Programmable Calculators: How to Use Them By Charles J. Sippl and Roger J. Sippl Copyright 1978 Programmable Calculators: How to Use Them By Charles J. Sippl and Roger J. Sippl Copyright 1978 A book on how to use programmable calculators seems like an odd place to find references to the Bally Professional Arcade, but it doesn't seem too strange when you remember that the BPA does include a calculator. This huge 526-page book covers all ranges of calculators and explains that eventually the home computer, such as the Bally, among many others, will be taking the calculators place. Excerpt from Page xxiii (See book for artwork that accompanies this page) CALCULATOR INCLUDED IN BALLY VIDEO GAME - CASSETTES INCLUDE MATH EDUCATION AND ART ... The Bally Professional Arcade has commercial arcade excitement and fun, and that all begins with Professional-arcade games. The computer-like console comes with the popular Checkmate, Gunfight games and a sophisticated 4- function, 10-memory printing calculator built in. The Bally Professional Arcade works for its owner as well as entertains him. It's a sophisticated 4- function, 10-memory printing calculator with scroll button and entry correction, capable of reconciling bank balances, computing taxes and the like. Excerpt from Page 45 Names such as Bally, Ramtek, Micro Inc. and others were certain to become household words as the competition expands. Microprocessors are again, like they are in advanced programmable calculators, the magic since they permit game controls to be programmed and reprogrammed quickly when developing the original game concept; when offering multiple options for the user, and when building in more features for use with cartridges and tapes. Such expandable capability allows some of the suppliers to program into home games the ability to make the better games progressively more difficult as the players become more accustomed to the variable formats. This adaptability heightens the players interest longer and increases his challenge - not only to the games but also to the tools and digital products, very similar in operation and control, to these he uses at work - programmable calculators. Excerpt from Page 242 Nearly all microprocessor families can be purchased mounted on chips or boards interfaced easily to peripheral and memory boards and usable with standard programs and code conversions through ROM or other easily programmed media. The video games by Bally, RCA, Fairchild, National Semi-conductor and others are often advertised as computers because they have a computer-like memory. Thus, with the home TV as an output device, the games' calculator-type terminals as input devices, and the microprocessors in the games for control, selection, decision-making, and calculating, the game-type home computer will back into personal use rapidly. And, once used as a computer people will want more versatility. Many feel the home computer will then come to affect us more drastically than television did; the possible applications are unlimited. Scores of brands are available, a dozen or more personal computer periodicals have subscriber totals reaching from 35,000 to well over 100,000. Although this is a calculator book, intelligent readers will desire to be aware of some of the latest microcomputer products, and in a limited space, we shall discuss four models as being representative of the deluge soon to come.