"Microtrek"
By Bill Andrus
ARCADIAN 1, no. 11 (Oct. 31, 1979): 88-89.

MICROTREK by Bill Andrus (7034 Thomas Dr., N.Highlands,CA 95660) is a very small but interesting version of the Star-Trek game. This version was originally shared by the North Carolina TRS-80 User Group. In playing, watch your energy level and remaining time.

Command Summary:

1) Move to Sector (row,column)- On an 8 x 8 quadrant of sectors, you can move to any legal, unoccupied sector. If you are adjacent to a Starbase, you are docked, restoring your energy and in a safe haven from which to fire. If either sector command is zero, the command is cancelled.

2) Move to a New Quadrant-extends search for Klingons and Starbases.

3) Fire on Sector (row, column) - Watch energy. Again, if either value entered is zero, the command is cancelled.

4) Sensor Report(of current quadrant): * are stars; B is StarBase; K is Klingon; and E is Enterprise

5) Status Reports - These are optional, upon-request displays

An extended version is available from Bill at $1.50 your tape, 3.50 on his.


Archive Notes:

1) Microtrek (mod) (1979)(Bill Andrus and probably Paul Zibits)(300 baud) - This was archived from the Paul Zibits collection in August/October 2021 by Paul Thacker.  He notes:

Microtrek by Bill Andrus printed in The Arcadian. This has a few differences with the previously archived version. Most are minor text differences. This version had line 200 as:

 200 clear ;C=-S;if C<0C=-C

instead of:

 200 clear ;C=E-S;if C<0C=-C

The printed version has C=E-S, so I've restored this as it is almost certainly either a typo or a dropout when processing the tape.

This version has line 720 as:

 720 if L>2000print " GREEN";return

The previously archived version has:

 720 if L=2000print " GREEN";return

In this case, it's this version that matches The Arcadian.

2) I'm not sure if this version has corrections and suggestions added. Microtrek was included on page 10 of the 16-page "Welcome to the Fascinating World of Arcade Programming!" compilation that was provided by the Arcadian:

https://ballyalley.com/program_downloads/2000_baud_programs/arcadian/programs_i-p/programs_i-p.html#MicroTrekBillAndrusAB

The program probably differs slightly from its original appearance because it was converted to work with "AstroBASIC."

3) Bally Alley Astrocast: Episode 14 - Arcadian (Oct 1979) and 1979 Cewsletter Correspondence - April 27, 2020

In episode #14 of the Bally Alley Astrocast, Adam Trionfo and Paul Thacker cover the October 1979 issue of the Arcadian newsletter (vol. 1, #11) along with sixteen letters, postcards, notes and even one telegram that were sent to Bob Fabris, editor of the Arcadian newsletter, in the late 1970s/early 1980s. The two programs in this issue are "Microtrek" by Bill Andrus and "Resequencing" by Ron Schweitzer.

https://ballyalleyastrocast.libsyn.com/podcast/bally-alley-astrocast-episode-13-arcadian-oct-1979-and-1979-newsletter-correspondence

