LETTERS PAGE edited by Phil Glover. (Tuesday, 24th. March, 1992.) We may not be one of the magazines with a large circulation yet, but I think we must be getting one of the largest mailbags around! Most letters we publish will have already been answered, but we publish what we consider may be of interest to others. If they aren't, tell us, and we may not publish quite as many. I hope a browse through this issue's letters will be interesting, as they allow members to contribute thoughts & comments without having to write articles in full. Although reading and answering letters takes a lot of time, I really enjoy hearing from other people, so don't be afraid of writing lengthy letters, as they always of interest. - - - - - - - MORE >>>> From David Munden, 13 Norfolk Close, Dines Green, Worcester, HEREFORD & WORCESTER, WR2 5RA Dear Phil, I have a Messenger, so if anyone would like me to try and convert any programs I will have a go. I must ask for them to send the original game, a disk and postage costs. The Messenger is a very good way of converting games and all the games I have converted have worked correctly. The only games I have not been able to convert are LORDS OF MIDNIGHT and DOOM- DARK'S REVENGE. They appear to convert, but the game crashes at the end of the first turn. I noticed the GRAPHIC ADVENTURE CREATOR on the cover of YOUR SINCLAIR, but I thought the instructions were inadequate. A while ago I had to word process my copy of the original manual because it was very tatty, so I could photocopy it for people if they wish. If so, could they send `2.50 to cover costs, and an A4 sized S.A.E. - From David Munden. MORE >>>> To Dave Munden from Phil, Thanks for the help you've offered club members. One of the things I was hoping for with the launch of Sam was the expected conversion of LORDS OF MIDNIGHT and DOOMDARK'S REVENGE in Sam format. They're two Spectrum classics which really pushed the Speccy to its limits, and deserve some sort of 'resurrection' (How about it, Samco?) Does anyone remember the promised third game in the series, EYE OF THE MOON? If someone could get Mike Singleton to write that on Sam, that'd be a real scoop! - - - - - - - From Manuel Conceicao, Bairro Sao Lourenco LT13 3o Dto, Camarate 2685 Sacavem, PORTUGAL. Dear Phil, First of all, I want to thank you for your letter and for sending your disk magazine. My favourite games of all are adventure games. I always preferred adventure-type games, such as THE HOBBIT, VALHALLA, THE FOURTH PROTOCOL and many others. If I can be a member of your club, I'd be very honoured. MORE >>>> You told me Sam is selling well in a few countries, but here in Portugal, people buy them, then sell them after a few months, because they can't find any software. I sent an advert to a Porteguese magazine, which covers the Spectrum, but I haven't received any replies. I'm glad to hear from you, and that the Sam scene is getting bigger. It's good, because the machine has great potential. I've enclosed a couple of disks, one with two simple screens, although I hope to improve my skills in time. I'm glad to receive FRED and your magazine as well, which I liked very much, so please tell me how I can pay you. I didn't sleep all night because I've been reading all the letters and articles of your disk magazine and FRED. Well, that's it for now. Thank you very much for everything, and good luck for your disk/magazine. - Manuel MORE >>>> To Manuel from Phil, Thanks for your fascinating letter. I some- times think that Sam owners in England are few and far between, but it must be even worse for you trying to find other users. If any other readers would like to contact you, I hope they will, as it may help cure your feeling of isolation! I believe there is some sort of Sam user group in Portugal, so I'll find the address and let you know. - - - - - - - From Nigel Kettlewell, 12 Limited Road, Moordown, Bournemouth, DORSET, BH9 1SS. Dear Phil, Did Dave say you'd just got PRO-DOS? I'm pretty impressed with it actually. Having ordered it, Brian Gaff phoned me up to answer a few questions I'd asked, and to say that he'd just sent it off. Really good service, I thought. I like the ZDE word processor a lot, although there doesn't seem to be a great deal else on the sample disk, other than the Z80 toolkit library, which, when de-crunched, takes up the best part of one disk. MORE >>>> I like the sound of Colin Jordan's adventure creator - I think that it will sell well if it's written in a way that's easy to use. I could never really get into GAC or QUILL, because they always seemed so long-winded whatever you wanted to do. Perhaps I was just being impatient, but that's the reason I didn't buy PAW when it was released. All the best, Nigel. To Nigel, from Phil. Yes, I think PRO-DOS will prove a great utility, but it'll take a while for people to sort through all the available material to find what may be best suited for Sam. Regarding adventure writing utilities, I like ones where the beginner can easily get to grips with them and produce a fairly good game without too much hard work. If the utility is good, then people can probe deeper into the manual and program to explore the more complex working of it to come up with even more impressive games. - - - - - MORE >>>> From Terry Filby, 98 St Georges Road, Beccles, SUFFOLK, NR34 9YA Dear Phil, I would certainly write a PRO-DOS column if I could find enough info for it, but, if you had the time, it would probably be better if you wrote the column and asked for contributions, as I've certainly enjoyed the bits you have written so far. So it's up to you, I'll write the column or assist you, whichever you like! As I have told you, I am no programmer, but I have one or two tips as to COLOSSAL CAVE on PRO-DOS. It has six parts plus the end game. At the "A" prompt in PRO-DOS, key in ADVENT-r, and when it has loaded it will ask you for the name of your saved game, key in Advent1, then LOOK and it will take you to the beginning of part 3! Don't use it if you want to start at the start! I've tried to save my own game by using Saveadv, so far without success. I have used it before with other machines with no problems, so there's some error. If you find out what it is, please tell me and I will do the same, All the best, Terry. MORE >>>> To Terry, from Phil, I may well take you up on the offer to try running the PRO-DOS column, but we'll see what interest there may be for one first, I think. I'd rather let someone else have a go at it, as I could read it myself, and perhaps learn from it. I'm sure PRO-DOS will prove popular, and we'd like to give what coverage we can. I've written asking Brian Gaff for help with saving COLOSSAL CAVE positions and you can read his reply/ letter in the first attempt at the PRO-DOS PAGE. - - - - - - - From Brian Rouse, 11 Marjorie Street, East Cramlington, NORTHUMBERLAND. NE23 6XQ Dear Phil and Dave, Thanks for issue two of S.C.A.C. The standard is easily as good, if not better than the first. The new text compressor is fine, but the yes/no interlude everytime you exit a section is a bit annoying. While this option is a must before MORE >>>> a fatal exit to a quit mag, or on entering a game or utility with no exit back to the mag, I think it is unnecessary when moving between sections that only require a single keypress to return to anyway, should you make an error. Only a small niggle, but one I thought I'd bring up anyway. Dave's TECHNOPHOBIA was again a most interesting article. The PAW/Disciple conversion especially so, given the news in the letter section (I think) that Gilsoft have no intention, at the moment, to convert PAW to Sam format. It looks like I'll have to sell my old faithful Beta disk system and buy a Disciple inter- face in its place. One the subject of PAW, I also intend to write to Gilsoft and ask if they intend to the Sam. Who knows, if enough of us ask, they may think it worth their while to go ahead with the conversion. Keep up the NEWS and the MAGS reviews, as I've stopped getting the Specmags since getting my Sam and discovering disk- mags such as OUTLET, ENCELADUS and, of course, S.C.A.C. You and the others are my only source of info now. MORE >>>> Nigel Kettlewell's demo adventure looks good. I shall await it's completion with great expectations. (Hmmm... Good title for a book that!) Brian Rouse. P.S. I just remembered that you said in the editorial that you're approaching your 40th. Thank goodness for that! I thought I was one of the only ones of us still playing with computer games, and there's Ernie, too! HI ERNIE! I'm 42. Do you know the average age of your readers? It may be interesting to find out. To Brian, from Phil: I think the "Confirm Y/N" routine is in machine code, and may be tricky to remove, according to Dave. I still haven't heard anything from Gilsoft, as they seem to have gone very quiet of late. Just a Sam PAW which could convert Spectrum 48k & 128k PAWed games to Sam use, without need for a Spectrum ROM would suit me, for a start! Nigel Kettlewell's adventure is making good progress, so I believe, and some more impressive work has gone into the program. Any news for public MORE >>>> consumption will be given in full, whenever possible. You may be glad to learn that I am not now approaching 40, as I'm now passed it (in a manner of speaking.) If everyone isn't too bashful, we may be able to discover a few interesting facts about us all, after studying returned questionnaires which are with this disk. - - - - - - - From Jon Lemmon, of COMPASS SOFTWARE, 111 Mill Road, Cobholm, Great Yarmouth, NORFOLK, NR31 0BB. Dear Phil. Thanks very much for MGT's Plus D hack program. I am only now getting into it, but it should make my job a lot easier as I feel a need for more FXs... I have a Plus D version of the PAW, but not all the character sets, so thanks for those. I will do all my games with a Plus D option next time, so you and others can save your game data onto disk. As to Sam disk format, Tim has offered to do that for me. He says it is reasonably straightforward.. This I will have to see! All the best, Jon. MORE >>>> To Jon, from Phil, I'm glad to hear you're getting on well with your Plus D, and I'm pleased to hear that Tim Kemp is hoping to try some Sam disk formats of your games. If Tim needs any help, I hope we can help him out. Perhaps he could also consider doing some Sam Mode 4 loading screens for them, although your Spectrum ones are usually very good as they are. - - - - - - - From Norman Kendall, 63 Loose Road, Maidstone, KENT, ME15 7BY. Dear Phil, Thanks for the SAM ADVENTURE CLUB disk. I really enjoyed the first disk (especially BEHIND CLOSED DOORS), but the second was even better. Keep up the brilliant work. I have a 512k Sam with printer interface. I also have a BROTHER M-1009 printer. Recently, I have been given a better printer, which is a SIEMENS PT88 S. It is extremely quiet so I think it must be an ink jet printer. The only trouble is, I haven't got a manual for it, so I don't know the positions of MORE >>>> all the dip switches. Also, being a serial printer, I will have to get a printer interface for my Sam. If you know anything about this make of printer, or where I could get a manual, I would be very grateful if you could let me know. I am trying to get GAC to run on Sam by converting it to a normal loader with LERM's Speccy copier, as I used GAC quite a bit on the Speccy. I found it easier to use than either QUILL or PAW. If I do get it to work, I will let you know. To Norman, from Phil: I know little about printers, but perhaps someone reading this may be of help. If not, both OUTLET and SAM SUPPLEMENT are worth a try, and possibly a phone call to Samco may be useful. Good luck in your quest for a manual. - - - - - - - From Andrew Sansom, Ridderstraat 11, 1930 Zaventem, BELGIUM. Dear Phil, Enclosed you will find a cheque for `5 for the next MORE >>>> five issues (I've already got one). It's an English cheque, so you shouldn't have any problems. Normally, inside Europe, a EURO CHEQUE made out for pounds shouldn't give you any problems, unless it is for a large amount, in which you may pay bank charges for cashing the cheque. I recently bought a copy of PRO-DOS, and on the PD sample disk are two adventures, COLOSSAL CAVE and ISLAND. I think this might be of interest to other readers who might use it to play adventures from other machines, and if anyone can tell me how to get off the boat in ISLAND, I'd be grateful! To Andrew, from Phil: Thanks for the information about EURO CHEQUES, which I needed to know. (I suppose ECUs may be the answer in the future.) PRO-DOS is certainly making a good impression with Sam owners, and we hope our PRO-DOS section will expand to cover the subject of CP/M 2.2 adventures, if there's enough demand for it. - - - - - - - MORE >>>> From Tony Collins, (a non-SAM owner), of THE GUILD software 760 Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham, WEST MIDLANDS, B24 9NX. Dear Phil, Many thanks for writing and ordering some more games, your continuing support is most appreciated. Your letter was very interesting with plenty of subjects to talk about, so here goes: Firstly, Gareth Pitchford told me that you were sending out a copy of our pricelist with your SAM disk magazine, and I don't know how I can thank you. One way may be to offer you the 48k version of ****** as a freebie on a later edition of the mag, as it is in two parts you could even spread it across two editions. Please accept it with my compliments, as I don't want anything for it, just use it as you see fit. Yes, I do sell CP/M 2.2 adventures on the Amstrad. So far we have CAPTAIN KOOK, INTO THE MYSTIC, THE MISER, TEACHER TROUBLE, THE HOBBLE HUNTER and TREASURE ISLAND at the moment, MORE >>>> but as you can see, they are all also Spectrum programs anyway. Let me know if you still want copies. All the best, Tony Collins. To Tony, from Phil, Thanks for sending me ******. I'll keep it quiet for a while, so it'll remain a surprise! I think it's PAWed, so we may even convert it to Sam disk format for ease of use. The CP/M games may be good if they're a bit larger than the Spectrum versions, and we'll try and find out if they are before asking for them. If they're identical, the Spectrum originals may be better to play, as they use coloured text well. - - - - - - - From Jon Rose, (another Non-Sam owner!) "The Annexe", 26 Barrack Lane, Bognor Regis, WEST SUSSEX, PO21 4DA. Dear Phil, I had a little think about the problems you have mentioned in the magazine about Sam conversions. Remember URIDIUM, released by Hewson ages ago? Well, I believe the MORE >>>> Spectrum conversion came about by Dominic Robinson showing a demo of a conversion he had done from the CBM64 original to Hewson & being given the go-ahead to convert it on the strength of that demo. I don't know how well versed your readers are in programming, but I would have thought that any of them who have been able to convert Spectrum software to run on Sam and who have a good knowledge of machine code would be able to do the necessary work. I realise I am mentioning this as a non-Sam owner, but it may be the only way that conversions may be done, given the apparent lack of interest from the 'big' software houses. The other thing to do would be to pester the main magazines into featuring 'readers own' Sam titles on their tapes. After all, there has been little Sam-specific stuff up to now on these so- called "Spectrum & Sam" magazines. I would welcome any comments on what you and your readers think about this. Jon Rose. MORE >>>> To Jon, from Phil, I'm sure many of us would love to see games converted from the Spectrum to Sam, and it's probably easiest using Mode 1, for those with such knowledge. There are many games that could be enhanced and given a new lease of life by doing this, but even interest in the Spectrum is declining, as the big boys are seeking profits elsewhere. Arcade games may be easiest to convert, but many adventures rely on using as much memory as possible, so things called ROM CALLS are often used, which may make some games hard to convert. I'm sure other readers may have more to say on this subject. However, I think we may be very disappointed if we have to hope for such conversions to Sam format, and I'm sure many of us want to see Modes 3 and 4 being used for many games. - - - - - - - From John Marshall, 7 Clarborough Drive, Arnold, NOTTINGHAM, NG5 7LL. MORE >>>> Dear Phil, I hope you are still as enthusiastic as when you started, and that the club is still going - after all, there are some good Spectrum adventures coming out, if not any more Sam- specific ones yet. In my letter in October, I said I was writing a Sam- specific adventure in MasteBASIC. Unfortunately, my progress in writing anything has been severely hampered by this being the final year of my degree course (computing and German at Staffs. Poly.) I have, however, made some progress in converting a working adventure "shell" (without any specific adventure details) from Spectrum to Sam BASIC and upgraded it for Sam. This process is not quite finished yet, however, when it is (perhaps over Easter) would you like to have the shell in your magazine? It's not the same as PAW, or Dave's attempt in that process response-type, data has to be included in the BASIC program, but MORE >>>> location/message data is stored in compacted arrays, and there is a separate program for editing this data. It uses my own 51- character/line printing routine, in Mode 4, allowing full-colour graphics. Best wishes, John Marshall. To John, from Phil, Yes, I'm sure we'd love to have your program. I'm certain it'd be of great interest for any readers who know something about programming, and it may prove to be a good talking-point in the technical column. As you probably now know, Colin Jordan is working on an ambitious adventure utility, but it'd be good to see others, of whatever size and scope. All these programs will help people to learn more about the workings of Sam, which should benefit all of us in the long run. - - - - - - - From David Ledbury, 10 Westerkirk Drive, Madeley, Telford, SHROPSHIRE, TF7 5RJ. MORE >>>> Hi Phil & Dave! After your recent phone calls I decided to put finger to keyboard (not quite the same ring as pen to paper, do you think?) and waffle on a bit! Yep, the club disk is turning out great. It is great to see so many people writing in with their views & opinions. (I could do with seeing more of that for ZAT!) After all - Adventuring has one of the most diverse areas of subject matter, has it not? Congratulations on getting the rights to do "conversions" of Zenobi Games. I have been trying for well over a year to do exactly that, but to no avail! Still, so long as someone is doing some Adventure releases, that's all that matters. One idea you might consider toying with, is to try and include both the converted version of the game, and a straight 48K snapshot - then the game could be sold to both SAM & Spectrum +D owners. This would have 2 advantages: 1) The disks could be sold to owners of both computers, and thus earn a lot more dosh for Club funds. MORE >>>> 2) The disks would be ideal for Spectrum owners that wanted to upgrade to a SAM as they'd run on both computers. Since Compass Software release their Adventures on +D disk, why not contact Jon Lemmon about including a "conversion" of each game, with the standard Spectrum one? Now then, as Club members may be aware, I am currently in the process of launching my own Adventure label: Quest Software. My first release should be ready for April 24th - although it is not a SAM release, but a Spectrum 128 release. The game in question is Graham Burtenshaw's game DoomsDay - which, I think, may cause a little bit of controversy over its subject matter. DD will also include, on +D disk, Leotrope (a 2 part SF Adventure) and Cell of the Ridges. (Leotrope isn't on the tape version.) Both again by Graham. Also included is Alch-News - a new tape mag thingy and an emulator - so SAM owners can at least use everything bar DD. The disk or tape is `5, and, unlike some game releases at this price, actually comes in a proper box! MORE >>>> For more details, drop an SAE to my address at the top. Thanks for the advert, back to the letter .... The adventure in issue 2 was impressive. Nigel has done a great job indeed. It looks as if SAM finally has another good Adventure on the way. How long will it be before the game is complete? Quick tech tip. In the (working) version of issue 2's emulator - type RANDOMIZE USR 94 in Spec mode to return to native mode. Just one question I would like to ask everyone: what style of game do you like? Graphics, Text, Mixed, Funny, Serious, SF, Fantasy, True-Life, or what? Oh yes, if anyone is interested, ZAT is starting to have Adventure competitions in each issue. You stand a chance this issue to win "One of Our Wombats..", but we should have some even better goodies on offer over the next few issues. (A chance to win an autographed Manic Miner this issue too!) MORE >>>> Sorry if I've run out of things to say, but it's now coming up to 4am, so goodnight and so-on! David Ledbury. To David, from Phil, As you can see from Jon Lemmon's letter, Tim Kemp may be helping to convert COMPASS games to Sam disk format, and perhaps they'll include Plus D versions on the disks as well. Nigel Kettlewell's adventure seems to be progressing well, and we'll disclose further details when we're allowed to! I'm looking forward to seeing the final result, but we must be patient!! - - - - - - - From David Wornham, FLEXIBASE SOFTWARE, 20 The Parklands, Droitwich Spa, Worcs. WR9 7DG - tel 0905 775840 (2nd Feb. 1992.) Dear Phil, Thanks for your letter of 26th January and SAC2. It's certainly coming on well, with the contributions from others being a good sign. Thanks for including my advert. - please MORE >>>> replace it with that at "38" screen$ in the updated Flexipage disk in the next issue. I look forward to receiving your advert. for inclusion with Flexipage - I may just add a few words to the opening screen of SAC2 in the meantime. I forward the below for consideration of inclusion in SAC3. It's a slight adaption to that sent to Outlet, Sam Supplement and Enceladus. SOUND MACHINE, FLEXIPAGE & ADVENTURES Having recently purchased a copy of SOUND MACHINE I can say that I'M VERY IMPRESSED at its professional looks, feel, capability and general usefulness. It's ideal for non-musical persons to learn about music writing and for those already having musical knowledge to use Sam's excellent 6 channel sound chip with ease. Melodies can be composed, entered by ear or from a music score, then easily saved for play back in Basic and other programs. Differing instrument sounds can also be constructed and saved. I have updated FLEXIPAGE to easily use SOUND MACHINED sounds and when I have obtained Sam Computers' MORE >>>> agreement, will include this, with some demos. on future FLEXIPAGE sales and updates. I am now looking forward to mags. such as yours including melodies and differing instrument sounds as "SM Clips" so we can share and admire each others' efforts. Another good point for adventurers with SOUND MACHINE is that the sounds continue to play whilst other computer activities take place, with only BEEP etc. apparently upsetting the timing. This means that adventures can have continuous, changeable, sounds if needed. Two slight problems have emerged: 1. The sound code saved from Sound Machine is always 49352 bytes long, irrespective of the length of sounds written, which is a waste of disk/memory space when only brief sounds are required. 2. The sound code saved works if it is further COPIED, but not if it is SAVED again. I will try to clarify these points with Sam Computers or the author. Yours Sincerely, David Worham. MORE >>>> To David, from Phil, Thanks for the information about the SOUND MACHINE. It's a lovely program to use, especially with a mouse! Music may add considerably to adventures, just as long as it could be turned off, if it's as irritating as that of NEVER ENDING STORY on the 128k Spectrum. I played that with the sound turned down. I've little musical talent, but it'd be good to have a few tunes on our disk, if anyone's volunteering! Just out of interest, I found two erased music files on my copy of SOUND MACHINE, which I managed to recover. (I often analyse disks, as you never know what you may find!) *** --- ***