The Classic Computer Magazine Archive (http://www.atarimagazines.com) boasts several complete or nearly complete magazine archives, mostly from the 1980’s. The archive concentrates on Atari Computer magazines. It was once called AtariMagzines.com (and still holds that particular URL). However, it now contains archives for other magazines as well, including a very comprehensive archive of Compute!, the best multi-system computer magazine ever published . Nearly all the magazines are in HTML format, making it very easy to search and find articles that might be of interest. Currently the archive boasts the following collections:
- Compute! (Full Text of 98 issues 1980-1994)
- Antic Magazine (Full text for 88 issues 1982-1990)
- STart Magazine (Full text for 42 issues 1986-1991)
- ST-Log Magazine (Full Text of 19 issues 1988-1989)
- Creative Computing: (Full Text of 35 issues 1983-1985)
- Hi-Res Magazine (Full Text of all 4 issues)
- Compute II (2 issues)
- Compute’s Gazette (several issues)
- Video And Arcade Games (2 issues)
- Whiz Kids (8 Issues)
In case you are wondering why you would want to read these old magazines (besides the obvious reasons like: “they are awesome”), there are many classic reviews and interviews to be had within these pages. Mostly, the “back-in-the-day” writing style is both matter-of-fact, and charming. Many of these magazines have BASIC and ASSEMBLY program listings that you can use with Atari, Apple and Commodore emulators to further explore these old systems. However, what is most interesting about these magazines is the sense of “place” they create for a by-gone era. The sense of awe and importance placed on nearly every new release and breakthrough is both refreshing and depressing. Refreshing because it is great to read authors who truly enjoyed and were fascinated with computing as hobby. Depressing because you can see this “era of discovery” disappearing with each successive issue.
Some notable reviews of Atari 8-bit and 16-bit computer games in the archive:
- Catle Wolfenstein : MUSE
- Dungeon Master : FTL
- Threshold (Classic Sierra On-Line shooter)
- S.A.M. : Software Automated Mouth from Don’t Ask Software
- Frogger : Sierra On-Line
- Preppie : Adventure International
- Pac-Man : Atari
- Choplifter : Broderbund
- Shamus :Synapse
- Soft Porn Adventure :Sierra On-Line
- Miner 2049er : Big Five Software
- Strip Poker : Art Worx
- Fort Apocalypse : Synapse
- Demon Attack : Imagic
- Starcross : Infocom
- Zaxxon : Datasoft
- Astro Chase : Parker Brothers
- Blue Max : Synapse
- Pole Position : Atari
- Donkey Kong :Atari
- Q-Bert : Parker Brothers
- Super Cobra :Parker Brothers
- Sea Dragon : Adventure International
- Wizard Of Wor : Roklan
- Floyd Of The Jungle : Microprose
- Slime : Synapse
- Pooyan : Datasoft
- Excalibur : APX
- Joust : Atari
- BC’s Quest For Tires : Sierra On-Line
- Starleague Baseball : Game Star
- Jumpman Junior: Epyx
- Zeppelin : Synapse
- Gateway To Apshai : Epyx
- The Arcade Machine : Broderbund
- Load Runner : Broderbund
- Ulitma 1: Sierra Online
- Ultima III: Origin
- 7 Cities Of Gold : Electronic Arts
- Gyruss: Parker Brothers
- One On One: Electronic Arts
Notable interviews with famous computer and game development icons of the era::
- Ihor Wolosenko (Synapse Software) Makers of Shamus, Blue Max, Fort Apocalypse, Zeppelin and many other classic games.
- James J. Morgan (Atari Inc. President from 1983-1984)
- Jack Tramiel (Atari Corp Chairman 1984-1996)
- Sam Tramiel (Atari Corp)
- Roberta Williams (Sierra On-Line Game Designer)
- Dan Bunten : (MULE and 7 Cites Of Gold)
- Scott Adams: (Adventures)
- Pat Ketchen (DataSoft)
- Carlstons : Broderbund
- James Levy : Activision
- Trip Hawkins (EA)