COMPUTE!’s Gazette – Volume 1 – Issue 1 – July, 2025
One of the most beloved features of classic computer magazines was the program listing—pages of code that you could type into your own machine to unlock a new game or utility. In its grand return, COMPUTE!’s Gazette is proud to bring back this tradition with a fantastic collection of type-in programs for a variety of classic and neo-retro platforms.
Whether you’re looking for a new game to play or a fun way to learn programming techniques, this issue has something for you.
For the Commander X16
The new 8-bit computer on the block gets two amazing games written entirely in BASIC, showcasing the power of the platform.
- Meteor Defender X16 by Steve Lewis: A massive meteor shower is heading for Earth, and it’s up to you to save humanity! In this action-packed game inspired by arcade classics, you control a missile defense system. Use your mouse to aim a crosshair and fire missiles to destroy incoming meteors before they obliterate your cities. With limited missiles and waves of increasing intensity, strategy is key. The program is a masterclass in modern BASIC, generating all its graphics on the fly.
- Bouncer by Jason Oakley: At first glance, this looks like a simple Breakout clone, but a clever twist makes it an addictive high-score challenge. Your goal is to keep as many balls in play as possible. Every few seconds, a new ball is added, and your score multiplier is directly tied to the number of balls currently on screen. It’s a fantastic risk-versus-reward dynamic: do you play it safe with one or two balls, or do you embrace the chaos of juggling ten at once for a massive score?
For the Atari 8-bit
- “To My Wife…” by Jerry White: Compute! veteran Jerry White returns with a beautiful and educational program that teaches the fundamentals of programming sound in Atari BASIC. This original song, complete with synchronized lyrics, is a perfect tutorial for anyone looking to make their POKEY chip sing. The listing is filled with helpful REM statements that explain how to control note duration, create rests, and layer sound channels.
For the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A
- XB-DRAW/99 by Arto J. Heino: Unleash your inner artist with this powerful graphics suite written in Extended BASIC. Originally created in 1986, this program provides a full set of routines for drawing lines, circles, ovals, and complex shapes using simple string commands. It even includes functions for generating 3D line graphs and a joystick-controlled drawing mode for freehand art.
New Challenge: COMPUTE!’s Micro Missions
Ready to test your own programming skills? The new “Micro Missions” section presents two BASIC programming challenges from the evil Professor!
- Mission One: Crack the Security Code: Write a program that generates a random 3-digit number and has the user guess it, providing “TOO HIGH” or “TOO LOW” hints.
- Mission Two: Decode Robot Command: Write a program that takes a word as input and prints it backward.
Submit your solutions for a chance to be featured in the next issue!
Read the full story and discover more about the world of retro computing in the first issue of COMPUTE!’s Gazette in 35 years!
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