SPACE Newsletter - December 1988

December 1988

DECEMBER • 1988

SPACE Meeting Friday, Dec 9th at 7:30pm MAST Meeting Friday, Dec 16th at 7:30pm At the Falcon HeiQhts Community Center 2077 Larpenleur Avenue West MAST+ Programmers Meeting Monday, Dec 19th at 7:30pm At First Minnesota Bank Building - second floor Lexington and Larpenteur, in back of building

Minnesota Atari ST

SPACE/MAST NEWSLETTER DISCLAIMER Published by the St. Paul ATARI Computer Enthusia!;lts (SPACE), and Minnesota Ate,, ST (MAST) group, an independent organization with no business affiliation with ATliiCorporation. Permission is granted to any similar.organization with which SPACE/MASexchanges newsletters to reprint material from this newsletter. We do, however, ask tr:; credit be given to the authors and to SPACE/MAST. Opinions expressed are those of~ authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SPACE/MAST, dub officers, ck.e members or ATARI Corporation.

SPACE / MAS T BU LL ET I N BO.ARDS SPACE/MAST East (XE) · BBS Phone : (612)-774-0135 Sysop: Bruce Haug (Home Phone: 774-6226) SPACE/MAST West (Sn · BBS Phone : (612)-560-9254 Sysop: Steve Pauley (Home Phone: 560-2917)

MJol\oSo'f President Greg Hoffman

636-0381

Vice President Dave Cole Disk Librarian Joe Danko 777-9500 Greg Peasley 473-6510 Paper Librarian Jim Scheib 721-4185 SPACE/MAST Treasurer Allan Frl nk 482-791 1 SPACE/MAST Newsletter Editor 823-1 276 Dave Meile

President Jim Schulz Vice President EJave Meile Disk Librarian Jim Schulz Paper librarian Neil Palosaarl Membership Chair Allan Frink

533-4193 823-1276 533-4193 646-1272 482-7~1 1

NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING RATES: 1/2 page - 4" vertically x 5 1/S." horizontally - $ 1Simo., $140,Yr. Full page • 8" verticalty XS 1/8" horizontaily • S2S1mo. , $240/yr. Club members dassified - 50; per 40 Characters. $-2.50 mirumum per ad. Send to : Steve Pauley • 2547 - 83ro Court ti • 8f00ldyn Park. MN SSU-4

' :)ECE~1BER • 1988

1 Then leave a private message to David Meile indicating the file name .

Notes from the Editor •

by Dave Meile

New Editor -

Same coverage

I'd like to take a few moments to

, 1111 you know that although this newletter . has a new editor, the content should ramain pretty much the same. We will 1 continue to devote half of the newsletter to lie Atari 8-bit computer enthusiast, and lie other half to the Atari ST computer enlhusiast. In order to do this, I need to receive newsletter articles! It isn't possi>le to supply all of the coverage for your favorite computer unless *you* help. When should you submit an article? Thebest time is right after the SPACE or MAST meetings. This gives a nice lead-time so that I can get the newsletter to you early in the month. The *abaolutely latest time* is the Wednesday a week before the SPACE meeting (on Wednesday). For example, articles in this newsletter were received no later than November 30. How should you submit an article? Here are the preferred methods: 1. Upload your article to the SPACE/ MAST East (XE) or SPACE/MAST West (ST)BBS as an text flle. The BBS numbers are listed on the inside front cover of this newsletter. On the MAST BBS, upload the file and mark it as "sysop only" by using the"\" as the first character in the file description.

On the SPACE BBS, upload the file in the Newsletter Articles section. 2. Submit your article as an text flle on disk. This is more useful for Atari ST articles at the moment. I don't have an Atari 8-bit computer, so I cannot do the same for Atari 8-bit articles. If someone wants to volunteer to take files on an Atari 8-bitdiskand upload it to the SPACE BBS. I could accept articles on Atari 8-bit disks I 3. Print out your article. It can be retyped into the newsletter. 4. Write your article in longhand. Just make sure I can read the handwriting I Of the above methods, #1 is

much preferred. Methods #2, 3 and 4 are preferred if you are submitting your article at the SPACE or MAST meeting. You can mail your articles using methods 2, 3 and 4also. My mailing address is: David Meile, Box 13038, Minneapolis, MN 55414.

January Newsletter Deadline for Articles and Ads will be January 4th

SPACE/MAST NI◄'.\VSLKl'TER

HELP DIR

November Election Results Office elections were held at the November SPACE/MAST meetings. The new officers are now in place, and their names can be found on the inside front cover. Here are the resu Its.

President Jim Schulz Vice President David Meile

For SPACE:

For SPACE/MAST:

President

Treasurer Allan Frink

Greg Howell Vice President

Thanks to all of you who attended the November meetings and voted!

Dave Cole

DOC018 001

•••••••••••••••••••• For MAST:

AUTORUN.SYS Initializes the SUPERKEY macros containe d in PFKEYS .DAT and causes MENU to RUN from BASIC. PFKEYS.DAT SUPERKEY macros: CONTROL-4 = 'AUN"D:MENU"' CONTROL-5 = 'ENTER"D:DIR"'. MENU Thanks to Larry Serflaten the MENU program has a new look this month. CATMOUSE.BAS ATARI BASIC game that requires a joystick and is sort of like PAC-MAN.

XMASTREE.COM Binary-load graphics display for the Christmas season. FIRE.COM Binary-load graphics display of a blazing fireplace.

CONNECT4.BAS ATARI BASIC implementation of the

SPACE DOM NEWS

December, 1988 by Joe Danko, SPACE Disk Librarian There are four new disks available for December. And without further ado, here they are: DOM: The SPACE Disk Of the Month consists of two sides as follows: SIDE A: General interest software.

••••••••••••••••••••

DOS SYS037 DUP SYS042 AUTORUN SYS 007 PFKEYS DAT 004 067 MENU CATMOUSEBAS 059 XMASTREECOM 083 FIRE COM 071 CONNECT4BAS 091 BUSINESSBAS 137 PAT1 BAS 009 PAT2 BAS 009 FRACTAL BAS 006 SNOWFLAKBAS 010 SPERRY BAS 005

MATHGRAPBAS 012

DECEMBI~R • 1988

vertical drop-in-the-checkers game. Requires a joystick.

BUSINESS.BAS ATARI BASIC production and sales management simulation game. Can you manage the BUSINESS? Will you be sucsessfull or will you be canned?

PAT1.BAS PAT2.BAS FRACTAL.BAS SNOWFLAK.BAS SPERRY.BAS MATHGRAP.BAS These 6 short ATARI BASIC programs display assorted mathematically produced graphics and are all written or converted by SPACE

member Glen Kirshenmann. They should all be good candidates for TURBO-BASIC as the SNOWFLAK and FRACTAL are quite time consuming.

SIDE B: *SUPERARC* The latest and best implementations of disk file compression for the 8-bit AT ARI available at this time. This package is extremely user-friendly and is at least five times faster than the original 8-bit ARC system.

••••••••••••••••••••

DOS SYS037 DUP SYS042 READ ME 006 D25ARC OBJ 073 D25UNARCOBJ 083 SPARC COM 073 SPUNARC COM 083 DOCS TXT253 DOS25 MOD 001

••••••••••••••••••••

D25ARC.OBJ ARC disk file compression optimized to run with DOS 2.5. D25UNARC.OBJ ARC and ALF disk file retrieval optimized to run with DOS 2.5 SPARC.COM ARC disk file compression optimized to run with SPART ADOS. SPUNARC.OBJ ARC and ALF disk file retrieval optimized to run with SPARTADOS. DOCS.TXT Documentation text file for SUPERARC. DOS25.MOD This file was used to modify the SPARTADOS ARC/UNARC files for

SPAC E/MA ST NEW SLET TER

DOS 2.5. HELP.DOC The file you are reading now.

DIR A one line BASIC disk directory reader that works with a direct-mode "ENTER"D:DIR" from the basic editor to get a disk directory. This works with the SUPERKEY CONTROL-5 macro. MOVIE DISK: The next offering is a one-sided issue of movies create d from MOVIEMAKER along with a player program. DOS SYS03 7 BOX1 MVM 072 AUTORUN SYS 063 LEPEW MVM 040 NIAGRA MVM 108 BOUNCE2 MVM 068 TWILIGHTMVM 068 BOUNCE MVM 055 DOG MVM 076 DAFFY MVM 041 BUBL MVM 065 Just boot it up without BASIC and sit back to watch. Very nice animated graphics. 80 COLUMN STUFF DISK: This two-sided disk is for those of you who cannot live without an 80 column display. It has a very nice 80 column text file reader/printer with a built-in 80 column driver and a rather good 80 column terminal program also with a built-in driver. I have used the terminal program successfuly on TCCN, MAST and GENIE. Of course a monochrome hi-res monitor would be helpful if you don't want to get a headache.

I couldn't get the Y-MODEM file transfer protocol to work but I have no experience with that so it may have SIDEA : The TERM80 version to run with an 850/PR and a HAYES-type modem along with the READ80 program. *******************

DOS SYS03 7 DUP SYS04 2 AUTORUN SYS 062 COL80HNDCOM 013 TERM80 DOC 040 PHONEDIRBAS 035 READ80 COM 107 READ80 DOC 019 TERM80 INS 005

••••••••••••••••••••

SIDES : The TERM80 version to run withthe ATARI SX212 modem connected to the SIO port. This side also has the READ80 program. ANALO G#67 And last-but-not-least: the ANALOG magazine Disk Of the Month for December, 1988. Please remember that the LIBRARY has a nice ADVANCED MUSIC SYSTEM disk of CHRISTMAS music files that come complete with a publicdomain player program.

DECE MBER • 1988

•

8 Bit Xtra Comments by Jim Schulz

Well, you wanted the latest news on the 8 bit and here it is.... I have iust downloaded this from Compuserve and Antic Online. More 8 bit news coming in the months to come from your source for 8 bit news, SPACE and the SPACE/MAST newsletter. NEWS FROM THE ATARI FRONT by Carolyn Cushman, Assistant Editor, Antic NOVEMBER 22, 1988 WORD FROM SOUTH AMERICA Antic's off ices were visited this week by Ivan Gjurovic, editor of MUNDOATARI, a Spanish-language magazine for Atari users, published in Santiago, Chile. (First issue: June Gjurovic estimates that 1987). 100,000 8-bit Ataris are used in Chile (as opposed to an estimated 10,000 IBM PCs). A teacher himseH, Gjurovic is strongly interested in encouraging the use of Atari computers in the schools in Chile. At present, some 600 schools currently use Ataris, and the government recently made a large purchase of more 8-bit Ataris for use in schools. In addition to programs and articles of general interest to Atari users, each issue of MUNDOATARI

includes an article showing how a particular school uses their computers. The company also produces a device that lets several 8-bits access one drive, so many students may use a program at once, and saving schools the high cost of imported disk drives. Super Examinacion is a program that helps prepare students for their high school evaluation test, PAA (similar to

the SAT in the US). If you are interested in more information on MUNDOATARI, you can write them at Holanda 280 Depto 54, Santiago, Chile. LIGHT GUN NOW AVAILABLE The Atari Light Gun is now being sold in a 01) (XES20 the BUG HUNT video with e packag game cartridge, for$34.95. By the first quarter of 1989, Atari plans to make the Light Gun available without a cartridge, at a price of $29.95. Previously available only in a package with Atari's XE Game System, the light gun will work with any 8bit Atari computer. VIDEO GAME MILESTONE FOR ATARI Atari Corp announced it has sold its 26 millionth video game system. The unprecedented sales milestone comes as the revived video game industry dominates toy sales for the third straight year. According to Michael Katz, President of Atari's Entertainment Electronics Division, Atari has now sold more than twice as many video game systems in total than any other

SPACE/MAST NEWSLETTER 7

DECEMBER • 1988 company. (Of course, Atari had a head start, pioneering the video game industry with "Pong" in the early 1970's.) According to Atari's press releases, the company has doubled its video game sales for two consecutive years, selling more than 3 million video game units since 1985, including the 2600, the arcade-quality 7800, and the XE, everybody's favorite computer-in-disguse. The company estimates it holds a 30 percent share of the U.S. home video game hardware market, second in the industry behind Nintendo. In an attempt to increase its market share, Atari has doubled its advertising budget from last year, signed up sports stars to endorse products, and initiated new national promotions and sales incentive offers. The company also hopes to introduce more than 20 new game before the end of the year. SPECIAL HOLIDAY SEASON PROMOTION As one of its new sales promotions, Atari Corp. announced the "Atari Holiday Bonus Software Program," offering free game cartridges to consumers who purchase Atari video game systems and software before the end of the year. Between Nov. 21 and Dec. 31, 1988, any consumer who purchases an Atari 2600 or 7800 video game system will receive a bonus of two free game cartridges, direct from Atari. In addition, current owners or new owners who buy any two Atari game cartridges

during that period will get one cartridge free. The holiday bonus software offer is in addition to two previously announced Atari promotions. Through Dec. 31, Atari is offering a $50 consumer rebate on the purchase of the XEGS. In addition, the company will continue to offer prizes for collecting Atari games through the "Atari Advantage Collector Program." Consumers who collect five games can get a free T-shirt. For 15 games they get one free Atari video game cartridge; for 25 the pride is a reduced price on an Atari 7800 or XEGS, plus a chance at the Grand Prize - a seven-day trip to California. To augment these special deals, Atari plans to advertise on prime time television, in Parade Magazine in early December, and in newspapers in major market areas. Last year, retail video game sales overall were $1.1 billion. An~lysts project sales of $2 billion for 1988, and it looks like Atari has plans for a large chunk of those sales.

I Touched a Turbo-816I

Notice: This article may be reprinted only if it remains in it's entirety. On Saturday, November 5th, 1988, the Turbo-816 was shown for the first time to the Mid-Ohio Atari

Users Group (MAUG). It was announced beforehand, in the MAUG newsletter, that the Turbo-816 would be demoed, and that interested parties should bring any software that they wanted to test out on it. Chuck Steinman of Dataque was on hand to to answer questions pertaining to the Turbo-816. The Turbo-816 is a new product being developed by Dataque that is basically a replacementforthe CPU and operating system. It replaces it with a 16-bit CPU and an operating system that maintains compatibility with existing software and also make use of the special 16-bit mode. Two Atari XL's were on hand for these particular demos. One being a stock machine, and the other equipped with the Turbo-816. Chuck pointed out that the· new operating system Is now fully functional, but not fully optimized. That is to say that there are still some routines that need to be rewritten to get the most power out of the new 65816 CPU. The floating-point routines in the Turbo-816 machine had been partially optimized for 16-bit mode. The demos were run on each machine, and the timed results were compared. The first demo resulted in four different mathematical equations being plotted to the screens. When the timing results were compared, it was found that the stock XL took 256.783 seconds, and the Turbo-816 machine took 124.049 seconds. Chuck pointed out that when the drawing routines are optimized, that there will be an even more dramatic

increase in speed. The second demo was a test of the various math functions of basic and the operating system. The only screen output generated was the printing of the timed results. · Each math function was interated 1000 times. Here is a chart of the results in seconds.

FUNCTION ABS CLOG EXP INT LOG SOR SIN ATN cos

JURB0-816 STOCK XL 5.13 40.60 33.83 5.73 41.60 62.03 29.16 64.96 31.86

5.25 124.76 112.20 5.86 132.00 136.45 81.41 127.68 81.29

Chuck pointed out that these impressive results were achieved simply by replacing many 65C02 ppcodes with 65816 opcodes. Therewill be even more increase in speed when the math package has been totally rewritten to take advantage of 16-bit operands. In other words, the math was done using 16-bit instructions on 8-bit values. the address space. And it can have a depth greater than 256 bytes. The mode (native or 6502 emulation) is set by a new bit (M) in the processor status register. Several new instructions (SEP and REP) allow you to manipulate individual bits in the status register. Address modes available include all the original 6502 modes, the NCR 65C02 modes, and Rockwell's additional 65C02 mode, as well a

i 8 eight new 65816 modes. The 65816 has the three hardware interrupts of the 6502 (RESET, NMI, and IRQ), and a new one, called ABORT, which may be used to implement a virtual-memory system. As in the 6502, the interrupt vectors are located in the highest locations of the first 64k of memory. Software interrupts include the old BAK instruction, as well as a new COP instruction, used of interfacing a co-processor IC. In addition, two instructions adapted from the 6800 family, WAI (wait) and STP (stop), halt the processor until a hardware interrupt occurs (NMI or IRQ), or until the processor is reset, respectively. MAUG members would like to thank Chuck Steinman of Dataque for giving us the first public demonstration of the TURBO-816. The excitment generated by the demo was real, and reminiscent of what rrust have been felt by computer enthusiasts when the first real personal computers were shown to the world. For more information about the TURBO-816, call Chuck's board, The Master-BOO BBS, at 419-5295197. And, for the latest MTOS and enhanced ram programs, feel free to call my board (Closer To Home BBS) at 419-368-4413.

SPACE/MAST NEWSLETTER

' NOT easy to let go.

Club Burnout

with Comments by Jim Schulz

The following is an article which appeared in the Michigan Atari Magazine and ST Report #15. It is something that should be read by all members of SPACE and MAST. With the decent folding of TAIG and the nearfolding of ACE in Eugene, Oregon, the first Atari user group, it is time that we also look at ourselves as well. I have had this article for a long time, just waiting for the appropriate time to publish it I am not making comparisons or judgements by publishing this, but showing you another side of the user group. Based on some of the comments of Chuck Grimsby, president of TAIG, on the MAST BBS, some of these facts hold true for TAIG. Please read this article and make your own judgements. Both SPACE and MAST are always looking for volunteer help and we have never turned down a helping hand.

But the time has come. Burnout is more than ) " • future threatit is here. Better to turn things over to an enthusiastic new group before the project advances past the "burden· stage and \ on into the "pain• stage. Especially since such an entusiastic group is NOW presenting itself; Ills opportunity might not come again soon! Beginning with the DECEMBER 1987 issue, MAM wiH be the adopted child of BILL and PATTY RAYL, members of both WAUG (Ann Arbor) and MACE (Detroit). On their adgenda II a merger with the MACE JOURNAL and Incorporation of GLASS (Detroit's ST club) and, with any luck, CACE (Jackson) and ITING (Grand Rapids ST), as weH as continued eervice to the existing seven Michigan clubs. A circulation of well over 1,500 is likely.

8o, expect CHANGES. What you have seen IO far has been largely MY vision of what MAM 1hould be... with new management comes a new vision. I hope that all member clubs and readers across te country will be as supportive and as outspoken abput the magazine with Patty and BiU as they have been with me. (YIKES! How's that for a mixed message?!)

THOUGHTS ON BURNOUT Breaking up is hard to do... Thoughts on BURNOUT By John Nagy, Michigan Atari Magazine (Recent comments and questions in ZMAG and elsewhere seem to require answer and clarification. What follows is a somewhat revised version of my parting comments as publisher of MICHIGAN ATARI MAGAZINE. The comments on BURNOUT are should be heeded by all those crazy enough to be reading all this!) This [November 1987) is the last issue of MICHIGAN ATARI MAGAZINE that will be published by the original CHAOS Lansing crew (Richard an Judy Barnes, co-editors). And it's

Al for me, I will now actually have time to

DECEMBER • 1988

WRITE more than a few lines and compilations for the magazine (as well as for COMPUTER SHOPPER, which has been very LIGHT on ATARI of late!), as I have a stack of clippings and notes for MANY articles that have been patiently awaiting their turn ... so you haven't seen the last of me. This MAM project has been one of the most satisfying (and time consuming), educational (and frustrating), and creative jobs I have ever had. I am happy to have have done it; I am at

once happy and sad to pass it to another. Long may it grow and prosper. While pondering my own history in CHAOS and MAM, I also recollect the final moments of other ATARI (and other) CLUB officers I have known. The symptoms of BURNOUT form a relatively standard set of events and attitudes that merit comment. Here's a typical and noncomprehensive review:

1. Only people who BURN can BURN OUT. The occasional volunteer (OH TO BE ABLE TO KEEP MY HANDS IN MY POCKETS AND MY WORDS IN MY MINDI) somehow knows his (her) limits and can say NO when it is appropriate. Others are habitual DOERS that can't let things slide. 2. Real DOERS can't just do ONE THING for a club. The Librarian becomes the SYSOP/ Libl:arian, then the President/SYSOP/Librarian. The Treasurer adds the publications coordinator duties. The editor becomes the Vice President. More and more, fewer and fewer people do more and more jobs. Condition 2 above has several results: 3. Things GET DONE. Prosperity and MOVEMENT mark the ear1y stages of the consolidation of jobs in the small, active, resposible, enthusiastic group. 4. "Regular" members get used to watching the progress, usually quite pleased at the results. They volunteer less since, after all, the DOERS know what needs to be done, and are doing great.

(continued on page 15)

SPACE/MAST Nl~WSLETTER

News from the Pres by Jim Schulz It's December and Christmas is just about upon us.... Elections are over and yours truly is back for another year. A lot has happened over the last month so let's get going ..... . First up, on the MAST BBS two weeks ago, a letter was posted by TAIG president Chuck Grimsby. This letter stated that TAIG was folding at their December meeting. Since then, a number of people have asked why and where does MAST stand now. First off, TAIG. When I started attending user group meetings, TAIG was the first user group that I attended. I will always have a special feeling for TAIG since it got me started and more interested in Atari computers. Over the years TAIG has gone threw quite a bit and have tried a number of things. Some of them worked and some didn't. I am sorry to see TAIG so since the more Atari that exists here, the better that it is for all. I have requested a current membership list from Chuck Grimsby and maybe Greg Howell and myseH can come up with some plan t() welcome the former TAIG members into SPACE and MAST. Next, why TAIG. The letter states that TAIG just ran out of money.Chuck later stated on the MAST BBS that all of the workers quit at the same time and noone was left who wanted to continue.

Now, what about MAST and SPACE???? MAST and SPACE are doing fine. MAST has just finished one of its best years yet. MAST is financially doing well and we are going in membership. Three new members last month with two more renewals. We have a new vice president and treasurer as well as your old president and we are forging ahead. My goals for the next year are twofold: more members in MAST and more exposure for MAST outside of Twin Cities. Considering that the MAST BBS has about 200 regular callers and only about 50 members in MAST, we have a great potential to expand locally. MAST is not dead and we are striving to make the club better each day. But.... we need your help. A club cannot run without volunteers. MAST has never turned down someone willing to help. We need helpers in all sorts of areas. If you think that you can't help, read some of the comments of Chuck Grimsby and TAIG on the MAST BBS or the article in this month's issue on club burnout. The only way that a club can grow and survive is if keeps getting new volunteers and new blood. Your help is needed I!!! Thanks are in order to all of our former officers and current volunteers. First off, we all owe a great deal of thanks to Bob Siede. Bob has retired as the SPACE/MAST treasurer after three years. Many MAST members never saw Bob or knew of

DECEMBER • 1988 him. But each month, Bob would take care of the room rental, deposit all of the MAST and SPACE funds, update membership records, update financial records and more ... Every month, I would get a set of recordsmailed to me withoutf ault. Bob did quite a lot for the club and his help and experience will be greatly missed. Allan Frink, our new treasurer has some big shoes to flt. Next off, we all need to thank Phil Seifert. Phil has given probably 1lx to seven years to the local Atari community. His help and input will be greatly missed. For those who don't know, Phil has left town for California. Phll left on Thanksgiving day for a new Job with Egghead Software on the west coast. Phil gave his all to TAIG, 8PACEandMAST. Hisknowledgeof the Atari computers can't be matched. Phil will be greatly missed. Finally, I want to thank the officers of SPACE, Larry Vanden Plas and John Novotny. They did quite a bit last year to keep SPACE going and moving ahead. Their help was greatly appreciated and will also be missed. Finally again ... let's congratulate both our new vice president and new newsletter editor, Dave Meile and our new treasurer, Allan Frink. We all have a - big year ahead and we all need your help. Enough said ..... Last month, yes in November we held our yearly elections. I have already announced the winners. We do owe one more person thanks. Thanks go out to Kent Schumacher as well as Dave Meile for their help in finding candidates for officers this

11 year. This month .... This month is MidiMaze Month. Yes, it is thattime of year to again fight the evil Happy faces and see who comes out the winner. This year's prize will be a copy of the new game Arkanoid 11. The setup for this year's tournament will be a little different than in the past. This year we will only use six computers and no computer is necessary to play. The only thing that you need to play is yourseH and possibly your own joystick. If you are interested in playing or volunteering to bring your computer, please try to get ahold of Dave Meile at home or on the MAST BBS. Preregistration is not necessary, but it helps for advance planning for the tournament. In addition to this, we will also have our regular meeting as well wit:-- the latest in ST news and rumors, a few demos of the latest in ST software and the best in public domain software. This month, we will also have two DOM specials. First, we will be selling our complete collection of Christmas music and demos as well as new Christmas selections for $4.00 each. Also, we will be selling our complete ANALOG/ST-Log disk collection for $4.00 as well. Each month ST-Log comes out with a quality disk of software. Now you can pick some of the best from the past for less. MAST's Christmas present to the members!II So as you can see we have another full meeting planned for December. Also, don't forget the MAST+ meeting the following Monday night. I missed last month's meeting because of work, but I did

SPACE/MAST NI◄:WSLETTER

and some empty disk boxes as well for make it for pizza. This month, we will the taking. You have been cleaning have more from our group of contribume out the last few months, so I am tors as well as the latest on MINIX and running low on both. If you want them, Todd's new editor in progress. Steve please take them!II These are free!!! Murphy might also show off his latest Can't get a better deallll modem game in progress based on Newsletter.... This month, we Stratego. As well as these, we will slim newsletter and it will rather a have hear from Dale, Chuck, John and of little late as well. Both a be probably course, Dave as well. You never editor and I have newsletter new our know what is going to happen until you With the help late. of busy little a been get there so come and find out with me to get Dave able have I Siede, Bob of what's in store .. For good programmailing needed he that everything ming talk and more as well as pizza Dave help Please finance-wise. and after the meeting, come to the next conWithout articles. contributing by MAST+meeting. Tofindoutthe latest of a much have won't we tributions, the out check meeting, on the MAST+ to go to about is he As newsletter. MAST BBS. press, all he has is a couple of articles So what's in store for the from Joe Danko and a number of months ahead .... January is another articles from me and whatever Dave of the now thrice-annual Swap himseH writes. If you have anything to Meets ..... And February is the third contribute, please leave mail for Dave annual MAST birthday party. This is on the MAST BBS, talk to Dave at the the one meeting that you don't want to MAST meeting or pass your articles miss. So mark your calendars and off to Greg Howell at the SPACE plan early to be there!!!! More plans meeting. This is your newsletter. for the months ahead are in the works Without your help, it cannot continue. so stay tuned!!!!! BBS..... Yes, the BBS is still Disk sales ..... Blank disks are The only complaint running. and up still available at the MAST meeting is that the BBS is hearing keep I that and directly from me otherwise. Last that's good for a But busy. always month, you sold out my old stock. added the bulagain has Steve BBS. Now for some good news ... I found a message of as well as in back letins some of the same quality disks at a Steve will month, next Maybe day. the cheaper price. Until the stocks run the best when on rundown a us give out, the new double-sided disk price is in at call I BBS. the call to are times $0.95 per disk. I currently have about to need you if so day every once least 300 in stock so I should be able to best the of one is this me, of ahold get anhandle all of the demand. Yes, ways. So call the MAST BBS at 560other Christmas present from MAST. 9254 and give it a try yourself. over3.5" pin-feed the have still I Also, Well, I am going to call it quits t he-top disk labels for $2.00 per 100. for this month. It's been a long month Also, I have some blank disk labels

DECEMBER • 1988 and I need to get this to Dave for publication. But before I go, let's see What the envelope wants for Christmas .... UIS II, the best replacement for your file selector, Multidesk, the best addition for more desk accessories, G-PLUS, a great replacement for theslowGDOS, Neodesk 11, what the desktop should really look like, Arkanold II, one of the best new games out, DungeonMaster II, I just can't wait .... , and Karateka, yes you can finally see it on the ST. Well, let's hope the envelope get what he wants for . Christmas... I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. I hope to see all of rc,u at the December MAST meeting and MAST+ meeting as well as on the MAST BBS. Happy computing!!!

MAST Disks of the Month by Jim Schulz Well, it's that time again for more disks to add to your library. This month, I will depart from the standard format to finish up this article for our new newsletter editor. Now on to this month's news .... Doc disk... I mentioned last month about a disk of READ .MES with the Tempest demo program as a viewer. Well, I got some response. So, depending on time, I will either

13 make it available this month or next. The current doc disk will be updated in January, either way hopefully with a new version of DISKSCAN, hint.. hint... Todd .... Special continues.... I have only had one taker, but the special on #1 to #200 sale will continue through the end of the month. Here is the deal. All disks #1 through #200 will now be $4.00 each. If you buy 25 or more at one time, they are $3.00 each. Sound simple. This also includes updated disks like Uniterm, ST Xformer, or even ST Writer for only $4.00 each. Buy your computer a Christmas present by stocking up on old disks. If ordered at the MAST meeting, I can guarantee Christmas delivery by mail. Prices .... All MAST DOMs are $6.00 each. In addition, the MAST news disk, the ST News disk and the doc disk are $2.00. Updates on old disks are $2.00 with the return of the original disk. Also, through the end of the year, disks #1 through #200 are only $4.00 each and when you purchase 25 or more at one time, they are only $3.00 each. So stock up this month!III Specials this month .... This month for Christmas, all Christmas disks are C;,1 sale for $4.00 each as well as all ANALOG disks are $4.00 each as well. Pick up some Christmas music and animation fun or the best of ANALOG/ST-Log for only $4.00. MAST's Christmas present to you!!!! Backorders

and

com-

SPACE/MAST NEWSLETTER

ments.. .. My backorders are somewhat behind and for this I apologize. My dad just finished selling his house and I got some of the furniture, etc. in the move. This as well as a heavy work schedule has pretty much tied me up over the last month. I am working on all disk orders and I hope to have them all in the mail by the time you read this. This month, I am going to buckle under and come up with a disk order/comment form. As I am finding out, I don't always hear what you want in new DOMs or requests for old ones. So please use this form to tell me how I am doing. Based on your requests, I will generate new types of . DOMS. Do you want clip art, GOOS fonts, animations, picture disks, children's games or what??? Please let me know?? I only put out what people ask for and want. I will have EMACS available at the meeting per your request as well. Please help me out!!!! So that's the news for December and now on to the public domain software... This month, we will keep it short. This month's disks include: ANALOG disks (get the December disk and all old disks for a $4.00 price. I will also have a listing of the best of ANALOG disks as well), Christmas disks (yes, this is a collections of Christmas pictures and music as well as some surprises. These are selections from past years as well as new stuff for 1988 as well), Uniterm (the best keeps getting better, this is a new free update with your original disk), DCOPY (the

best of the utility programs again has another version, this time with new viewing and printing options), Clowns & Balloons (this classic 8 bit game is now available for the ST with source as Regent's software's present for Christmas), Templmon (the classic public domain debugger is again out with a new version), Go (this classic Japanese game is now available on the ST), Superboot V5.0 (this startup do-all program now includes 30 function keys among its new options), Calmus demo (this brand-new desktop publishing program from Germany is now available in a complete demo form, but without save. Design a form and check out the print quality in the new highly-toted publishing program of the future), Communication programs, a brand new Dungeon game, and a great new full disk Casino game as well. Finally, we have a free update for the NETHACK owners which fixes a bug in the shell program, a free update for last month's ANALOG disk to add GFA V3.0 sourceforthe CAD-3D program, and a free update to the Sozobon C disk to allow you to run the full compiler from a double-sided disk. This disk compiled by Chuck Purcell, now allows you to do all development from one double-sided disk. That's the short of it this month. Well, that's a sample of what we have for this month with more coming every day. Check out the MAST BBS the week of the meeting of the latest update on this month's DOMs. As always, I do my best to put

I>ECEMBER • 1988 out as much good stuff as possible given the time that I have available. I Will again be demoing the software at ;the meeting so check it out before you buy.

8. Eventually the oonstant run of duties becomes a perceptable drain. Tasks that once kept the DOER up all night in creative frenzy now wait for a night with nothing really good on TV. After all, this is a volunteer job, right?

If you can't make the meeting

·and would still like to get ahold of the ;i)oM or would like to get ahold of the DOC disk, my new address is: 6900 65th Avenue North #204 . Brooklyn Park, MN 55429

9. Things slow down for the dub. Some things go out late. Some never happen at all. The DOERS get mad because nobody seems to want to help. The membership isn't used to having to help. The membership isn't pleased to be bawled out for being •regular• members.

That's it for December. More

pd stuff coming in daily. Requests "8 always welcome. I hope to see

you all at this month's MAST meetings and on the MAST BBS. (continued from page 9)

J, The DOERS get used to making decisions tDr the group.

It is only natural that the ones

dalng the bulk of the work should determine not only HOW to do it, but WHAT to do next. In fact,

tll "regulars" will encourage the DOEftS to 1111 lheir own judgement, and not bother them

Wllh bivial votes, etc.

t. More praise and recognition is given to the DOERS for remarkable accomplishments.

The DOERS realize that they indvidually are making the dub a success. At about this point, practices within each division of activity are becoming familiar enough to become ritualis-

tic. 7. What were once exciting challenges beoomlng everyday duties for the DOERS. The thrill may be gone, but it is replaced with pride and confidence.

10.Stirred by the bawlings and seeing an opening, some new people oome into the ranks of the DOERS, eager and inexperienced. The DOERS have little patience with this, and even less interest in changing anything from the way they have developed so successfully. 11.Resentment beoomes the new bylaw of the organization. DOERS think they are being pushed or replaced with incompetent newoomers, or else they think that nobody cares about what they are doing enough to beoome involved. The new DOERS get disillusioned by the resistance from the old DOERS and either revolt or retreat. The •regulars· begin to drop out, because they see no movement, because they dislike the •efitest" attitude of the officers, or in order to avoid being assailed by the DOERS. Finally, 12(a). The original DOERS resign, disappointed to see that support just "wasn't there anymore• for what was once, after all, a GREAT club ... (or) 12(b). The Club folds up.

SPACE/M AST NEWSLE T'l'EH

Now this scenario sounds pretty grim, but it is and has been the fate of a number of our sister clubs and organizations. It isn't always this way, of course. We have the power to recognize ourselves in one of these stages and redirect ourselves to a different outcome. I think I have spotted a singular common indicator of IMMINENT BURNOUT: When an officer (or director) simultaneously complains about too much to do, but refuses to allow others to help in THEIR OWN ways. That's STAGE 9 or even 10, and the end may be near. For myself, I see that I must retreat from a DIRECTOR to a PARTICIPANTwhile I still can enjoy participation. As much as it will tug at me to volunteer both advice and effort on each and every project the club takes on, I will have to meter my involvement. Other officers will have

to arise from the •regulars·, and they will have to make their own policy and procedures. won't like them all, but not everyone liked all of mine, either. It is a hard lesson for a DOER, and one thal goes against reason: Often the only way II> assure that a job is done, or even to determi,. if it needs to be done at all, is to NOT volunteer for it. Not everything NEEDS to be going smoothly in a club... not every project HAS to be a roaring success... not EVERY owner needs to be IN the club... for the club to be an active, fun, and profitable part of every member's life.

(out of space this month .. )

WIZARD'S WORK Complete ATARI Service Center We would be happy to repair your ATARI computer equipment MEGA ST2 SYSTEM SPECIALS Call for details! Wizard's Work-Aut horized ATARI Sales and Service County Roads 18 & 9 • Plymouth, Minnesota (612) 559-4690

Open Sunday 12:00-4:00 'Til Christmas

Monday- 'Thursday 11 :007:00 • Friday & Saturday 11 :005:00

DEC EM BER • 1988 ST, PAU L ATA RI C0"1 PUTER ENTHUS IASTS & "11NNES OTA ATA RI ST SPACE arid MAST arelndepoodent user group s olownersol ATARI H9tM Oomputen;, ht,aa boon organl;r_ ad by local &Nnersof ATARI oomputms 1¢1' th8 purpose of mµtual self assistance and aharing ol infotmatlon . 11 is open to an intere sted a,mp olef enthu st~t, Benefits of memberships In tooomups Include monthly newsletter ma Hod to your home . B:BS ccess , sol!Ware demc,m1lraliom-. group wrcha see. f)!JbliQ ~am disk(s) of the month softwa re I low prlots, refere nct book library , e<lJcational aoftw -9 library (8-btl on~) with 0W1r 20 litlas. rsonal oontavts.1eamlng, greater inforrnationa ndawareli8ss on the world of ATARI, 1oflwan:, al seounled price$ from dealer-.. question and answ er session, etc Come to• meelintf to find out 0'9. SPACE • 8811 Group The SPACE meeti ngs art1devoted primilffly to !he 8-blt ATAR I fll!1&r1 S\lch aa lt'8 400, BOO, ISOOXL, 600Xl, 65X!= aod t30.l(E: The1e is othor ATARI retafed ows and some 18-bit n-, al the SPACE meali ngs, as welt. The $PAC E group meets on !he econd Friday Qf each month .ithe Fa1CQn HE!ights Community Center, 20n we,t larpe nieur veoue, at 7:30pm Doors open al about 7:10p m t,l~ST - ST Group The MAST meetings site devpted primarily towards the ATAAI 520ST , ~OST a MEGA computers. There will be ATAR I related news Hems c,,)Wf'ed, but not B-bit news t#IST grovp moo II on tha lhird Friday ol each monlh al th& Falcon Heighls Community Center, 77 We&I Larpenleur Ayenue, at 7:30pm. Doors open at abo\117:tOpm. UAST • • Programming Ungu•g:• u .., Sig MAST alto has a p,ogrammtlf'• group eeting . This group ha• a more lechnlcal diSQU s&ion r~rd ing programm!rig lh~ ST computer, a variety of langu ages. The gtQUp meets on tie Mond ay !ollowlng 1he ¥A.ST mealing at tha Fust nnesota bank ori l.eJ;il) gton Avanoe nQar l.a'l)er llOIJ{ Aw nua. Meedng time Is 7~, ~lh dQOf1 niog a1about 7.20pm . The &fllrance is in tie i,i,.ckof tile ,building and leads to a slaiiway to the

......

Fot more Information, 01 to C9f'lfil"f'l'I II meeling lime and IOCalioo, call Grug HoNmat1 (SP ACE) -2415 or Jim Scht.llz (MAST) 533--4 193

SPA CE/ MA ST M emb ers h ip A ppl icat ion

--• ---- ------------------• _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Stata _

_ _Zip_ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ .Equlpment'System Used,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

SPACE_

at?_

MAST_

~ - - Change?__ Member14fJip Catd Given ?__

es: $15.00 pe! year • Piease enclose wi1h Application, to: SPACEIMA.ST. P 0 . BOX 12016, New Brighton, MN 55112

S • P •A• C• E / M• A•S • T

P . O. BO)> 12016 New Bright on , MN

55112