Atari 130XE Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner
First published in 1985, this user-friendly guide to coding machine language on the Atari 130XE helped many owners of the much-loved home computer achieve programming feats well beyond the limits of BASIC. Based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU running at 1.79 MHz, the 130XE was one of Atari’s famed 8-bit range – in fact the first home computer series to be designed with custom co-processor chips.
30 Programs for the Sinclair ZX80
The ZX80 home computer was launched in 1980 by the then still-to-be-knighted home computer mogul Clive Sinclair. Available in kit form at £79.99 for the aspiring hobbyist or pre-built at a price of £99.99 the ground-breaking machine offered home computing for the kind of money an average family could afford. The inventor’s company would grow to become Sinclair Research and release even more powerful machines such as the ZX81, QL and (at the time) the UK’s best-selling computer, the ZX Spectrum.
This book – originally published by Melbourne House – contains thirty programs for the reader to run on their ZX80, after spending time carefully typing them in! The programs were designed to introduce the user to various capabilities offered by the ZX80 and its generous 1KB of memory.
Vic 20 Exposed
First published in 1983, this user-friendly guide to the VIC 20 helped many owners of the much-loved home computer understand their machine to a whole new level. Considered now to have been well ahead of its time, the VIC 20 was the first computer ever to sell one million units and still has a dedicated fanbase.
The Sam Coupe User's Guide
The SAM Coupé was an 8-bit British home computer first released in late 1989. Designed to offer backwards compatibility with the ZX Spectrum, it was marketed as a logical upgrade for owners of the much-loved range of Sinclair machines. Originally manufactured by Miles Gordon Technology, the SAM Coupé promised a great deal. Sadly, however, it was not a financial success due to a lack of commercial software and tough competition from the faster 16-bit processors of its rivals.
This 30th Anniversary Edition User’s Guide features a new foreword from Mel Croucher, the original author. The manual is Illustrated throughout by Robin Evans, his memorable creation Sam the Robot always on hand to help users get the most out of their wonder machine.
Mastering the Commodore 64
First published in 1983, this user-friendly guide to the Commodore 64 helped many owners of the much-loved home computer understand their machine to a whole new level. The details within the book enabled users to go further than the confines of programming purely in BASIC and is still a highly useful guide for those interested in retro gaming on the classic machine.
Commodore 64 Exposed
Originally published by Melbourne House in 1983, this outstanding reference work on Commodore 64 programming found its home on many programmers’ shelves back in the heyday of the home microcomputer.
Spectrum Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner
First published in 1982, William Tang’s Spectrum Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner is generally considered to be the best introduction to 8-bit machine code programming ever written. With many great game writers crediting this as the book that got them started, there still is no better way to learn the language at the heart of the ZX Spectrum.
Jupiter Ace Forth Programming
Launched at the peak of the legendary 1980s microcomputer rivalry, the Jupiter ACE was the most intriguing machine of them all, marketed by Jupiter Cantab. This company was founded by Richard Altwasser and Stephen Vickers – the key hardware and software designers for the legendary Sinclair ZX Spectrum.
This special edition of the manual is an almost exact reproduction of the original that accompanied the Jupiter ACE and is brought to you by the current owners of the ACE brand as a celebration of the 35th anniversary of the launch of the special computer that so many people hold dear.
The original designers wanted the Jupiter ACE to be a programmers’ machine, and although sales were not necessarily stellar, they achieved exactly what they set out to. Now, 35 years on, you can once again learn not only how to code the Jupiter ACE but also the foundations of the still-useful programming language FORTH. Here’s to another 35 years!
Building Blocks for BBC Games
“Building Blocks for BBC Games is the book for all BBC enthusiasts! Using a unique modular method you can create and build exciting, original games and programs.
The ready made building block system has all the procedures you need. Step-by-step you write a BASIC program with the minimum of effort. Then you can expand your programs with even more procedures and innovations into complex and exciting routines.
Follow the projects set out, or create whatever games you can imagine.
Simply written, easy to follow, with BBC Building Blocks you will learn more about your micro than you believed possible.”
This is a remastered reproduction of the original Melbourne House book that guided so many fledgling coders back in 1984.
C16 Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner
First published in 1985, this easy-to-follow guide to the Commodore C16 gives users a crash course introduction to programming in machine code, the best way for aspiring game and utility creators to get the most out of their personal computer. Though the C16 was nowhere near as successful as the much-loved Commodore 64, it still gained many fans, particularly in the European market. Powered by the 7501 (or, in some models, 8501) CPU, the selling point of the machine was its cheap price – US$99 at launch – making it a highly affordable option for families at the time.
40 Best Machine Code Routines for the Commodore 64
First published in 1983, this easy-to-follow guide to the Commodore 64 teaches users forty machine code routines for use in their own programs, enabling them to extend their skills well beyond the limits of BASIC. Not only is this remastered version perfect for hobbyists and collectors, it is also a highly useful resource for those interested in programming retro games and utilities.
The programs in the book include everything from graphics routines such as pixel scrollers to memory management and sound production tools. Written by C64 expert Mark Greenshields, this piece of retro computing history helped many aspiring programmers on their way to mastering their craft.
Commodore 16 Games Book
First published in 1984, this book enabled a whole new generation to learn game coding on their Commodore 16 – an unusual and relatively rare machine that had a processor which was faster than that of the famous C64, possessed more efficient screen memory, had a much faster BASIC interpreter… yet came supplied with just a quarter of the memory held by its older brother.
Despite the machine’s lacklustre performance in the US, sales in Europe were strong and the machine retains a large fan base to this day. Popular in Easter bloc countries – particularly Hungary – the machine was the first home computer that many people owned; it therefore retains a significant ‘nostalgia factor’ amongst its userbase.
Dragon 32 Programmer's Reference Guide
First published in 1983, this easy-to-follow guide to the Dragon 32 gives users a complete overview of the acclaimed machine that many considered well ahead of its time. Though it was more powerful and quicker than many of its competitors, the Dragon 32 never gained the success of other 8-bit computers of the day such as the Commodore 64 or the ZX Spectrum. Despite this, the classic machine still retains a dedicated following to this day. Not only is this remastered version perfect for hobbyists and collectors, it is also a highly useful resource for those interested in programming retro games and utilities.
Amstrad Games Book
First published in 1985, the Amstrad Games Book helped owners of the CPC464 and CPC664 home computers to learn more about their machines, including how to program a range of games. For many readers, their Amstrad would be the first computer they would ever use in their lives, meaning the book had a very important job to do – to introduce people to the very concept of computer programming.
Atari 130XE Games Book
First published in 1985, this book enabled a whole new generation to learn game coding on their Atari 130XE – one of Atari’s acclaimed 8-bit home computers. The XE had two joysticks rather than the four of its sibling models, however it did come with a full 128kb of bank-switched RAM.
Although it was not as successful in America as the Commodore 64 – or the ZX Spectrum in Europe – the machine retains a large fanbase to this day.
Commodore 64 Games Book 2
First published in 1984, this was the second in Melbourne House’s series of books that aimed to help owners of the much-loved Commodore 64 learn more about their machines, including how to program a range of games. For many readers, the C64 would be the first computer they would ever have experienced, meaning the book had a very important job to do – introducing people to the very concept of computer programming.
Dragon Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner
First published in 1983, this easy-to-follow guide to using machine language on the Dragon 32 gave users an excellent insight into the acclaimed machine that many considered well ahead of its time. Though it was more powerful and quicker than many of its competitors, the Dragon 32 never gained the success of other 8-bit computers of the day such as the Commodore 64 or the ZX Spectrum. Despite this, the classic machine still retains a dedicated following to this day. Not only is this remastered version perfect for hobbyists and collectors, it is also a highly useful resource for those interested in programming retro games and utilities.
Enter the Dragon
First published in 1983, this easy-to-follow guide to the Dragon 32 was designed to introduce users of the much-loved home computer to many of its most advanced features. This was achieved through listings of sample programs that pushed the machine to its limits, displaying fancy graphics and making the very most of its excellent sound capabilities. Though it was more powerful and quicker than many of its competitors, the Dragon 32 never gained the success of other 8-bit computers of the day such as the Commodore 64 or the ZX Spectrum. Despite this, the classic machine still retains a dedicated following to this day. Not only is this remastered version perfect for hobbyists and collectors, it is also a highly useful resource for those interested in programming retro games and utilities.
Machine Language Programming Made Simple for your Sinclair & Timex TS1000
This is one of the earliest published books addressing the subject of programming the first generation of home computers. First released in 1981 by Melbourne House it helped owners of the ZX80, ZX81 (and later the Timex TS1000) learn how to make the most of their machine, commanding the CPU directly rather than through a BASIC interpreter – an abstraction level that slowed things down considerably.
This book was an entry point into advanced computer use; many who would go on to have long careers in the technology world owe their start to the tutorials and explanations featured within. As such it is an important part of computer history and remains useful for anyone interested in retro programming, particularly on the early Sinclair machines.
Meteoric Programming for the Oric-1
The Oric-1 8-bit home computer was released in 1982 and would go on to sell more than 150,000 units in the UK alone. It was considered a rival to the popular ZX Spectrum, with its advantage being a much better keyboard than Sir Clive’s rubber monster. Despite official production ceasing just two years after its launch, clones of the machine were produced in Eastern Europe well into the 1990s.
This popular guide to the Oric-1 was first published in 1983 by Melbourne House. It helped many owners of the much-loved machine not only take their first steps in programming, but also introduced them to the more advanced features of the machine. To this day it remains a highly useful guide for those interested in retro games programming on the classic machine.
Not Only 30 Programs for the Sinclair ZX81
Launched in 1981, Sir Clive Sinclair’s ZX81 – successor to his ZX80 released the year before – was designed to be a low-cost introduction to home computing for the general public. It was a hugely successful machine, with over one and a half million ‘official’ units being sold; many more unauthorised ‘clones’ were also produced, particularly in Russia and other Eastern Bloc countries of the era. One could either purchase the machine pre-built, or – as a significant number of consumers did – buy it in kit form for assembly at home at a slightly cheaper price. This ‘DIY’ approach, encouraged by Sinclair Research, became a core element of the computer’s genetic make-up. Those who were comfortable putting together the four silicon chips and other such components were just as keen to poke around the machine’s memory, learning as much as they could about its capability; the programs they would write could easily be shared once saved onto a standard audio cassette.
The 40th Anniversary Edition
Oric-1 Basic Programming Manual
The Oric-1 8-bit home computer was released in 1982 and would go on to sell more than 150,000 units in the UK alone. It was considered a rival to the popular ZX Spectrum, with its advantage being a much better keyboard than Sir Clive’s rubber monster. Despite official production ceasing just two years after its launch, clones of the machine were produced in Eastern Europe well into the 1990s.
First published in 1983, this guide helped buyers of the Oric-1 get to grips with their new purchase. For many people, this would be the very first computer they would ever experience, so the guide had to appeal to a wide range of abilities – from absolute beginners to those with advanced knowledge of other machines. Ultimately this book helped many fans of the Oric take their first steps in programming and remains a handy guide to the platform even today.
Over the Spectrum
Over the Spectrum was first published in 1982 and at the time was considered one of the best introductions to programming on Sir Clive Sinclair’s incredible new home computer. Many who went on to have long careers in the computer industry started with the programs in this excellent book. As such it is not only a great re-print for purposes of nostalgia, but also a practical and helpful guide to anyone interested in the programming of retro games.
The Complete Sinclair ZX81 Basic Course
The ZX80 home computer was launched in 1980 by the then still-to-be-knighted home computer mogul Clive Sinclair. Available in kit form at £79.99 for the aspiring hobbyist or pre-built at a price of £99.99 the ground-breaking machine offered home computing for the kind of money an average family could afford. The inventor’s company would grow to become Sinclair Research and release even more powerful machines such as the ZX81, QL and (at the time) the UK’s best-selling computer, the ZX Spectrum.
This book – originally published in 1981 by Melbourne House – helped the reader learn master the intricacies of programming in BASIC on their ZX80 machine; often this was the first time they would ever experience coding. The course not only became a foundation for many who would then go on to have careers in the information technology field, but also is a useful reference work to this day for those interested in the very earliest affordable home computers.
