AHaymarketpublication Summer 1985 00M000fM6wB00MB0f6TbbMTZVf060B6wBSETTING THE M0k0' 1.50 MSX is a worldwide computer standard,chosenbymostoftheworldS largestelectronicscompanies. WithMSX machines,allsoftwareandallhardware is completely compatible ... games, educational and business programs as well as disks, joysticks and printers, which means you can borrow your friends' MSX sofware and play it on your machine, and because itS an agreed standard, it will be here for years to come. Obsolete? Not with MSX. Like other MSX manufacturers our VHitbit /bhas the best 'basic' around, great colour great sound, a 64k memory and more ports than you'll probably ever need. Hitbit also has a disk drive, printer datacartridgeandaremotecontroljoy stick. Butwhoelseoffers free,aunique personal data base that can store addresses, schedules or even remind you when to feed the cat? Who else offers our superb Sony styling? Who else enjoys such a reputation forreliability?OnlytheSonyHitbit,the logical choice in computers. gC^Summer1985 CREDITS EDITORIAL Editor: Kester Cranswick Assistant Editor:Sally Wood Ar Editor:Richard Grill Secretar:Nikkie Smith Photography: Crisp in Thomas, Stan Papior,Paul Debois, Matthew Barnes,Robert Brooks, Luci |la Phel ps Group Editor:Gareth Renowden Publisher:Paul Camp ADVERTISING Adverisement Manager:NeilAlldritt Adverising Production: Julia Cox Technical queries: we regret these cannot be answered over the telephone.However should you wish to write in we will endeavour to answer any queries through the magazine. SUBSCRIPTIONS: U. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . . .7 Europe ............................. 10 Overseas .......................... 10 Airmail-Middle East............. 15 Airmail-North America,Africa, India ................................ 18 Airmaii-Aust.,NZ,Japan....... 20 Backnumbers and subscriptions: obtainable by post from theBook SalesDepartment,12-14 Ansdell Street,London W85TR. Telephone:01-937 7288.Please al:owtwo weeksfor delivery. Theeditor welcomes any corrections or additions.Prices quoted ineditorialand advertisementsare correctat press daybut may be subject to variation. Every care is taken in compiling the contents of the magazine to ensure they arecorect and accurate,butthe pub Iisher assumes no responsibility for any effect from errors or omissions. Allmaterialpublishedin What MSX?iscopyrightand reproductioninwholeorinpartis forbidden,except by permission of the publishers. Editorial,advertisingand circulation departments: HaymarketPublishing Ltd., 38-42 Hampton Road, Teddington,Middlesex TW11OJE Telephone:01-977 8787 Photosettingandlitho originationby: MeadwayGraphics,Car I isle House,198Victoria Road, Romford,Essex RL12NX Printed by:ChaseWebOffset,St Austell,Cornwall HaymarketPublishing1985 Volume1 Number25MSX micros are coming down in price.1985 machines are being shown in Japan.There are Arabic MSX computers and MSX software is coming out in a torrent. We've the latest news on all this, and more. COMPETITION 19Here's your chance to own a handsome Sony HitBit and disk drive. Just solve ten simple clues to pinpoint the winning square ona ten byten grid. ONTRIAL Four brand new MSX micros get the test treatment and we've been playing the best games too. 20Yamaha CX-SM.Is it a computer or a synthesizer,or both? 26Sofare. 21 new titles reviewed, with Manic Miner best of the test. 34Goldstar FC-200. The least expensive MSX to date-is it a bargain or not? 56Mitsubishi MLF-48. With just 32K,is the Mitsubishi RAMshackle? 64Panasonic CF-2700.No one will kick sand in the Panasonic's face.Find out why not. GROUP TESTS 68MSX v The Rest.How good is MSX? We put a Sony up against five top non-MSX rivals. 77Joystick Duel.Debbie Goldfinch flexes her wrists and puts twenty joysticks through their paces. MSXWORLD 15Interiew. Kay Nishi,Mr MSX himself, talks to What MSX? about MSX's past,present and future. 68MSX Worldwide. What's happening to the MSX around the world. lain Dawson finds out. 72BASIC Beginnings. Tom Sato traces the development of MSX BASIC from the very beginning. STARTING OUT 11Why Buy? Should you or shouldn't you buy a computer? Fill in the chart and find out. 85Computer Terms.Do you know the difference between a PEEK and aPOKE or a bubble and a bus?Learn to talk computerese with us. 94Name That Game. We trace the evolution of computer games from ping pong to sophisticated adventures. BUYERSGUID 99A comprehensive guide to all MSX computers,peripherals software, joysticks and printers.If you want to know what's available for your MSX,you'll find details in these data pages. Yamaha sounded out-page 20 Sofare listed In Buyers Guide Jargon explained-page 85 Manic Minor Is tops-page 26 MSX takes on the rest-page 40 Joysticks -we tr 20 -pag11I elt like a kid in a cand store:' That's what mostpeople sayon their first visit toSoftware City.Racks of software for business,home,education and recreation.Ready for browsing. ComeSee.Come Save! r@rama,pr|pomta,o|akaano aptaaacl0t|onoImkaanomq|noa.382KINGSRO. AD,CHELSEASW3 Tel:01-3529220 14THAMESSTREET,KINGSTON-UPONTHAMES,SURREY Tel:01-5414911 47CHEAPSTREET,NEWBURV BERKSRG145BX Tel:063521696 TheCX5M Computer is specifically designed fora wide range of music generation,programming andediting tasks,interfacingwith otherYamaha digital instruments andcomponents. OPTIONALPROGRAMMES: YRM101FM Music Computer-A must for all composers andarrangers. WithanOn-Screenmusicstaff.Onto which you 'write' notes, input from Computer Keyboard or directfrom the MusicKeyboard. YRM1 02FMVoicingProgram-Forprecise control over the CX5MdigitalFM VoiceGenerator,toeditand alter pre-programmed voices or create new voices of your own. |LL|L LL|ILLLXbM Mu5C L0mput6fNowondemonstrationandavailablefromourHi-TechMusic CentresthesuperbYamahaCX-SMMusicComputer.With built-inMIDIInteraceand46 VoiceFMDigitalProgrammable AlgorithmSynthesiser,theCX-SMoffersfantasticmusical potential for composition and realtime playing plus providing all thebenefitsofasophisticatedMSXhomecomputer.Callinor phonenowforfullyillustrateddescriptiveliteratureonthis amazingmachine! L|1 USIC k08IHhk880w.T0800kY.XI8.PLYN00IH.18080:J88Y.Pinner Rd. 65Market St Queen St. Drake Circus. 16 Pdar St. 8Esplanade 01-863 1841 0803 25488 0392 51846 0752 23011 072 71359 0534 78901 NUONU1LH MIDI-COMPATIBLEForplayback control,autosequencing of Yamaha DX Synthesizers,RXDrum machines andotherMIDI compatibleequipment. YAMAHA DIGITALFM VOICE GENERATORWith 4bbuiltin voices.Plus your own. YRM1 03DX7 Voicing|rogram-ForDX7 owner's. Displays allDX7voice parameters.Therefore, programmingis directfrom theCX5MComputer Keyboard. YRM1 04MusicMacro-Forincorporating top-quality musical voices intoBASIC computerprogrammes. L3hCI9v9 JD LU00/Jl0jJ483)382I2LOW END MSX PRICES TUMBLE PrlOOOu!S and DudgO!OOmpu-!OrS havO hOraldOd a DOOma!!hO lOwOr Ond O! !hO MSXmarkO!. Tha! lS agal nS! !hODaOkgrOund O!a!al l l ngpOund!ha! ShOuld DO maklng |m-pOr!Od prOduO!S mOrO OxpOn-S|vO.|l rS!DOlOw!hO2UUDarrlOrwaS GOldS!ar, w|!h !hOl r 4KMSXOOmpu!OrrOvlOwOdln!h|SlSSuO.TOSh| DawOrOn'!lOng| nrOSpOndlng, Ou!!lng !hO prlOOO! !hO HX-lU Dy 4U !O239. 9b,and !hrOwlng l n apaOkagO O! gamOS SO!!warOwOr!hOvOr2l. ThOga mOSarOManlO Ml nOr, HunOhDaOk and|rOnOh lS |un. ThO HX-lU | SDOlngdl SOOun!OdOvOnmOrOl nSOmOOu!lO!S.M|!SuDlShl OhOSO !hO !rOOSO!!warO apprOaOh l na Dl d!OO!!Or DO!!Or val uO !Or mOnOy.Buy !hO ML-|4B Or ML-|BUMSXGOES MSXl SrOaOhlng!hOAraDwOr|d!hankS !O a !l O-up DO!wOOnMl OrOSO!! and a Kuwal!l OOm-pany Oal l Od Al al aml ah SO!!-warO. ThO rOSul! | S AraDlO/Lngl l Sh MSX OOmpu!OrS andAraDl OSO!!warO.TwOmanu!aO!urOrSarOmak-lng AraD|O vOrSlOnS O! !hOl rOOmpu!OrS. ThOy arO Hl !aOhland Yamaha. ThO OhangOSmadO |nOl udO a !ul |AraDlOOharaO!OrSO! and rl gh!!O |O!!OurSOr mOvOmOn!. KOyS arOmarkOd w|!h AraDlO and Ln-gl l ShOharaO!OrS.SO!!warO!ODOaunOhOdw|!h!hO OOmpu!OrS l nOl udOS prOg-ramS, SuOh aS AraD/Lngl | Sh!u!OrS, KOranqul zzOSandAra-Dl O.dOS|gn prOgramS. Al al a-mlah hOpO !O | aunOh arOund!lvOnOw!l!lOSamOn!h.Typl OalO! !hO nOw OOmpu-!OrS |S !hO Yamaha AX-lUU,DaSOd On !hO CX-bM.|! OOS!S3UU and haS nOnO O! !hOmuS| Oal !Oa!urOSO!!hOCX-bM.|! dOOS havO a !Ox! wrl!OrprOgram and anO!hOr !O OOn-vOr! l Sl am and GrOgOrlanOalOndarS.|u!urO Al al am| ah pl anS ln-Ol udOanAraD| ODl SkOpOra!lngSyS!OmandAraDl Oprl n!OrS.

OOmpu!OrandyOu' l | DOglvOnaSl x paOk O! gamOS SO!!warOwOUh OvOr4b. Wl!h!hO 32KML|-4BOOS!lng uS!22b,l!l Sa!Omp!lngO!!Or.SOOn !O arrlvO | S anO!hOrKOrOan-madO maOhlnO, !hONO!wOrk NW2UU, wl!h a SuD-2UU pr|OO. And Davld CrOS-wOl l Or, PR man !Or GOl dS!ar,BIC BUILT IN DIS A! a rOOOn! AmOrlOan !radOShOw SpOO!ravldOO dl Spl ayOd!hOl rnOx!OOmpu!Or,Oa| lOd!hOLxprOSS. l!S mOS! l n!OrOS!lng!Oa!urO waS a Dul | !-ln 3. b| ndl SkdrlvO.|nSldO!hOrOwl l l DO4KRAMand lKVRAM. ThO kOyDOard!Oa!urOS 73kOyS and aOurSOrkOypad. ArO!raO!aDl OhandlO| S!Ound On !hO DaOk O! !hOOaSlng, andl l!Ora!urOOl almOd!ha!a Oarq|ngOaSO wOul dDOSuppl | Od.|n!Or!aOOS l nOl udORS-232C and COn!rOn|OSpOr!S, !wO OyS!lOk pOUS and!wO |/O pOr!S. ThO DrOOhurOO|almOd!ha!Dul l!-ln SOwarOwOul d l nOl udO a mOmO wr|!Or,SprOadShOO!,rOpOr!wrl!Orand!l l Ohandl Or.ThOdl Skdr|vOwl | | al l Ow MSX-DOS, Dl Sk BASl C

Ol almS!ha!lbUMSXml OrOSarOnO!OnlypOSSl D| ODu!| | kO| yln!hO nOar!u!urO. W|!h O!hOrnOn-MSXOOmpan|OSOngagOdl n a vl Ol OuS prlOO war !ha! | SOauSlngOaSua| !|OSgal O|O, anda pOund !ha! wl | |hOpO!u| l yrOgal n SOmO grOund, |OwOrprlOOdMSXm| OrOSarOlOOklngOvOrmOrOOOr!al n. FROM SPECT andCP/M SO!!warO!O DOrun.SpOO!ravldOO wOrO alSOShOwlng a nO!wOrk l n!Or!aOO!ha!al | OwS32maOhlnOS!ODOOOnnOO!Od!OgO!hOr,Sharlnga!On MOgaDy!O hard d| Sk S!Or-agO dOvlOO. ThOrO'S an MSXMSXPLUS FROM TOSHIBA TOShlDa havO DOOn ShOw|ng!hOl rnOx! MSX ml OrO !O !hO!radO l n Japan and !hO dS.Ca| l Od!hOHX-22, |!lS|adl Oal | yd| !!OrOn!!rOm!hOHX-lUOn!hOSpOO|!l Oa!|OnS!rOn!.ThOma| n!Oa!urO |SanOx!|aarOa O! mOmOry !ha! Oan DOuSOd !O S!OrO up !O l prOg-ramS,aSl !!hOywOrOS!OrOdOnadl SkdrlvO.l !| Swha!l SOa| l Oda RAMdl Sk.ThO prOgramSarOlOadOdup!rOm!apOO|d|SkandOan!hOnDOlOadOdvOryrapl dl yln!O!hOma| nRAMuSl ngBASl COOmmandS.ThO RAM dl SkS!OrOS32KO!prOgramO|da!a,andOanDO!rOa!Od uS!| | kOanOx!Ornal dl Sk drlvO. YOu OanuSO|!!OS!OrOda!a!ODOOu!pu!!O a prln!Or, SO !hO OOmpu!OrOan OarqOn OOmpu!|ng wh| | O!hlngSarODOlngpr|n!OdOu!.O!hOrSpOOl!lOa!l OnSlnO| udOa !wO way RS-232C ln!Or!aOO,SOOnOMSXml OrOOan!a| k' !OanO!hOr and a Du| l!-ln wOrdprOOOSSlng paOkagO. AS !hlS| aS! l!Om |S !O| !hO JapanOSOmarkO!, l ! wOn'! DO On anyOxpOr! vOrSlOnS O! !hO HX-22and w| l lprODaDlyDO |OplaOOdDy anO!hOr DuS| nOSS-!ypOprOgram.ThO HX-22 wl l |OOS! mOrO!han OurrOn! MSX m|O|OS, Du!aO!ual pr|OOS and dO| |vOryda!OSarOn'!knOwnyO!.S!yl O da!a rOOOrdOr [!hO SVl-77)andanMSXvOrSlOnO!!hOQul OkShO!2OyS!lOk.ThO nOw OOmpu!Or l S S!lSOmO mOn!hS away, and wl l l prODaDly DO | aunOhOd ln !hOAu!umn.ZVVJApowerfulandvirtuallyfllimplementationofStandard Pascal. Avaluableeducationlanddevelopnzenttoolinan incrediblysmallsize(19K)forschacompletelngage compiler,compilesdiectlytoZBOcoewhichexecutesver quickly,typicallyatleast40timesfasterthantheBASIC equivalent.INTEGERs,REALs,CHARs,ARRA Ys,SETs, RECORDs,POINTERs,IF...THEN. ..ELSE,CASE... OF,WHILE...DO,REPEAT. ..UNTIL,FOR...DO, fullyrecursiveproceduresandfunctins,valueandvarible parametersetc. etc.Somuchthatyouwillnotbelieveit. You MUSTwritefordetails. LVVJAnexcellent,fast(4000linesperminute)assemblercoupled withapowerfuldisssembler/debuger.Somanyfeaturesthat wecannotpossiblydothepackage justicehere- conditional assembly,assembvfromtape,macros,secreenandline editing, fularithmetic,frontpaneldebuggerwithdissembler,single step,multiplebreakpoints,modif,list and move memor etc. EverthingyouneedANDfullyre locatable sothatitworks on ALLMSX machineswithmorethan16Kmemor. \80 High b1ree1NoOhDunttab!e, edt. LUb 1ATTeI: |0b82I b9b421Allprices,UKdelivered,reltetoMSXversions.Oursoftware isavailbleformanyotherZBOmchinese.g. AmstradCPC 464,ZXSpectrm,Memotech,SHARPMZ700,NewBrain, CP/M etc.Pleasewrte for details. DlMWRRRlORTravelthe computercomp!exaloneon -constant alerfortheandroidguardsandrobotcanines. Yourmission-thecataclysmicdestructionofthe masterLHU. Armedonlywithyourelectrified 'boomerangpowerdisc,blastyourwaythrough forcebarriers, defendyourselfagainstenemies whHstsearchingoutpartsofthemasterkeyana constructingthesuperbombbeforetheultimate destructioncanbeachieved. 5end!Or!uIIcOIOurrOductIea!Iet(encIOseastam}AlligataSofareLtd.,1OrangeStreet,Shefield 514DW Tel (0742)755796 TAKEFIVERECORDERS

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BO!hhavO !wO !| rO Du!!OnS On !hOhand| Oand!hO la!!O|SpOUS al a|gOkOypadOn!hODaSO.BO!hjOyS!lOkShavOanau!O-ma!|O !aS! !l rl ng !unO!lOn aSwO| laS a !w| n !| rO aO!lOnOnaD| | ng !hO uSO| !O uSO !hOhandlO'S !wO !l rO Du!!OnS !OOOn!rOl!wOdl !!O|On!aO!| OnSOnSOrOOn.Thl S !unO!lOn wOn'!wO|kun| OSSSO!!warOhaSDOOnwrl!!On !O u!lI lSO | !.SOI!warOmanu!aO!urOrS!akOnO!O!KOmpS!OnM| OrOL|OO!rOn|OShavO rOnamOd and |OvampOdLOW COSTDISK DRIVEDEVELOPMENTS Dl Sk dr|vOS arO !hO mOS!O!!l O| On!mOanSO!Sav| ngand|Oad| ng da!a and MSX l S dO-S|gnOd !O SuppOr! a d| Skd||vOSyS!Om. Al| |n!O|ma!lOn | S |OadOdOn!OmagnO!|Od| SkSand!hOSOa|O aDl O !O S!OrO muOh mO|Oda!a !han Ol !hOr OaSSO!!O!apOS O| ROM Oa|!|ldgOS. A!p|OSOn! !hO|O arO !Ou| MSXOOmpa!| D| O d| Sk d||vOS aval | -aD| O,Du! On| y !wO, !hO SOnyHBD-bU and!hOSpOO!ravl dOOSVl -7U7, wl | | randOm| yaOOOSS!|lOSa!anypOS|!|OnOnd| Sk.ThOO!hOr!wOuSOSOquOn!| al aOOOSS SyS!OmS wh| Oh mOanS!ha!!hOyrun!hrOugh!hO!raOkSOO!O|S un!| l!hOy rOaOh !hO|O|Ovan!!l | O. 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ThOSOand!hOSOO|ODOardJOyS!l Ok, aDOx-l | kO dOvlOO wl!h !wO !lrODu!!OnSa!2B.9ba|OnOwpar!O!!hO| | nOwGrandPr|xrangO.ChangOS | nOl udO!hO OO| Our-nOwD| uOand!hOadd| !l OnO!m| OrO Swl!OhOS wh| Oh KOmp-S!On O| a| mOndOw!hOOOn!rOl| OrS w|!h mO|O p|OO|SO andpOS|!|vOaO!|OnS.VO|!maOOhavOa!|aS!addOda MSX OOmpa!| D| O vO|S| On !O!hO| | jOyS!|OkrangO, !hO DOl!a3SM.RO!al | l ng a! ll. 9b, l!haS!h|OOrOd!| rODu!!OnS.ThO POwOrplayjOyS!|Ok!rOmPrO!Ok COmpu!|ng l S !hO| || a!OS!addl !l On!O!hO| r|angOO!OOmpu!O| pOr|phO|a| S andOOS!Sll. 9b.l!haS!hrOOrOd!l rO Du!!OnS and a rap|d !|rO!unO!| On.|l nal | y,Vu| Oan L|OO-!|On|OShavO | aunOhOdanMSXjOyS!lOkOOS!| ngl3.ml OrOv| a!hOOaUr|dgOpO|!. |!wlI |un MSX-DOS whOn !hOd| Sk vOrSl On DOOOmOS ava| | -aDl Oand| SSuppl |Odw|!hD| SKBASl C. SpOO!|avldOO'S dl Sk drlvOuSOS b. 2b | nOh dOuD|O-S|dOddOuDl OdOnSl !yd| SkSOndO!fOrS32KO!mOmOry!Or34b.ThO Tl ny d| Sk drlvO, !hO MCl32dOS| gnOdDy!hOJapanOSOOOmpanyTLandd| S!|| Du!OdDyCamDrl dgO Ml OrO COmpu!O|COn!rO prOv|dOS j uS! 32k O!un!Orma!!Od mOmOry !Or amuOh |OwO| 4U. | ! uSOS aSOquOn!| al aOOOSSSyS!OmandSmal | 2. b| nOhdl SkS.Ml O|O| l nk'S Qu| Ok d| Sk drlvOOOS!S aDOu! l3U and hO|dSl2BKun!Orma!!Od mOmOry. l! uSOSdOuD| O-S|dOd dOuD| OdO-nSl !y 2. B| nOhd| SkSand| l kO!hOTl nydl Skdrl vOhaSaSOquOn!|a|aOOOSSSyS!Om. Severalyearsago,Iwasa universityteacher.Oneeveningmy wifeandIwerevisiting a groupofcollege fiends.One of thembegandiscussinga verysimplesmallbusinessthat apersoncanstartathome- a "homemoneyproject", he calledit.Butwhenhetoldme how muchmoneyitbrought in,Ialmostdroppedmycofee cupon my lap. MywifeandIdiscussedthe project we weredriving home.We decidedtotryit. Theprojectkeptusbusy aboutH-9 hourseachweek. Weusedourdiningroomas anofficeandkeptsuppliesin onecornerofour hallcupboard. Atfrstourincomewassmall- to 9perweek.But,asthemonths passed, our"kitchentable"incomeclimbedto overHUperweek. Letmeemphasizeonething.Thisis veryimportant.Our"moneyproject"is moral,honestanddownrightenjoyable. And,it's1UU" yourown.Itdoesn't involveworkingforanyoneelse. Iexplainedtheprojecttomymother. Shewa41 yearsoldandlivedbyherself in a faton WestMarket Street.Withinthe frst9U daysshemadeover,UUU. All byherselfl Aourcuriositygrew,wediscovereda varietyofotherpeoplemakingmoney butwithsomewhat diferentprojects... Italkedwithahousewifewho'sbeen earningthousandsofpoundsforoversix years.Sheusesonecorerofhergarage aworkarea. Shemakesup to 2UUperweekinher sparetime. Sheprovidesaneededservicetoher community. Sheworksexclusivelyathome ...using a card table. Shedoesn'tneedaspecial ofceofanykind. Sheworksfornooneelse.Thereisno sellinginvolved.Mostofherclients callherathome.In fact,she installeda phoneinthegarage. \kT\hl5\5\. WhenyourGuidearrives,selectoneproject. Readthedirectionscarefully.Rememberto beginslowly. Z.Try itforsixmonths. . Attheendofthistrialperiod.examineyour income.Ifyou'renotsatisfiedwiththeresults, returntheGuideandwewillREFUNDYOUR FULPURCHASEPRJCE... NOCONDITlONS ... NO DElAYS. Herserviceissosimplethatalmost anyonewithafairforcrafscould startthesamebusinessintheirown neighbourhoodwithin2U days.The photoaboveshowsherbusywithone ofhercrafprojects(Jull details areitentoou).0lK35,M0PlKflKTwohousewivesIspokewithstarteda similarprojecttwoyearsago.Bothof themhaveyoungchildrenathomeand householdstorun- inadditiontotheir home-basedbusiness.Currently,their part-timeprojectisbringinginover ,UUUayear. Anothercoupleusingthesameprojectweusedmade1,HU injustfve months. Obviously,thisisexceptionalincome. Whatyoumakewillbeuptoyou.But the income potential fomsomeofthese projectscanbestaggering.Ahusbandand wifeteamIspokewithstartedamoney I9S5Cbur!seurcbL!J 11|om|e|dSm!LondonTo:Chartsearch Ltd.,11BlomfeldStreet,London EC2M AY ` ..

projectsimilartoours.Last year,operatingfulltime,they earnedover1UH,UUU ~ all athomeon theirfarm. d0W!0!K!First,youmustbewilling towork.Alloftheseprojectsrequiretime,energy andcreativity. Second,you'llneedsome workingspaceinyourhome orfat.Atelephonewillhelp, too. Third,ourprojectsare testedandworkable.Noenvelopestmgschemes,no "partyplans",nodoor-to-doorselling. Noneofthatnonsense. Youwon'tneed"capital"tobegin. Manyoftheprojectscanbestartedforas littleas 2toU.Youwon'tneedyouth.Maturityand experienceareexcellentassets. Youwon'thavetowait.Mostofthese projectscanbestarted inut15da )s!Quitefankly,we'rehappytoshare themwithyou.Becausetheyinvolve creativeprojectsthatcanbeduplicated inthousandsofneighbourhoodsallover thecountry.Theopportunityisnationwide.Wewon'tbecompetingwithyou andyouwon'tbecompetingwithus. That'swhywe'veputeverythingina simple,easy-to-followStarterGuide.It showsyoustepbystephowtobegin eachproject. N0hlfBCkIlh0!0l|I6d!l0Toprovethatyoucanmakeextra moneyathome,youhaveourpositive 1UU" money-backguarantee.Order yourguide.Keepitforuptosixmoutbs.Thisgivesyoutimetoactuallyli'a projectyourself.Ifyou'renotsatisfied, justreturit.We'llsendyouafllrefund withinthreeworkingdays... nononsense ...noexcuses. ThisisthefairestwayIknowtohelp you getstarted. Please sendme thecomplete HomcMoncyProjccuSmcrGuldcfor wltich Ienclosepaymentof 12.95 (includespostageand packing)L Cheque/Postal Order of 12.95enclosedL Pleasecharge my Credit Cardas follows: AC number ................................................................................................. (Accessisainers/ex) 11om: mg : .............................................................................................................................................................................. Bc:c Ade ................................................................................................................................................................................. .. o gP5.QX1 -TX816-KX88-TX7-/N SUK CALL FOH DEMONSTHATlONQX7-8 track FM digital composer/sequencerDX5-8 module FM sound generatorRX1 1 -Virtuoso keybardDX7-FM expander.PF1 5-+ .Digital recorder FMsynthesizer Digital drums Synthesizer Piano T 4/T b M f, b ], W. T0fk$C . Bradford(0274)568843/564389/561044 Cpcn ll pm cvcry Monday and Thursday

KOO 0 Denmark ,london W Tel :01 J5bb50' (sales) 01 40 00b (service) O000S0/00/l00 0/// |l/0/0 S0hwt0 l0 S/008Come i n for a demonstrati on or call Stuart.for further information Musi c Store,1 5TheButts,WorcesterTel :61 1 744 YAMAHA PTHMMHMU LTMd b0MD Sl00K D0Wl1 2GroveRoad EastbourneBN214TJTel: (0323) 639335 W W Cal li n for ademo now!2ld| bd51hLL1, 6khNL1,dLh15L5l00ofn17 St Mar's St Edi nburgh Tel: 031-557 3986 90-94 Saltmarket Glasgow Tel: 041 552 6825 l88L Wu$t btot40Mitchell St Kirkcaldy Tel: 0592 260293 Elgin Street Dunfermline Tel: 0383 733353 N. 1 IrTMhh| 1000| 000| 11CX5PACKAGEDEALS NOW AVAILABLE J99/892LONDON RD HADLEIGH ESSEX TEL: SOUTHEND [9792|558B47WfOfITOUALI IOOfII1fYAMAHAIeadIg 0f-We8HI -TECHdea|ef

CX5OOmpuIe|anda||sOIIwa|eI|OmsIOOkF'easeOa| | IO|yOu|Ownpe|sOna|demOnI|aI|OntSankey St,Warrington WA1 1 SUTel :{0925) 32591 WengeWillIf it's YAMAHA youwant we have in stock a great deal of Keyboards: Hi-TechEquipment:DrumMachines:GuitarsandBasses:Drum Kits:RecordingEquipmentetc,allguaran-teedbyourexcellenti n-storeengineers.Easy parkingnearby.AccessandBarclaycard. Financearranged(detailsonrequest). ComeandseetheCXb demonstratedonour 4d" MonitorScreen! !23/27MiddlesbroughRoad,SouthBank, Middlesbrough, Cleveland TS6 6NW Tel: EstonGrange (0642) 46751 0/4561 84 J d| bdhk, bdkWLLLdLk1dNhhY|h, L55LX10| . J -5122,J -55008D0D08IlD08H8ZDgD0w78H8D8 LAbMMuSCL0HQul0I D 0uIDgD-l0CDHuSCSl0I0 NWllSHuSCH8kDgQ0l0Dl8 w8Sl0uD00u 8D0S0 wlD0QIC0f0 lt S8t, 8flh 00-fu8t th0 p8SSlhSh0p-p0fS Wlth 8 c00uRu 00-m0hStf8tl0h pf0f8m cclh0h00SSl lh th0 08cKf0uh0.h00K0fS 8th0f00, 0V0f-8W00 0th0 m8chlSm00fthlS8t0St 8fflV8 0h th0 mbASc0h0. t lS th0 F8h8S0hlcCF2700F0fS0h8l U0mput0f,8h0 f0fjuSt.280,ltc0u0 00m8Klh 0uf 0th0f 00m0Stlc8pll8hc0Sf08chf0fth0lfBu-W0fK0fS.PanaSOn|O | S prO!!y muOh ahOuSOhO| d namO i n!h| SOOun-!ry.ThOymakOv|dOOrOOO|dO|SandOamOraS,!O| Ovi Si OnS, h| -!iand pO|!aD| O SOund SyS!OmS, Oar audi O SyS!OmS,Oal Oul a-!O|S, Da!!OriOS and DuS| nOSSOquipmOn!. ThO parOn! OOm-panyal SO makOSgOOdSundOr!hO Na!i Ona|and TOOhn| OSnamOS - m| OrOwavOS, Shav-O|S, vaOuum O| OanOrS andO|OO!|iOOrganS. l !| Sad| vO|S|!y!yp|Oa|O!manyMSXmakOrS.ThO parOn! OOmpany gOOSundO|!hOnamOOIMa!SuShi!aL|OO!||O and waS !O|mOd | nl9lB. ThOy`vO Dui | ! a SO| i d|Opu!a!|On!O|hi ghqua| i!yprO-duO!S and i nnOva!|vO dOvO| Op-mOn!S. U!hO| MSX OOmpaniOSa|OgOing!OhavO!Owa!Oh!hO| |0aOkSi !PanaSOniOgO!aggrOS-.s|vO.|Or!hOi r!i |S!MSXOOmpu!Or,PanaSOn|O havO !Ol | OwOd !hOc|Owd, p|OduOing a 4KOOm-pu!Or wi!h !hO OS!aDl | ShOd|angO OI IOa!u|OS and a! am|ddl i ngpriOO.ThOyhavOal SO|aunOhOd anO!hOr varian! O!IhO MSXOyS!i Ok,and a da!a|OOOrdO|. WO'vO DOOn l OOki nga!!hO!hrOOi!OmS.ThO I| |S! !h| ng !O S!rikO yOua0Ou! !hO PanaSOniO | S |!SappOaranOO. |!iSOOnS| dO|aD| y|a|gO| !han any O! !hO O!hOrVSX m|Cr OS wO havO SOOn. PhyS|Oa| mOaSurOmOn!S arO aw|d!h OI 42mm,a dOp!h O!?49mmanda hO|gh!O!9lmm.lI wO|ghSOvOr3. bk| l OgramS.RQ8100 data recorder Is bater pwered, compact and costs 4.50

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SOmO!lmOS apr0gram !ha! wOn'! l Oad w|!h00O hOad al l gnmOn! w| l l| Oad|!h anO!hOr.l! l S a !aOl | l!yI0u0d On vOry !Ow |Ow prlOOda!a rOOOrdOrS.| 0uSO,!hOPanaSOn| OrOOOr-dOr|0adOdOvOry!hl ngwO!hrOwa! |!.ThOOn| yprOD| OmSOOOur-|Od whOn !hO Da!!OrlOS wOrO|c00| 0gOu!,andanACadap!Orca0 DOwO| | rOOOmmOndOd.ThOLI KES Ecellent stling Qualit of assembly Supplied exras pr|cO|Sal |!!|Oh| gh, !hOugh| !| Sc00s|dOraD| y OhOapOr !hans01OOI!hOdOluxOda!arOOOr-dOrs wO havO SOOn and |! | Sa000 |OOklngun| !. Pa0aSOnl O arO a| SO | mpOrl-|0ga rangO O! lB Oar!r|dgOS,pr0duOOdDy!hOASCl l COrpOra!|000IJapan. ThOSOarOprlOOda||!!|OOxpOnS|vOlya!lB. BU, 0u!s0mOOI!hOgamOSarOvOry0| qua| |!y. S!l l | ,yOu wOn`!1OOd !O Own a PanaSOn| Oc01pu!Or!O!ry!hOSOgamOS.POdOrmanOO O! !hO Pana-s00lc|Swha!wO m| gh!OxpOO!PANASONIC CF2700280 SPECI FICATIONCPU6qu|v|60(o.MNZ6|06K)MEMORY RAM ROM VIDEO RAM KBOARD TPE KS NUMERIC hoZhMbb|Jhu|||v6|00u06||6ZJ600|0K6ySu|S0|K6y0KPADN0VIDEO DISPLY TE GRAPHICS COLOURS SPRITES OUTPUT SOUND GENERATOR OUTPUTS INTERFACES JOYSTICKS EPANSION BUS 60|66|SZ||06SMX|0u0|6S0|u|00ZD X JZ|X6|SJoZWM00|0|o60006|SW|006v6 |06M000u0|00uu(|0| N)JD0VJK00S00|0Z|| b00|0N006 OI a JapanOSO MSX m| OrO -OxOO| l On!.ThOOO| OurSarOOrlSpand Drlgh!, SOundS wOl |dO-I| nOd.OvOrhOa!l ng |S nO! aprOD| OmandanyShOr!OOml ngSw || |DO !hOSO O!yOuraud| O Orv|dOOSyS!Om. PanaSOn| O` S C|27UU S| O!S| n!O !hO MSX markO! !OwardS!hO !Op Ond O! !hO 4KCARTRIDGE PORT PRINTER SERIAL PORT CASSEE RESE DIMENSIONS ZJ X 60|00|6SN0|0| NN0Z ^ Z ^ J(WXX)WEIGHTo.DKPOWER SUPPLY FINISH |06|0,6|v60|0S|60|6K|S|6S6S6,|6y00 ||0|6yK6ySW|0W0|6|66||0SOFARE INCLUDED N006SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES Zv|06060|6Ju0|060|6J6SS66 |06H6660|6DISTRIBUTOR |0S|u6|0000u|S|600u|0S00|6(Uh) L0,ooJ0 h0,b0u0, 6|KSbLJ J16| .(JD)oDZZmaOh| nOS. l!| Srapl dl yDOOOm-l ng Ov|dOn! !ha! 4K OOmpu!OrSarOIal l | ngl n!ODudgO!andqua| | !y Oa!OgOr| OS. ThO mOrOOxpOnSlvOmaOh| nOS!Ond!ODODO!!OrmadO,OOmOIrOm OOm-panl OSw|!h hOuSOhOld namOSand OOn | nO| udO wOr!hwhl | OOx!raS.ThO C|27UU l S up agal nS!SuOhmaOhl nOSaS!hOpOpul arSOny Hl!Bl!, !hO S!y|lSh JVCHC-7, !hO CanOn V-2U, !hOSanyOMCP-lUUand!hOMl !Su-Dl Shl ML|-BU,wl!haS|xpaOkOIgamOS. On papOr |! OI!OrSnO!hl ng!ha!Oan`!DOma!OhOdNo reset key Too many arrows klitle pricey Dy|!Srlva| Sandl !w| | l prODaD| yDO aval l aDl O !hrOugh many O!!hOSamOOu!lO!S.l!S|OOkSand!OOlw| | | p| ayanl mpOr!an!par!| nanySa| OSSuOOOSS.l n |!S !avOur!hO PanaSOnlOhaS a h| gh S!andard OI OOn-S!ruO!lOn and OOmOS w|!h anOxOO| l On! OhOl OO OI OaDl OS. l!haS gOOd dOOumOn!a!| On,aSOl | d kOyDOard and a| l!hOqua| l !yyOu`d aSSOO|a!Owl!h anamO| l kOPanaSOn| O. Verdi ct W0u0 W0 f0c0mm0h0 tTh0 8hSW0f t0 th8t lS 8huhh0Slt8tlh0S. H8VlhS8l0th8t,W0'0f0c0mm0h0m0St0fth0 flV8lSt00, 8St0p lh0 mbAc0mput0fS8f0uh00u0t000X-c0l0ht c0mput0fS. btlll, th0St0 0f th0 F8h8S0hlc 000Sm8K0 lt St8h0 0ut ff0m th0cf0W0 8h0 f0f th8t f08S0h, ltSh0u0 pf0V0 8 p0pul8fm8chlh0. f 0u Sh0p 8f0uh0,0um88S0flh080080fWh0lS pf0p8f00 t0 thf0W lh S0m0ff00 c8Rfl00 S0H8f0 t00,8h0 lfth8tW8Sth0 c8S0, h8V0h0h0Slt8tl0hlh0Xch8h-hm0h0f0fmlcf0.Authorities on MSX all agree it is a world-wide standards, but is this really the case? lain Dawson finds out bA c0mput0f m8K0fSh8V0 000h 8f000 0h0h0 p0lht 0V0f Slhc0th08hh0uhc00th8tth08fflV8l0f th0lf m8chlh0S 0h Bflt8lh'SSh0f0SW8Slmmlh0ht.mbAlS8St8h08f0, th08S8. h0lt'S8 W0f0-Wl00 St8h08f0, th0c0htlhu0~Whlchlmpl0Sth8tmbAc0mput0fSth0W0fl00V0f8f0 l00htlc8 8h0 th8t th0,th0lf p0flph0f8S 8h0 th0lfS0H8f0 8f0 t0t8ll lht0f-ch8h080l0.Bu! | S!h| S !hO OaSO - | S aJapanOSO MSX OOmpu!Or !hOSamO aS l!S UK mOdO| , andOOu| d a JapanOSO MSXmaOhl nODODrOugh!| n!O!hOUKanduSOdw|!hOu!hav|ng!ODOal !OrOd? NOw !ha! MSXmaOhl nOSarO!| nd| ng!hO| | way| n!O O!hOrLurOpOan OOun!|lOSSuOhaS|ranOO,l!a|yandWOS!GOrmany,arO!hOSOOOmpu!OrSany dl !!OrOn! !rOm !hO| rJapanOSO andB|l!|Sh OOun!Or-par!SandOanpOrl phOral S!|OmOnO OOun!ry DO uSOd w|!h aOOmpu!O| !rOm anO!hO|OOun!ry?ThO anSwOr, | n gOnO|a| ,| SnO. ThOrO arO dl !!O|OnOOS DO!wOOn MSX maOh| nOS SOl d l ndl !!OrOn!OOun!|lOS. ThOSO arOma| nl y ml nO| dl !!OrOnOOS,S| nOO d| !!OrOn! OOun!rlOS uSOd| !!O|On!SyS!OmS !O gOnOra!O!OlOv|S|Onp|O!urOS,havOd| !!O-|On!mal nSvOl!agOSandSpOakd| !!OrOn!l anguagOS.Bu!On| ya!Owmanu!aO!urOrShavOrOOOg-n| SOd !ha!SOmOOnO | n!hO UKm| gh! wan! !O uSO an l!a| l anMSX maOhl nO w|!hOu! a| !O|a-!l On, !Or Oxamp| O,and havODul l !maOh| nOSwh| Ohw| | l a| lOw!h| S.l ngOnOralgO!!l nga!O|O-l gnMSXmaOh| nO!OrunhOrO| n!hOUK|S| mpOSSl D| O. l! |S a| mOS!!|uO!O Say!ha!SO!!wa|O wrl!!On !O run OnJapanOSO MSX maOh|nOS w| | l |un On !hO MSX maOhlnOSwh|Oh a|O ava| | aDl O| n!hO UK.Anyg|aph|OS prOduOOd Dy!hOSO!!warOarOdl S!Or!Od and!hOOO| Ou|S a|O nO! !hO SamO aS!hOSO prOduOOd Dy JapanOSOmaOhl nOS,Du! !hO SO!!wa|OdOOSrun. SO,l ! JapanOSO SO!!wa|O|unSOnUKmaOhi nOS, p|OduO| ng a dl Sp| ay On a Br|!lSh!O|OvlS|On SO!, SurO|y l! |SpOSS| D| O !O OOnnOO! a Br|!|Sh!OlOv|S|On!O aJapanOSOOOmpu!O|andanySO!!warOwh|Oh|S|un w| | |prOduOO a p| O!u|O On!hO !OlOv| S| On.Un!Or!una!Ol y, !h| S| SnO!!hOOaSO.Japan and !hO UK, and !hOrOS! O! LurOpO | n !aO!, uSOd| !!OrOn! SyS!OmS !O p|OduOOOO| Our p| O!u|OS On !O|Ov|S|OnSO!S. ThO UK uSOS !hO PALSyS!Om.MOS! O! !hO |OS! O!WOS!Orn Lu|OpO uSO !hO PALSyS!Om aSwO| l -wh| OhwOu| dDO!l nODu!!Or!hO!aO!!ha!!hOPALSyS!Om uSOdOn OOn!|nOn-!a| LurOpO lS nO!!hOSamOaS!hOPALuSOd| n!hOUK. TO makOma!!OrSwO|SO, !hO|rOnOh and mOS! O! LaS!OrnW Phlllps launched the 32K VG8000,Its first MSX, In Italy last November, but lt won't be available here until later this year.Note the slim shape and membrane-tpe keyboard LurOpOuSOaOOmp| O!O|yd| !!O-rOn! !OlOv|SlOn SyS!Om Oal | OdSLCAM, wh| | O !hO JapanOSOuSO !hO NTSC SyS!Om !O prO-duOO!hOl r!OlOv|S|On plO!urOS.MOS! !O| Ov|S|On SO!S | n OaOhOOun!ryarODu| l !!OaOOOp!!hOdOOOdOS|gnal SSOn!uSl ngOnOSyS!Om, andnOO!hOr.BOOauSO OOmpu!OrS uSO!O| OvlSlOn pl O!urOS !O paSSl n!Orma!lOn !O !hO Ou!SldOwOrld!hOy muS! uSOwha!OvOrSyS!Om |S uSOd l n!hO OOun!rywhOrO !hOy arO SOl d.SOJapanOSOMSXmaOhl nOShavOavldOO l n!OrIaOOwhl OhSOndSNTSC Slgna| S,UK maOhl nOSSOnd PAL S| gna| S and any|rOnOh maOhl nO gOnOra!OSSLCAMS| gna| S. LaOhOOun!ry'SmaOh|nOS havO d| !!OrOn! O| r-Oul !ry!Ohand| O!hOSOnd| ngO!!hOSOSlgnal S. TO a plOOO O! SO!!warO,OOnnOO!|ng a maOhl nO wh| OhuSOS !hO PAL SyS!Om

!O a!OlOvlSlOnSO!whlOh haSDOOnDu| | !!O rOOO|vO S| gna| S | n!hONTSC!Orma!| S!| nO.l!Oan S| !!hOrO happl | ySOnd| ng l!S Slg-na| SOu!a| l day,and, aS!araS| !l SOOnOOrnOd,ap| O!urO| SDO| ngprOduOOd.TO !hO uSOr!hO Sl !ua!l On | SnO!!| nO. A|!hOugh!hOOOmpu-!Or | S SuOOOSS!ul | y SOnd| ngl n!Orma!|On !O h| S !O| Ov| S| OnSO!,!hOSO!OannO!undOrS!andwha! | ! |S rOOOl vl ng,and SOOannO! prOduOO a !O| Ovl S| OnplO!urO.ThOupShO!O!al | !hl S|S!ha!|!yOu OOnnOO!aJapanOSO Oranl !a| l anOraWOS!GOrman MSXmaOh| nO !O a Brl!lSh OOl Our!O| Ov|S|On SO! and OxpOO! !OSOO a pl O!urO - yOu` | lDOdl SappO|n!Od. M| xl ng andma!Oh| ng !OlOv|SlOn SO!S andOOmpu!OrS !rOm d| !!OrOn!OOun!r|OS| SnO!On, unl OSSyOuDuyamu| !l-S!andardT.ThOrOl SanO!hOrwayarOund!hO prOD| Om,hOwOvOr. Thl S | S!O uSO an RGB mOn| !Orra!hOr!hana!O|Ov|S|OnSO!!Od| Spl ayany!h| ng prOduOOd Dy a OOm-pu!Or.An RGBSl gnal !rOm anymaOh| nOw| l | prOduOOanl magOOn anyRGBmOnl !Or, wha!OvOrOOun!ry!hO OOmpu!Orand !hOmOn| !OrarO!rOm.Un!Or!una!O-l y,On| y !wO O! !hO MSXmaOhl nOS aval | aD| O l n!hO UKDOaS! an Ou!pu! !Or an RGBmOn|!Or - !hO JVC HC-7 and!hOSOnyHB-7b.A SOOOnd, mOrO OaSllySOlvOd, prOD| Om lS !O dO w|!h!hO dl !!OrOn! mal nS vOl!agOSuSOd Dy dl !!OrOn! OOun!r|OS.ThOJapanOSO ma| nS lS SO! a!l2U vO|!S, LurOpO uSOs 23UvO|!S,!hOUSAandCanadauSOlbUvO|!Sand!hOUKuSOS24UvO|!S.ThlS mOanS!ha!yOu OannO!OOnnOO! a !OrO|gn MSXpOr|phOra|SuOhaSadl Skdr|vOd| rOO!|y!OaBrl!|ShmaOhl nO-!hO !wO p| OOOS O! Oqul pmOn!nOOd d| !!OrOn! vO|!agOS !OwOrk.ThOwayarOund!h| SprOD| OmlS!Opu!a!ranS!OrmOrDO!wOOn!hO ma| nS Ou!|O! and !hOpOrlphOral ,Ohangl ng !hO vO| -!agO !O !ha! nOOdOd Dy !hOpOr|phOra| .ThO Phl | |pS MSXmaOh| nO,| aunOhOd | n l!a|y a!!hOOndO!| aS!yOar, haSDOOnDul l !SO!ha!| !andl!SpOr|phOr-a| S Oan DO !Od Dy any mal nSvOl!agODO!wOOnlUUvO|!SandUUvO|!S.LanguagO lS a vOry ODvlOuSdl !!OrOnOODO!wOOnOOun!r|OS.l! |S a| SO vOry ODvlOuS !ha! |!manu!aO!urOrSSuOhaSSOnyOrMl !SuDl Shlhad DrOugh! MSXmaOh|nOS l n!O !hO UK !rOmJapan and !rlOd !O SO| l!hOmwl!hkOyDOardSOmDOSSOdwl!h!hO JapanOSO a| phaDO!, Orwhl OhgavO OrrOrmOSSagOS l nJapanOSO, !hOywOu| dnO!havOrOaOhOd!hOl rSa|OS!argO!S.|Or !hO AraD|O markO!, a#collaborationbetweenthe Arabi cfirmofAIAl ami ahand Microsoft i nJapan has led to an ArabicversionofMSX,completewithArabi ccharacters and right toleft text entry.ltis perhapsthemostradical transformation of an MSX computer yet. Although the di fferences betweenFrenchandEnglishare not as hugeas thosebetween Japanese and English, they do exist.TheFrenchuseaccents i n someof their words,soany machinesoldinFrancemust =havetheseaccentsonits keyboard. Software,andthisi ncl udes programmi nglanguagesand gamessoftware,hastogive i nstructi onsandmessagesi n the l anguage which the people i nthecountryusingitcan understand.TheFrenchespeci al l yhaveareputationfor di sl i ki ngprogrammi ngi n BASIC becauseit uses English words, and are unwi l l i ng to buy softwarewhichdoesnotgive operatingi nstructionsi n French. EvenBritishmachi nessold in theUS havetobe al teredif theyaretosucceedwiththe Americans- andviceversa.

Thechangesaremi ni mal , but noticeabl e- anAmerican would haveno use for aBritish machinewhichhadapound signbutnodollarsign,for example. A number ofMSX manufacturershaveplanstosel l their machi nesintheUS,although no-oneisofferinganythi ng there yet. If they are going tosel lMSX machinesi ndi fferentcou ntries,themanufacturerswi l lhavtoalter their products to take aparicular countr's language,itsmainsvoltageand itstelevisionsystemi nto account. Aparfromtheseunalterables,thevagariesof acountry'smarketcanalsoleadto di fferencesbetweenMSX machines.Anexampleisthe di ffrentmemorsizesof BritishandJapaneseMSX machines. Mostofthemachineson sal e i n)apan have 32Kof RAM, or i n some cases a mi serly 16K of memory.8K is themi ni mum amountofmemorspecified i n theMSXstandard. l ntheUKthe situationis di fferent -al lbut twodf the machi nes soldhere have 64K of memor. The onl y machinestosporasmal ler

lfRMarebui l tbyMitsubishi and Yamaha.Theyhave32Kof memory.ButMitsubishihas a b4K machineaswel l andthe Yamahaismoreasynthesiser than a computer. Accordingtothemanufacturersthe reason forth is is that the UKis an advancedmarket. "heUKmarket . ismoreadvanced than therest of Europe, andi ndeedtherestofthe 0|| 0,sa idaspokesmanfor Spectravideo,thecompany whichmakestheSVI -728.`YoK hadtobeupgraded above the Japanese level to be acceptablei ntheUK",continuedthespokesman, "and anyhingwithl essthan64K 0U|0 havebeenseenas inferiorandnotaccepted". Thissentimentisechoedby theotherMSXcompaniesi n the UK Toshi ba,Sanyo, JVC et al .Acounterargumentasto 0Japanesemachineshave lessmemorthantheirUK versions is that when they were introducedi n Japan over a year ago,16Kor32Kwassufficient,andfewmanufacturers have upgraded their machines -yet. Suchupgradesarei mmi nentthough,accordingto manufacturers,suchasSony 0 Canon.Butyouwoul d expect these two companies i n pariculartovoicesuchan opi ni on: theonlytwocompanieswhichhavegiventhe Japaneseversionsofthei rMSX machines64KofRAMsofar are -yes,youguessedit Sony and Canon. Ofthecompaniesmaking MSXmachinesandperipheral s, Phi l i psistheoddoneout on a number of counts.lt is the onl yEuropeancompanymaking an MSX computer.lti s the onl y company not tohavesold itsmachinein Japan. Andit i s theonl ycompanywhichhas notmadetheUKthefi rst European country toreceive its MSX offerings. Phi l ips,whichhasitsheadquartersi nEindhoven, Holland,l auncheditsVG8000 i ni ti al l yi nItal yattheendof September. I nDecemberthecompany announceditsmachineand peripheralsi n AustriaandBelgi um. ButPhi l i ps'MSXproductswi l l notbefinding their wayi ntotheUK unti llater this year.WhyhasPhi l ipsdecided to do this? What is so di fferent - or bad -about theUK? "Wehavesomeproduction output",saysGerardSmeltof Phi l ips, Eindhoven,stressing theword'some'."Wecannot supplythewholeEuropean market,sowe'restarti ngoff smal land have chosen to star sel l i ng outside theUK i n countriesl i keItalyandGermany RB pr, top lef, oeromes compatibili problems.Far lef: .Japanese machines. CnrYamaha's Arable micro. Lef: Mulstndard monitor. M.aur monitor pr where demand i s comparatively low. TheUKi sa bi g market for MSX machines-onl y the US is bi gger." WeBritish wi soakup alot oftheMSXmanufacturers' combined output.By comparisonWestGermanyisasmal lmarket.Sanyoi nGermany reckonsthatbetween25, 000 and 50,000MSXmachineswi l lbeboughtbytheGermansi n the whole of 1985. Apart fromPhi l i ps,there are tenothercompaniessel l ing MSX computersi n the UK, and one or twohave l aunched -or atleastshown-productsi n other European countries. JVC, Tosh i ba,Spectravideoand Yamahaarei nterestedi nthe Germanmarketal ongwith Phi l i ps;Sony,Canon,Hitachi ,JVC,ToshibaandSanyo . have shownproductsi n France. Sony i s the most advanced i n itspl anstoconquerEurope. Thecompanyannouncedits HB-75 fi rsti n theUK, followed thisbyl aunchingiti nFrance, Germany,Italy,Spai n, Holl and, AustriaandDenmarki n October,1984.I nthefollowingmonthSonyl aunchedits machine i n Scandinavia.. Sonyhastoshi pits machinesi ntoEuropefrom Japan,where they are made.lt doesnot make any computers i n the U Kat present, but a Sony spokesman says that it may be doing so by this time next year. Canonhasadifferentposition. The company i s preparing Europeforitsmachi nesusi ng advertising campaigns,but so far the UK is the onl y European country whereits V-20 i s sold. Canonal soadmitsthat al tering its machine for Europe is posingmoreproblems than itthoughtitwould do."lt's inevitable thatMSXwi arrive i nEurope",saysCanon,"but changingthedisplayci rcuitr etcmeansit'sgoing totakea bit longer to get there." Sanyohasl aunchedits machine,theMPC-100,i n the UK and has shownit i n France. lti spossi bl e, saysSanyo, thattheFrenchversionofits machinewi l l haveabui lt-in datarecorder- something whichtheUK modeldoesnot boast. Germanywibe Sanyo's next targetafterFrance.Thecompanypl annedtol aunchits machine there i n March or April this year. A marketnot to be forgotten is thegood ol d US of A. The UK i s al arge market,but the US i s evenbi gger.Sofarno-onei s sel l i ngMSXmachinesthere, al thoughanumberofcompanies have pl ans todo so. Sony expects to start sel l i ng MSX productsi n the US sometime during this year,withthe launchpenci l ledi nforthe Comdex computer show i n Las Vegas.Phi l i ps,too,hopesto l aunch amachine i n theUS. USmachinesmayb!.nore advancedthanthoseseen al (eadyi nJapanandEurope. Thesignsarethatsomemay havebui lt-indiskdrivesor bui lt-insoftware.These machineswi l l eventual lybe avai lablei nothercountries too. BytheendoftheyearMSX machi neswi l l beavai l abl e aroundtheworl d. The machines and peripherals sold i nanyonecountrywi l l be i nterchangeable- aswas i ntendedwhentheMSXmakersgottogetheri nthefirst place.ButMSX machines and peripheralsfromdifferent countrieswi l l notbei nterchangeabl e. TogetMSXi nto EuropeMSXmanufacturers havehadtoaltertheir machinestotakeaccountof the'differenttelevisionsystems, mains voltages and market forcesI n its member countries. Sodoa | thesedi ferences meanthatMSXi snotreally a standardafter al l ? The anser is that despite the differences, MSXisastandard.Afteral l ,how many users will want tomix andmatchequipmentbought fromdiferentcountries?We suspect very fewusersi ndeed wi l lbei n thattype of situation . Computer languages have been evolving for many years, with MSX BASIC the latest in a long line of BASICs. Tom Sato traces its development h th0 08f 08S 0f c0mput-h, th0f0 W8S 0h 0h0c0mput0f 8hu80 8V8l-8b0, HTHN.HTHNSt8h0S f0f Hmu8f THNS8-tl0h8h0W8S00V00p00Sp0clfl-c8lf0fScl0htlflc uS80. lt h80uS0fu m8th0m8tlc8 f08tuf0SSuch8Stfl0h0m0tflcfuhctl0hS8h0 00ub0 pf0clSl0h 8ccuf8cWhlchW0f00SS0htl8f0fm8th0-m8tlcl8hS8h0phSlclStSbuth0tV0Q uS0fu f0f 0f0lh8Q m0N8lSlK00u8h0 . HOwOvOr,aS!hO uSO O!OOmpu-!OrS SprOad dur| ng !hO Slx!|OS,pOOplOwl!h|OSSSO|On!l!|ODaOk-grOundS S!ar!Od !O uSO OOmpu-!OrS aS a !OO| and !hOrO waSl nOrOaS|ng nOOd !O dOvO| Op aOOmpu!Or l anguagO wh|Oh Oa-!OrOd !Orvar|OuSSuDOO!S. Thl SlOd!OdOvOl OpmOn!O!OOmpu!Orl anguagOSSuOhaSCOBOL, Ll SPandBASl C. BASl C S!andS !Or BOg|nnOr'SAl |purpOSOSymDO| | Ol nS!ruO!| OnCOdO and waS dOvO|OpOd DyPrO!OSSOrS KOmOnOy and KuUzO!Dar!mOu!h OO| |OgO,USA.ThOl ra| m waS !O OrOa!O a l anguagOwh| OhwaSSOOaSy!O | Oarn!ha!Oh| | drOnOOul duSOOOmpu!OrS.l !waS Or| g| na| l y wr|!!On aS anOduOa!lOna| !OO| !Or OOmpu!OrSO|OnOO S!udOn!S whO d| dn'!havO a S!rOng ma!hOma!lOalDaOkgrOund.Unl | kO |ORTRAN,wh|Oh waS vOry OOmp| Ox anddl !!| Ou| !, BASl COOul dDO|OarnOdl nma!!OrO!a!OwdayS.Dar!mOu!h BAS| C,aS l ! waSOa| lOd!hOn, DOOamOvOrypOpu-l r and many vOrS|OnS wOrOwr|!!On. l !OvOngO!!hOSuppOUO!!hOAmOrl Oan Na!l Ona|SOlOnOO|Ounda!l On.ThO pOpul ar|!y O!Dar!mOu!h BASl C Oan DO a!!r|-Du!Od !O !hO S| mp| l Ol!y O! !hOl anguagO. ThOrO |S |OSSOOmpu-!OrargOnwl !hl n!hO| anguagO!OOOn!uSO!hOnOv|OO.ThO!| rS!Dar!mOu!hBAS|CwaSDOrn On May lS!, l94. TO !hOMSXcomputers have an excellent BSIC, OrOa!OrS'dO| lgh!|!ran!| rS!!| mO. designed by Microsof. Kay Nlshl, below, ThOSOwOrO!hOdaySwhOn|!waS was the main Instigator of MSX !hOugh! l mpOSSl D| O !O makO apOrSOnal m| OrOOOmpu!Or andDar!mOu!h BASl CwaSOOn!|nOd!O m| n|and mal n!ramO OOmpu-!OrS arOund unl vOrSl!lOS andrOSOarOh | nS!|!u!OS.ThOn, yOarSla!Or, !hO !l rS! ml OrOprOOOSSOrwaS| nvOn!Od.l !!hOrO| SOnOpOrSOnwhOOanDOSal d!O havOOOn!rl Du!Od !hOmOS! !O !hO m| OrO OOmpu!OrrOvO| u!| On,l!|SB|| | Ga!OS,!Ound-Or and prOSldOn! O! M| OrOSO!!.B| l |Ga!OS l S undOuD!Odly !hOp| OnOOr O! !hO ml OrOOOmpu!Or.l n l97U,whOn hO waS uS!!hl r!OOn, hO and hl S!rlOnd Paul A| | On wOrO rOgu| ar| y uS| ng am| nl OOmpu!Or a! a OOmpanyOal | Od COmpu!Or COn!rO COr-pOra!l On.ThOy wOrO a| l OwOd !O 'haOk'arOund w|!h OOmpu!OrS !O !| ndOrrOrS | n any prOgramS !hOOOmpany waS Suppl|Od w|!h Dy!hO m| n| OOmpu!Or manu!aO!ur-Or,D| gl!a| Lqu| pmOn! COrpOra-!l On. AS| OngaSB| l | Ga!OSandh| S!r|Ond OOu| d !| nd DugS | n DLC'SprOgramSCOmpu!OrCOn!rOCOr-

GW BIC, for the IBM Pcompuer, Incororated 14 digit accuracy, and this bcame a feature of MSX BAIC. MSX DOS was desiged by the man . who wrote MS DOS for IBM bb3Dy!OS) andnO dl Spl ayOrkOyDOard. l!hadarOwO!Swl!Oh-OS and l|gh!S and!O prOgram |!yOu had!O !| l Ok!hOSwl!OhOS!O| Oad l nmaOhl nOOOdO. HOwOvOr!hOA| !al rhada l argO numDOrO!Sl O!S !Or pl ug l nmOdul OS,SO l!OOu| dDOOxpandOd.A!!Or Oal l l ng Ld RODOr!S,Ga!OS and Al | On l mmOd| a!OlywOn!!OanOl OO!rOnl OSShOpandgO!{hOmSOlvO a manual!OrBUBU,wr|!!OnDyAdamOSDOrnO,andA| l OngO!hO| dO!OnOO!!hO whO OvOn!ua| | yp| OnOOrOd pO|!-)0raIl0ndl dnO!havO!OpayDLC vOry !l rS! l n!Ol BUUB ml OrOp- aDl O OOmpu!OrS, and S!ar!Od1i0 0l | l S!Or!hO OOmpu!Or !l mO rOOOSSOrS and !hOy OvOn!ua| ly wOrklng On !hOl r BASl C.ThOythe c0mpanywaSuSl ng.OndOdupwr|!lnga!ra!!|OOOn!rO| knOwhOw!O prOgram!hOBUUBAI C0mpu!Or COn!rO COrpOra-

prOgram!Or|!.ThOBUUBl SavOry Du!!hOyhadnO!l al d!hOl rhandStion,H| | | Ga!OS lOarnOda | O!. l n l l ml!Od prOOOSSOrand Ga!OSwaS OnanBUBUml OrOprOOOSSOrandlcI h0 waS SOOn aDl O !O | n!l | - nO! SurO | ! !hOy OOu| d wrl!O a !O add !O!hOl r prOD|OmS!hOy hadl|I0a|argO nO!wOrkO!OOmpu-BASl C!Orl!. !Old Ld RODOr!S !ha!!hOy OOul dle|sandwaSOnOO!!hOOarl |OS! ThO !O| l Owlng yOar,a !l ny dOl |vOr|!| n!wOOr!hrOOwOOkS.ck0rS (!hOSO pOOp| O whO OOmpany Oal | Od MlTS AS!hOydl dn`!havOanAl!a| r !O|0ak| n!OOOmpu!OrSwh| Oh!hOy annOunOOd!hOwOrld`S!| rS!m| O- wrl!O !hO BASl C On,Ga!OS and|000!au!hOrlSOd!OuSO) . rOOOmpu!Or,!hOAl!a| r. ThOm| O- Al l OnwrO!O l!On a | argOOOmpu-Th0 !llm War GamOS waS rOOOmpu!Or agO had dawnOd. !Or a! Hanard Unl vOrSl!y whOrOs0d arOund wha! Ga!OS uSOd ThOrOSpOnSO!rOm!hOOOmpu!O Ga!OSwaSl nhl S!l rS!yOar.l !!OOkl0 00 and !hO hOrO, Dav|d. andO| OO!rOnl OSOn!huSl aS!SwaS !hO!wOO!!hOmSlxwOOkSO!SO|l d||1Iman|SvOrymuOh| l kOGa!OS OOS!a!| O. WhOnGa!OSandA| l On wOrk and whOn !hOy had !l nlShOdat IhaI !|mO. Ga!OS, l | kO Llgh!- | OarnOdO!!hO nOwSv|aPOpul ar PaulAl l On wOn! !O SOO Ldm0 | 0!hO!| l m, waSOnOOOaugh! Ll OO!rOnlOS magaz| nO,!hOy l m- RODOr!S.t|sh|ng an On!l rO nO!wOrk O! mOdl a!O| y rang MlTS DOSS Ld LdRODOr!SwaSl mprOSSOd. HOt0TpuIOrS,Oa| lOdCyDOrnO!. RODOr!S and !O| d hl m!ha!!hOy had had a lO! O! prOgrammOrSnh0n| nl974!hO!| rS! m| OrOp- hada BASl CSu| !aDl O!OrAl!a| r.prOm| Sl ng a BASl C!Orhl SAl!a| rrocessor, !hO BUUB, waS | n!rO- ThO A| !a| r waS Du| l! arOund Du! A| | On waS !hO !| rS! OnO !Oicc0d Dy |n!O| , Paul A| l On prOp- l n!O| `S!Ol | Ow-up!O!hOBUUB,!hO OOmOupwl!h!hOprOduO!.Ga!OSts0d !0 h|S !r|Ond !ha! !hOy BUBU prOOOSSOr. l ! had 2b andAl l On` SBASl CwaS!OS!OdOn10u| 0wrl!OaBASlC!Or| !.Ga!OS Dy!OS(4KMSXOOmpu!OrS havO an Al!al r wl!h SOvOnlK RAMDOardS,apapOr!apOrOadOranda !O| O!ypO !Orml nalOOnnOO!Od.Al | OnlOadOd!hOprOgramwhlOhmadO!hOA| !al r lOad!hOBASl CDyhand uSl ng !hO Swl!OhOS, !hOn!Odl n!hOpapOr!apOOOn!al nl ng!hOBASl C. ThO!OlO!ypO!Orml nalprl n!OdMOmOrySlzO?Al | On waS OxOl!Og. |! hadwOrkOd !l rS! !| mO rOund.HO!ypOd | n!hOamOun!O!mOmO|y,whl OhwaS7K, !hOn!OS!Od |!Dy!yplngl nPR|NT2+2ThO!Ol O!ypOrOpllOd4. l! wOrkOd| Ga!OS and Al l On` SBASl C, wh| OhwaSOn| yaDOu!4Kl Ong(MSXBASlClS32K) ,waS!ODO SOl d !hrOugh MlTS S !hOO!!| Ol al l anguagO!Or!hOA|!al r. Al | On qu|! h| SjOD,Ga!OS lO!!hl S un|vOrSl!y and !hOy OamOdOwn!OwOrk!OrM|TS.SOOn!hOy!OrmOd!hOl rOwnOOmpany,Ml O-rOSO!!. NOw OOmpu!Or OOm-panl OSwOrOSprl ngl ngupDy!hOdOzOnandGa!OSandAl l On!Ound!ha! !hOy OOul d OhargO h| ghrOyal!lOS !Or !hO| r BAS| C.ThOya| SO l mprOvOd !hOl r BASl C andOOnvOr!Od l!!OrnumDOrO!O!hOrmOrOprOOOSSOrS.SOOn !hO ml OrO rOvO| u!|OnSwOp! !hO wOrl d.Tandy l n!rO-duOOdTRSBU,Appl O, |!SApplOandCOmmOdOrO, !hOCBM PLT.| nl977, aOrOSS!hOPaOl!lO| nJapan, OnOKazuhlrO(Kay) Nl Shl and hl S !rlOndS had S!aUOd aSma| magazlnO !Or OOmpu!OrDu!!S, Oal l Od ASC| l .N| Shl ,whOwaS S!| a!WaSOda UnlvOrSl!y,l nOOrpOra!Od a OOmpany O!!hOSamOnamOandl n!hO!OllOw|ngyOarv| Sl!OdM| OrOSO!!a!SOa!!l O. l n !OrmS O! OOmpu!Or hard-warO and SO!!warO, !hOJapanOSO wOrO wOl lDOhl nd !hOAmOrl OanS.N| ShldOO|dOd !Ol mpOr! AmOrlOan SO!!warO !OJapan.Hl S!rlp| nOO!ODOrl97BrOSul!Od | n !hO !Orma!|On O!ASCl lMl OrOSO!! L!d, and hOga| nOdOxOluSlvOrl gh!S!OSOl l a| l Ml OrOSO!! prOduO!S | n !hO |arLaS!.Dur| ng!hOpl OnOOrl ngdaySO!!hO |a!O SOvOn!|OS, M| OrOSO!!prOduOOdmanyO!hOrl anguagOS!Or m| OrOOOmpu!OrS, Du! !hOrOwaSS!l| | !hOnOOd!OOOnvOU!hO|rOarl yBUBUvOrSlOnO!MSBAS|C!OrO!hOrml OrOprOOOSSOrS. BO!-!Or m| OrOprOOOSSOrS, SuOh aSZBU and BU9, had DOOn dO-vO|OpOdandOvOnlDl !ml OrOp-rOOOSSOrS whlOh OOu| d prOOOSS!wlOOaSmuOhda!a aSO|gh!D| !prOOOSSOrS wOrO DOOOm|ngrOadl l yaval l aD| O. l nl9BUM| O|OSO!!| nvOS!Od l na DLC ma| n!ramO OOmpu!Or.Th|S waS !O DO uSOd aS adOvOlOpmOn! !OOl !O| wr| !l ngvarlOuS vO|SlOnS O! !hO OvOrpOpul arM| O|OSO!!BASl C. Ga!OSand Al l On rOw|O!O !hO| r BASl C

k

ln!OanOu!|al| anguagO!hOyhad

dOvlSOdandw|O!Oa OOnvOrSl OnprOgramwh|OhwOul dau!Oma!l-Oal | y !ranS| a!O !hO nOu!ral | an-guagO|n!OmaOh| nOOOdO!O|anypar!|Ou| a|prOOOSSOr.Thl SmOan!!hOywOul dn`!havO!O waS!O SO muOh !l mO OnOOnvOrS| On. Th| SlSOmOan!!ha!a pa|!l Ou| a| !Oa!urO O! OnO dl -a| OO!O!MSBASl COOul dDOqu|!OOaS| | y addOd !O anO!hO| OvOn!hOugh!hO prOOOSSOruSOdwaSqul!Od| !!OrOn!.BO!h l nJapanand!hO Un|!OdS!a!OS many vOrSl OnS O! MSBASl C wOrO SOl d.A M| OrOSO!!BASl COOmp| | OrwaS| aunOhOdSO!ha!!hOBASl CwOul dhavOSpOOdOOmparaDl O !O MaOh| nO COdO,un| |kO Ordlna|y | n!OrprO!Od MSBASl C. l nBr|!al nmaOh| nOS!rOmOr|O and DragOn had Ml OrOSO!!BASl C and !hO AmOr| Oan COm-mOdOrOVl CandC4OOmpu!OrSa| SOuSOdad| al OO!O!Ml OrOSO!!BASl C.

l nJunO l9BU, Paul Al | OnwaS BASl C,and l ! yOur !urnOvOrwO|k|ng On a l Dl ! vOrS| On O! OxOOOdS!Onm| l | l On, !hOOOmpu-Ml OrOSO!!

BAS|C !Or l n!O| `S nOw !O|wl | l nO!glvOyOuanaOOura!OBUBB and BUB prOOOSSOrS. !| gurO.TO DO a vl aDl O DuS| nOSSBO!hhad!hOOapaDl I l!yO!hand- OOmpu!Or !hO l BM PC nOOdOd| l ng !w|OO aS muOh l n!O|ma!lOn mOrO !han nl nO d| g| ! aOOuraOy.aS Oa|| y B D| ! Ohl pS OOul d,M| OrOSO!! |OwrO!O a| l arl!hmO!|Oa| !hOugh !hO BUBB waS |OSS rOu!lnOS | n !hO| r GW BASl C SOpOwOr!ul . Th| SBASl CwaS !O DO !ha! l! OOu| d hand| O up !O l4Oal | OdGWBASl C.d| gl!S w|!h !O!a| aOOuraOy.ThO !O| l Owl ng mOn!h,B| l |999, 999, 999, 999. 99 |SaprO!-Ga!OShadaphOnOOal l !rOm!hO !y Dl g numDOr and OvOn | BMD| ggOS! OOmpu!Or OOmpany l n haSn` ! !hO !urnOvOr !O OxOOOd!hOwOr| d. ThOOOmpanywaS| BM !hl S. and !hOy wOrO l n!OrOS!Od | n ThO dl Sk OpOra!ing SyS!Om, M| OrOSO!!'SSO!!wa|O. MS-DOS, mOrO OOmmOn| yThO!Ol | Ow| ngyOarwaS SpOn! knOwn aS PC DOS, waS dO-dOvOl Opl ng !hO l BM PC. M| OrO- vOlOpOd Dy T| m Pa!O|SOn O!SO!! waS |OSpOnSl D| O!Oral l !hO SOa!!|OCOmpu!OrP|OduO!S.SO!!warOl nOl udl ng!hOOpOra!l ng ThOl BMPCwaSannOunOOdl nSyS!Om-!ha!'Swha!yOu nOOd AuguS! l9Bl and DOOamO !hO!OOOn!rOl!hOOOmpu!OrDO!OrOl ! mOS! SuOOOSS!ul and mOS! | m-Oan hand| O BASl C.Ml O|OSO!! |!a!OdDuSl nOSSOOmpu!O|l n!hOwaSal SO aDl O!O pOrSuadO l BM!O wOr| d.NOw, !hOugh | BM mayOrOa!O an OpOn SyS!Om !ha! SOOm a l Ongway rOmOvOd !|Oma| lOwOdpOrlphO|a| dOv|OOS!OD8 MSX,!hOrO l Sa gOOd rOaSOn!Orp| uggOd |n!OS|O!S. Dr| ngl ng!hOm l n!O !hO p|O!urO.ThOl anguagOwhl OhM| OrOSO!! ThO ph| l OSOphy Dehl nd MSXgavO!O l BM PC,GWBASl C, waS OamO!|Om!hOl BMPCwOrk.SOmO!hl ng SpOO| a| ,!OO. PrO- TwO DuSl nOSSmOn wOrO !hO vlOuSly, Ordl nary BASl C OOu| d Oa!alyS!!O|!hODl r!h O!MSX. l n Onl yhand| OaOOuraOyup!O nl nO !hOSummOrO!l9B2,!wOAmOrd| gl!S. Tha! mOanS !ha! !hO l Oan DuSl nOSSmOn,A|Ox WO|SSmax| mumnumDOryOuOanhavO andHarry|Ox,dOOl dOd!OSO!upwl!hOu! | OSl ng aOOuraOy | S a m| O|OOOmpu!O| OOmpany, 9, 99U, 999. 99.NOw l ! yOu arO SpOO!rav| dOO, a!!Or SOO| ng !hOrunnl ngaDuS| nOSSandyOuwan! |ap| d OxpanSlOn O! A!arl and!O dO yOur aOOOun!S w|!h MS COmmOdOrO.War Games' hero Davld Llghtman was around Bill Gates' exploits. Spectravldeo SV-31 was the micro that spured MSX.Rlk and Sting, right, wrote most of the BIC, while Bill Gates and Paul Alien, above, founded the Microsof empire ThOywO|O!aml I | arw|!hmanu!aO!ur| ng!aOl | |!|OS| nHOngK00[aS !hOy had !radOd | n d| g|Iawa!OhOS DO!OrO, and!hOy |00KOnOd !ha! !hOy OOul d D0| | d ahOmO OOmpu!O| !Or |OSS Iha13U, SO| | | ng | ! !O|lUU. Th0had a DaS| O ha|dwarO d0s|^dOnO | n HOng KOng Du! !h0nOOdOd a BASlC !Or |!. Th0na!uralOhO|OOwaSM| OrOS0!I.Al!hOugh | nOOrpO|a!Od| 0N0YOrk,WOlSSand|OxwOrObased l n HOng KOng. ||Om !hO|O !h0!r|Od!O OOn!aO!M| O|OSO!!. Ah0|!wO mOn!hSO!DuS| nOSS |O!!0|s,!OlOphOnOS and !O| OxOS, Ih00r0!O| d!OOOn!aO!ASCHaS!hOy1a0d|Od al ||arLaS!Orn a!!al rS. ||0a||y!hOy gO! !hrOugh !O !hO0v0r0mn| prOSOn!KayN| Shl , whO|T10d|a!O|y !|Ow l n!O HOng600g aI!Or SOOl ng !hO| r SpOOl-|caI| 00 !Or !hO SpOO!rav|dOO4T|cr0.M0|!hOr |Ox Or WO|SS wOrOc01pu!Or Du!!S SO l n OrdOr !O||as0 w|!h ASCl l and Ml OrOSO!t,Ih0yh| rOd S!OvOT| ng,knOwn!O1|sIr|OndSaSS!l ng. S!|ngl San10usual OharaO!Or. PrOvl OuS| y,10 had DOOn !O ha| ! a dOzOnc0|v0rS|!|OS| n!hOUnl!OdS!a!OS,jcs! !0 SOO wha! !hO OOmpu!OrOOn!rOS wOrO | l kO. A !ypl Oal haOkOr, hO knOw rOugh| y wha!kl nd O! BASl C a gOOd ml OrO-OOmpu!Or ShOu| d havO and hOdl d !hO SO!!warO SpOO|!|Oa!lOndOS| gn !Or !hO SpOO!ravldOOmaOhl nO. SO,ASCl l M| OrOSO!!agrOOd!OdO SpOO!rav|dOO`S BASl C.Byl9B2 ASCl l 'S TOkyO O!!lOO had!hO SamO DLC dOvO| OpmOn!OOmpu!Or aS M| OrOSO!t US and!hOl rS!a!!hadDOOn!u| | y!ra| nOda!SOa!!| O. NOw, On!Or!wOmOrOOharaO!OrS.ThO pOOpl O whO dl d!hO nl !!ygrl!!yhardwOrk!OrOrOa!lng!hOSpOO!ravldOO'S BASl C wOrO !wOJapanOSOwhlzzkl dSCa| | OdRl OkandJay. ThOywOrO!hOOnOSwhOdOSlgnOd !hO SyS!Om arOh|!OO-!urO, MaOhl nO COdl ng and a| l !ha! ml nd DOggl | ng SO!twarOwh| OhmanyO!uSwOuldDOgl ad!OkOOpaway!rOm. SO,wO havO a| | !hOaO!OrSOnS!agO - B| l | ,Kay, S!lng, R| Okand Jay.TOgO!hOr !hOy OrOa!Od!hO SpOO!rav|dOO ml OrO wh| OhOvOn!ua| | yl Od!OMSX.l ! happOnOd |lkO !hl S.ThOydOO| dOd!ODr| ng!OgO!hOra| l !hOgOOdDl!S!rOm!hOprOv|OuSwOrk!hOyhaddOnOandS!lOkl!l n!Oa!han SpOO!rav|dOO | nl!l al | y | n!OndOd,DyprOvl dl ng' Sl O!S`aSOn!hO l BM PC. TO yOu and l ' Sl O!S'arO OarIrldgO pOr!S On an MSXl n!O wh| Oh yOu Oan pl ug | njuS!aDOu!any!hl ng. ThOyal SO uSOd!hOl4d| g|!aOOuraOyar|!hmO!lOrOu!|nOS!rOmGWBASl C. S!l ng wan!Od mOrO. HO dO-mandOd !ha! BASl C4. bShOul dDOaDl O!O handl O | Ongvar| aDl OnamOSandal SOhavOS!ruO!urOdS!a!OmOn!S SuOh aS DO LOOPSandWHl LLandWLNDwhl Ohal l SOr|OuS OOmpu!Or Du!!S lOvO.ThOSO nOvOr madO | !, Sl mp| yDOOauSORl OkandJayranOu!O!SpaOO| n!hO32KROM. 'Sting demanded that the BASIC should be far beter than their earlier efor for eight bit micros' ApparOn!lydOvO| Opl ng!hOSVlBASl C waS nO! aS S!ral gh!!Or-wardaS!hOyhOpOd. Brl ngl ng| n!hl SrOu!| nOand!ha!!rOmO!hOrBASlCSwaSa!l nOl dOa. |!mOan!!ha!yOu dl dn`!havO!Owr|!O!hOOOdOS!rOmSOra!Oh.l n!aO!SOmOO!!hOOOdOSwrl!!OnDyBl| | Ga!OSandPau| Al l OnarOS!| l | | OU| n!hOMSX BaSl O, a|!hOugh l am nO!SurO wh| Oh rOu!lnOS !hOy arO. HOwOvOr, pu!!lng | n 'hOOkS'mOan!!ha!OvOryMaOh| nOCOdOrOu!lnOhad!O DOmOd|!lOda D| !!O makO l !ump!O !hO 'hOOkS'.And!hOrO arOhundrOdSO! |l!!|OrOu!|nOSl nMSBASl C. Wha!`S mOrO, !hOSO rOu!lnOSwOrOnO!wrl!!OnDyOnOprOgram-mOr.By !hO !| mO Jay and Rl OkS!artOd On !hO SVl BASl C,!hOprOv|OuS MS BASlC had gOnO!hrOugh SO many rOwrl!OS !ha!manypOOplO knOwSOmOO!!hOrOu!lnOSDu!nOOnOpOrSOnknOwal |O! !hOm. SOmO O! !hOSOpOOp| Ohad OvOn | O!! Ml OrOSO!!|32KROM. Wha!waSwOrSOwaS!ha!!hOSOS!l ng dOmandOd !ha! !hO pOOpl O wOrO mal nl y DaSOd | nBASl CShOul dDO!arDO!IOr!han SOa!!lOandRlOkandJaywOrOl n!hOl rOarl l OrO!!Ort !Or Olgh! Dl ! Japan. ThO rOSul!waS!ha!Rl Okml OrOS DOOauSO Dy l9B2 !hOrO had !O Shu!!lO !rOm SOa!!lO !OwOrO many maOhl nOS wl!h a TOkyOdOzOnSO!!l mOS. BASl CSupOrlOr!OMSBASl C. ThO By wl n!Or l9B2/B3 !hOnOwSVl BASlCOrMSBASlC 4. b maOhl nOwaS rOady.ThOdOSl gnwaS!O havO!u| l SOrOOn Odl !l ng. waS mOdl !l Od SO !ha! l ! OOu| dThOydOOl dOd!O uSOa lO!O!SO havOup!O2bKO!RAM,pl ug-l nOal | Od 'hOOkS` wh| Oh madO !hO BUOOl umn OardSand dl Skdr|vOS.BASl C | n!Orrup!aDl O,!huS mak- l !a|SOmOan!!ha!!hOpr|OOO!!hOl ng |! OaS|Or !O Oxpand and maOhl nO rOSO Du!!hO SpOO!ra-OapaDl OO!handl l ngmany!aSkS vldOOmaOhl nOOOu| dDOuSOdaSa!OnOO. aDuS| nOSSmaOhl nO. ThO OOmpu!Or hardwarO DO- SVl 32B and 72B wOrO rO-OamO muOh mOrO OxpandaD| O lOaSOd l n m| d-l9B3| n!hOUnl!OdS!a!OS Du! Dy !ha! !| mO !hOml OrOOOmpu!OrDuSl nOSSwaS| nSuOha OhaO!|OS!a!O!ha!SpOO-!ravldOOdl dn`!dOaSwO| laSAlOxandHarryhOpOd. A!!OrdO| lvOrlng!hO SVl OOm-pu!OrS, R| OkandJaydl dn'!S!OpwOrk. Kay Nl Sh|had ldOaS. HOhadl OnghOpOd!OSO!aS!andard!OrhOmO OOmpu!OrS SO !ha! al | SO!!warOandpOrlphOra| Swl | l DOOOmpa!| D| O wl!h OnO anO!hOr.H| S !r|OndS | n !hO l nduS!ryagrOOd. BO!OrO MSX!hOrOwOrOSO manyOOmpu!OrS l nOOmpa!l-Dl Ow|!hOaOhO!hOr,yO!mOS!O!!hOmuSOdM| OrOSO!tBASl C. WhOn Kay rOa| | SOd hOw gOOd!hO SpOO!rav|dOO maCh|nOSwOrO,hOuS! knOw!ha! OvOryOnOwOul d uSO l !aS a S!andard l !l!waSpu!!O!hOm.SOl n!hOw| n!OrO! l9B2/B3 Kay wOn! !O SOOaDOu!2UOOmpanl OSSaylng|`vOgO!!hl SaOOSyS!Om, dOyOuwan!!OgO!Or|!?ThOrOaO!| On, OSpOOl al ly,!rOmPanaSOnl OandSOnywaSOn!huSl aS!l O.BO!h OOmpan|OS had!hOl r Ownm| OrOSwl!hMSBASlCandnO|!hOrwOrOmakl ngmOnOy.ThOyumpOda!!hO ldOaandSOdl d mOrO !han a dOzOn O!hOrOOmpanl OS, l nOl udl ng SpOO!ra-vl dOO. ByJunO l9B3 Kay Nl ShlandB| l lGa!OS annOunOOd !hO MSXS!andardw|!hJbmanu!aO!urOrSDaOkl ng l!. Bu! DaOk OnASCl l 'SDLC, R| Ok and Jay wOrO S!l| | ' l mprOv|ng' BASl C4. b, nOw,!hOMSX BAS| C,OOdO-namOd 'OOrn-!lakO'a!!OrBl GKOOrn!lakOS. BynOw,!hOSpOO!rav| dOOhardwarOandSO!!warOhadDOOnmOdl !l OdOnOugh !O DO rOgardOd aS ad| !!OrOn! SyS!Om SO !ha! !hOOOmpanlOS lnvOlvOd had !OnOgO!la!Owl!h M| OrOSO!t ra!hOr!hanSpOO!ravl dOO. MSX OOu| d nOw DO OxpandOdup!OOnOMOga By!O,!hOnumDOrO! hOOkS had DOOn l nOrOaSOdand!hOBAS|CDO!!OrdODuggOd.Rl OkandJaydl dn`!S!Op OOdl ngun!l la !Ow wOOkS DO!OrO !hOaO!ual maOhl nO OamO Ou!. Rl OkDOl | OvOSSOmOO!!hOOarl yMSXmaOhl nOS may havO gOnO Ou!w|!h an LPROM | nS!Oad O! !hOprOpOrMSXROM. A!tOr !hO MSX BAS|C waSOOmplO!Od,!hOyhad!OdOvOlOp!hO MSX DOS. Kay gO! Tl mPa!!OrSOn whO dl d!hO MS DOS!Or l BMPC!OdO!hl S. Rl OkandJaydl dn` !S!OpwhOn!hOMSXprOOO!!l nlShOd. By AuguS! l9B3 !hOywOrOwOrkl ngOnMSX2wh| Ohwl l | DOOOmpa!l Dl Owl!hMSXl. And!ha!'S!hOh| S!OryO!MSXBAS| C, SO!ar.w

0 ^

. w So, you've got aMSX. You've also got enemies. With the Gunshot, you' l lhaveall the opposition cowering in corners. 8-di rectional action andan al l -i n-one moulded stem allowsaccu annihi lation and strengthto survive those all-night sessions.Dual fireoct|c:.for fading fingers(and a rapidfire version when they'rereally coming thick andfast). And, if youbreak it (and weknow you' l ltry) our1 2-month guarantee will proveinval uable. Only8. 95.The Gunshot plugs di rectly into any MSXhome computer. See the range ofVulcan joysticks and interfaces at your local stockist . . .we' ll see youonthe high score tables. We'e assembled tenty top joysticks for this giant group test. Debbie Goldfinch has been tring them out j0StlcKlS88m0Sc0h-tf0l0f th8t puS lht00uf mlcf0 t0 lV0 0u0aSl0f 8h0 f8St0f c0htf0l 0V0f0uf 8m0S p8lh th8h th8t0R0f00 b th0 K0b08f0. J0-st|cksc0m0 lh m8h 0lff0f0ht8Q0S; S0m0 00h't h8V0 8'st|ck'8SSuch,th0m8h8V08l0uch-S0hSltlV0 p80, buU0hS0 a f0t8tlh b8l. Th0 c8hmake8 bl0lH0f0hc0 t0 0ufgam0S p0R0fm8hc0 ~juSt8Sl00 flht 0qulpm0ht f0f 8h80tllQ c8h mpf0V0 0uf p0f-l0fm8hc0, 8h0 800 t0 0uf00j0m0ht.Vany havO ruDDOr SuO!|Onccps!Og|| p!hO!aDl O!Op, SOmO1avO ruDDOr!OO!!O g|vO!hOms01OpurOhaSOandO!hOrSa|O10s|gnOd SO| Ol y!O DO hOl d | n!10 hand. MOdOl S O!!On havOlW0!||O Du!!OnS, OnODOl ng!Or|ap|d !|rO whl Oh | S uSO!ul !Oras! gamOS. MOS! jOyS!|OkS|vO yOu Ol gh! dl |OO!lOnS O!T0vOmOn!. LOad | Ong!hSvary,s0 |!yOu | l kO !O mOvO arOundh||OyOup| ay, | OOk!Oral OngOrlead.Pr|OOS va|y grOa!|y !OO,c!y0u dOn'!nOOd!OSpOnd a0HunO !O gO! a gOOd pOr-l0|1O|.IfyOu a|O a kOOn gamOSplayer,yOu wl | |wan! !hO jOy-l|08!ha! |S!hO mOS!Su| !aD| Ol0 hO|pyOu nO!Oh up!ha!h| ghsc0|O,and!ha!dOOSnO!!a| | !Op|0cOS whOn yOu arO l n !hOmi ddl eO! Sav|ng !hO pl anO!l|01 | mml nOn!dOS!ruO!|On Dy!10Tha|gOl dS. S0wha!ShOul dyOu |OOk!O|h00 OhOOS| ng a OyS!|Ok?|||s!|y, dOO|dO hOw muOh yOuwant!O SpOnd and OhOOk !Orc01pa!| D| | |!yw|!hyOu|OOmpu-!0|. ThOn makO SurO !ha! |!`Sc01!0|!aDl O !O hO| d and !ha!0c can Oas| | y |OaOh !hO !lrO0cU0n. ChOOk !ha! l!`S S!aDl Oand w0n`!SkldaDOu!, and!ha!!hO handl O dOOSn`! !OO| !OOS|Oppy` Or !OO S!|!! whOn yOumOvOl!.DOOS !hO jOyS!|Ok !OO|s!urdy?l!w| l | havO!Owl!hS!anda |O! O! rOugh !|Oa!mOn!, SOOnSu|O!ha!!hOmOdO| yOu | l kOOOmOS w|!h a dOOOn! guaran-!OO.|| na| l y, nO ma!!Or| !| !| OOkSl l kO yOu ShOul d DO Say| ng BOammOup, SOO!!y` l n!O l!O|uSl ng l ! !O p| l O! !hO SpaOOShu!!l O,|!yOu | l kO !hOdOS| gnand |! mOO!S !hO O!hOr S!an-dardS -gO!l !! l nOur!OS!,wO!Oa!u|O!wOn!ymOdO| S O! jOyS!|Ok and havOOxam| nOd !hOm l n OrdOr O!p|l OO,S!aUl ng w|!h !hO | OaS!OxpOnS|vO. WO uSOd !hrOOd| !!OrOn! gamOS!O !ry Ou!!hOS!|OkS pOr!O|manOO - HypO|O| ymp| OS, a!wO-way!ypOgamOwhOrOyOumuS!mOvOlO!!,||gh!and jump (!lrO) , Spark| O,a!Ou|-way mazO gamO andSupO| CODra, whOrOyOu arO!hOp| l O!O!ahO| l OOp!Or!l yl ngOvOra| andSOapOavOl d| ngOrShOO!-l ngml SS| | OS,d|Oppl ngDOmDSand p| Ok| ng up DOO!y - anOl gh!-wayS!y|OgamO. ThOSpOO|!|Oa!|OnOhar! I |S!Sal | !hOOyS!lOkSl na| phaDO!|Oa|OrdOr and g| vOS yOu al |!hO|OlOvan! dO!al | S - prl OO,andnumDO| O! !| rO Du!!Ons !O|Oxampl O, a!ag| anOO.A| l!hO Oys!lOkS had DOOnwO| | uSOd | n!hO O!!lOO DO!OrO!hO!OS!DOgan,SOwOhada!al | |dOa O! hOw wO| l!hOy wOu|dSun|vO!hOwOarand!Oa|!hOym| gh!DOSuDjOO!Od!Ol nhOmOuSO. OurvOrdlO!|Sa!!hOOndO!!hOrOpOr!S.WWJ0Rl0fPf0 .This joystick is smal lenough to fit comforabl y i nto one hand andhasfourrubberfeetthat hel pstopitfromsl i di ngona' tabletop.ltisverygoodfor 8-way,positiveand quick with l i ttl e movement needed toget goodresponse fromit. The joystick doesgivegood control and fast response for 2,4 and 8-way games and it has a goodsized'roundedcrescent' shapedfirebutton. ltisgood looking,si mpl e,l i ghteight, easytoholdandagood performer.Juni orProi sonl y marredbythepoordesignof the knob on the stick's end. JQBf0 T.4bTheJoyCardi sagames control lerofsmal l ,'creditcard' design.Ifyouhavel arge hands,it can be a tricky model to operate. The two fire buttons areplacedrathercl ose together,butitfeel sstrong andhasnomovingpartsto wear out. For8-waySuperCobra,it wasnottoogoodonrapid changeofdi rectionand seemedratherjerky.For2-way,itwaspracti cal lyi mpossi bl etoevenqual ifwiththe JoyCard,andfor4-waySparki e, itwasdi fficulttochange di rection.Withalotofprac-tise,itcoul dbeareasonabl e performer- butIdon'thear any cries of 'Don't leavehome without one'! U@htRlR@D0l0X0 T.bTheLightningisal i ghtweight,black and red joystick. lt has four sucker feet that grip quitefirml yandtwo reasonabl y sizedfirebuttons,one onthe top of the stick, the other on the base. For 8-waySuperCobra, it respondedwe | butfeltI i kei t wasgoingtofallapar atany mi nute.ltseemedtohavea mi ndofitsownandwasnot good for fine movements . Nltworkedquitewel l for 2-way,requi ringonl ysmal lmovementofthestickfor response.For4-way,thefire button was fast and movement wasprecise.Onecompl ai nt withthisonewasthatthe handl e,al though comfortabl e,wou I dbebetteri fitwas sl i mmer. Otherwise, it's a good value joystick. WRA-4 T.Verysi mpl ei ndesign,this joystick is slow and uncomfortabl e and needs a lot of effort to get movement from it for 4-way games.Thesingl efirebutton ispoori nresponseandfor 2-way,itisagainslow.lt performs I ittle. betterfor 8-way, it's sti l lver stiff,abit jerky ondiagonalsandnotatal l comforabl e. lthasfoureffective non-si i pfeet,butnotmuch else torecommendit. bllKbtlK .bThis isanicelooking,small i shjoystick,neatandsi mpl e i n designandrobustlybui lt. lt fitscomfortabl yi ntothehand andtheshortstickhasa marbl e-sized round knob at the end of it. The fire button is qui te wel l placed to the top l eft of the stick.For4-waygames,the stick di dn't give positive movement and wasslow torespond al thoughthefirebuttonworkedwel l .lt was better for2-way,with I ittle efort needed to get a fast speed,andl ittle di scomfort.lt di dn'toperatewel l withthe 8-way;thefire buttonseemed sl ow and the stick too smal lto easily handl e theei ghtdi recti onsofmovement.ltwasnot easytocontrolandgavea rather erraticperformance. U0lWdbm .bThishandheldjoystick wasn'tagoodoveral l performer.For8-waygames,itwas slowtoreactanddegreeof movementneededtopi lot the hel i copter i n the game was too great.InHyperOlympics,you havetoputi nalotofwork because thestickis sosmal l .lt was al ittle better for 4-way games, giving reasonabl e controland fast fire,with achoice ofthreebuttons, butonce againthesecoul dhavebeen bi gger.ltisnotbadlooking, l i ght-weight,andthecasing seemsrobustbutthestick feels very fl i msy.lt is not real l y star qual ity. t0fl A-Z4 .ThisAtarii sanunusuall ooking joystick with twol arge orange fire buttons sited on the side of thecasing,and astick centred just below these.Both casing and stick are wel lmade andlookl i ketheyarebui ltto last. The stick moves wel l ,and you don't need to move it too far to get good response for 8 and 4-way,andafastspeedfor 2-way. lt i s comfortabl e tohold and the stick tas a good-sized knob withraisedmoul di ng for extra grip.Thefirebuttonsareabit confusing unti l you get used to them,but areagoodsizeand wel l positioned.Thisl i ghtwei ghtmodelisapl easureto useandturnsi nagoodperformance every time. bt0fl@ht0f 10.95 Bi l i edbySuncomas'the .ul ti matejoystick',thisaccolade seems a l i ttle too enthusi astic.lt wasn't agreat joystick for8-way,it waspassable for up, down,right,lefbutwas sl uggishi nresponseanduncomfortabl etouse.ltwas hopeless for HyperOiympicsitseemsunl ikely thatitcould evenmanagean'eggand spoon'raceatalocalschool sportsday! Thestickistooshorttobegrippedeasi l yandthebase has no grip ona table top. The fire button was siuggish for the 4-waygameandthejoystick general l y sl ow torespond.The onl y thing i n its favour i s that |ldoesseemstrongly madeand the priceisreasonable. ul0KSh0tbVZ-ZZ 11.95 TheQui ckshotJ hasfour stabl e sucker feet and a raised moul dedsectiononthelef handsideofthebaseincorp oratingafirebutton.The mouldedhandl e, whichhas another fire buttononthe top, is far too fat tobecomforable tohol d. For8-waygamesyou have to move the handle a lotto get anything out of it, and it felt al i ttle sloppy. Thefirebuttonswereonly averagei nresponse.ltdi dn't breakanyworldrecordsi n Hyper Ol ympics andit gavean averagetoslowperformance for 4-way games. On the whole, it was di sappoi nting because it wasqui tenicely desi gned and seemedwel l madebutit's performancefel lshortofthe mark. uhSh0tZ ZZ.bTheGunshothasafat, uncomfortabl ehandlewhich fee Is very ft i msy but wh i eh was, infact,excel l enti nresponse for8-waygames.Thetwofire buttonswerebotheasi l y accessi bl eandpositive.For the 2-way game, the fat hand le feels rather loose andi t took a lot of effort to getanyspeed out of the joysti ck. For 4-way,i t was once agai n a goodperformer,respondi ng wel l andwithasnappyfire button.l t hasfour sucker feet which hold the table top fi rml y. TheGunshotisnotthemost attractivelookingjoystick around;it'sratherbul kyand finishedi ncreamandadrab palekhakicol our,andthe handlei stoofat- buti t cerai nlyredeemsitselfi n operation. 60mp0tltl0hPf0d ZZ. TbThis joysticki scomfortabl e to use but has a rather I ight and insubstanti al feeltoi t.lt's quitenicei ndesignandhas threefirebuttons,twoonthe handleandonel argepadon thebase.For8-way, thefire buttonwasgoodandwel lpositioned,butthestickwas dificulttomoveandpooron diagonalmovement. For2-way,thestickdi dn't ofergoodcontrolandwas slow.l t wasless thangoodfor 4-way,beingsl uggishand unresponsivewithaslowfire button. Not a very good joystick ifyou'reai mi ngforrecord breaking scores. bup0fh0mp ZZ.bAnunusual joysti ck, thi s; it looks I i ke a flying saucer with a handl e.The flex canbe wound i n to the base. The four sucker feet real ly do grip the table top fi rml yandi tstaysputduri ng eventhemostenthusiastic use.ForHyperOlympicsiti s possi bl etogetaveryfast speed with this model ,but you expend alot of energy doi ng i t.For 8-wayi t wasn'tbad,but onceagai nyou have to thrash i t togetaresponse.Thewhole centresectionmoveswhich givestheunfortunatefeel i ng that the joystick i s about to fal lapart at any mi nute! Thefirebuttonsonthetop andfrontofthehandleare good because you onl y need to concentrateonmovi ng.Nota badperformer,buti ti srather bulky tohandl e.0mp0tltl0hPf0b Jd.bThe Competition Pro doesn't have suckers, justrubber feet and i t i s not easy to get a proper griponi t withoutputting your handoveroneofthefire buttons.ltdoeshaveal arge roundbal l attheendofthe stick which i s parti cul arl y comfortable to use and the twobi g fire buttons are easy to hi t. lt's goodfor8-waySuperCobra, al thoughtheresponsecould be abi t crisper.For the2-way game, the stick movement was abi t sloppy. Apart from thi s,itwaseasyto use and gave a fast speed,but i t wasrather jerkyon4-way.l t seemsquiteasturdy joysti ck, but not pari cul arl y i nspi ri ng i n design. 0h0hVJZ ZbThis i sCanon'sversi onofthe MSXjoystick.Severalofthe otherMSXmanufacturersi ncl udi ngJVCandMitsubishi haveproducedsi mi l ar models withdifferentcol ouredfire buttons. Al argeorangefirebutton covers al most the whole of the topofthestickandithasa suppl ementaryfirebuttonon thebase.Both are wel lpl aced andfor4and8-waygames were goodi n response. Thesticki sjoi nedtothe basebyasortofbal l and socketjoi ntandfeelsvery sloppy. Despitethi s, itwas effective and responded wel li n the8-waySuperCobragame andequal l ywel l i n4-way Sparkie.l t feel s rather fl i msy, but it i s comfortable to use and gives a good account of itsel f i n games. T00-Z Zb.bThe Tac-2 i s a bi t l ike the Sl i k Stik'sbi gbrotheri ndesign, and once agai n looks good and seemsverystronglymade.l t hastwol argefirebuttons either si de of the stick, and the stickitsel fhasal argeround bl ackbal lon theendthat fits comfortabl yintothepal mof thehand.For2-way,i tonl y requi redal i ttlemovementto get arespectabl e speed out of i t, andi t wasgoodtouse.For 8-way,it di dn't performso wel landseemedtomakemovement rather jerky. However,i t was comforabl e touse,if somewhatsl uggish, whi chwasdisappointing. l fyou havel argehands,another problemwhicharisesisthat the shor length of stick makes i t di fficult to get a good grip.l t seemstobequitecompetent for 4-way,but not that easy to use. fbh0t Zb.HyperShoti sdesi gned especi al l yforTrackandField styl e games.l t is al arge, white box-shapeddevice,quite styl i sh, with twol arge red buttons, oneforjumpandoneforrun. lts fourrubberfeetarerather smal l ,but by design you hold i t quitesteadywithbothhands anyay.For2-waygamesiti s notbad,butratherI i m ited. However,i tdoesn'trequi re much effor to get a fast speed with i t. l t i swl lmade and, with nomovinghandle,wi l l probabl y last wel l .The Hyper Shot i s . notdesignedfor4or8-way games. J0b0h80f Z.bTheJoySensorreal lydoes lookl i kethesortofthing that Captai nKirkmi ghtuseto communi catewiththeSS Enterprise.l ti sal i ghtweight si lver games control l er,andis touch sensitive. l t is not easy to useunl essyou havehada lot of practice,but once masteredit i sexceptional l yquicktore-. spond. lt'squitegoodfor8-way gamesandal thoughthefire panelcoul dbeabi t closer to thedi rectioncontrol , youcan justkeepyour finger on tofire continuously. There is a choice of fire and rapid fire avai l abl e. I actual l y gotabl i steredfinger whenusi ngtheJoySensorto pl ayHyperOlympics,butdi d cl ockupsomeverfast SpOOdS. l! l S gOOd !Or B-waygamOS DOOauSO O! l!S !aS!rOSpOnSO Du! yOu dO !Ond !OzOOmO!!| n!hOwrOngdl rOO!lOnun| OSSyOuOOnOOn!ra!O.b0hJb-bb 1J.bl !yOu'vOal waySwan!Od!ODOa raOl ng dr|vOr, !h|S l S !hOOyS!lOk!OryOu.Un!Or!una!O| y, l!'SpO|!OrmanOOdOOSn'!qul!Oma!Ohl!SlOOkS.ThODaSO!OO|SSO| l d and |OOkS hardwOarl ngDu! !hO mOvOmOn! !OO|S vOry!| | mSy. 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O!!OU !OOpOra!O. |OrB-way, OOn!rO| l Squl!OgOOd Du!nO!aSgOOd aS!ha!O!OOnvOn!l Onal OyS!l OkS.ThO JS-7b !OO| S S!urdy andg|vOS an adOqua!O pOr!Orm-anOO !Or 4-way Du! l SOxOOp!l Onal | y unOOm!Or!aD| O!O uSO.l! | S ODvlOuSly wOl | madO,Du! dOOS SOOm ra!hO|g| mm| Oky and | S nO! rOa| l ywOr!h !hO OOmpara!|vO|y Ox-Verdict Bulh 8 j0StlcK S 0qmuch 8 m8U0f 0f p0fS008|pf0f0f0hc0,8h0lt'Sc08fff00th0 t0St th8t 8th0uh 0u 00t0h0t00tV0QmuchWh8ty00p8f0f-8 f08S0h8b pflc00m000l,Such8Sth0t8fUA4+ M 8t 17. 0H0h lV0S 8 0qcf00lt8b0 p0R0fm80c0,Wh0f08S th0 l8t0St Su0|800tc8hb08f08 0t00w0.Th0 m8lhcflt0fl0hS00m8l0b0 t0 S0t 0ufS0lf8 t0p pfc0,8h0 th0h 0 8h0 tQ th080m000lS Wlthlh th8t f800.U0h'tch00S0th0ch08p0St-lt m8 h0t b0 ch08p h th0 00gfuh f lt W08fS 0ut qucky,bf08KS 0f 0u flh0 t 0800qu8t0 8h0 h8V0 t0 bu a b0U0f0h0~0tth0b0Stt08l]0u c8h 8H0f0, 8h0 m08lmp0N8ht, 0t 0h0 t0alf00lSc0mf0N8bl08h0p0R0fmSW0llf0f0u.BLAST-| into an incrediblegalaxy of exciting adventureswith your MSX home computer.Lt 00 MA takes the lidoff the fascinating highperformanc powerhouse hidden beneath the keyboard ofyour MSX.Lt MA puts youinthe pilot's sat as you explorelhe star-studded array of functions at your fingertips.Tech yourself programming wilh the aid of your own MSXaslhis intriguingpckge charts a thrilling course through four practicl working programs foryouto study andkeep -Prsonal Cashplan, ecipes, Home Librarian, EducationGame.lern the skills of manipulatingwords, figures, drawings,colours and sounds. Complete the fullSofiCat course wilhLt 00 MA (Advanced) and even fullanimation onscren for action-packed games, leisure and education will beyours to command.Availablefrom selected branches and al lgood computer stores DEALER. ENQUIRIES WELCOMED OTHER TITLES I NCLUDE Fun Words Challenge My Bl uff Kriss Kross Kquiz For further i nformation Telephone UbobUJboJor write to: SofCat F. . Box 19 KnutsfordWA1608f| NTkSf I H [u$|Lce-r - !COMOk CVL 5fBL\ RLl i ^~ NMX MUIL LoHu QLbR\ ]nc1o1tou. SY5tM re NM% WL 0R||A( 0WPk4HD KfYGAk$ locw Q 1 J LO 0-~ E.HK, m1 3U klLND OMB [ q]yz . 1 bLM PU\f OMM|7- J/zk"[gL PKl CB CLU _g\_W5 Pak1 ECHRNbH5Y >7fCB| uq~ t LLYmM[ C-lk0~ers 67~ b\H | KKe0IEY1owTOO LOTq [. | |; - ZH C (ct e+e,_d Mb NNWbUddTTOUHl P.S1CK| S1|H1HE1SH| BAMSXCM|U1EH |H| N1EHSANOS|1WAHE58GUILDFORD STREET,CHERTSEY SURREY Tel :(09328)63243W|LhoUWLLLLtBoWtLLUYtd T b OOMPUTER OENTRET0I:03794l08508580IwI/000I00/00I8ll58BENBATONALVALUEl dYL LN1Lh1k| NYLN1PkbkkbLhfNhlLL5I06k5 L45I~LlMlIL 0Llh6LL5@TOSHI BAHX1 0COMPUTER @ OA88ETTE REOORDER@ OY8TlOK@ 8EPARATEOA88ETTE OAME8MLUABSOLUTELYFREE @ SPECIALSOFTWARETAPE INTRODUCINGMSX FREECOPYOFMSXCOMPUTINGMAGAZINE ONLY3 YH GTEE, C.P.U.enclose a cheque/postal order for L made payable to H Reyno Please debit my Access CardNofor I BarclaycardNofor I SignatuNamo^^^^ Addres:^^^^ TelOL1LL LPLMLLZ YLPOLearning to use your computer can seem a daunting task. We'e been fnding out how . to get computer education h0f0 lS m0f0 t0 llf0 8h000mput0fS th8h 28pplhmfl80S 0f mut8t00 m8f-tl8hS. lf0u'V0000hpf0S0ht00Wlth 8h mbA 8t hflStm8S 0f8f000uhtlh0ufp0hhl0SWlthth0 ht0htl0h 0f hV0Stlh h0h0, th0 0hl W8 0u 08hjuStlQth000StSlSt008fhh0Wt0uS0ltpf0p0flP| ayl nggamOS!OrhOurSanddaySOnOndOangO!vOryDOrl ng| ndOOd. TO SquOOzO !hO aDSO-|u!Omax| mumOu! O!yOurMSX,yOu arOgOl ng!O havO!O lOarnwha!|!SpO!On!l a| rOa| l yl S. ThOSO O!yOu S!|| |a!SOhOO|wl l |prODaDl y havO a| rOadylOarnOdSOmO!hl ngaDOu!OOm-pu!OrS, Du! |! yOu l O!! 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