NEW PRODUCTS

by The Program Doctors

Things are happening fast in ATARI computerland. Business partnerships, new software, new joysticks, and an outstanding speech synthesizer have all come about since we last talked.

In a move to get a share of the burgeoning home computer market, CBS has signed a marketing agreement with K-Byte (K-RAZY SHOOTOUT). There will be a delay of about two months in the release of K-Byte's three new cartridges, K-RAZY KRITTERS, K-RAZY ANTIKS, and K-STAR PATROL, since all new packaging and advertising will be prepared by CBS. We've seen these games, and as we've told you before, they are well worth waiting for. This agreement, along with CBS's working agreement with Bally, is just the beginning of their move into the ATARI PCS market.

What would you do if you won $25,000? Put a down payment on a house, buy a Porsche, or pay your MasterCharge bill? After winning the first ATARI Star Award for MY FIRST ALPHABET, Fernando Herrera has done the only sensible thing and started his own software company. He has further capitalized on his achievement by naming his organization First Star Software. We have been told by a very reliable source that his ASTRO CHASE is dynamite. This all machine language arcade game is planned for release in late October.

The amount of new software that has recently been hitting the market is overwhelming and most of it is top-notch. One of the best comes to us from across the ocean. AIRSTRIKE, from English Software Company, has to be one of the hardest games we have ever played since Theo (for our new readers, Theo is our 800) became a member of our family. In a typical SYPFAD scenario (Save Your Planet From Absolute Destruction), this one or two player game artistically employs a horizontally scrolling screen as you fly your Mark V fighterbomber across the Fortress of Gemini. You will encounter everything but the kitchen sink in this mission. Surface-to-air missiles attack you from below, meteor showers attack from above, fission bombs attack from everywhere and sliding airlocks attempt to block your path unless you can neutralize them with your laser cannon. Ammunition and fuel dumps dot the landscape, and you must destroy them to refuel your ship and reload your arsenal. (Your supplies are limited, naturally - we told you this game was hard!) As you progress to higher levels, the amount of fuel and ammo your ship can carry is decreased due to higher gravity. The key to this game is timing and control, as the speed of the enemy defense system is directly related to the speed of your fighter-bomber. This program can only be run with the data-lock key (included) that must be plugged into joystick port #4. This arcade quality game is outstanding in all respects with two exceptions. A joystick used in the conventional manner controls your ship, with the fire button shooting your laser cannons. But in order to drop a bomb you must hit the space bar. Unless you are a three-handed alien from Arcturus you will find this maneuver quite klutzy. Secondly, when you are hit, rather than starting your next fighter at the point of destruction, you are sent back to one of two starting points depending on how far you have progressed. This game is hard enough without these added frustrations.

TRACK ATTACK

Broderbund's TRACK ATTACK is an outstanding translation of the original by Bill Hooper (The Solitaire Group-MATCH RACER). Based on the cops and robbers theme, you have a chance to not only steal the gold, but jump across the beautifully displayed Broderbund Express and steal the whole train. In three different screens, TRACK ATTACK boasts some of the finest graphics seen to date. Upcoming releases from Broderbund include CHOPLIFTER, DAVID'S MIDNIGHT MAGIC, SEAFOX, STAR BLAZER, SERPENTINE, DUELING DIGITS, LABYRINTH, and a 16K cassette version of APPLE PANIC.

Back in the dog days of the summer of '81, when we were dying for quality software, there was a football prediction program available from Adventure International entitled PROPIX '81. It was a nice try, but didn't quite make it. The author of that program, Russ Wetmore, must have realized that he could not make a living gambling so he enrolled in a programming school. He obviously graduated summa cum laude -because PREPPIE, also from Al, has everything that can be gotten out of the bits of the CPU. With the aid of many excellent utilities such as MICROPAINTER, THE NEXT STEP, and ATARI MACROASSEMBLER, Wetmore has created a work of computer art that is destined to become a classic. In the guise of Wadsworth Overcash, a freshman fraternity pledge, you are sentenced to a full day of golf ball retrieval on the world's most dangerous course, the Nasty Nine. Hindering your progress are golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, alligators, rolling logs, streams, and a huge killer frog. This program is outstanding in so many areas it must be seen to be fully appreciated. The playfield resembles a full-color cartoon and you will find yourself unconsciously humming the music. Obviously, you must avoid being hit by vehicles on the course, but we recommend you see it at least once to see how you look as a pancake. This game is so polished that even the instruction booklet must be mentioned. It's hysterical!

The Scott Adams Adventure Series has gone graphic!!! Now you can see all the puzzles and perils that have teased and frustrated you in the past. Unlike the On-Line Hi-Res adventures, the S.A.G.A. series uses animation, different perspectives, and full color. PIRATE ADVENTURE is the first of the series to be converted to graphics. If this is any indication of how the remaining eleven will be done, we are in for a real treat. Even if you have solved PIRATE ADVENTURE in its original text version, do it again! You'll enjoy it.

PREPPIE

The cartridge business is picking up. In the near future, all of the following programs will be available in ROM packs!: CROSSFIRE (On-Line); WIZARD OF WOR, DELUXE INVADERS,  GORF (Roklan); EMBARGO, FIREBIRD, RUSSKI DUCK (Gebelli); and SPEEDWAY BLAST (I.D.S.I.). Already available is a ROMcrammed version of I.D.S.I.'s POOL 1.5, entitled POOL 400. The way that I.D.S.I. has taken their original 48K program, kept all the great features, and put it into a 16K cartridge is truly remarkable. POOL 400 should satisfy all the Hoppes and Masconis who are memory and/or disk drive deficient. It is played with a joystick instead of a paddle; aligning shots and adding english is simple even for the youngest hustlers.

POOL 400

We heard a rumor that scented software (Eau do Cartridge) is on the way from ... (are you ready for this!) ... AVON! By this time next year expect a lot more cartridges from many companies, and probably a piece of hardware added to the ROM packs to stop those stupid cartcopy utilities (i.e. THE BLOCK - "back up your cartridges" - COME ON, BE SERIOUS! How many cartridges have you ruined?)

Jerry White hasn't been sleeping on his qwerty board. Since TRIVIA TREK he has translated POKER TOURNEY for Artworx, a five card draw tournament that will thoroughly relax the ardent arcaders. It's you against six other card sharks who each possess individual card playing characteristics. Based on the rules of the poker parlors in Gardenia, California, POKER TOURNEY is both challenging and stimulating. The cards appear as realistic as if you had pasted a deck on your TV.

Jerry has written many fine utility packages, but he has really outdone himself with JERRY WHITE'S MUSIC LESSONS. This outstanding tutorial from Swiftware will teach you everything you wanted to know about programming music and sound in ATARI Basic. There is a marvelous demo of special effects, and programs teaching sound generation, chording of all major scales, sound related poke locations, and a sing-a-long routine. Including PLAYER PIANO (second in the series), which turns your computer into a twenty note mini-piano with a full, graphically accurate screen display of the piano keyboard, this package contains thirteen separate programs.

POKER TOURNEY

Several programs designed for the youngest members of your family have been released from Sub-Logic. These programs are geared for children ages 4-12, and include two arcade games and three adventure type games with graphics. ROBBY, THE ROBOT CATCHER, SKY RESCUE, ADVENTURE ON A BOAT, GHOSTLY MANOR, and THE BLACK FOREST are all simple enough for the kids to play well, yet they incorporate enough challenge to hold their attention. Sub-Logic has not forgotten about Mom and Dad and will be converting their popular pinball simulation A2-PB1 in the very near future. With ten levels of play and 40-user adjustable parameters for creating your own customized games, this program promises to be something special.

Three companies have come to our rescue in the "when will somebody make a better joystick?" department. After thorough testing on several different types of games, we feel that two of these companies have come close but one of them really seems to know what you want. Wico, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial arcade controls, is introducing a line of joystick products called COMMAND CONTROL, the first of which is now available. This is a very impressive looking piece of equipment, however, it is very large, somewhat loose, and lacks consistent accuracy. Game- Tech's new joystick, PRO-STICK, lacks smooth cornering ability in the maze games, and directional control in firing is inconsistent. This product is also very tiring to use, due to the size of the base. It does not fit comfortably in your hand, and even placing it on a hard surface did not solve the problems. Both of these products surpass the ATARI joystick only in durability, and in comparison they are both rather expensive. But don't give up hope yet. Suncom has released a line of products that not only solve the above mentioned design problems, but are moderately priced. The STARFIGHTER is billed as "the ultimate joystick" and they might be right. It is smaller than all the others, including ATARI's, and it won't cramp your hand during marathon arcade sessions. Response and accuracy are excellent (wait until you try the angle shots in K-RAZY SHOOTOUT). The SLIK STIK is Suncom's lower priced model, and carries a shorter warranty period. For you southpaws who can't get it together no matter what joystick you use, complain no more. Suncom's LEFTY JOYSTICK ADAPTOR enables you to hold the joystick with the fire button in the upper right hand corner and maintain proper directional control. Both Suncorn and Wico will have joystick extension cords.

Don't Ask Computer Software has released a product that you Must Ask for. And if you don't, it can ask for itself. We're talking about S.A.M., the Software Automatic Mouth, a speech synthesizer on DISK!! No expensive hardware to buy! This exciting breakthrough gives you an unlimited vocabulary, full inflection control, separate speed and pitch control and more for only $59.95. Accessed easily from Basic, S.A.M. will amaze your friends and breaks the ground for an entire new generation of software. This program is a must for every ATARI computer owner.

By now we're sure you have noticed that our column has changed. With this new format, we can bring you more information, keep you more current with the industry and cover a wider range of products. We would appreciate any comments, suggestions or criticisms (take it easy on the bad stuff - our egos are very fragile).