In article <3.0.32.19970303102801.006af44c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, you wrote:
>Still, one of the problems is when today's programmers rely on only the
>most basic 2600 examples as a reference. If that is the standard, then
>each programmer will have to rediscover the tricks which programmers
>routinely used after 1977, or just stick to a 1977 yardstick for new game
>development, which would be sad.
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Hey, you've got to learn to walk before you can run, and you got to learn
to crawl before you can walk.
Even though there were all sorts of wild, complex BASIC programming examples
available, most of us learned to programme in BASIC with silly little,
10 INPUT A$
20 PRINT A$
30 GOTO 10
Most of us are just getting our feet wet with the 2600. So the simpler the
code we learn from, the better. Once we have an understanding of how the
bugger even draws a screen and makes a beep and moves a sprite, then we can
start looking at Frogger for the Supercharger and other programming marvels.
Trying to tackle something like that right now, for many of us, would probably
just confuse and overload us.
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>Combat is useful in the same way '10 Print
>"Hello";Goto 10" is useful as a BASIC program tutorial, but it's important
>that people realize that there is more advanced sourcecode to study and
>that the 2600 is capable of far more.
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But studying that source code isn't going to do you much good when you still
don't understand what '10 PRINT "hello";GOTO 10' does.
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>Prospective 2600 programmers shouldn't even bother writing games with
>cartridges in mind anymore because everyone will be working in the
>Supercharger RAM environment (even emulator users). Burning cartridges
>like Bob did with Okie Dokie is no longer necessary and only constricts
>programming unless you go with some elaborate supercart.
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Burning carts is nice if you've got the money and equipment to accomplish
this. I know I'd like to burn a cart and I've even got requests for
"Rescue Bira Bira" as a cart. But the pure finances of it dictates
that when I release my first game it will be on a Supercharger Tape.
That way there's no overhead. I can produce them as orders come in, and
when orders dry up I'm not left with 100 units rotting in my basement.
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>Since people are likely to subscribe and miss past discussions, some kind
>of compilation of information beyond a mere archiving of past messages
>would be useful.
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Perhaps there is someone on the list who has a large amount of unused webspace
to set up a Stella Archive or Webpage.
CRACKERS
(Learning to walk from hell!!)
--
Accordionist - Wethifl Musician - Atari 2600 Collector | /\/\
http://www.freenet.hamilton.on.ca/~ad329/Profile.html | \^^/
Bira Bira Devotee - FES Member - Samurai Pizza Cats Fan| =\/=
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