IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURE

Now that the Christmas rush if over, Paul Holmes takes a look at some of the latest software for the ZDX Spectrum.

I expect that by now you are as sick of turkey sandwiches and Christmas cake as I am, and are now on the lookout for some post festive inspiration for your ZX Spectrum. Whether you managed to survive the Christmas period with some cash or you are wondering what to do with that fiver you received from your Auntie, here are a number of goodies to choose from.

Video Software are now selling two 'creative' packages for the 48K ZX Spectrum. The first is a text display and creating system called Superview.

Superview has two options: 42 pages of two colour text or 21 pages of eight colour text. These two options provide sensibly an optional trade-off between colour and space. The only thing that disappointed me was the waste of space in the colour storage methods. The most space saving system would have been to insert colour codes into the text wherever there was a change of INK, PAPER intensity and its FLASH mode. Instead, they have taken the option to store an individual attribute for each character, which is unnecessary. If they had taken the more efficient option, the storage size could have been doubled.

Superview is supplied on cassette, complete with a reasonable little manual held together by ring binders. Complementing the manual is a new concept of having a written commentary on the reverse side of the cassette. This is quite a good idea and should clearly be an indication to other manufacturers of software packages requiring good documentation.

WHAT'S ON THE MENU?

On the tape, a demo set of 21 full colour pages are provided which can be loaded using Superview's 'Load a set of pages by name' option. These pages depict the history of computers and effectively show off the capabilities of good coloured text.

Superview operates via a menu which allows you to save and load pages, view pages in sequence, view pages on demand (in a similar way to Teletext and Prestel) and to create a new set of pages or alter the existing ones. To create a new set of pages, one must first destroy the existing ones leaving room for the new set. The pages are stored quite simply in character arrays and recalled to the screen using a very clever method. First of all, the screen attributes are set set to white so that the machine prints white characters onto a white background. Then, once a whole 'invisible' page has been printed, the attributes are transferred by machine code from an array to the attribute file. In this way the text appears to instantly arrive on the screen.

This program would be very useful to the shop owner who could set up some product information for his or her customers to inspect at their leisure. Overall, I was impressed.

LUCK OF THE DRAW?

Superdraw is similar to Superview in that it is for visual creation, but Superdraw is for creating Hi-Res graphics. It too is based around a main menu and uses a similar programming style to its sister package.

In the drawing mode, full eight way cursor control is allowed along with a number of necessary functions to alter the colour, brightness, etc. Again, like Superview, there is a commentary on the reverse side of the cassette and the package is supplied with a ring bound manual which provides a full explanation of the system.

The loading problems with this tape were really very serious. I tried to get the program loaded using a 'new-fangled' graphic equaliser, but even then failed to get it into the machine. Because of this I am certainly not in a position to say whether or not you should buy this program. The best thing to do if you are interested in this particular tape is to arrange for some form of demonstration so that you can actually see it loaded into the machine.

Superview and Superdraw are priced £5.00 and are available from Video Software, Stone Lane, Kinver, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY7 6EQ.

SPECTACULAR GRAPHICS

The graphics capabilities of the Spectrum can produce fairly spectacular results, especially with two cassettes from Video Software, Superdraw and Superview.

Superdraw is for the 16K machine and can be used to create pictures, in high and low resolution. All the graphics symbols on the Spectrum are available through the program and a Prestel-type display can be achieved through a special large alphabet which can be loaded into the program separately.

Superview is for the 48K Spectrum. It acts rather like a personal viewdata system and can hold up to 42 pages of information displayed in two colours and 21 pages in full colour.

The creation of new pages is achieved using a cursor. A large alphabet is also included.

Superview and Superdraw are produced by Video Software Ltd, Stone Lane, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY7 6EQ. Each program costs £5.