The Phoenix Rises or Grandma Can Suck Eggs Perfectly Well

                An article from Jim Johnston

As I said in 'Obsolescence - It's a fact of life', the rate that
change is taking place is breathtaking. This is particularly true
in the computing world. I felt that the satisfaction factor in my
computing had reached its nadir and bottomed out. I no longer had
the urge to chase what seemed to be expensive mirages.

The 'new' PC was wholly taken over by my grandsons and for a time
I continued to use the Atari but the enthusiasm had gone (more so,
as grandson 2 began to hint that grandson 1 was hogging the PC).
To cut a long story short, grandson 1 upgraded to a more up to
date PC (no hardwired features in rom/ram and chip) and grandson 2
claimed the original PC.

Since the PC and the Atari can, normally, only speak to each other
in ASCII, communication was minimal and a result my interest
declined rapidly. I decided that I would dispose of all my
computer equipment and give it up as one of my hobbies (Fishing,
Golf, etc.). All the old computers that I had acquired and stored
away for a rainy day (BBCs, Dragons, Atari 800s etc) were
disposed of ruthlessly. All I had left were my 15 Spectrums with
associated hardware and software and my Atari equipment and
software.

The Spectrum equipment was totally obsolete and of no value so it
was consigned to the back of the attic (for posterity!) but what
to do with the Atari? In the end I decided to go to my friendly
local dealer and get some of my money back by selling the Atari
equipment. His cash offer was tempting but would not have covered
a good night out. We discussed the matter further and soon I was
being tempted by a part exchange for a PC. Now this was the last
thing I wanted or needed (sic. holes had been drilled and cut
through the wall between my grandsons' bedrooms and null modem
cables, sound cables, etc. were connected between the two PCs.
This to permit games to be played jointly, simultaneously on both
machines. The earphone clad heads were immune to what went on

around them. The disjointed grunts and shouts were, at least,
startling.)

This was not for me, I hankered for my old speccy adventuring
days. I left the deal to simmer and went home.  Having boxed up
the Atari, I set up my Spectrum with the +D drive and tried to
re-arouse some enthusiasm. I had forgotten all of the bad side of
Spectrum computing (loading problems, crashes, etc.) and seemed to
have been wearing rose tinted glasses as far as the Spectrum was
concerned. I put the Spectrum away again and became computerless.
I didn't miss it much as there were other hobbies demanding my
time. The 'computer phase' was over and (excuse me while I start
tying another fishing fly) dead. Let the young ones play their all
singing, all dancing, all colour CD games with 2" instruction
books, I am too old to be bothered with all that!

I had borrowed my grandson's university laptop and using the Z80
(spectrum emulator) from Brian Gaff, I was trying to play an
adventure but the keys kept getting wrong and the laptop screen is
funny anyway .............

............. and then the phone rang ............

My friendly dealer had a buyer for my Atari if I would bring it
in. On accepting the Atari, he informed me that he was still
willing to do a trade for a PC. I explained my position but the
deal was so tempting....... I accepted it.

Just what I didn't need - another PC!!! I set it up and installed
the software supplied. The actual setting up and installation were
interesting but no mad burst of regenerated enthusiasm. I updated
my spectrum emulator and this time, took the trouble to download
the full instructions as hard copy and read them.

I discovered that I did not have to use +D discs to load my
adventures. Two button presses with the game loaded and it was
moved into a PC folder on the hard drive, available instantly.

Save game was no problem - same two buttons - position saved (well
the whole game is saved at that position). At first I was very
frugal and only kept a half dozen adventures on the hard drive but
as time progressed and my interest grew - so did the size of the
folder .........

................ The Phoenix had arisen !!!!!!!!

Here I was, back in the middle of my favourite computer games but
now - instant load - instant save. As my enthusiasm grew, the old
unfinished adventures were lining up for playing and I was
spending more time 'computing'. All the bonus points now showed.
AGT games run on the PC - the same number, if not more. Hundreds
of PC PD adventures are available and .... and ..... and .... and
... Wait a moment !! The Phoenix has arisen.  The PC rules OK
(after the Spectrum) but the enthusiasm has turned into simple
pleasure. I don't intend to convert the world to my way of
thinking. I am just going to finish here and play me a 'real'
adventure - a text one - no sound - no glittery flashing screen.
Just text ................... but I do have the CD playing "Blue
eyes crying in the rain" as I get stuck into solving 'how I cross
the ravine !!!!!

The 'Z80' Spectrum emulator is available as shareware. The
registered version is available from Brian Gaff (B.G. Services),
64 Roebuck Road, Chessington, Surrey. KT9 1JX.
Tel 0181 287 4180 Fax 0181 391 0744. He also has a tape interface
for your PC.













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