Issue 19 of Sam Revival is now out!
Let's start off with what's on the coverdisk, a full Sam game: Conquest.
Written by Peter King in 1997 this originally had a limited release from
Zedd-Soft, and now for the Sam Revival coverdisk it's had a graphical
overhaul. It's best to describe Conquest as a 'Civilisation' style game
where you establish and expand your village, search for raw materials, form
and train armies with the goal to defeat the computer controlled enemy who's
trying to do the same. I've put a video off it playing on my website so you
can see it in action.
Onto the magazine. The cover gives away what I've been working on recently
myself - the Trinity Ethernet Interface, bringing ethernet to your Sam with
the eventual goal of getting the Sam onto the Internet! It's an idea I
started kicking around back in March with a few people but with my move back
up to Scotland in June it wasn't until after I was all settled up here I was
able to get on with building the prototype. Everything is covered in the
magazine up to where it stands just now and I hope to have some final units
in the hands of some programmers by the end of the month. The news section
also covers more hardware - Edwin's new Atom-Lite+ interface - his new Atom
interface for using Compact Flash cards with a built in real time clock.
Software news, well there's quite a bit, covering games and emulators that
are currently being written for our favourite blue footed computer! (*ahem*
or Black, or Grey feet!)
The first feature article in this issue is Programming the Z80, a new
machine code column from the talents of Adrian Brown. Aimed for the beginner
this first part gives an introduction to the Sam's Z80 CPU, hexidecimal
numbering, memory and a couple of machine code instructions with a very
small program just to wet your appetite for assembly language. If you've
only stuck with BASIC or the likes of GamesMaster then now is your chance to
take a gentle plunge into learning Z80 assembly and you'll soon see it's
nothing to be scared of!
Next up is a Sam Games article from Gavin Smith, who takes a look back at a
couple of games that he feels were quite a surprise to see on the Sam.
And the issue is rounded up with the Developer Diary. There's news on the
Sam2GB Gameboy emulator from Adrian Brown, who has been working on it since
July when he offered to help Johan out. Adrian's really showed off his
programming talents with this - rewriting parts of the core and all new
graphic routines to get it running a game! Plenty of colour screenshots show
it in action, this is one emulator I certainly have my eye on! Simon Owen,
another master of emulation, goes over the latest version of his .SID music
player which now uses his most up to date 65C02 cpu emulator code and other
enhancements including support for NTSC and 100Hz .SID tunes and larger file
sizes. And last, but not least, is some fantastic colour screenshots from
Sam Fighter - a beat 'em up being written by Warren Lee, which looks great
so far.
This issue of Sam Revival costs £3.99 for the UK, or £4.79 for EU including
Airmail postage.
You can also subscribe for three issues at a discounted price of £10.99 (UK)
or £13.49 (EU), or for six issues at £21.98 (UK) or £26.98 (EU) and save
yourself a pound or two. Subscribers copies were posted off a couple of days
ago so should arrive shortly.
Order is straightforward, if you use PayPal you can send your order to
sales[at]samcoupe[dot]com, or see my website for the Buy Now buttons for
PayPal ordering. You can also order with Debit/Credit cards by click through
the Buy Now Buttons too and use the PayPal checkout without having to create
an account. For cheque and postal orders email me directly and i'll be happy
to pass on my new postal details (don't worry though if you've sent anything
to my old address recently as it is still all forwarded on!)
All the best,
Colin
=
Quazar : Hardware, Software, Spares and Repairs for the Sam Coupe
1995-2007 - Celebrating 12 Years of developing for the Sam Coupe
Website: http://www.samcoupe.com/
