The IBM PCjr is enhanced with the announcement of the
following cartridges:
. BASIC INTERPRETER (4101) - A superset of many microcomputer
BASICs that improves programmer productivity.
. MOUSER (4087) - An arcade-type game in which the objective is
to trap, in an allotted time, all the mice overrunning a
farmhouse.
. SCUBAVENTURE (4088) - An arcade-type game in which two players
compete to find rare fish and keys to sunken treasure chests.
. CROSSFIRE (4091) - An arcade-type game in which the player is
challenged to defend the city from swarms of insects.
. MINE SHAFT (4092) - An arcade-type game in which the player,
searching for a fortune in diamonds, maneuvers a mining car
around mine shafts.
Highlights
BASIC INTERPRETER (4101)
. A superset of cassette-level read-only memory (ROM) BASIC.
. Version J1.0 supports new graphics and music. It is a superset
of advanced BASIC on the IBM Personal Computer and IBM
Personal Computer XT.
. Improves programmer productivity by reducing the need for
special machine-language subroutines.
. Compatible with IBM Personal Computer DOS 2.1.
. High-level communications language support for the BASIC
programmer.
. Current date and time of day (DOS must be present for these
functions).
. Double precision transcendental functions (SIN, COS, and so
on).
. Path name support for tree-structured directories. (DOS must
be present for these functions.)
. Stores and plays musical notes (Music Macro Language, a
trademark of Microsoft, Inc.).
. Advanced graphics: paint, circle, get/put display contents,
store and draw line segments (drawings), line styling, tiling,
viewports, windows, and palette control.
. Advanced light pen and joy stick support.
. Event trapping of communications, function key, joy stick,
light pen, music, and timer activity.
. Supports one parallel printer.
. Provides a terminal emulator for asynchronous communications.
. Ability to load and run a BASIC program in a second cartridge
slot.
MOUSER (4087)
. One- or two-player mode
. Player movement with either joy stick or keyboard
. Full 16-color graphics
. Three-voice music and sound effects
. Pause game feature
. Displays high score
. Nine screens
. Multiple levels of difficulty.
SCUBAVENTURE (4088)
. One- or two-player modes
. Simultaneous play in two-player mode
. Player movement with either joy sticks or keyboard
. Pause game feature
. Full 16-color graphics
. Three-voice sound.
CROSSFIRE (4091)
. Player movement with either keyboard or joy stick
. Pause game feature
. Sound on/off feature
. Game restart control
. Full three-voice sound
. Current high score maintained
. Three difficulty settings
. Full-color graphics.
MINE SHAFT (4092)
. Player movement with either keyboard or joy stick
. Pause game feature
. Sound on/off feature
. Game restart control
. Full three-voice sound
. Current high score maintained
. Full-color graphics.
Description
BASIC INTERPRETER
BASIC is an interpretive programming language that allows
direct interaction of commands and language statements.
The IBM PCjr BASIC INTERPRETER is structured in two
functional levels: cassette and cartridge.
Cassette BASIC INTERPRETER not only provides the necessary
cassette input/output instructions, but also a high level of
support for display, keyboard, printer, light pen, and joy
sticks, and a full complement of editing, logic, math, and string
functions. It is provided with each system unit in the form of
built-in ROM and is operational at the time the system is first
turned on. Cassette BASIC INTERPRETER on IBM PCjr is functionally
equivalent to cassette BASIC on the IBM Personal Computer and the
IBM Personal Computer XT.
Cartridge BASIC INTERPRETER is optional. Extensions to the
language provide a full set of instructions, commands, and
built-in functions. Most of these can be used with or without DOS
present. The cartridge supports DOS, the structured directories,
date, and time.
Cartridge BASIC INTERPRETER includes the disk functions,
supports light pen and joy stick, and enhances the display
graphics and sound. It also supports interrupts for light pen,
game controllers, communications and function keys, as well as
three-voice sound, by using the system's multi-voice
sound/subsystem electronics and asynchronous communications
terminal emulator. Both the Graphics Macro Language and the Music
Macro Language (trademarks of Microsoft, Inc.) are included.
CARTRIDGE BASIC INTERPRETER Functions:
FUNCTION COMMAND
DOS command used to BASIC or BASICA
invoke cartridge BASIC
Chain to next program CHAIN
Change directory CHDIR
Draw a circle CIRCLE
Frees memory in data area. CLEAR
Contracts or expands the
video memory area
Close a disk file CLOSE
Close communications channel CLOSE
Controls foreground and COLOR
background color
Pass variables to chained COMMON
program
Enable communications COM
interrupt
Convert data from disk or CVI, CVS, CVD
diskette file
Current date DATE$
Draw a predefined 'picture' DRAW
End of file indicator (disk EOF
or communications channel)
Define disk or diskette FIELD
file records
Display disk or diskette FILES
directory
Read a random file record GET
Read graphics image from GET
display
Input from disk file or INPUT#
communications channel
Input characters from INPUT$
communication channel
Input byte from external device INP
Delete a disk or diskette KILL
file from current directory
Input variable length line LINE INPUT#
from disk or diskette
List a program to the printer LLIST
Load a program from disk LOAD
or diskette
Return next disk or diskette LOC
file record number
Return count of characters in LOF
communication channel
Move data into random file LSET
buffer
Merge a program from disk MERGE
Make Directory MKDIR
Convert data to random buffer MKI, MKS, MKD
format
Rename a disk file NAME
Generates noise through the NOISE (N)
external speaker
Branch on function key ON KEY GOSUB
Branch on communications ON COM GOSUB
interrupt
Branch on light pen, joy stick ON PEN, STRIG GOSUB
Continuous music during ON PLAY
program run
Branch on time interval ON TIMER
Open a disk or diskette file OPEN
Open a communication channel OPEN
Fill enclosed area with color PAINT&
Allows programmer control PALETTE (N)
of the hardware palette
Quick way to set all palette PALETTE USING (N)
entries with 1 statement
Allows the copying of contents PCOPY (N)
of one screen page to another
Enable light pen interrupt PEN
Play a predefined 'song' PLAY
Map an expression to relative PMAP
or actual coordinates
Write to disk or diskette in PRINT#
'print' format
Write to communications PRINT#
channel in 'print' format
Write buffer to a random file PUT
Write graphics pattern to PUT
display
Remove directory if empty RMDIR
Run a disk or diskette RUN
resident program
Save a program on disk SAVE
or diskette
Read setting of joy stick STICK
Enable the joy stick interrupt STICK
Return to operating system SYSTEM
environment
Enter terminal emulation TERM (N)
Time of day TIME$
Number of seconds since TIMER
midnight or system reset
Memory address of file buffer VARPTR$
Define display viewports for VIEW
graphics output
Set 'width' of data for device WIDTH#
Define logical limits for WINDOW
graphics output
Write to a sequential disk WRITE#
diskette file
(N) = New function
MOUSER
This is a fast-paced, arcade-type cartridge game for the
IBM PCjr system in which the player is cast in the role of a
farmer whose nine-room farmhouse has been overrun by mice. The
object of the game is to trap, within the allotted time, all of
the mice in the rooms by building traps with movable walls. To
clear all of the rooms requires skill, strategy, and dexterity.
Some of the rooms are not lit, and the player must locate a
flashlight that can be used to illuminate a portion of the room.
On the higher levels, the mice reproduce themselves as the player
is attempting to trap them. The farmer loses by running out of
time or by touching a mouse. Points are awarded for each mouse
trapped. The total score depends on how fast the player traps the
mice.
SCUBAVENTURE
SCUBAVENTURE is an action-packed, arcade-type game
designed to run on the IBM PCjr system. Here, each player is in
control of a three-diver expedition team that is searching the
dangerous recesses of an undersea cavern for sunken treasure.
Each expedition sends one diver at a time to brave the
treacherous waters to collect rare fish, to avoid poisonous fish
and electric eels, and to find keys to open the treasure chests.
Unlike many other arcade games, two players may play
simultaneously, competing for the same rare fish and for
survival. Played in one-player mode, a ghostly white diver with
a strange knack for being in the wrong place at the right time
accompanies you. Points are awarded for each chest opened and for
each rare fish collected.
CROSSFIRE
CROSSFIRE is an exciting, arcade-type game in which the
player must defend the grid-like streets of a city from the
onslaught of a swarm of insects. Fortunately, the player has a
fleet of three ships containing insecticide missiles to clear the
streets. A bonus ship is awarded every 5000 points.
The object is, of course, to clear the town of these
enemies, but, with a limited supply of ammunition and invaders
coming at you from all directions, this is not an easy task.
Points are awarded for each invader hit and for bonus targets
that occasionally appear in the streets.
MINE SHAFT
MINE SHAFT is a fast-paced, action-packed game in which
the player maneuvers a mining car around dangerous mine shafts
looking for a fortune in diamonds. In addition to the twisty,
treacherous shafts, there are a number of runaway robot miners
that seem bent on destruction of the mining car. Disabling the
robots and collecting diamonds earn the player points. Clearing
either all the diamonds or all the robots out of one mine shaft
will allow the player to explore the next level.
Publications
The IBM PCjr BASIC Reference Manual is provided with
cartridge BASIC and describes the full capabilities of cassette
and cartridge BASIC. Hands-on BASIC for the IBM PCjr is provided
with the system unit. It is a primer for learning BASIC
programming. The IBM PCjr BASIC Reference Manual may be purchased
separately without a cartridge using feature code 4702.
Each of the four game cartridges comes with an instruction
booklet explaining the game operation and installation.
Education
The publication, BASIC Made Easy for the IBM PCjr (4116)
is an introduction to the BASIC programming language on the IBM
PCjr. It takes inexperienced users of the IBM PCjr and the BASIC
programming language through the more commonly used commands,
statements, and functions of BASIC.
The student teaches himself, learns by doing, and sets his
or her own pace. In short easy lessons, the student learns the
essentials of BASIC. In the first lesson, the student learns to
write a short program.
The book is written in a friendly, conversational tone
with heavy emphasis on the use of color, sound, and examples.
Once the student has completed BASIC Made Easy, it can be used as
a reference book, since it contains a list of common BASIC error
messages, as well as an index of BASIC programming terms.
Before beginning the BASIC Made Easy book, the customer
should read the IBM PCjr Guide to Operations to become familiar
with the keyboard, and, if possible, use the IBM PCjr while
reading the book.
BASIC Made Easy is distributed as an educational manual.
Schedule
Cartridges will be available first quarter 1984.
Technical Information
Specified Operating Environment
Hardware Requirements: Each of these cartridges runs on
IBM PCjr only. Minimum configuration is Model 4; TV with IBM PCjr
connector for TV or any monitor compatible with the IBM PCjr
system.
Software Requirements: IBM Personal Computer DOS 2.1 is
required for diskette input/output operations when using IBM PCjr
cartridge BASIC INTERPRETER.
Approx. User
Memory Remaining
Memory
Used Model 4 Model 67
Total System Memory 64KB 128KB
Video Buffer 16KB 48KB 112KB
Cassette BASIC 4KB 44KB 108KB
(ROM)
DOS 24KB 24KB 88KB
Cartridge BASIC
(w/o DOS) 6KB 42KB 106KB
Cartridge BASIC 30KB 18KB 82KB
(with DOS)
The maximum BASIC workspace is 64KB.
Compatibility: Cartridges cannot be used with any other
member of the IBM Personal Computer family.
Planning Information
Customer Responsibility: Read the instruction booklet,
insert cartridge, and turn on the system unit.
Installability: Cartridge BASIC may be invoked by a simple
DOS keyboard command or by turning on the machine with the
cartridge loaded.
All remaining memory, up to maximum of 64KB, is directly
addressable from a BASIC language program.
The games are shipped on cartridges. The user must insert
the cartridge into the cartridge slot and turn on the system
unit. If the user wishes to use a joy stick, the user must attach
the joy stick to the system.
Prerequisites: To enter examples in the text BASIC Made
Easy requires:
. The IBM PCjr with one of the following:
- A color TV set with PCjr connector for TV
- A color monitor with cable
. Cartridge BASIC INTERPRETER
Charges, Terms, and Conditions
See announcement letter entitled 'IBM Personal Computer
and PCjr Charges, Terms, and Conditions' included in this
package.
|