APDL Public Domain 2/APDL_PD2A.iso/magazines/spectrum2/!Spectrum2/Articles/Features/AcornShow

Text File | 1994-09-11 | 3.6 KB | 66 lines

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The AU Spring Show 1994
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  For Acorn users in the north, the success of last year's spring show
was good news.  This year it was in the large hall usually used by
the popular flower show, but it was still very packed.  More
exhibitors were present, which means that the show is likely to stay
for good on the calendar.  Ian and myself went down to the show on
the saturday, and Dave visited on the sunday.  The star of the show
was the new Risc PC, a step into the PC market for Acorn.  Crowds
hovered around the Acorn stands hoping to catch a glimpse of this new
machine.  Meanwhile, Ian and I nipped over to a nearby stall (no
names mentioned) and sat at a vacant machine (obviously overlooked by
the rest of the show go-ers), and Wow!  But see Ian's review for more
on that.

  Acorn User had the human computer game offering the chance to win
hundreds of pounds of software.  You had to visit various stands
around the hall, noting down letters, and rearrange these to make a
phrase, but as those who went will know, 'most Acorn users find it
easy'!  A large theatre had been erected near the entrance complete
with huge screen, and was home to a continuous programme.
Entertainer and television personality Keith Chegwin could be seen
around the show.  We watched as he bravely attempted to play 'The
Crystal Maze'.  He managed a feeble 14 points, and later hosted the
final, where teams had scored 300+.  There were even a couple of the
games from the television show itself, just to prove that it really
is harder than it looks.  New this year was the club corner.  The ARM
club and Illusions Disc Magazine (not free!) were present here, along
with a number of local user groups, including 8 bit software!
Another first was the presence of the Datafile PD library.  Dave and
Sue McCartney were doing a roaring trade on font packs as well as PD
discs.  At the Computer Concepts stand, they were demonstrating their
new packages Impression Style and Artworks v1.5.  All very impressive
stuff.  Clares launched the new ProArtisan 2 with Photo CD
compatibility.  HCCS launched their double speed CDROM drive, and
Vision 24, a 24 bit version of the popular Vision video digitiser.
Gamesware had a large presence, with flashing lights and large
television screens.  They had Simon the Sorcerer for sale, on one CD
or quite a lot of floppy discs.  Oregan were holding a competition
using their new game, Magnetoids, but many found it too difficult!
Another competition was the 'Dig for Diggers', which was designed for
under 12s.  This did not stop Ian having a go, and winning!  Krisalis
had Sensible Soccer and Speedball 2 with a number of special show
reductions.  The Fourth Dimension were, as usual, flogging off all of
their games for vastly reduced prices; Dave got E-Type for a fiver!
A new magazine devoted to Acorn games players was launched; Acorn
Action, edited by the ex Acorn User games editor, Sam Greenhill,
hopes to give advice, reviews and demos of all the latest games.

  As a final note, on our visit to the Archimedes World stand, we
were puzzled to see what appeared to be a RiscPC, running on an
A5000.  Closer inspection revealed that it was an A5000, and that it
was running software modules, developed by Acorn for the new RiscPC,
to emulate the new machine.  A spokesman for Archimedes World said
that these would probably never be released to the general public,
but declined from giving any further information.

  All in all, a very good day out.  I hope to able to attend next
year, to see how the RiscPC has faired, and what new developments
have surfaced.

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