Portable Addiction: 15-Jul-91 #003
From: Atari SIG (xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu)
Date: 07/15/92-03:50:54 PM Z
From: xx004@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Atari SIG)
Subject: Portable Addiction: 15-Jul-91 #003
Date: Wed Jul 15 15:50:54 1992
Contributed by: Andy Norman <ange@hplb.hpl.hp.com>
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
PORTABLE ADDICTION #03 15 JULY 1991
Newsletter for the Atari Lynx, Sega Game Gear and Atari Portfolio
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
By: Tjerk Heijmens Visser (Editor)
Yiri Kohl (Editorial Assistant)
Mr. Portfolio (Haven't found a title yet, but let's call him
Portfolio Section Manager)
Special thanks to: Andre "ALU" Luyer (for being so slow on getting his Inter-
net account), Mr. Doom, Decoder, The Funtronics Computer Shop and Rober Jung
(For extra information on release dates).
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Editorial:
Sorry that the last issue came so late, but now we have sorted things out.
>From now on we will have story's with details about the technical side of the
Lynx. And we will start a series of spescials about people working with/on
the Portfolio and/or Lynx, we'll start with an interview with Stephen Landrum.
He used to work at Epyx and designed Lynx games like Blue Lightning.
This is the first issue being spread by the mailinglist, if you know anyone who
wants to join the list give them the e-mail address below. We can even send to
postoffice-mail addresses, if they don't have an Internet account.
The Portfolio section is saved Mr. Portfolio is writing some articles, his
first article can be found in this issue, along with a huge list of Portfolio
files from around the world. All files can be ordered.
We will start with the Game Gear this month, as it has now officially been
released in Europe, but it has not reached the stores yet, so we only have one
review, but we hope we'll have more next month.
Enjoy,
Tjerk Heijmens Visser
Editor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-------------------------+
HOT NEWS AND GOSSIP
+-------------------------+
Game Gear: The Game Gear will be available in three colors besides white and
black.
Game Gear: The Game Gear will cost ~99,- in England, without game.
Games will cost ~25,-. Columns, Dragon Crystal, G-Loc, Mickey Mouse, Psychic
World, Super Monaco GP and Super Wonder Boy will be released immediately with
the Game Gear.
Lynx: Knight Technologies is also programming for the Lynx, They are programming
a game called Dirty Larry (?????), Dirty Harry In The Land Of The Lounge
Lizzards ????, No, but we will try to find out more about it.
Lynx: Ishido is said to be in preparation for the Lynx !
Lynx: Viking Child (Said to be released within a month), Checkered Flag,
Scrapyard Dog and Turbo-Sub are said to be in production. It is said that they
will be released within 3 month.
Lynx: Qix and Crazy Ace Miniature Golf are supposed to be out by the end of the
month and Baseball, Pit Fighter, Toki, S.T.U.N. Runner, Viking Child, Hydra,
Hard Drivin', Raiden, Geo-Duell and Taxi (?) will also be out within a month.
(How come I doubt that).
Lynx: Atari hopes that there will be 20 to 30 Lynx games released by the end of
the year, but don't get to enthusiastic. Maybe they said that they will have
20 to 30 games available, with already 19 games out it could theoretically be
possible that they will release 1 game!
Panther: The Panther has deffinately been cancelled, it will be replaced by the
JAGUAR. The Jaguar will be a 64 bits (!!) console with a risc processor (!!).
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------LYNX Review-----+
ZARLOR MERCENARY
+---------Atari--------+
After last month thinking-games reviews, here is a real arcade game with lots
of bullets, unnecesarry violence and lots of money !!!
It has been said that Zarlor Mercenary is one of the hardest shoot'm up's,
and so it is.
You're hired by the Zarlors to destroy their enemy's commercial and industrial
sites.
The more you shoot,the more money you get,so it is wise to shoot everything
you see:ships,buildings,factories,peoples,cars and enemy warships.
Before you start playing you choose your mercenary.There are seven mercenaries,
each with it's own advantages(like:laser,wing cannon,speed up ect.).At the end
of every level there are one or more end of level monsters,if you succeed in
beating them you'll go to the mercenary's mercantile where you can buy or sell
weapons.
Each level is different, Level 1 (Cadamar Desert) is easy and is ment to let you
earn some money when the prices are still low. The prices rise by some 50% per
level, so you have to buy as much as you can in the beginning. If you think that
you have more than enough weapons for the last level, you can sell (the higher
the level, the more you get per weapon, you are offered about 50% of the retail
price at that level).
So you can make proffit, e.g. a ship costs 40.000 Zarbits in level 1, and you
will be offered a lot more at the last level.
The other levels are more crowded with aliens, you really have to blast your way
through. There is no real technique, just shoot everything, though after a while
you will know some easy ways to get through a level.
We have had a ComLynx-review about Zarlor Mercenary in ComLynx-mode, so we will
not go into details about it.
The Backstabber is quite useless because you have to shoot for a while till
your "friend" will get seriously hurt. You can better try to get all the icons
you find, so he will have to buy everything. But lesser weapons mean less money,
so you are doomed. So you can say that in ComLynx-mode you are trying to steal
from your opponent (not directly kill him) and you don't watch the aliens that
closely as in Single-Player mode, so this is more intense and fun.
But try to be nice to you opponents, they might take revenge in real life!!
If you like shoot'm ups,you'll love Zarlor Mercenary,it's the best shoot 'm up
i've ever seen.
+-RATINGS-----------------------------------------------------+
Graphics - 8.0 : Detailed, screen not "crowded"
Sound - 6.0 : Nice tunes but nothing spescial
Playability - 8.0 : As it is supposed to be
Lastability - 8.0 : Everybody wants more money !!!
Overall - 7.9 : This is what the Lynx needed, a good
killing game, it will keep you Lynxing (?)
+--------------------MEGAJERK---------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------LYNX Review------+
ELECTRO-COP
+------Atari/Epyx-------+
Electro-Cop, as one of the first releases, was very impressive. And it still is.
Just look at the depth, the scaling etc., it's beautifull to look at.
Your goal is to resque the president's daughter (sounds like a soap!).
Nothing new so far.
In this game you have to run thru a building and find the exit to the right
level.
To find the right exit, you have to go through several doors, the doors are
equipped with computer terminals.
The terminals are nice, while you wait for the computer to find the right
access-code you can play games or you can go thru a directory and get
information on your ennemies and power-ups.
Some people say the terminal looks like a Mac or Game-Boy, and that explains
why the games in the terminal are so stupid.
So far the game looks very easy (and it is), but you have also keep your energy-
level high. The terminals help, but floor tiles, robots, wall cannons and random
opening and closing doors make it just a bit more difficult.
The robots look very nice, some are hidden under the floor, some walk around,
some float and some just hop around infecting tiles causing it to be electrified
or iced, but they don't have a random patern. So it's possible to play this game
blind and finish it in two minutes :-)
It's nice to see all the end-of-game screens, they look beautifull and it
shows various newspaper headlines.
Though it takes full advatage of the 3-D possibility's, the game-play gets
boring if you have finised the game already.
If you have finished the game succesfully, you get to see a text, I'm not going
to spoil it for you. But at the end it says 'To be continued'. I haven't seen
anything about Electrocop II, so it will probably take more than a year before
you hear anything about it.
+-RATINGS-----------------------------------------------------+
Graphics - 9.0 : Incredible depth.
Sound - 5.5 : Nice, but a Lynx can do better
Playability - 7.0 : Good controles, not complex
Lastability - 6.0 : In the beginning great urge to finish
but after you have finished you'll only
play it for the graphics, play will bore
Overall - 7.5 : Good, considering it was part of the
first batch of games.
+--------------------MEGAJERK---------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------LYNX Preview------+
Ninja Gaiden
+----------Atari---------+
In this game you have to defeat an evil demon in New York (Why is it always in
America!!). You are Japanese (Why always Japanese !!, My Aikido-Sensei is as
good as any Jap !!, This makes review writing very boring!) and your Sensei
sends you to New York to beat him.
Ninja-Gaiden has been nown for a while now from the Arcades (Also nown as
Shadow Warriors) and it will soon be released on the NES.
The graphics are great, everything is very detailed and the backgrounds vary
from level to level, so you won't get boring pictures that you see again and
again. You get a chance to see the detailed graphics in the static screens,
like in the continue screen where you are tied down and a circular saw is
comming down from the ceiling to kill you.
There are 6 levels, in the last level you reach the demon.
On your way there you have to kill lots a guys (ofcourse!), but it's just
blasting the opponent. Hit your buttons hard and often, and you'll get far.
More help can be found, look in a phone booth or box and you'll find things
like swords, extra lifes and various pills.
The graphics and sounds are what you expect them to be, perfect !!
It shows you what the Lynx can do, like perfect scrolling (Sorry, no speach,
but no one will mis that).
There are twelve moves to either hit or avoid the enemy. So it will take a
while till you have sorted that out.
But the thing that is lacking most is the Com-Lynx !
In a game as good as this one there just has to be a Lynxup-capability.
I don't know what excuse Atari has for it, I don't know what the reason is but
I hope that they have a good excuse (Don't tell me that it didn't fit on the
card !).
We expect this game to come out within 3 month. Atari said that it would be
released in July but that's Atari, what do they know !
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-----COMLYNX-Review-----+
Warbirds
+----------Atari---------+
Warbirds is a great game in single-player mode, due to all it's features.
But try to immagine it with 3 friends. In ComLynx mode the game is much harder
because humans are not as predictable (AND HUMANS CAN'T BE TRUSTED !!) as the
computer, the tackticks that you use against the computer will be useless
against your friends.
Even if you can beat The Swarm, you're not sure of vicory against
your friends. To make things easy you can team up with somebody to beat the
third guy. But people deflect, so be warned, and always look back!
An easy way to betray your friens is choosing an easy setup, like no collisions
will let you fly through an other plane without dammage, but downing the other
(if he has collisions in his setup ofcourse).
Some people may like the game for it and some may not, but it makes the game
alot more interresting.
It is not smart to land (you're a sitting duck) unless you have a pact with
someone to protect you. It is interresting to see someone land, the landing
plane is floting in the air, you can fly underneath it !!!
Thats the only weird thing in this game, the rest is great. ComLynx is a great
invention !!!!!!
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-------------------+
LYNX CHEATS
+-------------------+
This is a list of cheats and hidden options for Lynx games as far as they are
known to us. Other new cheats (if available) can be found in the News & Gossip
section.
CHIPS CHALLENGE: Everybody will know about this by now. Type MAND and
you will get a MANDELBROT on your screen.
ZARLOR MERCENARY: The LIFE-program can be accessed by pushing down OPTION 1,
keeping it down, and then pressing the joypad up, down, left and right.
Important functions: 1) Any button except A and B will stop evolution.
2) Move joypad and pushing A allows you to draw
3) " " " " B " " " erase
4) OPTION 1 continues evolution, cells that get off the
screen continue on the other side of the screen
5) OPTION 2 continues evolution, screen has solid wall.
The LIFE program has also a copy buffer and a PASTE/ERASE mode, if you want
details about it, just mail us.
ROAD BLASTERS: You can get pictures of the programmers by hitting the first tree
on the either the left or right side of the road, and holding down button B, on
level 1 (Bubble City).
GATES OF ZENDOCON: Pictures of the programers can be found here too.
Enter TRYX as level code, descend directly and try to go thru the floor (Use
shield). There are three obstacles to be avoided and enter the first gate.
When you exit the gate you will see faces floating towards you, shoot 'em, they
are the prgrammers. You will find all available power-ups in this level.
SLIME WORLD: The Zit poppin' game can be accessed by going to the summary screen
and go to tyhe screen where Tod is green. Push OPTION 1 and you will see a zit,
you have to blow it up by hitting buttons as fast as you can.
SHANGHAI: You can see the victory screen by going to the high-score table.
Press PAUSE, and then holding down OPTION 1, OPTION 2, A, B and push the
joypad North-West simultaneously.
RAMPAGE: You can choose any of the 61 levels by pausing and unpausing on the
selection screen before you choose your monster. Hold down OPTION 1 when you
get to the newspaper screen and then you can choose a level with the joypad
(still holding down OPTION 1).
MS. PAC MAN: To get extra speed press PAUSE, two times A, B, OPTION 1, two times
A, B and OPTION 1. When the lightning bolt appears hit B, and thats it.
These are all the cheats we know of. If you know more, we would be greatefull
if you would let us know.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+--------------------------+
LYNX GAME RATINGS
+--------------------------+
There was a misunderstanding last month, we are not going to make an own top 10.
But we are using the results from the VIDEO GAME RATINGS REPORT.
RANK TITLE VOTES CAST
1) 9.7 Warbirds 3 N S
2) 9.0 Klax 43 B
3) 8.8 Zarlor Mercenary 17
4) 8.5 Fidelity UCC 2 N B
5) 8.4 Shanghai 8 B
6) 8.0 Chip's Challenge 61 B
7) 8.0 Road Blasters 26
8) 7.9 Xenephobe 28
9) 7.5 Slime World 44
10) 7.3 Rampage 11
11) 7.2 Blue Lightning 59 S
12) 6.7 RoboSquash 14
13) 6.7 Rygar 9
14) 6.5 Gates of Zendocon 52
15) 6.4 California Games 74
16) 6.4 Ms. Pacman 14
17) 6.0 Electrocop 54
18) 5.7 Gauntlet III 50
19) 5.7 Paperboy 15
NOTES :
If rate is equal, rank is based on the number of votes cast.
If more votes are cast, the number is more reliable.
N= New
B= Brains needed
S= Simulator
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------INTERVIEW------+
Stephen Landrum
+---------------------+
Stephen Landrum, designer of Blue Lightning, started programming in high school,
where he was the best student in the course. He entered the "real" world thru
Science Applications Inc. They contacted his school as they were looking for
a student to do file maintenance for them, later he got to do some coding for
them. In 1978 he got an Apple II computer and started writing games in BASIC.
In 1981 he quit Science Applications to work for Starpath (Where he wrote
games like DRAGON STOMPER). Starpath later merged with Epyx where he operated
on games like Summer Games, PitStop and Super Cycle (all C46).
In 1987 he left Epyx for Electronic Arts where he was lead programmer on Skate
or Die. A year later he returned to Epyx where they wanted him to work on
the Lynx (Handy, as it was called). He left Epyx again last year with
Blue Lighning as the only game he designed, but assisted on games like Zarlor
Mercenary and Chip's Challenge.
He didn't say that he will return to design games for the Lynx, but he didn't
expect to return to Epyx in 1988.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+------Technical------+
LYNX ETC.
+---------------------+
This is a small section about technical details about the Lynx (And Game Gear
later on)
The Lynx has a 16Mhz crystal. But that is of course not the real speed.
The graphics engine runs at 8Mhz and the 65c02 processor can run up to 4Mhz
but the real speed is 3.5Mhz.
The first games (Electro Cop, Gauntlet III, Blue Lightning and Chip's Challenge)
were on 128 Kilo-Bytes cards and Klax was the first game to use a 256 KB-card.
The address space to the cartridge supports up to 1 MB but the cartridge could
be made larger by adding bank selection circuitry to the cartridge.
Lot's of people don't exactly know, what the insides of their machines
look like. For that reason we present you with most of the technical
specifications of Lynx, GameGear and GameBoy.
Machine : Atari Lynx Sega GameGear Nintendo GameBoy
Processor : 65c02 z80a custom z80a
Proc.Speed : 16Mhz 3.58Mhz 1Mhz
Memory : 64K 8K Ram+16K Vram 8K
Resolution : 160 X 102 160 X 146 20 X 18 Chars
Palette : 4096 4096 4 greys
Colors : 16 32 4 greys
Stereo : 4 Chan/5 Oct 3 Chan PSG+1 1 Chan stereo
Storage : 8 MBit N/A 2 MBit
Graphics : ***** **** **
Sound : ***** **** ****
Expansion : * **** **
Overall : ***** **** ****
***** The Best
**** Good
*** Average
** Bad
* Worthless
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+---GAME GEAR Review---+
Castle of Illusion
+----------Sega--------+
Castle of Illusion has already been known for a while from the Mega Drive.
And it is now available for the Game Gear. The game stars Mickey Mouse.
The Hero (Mick) has got to save his girlfriend (Minnie) from the claws of a
wicked witch (Mizrabel). It sounds boring so far.
The game has a lot of nice animation, what else did you expect from a Disney-
character.
This game is a real Mario-look-a-like what game play is concerned.
The level design is good, with some surprises and other Disney things.
The game does everything that Mario does, and it is ment to get Mario lovers to
buy a Game Gear.
The music is nice but I expect the Game Gear to do alot better in future games
with sound effects.
I didn't found this game very spescial because I'm already fed up with
Super Mario Bros. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 on any system !
Sega didn't have to do alot themselves for this game as almost everything was
"stolen".
But all in all it's a nice game with great graphics and adove average sound.
But I'm waiting to play Super Monaco GP on the Game Gear.
+-RATINGS-----------------------------------------------------+
Graphics - 8.5 : Game looks good, good animation
Sound - 6.7 : Nice music, so so sound effects
Playability - 8.0 : Good feel, nice moves
Lastability - 8.5 : Good for the whole familly,
espescialy for the younger kids
Overall - 8.0 : The game is quallity made, but
not very original
+---------------------MEGAJERK--------------------------------+
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+-------------------------------------+
SCREEN SCENE EUROPE
or: Sega, how the heck did they do it
+-------------------------------------+
Sayonara! Here I am, once again, in the wonderfull world of consoles.
Gosh! Now how did Sega do it? How did they beat Nintendo with inferior
machinery, and even worse marketing?
Sega released it's Master System way before the first release of the NES.
They didn't really need good marketing, since the Master System was the
best console available at that time. Zillions of people (OK, maybe a
little bit less people!) bought the Master System, so Nintendo had no
chance at all.
Then, when all kinds of superior machines came out, Sega launched it's
Megadrive, later called the Genesis in the US. The PC Engine didn't have
a chance against this machine, for the same reason as Nintendo had with
the launch of it's NES. Yeah! I know! We Europeans are mad, and yes, we
even do LIKE Sega!
Then the Lynx was launched (the GameBoy wasn't officially available yet)
so Sega announced their GameGear. And even with this announcement, they
stopped a hell of a lot of people from buying a Lynx, while the GameGear
would be less powerfull!
And now the GameGear has been released, and I've got the Sega fever, too.
I never thought it would come this far, but I am about to buy my very own
GameGear soon!
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+----------------------+
Just Some Junk
+----------------------+
When I was cleaning my desk last week, I just found some of my Xenophobe
notes. Maybe there's still some people out there who might find it
usefull.
Locations of self-destruct machines
Station Floor Room
3 1 4
4 4 5
6 2 5 You can find the station/floor/room
8 5 1 number at the top of the screen.
10 1 4
11 4 5
13 2 5
15 5 1
17 1 4
18 4 5
20 2 5
22 5 1
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
+----------------------------+
PORTFOLIO !!!
It's going to stay !!!
+----------------------------+
As stated before, we are glad to say that we can continue with the Portfolio-
section. Mr. Portfolio from Canada is helping us out with that.
The reason why we thought of stopping it was the lack of new software for the PF
(New for you that is, and there is nothing interresting to mention on the PF in
Europe).
This time we have a HUGE software list, they can always be ordered at the e-mail
address below, the list will be updated every month .
THV - MJ
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
What Good is an Atari Portfolio
-------------------------------
Written by Mr. Portfolio
There has been many a time that I have been asked by curious
onlookers, "gee that little computer is a neat toy, but what good
is it ??".
One of my answers is that the address book has been the most useful
part of the Portfolio, and that is even in a way that Atari really
never intended it to be used.
As a square dance caller, I have found the address book to be very
useful. I used it to catalog a bin of records. This resulted in my
getting a list that told me of everything I had in the bin.
For a collector, the address book would be indispensable, with the
first line being used as a title, the address book becomes a real
useful general purpose database.
There are a few programs out now that allow the user to view
his/her address file on a PC, and allow the user to import/export
from Windows Cardfile .CRD files.
Eventually I get asked about games on the Portfolio. I have used my
Portfolio for different games, one of the best games around is
written by B. J. Gleason, it is called Spinner 1.0
For those of you who have never heard of Spinner 1.0, the following
diagram sort of describes it:
_____________________________
-| | | |xx|yy|yy|xx| | | |-
| |--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--| |
-| | | | | | | | | | |-
-----------------------------
In this diagram there are 20 numbers marked from 1 to 20, randomly
spread throughout the little boxes. By using right and left cursor
keys , the numbers move around either clockwise or counter
clockwise. Pressing the spacebar swaps the numbers in the boxes
marked xx and yy. The object of the game is to manipulate the
numbers, until they are all in order from left to right, starting
at the leftmost box.
I found this game quite challenging, especially near the end when
almost all of the numbers were in order. Play is fairly fast, the
program itself is an EXE file, so no other programs are needed to
play it.
All in all, Spinner 1.0 is a really good game, B.J. Gleason has
gone out of his way with this one.
ST Transfers with the Parallel port.
------------------------------------
Finally, there is a program out for the Atari Portfolio called
STFOLIO.ARC, it allows you to hook up your ST to the Portfolio.
With the special program and the special cable that you make, (it
is not too hard, I have seen the Diagram that is enclosed in the
arc file), you can send files to your Portfolio from your ST.
The program uses the Parallel port on the Portfolio, and is almost
identical to the one on the IBM.
Flight Simulator for The Portfolio
----------------------------------
There is now a program out called FS.EXE that allows the user to
fly a little plane across the Portfolio screen. The program does
not have any graphics, it has a neat propeller sound, and uses the
up and down arrow keys to move the plane up or down. Landing the
plane is easy, you just move the down cursor until the plane
touches the bottom of the screen, then it says: Safe Landing.
The game itself is rather small and easy, it really is just a
novelty that wears off soon, but it is still kind of neat.
Terminator II and the Atari Portfolio
-------------------------------------
In the year 1991 the second terminator has struck, and the boy hero
of the movie has an Atari Portfolio.
The kid makes real good use of the Portfolio, during the movie
there are real close up shots of the Portfolio while the kid
proceeds to plug a magnetic card into an automated banking machine.
The magnetic card appears to be hooked up to the Portfolio through
a cable, a program on the Portfolio is scanning the card, and after
20 seconds it tells the kid what the pin number is.
The kid explains to his friend that his mother showed him how to
modify little computers, he then withdraws $300.00 of money (not
his money).
(That's one real good use for the Portfolio, but I hope this one
never hits the market...).
Banking and the Portfolio
-------------------------
In keeping with the above, one real good use for the Portfolio is
to use it as an electronic checkbook. With proper use of the
spreadsheet, you can keep real good control at you fingertips of
where your money goes.
The example below illustrates this:
---------------------------------------
| Date | Action | Amount | Balance |
|--------|----------|--------|----------|
| Jul 6 | Deposit | $100.00| $100.00 |
| Jul 7 | Withdraw | $50.00: +C4-D3 |
-----------------------------------------
In the above example, the first line , July 6 and its contents is
the start of the worksheet. The formula in block D4 takes the
previous balance from block C4, subtracts the amount from block D3
and puts the updated balance in block D4.
This type of worksheet can be used to keep track of bank deposits
and withdrawals, and another similar worksheet can keep track of
purchases, right down to the penny.
I used this system for months when I was in college, and it
resulted in a savings of $100.00 or more per month, by just being
able to have the info at my fingertips.
One piece of advice, if you are going to use a system like this,
save your output file on a ramcard, and call it something like
Bank0706.wks, it makes things easier as you update it. The first
four letters of the filename should be descriptive, the next two
letters are the month and the last two is the day, as you update
your list, change the filename to correspond with the latest
update's date.
As a final note, I am listing a good portion of the PD files that
are available for the Atari Portfolio. The list comes from Atari
Canada's BBS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PK361.EXE PC compatible ARC utility to unarc BBS files in this area
---> NEW Files:
SPIN.EXE Number Puzzle
FM.COM Atari Files Manager
FS.EXE Small flight simulator, Not much on graphics but fun
PCRD11.ARC newest version for Windows 3.0 - Cardfile file compatible with
Portfolio address book (needs VBRUN100.ARC)
FLASH.ARC BSE Flashcard software drivers for connecting and HD to the
Portfolio - contact BSE 714-832-4316
BLKBST.BAS Arcade game (needs PBasic)
DIGDEC.ARC Card trick program
DIGDEC.DOC Docs for above
DZN.BAS Puzzle (needs PBasic)
DZNRUL.TXT Docs for above
TEXTCO.ARC Removes returns from text files except at the end of paragraphs
TIMEZN.ARC Reset system clock when you are in different time zones
TYPIST.COM Typing practise for the small keyboard
TYPIST.DOC Docs for above
VADER.BAS Space invaders (needs PBasic)
---> Conversion Programs
AG2POR.ARC Lotus Agenda macros to export Agenda data to Portfolio
DRYSK.ARC Diary files to sidekick
PRTCRD.ARC Convert address book ADR files to Windows 3.0 Cardfile CRD files
(Needs VBRUN100, as below)
VBRUN100.ARC Win 3.0 Visual Basic Runtime for above
WPCAL.ARC Covert WordPerfect Cal to DRY
---> DEMO Programs:
PGSH21.ARC Fastest Demo available
PSI.EXE Demo program for the Portfolio
---> Utilities:
60BY10.ARC Program to change screen to 60 col by 10 lines
ACDPW2.ARC Password protect your data files
ADDRES.EXE Address file viewer
ADDRES.SIT Mac Hypercard stack allows import/export, requires StuffIt
ARCEX.ARC Portfolio "Un-ARC" utility
AUTOEXEC.BAT Example startup file
BAT2EXE.ARC Compile batch files, output runs on the Portfolio
BATTST.ARC Battery tester for Portfolio
BM2.ARC Battery reminder program
BXD26.ARC Debugger, runs on the Portfolio
CONFIG.SYS Example config file
DOSEDI.COM DOS command line editor, remembers last few commands you entered
FT.COM Parallel module file transfer prog
GREP.ARC Text search program
HDIR.ARC Hot directory
LISTFG.COM displays fragmented files
LOGOS.ARC custom screens
NEWPORT.ARC Tech Overview of Portfolio accessories
PASSWORD.ARC Password Protection Utility for Portfolio
PDD2MENU.ARC Driver for Radio Shack Portable disk drive
PFBACKUP.ARC Backup utility
PORTHELP.ARC excellent help files
PORTUTIL.ARC Setup files for the Portfolio, update, autoexec, config etc.
PRTTXT.ARC Textfile Create HOT KEYS on the Portfolio using ANSI.SYS
PTOOL.ARC A set of excellent Portfolio utilities.
SDIR24.ARC Sort directories
SM.COM Change screen mode from dos prompt of batch file
SNATCH.ARC Grab PC screen shots and run them on the Portfolio
SRCH.ARC Search diary and address files for a string
STRIP.ARC Strips carriage returns from ASCII files
UPDT107.COM Lastest update
VDEL.COM Prompts y/n before any delete file operation
---> Word Processing:
OUTLINE.ARC Outline text editor for the Portfolio
WS_EDIT.ARC Word Star like editor for Portfolio
---> Programming:
PBAS45.ARC Latest version of Basic with coms support
PBE13.ARC PC editor to create PBasic programs
SPB.EXE Removes unneeded lines and REM statements from PBasic progams
ZBASIC.ARC Compact basic product that runs on the Portfolio
---> Communications:
ACOM11.ARC Terminal Program
DIAL.ARC Xterm dialer
PFBOOT.ARC Serial interface program to load terminal
PORT8BIT.ARC Tech document describing connecting Portfolio to Atari 8 bit
PORTTOST.ARC Files to GET Xterm on the Portfolio without files transfer
SLAVE.ARC Host program (Portfolio to any terminal supporting X-Modem)
STFOLI.ARC Parallel file transfer
XTERM2.ARC Terminal program, includes XMODEM file transfer capability
---> Graphics:
PORT_ART.ARC Graphics pix demonstration
SKETCH.ARC Sketch program for the Portfolio
---> Applications:
CBASE.ARC Create scripts to collect data in the field
CC3.BAS Metric conversion, requires BASIC
CLOCK.EXE Large Portfolio Clock
FUNCTION.ARC Function analysis uses graphics to plot x-Y diagrams
MERLIN.ARC Game
OHM.ARC Resistor color code Program for Portfolio
OTHELLO.ARC Othello runs on portfolio (set the screen to static)
PBASPRGS.ARC Assorted basic programs
PC.ARC Programmer's calculator
PCHESS.ARC You play chess against the Portfolio
PIM.ARC Personal Info Mgr. fully operational program (demo)
PORTPRGS.ARC Assorted Games, LIFE, PVIEW, SM, TT
PTONE.ARC Generate tones via file or keyboard
QUICK.ARC Input you cheques in the field and upload to Quicken later.
SHERLOCK.ARC Text Adventure game
SIMON.ARC Simon game
TETRAD.ARC Tetris game for the Portfolio
TRON.ARC Motorcycle game
YANKEE.ARC Music for the Portfolio
---> Misc Files:
PORTABLE.ARC Portable Addiction, a newsletter on Portable products
The next area below has a list of UK files that are available for the
Atari Portfolio.
Dear Portfolio user,
This file contains a short overview of the contents of the Portfolio Public
Domain disk. The contents are collected on 23 april 1990 from files of
the Atari-NET BBS of Atari (Benelux) B.V., this BBS contains Public Domain
software collected all over the world. Atari-NET is reachable at
+31 3473 77584 and +31 3473 77376.
[Benelux is the combination of The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg]
Directory File Description
[abc.def is a proposal for the English name of a program]
(root) CED.DOM Remembers DOS cmds, recallable using cursor keys.
Less powerful (smaller) than DOSEDIT.
UNCRASH.COM Resets crashed programs using [FN]-B
FILELIST.BAT Batch shows directory of system (1)
OHM.EXE Convertion colour codes of resistors
ATTR ATTR.COM Set/reset file attributes (hidden etc)
ATTR.DOC
BATCHIO ALARM.BAT Very handy batchfiles by Sjoerd
DEMOEXEC.BAT Spoelstra.
BEL.BAT
[call.bat]
BREED.BAT
[wide.bat]
MEMO.BAT
STIL.BAT
[quiet.bat]
LAAD.BAT
[load.bat]
SERVE.BAT
SMAL.BAT
[small.bat]
REKEN.BAT
[calc.bat]
ZOEK.BAT
[search.bat]
FAKE.COM This file is REQUIRED for these batchfiles !!
APPBATCH.DOC Please read this documentation!
BUCKETS BUCKETS.INF Program for database programmers, calculates
BUCKETS.PRG the number of BINs (buckets) required.
BUCKETS.TXT
DBFREAD DBFREAD.DOC Database conversion program by Sjoerd Spoelstra.
DBFREAD.EXE Suitable for DBase III and clones like clipper
MEMBERS.DBF Foxbase etc.
DIAL AT.COM Extra (DIAL) programs's for the XTERM2
DIAL.BAT serial comm program.
DTR.COM
REMOTE.BAT
WAIT.COM
DOSEDIT DOSEDIT.COM Powerful program that recalls previous DOS commands
DOSEDIT.DOC using cursor keys, edit and knows about ALIAS
functions.
FUNCTIO2 FUNCTIO.DOC Draws graphs of x-y functions, written by
FUNCTIO.EXE Sjoerd Spoelstra.
TIPS PRTFTIPS.TXT Hints by an American journalist.
TIPS.TXT Hints by Sjoerd Spoelstra
PFBOOT BINHEX.COM These files allow the installation of a comm program
CHKSUM.COM using a serial interface WITHOUT built-in comm
HEXBIN.COM software [which lacks in DIP 1.42].
LOAD.BAT
PFBOOT.BAT MS-DOS PC with serial port is required.
PFLOAD.EXE This way, a parallell interface can be saved by
README.DOC people who only need a serial interface.
XTERM1.COM
XTERM1.DOC
XTERM1.HEX
PFCIJF KLNA3H1.SDF Teacher's score list program by Sjoerd
[marks]
PFCIJF.DOC Spoelstra.
PFCIJF.EXE [Unlikely to be usable in the USA because the
pupil score system is different. Dutch use
1 (bad)..6(just sufficient)..10(excellent).
PFCLOCK CLOCK.EXE Screen filling clock program by Paralax.
CLOCK.TXT
PF_DEMO ATADEMO.EXE Graphic (shop) demo by Sjoerd Spoelstra
D1.TXT
D2.TXT
D3.TXT
DEMO.BAT
TRAAG.COM
[delay.com]
WENS.EXE
[xmaswish.exe]
RG READ.ME Various tools, collected by Richard
CIFER.COM Gigengack. Read READ.ME file first.
QUERY.COM
SORTF.COM
STRIP.BAS
RPNCALC RPNCALC.DOC HP-41 compatible calculator, read doc file FIRST
RPNCALC.EXE because of directions about screen setup.
SDIR24 SDIR24.COM Directory utility
SDIR24.DOC
SDL S.BAT Directory utility
SDL.COM
SDL.DOC
TBASIC CODES.TBI Tiny BASIC, this basic doesn't know string functions.
README.1ST Read doc first.
TBASIC.ASM
TBASIC.COM
TBASIC.DOC
WCX WCX.COM Word Count utility
WCX.DOC
WS_EDIT EDIT.COM Wordstar like editor
EDIT.DOC
W_SHEET AUTOKOST.WKS Various worksheets: Car costs
[carcosts.wks]
HYPOTEEK.WKS Mortgage
[mortgage.wks]
NSKOST.WKS Rail costs
[railcost.wks]
XTERM2 XTERM2.COM Latest version of serial comm program
XTERM2.DOC with: XModem, ASCII up/download.
OTHELLO OTHELLO.COM Othello game, read doc because of
OTHELLO.DOC screen setup directions.
(1) Adapt for own system
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
update July 12 1991
Most of these files are available on Atari.archive.umich.edu,
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
PK361.EXE PC compatible ARC utility to unarc BBS files in this area
---> Conversion Programs
AG2POR.ARC Lotus Agenda macros to export Agenda data to Portfolio
DRYSK.ARC Diary files to sidekick
PCRD11.ARC Newest Version for windows 3.0 - Cardfile file compatable
with Portfolio Address book (needs VBRUN100.arc)
VBRUN100.ARC Win 3.0 Visual Basic Runtime for above
WPCAL.ARC Covert WordPerfect Cal to DRY
---> DEMO Programs:
PF_DEMO.ARC Dutch Graphic shop demo
PGSH21.ARC Fastest Demo available
PSI.EXE Demo program for the Portfolio
---> Utilities:
60BY10.ARC Program to change screen to 60 col by 10 lines
ACDPW2.ARC Password protect your data files
ADDRES.EXE Address file viewer
ADDRES.SIT Mac Hypercard stack allows import/export, requires StuffIt
ARCEX.ARC Portfolio "Un-ARC" utility
AUTOEXEC.BAT Example startup file
BAT2EXE.ARC Compile batch files, output runs on the Portfolio
BATCHIO.ARC Some batch files for the Portfolio
BATTST.ARC Battery tester for Portfolio
BM2.ARC Battery reminder program
BUCKETS.ARC Program for database programmers, calculates the number
of BINs (buckets) required.
BXD26.ARC Debugger, runs on the Portfolio
CED.COM Remembers Dos Commands, recallable using cursor keys
CONFIG.SYS Example config file
DBFREAD.ARC Database conversion program, works with Dbase II, clipper
DOSEDI.COM DOS command line editor, remembers last few commands you entered
FLASH.ARC BSE Flashcard software drivers for connecting a HD to
the Portfolio - contact BSE 714-832-4316
FM.COM Atari Files Manager
FT.COM Parallel module file transfer prog
RG.ARC Various Portfolio Tools, cifer, query, sortf, strip.
GREP.ARC Text search program
HDIR.ARC Hot directory
LISTFG.COM displays fragmented files
LOGOS.ARC custom screens
NEWPORT.ARC Tech Overview of Portfolio accessories
PASSWORD.ARC Password Protection Utility for Portfolio
PDD2MENU.ARC Driver for Radio Shack Portable disk drive
PFBACKUP.ARC Backup utility
PJCIJF.ARC Teachers Score List Program (Dutch system)
PORTHELP.ARC excellent help files
PORTUTIL.ARC Setup files for the Portfolio, update, autoexec, config etc.
PRTTXT.ARC Textfile Create HOT KEYS on the Portfolio using ANSI.SYS
PTOOL.ARC A set of excellent Portfolio utilities.
RPNCALC.ARC HP-41 compatable calculator, read doc file first
SDIR24.ARC Sort directories
SDL.ARC Another directory sort program for the Portfolio
SM.COM Change screen mode from dos prompt of batch file
SNATCH.ARC Grab PC screen shots and run them on the Portfolio
SRCH.ARC Search diary and address files for a string
STRIP.ARC Strips carriage returns from ASCII files
TEXTCO.ARC Removes returns from text files except at the end of a
paragraph
TIMEZN.ARC Reset system clock when you are in different time zone
TYPIST.COM Typing practice for the small keyboard
TYPIST.DOC Docs for above
UNCRASH.COM Resets crashed programs using [FN]-B
UPDT107.COM Lastest update
VDEL.COM Prompts y/n before any delete file operation
W_SHEET.ARC Various worksheets: Car costs, Mortgage, Train costs
---> Word Processing:
OUTLINE.ARC Outline text editor for the Portfolio
WCX.ARC Word Count Utility
WS_EDIT.ARC Word Star like editor for Portfolio
---> Programming:
PBAS45.ARC Latest version of Basic with coms support
PBE13.ARC PC editor to create PBasic programs
SPB.EXE Removes unneeded lines and REM statements from PBasic progams
TBASIC.ARC Tiny basic, this basic does not know string functions.
ZBASIC.ARC Compact basic product that runs on the Portfolio
---> Communications:
ACOM11.ARC Terminal Program
DIAL.ARC Xterm dialer
PFBOOT.ARC Serial interface program to load terminal
PORT8BIT.ARC Tech document describing connecting Portfolio to Atari 8 bit
PORTTOST.ARC Files to GET Xterm on the Portfolio without files transfer
SLAVE.ARC Host program (Portfolio to any terminal supporting X-Modem)
STFOLI.ARC Parallel file transfer
XTERM2.ARC Terminal program, includes XMODEM file transfer capability
---> Graphics:
PORT_ART.ARC Graphics pix demonstration
SKETCH.ARC Sketch program for the Portfolio
---> Applications:
BLKBST.BAS Arcade game (needs Pbasic)
CBASE.ARC Create scripts to collect data in the field
CC3.BAS Metric conversion, requires BASIC
CLOCK.EXE Large Portfolio Clock
DIGDEC.ARC Card Trick Program (needs Pbasic)
DIGDEC.DOC Doc program for above
DZN.BAS Puzzle (needs Pbasic)
DZNRUL.TXT Docs for above
FS.COM Small Flight Simulator, Not much on graphics but fun
FUNCTION.ARC Function analysis uses graphics to plot x-Y diagrams
MERLIN.ARC Game
OHM.ARC Resistor Color Code Program for Portfolio
OTHELLO.ARC Othello runs on portfolio (set the screen to static)
PBASPRGS.ARC Assorted basic programs
PC.ARC Programmer's calculator
PCHESS.ARC You play chess against the Portfolio
PIM.ARC Personal Info Mgr. fully operational program
PFCLOCK.ARC Screen filling clock program with docs
PORTPRGS.ARC Assorted Games, LIFE, PVIEW, SM, TT
PTONE.ARC Generate tones via file or keyboard
QUICK.ARC Input you cheques in the field and upload to Quicken later.
SHERLOCK.ARC Adventure game
SIMON.ARC Simon game
SPIN.EXE Spinner 1.0, number puzzle written by B.J. Gleason
TETRAD.ARC Tetris game for the Portfolio
TRON.ARC Motorcycle game
VADER.BAS SPace invaders for the Portfolio (needs Pbasic)
YANKEE.ARC Music for the Portfolio
---> Misc Files:
PORTABLE.ARC Portable Addiction, a newsletter on Portable products
TIPS.ARC Hints for use of the Portfolio
That concluded the lists of files that are available for the Atari Portfolio.
Next month I will be adding an update, see you then.
This is it for now, there will be more Portfolio news to come next month.
Mr. Portfolio.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
That's the end of this months issue, next months issue might be a few days late
because I'm going on a vacation to Hungary, and I'll be back on the 15th.
Let's hope that there are new Lynx games when I come back !!!
Next month we will try to have more Game Gear reviews and an updated software-
list for the Portfolio.
Bye.
Feel free to spread this newsletter around, as long as the content is
contained.
Tjerk Heijmens Visser Yiri Kohl
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
a15@nikhefh.nikhef.nl
Tjerk Heijmens Visser
c/o Peter Heijmens Visser
National Institute for Nuclear Physics
and High Energy Physics ( NIKHEF-H )
Computer Department
Postbox 41882
1009 DB Amsterdam - Netherlands.
-----------------------------------------
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