Commodore_Power-Play_1982_Issue_01_V1_N01_Premiere_Issue.pdf

* 1

22-40-80 HIKE!

Expand

your

H«nmw»i

VIC to 80

columns.

> *.__'.,

■

Quantum Data's newVideo Combo Cartridge bringsyou: 40

or 80 column display, plus 16K RAM and PROM socket.

With the Video Combo Cartridge from Quan

tum Data you can now have 40 or 80 column

display, 16K RAM and PROM all in one cartridge.

It comes set for 40 column Display compatible

with the\/\C video modulator and your homeTV.

Then, whenyouare ready to upgrade to 80 col

umns and a video monitor,just make a simple.

no-cost change inside the cartridge. Instruc

tions are provided. Also provided is a socket for

a PROM, 16K of memory and AC adaptor. If

you don't need memory then 80 columns can be

yours for only SI99.50. A listing ofthe driver soft

ware is provided at no charge. A programmed

PROM containing this software is also available

for S19.95.

■■Ill ODI

QDI Printer

RS-232

interface:

ODI

IVHnrmother:

■ Expands Basic user memory up to

24K in 8K steps

• PROMS may be mixed with RAM

in 8K blocks

• 8K can be assigned lo machine

language area

■ Plugs directly into VIC expan

sion port

• Low power, no additional power

supply required

• Professional Quality, full buffering

on alt signals

• Small size; 6 x 4.5 inches.

16K expander $149.95

24K expandor $199.95

• Provides RS-232 voltage conver

sion for VIC serial port

• Allows use of a wide variety

of RS-232 peripherals including

printers, modems and voice

synthesizers

• Low power CMOS circuitry

requires no external power supply

• Small size: 2]h x 3 inches

Prlntor

■ $49.95

• Adds 3 slots to the memory

expansion port

• Removable card guides allow

either boards or cartridges

• Requires no additional

power supply

• Fused to protect VIC power supply

from overload

• Simple plug-in installation

Minimother

S69.95

QUANTUM [7!4| 966-6553

i : ;t . I Jp DEALER HOT LINE (714) 754-1945

UM I M, inlt. 3001 Redhill Bldg. 4, Suite 105, Costa Mesa CA 92626

expandor:

Braindrops From the editor

.. 2

We're GladYou Asked Answers to some

common questions about the VIC

And Now A Word From Oui Sponsor

Comments irom Commodore's upper crust

FUN.

Access: Commodore User Groups

The VIC Magician Sleight-of-hand forgetting

the most from yourVIC byMichael Tomczyk ..

PlayBlackdragon Our hero fights monsters in

The Source's magic labyrinth

A Little VIC Music Amystery tune from VIC

expert Jim Butterfield

VIC 20 Helps Deliver the News A computer

whiz kid runs his paper route with aVIC .. .

Maryland "VIC-aT Computerizes Sermons

Somebody up there likes iheVIC

No More Pencils, No More Books Learning

at home can be fun with these educational

programs

GAMES.

Joystick Controlon theVIC Technical tips for

joystickingbyAndyFinke! 9IIlit11

Great Cartridge Games toi the VIC 20 Arun

down on the best available

Flip Out WithVICFLIP-rV Type and save this

challenging game program listing byJim

Dubrouillet and Sean Smith ,

Hllllinlfflllllmmll/llmffflflHlfillflflllllllllfl/fflilllfftil

muni

..AND BEYOND

Tele/Scope Scoping out telecommunications

byJeffHand

JINSAM Gives a Golden Anniversary Party

by Nancy Iscaro of Jini Micro-Systems, Inc.

Best Books Helpful reading for both beginners

andadvancedusers •Wlflmwiwini

Book Review; Freelance expert Bob Baker

reviewsthe VIC 20 Programmer's Reference Guide

Guide(reprintedfrom Microcomputing)

Program Review: A helpless beginner reviews

Commodore's "Introduction to BASIC" byJohn

O'Brien

Get Serious What's happening on the FCWERful

sideofCommodoreproducts MMImM

Future File Commodore MAX Machine and

Commodore 64 Introduced by Mike Heck

POWER/PLAT Staff

Brcdndiops

Editorial Manager

David A. Kaminer

Editor

Diane LeBold

Contributing Editor

Paul Fleming

Staff Writers

Andy Finkel

Jeff Hand

Mike Heck

John O'Brien

ContributingWriters

Robert Baker

Jim Butteriield

Nancy Iscaro

"technical Editors

Paul Goheen

Neil Harris

Michael Tomczyk

"technical Staff

Jeff Bruette

Rick Cotton

Larry Ercolino

Bill Hindortf

Pat McAllister

Dave Middleton

Mark Scott

Joe Siciliano

Jim Snyder

John Stockman

Circulation Manager

John O'Brien

Advertising Manager

Diane LeBold

Welcome to the premier issue of POWER/PLAY and

the exciting, expanding world of Commodore computing

at home!

Whatever Commodore computer you're using in your

home, you'll discover in these pages how to get Ihe most

out of its POWERful computing capabilities. In tact, if you

get good enough at using your computer's POWER, you

may never have to leave your home again.

Now, we do think all that POWER is fine. But you'll

also find that Commodore computing at home is intrin

sically PLAYiul. And, to be frank, our inclination, here in

POWER/PLAY, is more toward the PLAY part. Tun. games

and beyond" is our motto, and also happens to define

how we've structured this issue.

In the FUN section you'll find-what else-fun things

to do withyour basic computer. (In thiscase the "basic

computer" is aVIC 20 and Datassette.)

We consulted Mr. Webster and found out a game is

thesame thing as a contest. So that's howwe decided

what went into the GAMES section.

Which leaves us with BEYOND. In that section you'll

find information lor the more sophisticated user, and

applications that require peripheral equipment beyond

(II) Ihe basic computer. We've also stashed our reviews

and miscellany there.

I think you'll find this first issue of POWER/PLAY both

useful and enjoyable.

oh the coved Many el you will rocoanuo the

artwork Irom Commodore:. Jupiter Umd*i

cartridge gama liee ourgamus swcllon [Of more

on itie manyexcitingcartridgesavailuMu lor

Commodore home usera

iCWRI'/llAY is published quarterly by Ihe

CarnpulerSyHoinr. Division Commodore Business

Macrunm Inc. The Meadows JB7 [>«vwi fork

Dnvo. Wayne.M IWflV Copynghl- 1982.Com

modorn Buslnoss Machine?. Inc US Subscriber

rale SlOOOperyear OutsideHieUS. subscriber

role is 51500 peryear No material may be

repnntf-a without permission Volumu I. Number 1

VIC 20*. and CBM" aro trademarks o[ Commodore

Business Macnlnes Inc PET' isa registered

Irodtmark ol Ccmmoaore Busmen Mottunes Inc

1982 POWER/PLAY

We're GladYouAsked

For the benefit ot the multitude

of new Commodore home com-

puterisls, we've decided to use

this first issue ol POWER/PLAYto

answer some of (he mosl fre

quently asked questions about

VIC and its related products

Those ol you who have been

using yourVIC for a while,

or who have been reading

COMMODORE Magazine, may

have heard some of this before,

but you never can tell. Even

advanced users might learn a

few things here,

Programs most easily adapted

are those in BASIC that contain

no PEEKs or POKEs. However,

since most PET/CBM programs

use PEEKs and POKEs, and

because the screen size is so

different from theVIC, it'salmost

easier to take the general idea of

the program and completely

rewnle it, using memory maps

TheVIC memory map can be

found in the VIC 20 Programmer's

Reference Guide, available from

Commodore. PET/CBM maps are

available in various places,

sucti as the PET/CBM Personal

Computer Guide, published by

Osbome McGraw Hill.

games, as well as helplul appli

cation software. For more infor

mation on the arcade games,

see page 28.

Q How do you use joysticks with

the VIC? Do you need joysticks

with VIC game cartridges?

A With Ihe current VIC car

tridges, joysticks are not neces

sary, but they are optional in the

following: VIC Avengers, Super-

slot, VIC SuperAlien and Radar

Rat Race. To learn how to use

joysticks with yourVIC, see Andy

Finkel's articleon page 26, or the

VIC 20 Programmer's Reference

Guide, available Irom

Commodore.

Q. When will the Programmer's

Reference Guide be out?

A The VIC 20 Programmer's

Reference Guide is available

right now through authorized

Commodore dealersand retail

stores that carry Commodore

products. For a complete review

ol the Reference Guide, see

page 40.

Q What is the purpose ol

the RS232 Terminal Interlace

Cartridge?

A The RS232 Terminal Interface

Cartndge converts the signal

produced by theVIC into true

RS232 standard format, which is

used by some non-Commodore

MODEMS.

a What does the VCU piggy

back do fortheVIC 20? ,

A The VCU (Video Circuit Up

grade) improves the color of

early versions of the VIC 20 units,

serial numbers less Irian 50900,

which were manufactured in

Japan. NewerVIC units made in

the U.S. have this circuit included.

Q How do youclear up wavy

lines on the TV screen?

A Wavy lines on the screen are

caused by RFI (Radio Frequency

Interference). Ail computers tend

to generate this interference. The

problem can be made less

apparent by re-orienling the

modulator with respect to the TV

antenna, or by tuning ihe TV set,

making sure the switchbox is

connected and set properly.

Q Howis a MODEM hookedup

to theVIC?

A Right now, two methods are

available for hooking up a

MODEM. II you have a modular

phone, your best bet is to get Ihe

VIC MODEM cartndge, available

a! your Commodore dealer. With

this inexpensive cartridge, you

simply plug the handset cord

of your phone directly into Ihe

MODEM cartridge, run the soft

ware driver, and you're all set lo

enter the world of computer tele

communications! If you don't

have a modular phone, then

you'll have to purchase the VIC

RS232 Terminal Interface Car

tridge and connect it via an

RS232-1O-RS232 cable to an RS232

acoustic MODEM. Fordetails on

the VIC MODEM, see our tele

communications department,

page 36.

Q Is it possible to hookup an

audio cassette recorder to the

VIC 20?

A A standard audio cassette re

corder will not work with the VIC

20. AVIC Datasselte is necessary

for usewith any cassette tapes.

HOWEVER, theVIC Datassette

does use audio cassetteTAPES.

For best results use a short

(C-10 orC-15) tape, and make

sure it is NOTchromium dioxide.

Chromium dioxide culs the high

frequencies, which is exactly

where data is stored

Q MyTV screen sometimes flut

ters during operation. Howdo

you correct this?

A Some TVs do tend to flutter

with the use of a home computer.

To eliminate Ihe flutter with Ihe

VIC 20, use the following POKE

command

POKE 36864.133

Each lime the VIC is reset (in

cluding power-up), you must

issue this POKE command.

Q Can more than one periph

eral be hooked to the VIC at

one time?

A Up to five disk drive units can

be daisy-chained together. To

include a VIC printer in the

system, simply connect it as the

last unit of the chain.

Q Why do I sometimes have

problems loading programs

irom cassette tapes?

A Radiation from Ihe TV screen

can interfere with loading a pro

gram on tape from yourVIC

Datasselte recorder. To alleviate

the problem, move the recorder

as far as possible from the TV.

Also, because new tapes are

often tightly wound, we suggest

you play the tape a lew times

without loading. This will loosen

the tape and facilitate loading.

Q What telecommunications

networkswork ■withthe VIC?

A The VIC MODEM cartridge

allows you to access such net

works as The Source. Compu

Serve. MicroNet, DowJones and

the NewYork Times, to name just

a few. In addition. Commodore is

presently developing a network

exclusively for Commodore users.

Again, see our telecommunica

tions department on page 36.

Q Is it possible to hook a

monitor to the VIC 20?

A TheVIC 20 can be connected

directly to a monitor without

using the modulator. The cable

required depends on Ihe

monitor's input connector.

Q What kind ol BASIC is used

on the VIC 20?

A TheVIC 20 uses PET BASIC 2.0,

Q Is there a way to increase the

number of columns per line?

A At this time, Ihere is no really

efficient technique lo increase

the number of columns per line

on the VIC 20. It is possible to

write programs to increase the

(continued on page A5)

Q Will more software be

available for the VIC?

A Commodore'sVIC Product

Development Group is currently

working on manynewand excit

ing arcade-style cartridge

& Is the PET/CBM software

adaptable for the VIC?

A Generally speaking, PET/ CBM

software can be adapted to the

VIC ll there is sufficient memory

POWER/PLAY 1982

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