¢ 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=¢¢¢
