EDITORIAL
by Lee Pappas

400's & 800's

As we move into the new year we also move a step closer to a new era. As the sales of personal computers soar, and additional software continues to become available for the ATARI, I ask you, what do YOU use your computers for? To me, using an ATARI 400 or 800 for only one application is a waste. When someone says to me, "isn't your ATARI just a game computer?" I reply "yes." That is, of course, if you consider it entertainment when my 800 at the office keeps track of over ten thousand names on a mailing list and regularly runs off software and magazine invoices for several hundred dealers. At this moment, there exists fine software allowing you to do extensive word processing, large mailing lists and varied database management. At the other end of the spectrum there is entertainment in the form of computer games. Now I must admit, when I purchased my 800 two years ago, my excuse for the expenditure was GAMES. Yes, GAMES. However, it wasn't long before my ATARI was helping me write engineering papers, keep track of my video tape collection, and allow me to experience outside services such as Compuserve. After A.N.A.L.O.G. was formed, my 800 moved away from home and now resides on my office desk. My poor 800 sees few games nowadays, however it saves me a great deal of time, taking the drudgery out of business paperwork.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm trying to get across the idea "please don't use your computer for only one job." Expand on it and really see what it can do for you.

 

THE MAGAZINE

A.N.A.L.O.G. has moved to new offices and at the same time has a new staff member to handle the magazine. Jon A. Bell (just shipped from Missouri) is now managing editor of A. N. A. L. 0. G. We hope to get this publication on schedule with a more steady interval between issues (2 months). We now have over ten thousand readers, and A.N.A.L.O.G. is distributed in 6 countries, with additional readers in 24 other countries.

Issues 2, 3, and 4 are SOLD OUT Next issue we will announce availability. Until then please don't inquire - we have no copies left (and I mean none!).

 

USER GROUPS

Recently I have noticed articles in user group newsletters which contradict the nature of what a user group should be. It is up to the officers of these clubs to see that software pirating is pushed into oblivion. We get reports of clubs whose main function is to reproduce software at the meetings. I see articles in several newsletters accompanied with program listings so members can duplicate copyprotected disks. What total irresponsibility on the part of club officers! On the other hand, I commend organizations such as ACE, based in Eugene, Oregon for much of the discretion they implement in their publication. I suggest other clubs take a close look at THEIR ethics.

 

SOFTWARE REVIEWS

A new method for software reviews is now implemented starting in this issue. Each review includes a chart stating our opinion on just how much the program utilizes the ATARI's advanced capabilities and the value of the game.

The five categories include CONCEPT, ORIGINALITY, CHALLENGE, SKILL, and GRAPHICS/SOUND.

CONCEPT: How good is the overall concept on which the game is based.
ORIGINALITY: How original is the game based on other games of a similar nature (10 would indicate a completely original game).
CHALLENGE: How much of a challenge does the game provide.
SKILL: How well does the game adjust to the skill of the player.
GRAPHICS: How well does the game utilize the machine's capabilities.
N.A.: Not applicable to this program.

 

ABOUT THE COVER...

The design for the cover was created as follows: the original artwork was drawn black on white, then a negative was shot and reduced to the size of the final cover. The negative was placed on a light table and rephotographed with a standard 35mm SLR camera loaded with black and white film. The background elements of the negative were masked off and the foreground exposed (this was done to make the foreground brighter). Then the entire negative was exposed to reveal the background. Finally, the background was masked off again to reveal only the man, television, computer, disk drive and disks. A mask of posterboard with needle holes punched in it was placed over the foreground elements. A crosstar filter was placed over the camera lens, and then this was exposed as the third stage of the shot, to impart "starburst" pinpoints of light over the foreground elements. All of these exposures were "piled up" on the same frame of film in the camera. The film was developed, printed, and voila! Here is the cover to issue #5 of A.N.A.L.O.G.!