17 replies to this topic

[toptenmaterial]

Hi Everyone! I want to write a VCS game. I have absolutely zero experience in programming. How would I accomplish this? What program would I use? Is there a step-by-step guide anywhere on atariage or elsewhere? I will be using a PC laptop running the windows 7 starter edition. Thanks!

[GroovyBee]

Check out batari Basic for the VCS. Its forum is right here on AA. However, with no programming experience you might also consider starting on a PC with a high level language of your choice. Hone your game idea on there and then condense it down for the 2600 when you get some experience under your belt.

[toptenmaterial]

GroovyBee, on Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:20 PM, said:

Check out batari Basic for the VCS. Its forum is right here on AA. However, with no programming experience you might also consider starting on a PC with a high level language of your choice. Hone your game idea on there and then condense it down for the 2600 when you get some experience under your belt.

hi groovybee, where specifically do I find it? thanks

[GroovyBee]

Here ya go :-

http://www.atariage....5-batari-basic/

[toptenmaterial]

GroovyBee, on Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:22 PM, said:

Here ya go :-

http://www.atariage....5-batari-basic/

hey thanks a lot! I have all kinds of stuff that I want to do, but for now let's see if I can make a single dot move on the screen!

[GroovyBee]

toptenmaterial, on Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:44 PM, said:

hey thanks a lot! I have all kinds of stuff that I want to do, but for now let's see if I can make a single dot move on the screen!

Feel free to ask questions if you get stuck. There are plenty of bB (batari Basic) programmers on AA.

[toptenmaterial]

once again thanks.

[GroovyBee]

No probs! Have fun!

[toptenmaterial]

My goal is to do a "demake". I'm curious what is possible, both technically and with my inexperience. I had a notion to try to "port" a current gen game (GTA IV or Super Mario Galaxy) though in reality, I think that Donkey Kong Country could be done. I imagine it would look like Pitfall, DK would jump between platforms, and you would collect what would vaguely resemble bananas for a score count. I don't see why it can't be done.

[GroovyBee]

Yep! bB can do platformers. Scrolling platformers might prove to be a bit more tricky.

[toptenmaterial]

I think it would be in sections, so to speak.

[toptenmaterial]

GroovyBee, on Sun Jan 16, 2011 4:34 AM, said:

Yep! bB can do platformers. Scrolling platformers might prove to be a bit more tricky.

i actually have an idea which I believe that i can execute. groovybee, are you familiar with "shark! shark!" for the intellivision? it also became "feeding frenzy" for the 360. a port of that one for the VCS would be perfect, I think.

[GroovyBee]

Yep! With limits on how the fish move you can do that without needing to flicker anything.

[toptenmaterial]

GroovyBee, on Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:38 PM, said:

Yep! With limits on how the fish move you can do that without needing to flicker anything.

so i downloaded the batari program, and am a couple of minutes into it. i am trying to add a sprite for my player. i want to do "shark! shark!". is it ok to pull one from the internet in terms of copywrites and such? also, do you know of a good sprite site? and can i use an intellivision sprite for vcs? thanks!

[R. Jones]

toptenmaterial, on Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:04 PM, said:

GroovyBee, on Mon Jan 17, 2011 5:38 PM, said:

[ . . . ]

so i downloaded the batari program, and am a couple of minutes into it. i am trying to add a sprite for my player. i want to do "shark! shark!". is it ok to pull one from the internet in terms of copywrites and such? also, do you know of a good sprite site? and can i use an intellivision sprite for vcs? thanks!

In the US? No.

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/
http://www.templeton.../copymyths.html

[GroovyBee]

toptenmaterial, on Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:04 PM, said:

so i downloaded the batari program, and am a couple of minutes into it. i am trying to add a sprite for my player. i want to do "shark! shark!".

There is an aquatic sprite theme from post 151 in this thread :-

http://www.atariage....ost__p__2186590

Be sure to credit PAC-MAN-RED if you use them in your game.

[toptenmaterial]

GroovyBee, on Sun Jan 23, 2011 1:26 PM, said:

toptenmaterial, on Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:04 PM, said:

so i downloaded the batari program, and am a couple of minutes into it. i am trying to add a sprite for my player. i want to do "shark! shark!".

There is an aquatic sprite theme from post 151 in this thread :-

http://www.atariage....ost__p__2186590

Be sure to credit PAC-MAN-RED if you use them in your game.

thanks!!!

[R. Jones]

GroovyBee, on Sun Jan 23, 2011 1:26 PM, said:

toptenmaterial, on Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:04 PM, said:

[ . . . ]

There is an aquatic sprite theme from post 151 in this thread :-

http://www.atariage....ost__p__2186590

Be sure to credit PAC-MAN-RED if you use them in your game.

Oops. I take it back. That is a very interesting thread. I like PAC-MAN-RED's pumpkin face:

http://www.atariage....ost__p__2114060