porter@inuxd.UUCP (10/25/83)
Subject: More on SIMON'S BASIC for the C64 In response to overwhelming response for more info on SIMON'S BASIC - I do know a few more things. Most dealers have gotten at least one copy. It is a cartridge and it is being distributed by Commodore. And the best part is that it's list price will be $29.95. Incredible! The SIMON'S BASIC commands will be in addition to the regular BASIC commands. I have no idea whether recursion is possible, but it looks like it would be a possibility. The unavailability must be due to some non-technical problem - such as printing the manuals or getting the boxes. The hardware can't be a problem, since all of the game cartridges for the 64 have only been burned in a 2764 EPROM even for the cheap $9 games. Thus it is easy for Commodore to respond to the demand for a particular cartridge without a lot of hassles. And not a bad price for 2764's either. The only thing that could happen that would lessen my opinion of the system is if it were as slow as molasses. I wonder if Commodore knows what they have here? Another language in the race for your extended language bucks is one by the name of COMAL. It has many of the same features for structured programming, but lacks (or at least the PET version did by definition) some of the nicities for sound and graphics. The COMAL users group in Madison, WI is attempting to get the rights to distribute this language for the 64 in the US, that is if Commodore decides not to support COMAL. I expect both languages to be available very soon. Jeff Porter (inuxd!porter) AT&T Consumer Products Indianapolis