Description

COMPUTE!’s Gazette Issue #4 Digital Edition – October, 2025

Step into the eerie glow of the CRT with the October 2025 “Special Spooktacular Issue” of COMPUTE!’s Gazette, the magazine for retro computer users. This month, we delve into the haunted history of vintage tech with chilling tales, Halloween-themed projects, and in-depth explorations of digital terror.

Our cover story, “Debugging a Ghost,” investigates one of the most bizarre and inexplicable tales in computing history: The Dodleston Source Code. Uncover the chilling account of a teacher, a quiet English cottage, and an offline BBC Microcomputer that began receiving cryptic messages from a man in the 16th century and a mysterious entity from the year 2109.

Inside this spooky issue, you will also find:

Features

• SCARE WAVES: A deep dive into the art of creating terror on 8-bit platforms.
• Retro Horror Classics: Revisit influential horror masterpieces like Project Firestart and Beyond the Forbidden Forest.
• Today in Retro History: Journey back to the pivotal Octobers of 1980, 1985, and 1990. Explore the disastrous launch of the Apple III , the secret IBM-Microsoft deal that shaped the PC industry , the debut of the groundbreaking Intel 80386 processor , the American launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System , and the triumph of Windows 3.0.
• A Fan’s Journey: Read Sean Mrtwo’s personal story about finding friendship and community in the article “Nobody”.

Columns & Programming

• The GEOS Column is Back! After a long absence, the popular column on the continuing evolution of GEOS returns.
• Learn 6502 Assembly: Continue your low-level coding journey in “Some Assembly Required”.
• Halloween Type-Ins: Get your C64 into the spirit with “A Halloween Treat,” a fun demo by Roman Werner , plus sound programming for the Atari , and “Tunnel Run” for the Commander X16.

News & Reviews

• Commodore Corner: Get the latest production updates on the new FPGA-based Commodore 64 Ultimate, including challenges with HDMI validation and import rules.
• H.E.R.O. is Back: A review of a modern remake of the classic C64 game.
• Podcast Corner: The debut of a brand new column featuring a look at the excellent Floppy Days podcast.

From paranormal mysteries to programming terror, this issue of COMPUTE!’s Gazette is packed with frights and delights for every retro computing enthusiast.