Seattle, Washington — July 23, 2022 — Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has published “Big Computer Games: Enhanced Edition” – a new edition of the classic games programming book from 1984. Originally edited by David H. Ahl of Creative Computing, this “Enhanced Edition” has a new preface from David written in 2022. The cover has been redesigned and the book contains over 120 pages of enhanced scans.
Third in the Creative Computing series of best-selling computer games books, Big Computer Games: Enhanced Edition contains 12 challenging games for solo and group play – Lost & Forgotten Island, Trucker, Dukedom, Cribbage, Star Merchant, Mu-Torere, Streets of the City, Eliza, Presidential Campaign, Monster Combat, Survival, and Rollercoaster. Also included are sections on how to write your own adventure game and how to integrate action video with your computer games.
Program listings, sample runs, and descriptions are presented with each game, and all games are written in standard Microsoft Basic, which is adaptable to most micro-computers. David H. Ahl is the editor-in-chief and founder of Creative Computing magazine.
Availability
Big Computer Games: Enhanced Edition is available through the A.P.P.L.E. bookstore with production and fulfillment by Lulu.com. A disk image for the programs will be available on the Apps page.
Features
- Table of Contents PDF
- A redesigned cover and over 120 pages of enhanced scans.
- A new preface from David H. Ahl written in 2022
- 12 challenging games for solo and group play, written in Microsoft Basic: Lost & Forgotten Island, Trucker, Dukedom, Cribbage, Star Merchant, Mu-Torere, Streets of the City, Eliza, Presidential Campaign, Monster Combat, Survival, and Rollercoaster
Author
David H. Ahl — the author or editor of 22 how-to books, including Basic Computer Games (the first million-selling computer book), Dad’s Lessons for Living, and Dodge M37 Restoration Guide. In 1974, he founded Creative Computing magazine – the world’s first personal computing magazine – and was the publisher and editor-in-Chief of Creative Computing magazine and six others from 1974 to 1985. He is a frequent lecturer and workshop leader at educational and professional conferences. David joined AT&T in 1974 as education marketing manager and was later promoted to manager of marketing communications for the unit later to become American Bell. Concurrent with this move, he started Creative Computing as a hobby in late 1974. It was the first personal computing magazine in the world. As Creative Computing grew, David left AT&T in 1978 to devote full time to it. In 1984, Creative Computing magazine was number 1 in software and applications. He has also written more than 1,000 articles on technology, automotive restoration, marketing, Bible, logic puzzles, travel, market research, financial planning and investment analysis. Among computer games, he created Lunar Lander, Subway Scavenger, Orient Express, and 50 others. Read more about David at: https://swapmeetdave.com
Producers
Brian Wiser — A producer of books, films, games, and events, as well as an Apple consultant, historian and archivist. Designer, editor, and co-producer of dozens of books including: Nibble Viewpoints: Business Insights From The Computing Revolution, Cyber Jack: The Adventures of Robert Clardy and Synergistic Software, Synergistic Software: The Early Games, Graphically Speaking: Enhanced Edition, What’s Where in the Apple: Enhanced Edition, and The WOZPAK Special Edition: Steve Wozniak’s Apple-1 & Apple II Computers. Brian is also the author of The Etch-a-Sketch and Other Fun Programs. Producer/Director of the documentary film “Done The Impossible: The Fans’ Tale of Firefly & Serenity“, his Browncoat Cruise convention with Firefly cast, and an extra in the movie “Serenity.” Co-producer of Beagle Bros and Applied Engineering websites, the retro iOS game Structris, and co-producer/writer for CallAPPLE.org and Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine.
Bill Martens — Apple historian and enthusiast, programmer, President of Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) and co-producer of Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine, and books like: Cyber Jack, Synergistic Software: The Early Games, Nibble Viewpoints, The WOZPAK Special Edition, and What’s Where in the Apple: Enhanced Edition. Bill also co-produced and co-programmed the retro iOS game Structris. Bill is the author of ApPilot/W1, Beyond Quest, The Anatomy of an EAMON, and multiple EAMon adventure games. He is a systems engineer specializing in office infrastructures and has been programming since 1976. And he is the production editor for the A.P.P.L.E. website CallAPPLE.org, writes science fiction novels in his spare time, and is a retired semi-pro football player.
Publisher
Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has been a global Apple user group since 1978, with membership peaking near 50,000 in 1985. Offering many services, A.P.P.L.E. is also a book publisher and game developer, and has produced dozens of new book titles since 2013 and over 100 Apple software titles. A.P.P.L.E. published the The WOZPAK Special Edition – a detailed book containing Steve Wozniak’s restored handwritten notes and printouts about his Apple II computer, as well as forewords from Steve Wozniak and other Apple legends. They also publish books such as: Graphically Speaking: Enhanced Edition by Mark Pelczarski, Tome of Copy Protection, Cyber Jack: The Adventures of Robert Clardy and Synergistic Software, Synergistic Software: The Early Games, Nibble Viewpoints: Business Insights From the Computing Revolution by Mike Harvey, What’s Where in The Apple: Enhanced Edition, The Colossal Computer Cartoon Book: Enhanced Edition by David H. Ahl, A.P.P.L.E. 1978 and 1979 magazine Compendiums, and the retro iOS game Structris.
Press information is available at: www.callapple.org/press
Books are listed at: www.callapple.org/books
