Red Parsley : Adult Games #3 [source]

Gals Panic! (1990)
By: Kaneko Genre: Puzzle Players: 1-2 Difficulty: Medium
Featured Version: Arcade First Day Score: 38,000 (one credit)
Also Available For: Nothing

The more I look into these so-called 'adult games', the more I discover the same old formula. Take a liked, well-known, simple title, copy it, and add some naked (or at least scantily-clad) girlies while doing so. It's not a very complicated process and neither are the games that generally result from such unions. Arriving courtesy of the reasonably-prolific Japanese arcade outfit, Kaneko, this effort graced a small number of the world's arcades at the start of the 90's and followed a similar trend. The game on which it's based is Taito's classic 'space-filling' puzzler, Qix, and that means that, unless executed with exceptional incompetence, it should at least be a pretty darn addictive game!

For the benefit of those who've never played Taito's game, it consists of a series of single-screen stages which require you to fill-in a set percentage of the playfield by 'drawing' shapes over it (at least 80% in the case of this game). To do this you need to move your marker thing which can move around the outer edge of the screen. Pressing the fire button allows you to move into the screen with the objective of 'fencing off' as much of it as you can. However, if any of the annoying enemies that inhabit this area touch your line as you're drawing it, you'll lose a life. Reconnecting with the outer edge of the playfield without this happening, however, will then fill-in the area in question.

Like most adult games I've covered so far, the gameplay here differs little from the game on which it's based and, also like those other games, the main difference is the background graphics on each stage which, believe it or not, feature one of six saucy girlies from whom you can choose before play (no pun intended). There are three stages for each girl and at the start of each your chosen vixen is silhouetted and is uncovered only by drawing over the area she occupies. On the first stage she will be mostly fully clothed (though still positioned provocatively), on the second down to her underwear, and on the third... harumph, I reel with inchoate shock at such brazen titillation!

Indeed, if you're talented (or pervy) enough, not only will you get to see them in their birthday suits in the pixelly manner shown in the shots here but afterwards you'll be treated to a digitised photo of the real girl! It's not always easy to get that far though. Each of the three stages for each girl features a different enemy and they're all pretty tough. The first is a large spider which produces numerous smaller versions of itself while also spinning large webs which slow down your marker thing, the second is a whirly, fiery thing which creates lots of smaller flames, and the third is a big spinning triangle which releases lots of smaller (and slightly less terrifying) geometric shapes.

The main enemies get smaller as you fill in more space but they still create the smaller thingies which makes the going pretty tricky, as do the block obstacles that you have to move around, and if you hang around for too long or fill in too much 'uninteresting' parts of the screen, the game will switch the girl for something rather less appealing such as the giant blue bear pictured above or even worse! It's not as frustrating as some other examples I've played before though (Lynx version of Qix - grrrrr!), and that could be down to the colourful and surprisingly varied graphics and decent sound effects (including inappropriate moans from the girls as you uncover their 'parts'!) which help make it a rather pleasant experience, despite the questionable content. So, against all the odds, Gals Panic is actually a perfectly decent Qix clone which has surprisingly proven to be not only well known but also rather popular (there are multiple sequels with some even appearing on the Saturn and PlayStation). The girls add little to it but it's a well made, typically addictive, and enjoyable game. It's perhaps even the best Qix clone around.

RKS Score: 7/10

Commodore is awesome : Keyrah v2 [source]

keyrahv2Individual Computers announced the new Keyrah v2. With the Keyrah you can connect an original Commodore keyboard and two digital joysticks to a modern PC. With the new version you can configured the keyboard (USA/ German) and 8bit or 16 bit computer (C64, VIC-20, C16, Amiga 1200 or Amiga 600. With a little modification you can also use the C128 (D), C116 and Plus/4 keyboards.

Website: http://www.jschoenfeld.de

Commodore is awesome : Regenerator 1.3 [source]

Regenerator_v10Regenerator is a program made by Tomaz Kac, that will disassemble a Commodore 64 machine code program on your Windows PC. Changes in this version: Improved references to immediate opcodes and the add / remove blank line now works as it should. Added edit blocks window, copy to clipboard, user comments and user labels and a remove command.

Website: CSDb
Source: http://www.richardlagendijk.nl

Commodore Plus : Interview with Sandro (Woodmaster) Mestre [source]

Amongst the interviews we make, we didn't have the possibility yet to talk to somebody close and even if this time the victim is from a neighbouring country, we can almost consider him a compatriot. Somebody who doesn't like to show off before hand. He only talks about his projects when they are financed. He moves within our circles and shares all his good deeds with all of us in different ways, above all doing what he likes most  and what we like most , games and good ones!!!

Sandro Mestre or Woodmaster or simply Wood began already when he was a very young being interested in all which could be connected to a TVset and which had keys. Now we can consider him already an  advanced programmer and he has the kindness of celebrating every new game which we all play.

Profile:
  • Name: Sandro (Woodmaster) Mestre
  • Land: Portugal
  • First computer: Timex 2048
  • Merits: The Mojon Twins & Inside



1 - Tell us about Woodmaster / Algarbi (Sandro Mestre), Who are you? I am 39 yo and I live in the Algarve, south Portugal with my wife and son. I love to code for retro computers.

2 - What and when was your first contact with a  computer? When I was 11 or 12 I friend of mine had borrowed a 48k zx spectrum from a cousin and we started to code in basic on it. The next year I got myself a Timex 2048 which was produced in Portugal - it was a speccy clone but had 3 extra screen modes.

TIMEX 2048


3 - Can you remember which was your first game? I think it was Manic Miner.

4 - Why the Commodore 64? ¿What throw you to this one and no other more popular at the time? As I have already told above my first computer was a zx spectrum clone, and I was actually quite happy with it and I had already moved to code it in z80 assembly, I was also an avid reader of the spanish magazines Microhobby and Micromania. Micromania was a magazine which reviewed game for different platforms (speccy, cpc, msx, c64) and I was getting interested in all these other computers with their 'strange' graphic modes where they had brick pixels and more colour per attribute cell(as I saw it then!). Then someone opened a new computer shop in town that was selling only commodore computers and they had one on display and it was running the game and I confess it was love at first sight lol. They had other games also on other days, like Cybernoid II, Fernandez must die etc. So I just had to have this computer.

The first C64 game he saw.



5 - How do you rtart to do the C64 conversions of the Mojon Twins games? At one time we were all members of the Computer Emuzone development forum and it was there that it all started - I started to port Nanako then. Afterwards I came across their games and I liked Uwol a lot and I saw that there was a Sega Genesis/Megadrive port already so I asked them if they would be interested in a c64 version and they said yes, the same applied to Sir Ababol.


6 - What tools do you use to program? Do you program directly on a C64 o use you a PC? I did start to code on the real machine, first in basic and then I was very lucky to find the book "Commodore 64 Programer's Reference Guide" and moved to machine code. Some time later I was able to buy other two books, "Cómo programar su Commodore 2 - Lenguaje Máquina, Entradas .Salidas, Periféricos" and "Commodore 128" both printed by Paraninfo. At 2001 I started to use emulators and cross platform tools to program. At the moment I use the following tools: cc65 C toolkit which includes the ca65 assembler; KickAssembler; CharPad; SpritePad;ProjectOne; Timanthes; Vice emulator.

Nanako, his first C64 release.

7 - In what games on the C64 has you been involved and what do you do on them? Until now I was involved only as a coder.  Nanako in classic japanese monster castle(100% assembly); UWOL Quest for Money(C+ASM); Sir Ababol(C+ASM). The one I like the most is UWOL perhaps because it is the one I enjoy the most playing.
I confess that I used to like to play much more than now but I still do play a bit when I like the game - I enjoy much more coding. I do not play much the games I have coded perhaps because I had to beta test them all the time. The game I always come back to play is UWOL. It is a very nice sensation to play the games I have coded but I I think it is a much better feeling still when I know that others enjoy the games.


8 - In which titles are you now involved? I have many projects started on the c64 and other platforms but those I would like to finish in a near future are Illogical and Teodoro. I have also started another project which is in it's design phase still, it isn't a version of other game in existence. The provisional title is Castrum Strigium.

UWOL and all the family.



9 - What are your favorite genres in computer games? I like several genres, mainly adventure, rpg,shmups and platformers.

10 - What computers have you used and you still own? At the golden era I had a c64c and a datasette and I still have it but now I do also have a 1541II, which allows me to test my games and programs on the real machine more easily. I keep also the Timex 2048 and an Amiga 500(1mb)

11 - What do you think about the death of the 8 bits and the C64 and how do you see this growing passion about the computer and game history? I don't think they have died at all - they have just moved to another plane of existence ;) . They are more mature now and I am still amazed how can people still squeeze new stuff from the c64. I have seen also many new projects either games or demos for other retro machines like the msx, spectrum and cpc and they also are doing very well with many new releases for them.


12 - Do you have some no finished games? Do I really need to answer this? HAHA I have tons of stuff here that I have started and need finishing. Some of them I don't think I will go back to them but others might have a chance.

Sir Ababol, his lastest release.
13 - Do you feel some pressure to end the games that you0re working on? I do feel some pressure only when I have some material from the other friends involved in the same projects waiting to be used.

14 - Have you be the intention to do a solo project or something really big? Of course, I have started some projects of my own, but these take more time that's why I have been working on versioning. Yes I do have some big projects in mind and some in paper that would require cartridges of 128k or more.

15 - What do you think about modern games? ¿Have them all less feeling that before? I am not a huge fan of modern games. The only games I have played with gusto was Oblivion and Skyrim. I do try other games from time to time though. I think that most new games are very good gfx and msx wise but have lost a lot of the magic of the first games, their playability and also many are very easy.

Teodoro, with the 2 possible versions.

16 - Do we see you in Retromadrid someday? I have not lost hope of attending this great fair, I have thinking of going for sometime now but it got more difficult since there no more (cheap) direct flights from the Algarve to Madrid.

17 - Have you another hobbies? Yes I do, a lot of them actually, I think I should narrow a bit my hobbies: reading, learning other languages, painting.

18 - Thanks to answer our questions!. Would you likje to add something more? It is me who should thank you for this opportunity. I would like also to thank all those who have worked with me or have morally supported me in all the projects we have worked together. Working in the aforementioned projects allowed me to know a lot of people and make some good friends.

Links:
  • You can buy Woodmasters games on cartridge at RGCD.
  • You can buy Woodmasters games on TAPE or DISK at Psytronik.
  • You can visit the Mojon Twind Dome HERE.
  • You can visit INSIDE HERE.

Plus/4 World : Three Most Wanted And More [source]

Our persisting fight against the "Missing software" tagging has won against other celebrated hidden software we were looking for.Rising out of nowhere, in the very end here comes Wonder 6, a most wanted demo released by The Vulture under the Men Of Science label, which we just had as broken program from several collections. Finally, now we can put that as working into the whole ser...oh wait! What's that one? Wonder 3? Yes, it's Wonder 3 from the same coder, a missing one we've absolutely never seen before! And all this means one thing only: the Wonder series is now complete! Great achievement!Recoveries are not over yet, another one out of the missing software's list: it's Sound Box VII by LTA, a music box we've searched for, since someone noticed a hack of the main picture in another demo. Too early to put up a series, having three chapters overall of that, but it looks like taking shape, and this is certainly a notable step to have'em all one day.And we wish a similar destiny will come for Picture Show 6 by Gang Soft. Previously, we've found a unique specimen of their releases, i.e. the 7th chapter. A single one means nothing, two in a row begin to turn into a new series to search for...Additional stuff follows. First of all, some SD2IEC utilities we've missed before, like CBM FileBrowser 16 V1.5 and Dracopy 1.0d Plus4. Follows, a couple of very ancient Kruk's demos: Greased Lightning (Kruss) and Horror Demo; a very early picture by Crash at the time he was known as "Monster Graphics: Mach Mit; a German educational program about a Russian space program called Projekt Phobos. In the end, some minor stuff which has to be included in the archive (in some cases, though their controversial content): Tomorrow, Alpensound, Dream-woman, La Marseillaise, Move Your Feet, Plus4-power Demo, Porno (HR), Porno Show II, Sex Cartoons I, Strip 16, Strip And Slide, Swedish Girl, Work Hard.Last little gem: Tynesoft C16 Plus4 Catalogue III, the third promotional booklet released by Tynesoft, in PDF format.

Commodore is awesome : What got you into the scene? [source]

Another great question :)

In 1982 I sold all my Lego to buy a TI-99/4A from a neighbour. I had my own computer! My first one was a borrowed Acorn Atom.

Around 1984 I visited my friend Daniel who showed me Exploding Fist on his Spectrum and consequently my next computer was a C64, because I had seen Exploding Fist on it. But I liked the games on Spectravideo so much more I sold it and bought a SV-328. Shortly later, I got a SVI-738 MSX instead, which was both good and disappointing.

The fantastic architecture of the Amiga in 1987 is what got me into the scene. So much so that I programmed my first demo on my MSX and built a sampler to sample the ‘Ei’ instrument on it :)

It quickly became perfectly obvious to me that Amiga could do things NO other home computer could do. I drooled over crack intros, Barbarian and Nebulus, Protracker, Dpaint and beautiful ladies in colorful hats chewing on pencils. Jaw hung ajar.


I probably would have discovered the Amiga too late if Paul Stuart hadn’t let me spend pretty much every day of Xmas holiday 87/88 hanging out and playing on his Amiga, cos they were pretty pricey at the time, and I hadn’t saved up for one yet.

Some colas and pizzas later (why does that seem to be the intrinsic property of hanging out & enjoyable times???) sure enough, we’d formed a group ;) Paul and Johan as swappers, I was coder, and a 3 years older bloke Jonas who had made some great music! B.R.A.I.N.S. was born. :P

The fundamental discovery was that people had coded so called “demos” *just* for bragging rights. And bragging rights fits right in with the megalomaniacal knowitall nature of a 15-16yo mind. ;) And when you could code all these wonderful new things where previously there were only the usual character grids and sprites… how exciting and promising!

Amiga was something else, Amiga was a bright new future, and the possibilities were endless… this was the start of all dreams of wonder and delusions of grandieur. Because it was unexpectedly great.

Richard's C64 blog! : A day to remember - Revival 2013 [source]

Saturday 18th May 2013

(No photos of the event unfortunately. Here's some screen shots of some stuff I was talking about)

Weekends, I am usually slaving away programming or composing music for either my amusement of having fun. On Sundays-Fridays, I just work, work, work at a high pressured order picking/packing job at a local DC. Whereas on a Thursday I chill, and drink up the local pub. As the stressful week reached its end, it was time for a little break from all that today. I got up at 6:50am in the morning. Showered and got myself ready to go off from my local home town to Birmingham New Street station. Then bought myself a ticket and caught the 9:15am train to Wolverhampton (Not far from where my uncle lives). After I got on to the train. I relaxed for 25 minutes. Well, wasn't really relaxing - I was quite nervous. Worried about getting myself lost.

I got to the train station in Wolverhampton, and I started to make my way to the venue in Gorsebrook Road. I was relieved to discover that the venue wasn't all that difficult to find. It was just down the road from the Wolverhampton city centre. I got to the venue, and queued up. There were so many colourful and cheerful characters and children looking forward to enter Revival 2013. Although there was quite a longish queue. We didn't have to wait too long for entry. After getting my hand stamped. I saw the first part of the venue. At the main entrance were 9 big TV/Monitor screens - featuring 9 different classic games. The games were from the classic consoles, such as: The NES (Mario), SEGA Megadrive (Sonic), Atari (Asteroids) and a few other colourful games.

As I entered the complex  even further, I was very amazed to see my milestone of 2008, "Sub Hunter" on one of the displays. It was the Psytronik Amstrad CPC version. I had a go at playing the game on a real Amstrad. The computer brings me memories of visiting my uncle (during my childhood, and teenage years). I always wanted to see my uncle - for the sake of playing his games he bought on the Amstrad. Unfortunately because he was footy mad, there were a load football simulators - He did have other things, such as R-Type and a few other titles.

As well as the Amstrad CPC, I spotted "Flimbo's Quest" on the screen. I thought to myself - That must be the "Commodore 64" version of the game. Can it? It was ... but not on a C64 computer, but on a C64 Game System. There was a Commodore 64C in the venue which had Endurion's arcade adventure game called "Wonderland". A pretty nice game. The stand where the C64 was monitored by Jason. Not too far from the distance was an SX 64. A portable computer, with built in screen - that ran on Commodore 64 disks. On display was the stunning RGCD 16KB Cartridge Compo 2011 game, "C64Anabalt". A very amazing remake of the classic flash game Canabalt.





There were more things to see and explore. When I entered the main hall. It was full of colourful consoles and characters. A load of classic computers were ones I never even heard of. Other machines were quite familiar. I wouldn't forget the BBC ACORN Microcomputer. Back in the eighties when I was in infant/junior school. I checked out the back end of the room. There was an old style Commodore 64 there, with a true classic gem of a game. Loaded from real tape. "Thrust" by Firebird Software. An absolutely fantastic original game.  I gave the game a go before I walked back to the entrance.

I got to the entrance to the big room where Kenz was standing and we had a friendly chat about "Cops". I also talked about one of my scrapped projects. He was happy to hear about the project being scrapped. I decided to get myself a drink. As I felt very thirsty. I got to the bar, and bought a drink. Tried to order some food, for lunch a bacon bap. Unfortunately the food I requested had ran out. Alternatively, I just had 2 packets of ready salted crisps. I am a fussy eater you know :)

After having a drink and two packets of crisps. I went back into the main hall again, to check out more of the machines. Played games - and did rubbish in them. I then visited a stall and looked at the Commodore 64 tapes that were for sale at the event. WOW, Commodore 64 tapes being sold at an expo. AWESOME. Well, not quite. As the majority of games which were on sale were games which I already had (and still have). Anyway, I bought 4 tapes for £5.00. The games of which were SDI (Hit Squad), APB (Hit Squad), Noterraqueous (Mastertronic) and Raster Runner (Mastertronic Plus). Then I went to play more fun classic games (And more Commodore 64 of course).

I went back to Kenz's stall and C64 legend, Steve Day was the (STE'86). We had discussions about loading screens and had loads of laughs about one picture in particular, which was released on CSDB. I won't reveal what the picture was, or who was responsible, but that was a barrel of laughs.Yet again I disappeared and bought myself a pint of Fosters' then watch the Ocean Experience interview. Yes, the guys formly from Ocean Software were at the event. The guys all talked about what their experience was like back in the 1980's at Ocean. How it was relaxing - compared to how people have to work in the UK today. They also mentioned about the equipment and software they programmed the games with. Also a bit about "Total Recall", "Operation Wolf" and how they didn't like movie crossovers. Although I was standing at the back of the queue for 45 minutes or so. I was desperate to have a sit down. After the seminar had finished, I walked back to the bar and bought myself a cup of tea. Paul Drury from Retro Gamer came to the venue and said "It's the C64 programmer, who still makes games today". He asked if I have brought any of my made games to the show this time?. I sad "No, not this time, sorry!".

I went back to Jason's stand, played a few games and left a few surprises. Yep, RICHARD TND was entered on the high score table of ... Woolly Jumper. I was indeed playing my own C64 game on his C64. I bet he still didn't know it was me. I went back to Kenz's stand and said. I've been leaving a few surprises on Jason's stand. We both laughed. We then started talking about future projects, and Alf Yngve and how amazing he adds new ideas into SEUCK. Then I program some of the ideas. I also mentioned that I learned this stuff by helpful SEUCK tips by Jon Wells. I also talked about the latest game, which was released on my web site about a week ago called "Bank Run". (A game of West Bank, using SEUCK).



I took a walk around the venue again and saw something funny but very amazing. It was huge screen full of LED lights. Each light formed  two objects, and one formed the ball. It was "LED PONG". I think you may have remembered the classic arcade game don't you :) No? If not, where the heck have you been? I went round the arcade machines and played on some of those. Then back to the C64 (The 1541 Ultimate was plugged in this time). It was a bigger session this time. I had some time to play 3 or 4 games, until someone wanted to play something on the machine. I played "Terra Cresta", "R-Type" and "Alleykat". Three classic games. I also noticed my old games were on the SD card, but didn't bother to load those in. Someone wanted to load in "Thrust" from the tape deck. So they did that. While the tape was loading, I talked about the tape loader which was used in the game. I watched how "Thrust" was played. The way that guy was playing "Thrust", I learned something new. To gain bonus points, constantly shoot the nuclear power station and escape before time runs out :)

I went back to Jason's stall, where Kenz and Steve Day were here. After all those little surprises. The big surprise was revealed. The real Richard Bayliss meet Jason for the first time :). We all laughed, and then the serious talking started. It was about projects. Jason showed me some WIP stuff and we all agree that incomplete projects equals lack of time or motivation. Mainly due to real life/work, etc. Steve was then discussing about one particular controversial picture that was uploaded on CSDB. We all discussed bizarre things about picture. Then afterwards talked about Art Packages on the C64. Paint Magic, OCP Art Studio (If I'm right). Then I mentioned about when I first had my C64, it came with "The Image System". I mentioned how difficult it was. We all agreed - Image System was rubbish.  There were other discussions and some very funny ones as well :) I was amused at the fact that one of my all time favourite shoot 'em up games, was technically not one of the BEST shoot 'em ups for the C64. We could have discussed more, but I decided to go for a walk round again to see if there was anything I missed.

After my walk and I went for a final drink, I walked back and saw someone else from the C64 world was with Kenz. It was one of the workers of Ocean Software. We talked and had a bit of a laugh. I mentioned about how I first got involved with the C64. The number of C64s I had, and why I always been using the C64 since 1990. It was because it was part of my inner youth. I loved the C64 from day 1 and very happy to keep using it today. Sadly my day had finished a Revival 2013. It was time for me to set off, get some tea then catch the train and bus home. Then face a daay of sheer depression - Work!

For me, Revival was a big event to have remembered. Also the best thing that happened to me so far this year. If the event occurs in Wolverhampton next year. I will most definitely come. This time for 2 days - and hopefully - bring a new game this time.

8-Bit City : Pixel Art: RPG Sprites Thug [source]


Just a random thug that I imagine could be used in a Beat 'Em Up. I was playing some River City Ransom and Double Dragon last night. Level 3 of Double Dragon continues to plague me. Why? Why doesn't the game have any continues?

MSX blue : Catboy [source]

Catboy is an action game, published in 1986 by Casio. GDX has removed a dangerous bug that could kill the PSG on some old MSX1 computers.

Catboy (1)

Australian Retro Gamer : Vectrex – Vectrom 32 Game Multi-Cart [source]

Vectrex_arg

The Vectrex was one of those ‘love to have’ gaming machines which only rich kids had back in the 1980s. The machine was ahead of its time. Fast forward 30 years and the machine remains a ‘love to have’ for many a retro gamer.

If you are one of those lucky enough to have a Vectrex, you would be well aware that games are hard to come by, and usually quite expensive when you do stumble across them.

If you don’t care for having each individual Vectrex game (or the overlays), there is another option – the Vectrom 32 game multi-cassette (cart). This ‘homebrew’ cart gives you the best bang for your buck. The more popular ‘Sean Kelly’ cart may have more games (72 in fact!), but they are almost impossible to source and very expensive.

The Vectrom cart costs about $45, that is about $1.40 for each game – what a bargain! For that price, you get the cart hinged inside a VHS style case. To keep the authentic retro feel, the game selection is done manually via the mini dip-switch selector on the cart – no software menu selection system here folks! The stuffing around with the dip-switch selection takes some getting used to, but the feature adds to the charm. Don’t stress though, the back of the VHS case has the dip-switch combinations for each of the 32 games.

Vectrom_Cart_arg

Before you scream “this isn’t legit!”, let me assure you, it is. The original makers of the Vectrex have given open permission to continue development and have put the entire system into the public domain. Unlike other old consoles, it is perfectly legal to emulate all original Vectrex games.

For those itching to know what games are on the cartridge, here is the complete list. The games on the cartridge are some of the all-time best games for the Vectrex.

Verdict: If you have a Vectrex and you are sick of playing MineStorm, then you need the Vectrom 32-in-1 multi-cassette!

 

8-Bit City : Wizard of Wor Atari 5200 [source]


Wizard of Wor is the less popular cousin of Berzerk, but it's still a great game. This old box is pretty classic, and would have sold me in 1983. Still, I would have been better off playing Ultima. Playing games after playing Ultima is tough. You always end up thinking, "I should really be playing Ultima II: The Curse of the Entrantress right now. At the very least I should grind some gold in Exodus." 
Accept the challenge, Warrior, and the let battle begin!
Also, what the hell, the game came with a 90-day warranty? That's quality customer service.

nIGHTFALL : Chalkboard’s PowerPad with M.Maestro & L.Lectric PaintBrush (Boxed) [source]

Autopsy: Donated By: Andrea Pierdomenico from The Personal Computer Museum: The PowerPad is Chalkboard’s graphics tablet. With its combination of features, reasonable price, friendly support, and wide range of software, it would be an excellent addition to your hardware. The first thing you notice about the PowerPad is that it’s big: it measures 17 inches [...]