Remembering… BASIC

David Hayward recalls writing programs that insulted classmates

There’s a popular educational movement at the moment to get the current generation of students back behind keyboards and programming. The likes of the Raspberry Pi and the attention attracted by the BAFTA Young Games Designer and Concept awards has somewhat helped to force a change in the curriculum.

Top 5 Laws Of Platform Games

Where would Mario and Sonic be without these?

1 Leaps And Bounds

More than anything, a platformer needs platforms, things to jump on, leap off and hop over. That, without doubt, is an absolute must. What’s not so necessary, however, is that these obstacles stick to the rules of physics. How often, for example, have you seen games where the things you jump on are just floating in the air, as if held there by magic? Imagine, though, if platform games were based on real life. The biggest hurdle you’d probably have to get over would be when you climb the broken-down escalator in the tube station, on your daily commute. Or perhaps your greatest struggle would be just dragging your tired bones out of bed. Wouldn’t make for much of a game, though.

HP Deskjet 3630

HP brings the Deskjet brand to a new generation of personal printers

Ifirst used the Deskjet Plus in 1989, and 26 years later, we’re not a long way from that original highly successful concept. HP’s new Deskjet 3630 is still built around a combined ink head and reservoir in the cartridge, and produces reasonably rapid output on a good range of stock. And in this variation, it also comes with a scanner to add extra scan and copy functionality to the standard printing skills.

Speedlink Strike NX

Can this budget gamepad compete with more expensive alternatives?

Some time ago, I reviewed the Speedlink Torid gamepad, a wireless controller bearing more than a passing resemblance to the official Xbox 360 pad. As well as dual support for Xinput and DirectInput, and compatibility with the PlayStation 3, the Torid is comfortable to use and feels comfortingly robust. Currently, available for around £20, it's also a bargain.

Photo Commander 12

Sort out those folders full of images with Ashampoo’s Photo Commander 12

If you’re an avid snapper like me, then I’m sure you also have folders full of unedited and in the main unorganised images that you're going to sort out 'some day'. The trouble is that day never comes, unless you can find a utility that will take some of the strain out of doing the job for you. After a quick look at Ashampoo’s latest release, Photo Commander 12, it seems I might have found a likely candidate.