(C) M.M.A/SPEED CO.
Well, it's not the time anymore to write anything for the SPECTRUM, especially not in Samara. Although I remember about two years ago there were such things happening here - it's scary to recall! And where is all of this now? Where are all those fierce comrades who delighted us with their developments back then?
Some have gone to AMIGA, others to the army, but neither here nor there do they want to create anything for SPECCY. Although there are those, and even in large numbers, who have fled to IBM PC. Some individuals have even sold themselves into slavery to the well-known American planter Bill Gates and are now earning bucks for the next upgrade on his plantations of gluconose trees...
However, there are still those who have not forgotten the computer to which they owe their happy childhood and secure future. A bunch of these miserable individuals are trying to write something. Let's take a look and rejoice in this "something"!
==========================================
HANGMAN
S.Y.В'97
This new product from the Samara hacker S.Y.В (formerly known as SB SOFT) is still in development, but the first demo version has already appeared, which we have included in the magazine's appendix.
The game will be yet another variation on the theme "guess the puzzle - look at the scanned picture." Whether this is good or bad, of course, is up to you to judge, but according to sales statistics in Samara, there is a certain category (and quite large) of fans of such programs. Well, if they exist, then we must work for them!
The main idea of the game is to guess the word conceived by the computer. At the same time, you only know the current topic (for example "NAMES") and two letters (the first and the last). Methodically going through the entire Russian alphabet, you must try to guess the word for DOOMahhoe. By choosing a letter not present in the word, you increase your chances of ending up "with a noose around your neck."
In the demo version, after guessing 15 words, you will be given the opportunity to see some semblance of "morphing," hastily made from IBM PC. In the full version, it is planned to include a large amount of "multi-resolvable" and regular graphics, in addition to the animation.
In short, lovers of looking at beautiful pictures are waiting for another masterpiece (let's hope!). The full game is planned to be released in the unimaginably near future. It will occupy one TR-DOS disk and work on machines with at least 128K of memory.
RGB AGRESSION #1
(C) Unbeliever/XTM
This "product," created using the most primitive technologies of modernity (R166/32/2.9/.....) should appear simultaneously with the fourth issue of OBERON, which you are actually reading.
The "product" occupies an entire disk and represents a collection of graphics in a new and absolutely extreme graphic mode of the SPECTRUM, which some call BitMap Color, others 3-Color or X-Color, and I call - RGB COLOR.
I won't delve into the technical side of this graphic mode, but I want to note one thing: you do not need to modify your computer!
RGB COLOR works on
ANY ZX SPECTRUM with 128K memory and
a functioning second screen area.
The only serious limitation is "immediate" memory, i.e. your machine should not have a split memory field, and the test in the INTRO to the magazine should read: RAM TYPE - MONOBLOCK (except for emulators).
If all these requirements coexist in your computer, then you can confidently go and buy (preferably from me) this disk.
You will find about 50 full-screen graphic images in an unprecedented color palette: each dot its own color (one of eight). This is much cooler than it may seem, but it's worth seeing once rather than hearing 256 times! As for the content of these images, fans of "strawberries," "berries," and other fruits may be slightly disappointed. A little game called X-REVERSY will soon appear for you. I will most likely include well-known pictures from AMIGA, album covers of IRON MAIDEN, MANOWAR, ARIA, and everything else that comes to hand and meets two requirements: colorful and fierce!
I want to note that to view these pictures, which I painstakingly converted from PC, Xcolor+ (C) CREATOR from the appendix to ZX-FORMAT#6 is used. Well, I can't be writing my own viewer after all!
For those who didn't understand, I refer you to ZXF#6, where RGB COLOR is described in detail.
==========================================
I will not be presenting the next Samara development, but, as it should be, the authors themselves will do it. The floor is theirs...
Hello, dear readers of the "OBERON" magazine
We welcome you from the new Samara group Without Denomination Group, which currently consists of two (a third one is on the way) fans of our beloved SPECCY. At the moment, the group includes two modest coders: Mr. POWer and Mr. SPIDER.
It is quite possible that you have already critically assessed the small demo of our game "HANOI TOWER" that we sent through FIDO. Here I would like to shed more light on this our first joint development, which, I hope, by the time you read this note, is already on sale in the Samara book market...
A bit of history. An old legend says that in India, in the city of Benares, in the main temple, where the center of the Universe is located, Brahma placed three diamond rods, one elbow high (57 mm) and as thick as the body of a bee, on a birch board. At the creation of the world, 64 circles of various diameters with holes in the center were strung on one of these rods. They were made of pure gold and were strung in such a way that they formed a truncated cone. For many years, day and night, alternating with each other, the priests transfer this cone from the first rod to the third, using the second only as an auxiliary. They must strictly adhere to two conditions: first, they cannot move more than one circle at a time, and second, they can never place a larger circle on a smaller one. When the priests manage to finish their work, then the end of the world will come...
I can add that you will have the opportunity to feel like ancient Indian priests and try to arrange not 64 rings, but just 10. Nevertheless, do not be deceived, arranging them is not so easy, although this circumstance will not prevent you from finishing the game before the end of the world. But still, at the special requests of the authors of this creation, special deliveries of the game in full volume, i.e. with 64 rings, are possible. ;-)
The game does not claim to become the hit of the season; we simply have not seen any implementation of this wonderful logical game on the SPECTRUM yet.
I want to note an important detail: this game is the first program in Samara for which a modem was actively used in its production.
At the time of writing this article, work is underway to "finish" this very game. And we hope that after loading this game, you will not need boxes of rotten vegetables and eggs (at least, spare your monitor). :-(
POWer.
01.11.97
==========================================
It turns out that people are still trying to write games. Let them be primitive, but games! Although there is a prospect for one Samara programmer and a large, solid game... but for now, it is just a prospect. That is why I will not tell you that it will be a cool action game converted from a very cool platform, with hard graphics and wild music. And I will not tell you this because I am still not completely sure that all this will happen. But if it does happen, it will be very strong!
On this mysterious note, we will move on to the review of the latest versions of the ZX-WINWORD editor and the SPRITE CUTTER program.
╔==========================╗
║ ║
║ Utility package ║
║ Oberon Creative Pack ║
║ (OCP) ║
║ ZX-WinWord editor v2.1 ║
║ and ║
║ "sprite cutter" ║
║ Sprite Cutter v1.0 ║
║ ║
╚==========================╝
Due to the specific features of many utilities included in the OCP package, only two of them have gained the most popularity: the ZX-WinWord editor and the Sprite Cutter program, which allows you to "cut out" and then save sprites in the format of the aforementioned editor.
* * *
ZX-WinWord v2.1
(Paul Atrides, 1996-97)
-----------------------
For about a year, work has been ongoing on one of the main utilities of the OCP package - the editor that allows combining text with graphics, - ZX-WinWord. During this time, several debug and demo versions of the program have been made, and two commercial releases. It makes no sense to provide information about each version, nor is it possible. We will only consider the latest commercial version.
Comparing version 2.1 with the previous full version 1.3, the following main differences and new features should be noted:
1) Working with multiple fonts:
2) The ability to format text with word wrapping, and the text is formatted somewhat more correctly than in iS-Editor:
3) Several service functions have been added, the speed of the editor in formatting, searching/replacing modes, etc., has been increased, the ability to quickly insert/delete a page with sprites has been added, and several minor bugs have been fixed.
Unfortunately, due to the volumes of text and graphics being processed, which occupy the main large part of memory, the external design of the program, the so-called "friendly interface," suffers somewhat, but for a system program this is not so important. And I assure you, this will not affect the texts typed in ZX-WinWord, colored and supplemented with sprites.
At the moment (November 1997), version 2.2 of the editor is practically ready for release, which has implemented support for "default" fonts and taken into account the peculiarities of transferring some exception words.
Sprite Cutter v1.0
(Alex Noman, 1997)
--------------------
The first Beta version of the Sprite Cutter v0.1 program appeared roughly at the same time as the release of the Oberon magazine #3. Initially, the utility was planned as a continuation of the CUT program written by Evgeny Milun, but subsequently it transformed and grew so much that it no longer fit within the confines of 48K. Be that as it may, the program was not conceived as a competitor to domestic "monsters of sprite cutting." To date, SC_v1.0 represents a universal program designed not only for working with files in the ZX-WinWord format. It supports so-called sprites in "pure" form (without a header) and packed with the RLE method (by the way, you can observe them in this issue of Oberon). The utility allows
to easily and quickly create a sprite table in memory up to 32K (this is more related to the volumes of graphics processed in ZX-WinWord), delete sprites from the table, add sprites to the end of the table, overlay, scroll, invert sprites, and much more that is more characteristic of a graphic editor than a "sprite extractor." :)
Approximately at the same time as ZX-WinWord v2.2, a new version of Sprite Cutter v1.1 will appear, in which support for controlling from the Kempston mouse (especially for Peter), overlaying sprites with pixel precision, centering sprites (at the requests of the public), the menu system has been slightly adjusted, etc. and so on.
Alex Noman.
-========================================MUSIC BY : PMS SOFT
Contents of the publication: Oberon #04
- From the Editorial
This editorial discusses the legal 'charges' against the creators of Oberon #4 as a humorous narrative, highlights the challenges faced in publishing this issue, and announces a potential hiatus for the magazine.
- Scroll
Analysis of the game 'Chaos' by Julian Gollop. Simplified gameplay mechanics and strategic elements. Description of creatures, spells, and tactics.
- Scroll - Unbeliever
Description of a mathematical game for ZX Spectrum where players collect formula symbols while navigating gears.
- Scroll - M.M.A
Discussion of 'Doc the Destroyer', a unique fighting and adventure game for ZX Spectrum. The article covers controls, character customization, and game mechanics. Compatibility issues on different ZX Spectrum models are also addressed.
- Overview - M.M.A
The article provides a review of games for ZX Spectrum, including KOMANDO 2, WRESTLING SUPERSTARS, TAG TEAM WRESTLING, and CAPTAIN PLANET. It highlights the features, graphics, and gameplay of each game, noting both strengths and weaknesses. The review concludes with recommendations and comparisons to other platforms and games.
- Overview
Overview of various ZX Spectrum games, highlighting their unique features, gameplay mechanics, and design elements. Includes critique on sound effects, graphics, and technical issues. Discusses games like 'Stryker in the Crypts of Trogan', 'Phileas Fogg's Balloon Battles', and 'Survival'.
- Overview - Alex Noman
The article reviews games for the ZX Spectrum, including BOOVIE, MOTOR MASSACRE, SOCCER PINBALL, and HUXLEY PIG 1 & 2. Each game is detailed in terms of gameplay, graphics, and unique features. The discussion includes comparisons to other games and highlights specific technical aspects.
- Review
A review of various games, including Little Computer People and Lost Caves, highlighting their features and versions. It also discusses 75Occ Grand Prix by Codemasters with its limitations. The article provides insights into game mechanics and versions.
- Review
Detailed review of various assemblers like Alasm 3.8, TASM 4.12, and others, highlighting their features and shortcomings.
- About Everything
Announcement of the creation of the SamZxNet network in Samara and the challenges of setting it up with HAYES modems. Explanation of the modems' power requirements and potential difficulties. Invitation for technical advice from experienced readers.
- About Everything
Description of travel to ENLIGHT'97 and meeting various demoscene participants. Observations of event organization and issues. Insights into participant experiences and scene discussions.
- About Everything
Report on the second day of ENLIGHT'97: events, challenges, and reflections. Describes voting results and organizational difficulties. Highlights future prospects for Spectrum demo parties.
- About Everything
The article features reader feedback on Oberon #04, critiquing design and content choices and discussing issues with software protection and game enhancements.
- About Everything
Discussion of the adventure game KAYLETH with gameplay tips and advice. Includes a game dictionary and suggestions from the author and their team. Calls for a local artist for future RPG development.
- About Everything
Reflection on the closure of the 'ZX-REVIEW' magazine and the adaptation of its article for 'Oberon'. Discussion on the development of ultra-short boot loaders. Optimization techniques for writing one-sector boot loaders on ZX Spectrum.
- About Everything
Exploration of amateur contributions to electronics, music, and computing history, highlighting figures like Faraday and Babbage. The evolution from handmade instruments to personal computers. Discussion on jazz, blues, and rock'n'roll's informal origins.
- About Everything
The story of Lieutenant Edward Roberts' journey from radio kits to creating the first PC, the Altair 8800, overcoming skepticism and challenges.
- About Everything
The article explores the rise and evolution of the computer industry, highlighting the transformation from passionate hobbyists to corporate dominance by giants like IBM and Microsoft.
- About Everything
An exploration of Sir Clive Sinclair's project after selling the Sinclair brand, detailing the features of the Cambridge Computers Z88 laptop.
- About Everything
Discussion of software market problems in 1997 for ZX Spectrum, highlighting lack of new software and user reluctance to pay.
- Announcement - M.M.A
Announcement of 'Black Raven' game by V. Mednonogov, focusing on gameplay, technical challenges, and upcoming features.
- Announcement
Discussion of the decline in ZX Spectrum development, reviews of new games and utilities, and announcements of future projects.
- Educational Program
The article provides an overview of FidoNet, a non-commercial computer network often considered the predecessor of the Internet, detailing its origins, growth, and unique cultural aspects.
- Hardware
Instructions for connecting the 'ALEGRO' modem to computers with normal port #FF, detailing hardware modifications required for proper signal handling.
- Hardware
Connecting Hayes-compatible modems to ZX Spectrum, focusing on Scorpion and Pentagon models, detailing hardware modifications. Specific instructions for internal port blocking and signal alignment provided. Step-by-step process and technical intricacies explained.
- Hardware
Discussion of the transition from 5.25' to 3.5' floppy disks for ZX Spectrum, including installation issues and solutions for compatibility with existing software.
- Let's Feast
A satirical story about a Rabbit who lost his house to a cunning Fox and how a Rooster helped him reclaim it.
- Let's Gourmet
A humorous tale about Malysh and Karlson's adventures with technology, drawing parallels between computers and everyday life, culminating in a comic mishap with an AMIGA computer.
- Advertising
Article discusses free advertising policy of Oberon, catalog of programs and hardware for ZX Spectrum, and adventure game engagement.
- Advertisement - Kano
Promotional campaign by Magic Soft and RPSG in Russia for Amiga multimedia computers, offering exhibitions, sales, and consultations. They highlight Amiga's advantages over other systems, describe various models, and provide price lists. Collaboration with 'Computers for Population' for distribution and services.
