you will then
be returned to the m e n u .
The Monitor is written so that
you c a n treat the Spectrum as a
Z80 processor only as far as
possible. This m e a n s that,
although the Spectrum
operating system requires Ihe iy
register to have the v a l u e 23610
ot all times, unless your routine is
going to use the o p e r a t i n g
system, you m a y i g n o r e this
requirement. A similar situation
occurs with the hT pair. The
registers that are used w h e n
your routine is run a r e not those
used by the Monitor or the
Spectrum ROM.
To abort a function you
should press BREAK w h i c h will
return you to the m e n u .
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986 59
/
Monitor Functions
The monitor offers a m e n u of 18 functions:
1) Alter memory This function will p r o m p t for a start address (see
note on the input of numbers), a n d the p r o g r a m will then print
the address a n d its contents. The Monitor will t h e n wait for you
to input the new v a l u e before m o v i n g o n to the next b y t e
When you h a v e filled u p a screen, press 'X' for another p a g e .
At a n y time you m a y press BREAK to e s c a p e .
2) Breakpoint. This function e n a b l e s you to p l a c e a n instruction
in the m i d d l e of the c o d e that is b e i n g d e b u g g e d . W h i c h
causes e x e c u t i o n to b e stopped, a n d control returned to the
Monitor so that you c a n alter/inspect the registers e t c The
b r e a k p o i n t instruction is three bytes long, a n d thus two
breakpoints should not b e inserted less t h a n four bytes a p a r l
otherwise a crash might o c c u r on execution. The c o d e that
o c c u p i e d the three bytes overwritten by the b r e a k p o i n t
instruction is stored, a n d will b e r e p l a c e d w h e n the
b r e a k p o i n t is d e l e t e d . When you select this function from the
m e n u it will p r o m p t for the address at w h i c h the b r e a k p o i n t is
to b e inserted. A total of nine breakpoints m a y b e used at
once. If all nine are in use then n o t h i n g will h a p p e n w h e n the
function is selected.
3) Convert number. This function will p r o m p t for the input of a
n u m b e r a n d then print the n u m b e r in d e c i m a l , hex. a n d
binary.
4) Delete breakpoint. When selected, this c o m m a n d will d i s p l a y
all nine of the breakpoints, a n d then ask for the n u m b e r ot the
b r e a k p o i n t to b e d e l e t e d . (Note that you should enter the
n u m b e r of the b r e a k p o i n t (1-9) not its address). The three bytes
that were overwritten will then b e r e p l a c e d .
5) Examine stack. The Monitor provides 40 bytes ot stack s p a c e
solely for use by the o b j e c t p r o g r a m . On enterting the Monitor
or resetting the registers, the stack is r e d u c e d to o n e w o r d in
length, this w o r d b e i n g a return address inside the Monitor,
w h i c h should prevent a crash in the vent of a RET instruction
b e i n g e x e c u t e d at the e n d of the o b j e c t p r o g r a m . On
selection, this function displays a l l the words currently o n the
user stack.
6) Fill memory block. This c o m m a n d allows you to fill a b l o c k ot
m e m o r y with a s p e c i f i e d value. It prompts for a start address,
the l e n g t h of the b l o c k to b e filled, a n d the byte to b e used.
7) Jump to routine. The function will p r o m p t for the address to b e
j u m p e d to. a n d e x e c u t i o n will c o n t i n u e from this address
using the values of the user registers (see later). This function is
to a l l o w for the o b j e c t c o d e to b e tested. I d e a l l y a b r e a k p o i n t
should b e used at the e n d of the c o d e to return to the
Monitor, in w h i c h c a s e the report 'BREAK at (address)' will b e
d i s p l a y e d . However a RET instruction should also work
p r o v i d i n g that the routine has used the stack correctly.
8) Look at breakpoints. This function displays the addresses of
e a c h of the nine breakpoints, a n address of 0 i n d i c a t i n g that
the b r e a k p o i n t Is unused.
9) Move memory block. This c o m m a n d allows you to c o p y
blocks of m e m o r y to other areas. It prompts for the start
address of the b l o c k , the start of the destination area, a n d the
l e n g t h of the b l o c k to b e c o p i e d .
10) Number base toggle. This t o g g l e d e t e r m i n e s the b a s e in
w h i c h a l l n u m e r i c o u t p u t from the monitor will b e d i s p l a y e d .
It t o g g l e s b e t w e e n hex, d e c i m a l a n d binary. Only some
o u t p u t c a n b e d i s p l a y e d in b i n a r y d u e to the l e n g t h of
b i n a r d w o r d (16 characters), other o u t p u t b e i n g d i s p l a y e d in
hex. The t o g g l e defaults to d e c i m a l .
11) One-step routine. This is p r o b a b l y o n e of the most useful
functions. If e n a b l e s you to step through the o b j e c t c o d e o n e
instruction at a time, whilst k e e p i n g track ot the user register
values. The Monitor will p r o m p t tor a start address, a n d will
c o m m e n c e s t e p p i n g trom that address, u p d a t i n g the register
d i s p l a y after e a c h instruction a n d then p a u s i n g for you to
inspect the registers. To move to the next instruction, press 'X'.
To escape, press BREAK.
12) Printers toggle. When t o g g l e d to ON, this causes output trom
the View m e m o r y function to b e d u m p e d to the ZX Printer. The
t o g g l e defaults to OFF. • • •
Instructions
The Monitor is written entirely in
machine code and occupies
the m e m o r y from 28350 to 32767,
a n d is thus 4418 bytes l o n g . This
m e a n s that it will fit o n a T6K
S p e c t r u m , b u t it is unlikely that
the expansion opportunities
o f f e r e d b y the User p r o g r a m
feature will b e utilised fully.
Type in listing 1 a n d save it —
this is the hex l o a d e r . Run Ihe
p r o g r a m a n d y o u will b e
p r o m p t e d for t h e string of hex
digits a n d t h e n for t h e c h e c k
digit. A l t h o u g h I h e c h e c k d i g i t
m i g h t not look right it Is a c t u a l l y
m o r e effective t h a n a n o r m a l
c h e c k s u m , s p o i l i n g the vast
m a j o r i t y of transposition errors.
W h e n y o u h a v e finished the
p r o g r a m will save t h e finished
c o d e a n d t h e n verify it.
Reset the m a c h i n e a n d t h e n
t y p e CLEAR 28349: LOAD
" M O N I T O R " C O D E as a d i r e c t
c o m m a n d . After the c o d e has
l o a d e d y o u s h o u l d enter t h e
Monitor with RANDOMIZE USR
28350. A m e n u of the 18
functions s h o u l d b e d i s p l a y e d .
You s h o u l d test e a c h of the
functions carefully. If y o u
discover a n y errors t h e n listing 3
s h o u l d h e l p — it d i s p l a y s the
c o d e y o u h a v e e n t e r e d in the
s a m e format as listing 2.
13) Quit.Returns c o n t r o l to BASIC
14) Register display. This f u n c t i o n d i s p l a y s the values of t h e user
registers, b o t h the n o r m a l a n d t h e a l t e r n a t e set. The c u r r e n t
values of the interrupt vector register, I, a n d t h e m e m o r y
refresh register, r, a r e a l s o d i s p l a y e d . The v a l u e g i v e n for the
p r o g r a m counter, pc. refers to the last instruction e x e c u t e d .
The v a l u e of the stack pointer, sp, that is d i s p l a y e d refers to
the user stack. The f l a g s register of t h e n o r m a l af p a i r is shown
e x p a n d e d into bit format, with e a c h of the six f l a g s l a b e l l e d .
The v a l u e of the m a s k a b l e interrupt flip-flop is also shown, the
interrupts b e i n g e n a b l e d or d i s a b l e d as a p p r o p r i a t e w h e n
the user c o d e is e x e c u t e d .
15) Specify entry values. This f u n c t i o n a l l o w s y o u to c h a n g e the
values of t h e user registers, p e r h a p s to test a s u b r o u t i n e w h o s e
p a r a m e t e r s a r e p a s s e d to it in t h e registers. You c a n also
s p e c i f y the v a l u e of t h e zero f l a g a n d t h e c a r r y f l a g . You
s h o u l d select t h e register to b e a l t e r e d b y pressing the
a p p r o p r i a t e letter. To e s c a p e press BREAK.
16) Use other program. This f u n c t i o n allows you to use a n o t h e r
p r o g r a m a n d to c a l l it from the Monitor. The f u n c t i o n Is not
d e s i g n e d for t h e e x e c u t i o n of the o b j e c t p r o g r a m , but for t h e
c a l l i n g of s o m e other utility s u c h as a disassembler. W h e n you
q u i t t h e other p r o g r a m , c o n t r o l will return to the Monitor. The
use of this f u n c t i o n to c a l l a n a s s e m b l e r forms a very p o w e r f u l
d e v e l o p m e n t tool.
17) View memory. This d i s p l a y s t h e contents of m e m o r y from the
s p e c i f i e d start l o c a t i o n , d u m p i n g a l s o to t h e printer if the
printer t o g g l e is on. The routine d i s p l a y s 110 bytes p e r p a g e .
20 bytes per p a g e if using binary. W h e n t h e p a g e is full the
c o m p u t e r will wait for y o u to press 'X' b e f o r e p r o c e e d i n g to
the next p a g e . To e s c a p e , press BREAK.
18) Zero registers. This f u n c l i o n restores the user registers to their
o r i g i n a l values t h a t they h e l d w h e n t h e Monitor was first
e n t e r e d . In most c a s e s this is 0, but the iy register defaults to
23610 a n d the hT p a i r d e f a u l t s to 10072 as r e q u i r e d b y the
S p e c t r u m o p e r a t i n g system. The user stack is also reset a n d
p r e l o a d e d with the return a d d r e s s m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r in the
e x a m i n e stack f u n c t i o n .

Listing 2
78678
Listing 1
72231A773ECD1223 > 2
28686 131A77013F777912 ) 2
28694 23131A777812C9CD ) 8
28702 067S3E43D7CD04 79 } 1
Hox l o a d e r p r o g r a m . Hex d a t a tor the m a c h i n e c o d e . 28710 D822AA7F2AA37FE3 > 0
28718 010E0O1I437FCD3C ) 3
10 REM IHIIItlKlllltllllHU 28726 70D32AAA7F1 1030A > 1
20 REM «• HEX LOADER «» 20330 CDD~r77CD067BDD2l ) 8 28734 E D33A37FC01C7801 ) 3
30 REM *( by Jon E l l i s 1983 *» 28338 A27FDDCB00960I73 > 8 28742 OPO0D1CB3C20D311 ) 2
1 0 REM I I K I I U M I H I I H O H I I 28366 0111287BCD3C2006 ) 0 78730 0410ED33A37F7CFE > 3
?10 CLEAR 28349 28374 1221433811200036 } 3 28738 00D DC B80CE 70(14 DD > ]
60 TOR F-2B330 TO 32767 STEP 0 28382 3A1910FB3E16D73E > 3 28766 C B008EC D1C 7001OC ) 0
"•0 PRINT F1 28390 ODD73E16D7FD3633 ) 3 28774 O0D1CD3C2O111002 } 7
0O LET CHECK-0 28398 F2DDCBP0662B083E J 3 28782 EH33A37FCDIC78E1 ) 4
«»0 INPUT 'Enter b y t e s : ' I LINE 28406 4FD73E4ED71BODF D ) 3 28790 22A37FC3A07BDDCB } 2
HO 28414 3633673E4FD73E46 ) 4 28798 00D6CD27713E16D7 ) 3
100 IF LEN H«<M6 THEN PRINT • 28422 D73E46D73E16D73E ) 0 78806 3E13D7AFD73E44B7 > 7
Error In length*: BEEP . 2 , 0 : GO 28430 OBD73E19D73AA47F ) 3 28814 CDB479DO7DFE0A30 ) 6
TO 70 28438 FE102B22FE02280F ) 1 28822 E38787836F260011 ) 6
110 PRINT TAB 8|H«t 28446 FD36337B3E44D73E ) 2 28830 F37A193E23362301 ) 1
120 FOR O-I TO 8 28434 43D73E43B7181CFD > o 28838 030OEDB0AF2B772B > 2
130 LET BYTE"16»(CODE H« (11-48- 28462 3633683E42D73E49 ) 2 28846 772B772B772B77DD > 3
(7 AND H»(1> >*9'J 1 * (CODE H«<21-4 28470 D73E4ED7180DFD36 ) 0 28834 360308012D001100 > 7
O-17 AND H»(2)>"9*>) 28478 33703F48D73E43D7 > 3 28862 3B2IF87AE3EDB00E J 8
MO POKE F- I *O, BYTE 28486 3E38D7FD363338CD > 0 28870 7DE11E00C D1F7106 ) 7
130 LET CHECK-CHECK*BYTE*G 78494 AB7701170021227A ) 6 28878 0911F87A2IO03BC3 ) 8
160 LET H«-H»(3 TO > 28302 EDB120EF11227AA7 > 0 28886 E30603AF BE237O04 ) 3
170 NEXT G 28310 ED322B291134 7A19 ) 3 28894 10FA100AE1E301O3 ) 6
180 INPUT 'Entor ch*cl< d i g i t : * ! 28318 3E2336EBCD706FC3 > 3 28902 00EDB0DD34O3E123 ) 8
LINE C» 28326 C16EE9CD06783E4 1 ) 0 28910 23232323CI1OF0O1 ) 8
!90 IF LEN C«Oi THEN GO TO 18 28334 D7CD8479D822AA7F } 0 28918 2D00210O3B1E0018 > 8
O 28342 3E0DD7FD7E4FFE02 ) 8 28926 20CDO6783E46D7CD ) 0
20O PRINT TAB 2"*l * ) *JC* 28330 70O7CDA07BDBCD06 } 0 28934 8479DB22AA7FCDA6 ) 7
r i O LET DIGIT-CHECK 9*INT (CHEC 28338 782AAA7FE32AA37F ) 6 78947 "*9D822AC7FC DB779 ) 3
K/9> 28366 22A87F3E02BCCC D1 ) 8 28930 DB3D2AAA7FED4BAC ) 0
270 IF DIGITOVAL C* THEN FRIN 28374 71DDC B00CEE1E3CD > 1 28938 7F73230B7BB170F9 > 1
T ' E r r o r In s t r i n g - input again 28382 1C782AA87F22A37F ) 3 28966 C9CD0678O11 BOB 1 1 > 8
* : BEEP . 2 , - 1 2 ! GO TO •>& 28390 3E17D73E0AD73E20 ) y 28974 687FCD3C20060921 > 8
230 NEXT F 28398 D7E1E37E2322AA7F ) 4 28982 F87A3E0A90C63OD7 J 2
740 PRINT FLASH 1;'READY TAPE 28606 6F2600DDC B0O8ECD > 4 28990 C3O108001lBS^FCD ) 5
FOR SAVING' 28614 1C783EI7D73EI4D7 J 1 78998 3C203E2336232323 ) 1
230 SAVE 'MONITOR-CODE 28330,44 78672 3E20D7CDAD787DE1 > t 29006 23E3EBDDCB00CECD > 3
IB 78630 D87718A4 3AA77FFE »4 79014 1C783E0DD73E0DD7 } 2
260 CLS 28638 09D0CD06783E42D7 ) 6 29022 3E17D73E07D7AFD"' ) 6
270 PRINT FLASH If'READY TAPE 28646 CD7379D822AA7F3A > 2 2903O E1C1IOCE DDCB0036 ) 3
TO VERIFY' 28634 A77F3C 32A77F 3D37 ) 2 79030 C0C3A07SC D06783E } 6
280 VERIFY "MONITOR'CODE 28330, 28662 8782B23F16O021F8 ) 7 29046 4DD7CDB479DB22AA I 1
4418 28670 7A19ED3BAA7F7323 > 2 29034 7FCD9379D822AC7F ) 4

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 /

79062 CDA679DB4 44DED5B 1 3 29726 1844131AFEEB2B1A ) 0 30390 E60116BF0F0F6F3A ) 2

79070 AC7F2AAA7FEDB0C9 } 0 29734 FEC B 2 B 2 2 2 1 9 2 7 A 0 1 ) 2 30398 C07FA2B332C07FC3 } 8
2907R DD7E00EE10DD7700 } 1 29742 0400EDB1282A2196 } 3 30406 F2733FIA007D21 AD ) 1
290O6 C9CD06783E55D7CD ) y 79730 7A011A00EDB12B23 > 3 3 0 4 14 7F1977C3F2737D32 ) 1
29094 7379DBCD706FOD21 ) 2 29738 1824131AFE632813 > 4 30422 C17FC3F273CD0678 } 2
79102 A27FF D213A3CD921 ) 8 29766 FEAB281118131313 > 8 30430 3E36D7C D84 79D822 I 0
291 10 5827D9C3A07ODDCB > A 29774 1A2IB07A011F00ED ) 0 30438 AA7FCD0A780616C3 ) 0
291 IB 02AA201ODDCB023E > 4 29782 B128031B06DD3403 > 6 3044 A 78DD77043E16D73E ) 3
29126 70O9BD3A020ADD3A ) 8 29790 DO3403DD34030034 } 3 30454 1ADD9604D7AFD77A ) 0
79134 0105C9DD3A021 0DD ) 6 29798 03BB340306O321D1 > 2 30462 AA7FDDCB00CECD1C > 6
29142 3A0I04C9DD360202 ) 0 79806 7F36002310F BED4 B ) 8 30470 7806033E16D73E16 ) 2
29150 DD36B110C9CD0678 } A 29814 A37F06002AC47FI1 ) 4 30470 DD9A04D73E03904F I 7
2913B 2AA37F22AB7F 7CFE ) 5 29822 D17FEDB022C47F11 ) 1 30486 070701C607D73AA4 I 1
291 AA 0270062104I022A3 ) 2 29830 D17F1AFEE920092A > 1 30494 7FFE07200C3E16D? ) 6
29171 "*F01FC001 1 E 3 7 C C D ) 7 29838 B27F22C47FC3CB73 ) 8 30302 3E16DD9604D73EI7 ) 3
29182 3C7071AE7FIIDF7D } 3 29B46 FE DD2010131A1BFE ) 7 30310 D72AAA7F7E2322AA } 2
79190 060CC378FE037003 > 7 29B54 F9201D2ABC 7F22C4 ) 1 30318 7F6F260PDDC B0P9E ) 7
79190 2323C110F301030B ) 2 29BA2 7FC3CB73FEFD2010 ) 0 30326 C D 1C**83AA47FFE02 ) 0
7970A CD3C20D55E235623 > a 29870 131 A 1 B F E E 9 2 0 0 9 7 A ) 8 30334 280210BFCD341FC1 ) 6
79214 E3EBDDCB00CECD1C ) 2 29B78 BE7F22C47FC3CB73 } 2 30342 D0109CDDC B0066C4 ) 2
79772 7BEID1C110DC3EIA } 1 29B86 1AFEED200CI31A1B 1 1 30550 AC0EC DA07BD8C 3E8 I 2
29230 D73E04D73EOBD72A ) 8 29894 FE45CA4B75FE4B20 ) 0 30338 7622B27FE122AA7F ) 2
7973R A B 7 F 2 2 A 3 7 F 3 A C 1 7F ) 8 29902 7C1AFEF3CAB475FE > 2 30566 ED73C27FED7BC67F 1 3
2924 A AF2AO0DDCB008ECD } 4 29910 F B C A B A 7 5 2 1 C F 7A01 ) 8 3 0 5 •'4 219077E5ED73C67F > 3
79734 1C783AA97FFE0720 ) t 29918 2900E DB1C2BE 7SFE > 4 30382 ED7BC27F2AB27FDD ) 0
292A2 0A2104 1022A37F3E ) B 29926 C32B53FECD2B24FE ) 4 30390 7 2 B C 7 F D D 2 1 A 2 7 F DD »6
79270 16D73E10D73E0BD7 > I 29934 18CA7D75FEC92833 > 0 30396 CB00DADD7ABC7FC3 ) 0
2927B FD376F2600DDCB01 1 6 29942 FEI0CA9B73CB7F28 ) 3 30606 8E73CD067B2AAA7F ) 1
292BA BEC D1C 7 8 3 E 1 6 D 7 3 E ) 4 29930 77E6072842FE072B ) 4 30614 2B7B7B22C47F0117 > 3
29794 10D73E18D7ED5FAF > e 29938 61FE02Z82BCDDD79 ) 6 30622 H0IIBB7FCD3C20CD ) 3
29307 7600DDCB0IBECDIC ) 6 29966 D2CB73CDC879ED3B ) 5 30630 1C78C3A07HFDCB01 ) 0
79310 782AC0"*F3E 1 6 D 7 3 E ) 3 29974 C 4 7FE D 3 3 A A 7 F 2 A D 2 1 3 30630 AE76F DC8016E28F3 1 O
29318 13D73E07B70A0B7B ) 0 29982 7F22C47F115F77A7 I 2 30646 C D 3 4 I F 3 A 0 8 3 C 3FC 9 ) 0
2937A FE067B0DFE042809 ) 3 29990 E D 5 2 C 2C B 7 5 2 A C 2 7F ) 2 30634 012300119D7CCD3C > 1
79334 AFCB2517CA30D71B J 6 2999B 232322C27FC39077 > 5 30667 2BCOAB77DOF30123 1 2
79342 033E 7BD7CB233E 20 > 0 3000A CDDD79D2CB732AD2 ) A 3 0 6 70 0011C07CCD3C20F1 ) B
29330 D710E42AAB7F22A3 } 4 30014 7F22C47FC 3CB7SC D J 3 30678 C9061621AE7F3600 ) 0
2935B 7F3E1AB73E i 3D73E > 3 30022 DD79C2C B75ED73CA > 7 30686 2310F BED73C67F31 ) 6
293AA 0BD73E4FD73AC87F ) 3 30030 7FED7BC27FE1EB73 ) 1 30A94 F F 7 F 7 1 BE 7 3 E 5 E D 7 3 ) 7
29374 FF0028083E4ED73E > 8 30038 C27FED7BC67F22C4 ) 7 30702 C27FE D7BC67F3E01 > 2
293B2 70D71B0A3E4A073E > 4 30046 7Ft1BE73A7ED52C8 } 6 30710 32C07F2I302727BA ) 6
29390 4AO7ODCB003AC0C3 > 4 30034 1063CDC8791AE63B 1 1 3 0 7 IB 7F213A5C22BE7FC9 1 6
2939B A 0 7 B C D 0 A 7 8 Z 1 F F 7F ) 3 30062 6F 2 6 0 0 2 2 C 4 7 F 1 8 3 5 I 6 30726 F D3653383E07CD9B 1 0
2940A ED3BC27FA7ED32CB ) 0 30070 E618CDDD79304E3A ) 8 30734 22CD6BBD3E02CD01 ) 8
29414 01 1 1 0 0 1 1 4 A 7 E C B 3 C > 1 30078 D27FCB7F28103FAF ) 0 30742 16F DC B 3 0 D E C 9 E 5 C 5 ) 2
29472 2 0 4 3 C B 3 8 4 8 3 E 1 4 BH ) 8 30086 37933F 2AC47FA7E 0 ) 7 30730 DDCB0086DD460178 ) 1
29430 DB21FE7F3E0DD779 ) 3 30094 3222C47F18373F16 ) 8 30730 3DC3E3CDB378EBE1 ) 6
29438 90C3E5DDCB00BA76 ) 1 30102 007AC47F191BF2F5 ) 0 30766 CI0E000CA7ED3230 } 1
29446 00AFCD1C7B3E17D7 ) 4 301 10 E04BAE 7F2AC07FE3 J 1 30774 FA 190D702778FE01 > 0
29454 3E0AD7AFD7E1DDCB ) 3 301 IB F103F5E122C07FED > 8 30782 2822DDCB004A201C > 3
29462 00CEE5CD1C7BE15A I 2 30126 43AF"*FF 1 1 B C 7 A F 3 2 1 7 30790 DD7E02FC0A2823DD > 0
294 70 2B5E2BE3EB3EI7D7 } 6 30134 C87FI8113E011BF7 J 3 30"*9B CR004E200FFE1070 ) 3
29478 3E14D7AFD7CD1C7B ) 3 30142 D D C B O B D A Z I D I ">F22 > 4 30O06 200AFE03 30061012 1 6
294 B A EtClI0C8C3A07BCD } 6 30130 CA7FCD4373CDE371 1 2 30814 FE09300rDDCB00CA ) 3
29494 06^O3E4AD7CD7379 ) 0 30138 D D C B f 0 9 A C D A B 78 D 8 ) 2 30822 79C630FE3A3802CA 1 4
29307 DB22CA7FCD0A78ED ) 2 30166 C 3 E 3 7 3 C D B E 7 7D8FE > 2 30B30 07D710B33AA47FFE > 3
29310 73C67FED7BC27FDD > 3
30174 59C0E D7B3D5C3B3B > 7 3083B 0A2B09FEI03EAB28 > 3
30102 C9CDBE 77D8FE39C0 ) 3 30B46 0 2 3 E A 2 D 7 C I E 1C9FE ) 3
29318 CB0036200421BE73 ) 3
30 190 CDD777C9CD0A7811 ) 8 30854 00210100C84 73AA4 ) 0
79326 E33AC87FFE002001 ) 3
29334 F3DD2ABC7FFD7ABk J 4 30198 377E01 B800C O3C70 1 7 30862 7F110000A26FC347 > 6
29342 7F2AC07FE3F1ED4B ) 7 30206 11AE7F060E1A6F26 ) 7 30870 0 3 1 9 1 0 F D 3 4 3 D C I 10 ) 0
29530 AE7FE B3BB07F 2AB2 ) 3 30214 00DDCB00BED3C3CD ) 1 30878 F 3 C 9F DC » 3 0 DEC D A B > 3
29338 7F0flD9?AB47FESF 1 > 8 30222 I07ACDIC78CID113 1 3 30886 77D8FE3BC818F 33A } 6
2936A OHFD4BB67FED3BH8 i 3 30230 10FBDDCB00CE2ABC } 0 30B94 A47F32AB7F DDC B00 > 3
29574 7F2ABA7FD9C3C97F > 6 30238 7FCDI87ACD1C78CD > 0 30902 9E 21CC7F0605CDAB > 4
29382 22B27FED73C27FED ) 6 30246 1B7A2ABE7FCB1C78 } 8 30910 77DRFE0C 201C7BFE > 7
29390 7BC67FF5E122C07F > 7 30734 DDCBP08ECDIB7A3A ) 1 30918 052BF3FE042004DD ) 4
2959B E D43AE 7FED53B07F > 4 30762 C17F6F2A00CD1C78 ) 6 30926 CB009E3E08D73E20 ) 2
29A0A BD72BC 7FFD22BE7F l 1 307"*0 CDIB7A3AC07FE60I > 6 3 0 9 34 D 7 3 E 0 8 D 7 7 B 0 4 18DE ) 4
79614 D9ED43B67FED33BB ) 6 3 0 2 7B 6F2600CD1C 78CD18 ) 2 30942 10DCFE262016FE 30 1 2
29AZ2 7F22BA7F215827B9 > 3 302B6 7A3AC07F0707E601 > 2 30930 3BD4FE3A381ODDC B > 2
29A30 0BF5E122B4 7F08FD > 2 30794 AF2A0BCD1C783E13 ) 3 30938 0B5E 28CAFE4138C6 > 0
29A38 213A5CDB21A27FF B ) A 30302 D7AF D 7 C D A B 7 7 D 8 F E > 6 30966 FE473B0ADDCB003F > 7
7964 A DDC B 0 0 5 A C 0 C 3 A 0 7 B ) A 30310 4138F8FE34 30F4D6 > 8 30974 7 0 B C DDC B 0 0 D E 7 7 2 3 > 8
29634 CD0A7B3E4FD7CD73 ) 3 3 0 3 IB 401I003B6F260029 ) 4 30982 D7I0B371CC7F7EFE ) 3
796A2 79D822C47FE D5BC4 ) 4 30326 292929791936C4F5 ) 6 30990 2611000028263E0A > 6
79670 7FDD3603001AFEDD I 8 30334 01130011327FCD3C > 1 30998 32A47FE3DDE10605 > 0
29678 2B30FEFD282CFEED i 0 30342 20C D A D 7 8 D 1 D B 7 A F E ) 8 31006 C57B3DD5CDBS7BD1 ) 2
29686 281AFECB28A82158 > 3 30330 BF3837FE11283FFE ) 31014 EBDD7E00D6302804 > 7
29694 7 A 0 1 1IJ00EDB1285E ) 1 30338 13Z81CFE122B10FE ) 1 31022 193D1BFAE BDD23C1 ) 1
29707 21707A0I1A00EDBI > 7 30366 10280622BC 7FC3F 2 ) 6 31030 10E6182D3EI032A4 ) 6
29710 78311855131A21BA } 4 30374 7522BE7FC3F2737D > 1 31038 7F23E5DDE10604C3 ) 6
) > 0 31046 783DD3CDB578D1EB > 3
29718 7A0I0B00EDB12840 1 30382 E6016F16FE18087D
• • •

ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986 59

31034 OD7E00D630FE0A38 > 2 31718 A37220A2A1736320 ) 3 32382 423A006329202020 ) 0
31062 02D607FE00780419 ) 0 31726 746FA7ACA320AEAF > 3 32390 2020433A0D642920 ) A
31070 3018FAEBCIDD2310 ) 8 31734 77160C034F6EA32O ) 2 32398 20202020443AO063 > 8
31078 DEEBDD21A27F3AAB } 3 31742 7371637020726F73 1 X 32406 2920202020204C3A ) 3
31086 7F32A47FC9010E00 > 3 31730 74696E63160D0330 ) 1 3 2 4 14 RD66292070207020 } 4
3 1094 11007EC D3C20CDAD ) 8 31738 72696E7463722074 ) 3 32422 483A0D6729202020 ) 4
31 1 0 2 78D83E0DD7C9010E ) 4 31766 AFA7A7ACA320AEAF > 2 324 30 2046273A0D682920 > 7
31 1 10 00112C7ECD3C20CD ) 4 31774 77 i 60E033 i 736974 1 8 32438 20202041273A0D69 ) 0
31118 AD78D83E0DD7C90I ) 2 31782 160F03326367&973 ) 8 32446 292020202043273A > 8
31 1 2 6 0C00113A7ECD3C20 ) 3 31790 7463722064697370 ) 1 32434 0D6A292020202042 ) 3
31 134 CDAD7OD83E0DD7C9 1 2 31798 ACA1791610033370 ) A 32462 273A0D6B29202020 ) 3
31 1 4 2 011000110E7ECD3C J 7 31806 63A369667920636E J 4 32470 2043273A0D6C2920 ) 2
31 130 20C D A D 7 8 D 8 3 E 0 D D 7 > 6 31814 74 7279207A61 AC73 ) 0 32478 20202044 273A0D6D > 8
31 138 C9010E00111E7ECD ) 8 31822 6373161103337363 ) 2 32486 29202020204C273A > 8
31 166 3C20CDAD78D83E0D > 4 31830 20AF 7468A3722070 ) A 32494 0D6E292020202048 ) 7
31 174 D7C9ED73C67FE07B ) 0 31838 726F6772616D1612 > 0 32302 273A0D6F29202020 > 3
31 1 8 2 C27F2AC47FE3ED73 ) 6 31846 03366963772B6D63 ) 3 32310 2049383A0D702920 > 1
31 1 9 0 C27FE 07BC67FC9E6 > 8 31834 606F72791613B33A > 7 32318 20202049393A0D71 } 4
31 1 9 8 383F3AC07F377BE6 > 6 31862 63726F2072636769 ) 8 32326 292020202020413A ) 7
31206 302822FE102813FE > 1 31870 73746372731614BB ) 7 32334 0D7229204 3617272 ) 3
31214 20280A7B17171717 t 8 31878 100176322E31207F ) 3 32342 793A0D732920203A > 7
31222 AACD7F18177B1FAA ) 0 31086 204A6F6E2B436C6C > 6 32330 63726F 3A16010013 > 8
31230 C B 3 7 1 8 1 0 7 B 1 F I F IF ) 6 31894 6973203139383316 ) 4 32338 0117090016130010 } 6
31238 AACB4718077B1717 ) 3 31902 1303130110021201 > 3 32366 01436E7463722076 1 3
31246 17AAC B 7 7 2 8 0 2 A 7 C 9 ) 0 31910 41726320796F7320 ) 1 32374 616C 73633A10000D ) 1
31234 37C9112F7F010300 > B 31918 737372A3203F 2028 » 8 32382 0D17040044636369 } 3
31262 C D3C 2 0 C 9 4 1 4 2 4 3 4 4 ) 7 31926 392F4E2913001200 ) 1 32390 6D616C3A200D1704 ) 3
31270 4S464A4C4D4E4F30 > 0 31934 1000161300202020 ) 1 32398 004863783A200D17 1 1
31278 31323333363A716F ) 0 31942 2020202020202020 > 0 32606 040042696E617279 ) 1
31286 DA6FID707C700872 } 2 31930 2020202020202020 ) 0 32614 3A20I6010A130110 ) 3
31294 FF70337327717271 ) 1 31930 2020202020202020 } 0 32622 0142726361AB70AF > A
31302 BC71D67396710973 1 8 31966 2020202020160008 > 1 32630 6 9 6 E 74 7 3 1 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 > 8
31310 E371F2739F 71DB76 ) 8 31974 130110813A383020 ) 2 32638 0D0D170700170900 ) 4
31318 E773FEF6EEE6DE0B > 3 31982 3263676973746372 ) 6 32646 2E2E2E2E 200D0D13 > 3
31326 D6D3CEC63E383630 ) 7 31990 2033637416020013 > 6 32634 0110021201427263 > 3
31334 2E2826201E181610 > 8 31998 0010024E6F726061 J 3 32662 616B130010001200 ) 7
31 3 4 2 0E0601I121222A31 I 0 32006 6C20326367697374 ) 1 32670 2061742000030A80 > 1
31330 323AC2C3C4CACCCD } 2 32014 6372733A16040410 ) 8 32678 0000000000000000 > 0
31338 D2D4DADCE2E4EAEC } 2 32022 0041202D16041342 ) 4 32686 0000000000000000 ) 0
31366 F2F4FAFC7B736B63 > 6 32030 43202D1603034443 > 3 32694 0000000038270000 ) 8
31374 3B334B4321222A3A > 0 32038 202D160313484C20 ) 2 32702 3A3C0000FD7F0000 > 1
31382 262E3433464E363E } 6 32046 7D1607801004437G > 1 32710 A46E01C300000000 ) A
31390 666E707172737473 ) 3 32034 6368616E67632032 } 6 32719 0000000000000000 > 0
31398 777E868E969EA6AE > 4 32062 6367697374637273 ) 8 32726 C38E730000000000 > 3
31406 86BEFEF6EEE6DED6 > 8 32070 3A16090310004127 ) 7 32734 C39673000000D030 > 2
31414 CEC6BEB6AEA69E96 > 6 32078 4627202016091342 > 7 32742 3000CF300C023C0E > 8
31422 8E867E766E6A3E36 ) 6 32086 2743272020160A03 > 3 32730 C 0 3 7 7 1 B E F 3 8 4 731 7 } 4
31430 4E463E2E261E160E > 0 32094 44274327202D160A ) 3 32738 C61EA76176BC738E ) 0
31438 06FFFCFAF8F7F4F2 > 7 32102 134 0 2 7 4 C 2 7 2 0 2 D 1 6 > 4 32766 733E000000HH0000 } 3
31446 F0EFECEAE8E7E4E2 J 3 321 10 0C00100333706363 > 3
31434 E0DF DCDAD8D7D4D2 ) 3 32118 A9A16C 2032636769 ) 7
31462 D0CFCOCCCAC9C8C 7 > 7 32126 73746372733A160E > 0
} 7

Listing 3
31470 C4C3C2C038302820 32134 0310004938202D16 ) 1
31478 1810000000000000 ) 2 32142 BE 1 3 4 9 3 9 2 0 2 D 1 6 0 F > 8
31486 0000000000000000 ) 0 32130 033330202D160F13 ) 8*
31494 0000000000000000 > 0 32138 3043202D1A100449 ) 3
31302 0000000000000000 ) 0 32166 202D1A101432202D ) 6
31310 0000000000000000 ) 0
Error checker.
32174 1612001001466C61 > 0
31318 0000800000000000 } 0 32182 67733A1A12073320 ) 7
31326 000016000C130111 ) 3 32198 3A202D2048202D20 > 1 10 R E M
31334 0310074 D4F4E4934 > 7 32198 30204E2043100016 ) A 20 REM *» HEX DUMPER **
31342 4F32100011071300 > 2 32206 13001002496E7463 > 4 3 0 R E M * * b y J o * El I I* 1 9 0 3 # #
31330 160203416C746372 } 0 32214 7272737074733A10 ) 2 40 REM m H H H H H « H » » H t » H H
31338 206D636O6F72791A ) 2 32222 0016041816030816 > 2 6 0 FOR F - 2 8 3 3 0 TO 3 2 7 6 7 STEP 8
31366 0303427263616B70 J 2 32230 031816090A16091A ) 3 7 0 P R I N T F1
31374 6F696E7416040343 ) 6 32238 160A0A160A1A160E > 2 80 LET CHECK-0
31382 6F6E76637274206E > 3 32246 08160E18160F0916 ) 1 90 LET h«--*
31390 756D626572160303 } 3 32234 0F183A2061646472 > 2 100 F O R g » l T O 8
31399 44636C6374632062 > A 32262 63737312013E1200 > 0 110 LET b y t e * P E E K (f-I+9)
31606 7263616B706F696E ) 6 32270 I702003A206C636E ) 8 120 LET hI"INT (byte/16)
31614 74 16060343786160 ) 7 32278 67746812013E1200 > 7 130 LET Io»byt®-16#h1
31622 696E632073746163 ) A 322BA 1702003A2B627974 > 1 1 4 0 L E T h * - h » * C H R * (til*48*(7 A N
31630 6B16070346696C6C ) 3 32294 6312013E12001702 > 7 D h l > 9 ) ) + C H R « tlo»40*<7 AND lo>9
31638 206D636D6F727920 ) 1 32302 003A206672AFAD12 ) 0 ))
31 6 4 6 626C6F636B160803 ) B 32310 013E12001702003A J 3 130 L E T c h e c k " c h e c k * b y te*<j
31634 4A736O7020746F20 > 2 32318 20746F12013E1200 ) 2 160 NEXT 9
31662 726F7374696E6316 > 6 32326 16000B1002337363 > 2 170 P R I N T TAB 8(h«(
31670 09034C6F6F6B2061 > 4 32334 7220337461636B10 ) 3 180 L E T d 1 9 1 t - c h e c k - 9 « i N T (chec
31678 7420627263616B70 ) 8 32342 0016000910023373 } 4 U! 9)
3)686 6F696E74 731A0A03 ) 8 32330 6372207263676973 ) 3 190 PRINT TAB 27f > • (digit
31694 4D6F7663206D636O ) 3 32338 7463727310000D61 J A 200 NEXT t
3)702 6F727920626C6F63 ) 0 32366 292020202020433A ) 3 210 STOP
31710 6B1A0B034E736D62 > 0 32374 0D62292020202020 ) 3

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

Ride the thermals in
Quicksilva's glide a n d
destroy mission.

Glider Rider
Quicksilva
£8.95
This is a real d a r e devil mission.
As C o m m a n d e r G l e n n While you
are d r o p p e d onlo a n Island —
your o b j e c t i v e Is to destroy the
n u c l e a r reactors that power the
munitions p l a n t o w n e d by the
Abraxas C o r p o r a t i o n (Arms tor
Anyone, Anywhere. Any Reason).
For the mission you have
b e e n p r o v i d e d with a trail bike
w h i c h converts into a h a n g
glider. The trail bike will tafee you
over rough territory a n d the
conversion to h a n g g l i d e r is very
slick — simply find a slope,
career d o w n it, reverse d i r e c t i o n
a n d the h a n g g l i d e r o p e n s out
like a butterfly a n d you are in
the air. Staying in the air
however is a different matter as
p r a c t i c a l l y all the installations
on the Island are heavily
d e f e n d e d by g r o u n d to air lasers
which if they lock onto you
mercilessly sap your e n e r g y
rating.
Puttering a b o u t on the
motorbike is e n j o y a b l e a n d the
g r a n d tour of the Island Is
r e c o m m e n d e d before The s e c o n d p r o b l e m is else a b o u t the g a m e is very
attempting your objective. You whether it's a c t u a l l y possible to a p p e a l i n g . M a k i n g things
c a n drive r o u n d the perimeter of destroy anything. Drop a b o m b difficult for the player is all very
the island without too m u c h a n d there is n o sign of a n well but g e t l i n g a t o e h o l d on
interference from laser outposts a n i m a t e d explosion. the g a m e should b e easier t h a n
a n d a p p r e c i a t e a) the size of O n e solution of course m a y this This fact is the only t h i n g
the island a n d b) the excellent b e that I'm too jittery to control that prevents Glider Rider from
a n d well thought out d e t a i l in the h a n g glider or too m y o p i c to b e c o m i n g a Monster Hit. It's a
the c o n t o u r e d 3-D g r a p h i c a i m p r o p e r l y but the fact is that g a m e I shall return to a g a i n in
landscape. Then find a n incline I spent a great d e a l of time a n d a n effort to crack it, b u t l can't
a n d take off. Mastering the c o n c e n t r a t i o n just a t t e m p t i n g to h e l p thinking that this o n e
controls ot the h a n g g l i d e r takes register a hit o n something — should have b e e n c a l l e d
some time as it seems to react anything. Mission Impossible (literally) if
as an a c t u a l h a n g g l i d e r w o u l d I tried d r o p p i n g b o m b s from s o m e o n e hadn't thought ol the
- bank too steeply a n d It stalls. every c o n c e i v a b l e height a n d title first.
If you are over the o c e a n a n d a n g l e o n any potential target.
ditch you are i m m e d i a t e l y The result? Nothing. (Bombs also
consumed by p r e d a t o r y sharks h a v e a d i s c o n c e r t i n g way o)
Flying a r o u n d a n d across the d i s a p p e a r i n g In m i d air If you
island is fun but it's w h e n the h a p p e n to switch screens as you
serious business of b o m b i n g hell fly over a target).
out of things gets u n d e r w a y that This, to say the least. Is very
a few flaws in the g a m e are
revealed. You c a n only b o m b
installations from the g l i d e r a n d
a n n o y i n g a n d it's all Ihe more
infuriating b e c a u s e everything i; 2
are given a ration of nine (extra
supplies c a n b e p i c k e d u p from
a m m o d u m p s by using the bike)
but the question is w h a t d o you
S
b o m b a n d how d o you know
when you've hit It?
2
3
The Instructions are hazy at
best, hinting that 'power units Ot
are vulnerable' But w h a t are
power units? There are all kinds
of structures on the Island so
UJ
where d o you start? An Index to
buildings w o u l d have b e e n a Ol
very useful a i d . 00
Christmas is coming
a n d Beyond are ready
with an early prezzie
for strategy a n d
adventure fans.
The Best of Beyond
Beyond Software
£9.95
Beyond have always b e e n
slronger on strategy/adventure
than on a r c a d e g a m e s (do I
hear Superman b e i n g mention-
e d anywhere?), a n d now. just to
tide us all over while we're
waiting tor Dark Sceptre a n d Star
Trek to arrive, they've g a t h e r e d
together (our of their best-known
titles together onto a
c o m p i l a t i o n tape.
The g a m e s assembled here
have all h a d their fair share of
acclaim — Doomdark's
Revenge, Shadowfire a n d
Enigma Force, with only
Sorderon's S h a d o w as a slightly
less well-known game.
It seems almost pointless to
rehash Doomdark's Revenge,
especially as Mike Singleton's
'landscaping' technique caused
such a fuss when It first
a p p e a r e d in Lords of Midnight.
But Doomdark took the
t e c h n i q u e even further, to
p r o d u c e a massive fantasy e p i c
in which, p l a y i n g the part of
Prince Luxor a n d controlling
various other characters a n d
armies, you e m b a r k on a quest
to free the l a n d ol Midnight from
the threat of Shareth the
Heartstealer. The g a m e allows
you to enter c o m m a n d s via
single key entry (w=look.
q=move), a n d the six thousand
locations 48,000 l a n d s c a p e d
views a n d the various characters
a n d objects that you have to
d e a l with make for a vast a n d
c o m p l e x g a m e that has b e e n
keeping h a r d e n e d adventure
addicts g l u e d to their keyboards
ever since it was first released.
A second t a p e in the
p a c k a g e also includes a
recording of a dramatised
version of the story of
Doomdark's Revenge - a must
for lovers of p u r p l e prose.
The Shadow
Sorderon's Shadow is next on
side one, a n d a g a i n there's a
touch ot the l a n d s c a p e s as you
attempt to free the l a n d of
Ellndor from Ihe rule of the not-
very-nice wizard. Sorderon.
If you c a n c o m p l e t e the nine
tasks set by The Un-named One
you may b e a b l e to cast the
final spell that will e n d
Sorderon's power. To c o m p l e t e
these taf* you'll have to trek
a r o u n d Erndor c o l l e c t i n g
various m a g i c a l objects trom the
characters who inhabit the land.
The g a m e is more of a
conventional adventure than
Doomdark. despite the
l a n d s c a p e d graphics, a n d entry
of c o m m a n d s is of the normal
'Get the sword, kill the oik'
m e t h o d rather than single key
entry (though the c o m m a n d
editor is fairly sophisticated).
Sorderon's Shadow suffers a little
bit b e c a u s e the l a n d s c a p e d
graphics Invite a not really
a p p r o p r i a t e c o m p a r i s o n with
Doomdark, possibly l e a d i n g you
to expect more than the g a m e
delivers Underneath the visually
attractive presentation,
Sorderon's Shadow is a fairly
g o o d , but by no means
outstanding adventure.
The Enigma team
Shadowtire a n d Enigmaforce
(both written by Denton Designs)
are sensibly put together on side
two of the tape, as they both
feature the adventures of the
Enigma team. Shadowfire
c a u s e d a h u g e fuss w h e n first
released as it was o n e of the first
g a m e s to feature a truly
sophisticated Icon control
system. Both g a m e s put you in
control of Zark, Syylk. Sevrina,
a n d M a u l of the Enigma t e a m
P o o m d o r k l Bev^on.
Mlimrlmiii: ,,
'"•iwiim i, m ' ''A 1 » of
as they attempt to toll the plans
of the g a l a c t i c despot, General
Zoff.
The c h a l l e n g e presented by
the g a m e s lies in b a l a n c i n g the
strengths a n d weaknesses of
your t e a m members a n d
d e p l o y i n g them effectively
against Ihe forces controlled by
Zoff. As with Doomdark, these
g a m e s d o not offer a single,
clear cut p a t h to victory a n d
there's always room for Improve-
ment a n d new t a c t i c s
Shadowfire featured only the
Icon system a n d a static display
of the characters a n d their
positions but in Enigma Force
this h a d b e e n u p g r a d e d to a n
a n i m a t e d display in w h i c h you
c o u l d a c t u a l l y see the
characters move In response to
your c o m m a n d s
My only q u i b b l e a b o u t these
g a m e s was that I found the icon
system a bit fiddly to c o p e with,
but there's no d e n y i n g the
difficulty of the c h a l l e n g e that
the two g a m e s present you with
or the quality of the games'
design. With four g a m e s like this
all on the same t a p e Beyond
have p r o d u c e d a high-class
c o m p i l a t i o n which, assuming
you haven't a l r e a d y got mosl of
the games, represents g o o d
value for followers of adventure
a n d stategy g a m e s
OSTiiil
5 H 1 7 S
 Anthony Stewart faces
the inevitable.
T H E PCW Show has c o m e a n d
gone (or yet another year a n d
there was hardiy a QL in sight.
Digital Precision was a n
exception a n d the c o m p a n y
had the c o u r a g e to flaunt its
sentiments with a sign r e a d i n g :
"QL only a n d p r o u d of It!" But
everything else was Amstrad or
Alarl a n d even the new
Spectrum +2 s e e m e d to take a
back seat to Amstrad's l a u n c h of
an Impressive-looking,
inexpensive PC obviously a i m e d
ot c a p t u r i n g the poor-man's-IBM
market. Sadly, the QL looks as
d e a d as the proverbial door nail
but let's p o s t p o n e the o b i t u a r y
for a little while a n d talk a b o u t
happier things for a bit.
THOR, CST's r e i n c a r n a t e d ,
higher lite-form, QL was there in
force a n d It's a g o o d - l o o k i n g
machine. CST a n d I have
something In c o m m o n ; neither
one of us c a n m a n a g e to get
ony c o m m e n t out of Amstrad!
While I'm still w a i t i n g for that
elusive Amstrad PR m a n to
"check with the client a n d get
back to me", CST has b e e n
taking the bull by the horns a n d
telexing the c o m p a n y directly to
try a n d r e a c h a n
a c c o m m o d a t i o n over Thor's use
ol QL circuit boards. They haven't
heard a ticky-boo so m a y b e it's
not Just me, m a y b e Amstrad
doesn't talk to a n y b o d y a b o u t
anything. I d i d have to grin,
however, at the sight of a CST
exec ( c o m p a n y ID b a d g e s
conspicuous by their removal)
taking splashy hand-outs from a
smiling. PC-promoting A l a n
Sugar. It's the sort ot t h i n g that
makes you want to root for the
underdog even if you aren't
willing to put a few q u i d on him.
QL mouse
Those hard-to-find West G e r m a n s
finally r e a p p e a r e d at the Show
and I got a c h a n c e to p l a y with
their QL mouse a n d software (a
desk-top m a n a g e r a n d a
Superbaslc extension) p a c k a g e
that sells for a r o u n d £90. It seems
excellent in all respects a n d
makes a n i d e a l alternative to
Eldersoft's ICE a n d mouse
combination (which costs a b o u t
the same) but — save for the
odd c o m p u t e r show — you c a n
only r e a c h these p e o p l e by
contacting t h e m at Giga-soft in
Dusseldorf(full address in the
odd ZX C o m p u t i n g advert or
supplied u p o n request) so
Eidersoft p r o b a b l y doesn't have
a lot to worry about.
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
COLUMN
There was no new QL software
worth m e n t i o n i n g a n d . more
surprisingly, very little new stuff
for the Spectrum. So as not to
totally waste my tube-fare, I got
a c o u p l e of g a m e s for my
Spectrum. In particular, Trivial
Pursuit (from Domark) looks a
winner a n d , for the less trivially-
m i n d e d , a c t i o n - g a m e s players
a m o n g s t you, Strike Force C o b r a
(Piranha). Night Rider (Ocean)
a n d TT Racer (Digital Integration)
are p r o v i d i n g my nine-year-old
son ( a n d his father) with endless
hours of amusement. In case you
suspect that his father is trying to
a v o i d talking a b o u t the
inevitable, you h a p p e n to b e Just
a b o u t spot-on a n d — here It Is —
the QL is now history in the past
tense. The q u a n t u m l e a p is d e a d
a n d gone.
R.I.P.
I talked to quite a few of the
major QL suppliers a n d software
houses a n d . w h e n I c o u l d get
them to stop g o i n g o n a b o u t the
new Amstrad PC they all said
m u c h the s a m e thing. It's
finished a n d Amstrad rules the
day. M i c r o d e a l , w h i c h has
s u p p l i e d numerous QL g a m e s
a n d a n excellent flight simulator,
told m e (on their stall In the Atari
exhibition) that nobody's really
s e n d i n g in any more QL soft-
ware for possible p u b l i c a t i o n .
Obviously our g a m e s - d e s i g n i n g
friends throughout the land,
h a v i n g spotted the inevitable,
have m o v e d on to fresher a n d
more profitable c l i m a t e s Some
of the other, more heavy-duty
software houses said m u c h the
s a m e t h i n g after a l l the j a r g o n
was translated into day-to-day
English. Alright, so there's Thor
but it's a different type m a c h i n e
at a p r i c e few home-micro users
a r e g o i n g to look at for long. As
a business p a c k a g e or system
for the richer h o m e user, it looks
very g o o d but it's not the
q u a n t u m l e a p that Sir Clive tried
to give us at every-day p r i c e s
So don't e x p e c t m u c h in the
w a y of new QL software. There
will b e some in the days to
c o m e but the f l o o d gates that
only started to o p e n a few short
months before Sinclair
computers got themselves a new
owner have shut a g a i n a n d we
a r e b a c k into a square-one-
situation (or worse). But all isn't
g l o o m a n d despair. There's a
large a m o u n t of q u a l i t y software
for the QL a l r e a d y on the market
to k e e p most owners in business
for the lifespan of their
c o m p u t e r s Those of you who are
toying with the i d e a of b u y i n g
o n e ought to keep thinking a n d
not look elsewhere too quickly. If
you want a g o o d c o m p u t e r at a
rock-botlom p r i c e (which just
might get a bit more rock-
bottom before too long) w h i c h
will last for a few years a n d
w h i c h has a lot of very g o o d
software (which, if not exactly
selling for next to nothing is
e c o n o m i c a l l y p r i c e d a n d is
definitely g o i n g to get cheaper),
a QL is still something worth
looking at.
The QL's ghost, like o l d John
Brown's goes m a r c h i n g o n even
if the b o d y lies a - m o u l d i n g in
the ground. G o have a look at
the new Amstrad PC but forget
a b o u t all the flashy sales stuff
telling us that it's the greatest
thing since p o p - t o p beer cans
a n d fated to m a k e IBM d e c l i n e
into obscurity. What you are
g o i n g to see Is the g a d g e t that
Sir Clive tried to market but
didn't. It's got the built-in disc
drive that Ihe QL should have
h a d instead of those
t e m p e r a m e n t a l microdrives It
has a n excellent keyboard a n d
c o m e s with a monitor. The basic
p a c k a g e costs some £399 a n d a
tew h u n d r e d more will give its
owner a top-notch system.
Amstrad's only mistake as far as I
c a n see is to endlessly g o on
a b o u t the PC's IBM
c o m p a t a b i l i t y a n d why it's a
better deal. Both are no-doubt
true, but who really wants to buy
a n imitation IBM w h e n they
might just b e a b l e to save
e n o u g h c o p p e r s to buy a real
one?
All this is what Sir Clive tried
to d o a few short years a g o
(except that he h a d the guts if
not the g o o d sense not to g o for
a n IBM clone) a n d it's just that
Amslrad is profittlng from his
errors a n d their o w n u n d o u b t e d
marketing expertise. Amstrad is
even promising us a high-quality
chess p a c k a g e tor the PC but
what d i d Sinclair give us straight-
a w a y (when most software
houses were still w a i t i n g to see
how things were g o i n g to shape
up)? A first-class chess p a c k a g e
that's still u n b e a t a b l e When you
d o have a look at what will
u n d o u b t e d l y b e a disgustingly
successful business venture,
r e m e m b e r the famous words of
what's-his-name;
"Of all the words of p a p e r of
pen, the saddest are these. 'It
might have been'." I c a n assure
you that Sir Clive will.
SPECTRUM/QL
They said it couldn't be
LINK
done, but David
Nowotnik shows how to
get a Spectrum a n d QL
c o m m u n i c a t i n g with
e a c h other.
L a s t month I d e s c r i b e d how
d a t a c o u l d be passed b e t w e e n
the Spectrum a n d QL computers
via their network ports. We
discovered lhat while
c o m m u n i c a t i o n by this route Is
possible, c e r t a i n
incompatibilities b e t w e e n the
two computers' network systems
m a d e d a t a transmission a n d
reception slow a n d unreliable.
But both computers otfer a n
alternative - the RS232 ports,
a n d this you should find, offers
far greater reliability a n d speed.
As with network
c o m m u n i c a t i o n , you will n e e d
a n Interface 1 for your Spectrum
to allow the QL a n d Spectrum to
'talk* to e a c h other. In a d d i t i o n ,
you will n e e d a s p e c i a l lead. If
you are h a n d y with a soldering
Iron, then you might like to try
m a k i n g up your own lead. If not.
then try o n e of the c o m p a n i e s
who regularly advertise in 'ZX
C o m p u t i n g ' a n d other
magazines with s p e c i a l QL
RS232 l e a d s
On both computers the
connectors are non-standard for
RS232 lines At the QL e n d the
connector is a British Telecom
p l u g (the sort you'll have a l the
wall e n d of your t e l e p h o n e if
your t e l e p h o n e is transferable).
A n d for Spectrum connections
you'll n e e d a nine p i n D-plug:
the sort that will fit into Atari
joystick p l u g s Bolh types of plug,
a n d the l e a d to c o n n e c t them
c a n b e o b t a i n e d from specialist
electronic a n d t e l e p h o n e supply
shops
The BT p l u g requires great skill
(and a specialist tool) to wire up
the five leads necessary to
c o m p l e t e the link. If you don't
have the c o n f i d e n c e to try this
for yourself, you c o u l d 'sacrifice'
the RS232 l e a d s u p p l i e d to link
the QL to a printer, by removing
the standard RS232 p l u g a n d
c o n n e c t i n g the D plug.
Pin c o n n e c t i o n s to b e m a d e
at both the QL a n d Spectrum
ends are listed In t a b l e 1. The QL
has two serial ports, a n d both
are wired slightly differently, so
d e c i d e in a d v a n c e w h i c h serial
port you wish to use (the
examples used later on use
serl). a n d wire the D p l u g
a c c o r d i n g to the a p p r o p r i a t e
c o l u m n In the table. II you elect
to sacrifice a QL printer c a b l e ,
then the a p p r o p r i a t e wire
colours are shown a l o n g s i d e the
D-pin n u m b e r to w h i c h it is
c o n n e c t e d . D-pin numbers are
shown in Fig.1, (viewing the p l u g
from the b a c k ; the side to w h i c h
leads a r e soldered). It you are
wiring a BT plug, then p i n 1 is
the o n e tarthest from Ihe plastic
l e g of the plug.
o c o oo
o o oo
"9 8 7 6
Piq.l. D i a g r a m of D pluq
pin c o n n e c t i o n s
Getting wired
Of the five wires w h i c h c o n n e c t
the two serial ports, two are for
d a t a c o m m u n i c a t i o n (data flow
is unidirectional o n e a c h wire),
a n d two provide simple switches
to permit transmitter a n d
receiver to tell e a c h other if they
are ready for d a t a
c o m m u n i c a t i o n . These work by
p l a c i n g a voltage on the line to
i n d i c a t e a state of readiness
That voltage Is relative to
'ground', w h i c h is the fifth line to
c o n n e c t both computers.
Table 1. R S 2 3 2 Lead - w i r i n g
D pin BT
(connect t o »erl>
7 black
3 white
2 green
5 blue
4 red
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
O n c e you have c o n n e c t e d or
p u r c h a s e d your RS232 l e a d you
might still have p r o b l e m s getting
the two computers talking to
e a c h other. This is b e c a u s e the
RS232 'standard' is tar from b e i n g
absolutely standard. With RS232
d a t a is transmitted serially, i.e.
o n e bit after another a l o n g a
single line. This d a t a c a n travel
at different speeds, a n d
transmitter a n d receiver must b e
set to talk a n d listen a l the same
speed. The s p e e d of transfer is
known as the b a u d rate (bits per
second), a n d we'll see in a
m o m e n t how the b a u d rate is set
on both computers.
There are other possible RS232
mismatches b e t w e e n transmitter
a n d receiver w h i c h c a n c a u s e
problems; things c a l l e d parity
bits a n d h a n d s h a k i n g .
Fortunately, the default setting
o n QL a n d Spectrum a r e similar,
so they n e e d not c o n c e r n us
here. But b e w a r e of these
potential p r o b l e m s w h e n linking
your c o m p u t e r to any other
device.
So, with your c o m p u t e r turned
on. a n d RS232 l e a d c o n n e c t e d ,
you a r e r e a d y to test out your
wiring efforts. Try the test routine
in Fig.2. Type is the p r o g r a m
lines to e a c h computer. SAVE
them, a n d RUN both computers.
O n c e both programs are
running, you n e e d only type on
the QL keyboard. The INPUT
cursor will flash in w i n d o w 11^0.
a n d a n y t h i n g you type in a n d
ENTER will (if all is well) a p p e a r
on the Spectrum screen, then on
the QL screen. The w o r d or
message has to b e successfully
transmitted to the Spectrum,
then transmitted b a c k to the QL
before it a p p e a r s o n the QL
screen. So. your message on the
QL screen m e a n s that
c o m m u n i c a t i o n is working in
both d i r e c t i o n s Note from the
listing that it is only necessary to
o p e n a single c h a n n e l on both
QL a n d Spectrum.
connections
Socket D pin
(connect t o ser2)
1 7 black
2 2 white
3 3 green
4 4 bl u e
3 S red
C o m m u n i c a t i o n o n a single
RS232 c h a n n e l is b i - d i r e c t i o n a l . Fig.2. Simple communication test routine
The next step is to see w h i c h
of the various BAUD rates is most a) Spectrum listing
reliable. The QL a n d Spectrum
have six transfer rates in
c o m m o n . The listing in Fig.3 is 10 REM T est of RS232
d e s i g n e d to test t h e m out. A g a i n 20 REM
type In the listings, SAVE a n d 30 FORMAT "b";1200
RUN them. 40 OPEN #4;"b"
In this lest, the Spectrum is SO REM
a g a i n the 'slave' of the QL,
r e c e i v i n g messages, p r i n t i n g
60 INPUT #4;a*
them on the screen, then 70 PRINT af
transmitting t h e m b a c k to the 80 PRINT #4;a*;CHR* 10;
QL. where they are tested for 90 IF a$="stop" THEN STOP
errors. The m e s s a g e transmitted 100 GOTO 50
a p p e a r s in the DATA lines 60-90
of the QL listing. Also transmitted
are a set of six contro! codes. b> QL Listing
These are c o d e numbers w h i c h
d o not c o r r e s p o n d to any of the 10 REMark Test of RS232
character c o d e s s h a r e d by the 20 REMark
two machines. The Spectrum 30 BAUD 1200
RS232 c h a n n e l has b e e n
o p e n e d to t y p e "b" (see your 40 OPEN #4, serl
Interface 1 h a n d b o o k ) In line 40 50 REPeat loop
to permit these c h a r a c t e r s to b e 60 INPUT #0,ai
transferred. In any Spectrum/QL 70 PRINT #4,a4>; CHR$<13>|
RS232 c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , it Is also 80 INPUT #4,b$: PRINT b*
preferable to use the " b " (binary)
rather t h a n "t" (text) o p t i o n on 90 IF b$="stop" THEN EXIT loop
the Spectrum side, otherwise 100 END REPeat loop
o d d results m i g h t occur.
So. the p r o g r a m loops r o u n d
from 9600 B a u d to 300 b a u d (which only gives the time to the should occur. Surprising, the
(line 150 in the QL listing, 40 in second). After e a c h test the only fault I f o u n d was at the
the Spectrum listing) s e n d i n g the p r o g r a m halts, w a i t i n g for you to lowest transfer rate. 300 b a u d ,
same m e s s a g e a n d set of press any key o n the QL w h e n d a t a transfer s e e m e d to
numbers from QL to Spectrum, keyboard. fail altogether. Try the test a few
then b a c k a g a i n . The result of times for yourself, a n d c o n f i r m
every test is p r i n t e d o n b o t h Time these results. It will m e a n that
screens, with the n u m b e r of there is no d i s a d v a n t a g e (in
errors, a n d l i m e taken given o n There is a fixed time on e a c h terms of reliability), a n d m u c h to
Ihe QL screen. The test of time Is test d e v o t e d to the testing a n d b e saved in time by always
c a r r i e d out using the QL system p r i n t i n g of results, so the selecting the m a x i m u m b a u d
variable at address 163886. Set i n f l u e n c e of different b a u d rates rale of 9600. w h i c h h a p p e n s to
lo zero (line 160), It increments c a n only b e j u d g e d by the b e the default value o n the QL.
fifty times a s e c o n d , so w h e n it is differences in time taken. You Last m o n t h I g a v e you a
PEEKed (line 290) a n d d i v i d e d by should find that the a c c u r a c y of p r o g r a m to transfer BASIC
50. it gives the time taken more transfer should not vary m u c h p r o g r a m s from Spectrum to QL
a c c u r a t e l y t h a n using DATE with speed, a n d very few faults using the network system. This

Fiq.3 rout of speed and rail A b i l i t y 40 DIM a*(4,28): RESTORE

S O F U R 1-1 T O 4: R E A D a * < 1 ) 1 E N D F O R 1
<) Spectrum Listing 6 0 D A T A " T h i s is a test of s p e e d and "
7 0 D A T A " r e l i a b i l i t y of t h e t r a n s f e r "
10 R E M R e l i a b i l i t y Test 8 0 D A T A "of d a t a b e t w e e n t h e O L and "
20 REM 9 0 DATA "Spectrum computers."
3 0 L E T x » 1 9 2 0 0 t LEI (,HK J lu lOO D A T A 1 2 0 , 2 5 4 , 2 5 5 , 0 , 2 3 , 5
4 0 L E T x - x / 2 l F O R M A T "b"|x 1lO F O R 1*1 TO 6
30 OPEN * 4:"b": CLS 120 R E A D tie«-e*t. C H R * (2)
6 0 F O R j-1 T O 4

</>
130 E N D F O R 1
7 0 INPUT * 4 j a * 140 R E P e a t l o o p
BO P R I N T a «

z
ISO x - x / 2 i B A U D xi e r « 0 : C L S
9 0 P R I N T »4: a*(hit 160 POKE W 163886,0
lOO N E X T J 170 O P E N N 4 , serl
110 INPUT N4;at
120 P R I N T N 4 | A l | h * |
180
190
F O R J-1 TO 4
PRINT «4ta«<J>|h*|
O
130 P R I N T 200 INPUT K4,v*J P R I N T v *
140 F O R 1-1 TO 6 210 F O R k>l TO L E N <v*>

o
150 P R I N I CODE a * U ) 220 IF v l ( k ) < > * t ( J , k l I H E N e r - o r M
160 N E X T 1 230 END FOR U
170 P R I N T " B a u d " " i n 240 END FOR J
180 INPUT * 4 | a t 250 PRINT N4ief|h«!
!90 C L O S E * 4 260 INPUT *4 J vt
2 0 0 IF x > 3 0 0 T H E N G O TO 4 0 270 IF v«<, >e* 1MEN e r - e r » l

s
280 PR iNT\ "Baud • E r r o r * = "|wr
290 t»lNT (PEEK W < 1 6 3 8 8 6 ) / 5 0 ) / 1 0

s
b) UL Listing 300 PRINT "Time • "|t;M seconds"
3lO s*=IN*EY*{-1)t vl="ne*t": PRINT »4;v*jh»:

o
10 REMarfc R S 2 3 2 tost proqran 320 P A U S E S O : C L O S E «4
20 REMark 330 IF x » 3 0 0 T H E N EXIT loop
30 x -192001 o * - " " j h » - CHftf <!"-•) 3 4 0 E N D REPeat loop
o
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
 Fig.4. RS232 Transfa of Spectrum prograai to OL 610 1
6 2 0 PRINT - p l a c e • f o r m a t t e d cartridge"
a) Bpictru* Listing 6 3 0 PRINT " I n i » d v 2 _ , t h e n p r * u a n y key"\\
640 k « - IMKEY*<-1>
9900 FORMAT " b " t 9 6 0 0 6 3 0 DELETE » d v 2 _ t e * p _ b a a
9981 0 0 BUB 9 9 9 7 6 6 0 OPEN NEW « 4 , m v 2 t e m p b a a
99B2 LET M - y - m LET r - 0 670 REPeat Ioop2
9983 OPEN • 3 | " b " i P R I N T » 3 i 8 T R * k | CMR» 10| 680 REMarfc l i n e n u m b e r firat
9904 FOR ( - 1 TO k 690 a«-236*PEEK(a>+PEEK ( a * l ) i a-a*4
99B3 0 0 SUB 9 9 9 7 700 I F a » - " 9 9 B 0 " THEN E X I T loop2
9906 L E T I * - C H R I < PEEK tn*r)> 710 R E P e a t l o o p s
9987 LET r - r * l i PRINT • 3 | r « ( 720 I— PEEK < a )
99011 NEXT 1 730 S E L e C t ON t
9909 CLOSE • 3 740 • 3 2 TO 1 2 7 t a * - a * b C H R * ( t >
9990 STOP 750 - 1 2 8 TO I 4 3 i as-all.-<>'
9997 L E T » • PEEK 2 3 6 3 3 » 2 3 6 > PEEK 2 3 6 3 6 760 - 1 4 4 TO 1 6 4 i a * - « * L ClCHRffz-79) f > •
9990 L E T v - PEEK 2 3 6 2 7 * 2 3 6 » PEEK 2 3 6 2 8 770 • 1 6 3 TO 2 3 3
9999 RETURN 760 »*-keyword* Ir-I64l| x t - n t d TO k e y .
790 at-atlkf
b) OL Listing DOO -131 EXIT 1 oop3
010 •REMAINDER i a - a * 3
100 R E M a r k I rip o r t S p e c t r u m P r o q r i m t B20 END S E L e c t
HO RCMark v i a t h e RS232 l i n e 030 a-a+1
120 I B40 END R E P e a t loop3
130 REHark I n i t i a l 1 ae 030 PRINT a 4 | at
140 t B60 PRINT # *
ISO CLS i P R I N T - I n i t i a l i s i n g - p l e a a * wait* 070 a-a*li I F a » p o a l t l o n THEN E X I T 1 o o p 2
160 < • RESPR ( 0 1 0 0 0 END R E P e a t loop2
170 I F a > 2 2 1 1 0 4 THEN a - RESPR (a-22ll84> 0 9 0 CLOSE B4
160 MET I l O O O DATA RND ' 1NKEY* • , • P I • t " F N •
190 r « - CHR*(131 1 0 1 0 DATA POINT ' SCREEN* ATTR AT
200 p o s i t i o n * * ) RESTORE lOOO 1 0 2 0 DATA TAD ' V A L * ' • CODE • VAL
210 Dili keyword* ( 9 1 . 1 0 ) , key_len (91) 1 0 3 0 DATA LEN ' BIN CDS ' * TAN '
220 FOR 1 - 1 TO 9 1 1 0 4 0 DATA ASN * ACS • , ATN ' ' L N •
230 READ keyword* (!)-•* 1 0 3 0 DATA EXP • INT SOR ' SON '
240 k e y l » n < ! ) • LEN ( a * ) 1 0 6 0 DATA ADS ' PEEK • I N 1 " USR '
230 END FOR I 1 0 7 0 DATA GTR* * CHR* , ' NOT ' DIN
260 I 1 0 0 0 DATA OR AND ' , >• •
270 REIirli Transfer progr«n f r o * Spectrum 1 0 9 0 DATA <> •, L I N E ' , THEN , • TO *
1 1 0 0 DATA STEP ', DEF F N ' CAT • FORMAT '
280 I
I 1 1 0 DATA MOVE * , ERASE * , ' OPEN • • , ' CLOSE • *
290 BAUD 9 6 0 0 1 OPEN a S , « v r 1
300 INPUT S 3 | n u n l i nua-nunl
1120 DAT^. MERGE ' • V E R I F Y * , ' DEEP * , ' C I R C L E "
I 1 3 0 DATA INK PAPER ' , ' F L A S H ' , 1 D R 1 0 H T '
320 PRINT Receiving the progra#>"\" f r o * the Spectrua"
1 1 4 0 DATA INVERSE * , ' OVER • , ' OUT ' , • L P R I N T •
330 FOR 1 - 1 TO n u n
I 1 3 0 DATA L L I S T • ' STOP * , 4 READ ' , DATA '
330 «»- If*EY»(»3,-I)
I 1 6 0 DATA RESTORE • , • NEW ' , ' BORDER CONTINUE
360 POKE p a n C l a n , CODE ( « » )
1 1 7 0 DATA D I M ' , ' REM - , ' FOR ' , ' GO TO '
370 posttlon-pa*l 11oo*l
1 1 8 0 DATA GO e u B , 1 INPUT * , ' L O A D ' , ' L I S T •
400 END FOR I
I 1 9 0 DATA LET PAUSE ' NEXT POKE
430 CLOSE » 5
1 2 0 0 DATA P R I N T ' ' PLOT ' RUN SAVE
440 PRINT V \ " T r a n s f e r complete'W
1 2 1 0 DATA RANDOMIZE I F ' , * C L S * , * DRAM
4 SO (
1 2 2 0 DATA CLEAR • , • RETURN ' , • COPY 1
too R E H a r k C r e a t e f i l e o4 B A S I C l i n e s

was reliable only when e a c h Another benefit QL users (atf_arrayS) in the QL. At the
byte value was transmitted as a c o u l d derive is in the transfer of same time, the p a p e r attribute
number, a n d the c h a n n e l the Spectrum screen display to colours are d i s p l a y e d on the QL
o p e n e d a n d closed with e a c h the QL. Despite the limitations on screen. In order to a c h i e v e the
transmitted number. As you have Its screen display, some spectacular displays on the
seen, the RS232 line is tar more excellent colour pictures c a n Spectrum's limited display file,
reliable, a l l o w i n g d a t a to b e create for Ihe Spectrum. With some clever tricks have b e e n
sent as a stream ot 8-bit c o m p a r a t i v e l y little a v a i l a b l e for used, a n d PAPER a n d INK are not
characters at 9600 bits per the QL In this respect, always what you think they are.
second. To make use of this programmers c o u l d transfer their By first printing all of the PAPER
faster a n d more reliable transfer favourite Spectrum screen blocks, you c a n see the clever
rate {particularly useful in longer displays, then import them into a way Spectrum pictures are
programs) p r o g r a m transfer c a n graphics p r o g r a m (e.g. m a d e up. Next all the pixels are
b e improved using the RS232 GraphiQL) for modification. The transferred. This is a slow
line. Fig.3. contains the listing of listing In Fig.5. allows the screen business; It's not the transfer rate
the transfer program converted display to b e transferred. w h i c h Is a p r o b l e m , but all the
for use with the RS232 link. To use calculations w h i c h are
the programs, MERGE the necessary by both computers.
Spectrum listing with the
program you wish to transfer,
Screens The Spectrum has to c a l c u l a t e
the byte address of e a c h block
a n d RUN the QL program, with a O n c e both listings are entered of eight pixels. This It does in line
microdrive c a r t r i d g e in mdv.2. a n d saved. RUN them. The 260 with the a i d of a small
Type a n d enter RUN 9980 on the Spectrum screen asks you to m a c h i n e c o d e routine installed
Spectrum. The p r o g r a m will b e press p l a y on your t a p e recorder. in the user d e f i n e d graphics
transferred, then translated to a n
It assumes that you have a t a p e area of RAM (Installed using the
ASCII file at the QL end. a n d
stored on microdrive under the in the recorder c o n t a i n i n g the subroutine starting at line 1000 of
file n a m e of ' t e m p _ b a s ' . This screen display you wish to the Spectrum Using). the QL
c a n be l o a d e d into the QL as a transfer, a n d that the screen works out w h i c h bits In e a c h
normal BASIC program. The QL display file is the first file it will byte are INK, a n d w h i c h are
a d d s the word 'Mistake' to the find on the tape. In the PAPER, a n d laces the
b e g i n n i n g of any line w h i c h is meantime, the QL screen is a p p r o p r i a t e pixel colour on the
syntactically incorrect, a n d you asking for a file n a m e for the screen. Unless you are
m a y well see several of these screen. O n c e the transfer is fascinated by the picture slowly
when you list the program. In complete, the screen display is b u i l d i n g up on the QL screen,
a d d i t i o n to these modifications, saved to microdrive 2 using that g o a n d enjoy a c u p of tea while
other c h a n g e s will no doubt b e filename. this Is g o i n g on! The display will
necessary for the p r o g r a m to run O n c e the display is l o a d e d fill a QL monitor screen, so you
successfully on the QL. But on the Spectrum screen, the m a y find it will overflow if your
transfer of the p r o g r a m c a n save border will flash, i n d i c a t i n g have a TV as your QL screen.
a lot of eftort c o m p a r e d with re- transfer of d a t a via the RS232 There c a n b e many
t y p i n g the w h o l e program. line. Attribute d a t a is transferred a p p l i c a t i o n s for the transfer of
first, a n d saved In a n array d a t a b e t w e e n two computers. In

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 /
this article, a n d the o n e last limitations) b e t w e e n Spectrum any a p p l i c a t i o n you m a y
month, you should see how this a n d QL. a n d the p r i n c i p l e s require.
is possible (knowing the d e v e l o p e d c o u l d b e a p p l i e d to

Fig 3. T r i m f t r ol Spoctru* i c r n n display to Ot. 190 BLOCK I6,l0.16**,10*y.l

200 END D E F i n a
6> Spactrus listing 210 •
220 D E F i n a PROCadura PAPER,ATT
t o 0 0 SUB lOOO 230 LOCal 1,J.at,att
20 P R I N T " P r e s s P l a y o n y o u r t a p * r K o r d t r " 240 FOR 1 - 0 TO 3 1
SO LOAD SCREEN* 2SO FOR J - O TO 2 3
SO OPEN » 4 | - b " l 9 6 0 0 260 a»-INKEV«<«4,-!>) » t t - C O D E <•» >
1 2 0 FOR 1 - 0 TO 3 1 270 att_array*(1*1, J*l>-a«
1 3 0 FOR J - 0 TO 2 3 280 att-<attlL56)/Bl B&lock a t t . l . j
140 P R I N T « 4 | CMftl ATTR < J . 1 ) | 290 END FOR 1
I S O NEXT J 300 END FOR t
1 6 0 NEXT 1 310 END D E F i n a P A P E R . A T T
170 PRINT »4t-p|M«ls-| 320 1
2 3 0 FOR 1 - 0 TO 1 9 2 330 DEFina PROCadura PAINT.INK
2 4 0 FOR J - 0 TO 3 1 340 LOCal t,z*,oM,l,j,k,ro-
2 3 © POKE 3 2 7 4 7 . 1 1 POKE 3 2 7 3 3 , l i POKE 3 2 7 6 3 , 1 350 row"0
2 6 0 L E T b t — 1 6 3 8 4 * 3 2 * USR 3 2 7 6 0 * 2 3 6 * USR 3 2 7 4 4 * 4 * USR 32732*J 360 FOR l - O TO 1 9 1
2 7 0 L E T p - PEEK t i t 370 FOR J - 0 TO 3 1
2 8 0 P R I N T a4| CHRI Pi 380 tt-INKEy*l«4,-|)
2 9 0 NEXT J 390 a t t - C O D E U t t . a r r a y * ! J * 1 , (1 DIV8i*l)>
3 0 0 NEXT i 400 1k—a 1 1 L L 7 l pap-<attLb36l/O
3 1 0 CLOSE • 4 410 I - C O D E <1*1
9 9 0 STOP 420 FOR k - 7 TO 0 S T E P - 1
1 0 0 0 RESTORE 430 I F ( t MOD 2 ) THEN
I O I O TOR 1 - 3 2 7 4 4 TO 3 2 7 6 7 440 BLOCK 2 . 1 * C < I MOD 3 > - O l , 2 * I J * B * h » , r » , i k
1 0 2 0 READ a i POKE 1 , a 430 ELSE
1 0 3 0 NEXT 1 460 BLOCK 2 , I * M I MOD 3 1 - 0 1 , 2 * < J * 8 * k > . c o m , p a p
1 0 4 0 RETURN 470 END I F
1 0 3 0 DATA A , 0 , 6 2 . 0 , 2 3 0 . 7 , 7 9 . 2 0 1 480 »•» Dlv 2
1 0 6 0 DATA 6 , 0 , 6 2 , 0 , 2 3 0 , 3 6 , 7 9 , 2 0 1 490 END FOR It
1 0 7 0 DATA 6 , 0 , 6 2 , 0 , 2 3 0 , 1 9 2 , 7 9 , 2 0 1 300 END FOR j
310 r o w - r o t . - 1 »< l NOD 3 « O l
bl OL Listing 520 END FOR 1
1 0 R E M a r k S p t c t r u * S e r e on T r a n s f e r 330 END D C F i n a P A I N T . I N K
20 I 540 I
30 INIT SSO DEFina PROCadura d e l a y
4 0 INPUT W F l l a n u t for scraan display *|riMtt 360 LOCal •*,count,C*
3 0 PAPER A T T 370 Kf-~plxala"i count-0
60 d a l a y i PAINT_INK SBC REPaat loop!
7 0 SDVTES - i » d v 2 ' t n a o a l , 1 3 1 0 7 2 , 3 2 7 6 8 390 C«-INKEV«<«4,-|)
BO STOP 600 I F e * - * * ( c o u n t * ! 1 THEN
90 i 610 count-count*!
100 D E F l n a PROCadura INIT 620 ELSE • c o u n t — 0
1 1 0 MlNDOw 3 1 2 , 2 3 6 , 0 , 0 1 PAPER O 630 END I F
1 2 0 MODE B l C L S 640 I F C o u n t - S THEN E X I T loopl
130 DIM att array*132,241 636 END R E P a a t loopl
1 4 0 DAUIs 9 6 0 0 660 c«-lre.£y»<64.-i>
1 3 0 OPEN a 4 , carl 670 END D E F i n a dalay
1 6 0 END D C F k n a I N I T
170 t
1 8 0 D E F i n a P R O C a d u r a GfilOCfc l l , . , y )

Shock horror! A new QL

game from Rubicon
Systems.
Dragonhold
Rubicon Computer
DragKHtfioW
The g a m e is a t r a d i t i o n a l D&D n o u n s For instance, key 0
Systems type, you b e g i n in the Dark d o u b l e s as OPEN a n d OPAL. It
£19.95 Caverns a n d have to search for m e a n s that adventure purists will
the Elixir of Lite. There are six l i n d the joy of discovering the
• n the e a r l y d a y s ot c o m p u t e r different areas a n d a host of right words a n d the surprise ol
programs there a p p e a r e d creatures w h i c h react lo you in f i n d i n g u n k n o w n objects has
several rather s i m p l e attempts at different w a y s You c a n a t t a c k or b e e n e l i m i n a t e d . However w h e n
role p l a y i n g D81D t y p e g a m e s even talk to t h e m if they are p l a y i n g the g a m e it a d d s
None p r o v i d e d the friendly. greatly to the r a n g e ol actions
sophistication a n d variety ot Movement is a c h i e v e d by you c a n perform c o m p a r e d with
action of the o r i g i n a l g a m e but cursor keys or joystick a n d is a purely g r a p h i c a l p r o g r a m .
they h a d c h a r m a n d v a r y i n g d e p i c l e d g r a p h i c a l l y in the The ability to fight, converse
degrees of s u c c e s s These c e n t r a l window. Other windows a n d barter are all i n c l u d e d a n d
d e v e l o p e d in m a n y ways Into p r o v i d e Information on status the options are very
the g a m e s we now know a n d text input, a n d m e s s a g e s the comprehensive. I found that its
love on most m a c h i n e s The QL g r a p h i c s are m o d e 4 g r a p h i c s very l a c k of clever t e c h n i q u e s
however, never a t t r a c t e d the a n d t h o u g h not stunning, are no i c o n s no multi-key
same d e g r e e ol enthusiasm a n d c e r t a i n l y a d e q u a t e for the c o m b i n a t i o n presses a d d e d to
Ingenuity that p r o g r a m m e r s game. its a p p e a l a n d soon I h a d
lavished o n other machines. My greatest g r i e v a n c e become completely absorbed
D r a g o n h o l d has m a n y a g a i n s t most a r c a d e adventures in the problems, not m i n d
features In c o m m o n with these is that there Is usually no time to b e n d i n g , but e n o u g h to m a k e
early games, but I must a d d that just sit a n d think. A Freeze o p t i o n you p a u s e for thought,
they have tried q u i t e is s u p p l i e d to a l l o w this a l o n g I liked it. a p l e a s a n t c h a n g e
successfully to c o m b i n e with a lull c o m p l e m e n t of save a n d surprisingly a d d i c t i v e
adventure a n d a n i m a t i o n a n d a n d l o a d g a m e o p t i o n s The

strategy. The p r o b l e m is that fans
ol e a c h s p e c l l i c g e n r e m a y find
this hybrid unsatisfying, I just
hope that there are e n o u g h 'all
. "w ; ,y
a d v e n t u r e elements are c a t e r e d
for in the most c o m p r e h e n s i v e
system I have seen lor this t y p e
ol g a m e , letter keys A to X have

i;
rounders' to buy. enjoy a n d a s s o c i a t e d VERB or NOUN words
make this a success to the extent ol 11 verbs a n d 24

ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986 59

 ERROR
TRAPPING
Mel Mackaron presents
an invaluable a i d for
QL programmers — a
simple a n d effective
error t r a p p i n g
technique.
T T h e Sinclair QL is a wonderful
computer, a n d SuperBASIC is a
very g o o d p r o g r a m m i n g
l a n g u a g e , but, for the person
trying to use his QL to write a
fairly professional a p p l i c a t i o n ,
there has, until now, b e e n a
significant stumbling block: the
'absence' of a n error-trapping
c o m m a n d . Most micro-
computers have a keyword
c o m b i n a t i o n such as ON ERR —
GOTO xxx to h e l p with
controlling end-user errors or I/O
errors. But nowhere in the
Sinclair d o c u m e n t a t i o n ,
i n c l u d i n g the QL User G u i d e
a n d the QL Technical G u i d e Is
there any mention of such a n
aid.
Ordinarily, the lack of such a
c o m m a n d w o u l d not b e a
problem, if, in a utility you have
written for yourself, a n error
occurs, you should know your
p r o g r a m well e n o u g h to re-enter
at a suitable point. But what
a b o u t another user w h o does
not have your k n o w l e d g e of the
program's structure? If he makes
a n error c a u s i n g the p r o g r a m to
terminate, he m a y not know how
to get b a c k in,

Rom Secrets
If you have f a c e d this d i l e m m a ,
you m a y have felt that you only
h a d limited options: you c o u l d
type a message to the user such
as 'In case of a n error, type
"GOTO xxx" to re-enter the
program! you c o u l d attempt to
learn assembly l a n g u a g e well
e n o u g h to write you own error-
retrieval routines; you c o u l d give
up. However, you d o have a
fourth option. Hidden In the QL's
ROM ( a n d not d o c u m e n t e d in
the a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d books) Is
the keyword c o m b i n a t i o n WHEN
ERRor - RETRY - END WHEN
The c o n c e p t b e h i n d WHEN
ERRor is f u n d a m e n t a l l y the same
as a n ON ERR - GOTO
statement; however, the syntax
a n d c o d i n g are somewhat
different. Nevertheless, o n c e you

12
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
 /
know how to use this tool, you

Listing One
will b e a b l e to give your
program a more professional
appearance.
When b e g i n n i n g work with
10 REMark This program d e m o n s t r a t e s p r o g r a m m i n g with no
WHEN ERRor. you must
remember a c o u p l e of rules. 20 R E M a r U at e r r o r - t r a p p i n g . It r e l i e s s o l e l y o n m a c h i n e
First, d o not try to exit from it by 30 R E M a r k level e r r o r r e p o r t s .
using a GOTO. This m a y c a u s e 40 REMark
u n p r e d i c t a b l e results later on, 50 MODE 0 P A P E R 0 : INK 7 : C L S R E M a r k Set D i s p l a y
such as a message like 'error 60 INPUT 'Enter a N u m b e r : *{num
during WHEN processing'. 70 P R I N T \ 1 Y o u r n u m b e r w a s ' t> n u m
Second, the WHEN ERRor routine 80 P R I N T X ' P r e s s a n y k e y to c o n t i n u e . .
needs to p r e c e d e the point at 90 P A U S E : R E M a r k w a i t s for a k e y p r e s s
which the error c o u l d occur. 100 CLS
Also, if you are using separate 110 DIR MDV2_
WHEN ERRor routines, r e m e m b e r
120 PRINT \'Program successfully completed
that the latest o n e takes
precedence. Therefore, you must 130 STOP
always keep In m i n d the user's
location in the p r o g r a m so that
the correct errors will b e
trapped. Listing Two
The four s a m p l e p r o g r a m
segments I have i n c l u d e d show
10 R E M a r k T h i s s e c t i o n d e m o n s t r a t e s e r r o r - t r a p p i n g e f f o r t s by
different levels of error-trapping.
In the fact, a l l we shall rely u p o n 20 R E M a r k the p r o g r a m m e r who does not use W H E N E R R o r . It
is that w h i c h Is built into the 30 R E M a r k c h e c k s for c o r r e c t user input, but c a n n o t c o n t r o l
computer. In the second, the 40 R E M a r k I/O e r r o r s p f f i c l e n t l y .
programmer Is protecting 50 REMark
against a n y t h i n g e x c e p t a n I/O 60 M O D E 0 : P A P E R 0 : INK 7 : R E M a r k Set Display
error. The third demonstrates a 70 CLS : INPUT 'Enter a N u m b e r : ';nam®
basic Introduction to the WHEN 80 R E M a r k Input is a s a s t r i n g w h i c h c o e r c i o n w i l l c o n v e r t to
ERRor construct. The fourth shows 90 REMark a number.
how you c a n trap for multiple 100 IF n u m * = " : 0 0 TO 70 : REMark User only pressed ENTER
errors within o n e routine. Within 110 IF n u m « l l ) < ' 0 ' O R n u m » ( l ) > '9* : G O T O 7 0
these segments, I have also tried 120 R E M a r k U s e r did not e n t e r a n u m b e r
to show a bit of what Is
130 n u m = n u m t : R E M a r k C o r r e c t e n t r y , s o c o n v e r t It
generally t e r m e d ' a c c e p t e d
140 PRINT \'Your number was * num
p r o g r a m m i n g practice*,
something w h i c h m a y h e l p you 150 carry_on
to Improve your o w n 160 CLS
programming. 170 P R I N T • F o l l o w i n g is a d i r e c t o r y of M D V 2 *
ISO P R I N T \*If you get an error, type "GOTO 180"'
Deliberate mistakes 190 carry_on
200 DIR MDV2_
All p r o g r a m segments rely u p o n 210 PRINT W'Program successfully completed!'
two type of errors. First, we ask for 220 STOP
a number to b e entered. On the 230 DEFlne PROCedure carry_on
QL, If a string (such as 'hello')
240 R E M a r k m e r e l y a r o u t i n e to w a i t f o r a keypress
were entered Instead of a
250 P R I N T \ ' P r e s s any k e y to c o n t i n u e . . . *
number, you w o u l d get error -17
(error In expression). Then, we 260 PAUSE
summon a directory of MDV2. If 270 END DEFlne carry_on
there were no c a r t r i d g e in that
drive, we w o u l d get error -7 (file
or device not found). You should
enter all listings (one at a time)
a n d then RUN them. When you Listing Three
do run them, purposely m a k e
the errors you are testing for. In
lhat way, you will learn now 10 R E M a r k T h i s p r o g r a m i n t r o d u c e s W H E N E R R o r . If a n e r r o r
each t r a p p i n g m e t h o d works 2 0 R E M a r k o c c u r s , t h e u s e r is r e t u r n e d to that 11ne n u m b e r
a n d how we are improving on 3 0 R E M a r k to try a g a i n .
the basic, machine-level 4 0 R E M a r k P r o c e d u r e s a r e h e a v i l y u s e d t o m a k e f l o w of p r o g r a m 0
trapping.
Listing O n e works only with
50 REMark clearer.
60 REMark
Z
machine-level control. In other
1
70 initialise
words, when the c o m p u t e r 80 enter_num
encounters a n error, p r o g r a m
execution stops with a n erro
message. You m a y then RUN the
90 directory
100 PRINT W ' P r o g r a m s u c c e s s f u l l y completed.'
5
<
program a g a i n . While this 110 STOP
method of d e t e c t i n g faults m a y 120 DEFlne PROCedure initialise 06
be Informaative, it is also fairly
0
130 M O D E 0 : P A P E R 0 : INK 7 REMark Set Display

o
primitive a n d frustrating, 140 END DEFine initialise
especially for the user who is not ISO DEFine PROCedure enter_num
well-versed in the o p e r a t i o n of 160 WHEN ERRor
computers. 170 PRINT V INVALID ENTRY! (Must b e a N U M B E R ) *
Listing Two show what a 180 carry_on
reasonably c o m p e t e n t 190 CLS
programmer might d o for error
a
200 R E T R Y : R E M a r k R e t u r n t o s i t e of e r r o r Try again. • •
control. In this one, we are

ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986 59

 t r a p p i n g within the p r o g r a m
210 END WHEN against a user entering a string
220 CLS instead of a number. However, as
230 INPUT 'Enter a N u m b e r : ' ; num we have no control over I/O
240 P R I N T \* Y o u r n u m b e r M a c * t nuro
errors (such as format failed'),
250 carry_on
we only Include a statement to
the user telling him how to re-
260 E N D D E F i n e e n t e r _ n u m b e r
enter the program.
270 DEFine PROCedure directory
Listing Three Is our first
280 WHEN ERRor
Introduction to WHEN ERRor. It
290 P R I N T \* Mi c r o d r 1 v e E R R O R . *
will h a n d l e any type of error,
300 P R I N T ' P l a c e a p r o g r a m c a r t r i d g e in MDV2' a n d its only d r a w b a c k Is that we
310 carry_on must i n c l u d e a WHEN ERRor
320 CLS : RETRY routine at the b e g i n n i n g of e a c h
330 END WHEN procedure. (I have I n c l u d e d
340 DIR M D V 2 _ procedures here to demonstrate
330 END DEFine directory the clarity a n d modularity you
360 DEFine PROCedure carry_on g a i n from using these in your
370 P R I N T \ ' P r e s s any key to c o n t i n u e . . . ' program.) Because the computer
380 PAUSE knows a n error has o c c u r e d
390 END DEFine carry_on (and w h i c h error It was), the
RETRY c o m m a n d returns you to
the specific line at w h i c h the
mistake h a p p e n e d a n d re-
executes from there.
Listing Four Finally, In Listing Four we shall
see how to PEEK the system
variables on the QL to find the
10 REMark T h i s p r o g r a m a l l o w s the p r o g r a m m e r to direct p r o g r a m specific error c o d e w h i c h was
20 REMark execution from only one WHEN ERRor routine. It generated. By so doing, we c a n
30 REMark a c c o m p l i s h e s this by P E E K i n g the Q L ' s BASIC V A R I A B L E write Just o n e error-trapping
40 R E M a r k a r e a to d i s c o v e r the e r r o r number. routine, o n e w h i c h will give a
30 REMark different result d e p e n d i n g u p o n
60 WHEN ERRor the c o d e It receives. Finding the
70 R E M a r k a l i t t l e b e l 1 to a l e r t t h e u s e r correct c o d e works In this way:
80 BEEP 2000,12 : PAUSE 5
First, we must l o c a t e the base of
90 BEEP 2000,6 : PAUSE 3
the SuperBASIC area.
In the QL, this Is not fixed, as It is
I 00 BEEP 2000,9 : PAUSE 3
in many other micros. Therefore,
1 10 errnum = PEEK_L t PEEK L<1638561 + 298>
we find It by PEEKing m e m o r y
IZO SELect ON e r r n u m location 28010h (163856 in
130 • -17 decimal). The base of
1 40 PRINT \'INVALID ENTRY! (Must be a NUMBER)' SuperBASIC is held as a 'long
150 car r y _ o n word', so we will use PEEK_L for
160 at x , y : CLS 4 I CLS 2 this. The h e a d e r associated with
170 REMark Reset cursor} clear screen the SuperBASIC 'job' Is 104 bytes
180 RETRY (decimal) long, a n d we must
190 * -7 a d d this to the start address. Last,
200 P R I N T \ * E R R O R at M D V 2 ! ' we a d d the vector w h i c h points
210 PRINT 'Place a PROGRAM cartridge in MDV2' to the error c o d e (BV ERROR),
220 carry_on w h i c h Is 194 bytes (decimal)
230 CLS : RETRY
long, a n d PEEK the resulting
240 END SELect
address This variable, too, is a
250
'long word", requiring us to a g a i n
END WHEN : REMark Don't forget this line. It's VITAL.
use PEEK L. (Sounds
260 initial 1 Be c o m p l i c a t e d , doesn't it? But It
270 enter_num Isn't.) The formula for getting the
280 d i rec tory error n u m b e r is
290 PRINT W P r o g r a m successfully completed.' PEEK ,L(PEEK. L(163856) + 298).
300 P R I N T 'You a r e now an e x p e r t error-trapper!' O n c e we have this, It is quite
310 STOP simple to write a comprehensive
320 DEFine PROCedure initialise b l o c k of c o d e to trap our errors.
330 M O D E 0 : P A P E R 0 : INK 7 As a last note a b o u t WHEN
340 ERRor, you should not think of It
0 END D E F I N E ini t i a l I s e
as providing c o p y protection for
z
350 DEFtne PROC^dure enter_num
1"* CLS your programs. It does not
. -- = 0 : y = 16 : R E M a r k v a r i a b l e s to hold cursor position
recognise (CTRL)-(SPACE) (I.e.
BREAK) as a n error. Therefore,
1 330
390
P R I N T ' E n t e r a N u m b e r : '}
your p r o g r a m listings will b e
s< a v a i l a b l e to a n y o n e who m a y
INPUT num
400
<11 0
PRINT N'Your number was * & num b e interested in them. However, if
c arry_on you force a p r o g r a m BREAK
J2C END DEFine enter_num while a n error is b e i n g
o t 4 30 DEFine PROCedure directory processed, you m a y find yourself
O 4 40
450
CLS getting u n p r e d i c t a b l e (and
unwanted) results at a later time.
O
P R I N T ' F o l l o w i n g is a d i r e c t o r y a t M D V 2 ' \ \
460
DIR MDV2_ A r m e d with a n understanding
4 ~*0 of the QL's WHEN ERRor keyword
END DEFine directory
480
DEFine PROCedure carry_on a n d its syntax, you should now
490
P R I N T \ * P r e s s a n y k e y to c o n t i n u e . . . ' find that, while It Is perfectly
500
PAUSE h u m a n to ERR, you will not be

0 310
END DEFine carry_on
unduly punished for your
mistakes.

70 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 Time to enter our
c o m p e t i t i o n a n d win
yourself a Gremlin
clock.
K, t a k e t h e (lying d u c k s ott t h e
wall. We've g o t s o m e t h i n g m u c h
better tor you, s o m e t h i n g that
will b e c o m e t h e a e s t h e t i c
c e n t r e p i e c e of a n y front r o o m
a n d w o u l d n ' t look o u t of p l a c e
In Fergie a n d Andy's n e w p l a c e
(in fact. I'm t o l d t h a t they w a n t e d
o n e as a w e d d i n g present b u t
these things aren't easy to c o m e
by).
W h a t is It? W h a t else b u t a
high-tech, technicolour Gremlin
c l o c k ! We've g o t t e n t o g e t h e r with
t h e guys a t G r e m l i n to offer five
of these c l o c k s as prizes to ZX
readers, a n d for t e n a d d i t i o n a l
runners u p there a r e c o p i e s of
Gremlin's latest g a m e , t h e m e g a -
a d d i c t i v e Trailblazer, to b e won.

Anagrams
All y o u h a v e to d o to b e c o m e
the p r o u d o w n e r of o n e of these
c h r o n o m e t r i c classics Is to take
the n a m e of a n y G r e m l i n g a m e ,
a n d see if y o u c a n c o m e u p
w i t h a n interesting a n a g r a m
m a d e u p out of t h a t n a m e . For
instance, y o u c o u l d take Way of
The Tiger a n d turn It into TOO
FEW GET HAIRY ( e x c e p t that I
c h e a t e d a n d m a d e u p a n extra
*o', b u t y o u g e t t h e i d e a ) .
Just to get y o u started here
a r e the n a m e s of a tew G r e m l i n
releases t h a t y o u c o u l d use:
M o n t y o n The Run
J a c k The N i p p e r
Trailblazer
Way of The Tiger
Bounder
O n c e y o u ' v e c o m e u p with a n
a n a g r a m , fill in t h e c o u p o n o n
this p a g e , a n d a l s o write your
a n a g r a m o n t h e b a c k of the
e n v e l o p e t h e n s e n d It to G r e m l i n
C o m p e t i t i o n . ZX C o m p u t i n g
Monthly. 1 G o l d e n Square,
L o n d o n W1R 3 A a
Entries must a r r i v e b y first post
o n t h e 5th D e c e m b e r 1985. This
c o m p e t i t i o n is o p e n to a l l
r e a d e r s ot ZX C o m p u t i n g
Monthly, e x c e p t e m p l o y e e s of
Argus Specialist Publications, Trailblazer
Gremlin Graphics a n d Alabaster
Passmore a n d Sons.
j Gremlin Competition ^
. G o m e Title
| Wacky a n a g r a m |

| Name |

| Address •

•
= = =====
Send your entry to Gremlin Competition, ZX Computing Monthly. 1 I
\ Golden Square London W1R 3AB Entries to arrive by 5th December 1986 #

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 o you know the latest evil
p l a n h a t c h e d from Barbaric
Bryan's hideously w a r p e d m i n d ?
Not content with l o c k i n g m e in
this dark, d a m p a n d d i s m a l
d u n g e o n , not content with c o l d
custard torture,, not content even
with showing "The Price Is Right"
o n a n out of r e a c h v i d e o screen,
24 hours a day, he resorts to
trying to ruin my m a c h o i m a g e .
I, of course, receive b u l g i n g
h a g s of fan letters e a c h d a y {I
know they come, he just refuses
to show t h e m to m e d u e to
insane jealousy). The affront I a m
referring to is the "artwork" in the
September issue. This p o r t r a y e d
my as h a v i n g a c o n c o r d i a n
nose, a n d , in the d r a w i n g of a
h a n d r e a c h i n g out the grating,
long, m a n i c u r e d a n d p a i n t e d
fingernails! But let my assure you
reader, in reality I c o m b i n e the
best features of M a t Dillon a n d
Richard Gere. Admittedly, the
nails are longish, but I have
b e e n d o w n here lor three years
a n d I certainly don't paint them.
After all, how c o u l d I get to
Boots? A n d if I d i d . they'd
p r o b a b l y b e right out of my
s h a d e of p i n k . . .
S n a p p y titles this month: HRH.
1222, a n d Moron (thankfully we
d i d Journey To The Centre Of
Eddie Smith's H e a d last m o n t h —
it w o u l d have r u i n e d the
continuity). A n d , yonks after the
C o m m o d o r e version, Level 9's
Jewels of Darkness has finally
arrived for the Spectrum.
In last month's review of
products trom Interceptor's
b u d g e t l a b e l Players, I s a i d that
far better t h a n p u s h i n g out those
p o o r g a m e s w o u l d b e to re-
relese some of the o l d
Interceptor adventures. I'm g l a d
to say that this Is b e i n g d o n e
(not as a result of my comments,
but w h o cares?). You c o n now
buy Heroes Of Karn, Warlords
a n d Jewels of B a b y l o n a m o n g s t
others for £199, a p r i c e they are
ikeally suited to. This is b e c a u s e
they are a l l m a r r e d by a poor
v o c a b u l a r y a n d pretty brief text.
They d o h a v e some b e a u t i f u l
g r a p h i c s t h o u g h a n d fun
problems, plus often a level of
difficulty suitable for beginners,
w h i c h is q u i t e rare these days.
They're minor classics a n d no
adventurer's c o l l e c t i o n should
b e without at least o n e at such
a price. If you c a n n o t f i n d t h e m
in the shops for so little, send for
details from Interceptor at
M e r c u r y House, C a l l e v a Park
Industrial Estate, Aldermaston,
Berks RG7 4QW.
News of a d v e n t u r e
organisations c o n t i n u a l l y c o m e s
my way. The Spectrum Adventure
E x c h a n g e C l u b I m e n t i o n e d in
August is still g o i n g strong, a n d
the s a m e p e o p l e now run
Spectrum Adventurer, a t a p e
m a g a z i n e w h i c h costs two
pounds. I l o o k e d at issue four
a n d was q u i t e impressed. There
are reviews of less well known
products, w h i c h t e n d to b e
i g n o r e d by most m a g a z i n e s ; a
well written h e l p section; a n
e n t e r t a i n i n g c o l u m n by n o n e
other t h a n John Wilson (under a
pseudonym); plus other bits a n d
b o b s The m a g a z i n e text is l a r g e
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
a n d attractive. You also get part
of a serialised adventure, w h i c h ,
a l t h o u g h d e a l i n g with the
h a c k n e y e d s c i e n c e fiction
theme, s e e m e d a b o v e a v e r a g e
with s o m e well written
d e s c r i p t i o n (no graphics);
c e r t a i n l y a keen adventurer
could while away a n enjoyable
hour or two with it.
The m a i n fault with the t a p e is
that the m a g a z i n e parts m a k e
little use of the c o m p u t e r
m e d i u m . These is no index
system a n d your a r e f o r c e d to
flick through every p a g e rather
t h a n c h o o s e a review, for
e x a m p l e . A Ceefax style
selection, or better still m e n u
driven c h o i c e s a l the b o t t o m of
the screen, w o u l d g r e a t l y
improve the p r o d u c t .
That said, Spectrum
Adventurer is a g o o d b u y for the
a d v e n t u r e nut; less d e v o t e d
players won't find it as m u c h tun.
With e n o u g h r e a d e r support, it
c o u l d b e c o m e a very worthy
m a g i n d e e d , a n d I h o p e they
rectify the fault I m e n t i o n e d
(easily done). Write for m o r e
details to 4 Kilmartin Lane,
Carluke, Lanarkshire MLB 5RT.
Roger Garret's Adventureline is
a p p a r e n t l y e n d i n g soon, t h o u g h
I haven't h e a r d officially.
Questionline is still g o i n g strong
t h o u g h , a n d all a d v e n t u r e c l u b s
must w a t c h out — b e c a u s e Tony
Treadwell is starting a new,
c o m m e r c i a l a d v e n t u r e only
m a g a z i n e soon.
But e n o u g h of Ihese
d e r a n g e d r a m b l i n g s . . . let the
reviewing b e g i n !

HRH
8th Day
£8.95
Whilst I'm not a great advocale
ol censorship, some ol this
g a m e Is of dubious taste a n d
parents may feel that their
children need protecting Irom
its "adull" humour. But providing
you are not easily offended, 1
think you'll love this. HRH is the
most biting computer satire
since Denis Through The Drink-
ing Glass; this time Ihe subject
matter is (mostly) our royal
family, a n d the irreverance is
limitless
You are horrified when your
eagerly awaited DHSS enve-
lope contains someone else's
giro; then you notice Ihe name
and address: it belongs to
Queen Elizabeth. And if you
have hers — she must have
yours! How will she aftord the
Queen Mother's meals on
wheels on such a small sum?
Will she have to sell the corgis
lo MacDonaldS? What about
her Oxlam clothing b i l l . . . ?
There's nothing for it but to return
her giro personally.
You slarl in a post office, next
lo Princess Dl wailing for her
lamily allowance, a n d Prince
William who Is impersonating
his father with a pair of huge
rubber ears. Close by are
had their responsiveness sacri-
Vou a r e o u t s i d e a U n i s e x loo
( a p p a r e n t l y t h e y ' r e all the r a g e
ficed In order to fit everything in.
Despite this misgiving. HRH is
on the C o n t i n e n t ) . A h u g e c r o w d technically very sound. Vocab-
of s o r e a n i n g k i d s b l o c k the w a y ulary is adequate, but at a few
s o u t h to a p a r k c a f e , a r o u n d
w h i c h a n u n o f f i c i a l p a t h leads points too obscure Coming
s o u t h e a s t . T h e loo is w e s t . (rom a small company. I was
pleasantly surprised at the
What N u x f skillful presentation. The actual
C r o w d s of c h i l d r e n b l o c k y o u . . g a m e has polished appear-
ance. RAM SAVE/LOAD Is in-
What Next? cluded; and the packaging
competes with many of Ihe
h p a r k w a r d e n s t o p s you- " O U T O F
order!" software big boys. My only
major gripe Is that this is a
What Next? pound or two overpriced tor a
•iSCORE
mail order product.
You h a v e -.cored IS IV om a The actual adventure isn'i
P O S -. ib lc- 2SO .
quite up to Monster Hit stan-
dard. However, I had so much
lun playing HRH, a n d its sheer
originality a n d energy comes
further royals a n d before Ihe derers is taken by Margaret as such a welcome breath of
end ol the g a m e you will have Thatcher. Later you face the fresh air in Ihe face of countless
met the whole clan, on your gruesome task of impersonat- middle earth games Irom Level
travels around London. Their ing her; yet when doing so you 9 et al. that I've given one
personalities will be tamiliar to won't be a l l o w e d into the anyway. 8th Day are a com-
all Spitting Image tans; drunken palace! pany to watch
Margaret. Greek Phillip, stupid Description is lengthy, I sincerely hope they reach
Edward, a n d randy Andy who entertaining a n d well written, a distribution deal to get HRH
provides many of those "adult" a n d characters wander round into the shops, but in the mean-
jokes I mentioned. in convincingly independent t i m e write t o 18 Flaxhill,
The humour itself is also fashion. There are a few. fairly Moreton, Wirral. Merseyside L46
a l o n g Spitting Image lines; average split screen graphics 7UH.
some crude, some more subtle An incredible amount has
I won't spoil the fun by giving been packed into this Quilled
too much away, but I particu- game, not just text but many
larly liked M a d a m e Tussauds,
where pride of p l a c e in both
special messages a n d amaz-
ing complexity. While-this is no
osililt
the Chamber Of Horrors a n d fault, some of the commands — "M.i^
" E M I T
the Gallery Of Famous Mur- particularly EXAMINE - have

Mastertronic
£1.99
You are trapped In your dream
and must awake; though this
game is more likely to have sent
you to sleep In the first place.
Dreaming could be the theme
lor an excellent adventure, but
1222 lolls because instead ot
capturing Ihe weird nocturnal
atmosphere or outrageous Im-
agination of the best dreams,
the auihors have used the
scenario as a n excuse to lling
together random a n d unin-
spired Ideas Also lacking Is the
warped logic which makes the
wildest dreams feel continuous
And 1222 has many other
faults, which Is a shame be-
cause there are some good
ideas. The besl ot these Is Ihe
presence of icons replacing
MORON
Atlantis
£1.99
Following the Marie Celeste
earlier in the year, another
sclence-llctlon g a m e from
Atlantis, which also Includes
elements ot time travel — killing
two adventure cliches with one
stone? Particularly stupid aliens
called — you've guessed it —
morons, stumble across the
Pillars Of Time a n d promptly
lose them in their spaceship.
Sold vessel Is now on collision
course with earth so you have
a limited time to lulfill your task,
which, naturally. Is to collect Ihe
pillars and save the world.
Quilled and Fetched, Moron
olfers split screen graphics at
nearly all the numberous
c o m m o n commands (direc-
tions. GET/DROP, etc), while text
input is retained for rarer words.
Unfortunately, a massive bug
means these have a life of iheir
own a n d automatically select
random commands* even while
you are typing, making the
g a m e virtually unplayable Fur-
thermore. the delete key won't
function as It's used tor Icon
selection. John Wilson tells me
that these faults disappear if a
joystick interface is plugged in.
but this is not mentioned in the
instructions; besides, there
should be no need. The instruc-
tions are dreadful by the way,
picturing non-existenl icons —
Ihey were wrilten (or Ihe CBM
version.
The non-Icon vocabulary is
small, a n d you are required to
enter ridiculously obscure
commands like THUMB A LIFT.
Examine is usually unrespon-
locations, quile a feat given the
memory limitations. These are
attractive enough but look
incredibly similar, even though
there are subtle differences.
Then again. I suppose a large
You c i n also
a s l e t c t e l e p h o n e
Next command please
• U
epnon
3M I s N O U
o PLRcJ j^MI
IIHHIBS9' HHBi: 1
\ % j O
iibhi: » i
+ 0 G H
DROP
IS U E R Y C O L O T O T H E T O U C H . INSET
I N T O O N E UfiLL I S R H R T C H .
THE DOOR IS L O C K E D . PROBABLY TO
URRD OFF RUSTLERS.
YOU CfiN'T G O NORTH
sive. The text is reasonable but
some of the graphics are
pathetic The whole thing is
horribly unfriendly a n d nol
worth your time or money. m grii
spaceship would appear lion at all, just a location title
somewhat monotonous.
To lit them all In, the text had
like "The Teleport Room". There
are many objects lying around,
to be sacriliced, or perhaps which compensates a little, but
massacred would be more ap- purists should avoid. Vocabu-
propriate There Is not descrlp- lary is strict but not awful.
I've said belore that science-
fiction games tend to bore me,
a n d Moron has noihing new lo
ofter. However, some ot the
problems here might while
away Ihe o d d hour, though
what I've seen strikes me as too
easy (or expert adventurers.
Moron is nol a b a d effort but
strikes me as amazingly aver-
Ex i t s - U P - a - age. nothing new or notable II
s e e : - there's noihing better around
BOX
then this is no rip-oft, but neither
-tow I ! is It a must buy.
nnnir!^
JUUIJ

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986


E L P L
S o m e help for David
M c C a l l u m (not lllya Kuryakln
himself, surely?), who's still
stranded in sunny Terrormollnos.
The correct hotel to g o to is
found by r e a d i n g the brochure.
O n c e in your room, d r o p your
clothes, get a n d wear the trunks,
then take, knot a n d wear the
hanky. Suitably e q u i p p e d with
c a m e r a , snorkel a n d h a r p o o n
g u n you'll b e ready to start your
h o l i d a y proper.
Meanwhile, b a c k in M i d d l e
Earth, M i c h a e l Payne is t r o u b l e d
by trolls. The g a m e is The
Hobbit, naturellement. To kill the
trolls a n d get the key, you must
wait until d a w n (I.e. keep t y p i n g
WAIT until the p r o g r a m tell you
It's light). However, you must d o
this w h e n somewhere else, like
the nearby p a t h — otherwise it's
b o i l e d M i c h a e l on the trolls'
menu.
In the d e c i d e d l y more
m u d d l e d world of The Boggit,
the trolls are less easily d e a l t
with — I suggest you listen very
carefully to what the theologist
says, then scour the washing
powder shelves ot your l o c a l
supermarket. But before that.
Stephen Page of Romford c a n n o t
e s c a p e his hole. He has found
the diary (CLIMB CHEST for those
w h o haven't) but c a n n o t find the
word c o m b i n a t i o n to o p e n the
door. Turns out you were using
the wrong b i r t h d a y Steve: type
Fordo's in!
Kris Daryani from Middlesex is
struggling in a n earlier satirical
e s c a p a d e of Fergus McNeil,
Bored Of The Rings. He c a n n o t
find the poster ot Rocky to give
to the g a y monsters. Well,
starting by the pixie, enter the
maze by g o i n g East. Then: E, N.
E, E. S, W. S, E. GET POSTER, W, W,
S, W. But don't h a n g a r o u n d too
long . . .
Mitchell Blower writes a b o u t
Sorceror Of C l a y m o u r g e Castle.
"How d o you find the towel a n d
Title;
Company:
Problem:
I can help solve:
Name:
Address:
I N E Rochdale's John Wilson.
how d o you enter the castle
without the seed spell?" he asks,
referring to hints In a previous
issue. The m o a t answers both
questions. From nearby, GO
MOAT. Obviously you must HOLD
BREATH, before you SWIM DOWN,
TAKE TOWEL. SWIM DOWN. SWIM
FAST, a n d SWIM UP. You will now
b e in the castle, a n d c a n save
the seed spell for o p e n i n g a
stone door, later. The m o a t will
n e e d a further visit, with a d e e p
treasure dive that c a n only b e
survived by e s c a p i n g with the
Bliss spell.
David Heron from Perston has
a n (old style) 128 a n d is stuck
late on in Never Ending Story.
"How c a n I r e a c h the top of the
Ivory Tower, I keep g o i n g round
In circles". That's b e c a u s e you
are in a maze, Dave. The route
through Is like this: from the
b o t t o m of the m a i n stairs g o U, E,
E, NE, U, W a n d W, where you will
find some c o m p l e t e l y useless
treasure, then W, SE, U, E, E, E, U
to find the door. Just b e polite
a n d the g a m e is near finished.
The c a p e you have found has
no use. A n d in response to a
steady stream of enquiries, it is
not possible or necessary to
enter the Ivory Tower in part one.
Some more information a b o u t
Denis Through The D r i n k i n g
Glass. When I g a v e some hints a
c o u p l e of months b a c k , I m a y
have misled you into exitting by
the w i n d o w first. In fact you n e e d
to journey out the front door to
start with. M a k e sure you are
w e a r i n g your suit, a n d c a r r y i n g
the letter (which you must h a n d
in at the Private Eye offices), the
Cherry Blossom (for d e a l i n g with
N o r m a n Fowler) a n d your teeth
(from the tumbler In the
bathroom). The gnashers should
b e worn in time to SMILE at the
photographers. Before you leave
for the first time, c o l l e c t all the
items you c a n a n d leave t h e m
in your room, as M a g g i e will
lock you in on your return. BUY
TICKETS from Ihe c o p p e r in the
r o a d then h e a d NE.
12ZXComputing Monthly • November 1986
Thanks as usual to the h e l p of
Help The Helpline
The h e l p l i n e has b e e n running
over six months now, a n d in that
time I must a d m i t (though not
too loudly, otherwise Bryan will
w h i p m e even harder) that some
p r o b l e m s have c o m e in w h i c h
even ( c a n n o t solve. Now It Is a n
u n d e n i a b l e fact that ZX readers
are the most intelligent b e i n g s In
the entire universe, so I c a l l on
you to d o a g o o d d e e d a n d
h e l p your fellow creature. Please,
please, p l e a s e help. Please . . .
(I think we get the gist
Ed).
What I want you to d o is fill in
the "I c a n h e l p solve" part of the
c o u p o n If you have c o m p l e t e d
any ot the following g a m e s :
Eureka (Roman), Runes Of
Zendos, D r a g o n w o r f d , The
Secret Of St. Brides, The Pawn,
Smugglers Cove, The M o r e b y
Jewels, C a s t l e C o l d i t z (K-Tel),
Aksheron, C a s t l e Blackstar or
Return To I t h a c a . With a few
exceptions those are rather
obscure, but s o m e o n e out there
must have p l a y e d them. If you
have, just put the c o u p o n In a n
e n v e l o p e a n d I'll b e In t o u c h for
h e l p from you! Obviously a n SAE
Is not n e e d e d in this case; a n d
I'll b e h a p p y to give you any
h e l p in return.
Write to me
Whether you're s t u m p e d by
Seabase Delta, harassed by
H u n c h b a c k or b a m b o o z l e d by
The Boggit. we c a n help. Fill in
the c o u p o n a n d send it to:
M i n d p l a y Helpline, Deepest
Dampest Darkest Dungeons, ZX
C o m p u t i n g , No. 1 G o l d e n
Square, London W1R 3AR
A few rules: British
correspondents, p l e a s e enclose
a stamped, a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e
if you want a personal reply
rather than wait tor the
m a g a z i n e to c o m e out. If you
are writing from a b r o a d , just
enclose a n e n v e l o p e — I'll a d d
the postage. I try to r e s p o n d
within two months but I c a n take
longer (on the other h a n d , you
might receive a n i m m e d i a t e
reply). I ONLY DEAL WITH
ADVENTURES. Not a r c a d e games;
nor t e c h n i c a l p r o b l e m s (write to
Crosswires a b o u t those). I'm not
too hot on adcventures these
days (Gargoyle g a m e s
included). Finally, p l e a s e write
the n a m e ot the g a m e you're
writing a b o u t on the b a c k of the
envelope.
Another month's missive must
d r a w to a close, but fret not, for
I'll still b e here next issue. Or will
Bryan s u c c e e d in his twisted
plans to b u m p m e off? Or will I
s u c c e e d In my twisted plans to
b u m p Bryan off? There's only o n e
w a y to find out — r e a d
M i n d p l a y next month!

VENTURESPEAK
Part 2: Alan Davis'
adventure series looks
at c o m m a n d analysis.
T h i s m o n t h brings you the
s e c o n d p a r t of the
VENTURESPEAK m a c h i n e c o d e
program, a n d we'll b e t a k i n g a
look at the g e n t l e art of " p a r s i n g
the i n p u t " - or " c o m m a n d
analysis", it you prefer.
You're g o i n g to n e e d the
m a c h i n e c o d e k e y b o a r d routine
that y o u saved last month, as w e
n e e d to p a t c h this month's
p r o g r a m o n t o it to p r o d u c e a
single b l o c k of 6 o d a Listing 1 Is
the assembly l a n g u a g e
p r o g r a m tor the "parser" — this
is the p r o g r a m w h i c h will s c a n
through a t y p e d input, c h e c k i n g
the words a g a i n s t a set of
v o c a b u l a r y d a t a . As you c a n
see, it's a fairly lengthy routine so
a n assembler will m a k e error-
free entry c o n s i d e r a b l y easier —
but If you don't h a v e a n
assembler a l l Is not lost, since
I've g i v e n a d e c i m a l d u m p of
the c o d e In Listing 2. All you
n e e d to d o Is t y p e in Listing 3.
RUN It. a n d then enter the
numbers from Listing 2 in order,
I n c l u d i n g the checksums after
every fifth byte. Take things
slowly, c h e c k i n g the screen
i
, V V, •.
i
•K
V < . jr'S I'*'*.-
mr.
l . v «,
itfV'Vy - l V . ' V ' J
V w i ^ f l
d i s p l a y a g a i n s t the listing as you
g o a l o n g , a n d all s h o u l d b e
well. When you've finished, the
p r o g r a m will save the c o d e to
t a p e for you as "PARSER" CODE
60400, 750.
Parsing
So far, so g o o d . We now n e e d to
w e l d the k e y b o a r d a n d parser
sections together as follows:
1) Reset Ihe Spectrum using
RANDOMISE USR 0.
2) Enter CLEAR 59999 as a direct
command.
3) Load In the k e y b o a r d c o d e
you s a v e d last m o n t h (LOAD
"KEYBOARD" CODE).
4) L o a d in this m o n t h * parser
c o d e {LOAD "PARSER" CODE).
5) Now save the w h o l e lot as a
single b l o c k with SAVE
"V-SPEAK" CODE 60000,1150
— a n d k e e p it sate
somewhere until next month.
In a d d i t i o n to this single c o d e
b l o c k . It* p r o b a b l y wise to k e e p
the two s e p a r a t e parts as well
for the present, to facilitate
c h e c k i n g in c a s e you discover
errors later.
Of course you'll b e w a n t i n g to
know Just w h a t this new routine
d o e s a n d to test it out. We'll
c e r t a i n l y b e l o o k i n g at how it
works In this article, but as for
testing it — well, I'm g o i n g to ask
2$
I
'i X
i
• • :i,
»
W
I '
II
•
7 i
you to b e p a t i e n t a n d w a l l until
next rhonlh. You see. the
p r o b l e m is that our parser Is
a c t u a l l y fairly useless at present,
b e c a u s e it d o e s n l yet possess a
v o c a b u l a r y l (Rather like a c h a p
who, t h o u g h highly intelligent,
has n o b a c k g r o u n d k n o w l e d g e
to d r a w u p o n . . . ) To put
v o c a b u l a r y Into the parser we'll
n e e d the VENTURESPEAK EDITOR
— a n d that's our task for next
month.
For the present t h o u g h , I'm
g o i n g to e x p l a i n the b a s i c
principles u n d e r l y i n g the
p a r s i n g system so that w h e n the
time c o m e s tor you to use it,
you'll b e familiar with a l l the
m a i n features We can't discuss
this In a v a c u u m , so in Figure 1
I've g i v e n a very e l e m e n t o r y
v o c a b u l a r y ot words w h i c h you
m i g h t e x p e c t to f i n d In a t y p i c a l
a d v e n t u r e (printed out from the
EDITOR p r o g r a m , In fact). Figure 1
Itself raises a few points w h i c h
n e e d to b e m e n t i o n e d before
we g o any further:
1) Only the first three letters ol
a n y word are significant. (This
c a n o c c a s i o n a l l y give rise to
some confusion b e c a u s e the
parser can't distinguish b e t w e e n
words such as "RAVEN" or
"RAVINE", a l t h o u g h in p r a c t i c e
I've never f o u n d this to b e a
serious p r o b l e m , myself. M y
g a m e "RUNESTONE" uses only
Ul
0
u j
1
®
"i
. - fi'V. • . ' V"
a
t^-.-T - . j , rr- st, /
^t Mm}
O .•i-'/ ^ i
| L J
I* "
three-tetter parsing). Figure 1. Vocabulary list, with each verb,
2) Vocabulary is d i v i d e d into noun and object Individually numbered.
three distinct types: VERBS,
OBJECTS, a n d PEOPLE. This has ME R0S 0 10 SHI S
00(4 10 ARM 6
advantages over the usual SHY 1 OES to BOO 7
simpler subdivision into VERBS TEL i GET 1 1 CHE 0
a n d NOUNS b e c a u s e it helps the ASK 1 TAK 11 BOX 9
TRL I PIC 1 I DOO le
error-trapping process when you L 2 ORO IS
write your adventure, as you'll LOO a PUT 12
see later. H
HOtt
3
3
EXA
RER
13
13
PEOPLE
3) Each item of v o c a b u l a r y is S 4 GIU 14 SAM t
assigned a number between 1 SOU 4 OFF 14 FRE 2
E 5 FIG 15
a n d 254 inclusive. Synonyms are EAS 5 KIL IS
PET
JOH
3
4
catered for by assigning the 14 6 ATT 15 JRC 5
same number to different words UES 6 HIT 15 JOE 6
IH 7
so that Ihe verbs SAY, TELL, ASK, EHT 7
a n d TALK, for example, are all OUT 8 OBJECTS
assigned the number 1. This is a LEA 8
U 9 suo 1
g o o d p l a c e to make a n UP 9 ORG 2
IMPORTANT NOTE: generally you CLI 9 SPE 3
c a n assign any number you like ASC 9 KHl 4
to any verb you like, BUT IT IS
ESSENTIAL THAT ALL VERBS
IMPLYING SPEECH BE ASSIGNED Figuro 2. Examples of c o m m a n d
analysis.
THE NUMBER 1. if the parser
routine is to work correctly.
EXAMINE THE D A G G E R PUT THE BOOK IH
Input
THE CHEST

A C
In practice what h a p p e n s will
g o something like this Your COMMAND ANALYSIS COMMAND AHALYSIS
BASIC adventure p r o g r a m will
Invite input from the player by
invoking the keyboard routine: TELL: 0 TELL: 0
LET M=USR 60000. The player PER5: 0 PERS: O
then types In his c o m m a n d , VB1 : 13 UBl : 12
presses ENTER when he's finished, MB2 : 0 UB2 : 7
a n d the routine returns to BASIC FK1 : 0 FK1 : 0
having stored the player's input
as a string of bytes in the correct OBI : 2 081 : 7
addresses above RAMTOP. We 082 : 0 0B2 : 8
now want the parser to scan this
stored c o m m a n d a n d d e c o d e it.
so the next step is to c a l l the 8 D
parser routine with LET M=USR SRY TO F R E O ASK PETER TO GlUE
60400. The parser now scans
" E X A M I N E THE D A G G E R " THK K H I F E TO JOHN
Ihrough Ihe players c o m m a n d ,
character by character,
c h e c k i n g the words It finds COMMRHO ANALYSIS COMMAND ANALYSIS
against ihose in its vocabulary,
ignoring any words it fails to
recognise a n d skipping on to TELL: 1 TELL . 1
the next, it eventually stops, PERS: 2 PERS : 3
either when it reaches the end, UB1 : 13 NO 1 : 14
or when it reaches a c o m m a , U82 : 0 NB2 : O
full stop, or the word "AND"
(these last items signifying that FK1 : 0 FK1 4
the player has typed in several 081 : 2 0B1 : 4
c o m m a n d s at one go) a n d 0B2 : 0 0B2 : O
returns to BASIC
The parser having d o n e its
j o b (almost instantaneously of a n d two p e o p l e — so that your case a n object) "DAGGER". You'll
course), we n e e d to extract the BASIC program c a n then see in the e x a m p l e that the
fruits of its labours by PEEKing perform the necessary c o n d i t i o n parser has assigned the value 13
certain addresses It makes for tests a p p r o p r i a t e to your to VB1, 2 to OB1, a n d zero to
a n easier life if the results of advenlure. A few examples everything else. Now look b a c k
these PEEKs are assigned should m a k e things clear. at the v o c a b u l a r y list in Figure 1,
immediately to BASIC variables where you'll find that verb
with suitably m e m o r y - j o g g i n g
n a m e s like this:
Examining number 13 is "EXA" (for
"examine"), a n d that object
LET TELL=PEEK 61124 Figure 2 gives examples of the number 2 is "DAG" (for
LET PERS=PEEK 61125 analysis of a range of "dagger"). Makes sense? OK,
LET VB1=PEEK 61126 c o m m a n d s Involving the basic then let's try something a Utile
LET VB2=PEEK 61127 v o c a b u l a r y of Figure 1. (You more complex.
LET FK1=PEEK 61129 might like to know that these The second example, Figure
LET OB1 = PEEK 61131 figures are all screen d u m p s 2(b), shows the analysis of the
LET OB2=PEEK 61132 from the VENTURESPEAK EDITOR in c o m m a n d "SAY TO FRED
LET MORE-PEEK 61123 "test" mode). Let's start with the "EXAMINE THE DAGGER" a n d we
first a n d simplest c o m m a n d — find VB1 a n d OB1 assigned just
What this all amounts to is that 2(a): "EXAMINE THE DAGGER". the same values as before (as
you c a n extract from any one Only two words are really we'd expect) but look: this time
c o m m a n d the c o d e numbers for relevant here — the verb the variable TELL takes the value
up to three verbs two objects, "EXAMINE", a n d the noun (in this 1 (signifying speech) a n d the

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 /

Listing 1
-Hisori (.(M'.iM^ hsslhiii ih-
ZX '.VI C I HUn Assembly language program.
b0907 2760 IHC Ot
C o p i r > 91.1 (CI M I SOt T lias,4 60699 1 360 LD I1PH0I,H 6U400 27/0 JP LOUP/
All r i i M s rtsrrvrd 6 0/02 1 3/0 IHC OE 6049 1 2/00 1 MICH* CALL SHORT 3
60/1*3 1 300 LO A,(DEI 6U944 2740 JP Z,FKIHU
t*4ss. I e r r o r * uu 60/04 1 390 CP B 60447 2U00 IIIC UL
6070S 1400 JP Z.UBfHD
10 'Ot 60700 14 10 IHC DC 60440 20 IU JP LOOP/
(1PHOI,H
.'it • C- 60709 1420
60/12 1 430 DOUBLE
JP LOOP 1 6 1(101 2020
6 1004 2030
5H0HI1 LD
IHC Dt
30 pAimit LD ML,(PTRI 6 10115 2040 LO R,(OE1
604aa 40 OKI. 6040O 60/15 1440 LD n, (HL 1 61 006 2050 B,A
60400 SO (KIT LU MI ,STIIRI 60/16 14 50 LD DC.(UCV2I 6 100/ ?tn.ii
LD
LU
LU A, ICIIHI 1
6040J bO I HCOll I . Hl_ 60/20 1 4 60 LO B,A 6I01U 2070 CP 11
604116 70 LU IP HO , III 60721 1470 IHC HL
LU
6 10 11 2000 nt T
6U409 00 A, ICU0H1 1 60/22 1 4 HO
60723 1490
LD
LO
A,IHLI
C.A 61012 2090 5H0RI2 IHC UE
UlUti' 90 Lb t.A
LD
61013 2400 LU H, (DC 1
lilUI J 100 0.0 60724 1500 CRLL iLTPTft 6 1014 2910 a, a
HUD
LU
604 l b Ml , OL 60/27 ISIO L0OP3 LU A.(OE1 A,(CHH2I
120
1 lu
LU II, 255
61015 2420 LO
(.04 16 60720 1520 CP 255 61010 2930 CP B
t,U4 I U I30 LU I ML I , H 60/30 1 530 RE T Z
XUH
6IUI4 29 4 0
H 60/31 1540 LO (1PH0I,A RE I
604 14 140
LD 60734 1 550 6102(1 2950 5H0RT3 IHC OE
60420 I I ELL I , A IHC OE 6 1021 2968
160
150 LD R,(DC)
60423 LU (PLRSI .11 60735 1560 LO n , (0E1 LO B. A
xon H 60736 IS/0 LO 61022 2970
60426 170 ML5IMI H, A 61023 3400 A,(CHA3I
(<'01 I , H
LO
I 00 LU 60737 1500 IHC OE 61026 2498
LU 60730 1590 CP 0
60430 (••1121 , R LO R,(DEI
200
190
LO
6102/ 3000 RET
60433
210 LU ("03 I,A 60739 1600 LO L, A 61020 3010
It K l I ,H 60740 IblO LO A.e HHD CP 65
(•04 36 6 1030 3020
t.OJ 220 LD It K2) , A 60741 1620 CP H RET HZ
60442 LO (0011,A 60742 1630 JP I.fHOI 61031 3030 IHC HL
LU
230 6 1032 3040 LO A,IHL1
6044b 240 I 082) .A 60745 1640
60746 1650
IHC
JP
OE
LOOP3 6 1 03 3 3050 CP 70
(.11440 CALL CUIIIIH
260
250 6 1035 3060 RET HZ
60451 LOOP0 LI) HL,(PIRI 60749 1660 FHOI LO A,C 6 1036 3U/0
/UN II 60750 16/0 CP L IHC HL
60454 6 1037 3000 A,IHL1
200
270
611455
6045b
LD ICXIRt,A 60751 1600
60754 1690
JP
IHC
Z,WBIHO
OC 6 1030 3098
LO
CP 60
290 CULL t ILTER
LD 60/55 1 /OO JP L00P3 61040 3100 RET HZ
60461 300 R,texTB) 6 1 0 4 1 3118 CALL ^ t i c o n
(.114 1,4
01146b
310 CP I 60/50 1/10 001 no
6D/6I 1 720
LD
CP
A, (001 1
0 6 1 044 3128 LO A, 1
320 i . sowi
LU
61046 31 30 LO ICXTRI.H
60469
.If
330 Ml,(PTHI 60/63 1 / 30 JP HZ.UD1 DUN 6 1049 3140 DEC HL
1.04/3 141) LU A, (ML I 60/66 1 740 LO II, I TPM01 61050 3150 CALL 5CTPIH
604/3 CP 255 60769 1 /50 I I) 1U81),n
.IP
(.04 / 5 350
60/72 1 /60 ACT 61053 3160 RET
360 Z,50R T 61054 31/0 R,1TPHOI
CP
LO
6. A
604/0 607/3 I 770 I'OIOUH LO H, (UU 21 OUFHD
370 44 (,1057 3 100 LO
1.0400
60403 300 JP Z.EHD 60776 1 700
6O//0 1 790
CP
JP
0
HZ,UH2DUH 61050 3140 LU H,(0011
390 CP 46 60/01 I 000 LD A,1IPHO) 61061 3200 CP B
60455 400 JP Z . t Mil
.IP 60704 1 0 I 0 LO (OB2),A 61062 3210 RET Z
60400 4 10 L6UPO
IHC 60707 1 020 RET 61063 3220 CP 0
6(1491 420 EMU hi 61065 3230 JP HZ,001OUH
6(149? 4 30 LU (PIRI,HL 60700 1 030 0B20UH LO A,IUB3) 6 I 0 6 B 3240 1 u A. 0
60495 440 50RI LU A, 100 I I 60/91 1 040 CP 0 (OBI•,A
CP 60/93 1060 RET HZ 61069 3250 LO
60490 450 I 6 10/2 3260 AEI
60500 460 CALL Z , i l l HP
60794 1060 LD A,1IPHOI 6 10/3 3270 OB1OUH LD A.(0B2I
60603 4/0
RE I 60797 1 070 (•JB3I . A 6 1 0 / 6 3200 CP B
60604 400
5MRP LO I I C L L I ,B
60000 1 bOO net 6 10/7 3240 RET 1
6050/ 490
LO tl, (1102) 60 0 t) 1 1090 5CIPIA IHC HL 6 10/0 3300 CP 0
6U5 1 O 500
LO I ' J O U ,A 60002 1 900 PU5H AF 61000 3310
LU
510 60003 1910 L00P2 LO A,(HLI RET HZ
60513 N, I MB 3> 6 1 0 0 1 3320 ri , b
LU
10
60516 520
I 002) ,n 60004 1420 CP 32 61002 3 3 30 LO 1 (IB2 1 , A
60519 530
LD « , (TK I > 6 0 0 0 6 1930 JP Z , HEI4IID RET
LU
6 1005 3340
60522 540
I PI. n i l .A 60009 1940 CP 34 6 IO06 33511 FCt HU LO A,ITPHUI
B, A
6IJ525 550
LU ri , < r K2I
600 1 1 1950 JP Z,HLHKO 61 004 3 360 LO
60520
lill'jJI
560
5 / 0 LD (FKII,H
600 1 4 1960
600 1 6 19/0
CP
JP
50
Z , HEIIIIO 6 1 090 3370 LO A, I F K I )
RET 6 1043 3 300 CP 0
60532
500
COllMII LU HL , IHCUttl 600 14 1900 CP ass 61U44 3340 REV Z
LU
590 60021 1990 JP Z,LAST
60535 bill) I OOP A,(HLI 6 1095 3 4 00 CP 0
60b 36 610 CP 255 60024 2000 CP 44 6104/ 3410 JP HZ.FK IDUtl
60530 620 JP /. , ( HOC Oil 60026 2010 JP Z,LAST 61 IOO 3420 LO A.b
6054 I 630 CP 44 60029 2020 CP 46
6 1 I (I 13430 irKi),A
.JP 60031 2030 JP Z,LAST LO
60543 640 I . SETCOII 61 104 3440 nr r
60546 650 CP 4t
60034 2040 IHC HL
61 105 3450 FKIUUH LO A, (1 K21
605 4 8 6 6 0 JP Z,SE1C0H 60035 9050 JP L00P2
61 l u g 3460 CP 0
6055 I 670 IIIC Hi 60030 2060 III IIIID IHC HL 61 109 3470 RET z
60552 600 JP LOOP 60039 20/0 L Ail LO IPIRI,HL 6 1 1 1 0 3400 0
60555
CP
690 SETCOH IriC III 60042 2O0U
60043 2090
POP
HC 1
«r 61 1 12 3490 RET HZ
60556 700 LU (HCOHI.HL 6 1 I 1 33500 LO A.B
60559 710 LO A, I 60044 2100 TAIPLL LO HL.(PTRI 61 1 1 4 3510 IF* 2 I .A
LO 60847 2110 LO H,(HL1 LO
60561 728
(nonei, h 61 1 I 7 3520 HET
6(1564 730 HE I « 60040 2120 CRLL MIID 60310 3S30 START EOU 60310
611565 740 I NUCUII XOH 60051 2 1 30 CP 1 6031 5 3540 COUHT EQU 60315
60566 750
IU iiionei ,h 60053 2140 At T z 61110 3550 tlCUM ocru 0
.(.'I 760
RET 60054 2 ISO LO HL,IPTRI 61 120 3560 PTB DEC 11 0
605/0 770
/SO I I L T t R LD n,(HL i 60057 2160 LO R,(HL1 61 122 3570 TPHO DC t B 0
60571 CP 34
60050 2170 LO ICHH11 , A 61 123 3500 MORE ofru 0
605/3 000
790
CALL Z,SKIP5P
60061 2100 IHC ML 61 124 3540 TELL DETB 0
605/6 CP 32 6(1062 2190 ID H,IHLI 61 125 3608 DCf 0 0
CALL
010 ICIIR2I .A PEAS
6U5/B Z,5KIP5P
60063 2200 LU 61 126 3610 UBI DEFB 0
60501
020
CP II 60066 22 10 IHC HL 61 127 3630 •<B2 DEI B 0
60503
830
CALL Z,iKIPiP
6006/ 2220 LU H, IHLI 61120 3630 ()0 3 OCFB 0
60506
040
CP 255 60060 2230 LO (CUM31,A 61 124 3640 ttl OC f B 0
RE I
050
60500 600/1 2240 CALL 5ETP1R 61 1 30 3650 FE3 UL t 0 0
(.0509
060
CP Z
44
600/4 2250 LO Ot,(UCH31 61131 3660 001 UEI B 0
000
070
6059 1 HE f 600/0 2260 L00P5 1 U H, (DL 1 Ott 0 0
60592 Cf Z 600/9 22 / n CP 265 61 132 36/0 0B2
DL 111 0
60594
090
he I 46 600 0 1 2200 JP I , UUN<>H>
61133 3600 UCtil
6115 9:.
900
i M<: Z 60(104 2.'V0 CHLL 5IIUH1 1
61 1 35 3690
61 1 37 3/00
"CU2 DCFII 0
Of tu 0
60596
910
LU HL 60007 2:il)0 JH I, "bin: 111 61 1 39 3 / 1 0
UC"3
orru 0
61159/
920
930 CP A, (ML I
aft
60090 231(1 IHC Ot 61 141 3/20
lie Oil
ucri: DEI 11 0
60599 'J 4 0 jp /., iiiii.I i 60001 2 J20 1 in: IIL 61 1 43 3/30 c tin 1 DEFB ll
60602
6U604
950 CP so 1,0092 23.I0
(,01193 2340
IHC
JP
UL
LUOPS
(•1144 3740 CHH2 UEFO 0
OCFB 0
6060/
960 JP Z,SIHbLE 60096 2 350 • •(litem 61 1 45 3/50 Ctill 3
9/0 CP 44 CHLL 5HUHI2 61 1 46 3760 t XI H OCFB 0
60609
60612
900
990
JP /,5IH6LL 600 99 23611
60902 2.170
JP
IHC
Z,<itlliCH2
Ut
(.0614 lOOO CP 46 Pill 2 rrrori 00
60617 1 0 1 0 JP I,SIH6LE 604U3 9300 IHC Ot
CP 34 60904 2390 JP LU0P5 HMD EC64 CHRI CED7
6 0 6 I 9 1020 JP Z,SIH6LC 6090/ 24 OU "0IICH2 cm L 5H0R13 CHH2 CCOB CHR3 LI 04
60622 1030
CP ass 609 IO 9410 JP Z, "III MU COMMA rc/4 COUHI EB90
60624 I
1040
JP Z.SIHGLE 6091 3 242b IHC UL (JOUUl 1 FO20 OU HOBJ C C 20
6(1627
6U62U IU60
050
IHC HL 609I 4 2430
6091 7 2440 l)U)l"0S
JP LOOPS UUHUBS r 01 b CHO EC4B
60629 I 0 / 0
LO A , (HL I LO 01 , l"COh1 CHOCOM EC95 EX TR EEDA
CP 32 609;-1 245U 1 01IP6 1 u H.(DE1 IlLltR tC4A FK1 ECC4
60631 IO0O
60634 1I 019000
JP Z,UOUOLC 60922 2460 CP 255 t»: 1 uurt1 CBI FK2 EECR
CP 44 60924 24/0 JP Z,DUHUUJ FKrHD 1 t f KIICHI EC 3 4
60636 1 1 1 0 JP Z , DOUULE 60927 2400 CHLL 5H0RI 1 t(MCH2 CC3F FHOI EU40
606 39 1 1 2 0 CP 4b 60930 2490 JP Z , II0MCH1 1H1 T 101 0 LMST E0A7
606 4 I I I 3 0
60644 1 I 4 0 JP Z,00U0LE 60933 2bOO 1 Hi: OL LOOP CC77 LOOPI CD 1 7
CP 34 60934 9610 IHC Ut
1 00P6 CDC 4
L00P2 I 003 L00P3 C037
60646 JP /,UOUULI 60935 2!. 20 IHC DE L00P5 EOCC
60649
60651 50
CP 60936 2530 JP LOOPt,
stion T 2
I OOP 7 CC94 LOOPS EC 23
JP
/,UOUUL t 60939 ?:>40 OStlCHI Clll L MORI CEC3 HCOtt ccec
60654 I ISO
60656 I I bo CP 256 60942 25611
60945 2S60
JP 3 , (IUHCII2 111 into t.0H6 001 EtCB
JP t , oiium t IIIC Oi UI1I0UH 11.91 002 CECC
(.0659 1 I / o JP t nIpli 60946 25/0 1IIC or onr nil EE 7C OBMCIIl EC 00
6U662
5K1P5P 1 HL IIL 61194/ 25011 Jl' LUUP6 UIDICH2 111). PRhSLH 4R0H
LD
1 100
60663 1 I 90 611950 2540 UDIICH3 Clll I iiiiiki 3 1 1 C5
Sil ' NLI
ptns PI H L t CO
60664 1 20(1 CP 60953 2600 JP ! ,OBf HU III 5 1 HI(CUII •,t icon LCbO
60666 JP i ' , itriPbP I. (19 5 6261 U IHC ot M.iPin LOO 1 5M0RI1 EC 49
H 0 R ! 21154
1210
60669 1 2 2 0 CP 1.095/ 6 2 0 JP LU0P6 SHORT 3 tt5C
606/1 1230 JP 34 6 U9 6 0 2630 uoMonj LU o t , i»cri:i SIM6LC C UOB SK1PSP 1 CI 6
( . 0 6 / 4 1240
1250
CP Z,5KIP5P
hb
60964 264 0 1 OOP7 1 1> A,(OE1 Mill 1 1 C4t ilRAT t B9t
tCC4
606/6 JP (>0965 2650 CP 2S5 5MAP LC50 ICLL
606/9 1260
6 0 6 0 2 1270
LO Z.5K1P5P
(PIRI,ML
6119b / 2660 At! z 1 PHO 1 t C2 t R1 PLC t o n e
"BIOUH I 065
RE V 60960 26/0 C h i t SHOHt1 V'OI ttCb
60603 1 2 0 0 51H6LI LD HL.IPTRI 609/1 2600 JP 1 ,1 I3ICHI •IB90UM t o / 4
uar ho LD56
"02 ttC7
60606 1290 LO A,(HLI 609/4 2640 IHC DC UB3 CECB
6060/ 1300 CALL SETP1H "BttCHI COLO II0MCH2 COLO
s
609/5 2 /IIO IHC OL
60690 1310 LO O L . I U C U I I 609/6 2/1U 1 HL 01 ocrc LE05 OCUB L L 03
<
60694 1320 LO B,A 609/7 2/20 JP LUUP/ HCUI CCCO vcua ECCF
60695 1330 0 I OOP I LO H, IDC I 6U40O 9/30 f KtlCHI CALL 5HUHI2 MC»3 110 I
60696 134 CP 255 6O403 2/40 JP Z , 1 I.1ICH2
60690 1360 HE 1 Z 60906 2/50 IHC Ot l«bl# 1u t * 4 : 026 rron 050

59
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
v a r i a b l e PERS Is g i v e n the v a l u e
2 (the n u m b e r tor Fred)
c o r r e s p o n d i n g to the person
b e i n g a d d r e s s e d . Note that TELL
is really only a f l a g w h i c h takes
Listing 2
the v a l u e 1 or 0 a c c o r d i n g to
whether s p e e c h Is signified or D o c i m a l d u m p ot parsor
nol. It's the v a r i a b l e PERS w h i c h machine codo.
conveys the information a b o u t
w h o m the p l a y e r Is trying to
BYTES
speak to. noon , CHECK
UM
So why d o we n e e d the extra 33 13460235
IVi 33
f 340 'K BSD
v a r i a b l e s o n VB2 a n d OB2? Well, B040S
604 10
004 1ft
330
•si BBS l( 33 507
sometimes c o m m a n d s m a y
Involve two o b j e c t s - a n d there
• 429
ft) BO
,n us 330 146 3 0 *
199 73?
Hi
099

3it in175m \\\

m a y b e Instances w h e n y o u 00435 330 50 3 0 1 3 3 0 BO 777
want to distinguish b e t w e e n two 60440

m I3t It
aU IV
slightly different types of a c t i o n , 143 3 3 0
SO 3 1 0 3 3 0 3 0 3 154
00460
such as p u t t i n g o b j e c t s ON or IN & ass
m
09405 a ii
other s u b j e c t s Figure 2(c) shows
fttt iti a
2 5
the analysis of the c o m m a n d 004 0 0 336 354 46

m
836 145 36
"PUT THF BOOK IN THE CHEST". See
how the two verbs "PUT" (12) a n d 330 i-ru
"IN" (7) a r e p i c k e d u p here,
together with the two objects In
order: "BOOK" (7) a n d "CHEST"
(8).
The final e x a m p l e , 2(d) Is of
the t y p e w h e r e s p e e c h to o n e
person Involves s o m e k i n d of
a c t i o n with yet a n o t h e r person.
A n d so the c o m m a n d "ASK PETER
TO GIVE THE KNIFE TO JOHN" sets
the s p e e c h ( l a g (TELL) a n d sets
PERS to 3 ("PETER"). As we'd
expect. VB1 is 14 ("GIVE") a n d
205
OB1 is 4 ("KNIFE") but In a d d i t i o n 330
to this FK1 has p i c k e d u p the BO
/I
other person involved in the 301
SIB
transaction ('JOHN"=4). We see 36
04
here, by the way. how the 35
s e p a r a t i o n of nouns into PEOPLE 36
a n d OBJECTS eases the error (it
BOS
10*
c h e c k i n g process n e e d e d in 330
104
every adventure. If a c o m m a n d 146 230
is f o u n d to c o n t a i n a verb such 236 201
1»4 200
130 30
as "GIVE" or "FIGHT" (where __„ !>0 I-J4
some other person must of 80 301
334 0
230
194
necessity b e specified), it c a n I i'O SO 201
SO 2 0 3 230
b e r e j e c t e d as a n u n a c c e p t a b l e 254 o 193
entry without further e n q u i r y It 202 230 201
FK1 is zero Example 2(d) also
illustrates the essential
friendliness of VENTURESPEAK.

particularly where speech
c o m m a n d s a r e c o n c e r n e d . It
matters not a jot w h a t style of
entry is used by the p l a y e r —
SAY TO PETER "GIVE JOHN THE
KNIFE" for e x a m p l e , will b e
d e c o d e d with c o m p l e t e success
by the parser.
I haven't m e n t i o n e d how the
system c o p e s with m u l t i p l e
c o m m a n d s yet. Suppose the
c o m m a n d GET THE SWORD AND
G O NORTH has b e e n entered.
The parser will a n a l y s e the first
p a r t (GET THE SWORD) a n d then
return to BASIC but it will
r e m e m b e r how far a l o n g the
c o m m a n d It has s c a n n e d . If we
LET MORE=PEEK 61123 (see
above), the v a r i a b l e MORE will
b e a s s i g n e d the v a l u e 1 —
telling us in effect that a n o t h e r
part of the c o m m a n d remains to
b e a n a l y s e d . (For single
c o m m a n d s MORE will b e zero).
This m e a n s we c a n a r r a n g e for
the first c o m m a n d to b e
p r o c e s s e d by a n a p p r o p r i a t e
BASIC subroutine, a n d then test
Listing 3
involves a t i d y l n g - u p process
w h i c h w o u l d c a u s e t h e parser to
"forget" the position it h a d
Machlno codo loador program. r e a c h e d o n its previous scan).
A t y p i c a l p r o g r a m m i n g "flow
43 nor •• H / C
REM
HIM
LORUtR
chart", therefore, w o u l d b e
6
IK P
10
Cltflfl
HIHI
PRINT
64499
""RUUH,
R D O R . "",, TIHP
RO 113,
J , - 6Y T £ 5 s o m e t h i n g like this:
~il«0 26,"CHECK " ' IflB a i | - i « W " (1) CALL KEYBOARD ROUTINE (USR
2 0 rOH I '00400 TO 61 lis STEP
38 PR 1H1 It
5 60000)
4 0 LET *•«
5 0 LET H.O
(2) CALL PARSER ROUTINE (USR
60 1HPU1 "NEXT O Y I E T - ' X 60400)
70 POKE l*H,X II I 3 > & + X : PR IM
T X<10,
TAB 6 *
X*4 i H j - - RHO XflOftj- "
RH (3) PROCESS C O M M A N D IN BASIC
00 LET H « H * I IF H < 5 THEN CO T (4) "IF MORE THEN LET M=USR
69
4 0 1HPU1 r L R SN I."CHECKSUM fOR 60426'! GOTO (3)
THIS L I N E ' - ' C
PR1HT TRB 37l~ "
RHO S«I0," ' RHD S<100>- " fiHD (5) G O BACK TO (1)
•jttuoo,'. IP C<>S THEM P R I N T ER
R0R> EHTER I HI LI HI. R G R I H , " : IEE I h o p e that by n o w you've
c 1,30 GO TO 30
100 HEXT I b e g u n to get s o m e i d e a , In
110 SRMt •'PHHbE«"COUt 6 0 4 0 0 , 7 5 0 p r i n c i p l e , of w h a t VENTURESPEAK
c a n d o for your a d v e n t u r e
the v a r i a b l e MORE to see writing. If you're b u r n i n g for
whether a n o t h e r analysis s h o u l d some "hands-on" experience,
follow, or w h e t h e r a return to don't worry. You'll b e a b l e to try
k e y b o a r d c o n t r o l Is c a l l e d for. out all these e x a m p l e s ( a n d as
However, the re-entry p o i n t to t h e m a n y others as you wish) yourself
parser routine is different s h o u l d with the h e l p of the EDITOR
a c o n t i n u a t i o n of analysis b e p r o g r a m next time, w h e n I'll also
necessary — o n such o c c a s i o n s b e offering m o r e d e t a i l e d
the parser is c a l l e d with LET e x p l a n a t i o n s of how to
M=USR 60426. (This is b e c a u s e I n c o r p o r a t e the system into your
t h e usual entry at USR 60000 o w n p r o g r a m s Till t h e n . . .

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 More from the last
outpost of ZX81 users.
W his month we have great
pleasure in h a n d i n g over the
content of this p a g e to two of
our readers who wrote in with a
c o u p l e of useful routines:
The first o n e is a brilliant
a d d i t i o n lor our giant REM
project a n d we will b e sending
both contributors tokens of our
appreciation . . .
Dear Sir,
I have sent you a contribution
for your giant REM program. My
m a c h i n e c o d e p r o g r a m will sort
a specified character array into
a l p h a b e t i c a l order in a matter
of seconds, eg. A 500 by 10
array in less than 2 seconds. This
p r o g r a m is therefore very useful
for filing programs.
My routine o c c u p i e s 151 bytes
a n d is r e l o c a t a b l e if 2 addresses
are altered. I have i n c l u d e d a
HEX loader to poke in the
m a c h i n e c o d e a n d by
c h a n g i n g line 100 to the
required starting address, the
program will a u t o m a t i c a l l y alter
the two fixed addresses a n d so
relocate the m a c h i n e c o d e
routine.
The routine will only sort two
dimensional character arrays
a n d will p r o d u c e a n error c o d e
2 if the variable has not b e e n
set up. or a n error c o d e 3 if the
dimensions of the array are
wrong the routine is c a l l e d from
basic by the c o m m a n d :
PRINT USR start address, X$
Where X$ represents any
character array. It is more
convenient to define the
variable. SORT, to h o l d the
starting address a n d so the
routine c a n b e c a l l e d by:
PRINT USR SORT, X$
I have also written a n
e x a m p l e p r o g r a m to
demonstrate my routine a n d this
is listed from line 1000 onwards.
To use this p r o g r a m simply
c h a n g e start address in line 1010
lo the starting address of Ihe
routine.
Paul Kecskemety, Cheshunt, Herts.
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
Dear Sir,
In your July issue, Page 81.
you give a program requiring
235 reserved spaces in a REM
1 REM 151 CHARACTERS***!:*:!*:':)': statement. I have seen programs
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx requiring even more s p a c e than
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx^xxxxxxxx* this a n d it c a n be very boring
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX a n d slow creating the necessary
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxrtxxxxxxxx REM.
I I I LET A«"-»21(JC0039368A23360BC
7CP1C1 I D A 4 D 0 D 2 3 2 3 2 3 7 C r E 0 2 2 0 - " D 2 3 4 The following little listing
E2346ED433F40* makes the j o b m u c h easier a n d
70 LCT A « - A « t ' 2 3 4 C 2 3 4 6 2 3 E D 4 3 3 D is worth k e e p i n g as a stock item
40EB4B3F40Ar323C40E5E5ED5D3D4O19 on tape.
EnElCDDC40DLT240*
3 0 LET A * - A * t - C B 0 B ^ D D I 2 0 C C C 1 3 A
3C4OA7C8ED4B3F4O0BC B433F40"*OB1 20 1 REM — (Followed by e x a c t l y
DPC9E5D5C5EB4B3B*
94 2eros)
4 0 LCT A«.flti • 4 0 1 A 9 6 2 0 O ' 2 3 i ; O B
"*0B12Or5C 1D1E1C9C5D5E5EB4B3B40ED
9 REM
5DI440CBB0D1B5EB* 10 LET R = X + 2
SO L E T A « - A » i • 4 B 3 B 4 0 E B B 0 2 A 1 4 4 0 20 POKE 16512, INT (R/256)
EB4B3B40E B B 0 3 2 3 C 4 0 E I D I C I C 9 C F 0 2 - 30 POKE 16511, R - 2 5 6 * INT
100 LET S T A R T * 1 6 5 1 4 (R/256)
1 1 0 FOR I " S T A R T TO S T A R T • 1 5 0
1 2 0 POKE I , 1 6 « C 0 D E A S t C O B E A * ( 2
40 FOR N = 16514 TO 16511 -I- R
1 -476 50 POKE N,28
1 3 0 L E T A S > A S ( 3 TO I 60 NEXT N
1 4 0 NEXT I
150 LET J " S T A R T » 9 0
1 6 0 POKE START » 6 0 , I N T (3/256)
It is quite easy to count the
1 7 0 POKE START 1 5 9 , ( J / 2 5 6 - I N T (J zeros in line 1 as Ihey represent
/256) >*256 exactly 3 screen lines less 2
180 LET J - S T A R T * 1 1 2 positions. 32*3=96. If you want to
1 9 0 POKE S T A R T • 6 3 , I N T I J / 2 5 6 ) provide, say. 309 spaces then
2 0 0 POKE S T A R T < 6 2 , ( J / 2 5 6 I H T ( 3
create 2 more REM lines as
/2S6))1256
2 1 0 STOP
duplicates of line 1 by e d i t i n g
1 0 0 0 REM EXAMPLE PROGRAM line 1 a n d c h a n g i n g its line
1 O 1 0 L E T S O R T - S T A R T ABBRESS number: i.e. 1 REM, 2 REM a n d 3
1070 BIM E » ( 1 0 , 1 5 ) REM. Each of these will represent
1 0 3 0 FOR A - l TO 10 100 spaces. A d d 9 zeros to the
1 0 4 0 FOR B " 1 TO 15
REM in line 9. Replace the x in
1 0 5 0 L E T E « < A , B » - C H R » I I N T tRNOV
line 10 with 309. Run the
2611301
1060 PRINT E * < A , B ) program a n d wait a few
1 0 7 0 NEXT D seconds for the program to run
lOOO P R I N T through.
1 0 9 0 NEXT A You will find that 1 REM will
1 1 0 0 P R I N T , , ' P R E S S A KEY TO SOR
have d i s a p p e a r e d . Delete the
T"
1 1 1 0 PAUSE 4 E 4
rest of the unwanted lines.
1 1 2 0 P R I N T USR S O R T , E « To provide say 295 spaces
I 130 C L S create the same 3 REM lines as
1 1 4 0 FOR A - l TO 10 e x p l a i n e d above (=300 spaces)
1 1 5 0 P R I N T E»<A> a n d then remove 5 zeros from 3
1 1 6 0 NEXT A REM, this time r e p l a c i n g x with
295, then RUN.
When we started this project If zeros are not liked any other
we g a v e a m a c h i n e c o d e character c a n b e used by
routine for creating a REM line, c h a n g i n g the 28 in line 50 to the
since then we have many new c o d e of Ihe desired character.
readers a n d so this tip should be Yours faithfully.
useful for them. L.G. Baumann. Cowies Hill. S.A.
IE f\
 THE DISCOVERY
COLUMN
John Wase with advice
for Discovery Disc
owners,
W he Opus disc is n o t a b l e for its
reliability rather t h a n s p e e d in
c o m p a r i s o n with microdrives. It
your p r i n c i p a l use of the disc Is
for storing games, then reliability
is p r o b a b l y the m a i n criterion
w h i c h you a p p l i e d w h e n you
b o u g h t It. However. In contrast to
a t a p e or a mlcrodrlve, a disc
drive has the option of r a n d o m
access. In other words. If you
specify a p r o g r a m out of fifty or
so programs stored o n the disc,
then the disc o p e r a t i n g system
will i m m e d i a t e l y j u m p to the
specified program. As you know,
a p a r t from the usual things o n e
stores on tape, the disc system
will also store lists of d a t a , like
t e l e p h o n e numbers. The
Discovery unit is neat In the w a y
it will set u p s p e c i a l d a t a files
c a l l e d Random Access Files: in
this case It c a n Jump to a
specified item In the p a r t i c u l a r
file. So if you Just h a p p e n to b e
a tailor, a n d are storing the
measurements of e a c h of your
customers" clothes o n a separate
file. Ihe system allows you to pick
out a n d l o a d the file c a l l e d
'JJones" a n d then move
i m m e d i a t e l y to, say, his a r m or
l e g size
Tracks a n d sectors
How is ail this done? Well, the
c a t a l o g u e file o c c u p i e s the first
track on the disc, a n d the system
always reads this first,
c o m p a r i n g the information with
that t y p e d In (In our case,
J.Jones). When It finds JJones on
the c a t a l o g u e file, It then reads
information w h i c h tells it w h i c h
track(s) a n d w h i c h sectors o n
those tracks are involved In
storing the fife. Then It knows
w h i c h part of the disc to g o to in
order to find this Information,
which, of course. Includes his
a r m or leg size
Unforlunately, on the Discovery
system, the c a t a l o g u e file is only
b i g e n o u g h to h o l d 110 records,
a n d to m a k e a living, you might
want more than 110 customers.
Well, the c a t a l o g u e file c a n b e
e x p a n d e d . I n e e d e d to d o this
for a s p e c i a l i s e d filing p r o g r a m ,
but unfortunattey the Opus
instruction b o o k was printed
before the c a t a l o g u e file-
h a n d l i n g routines were finalised,
a n d in some versions w h i c h
12
i n c l u d e instructions, these
a c t u a l l y don't work: if you have
the later h a n d b o o k , then the
instructions have merely b e e n
omitted. The p r o g r a m In Figure 1
(which was o b t a i n e d from Opus)
should b e used instead.
The listing
Having d e f i n e d a function to
simplify the r e a d i n g of two-byte
numbers (line 10) the p r o g r a m
then asks you to Input the drive
n u m b e r c o n c e r n e d a n d the
n u m b e r of blocks, or sectors (line
20). Line 30 opens the "CAT"
c h a n n e l to stream 0: stream 0 is
a "funny" stream that doesn't
always report errors. Line 40 then
reads from the "CAT" c h a n n e l
a n d chickens out of more
sectors are asked for t h a n there
is room. Finally, the new value is
printed b a c k to the "CAT"
c h a n n e l a n d the stream is
c l o s e d (line 50).
Configuration of a
Second Disc
O n c e you have got h o l d of the
Discovery unit a n d b e c o m e
familiar with it. you might want
to a d d a s e c o n d disc unit with a
power supply unit a n d the RAM
chip, a n d you c a n get yourself
almost a m e g a b y t e of storage in
no time at all except that
w h e n you c o m e to FORMAT the
thing, all you get Is 178K on the
screen w h e n it Is c a t a l o g u e d .
This is b e c a u s e the Internal
software, w h i c h as e m p t i e d itself
from the EPROM into the RAM
c h i p hasn't b e e n told that there
Is a disc ot a different
c o n f i g u r a t i o n in drive 2. There
are two ways to tell if. for now
that the Information is in the
RAM Instead of the EPROM, it
c a n b e altered. O n e way is to
read an appropriately
c o n f i g u r e d disc in the drive, ie.
borrow o n e from a friend. The
internal software detects the
configuration, a n d Is altered
a c c o r d i n g l y . The other Is to use
a p r o g r a m to d o it. Here is a
p r o g r a m , direct from Opus,
w h i c h will d o the trick (Figure 2).
This p r o g r a m is constructed
on m u c h the same lines as the
last. Thus, line 10 defines the
familiar function, as before. Line
20 opens stream 0 direct to the
Opus RAM. using the "CODE"
c h a n n e l . Line 30 checks the
version; the p r o g r a m won't work
with the o l d "Speclrodos" system.
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
Line 40 checks that the RAM has
b e e n properly fitted. Lines 50
a n d 60 use POINT to select a n
address, r e a d a vector, adjust
point a n d move to the new
address, a n d repeat, so f i n d i n g
the l o c a t i o n in w h i c h the
information is to b e stored. In
line 70. you Input the values for
the n u m b e r of sides (i.e. single or
d o u b l e sided), a n d the n u m b e r
of tracks (40 or 80). These are
then put In the address w h i c h
has b e e n f o u n d (line 80). a n d
the disc is formatted with the
a p p r o p r i a t e Information In the
title (line 90). If you have fitted
your new disc as drive n u m b e r
2. then c h a n g e the "1" in line 90
to "2".
And...
If you have any programs or
utilities for the Discovery disc, d o
send t h e m for this c o l u m n . We
look forward to h e a r i n g from
you.
F i g u r e I t L i l t i n g of t h e p r o g r a m
t o expand t h e c a t a l o g u e f i t ? on
t h e Opus s y s t e m .
3 REM p r o g r a m "Expand C a t "
10 DEF FN aO-CODE 1NKEY»II0*2I.
faoCODE INKEYtMO
20 INPUT H d r i v « i " , d " n o o f b i o
tk»",b
30 CLEAR MOi OPEN WO; "* CAT " j d
RND I f . i POINT »OtZ
40 LET m-FN *<>*0+FN a ( ) t IF b
>/n THEN CLEAR BO: OPEN « 0 | d ; " x "
OUT 2 " 3 1 I STOP
SO POINT N O ; I t RANDOMIZE FN a<
) •FM « < ) « 0 * b : PRINT «0;CHRS PEEK.
23670; CHRS PEEK 2 3 6 7 1 ; : CLOSE m
O
F i g u r e 2 i Program t o c o n f i g u m a
di»c
3 REM p r o g r a m " C o n f I g "
10 OEF FN aO-CODE IWEYStO + 23
6"CODE INtEYSttO
20 CLEAR »Oi OPEN dO;"CODE "
30 IF USR B<2.1 THEN PRINT "Wr
ong v « r » i o n " i STOP
40 IF USR 14070 THEN PRINT " R *
m n o t f i t t e d " ! STOP
50 POINT ttOj 61921 POINT IIOJFN
« ( ) « I O l POINT BO;FN * ( > + !
AO POINT dO;FN a(>
70 INPUT " T r « c k « < 4 O , 0 O > i - , t ' "
S i d e s ( I , 2 J « " , * ' " I n s e r t new d i s k
and p r c s « ENTER"; LINE a t
GO PRINT RO;CHRS t;CHRS IGiCHR
f 165+4.(USR B < 2 . 2 ) * 1 6 » l » - 2 > ) j
90 FORMAT ItSTRS t + " t r , " + S T R S
 r qq n Spike Sparkler's pick ot
d itc^ the hits at only £199 each.
Street Date 29 Sept.
w y
BLACK HAWK
Piloting skills are not enough' K>u need courage and a
cool head to guide Black Hawk over enemy territory on
the h w M j deadliest mission Defend your ret aguna
barrages of mtsokrs and dodge the rocket launchers to
reach the ultim.Ue goal - the .urfield Do you have what
it hikes' Only the cool heade<] sumw in this game of
high stakes 1nd fast reactions
Black Hank ts a superb simulation with over 30 levels
ot play Your on board computer allows you to nw
positions from the attack or defence - mth automate
ad/ustment according to the rate of incoming missies
This must be the ultimate in action/strategy play
Commodon i>4 and Spectrum 4BK
Sparkleraimtj *****
Aiw from S^tikh'n Spectrum 48X Stagecoach Danger Mouse in Double "Double Danger Mouse Making
tVhoopro Tiny Wreck Kidnaf> Commodore 64 Mad Doctor VVfcite Viper Danger Mouse m Double Ttoubie
Atan Soccer Submarine Commander, Desmonds Dungeon
l i p
71-J your southing skills again* wo tld famous defectum
Theyic all than hunting the stpperySnodgits - dreadful
little creatures tvfto wreak havoc m U>td and Lady
SnodgerS snobsville mansion A must for all bright
sparks Amstrad CPC4<4 Spectrum 48K
NOW ON COMMODORE 64
.Spa/We rating ***** • 1 8
This race aojtnsS time depends entirety on rpur skilh as
a navigator and ptkX But you are not without hep As the
owner of the fastest power boat m the region you can
rely on your boat to steer you to the rescue of the trapped
scientists But look out hr crocs, rocks and mine
dropping rivals Spectrum 48K Sparkle rating ****
C r & M M W N E E R
Ul battle commence 1 The outcome of the war is in
your hands Vbur task a to destroy enemy ammunition
and supplies - from behind thor bnes. Hot easy as the
terrain s rough and Uteted wth swamps and minefields
)bu are also on your own and vulnerable to aerial attack
at any moment' fust the thing for wvt Sundays Atari
Sparkle rating****
Tower of Evil
Haw you ever fought a Baphomet ? Well they arc no
pushover They guard Where the Princess a imprisoned
and have some equally horrendous friends Poor old
Princess Diana-locked away in the clutches of the
Necromancer Jbu ate her only hope
Commodore 16 NOW ON SPtCTRUM 4SK
Sparkle rating ****

BINDERS If an advertisement
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— " ^ T l o w e s i 3 M
& b r a n d e d prices - Try us! 29 Dagmar Road VISA

Official orders very welcome. Kingston, Surrey, KT2 6BR.

mi
Peter Sweasey delivers a h e a d multi-tasking feature Is criticise h e a v i l y In other games.
provided. The originals l a c k e d Though these are minor short-
the verdict on the a n EXAMINE c o m m a n d ; this has c o m i n g s separately, taken
b e e n a d d e d , a l o n g with other together they spoil a potential
revamped Middle Earth v o c a b u l a r y dimensions through masterpiece
Ihe a d d i t i o n a l information that Presentation q u a l i t y is poor.
Ttilogy. c a n b e g a i n e d . The Descriptions, c o m m a n d s a n d
c o m b i n a t i o n of three tapes responses a r e p r i n t e d in the
provides months of s a m e yellow o n b l a c k , with no
entertainment a n d p r o b l e m s g a p s b e t w e e n them. Everything
Jewels of Darkness solving for a b a r g a i n p r i c e The merges into a n untidy mess,
Rainbird Jewels of Darkness are a joy to p a r t i c u l a r l y if you p l a y the full
£14.95 play. screen text version; yet this g a m e
Why then a m I not lavishing a b o v e a l l others requires the
t very nearly didn't give this e g a m e s with further praise? It player to r e a d a t r e m e n d o u s
g a m e a Monster Hit rating, but w o u l d have b e e n easy for m e to a m o u n t . So why n o use of a
in the e n d I d e c i d e d that even a go into auto-pllot for this review colour, or a m o r e r e a d a b l e
b e l o w a v e r a g e Level 9 g a m e is (Level 9 — must be brilliant), but c h a r a c t e r sel?
better t h a n almost everything o n when looked at closely it Then we h a v e the 'graphics'.
the market. However. I'm contains faults which I would These a r e so stupefyingly
extremely d i s a p p o i n t e d with
Jewels O l Darkness: not so m u c h
for what it is, but b e c a u s e it isn't
what it c o u l d so easily have
been.
The g a m e s w h i c h form w h a t
was previously c a l l e d the
' m i d d l e e a r t h trilogy are
Colossal Cavern, Adventure
Quest a n d D u n g e o n Adventure.
The first Is a version of the
o r i g i n a l m a i n f r a m e g a m e , with
all the t r a d i t i o n a l puzzles, plus a
s p e c i a l e n d g a m e where you
rescue some elves In a r a c e
ag<ainst time. Adventure Quest
tawces you, a n a p p r e n t i c e
m a g i c i a n , across v a r i e d terrain
in your mission to destroy the
D e m o n Lord. D u n g e o n Adventure
is set just after s a i d nasty's
defeat, a n d sees you as a n
adventurer l o o t i n g the treasure-
filled caverns b e n e a t h his
d o m a i n . The latter two have a n
obvious plot link but the first o n e
"feels" very different a n d doesn't
fit in particularly; the only
c o m m o n feature b e i n g the
same starting point as AQ.
These are all well-crafted,
e n j o y a b l e adventures, a n d no
matter w h a t I will shortly say this
must b e b o r n e in mind. They
remain impressive for their mass
of locations a n d puzzles, the
lengthy descriptions a n d v a r i e d
responses (though not as wide-
r a n g i n g as in Price Of Magik). In
their o r i g i n a l forms they have
rightly b e c o m e classics, a n d Ihe
versions In Jewels have b e e n
t e c h n i c a l l y u p d a t e d , t h o u g h the
actual games remain basically
u n c h a n g e d . They run faster a n d
look (marginally) better. The
sophisticated sentence construc-
tions m a r v e l l e d at in POM are
mostly here too (like DROP ALL
EXCEPT...). The marvelous type-
atrocious, so i n d e s c r i b a b l y Inept
that I'd l a u g h If this wasn't a
premier p r o d u c t . Just look at the
l a m e n t a b l e screenshots we
uw
present here. I a m not m o a n i n g
at the Inclusion of pictures — I
realise they a r e necessary to
g a i n w i d e distribution, a n d
enjoy illustrations a n y w a y — but
these are so ghastly, no-one
c o u l d w a n t them, Have fewer of
them, a n d m a k e t h e m mono-
tone, if it m e a n s higher d e t a i l
a n d the c r e a t i o n of s o m e t h i n g
worth l o o k i n g at. Instead we
have blotchy, v a g u e shapes a n d
mindlessly I n a p p r o p r i a t e
c o l o u r i n g (purple trees?). An
Illustrated version of Colossal
offers f a s c i n a t i n g possibilities
w h i c h 19 have c o m p l e t l e y
thrown away. Fortunately, a non-
g r a p h i c s version with e x p a n d e d
text, mostly longer EXAMINE
responses, is p r o v i d e d o n the
other side of the t a p e (Ignore
the cassette l a b e l w h i c h c l a i m s
that side is for 128 users only —
a stupid, unnecessary error.)
The g a m e s l a c k
RAMSAVE/IOAD, w h i c h is fast they're present, In w h a t should g r i p p i n g . Illustrations w o u l d have
b e c o m i n g standard, a n d should b e a p a r t i c u l a r l y professional i m p r o v e d It though.
certainly b e i n c l u d e d In such a adventure, as a result of the If you o w n more t h a n o n e of
major release as this It Is Rainbird d e a l . Apart from the these g a m e s already, then the
c l a i m e d the c o m m a n d s c o u l d n ' t p a c k a g i n g , the BT tie-up seems revisions are p r o b a b l y
be fitted In the Spectrum's to have h a d no effect. For Insufficient to Justify b u y i n g
memory, t h o u g h m a n y of the e x a m p l e , there is no l o a d i n g Jewels Of Darkness If you nave
versions for other c o m p u t e r s screen, just the same "Level 9" o n e or less, or if you are new to
Include fhem, a n d they a r e p r i n t e d in different colours that the world of a d v e n t u r i n g or to
tantlllslngly m e n t i o n e d in the has b e e n used for several years the Spectrum, this p a c k a g e
Instructions Even If m e m o r y was The adventures are g o o d , so why represents superb value for
too tight in the g r a p h i c s version not polish t h e m to perfection? m o n e y a n d should k e e p you
— a n d seeing as they h a d no N o t h i n g annoys m e more t h a n o c c u p i e d for all the c o m i n g
difficulty i n c l u d i n g the wasted opportunity. long, winter nights: p e r h a p s the
c o m m a n d s in Price Of M a g i k , The attractive p a c k a g i n g Is rest of 1987 as well!
this surprises m e — why are they better t h a n most by the way. The
not in the text-only version, instructions are excellent; plus
J
utilising some ot the m e m o r y there's a highly r e a d a b l e ,
freed by the w e l c o m e disposal e n t e r t a i n i n g novella, w h i c h sets
of the "graphics"? I for o n e the scene for the latter two
would prefer a few messages not g a m e s I e x p e c t e d this to b e
to b e e x p a n d e d in e x c h a n g e for dull, s t a n d a r d fantasy fare, full of
Ihese useful features A d o u b l e silly n a m e s but It was
punishment is that w h e n you u n e x p e c t e d l y humorous a n d
resort to c o n v e n t i o n a l t a p e
storage, w h i c h In g a m e s this size
Is frequently necessary, you are
forced to use the d r e a d e d
Lenslok: EVERY TIME! Why not
have just o n e c o d e to c r a c k at
the start?
There are other, tiny n i g g l e s
w h i c h all a d d up. There's no
a b b r e v i a t i o n for LOOK, unlike
virtually every a d v e n t u r e o n the
market. You are only g i v e n a
score rating on d e a t h ; If you
type SCORE or QUIT, you are just
given a number. It the r a t i n g
routine is there In memory, why 1II. . 1i» i
not use it? There are no proper ,<•11 l 1 i • < r i i 11 • i > •il • t i :• i • I
e d i t i n g facilities just delete: 1 1 1 >1 t. * 11 t I, • 1 t V », 1 1 1 J i i 111 » t
annoying during long sentences •11 t t, • i 1 1 • i i *•• • : i i l i t , , t h .
Plus, I think more c o u l d have < 1 1 1 1 11 i i i t t. I'I r » ».• iti i t r > i f
b e e n d o n e to u p d a t e the • • ' f 1• i n I t »* i hi i n i j b i i d-i• .
M|, , n • t 11
g a m e s themselves Some
i • • II i • » •( I i 1M i <f • t • • it * br i
i n d e p e n d e n t characters
I * 1 •1 1 11 * 1 i * • • I' > h I .. , > Jl i f i • i »• •n •
perhaps? A n d Colossal looks
rather h a c k n e y e d these days, so . (II • • • 1 t I, » i • i i ••lb 1 i h i t
In ' ' • 1 1 •t1 •
some new problems w o u l d h a v e f
•

Ml. J r i• 11
been w e l c o m e
Virtually every fault I've
outlined Is easily c o r r e c t e d . But
Ton! Baker rounds off
the series with a look
at the function
generator.
T h e r e is just o n e c a l c u l a t o r
Instruction lefl to cover. It is the
function "series", otherwise
known as the function generator.
or series generator. Its c o d e will
b e a value b e t w e e n 80h a n d 9F.
The last five bits of the c o d e form
a parameter, so that 86h means
"series 6". 8C m e a n s "series
twelve", 99 m e a n s "series twenty-
five", a n d so forth. This is the
single most powerful instruction
in the w h o l e of the c a l c u l a t o r
set. It is the function with w h i c h
SIN a n d EXP a n d others were
written In the ROM. With it we
m a y create our own designer
functions, or i m p l e m e n t
m a t h e m a t i c a l functions w h i c h
are not present ( a n d not
otherwise possible) o n the
Spectrum. The "series" function is
the calculator's final frontier.
Essentially, what the "series"
instruction does Is to evaluate a
p o l y n o m i a l expression.
"Polynomial" is simply a
highbrow p i e c e of
m a t h e m a t i c a l j a r g o n — it
means a n expression w h i c h
looks something like this . . .
2 n
a1 +0 2 X + a 3 X + . . . + anX
I a p o l o g i s e to those of you not
a q u a i n t e d with m a t h e m a t i c a l
notation. The same expression
written in Spectrum BASIC w o u l d
b e as follows . . .
A(1) + A(2)*X + A(3)"XJ2 + ... +
A(N)*Xf(N—1)
The dots In the m i d d l e of the
a b o v e simply m e a n " a n d so on
until". If you know the value of N
you c a n fill in the missing chunk
a n d put the w h o l e lot into a
single BASIC expression. If you
don't know the value of N then
you w o u l d have to use a
FOR/NEXT l o o p from 1 to N In
order to work it a l l out. But what
does it all mean? Let's take it
a p a r t a n d find out.
Firstly the n u m b e r *n" — this is
c a l l e d the "degree" of the
p o l y n o m i a l (technically the
d e g r e e is n—1, not n). The
"series" Instruction specifies the
number 'n' explicitly, so that, for
example, "series 6" tells us that n
equals six; "series 8" w o u l d
m e a n that n equals eight. The
parameter, w h i c h is part of the
hex c o d e (bits 4 to 0) a c t u a l l y
specifies the d e g r e e of the
p o l y n o m i a l . You should note that
since you only have five bits in
w h i c h to specify this parameter,
its m a x i m u m value (other t h a n
zero) is hex 1F, or thirty-one. Note
also that if you specify n to b e
zero, the ROM will mistakenly
interpret this as two h u n d r e d
a n d fifty six.
mflCHinE
E I S ) 1(g) E l
J U i EdI S II I R J ^ J
A p o l y n o m i a l expression such
as we have b e e n discussing
consists of a n u m b e r of terms,
e a c h s e p a r a t e d by a " + " sign.
The first term is a „ a n d the last
term is a ; x " - ' . In g e n e r a l , the /-th
term will b e a i x M . The v a l u e of
the w h o l e p o l y n o m i a l is
therefore the sum of a l l of its
terms. There are n such terms,
a n d e a c h of them contains the
v a r i a b l e Y (except the first o n e
— this Is b e c a u s e In the first term
x w o u l d have to b e raised to the
power of zero, a n d a n y t h i n g to
the power of zero Is one).
Because every term e x c e p t the
first one contains the v a r i a b l e 'x'
( a n d the tlrst term is simply a
n u m b e r to b e a d d e d ) , it follows
that the w h o l e thing is simply a
1
function of x. In other words —
you put In a value for x at o n e
end. a n d you get a new n u m b e r
out at the other. This is in
c o m m o n with a l l of the other
functions of the Spectrum.
The Y in this c a s e is the value
at the top of the c a l c u l a t o r
stack. When the "series"
Instruction is e n c o u n t e r e d , the
value Y is removed from the
c a l c u l a t o r stack, the expression
is evaluated, a n d the result put
b a c k onto the c a l c u l a t o r stack
in p l a c e of the o r i g i n a l Y
All we n e e d to know now are
the value of the 'a's. You c a n
think ot the 'a's as b e i n g a BASIC
array AO d i m e n s i o n e d u p to n.
so that the first term is simply
A(1). a n d the last term is A(N)
m u l t i p l i e d by xf (N—1).
Before we look at how to
specify the value of the 'A's, let's
have a look at how we m a y use
such a p o l y n o m i a l to c a l c u l a t e
functions.
Polynomials
Suppose that the value of Y is
somewhere b e t w e e n minus o n e
a n d plus o n e (le that x is greater
t h a n minus one, a n d less t h a n
one) — we c a n of course ensure
this since we a l r e a d y know how
to m a n i p u l a t e the c a l c u l a t o r
stack. If x is zero then the v a l u e
of the p o l y n o m i a l will simply b e
a , since all of the other terms
will b e m u l t i p l i e d by zero. If x is
non-zero, but still b e t w e e n minus
12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
CODE
a n d plus one, then ABS(xJ) will
b e less t h a n ABS(x): ABS(x3) will
b e less t h a n ABS(xl), a n d so on. It
follows, therefore, that If the A's
are all roughly the s a m e size,
then e a c h term will b e smaller
t h a n the last. Furthermore. If the
A's themselves also get smaller
(ie If ABS(A(2)) is less t h a n
ABS(A(1)J; ABS(A(3)) is less than
ABS(A(2)); a n d so on) then e a c h
term will b e smaller still t h a n the
last. I n d e e d it is possible to
ensure that the last term is so
small, by c o m p a r i s o n to the first
term, that if any more terms were
a d d e d it w o u l d b e outside the
limits of the computer's
a c c u r a c y , a n d w o u l d thus m a k e
no more difference. For Instance.
If A(1) e q u a l s 1, a n d If the last
term e q u a l s 2 " or less, then the
Spectrum w o u l d have to r o u n d
Its answer u p by simply i g n o r i n g
the last term.
It is in theory possible to
simulate any function whatso-
ever. p r o v i d e d that x Is b e t w e e n
minus o n e a n d plus one, that
e a c h term is suitably smaller
t h a n the last ( a l t h o u g h I can't g o
into the precise m a t h e m a t i c a l
details of this c o n d i t i o n in a n
a r t i c l e such as this), a n d that
there are a n infinite n u m b e r of
terms.
You see, with a n infinite
n u m b e r of terms, we c a n m a k e
the p o l y n o m i a l closer a n d
closer to the desired function
with e a c h new term.
Unfortunately for us. we are only
a l l o w e d a m a x i m u m of thirty
o n e terms altogether. We c a n
get r o u n d this p r o b l e m by
ensuring that the p o l y n o m i a l Is
close e n o u g h - It doesn't have
to b e exactly right. As l o n g as
the m a x i m u m error is smaller
than the a c c u r a c y possible on
the Spectrum, then the
p o l y n o m i a l will c a l c u l a t e the
function — at least to the limits
of Spectrum a c c u r a c y .
So how d o we work out the
'A's? — Well, m a t h e m a t i c i a n s
m a y c a r e to use Taylor's or
Maclaurin's Theorem (which I
can't g o Into here), a n d
everyone else will have to look
the values u p In books. Almost
a n y A-level maths b o o k
( a v a i l a b l e from your l o c a l
library) will tell you w h a t t h e Well, I won't b o r e y o u to tears
c o r r e c t series is to s i m u l a t e SIN,
or EXP, or whatever.
with a n y m o r e maths, but I h o p e
y o u c a n see h o w i n g e n i o u s litlle
Listing 1
For instance, take t h e f u n c t i o n tricks like the a b o v e c a n b e
2 l X . If X is b e t w e e n minus o n e u s e d to ensure that p o l y n o m i a l 10 LET K = 0
a n d plus o n e t h e n t h e f u n c t i o n approximations are only used 20 INPUT "N = *:N
c a n b e s i m u l a t e d by the o n n u m b e r s b e t w e e n minus o n e 30 PRINT "N = I N
f o l l o w i n g p o l y n o m i a l . 2 | X is a n d plus one. Such i n g e n i o u s 40 DIM A(N)
a p p r o x i m a t e l y e q u a l to 1 + little tricks a r e necessary, 50 FOR I = 1 TO N
0.69314718* X + 0.24022651* X | 2 b e c a u s e the p o l y n o m i a l l o r m u l a 60 INPUT "A('!(in = :A(I)
+ 0.055504109* X | 3 + won't work with n u m b e r s outside 7 0 PRINT "Af!(l)n = '!A(l)
0.0096181291 * X | 4 + 80 NEXT I
this r a n g e (for i n s t a n c e — the 9 0 G O SUB 3 4 0
0.0013333558* X j 5 + v a l u e ofSIN(x) is a l w a y s b e t w e e n 100 PRINT
0.0001540353 *Xf 6 + —1 a n d +1. a n d yet, e v e n if w e 110 PRINT FN HSIN+128)
0.000015252734 * X | 7 ... u s e d 256 terms, there w o u l d 120 FOR I = 1 TO N
{ I n c i d e n t a l l y — I d i d n ' t work a l w a y s b e s o m e l a r g e v a l u e of x 130 LET K = BCD
out the a b o v e n u m b e r s — I g o ! for w h i c h a j « x** was g r e a t e r 140 LET O = PEEK 2 3 6 2 7 + 256*PEEK 2 3 6 2 8
t h e m out of a b o o k . I a d v i s e y o u t h a n one. C l e a r l y this w o u l d b e 150 FOR C = 3 TO 1 STEP - 1
t h e w r o n g answer. You must 160 IF PEEK ( Q + C + 2 ) = 0 THEN NEXT C
to d o t h e same. M a t h e m a t i c i a n s
170 LET D = PEEK ( Q + 1 )
are, of course, w e l c o m e to work devise a m e a n s of e n s u r i n g t h a t
180 IF D < 8 1 O R D > 1 4 3 THEN G O TO 210
as m u c h out for themselves as p o l y n o m i a l a p p r o x i m a t i o n s to 190 LET D = D - 8 0 + 6 4 * C
they want). functions a r e a l w a y s f e d with 200 GOTO 240
How d o e s this h e l p us? Well — n u m b e r s in r a n g e —1 to +1). 210 LET D = D - 80
you see w e a r e still restricted to 220 IF D < 0 THEN LET D = D + 256
only using values of X b e t w e e n Instructions 230
240
PRINT FN H S ( 6 4 * C ) ;
minus o n e a n d plus o n e (note: it PRINT FN H$(D);
250
you w a n t to use n e g a t i v e Now — at last — w e n e e d to turn FOR J = O TO C
260 PRINT FN HSFPEEK ( Q + J + 2 ) ) ;
n u m b e r s o n t h e S p e c t r u m for the our a t t e n t i o n to e x a c t l y how the 270
a b o v e f o r m u l a you'll h a v e to use values for the 'A's a r e p a s s e d to NEXT J
280 PRINT
" X * X * X * X * X " i n s t e a d of "X|5". t h e "series" Instruction. They a r e 290 NEXT I
a n d so on). This is n o g o o d — not s p e c i f i e d e x p l i c i t l y — that 300 STOP
Ihe S p e c t r u m c a n c a l c u l a t e w o u l d b e t o o simple! Instead, w e 310 DEF FN H$(A) = FN K$(INT (A 16))
EXP(X) for all values of X, n o l Just h a v e to work out a n e w array, + FN K$(A—16*INT (A 16)) + " "
small ones. To f i n d t h e w a y w h i c h I'll c a l l BO. also 320 DEF FN KS|A) = " 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C E D F " ( A + 1)
r o u n d this p r o b l e m we'll n e e d to d i m e n s i o n e d u p to N. It Is the 330 REM CALCULATES VALUES SUBROUTINE
d o a bit of maths. It's m o r e values of the 'Bs w h i c h a r e 340 D I M B(N)
difficult, b u t not, I h o p e , too p a s s e d to the Spectrum. 350 FOR A = 1 TO N
difficult. Therefore, our first task, k n o w i n g 360 FOR B = 1 + N—A TO N STEP 2
370 LET X = B—1
Firstly, n o t e that EXP(X) is the v a l u e of t h e A's. is to work
380 G O SUB 5 2 0
d e f i n e d as e t x , w h e r e e = out the values of the 'B's. The 390 LET J = Y
2.7182818 BASIC p r o g r a m of Figure O n e 400 LET X = IA * B —N—1),2
will d o this task for us. Don't 410 G O SUB 5 2 0
LET u = x / (LN 2) worry too m u c h a b o u t t h e 420 LET J = J.'Y
therefore: x = u * (LN 2) a l g o r i t h m used, just take my 430 LET X = ( B - A + N - 1 ) 2
therefore: e t x = e | ( u * ( L N 2)) w o r d for it — It works! (The 440 G O SUB 5 2 0
= (e|(LN 2))|u m a t h e m a t i c s r e q u i r e d to prove 450 LET J = J'Y
that it works is b e y o n d t h e s c o p e 460 LET J - J*21(1—B)
= 2|u 470 LET 8(A) - B[A) + J ' A ( B )
of this article). 480 NEXT B
Now. s i n c e u Is a f l o a t i n g p o i n t The p r o g r a m of Figure O n e 490 NEXT A
number, it must h a v e a n Integer doesn't print the "B's in d e c i m a l 500 RETURN
part, a n d a f r a c t i o n a l part. Thus: — Instead it prints t h e m In Ihe 510 REM LET Y = X FACTORIAL
form r e q u i r e d by the series 520 LET Y = 1
LET I = INT u instruction, c o n v e r t i n g t h e m first 530 FOR I = 1 TO X
LET 540 LET Y = Y'L
f =u - I to five b y t e form, a n d t h e n to t h e
550 NEXT I
therefore: u =i + f c o m p r e s s e d form used by the 560 RETURN
thus w e e|x == 22 tt uu "stk-data" Instruction. This form is
have = "2l tHi+f)
i+0 a l s o u s e d b y t h e "series" o
= (2j i) * ( 2 f f ) Instruction.
G a m m a Function
z
Now, s i n c e f Is a fraction,
b e t w e e n zero a n d one, w e can BASIC 5
use a p o l y n o m i a l to s i m u l a t e t h e
S
DEF FN C(X) • USt « a n » _ f o
function. The p o l y n o m i a l I g a v e
earlier m a y b e u s e d to
The nui»ber f o l l o w i n g the keyword USR should be the address of the label CAPKA_F}i
<
oc
i n the machine code p r o r r a * .
c a l c u l a t e 2 f. All w e n e e d to d o
now Is to m u l t i p l y the result b y
2 I (where i is a n Integer). We
c a n d o this s i m p l y b y a d d i n g i
KACHIKK COCK
O
O
IF CAW.A H3T 28 z
to the e x p o n e n t byte of t h e five-
C5 store (H5 contains x)
byte form of t h e n u m b e r . This is
the p r o c e d u r e u s e d by t h e ROM 51 duplicate OL
to c a l c u l a t e EXP for a l l values of 31 duplteste Q.
x. 27 int x.x.IHT X

Listing 2
0) subtract i,*-m X
51 duplIcste X.K-IWT x . x - i w r X
A? const h a l f X.X-IOT x.x-IST X, 1/2
10 CLS subtract x.x-lMT x,x-INT x - l / 2
05

o
20 FOR I » 1 TO 2 5 5
30 LET X = 1/12.5 57 gX zero x,x-INT 1/2?
40 LET Y = LN FN G (X) 0066 jump t rue ,C_HALf X
50 LET J = Y ' 4 + 1 0 111
60 IF J < 1 7 6 THEN PLOT L.J
89
E412RAAF0)
series 9
.00014011071 • • • £L
70 NEXT I 0 0

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 In other words. If you input the
S7C62C20O5 -.0015119561 'A's — w h i c h t e c h n i c a l l y a r e the
coefficients of a power series
EAODCEC145 .0086552512
(don't worry if y o u don't
EC6CJ556A5 -.OJ42J0555 u n d e r s t a n d the terms), t h e n the
ED5A25BJ7E 0.10651722 p r o g r a m will m i r a c u l o u s l y
ffB6}d4D75 -0.26211779 transform the n u m b e r s into a
roierj75?D 0.597464Q7 new set of n u m b e r s — those
used by the "series" instruction.
F0EA14CE2B -0.91457996
The p r o g r a m leaves no work to
FITFDCCBI? 1.9989256 y o u at all. The o u t p u t of the
p r o g r a m is the c o m p l e t e series
x,GA»?A(*f1-lirr x)
instruction (in hex) r e q u i r e d to
01 exchange GAWAfxil-IWT x ) , x e v a l u a t e the r e q u i r e d
?7 int GAKCA(x+1-IWr x),IWT x p o l y n o m i a l , i n c l u d i n g the initial
A1 const one 0*KKA{x+1-IVT X),IOT x11 "series" byte. For extra clarity,
y o u c o u l d , If y o u so desired,
0} subtract GAWvA(x+1-INT x),IHT(x)-1
a d d a n extra BASIC line a t 285
Jt duplicate CAvyA(* + i_iffr X),INT{X)-1,1OT(X)-I
PRINT,B(1) w h i c h w o u l d show you
JO e<j t e r o GA-'TAtx+l-l'Tr x ) , I N T ( x ) - 1 , T H T ( x ) . T the 'B's In d e c i m a l as well as in
0017 Ju.T.p true,C_1_T0_2 (Jump i f INT(x) - 1 , i e i f x la between hex.
one and two). If y o u n o w f e e d the bytes
p r i n t e d o n the screen into a
c a l c u l a t o r p r o g r a m , t h e n hey
GAMVA{X+1-INT x ) , I O T ( x ) - 1 presto — your f u n c t i o n will b e
51 duplicate GAWA(x+1-m x),IST(x)-1,rWT(x)-1 operational!
J6 I t tero CAKVA(x+1-TNT x ) , m ( x ) - 1 , l K T x<1
Juap true,G_LT_1 (Jump i f INT(x) < 1, i o i r x<l).
0017
Gamma
Tho f o l l o w i n g deals w i t h tho r c r a i n l n g ease, i e i f x i o greater than or equal t o two. We shall d e m o n s t r a t e this
p r o c e d u r e n o w by I n t r o d u c i n g a
5B end r a l e OAKyAtx+i-Twr x ) , r w r ( x ) - i b r a n d n e w f u n c t i o n to S p e c t r u m
CDW2D CALL fT_T0_A A l a IWT(*)-1
BASIC. It will b e referred to in
BASIC as FN GO, but the f u n c t i o n
47 LD B,A B:- IffT(x)-1
will b e d e f i n e d m a t h e m a t i c a l l y
RST 20 GAWA(x+1-IffT X) as the G A M M A FUNCTION. It Is
A1 const one CAKWl(x+1-m x ) , 1 very similar to the FACTORIAL
f u n c t i o n d e s c r i b e d last month. In
At each pana around the f o l l o w i n g loop, the topmost item on the c a l c u l a t o r otnek i o
that GAMMA(x) e q u a l s
FACTOR!AL(x-1) for a l l positive
assumed t o be the " product-»o-for", which I s h a l l r e f e r t o aa P^. At any staee t h i n integer values of x. but w h e r e a s
w i l l a c t u a l l y be the product x ( x - 1 ) ( * - ? ) . . . to I f r r ( x ) - 1 - B terrss. I n a d d i t i o n , memory FACTORIAL only works for
f i v e w i l l contain * - m ( x ) * B + 1 . integers. G A M M A works for all
GAMWk(x+1-IWr x),P f c n u m b e r s A g r a p h d r a w n of Y =
r e c a l l K5 GAWA(x+1-IWr x ) l P b , x - l » f r ( x ) + B + 1
GAMMA(x) will form a smooth
F,5 C_LOOP_1
c o n t i n u o u s curve, a n d for a l l
A! const one GAWA(x+l-lWT x),P l ) 1 x-Tfn , (x)4B+1,1 values of x It is true that
05 subtract G A m { x + i - m x),p. ,x-IOT(X)+B
D GAMMA(x+1) e q u a l s
C5 s t o r e K5 x*GAMMA(x).
04 multiply CA>rA(x+1-IOT * ) » P b _ , Furthermore, I shall g o
d j n r G_L00P_1 GAWA{x+1-T>TF x ) , P 0
through, in detail, the process by
55FA
w h i c h the f u n c t i o n is b e i n g
c r e a t e d . First of a l l w e n e e d a
At t h l o sta^e tho topirnst item on the c a l c u l a t o r olack i o x(x-l)(x-?)(x-5).,.K, p o l y n o m i a l . I c a m e across such
where K la leas than two (but greater than or equal t o one). a p o l y n o m i a l a p p r o x i m a t i o n in
the b o o k " M a t h e m a t i c a l
multiply
M e t h o d s in the Physical
04 f.AK*A(x)
Sciences" by M e r l e C Potter. The
50 end calc p o l y n o m i a l is only v a l i d if x is
C9 PET R ' l u r n w t t h c o r r e c t value on calc s t a c k . b e t w e e n 0 a n d 1. but is m o r e
a c c u r a t e if x Is near zero. For this
reason I h a v e c h o s e n only to
use values of x b e t w e e n 0 a n d
The f o l l o w i n g applies f o r the ease IJsT(x)=1. Note thai sinco INT{x)=1 i t follows Vi. The p o l y n o m i a l c a l c u l a t e s
that C A m ( * * i - m x) a c t u a l l y equals G A ^ A t x ) , and t h a t I \ T ( * } - 1 equals zero. the v a l u e of GAMMA(x+1) if x is
in this range. The p o l y n o m i a l is
as follows:
FT RST ?8 C,AKyA(x),0
02 G_1_T0_? delete GAt~A(x) GAMMA(x+1) - 1 - 0.577191652x
58 end calc + 0.988205891xJ - 0.897056937xJ
C9 RET Return w i t h correct value on calc stack. + 0.918206857x* - 0.756704078x4
+ 0.482199394X4 - 0.193527818x'
+ 0.035868343x*
The f o l l o w i n g deala w i t h the case where x i s less than one.

Now, as I h a v e said, I want to

EF RST 20 CAITA(x+1-m x),m{x)-1 m a k e sure that the p o l y n o m i a l is
1B C_LT_1 negate GA!~A<x+1-IVT x),1-INT x only u s e d for values of x
end calc
b e t w e e n 0 a n d V2, a n d yet I
58
want the G A M M A function, FN
CDD5JD CALL FP_T0_A As- 1-1HT x GO, to work for a l l values of x, so
• • • we must find a w a y a r o u n d this
problem.

12 ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986

 /
Firstly, we c a n m a k e use of
Ihe rule GAMMA(x+1) e q u a l s
47 LD 3, A Bib 1-1 NT x
x'GAMMA(x). We c a n use the yy
rule r e p e a t e d l y (in a loop) to ROT 28 GAWAU+I-IJTT x)
reach any v a l u e ot x, so l o n g as A1 const on© cawaU+i-iot x),i
Ihe f r a c t i o n a l part (the part to
Ihe right of the d e c i m a l point) is At each pass around the f o l l o w i n g loop, the topnost iter, on the c a l c u l a t o r stack Sa
no greater t h a n a half. For these
r e m a i n i n g numbers we c a n use .mourned t o he the " p r o d u c t - s o - f a r " , which I a h u l l r e f e r t o aa At arty stage t h l a
a different m a t h e m a t i c a l rule; w i l l a c t u a l l y bo the product ( X + 1 ) ( X + 2 ) ( X + 3 ) , . . to 1-INT(x)-B terms. I n a d d i t i o n ,
for all x, GAMMA(x)*GAMMA(1 —x) aomory f i v e w i l l contain x*1-IMT(x)-B,
= PI/SIN(x*PI) CAWA(x+1-I*rr x ) , P b
E5 G_L00P_2 r e c a l l K5 CA(«A(x+1-IOT x),P B ,X+1-IWT(x)-B
The first step, then, is to
convert the p o l y n o m i a l into a J1 duplicate CAKKA(x*1-lOT x ) , P b l x + 1 - I N T ( x ) - B , x * 1 - I O T ( x ) - B
"series" instruction. To d o this we A1 const one CAKKA(x+1-I«r x ) , P b , x+1-INT(x)-B,x+1-Ifrr(x)-B, 1
simply run the BASIC p r o g r a m of OI- odd GAWA( X + 1 - W x ) , P b ,x+1-IOT(x)-B, x+?-INT( x)-B
Figure One. a n d input 9 CS s t o r e K5
(because there are nine terms),
02 delete CAKWA{X*1-IWT x),Pb,x+1-IWT(x)-B
a n d then input the n i n e
numbers (1. -0.577191652, a n d 04 multiply CAW>(x+i-ifrr x ) , p ,
b-1
so on). The p r o g r a m will print out J5FS djnz C_L00P_2 GAWA(x+1-HT x ) , P -
the required form of the "series
9" instructions, w h i c h you will At t h i a stage the topnoot item on the c a l c u l a t o r stack i n (x + 1 ) { x * 2 ) ( x * j ) . . . K ,
find i n c o r p o r a t e d into the m a i n
whore K l a leaa than one, but g r e a t e r than or equal t o " > r o .
machine c o d e program
a c c o m p a n y i n g this article. The
rest of It is just a h a r d slog, 05 divide CAWA(x)
isolating the various cases, a n d 58 end c&lc
d e a l i n g with t h e m a c c o r d i n g l y .
C9 RET Return w i t h c o r r e c t value on calc ataok.
Incidentally, a l t h o u g h I have
used a l o o p to i m p l e m e n t the F i n a l l y , note th.it number* such that x - I f r T ( x ) > l / 2 are d*-;iH w i t h a e f t t r ^ t e l y , f a r g r e a t e r
GAMMA(x+1) = x'GAMMA(x) rule, accuracy. Theae are number* such aa - 1 . 5 t o - 1 i - 0 . 5 t o 0 | 0.5 to 1; 1,5 t o ?| and ao
this Is not the only w a y of d o i n g
on,
things. Another way w o u l d h a v e
been to c a l l the G A M M A sub-
routine recursively (ie trom within EF BST 28 x,x-INT x
itself)- I d e c i d e d not to use this 02 CJttLF delete X
method b e c a u s e it w o u l d use dupllcale x,x
V
up more m e m o r y o n the
A1 const one x,x,1
calculator stack (an a d d i t i o n a l
five bytes for e a c h recursive 01 exchange *« 1, x
call), but if you fee! that that 03 subtract X.1-X
would not b e too m u c h of a 3B end calc X,1-X
d i s a d v a n t a g e you m i g h t like to
CD7??? CALL GAKM C a l l the CAhvA aubroutine r e c u r a l v e l y .
re-wrlte the routine using this
method. HT RST 28 x,GAK«A(1-x)
Finally, the proof ot the 01 exchange CAWA(l-x),x
p u d d i n g Is in the e a t i n g . The A3 const pi/2 CAefACl-xJ.x.Pl/?
final test is whether or not it 36 end calc
works. O n e w a y we c a n c h e c k is
34 IHC (HL) GAWA( 1-X),X,PI
to c a l c u l a t e G A M M A ( V J ) - the
answer should c o m e out to b e FT RST 26 ^
SQR(PI). The best w a y to c h e c k , C4 s t o r e YA (K4 contains P i )
however, is to plot a g r a p h . The 04 multiply GA.WMA( l-x),x*PI
function should p r o d u c e a IP sin CAYYA( 1-x),SIN(x»Pl)
smooth c o n t i n u o u s curve. The 0
z
04 nralt CAWA( 1 - x ) * S I N ( x * P l )
BASIC p r o g r a m of figure two will
plot such a g r a p h , a n d I will E4 r e c a l l YA GAWA( 1-x)*SIN(x*PI),PI
leave It to you to d r a w your o w n 01 exchange PI,GAPVA(1-X)»SIN(X»PI)
conclusions from it. 05 divide PI/(GAVWA(1-x)»sra(x*Pl)) 1
Well that's It from m e for this 3® end calc GAPKA(x) 5
series. We h a v e now c o v e r e d
<
C9 RET
everything the c a l c u l a t o r c a n
do (or have we?). We have
covered every single c a l c u l a t o r I t con be shown a l g o b r a i o l y t h a t Kl/(CAKyA(1-x)«SIN(x>»PI)) i a equal to CAM'A(x). The
instruction possible (or have proof of t h i a i n beyond the scope of t h i s a r t i c l e , however I have mde uae of t h l a
o
we?). This now c o n c l u d e s our
series. I h o p e you have e n j o y e d
reading it. G o o d p r o g r a m m i n g ,
f a c t to ensure maxima accuracy. I t aeans t h a t the " a e r i e a " I n s t r u c t i o n l a only evnr
pisaed values of x between zero artd h a l f . The. l a s t part of tho program l l n k n the o
and m a y the force b e with you. n&chlne cods t o the BASIC DtF FN G atatement.
(But — just a thought — w h a t
would h a p p e n if you used 2AOB5C CA WA_FN LD HL,(DEFADD) Point HL t o user-define f u n c t i o n record.
"invalid" c a l c u l a t o r codes?
codes b e t w e e n 3E a n d 7F? With
23 INC HL 2
code 43h for instance, control 23 INC HL HLI points t o 5 - b y t e form of 'x'. 3
could b e d i r e c t e d Into RAM, a n d CDB43J CALL STACKJFUM Place x on c a l c u l a t o r s t a c k . 0£
enable the use of user-defined CD77?? CALL GAWA Calculate GA^A(x).
calculator instructions — d e f i n e d C1 POP PC Delete STACK_BC address from machine stack.
In m a c h i n e c o d e of course.
C9 RET LU
Interesting? M a y b e o n e d a y the
saga m a y c o n t i n u e . . . But not a
for the moment). CO
59
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
 ZX COMPUTING
FULL CREDIT FACILITIES FOR ACCESS A N D BARCLAYCARD

Lineage: 46p per w o r d . ( V A T inclusive)

Semi display: £9.50 per single c o l u m n centimetre +
^ v ^ j j g ^
01 - 437 0699
VAT. Ring for information on series bookings/
discounts ( m i n i m u m 2.5cm).
Send your requirements to:
All advertisements in this section must be prepaid
DUNCAN NEILSON
Advertisements are accepted subject to the terms and c o n d i t i o n s ASP Ltd., 1 Golden Square,
prinled on the advertisement rate card (available o n request). London W1

SOFTWARE c UTILITIES j
UTiWlTI'
WD Software SPECTRUM TAPE and
JOSS
FOR THE OL:
base £13
D R I V E T R A N S F E R UTILITIES
Forget lhal Ird-Oui lime-consuming »ynU«' Jirtl move Itw Cursor and press SPACE tor.iN TU8 — E S S E N T I A L for A L L Spectrum 48K or Plus owners —
your lileccmrnandi Cursor keys or your joystick allow you to access microdtrves luptoSl
and lloppy discs (as many as our interface allows! with up lo 150 IHes on each1 Scroll and our tape utility for backup and drive conversion
print d rrctonej COPY OELETE or PRINT any file spfeel TV or Monitor mode bclori- • Smpleopwakontorlast loader* accural* even il ow 4BK (tone and rate mouurer)
LOAOmg or RUNning any program You only uu the keyboard lout the DAT E Or label a • iKegmKid header reador. managvs h»adwt«s blocks
deuce wr*«n FOftMATImg E.iiv to use with F'non and other soltw.wr f-Jo jillv icons lo • Dull wmdeky loaders — oonwrw COMPLETELY to normal lor tape load (pfcs easy «ive tiaralm
team - JOSS will TELL you what .t j going to do1 Programmri sloolkil and mas* Copying nltnTPM)
priming utililn-s aKO supplied SpeCily microdrive-only. Microperiphcffll or CST- Plu* many orfwf totturm* — a unique product!
compatible due versions COST only £6.99 on tapo OR E7.99 on m/drlvo carl.
Ret QL7 base £7
(300 uselul OL references with ARCHIVE 2 search print program Too long lor |u»l one T R A N S F E R PACK 2 — FOR T A P E TO D R I V E T R A N S F E R
carlrtdge. SO If you ha*e RWQLS just pay 2 and t i l l ! media CCrSI to update P a c k a g e of p r o g r a m s i n c l u d i n g T U 8 , other utilities, a l l o w s drive
Mdv Extension Cable £5.50
transfer of m a n y p r o g r a m s
Eight inches long, alto* i addition of eiUa microd«»rt to your OL Twist it lo put Ihetr slots • Detata grvwi on Vamler ol 40 programs
lacing you • Managm wtuaty alldkfcyleaders Byteschoffor.'kpMor.hwidi* reader otc
FOR THE OL: SPECTRUM: BBC; ELECTRON Sum name of dfrs jysKm (e g tn'Omv. Ofiui doc, elc>
WD Morse Tutor base £4 ONLY £11.99 on tape OR £12.99 on m/drlve carl.
Written to leach amaleuts now used by professionals too' Absolute beginner. or INFORMATION SHEETS t l each (n> to Ho 1B iviitM) includes mam top ?C Ms — SAE lor M
st'etchmg your speed to 16 wpm. you won't find any thing with more helpful features Wti.it OVERSEAS add it EuiopeC2or.he<storMch UPDATE SERVO SAE lor detail I
else can olle« 100 random sentences as weU as all Ihe basics' Disc version unsuitable lot PROGRAMS CARRY OUT HONEY BACK GUARAMJCL (nol updstot)
BBC B-
FOR THE SPECTRUM:
WorDlinder (Mlcrodrlve/dlsc only) base £8 LERM, D E P T Z X , 11 B E A C O N S F I E L D C L O S E . W H I T E L E Y BAY,
For CHEATING at crosswords Finds m-ss-ng letters, solves, nnagtms 13.000 word T Y N E A N D WEAR NE25 9UW.
vocabulary, so too long to Share a cartridge 10-lettrf word ending in ATE' No problem
Tradewlnd base £3
Sailing trading strategy game with graphic surprises
Jersey Quest base £3
Tett adventure m time Background ol Jersey folklore from Slone Age lo Bergerac
For export:
OL hardware and software irom many sources Ask lot list quotation
O R D E R I N G A D D C O S T OF M E D I U M . P O S T A G E t l OUTSIOE EUROPE.
M d v or 5.25" f l o p p y £ 2 3.5" f l o p p y £4 C a s s e t t e (0
EASTMON ACCESSORIES
Payment Monitor/Disassembler
By ACCESS Xurocard MasterCard or STERLING (UK bank cheque* Eurocheques, drafts Disassemble a n d single step in R A M
or International GIRO) To R O M 4 IF 1 w i t h H A R D C O P Y S k i p Of S P E C T R U M RESET S W I T C H -
WD Sottwaro (ZX), Hilltop. St. Mary. Jersery. C.f. tel: (0534) 61392 o i o c u t o CALLS He* and character
Prevents d a m a g e to your
e n t r y B l o c k m o v e s a n d tills
Clear m a n u a l - s i m p l e c o m m a n d s computer when power plug pulled
S P E C T R U M -SB a n d S P E C T R U M - in and out Only £3,49 inclusive
£4.99 inclusive Cheque or P.O to Central Elect
MYLNHURSTELECTRONICS LTD romcs. St Andrews St. Greenock
M Eastern Way. Ponlrland. NE20 9RE
ZX 81 REVISITED! FaclSheelS. Tel: Ponlrland (0661) 24055 PA15 I H G Olher accessories
Software. A Z V C Club ctc Send Write tor free list.
SAE lo ACV. 1 Foxwell Square. PROOPS
Soulhtields. Northampton NN3
SAT T O T T E N H A M C O U R T RD
Z X 81 L E A R N I N G AID

ACCESSORIES
A casselle based g u i d e to p r o g r a m m -
i n g t h e S i n c l a i r 2 X 8 1 M i c r o c o m p u t e r II
QL/SPECTRUM UTILITIES! a l l o w s l e a r n i n g on (he m a c h i n e a n d
Wide range ol business/practical through the machinc The package
programs available SAE/IFtC lor c o m p r i s e s a 160-page m a n u a l a n d 8
cassettes There arcZOprograms. each >, *
details (state Micro) S O Micro- d e m o n s t r a t i n g a p a r t i c u l a r a s p e c t Ol KGB OUTPUT ? CONFUSING ISN'T IT?
systems (ZX) PO Box 24. HitChin, Z X 6 1 p r o g r a m m i n g , s p r e a d over 6
Tall) ol the pioNem sohrers We tvtve ihe cipencttcc and expertise
Herts cassettes T h e o t h e r 2 are b l a n k COMPOSITE VIDEO ?
praclice cassetes lo advise on ail aspects of computet display problems eg
GREEN SCHF.EN ? * RGB OUTPUT MODULE lor Spectrum 16 or 48K Much
TTL • ANALOGUE ? acclaimed — gry« monitor quality pictures — no dol crawl
P L E A S E S E N D £4.50 ( p l u s £1.75 c p )
ZX81/16K t C H I N G . Draws first * HfW * BRIGHT BOX - Allow:, lull use ol the blight lacihty on
three heragrams. prints results. COMP SYNC ? analogue input monitors and monitor-TV's to pioduce tull colour
Cheque £2 99 Eric Rosenbaum B R O T H E R S LIMITED BRIGHT ? palette Only loi SKCtium 128 E29 S5
PO 8ox 2155 Jenkintown Pa, 5? Tottenham Court Road. London W11' 00A Mjptrn (wo, a tttci C4 i w w n
19046 USA Postpaid Source JT^ Telephone 01 636 4420 TTT adopt electronic/ S*M SAf hx Our frt* Monk* fxl Shttl
Listing 1 It SURllKt CLOSE auUMUKI MIL EUU IS1 M* III 01 U« ?«»

WARNING NOTICE
A d v e r t i s e m e n t s p l a c e d in this m a g a z i n e are to b e in strict c o m p l i a n c e w i t h o u r s t a n d a r d c o n d i t i o n s ( c o p i e s o l w h i c h
c o n d i t i o n s are available o n request) a n d o n t h e clear u n d e r s t a n d i n g that the advertiser w a r r a n t s that his
a d v e r t i s e m e n t ( s ) d o e s n o t i n f r i n g e a n y c o p y r i g h t o r c o n d i t i o n o f s a l e of a n y i n t e r e s t e d p a r t y i n t h e a d v e r t i s e d
product.
F u r t h e r , t h e a d v e r t i s e r i n d e m n i f i e s t h e p r o p r i e t o r s of t h i s m a g a z i n e i n r e s p e c t of c o s t s , d a m a g e s , o r a n y o t h e r c l a i m s
b r o u g h t a g a i n s t t h e m a s a r e s u l t o f l e g a l a c t i o n a r i s i n g f r o m t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e a d v e r t i s e m e n t
A n y b r e a c h of t h e s e t e r m s o r t h e s a i d c o n d i t i o n s m a y r e s u l t i n p r o s e c u t i o n of t h e a d v e r t i s e r b y t h e p r o p r i e t o r s
 UTILITIES
LETTA-HEAD PLUS DUMPY 3.0 LIN-O-TYPE
Sm Hit noM »«tiHi« at* Spftt'um uliMy program to A« The 'ftp i itirp'. you WH tvf >*d tor yOU Spattn/tl' Add H i * to y t u »»i!ttn«rd pwit out any ttofctmcewa HiW I r * very test IK r.-mrClK and mentor p j t u x lor
6<--j}<\ fO p - T yctf own bmness A na)ione<y0 ..• ov*f freenajTpjwgra-' OdMPYrt astr«ndi*is> l e t i f ^ i o^rtty NLO .n a d w e 2i t j ' t i I n n ion > Spectrur It rt n u < 4 n g l , versatile pOMitJ and W )
Mtrrtlradv I K * f * l otters labeK & posters Create I V GIHtRAIOR icrMtesmer-ucIwiattde ideates'I art SpKtf^nnWjnel«ltafi< typr»"M ' . ^ i r t tcr «a and mow; i/*mted ' c u a code to t r asscec o '
OtVjn on w r e r It* rnjjrtct lorna! i (ret j i me • j . c , it rucy tc* you to us* i i program No need to rr rft^s filing n lorrs or w i l f g d o t nom trcm 4rv* u Of'it Sicports m o r t w i ot OPUS
copies you irtcrsund assents |ust Wtow ir* mout The ntptotnl • Fui on < ' t n WKSIWYG f H M . f DiSCOVCBt
• L tijry ot ?J ottereni tiyiti „-.: 'uOnj lomgn a'l/ubets version naw k • Itfary ol i i Aftereni «ontt rtljOng torrgn jrplaters • full iionlprocrlii/ ,•)» rOtOI
• Fail [»•, iriltonied't > -o j ' v s « . » : • » Wind h d r i p detnaMc '.Tjri A and ot bom c c U m A • Up !o s.1 Ion Is fna> Ue IT. irC rati l(* • mc^st p.f ivdocunrM uuttcoe*
• An, k'll-wl pwti .'I be Vicjlcd .i.TiSCd Of (rand line • f a i t conpued tent editoi tomoi>'yardaH!enew><m • Sr. ' 1 I-.' g: .. Ot*'- In .
• 8o« luxron (relates any areu a&Oi ol any ttvdress • ap'iorj' automate screen nu del ruination • Sagk a double tfmacv-\ and m t e n n n t • urt -vinj u x ia»f in 10k pafln
• &rapr>c-, draw arc c * t * plot t>:i lor logo desqn • H v s r - , I f * !•_< n ts ol ir* (Vf'.Jy • True pf«v ; • i -i '+.«rng aid i / I u'.'.'ta'- n • : t j t UJC lor fj'.y • r ,3 ccr\U.' • J<r lOSe
• load & ul* any SCflMNS ftcm another crograT • Select 1'in n> to 7 dtftereni p • o r - • load I4n tram any ucogrorkcc "Or ape Wa'a one • Awntiv , .;-,r-n»i»Tt5i»..T <V>)0PUS
• Prini heoe.-vji n a It* <r ot IK • ;"> • SeifCt Iron HI to 9 m C m ard 9 he>/its ot ou^Xjt • Ptn! !t»t » 'ftmj Of « H IT I Dure » f< nln • • :luOf tie i ir «- »• r r . , « , . e * t t . - t n t «•.
• .J. 1,(1 10 4 •? 1 Urt • P l l r ;,at» A »1Ut« or -JuCrd w f c j t l ' t ' f u l " • Dc«J>< dem !y pun! NtO * « r moM lonts • U;> -'.r v j r , -/vpn; f t
• S*<v» kly se*tts cassette la Del option • l£> to any position on the pupei • Pi«i|rtj •. nvlji <t<+«l M'ytkwd ule . nfi t»c "itv 96«e»(x»nttn (UMc< fiOWr,
• CMM* ot iJ Uncut | K ( f . nu'ly s^actfl Cf-j.ltlr • U x h n code u n iMpovioned • • PAV • Price t l SO • Coail» treallH (fl rwtn ol fluougr a
• P i « C9 00 • Vertej' v u l n i r i d , T c * iic/ t q («• •.#•.i loop
• Pice C& 50 • t « l t of im«uI Jl-r.', projrarnt 10 11 carting
• P | « t l j SO l l ' J I t rrK'OO -A W Opul l t r w |
All B u d w y io'fAarr p-ajratn <»ivr lp»n CttT^atiftie prmtrn (B(0»w S t * M l STtrma Centron<s etc | via Pncn art tor raise!tf, A include PAP • : - n Ei/ofe P c a » add t t SO tci « cart r i ^ t ! SO Opi^ frv
Mil(Jea»r Mirj.',i,m M »»» R ' M i * Ir'.••.»* t 7X LP- III j.k! Opt. ii:r<1ace ( 2 00 agrtjAde I pntaje UpgriSel I w p r . i » ' r - r appiciria'Tl 17 00

Bradway Software (ZX), 33, Conalan Avenue, Sheffield, S17 4PG

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Ray Elder examines a combined
monitor/disassembler a n d a DIY poster maker.
EASTMON
MONITOR/DISASSEMBLER
Eastway Systems
£4.99
T h i s is an unusual a n d
unexpected program, a "stand
alone" Monitor/Disassembler.
Usually these are p r o d u c e d as a
support p r o g r a m tor a
company's assembler, a n d there
is also the fact that there are
a l r e a d y several o n the market
tor the a g e i n g Spectrum.
With this in m i n d the p r o g r a m
must stand o n whether it is easy
to use a n d any special features
it has
Taking the latler first, Eastmon
make a b i g thing a b o u t the fact
that the DEFB's following a RST28
c o m m a n d are correctly
interpreted (the "use the
c a l c u l a t o r ' c o m m a n d as Toni
Baker's fans will know). It also
corrrectly c o p e s with the
Interface 1 RST's
You may or m a y not find this
Important, its useful to know that
it'll c o p e though, especially if
you use them a lot.
The p r o g r a m comes c o m p l e t e
with a comprehensive,
wordprocessed, dot matrix
printed, fourteen p a g e m a n u a l .
It's all in there, but if your
eyesight is not 20/20 then you
may hove problems with the
tightly p a c k e d text.
Yep, it's easy to use a n d all
the features that you are likely to
n e e d have b e e n included, full
printouts to any type of printer
system a n d full details of the
state of all registers at e a c h step.
There is a c h o i c e of output,
either a straightforward address,
code, m n e m o n i c print or a full
frontal, everything exposed,
printout in minute detail.
It may b e late in arriving but
it certainly does not suffer in
c o m p a r i s o n with established
existing monitors If you haven't
got one a n d you spend a lot of
time p r o g r a m m i n g in m a c h i n e
c o d e then this is highly
r e c o m m e n d e d , it will certainly
provide you with the information
n e e d e d to track d o w n that
elusive bug; even in RST28
sections!
Contact: Mylnhurst Electronics
Ltd. 86 Eastern Way. Darras Hall.
Ponteland. Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
90
:q
.u
POSTER MACHINE
Softcat Micros
£5.95
ff*oster M a c h i n e is a versatile
p r o g r a m w h i c h allows you to
print screen pictures using most
of the p o p u l a r interfaces a n d a
dot matrix printer.
This picture c a n b e in o n e of
eight p r e d e f i n e d sizes from
3.25x2.5 inches to 69x60 feet, or
in sections to p r o d u c e really
h u g e c o p i e s if that's not e n o u g h
— though it is likely to b e
expensive in terms of printer
ribbons!
Apart from working with most
interfaces, ZXPRINT 3, KEMPSTON E
etc (we tried it with them a n d it
worked fine), the p r o g r a m
provides options to invert the
printed screen or a d d texture' in
c o l o u r e d sections to the copy.
You c a n n o t create screens or
pictures with it. these have to b e
g e n e r a t e d by another graphics
p a c k a g e such as their own
excellent ANIMATOR! In fact I
w o u l d g o so far as to suggest
that it was d e v e l o p e d as
c o m p a n i o n to this p r o g r a m a n d
its more g e n e r a l a p p l i c a t i o n led
them to market it separately.
This is a simple a n d easy
p r o g r a m to use a n d includes
microdrive options, the only real
difficulty c a m e w h e n f i d d l i n g
with the e x p a n d e d sections of a
picture for the j u m b o prints but
this isn't really a j o b you're likely
to d o too often anyway.
Really it w o u l d b e more
a p p r o p r i a t e l y n a m e d ScreenS
Printer, but I have no q u i b b l e s
a n d if you n e e d the specialist
functions of flexible screenS
printing then this is the best I
have seen (so far).
NB Poster M a c h i n e is b e i n g
s u p p l i e d free with Animator^ for
a short time for £9.95, a g o o d
buy.
ZX Computing Monthly • November 1986
 Trained to kill, you must penetrate the defenses of
Abraxas, destroy the terrorist H.Q. and glide to safety.
In case of difficulty. Glider Rider Quicksilva Ltd., Victory House.
can be obtained from Quicksilva Leicester Place.
Lid., Units I and 2, Conlon
Developments, Watery Lane, London WC2H 7NB.
Darwen, Lanes BBC3 2ET. Tel: 01-439 0 6 6 6
 ^SPECTRUM AMSTRAD
Imagine Software (1984) Limited
6CentralStreet • Manchester M2 5NS
SPECTRUM Tel: 061 8343939 Telex: 669977 COMMODORE 64
t