Source: Commodore Power Play – Volume 1, Number 1 – January 1982
Commodore Power/Play was one of a few different magazines published by Commodore over the years (Commodore Magazine was the last). Commodore Power/Play focused on gaming and other fun or hobby related things you could do with your computer as opposed to business or productivity uses. The January 1982 issue would have been out before the Commodore 64 was released so its focus was on the VIC-20 with some coverage of the more business oriented PET line.
The January 1982 issue (which was the premiere issue) of Commodore Power/Play includes:
- Braindrops – An introduction to the brand new Commodore Power/Play magazine.
- We’re Glad You Asked – Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the VIC-20. Why do I sometimes have problems loading programs from cassette tapes? How is a modem hooked up to the VIC? Answers to these questions and much more…
- And Now A Word From Our Sponsor – An intro to the magazine by Kit Spencer, Vice President of Marketing for Commodore at the time.
Fun…
- Access: Commodore User Groups – Contact information for Commodore user groups around the U.S. and Canada.
- The VIC Magician – Short little programming tricks for the VIC-20.
- Play Blackdragon – Blackdragon was an online role playing game available on The Source, one of the online services that were available at the time. This particular game happened to work well with the VIC-20. This article takes you through a session.
- A Little VIC Music – A type-in program that plays a song on the VIC-20. The song itself is not given so that it will be a surprise.
- VIC 20 Helps Deliver the News – A story about a kid who wrote a program on his VIC-20 to help with his paper route. It keeps track of customers, money owed, and even includes an animated map.
- Maryland “VIC-ar” Computerizes Sermons – A story about a minister who keeps track of his sermons using a VIC-20. I think this is the father of the kid in the story above.
- No More Pencils, No More Books – Educational software that (supposedly) makes learning fun.
Games…
- Joystick Control on the VIC – A technical article on reading joystick input with a VIC-20. Program samples are included.
- Great Cartridge Games for the VIC-20 – An overview of the best cartridge based games available for the VIC-20. Titles mentioned include VIC Avenger, Jupiter Lander, VIC Super Alien, Lord of the Skies, Gorf, Omega Race, Wizard of Wor, Midnight Drive, Radar Rat RAce, Raid on Fort Knox, Super Slot, Draw Poker, Adventureland Adventure, Pirate Cove Adventure, Mission Impossible Adventure, The Count Adventure, Voodoo Castle Adventure, Sargon II Chess, and more.
- Flip Out with VICFLIP-IV – A type-in program that gives you a game similar to Othello.
…And Beyond
- Tele/Scope – The VICMODEM brings mainframe computing home. This article gives an overview of the types of services you can access with your VIC-20 and a modem.
- JINSAM Gives a Golden Anniversary Party – Using the JINSAM database management system to organize an anniversary.
- Best Books – A list of some of the best Commodore related books as determined by the editors of Commodore Power/Play. Titles include Hands-on BASIC with a PET, VIC 20 Programmer’s Reference Guide, BASIC from the Ground Up, and more.
- Book Review – A review of the VIC-20 Programmer’s Reference Guide. I have the Commodore 64 version around somewhere…
- Program Review – A review of Commodore’s Introduction to BASIC software package written by someone who used it to learn BASIC
- Get Serious – New products for “serious” computer usage including new hard drives (the D9060 and D9090), a new dual floppy drive (8250), Cobol for the SuperPET, UCSD Pascal, CMAR Multi-Key File Access System, and ATLAS 1200 Equipment Maintenance System.
- Future File – News about the upcoming Commodore 64 and Commodore MAX. The Commodore 64 would go on to become the best selling home computer in history. The Commodore Max was on the opposite end of that scale.
…and more!
