More Timex Sinclair

My list of New Years resolutions looks like the confessions of a choir boy. Quit smoking (in front of anyone who has read this list). Be a kinder, more sensitive and forgiving human being (is there software for that??), and limit my software purchases to only those that I can cover with my thumb while showing the VISA bill to my wife. The list is endless…

Happy New Yearl Welcome to another exciting and informative year here at the Computer Shopper. As always, we will keep you abreast of new tips, suggestions, hardware/software reviews, techniques, rumors and technical support for the TS/1000, ZX-81, TS/1500, TS/2068, Spectrum, QL and Amstrad computers. For those who have written during the past year, thank you for your kind support and ingenious ideas and suggestions.

Each month I strive to obtain fresh and factual information through a variety of sources. First through an intricate network of dealers and users that either directly assist in the research and development of new products, or are best qualified to sample and appraise the products. I also rely on information that I obtain through the elaborate paper chase of newsletters that bond us all together. BBSs are not only an excellent source of information, I consider them in many ways the heartbeat of Sinclair-mania. In September of 1987, this article featured more explicit instructions on those specific BBSs. Finally, and most importantly I heavily rely on you the reader. Drop me your thoughts when you have a brief moment.

A brief explanation on this months article. As you probably are already aware, since Al Sugar and Amstrad purchased the Sinclair name, inventory and subsequent technology, the original Spectrum PCs have largely been regarded solely as “games machines.” In all honesty (NOW I remember what that other New Years resolution was), although there are a fair collection of business, utility and application programs for the Spectrum, we generally have all reconciled ourselves to the “game” concept quite well. For that matter, there are some extremely good games available for the Spectrum; albeit primarily from abroad.

The other weekend, while still licking my wounds from an Indianapolis Colts game, I retreated to my modestly humiliating collection of Spectrum games. It was at that fateful moment that I discovered something frightening. While in the acquisition phase of my late twenties on my road to “yuppie-dom”, I realized that I had not solved or completed most of the Spectrum games or adventures that I had acquired. A quick phone check of other dedicated Spectrum users confirmed my worst fears. I was not alone. Apparently hundreds of us are sitting on games that we either got bored with, or thought that there was no place to turn for help. Oh contraire mi amigo. While I am not prone to devoting most of an article to one subject, here is the help we all so desperately need. The tips, suggestions and gentle nudge you need to dust off a classic and kick butt. Look for the title in your collection, and read the appropriate tips. Later in the article, there are references to POKEING, these are codes that are poked in addition to/or in place of the header to whisk you into the dark winning recesses of the program. For complete details on the procedure please refer to my article from August 1987 Computer Shopper. Good luck and happy hunting.

• StarStrike-One of my favorite cheats is to simply type in the words “I WANNA CHEAT” for infinite energy. Eventually you will be bored with your life as an arcade deity, then simply type in the word BORED to return to a more mortal status.
• StarStrike II-To achieve infinite everything, type the words “HEAR AND OBEY”
• Manic Miner-At the start type in the 6031769, then press different combinations of numbers to enter the rooms.
• Cyberun— Load the following short program in place of the header. 10 LOAD “» CODE: RANDOMIZE USR 24576: PAPER O: PRINT at 19,0; LOAD * CODE: 20 POKE 23446,62: POKE 23447,175: POKE 23448,50: POKE 23449,72: POKE 23450,141: POKE 23451,195: POKE 23453,92. 30 Randomize USR 23424
• Mikie-To obtain very high scores do the following: In the classroom get all the hearts on the screen and go to the desk. Shout three times from these places; the middle of the classroom, in the hall at the board on the wall, in the cafeteria from the middle hole at the top of the screen, once in the gym find the stereo at the left, then go to the middle of the screen and shout, and finally in the gym at the second junction shout at the machine.
• Roller Coaster-From the starting point go right and press key three. You will lose a life BUT this slows gameplay down considerably until you press the three key again.
• Cauldron-Hop on the broomstick, heres where the objects are located. Purple door-hemlock root, newts eye and juice of toad. Red door-molten lava. Blue door-bats wing and splintered bone. After gathering these items get the cauldron in the house boiling, go through the green door, to the end of the maze where the pumpkins cannot get you. Now get your broomstick and rejoice in sweet victory.
• Gladiator-Here is a foolproof system to lay claim to victory every time. Select an axe, select a trident, select the two-pronged dagger, begin, throw the trident at the opponent, advance the opponent until you touch him (avoiding his weapon), either go up or down until you are above or directly below him, move slowly until he turns around, back up slowly uttil he walks in front of you, stab him in the back.
• One Man And His Driod-Here are the passwords for the first ten levels: None, empire, predatory, ruminate, ryegrass, vacuum, vampire, ragout, grain and rasvogel.
• Frankie Goes To Hollywood-In the ZZT room, use the flak jacket to free you from pain from the bullets, in the cybernetic and war rooms, use the wedding room to again free you from pain. The floppy dises and security pass can be put to use in the computer room. Do not waste anything.
• The Lord Of The Rings-To enter the mines of Moria-enter the password “friend”. To destroy the black riders at Bree-go north and into the bar, and send Pippen and Sam out to kill them. Once in Moria go up-east three times-then down, west, south and down. When you approach the door with animals heads, push only the head of the eagle to open it, then head east and up.
• Bored Of The Rings-After encountering Goldblum, give him the platinum brick and search in the marsh where you will find sunglasses. Wear these and start back to Basilisk y going West twice, South, East, South and West twice again.
• Hacker- Although I have yet to still solve this one, here are the codes to get you on your way. The codes will get you past all security checks: MAGMA, LTD. (be careful to type it exactly as is-commas, period and space after the ARD-a intact or it will not work) AXD-0310479, Hydraulic Australia.
• Ship Of Doom- To cross the light beam, shine the torch at the light beam.
• Commando-To get through the gates stand at the bottom of the screen and lob grenades and fire the machinegun simultaneously, after killing all of them the computer takes control of you and whisk you through the gate for more adventure.

Pokes For Spectrum Games

• Pentagram-Poke 49917,0 before the last Rnd USR for infinite lives.
• Saboteur-Poke 29894,0 for infinite lives.
• Sai Combat-Poke 65364,201 infinite lives: Poke 32421,1 (use both pokes)
• Trans Am-Poke 28610,0 to make the game harder (imagine that!) or Poke 98573,0 to make it even harder still.
• Attic Atac-Poke 37260,175 this allows the doors to open much quicker.
• Manic Miner-Poke 35136,0 and Poke 36160,0 for infinite lives.
• et Set Willy-Poke 35899,0 for infinite lives. Poke 35123,0 to destroy nasties.
• Jet Pac-Poke 36966,24 for infinite lives.
• Lightforce-Poke 40725,0 for infinite lives.
• Spindizzy-Poke 48272,201 and Poke 48401,201 for infinite time.
• Dan Dare-Poke 36168, 175 for infinite lives.
• Paperboy-Poke 48023,201 to be indestructible.
• War-Poke 38394,0 for infinite lives.
• 1942-Poke 47007,255 for infinite lives.
• Elite-Poke 46848,201 to kill the nasties.

The use of Pokes has spread like wildfire in Britain, and many paperbacks are available that are jam-packed with them. This concept of “cheating” fits our psychological profiles well, that of regarding the internal workings of a program as a challenge, then overcoming the challenge by using your programming skills to circumvent the programmers intentions. It truly is a skill in and of itself, and while it certainly is harmless it sharpens your knowledge and programming skills.

Amstrad

The British have come!!! With the purchase of Vidco by Amstrad, Al Sugar has a firm grasp on American market for his products. I can only say that we can all look for an extremely organized and aggressive distribution and marketing campaign for Amstrad products. Although many plans are still behind closed doors, I look for a store on every corner, as is the case in the European markets. Those of you with PCW-8256, PC-1512, PCW-8512, Spectrum, and Sinclair computers should be able to draw from a massive international selection of software and hardware items that are currently difficult to find.