Description
Issue 48
| Item | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Menu | Luke Falla | |
| Magazine | Sampaint Tips, Editor Auditions | |
| Letters | Search: “SC_Monitor Pro” Reviewed | |
| Android | Graham Goring | Strategy Game |
| Quiz | Graham Goring | Test Your Coupe/Speccy Knowledge |
| Logic | Martijn Groen | Music Demo With Game! |
| Sprite | Luke Falla | Scads Utility |
| Net | Tim Paveley | Text Pinched From The Net |
| E-Tunes | David Sanders | Music Done On E-Tracker |
| Modules | Converted Amiga Modules | |
| R-Type | Derek Marriott Kevin Marriott | R-Type Game! Sort Of... |
| Chaos | David Zambonini | Colourful Mc Demo |
| Sampaint Fonts | Carol Brooksbank | Fonts For Use In Sampaint |
| Super Jack | David Brant | Mc Animation |
| Undeleter | Paul Crompton | Recovers Deleted Files |
| Screen Dumper | Allan Stevens | Better Control Of Screen Dumps |
Magazine
BM Editorial
This, issue 48, was originally going to be my last issue as
editor. It's now been decided that I'll do issue 49 as well, so
I don't have to go through the trauma of saying farewell just
yet (sob).
My toe is now completely healed. Thanks to everybody who sent
sympathetic messages, and I'll try to find it in my heart to
forgive those of you who laughed. I was a little disappointed
that it didn't do anything totally gross, but there you go.
We've got some news for you on the new editor front, but you'll
have to wait until a little later for that.
My relentless sunbathing exploits have at last paid off! Hurrah!
The past couple of weekends up town have seen flocks of people
(well, three) asking, "Have you been on holiday somewhere?
You're looking quite tanned." And oh, how they reel in suprise
when I say that I haven't in fact left Monifieth, and sympathise
when I explain the slavery of FRED which prevents holidays...
BM Editorial
We've made, or certainly *I've* made, a real effort to get this
issue out in something approximating the "deadline" of, ahem,
the end of the first week of each month. It's now the 8th of
August. Okay, it isn't perfect but it's a hell of a lot better
than the 15th July which is when #47 got finished! Who knows -
we might have #49 with you by the very start of September. Don't
count on it though.
Some of you may have heard that Wm Low is the subject of a
takeover situation. This has the potential to seriously depress
me ie if I get binned. Then I'd have no FRED income (what little
there was in the first place. I wonder if Colin's been
underpaying me for a laugh and is consequently going to give me
hundreds of pounds as a going away pressie...? Yes, and then
Saddam Hussein will dress in a pink leotard and dance around on
Iraqi TV singing "We All Live In A Yellow Submarine"). Sorry; to
recap, there'd be no FRED money, no Wm Low money, and my grant's
been *halved*! (What a nice Govt. we've got) 2nd year might be a
very interesting one financially.
BM Editorial
Some of my young friends have informed me that these things
called "Higher" and "A-Level" (how quaint) results have now been
announced. I didn't sit any this year (I even got exemptions
from all my uni exams so I didn't have any of those to sit,
thank God), but I hope the many of you who did sit exams got
what you needed/wanted.
I know how upsetting it is because a couple of my friends are
going through the will-they-let-me-in? phase right now. One girl
who needed an A and a B got three B's so she's not guaranteed
entry. She phoned up asking about it and what happened? The
admissions officer for her course was on holiday. I mean, pretty
stunning timing isn't it! That's another week of hell before she
finds out which is a bit rough.
Good luck to all of you who are going on to colleges or
universities next year. I take it none of you are coming up to
Dundee despite my glowing recommendations? Ah well. Your loss.
We're getting a nice new £350,000 bar put in. Cheers! - BRIAN
BM News
Believe it or not, we do have one or two items of news this
month. News, I may add, about GAMES! Yes, I thought that might
get your attention.
The first one we can announce is the much awaited sequel to one
of FRED's most popular games ever: Waterworks 2! Martin Bell has
again been hard at work devising ever more devious and, if you
ask me, downright vindictive puzzles for you to fret over until
the early hours. There are 20 levels, featuring loads of new
types of valve and pipe. In addition to the submarine and
helicopter of the first game, you also get - and you'll love
this - a little jeep to scoot about in! Cool eh? Worth buying
just for that, if you ask me. The game itself is complete, but
release won't be until mid September to allow us to get other
things out the way (FRED is extremely busy just now, for various
reasons) and concentrate on giving WW2 the smooth release it
deserves. It'll cost £9.99, or £9 to subscribers.
BM News
I can tell that you're already drooling, but our second release
should have you leaping about the house in a fit of joy. Maybe.
You see, our second announcement concerns one of the most
popular genres of computer games - it's a puzzle game! Nah, just
joking. It is in fact a football management game, and unlike a
certain company, ie D and H, we're not just porting over a
Speccy game and putting a mode 3 menu on it. No no no no. This
is a proper SAM game, this is.
David Handley is the programmer responsible, and from I've seen
of it you'll be impressed, nay, staggered by it. 'Cos it's
brill. The title hasn't been finalised yet, or if it has Colin
forgot to tell me what it was, but it will be out in the next
couple of months. We are seriously thinking about releasing it
at the...
BM News
...Gloucester Show!!! Yes indeed. Bob Brenchley of Format (in
case you haven't had that fact drummed into you yet) has
organised yet another of these excellent shows which means that
once again you have the opportunity to buy Colin or me a pint at
the pub across the road. That's only if you want to though; I
mean, even if you don't, there is a slim chance - a *very* slim
chance - that I'll let the new editor mention you in the FRED
following the show.
This show will be on Saturday October the 22nd, and once again
it's in the picturesque but close-to-pubs town of Kedgeley. We
can't guarantee that the weather will be quite as sunny and hot
as the April show, but we can promise that there will be no
rampaging wildebeest this time. Or kamikaze turtles. Yep, this
imminent show will almost certainly be completely devoid of
large and/or dangerous wildlife. Well, apart from a
beer-deprived Colin, but that goes without saying. A regular
supply of Miller should keep his urges under control.
BM News
I believe that there will be a chicken-strangling competition;
whoever strangles the most chickens in a minutes gets a free can
of Coke, and the runner up gets an... oh no. Sorry. That's not
the Gloucester show, is it. Em, sorry. Forget about that. Oops.
So. Who'll be there? Well there's sure to be a FRED contingent,
consisting of Colin (definite), me (highly probable. A tiny
little quark off definite) and the new editor (maybe, possibly,
in the sense that he doesn't know there *is* one yet. Well, he
will now because he'll be reading FRED, but as I write he
doesn't. Clear?). We'll probably have a few other people down
from Dundee for, em, moral support. Yes. That's it.
I'd imagine that *at least* the people at the April show will be
there, possibly even a few more. Whatever happens, it's sure to
be another brilliant weekend. And those of you who missed the
last one will have another chance to meet the great God that
mortals call.... Brian.
BM Graham's Article
Graham Burtenshaw. There's a name. Mean anything to you? No? Oh.
Okay. Ah, you were only kidding? Oh, you are a card! Chuckle
chuckle.
To get straight to the point, cut through all the red tape and
stuff, and defintely avoid beating about the bush, Graham's
written what we in the trade, you know, us journalist types, we
people of the media, we word processor wielding guardians of the
right to free speech, we [GET ON WITH IT!!!!! - a million (ish)
FRED readers] okay, he's written an article about SAMPaint.
Happy now?
You can read the first half of the article on the next page, and
we'll have the second half next month. And it hasn't been split
into two just to fill up space next issue. Honest. That was done
to appease the great God Terry, God of the Two-part Tutorial. He
gets a bit huffy when we go for all-in-one things, you see.
Anyway. Read on...
GB SAMPaint by Graham Burtenshaw
It's nice to see that everyone thinks the SAMPaint manual is so
good, because it was incredibly boring to write and I was
convinced that nobody would understand my explanations of the
"fiddly bits"... luckily I managed to make most of it fairly
clear, apart, it seems, from the Animation sections. Apparently
a number of people have been experiencing problems with
animation in SAMPaint, so I'll do my best to clarify things. In
a minute.
First though (because it's easier), a word about printers.
SAMPaint's printing options use the same printer codes as used
by Flash! and the BASIC DUMP command - therefore if you can use
these without any problems then you should by now have
redecorated your house using large colour dumps of every mode 4
screen you have come across; conversely if you've always had
difficulty printing out graphics then SAMPaint may also cause
sleepless nights.
GB SAMPaint
The best I can do to help in such cases is to give the location
in the code files of the printer control codes which SAMPaint
sends to the printer - if you know how your printer deals with
graphics then you should be able to alter these accordingly and
then resave the amended code file. Read on if you want
details...
Insert the SAMPaint disc and type LOAD "code" CODE 32768.
The control codes can now be found at the following addresses,
given as offsets from x where x=55529:
(figures in brackets vary according to user input parameters).
ADDRESS CONTROL CODES FUNCTION
x+146 = 27,74,1 Microfeed (ESC "J") 1/216 inch.
Used in the FINAL GREY mode to
"interlace" lines in order to get
a very solid black.
GB SAMPaint
Sent before the dump:
x+151 = 27,64, Reset printer
x+153 = 27,108,(0) Set left margin
x+156 = 10, Line feed
x+157 = 27,51,(24) Set line spacing (ESC "3")
to either 24 or 23 or 18 1/216
depending on which mode is set.
One of the following sent
before each line:
x+160 = 27,42,5,512 GREY mode: ESC * 5.
(Ie, print a 512dot wide
8-bit graphics strip in
graphics mode 5. (72 dots/inch).
These five bytes are followed
by the graphics information. The
width is doubled to 1024 if the
LARGE option is set).
GB SAMPaint
x+165 = 27,42,1,576 PATTERN and STIPPLE modes:
ESC * 1. (120 dots/inch).
x+170 = 27,42,3,768 COLOUR modes: ESC * 3
(240 dots/inch).
The graphics modes for each
printing mode can be adjusted
from the PRINT menu in SAMPaint.
(There are no spare bytes).
Once you have made any alterations, resave the code file by
typing SAVE "code" CODE 32768,61078. (Preferably on a backup
disc).
If you still have problems with printing from SAMPaint but not
from Flash! etc, write in with details of your printer setup and
what exactly the problem is, and possibly I'll try to sort
things out...
GB SAMPaint
OK, onto the animation...
Hopefully you will have cottoned on to the fact that SAMPaint
actually offers two types of animation: the standard Animation
function very similar to that in Flash! (but better); and
Animbrushes, which act like animated brushes. You can use an
Animbrush to do everything you can with a normal brush (ie draw
circles and things) except that rather than the brush plotting
ink or whatever, the Animbrush plots a graphics block which
changes with each plot. (This does NOT mean that each time you
plot an Animbrush it carries on changing on its own - I could
have incorporated a feature to do this (I suppose), but imagine
how slow things would get if you drew a line of animbrushes, all
trying to animate themselves. It would be ridiculous).
Going back to the standard Animation function: this is accessed
by clicking on the reel of film chronicling the lives of two
brothers in turn of the century Wales icon, which brings up the
Animation dialogue box.
GB SAMPaint
From here you can define several hundred frames, each of which
is simply a rectangular area of any of the four workscreens.
When you come to click on the ANIMATE box (within the dialogue
box), the frames are displayed in series in the top-left corner
of a separate screens. SAMPaint does not store the CONTENTS of
the frames (this would require vast quantities of spare memory)
but rather the position of size of each frame.
It can then take the contents of the frames from the workscreens
themselves. Consequently if you make any alterations to any
areas of the workscreens which have been defined as frames, then
the animation will be altered accordingly. If you want to store
the contents of the frames, so that you can then clear the
workscreens and place the animation on a different backdrop,
then the Animbrushes will be of more use.
If you are looking for a practical justification for the
Animation function, you can use it to test animations which
can then be used in games or whatever.
GB SAMPaint
Once it looks right in SAMPaint, save the workscreens containing
the frames and then either grab the frames manually for use in
your program or else make use of the Animation file which
SAMPaint will save for you - this contains details of each frame
(described in the manual).
When you use the Animation function for the first time, no
frames are defined. You need to define the initial frames by
clicking on the "Add frames" option. This takes you to the
current working screen where you can use the mouse to define a
frame - the first click sets the corner of the frame, the
second click sets the size. Remember that you can press the keys
1,2,3,4 to change workscreen during this process. You can define
as many frames as you like before pressing button 2 to return to
the dialogue box. When you do so, the "Frames" box will have
changed to show the total number of frames (in brackets) and the
current frame (which will be the last frame defined).
GB SAMPaint
If you have made a mistake in defining any of the frames, you
can amend it by using the arrows to select that frame in the
"Frames" box and then clicking on the "Define frame" option.
The frames do not all have to be the same size, but bear in mind
that the ANIMATE option will put each frame in the top left
corner of the screen. Look at page 48 of the manual for details
of the other options in the dialogue box.
Clicking on the SAVE option will allow you to save a code file
containing details of each frame. If you want to use the
animation in your own programs, you will also need to save the
workscreens containing the frames.
If you've got absolutely anything to say/ask about SAMPaint, you
can either write to FRED or directly to me at: 6 Rawlins Avenue
Worle
Email (after the "vac") - glb@le.ac.uk Weston-super-Mare
Avon BS22 0FN
BM Hmmmmm.
Well, that's all for this month, I'm afraid (har har). You can
catch more animation tips, plus some miscellaneous advice, in
the all-singing, all-dancing, FRED #49. Until then, you'll just
have to remain in the dark. Sorry.
I hope all that stuff about printer control codes meant
something to somebody, because it was just - whoooosh! -
completely over my head. I hope we don't have to learn about
printer drivers in my computing course. Gulp. If anybody figures
out what the **** he was on about and manages to get a working
configuration for their printer (especially for the Canon BJ
series), please write in and let us know because we really want
it. Has anybody worked out how to print screens onto Canon's? It
would be nice if I didn't have to convert all my screens into
Amiga IFFs before I can print them.
Going for Gold. Now there's a program. Isn't it irritating the
way he says, "Horst, you're playing at catch-up"? Aaarrgghh!!!!
Somebody tell the man that just is not English!!!
BM Jot Jot Speeltie
Doesn't mean much, I don't think, but it was a signature I read
on somebody's post on the internet and I thought it was pretty
funny. Speeltie in particular is a truly excellent word.
This, at long last, is where we tell you about our prospective
editor. Or editors, as is the case now. You see, we narrowed it
down to three candidates, Colin Anderton, David Finch and
Stewart Skardon, in alphabetical order just to keep things fair.
Now we want *you* to decide who you want. They've each written a
couple of pages, which follow this page, and you've to make up
your mind from them.
You can write or phone with your opinion of who would be the
best man for the job, just let us now by 31st August AT THE
LATEST. Ideally, phone us today and let us know. Your vote will
be confidential, ie we won't tell the winner the names of all
the people who voted against him or anything nasty like that.
This is important, and your cooperation will be appreciated.
CA 1st Candidate - Colin Anderton
WHY I SHOULD BE THE EDITOR - By Colin Anderton
Hello FREDers. The title above this writing may give away what
I'm going to put in these pages pages. Well, it's quite a large
subject but I'll have a go.
Firstly, about myself. I'm Colin Anderton, 17 years old, doing
A-levels, love SAMs, can program, like comedies (especially Red
Dwarf), live in South Littleton in Worcestershire, have tons of
enthusiasm and want to be FREDitor.
I've got two friends. Well, I call them friends but to be
honest, I mostly use them because they own SAMs and have other
things at home which I like borrowing. My two "friends" are
Peter Moore and Graham Goring. Please don't skip these pages
just because of the name Graham Goring. Yes, he is the same
person who was been in FRED before and yes, he is completely
mad, but don't take it out on me.
CA Colin Anderton
Anyway, Graham is incredible at graphics, but he can never be
bothered to do them and Peter is superb at music but can never
be bothered to do it. So you can see the options available to
me. I know how lovely it is to be greeted by a menu with
stunning graphics and sound, and with a little persuasion to
Peter and Graham (Eg money), these menus shall come to you every
month, without fail.
The editorial. Well, obviously that will remain pretty much the
same. I feel that the serious stuff needs separating from the
rest a little more, so I would go into serious mode and
put everything you need to know at the start and then back to
strange (normal) mode for the craaaazzzyy stuff. Well the
slightly humorous text anyway.
The rest of FRED, I'm afraid, is up to you. FRED is an
excellent, polished and professional disc magazine. The reason
people love it is because of the quality of programs that go on
it.
CA Colin Anderton
That's where you come in. FRED really needs you to contribute
something. Whether it be a m/c or BASIC demo, a game, a utility,
a letter, some SCREEN$, an article, SCADs or Gamesmaster games -
FRED wants it. Don't sit at home thinking "Oh, it's alright, but
FRED won't want it." They do! If you're that worried about how
it looks, I should show you some of Graham's programs!
Seriously, FRED can only work if you help it to. I believe I can
do an excellent job of putting together, editing and sending out
FRED (on time), but it's up to you to both contribute and TELL
US WHAT YOU WANT ON FRED. The last thing we want is to send you
a disc full of programs you don't want, but if we do, you've
only got yourself to blame. Don't shy away, SPEAK UP.
Phew! What a speech. Now, this is what I want you all to do. I
guarantee a FRED every month that will continue to look as
professional as ever, and will improve over time. All you need
to do is get in the swing of sending things to and ringing up
FRED.
CA Colin Anderton
What you have to do is write to or ring FRED and say 'WOW! Colin
Anderton (so far a relatively unknown name in the SAM World)
sounds like an excellent choice for FREDitor. Give him the job
so he can put the SAM into the 21st century. Thankyou."
Well, I hope you hear from me in the editing pages of FRED soon.
Thanks for reading.
COLIN ANDERTON
DF 2nd Candidate - David Finch
Colin has given me a couple of pages to convince you, the Fred
readers, that I am the man to entertain, inform, and see to your
limitless desires for years to come. Hmmmm, I think I have to do
some serious crawling...
Lets start with myself. Well, I'll be the first Fred ed not to
be Scottish. I'm a grand Yorkshire lad, so there will be no more
ok-eye-de-noo in the Fred pages. Whoops, there go all my
Scottish voters. I'll have to bribe them with cash now (never
fails). I'm a student waiting to start Uni. I'm a hard worker (I
thought I would say that because it is generally assumed that
students are lazy slobs, and I won't mention Brian).
Although Fred is very good (you don't survive for four years for
nothing), it isn't without faults. If you elect me you give me
the opportunity to make some serious improvements to Fred.
Without offending Brian (after all, he may have a say in who is
chosen), I think Fred has stood still for too long.
DF David Finch
After I have given Fred a good shove in the right direction I
plan to continually evolve Fred to YOUR requirements.
I am personally working on a new text reader which should make
the magazine more visually appealing and also make it easier to
browse through (I am obliged to finish it now that I have
mentioned it). I want to expand the magazine section and cover a
wider range of tastes so that there is plenty for everyone. I
want Fred to have more of an identity, especially in the new
text reader (Uh oh, that sounds boring, come back voters).
Elect me and I will bring back readers rights (Am I sounding too
political?). No more excuses or being late here, matey (that
wasn't a dig at Brian, honest). I will also abolish animal
testing during the production of Fred (that should get a few
gullible voters).
DF David Finch
As for the future of SAM, I believe that as long as there are
people working hard in the SAM community then the machine will
have a good long future to come.
Fred is an essential part in SAM's future, so it needs a good
hard-working editor to keep it strong (I wonder who I would
suggest? Ah, too predictable). As long as you keep using your
SAMs there will always be a fresh supply of goodies. Lemmings
has been proof that we have the potential, as will the next
license (which I don't know about yet because I am not an
official member of Colin's secret clan... yet). Considering its
set-backs, SAM has done quite well in it's first five years.
Lets look forward to the next five.
My pages are running out, so before I go... You know what to do
(in the way of voting, I mean). I like this democracy lark; it
allows me to start a dirty smear campaign against the other two.
The future of Fred is in your hands...
SS 3rd Candidate - Stewart Skardon
Oh God! What can I say? I haven't the slightest clue what to
write, and, more to the point, I haven't the slightest clue if
it will be any good! I'll just try my best, and hope that I can
convince you lot that I am the right person to be editor!
What do I think of FRED? Hmmm, let's see. What I like about FRED
is the humour. There is always something to be found to make you
laugh, even if it's just a few silly words in the editorial, or
in more recent issues, NET. The disc is always packed to the
brim with luscious utilities and programs. What more could you
want?! Quality is something that I have learned to expect from
an issue of FRED, and that's what you can always be guaranteed
to get. There is always great variety in an issue, with contents
ranging from the editorial to even AMIGA Mod players (as most of
us know! Thanks Solar Flare!). There's something for everyone.
And even better, it is also possible to get discounts on
software if you are a subscriber (so all of you who aren't
subbers, subscribe NOW!).
SS Stewart Skardon
Of course, not everything about FRED is perfect. There are the
odd bits that get on my nerves. That bloody wrestling section: I
have to say it annoyed me so much that I used to skip the whole
section. It was a bit of a drag for those of us who couldn't
give a damn about wrestling! And what's happened to the music
section then? It's suddenly gone missing. Has Brian suddenly
turned mellow and peace loving , or has he just got so poor that
he can't buy any new CD's? Bring it back!.
The document reader is getting a tad dull, which is something I
would like to sort out if I become editor. Something a bit more
up-market perhaps. How about spaces for pictures identifying the
section, and a fancy title at the top of the pages. For example
a letter for the letters section, and a pen for the editorial.
A new front end for Bits 'n' bobs PLEASE!!!!, and a new E-Tunes
player! How about one of you wonderful machine code programmers
writing them to go on the birthday issue (#50)? Come on Cookie,
we haven't heard from you for a while!
SS Stewart Skardon
It would be nice to start a new half century (If you see what I
mean!) with a fresh new look, as well as a fresh new editor!
Well as you can see, I just think FRED needs a bit of freshening
up by giving it a new look, but perhaps you wouldn't agree with
me! Don't hate me for my comments, it's just the way I feel!
After Colin had put me on the spot a bit by asking me what I
thought of FRED (Sneaky! Trying to catch me saying something
nasty!), he asked me what I thought about the SAM itself, and
its future. Stumped again, I shall try my best to write
something half decent!
As far as sales are concerned, I personally can't see Westcoast
being snowed down with tons of orders for SAM, but according to
recent news, sales of the latest SAM package, the SAM Elite,
have been going well. If that's anything to go by, things aren't
going too badly.
SS Stewart Skardon
Mind you, SAMCo said that sales of the SAM GamesStar pack were
going well, and then look what happened! They went bust! Things
are looking up, and it is much better being that Westcoast are
concentrating on manufacturing and marketing SAM rather than its
add-ons. That is being rather foolishly left to Blue Alpha.
I'm not sure if I would dare to buy another SAM add-on that is
made by them, after the problems with the last one, my dear
sound sampler that samples fuzzing rather than sound, and is
completely pointless. What is the point in being able to take
samples when the people that you want to hear it need a sampler
themselves? The idea of the sampler was so that software
companies could produce SAM software with samples in. My sampler
would make a better door stop, or perhaps a book end, and the
samples have never been, and will never be, of a good enough
standard to actually even dare to put in a program!
(I wonder why they stopped producing the samplers just after I
purchased mine?)
SS Stewart Skardon
Then comes the matter of the fateful word "Spectrum". (I don't
see it as bad, don't get me wrong, in fact I still own a
Speccy!). As soon as anyone opens their mouth and says, "The
Coupe is the logical upgrade for any Spectrum owner," the whole
SAM market plummets! Perhaps that's where MGT and SAMCo went
wrong. Blocky graphics and tape loading have always been
associated with the Spectrum, and perhaps therefore through
advertising the SAM as "the logical upgrade to a Spectrum"
they've carried the image of blocky graphics and tape loading on
to the SAM! I don't suppose we will ever know now.
Of course, the SAM IS the logical upgrade to a Spectrum, with
lots more power. Obviously, the SAM can't out perform powerful
computers such as Amigas and the Archimedes, but it can almost
match them. For example, look at Solar Flare - he has managed to
get the Coupe to play Amiga MOD files, certainly not perfectly,
but almost as well as an AMIGA could play them. I have converted
numerous Archimedes screens to the SAM. Surely that says
something about the power of the machine?
SS Stewart Skardon
If we could only let others know about the power that the SAM
has, perhaps we would be able to help the SAM shift its image
from being just a Speccy in a white case to being an 8 bit
marvel! It's not every day that you see an 8 bit machine
carrying out things that a 16 or 32 bit machine can do, is it?
I love SAM dearly (how touching!), and shall be proud to say in
later years that I owned a SAM Coupe, an amazing but rare home
computer of the 90's! (I'm getting all sentimental now!).
I hope that I have managed to keep you amused over the past few
pages. I have tried my best, and that's all I can do! Cheerio. I
may see you in a later issue of FRED. The time is yet to come! I
shall leave you with a few reasons as to why I should be the
editor of FRED:-
1) I am utterly stupendous.
2) I own a SAM. (Yeah, so do you, but that doesn't matter!)
3) I have a lot to offer the magazine.
SS Stewart Skardon
4) I have remained faithful to my SAM, and not sold it.
5) I am a saint. SAMCo owed me £25 when they went down, but did
you hear me argue? Not I; I am ever gracious!
6) I am royal, and I am so rich that I will pay each and every
one of you that votes for me a sum of £50.
Oh alright, so maybe about 3 of the points above are lies (guess
which ones!) but I am desperate. That's a good enough reason
isn't it?!
BM New Editor
So. You've read the "auditions." What do you think? I could tell
you what I think, and I can tell you what Colin thinks, but I'm
afraid you're going to have to make up your own minds on this
one.
Remember, you can write or phone us with your vote. We will
close the voting in the beginning of September, but please
*don't* pester Colin with phone calls trying to find out who's
won, because you'll just upset him! Instead, wait until FRED 49,
when all will be revealed...
Incidentally, I haven't bought many CDs lately, which is why the
music section's been binned. I've now got about 110 CDs, and
there's not that many more I even want, which is why I haven't
been buying many. Simple, really. (Plus the fact that I'm
skint!) Am I the only one who thinks that most, in fact nearly
all, the new music out over the past 6 or 7 months has been
pretty dull and uninspiring?
BM Lemmings Codes
There've been a lot of requests for these, so we're going to
print 'em. I don't think this spoils the game any; you can now
print out these level codes and tick the ones you can complete.
That way you'll have a little progress report. Smart!
Fun Levels
~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 Just dig! AODYBYGG
2 Only floaters can survive this ZOLXBYNP
3 Tailor-made for blockers CONXBYOK
4 Now use miners and climbers BOFYBYFD
5 You need bashers this time WOHXBYOG
6 A task for blockers and bombers VOJXBYLJ
7 Builders will help you here YOPXBYIM
8 Not as complicated as it looks XHOQSYIM
9 As long as you try your best IGGQTYLL
10 Smile if you love lemmings HIGOVYKK
11 Keep you hair on Mr. Lemming KDGNWYNJ
12 Patience JGAQTYSO
BM Lemmings Codes
13 We all fall down EGNPTYQE
14 Origins and Lemmings DJAPUYMI
15 Don't let your eyes deceive you GJGPUYJN
16 Don't do anything too hasty FJKPUYEA
17 Easy when you know how AJANVXJF
18 Let's block and blow ZCIBWXQM
19 Take good care of my Lemmings CDEBXXHD
20 We are now at LEMCON ONE BEIZYXSO
21 You Live and Lem WOKXAXLL
22 A Beast of a level VHHOTXNH
23 I've lost that lemming feeling YCEBWXTH
24 Konbanwa Lemmings san XEAAYXGC
25 Lemmings Lemmings everywhere IECAYXPP
26 Nightmare of Lem street HFEZZXMI
27 Let's be careful out there KCOMWXFB
28 If only they could fly JEEAYXOK
29 Worra lorra lemmings EEMZYXRF
30 Lock up your Lemmings DOGYAXGO
BM Lemmings Codes
Tricky Levels
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1 This should be a doddle! GGBQSXOK
2 We all fall down FHOOTXQE
3 A ladder would be handy AHERUAFB
4 Here's one I prepared earlier ZGCQVAGG
5 Careless clicking costs lives CGEQVAHD
6 Lemmingology BGIPVASO
7 Been there, seen it, done it WGKPVALL
8 Lemming sanctuary in sight VEAOXAEA
9 They just keep on coming YDGMYARF
10 There's a lot of them about XCIBZAOK
11 Lemmings in the attic IRABAARN
12 Bitter lemmings HRCBAAOO
13 Lemming drops KRIBAALH
14 MENACING!! JJFTSANL
15 Ozone friendly lemmings EQEABAJN
BM Lemmings Codes
16 Luvly jubly DQIABAEA
17 Diet lemmingaid GQKABAFB
18 It's lemmingentry, Watson FQMZBASG
19 Postcard from lemmingland AOAYCZJF
20 One way digging to freedom ZIHRSZRD
21 All the 6's ........ CILRSZQM
22 Turn around young lemmings! BINRSZNL
23 From the boundary line WIPRSZGO
24 Tightrope city VJBQTZTB
25 Cascade YJDRTZEA
26 I have a cunning plan XJFQTZRH
27 The island of the wicker people IJJRTZIE
28 Lost something? HJLRTZFH
29 Rainbow island KGBQUZSO
30 The crankshaft JJPQTZTB
That lot should help you on your merry way somewhat. We'll have
more luscious codes for you either next issue or in the big
five-oh.
BM Happy Birthday FRED!!!!!
It may have escaped the notice of some of you, but this very
issue of FRED, #48, is FRED's 4th birthday (yes, 4 x 12 = 48).
Rather than have a celebration now, and then another in just two
months for the half-century, we're throwing everything into #50.
But this is actually the 4th birthday issue, so I'd like you all
to join with me in a rousing burst of song...
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear FRE-ED,
Happy birthday to you.
Now, wasn't that embarrassing?
In case you're interested, we've got some very special ideas
planned for issue 50. What are they? Oh come now, you surely
don't expect me to reveal them...?
BM Disc Contents
In order to celebrate the fourth birthday in style, we're going
for an all-out entertainment FRED, with demos and games galore.
(The lack of "serious" items has nothing to do with our having
actually received nothing serious this month, no matter what
anybody says).
The first game of the issue is called ANDROID ESCAPE and is by
Graham Goring. Based on an old AXE game (I think) this provides
a real challenge as you try to avoid being caught and spanked
(erk) by the evil androids. Avoid crashing into things, and
being caught. Simple!
QUIZ is also by Graham Goring, who is, yes, one of Colin
Anderton's merry little friends, and it gives you the chance to
win not only a copy of SCADS, but the FRED game of your choice!
Gasp! What generosity! Be warned though, this is not easy!
BM Disc Contents
LOGIC is a Speccy demo conversion by Martin Groen, with 9 pieces
of music and a little game (plus a scroller, natch). Play the
game with keys QAOP and SPACE, and try to convert all the
squares from blue to magenta. It ain't easy, and even if you
succeed it's hardly going to guarantee you a place in the New
Year Honours list, but what the hell. It's a bit o' fun, isn't
it?
SPRITE is this issue's concession to seriousness, and is a
utility especially for all our SCADS users. There are
instructions in the program, but this essentially makes your
sprite managing and grabbing much easier. Thanks to Luke Falla
(who also did this month's menu - cheers Luke) for this.
NET makes a return to the days of little bits and pieces this
issue. Tim Paveley sent in most of the stuff, so blame/worship
him.
BM Disc Contents
E-TUNES moves up-tempo somewhat this issue, with tunes converted
from Altern-8- tracks by, em, Pyramex. Whoever he may be. I've
nothing against pseudonyms, but if anybody thinks I've not got
anything better to do with my time than remember whose name goes
with which bizarre name, they're sorely mistaken. Is it really
that difficult to include your real name on the disc label as
well? (Ooooh! Is it Brian? Or has Mr Grumpy come to visit?)
MODS, fast becoming as regular as the screens section, is its
usual, dependably excellent self. I love hearing these modules
on me ol' SAM.
R-TYPE? Well. Nearly. Derek "Electron Affinity" Marriott returns
with a demo/game to give you hours, days, even minutes of fun.
Usual keys, ie QAOP-SPACE.
The final main menu item on our fun-packed birthday FRED is a
demo called CHAOS #1, and it's by David "Vodka" Zambonini.
You'll need to wait a few secs after loading....
BM Disc Contents
And finally we come to Bits N Bobs, that section of the magazine
which always seems more difficult to fill than the rest of the
magazine put together. Strange that.
Carol Brooksbank has sent us in some nice SAMPaint fonts, and
you know what? We've used 'em! And here they are, all six of the
little blighters. As is becoming the norm with these things,
there's a screen showing you just what you're getting for yer
money.
SUPER JACK is the first MC demo by David Brant. It's no Statues
of Ice (ie it exists!) but I'm sure you'll agree it's an
impressive beginning.
UNDELETE is a program which will attempt to get back files which
you accidentally delete. Not that I'd ever do anything as stupid
as that, of course, but you mortals might. I tend to reformat
important discs, not just delete individual files. All on
purpose, of course. Thanks to Paul Crompton.
BM Disc Contents
To round off the issue which sees FRED entering its fifth year,
we've got a program which should make your screen printing much
easier. Sent in by A N Stevens, this really does allow your dot
matrix printer produce some nice printouts. Designed for a 9-pin
printer, you can quickly and easily (ha!) fiddle with the codes
in the program to suit your own printer. If you know about these
things, and I don't. But enjoy it nonetheless. I'd imagine it
works pretty well with 24-pin DM printers too, but as far as my
Canon was concerned, no chance.
BM Credits
Editor: Brian "Not long now" McConnell
Thanks to:
Luke Falla Graham Goring
Tim Paveley Derek Marriott (Electron Affinity)
Martijn Groen Pyramex
Carol Brooksbank David Zambonini
David Brant Paul Crompton
A Stevens Stefan Drissen
Dean Nicholas
Contact us at:
[redacted]
[redacted]
>>>> A Music Section! >>>>
DN Music Review
By Dean Nicholas
I've noticed that in the past couple of FREDs that the music
section has not been around, due to Brian's lack of money or
something like that. Anyway, I enjoyed the music bit, and so I
thought I'd do a couple of reviews myself. Hopefully, the new
FREDitor will continue the music reviews.
PINK FLOYD - THE DIVISION BELL
Before this album came out, I'd never given much thought to Pink
Floyd. Then, watching TV one day, I saw the first release from
this album, called Take It Back. It was a really great song,
with a great video as well. Some time later, when I had heard it
some more, I noticed it in Virgin Megastore for £9.99. At that
pretty cheap price, I bought it.
DN Pink Floyd Review
One thing that you notice when you first buy it is the cover
design. The black rectangle to the left of the case has many
strange symbols, and the cover is of two metal "heads", pictured
side on looking at each other. It is really good, and almost
scary.
Anyway, onto the songs. The CD has 11 songs on it, which isn't
that many, but about half of the songs last 6-7 minutes which
makes the CD last a long time. Two of the songs have no lyrics,
and one of them (Marooned) is awful. That song is the only real
bad song on the album. The others range from good to excellent.
The songs themselves have very strange meanings to them, and on
most of them I don't have a clue what Dave Gilmour (lead singer
& lyricist) is going on about.
The other day I was watching MTV, and it was Pink Floyd weekend.
I watched it for a bit, and one bloke involved with Pink Floyd's
live shows (they are on tour at the moment) was speaking.
DN Pink Floyd Review
He said that during the performance, huge NASA-built lasers
project high intensity beams into the night sky. They are so
dangerous that Pink Floyd have been given their own airspace so
that no aircraft will accidentally venture into the laser beams!
Anyway, onto the final verdict of the album. Best songs- High
Hopes, Take It Back, Coming Back To Life and What Do You Want
From Me. Worst song- Marooned.
Overall score - 9 out of 10.
Thats all I'm doing for now. If anybody wants me to do some
more, then I will if I have any more CDs. Otherwise, its goodbye
for now.
PS.Bunj Wobl, if you are reading this, then please could you do
some more Comic Sections? I enjoyed them a lot, as I collect
comics. Also, Alex Jones, keep up the good work with the
Adventure Help.
BM Brian's Last Bit of Crap
See? I'm not the only one who can write music reviews. If you've
bought any new CDs lately, how about writing reviews for us?
Or of course, film/video reviews, book reviews, concert reviews,
comic spots, wrestling sections (unless Stewart Skardon takes
over!) basically ANYTHING!! Do a pub review!
I thought that there was something important I had to write, but
as is almost always the case, I've forgotten it. Damn. Oh well.
See you next issue!
Letters & Reviews
Letter from Dan Doore - BANZAI
Hiya.
It's a long time since I have written to Fred cos basically I
have had no reason to.
For all you net surfers out there, I now have a job and hence an
Email address which is: [redacted] - so feel free to
drop me a line (if I haven't already abused you with silly one
liners).
As for the rest of you skuffers who are on holiday whilst I have
to work in a scorching office - hope you get sunburn.
From the above Email address you may steal loadsa Sam PD stuff
(if you ask nicely and can handle UUencoding) but the response
rate will be slow-ish as I do have a job to do as well y'know.
I am looking forward to the 50th issue as I have been a L O N G
time reader of Fred, and I like to see it get better and better.
Letter from Banzai
(I have my birthday issue proggie in already - so why haven't
you?)
With the advent of SC_WordPro and the other new WP package what
I would like to know is - will they be half decent, i.e. one
with inserting, proper tabs and CRs, blocks, searching etc. and
*NOT* the '64 column block of text' rubbish which I hate to
think has become the norm. I have to write on a speccy WP to get
these features, so why can't we have them on a Sam one.
Andy Hook - if your going to use a mouse pointer routine, use
Mouse Driver 2.0 by Steve Taylor - it's much better than mine!
On the subject of all things rodenty,
Q: Why is a mouse called a mouse?
A1: Because it looks like one.
A2: Because it has a tail.
Letter from Banzai
Any problems with that should be sent direct to Xeroc PARC (they
invented the damn thing) and NOT to me.
I would like to plug my PD stuff in the SPDSL but I won't.
As I said, I'm on the net so give me a call!
Cheers.
Dan.
BM Reply to Banzai
You get to use E-Mail at your job? You lucky, lucky, skuffer
(what is a skuffer, by the way?). Wish I had a job that let me
use E-Mail. Hmm. Wish I had a job.
Oh yes, the 50th issue will indeed be a biggy - just you wait
and see! Dan's game *should* be on it, although I probably won't
be editting that issue, so I can't guarantee anything. Don't let
that stop any of you getting down and writing us some funky
software though - we need it all!
Having seen the blurb for SC_Word pro but not the actual
package, I don't know for sure how good it is. The blurb claims
that there's no "restrictive 64 column text" so it might be
worth taking a look at. Hopefully we can get a review of it if
Steve sends us a couple of copies for our band of intrepid
reviewers. How about it Steve?
I don't know about anyone else, but my Amiga mouse squeaks a lot
as well as those other criteria. Spooky eh? - BRIAN
Letter (?!) From David Zambonini
I would like to present an esoteric and obscure piece of
writing:
I have managed to come out of my stupour for long enough to
laugh at all previous pitiful attempts to improve the SAM and
now, for the first time ever, live on FRED........
Presenting the stats for the SAM+
---------------------------------
1) Processor
------------
Uses a 64 pin Z800 series Z8208 running at 25Mhz:-
* 16 bit with an 8 bit data bus, 24 bit address bus (16Mb)
* on chip 256 byte cache RAM
* on chip MMU (memory management unit)
* on chip UART (asynchronous serial interface)
* 4 DMA channels (direct memory access channels)
* 4 channel counter/timer
Letter from David Zambonini
This chip is fully Z80 bus compatible, and is compatible with
the Z80 instruction set on a binary level, at a much greater
efficiency. Additional 16 bit commands. Operating performance at
around 5 MIPS.
2) Maths co-processor (or FPU as Zilog like to call it)
---------------------
The Z8208 is capable of interfacing with co-processors such as
the Z8070 floating point maths co-processor, which ties in
directly with the bus. What about a socket for inclusion of this
FPU, set for Z800 series compatibility (as an upgrade)?
3) ASIC
-------
The ASIC is relagated to performing I/O operations (mouse,
keyboard etc.) and memory bank switching to maintain SAM Coupe
compatibility, which may be bypassed by the processor if
required. Graphics processing is no longer on-chip, existing
port addresses being intercepted by the graphics processor.
Letter from David Zambonini
4) Other chips
--------------
Sound continues to be handled by the SAA1099. Possibly the
inclusion of a MIDI synth chip across the MIDI port.
Blitter? Who needs a blitter with 4 programmable DMA channels?
5) Graphics
-----------
VGA or above graphics, such as a PARADISE PVGA1A-JK tied to 1Mb
of fast (approx 10ns) video memory. Address of video memory
shadows normal RAM, as dictated by video page bank register to
maintain compatibility. A high bank register will move location
through 1/2Mb ranges, allowing location to be anywhere in 16Mb
address range. RAM copied to VRAM when video page switched for
compatibility. Possibly a dedicated sprite handler as well? All
lower graphics modes (MODEs 1-4) should be supported (possibly
maintained on an ASIC graphics clone tied to an MC1377P?)
Letter from David Zambonini
Note that this requires the splitting of the original ASIC into
two seperate chips, one handling I/O, the other graphics and new
enhanced graphics. Any takers?
6) RAM
------
SIMM sockets provided with 1Mb already fitted. Upgrade via SIMMs
to a maximum of 16Mb. (note that memory over 4.5Mb can only be
accessed to the Z800 ie improved SAM+ features, old software
cannot address this memory). 9 bit memory used (9th bit
inactive) so cheap PC memory available. This should be adequate,
I think....
7) ROM
------
Somebody can have some real fun on this one. Merely bunging the
old SAM ROMs onto the ASIC will allow compatibility, but who
wants to write a new ROM that begins shadowed at the low end of
memory?
Letter from David Zambonini
With the Z800 having both a user and system stack, and all the
ROM space you want, (well, up to around 1/2Mb if you really want
to get silly) you could do whatever you wanted....
8) Interfaces
-------------
The good old SAM 3.5" floppies at 800K, plus all the usuals,
including the SAM Elites printer port...
Now the good bit... what about an SCSI? I believe Zilog do a
rather nice SCSI controller chip. All you need then is to nip
out and get a hard drive..
9) Cost
-------
Lots. I'm afraid that the development of such a system is well
beyond most people's means, my own certainly included.
Letter from David Zambonini
And the moral?
In 1984 Zilog introduced the Z800 series to rectify the mistake
of making a non-Z80 compatible 16 bitter (Z8000). Top of the
range is the Z8216 and in terms of power it is like a bloody
fast 80386 and leaves the Amiga of your choice looking like a
small immobile vegtable of indeterminate type. Surely the basis
of a great 16 bit SAM compatible?
On a more practical basis, it IS possible to take a lowly Z8108
along with an octal latch and put them on a small daughter
board. This can plug straight into a socket meant for a Z80 and
will improve performance by 5-6 times due to look ahead tables
(user transparent) and more efficient instruction cycles.
Anybody know where I can get one from?
Right, now where did I leave that bottle?
Reply to David Zambonini
Erm, where do I start? Not having the faintest idea about
hardware things I don't think I will. Start, that is. I've got a
couple of - probably stunningly naive - comments though...
1)- 1Mb is a bit small for RAM these days - how about 4Mb to
start off with?
2)- .5Mb ROM will probably be essential, if not too small, for a
completely skillo multitasking, Driver-beating OS. The Amiga
(yes, here I go again) has .5Mb ROM and it still has more of
its OS on disc than I care to remember.
3)- A complete range of interfaces for video, audio, parallel,
serial, disc drive, PCMCIA, and the SCSI (or possibly IDE).
And some card slots for 24-BIT graphics, that sort of thing.
4)- A kitchen sink as standard.
Yep, it will be one hell of a SAM. All we need now is N million
pounds to design the thing. Finally, that Z8216 would need to be
damn powerful to make an A4000 running at 20 MIPS seem like an
immobile veggy. Sorry ;-) - BRIAN
Letter from Robert Smith (Probably not he of The Cure...)
Dear Brian,
Here's a tale of terror and delight for you. My grasp of time is
poor so forgive me for the lack of a date, but this story begins
some time between me receiving Fred 36 and 37 (Yes I know that
was ages ago).
One fateful day after spending several hours on my Sam playing
this game and that, I ventured out into the world and travelled
to my friends house where (I know many will hate me for this) I
purchased an Amiga. On getting it home I set it up and loaded up
and played some of the games I had obtained with this second
hand machine. Days went by as I played, my Sam sitting dormant
by my side.
Then one morning what should arrive upon my doorstep but Fred
37. Quickly I took it to my room in order to load up and marvel
at its contents.
Letter from Robert Smith
But, on plugging in my Sam connecting it up to my telly I
discovered a terrible truth: my Sam had died of a broken heart.
Although I pressed the on button no picture appeared; the screen
remained blank. In an attempt to discover the fault I put Fred
in anyway and pressed F9, the disk drive whirred into action but
still the screen and sound failed. After a short time, and a
great deal of cursing and checking connections, I realised my
Sam was broken.
I first of all considered sending of my sorry computer to those
fine men at Blue Alpha. But lethargy and a strong dislike for
having to send my machine via those clumsy postmen (sorry any
postmen out there, but I've had some packages arrive in a
terrible state before) prevented me from having my Sam fixed.
Time passed and my Amiga played on, though not being a great
master of computers apart from games I found the Amiga of little
use.
Letter from Robert Smith
One day Fred 43 popped through my door and I realised that my
subscription would soon run out. If I did not have my Sam fixed
soon I would have no reason to continue my subscription to Fred,
and lose out on all the little miracles in the Coupe world. I
attempted to get in touch with Blue Alpha but failed (as I had
no knowledge of their move) and as a result phoned you the nice
people at Fred who kindly informed me of Blue Alpha's phone
number. After another phone call to Blue Alpha for prices,
addresses etc, I packed up my Coupe's cadaver into its origional
packaging and sent it off.
When it returned Fred 45 was already among the many unexamined
disks. I eagerly plugged in my Sam (against the better wishes of
my lovely girlfriend) and to my delight it was healthy once
more. I have now spent a good week or so looking through all my
un-read Freds (37 to 45) and I really am angry at myself for not
sorting out mt Sam earlier (although reading 9 Freds back to
back was great).
Letter from Robert Smith
I think that what I am trying to get across here is that wasn't
it just a little spooky that my Sam ceased to work at the exact
same moment that I bought my Amiga? You can put it down to fate
or luck or even a crap throw on the dice in a game played by
Gods. Me, I've got my own ideas.
I would like to thank Blue Alpha for fixing my Coupe, Colin for
being on the phone when I needed Blue Alpha's number and for
sending me Fred so I've a good reason to have my Sam fixed, and
of course my Sam for making me realise what a great machine it
is.
Sorry I'm not finished writing yet. On the whole I hate writing
letters (but I felt the above had to be told) so when I do I
tend to write long ones to say everything I wish. Firstly
(secondly?) I'd like to say how sorry I am to hear that you
(Brian) are to finish editing Fred, I find your humour a strong
part of what makes Fred great. I hope you will still contribute
occasionally.
Letter from Robert Smith
In response to you wishing to know what people think of Fred I
thought I would give you my feelings. I personaly have no
problems what so ever with the text system used (though what
happened to the menu thing that you got when pressing EDIT?) I
find this system better and simpler to use than the one with the
arrows and that which you mentioned of changing to if you had a
response.
I know you can only use programs which you receive but I do
enjoy the games. I liked Captain Comic although it was a little
easy and I hope NoName sends you in more stuff like it. I also
really enjoyed the patience game you had a few months ago.
Although this sort of thing normally isn't my cup of tea I realy
liked this and could not stop playing it.
This was ages ago in Fred 9 but I still find LIGHT CYCLES one of
the best two player games on the Sam. Simple but fun. I like
your screens section especially when you give screen shots of
forthcoming programs.
Letter from Robert Smith
I find E-Tunes a little dull, even more so when not accompanied
by a scrolly. Though there is the occasional tune which stands
out. I do love the modules for the MOD player, I thought that
HALLUCE.M was fantastic.
The Interlaced screens were also excellent. I think one of the
best parts of Fred is when the computer is pushed further than
it has been before or something new is done. I don't know if it
is possible, but will some smart programer be able to have an
interlaced screen and a MOD tune playing at the same time? It
would make for an outstanding demo or introduction for a game.
I quite like the Net stuff some of it is nearly as witty as some
of your (Brian) banter. Demos are OK but like I said earlier
only when something new is done. As for articles and utilities,
some are useful some are not. I'm sure all of them have been of
great use to some people.
Letter from Robert Smith
How about including the space invaders game, which was
originally as a load of machine code articles, for those of us
that did not follow the serial because machine code frightens us
to much?
I liked The Witching Hour. With the development of SCADS and
GamesMaster, will you be releasing many budget games? This is
just a suggestion to any programers reading this but how about a
budget disk with enhanced versions of the old classics such as
Space Invaders, Frogger, Centipede etc? This would go nicely
with Bats and Balls, The Bulgulators and all.
How about a collection of gambling games (Fruit machines, Horse
racing, Card Games and maybe even a Stockmarket game all linked
up so the winnings can be carried over from game to game, though
a goal of a certain amount of cash should be used else there is
nothing to strive for.
Letter from Robert Smith
None of the games I have suggested have not in some way been
already done, but it would be nice to have improved versions in
compilation form. I don't expect these things to suddenly appear
they are merely suggestions for anyone who has the skill to
create but has no ideas what to do.
One last thing, I have just sent off to the Sam PD group/club
whatever, and have sent them an SAE. So Brian and Colin, if you
hear of any games in development or clubs being set up no matter
by who please give any details available as they really are of
great help.
Yours faithfully, Robert Smith.
BM Reply to Robert Smith
Well. Talk about a long letter! It really is rewarding when
people take the time to write us letters like this one. Reading
them certainly helps the time go by on typical rainy Scottish
summer days! It's also the only way we can judge what we're
doing right and wrong with FRED, and so in that sense this sort
of letter is invaluable.
I'm glad you got your SAM fixed. I myself had a similar problem
a while back, which in fact also occurred after a dis- and
re-connection of my SAM. I don't know if this process hurts Mr
PSU or something, but it was very annoying. Luckily everything's
sorted now.
Amigas are powerful, but they're nowhere near as friendly as
SAMs. I'm much happier writing programs on the SAM, and now
SAMPaint's here I don't need to rely on DPaint IV so much. There
are things the Amiga can do which the SAM can't, of course, but
how many Amiga owners do you know who *really* use their
machines to anything like their full potential? - BRIAN
Letter from Luke Falla
I'd just like to say how great FRED has been lately. I think
that the MOD music files have been great,and was wondering
whether it would be possible to convert E-tracker files to MOD
format (ie the reverse of what was on FRED 42).
I know it is probably more complicated than it sounds, but I
think it would be great to be able to use E-tracker to make MOD
files, adding samples instead of instruments afterwards.I think
that this should be looked into. I'd like to see MOD files used
as menu music in games as menus don't take up that much
processor time!
I would like to let anybody thinking of buying SAMPAINT know
that they definitely should,it is brilliant. My friend has
Deluxe Paint 4 on his Amiga and he is jealous of the functions
it has, and at the speed at which it does them.
Here are a few tips for SAM PAINT users:
Letter from Luke Falla
* The skew option can be used to make realistic shadows of
objects (as if the sun was shining from some point on
screen).
* Better colourscales are possible than the in built ones.
Select the Grey scale and add a single extra blue(on the RGB
panel) to each colour to get a really goodblue scale.By doing
this with green or blue and red many other scales are
possible.
* Grab a word in a large font as a block and go into perspective
mode.Put the perspective upto about 140. Now, by putting X at
30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300 and then 330,
you can get the word to appear as if it is rotating in true
perspective by defining an animation sequence with all the
different angles at which the word has been rotated.
BM Reply to Luke Falla
I'd imagine that it is entirely possible to convert E-tracker
modules to Amiga MOD format. It may even be easier than the
other way round, but I don't take that as gospel. I don't know
how such thing would work, but I'd guess it would be easier to
convert the big 78K modules than the compressed tunes which we
use on FRED constantly. If anybody feels like writing such a
program then please go ahead and we'll all look forward to
seeing it on some future FRED.
There's an old saying we have up here in Monifieth.
Unfortunately I have forgotten it, and consequently I am unable
to show you the relevance it bears to understanding the
intricacies and wonders of SAMPaint. Never mind. Just enjoy Luke
little tip-ette and note that Graham Burtenshaw himself has
written another tutorial type thing in the main magazine.
- BRIAN
Letter from Colin Anderton
Dear Brian,
I read in the last FRED that you wanted printer stories. Well,
here's mine.
I own a Citizen 120D+ printer and it prints absolutely
everything at an extremely loud rate. Anyway, one day I'd
finished writing a letter out on Outwrite when I heard this loud
bang. I walked out of my bedroom and saw that my brother had
fallen down the stairs. I had a good chuckle and went back to
use my printer.
There you are. A story involving my printer.
Before I go, I'd like to apologise to anyone I may have offended
by writing letters to FRED and (sniff) if they so wish, I'll bow
my head and walk away from my word processor. I was only trying
to give it (sniff) a "YS"-ish feel (blub) because I know how
much we all miss it (sob).
BM Reply to Colin Anderton
Ah, what a truly heart-warming printer story. Can anybody
possibly top that one? The best printer story received by the
end of September wins a free FRED sub. Unless, of course, we
decide we can't afford it, as will probably be the case.
Fear not about offending our thick-skinned FRED readership,
young Colin. It takes more than a few japes and capers to
seriously get on their nerves. May the soul of YS live ever
onwards! (or something not so grammatically poor)
- BRIAN
Letter from M Hopper
Dear FRED,
I received SAMPaint, and thanks for sending it so promptly. I'm
still working out all the functions! It's a fantastic art
package, and well worth every penny I paid for it. Why don't you
start doing a series in FRED on how to get the most from
SAMPaint so that people like me can get tips from good graphic
artists.
Also, are you still going to do an Amiga IFF screen convertor? I
could do with one of them! A screen processing program like Gem
View (Atari) or Hamlab (Amiga) would, I reckon, complement
SAMPaint nicely. What do you think?
BM Reply to M Hopper
In yet another of those "coincidences" which I'm getting pretty
good at lately, we just happen to have Graham's article in this
very issue. That should explain a few bits and pieces.
An image processor is something we are seriously considering,
actually. For the uninitiated, an image processor is not an art
package, but a program which exist solely to manipulate existing
images. You can do things like rescale and palette changes just
like in an art package, but you can perform more sophisticated
operations such as removing isolated pixels, rub through two
pictures, brighten, darken, convert to greyscale, blur image,
smooth image, and many many more which I won't bore you with.
Image processors also usually have extensive file conversion
capabilities which would ideally allow you to load in a SAM
image and save it out as an IFF or a GIF or whatever you like.
If anybody thinks they might like to write such a program for
proper publishing, please get in touch with Colin. Thanks.
- BRIAN
PC Review of SC_Monitor Pro by Paul Crompton
Cost :£15.00
Publisher:Steves Software
There are 2 title in this updated pack. I'll start with the
first program SC_MONITOR first issued in the first half of 1992.
Upon loading the program you are presented with a mode 3, white
on black screen with all the details shown. The entry of
commands is by typing them in at the bottom. Each register can
be set including each individual flag if required. Binary, hex
and decimal are catered for, and you can set up to 10
breakpoints. Only the 3 memory ports can be changed from the
command line and these are changed using the port number. This
program has some severe limitations in my opinion which are
detailed below in order of severity.
Only BASIC's screen 1 can be viewed even if you change the video
port in your program.
PC Review of SC_Monitor Pro
Not all of the instruction set seems to be implemented and there
is no provision at all for interrupts.
The program refuses to let you execute RST 0, 8 and 40 in ROM;
this prevents you from using DOS hook codes, for example.
After reading this you may think the program is not wooth having
but for a beginner using a large number of ROM routines, and not
using interrupts or some of the more obscure Z80 instructions,
then the program is likely to be useful.
You should also bear in mind that the program was originally
written 2 years ago and at the time would have been the most
useful way of testing an assembly program, but at the moment it
seems to have some severe limitations and for me is left in the
disk box even though it will allow you to set virtually any
breakpoint you could need by setting it to return to basic.
PC Review of SC_Monitor Pro
TURBOMON is the 2nd program in the pack so how does it measure
up?
Upon loading you are again presented with a mode 3 screen but
this time it appears much better to view. Instructions this time
are entered by single key presses.
The program can implement any of the Z80 instructions including
a large number I did not even think existed such as loading a
register with the result of a SET or RES on a byte pointed to by
ix as well as changing the byte at that position. This is
seriously impressive.
Interrupts are catered for by allowing you to specify when to
execute an interrupt in relation to the the real interrupt eg
every 10 real interrupts. The program does not have a large
number of breakpoints but the ones it does have are probably the
most useful eg boundry execution, until pc=address or until a
memory location changes etc.
PC Review of SC_Monitor Pro
Registers can be set, any port can be sent to or read from, the
actual screen that the video port is set to is shown when
requested, the program keeps check of palette, line interrupt
port etc, you can generate and interrupt or NMI from a single
keypress, you can toggle features such as the sound chip, ROM 0
or 1, write protect. This program is, put simply, excellent and
is worth more than the £15 asking price.
Limitations of this program are chiefly because of the speed a
monitor can run at, even though it runs faster than SC_MONITOR:
It is impossible to access the disk drive, mouse, or change the
palette etc on a specific screen line. The first 2 could
probably be implemented by checking for a command written to the
diskdrive such as read sector and then the program could read it
in and supply the program being executed with what it would
expect.
PC Review of SC_Monitor Pro
The mouse could be implemented by checking for a read from port
65534 twice near to each other and let the monitor do it and
give the poogram the value it expects as the mouse only responds
to the second read.
Other then these two things, I can't see any scope for
improvements for the program.
The program even includes features such as changing memory
values, searching memory, even graphing the memory to see where
routines are located.
Conclusion
I would recommend buying this package if you do any assembly
programming at all, even for TURBOMON alone. I hope I do not
seem unfair to SC_MONITOR, but it is totally outclassed by
TURBOMON.