+++* LETTERS PAGE *+++ Our first lot of letters since launching issue one of the club disk has been very good, as I think you'll agree. We've printed a dozen or so letters, or parts of letters which we think are of interest. The letters page promises to become a very interesting feature, where you can have your say. Written or typed letters are fine, but if you can supply them as either Tasword II or OUTWRITE files, it'd save a lot of keyboard-bashing. We've received far more letters than those below, and if you like the letters page, tell us, and we'll try and cram more in, until we find a reasonable level. The following pages contain letters from: Gareth Pitchford, Graham Burtenshaw, Brian Gaff, Terry Filby, Marion Taylor, Simon Ginsberg, Steve Nutting ,Tim Kemp, Ernie Swinhoe, Philip Powell, David Haire and Norman Haigh. Thanks to all of you for taking the trouble to write, an dthanks to all the others, who, although not having had their leters published, have received personal replies, unless I'm getting absent-minded. If you'd like to write to us, or discuss any points raised within the letters page, please write to : Phil Glover, 43 Ferndale Rd, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 9AU ================================================================ From Gareth Pitchford, 45 Underwood Drive, Whitby, Ellesmere Port, SOUTH WIRRAL. L65 9BH Dear Phil, I hope you managed to get MICROFAIR MADNESS (128k) to load - if not, don't hesitate to send your cassette back to Scott Denyer. He's just re-recorded the masters to all his games in an effort to improve the quality of the sound from his +2a, so there should be no further problems. When I get a re-recorded version of MM (48k) myself I'll send you a copy on Sam disk so that you can compare it with the 128k version. Talking about Sam versions, David Ledbury of ZAT has approached DELBERT THE HAMSTER SOFTWARE about the possibility of producing and marketing SAM disk versions of the games. Scott seems fairly interested in this so Sam disk versions of MM, DESMOND and FLAWS (not to mention all the new versions coming soon!) should hopefully be available soon. BRIAN, by the way, does incorporate a password system (which may make a Sam disk version simpler) - neither Scott or myself like the dataload method. I always feel as though I've missed something vital in the previous part, etc. when I play the game with this method used in it. Enclosed are some reviews for your disk. They are LOST DRAGON, THE COMPASS COLLECTION and CORYA (as reviewed in ADVENTURE PROBE) I'm probably going to rewrite the COMPASS review and send it in for next month's PROBE - with the words PLAYED ON SAM 512k in very LARGE letters! If there's any article, feature, or review that I can help out with/write then please don't hesitate to ask me! I agree with your view that if the readership of the Sam Adventure Club gets involved it will produce a lively, interesting read. You wondered how you could improve your review section. Personally I find that rating systems lose their value when games are being reviewed by a large number of people (in a club, etc.) How about including a 'soft-ography' for the author whose game is reviewed, or a small selection of his best games, so that the readers know what else they've written? - Gareth Pitchford Dear Gareth, Thanks for the reviews, which I'm sure we'll be able to publish. I'm unsure about any particular articles we'd like to be written, but anyone who gets sudden inspiration for an article would be a most welcome contributor. I'm glad to hear that you'd write "Played on the SAM 512k", or whatever, because it helps to bring people's attention to Sam. I've just reviewed a game for RED HERRING which should also credit Sam with being the machine the game was played on. Good luck with your mock A- levels in January (I wasn't clever to stay on for mine!) ================================================================ From Graham Burtenshaw, of ENCELADUS disk magazine, 6 Rawlins Avenue, Worle, Weston-super-Mare, AVON. BS22 0FN Dear Phil, Thanks for issue 1 of the adventure club magazine. I liked it a lot and have written a "bit" about it in ENCELADUS 8, enclosed. Also enclosed is a blank disk for issue 2 which I look forward to seeing. I was very interested in the Spectrum conversion technique you mentioned (to make 48k PAWed games 100% Sam disk compatible) - any more details or do I have to wait until issue 2?! One last thing - if you know of any adventures which I could use in ENCELADUS (for all I know you have a huge stock of such games) let me know, since we haven't featured any since issue 6 - Graham Burtenshaw Dear Graham, Thanks for issue 8 and the blank disk. How on earth do you keep improving the standard of ENCELADUS? There may be an article of the 48k Spectrum PAW routine on this disk, written by Dave Whitmore. We may print it out and send it to PAW writers who may not even have Sams, in case they may consider writing any adventures so that they would be capable of conversion. Sorry, we don't have a little stockpile of adventures just at the moment. We're on the look-out for adventures for the disk as it is, but if we find some to share around, we'll let you know! If they're to be free games, then it may be worth contacting Tim Kemp, as he runs the Spectrum PD adventure library, and may be of assistance. ================================================================ The following three letters are concerned with the new Sam CP/M emulator, Pro-Dos, which may allow more adventures to run on SAM. Coverage of Pro-Dos should increase as more is learnt about this potentially exciting utility. ---------------------------------------------------------------- From Brian Gaff, of B.G.Services, 64 Roebuck Road, Chessington, SURREY. KT9 1JX (Telephone: 081 397 0763) Dear Phil, Great to hear from you again. I will try to explain about CP/M, but it's a huge subject! Firstly, we cannot call it CP/M 2.2, as we would then be sued by Digital Research! They want `10,000 for the licence! What has been done is to create a system that behaves like CP/M, but uses no copyright code. We will be calling it Pro-Dos. The basic CP/M concept is for an environment that is the same as far as the program is concerned no matter whar actual hardware is being used. For instance, CP/M 2.2 runs on the CPC 6128, and it should be possible to take a program and run it on that machine, and on Sam under Pro-Dos. Programs that can be configured easily to work on many machines are known as Generic versions. Many programs are not like this, unfortunately, but there are a heck of a lot that do work. The disk format we are using is as used on the PCW B: drive as this will make it easier to get the software. Now that the PCWs have 3.5" drives, there should be quite a lot of PD around. There are no graphics in CP/M, and it uses a standard 80 column VT52 screen. So far most of the programs we have running are things like utilities, word processors and other serious software, but we also have what you might call the ultimate in minimalist games. How about Pacman, Space Invaders ot Tetris all using character graphics! As for adventures, if you can find some sources of the programs, I will be glad to check them out. Basically, if it runs under CP/M 2.2, and can use a VT52 screen, it should work under Pro-DOS. The price has been decided at `28 + `2 p&p. There is a PD disk available for `1 extra, which has a lot of commonly used utilities, some games, a version of BASIC, a word processor and a database on it. Yours sincerely, Brian Gaff Dear Brian, Thanks for the details about Pro-Dos. We'll look forward to its arrival and watch out for reviews. If adventures do indeed run on it, I think I'll soon be a customer of yours. ---------------------------------------------------------------- From Terry Filby, 98 St Georges Road, Beccles, SUFFOLK. NR34 9YA Dear Phil, I very much appreciate the disk you sent. As soon as I get Pro-Dos CP/M from Brain I'll begin writing a reviev for you which I will send as soon as it's finished. As to adventures in CP/M, apart from COLOSSAL CAVE, I've had numerous adventures from ADVANTAGE. Not all are PD, but some of them are. They are ARNOLD GOES TO SOMEWHERE ELSE, TRIAL OF ARNOLD BLACKWOOD, WISE AND FOOL OF ARNOLD BLACKWOOD, BESTIARY, ESCAPE FROM ARGC, etc. Not all run under CP/M directly, but in Mallard BASIC, or similar, and one in 'C' language. All run under CP/M initially. (ADVANTAGE, 56 Bath Road, Cheltenham.) The adventures from ADVANTAGE I got from their PCW range when I had a Spectrum +3, and was able to run them on that, but, of course, it was version CP/M+, not 2.2, so I'm not sure they will run. I sold all the disks when my +3 blew up and I bought the Sam, not thinking I would be able to get any CP/M on the Coupe! P.S. I haven't told Brian Gaff about the ADVANTAGE progs. Dear Terry, I'll look forward to hearing from you about Pro-Dos, whenever you can manage to review it. Your experience with CP/M on the Spectrum +3 should give you a little more insight to the utility than newcomers to CP/M. By the time this disk is published, Pro-Dos should be available, and we'll soon be able to see what it can do. Thanks in advance for your help - Phil. ---------------------------------------------------------------- From: Marion Taylor of RED HERRING, 504 Ben Jonson House, Barbican, LONDON. EC2Y 8DL Dear Phil, I've used CP/M with the ST once or twice, but I know nothing much about how it works. I notice that in The Guild advert in this coming issue of RED HERRING there is a mention of games which need CP/M - Maybe a quick word with Tony Collins might help, even though he is working with Amstrads. It's a pity your letter came just a little too late for me to mention the new ProDOS and also your success in converting PAWed Spectrum adventures, but I've finished and printed out the pages and I'm now making the little holes in the pages! I think I'm going to start a confetti business as a sideline. I'll ask if anyone knows or can find out about ProDOS. I'm glad the adventure magazine is going well, thanks for the mention. Keep up the good work. Merry Christmas - Marion. ================================================================ From Simon Ginsberg, 263, Rocky Lane, Perry Barr, Birmingham, WEST MIDLANDS. B42 2QY Dear Phil, I am writing once again as I have just phoned up Gilsoft again. The reply was the same, but this time I also got a reason for this as they said that not enough Sams have been sold. I also gave COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAMES a bell and spoke to their editor Tim Boon about why there have been no reviews or articles about Sam. His reply was that C & VG is only going to be a 16-bit magazine from now on. Personally, I think that they are missing out on a good thing, but I suppose it's their loss. I hope to get in touch with a few software companies like CODE MASTERS, US GOLD, OCEAN and maybe a few 16-bit only companies, so I'll write back as soon as I know something. Yours faithfully - Simon Ginsberg Thanks for contacting Gilsoft, Simon. I, too, have recently written, asking under what circumstances they may possibly consider a Sam version of PAW. The chances seem slim indeed, until Sam sales make it financially worthwhile for them, but us Sam users have learnt to be patient, and perhaps such a utility may be possible one day. If Gilsoft reply before publication of this issue, we'll print their letter. - Phil ================================================================ From Steve Nutting, Steve's Software, 7 Narrow Close, Histon, Cambridge, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. CB4 4XX Dear Phil, Thanks for issue one. It has turned out quite well put together. Enclosed: SC_PD1 and SC_PD2 (SC_COMPRESSOR 2) with compliments. My new screen compressor crunches screen$ down 15% better than my original compressor, now with auto-uncompress screen$ and multiple slideshows. I hope you like it, and could use it for your adventure club, as I see you have many advert screens. Could you put me on the list for a copy of issue 2? My next newsletter should be out soon. All the best - S.J.Nutting. Thanks for the disks, Steve. I'll pass them on to Dave Whitmore to assess with all his technical know-how! We are looking for ways to save disk-space, and SC_COMPRESSOR 2 may be just the job. For any readers wishing to see Steve's utility, it costs a mere `1.50, with a detailed printed manual. ================================================================ The following is edited from a most interesting letter from Tim Kemp (who has better computer hardware than me!) From Tim Kemp, 36 Globe Place, Norwich, NORFOLK. NR2 2SQ Dear Phil, Seasons greetings! I keep putting pen to paper (or rather print head to paper) but never seem to get around to posting what I write. So, fingers crossed, this letter will get finished, printed and sent! Glad a few people got in touch with you from the YOUR SINCLAIR mention. A few enquiries are better than none. Nice to see that bit in the Sam supplement bit (of YS) too! I did say a while back that I thought YS were heading towards more Sam coverage. Let's hope a permanent column is added sometime soon. I wonder what the chances are of getting Gilsoft's QUILL up and running (under Speccy emulation) on the Coupe? Have you or Dave thought of approaching Gilsoft with a view to twiddling around with it to get it working? Anyway, moving on... seems to me that you have done a rather excellent job with the Sam adventure disk. Well done. It was interesting all the way through (naturally being all to do with adventures) and is certainly the best value for money around! I've just started subscribing to ZAT as I think it looks pretty good. There is one thing I don't like about the adventure disk zine (gasp) and that was that there were afew too many key combinations to flip between pages, select from the menu, etc. Still, that could be me being unfamiliar with the Coupe keyboard. If there's anything you want to cull from any future FROM BEYONDs to put in your 'zine, then please feel free to go ahead. Some of the news items (especially the Compass ones) are fairly exclusive and may be worth including. Just use whatever you want, news, info from articles, info on authors etc. Might as well spread it around a bit. - Tim Kemp * Tim also mentioned in his letter that FROM BEYOND will probably remain bi-monthly, and should improve in quality as he's getting a DTP around Christmas time, for his Apple MAC Dear Tim, Thanks for your letter, and I'm glad you like the disk. You may find the new text-handling routines better on this disk, but we'll always be keeping an eye open for improved means of presentation. It's good of you to let us scour the pages of FB for interesting items. I'm sure that you'd be welcome to sift through our material in return, as we're all interested in promoting adventuring. Since your letter, we've received even more enquiries thanks to YOUR SINCAIR, so we're very grateful for your help. Good luck for the new year, and I'll look forward to seeing the next FROM BEYOND. ================================================================ From Ernie Swinhoe, 24 Waller Drive, Pinner Road, Northwood, MIDDLESEX. HA6 1BW Dear Phil, Many thanks for sending me your first issue of your magazine. I think it is a most interesting and well though out disk. I am an OAP who likes the Sam, but mostly for word- processing, etc. I have never gone in for adventures much, as I get frustrated and have never finished one yet. Thanks for SC_ SPECLONE. I have used it on one or two "old" Spectrum disks. Yes, I would like to see your number 2 disk, so I enclose an SAE, etc. Perhaps I can become converted?! Yours sincerely with thanks - Ernie. Dear Ernie, Thanks for your comments. I hope we can indeed help convert you to adventuring! Most adventurers are only too willing to help other with help and advice, as we've all had to learn, and I'm sure we all know the meaning of frustration. Do write and let us know how you progress. Some of the best adventure players and writers are of 'mature' years. I'm almost at the 40 year mark, and hope to be playing adventures for some considerable time. (Perhaps I'll manage to learn how to write a game when I retire!) - Phil ================================================================ From Philip Powell, 75 Booths Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham, WEST MIDLANDS. B42 2RG Dear Phil, Re your recent letter and disk: Yes please, I would certainly like to be a member of your adventure club. Please send any information about the future as and when you can. I don't want to see the Sam become a dinosaur. Yours sincerely - Philip Powell. Dear Philip, I, too, have no wish to see the Sam become a dinosaur! At the moment, things seem to be going quite well for Sam, with plenty of activity and new software appearing fairly frequently. Most people who I know that have Sams are very pleased with them, and want the machine to do well. For a computer with little financial backing for advertising, it's already proved it's abilities on the hardware front, probably more so than the Spectrum. - Phil ================================================================ From David Haire, 50 Chadswell Heights, Lichfield, STAFFORDSHIRE. WS13 6BH Dear Phil, I'm glad to hear that the Club is continuing to grow. Hopefully there will be a few more adventures for the Coupe (mine included!) Talking of my adventure, I hope to have it completed for Easter.It is called ENLIGHTENMENT, and it's a text -only adventure, split into three sections, FAITH, TRUTH and DESTINY. Set within the Celtic legends, it details the quest of an individual for the truth about gods and devils. It is being written without MasterDOS or MasterBASIC. This is due to two considerations. Firstly, not everyone will own the two, and secondly, most of the 'Not Understood' messages were being produced within MasterBASIC. These seem to have mainly disappeared since I switched back to normal BASIC. I have incorp- orated an 'advanced' input routine, which enables full-scale editing, as found within MasterBASIC, and the ability to recall the previous command. RAMSAVE and RAMLOAD are also included. If you, or indeed anyone else, has any preferences as to what features should be included in the adventure, please tell me, and I will see what I can do. One condition, though: NO GRAPHICS! - David Haire Dear David, What an encouraging letter! Even if your adventure is delayed (as are other Sam titles!) it sounds as though you're making some excellent headway on adventure-writing on Sam. If we can offer any help, or services, don't hesitate to ask. The least we can do is to let people know about your game. Please keep us informed as to your progress, and if there's any chance of a screenshot or demo of your game, we'd love to see it! Thanks for asking for any ideas as to features that could be in the game. I've taken the liberty of writing an article on this disk expressing a few of my favourite preferences for adventure features, and I'm sure other people may also like to suggest a few features, or comments on adventure routines, etc. (A subtle hint to any readers wishing to write to us!) ================================================================ The final letter contains some bits probably better suited to the classified section, from Norman Haigh, who sent the letter in disk-form, which is printed with minor editing for space reasons only: From Norman Haigh, 103 Longfield Avenue, Golcar, Nr Huddersfield WEST YORKSHIRE. HD7 4AZ Dear Phil, Have also File Master from Betterbytes for sale on 3.5" disk. Secondhand stall at Market produced the following Spectrum tape software: The Ship of Doom, Espionage Island, The Extricator, Secret Mission, Graphic Adventure Creator. All are already in my collection purchased for reselling. Kentilla, SuperCom, Times of Lore, Swords & Sorcery, These four are for adding to collection. Since he also threw in seven 3.5" discs charging only `6.00 for everything cost of the four adventures and Adventure Creator can be had for p&p. For the ZX81 I recall only Ghost Town and Volcanic Dungeon, from the introduction of the rubber keyed Spectrum something less than 50% are in my collection. Some of the more obscure and the generally unavailable listed below. Not a list of MY TOP 10, I would be hard pressed to decide on such a list. Some adventures are favoured more than others simply because of the subject. PIMANIA..From the early days of adventuring, decidedly offbeat adventure from AUTOMATA. This particular adventure offered prize something quite substantial. Few locations available, that an enhanced version might be again produced is being considered. GROUCHO.Follow up to PIMANIA Don't have this particular release Hollywood trip was the prize offered. Wouldn't have considered this as an adventure. The above 2 were released in 1982, copies rarely seen nowadays, RED MOON.Released by Level 9, unfortunately a bug exists which is widely known. An imput that overcomes some of the problems encountered in this adventure. Science Fantasy, Treasures to find and Magic Spells to use. An adventure I reccommend. SEALED CITY. Released by Double Play Adventures. Only recently located, you are trapped in a city of Tombs and Temples pursuedb by monsters and must escape. CASTLE BLACKSTAR. Released by SCR Adventures in 1984. Quest to enter Castle and recover the Power Orb from its vast underground caverns. Difficult to map, involving underground caverns, towers battlements and ground floor locations. An adventure I have enjoyed playing. THE BIMBLES.Wombles spoof in which you play the part of FUNGO. You must find out who is destroying your burrows and stop them. TEASTRAINER. The Adventures of Brook Bond Vol.1 this adventure was found in the software columns of YS. The prototype packet of world-beating tea has fallen into the hands of Maxwell Owse and Marcel Blender. You must recover it or the Government will be if ruins. Sequels were promised. SOHO MISSION.128k., SOHO SEX QUEST, HERPES OR BUST, LEO WANKER, JACKS NIGHT OUT - These were advertised as Adult adventures, LEO I found quite amusing, the names mentioned in this adventure probably familiar to the author. Found MISSION and JACK have no redeeming features DOOMSDAY.128k Believe this adventure may be released for Coupe, with omission of one location that might be considered as being questionable. One location featured or mentioned vivisection. I have made little progress with this aAdventure. CELL OF THE RIDGES. Those who subscribe to ENCADULUS will have seen this adventure, from the pen of the author of DOOMSDAY. THE SANDMAN COMETH.Intrigued by the title of this early Spectrum release. Locations lack a full graphic description. From start position you have only one exit, a door , mat and plaque shown in graphics but only plaque mentioned in the text. Imput LIFT MAT reveals BRASS KEY. DONT PANIC PANIC NOW, Released by Dented Designs. As Arfur Bent your task is to save the Universe from destruction. GREMLINS. One of the titles released by Mysterious Adventures. 1983, loosely based on the film. RIGEL'S REVENGE.Budget release but one that received favourable reviews. RAVEN.128k.Released by Eighth Day Software who no longer trade. This a Sherlock Holmes adventure. Eighth Day Software released some 12 titles, some may still be availalable from GI Games. On subject matters to cover all tastes. THEY SAY THE WORLD WILL END IN FIRE AND ICE. Very impressive title, have little to say about the adventure. BOOK OF THE DEAD, DRACULA, LOADS OF MIDNIGHT, JACK THE RIPPER, WOLFMAN, FRANKENSTEIN, VERY BIG CAVE ADVENTURE. Above titles released by CRL, problems may be encountered with disc snaps. Book of the Dead originally released by Essential Myth and this version will snap. Loads of Midnight snap has been achieved using Disciple Interface and imput entered before tape loaded. Jack the Ripper have seen disc file of game without the graphics. The other CRL releases didn't present any problems. JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF EDDIE SMITHS HEAD. You must defuse the bomb that Eddie is threatening the World with. DENNIS THROUGH THE DRINKING GLASS .Released in 1983. You play the part of Dennis Thatcher. Evade Margeret, constantly the need to stay intoxicated topping up with drink every 10 moves. DESTRUCTION OF THE GALACTIC EMPIRE. Find and destroy generator of the Galactic Empire, powerful space station once used defending against evil forces only believing in power. Invaded by evil humanoids the station is now used to destroy helpless planets. DWARVES OF LEWSH You are given the task of finding stolen jewel This adventure presents you with options. Imput single key press DANGERMOUSE AND THE BLACK FOREST CHATEAU. Options given, select option using cursor. THE ELEVENTH HOUR. Find and defuse bombs hidden in Store. Avoid mad janitor armed with loaded pistol. No defence against Janitor except answer to the I.Q questions he asks. Hopefully some of the above might be useful for filling the disk Do have a request which might be included, and is, in full as follows- Since purchase of the Disciple Interface some 3 years ago have snapped 99% of Spectrum Adventures. Disciple still used to save new releases to disc. A few have posed problems, particularly the CRL releases. The Messenger might be the answer to problem, however an expensive outlay for a device which may not overcome problems a few programmes raise. If any member has The Messenger and have snapped the CRL releases successfully would they be prepared to snap the tape adventures JACK THE RIPPER and LOADS OF MIDNIGHT for me. The list of adventures submitted, along with GAC, I came by very cheaply. In fact, along with eight blank disks, boxed sets of TIMES OF LORE and SWORDS AND SORCERY for six pounds. The other bits and pieces, no longer have any value since the purchase of the COUPE. Might they though contribute to the Sam Adventure Club. Would you be prepared to raffle them off or sell, the proceeds going towards wither software needed by Dave or perhaps purchase of Messenger if such piece of hardware will assist. GI Games have just released text only JACK THE RIPPER, am awaiting copy of this along with some other software, leaving only LOADS OF MIDNIGHT. Would like to contact someone with the Messenger. Perhaps this the answer. Yours sincerely - Norman P.S. FSF Software now has a +D/3.5" drive. Dear Norman, Thanks for the letter. We're not planning any fund- raising competitions, or competitions in general, but we may at some future time. Perhaps anyone wishing to obtain any games you have on offer can contact you directly. The news that FSF have a Plus D is most interesting, as their 48k games may be able to be converted to Sam disk compatibility. I'll have to contact Larry Horsfield, who runs FSF, and have a chat with him about such a possibility. - Phil