saxmeister Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 (edited) I finally was able to complete coding a (very simple) game on the 7800 as a way of learning the ins-and-outs of the system and 7800BASIC. The game is an extremely simple card game and it's based on an old Commodore 64 type-in game from COMPUTE!'s Gazette way back in the day! This is not impressive in any way, but it was a way of learning things the console way. My main goals were: developing game logic learning the ins-and-outs of graphics on the 7800 learning how to produce better random numbers in 7800BASIC Working in 320A mode more As a noob in game development (except for programming VIC-20 games back in the day) this is my first step. I've worked out how to create graphics and display them, but nothing advanced yet. I'm looking forward to the journey. Thanks to all who have been there-done that and have been decent enough to share their thoughts and experiences with us. Hoping to contribute something to the community. As per @gambler172 I have added links to the binaries. They are rough and they don't actually prompt you to press fire yet and it's almost hard to tell anything has happened. I'll fix that in a later iteration. Don't miss out! Play the game that atari7800forever.com said was "...a game with great graphics that you knew you never needed." (Gee, thanks! It's my first program on the 7800! Ha ha ha!) Original Release JS7800: https://raz0red.github.io/js7800/?cart=https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=911693 Updated release (March 3, 2022) JS7800: https://raz0red.github.io/js7800/?cart=https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=922580 highcarddraw_03.bas.a78 highcarddraw_03.bas.bin highcarddraw_09.bas.a78 highcarddraw_09.bas.bin Edited September 18, 2022 by saxmeister Added binary files 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Muddyfunster Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Great stuff! Look forward to seeing what you come up with and if you get stuck, there are loads of posts in these forums around 7800 Basic that can help to guide and answer questions. 7800 Basic also has a wealth of examples that can be used to learn from. Also check out Matt's great thread of hints and tips. Finally, don't be afraid to ask! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted January 24, 2022 Author Share Posted January 24, 2022 48 minutes ago, Muddyfunster said: Great stuff! Look forward to seeing what you come up with and if you get stuck, there are loads of posts in these forums around 7800 Basic that can help to guide and answer questions. 7800 Basic also has a wealth of examples that can be used to learn from. Also check out Matt's great thread of hints and tips. Finally, don't be afraid to ask! @Muddyfunster your work has definitely helped inspire me to jump into it! From the phenomenal new Keystone Kapers 7800 to the amazing E.X.O. and Bernie! Great work. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted January 25, 2022 Author Share Posted January 25, 2022 (edited) For those of you starting out, always try to do the basics first. Start small. I started out with 320A text - which can be a challenge - and tried to walk through the basic logic. Then progressively add to that. Next, I tried adding simple card graphics. Then, I added some more design elements to the game, including the dealer looking upset when he loses and happy when he wins - just like the old Ken Uston Blackjack game but with my graphics. And then a basic text title screen. I'll replace this with graphics and then add music, better graphics for the cards, and better interaction. It looks too much like a Colecovision or Intellivision title screen right now. Once all of this is completed I may extend this to become blackjack or poker game. highcarddraw_02.bas.bin highcarddraw_02.bas.a78 Edited January 26, 2022 by saxmeister 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Muddyfunster Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 16 hours ago, saxmeister said: @Muddyfunster your work has definitely helped inspire me to jump into it! From the phenomenal new Keystone Kapers 7800 to the amazing E.X.O. and Bernie! Great work. Thanks ! Appreciate the kind words. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gambler172 Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 I do not see a file ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smith Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 That's some very impressive progress in a short time! Very, very well done! Kudos to you and best of luck with your future 7800 efforts! ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gambler172 Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Looks good Will check,when returning from work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sramirez2008 Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 On 1/24/2022 at 2:09 PM, saxmeister said: As per @gambler172 I have added links to the binaries. They are rough and they don't actually prompt you to press fire yet and it's almost hard to tell anything has happened. I'll fix that in a later iteration. Looking good! Can't wait to see more.? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 Oh my word! Seeing this on a real 7800 just made me super happy today. Thanks so much, @sramirez2008! That is amazing. I really need to invest in a Dragonfly! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sramirez2008 Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 5 minutes ago, saxmeister said: Oh my word! Seeing this on a real 7800 just made me super happy today. Thanks so much, @sramirez2008! That is amazing. I really need to invest in a Dragonfly! Thank you for sharing your game with the community.? Note: The game looks much better in person. Unfortunately my phone takes crappy pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Back Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 I just realized that the 7800 didn't have any real casino card games for it. I just find that strange seeing as how their usually on any and every system. It would be cool just to have a card game collection or something of the like. But even so Hi card fills a hole in the 7800. Thanks for your work I'm loading it onto my concerto now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 (edited) I updated the code a bit. Still not where I want it to be, but it's getting there. I definitely want to implement multicolor and add new cards and a better title screen. I added some sound effects (I'll do more with these later, maybe even POKEY), delays to make interactivity better, and a prompt to press fire to play again. Files are attached. highcarddraw_03.bas.bin highcarddraw_03.bas.a78 Edited January 26, 2022 by saxmeister 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gambler172 Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 Looks good....nice effort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sramirez2008 Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 1 hour ago, saxmeister said: I updated the code a bit. Still not where I want it to be, but it's getting there. I definitely want to implement multicolor and add new cards and a better title screen. I added some sound effects (I'll do more with these later, maybe even POKEY), delays to make interactivity better, and a prompt to press fire to play again. Loving it! HighCardDraw.MOV 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smith Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 8 minutes ago, sramirez2008 said: Loving it! HighCardDraw.MOV Agreed! Thanks for posting a video too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 Thanks, @sramirez2008. How very kind of you to not only try it out but also video it. I'm looking forward to making it more worthy of your time! And thanks for the encouragement, @Leonard Smith! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 (edited) I took some detours to learn more about the 7800 and 7800basic and came back to High Card Draw to produce some updates. Next, POKEY theme music... I've already tracked it in TIAtracker and would be happy enough integrating that. But I'd like to tackle POKEY music as well. Added a title screen with better graphics in 320A mode Animated the title screen and added a background gradient (this varies from emulator to emulator so it may not line up properly) Reworked all of the game graphics in 160A mode Tweaked all of the timing of the gameplay Came up with a temporary branding for these experiments and added a splash screen (ha ha ha) JS7800: https://raz0red.github.io/js7800/?cart=https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=922580 .A78 file: https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=922580 .BIN file: https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=922581 One thing that I desperately need to do is fix the random number issue. It always follows a pattern. Any suggestions? I'm thinking of going back to the 320A graphics for the dealer and splitting the screen and showing text and dealer graphics in 320A while leaving the cards in 160A. Edited March 3, 2022 by saxmeister Added link and more details 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gambler172 Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 looks good Any a78 for downloading? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 I put the .a78 and .bin files in the original post. I'll add them to the update post, though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+sramirez2008 Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 2 hours ago, saxmeister said: I took some detours to learn more about the 7800 and 7800basic and came back to High Card Draw to produce some updates. Next, POKEY theme music... I've already tracked it in TIAtracker and would be happy enough integrating that. But I'd like to tackle POKEY music as well. Added a title screen with better graphics in 320A mode Animated the title screen with background gradients (this varies from emulator to emulator so it may not line up properly) Reworked all of the graphics in 160A mode Tweaked all of the timing of the gameplay Came up with a temporary branding for these experiments and added a splash screen (ha ha ha) JS7800: https://raz0red.github.io/js7800/?cart=https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=922580 .A78 file: https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=922580 .BIN file: https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=922581 One thing that I desperately need to do is fix the random number issue. It always follows a pattern. Any suggestions? I'm thinking of going back to the 320A graphics for the dealer and splitting the screen and showing text and dealer graphics in 320A while leaving the cards in 160A. Wow...this is looking great! Please note that the colors look much better in person. Title Screen.MOV Gameplay1.MOV 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 Thanks again, @sramirez2008! It's great to see it working on real hardware. I've really got to convert my 7800 and get a Dragonfly cart! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Muddyfunster Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 Nice job @saxmeister, this is really nice and very polished. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saxmeister Posted March 7, 2022 Author Share Posted March 7, 2022 Thanks so much, @Muddyfunster. Coming from you, that means a lot. I'm really just trying to figure out the 7800 and expand my idea of the concept of the game loop. I'm hoping that whatever I start here can be expanded into the territory of other card games such as Blackjack and Poker. I'll keep plugging away.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Back Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 I really like the presentation. It would be great to see maybe a 5 card stud or blackjack game built off this with the same presentation and dealer. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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