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* R E V I E W S *
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SPECTRUM EMULATION RAMDISK (I. Spencer)
Review by D.Tonks
The aim of this utility, is to enable Spectrum programs that
LOAD and SAVE to Microdrive, Opus, Disciple etc, to be used on
the Sam.
There is of course the Lerm package, (reviewed in this issue)
but to use that your Spectrum program has to drop back to BASIC
to do a LOAD/SAVE. Of course not all programs do this, and this
is where RAMDISK is invaluable.
The basic idea of the program, is that the Sam is put into
Spectrum mode, but the extra memory of the Sam is used as a
ramdisk. The Spectrum ROM that is used, has been modified so
that any LOAD/SAVE commands are redirected and use the ramdisk
as though you had an Opus or Microdrive on the back. The normal
Opus command CAT 1, will show you the contents of the ramdisk,
and it is protected from both RANDOMIZE USR 0, and the reset
button.
There are 5 different ROMs that you can use with the utility.
Number 1 is a standard ROM, but has the Sam's printer routine
built in, and the NMI button resets the Spectrum. ROM number 2
does all its LOADing from cassete, but SAVEs to the ramdisk.
Number 3 is the reverse of this, and LOADs from ramdisk and does
and does it'SAVEes to tape. Number 4 is the one you will use
the most, and both LOADs and SAVEs to ramdisk. The last one is
set up to give you SNAPSHOTs of programs to disc, and doesn't
use thr ramdisc at all.
Disciple and Plus D users can load thier files using number
3 and their SNAP files are dealt with using numbers 4 and 5.
Because spare space is very limited in the Spectrum ROM, the
autor has not been able to implement commands such as ERASE and
RENAME. These are dealt with using a utility which is included
on the disc.
The package come with a very comprehensive and easy to read
manual. There are step by step instructions on the use of the
package, plus examples of the commands used. There are a couple
of demo files also on the disc, so that you can see the program
in action straight away.
The point of all this, is of course that once your files are
in the ramdisk, you have the option of saving them directly to
a Sam disc. They can be saved as single files, or you can save
the whole ramdisk as a superfile. These files can of course be
reloaded into ramdisk, and "LOADED" from there back into the
original program.
All in all, a very well put together utility, which will be a
boon to all those people who have programs on the Spectrum,
which, because of the loading and saving, would not normally
work on the Sam.
The program is available from:-
IAN SPENCER
FICHTENWEG 10C
5203 MUCH
WEST GERMANY
SAM TAPE 2 Review (LERM)
By Brian Mumford
This utility, produced by Lerm, is the best of its type I have
seen, it comes on tape, and is very easy to convert to disc,
even a thicko like myself can do it! The instruction manual is
easy to follow and gives you step by step instructions on how
to convert the tape to disc. The reason you have to do the
conversion yourself is that you must have a copy of the Spectrum
ROM on tape, as this is copyright, Lerm cannot supply it with
the package. There are two utilities on the tape one for
transferring your games to SAM disc, and one for transferring
your utilities like Tasword 2 to SAM disc. The first, called
SAM TAPE, loads as soon as you push F9 if you have the new ROM
and DOS, but will work equally as well with the old ROM, Lerm
include extra instruction with the package to help with any
problems you may come across when using the old ROM, anyway this
utility turns your SAM into a Spectrum with Multiface, so that
you can stop a game anywhere and either save it or poke it.
The second utility in the package will work equally as well
with either ROM, and is called SAMSPEC, this utility lets you
convert Tasword 2, and many other utilities written for the
Spectrum to work with SAM, it also lets you make things like
Tasword 2 load and save to SAM disc, also Print out using the
SAM printer interfaces, instructions for converting Tasword are
included in the manual, as are the instructions for converting
some of Lerm's own utilities, this is just to give an idea how
the conversions are done, the possiblities are endless. Lerm
also update your software for a small fee as they improve the
product which is a big plus, this firm has been going for many
years, supporting the Spectrum, so they know what is needed for
the SAM/Spectrum. I would highly recommend this package to all
our members. You can obtain a copy by sending a cheque or postal
order for £9.99p to LERM,11 BEACONSFIELD CLOSE,WHITLEY BAY,
DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH Reviewed by P.Tonks
I was looking forward to seeing the first commercail machine
code game on the Sam. When I loaded it up I was straight away,
very impressed with the graphics and sound. It is nice to see
a game that has no colour clash, and the stereo soundtrack adds
to the atmosphere.
The gameplay itself is, like nearly everthing today, very hard,
and I ended up getting killed quite a lot. The other problem I
had, was that the instructions are quite difficult to follow,
and I had to read them 2 or 3 times to make out what I was
supposed to be doing.
My mate has this on his ST, and he was very surprised that an
8 bit machine could give his 16 bit a run for it's money, as the
graphics are very close. If you run the sound through a stereo
amp, it is actually better than the ST's.
The characters are taken from a BBC cartoon program, and the
Sam version follows the story quite closely.
I am looking forward to seeing KICK OFF II from Anco, and I am
trying to get my dad to buy it for me.
EDITORS NOTE:-
Don't all go rushing off to cancel your subscription
to the ~Supplement~. We thought that being as this was the first
commercial machine code game for the Sam, we would do a review
of it. We shall not be turning into a disc version of ~CRASH~,
but we thought that some of you may like to know what the Sam
software was like. As Brian and myself do not really play games,
I got my 13 year old son and a slightly older ~games freak~ to
do the reveiwing for me.
If, as more software comes out, you would like to see the odd
non-serious reveiw, please write and let me know.
There is a demo of the actual playing screens, kindly donated by
Enigma Variations, on the program menu,(press "I"). If you run
this, you will have to clear the machine, and reload the Sam
Supplement from scratch. Use "SPACE" to change screens.
D.O.E. Reviewed by Keith Purcocks
This is the first machine code game that I have seen for the
SAM. I must admit as an EX 16 bit user, I thought that I would
never see an 8 bit machine come anywhere near the quality of
Graphics, Sound and Sprite movement of an Amiga or ST, but I'm
glad to say i was wrong.
The game is very smooth, the stereo
sound is superb, My only dislike is that I die very quickly
which is probably the player, NOT the program!!!!. Overall a
very good game from ENIGMA VARIATIONS and I look forward to
seeing other games of this calabre.
If nothing else, this game
proves once and for all that the SAM is not just a Spectrum
Clone.
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*N E W S*
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I think that everyone, must know by now, thht MGT went into
liquidation in JUNE. What some of you may not know, is that
although MGT are still not trading, a new offshoot has been
formed by Alan Miles, Bruce Gordon and some other interested
parties. This is know as Sam Computing Ltd, and will provide an
after sales service to all current Sam owners. They have teamed
up with PBT, the repair specialists and Enigma Variations, the
software publishers, to make sure that the Sam owner is catered
for in the future. You may have already had a letter off them
outlining their aims. If not, the good news is that the new ROMS
are now available from them. The bad news is they are charging
you for them. If you want more details, and haven't received a
letter yet, they can be contacted at the following address:-
7 Clevedon Court, Uplands, Swansea, SA2 0RG
THE ALL FORMATS COMPUTER SHOW (AUGUST 4/5)
I ventured into the BIG CITY on Saturday 4th August, to have a
look around the All Formats Show. The main reason being that
Alan Miles and Bruce Gordon were to be there, and I was very
interested in what they were proposing to do about the MGT state
of affairs. I don't think that there were as many people as I
imagined there, but non the less I had a good day.
Of course, meeting place for all Sam owners, was the Sam
Computing stand. This was right next to Enigma's stand and also
the PBT stand, with Steve Nutting making up the fourth. Steve
had various bits and pieces for sale, including his assembler
for the Sam. The PBT stand was also festooned with all manner of
odds and ends to make your computing more enjoyable. I picked up
a 2 meter printer cable for a fiver, plus a couple of disc boxes
with the MGT logo on for a pound each. Enigma had a variety of
Sam software for sale. Their Defender of the Earth was on show
plus a demo of the forthcoming shoot em up. They also had a
games compilation, but modesty forbids me to go into details.
The Sam stand itself, was a hive of activity, with people vying
with each other to talk to Alan and Bruce. They had a complete
range of Sam's and add-ons for sale, and most were at special
"show prices". For instance a Sam complete with Drive was to be
had for £199. They had also got some of the latest ROM's for
sale, and I eagerly snapped one up.
After the excitment of the Sam stand, the rest of the show
was a little bit of a come down. Non the less, there were still
bargains to be had, and one of our members picked up a 1 meg
3 and a half inch NEC disc drive for £45. This of course would
fit either the Opus or the Sam.
The other great thing about these sort of gatherings, is
that you get to meet some nice people. I met a few people, who
I had written to and phoned for quite a time, but never met.
All together a very enjoyable day, and I look forward to
the next.
oooOOOoooooooOOOOOOoooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooOOOOOOOo
Just a final thought.. If you have received good service from
a supplier, then why not write in and tell the rest of us. Also
if you know of a supplier who stocks Sam bits and pieces, we
may be able to compile some kind of countrywide list. Of course
the reverse also applies and I will publish names and addresses
of suppliers and shops, who you think give bad sevice. I would
appreciate some kind of proof of this, as I haven't got time to
fight libel acttons, and write this mag.
I'll start the ball rolling with a shop in Birmingham, who
have in stock, or can get quickly, most Sam hardware. They will
also do a mail order service to mainland Britain, if you pay the
postage. They are:-
COMPUTERWIZE
394 BIRMINGHAM RD.
WYLDE GREEN
BIRMINGHAM
TEL:-021 382 3252
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