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Loadstar 15
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contest text
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2022-08-26
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IT'S A CONTEST!!
It is time for another contest.
After racking our brains(?) for a
while, we just happened upon a
wonderful idea. This contest is really
simple--design as many propellers as
you can using a PAYLOAD program on
this issue. We'll explain the rewards
a bit more later, but right now let's
get into HOW you can win.
On this issue of LOADSTAR, in the
PAYLOAD section, you will find a
program called BACTERIOLAB. You may
remember a program called LIFE that we
published a few issues ago. Well,
one of our loyal subscribers, Chris
Constantinou of Kansas City, Missouri,
took it upon himself to program the
game of LIFE in machine-language. If
you remember the original version,
then you will remember how slowly it
updated the screen after every new
generation. Needless to say, this one
is much, MUCH faster. We at LOADSTAR
decided to modify the program a bit
more. Now you can LOAD and SAVE any
of your starting BACTERIOLAB designs.
Now for the real contest
explanation!! We (namely Weiler) have
discovered a pattern that "mutates"
from twelve bacterial cells into
several independent "propellers" (I'll
explain propellers a little later).
Now the challenge-- starting with not
more than twelve bacterial cells, how
many "propellers" can you create?
We know of a few patterns that produce
a large number of "propellers," but
we don't want to spoil your fun by
showing them to you!
Earlier I said that I would explain
a "propeller." Well, since a picture
is worth a thousand words, I will let
a picture do my talking. On this side
of LOADSTAR you will find a
BACTERIOLAB file named PROPS. If you
LOAD it from BACTERIOLAB and execute
it, you will see exactly what a
"PROPELLER" is. Remember, your quest
is to use at most twelve starting
cells and end up with as many
"propellers" as you can. That's all
there is to it!!
Remember to save your winning
file onto a FEEDBACK disk so we can
accurately pick a winner. What??
you're not sure how to do that? Well,
it's really pretty simple. After
making a FEEDBACK disk, go back to
the BACTERIOLAB program. LOAD your
winning entry. Put your FEEDBACK disk
into your disk drive. SAVE your
design onto the FEEDBACK disk. Now,
wasn't that easy??
*** Now for the rewards-- ***
The person who sends us a BACTERIOLAB
file that produces the greatest
number of propellers is the winner.
We will send that person two boxes of
double-sided, double-density SOFTDISK
brand disks along with two library
cases. Any ties will be resolved by
the awesome LOADSTAR random number
generator. In the case of a winning
entry of exceptional merit, we'll up
the prize ante. We will also publish
the winning entry in a later issue so
you can witness the greatest of all
propeller builders! So what are you
waiting for?? Get to the PAYLOAD
section, read a bit more about how to
use BACTERIOLAB, and get those
propellers spinning. Don't forget to
check out our example of propeller
building. Remember, our file is named
PROPS--be sure to take a look at it!
Also be sure to SAVE your winning
entry on a FEEDBACK disk. Have fun and
happy building!!
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