by Jon Bell
This issue's editorial deals with bits and pieces. A lot has occurred since A.N.A.L.O.G. No. 9, so I want to mention a number of things concerning this issue, as well as what you're likely to see in our pages in the near future.
The response to the editorial in the last issue has been overwhelming. "Whither ATARI?" seemed to have touched a nerve among many ATARI owners, as well as from companies manufacturing ATARI software (see Reader Comment, page eight). Not surprisingly (to us), there was no response from anyone at ATARI, even though dozens of people at ATARI receive A.N.A.L.O.G. If we receive any word from the creators of our favorite home computers, we'll be sure to let you know.
There is a point that I'd like to clear up concerning the origins of "Whither ATARI?" The gentleman who wrote the editorial wrote it in conjunction with the editors of the Portland ATARI Club newsletter of Portland, Oregon. The editorial originally appeared in the October, 1982 edition of the P. A.C. newsletter. Due to a mutual misunderstanding, the credit for the article reprint was not given. For this I would like to apologize. Th e author's name was withheld at his request. I hope that the increased exposure of our thoughts, so well expressed in "Whither ATARI?" will in some manner influence the way ATARI sees its products - and the people who buy them.
At the time of this writing, it's still too early to announce the winners of our free cassette and disk subscriptions, or the winner of the Favorite Program/Article Contest. By the time you read this, however, we will have picked the winners of both, and will have contacted them. The Reader's Poll cards have been pouring in at the rate of hundreds per week, and the preliminary results have been very interesting. The final results of all cards received will be given in the next issue, but I can mention the changes that - we will be implementing in A.N.A.L.O.G., starting in this issue. In other words, you asked for it, you got it! Generally, our readers would like to see:
... more reviews of both hardware and software, with plenty of pictures. Our readers have indicated that they want to read tough, no-holds-barred reviews of ATARI products before spending their money.
... more beginner's programs in both BASIC and Assembly language.
... an increased emphasis on educational and business software.
... how to access bulletin board systems.
... and, not surprisingly, at least two games per issue.
Well, if you scan this issue, you can see that we have a great deal of reviews with pictures, a beginner's player/missile graphics article, an article on how to access bulletin board systems, and three games, including a super Assembly-language game from Tom Hudson, author of "Graphic Violence!", A.N.A.L.O.G. No. 8. Fans of a certain coin-op arcade game should get plenty of kicks from it.
First, the bad news. We have a very limited number of back issues still available. The only issues available are no.'s 2, 7, and 8. When these are gone, that's it. No back issue of A.N.A.L.O.G. will be reprinted, so those of you who have all the back issues should consider them collector's items. Now, the good news. We are going to be publishing, sometime in spring, The A.N.A.L.O.G. Compendium, a large-format book which will contain the best articles and programs from the first 10 issues of A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing. The Compendium will contain utilities, games, tutorials and demo programs. It will be available in your local computer store, or you can order it direct from us. However, please do not call us until we have announced shipment in. the magazine. We are not accepting advance orders now, so please be patient. I think you'll like it.
The staff of A.N.A.L.O.G. would like to thank the staff of The Higgins Armory Museum for allowing us the use of their facilities for the production of this issue.