Fred 73

Issue 73

Magazine

CA                         Editorial

            

OLD MAN:   I'll just sit down and watch FRED on telly and eat a
           jar of marmite.

VOICEOVER: FRED Disc Magazine, brought to you by Marmite - for
           a better breakfast!


SINGERS:   "It's whacky, it's crazy, it's here tonight,
           We're gonna have some fun alright!
           So sit down with your cup of tea,
           'Coz here is FRED magaziiiiiine!"

VOICEOVER: And here's your host...  Mr Colin Anderton!


                    

CA                           Hello

Welcome to another issue of FRED.  But not just "another" issue,
I'll have you know.  This is in fact a very amazing issue
indeed, as I'm sure you'll agree if you've already made your way
through the menu.

Since last issue, numerous things have happened.  The football
season has kicked off - just watch this season as Lincoln City
burst their way to the top of the third division and on to the
glory of Second Division football.

I have at last moved to Nottingham!  The keys arrived one day
before I was evicted from our house in Evesham.  So my dad hired
a van and we made our way with all my belongings up to the new
house.  There's a block of houses being built in a little area
which is happily called Albert Square.  However, only the first
few houses appear to be built, so I'm literally living on a
building site.  Sounds a bit like Auf Weidersehen Pet (not to be
mistaken for a very gorgeous game on the Speccy).

CA   "So Lonely, So Lonely, I Feel So Lonely"... The Police

I'm pleased to say the house is bigger than it looked when we
broke into the building site a couple of months ago.  I'm sure
you could happily accomodate three very small people in the
living room AND they'd have room to move their little fingers.
Really though, it's a very nice house.  It's plenty big enough
and all spanking new, just with a few bits missing.  Just minor
things though.  Like a letterbox.  And the washing machine.  And
the stairs.

Still, it just took a day to get everything inside and then I
was straight to work on this (late) issue of FRED.  I'd have
started it in Evesham only everything was packed pending a
sudden move.  At least I'll have plenty of time to do FRED,
seeing as I'm the only person from University in Nottingham at
the moment.  No-one to talk to, no phone, no nothing.  Just me.
Alone.  For weeks.



CA  "I get Lonely, So Lonely, Living On My Own" Freddy Mercury

The cool thing about this house is that I've got the best
bedroom ever.  It's the biggest in the house and as it's a sort
of loft-room, it's got a slopey wall on one side!  What a treat.
It's got a double bed too.  That should hopefully come in handy
(erm, incase I get fat, obviously).  The only slight problem is
that I have to go up three flights of stairs to get to it (not
very safe after a night out).  I'll draw a piccy to give you an
idea of how far it is.                   \
                /         My room!        \
               /___________________________\   I'm nearly dead
              !                       !_    ! /
 I'm getting  ! 3 bedrooms and Bathroom !_  !
 pretty hot   !___________________________!_!  blimey I'm
 at drawing   !                       !_    ! /   knackered
 piccies,     ! 3 Bedrooms and Bathroom !_  !
 don't you    !___________________________!_!  cor that's tiring
 think?       !                       !_    ! /
              ! Living Room     Kitchen !_  !
              !___________________________!_: -ooh, nice house!
CA  "Everybody Hurts, And Dies And I Want To Kill Myself" REM

     ↑
That song has got to be the most rubbish, depressing song in the
whole wide world.  Ever.

Moving along, lickedy-split, I was thinking yesterday, "Right,
I'd better get FRED done very quickly indeed and see if I can't
get it out in the right month."

So, as you would if you wanted to do FRED, I got out my SAM.  To
my horror the '1' key, the '6' key and the 'F8' key had jammed
down.  Even brutal pulling-up force just meant that they popped
back down when you let go.  Could this mean a jammed keyboard,
could this mean a non-working SAM???  Well, I turned it on and
the F8 key popped back out.  Good, good.  Luckily the 1 and 6
keys weren't registering as keypresses and I could type.  Then
the 1 key popped back out.  I booted Outwrite and within seconds
the 6 key popped out!  Hurrah!  Erm, so the moral of the story
is don't punch your SAM really hard if it's not working properly
because it won't help.
CA          I Can't Think Of Any More Lonely Songs

There was a bit of an adventure just last night when during a
particularly amusing episode of 'X Cars', the water pipe just
outside my house burst.  I looked out the window to see a
massive spray of water shooting all over the place.  Tee hee
hee.  Luckily, because the houses aren't all finished yet,
there's a security guard outside at nights and he had to deal
with it.  I cheered him up (ahem) with amusing jokes such as "I
bet they don't train you for these situations in your job" and
"Oh well, I'm off inside to put my feet up in the warmth and
watch telly while you sort this out."

Speaking of security people, I may have to get a job as a
security guard so that I can pay my rent and eat.  If I get the
job, it'll be at weekends working twelve hour shifts.  Of
course, this will have an impact on FRED, but for the time
being, I'm going to try and fit it in as best as I can.
However, there are a couple of points I will make now.  Well, in
a page's time anyway...

CA               Work, work, work, work, work

In some months, particularly at the end of terms and at exam
times, I'm not going to have much time to write a lot.  This is
going to make a few of the editorials quite short.  I'll make
sure there's always something (whether it's by me, Colin Mac, or
someone else), but don't expect an awful lot.  Naturally, the
need for articles will be even greater now, so if you do have
the ability to write (which I'm sure most people picked up at
first school), then please write something.  I would also beg
you to type it up on a 64 column (SAM) word-processor.  If you
can't, please still write them, and I'll pay someone to type
them up, but if you can, this would be most appreciated.

Secondly, if you could send letters in on disc, this would save
me a lot of time and would mean I can leave more time to make
the editorial as entertaining as ever (no jokes please).

Lastly, keep writing programs.  I think I've moaned about as
much as I can, but I really, really need your help.  If you can
do any of this, I guarantee FRED's standards won't drop at all.
CA     "One Thousand Green Bottles Sitting On A Wall..."

Oh my life!  There's a massive digger outside knocking stuff
down and digging up stuff.  I hope they haven't changed their
minds and decided to demolish these houses.  Crikey, the house
is shaking.  I'd best save up before a power cut.

Moving along and up a bit, I fancy having a sensible musical
discussion now.  You see, I've just been listening to the radio
and that Spice Girls Song, 'Wannabee', came on.  Now, I know I'm
not allowed to swear, but what a complete bag of shite, eh?
"I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want (etc)".
I'll tell them what I want.  I want them to shut up.  I want
them to bog off to the North Pole and never come back.  Although
the one who's wearing black in the video can stay.  Deary me,
I've never heard such tripe in my life.  Give me The Smurfs any
day.

Sorry if you like it, by the way.  Stewart "Nearly became FRED
Editor but lost out to the better looking guy" Skardon probably
likes it 'coz he's into rave "music".  Tsk.  I pity you all.
CA                 Would You Be My Fantasy...

   Team Name                               Manager        Score

01 The Crashed Crusaders               Allan Clarkson       070
02 Frank Broughton Appreciation Soc.   Mark Sturdy          065
03 What's In A Name?                   A. Francis           054
04 "Headless"                          Stefan Drissen       046
05 Scotland                            Colin Macdonald      041
06 Death By Electricity                Doug Young           039
07 Some Dead Good People               Graham Goring        039
08 I'll Cheat If I Start Losing...     Colin Anderton       037
09 Real Nice World                     Andrew Collier       036
10 Blue Foot United                    Stewart Skardon      035
11 Crikey...My Wig Is On Fire!         Andrew Chandler      034
12 Scorpion Soft Productions Team (?)  Paul Dudley          032
13 Children Of Satan (ahem)            Stephen McGreal      029
14 I Still Use My Sam, Honest..        Dave Handley         028
15 James Curry's Team Of SAM Wierdos   James Curry          028
16 Crap Games Co.                      Dean Nicholas        027
17 The Kick Butt Crew                  Mark Bennett         026
CA                  The Fantastic Twenty Two

18 Happy Slug Productions              Tim Paveley          025
19 Har Har Har                         Sylvia               024
20 Team Mango Chutney                  Matt Vowles          024
21 NewZealandStory                     Howard Price         021
22 Sentai Power Sammers NL             Robert Van Der Veeke 021

         Manager Of The Month : Mark Sturdy - 22 points

An exciting, yet strange month.  Lots and lots of movement
everywhere in the table this month, and quite a lot of low
scores - over half the teams scoring less than 10 points.
Clarkson's lead at the top is reduced to a mere 5 points thanks
to a superb month by Mark Sturdy.  Ando continues his dropping,
while Macdonald clambers another place up the table.  Hot on the
heels of victory is Doug Young, coming from nowhere to 6th.  The
bottom of the table becomes interesting too with some high
scores causing concern with middle table teams.  We're nearing
half way, and I wouldn't put any money on it (well, I would
because I'm a gamble-aholic, but it's not a wise idea).
CA                    Another Little Table

01 Doug Young           022
02 Colin Macdonald      020    Just to make things a little more
03 Diggory Gray         016    exciting, here's the programmers
04 Prophex              016    table.  Doug Young is top after a
05 John Eyre            012    high scoring FRED 72.  Colin
06 Rob Pain             011    Macdonald gets in 2nd place on
07 Andrew Collier       011    mentioning ability alone (I'll
08 Stewart Skardon      010    have to stop talking about him).
09 Wayne Coles          010    Some good contributions from all
10 Allan Clarkson       009    of these people have got them
11 Bob Brenchley        007    into the top 18 (except MacD),
12 James Curry          007    and let's hope this little league
13 Simon Cooke          006    has got the adrenaline pumping
14 Graham Goring        006    enough for them to write
15 David Zambonini      005    something else and win!!!
16 David Laundon        005
17 Terry Ekins          005    Come on you reds....
18 Victor Cooper        005

CA                            News

Good news on the games front this month.  Firstly, a copy of
Graham 'SAMPaint' Burtenshaw's new Spindizzy game (the name of
which I've fogotten - it's Momentum or something) has been sent
to Colin Mac, and apparently it's really, really good.  You may
expect Colin to say that, but he was playing it when I rang
him and he says he's glued to it.  The release date is looking
increasingly likely, so the game could well be out by the time
you read this!

Coming on well too is Kaboom, the Bomberman clone from Wayne
Coles.  It's been confirmed that FRED will be releasing it and
Wayne is still hoping for a Gloucester show release.

As the game could be released within a week of you reading this,
I'll give you what I think (if my memory serves me right) is a
run-down of the features.

If you'll turn the page that is...

CA                            News

Kaboom will contain...

- Mode 4 animated graphics
- 1 to 5 player action
- Computer controlled players!!
- Different levels (each with a whole new set of graphics)
- Quests or just straight bombing violence
- Plenty of bonuses including extra range, more bombs, random
    bonus, constant dropping (that's a bad bonus to get),
    time bombs, increase speed, ghost, and many more I've
    forgotten about
- Superb introduction
- Different types of block layout
- Tunnels and secret blocks
- And a lot more

Look out for the screen shots which we should hopefully have for
the next issue.

CA                            News

SAM Elite, from Revelation, is nearly completely finished, so
expect a release in the next few weeks.  More news on all three,
including prices and ordering addresses next month.

ANOTHER game (as if you weren't getting enough) has just been
released by ZEDD-Soft.  The game is called Conquest and I'm
pleased to say it's a strategy game.  The aim of the game is to
build up your armies, collecting new weapons and spells on the
way, then march forth and attempt to conquer the land.  There's
64,000 different lands to conquer, with 6 different races (types
of species, not vroom vroom) and 6 different difficulty levels.
Conquest comes with a manual to explain the game in full and
supports Quazar Surround.  I haven't seen the game yet, so don't
know how it plays, or what code it is written in.  However, it
sounds an enjoyable game, and ZEDD-Soft are selling it for just
£5.  So, either order it now from ZEDD-Soft, New House, Holbear,
Chard, SOMERSET, TA20 2HS or pick it up at one of the two
forthcoming shows where ZEDD-Soft will no doubt be showing it
off.
CA                            News

Mention you read this in FRED if you're ordering Conquest, and
you can get 10% off (so that's only £4.50).


Have you recovered from the Northern SAM & Speccy show yet?

Well, get your diaries back out, because the next Gloucester
show is in less than a months time.

As ever, it's at our favourite venue, Quedgeley village hall
near Gloucester and once again guarantees to have all the top
SAM promoters.  I shouldn't need to plug the shows any more, you
all know that all the major companies will be there, you all
know there'll be offers and bargains galore (especially if you
hang about until the end and barter down all the companies like
our Dutch friend Stefan Drissen tries to).  There's a map on the
newsletter (with any luck) and it's on the 26th of October.  You
could even visit the pub afterwards to show all the other SAM
ownders what bargains you picked up and then miss your bus.
JT          The Death Of The Golden Age Of Computing

This  article  was  originally  publishd  in  SAM2SAM  issue  9,
currently available from MDL Software.


            THE DEATH OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMPUTING
            ----------------------------------------
                         By John Teare

Do you remember it? The days when poking was something you did
to your computer, not your [SNIP - CA]. The time when games cost
two pounds, graphics were little more than a mish-mash of
colour, and two channel sound was an achievement.  No keys,
rubber keys, rubber keys, chunky keys ruled.  The keyboard was
the computer and if you bust a key then it was back to the
repair shop for you.  Interfaces that stopped games, printers
that printed out everything in the same font at such a dismal
speed that it took about three weeks to print out a letter,
programmable joysticks that used bubble switches, cassette
loading that outlived cartridges, home made add-ons, RAM packs
JT          The Death Of The Golden Age Of Computing

and bean cans that replaced steering wheels.  There was no age
like it.  But where did it all go?  When did the fun stop, and
the megabytes start?  Who took away the EAR/MIC leads,
datacorders and hyperloaders?  When did the specifications
become more important than the gameplay?  And is it possible to
put the blame for the rape of our entertainment on one person?

It must be generally digested that SAM COUP'E owners are really
computer freaks who want the specifications but without having
to fiddle around with bugged versions of BASIC, crippling WIMP
enviroments and escalating Software prices.  When we purchased
our machines we were pretty certain that this was the way that
computing circles would eventually revolve.  Okay, so we were
wrong.  The SAM was a misplaced machine in a world where speed,
memory capacity and fluffy dice became the be all and end all of
calculations.  Although MGT, then SAMCo and now West Coast
struggled to persuade customers that our computer was the choice
for a real computer user, the fight was lost in the showrooms
when retailers were too happy to accept golden handshakes from
JT          The Death Of The Golden Age Of Computing

Commodore and Atari and generally ignored our little battling
beast.  As the fight got harder, the attempt to fight back from
the manufacturers grew less and less.  MGT really gave it a
shot, SAMCo tried to salvage the mess left by the parent
company, and West Coast were happy to sit back and let the SAM
world fall to pieces whilst they contemplated hashing up the
disk controllers and bodging a printer interface into an already
outdated machine.

Therefore, as SAM owners, we are perhaps in the best position to
judge whether everything is going right.  You see, back in the
good old days, hard drives were things you hurt your head on.
CD-ROM was the name of a bad guy in Blakes 7.  The real rape of
the computer world, however, did not happen with these
advancements in technology.  No, the real rape began in the USA
with something called Nintendo.

Americans are traditionally lazy.  They have more leisure time
per year than any other country in the world and so any kind of
JT          The Death Of The Golden Age Of Computing

big change to the computer industry was bound to happen in the
wonderful USA.  On Nintendo's, Americans all over the place were
scrambling to buy one of these new fangled beasts.  Simply plug
a cartridge into the back and you can play a number of different
games.  Joysticks were replaced by paddles and the world of
computer games was taken into mainstream.  Of course, these
newly found gaming fans were not the problem.  Coming into the
world of computers, they were naive.  They didn't realise
exactly how much they were missing by waggling their paddles and
fiddling with their cartridges.  And of course, by not exploring
the other avenues that the world of computers offered them these
fanboys became sitting ducks for the marketing beasts.  These
major multi-nationals monopolies were not going to flog the idea
that computers could do more.  No, they were happy to allow
these dumb American meddlers to continue spending their crisp
$20 on new, more 'advanced' versions of the same game.  Platform
games were flogged under different titles - yet written using
the same engine.  Racing games, shooty games - every game.  They
all had different graphics but, essentially, the same gameplay.
JT          The Death Of The Golden Age Of Computing

Fast on the heels of Nintendo came the one machine that single
- handedly managed to kill the British industry stone dead.  The
Sega Master System.  Never before has one machine changed the
vies of so many people.  As an alternative to the games machines
of the time, the 8 Bit Spectrums, Amstrad's and Commodores, the
sega MS was in a league of its own.  Okay, so the graphics and
sound were nothing special, but it wasn't cassette loaded, had a
massive range of ready-to-go titles available for it and,
perhaps most importantly, had the backing of a major financial
owner.  Sega took off.

Meanwhile, back in the real computing world, Atari and Commodore
were battling it out in the 16 bit front. It had already been
accepted by the majority of the computer industry that the 8bit
was now dead. Therefore, these big machine battle axed didn't
really take heed of the warning that the 8 bit Master System had
hammered out. Instead of putting out a united front to abolish
the games console before it even started, they persisted in
killing each other off with shock tactics, cheaper packages,
JT          The Death Of The Golden Age Of Computing

more software bundling, higher specifications, better packaging,
more polystyrene in the box, etc. The result of all this was
that Commodore obliterated Atari and the Amiga was established
as the number one home computer in Britain. But it was all going
on whilst Sega were planning their next assualt. It came in the
form of the Genesis - The Sega Megadrive. 16 bit technology,
high graphics specification, great sound and loads of easily
loaded cartridge games that rivalled arcade quality. It could do
nothing that the Amiga couldn't do, but it was cheap to buy
initially, and there were many games available for it - all
priced at around £30. It also had Sonic the Hedgehog. The
megadrive took off fine style. Whilst piracy ravaged through the
world of the Amiga, these pirate-proof cartridges were
attracting more Software manufacturers to them. And slowly and
surely the prices of the games rose. Rose from being around £30
to being around £70. The golden age of computers? But everything
America does, Britain copies ten years later and this seemed to
be true of the new-found British 'intelligence'. Rather than
abandoning these over priced Game and Watch machines, the public
JT          The Death Of The Golden Age Of Computing

decided to spend a ridiculous amount of money on this
revolutionary software. It was scandalous.

Nintendo joined the race with its star-spangled Super Famicon -
The Super Nintendo.  And then everybody had a shot at producing
something in the way of 16 bit console.  The world of computing
had disappeared.

And, as I write, it is still lost.  Okay Multi-media, CD-Rom,
the InterNET etc, are all helping to bring back users who
deserted us for the Game Boy, but in this world of specification
hungry customers, the 'real' computers, the 'friendly' computers
are never ever going to succeed.  The whole idea of black
plastic boxes with little red buttons on it is gone.  Nobody
wants simple machines that have BASIC programs on sale for £10.
Nobody wants the SAM ideal.  The Golden Age of Computers is gone
forever.  We've been swallowed up by high resolution graphics
and sound cards.

JT          The Death Of The Golden Age Of Computing

But is it all such a bad thing?  It's an open-ended argument.  I
personally believe that, if you can afford it, then joining the
top spec world would be a great laugh.  I don't agree with the
console idea, yet I own a Game Gear, so am I a hypocrite?  No I
remember the good old days with fondness, but I'm willing to be
pulled along on the information super highway.  Some would call
it evolution...

John Teare.

CA              Praise, Praise And More Praise

That's an article and a half that is.  Cracking stuff, thanks
John.  It's incredible how we wish we were back in the times
when you had to wait 5 minutes for a game to load.  It's a very
good article, and it's spooky how John has the exact same
feelings for consoles and new machines that I do.  Heck, I even
own a Game Gear too!  There'll be another article from John next
month.
CA                    Quick Disc Contents

In slot D we have a really, really beautiful and playable game
from Luke Falla.  I can honestly say that FRED is an extra day
late because I spent ages playing this little gem.  It really
does remind you that SCADs is a powerful tool when used
correctly. It's a sort of shoot-baddies but collect-things yet
find-hidden-passages and fly-around-like-in-arcade-games em-up.
I really love this game, and I beg Luke to write something else.
It's a gem.  Thanks Luke.

In slot E, Robby Pain comes back to us again (hooray) with his
recently found machine coding skills getting to work on a demo
for the birthday issue (someone who's later than me??  Is this
possible???).  As you'd expect, Rob's demos are continually
getting better and better and this is no exception.  Take a
look, then another and then another.  Thanks Rob.

Next comes Triple Peaks, my favourite card gambling game.  There
a version of this on FRED about a year back (it may have been by
Luke Falla actually, but I can't quite remember).  Anyway, this
CA                       Disc Contents

is one of the FRED games I go back to time and time again, so
imagine my joy when John Eyre delivered this new version with
lots of new details and facts in it.  Over the moon, I can tell
you.  Another day lost playing this!  What's more is that it's
written in SAM C!  Double hurrah!  Many, many thanks again John.

And if those beauties haven't kept you going for at least a
month, then feast your eyes on this.  It's the return of Banzai,
fresh back on the SAM because he's unemployed!  And straight
away, he gets to work on SAM C, providing us with a very
impressive SAM C demo.  Banzai asked me to change the music
because his sound chip wasn't working and the music was probably
rubbish.  Well, I think it's fine (even if I wouldn't know a
C-sharp from a fart).  Thanks Banzai.

Just incase Triple Peaks hasn't got you addicted, here's a mind
puzzling game from John Eyre.  Sit there, work out the sequence
of numbers and simply tell the computer what they are.  Sounds
easy, but it's not.  Especially after a few beers.
CA                       Disc Contents

Jack Bailey finally comes back with a disc of tunes, and here
they are - and as melodic as ever.  Thanks Jack, you're a brick.
Or something.

Banzai fights for the most menu slots with another contribution,
this time a rather handy utility that helps you sort the palette
colours when messing with converted (or otherwise) screens.
This version is very polished and a useful utility to have
stashed away in your disc box.  Cheers, Banzai.

Due to FREDEX being on the menu, FFL! nudges into the spotlight
for one month.

And before anyone says anything, I know FREDEX isn't completely
up to date.  But never fear, when Colin eventually gives me the
latest few discs that I did, it'll be completely updated.  It's
too late now.

And adverts, screens and modules round off a marvellous issue.
CA                         Thankyou

A large bullfrog: COLIN "Anderton! Stop swearing!" MACDONALD
A hairy rodent  : COLIN "I'm not bloody swearing!" ANDERTON


   I'd kiss the feet of everyone listed below if they asked:

 Luke Falla     Rob Pain       Jack Bailey     Peter Baxter
 John Eyre      Banzai         Noel Morgan     Richard Quirk
 John Teare     Danni Minogue  Shannon         Jet


We'll see you at one of the shows then, I guess.  Or write to us
at this address:

  [redacted]



You know, there's 4617 words in this editorial.  Amazing!

Letters & Reviews

                    Letter From Noel Morgan

Hi Colin,

I'll get straight to the point with some begging questions.

1) Will the new Bomberman game from Wayne Coles be compatable
   with joystick?
2) Can I still pick up Escape From The Planet Of The Robot
   Monsters from anywhere?
3) Is it easy to use the mouse with SAM C, and how?
4) Has there ever been a chess game on FRED?
5) What's the best method to install an effective sprite
   collision detection sytsem (in machine code or C)?

Good luck in the move, and thanks!

                        Noel



CA                    Reply To Noel Morgan

Thanks for the questions, Noel.  I can help you with a few of
them, but the rest I'll have to ask for reader help on.

Kaboom will be able to use the standard 67890 joystick, and it
may also be possible to use others depending on how the key
collision effects things.

E.F.T.P.O.T.R.M is still available from places.  The best way to
get hold of a copy is probably to get yourself along to one of
the shows - all the older games are available there and at a
knock down price too.

No idea about question 3 or 5, I'm afraid.  Any takers?

As for the chess game, there hasn't ever been one on FRED.  The
only one available has recently been written by Jupiter, and I
would desperately like to see a review of it if anyone can help.


                    Letter From Peter Baxter

Dear Colin,

    What can I say?  You've been asking for letters, so here's
my attempt...

    Having absolutely nothing to say, I thought I'd just say
everything that I thought.  If that makes any sense.

    Firstly, I completely agree with your perseverance of
articles.  Reviews too should be in the editorial.  Anything SAM
related is informative to all of your readers and should be
placed somewhere between the amusing monthly anecdotes and the
disc contents.  I'll be writing reviews in the future, but for
now, I'll give you my opinion of some latest SAM releases.

TnT - a classic SAM release, the most addictive game yet - 94%
Grubbing.. - very enjoyable but best played with as many
              human players as possible                  - 76%
Based On An Idea - technical and excellently done, but
                    Letter From Peter Baxter

                    isn't the next issue late already??? - 91%
Crashed - the new paper mag with the most effort put
           into production, looks very good apart from
           photos which lose quality on photocopying     - 71%
Ice Chicken - well written, but repetitive.  A bit of a
               disapointment really...                   - 55%

    Having read the latest couple of FREDs, it looks as if the
software market is about to take a welcome uplift.  One new
original game, one adapted game and, of course, SAM Elite.  I
hope to get to the Leeds show to have a gander at the latest
releases/versions of the programs, and if I'm feeling
adventurous, I may even pop down to the Gloucester show as well.
Being the boss is wonderful!

    Congratulations on an excellent disc magazine, and pass on
my congratulations to Bob Brenchley and Simon Cooke.

                         Peter Baxter
CA                   Reply To Peter Baxter

Thanks for the quick reviews.  I'm a bit surprised with the Ice
Chicken review though.  I'd like to see a full review from
another reader to find out what they have to say.  Any offers?

A couple of people have suggested moving reviews into the
editorial.  To be honest, that's where you'd expect to find
them - in the main magazine rather than at the end of the
letters section.  I don't know why they were in the letters
section in the first place, but unless anyone has any
complaints, I'd be happy to shift them.

I'm sure Simon will be reading this, so consider your praise
passed on.  As for Bob... well, if he doesn't read FRED, then
it's his own fault.  Besides, we don't want his head swelling
any more.

And I think Colin Mac will agree with you on that "being the
boss is easy" business.  Bloody slave driver.

                  Letter From Niloc Retonnda

Dear Colin,

    I would just like to say that FRED is the best publication
on Earth, and you are the best editor on this side of the
universe.

    I think you deserve a pay rise.

                        From,

                   Niloc Retonnda








CA                  Reply To Niloc Retonnda

Thank you for your views, Niloc.  I agree entirely.

Taking up your final point, I am sure that Colin Macdonald is
reading now and is seriously considering this option.

I look forward to hearing from you in the future.













                   Letter From Richard Quirk

Hi there Colin!

    You may remember I wrote a while ago.  Last Christmas I
think it was.  Anyway, I was just sat on the bed flicking
through the Argos catalogue when I saw some disks and thought
"Disks, FRED, contributions, write letter, post, be on FRED".
And here I am!!!

    I still can't complete EGGBuM!  It's that damn blasted left
hand side area!  I jammily did it once, but hadn't done the
right hand side and died trying to get back!  Anyone got any
tips on that score?

    Looking forward to Kaboom, the bomberman game, coming out on
the SAM!  I've got a game called Master Blaster on my Amiga and
it's the game I love and cherish the most.  A SAM version would
be really great - I'll be the first to order one!

    The magazine is still looking great!  I'd still like to see
                   Letter From Richard Quirk

more news from other companies if at all possible.  I prefer the
cut down disc contents - to be honest I never really took any
notice of the longer ones anyway!  It was just; FRED arrives,
open envelope, boot disk, read editorial, see disc contents,
skip to letters.

    Looking back, this is a bit of a naff letter.  I get boring
vibes from it.  But, waste not, want not.  You can have it
anyway!

                           Adios!!!

                         Richard Quirk






CA                  Reply To Richard Quirk

It's amazing isn't it?  I spend pages nagging for people to
write letters, then Richard here spots a disk in the Argos
catalogue and that's what inspires him!  Amazing.

I've completed EGGBuM (brag, brag) and I found that the best way
to get anywhere is to do a little bit of the screen at a time
then get your ball into a position so that it just bounces
freely without you having to move it.  Then you can take a
breather and think about the next little step.  Once you panic,
it's usually game over.

I too would like to see more news from other companies - the
problem is getting it.  I'm not going to waste time ringing
around.  It's up to them to write to me.  Zedd-soft wrote a few
days ago telling me of their nerw game, so that'll get a
mention, but apart from that only Revelationm ever ring.

And make sure you go flicking through the Argos catalogue again
in the not too distant future (what a strange hobby).