BLASTAR DEMO ver. 0.9
          Compiled  GFA Basic
             By  Tom Moore
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
This is a VERY incomplete demo.  Many 
features, i.e. main bad guys, mines 
that converge on you, scrolling star 
fields, + other GAME related items are 
missing from this demo.  BLASTAR was 
inspired by SPACE FORTRESS, originally 
done on the Bally Astrocade.  Another 
version showed up on the Atari 8 bit 
called BLASTER.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
The only redeeming quality I see in 
this demo is the MIDI audio effects.
MIDI from GFA Basic is so easy it is 
criminal!  Version 1.0 (Which is done 
now) includes the above missing 
features + a bonus for the Casio CZ 
owner; 8 game sounds for your CZ synth.
The final release version (Done by 
April) will include a real unique 
feature.  Here is how it works....
---->When you boot BLASTAR, two .PRG 
files must be in the AUTO folder; 1) 
BLAST_IT.PRG (Reserves RAM for pics and
patch data), 2) PCUBEI.PRG.  After 
checking to see which CZ you have, a 
data dump request is sent out via MIDI 
to your synth.  The first 8 voices 
(Patches) are stored in RAM and to a 
disk file (Just in case).  Then 8 new 
patches are sent back to your CZ.  
These are the game sounds.  The multi 
timbral SYSEX is sent and you have an 8
channel MIDI game sound center!  More 
than 8 sounds can be used, but the 
programming is different.  When you   
can't hack anymore and quit, the 
original 8 voices are restored to your 
CZ.
"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"'"
[PCUBEI.PRG is NOT in this ARC...Just
put BLAST_IT.PRG in an AUTO folder.
Make sure all other files for BLASTAR
are NOT in a folder and re-boot.]
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
I am also working on a utility for GFA 
programmers called MIDIthing.  It 
should have been done a month ago, but 
I keep hanging new ornaments on it!  
MIDIthing is NOT a patch editor (I use 
CZ Android for Casios, Dr. T's 4 OP 
Editor for my FBO1 Yamahas, and 
Compumates R-100 Drum Droid for my 
Kawai R-100).  What is it?  It's a 
MIDIthing!  You will have to check this
out!  An explanation just won't do.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
To view this demo, run BLAST_IT.PRG.  
Make sure your synth is on MIDI chan1.
Run BLASTAR.PRG and check it out!
A Joystick in port 1 moves your cannon
while the button invokes megadeath.
Mouse RIGHT button same as JBUTTON.
Mouse LEFT button QUITS.
Mouse BOTH buttons to new level.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/|\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
I am SYSOP of the GATOR GULCH BBS in 
Florida.   904-746-6542    8/N/1 
I plan to release the final BLASTAR to 
public domain.  MIDIthing I plan to 
sell for a modest price (It IS worth 
it!).  These programs and others should
have working demos online by March (If 
I can ever figure out Michtron BBS!).  
Also in the GULCH you'll find lot's of 
new Atari 8 bit stuff that I wrote, 
including MIDI METER (Use your 8 bit to
monitor 4 MIDI channels velocity), PEAK
METER (Use your 8 bit to monitor 4 LINE
LEVEL audio sources), DETHRACE 1987 
(Remake of Deathrace 2000), MONEY 
MATTERS (Arcade-grab the bucks and go),
COSMIC PHUNGUS (Killer Phungi from 
space lands in your backyard), 
GHOSTWRITER (Was in July 87 ANTIC-
updated subliminal suggestion 
generator), MEGA-MENU (Multi drive, 
multi filetype loader), and lots more.
Source code for BLASTAR will be 
available for $5.00 (Hey, it's easy 
MIDI from GFA...give me a break or I 
will raise it to $10.00!).  You can
also write for the source code....
Tom Moore
328 S. Monroe
Beverly Hills, FL  32665