and X. That : key causes problems, meaning you’ll need to remap
your keys at some point.
>> Lastly, try to source disk images when possible. Tape files
require several BASIC commands, and can take a long time
to load. If you are using a tape image, load the file, and most
software should work by entering these commands:
*TAPE
PAGE=&E00
CHAIN “”4
BEEBEM
Windows users: Head to the website (http://www.mkw.
me.uk/beebem), where there is a self-extracting EXE
installer, which will create menu entries and desktop icons.
>> Linux users: Although a Linux port exists, it’s very old,
difficult to get running, and doesn’t have all the features of the
Windows original. However, the Windows version runs decently
under Wine, so just use that.
>> BeebEm comes with a number of utilities and even a
game disk, offering Chuckie Egg, Dare Devil Dennis, Zalaga,
and Cylon Attack. Loading disks is easy. Simply open the main
menu, choose “File > Run Disc,” then select your disk image.
BeebEm automates the loading process, entering BASIC
commands for you.
>> Tapes are somewhat more difficult. From the main menu,
you need to choose “File > Load Tape,” and then open your tape
image. At this point, however, nothing will happen—you need
to enter the BASIC commands we gave above, and you should
expect long loading times.
>> While BeebEm enables you to define your own keys (“Options
> Define User Key Mapping”), you’ll probably mess up one keyby redefining another. If any keys aren’t working, Horizon
might be a better choice for that program.5
HORIZON
Although there are only Windows and Mac
versions of Horizon, worry not, Linux users.
Where BeebEm runs decently under Wine, Horizon runs
almost perfectly. Horizon doesn’t come with an installer
utility, so you’ll need to download the zip file, then
open the EXE file manually—you might want to make a
desktop shortcut.
>> If you open the “Input” menu, there are predefined
key remapping options. Unfortunately, loading programs
is unintuitive in Horizon, and UEF tape images don’t work
(use BeebEm instead for those).
>> To load a disk image, open the main menu and
choose “Drive: 0 > Auto Boot.” Now run your disk
by choosing “Drive: 0 > Insert Disk Image.”
>> To load a tape image, first give it its own folder,
and put the file there. Now load it by clicking “Tape:
> Select Folder,” then entering the BASIC commands
given previously.©^
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SPECIFICATIONS
BBC Micro (1981)
CPU: MOS Technology 6502 @ 2MHz
RAM: 16/32KB
Launch price: £235/$560 Model A, £335/$800 Model B
Graphics: 640x256, 8 colors
Sound: Texas Instruments SN76489,
four mono channels
Storage: Cassette and 5.25-inch floppy
OS: BBC BASICReleased: December 1981
Production: 1981–1994
Worldwide sales: 1.5 million >> BBC games have a striking chunky aesthetic – expect a lot of red,
yellow, green, and blue on black backgrounds.The list of commercial BBC Micro games isn’t
enormous, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t
plenty of games. The Micro’s real scene was in DIY
coding, as was the BBC’s intention, so the real gold
is in program listings. Archive.org has magazines
such as BBC Micro User and The Micro User, with
listings to be typed out verbatim, enabling you to
try out games and learn BASIC as you go.
As for commercial releases, fan archives exist
aplenty, and are easily searched, but we can’t
advocate these for legal reasons. BBCMicro.co.uk
is the most thorough and convenient (everything is
on a simple disk image), but we doubt it has legal
rights to do so. Something we can recommend,
however, are the websites http://www.rucksackgames.
co.uk and http://www.retrosoftware.co.uk, where you
can get newly released software for the Micro,
both commercial and freeware. Modern gaming
highlights include White Light (2017), Repton: The
Lost Realms (2010), and Mountain Panic (2013).FIND SOFTWARE
>> You’re unlikely to have used a BBC Micro unless you lived in the UK.maximumpc.com MAR 2020 MAXIMUMPC 67