_{Cover of the December 18, 1986 issue of Popular Computing Weekly}

As the name suggest, Popular Computing Weekly is a weekly publication about computers. It was published in the U.K. in the 1980s. The December 18th, 1986 issue includes:

Games

• Adventure Corner - A look at The Colour of Magic game based on the Terry Pratchett book of the same name.


• Arcade Action - Tips for finding you own cheats in games that run on Z80 based machines, tips for Firelord on the Spectrum, and more.

Hardware

• Amstrad - A look at the new Amstrad PCW 8256. This computer was designed specifically with word processing in mind.

Software

• Forth - A look at an implementation of Forth for the Amstrad PCW.

Programming

• Commodore - A type-in program called Toolkit that adds 21 new commands to the Commodore 64's BASIC.


• Spectrum - A type in text editor for the Spectrum.


• Amstrad CPC - A type-in arcade adventure game called Khandal for the Amstrad CPC.


• BBC - A type-in game called Hurles for up to four players where you must specify various parameters to try and throw you ball closest to a line.

_{Table of Contents from the December 18, 1986 issue of Popular Computing Weekly}

Regulars

• News Desk - The new Atari 520STFM on sale before Christmas, Amstrad to launch PC 1512 in the U.S. in January, Microprose ends relationship with U.S. Gold, Atari revenue increases, tape release of Marble Madness for the Commodore 64 delayed, and more.


• Letters - Letters from readers about copyrighted game names, improved BASIC, RAM disks, upgrading to a 1541 disk drive, and more.


• Soundcheck - A look at music software and hardware for the Spectrum including Micon, Casio CZ Editor, Ram Music Machine, and more.


• Communications - A look at the latest features of Compunet, an online service for Commodore 64 users.

Christmas Features

• The Readers' Poll Awards - A look at the best products of the year as voted by readers including Starglider (Program of the Year), Uridium (Arcade Game of the Year), Leaderboard (Simulation of the Year), The Pawn (Adventure of the Year), Mini Office II (Business Program of the Year), Graphic Adventure Creator (Utility of the Year), the Commodore Amiga (Most Exciting New Computer), and more.


• Now That's What I Call Software - The staff of HCW picks their favorite software of the year. Some choices include Leaderboard, Dan Dare, On-Field Football, Leaderboard, Microsoft Basic on the Mac, The Bard's Tale, and more.


• Review of the Year - A look back at all the Amstrad news of the last year.

Special Supplement

• Computer Graphics - Animator 1 for the Spectrum from Softcat, Degas Elite for the Atari ST, Artscribe for the Atari ST, Electronic Studio's Amstrad video digitiser, and more.

_{Back cover of the December 18, 1986 issue of Popular Computing Weekly}

Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2026/02/24/popular-computing-weekly-december-18-1986/

---

Check out my other Social Media haunts:
Wordpress: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/darth-azrael
Blogger: https://megalextoria.blogspot.com/
Odyssee: https://odysee.com/@Megalextoria:b
Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2385054
Daily Motion: https://www.dailymotion.com/Megalextoria

---

Books I am reading or have recently read:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.
Thomas Cromwell: A Revolutionary Life by Diarmaid MacCulloch.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling.

---

Mine Monero in your browser!
Earn Gridcoin while also helping various scientific projects by sharing your computer's idle CPU time!

---