Jedie: Category:Magazines Category:Update_Issue

2014-09-02T07:18:02Z

Category:Magazines Category:Update_Issue

Admin: moved Update Issue 1 (Sept) to Update Issue 1 (Sep)

2009-04-04T20:04:29Z

moved Update Issue 1 (Sept) to Update Issue 1 (Sep)

Admin at 21:52, 3 April 2009

2009-04-03T21:52:09Z

Admin: Created page with '

NEWSLETTER OF THE DRAGON USERS GROUP

Issue 1

 Chairman Paul Grade,                                 Editor Jeremy Hoyland, 6 Na...'

2009-04-03T21:50:38Z

Created page with '<CENTER> <H2> NEWSLETTER OF THE DRAGON USERS GROUP </H2> </CENTER> Issue 1 <PRE> Chairman Paul Grade, Editor Jeremy Hoyland, 6 Na...'

New page

<CENTER>
<H2>
NEWSLETTER OF THE DRAGON USERS GROUP
</H2>
</CENTER>
 
Issue 1
 
<PRE>
Chairman Paul Grade, Editor Jeremy Hoyland,
6 Navarino Road, 17 Oxford Road,
Worthing, Frinton-on-Sea,
Sussex, Essex, CO13 9HX
Te1 207585. Te1 3551.
</PRE>

Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter. As you can see it lacks an
inspired title. I favoured Dragons Song, but it seems that Ann MacCaffery
devotees are rare amongst our correspondants. This leads me to the first
announcement of this piece, a poll for the name of the newsletter, send
your suggestions on the back of a completed membership form, and whichever
name gets the most votes will be it.


The users group is being formed due to the demise of both Dragons Teeth
and Dragon Data. Our beloved box of tricks is now in the hands of the
perfidious spanish and it was thought that some sort of voice was needed to
promote our interests and exchange information. Which brings me to the main
message of this editorial, any club -and especially a national one- can
only survive with a large and active membership. THIS MEANS YOU, so if you
have any problems, opinions, comments or contributions write in, also if
you know anyone with a Dragon show them this and persuade them to join up,
in short go forth and multiply. Subscription for this year is set at £7.50,
this may seem a bit steep but with the club relatively small costs are
high, however next year we hope to be able to drop the price.


There has been some interest expressed in networking either by modem or
RTTY, if anyone has views on this, or already posseses the equipment, let
me know and I'll pass it on. That's enough from me, at least wearing this
hat, so remember from here on in it's down to you.

<CENTER>
<H3>
A PRINTER FOR TWENTY POUNDS
</H3>
by Peter Willis
</CENTER>

If only a way could be found to interface a printer to your Dragon without
spending £200. There is a top quality printer, produced originally for a
very large company, which is readily available second hand for £10-£20. The
machine in question is a Telex terminal or Teleprinter.


Of course it is not just a matter of buying a Teleprinter and plugging
it into the printer port of the Dragon. Indeed, at first glance, it is no
use at all. Teleprinters do not understand Ascii code and they demand
signal letters of plus and minus 80 volts. In addition they have a limited
type font with no $, *, # etc. However, there are ways round most of these
problems and the few that remain are amply compensated by the attractive
cost.


Let's look at the problems one at a time. The Dragon, like most
computers, puts its characters out to the printer in 8 bit Ascii code
whereas Teleprinters only understand a 5 bit code known as Murray or
Baudot. This can be overcome by translating the characters in suitable
software.


The next problem is that the Dragon printer port is parallel whilst the
Teleprinter needs its data in serial form and at the re1atively slow baud
rate of 50. This could also be dealt with in software, or as a hardware
solution, using a handy IC chip called a UART.(Universal Asynchronous
Receiver Transmitter) This is specially designed to translate parallel data
into serial format and can be clocked to provide the correct baud rate.


So now we have serial code at the right speed and in a suitable format
but its signal is at TTL levels where 'space' is represented by about 0.3v
and 'mark' by 4.5v. We need to convert this to -80 for 'space' and +80 for
'mark'. Fortunately Teleprinters come with a control unit which also has a
very good power supply. This can be tapped using a transistor switching
board or high speed relays.


The remaining problem is missing characters. There are three approaches
that can be taken. You cou1d print a space and then write the character in
later; or a different character can be printed which is similar to the
missing one (L in p1ace of £ for instance); or you can overprint two of the
available characters (S and / to give $).


If this has whetted your appetite watch this space for further articles
giving more detai1s of the software and hardware needed to get the budget
printer into operation.
 
<CENTER>
<H3>
CLUBNET
</H3>
</CENTER>

This spot is for the local clubs and users groups that are scattered about
the country, at present the idea is that it will contain a list of
addresses so you can be contacted by prospective members, and I hope that
you will also treat it as a bill board to publisise meetings, events, ideas
and opinions.


We are also considering some form of membership deal for clubs, either
as an affiliate fee for the club, or as reductions for club members and
would like to hear your opinions. Finally if anyone is interested in
starting up a loca1 club we will give whatever help we can; including space
in these pages and putting him in touch with nearby Dragon users.

So here are the addresses of the first three clubs to contact us:
<PRE>
Sheffield Dragon Users Group, N. Down Microcomputer Users Group,
c/o Mr. R. Crompton, c/o E.S. Doak,
131 Harringthorpe Valley Road, 1 Meadowville Crescent,
Rotherham, Bangor,
S. Yorks, Co. Down,
S65 3RU. BT19 1HQ.

Also W.S. File runs a local users A late entry was the Romsey Area
group in Sussex and he can be found Dragon Users Group and they can
c/o Mu1tisoft Systems, reached via their chairman:
St. Martins, Orchard Road, Mr. Ashley Anderson,
Bexhill-on-Sea, St. E1mo, Slab Lane,
Sussex. West Wellow, Romsey,
Hants,
SO5 8RG.
</PRE>
<CENTER>
<H3>
REDUNDANT INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
</H3>
</CENTER>

(or things you wou1d have liked to have known but the book didn't tell you.)


Yes I KNOW you're all expert programmers who know every POKE on the
machine, write a couple of Mb of hex before breakfast, and converse only in
assembler. It is just possible however, that somewhere out there exists
someone who isn't quite up to your standard of genius, (me -ed), and if
this is the case, then it's possible also that this deprived person might
find a few of the POKES and EXECS that you no longer bother with, quite
useful. If you'd like to pass on any of your BASIC knowledge, please feel
free to do so...(you tell us and we'll pass it on!), but meanwhile, someone
might find a use for the following:

<PRE>
EXEC 46080 COLD RESTART CONDITION
EXEC 41194 WAIT FOR NEXT KEYPRESS
POKE 359,60 SLOW SCROLL, RESET WITH POKE 359,57
POKE 329,0 LOWER CASE, RESET WITH POKE 329,255
POKE 383,157 THEN POKE 383,158, WILL STOP LIST FROM WORKING< RESET WITH
POKE 383,126.
POKE 111,254:DIR DUMPS DISC DIRECTORY TO PRINTER

CLOADM "PROGRAM"
PRINT PEEK(487)*256+PEEK(488) GIVES ADDRESSES TO COPY NON-
PRINT PEEK(126)*256+PEEK(127)-1 AUTORUN M/C PROGRAMMES.
PRINTPEEK(157)*256+PEEK(158)
THEN TYPE CSAVEM"PROG NAME",FIRST NO.,SECOND NO.,THIRD NO
</PRE>
<H3>
<CENTER>
ASCI CORNER
</H3>
 
by Neil Scrimgeour
</CENTER>

Welcome, Readers, to ASCI (Adventures, Simu1ations, Conumdrums, Inc.)
Corner. The object of this Corner is to review past and current adventures
and simulations, and to offer help and advice to other ASCIers.


The one thing that we need more than anything else is input from YOU,
fellow keyboard bashers, the programs that you like, or don't, as the case
may be, and of course information.


There's always someone out there who is stuck at some point, (which
you, being an Adventure Genius, have long since passed!), and who is
seriously giving thought to testing the aerodynamic qualities of his Dragon
(Not recommended as it takes off well but lands disasterously.).


This month, there being no questions I don't have to work very hard
finding answers! So let's get down to the serious business of reviews.


I have just received one of Channel 8's adventures. Yes, contrary to
popular belief, they can be found! The example that fell into my mucky paws
was Feasibility Experiment. The plot is as follows:


There is a race of beings who have no life form as such (no not
politicians!), and they are searching for a bodily life form that will suit
their needs. You have been captured by them, to be one of their 'guinea
pigs', and in order to survive, you must complete a quest by conquering the
obligatory monsters etc., in the maze of locations into which you have been
dumped. There's also something(??) to do with the legend of Alexander the
Great, (you come across the odd lion or two!).


The actual screen layout uses PMODE 4, in white on black. The top third
of the screen is for descriptions, or if you have a 64, graphics. Only
possessing a 32 I can't comment on the quality of the graphics, but the
descriptions do convey a certain amount of atmosphere. The remainder of the
screen is for communication using the standard Verb-Noun combinations.

The game itself is not easy, and sometimes rather illogical. At one
stage you have to dig up a room but it gives you no clue as to which one,
so you spend precious time searching for the correct room. This brings me
to the second point, you are allocated a limited number of moves, about
700, and at times this becomes irritating to say the very least! I much
prefer to wander about and experiment which, of course, I can't do in this
game.


Apart from these gripes, and the fact that I managed to crash the
programme, it is reasonable value for anyone wanting a challange. Mind you
it isn't cheap at ten pounds, but then what Dragon programme is?


I've just got space to mention two other programmes; Dragon Datas
'Shenanigans' and 'Cricket' by Peaksoft. If you are looking for a pleasant,
easy adventure, then buy Shenanigans, if you can find it! Although it only
took me a few hours to so1ve, it was extremely enjoyab1e. A good one for
first time adventurers.

Cricket is the best simulation I have seen for the Dragon. All the
action, apart from the scoreboard, takes place in PMODES 3 and 4, Nearly
everything is taken into account, batsmens skills, bowlers, varying amount
of movement, spin &c, not to mention luck! There is so much more but I
don't have space to mention it here. It's a must for cricket fans. See if
you can do better than England! (That shou1dn't be difficult!). By the way
joysticks are required.


Don't forget to send in your questions, and information, and let me
know about any program you'd like to see reviewed.

<CENTER>
<H3>
STRING SEARCHER by N. Edmunds.
</H3>
</CENTER>

This short machine code routine can be loaded anywhere in memory, but you
must use the CLEAR command before loading. What it does is quite simple, it
searches the current programe in memory for a specified character string
and prints the line numbers where it occurs.


To use it type DEF USR0=start address, A$ = "string to search for" and
to activate type A=USR0(VARPTR[A$]). To send a list of 1ine numbers to the
printer type:- POKE&H6F,254:A=USR(VARPTR[A$]).

Hex loader and dump:
<PRE>
0 'IF NO ASSEMBLER USE THIS
10 'HEX LOADER
20 FOR L=&HH7F78 TO &HH7FF7 'LOOP
30 READ A$:A=VAL("&H"+A$)
40 CS=CS+A:POKE L,A:NEXT L'AGAIN
50 IF CS<>119l9 THEN PRINT "DATA ERROR":STOP:ELSE PRINT "OK-SAVE":ED
60 'PLACE HEX DATA FROM HERE ON
70 DATA BD,83,2D....&c.

BD 8B 2D 1F O1 A6 84 A7 8D 00 79 10 AE 02 10 AF 8D 00
6D 10 9E l9 A6 9D 00 66 AE A4 AF 8D 00 65 AE 22 AF 8D
00 5C 3l 24 A1 A0 27 0B l0 AC 8D 00 54 24 46 8D 31 20
F1 E6 8D 00 49 5A AE 8D 00 40 30 01 A6 80 A1 AO 26 13
5A 26 F7 34 20 EC 8D 00 3l BD 95 7A 86 0D BD 85 4A 35
20 8D 09 10 AC 8D 00 23 24 15 20 C2 C6 02 6D AO 26 08
5A 26 F9 32 62 7E 8C 37 A6 9D 00 08 39 10 AE 8D 00 07
20 96 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
</PRE>
When ok use DEF USR0=&H7F78

An assemly listing is available for anyone who wants it from the editor,
please send an sae.

<CENTER>
<H3>
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN
</H3>
</CENTER>

Well we're here, in print (more or less!), but before we start
congratulating ourselves, perhaps it would be as well to get a few things
straight.


If you were sent this copy, i.e. you didn't borrow it, nick it, or find
it on a nail behnind the loo door, then you are one of the Dragon owners
who wanted a Users Group enough to write in and take the trouble to say so.
Thank you. Some of you have gone to a lot of troub1e to get this copy out,
and to you even more thanks. But we need more, a LOT more, if this Group is
going to exist long enough to make a second edition!


Quite simply keeping a group running isn't a matter of sending off a
subscription (please do -ed)and sitting back and reading what someone else
has written. All of you must know someone other than yourse1f who owns a
Dragon and WE NEED THAT SOMEONE.


If you want a really functional Group, one that can provide you with
news, reviews, help you with Dragon Problems, a Group that can he1p you to
exchange views information and anything else you wish, then it is
absolutely essential to have the highest possib1e membership. It's all a
matter of economics; unless you are all te1epaths we need a newsletter, and
to produce even the most basic one costs money, which I, (and I assume most
of you), don't have.


To produce such a basic Newsletter, collect material, (p1us such items
as phone costs and postage &c), printing and distribution, wou1d cost £1.80
per copy if our group numbered less than 100, which would be ridiculous and
quite impractical. Add a zero to that figure and cost percopy would drop to
around 60p, a far more viable figure. Make the membership 2000 and cost
drops to its lowest possible figure of 40p per copy. This would mean that
we cou1d not only reduce subscription rates, but provide a far better
service, not to mention a top quality newsletter.


A few of us have tried to get this started at our own expense. It may
not look much, and this edition certainly doesn't cover half the things
we'd like it to, it's not even a proper printing job. Whether this is the
first edition or the last depends entirely on YOU. If you can recruit
enough additional members then we could have the best Users Group in the
business, which is what the old Dragon deserves, and I'll look forward to
hearing from you in the second edition. If not then we'll just have to
refund your subscriptions, and say it's been a pleasure knowing you,
however briefly. I've done what I can to get things rolling, but now it's
up to you to find enough members to keep 'em going. Good Luck. I hope you
succeed. Thank you for all your help and encouragement.

Paul Grade.
 
<CENTER>
<H3>
DRAGON ADVENTURES by Pauline Hampson.
</H3>
</CENTER>

I hope to encourage you to play and enjoy adventures. In an adventure you
have to complete a task. You may even have to discover the task for
yourself. Most good adventures are the mainly text only type, I find the
sort thayt you play on a grid, where you encounter various foes, boring and
frustrating.


Here are a few tips for anyone attempting a text adventure. It is
essential to make a map on a piece of paper. When this is done you can rush
around to each location with ease. I always make my map first, exploring
each location and seeing what happens if you go North, South, East or West.
Often you are given available directions but in some games they may forget
to mention them. Here is an example of a simple map:-

<PRE>
|
dead end - passage- circular-
| |
junction
|
crystal cave
</PRE>

In some adventures (Dragon Datas) reading the description of your
location is essential. You may not be able to go N,S.E,W but must "GO PATH"
if a path is mentioned. You may also find it helpfull to write on your map
which objects are where. Some games have a use foe every object but in
others objects may be red herrings (try Salamander). Examine each object
because this description often provides vital clues. Try picking them up,
there may be something underneath, or "Look under" may work. There is often
a limit to the number of objects you can carry, forcing you to drop one to
get another. Typing inventory will give a list of what you are carrying.


There will usually be several levels to an adventure game often
connected by stairs. The Franklyn trilogy has 2 very novel ways of changing
floors. In the course of the game you are bound to encounter doors which
must be unlocked by a hidden key or magic word.


You will rarely play a game which does not include a maze. It may not
be called this but is the sort of place where going N,S.E or W you end up
in a similar sounding place. For example Dragon Datas' Seaquest has a
meadow and El Diabolero an endless desert - or is it? Mazes always contain
usefull items and once they are mapped present no problem. Always enter a
maze with lots of objects on your person. Drop an object now and then to
see what happens when you go N,S,E or W. You will then see if you have
moved or not. The maze will always have a limit to it. Explore it to its
limits. Here is an example of a maze map:-

<PRE>
[flashlight] token] The [] mean you don't go
| | anywhere trying to move
wallett-------------cup] in that direction.
</PRE>

Occaisionally mazes seem most illogical. Just ignore this and draw an
arrow round to wherever you end up, even if it is odd. Going East can end
you up somewhere North West of where you were, but these events are rare.
Sometimes when this sort of thing happens it is better to give up the map
and reort to a table, negotiating with this. I had to do this in Franklins
Tomb. Here is an example of a table:

<PRE>
N S E W Up Down
Sword dog dog sword sword sword sword
Slimy dog sword carrott carrott dog dog dog
Carrott dog sword sword dog sword carrott
</PRE>

If your game has a game save facility use this frequently. It saves you
having to start again as you are bound to be killed occasionally


With your map done you can start your adventure and hopefully you will
solve it. If frustration becomes too great the manufacturers will often
provide a help sheet. While on the subject can anyone help me to find the
final treasure in 'Keys of the Wizard' because even Microdeal can't do it.


I find adventures a real challange. Unfortunately I also tend to burn
the tea when playing so I advise you to switch off the computer when
cooking. Next time I hope to recomend some of my favourites and include a
few tips and answer queries which you, the reader, will provide. Happy
Adventuring.

<CENTER>
<H3>
LETTERS
</H3>
</CENTER>

This One is in reply to the original PCW letter of Paul.


Dear Sir,


I am writing in reply to your letter as publishned in Popular
Computing Weekly vol 3 no. 26.


Multisoft Systems began life in l982 by producing software for the
Dragon 32, we have since moved on a bit but wish to offer continued support
for Dragon 32 and 64 computers As a result of our activities with the
Dragon we have built up many useful routines and peripherals eg. text and
hi-res screen dumps, RS-232 cards, speech synthesiser, MIDI interface and
many other useful utilities which have been included in our software at
various times


In addition to this we run a small local user group to which we make
available the above facilities. For a long time I have thought about
setting up a non commercial 'Dragon net' service and now that modems can be
obtained at reasonable cost perhaps this is the right time.


I hope that this information will be of interest to you and look
forward to hearing from you in the near future.


W.S. File, Multisoft Systems (see Clubnet).

<CENTER>
<H3>
PROBLEMS
</H3>
</CENTER>

Some of our members have been having trouble getting games to work, the
offenders are Nightfly, Lionheart and Dragbug, so if anyone can help write
in.

<CENTER>
<H3>
POSTSCRIPT
</H3>
</CENTER>

Well now everything's in and typed up -oh my aching finger it's time to
take stock. We could do with some contributions on arcade games for the
next issue, anything and everything will be welcome for 'Pixel Park'. On
the subject of contributions please send them to me, Jeremy Hoyland, at the
address on the heading.


We will take private adverts so long as they are not too long, for the
minimal charge of a second class stamp, please put it in the envelope with
your advert and to make a start here's one of mine: if anyone has a copy of
Smeed and Somerville's Inside the Dragon going I've got a cheque waiting to
come your way.

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Update Issue 1 (Sep) - Revision history

Jedie: Category:Magazines Category:Update_Issue

Admin: moved Update Issue 1 (Sept) to Update Issue 1 (Sep)

Admin at 21:52, 3 April 2009

Admin: Created page with '
NEWSLETTER OF THE DRAGON USERS GROUP

Issue 1

Chairman Paul Grade, Editor Jeremy Hoyland, 6 Na...'

NEWSLETTER OF THE DRAGON USERS GROUP

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:04, 4 April 2009
(No difference)

@@ Line 168: / Line 168: @@
 THEN TYPE CSAVEM"PROG NAME",FIRST NO.,SECOND NO.,THIRD NO
 </PRE>
 <H3>
 <U>ASCI CORNER</U>
 </H3>