_{Cover of the September 1985 issue of Compute!'s Gazette}

Compute!'s Gazette was a spinoff of Compute! that exclusively covered Commodore 8-bit computers which primarily meant the Commodore 64. This was one of the two Commodore 64 magazines I frequently saw on store shelves back in the day, the other being RUN. The September 1985 issue of Gazette includes:

Features

• The New Commodore Amiga: A Hands-On Report - While Gazette was a Commodore 64 magazine, I don't know if it had been decided whether they would cover the Amiga when it was first introduced. In any case, its release was covered ad here is a detailed look at Commodore's new Amiga or the Amiga 1000 as it would come to be known.


• Amiga Software: Something for Everyone - A look at some of the early software available for the Amiga including Video Construction Set (Electronic Arts), Return to Atlantis (Electronic Arts), ProPaint (Island Graphics), and more.


• The Summer Consumer Electronics Show: Beyond the Shakeout - Commodore receives 100,000 advance orders for the Commodore 128, announces the 1572 dual drive (which never made it to market as far as I know), the 1670 1200bps modem, MPS-1000 printer, a new mouse, and more. Various Commodore 128 software packages, X10 home controllers and more were also announced.

Reviews

• F-15 Strike Eagle - One of the best combat flight simulators of the time.


• On-Court Tennis - A decent tennis sim from Gamestar.


• Cave of the Word Wizard - An educational game that plays a bit like Pitfall and also teaches spelling.


• B.C. II: Grog's Revenge - Make your way around various mountains on your stone wheel while collecting clams for tolls and avoiding opponents and obstacles.


• Legionnaire - A real-time tactical wargame set in the time of Caesar.

_{Table of Contents from the September 1985 issue of Compute!'s Gazette}

Games

• Maze-Mania - A type-in game for the Commodore 64 in which you must make it through a maze within a time limit while avoiding fast moving "cubots".


• Tracker - A type-in strategy game in which you must lay track for Purple Herbie to follow to get home. The goal is to lay track in such a manner as to collect certain objects and avoid obstacles and
  

  Education/Home Applications

  • Computing for Families: In Search of the Computer Sandbox, Part 1 - Using a computer as a general problem solving tool.
  
  
  • Weather Prophet - A type-in program for the Commodore 64 and Plus/4 that helps you predict the weather.
  
  

  Programming

  • BASIC Magic: Drawing Lines and Borders - A guide to drawing lines in BASIC.
  
  
  • Hints & Tips: Recycling Selected DATA Statements - A guide to using DATA statements efficiently in your programs.
  
  
  • Power BASIC: QuickScan - A type-in program for the Commodore 64 and VIC-20 that will highlight the current line in a program listing making looking through long listings easier.
  
  
  • Machine Language for Beginners: From Machine Language to BASIC - Transforming your ML program into BASIC data statements.
  
  
  • Printer Wedge - A type-in program that allows you to create, save, and print out your own custom characters on a Commodore 1525, MPS-801, or MPS-803 printer.
  
  

  Departments

  • The Editor's Notes - Musings on a new generation of computers and technology including the Amiga, Atari ST, CD-ROM tech, and more.
  
  
  • Gazette Feedback - Letters from readers about ASCII, Commodore 128 compatibility, BASIC manuals, and more.
  
  
  • Horizons: Programming the 128 - Demonstrating Commodore 128 programming with a BASIC 7.0 game called Litter Patrol.
  
  

  
  
  

  
  _{Back cover of the September 1985 issue of Compute!'s Gazette}
  
  

  Read more: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress/index.php/2026/05/29/computes-gazette-september-1985/

  ---

  
  Check out my other Social Media haunts:
  Wordpress: https://www.megalextoria.com/wordpress
  Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/darth-azrael
  Blogger: https://megalextoria.blogspot.com/
  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/darth-azrael.bsky.social
  Odyssee: https://odysee.com/@Megalextoria:b
  Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2385054
  Daily Motion: https://www.dailymotion.com/Megalextoria
  

  ---

  
  Books I am reading or have recently read:
  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.
  Thomas Cromwell: A Revolutionary Life by Diarmaid MacCulloch.
  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling.

  ---

  
  Mine Monero in your browser!
  Earn Gridcoin while also helping various scientific projects by sharing your computer's idle CPU time!
  

  ---