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roving report 1
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The LOADSTAR Roving Reporter
=== ======== ====== ========
goes to SOFTCON '84
==== == ======= ===
The first annual SOFTCON SOFTware
CONvention was held in the awe-inspir-
ing Superdome in New Orleans, LA. Un-
like other computer shows and fairs,
SOFTCON was not specific to any one
computer, but was dedicated to soft-
ware only. Hardware could only be
shown in terms of any ROM software it
might contain.
IBM, Apple, DEC and others showed
interesting new products. Apple of
course was showing off the MacIntosh,
IBM had their new Color Printer, and
DEC had a superb voice synthesizer
that could interface to any computer.
Commodore was there as well, in a
large booth in a corner on the main
arena level of the dome. They showed
their new 264 and 364V computers, the
long-awaited B-series, and the incred-
ible SX-64. They also showed Magic
Voice, a voice synthesizer for the
Commodore 64 family (includes SX-64).
The 264 and 364V have built-in ap-
plications software. For example, you
might want a 264 with built-in word
processing, or you might prefer built-
in spreadsheet or built-in Data Base
or even built-in Logo! Of course,
they also come with BASIC. This ver-
sion of BASIC has graphics and sound
commands, disk-handling commands (a-la
BASIC V4) and other very nice extras,
and it leaves you with 60K RAM free
for BASIC programs! (As opposed to
38K from Commodore 64 BASIC). The 364
is basically a 264 with numeric key-
board and Magic Voice built-in. Both
machines have 16 different hues, each
having 8 luminances for a total of
128 shades of color. However, they do
not have sprites, and they have only 2
voices with no envelope or filters.
Because of this, they are not software
compatible with the 64 or any other
Commodore computers. The 264 and 364V
fell right on their "faces" at the
show in terms of press and public op-
inion, and at last word, Commodore has
"delayed" introduction of these two
machines.
The SX-64 is another story! It is
almost completely software and hard-
ware compatible with the C-64. It is
a self-contained transportable unit
with a detachable keyboard (similar in
layout to the C-64's), a 1541-compati-
ble disk drive, and a 6-inch built-in
COLOR monitor. It has 2 game ports,
a user port and a cartridge expansion
port. It also has a VIC/C-64 compati-
ble serial-bus port, and an 8-pin au-
dio/video port, just like the newer
64's. It has a very sturdy handle,
and a magnetically-shielded compart-
ment for holding diskettes. All of
this runs from a single power cord!
The SX-64 weighs in at under 30 pounds
and is perfect for use in club meet-
ings, shows, etc. because the built-in
monitor lets the operator see what he
is doing, while an external Commodore
1700-series monitor lets everyone else
see. It retails for $995, but I have
seen them discounted as low as the mid
$700's. (Remember, that is equivilant
to a C-64 plus 1541 disk drive plus
color monitor!) Despite earlier ru-
mors, the SX-64 does NOT have an IEEE-
488 interface built in. It also has
no cassette port, so no cassette-based
software or hardware (such as the CARD
/? interfaces, etc.) can be used.
Magic Voice is a cartridge that is
plugged into the expansion (cartridge)
port on the C-64 or SX-64. It has an
Audio In and an Audio Out jack so that
the speech can be sent to a separate
speaker, or mixed with the C-64 SID-
chip sound. Magic Voice has built-in
firmware that adds a "SAY" command to
BASIC, and a 235-word vocabulary in a
natural-sounding female voice. By ad-
ditional cartridges or machine-lang-
uage drivers, more words and voices
can be added. Magic Voice can do fe-
male, male and child-like voices, plus
"character" voices, "robot" voices and
even sound-effects that SID would find
tough going. Magic Voice has a cart-
ridge slot that is identical to the
64's own slot, so that other cartrid-
ges can be used with Magic Voice. In
fact, some of Commodore's cartridge
programs already support voice! Magic
Desk 1.1, GORF, and Wizard of Wor all
speak if plugged into Magic Voice, but
work without it as well (albeit w/o a
spoken word). Wizard of Wor + Magic
Voice = the most accurate reproduction
of any arcade game on a home system
that I have ever seen bar none! Magic
Voice is supposed to retail for $99.
The first of Commodore's Gold Me-
dalion sports simulation games was in-
troduced. It is called International
Soccer. It has a scrolling perspec-
tive display, 9 levels of human vs.
computer play, and human vs. human
play. The ball may be passed with the
feet or head, and the goalie can be
told exactly when to make his move.
Authentic out-of-bounds throw-ins, a
shadow under the ball, player-select-
able jersey colors, animated specta-
tors, and end-of-game festivities add
to the feeling of realism. Commodore
plans several equally realistic ver-
sions of other sports.
-----continued in next article-----