There’s lots of SAM news around this month — software seems to be literally pouring through the letterbox of SAM Co HQ in Swansea. (Makes a change, it’s usually just smoke from the big Bruce Gordon bonfire! The police and fire brigade thought the whole of Swansea was on fire when Bruce decided to burn all the SAM polystyrene boxes! Sorry Bruce, it had to come out in the open!) Here’s the latest:

SPECTRUM CLASSICS, AHOY!

The latest ‘revelation’ at SAM Computers is their Spectrum Classics range. Due to the lack of SAM-specific software, someone came up with the idea of packaging three or four Spectrum games on one disk. There are some terrific games spread through the 50 or so disks available, but there’s a lot of dross as well (inevitable, really). These disks will retail at £4.99.

SAM Co have landed a great deal with Spanish software house, Codigo, to help edit and create the Revelation software so there should be some good SAM-specific stuff coming soon (let me hear y’all say ‘Halellujah’!).

As well as the revamped Spectrum games, a couple of people have been working on original SAM versions of two old Spectrum games: Manic Miner and Splat! You’ve seen pictures of Splat! in these pages before, but these are exclusive screenshots of Miner Willy’s adventures.

Manic Miner was the prequel to Jet Set Willy, following the miner on his battle through the robot-filled underground mines of Surbiton. There’s a set amount of oxygen in each cavern and sparkling objects to collect before you can escape.

The SAM version has full colour graphics, lots of sound effects and music, and as well as the original 20 levels, there are brand new ones to play and tear your hair out over! Manic Miner will set you back a mere £7.99.

TAKE IT FROM THE TOP!

Are you a talented programmer with no way of showing off your efforts to the general public? If you are you’ll be interested in SAMTop Review. This is a service set up especially for programmers to find out what other people think of their work.

The programmer sends his or her masterpiece, a set of instructions and £1 to cover return post and packaging to SAMTop Review, who review the software. Soon the programmer receives an honest review and modifications sheet.

It the program’s good it’s added to the compilation sheet regularly distributed to certain disc magazines who could feature the whole program or a short demo. This gives the programmer confidence in themselves and all-important recognition for their work (or could make them feel suicidal it they’re really crap — Ed).

If you want to take advantage of this service, write to SAMTop Review.

ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR

The All Formats Computer Fair at The Horticultural Halls in London, December 14, saw the launch of a lot of new software from SAM Co. Scheduled for release was The Sound Machine, the first music creation program for SAM — and a ruddy good one at that.

The program allows the musician to use the computer’s sound capabilities to the full with simple but effective musical notation. As well as entering notes you can use the waveform generator to modify the shape of sounds.

Splat! has been released at £7.99 instead of the original price of £9.99 and features an amazing soundtrack that you’ve just got to hear.

That’s the last of the fun titles but also launched at the fair was the Personal Banking System for £29.99 and ProDOS at £25. This CP/M 2.2 DOS emulator opens up a massive amount of serious and utility software to SAM users.

Let’s hope future All Formats Computer Fairs are as good for the SAM, eh readers?