DOUBLE XINOX 128
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ZX-MASTERS
SOFTWARE '96
How our people have not remade the idea of the old, good TETRIS. But apparently, the boom for this game has already passed, and programmers have started to adapt even older games to the "nineties". Today we see the latest(?) perversion on the theme of XONIX.
DOUBLE XINOX is a pretty good example of an old idea revamped. For those who do not remember the original - let me remind you. On those old computers (which can boldly be called "computers") there was an old game called XONIX. In a large window, a ball flew around, while a cube crawled along the perimeter of the window. Your goal was to control a cross to cut pieces of the window, which would immediately fill with another color and become yours. Moreover, the ball, cube, and cross are not an exaggeration! Usually, this game had no graphics, and the most ordinary ASCII symbols were used.
So, what will you get by purchasing a disk (and the game indeed takes up a whole disk) with DOUBLE XINOX? You will get 80 scanned images that open up during the game, the ability to play simultaneously with two players, constantly increasing levels, and a sea of diverse enemies. The game is divided into 8 sub-loadable levels, each containing 10 different stages-pictures. Upon completing a level, you are given a password, which you can subsequently use to start the game from the level you reached, but with 10 lives.
The eighth level contains a set of various obscenities and is not recommended for children under and parents after. Personally, I was only able to reach the 18th picture without using any immortality. Therefore, below are the codes for all levels, starting from the third. Why from the third? Because you do not need a code for the first, and I hope you will reach the second by yourself! I would like to note that these codes were found by the curious minds of Samara hackers THUNDER and DAGMA.
3 - LEVEL TERMINATOR
4 - LEVEL CARTOONS
5 - LEVEL PHYSIONOMY
6 - LEVEL CINEMABREED
7 - LEVEL REMIXER
8 - LEVEL SEXYGIRL
Well, a little later, these same hackers found the branded TRAINER: so, reassign the keys for both players to "C"+"H"+"E"+"A"+"T", and it will describe all-new possibilities.
Finally, I want to note that you shouldn't expect anything supernatural from DOUBLE XINOX. This, using a term first applied in ON-LINE, is a typical game of the type: "solve the puzzle - view the scanned picture!". Although if you think this way, the next game from our review can also be attributed to this genre.
UFO 2
TERROR IN THE DEEP
UFO 2
DEVILS OF THE ABYSS
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COPPERFEET'96
release
2.0 2.40 2.45
Currently, three versions of the new development by V.MEDNONOGOV - UFO 2 have already arrived in Samara. If you are going to purchase this wonderful game, carefully familiarize yourself with the descriptions of its various versions circulating in our city:
release 2.0 (CRACKED BY VIRTUAL BROS.'96)
The very first version of the game. Not only did the author leave a huge number of errors in the game, but the hackers also did their part - from the middle to the very end, the "UFologist's ENCYCLOPEDIA" was unreadable. The distinctive feature of this version is the non-standard disk format, which made the program "load very quickly", and copying it had to be done with all sorts of scary copiers.
release 2.40 (TR-DOS release)
The second version of the game turned out to be more functional than the previous one. The author fixed most of the errors, added some innovations, and made the disk loading incompatible with the first version. The hackers also did their part and completely cracked the game, making it copyable by files on a regular TR-DOS disk. The only limitation is that the program must be the first in the directory and on the disk. During the hacking process, the branded CHEAT MODE, which disabled 3D FIGHT, was lost, and a small glitch was introduced - very rarely, but still, when accessing the disk drive, the game would hang. Other specific branded glitches include the game's freezing when passing the turn to the opponent (especially often this happens in SECRET BUNKERS) and when returning to base.
release 2.45 ( SLIDERS C.H.G/Volzhsky)
This version is currently the most complete and high-quality. It is based on release 2.40 and is free of the hanging glitch when accessing the disk. The branded CHEAT MODE has also been restored, and now, if you hold "J" during the game loading, when catching the enemy UFO, you immediately knock it down, and you only have to press "Y" to continue the fight or "N" to return to base.
release 2.45 and release 2.40 are based on the branded version 2.10.
Now, armed with complete information about all versions of UFO 2, you can confidently choose one version or another. Well, if none of them suits you, I strongly recommend sending an order to "INFOCOM" and for 30-40 thousand rubles buy the branded version on two disks, thereby encouraging V.MEDNONOGOV to write a sequel to this truly fascinating game.
Yes! Recently, it became known about the release of a new product from MICROPROSE - UFO 3: APOCALYPSISE NOW. What it is, where and how - is still unknown. Although in the sixth issue of ZX-REVIEW this year, an announcement for "UFO 3. BLACK HAWK" has already been printed. The game is made in the most popular style REAL TIME STRATEGY!.
Let's see, let's see!
SHADOW DANCER
48/128
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IMAGES / SEGA
U.S.GOLD'91
DISK VERSION:
CODE BUSTERS
After a long wait (since the end of 1994) with promises to our people, this well-known game has finally appeared on the markets of the country and in Samara. During the waiting period, people have created whole legends about SHADOW DANCER. Moreover, many have seen this game on other platforms, particularly on SEGA and DENDY (what a disgusting thing!). But what is most interesting is that the game itself is nothing special. Although if you consider SHADOW DANCER as a continuation of SHINOBI, then a significant progress is noticeable. So, you control another hero, saving the world (apparently a ninja) and his faithful companion - a dog. Crowds of enemies run all over the screen, and the screen is quite large, always trying to turn you into a pile of ashes. But a precisely thrown star like a shuriken or a discharge of magical lightning makes the enemies flee. After passing several main levels, you will have to fight some very large and terrifying creature, and after that, you will go through a bonus level and possibly earn an extra life.
The graphics in the game are realistic but black and white, although........ Who said black and white? Well, it must be admitted that on the main black and white image, colored sprites are occasionally overlaid..... Who said occasionally? At first, they are overlaid occasionally, and then whole levels full of colorful enemies and vibrant backgrounds appear. In short, the graphics improve from stage to stage.
In the intro to the game, as always with MAX IWAMOTO, there are many (even too many) various immortality options. Additionally, if you hold the "S" key during loading, a text file in the format of the ZX-WORD editor will be written to the disk, detailing the entire process of restoration work done on the game. By the way, this method of text storage is also used in other disk versions from PRESTIGE's LEMMINGS 128, GREMLINS 2, etc.
STS
4.1 4.2 4.3
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(STALKER' 96)
The new fourth generation of STS debuggers will please all hackers who do not have machines like SCORPION ZS 256 with a built-in monitor-debugger. As with UFO 2, there are currently three versions of STS in Samara.
STS v4.1
Unlike STSvЧ.0 (a non-disseminated demo version of STS in Samara), the disk disassembly function is fully implemented. The tracing and search menu has been expanded. It also introduced the ability to memorize up to five addresses in memory and quickly return to them.
STS v4.2
Many glitches from the previous version have been fixed. The constant screen shift up by one line has disappeared. A mass of various innovations, including the ability to view the disk directory.
STS v4.3
The latest version to date. Among the major innovations is the Call Trace function, which allows you to conveniently trace the assembler Call command in one step, both in manual and automatic modes.
All fourth family STS versions require two pages of memory to operate: one, mandatory, for the monitor itself and one, additional and optional, for the disassembly function.
I would also like to note an important innovation: now you can see assembler labels instead of "mythical" addresses while debugging your programs in STS. Version 4.1 supports MASM 1.1 labels, and versions 4.2 and 4.3 support ALASM labels. Anyone using other assemblers can write their own label display procedure, as the principle of writing such a procedure is described in the HELP section of STS.
Among the obvious drawbacks, in my opinion, is the following change. If in STS 3.3 you wanted to clear memory from address 24500, you only needed to select the Fill Block function and specify the number 24500 in the Begin column. In the End column, you could simply write 0. Now you will have to diligently type the number #FFFF or, even worse - 65535 in the End column. But apparently, the author decided that this would be more convenient!? 
MULTICOLOR STUDIO
v1.208 P & S
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PHANTOM LORD/ACCEPT CORP'96
A new, alternative multicolor picture editor. Its capabilities match those of the well-known MEGASCREEN version two. That is, in the color scheme of the picture, every two horizontal pixel lines have their own paper and ink color. But unlike MEGASCREEN, MULTICOLOR STUDIO has a much smaller editable area.
The editor only has what is necessary. No fills, primitive constructions, or spray cans. Therefore, MULTICOLOR STUDIO can only be viewed as a converter of pictures from ART STUDIO to a multicolor variant. Furthermore, the current version lacks a compiler, which allows one to consider the program as a demo version.
The presence of two versions, with the letter "S" and the letter "P", is explained by the authors as a necessity due to the different hardware of various SPECTRUM-compatible machines. In this case, the version with the letter "P" is recommended for machines like PENTAGON, on which INSULT runs normally.
I, no matter how hard I tried, could not configure the editor for my PENTAGON. Perhaps the authors simply do not know what the phrase means: "INSULT runs normally"? On the other hand, the process of adjustment is done very roughly, and perhaps the program can be adjusted, but for that, you need to be a sniper! The most interesting thing is that the editor did not want to work properly on SCORPION either!
From all the above, one conclusion can be drawn: if anyone creates multicolor editors in the future, the adjustment for the machine should be combined - digital (as in MEGASCREEN) and border (as in MULTICOLOR STUDIO). It is also desirable to have 5-10 ready-made settings in the editor for various types of machines. These settings should also be present in the compiled block. In this case, the user, by pressing a single key, can choose from 5-10 settings the one that suits him. Of course, there are absolutely non-standard machines, but they usually belong to hardcore radio amateurs, and it is easier for them to re-solder a couple of parts in the machine than to adjust the multicolor for themselves.
Now let's review some of the new electronic publications that have appeared in Samara.
X-RAY #1
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A fundamentally new electronic newspaper from Moscow. If even the most intriguing materials on the pages of newspapers and magazines (electronic) do not surprise anyone now, then the new, non-standard design is just what is needed. Just as ZX-FORMAT broke the usual stereotype of an electronic magazine with its design, X-RAY breaks all old newspaper standards with its design.
For text output in X-RAY, the lower two-thirds of the screen are used. In this window, you can view the text either by pages or scrolling with a step of one pixel (!).
Moreover, AY music is playing.
For all this pleasure, you have to pay the following: the newspaper works only in 128K mode, and to read the next section, you have to wait while the text loads and unpacks. The size of articles is limited, although they cannot be called short. This is because the newspaper uses the so-called INSULT technology for text output. On the one hand, this provides smooth pixel-by-pixel scrolling, but on the other hand - large memory costs and incompatibility with different types of computers. For example, on PROFI, the newspaper will work, but scrolling will become jerky, which spoils the whole impression.
But let's move on to the main thing - the content of the newspaper. As the authors write, X-RAY will be dedicated to the problem of users transitioning to other platforms. In the first issue, you will find articles about the history of SPECTRUM's development in Russia, a decent article on car games, and an interview with the "KONDOR" company, the developer of PROFI, in which all fans of this machine will learn a lot of new information about PROFI and its future. EMULATE #1
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EMULATE is an English electronic magazine published for the IBM PC platform and dedicated to the "life after death" of our beloved SPECCY. Originally, the magazine was a single archive containing both the magazine itself and some useful programs for emulating SPECTRUM on IBM, as well as a set of files containing games and magazines from past years in emulator formats.
The translation of the magazine onto the machine it is dedicated to was undertaken by programmers from Novosibirsk. On SPECTRUM, EMULATE looks quite pale, but as we know, content is more important than design (although, a kilobyte ago, I argued the opposite!). A wealth of useful information from TOP GAMES of past years to detailed descriptions of game walkthroughs, the history of SPECTRUM's birth and development, passwords and immortality, as well as much, much more - this is the approximate content of the first issue of the magazine for September 1995. But most importantly, in my opinion, are the addresses! Addresses of servers around the world that contain programs, descriptions, photographs, and everything else related to SPECTRUM. Thus, if you have access to the INTERNET, this information can become invaluable to you.
The entire text of EMULATE#1 is, of course, in English, but I think that a true SPECCY lover will not be frightened by this little problem!
By the time the magazine was published, new issues of the following periodicals had also arrived in Samara:
SPECTROFON #20
SPECTROPHOBY #5
ZX-FORMAT #4
ADVENTURER #4
ON-LINE #54
PIONER #3
PLATINUM #1
Choosing a magazine
remember!
Not always behind
a beautiful screen
hides
good text!
M.M.A'96
Contents of the publication: Oberon #02
- Introduction
Introduction to the second issue of Oberon magazine, with insights into its delays and team expansion. The editorial team acknowledges past misunderstandings and introduces the new issue's contributors. Details on distribution, contributions, and user interaction features are provided.
- Scroll - Alex Noman
Game manual for 'Peking', detailing controls, menu options, and gameplay strategy, involving matching pairs of crates under time constraints.
- Scroll
Empire 128 is a strategic space game where players act as merchants dealing with an alien invasion. Gameplay involves trading, mission completion, and space exploration. The game requires 128K memory and offers both disk and RAM save options.
- Scroll
Description of various space ships, including their specifications, weapon systems, and purposes. Each model differs in speed, armament, and functionality. Includes notes on origins and uses.
- Review
Review of ZX Spectrum games and tools: Double Xinox 128 offers a modern twist on Xonix with 80 levels and new challenges. UFO 2: Terror in the Deep has multiple versions with improvements and issues noted. Shadow Dancer for ZX Spectrum shows graphical evolution but maintains classic gameplay elements.
- Review - Unbeliever
Analysis of the 1996 ENLIGHT demo competition in St. Petersburg, evaluating participants and results across platforms. Highlights the achievements and critiques of notable entries. Provides insights into the dynamics of the competition and perspectives on the ZX Spectrum demos.
- Our Response
Reader feedback and editor's response regarding magazine content, the need for more graphics, and the state of local Samara software distribution.
- About Everything
Critique of Sinclair software quality, concerns about poor programming affecting computer lifespan, and commentary on CODE BUSTERS group's practices.
- Educational Program - Paul Atrides
An in-depth examination of the eight essential stages of software development, from defining technical requirements to testing and distribution. The article provides insights into the necessity of each stage and critiques poorly executed examples. It emphasizes the importance of systematic programming for both commercial and personal software projects.
- Hardware
The article discusses synchronization issues in various Spectrum models and provides a circuit solution to correct INT signal delays for improved graphics performance.
- Announcement - M.M.A
Introduction of new column highlighting Samara programmers' works, detailing projects like ZX-WINWORD, UNRECOGNIZED FORMATTING OBJECT, and DESIGNER ANALYSIS FUNCTIONS. ZX-WINWORD aims to be a publishing system for Spectrum, while U.F.O. offers advanced disk copying. DESIGNER ANALYSIS FUNCTIONS aids in mathematical graphing and function analysis.
- Programming - Unbeliever
A humorous narrative featuring Stirlitz, a fictional intelligence officer, in absurd and surreal situations involving Gestapo, programming, and secret plans.
- Pogurammim - Unbeliever
A humorous and fictional narrative involving Shtrilitz's spy adventures during a covert operation with many unexpected turns and satire.
- Advertisement
Advertisement for electronics and components store offering used equipment, software, and literature.
