AtariAge Forums: Random Terrain - Viewing Profile

I love randomness and replayability. I don't like it when games have everything in the same place. I want a fresh experience each time I restart the game. Most video games aren't games, they're static action puzzles. Everything is always in the same place and you must learn a sequence of predetermined 'dance steps' to win the game and you often have to die repeatedly to learn the sequence. That's not playing, that's tediously memorizing choreography. Many classic board games are perfect examples of what a good game should be. Video games should be able to surpass the randomness and replayability of board games, but they usually pale in comparison. It's sad. What a waste.

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"In principle, any game should be replayable. If you went down to the toy store, bought a board game in a box for twenty or thirty dollars, and then came home to discover that you could only play it once, you would be rightfully wrathful. Yet, this happens fairly frequently with computer games, and our customers are more or less resigned to it. Replayability, however, is no accident: it's something we as designers can build in on purpose … if we want to."
~Ernest Adams from the article Replayability, Part One: Narrative

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About batari Basic and Trying to Help:

Every time I try to help someone else who is working on a batari Basic program, it helps me to understand bB a little more or to get more comfortable with it and that means I might get some of my own games finished. I'm not even close to being an expert, especially since I seem to forget more than I learn, but I will help if I can. Every time I try to help you, it helps me, so it's not a bother.

Just remember that if you post your code, it should be overflowing with REM statements that describe what each part of the code does. That makes it easier for people who might want to help. The AtariAge forum allows us to upload .bas files and .bin files, so instead of posting your code in a code box, you can just attach your .bas file so people can easily download your program and get to work.