The third issue of "Weihnachten auf dem Commodore" (= christmas on the commodore) has been released recently. Just like the two previous issues, it's a paper magazine filled with new (!) BASIC type-in listings which are Christmas-themed or winter-themed. The project was started in 2018 in Forum64 and contains many contributions by members of this community.

The language of this magazine is German, however many listings feature English text (or even no text at all), so it can also be enjoyed by an international audience.

The whole idea behind this project is to sit down in front of your trusty homecomputer with a cup of tea and some gingerbread and type in those listings and get a nice Christmas surprise out of it. That's why there is no digital version (no PDF and no D64). Getting the full 80s flashback experience is an important part of this project



As the magazine is mostly popular within Forum64 users due to its origins, each year a pre-order phase is held, in order to deliver the bulk load of magazines just in time before Christmas (which gladly worked out fine this year). But of course, the magazine can still be ordered afterwards.

Apart from the 2020 issue, both older ones (2018 and 2019) are still in stock. Price is 3 EUR per piece. For calculating shipping costs etc, the following website has been set up (in German too, but easy enough to understand): https://xmas.drwuro.com/order

At the moment, we think about new things to do in the future; e.g. if enough interest is shown, we might do an international issue in English. But this is still in consideration only, let's see what happens next Christmas

Just ordered them. Let the abtippen begin!

The magazines look very professional !
I got fed up with type in programs 35 years ago, but I totally get that others like it, it's like puzzling to make it and then get the mistakes out. Was that Santa game the other day, where he has to throw snowballs, in the latest magazine? Was that compiled Basic or is it just that fast?

yes, that one was in the blue magazine (2019), but the recently released version is a reworked/improved version, and it might be compiled (not sure about that though).

My remastered version of "Santa's Snowball Challenge" is still uncompiled Basic V2 like all the other great Basic listings in "Weihnachten auf dem Commodore" 1-3. The version of 2019 (issue 2) plays the same but w/o the custom font graphics n stuff.. nice PETSCII anyway.
You could call the new version a revamped teaser. ...but it's still an exception - all the other multifaceted contributions aren't available on floppy disk.

This magazine is really an awesome community project, ZeHa did a great job bringing this all and us together. Besides having a good time hacking Basic listings into your C64 keyboard you'll maybe get inspired to realize your own ideas, discover useful Basic routines or just play around with the code. On top of that it's a nice collector's item. ...and maybe your listing will be part of the next xmas 2021 issue?

Thanks Retrolynx ! We liked it and have been wondering about it being compiled on everythingc64.boards.net , and you might be happy to know that someone thought your graphics were better as most current commercial games.

Wow, thanks for the hint, NM156. I found the thread, that's nice. It really looks like a cozy forum, i like the tagline.