_{Cover of the February 1983 issue of Compute!}

Compute! was a popular computer magazine for home computer users in the 1980s. In 1983 it was subtitled "The Leading Magazine Of Home, Educational, And Recreational Computing". It covered various popular home computer systems and even had spinoffs dedicated to particular systems such as the Commodore 64 and Apple II. The February 1983 issue of Compute! includes:

Features

How The Pros Write Computer Games - Software developers weigh in on the process of creating a game.

A Day At The RAces - A type-in racetrack simulation for the VIC-20 and Atari that is also meant to help teach you programming.

Spectra Video's New Home Computer - A look at the upcoming SpectraVideo SV-318 computer. It was based on a Z80 CPU and similar to MSX machines though not fully compliant with that standard (a later SpectraVideo machine would be).

Computer Talk Show - An article on an hour long radio talk show called Computer Talk in Dayton, Ohio.

Writing Transportable BASIC Part II - Part two of a guide to writing BASIC programs that can be easily adapted to multiple machine types.

Games We'd Like to See - Some tongue-in-cheek suggestions for new games.

Education and Recreation

Copy Cat - A type-in matching game for the VIC-20, Atari 400/800, TRS-80 Color Computer, Apple II, and PET/CBM.

Slalom - A type-in skiing game for the Atari 400/800 and PET/CBM.

Writing Effective Educational Programs - Factors to consider when using computers for education. Includes a type-in geometry-teaching program for the TI-99/4A, VIC-20, and TRS-80 Color Computer.

MASTERMAZE: Mazing In Three Dimensions - A multi-level maze type-in game for the VIC-20, Commodore 64, PET/CBM, and other Microsoft BASIC computers.</li
Making Change - A type-in educational game for the TRS-80 Color Computer, PET/CBM, Apple II, Atari 400/800 and VIC-20 that teaches about money and giving the correct change.

The Joy Of Joysticks - A round-up of controllers for Atari and Commodore computers. Some joysticks covered here include the Atari Joystick, Slik Stik, Starfighter, Baylis Big Stick, WICO Command Control, Pointmaster, Quick Shot, Le Stick, Starplex Video Game Controller, Fingertip Controller, Command Control Trackball, and more.

Reviews

Five VIC Games From Nufekop - This review includes Krazy Kong, Anti-Matter Splatter, 3-D Man, Exterminator, and Defender on Tri.

Apple Game Animation Package - Software for creating backgrounds and animated graphics on the Apple II.

Mazogs For Sinclair/Timex - A maze game for the Timex TS-1000, Sinclair ZX-81, and Sinclair ZX-80 in which you must collect the treasure.

Andromeda For Atari - A game for the Atari 400/800 in which you control a virus that you must manage to keep alive in a host body.

Shamus For Atari - I had a lot of fun with this action game from Synapse though I played it on the Commodore 64. I think the Atari 400/800 version was nearly identical though.

Maptown - Educational Games For Apple - A collection of educational games for the Apple II.

_{Table of Contents from the February 1983 issue of Compute!}

Columns And Departments

The Editor's Notes - Atari introduces the 1200XL, Atari video game sales decrease, Compute!'s Gazette announced.

Ask The Readers - Questions answered about function keys on the VIC-20, add-ons for the Commodore 64, the Atari 825 printer, various disk drives for Commodore computers, upgrading the PET, and more.

Questions Beginners Ask - Questions answered about player/missile graphics on the Atari 400/800 and sprites on the Commodore 64, and RAM amounts on the VIC-20 and Atari 400.

Computers and Society: Artificial Reality - Metaplay and creating an artificial reality.

The Beginner's Page: Writing An Arcade Game - An introduction to creating an arcade style game with some demonstration code.

Learning With Computers - Information on directories of educational software, programs for preschoolers, Children's Television Workshop Software for the Apple II, and more.

The World Inside The Computer: A Computer Language For Kids - An introduction to a theoretical programming language for kids.

Programming The TI: Write Your Own Games - Some tips for writing games in the TI-99/4A.

Insight Atari - A default drive number under DOS and initializing DOS disks from BASIC.

Machine Language: The New 6500 Chips - A look at a couple of new chips in the 6500 series (of which the 6502 is most notable). These include the 6510 (used in the Commodore 64) and the 6509.

Telecommunications: Communication Errors Part I - The first in a two part series on error-detection methods.

Journal

VIC Searcher - A type-in program designed to allow you to search through your code.

SuperFont Plus - A type-in program that gives you an ANTIC version of SuperFont.

Creating Graphics On The Expanded VIC - A type-in program that simplifies creating new character sets and graphics on a VIC-20 with at least 8K of RAM.

Vehicle Cost Performance - A type-in program for the Radio Shack Color Computer that helps you to analyze vehicle cost and performance.

Joysticks And Sprites On The Commodore 64 - A guide to reading joystick inputs in BASIC and moving sprites with the joystick.

Assembly Language And The PET - A beginner's guide to assembly language on the PET using a program that computes factorials as an example.

Simple OSI Graphics - A tutorial on memory mapped graphics on OSI computers.

Commodore 64 Video - A Guided Tour: Part I - The first part of a series on the Commodore 64 VIC chip.

Bi-Directional VIC Scrolling - A type-in program that allows you to scroll back and forth in your code.

PET Dynamic Bookkeeping - A type in bookkeeping program for the PET that serves to illustrate a tape based system.

VIC High-res Plotter - A type-in program for plotting mathematical equations on the VIC-20.

The Atari Cruncher - A type-in program for the Atari 400/800 that compresses your programs with DATA statements.

Super Shell Sort For PET/CBM - An implementation of a shell sort for the PET/CBM.

Atari Line Range Manipulator - A type-in program that enhances the BASIC editor by allowing you to copy, delete, and move entire line ranges.

Easy Apple Editing - A type-in editor for the Apple II that allows the ability to modify BASIC program lines.

"Stringing" Atari Machine Code - A type-in utility for the Atari 400/800 that helps you to transfer machine code bytes from data statements to strings.