›              o=o=o=o=o=››           Editor's Message››            by Alan Sharkis›› This is a typical summertime  issue. › I  want  to relax a little, as we all› do, so I've  put  together  an  issue› that  will  be  fairly easy  to take.› The text articles are short, and  the› entire  second  side  consists of one› game.  But that game might cause some› at  least  some of us to express some› frustration.  The game is ATOMIT.  In› it,  you  are  given  a playing field› with some  of  the  properties  of  a› maze.   That  is,  walls  jut out and› prevent totally free movement of  the› game  pieces.   Those game pieces, in› turn,  are  atoms.   You're  shown  a› molecule on the  right  side  of  the› screen  and  asked  to  put the atoms› together   to  form   that  molecule.› You're given a time limit in which to› complete  this  task,  and a countown› timer is shown at the bottom  of  the› screen.›› Basically,  you  move the cursor with› the joystick.  You move the atoms  by› putting  the  cursor  on  them,  then› pressing  the  fire button and moving› the stick in the direction  in  which› you  want the atoms to go.  The atoms› will move in that direction --  until› blocked   by   something.    If   the› something is the atom with which they› are supposed to bond, and they are on› the correct side of  that  atom,  all› well  and  good.   If  not, well, you› might have trapped them and lost  the› screen  as  a result.  There are many› screens to  this  game.   I've  never› been able to get past  the first few.› Then again, I'm really  not  a  game-› player.  Obviously, the molecules get› more and more complex as you  advance› through the screens.›› I regret that we can't use the Choice› 3 (Run Side 2) feature from the  menu› on Side 1 this issue.  If you press a› 3 from the  menu,  you  will  get  an› error  message.   Atomit   works   in› TurboBasic,  so you will have to flip› the disk and reboot to load the other› side.›› On  Side 1, in addition to those text› articles,  please  find  GAMBLER.BAS,› which will run from the spacebar.  In› this  game, which can have up to four› players (or play against your  Atari)› you  and  your  opponent  start  with› $100.   The  first  player  to get to› $1000 is the winner.  At  each  turn,› you  are  asked  if you wish to buy a› lottery ticket. If you do,  you  will› pay  $10  for it.  Whether you win or› not, the next step is for the  _GAME_› to select your next gambling activity› from an extensive list.  The  players› take  turns.   You  will  also   find› FAILSAFE.BAS,   a   nuclear   reactor› simulation,   GAUNTLET.COM,  a  space› shoot-'em-up, and PASSION.COM, a nice› musical  interlude in the Antic Music› Processor    format    with    lyrics› displayed.›› This issue will satisfy you most when› combined  with  a  cool  drink.  Just› keep that drink from spilling on  the› keyboard!››              o=o=o=o=o=›››