Compute! was a popular computer magazine for home computer users in the 1980s. In 1983 it was subtitled "The Leading Magazine Of Home, Educational, And Recreational Computing". It covered various popular home computer systems and even had spinoffs dedicated to particular systems such as the Commodore 64 and Apple II. The February 1983 issue of Compute! includes:
Features
How The Pros Write Computer Games - Software developers weigh in on the process of creating a game.
A Day At The RAces - A type-in racetrack simulation for the VIC-20 and Atari that is also meant to help teach you programming.
Spectra Video's New Home Computer - A look at the upcoming SpectraVideo SV-318 computer. It was based on a Z80 CPU and similar to MSX machines though not fully compliant with that standard (a later SpectraVideo machine would be).
Computer Talk Show - An article on an hour long radio talk show called Computer Talk in Dayton, Ohio.
Education and Recreation
Copy Cat - A type-in matching game for the VIC-20, Atari 400/800, TRS-80 Color Computer, Apple II, and PET/CBM.
Slalom - A type-in skiing game for the Atari 400/800 and PET/CBM.
Writing Effective Educational Programs - Factors to consider when using computers for education. Includes a type-in geometry-teaching program for the TI-99/4A, VIC-20, and TRS-80 Color Computer.
MASTERMAZE: Mazing In Three Dimensions - A multi-level maze type-in game for the VIC-20, Commodore 64, PET/CBM, and other Microsoft BASIC computers.</li
Reviews
Five VIC Games From Nufekop - This review includes Krazy Kong, Anti-Matter Splatter, 3-D Man, Exterminator, and Defender on Tri.
Apple Game Animation Package - Software for creating backgrounds and animated graphics on the Apple II.
Mazogs For Sinclair/Timex - A maze game for the Timex TS-1000, Sinclair ZX-81, and Sinclair ZX-80 in which you must collect the treasure.
Andromeda For Atari - A game for the Atari 400/800 in which you control a virus that you must manage to keep alive in a host body.
The Editor's Notes - Atari introduces the 1200XL, Atari video game sales decrease, Compute!'s Gazette announced.
Ask The Readers - Questions answered about function keys on the VIC-20, add-ons for the Commodore 64, the Atari 825 printer, various disk drives for Commodore computers, upgrading the PET, and more.
Questions Beginners Ask - Questions answered about player/missile graphics on the Atari 400/800 and sprites on the Commodore 64, and RAM amounts on the VIC-20 and Atari 400.
Computers and Society: Artificial Reality - Metaplay and creating an artificial reality.
The Beginner's Page: Writing An Arcade Game - An introduction to creating an arcade style game with some demonstration code.
Learning With Computers - Information on directories of educational software, programs for preschoolers, Children's Television Workshop Software for the Apple II, and more.
Journal
VIC Searcher - A type-in program designed to allow you to search through your code.
SuperFont Plus - A type-in program that gives you an ANTIC version of SuperFont.
Creating Graphics On The Expanded VIC - A type-in program that simplifies creating new character sets and graphics on a VIC-20 with at least 8K of RAM.
Vehicle Cost Performance - A type-in program for the Radio Shack Color Computer that helps you to analyze vehicle cost and performance.
Joysticks And Sprites On The Commodore 64 - A guide to reading joystick inputs in BASIC and moving sprites with the joystick.
Assembly Language And The PET - A beginner's guide to assembly language on the PET using a program that computes factorials as an example.
Simple OSI Graphics - A tutorial on memory mapped graphics on OSI computers.
Commodore 64 Video - A Guided Tour: Part I - The first part of a series on the Commodore 64 VIC chip.
Bi-Directional VIC Scrolling - A type-in program that allows you to scroll back and forth in your code.
PET Dynamic Bookkeeping - A type in bookkeeping program for the PET that serves to illustrate a tape based system.
VIC High-res Plotter - A type-in program for plotting mathematical equations on the VIC-20.
