[Coco] Back to BASIC

Tue Apr 11 12:58:08 EDT 2017

Great idea!

On Apr 11, 2017 12:15 PM, "Deny Wilson" <deny.wilson at gmail.com> wrote:

> Perhaps you should provide a "Please learn responsibly" screen at the end
> of each episode.
>
> On Tue, Apr 11, 2017 at 8:24 AM, Steve Strowbridge <
> ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Make sure you don't binge so hard that you puke ;)
> >
> > On Apr 11, 2017 10:04 AM, "Alexander Wallace" <
> > alexander.o.wallace at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Great stuff!.
> > >
> > > I’m traveling this week so I’ll let them accumulate for when I get
> back.
> > >
> > > Thanks again!
> > >
> > > > On Apr 11, 2017, at 8:01 AM, Steve Strowbridge <
> > ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Chapter 16 has been uploaded, which covers SCREEN and PCLS commands,
> > it's
> > > > starting to get good!!!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Steve Strowbridge, aka
> > > > The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
> > > > http://ogsteviestrow.com
> > > > ogsteviestrow at gmail.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 11:29 PM, Steve Strowbridge <
> > > ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Thanks Alexander, me too, on the assembly part.
> > > >>
> > > >> It's turning out the book I grabbed from the archive doesn't seem to
> > > cover
> > > >> the "standard" BASIC graphics modes, so I'm going to have to
> probably
> > > get
> > > >> out my hard copies and do some of that, because I really like the
> > > low-res
> > > >> set/reset modes of 9 glorious colors.
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Steve Strowbridge, aka
> > > >> The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
> > > >> http://ogsteviestrow.com
> > > >> ogsteviestrow at gmail.com
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> On Sun, Apr 9, 2017 at 9:28 PM, Alexander Wallace <
> > > >> alexander.o.wallace at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>> That’s great Steve,
> > > >>>
> > > >>> I watched up to 13 yesterday so you have a few minutes before
> needing
> > > to
> > > >>> make the next one :)
> > > >>>
> > > >>> JK, Thanks for all you do!
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Anxious to get to Assembly!
> > > >>>
> > > >>>> On Apr 9, 2017, at 12:14 PM, Steve Strowbridge <
> > > ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>
> > > >>> wrote:
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> I have just added two more chapters in the BASIC programming
> > series..
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Chapter 14, plotting pixels with the PSET command
> > > >>>> Chapter 15, creating lines, boxes, and filled boxes with the LINE
> > > >>> command.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> My head is about to explode so will take a break before moving on
> :)
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Steve Strowbridge, aka
> > > >>>> The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
> > > >>>> http://ogsteviestrow.com
> > > >>>> ogsteviestrow at gmail.com
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 7:37 PM, John Lochey via Coco <
> > > >>> coco at maltedmedia.com>
> > > >>>> wrote:
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>> Yeah emulation has changed everything!
> > > >>>>> Now I can "own" them all, so to speak!
> > > >>>>> But right now I'm really enjoying the CoCo2 and the MC10 that I
> > have.
> > > >>>>> So I'm happy to play with those.  Definitely assembly is in the
> > > future
> > > >>> for
> > > >>>>> me, and is quite exciting!
> > > >>>>> I have a CoCo with the SDC unit, but still find emulation awfully
> > > >>> handy as
> > > >>>>> I go back and forth between home computers and work computers.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Really appreciate this community too, can't possibly say that
> > ENOUGH!
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Johnny
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>     From: Steve Strowbridge <ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>
> > > >>>>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <
> coco at maltedmedia.com>
> > > >>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 5:25 PM
> > > >>>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] Back to BASIC
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Hey John, nice to hear from other people who look in on Tandy as
> > > drool
> > > >>>>> worthy, not quite sure I heard it put that way before.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> I always loved my Coco, and was proud of it, but I did drool over
> > > some
> > > >>> of
> > > >>>>> the games that were available on the C-64, Atari 800, etc., as
> > those
> > > >>>>> machines had much better color, sound, graphics, etc (compared
> to a
> > > >>> CoCo
> > > >>>>> 1/2 at least).
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Now, I can at least afford some of the computers I never could
> have
> > > >>> back
> > > >>>>> then, so I hope to eventually get my hands on a lot of them and
> dig
> > > in
> > > >>> and
> > > >>>>> try and create a little.  For the foreseeable near future,
> though,
> > > that
> > > >>>>> exploration will remain focused on the CoCo.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> I want to learn Assembly in general, create a CoCo 1/2 project or
> > > two,
> > > >>> then
> > > >>>>> work at some CoCo 3 stuff taking advantage of higher resolutions
> > and
> > > >>> color,
> > > >>>>> hardware scrolling, etc.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> But, if the time permits, and the passion is strong enough, may
> > > branch
> > > >>> out
> > > >>>>> and try and do the same thing on other platforms, but the Coco is
> > > >>> always
> > > >>>>> top priority.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> Steve Strowbridge, aka
> > > >>>>> The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
> > > >>>>> http://ogsteviestrow.com
> > > >>>>> ogsteviestrow at gmail.com
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 3:22 PM, John Lochey via Coco <
> > > >>> coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>> wrote:
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Hi all,
> > > >>>>>> My BASICS came on the VIC-20.
> > > >>>>>> I badly wanted a Commodore 64 or a Color Computer, but for my
> > > >>> Commodore
> > > >>>>>> friends and I, the Tandy machines were "the other guys".
> > > >>>>>> But RS's were everywhere in the Midwest, so the Tandy's were
> > always
> > > >>> very
> > > >>>>>> "drool worthy".
> > > >>>>>> My friend and I did some type-ins and some small games and life
> > > moved
> > > >>> on.
> > > >>>>>> Now, I just want to get back to ALL that stuff that I wanted to
> > > learn
> > > >>>>> then
> > > >>>>>> and never did.  Assembly Language still seems super cool to me,
> > but
> > > >>>>>> definitely filled with "smoke and mirrors and magic" at the
> > moment!
> > > >>>>>> Funny, I work by day managing a US IT Datacenter for a large
> > > chemical
> > > >>>>>> corporation, but the only computers I like to play with at home
> > are
> > > >>>>> retro!
> > > >>>>>> :)
> > > >>>>>> For the the Retro-World is still wide open!  Lots to learn, lots
> > to
> > > >>> do.
> > > >>>>>> Heck, I'd just like to know as much as some of you have already
> > > >>>>> forgotten!
> > > >>>>>> ;)
> > > >>>>>> Thanks,
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Johnny
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>    From: Steve Strowbridge <ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>
> > > >>>>>> To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <
> coco at maltedmedia.com
> > >
> > > >>>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2017 9:24 AM
> > > >>>>>> Subject: Re: [Coco] Back to BASIC
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Thank you Alexander for the kind words!
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Seven Chapters!! Wow!! I hope you didn't get bored to sleep and
> > end
> > > up
> > > >>>>>> injuring yourself in the work shop :)
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> BASIC on the CoCo was my entry into computer programming, like
> > most
> > > >>> kids
> > > >>>>> of
> > > >>>>>> the day, I'm sure, I followed the very user friendly book,
> > actually
> > > >>>>>> "learned" the language and was able to apply it and create
> > original
> > > >>>>>> programs, I rarely "typed in" any programs, I enjoyed the
> process
> > of
> > > >>>>> coming
> > > >>>>>> up with the ideas, then working out the logistics of making
> > > everything
> > > >>>>>> work.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> I started on a 16K Standard BASIC, and cut my teeth on that for
> a
> > > >>> year or
> > > >>>>>> two, my 2nd CoCo was the 64K white CoCo 1 with Extended Color
> > BASIC
> > > >>> and I
> > > >>>>>> went to town with that, loved doing high res games with PMODE 3
> > and
> > > 4,
> > > >>>>>> using PCOPY and GET/PUT to create sprites, move objects without
> > > >>> erasing
> > > >>>>> the
> > > >>>>>> background, experiment with screen scrolling, etc.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> All the things I saw the pros do in assembly, I tried to mimic
> in
> > > ECB,
> > > >>>>> and
> > > >>>>>> other than the vast difference in speed, I was able to recreate
> > most
> > > >>> of
> > > >>>>> the
> > > >>>>>> tricks.  For whatever reason, it never occurred to me that I
> could
> > > >>> also
> > > >>>>>> attempt to learn assembly myself, I was a kid, and I thought
> that
> > > was
> > > >>>>> what
> > > >>>>>> grown ups did.  I went to college for computer programming, and
> > > >>> thought
> > > >>>>> it
> > > >>>>>> would be taught to me there, I was disappointed that it wasn't,
> > they
> > > >>> were
> > > >>>>>> covering DBase, Fortran, Cobol, and BASIC, and BASIC I already
> > knew,
> > > >>> and
> > > >>>>>> those others, I had no interest in, so I didn't say in college
> for
> > > >>>>>> programming.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> I transitioned from CoCo to the Tandy 1000 in 1986, I got ahold
> of
> > > MS
> > > >>>>>> QBasic sometime after that, and enjoyed many years through up to
> > the
> > > >>> late
> > > >>>>>> 90's programming in Quick BASIC on MS-DOS based systems.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Anything I ever made was always a game, I had no interest in
> > > anything
> > > >>>>>> "serious".
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> My biggest claim to fame, with my own software was a game I
> made,
> > > >>> which
> > > >>>>>> actually started as an "I told you so" in College, where I told
> > the
> > > >>> guy
> > > >>>>>> sitting next to me "I can make a space invaders game", and he
> said
> > > "no
> > > >>>>> you
> > > >>>>>> can't" and before the class was over, I already had the skeleton
> > of
> > > >>> the
> > > >>>>>> game up and running in QBASIC.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> That became a game called "Cosmic Aliens", it was DOS Text
> based,
> > > the
> > > >>>>>> smiley faces characters were the aliens, they dropped bombs,
> there
> > > >>> was a
> > > >>>>>> text character that looked like a bomb, and your ship was two
> > > >>> characters
> > > >>>>>> together that looked like a line graphic space ship, you shot
> > arrows
> > > >>> up
> > > >>>>> in
> > > >>>>>> the air like Galaga.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> That game grew over time, was circulated through BBS systems, I
> > put
> > > >>> the
> > > >>>>>> usual shareware messages on there, like "if you'd like to
> support
> > > this
> > > >>>>>> game, mail a check to..." and at one point and time, the "mail
> to"
> > > >>>>> address
> > > >>>>>> what the retail store I worked at in Fort Lauderdale called the
> > Byte
> > > >>>>> Shop.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Turns out, the game was a favorite of a person in the military,
> > and
> > > he
> > > >>>>> said
> > > >>>>>> he and his buddies like the game, I found this out, because he
> > came
> > > to
> > > >>>>>> visit me at the Byte Shop to tell me that.  I was blown away by
> > > >>> that.  I
> > > >>>>>> grabbed the source code and modified it, and created a custom
> > > version
> > > >>> for
> > > >>>>>> him, and gave him the updated EXE file, he was happy about that.
> > I
> > > >>>>> think I
> > > >>>>>> also got a random product review of that game somebody mailed
> me,
> > > and
> > > >>>>> even
> > > >>>>>> an offer to buy it by a company in Canada called Ninga software
> or
> > > >>>>>> something like that.  My 15 minutes of game fame were under a
> very
> > > >>> small
> > > >>>>>> spotlight, but it was very rewarding to know somebody in the
> > > military
> > > >>> was
> > > >>>>>> able to entertain themselves while at a base with my game.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Another game I made for DOS, which never got circulated was
> called
> > > >>>>> "Garden
> > > >>>>>> Worm" and it was a spin on Centipede, where you were the
> > Centipede,
> > > so
> > > >>>>> kind
> > > >>>>>> of a hack clone of the various Snake type games, there was food
> to
> > > >>> eat to
> > > >>>>>> get larger, there were prizes for points, and there were special
> > > items
> > > >>>>> that
> > > >>>>>> would either make you bigger, smaller, faster, or slower, and
> > there
> > > >>> was
> > > >>>>> an
> > > >>>>>> enemy centipede "worm" you had to avoid.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> I wrote a ton of games on the CoCo, my most interesting was a
> > Donkey
> > > >>> Kong
> > > >>>>>> clone based on the rivets level where you jumped over rivets to
> > > clear
> > > >>> the
> > > >>>>>> board, to make this game, I created a level editor, and then it
> > > became
> > > >>>>> sort
> > > >>>>>> of game engine oriented where basically you could create any
> level
> > > >>> with
> > > >>>>> any
> > > >>>>>> arrangement and number of rivets, and as long as you could get
> to
> > > them
> > > >>>>> all,
> > > >>>>>> and pop them all, you could clear the level.  You would have to
> > > >>> specify
> > > >>>>>> where you wanted the animated donkey kong to stand, and how many
> > > fire
> > > >>>>> balls
> > > >>>>>> you wanted and their starting position.  Other than that, the
> game
> > > ran
> > > >>>>> with
> > > >>>>>> whatever design you could throw at it.  This was all done in the
> > low
> > > >>> res
> > > >>>>>> 64*32*9 color mode, but was quite playable.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> My biggest regret is not having any of my original floppies, I
> had
> > > >>> them
> > > >>>>> all
> > > >>>>>> until the early 90's even, let somebody borrow my CoCo and my
> > floppy
> > > >>>>> case,
> > > >>>>>> they ended up getting evicted from their apartment, and they
> were
> > > >>> never
> > > >>>>>> seen again.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Long answer, to your post, I'm sure, but... What I wanted to do
> > with
> > > >>> this
> > > >>>>>> series, was to re-learn the language, perhaps get some new
> people
> > > >>>>>> interested in simple programming concepts, and at the end of the
> > > book,
> > > >>>>>> start working on a new, original CoCo game project in BASIC,
> maybe
> > > >>> even a
> > > >>>>>> few games.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> That's still the plan, and I also plan on learning assembly,
> > which I
> > > >>>>> might
> > > >>>>>> as well also turn into a series, and then come up with a game at
> > the
> > > >>> end
> > > >>>>> of
> > > >>>>>> that, which, hopefully, I'll be able to debut at next year's
> > > CoCoFEST!
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> -End of Line
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Steve Strowbridge, aka
> > > >>>>>> The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
> > > >>>>>> http://ogsteviestrow.com
> > > >>>>>> ogsteviestrow at gmail.com
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> On Thu, Apr 6, 2017 at 8:51 AM, Alexander Wallace <
> > > >>>>>> alexander.o.wallace at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> I’ve worked as a software developer, mostly client/server and
> web
> > > >>> apps
> > > >>>>>>> since 1997, but my memory of CoCo’s Basic and other of it’s
> > > languages
> > > >>>>> has
> > > >>>>>>> pretty much disappeared as I’ve recently found out :)
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> Your videos are a great companion tome while doing something
> else
> > > in
> > > >>>>> the
> > > >>>>>>> evenings, (metal or wood working or what not), I watched 7
> > > yesterday,
> > > >>>>> and
> > > >>>>>>> really enjoyed it!
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> I truly appreciate what you’re doing there and look forward to
> > > seeing
> > > >>>>> all
> > > >>>>>>> the videos for all the chapters, some for CoCo3 too and
> assembly
> > :)
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> Thanks a lot!
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> On Apr 5, 2017, at 3:30 PM, Steve Strowbridge <
> > > >>>>> ogsteviestrow at gmail.com
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> wrote:
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> It's been a long time coming, but I got around to going
> through
> > > and
> > > >>>>>>>> recording two new chapters in my programming in BASIC video
> > > series,
> > > >>>>> so
> > > >>>>>>>> chapters 10 and 11 are now available for your viewing
> > discomfort.
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> The play list to the entire series is:
> > > >>>>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDfh7JjQaSYA1fP5KwRiO
> > > >>> wefFIIF1
> > > >>>>>> Alid
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> I started this series aimed at a non-technical, non-coco
> owner,
> > so
> > > >>>>> it's
> > > >>>>>>>> based on using VCC as the emulator, and using the PDF of the
> > CoCo
> > > 2
> > > >>>>>>>> Extended color BASIC manual from the Color Computer Archive.
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> I had planned last year to finish the book, make a simple game
> > in
> > > >>>>> BASIC
> > > >>>>>>> as
> > > >>>>>>>> a project putting all the pieces together, and then move on to
> > > >>>>>> assembly,
> > > >>>>>>>> and try and learn that.
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> That didn't exactly happen, so going to try and make that
> happen
> > > >>> this
> > > >>>>>>> year,
> > > >>>>>>>> and have this series done, and some type of assembly project
> to
> > > show
> > > >>>>>> off
> > > >>>>>>> at
> > > >>>>>>>> CoCoFEST 27.
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> Thanks to all who have encouraged me to continue to do these,
> > it's
> > > >>>>> can
> > > >>>>>> be
> > > >>>>>>>> quite brutal for me at times :)
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> Steve Strowbridge, aka
> > > >>>>>>>> The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
> > > >>>>>>>> http://ogsteviestrow.com
> > > >>>>>>>> ogsteviestrow at gmail.com
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> --
> > > >>>>>>>> Coco mailing list
> > > >>>>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>>>>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> --
> > > >>>>>>> Coco mailing list
> > > >>>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>>>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> --
> > > >>>>>> Coco mailing list
> > > >>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> --
> > > >>>>>> Coco mailing list
> > > >>>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> --
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> > > >>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> --
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> > > >>>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> --
> > > >>>> Coco mailing list
> > > >>>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>> --
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> > > >>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > --
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> > > > https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > >
> > >
> > > --
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> > >
> >
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> >
>
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>