EDITORIAL - 20th. January, 1992. by Phil Glover Welcome to issue two of the Sam Adventure Club disk. I hope you like the new text features which we're trying out. If we have any further ideas of how to improve the look of the disk, we shall do so. As I'm none-to-bright at programming, Dave has been hard at work improving the magazine, and I think he's done a great job, with the invaluable help of Nigel Kettlewell and David Haire. Please read as much as possible on the disk, and try out the BITS routine on the menu, to change screen colours. Our first issue was well-received by most people, including those not connected with adventuring. Since issue one, we've had many more letters from people curious to find out more about the club, so we many be increasing our membership over the next few weeks. I'd like to thank the many people who have given us support and help, especially the Samco newsletter and YOUR SINCLAIR, as they're responsible for keeping me very busy replying to dozens of letters, and so increasing the profits of W.H.Smiths due to increased sales of paper, stamps and envelopes. When Dave Whitmore and myself embarked on this project, we were unsure as to how it would fare, but now we are pleased with the club's progress, thanks to many of you who have been so helpful and supportive. As you can see from various features, letters and news, quite a few people have taken the trouble to help us out with aspects of the magazine, for which we are very appreciative. Of great interest in this issue is Nigel Kettlewell's demo adventure, written in machine code. David Haire has also been of great technical help, and we've received other contributions from Marc Broster, Tom Frost of Tartan Software (for letting us use RED DOOR), David Stewart for his EMUTILITY program and all of the screens, routines, letters and reviews we've received. Of course, we're always on the scrounge for more material, so that we can make the disk as large and as varied as possible. A full disk uses up a great deal of stuff, so we need as much as we can get, if we're to maintain the amount of material we publish. Thanks to OUTLET, for publishing the PD demo of OUTWRITE, which is on this disk. It's an excellent way to see if you like a program, by letting potential buyers have some 'hands-on' experience. Already we've seen demos of PRINCE OF PERSIA, SPHERA, HEXAGONIA, TRILTEX and even F-16 (I wonder how that's coming along!) Demos can be better than adverts and reviews, and even screen-shots, as you can get the 'feel' of the program. Thanks to the impressive efficiency of ENIGMA VARIATIONS and the Post Office (no, I'm not being sarcastic!) I now have a megabyte module to help with copying the disk magazine. I wrote to ENIGMA on the Friday before Christmas, they rang me the next day telling me they had just one in stock, and did I want it, and then sent it to me, arriving first post Monday morning, even though the Christmas post rush was at its height. Good going, I reckon. You should find an article on this disk giving a step-by- step guide to converting 48k PAW games to 100% Sam disk compatibility, which works a treat. We'd like to try and help publishers offer games on such a format, so volunteers with the necessary hardware and software would be welcome to help out. A Plus D system is needed (PERHAPS???) for conversion, and I hear that Jon Lemmon of COMPASS SOFTWARE and Larry Horsfield of FSF SOFTWARE have both bought Plus Ds, so they may be able to do part of the conversion themselves, as they are both experienced PAW users. One thing of a non-adventuring nature I'd like to mention is RADIO LOLLIPOP, the children's hospital charity. Apparently, a Sam Coupe was donated to them by Samco, but they're a bit short of software for it. If anyone has any free games, perhaps even written in BASIC, that may be suitable for children, RADIO LOLLIPOP would welcome them. I'll try sorting out some PD games I have, but anyone else with any, please let me know. It's a bit early to say what will be on issue three, but we have BEHIND CLOSED DOORS II, for those of you with a sense of humour to match our own, more reviews and news as we find it, as well as another article by Jon Rose. Now for a ROLL OF HONOUR for all the people who have helped the club and disk, in whatever way possible: Tim Kemp, Mark Turner, Norman Haigh, David Stewart, Ian Osborne, Brian Gaff, Dave Tonks, Jon Lemmon, Colin MacDonald, Jon Pillar, David Ledbury, David Wornham, Graham Burtenshaw, Steve Nutting, Alan Miles, Nigel Kettlewell, Marc Broster, John Wilson, David Haire, Colin Jordan, Brian and Ron Cavers, CONTACT PD, Terry Filby, Simon Ginsberg, Gareth Pitchford, Marion Taylor, Tom Frost, Frank Fridd, Mandy Rodrigues, Tony Collins and Jon Rose. (HAVE I MISSED ANYONE?!!) Thanks to all of you who have sent for this disk, as you are the ones we're trying to cater for. Remember, this is a club we're trying to run, so never hesitate to write to us or each other, as that's the best way to get the club working well. - Phil Glover -