VIC-20 Listings

Magazines > Home Computing Weekly


Home Computing Weekly (GB)

Home Computing Weekly was a British multi-format magazine published by Argus Specialist Publications. It was published weekly apart from the Christmas issues. Despite the serious-looking title & logo it was mostly games-oriented with news, reviews, interviews and some programming tutorials. A total of 133 issues were produced, from 8-14 Mar 1983 until 8-14 Oct 1985, and then it was incorporated into Popular Computing Weekly magazine. The editors were Ron Harris (issues 1-6), Paul Liptrot (issues 7-94) and Dave Carlos (issues 95-133).

Download all programs from this magazine on three disks:


HCW1.d64
(Issues 1-30)

HCW2.d64
(Issues 31-64)

HCW3.d64
(Issues 65-127)

Note: The games Death Duel (84-03-27) and Escape From Orion (84-10-02) are not included on these disks because they currently only load from cassette tape.

116 programs

Program Author Requirements Files Info
Memory Maze

Issue 1
(8-14 Mar 1983),
Pages 14-15.
Kit Watson 3K expansion memory maze 3k.prg
Screenshot
Maze game. A maze is briefly displayed, giving you a few seconds to work out the best route from the start in the top-left corner to the exit at the bottom-right. Can you find the exit?

Controls:
L (left), R (right), U (up), D (down), V (view maze), E (exit).
Better Graphics

Issue 1
(8-14 Mar 1983),
Pages 42-43.
Allen Webb 8K expansion
Before loading type:
POKE44,SA/256: POKE43,SA-PEEK(44)*256: POKESA-1,0: NEW (see notes for the required SA value)
better gfx 8k.t64
Screenshot
Five programs that demonstrate various graphical techniques. Large Screen System gives you a 22x30 screen. Position Cursor is a subroutine to position the cursor on this screen. Animation uses multiple screen to produce an animated display. Vic Configuration helps you set-up the screen. Hi-Res Plot is a subroutine for drawing hi-res graphics.

Controls:
See magazine for details. To load each program, Large Screen System and Position Cursor require SA=6200; Animation requires SA=8192; Vic Configuration can be loaded normally; Hi-Res Plot requires SA=8300.
Vic-Maths

Issue 2
(15-21 Mar 1983),
Page 34.
John Cullen Unexpanded vic-maths.prg
Screenshot
Educational game for young children. Practice maths and mental arithmetic by solving addition, subtraction and multiplication problems.

Controls:
Type your answer and press Return.
How Does Your VIC Sound?

Issue 3
(22-28 Mar 1983),
Pages 12-13.
Allen Webb Unexpanded how vic sound.prg
Screenshot
Machine code routine to produce sound effects.

Controls:
On unexpanded machines, enter a start address between 6600-7400.
Asteroid Field

Issue 3
(22-28 Mar 1983),
Page 36.
Glenn Fair Unexpanded asteroid field.prg
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling space game. Shoot the enemy ships (M) and dodge the asteroids (diamonds).

Controls:
Z (left), M (right), B (fire).
Morse Code Tutor

Issue 4
(29 Mar-4 Apr 1983),
Pages 24-25.
David Bellchambers Unexpanded morse code tutr.prg
Screenshot
Learn and practice how to use Morse code.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Lawn Mower

Issue 5
(5-11 Apr 1983),
Pages 13-14.
Allen Webb 8K expansion lawn mower 8k.d64
Screenshot
Lawn mowing game. You must mow three lawns with your petrol mower, which has a sticky throttle and won't stop moving. Don't hit anything or run out of petrol.

Controls:
Crsr-Down (left), Crsr-Right (right), A (up), Z (down).
Letter Recognition & Spelling

Issue 6
(12-18 Apr 1983),
Pages 40-42.
Vic Rogers Unexpanded letter recog.t64
Screenshot
Two educational games for young children. Letter Recognition is for 3-5 years old, a letter is displayed on the screen and the child must press the matching key. Spelling is for older children, you enter a list of 10 words and the computer will ask the child to spell each word correctly.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Anagrams

Issue 6
(12-18 Apr 1983),
Pages 40-42.
John Cullen 3K expansion build house 3k.prg
Screenshot
Educational game for children. An anagram is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Each time you unscramble the word correctly, it builds another layer of the house. If you take more than 20secs the house will collapse.
Note:
Lines 490-530 have been rewritten to include the words in the program instead of loading them from tape.

Controls:
Type the unscrambled word and press Return.
Calendar

Issue 7
(19-25 Apr 1983),
Pages 38-39.
Kevin Irving Unexpanded calendar.prg
Screenshot
Display a calendar for any month and year.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Pontoon

Issue 8
(26 Apr-2 May 1983),
Pages 29-31.
Alan Blackham 3K expansion pontoon 3k.prg
Screenshot
Card game. You start with two cards and must decide whether to twist (take another card) or stick (keep your current hand). Try to get the highest total that you can without exceeding 21.

Controls:
S (stick), T (twist).
Tiny-Graph

Issue 9
(3-9 May 1983),
Pages 21-23.
Allen Webb 8K expansion
Before loading type:
POKE641,0: POKE642,37: POKE648,30: SYS64824
tiny-graph 8k.t64
Screenshot
Routines to use high resolution graphics in your own programs, accessed via SYS commands. Demo1 displays a grid on the screen. Demo2 is a subroutine to display a text character on the screen.

Controls:
See magazine for details.
Munch Maze

Issue 9
(3-9 May 1983),
Pages 31-32.
Simon Scott Unexpanded munch maze.d64
Screenshot
Pac-Man game with a random maze. Collect all the objects but don't let the goblin catch you.

Controls:
A (left), D (right), W (up), X (down).
Make a Beep

Issue 12
(24-30 May 1983),
Page 19.
Kevin Irving Unexpanded make a beep.prg
Screenshot
Keep beep routine, to make the computer beep whenever a key is pressed.

Controls:
None.
Algebra Made Easy

Issue 12
(24-30 May 1983),
Page 19.
Chris Cattanach Unexpanded algebra easy.prg
Screenshot
Plot a graph of an algebraic function.

Controls:
Modify the program to enter the required function on line 80. The graph is only displayed for a few seconds, press F7 to display it again.
Election Special

Issue 13
(31 May-6 Jun 1983),
Page 18.
Allen Webb Unexpanded election spcl.prg
Screenshot
Enter the results of each constituency to predict who will win a UK General Election.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Asteroids

Issue 14
(7-13 Jun 1983),
Page 23.
Nagaraj Jayakumar Unexpanded asteroids.prg
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling space game. How far can you travel through the asteroid field without being hit?

Controls:
A (left), = (right), ; (fire), S (hyperspace).
Vic Rally

Issue 15
(14-22 Jun 1983),
Pages 29-30.
Sam Manthorpe 3K expansion vic rally 3k.prg
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling car race. As your car accelerates down the track, will you make it to the end without crashing?

Controls:
A (left), D (right).
Stop Your Stop Key

Issue 16
(21-27 Jun 1983),
Page 39.
Kevin Irving Unexpanded stop key.prg
Screenshot
Small subroutine to disable the Run/Stop key, which works with cartridges such as Super Expander. The Run/Stop key can be read as CHR$(3).

Controls:
Put this routine at the start of your own program.
Character Editor

Issue 19
(12-18 Jul 1983),
Pages 25-27.
Allen Webb 8K expansion char editor 8k.prg
Screenshot
Design your own user defined characters.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts. On the editing screen use: Cursor keys (move), * (set pixel), Space (clear pixel), I (invert character), R (reverse character), N (move to next character), G (goto specific character), C (copy character), M (enter macro mode, then enter the characters for the macro), E (return to menu).
Wheelies

Issue 20
(19-25 Jul 1983),
Page 28.
Paul Scrutton Unexpanded wheelies.prg
Screenshot
As a motorcycle stunt rider you must adjust your speed to jump safely over the buses, but don't overshoot the landing ramp.

Controls:
Commodore (accelerate), Shift (decelerate).
Your Lines Renumbered

Issue 20
(19-25 Jul 1983),
Page 38.
Clive Adams Unexpanded line renumber.prg
Screenshot
Subroutine to renumber your programs, which can be appended to the end of a program. It only updates the line numbers, not GOTO or GOSUB statements.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Vangard

Issue 21
(26 Jul-1 Aug 1983),
Pages 11-13.
Issue 25
(23-29 Aug 1983),
Page 16.
Peter Berrecloth Unexpanded vangard.d64
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling space shooter with several stages. You must travel as far as you can into the Vangard system, destroying aliens and shooting fuel dumps.

Controls:
Joystick.
Ski Run

Issue 22
(2-8 Aug 1983),
Pages 10-11.
Michael Pritchard Unexpanded ski run.prg
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling ski race. Can you complete the track without hitting any obstacles?

Controls:
S (left), D (right).
Floating Points

Issue 22
(2-8 Aug 1983),
Page 17.
Allen Webb Unexpanded floating points.prg
Screenshot
Displays a representation of the two six-byte floating point accumulators at the top of the screen.

Controls:
None.
Animation

Issue 22
(2-8 Aug 1983),
Pages 25-26.
Allen Webb 8K expansion
Before loading type:
POKE642,32: POKE648,30: SYS64824
animation 8k.t64
Screenshot
Create your own animated displays.

Controls:
Press C to create a sequence, draw your picture on the screen, press RETURN to move to the next screen (the previous screen will be left intact, press CLR if you don't want it), press F8 to return to the menu when finished.
Screen Invert

Issue 23
(9-15 Aug 1983),
Page 14.
Kevin Irving Unexpanded screen invert.prg
Screenshot
Small machine code routine that reverses all the screen characters, for use in your own programs.

Controls:
SYS830 (invert screen).
Tape Catalogue

Issue 23
(9-15 Aug 1983),
Page 27.
Mike Roberts Unexpanded tape catalogue.prg
Screenshot
Directory program to help you find cassette programs more quickly. It assumes that each side of a C60 cassette has been divided into 10 segments of about 8K each, so programs can be overwritten without destorying the next program on the tape.

Controls:
Modify the data statements from line 500 onwards to match the contents of your tape, then save your programs on tape with the correct spacing between them.
Holiday Special
(Clothes Size/Suntan)

Issue 24
(16-22 Aug 1983),
Pages 29-31.
Allen Webb Unexpanded holiday special.t64
Screenshot
Two holiday utilities. Convert clothes sizes, and calculate which suntan is best for your skin type. Note: the clothes size program corrupts the screen when calculating men's sizes.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Mine Sweeper

Issue 25
(23-29 Aug 1983),
Page 21.
Issue 28
(13-19 Sep 1983),
Page 40.
Issue 32
(11-17 Oct 1983),
Page 39.
Stephen Saxon Unexpanded mine sweeper.prg
Screenshot
Steer your ship through the minefield, clearing the dead mines (+) while avoiding the live ones (*).

Controls:
A (up), Z (down).
Anagram

Issue 25
(23-29 Aug 1983),
Page 37.
Bryn Phillips Unexpanded anagram.prg
Screenshot
Utility. Enter a word or short phrase and the computer will make anagrams from it.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Slalom

Issue 26
(30 Aug-5 Sep 1983),
Pages 21-22.
Mike Roberts Unexpanded slalom.t64
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling ski race. Guide the skier around the flags in the direction indicated.

Controls:
Left Arrow (left), Inst/Del (right).
Artist

Issue 28
(13-19 Sep 1983),
Pages 11-12.
Mike Roberts Unexpanded artist.prg
Screenshot
Art prorgram. Draw lo-res pictures and save them on tape.

Controls:
Joystick or Left Arrow (left), 1 (right), F1 (up), F7 (down), Shift/Ctrl (draw). Load, save or change colour by moving the cross to the icons at the top of the screen.
Double Your Height

Issue 29
(20-26 Sep 1983),
Page 9.
Philip Bidwell Unexpanded double height.prg
Screenshot
Short program to produce double-height characters.

Controls:
None.
Enhanced Basic

Issue 29
(20-26 Sep 1983),
Pages 38-39.
Allen Webb 8K/16K expansion
Before loading type:
POKE642,32: SYS64824
enh basic 8k-16k.t64
Screenshot
Basic extension where the commands are accessed via SYS calls.

Controls:
Adds the following commands, where SA is 24128 for the 16K version or 15936 for the 8K version: SYS(SA)BC,col (set border colour), SYS(SA)SC,col (set screen colour), SYS(SA)VO,vol (set volume), SYS(SA)TU,vol,frq (play tone), SYS(SA)PA,x,y (put cursor at specified coordinates), SYS(SA)LE,y (erase line), SYS(SA)RO,rows (set screen height), SYS(SA)HI,addr (set top of memory), SYS(SA)FR,sn (set screen number).
Save Selectively
(Screen Dump Prog Demo)

Issue 30
(27 Sep-3 Oct 1983),
Page 9.
David Redmonds Unexpanded screen dump.prg
Screenshot
Programming demo showing how to selectively save an area of memory, by saving the screen to tape.

Controls:
Run the program, then press Record & Play on tape. Exit the program, rewind the tape, and type LOAD"",1,1 to reload the file back onto the screen.
Swarm

Issue 30
(27 Sep-3 Oct 1983),
Pages 19-20.
Kevin Boyd & Angus Dorbie Super Expander+3K swarm se3k.prg
Screenshot
Defender game. Shoot as many aliens as you can.

Controls:
Joystick.
Mini Word Pro & Cassette Inserts

Issue 30
(27 Sep-3 Oct 1983),
Pages 38-39.
Alan Blackham Unexpanded & 1515 printer mini word pro.t64
Screenshot
Letter writing program, and cassette inlay printer.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts. In Mini Word Pro, modify lines 550-570 and line 680 to print your own name & address on the letter.
Halloween

Issue 30
(27 Sep-3 Oct 1983),
Pages 44-46.
Issue 31
(4-10 Oct 1983),
Pages 14-15.
Issue 32
(11-17 Oct 1983),
Pages 13-14.
Issue 37
(15-21 Nov-1983),
Page 29.
Alan Blackham 3K expansion halloween 3k.t64
Solution
Screenshot
Text adventure in 4 parts. It is Halloween and you are trapped on the top floor of a spooky mansion house. You must escape by finding the stairs and the way out.

Controls:
Commands include: N, S, W, E, Get, Drop, Look (display inventory), Examine, Open, Go, Shoot, Feed.
Square Puzzle

Issue 33
(18-24 Oct 1983),
Page 15.
Adrian Brain Unexpanded square puzzle.prg
Screenshot
Sliding tile game. Slide the numbers around the grid to put them back into ascending numerical order.

Controls:
U (up), D (down), L (left), R (right), * (end game). Type the direction followed by a number then press Return, e.g. R2 to move right two tiles.
3D Road

Issue 34
(25-31 Oct 1983),
Pages 30-31.
Robert King Unexpanded 3d road.t64
Screenshot
Car driving game, steer your car along the winding road without crashing.

Controls:
Joystick or < (left), > (right).
Snake

Issue 36
(8-14 Nov 1983),
Page 15.
Maurice Robey Unexpanded snake.prg
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling snake game. Hit the stars and avoid the deadly diamonds.

Controls:
Q (left), P (right).
Music Aid

Issue 36
(8-14 Nov 1983),
Pages 22-23.
Alan Blackham 3K expansion music aid 3k.prg
Screenshot
Write music on your computer by selecting notes on a stave, then entering the duration for each note. It can produce a BASIC listing for incorporating the tune into your own program.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Wine Tasting

Issue 37
(15-21 Nov 1983),
Pages 13-14.
Brian Jones 8K expansion wine tasting 8k.prg
Screenshot
Enter your ratings for various wines, and then calculate the average scores.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Voyager

Issue 37
(15-21 Nov 1983),
Page 39.
Kulvinder Bhupal Unexpanded voyager.prg
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling space game. Fly your rocket avoiding the stars, and dock with motherships to gain extra fuel.

Controls:
< (left), > (right).
Dam Raid

Issue 38
(22-28 Nov 1983),
Page 21.
Nigel Ridgway Unexpanded dam raid.t64
Screenshot
Nibblers game. Defend the dam by launching your ship and dropping bombs on the incoming missiles, while the local population are evacuated to safety.

Controls:
F5 (launch ship), F7 (drop bomb).
Star Trek

Issue 39
(29 Nov-5 Dec 1983),
Pages 19-20.
David Wilkinson 3K expansion star trek 3k.prg
Screenshot
Star Trek game. As captain of the Starship Exitprise, you must destroy all the Klingons.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts. The galaxy is a grid of 5*12 quadrants, where each quadrant is a grid of 8*8 coordinates. A long range scan tells you the number of Klingons (left number) and starships (right number) in each quadrant. After shooting a ship you must perform a long range scan to enter it into the log.
Spiders Web

Issue 40
(6-12 Dec 1983),
Pages 13-14.
Michael Diskett 16K expansion
Before loading type:
POKE642,32: SYS64824
spiders web 16k.prg
Screenshot
Panic game with spiders. Capture the black spiders by weaving a small web to trap them, then weave another web over the trapped spider to kill it.

Controls:
Joystick or W (up), X (down), A (left), D (right), Q/E/Z/C (diagonals), S (make web).
Plate Spinner

Issue 40
(6-12 Dec 1983),
Pages 62-63.
B M Phillips Unexpanded plate spinner.t64
Screenshot
Keep the plates spinning on top of their poles. As they slow down, they wobble more until they fall off.

Controls:
Joystick or . (left), / (right), S (spin).
Turtle Graphics

Issue 41
(13-19 Dec 1983),
Pages 17-18.
Alan Wilburn 3K expansion turtle gfx 3k.t64
Screenshot
Turtle Graphics program. Use an imaginary turtle to move a pen on the screen and draw complex shapes.

Controls:
BASIC extension that adds the following commands: VICPEN (activate hi-res screen), PENx,y (put pen at those coordinates), TURN(n) (turn the pen n degrees), DRAW(n) (draw a line with length n).
Floating Four

Issue 42
(20 Dec 1983-2 Jan 1984),
Pages 53-54.
Peter Berrecloth Unexpanded floating four.t64
Screenshot
Connect 4 game for two players, with an innovative twist. Try to get four counters in a straight line, horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Counters can be dropped from any of the four sides of the board, and will fall until they either meet another counter or hit the opposite side of the board.

Controls:
Player 1: Space (drop), any other key (move).
Player 2: Joystick.
Deflexor

Issue 43
(3-9 Jan 1984),
Page 19.
Peter Berrecloth Unexpanded deflexor.t64
Screenshot
Breakout game. Use your bat and ball to destroy the bricks at the top of the screen. The balls pile up at the bottom of the screen each time you miss a ball, and the game ends if these reach your bat.

Controls:
Left Arrow (left), F1 (right).
3D Shapes

Issue 45
(17-23 Jan 1984),
Page 26.
J D Peel Super Expander+3K 3d shapes se3k.prg
Screenshot
Define a flat shape such as a square or hexagon and then draw it as a 3D object that can be rotated as desired. For example, try entering the following: Number of points = 4; X,Y Coordinates = (300,300), (700,300), (700,700), (300,700); Depth = 400; Pivot point = 500,500,500; Vert tilt = 25; Hor rot = 50; scr plane rot = 75.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Music Record Library

Issue 46
(24-30 Jan 1984),
Pages 47-48.
John Ingham 8K expansion record index 8k.prg
Screenshot
Database to store the title and artist of all your music cassette tapes.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Bomber

Issue 47
(31 Jan-6 Feb 1984),
Pages 36-37.
Issue 51
(28 Feb-5 Mar 1984),
Page 32.
Ian Goldsack Unexpanded bomber.prg
Screenshot
Blitz game. Your plane is running out of fuel, and one of the buildings contains a spy who will cripple your country's defences. You must destroy all the buildings one brick at a time to land your plane.

Controls:
Space (drop bomb).
Valentine Capers

Issue 48
(7-13 Feb 1984),
Pages 34-35.
Alan Blackham 3K expansion valentine 3k.prg
Screenshot
Your girlfriend is throwing hearts from a ledge. You must catch five hearts while avoiding her father.

Controls:
A (left), L (right).
Bubble Sort Demo

Issue 49
(14-20 Feb 1984),
Pages 43-44.
Alan Blackham Unexpanded bubblesort demo.prg
Screenshot
Enter a list of 10 words, and the computer will graphically demonstrate how bubblesort arranges them into alphabetical order.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Quasimodo

Issue 49
(14-20 Feb 1984),
Page 49.
Richard Ikin Unexpanded quasimodo.prg
Screenshot
Jump over the fireballs and climb the ladder to ring the bell.

Controls:
L (left), P (right), A (jump/climb).
Great Britain and Eire

Issue 49
(14-20 Feb 1984),
Page 50.
P Stoddart Unexpanded gb and eire.prg
Screenshot
Displays a detailed map of Great Britain and Eire.

Controls:
None.
Crazy Craneman

Issue 51
(28 Feb-5 Mar 1984),
Page 10.
Andrew McNally Unexpanded crazy craneman.prg
Screenshot
Use your crane to pick up the crates (red square) and put them on the moving ship.

Controls:
Press any key to pick up a crate, and again to lower it onto the ship.
Rhino

Issue 51
(28 Feb-5 Mar 1984),
Pages 47-48.
Ian Creasey Unexpanded rhino.prg
Screenshot
Several rhinos are hidden among the trees. You must guide your man (*) safely home (H), but the rhinos will appear and charge if you stray into their line of vision.

Controls:
F1 (up), F5 (down), F7 (left), F3 (right), F2/F4/F6/F8 (diagonals).
Shrink

Issue 51
(28 Feb-5 Mar 1984),
Pages 47-48.
Ian Creasey Unexpanded shrink.prg
Screenshot
Programming tool. Reduce the size of your Basic programs by removing REM statements and unnecessary spaces.

Controls:
Type SYS7424 to run, or POKE56,30:CLR to remove from memory.
Craps

Issue 53
(13-19 Mar 1984),
Page 28.
Richard Ikin Unexpanded craps.prg
Screenshot
Dice game. You win if you throw 7 or 11, lose if you throw 2 or 12, and if you throw anything else then you must re-throw that same number before getting a 7.

Controls:
Type the value of each bet.
Bugs

Issue 54
(20-26 Mar 1984),
Pages 10-11.
Terry Bartlett & Antonia Jones Unexpanded bugs.prg
Screenshot
You are a CPU garbage collector. Collect all the rubbish while avoiding the program pulses. Once you start moving, you continue moving until you either change direction or hit a wall.

Controls:
Joystick.
Sound Effects

Issue 54
(20-26 Mar 1984),
Pages 10-12.
Issue 58
(17-23 Apr 1984),
Page 16.
Terry Bartlett & Antonia Jones 3K expansion sound fx 3k.prg
Screenshot
Plays the following sound effects: Photon Attack, UFO Landing, Lone UFO, Shrill, Red Alert, Helicopter, Flanger.

Controls:
None.
Death Duel

Issue 55
(27 Mar-2 Apr 1984),
Pages 10-11.
George Karbouloni 3K expansion death duel 3k.t64
Screenshot
Aerial dogfight for two players, with rockets, mines and turbo-boosts. Who will be the first to shoot their opponent five times? Note: This only loads from tape, not disk.

Controls:
Player 1: < (left), > (right), Z (rocket), X (place mine), / (turbo boost).
Player 2: Joystick.
Program Security

Issue 55
(27 Mar-2 Apr 1984),
Pages 27-28.
Tom Lau Unexpanded secure program.prg
Screenshot
Programming demo showing how to add a password to your programs, to discourage unauthorised use.

Controls:
Type the required password (MKXJ).
Investment

Issue 55
(27 Mar-2 Apr 1984),
Pages 27-28.
Tom Lau Unexpanded investment eval.prg
Screenshot
Calculate how much interest you could earn from investing various amounts between an upper and lower limit.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Day Finder

Issue 55
(27 Mar-2 Apr 1984),
Page 44.
A R Jenns Unexpanded day finder.prg
Screenshot
Enter any date between 1800 and 2099, and this program will display the day of the week.

Controls:
Type the required date using the format "DD,MMM,YYYY" e.g. "25,DEC,1983".
Subhunt

Issue 56
(3-9 Apr 1984),
Pages 10-12.
Bryn Phillips Unexpanded subhunt.t64
Screenshot
Strategy game, use your submarine to find and destroy the enemy convoy. As you move around the grid, your sonar tells you how close you are to a hidden ship. Then fire a torpedo in the required direction.

Controls:
1 (move, enter new coordinates), 2 (fire, select a direction).
Catch 'Em

Issue 56
(3-9 Apr 1984),
Pages 10-12.
Mathew Solly Unexpanded catch-em.t64
Screenshot
Use your boat to catch the parachutists as they fall from the sky.

Controls:
Z (left), X (right).
Muncher

Issue 57
(10-16 Apr 1984),
Pages 8-9.
Joe Sayones Unexpanded muncher.prg
Screenshot
You are a spider (*) and must avoid the Muncher (O), who chases you around the screen. Try to survive for as long as possible without touching anything.

Controls:
Z (left), X (right), , (up), / (down).
Mean Dave

Issue 57
(10-16 Apr 1984),
Pages 8-9.
Stephen Dallimore Unexpanded mean dave.prg
Screenshot
Donkey Kong game. Climb to the top of the girders, jumping over the gaps and balls, to rescue your girlfriend.

Controls:
L (left), ; (right), Q (jump).
Fruit Machine

Issue 57
(10-16 Apr 1984),
Page 10.
D J Saunders Unexpanded djs bandit.t64
Screenshot
Fruit machine game. Win 500 credits to break the bank.

Controls:
Z (spin reels), 1-3 (nudge reel, when flashing).
Frog Runner

Issue 62
(15-21 May 1984),
Pages 20-22.
Peter Berrecloth Unexpanded frog runner.d64
Screenshot
Frogger game. Dodge the traffic and then leap from log to log as you try to return home.

Controls:
A (up), Z (down), Crsr-Down (left), Crsr-Right (right).
Galaxy!

Issue 63
(22-28 May 1984),
Pages 16-17.
Chris Pettit & Nic Brereton Unexpanded galaxy.prg
Screenshot
Galaxians game. Shoot the alien invaders as they swoop down to attack you.

Controls:
Z (left), X (right), Shift (fire).
Pilot 20

Issue 63
(22-28 May 1984),
Pages 16-19.
Graham Wells 3K expansion pilot20 3k.prg
Screenshot
Flight simulator. Land a light aircraft on a runway at night before you run out of fuel.

Controls:
< (revs up), > (revs down), UpArrow (nose up), * (nose down), [ (bank left), ] (bank right), G (gear up), H (gear down), F (lower flaps), D (raise flaps), M (show map).
VIC-20 ROM Error

Issue 63
(22-28 May 1984),
Page 40.
Arun Kundnani Unexpanded rom error.prg
Screenshot
Small program to display some of the error messages in the kernal ROM. The message "I/O ERROR" is not mentioned in the manual, and some messages include capital letters.

Controls:
None.
Draw Masterpieces The Easy Way

Issue 64
(29 May-4 Jun 1984),
Page 38.
? Unexpanded draw master.prg
Screenshot
Low-res art program, draw your own pictures on the screen.

Controls:
Joystick or P (up), . (down), L (left), ; (right), F (change character), F1 (erase), F3 (solid block), F5 (character), F6 (clear screen), M (store picture in memory), R (recall picture from memory).
Scramble

Issue 65
(5-11 Jun 1984),
Pages 40-41.
Adam Lowe 3K expansion scramble 3k.d64
Screenshot
Scramble game. Fly as far as you can across the enemy landscape, dodging space mines and bombing fuel dumps. Optionally plays the Star Wars theme before the game begins.

Controls:
W (up), X (down), S (fire laser), Space (drop bomb).
Defender

Issue 65
(5-11 Jun 1984),
Pages 40-42.
Adam Lowe 3K expansion defender 3k.d64
Screenshot
Defender game. Use your spaceship to protect the men from the aliens.

Controls:
W (up), X (down), A (stop), D (forward), S (fire).
Spider Trap

Issue 66
(12-18 Jun 1984),
Pages 7-9.
Albert Plattner Unexpanded spider trap.prg
Screenshot
Spider game, similar to Snake or Tron. Eat all the flies, but avoid the ink blobs and the trail of silk that is left behind you.

Controls:
Z (left), X (right), K (up), M (down), E (escape).
Wild West Gunfight
(Gunsling)

Issue 67
(19-25 Jun 1984),
Pages 24-26.
Massimo Lenza Unexpanded gunsling.prg
Screenshot
Boot Hill game for two players. Try to shoot your opponent before he shoots you. The first player to reach 20 points wins.

Controls:
Player 1: Q (up), W (down), E (down two), F (fire).
Player 2: I (up), O (down), P (down two), K (fire).
Race Car

Issue 69
(3-9 Jul 1984),
Pages 8-9.
R H Boyd 3K expansion race car 3k.prg
Screenshot
Dodgems game. Navigate your car through the maze collecting as many dots as you can, but do not hit the white car.

Controls:
J (move inwards), K (move outwards), A (accelerate), D (slow down).
Quasimodo

Issue 70
(10-16 Jul 1984),
Pages 8-9.
Joe Sayones Unexpanded quasimodo.t64
Screenshot
Quasimodo game with 14 screens. Dodge the arrows, barrels, pits and other obstacles to reach the right-hand side of the screen.

Controls:
/ (move right), Ctrl (jump). Press both keys together to jump over something.
Greenham Common

Issue 73
(31 Jul-6 Aug 1984),
Pages 26-27.
Stephen Dommett Unexpanded greenham common.prg
Screenshot
Steer your woman through the gap in the police cordon at the bottom of the screen to destroy the nuclear missiles. Destroy 30 missiles to win.

Controls:
Z (left), M (right).
Screen Extended

Issue 75
(14-20 Aug 1984),
Page 27.
Andy Hopkins 16K expansion
Before loading type:
POKE45,3: POKE46,20: POKE20*256,0: POKE43,1: POKE44,20: NEW
scr extend 16k.prg
Screenshot
Small programming routine to create a 25x30 character screen.

Controls:
None.
Draw With Your VIC

Issue 78
(4-10 Sep 1984),
Page 6.
M R Lucas Unexpanded draw with vic.prg
Screenshot
Simple drawing program, produce lo-res pictures.

Controls:
U (up), D (down), L (left), R (right).
Find pi

Issue 78
(4-10 Sep 1984),
Page 6.
Brian Harrison Unexpanded find pi.prg
Screenshot
Calculate the mathematical value of pi. The program runs in a continuous loop, and displays the current estimated value when you press a key.

Controls:
Press any key (display estimate).
Wall Street

Issue 80
(18-24 Sep 1984),
Pages 28-31.
Sean Conway Unexpanded wall street.t64
Screenshot
Stock market game. Try to make as much money as you can by dealing in five commodities: red glue, clear soap, soft drinks, toothpaste and magazines.

Controls:
For each stock, enter a positive number to buy, a negative number to sell, or 0 to skip.
Screen Scene

Issue 80
(18-24 Sep 1984),
Page 34.
Ian Longdon Unexpanded screen scene.prg
Screenshot
Programming routine that makes the screen open and close.

Controls:
None.
Escape From Orion

Issue 82
(2-8 Oct 1984),
Pages 24-26.
Craig Ford 16K expansion escape orion 16k.t64
Screenshot
Platform game with two screens. Collect all the precious metals while avoiding the warlords, then return to the ship. Complete both screens to raise enough money to bribe the pilot to take you home. Note: This only loads from tape, not disk.

Controls:
A (up), Z (down), O (left), P (right), Space (jump).
VIC Piano Keys

Issue 86
(30 Oct-5 Nov 1984),
Page 12.
Geoffrey Sanson Unexpanded vic piano keys.prg
Screenshot
IRQ music program that plays a note with each keypress as you type on the keyboard.

Controls:
Press any key (play note).
The Walls

Issue 86
(30 Oct-5 Nov 1984),
Pages 16-18.
Paul Sansom & Paul Newsham Unexpanded the walls.prg
Screenshot
Move around the room eating the eggs and avoiding the forks, while the walls close in around you. Collect the key and use the exit to avoid certain death.

Controls:
Z (left), X (right), : (up), . (down).
Diver

Issue 86
(30 Oct-5 Nov 1984),
Pages 18-20.
Paul Sansom & Paul Newsham Unexpanded diver.t64
Screenshot
Collect the gold coins and take them to your boat, while avoiding the sharks.

Controls:
Z (left), X (right), : (up), . (down).
Martian Attack

Issue 86
(30 Oct-5 Nov 1984),
Pages 20-22.
Paul Sansom & Paul Newsham Unexpanded martian attack.t64
Screenshot
Vertically scrolling space shooter. Fly through the city shooting the alien attack waves. To destroy the tractor beams, shoot one of the photon zappers at either end.

Controls:
Z (left), X (right), M (fire).
Astro Wars

Issue 87
(6-12 Nov 1984),
Pages 21-22.
Marcel Melito Unexpanded astro wars.prg
Screenshot
Shoot the invaders as they emerge from the mother ship to attack you.

Controls:
Z (left), C (right), M (fire).
Character Enlarger

Issue 90
(27 Nov-3 Dec 1984),
Page 26.
Tom Clark Unexpanded char enlarger.prg
Screenshot
Utility, displays an enlarged bitmap of any character.

Controls:
Type the character that you want to enlarge.
Catch 'Em

Issue 91
(4-10 Dec 1984),
Pages 12-14.
Paul Cockerton Unexpanded catch em.t64
Screenshot
Catch the coins as they fall from the sky. When "score bonus" appears, drop the coins into the boat.

Controls:
Arrow Left (left), F1 (right), F7 (drop coins).
Bone Hunt

Issue 92
(11-17 Dec 1984),
Pages 19-20.
Paul Shaddick Unexpanded bone hunt.prg
Screenshot
Move your dog around the maze and collect the bones before you run out of time.

Controls:
Z (left), X (right), P (up), L (down).
Interfacing machine code to BASIC

Issue 92
(11-17 Dec 1984),
Page 28.
Allen Webb Unexpanded interfacing.t64
Screenshot
Subroutines demonstrating how to use machine code subroutines in your BASIC programs.

Controls:
See magazine for details.
Mollie Malone

Issue 94
(8-14 Jan 1985),
Page 44.
M R Lucas Unexpanded mollie malone.prg
Screenshot
Plays the tune Mollie Malone.

Controls:
None.
Battle Ships

Issue 95
(15-21 Jan 1985),
Pages 27-29.
Al Plattner Unexpanded battle ships.prg
Screenshot
Move around the grid turning the squares red, without crossing any red squares. Beware of the ship that is also turning squares red, which could leave you trapped.

Controls:
Enter co-ordinates by typing a letter and number separated by a comma, e.g. "A,7" and press Return. Then press F1 to launch a missile or F3 to launch a salvo at those co-ordinates.
Grid Man

Issue 96
(22-28 Jan 1985),
Pages 32-33.
Gary Todd Unexpanded grid man.prg
Screenshot
Move around the grid turning the squares red, without crossing any red squares. Beware of the ship that is also turning squares red, which could leave you trapped.

Controls:
Joystick.
Sabeus

Issue 97
(29 Jan-4 Feb 1985),
Pages 18-22.
Richard Ikin 16K expansion sabeus 16k.t64
Screenshot
Use your jetpack to collect all the objects while avoiding the alien, then use the door to move into the next cavern. There are three caverns to complete.

Controls:
Joystick or A (left), D (right), P (up), L (down).
Helping Hand

Issue 97
(29 Jan-4 Feb 1985),
Pages 36-40.
Simon Mills Unexpanded cp-v.d64
Screenshot
Four utilities. CP/V is a disk manager, Help explains how to use CP/V, Find will locate variables or text within a program, and Renumber will renumber a program from 0 with steps of 1.

Controls:
CP/V accepts the following commands: DIR, REN, ERA, SYSGEN, ERR, VAL, LOAD, LIST, TYPE, TIME, TAPE, INIT, FOR, BAS, COPY, HELP and SETTIME. Find and Renumber are subroutines that you need to append to your program. Run them by typing RUN60000 and then follow the prompts.
Power Racer

Issue 101
(26 Feb-4 Mar 1985),
Pages 20-22.
Alan Brack Unexpanded power racer.t64
Screenshot
Drive the Power Racer 5000 (black car) past the other cars to complete as many laps as you can without crashing.

Controls:
K (up), M (down), Z (forward).
Fast and Furious

Issue 103
(12-18 Mar 1985),
Pages 32-33.
Mark Fisher Unexpanded fast furious.t64
Screenshot
Platform game. Collect at least five bags by walking beneath them, then collect the key from the top-right corner and go to the door at the bottom-left corner to complete the level. Each level requires you to collect one more bag within the time limit, while avoiding the monsters.

Controls:
A (left), L (right), P (up), Z (down).
Light Cycles

Issue 105
(26 Mar-1 Apr 1985),
Pages 27-28.
Kenny Moriarty Unexpanded light cycles.t64
Screenshot
Tron game for two players. Each player leaves a trail as they race around the grid. Try to trap your opponent into hitting your trail before you hit theirs.

Controls:
Player 1: CBM (left), Shift (right).
Player 2: Crsr-Down (left), Crsr-Right (right).
Easter Time

Issue 106
(2-8 Apr 1985),
Pages 24-29.
Mike Roberts 16K expansion easter time 16k.d64
Solution
Screenshot
Text adventure. Your Easter egg has been stolen by the killer bunnies. You must risk death to recover it.

Controls:
Type two-word commands. Commands include: N, S, W, E, U, D, look, help, inventory, take, get, drop, score (there are others).
Squashed Frog

Issue 111
(7-13 May 1985),
Pages 33-35.
Paul Burke Unexpanded squashed frog.t64
Screenshot
Frogger game. Guide the frog home by dodging the traffic and jumping across the logs.

Controls:
F (left), H (right), T (up), V (down).
Calendar

Issue 116
(11-17 Jun 1985),
Pages 39-40.
W A Douglas Unexpanded calendar.prg
Screenshot
Display a calendar for any month & year from AD1 to infinity.

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Graphic Editor

Issue 116
(11-17 Jun 1985),
Pages 39-41.
W A Douglas Unexpanded gfx editor.t64
Screenshot
Graphics editor. Design your own hi-res characters in pairs, which this program will convert into DATA statements. You can then erase this program by deleting lines 1-22 leaving just the data statements in memory, and write the rest of your program around them.

Controls:
Move the cursor up to the two grids. Draw your characters by pressing Commodore and + for each pixel that you want to turn on. Then move the cursor back to its original position and press Return to generate the data statements. Press Return over each line to store them in memory.
Vampire

Issue 118
(25 Jun-1 Jul 1985),
Pages 23-25.
Alan Brack Unexpanded vampire.t64
Screenshot
Guide the vampire back to his coffin before daybreak, while avoiding the wolves.

Controls:
Joystick or Z (up), X (down), B (left), N (right), M (fire).
Puzzle Prog

Issue 118
(25 Jun-1 Jul 1985),
Page 46.
Issue 119
(2-8 Jul 1985),
Page 46.
? Unexpanded puzzle prog.prg
Screenshot
Enter a number between 111 and 999, and the program will perform a series of calculations. Can you explain how it works?

Controls:
Follow on-screen prompts.
Mutant Attack

Issue 127
(27 Aug-2 Sep 1985),
Pages 15-17.
S Mitchell Unexpanded mutant attack.prg
Screenshot
Horizontally scrolling space shooter. You are trapped on an insect planet, shoot the insects and try not to run out of energy.

Controls:
Joystick.

Notes

  1. The following programs are missing from this magazine: Mazes make the game by Allen Webb (19 Jul 1983), Parker by Giovanni Quaglia (1 Nov 1983), Blackjack by Jonathan Fancey (8 Jan 1985).
  2. Better Graphics (83-03-08) and Enhanced Basic (83-09-20) were also published as VIC Enhancers (Personal Software, 85-05).
  3. Program Security (83-03-27) and Investment (84-03-27) were originally published in the book Putting Your VIC-20 to Work by Tom Lau.
  4. A slightly different version of Animation (83-08-02) was published as VIC Animator (Personal Computing Today, 83-01).
  5. A modified version of Tape Catalogue (83-08-09) appears to have been published as Input/Output (VicTape Computing, issue 9).
  6. A slightly different version of Music Aid (83-11-08) was published in Personal Software (85-05).
  7. Star Trek (83-11-29) was also published as Galaxy Hero (Personal Software, 85-05).
  8. Great Britain and Eire (84-02-14) was also published as Great Britain (Personal Software, 85-05).
  9. Crazy Craneman (84-02-28) was also published in Personal Software (85-05).
  10. Rhino (84-02-28) and Shrink (84-02-28) were originally published in the book VIC-20 Mind Stretchers.
  11. Bugs (84-03-20) and Sound Effects (84-03-20) were originally published in the book Winning Games on the VIC-20.
  12. Defender (84-06-05) appears to be a modified version of Invasion (VIC Innovative Computing).
  13. Race Car (84-07-03) appears to be a modified version of Race Car (Commodore Computing International, 83-08). The HCW version was also published as Collision Ahead! (Personal Software, 85-05).
  14. Quasimodo (84-07-10) was also published as The Bells! (Personal Software, 85-05).
  15. VIC Piano Keys (84-10-30) appears to be a modified version of Melody Keyboard That Makes Programming Fun (Micom BASIC, 83-02).
  16. Astro Wars (84-11-06) appears to be a modified version of Space Fight (VIC Innovative Computing).
  17. A modified version of Squashed Frog (85-05-07) appears to have been published as Frogger (Compute mit, 86-09).

With thanks to Internet Archive for scanning this magazine.

VIC-20 Listings <http://www.vic20listings.freeolamail.com/>
Copyright (C) R.M. Smedley 2023, All Rights Reserved.
This page was last updated 9-Sep-2023.