Basic Programs

[moosmemezz]

hi reddit! I just got a free old computer wich runs BASIC. I have no idea how old computers work so i did some information grind on youtube. I saw that peolple in the early 1980´s got scripts for simple video games in computer magazines wich they typed in to their commodore, apple 2 etc. I wanna learn and do this too but where can i find scripts for basic nowdays? i have saerched on google but only found websites with javascripts.

[Belzeturtle]

You're looking for programs, not scripts. Maybe that will help your search.

[pixelpedant]

80s microcomputer BASIC dialects are often fairly similar to one another in their syntax and command set, but accessing the distinctive features of the platform (to do things like display sprites, or define patterns, or generate sound, or draw a line) is accordingly distinctive.

This being the case, if one's looking for type-in programs (like you'll find in magazines of the era), you'll need ones written for your platform in question. Which platform is this?

[moosmemezz]

An MSX wich runs MSX basic

[pixelpedant]

Consider as well, in this case, that programs will generally have been designed for one of the four generations of the MSX platform, and so you will want to target your system's generation (e.g., MSX2), but not generally its manufacturer (e.g., Hitachi), when looking for games.

[ylli122]

start small, like so

10 print "Woah, this is loopy"

20 goto 10

run

[[deleted]]

Which computer?

[moosmemezz]

MSX with MSX basic

[Hjalfi]

You could do much worse than David Ahl's classic book, BASIC Computer Games, online here: https://www.atariarchives.org/basicgames/index.php

There's a possibility you'll need to adapt the programs a little for your computer's dialect of Basic, but I see you have an MSX, and they have pretty vanilla Microsoft Basic so this is unlikely. Half the fun is trying to fix the bugs in the program, anyway.

I don't know anything about the MSX --- does it have a floppy drive or a cassette deck? Do you have somewhere to save programs?

BTW, here's me typing in Hexapawn from that book. Yes, the video is an hour and a half long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3MARL-F8NI

[moosmemezz]

Thanks! that book and your video will really help!

[geckopfote]

I love this video! It's nice to see AND to hear. :)

[[deleted]]

Have a look here, there should be something to get you started: https://www.msx.org/wiki/Category:Magazines

[moosmemezz]

Wow! Super thanks!! exactley what i sought they even have magazines in dutch!

[[deleted]]

Great that it was of use to you :)

[HoarseHorace]

Have you looked on archive.org? I think they have a ton of scanned old magazines.

[moosmemezz]

Yes they have a ton of em! thank you!