Each week I tell you about a game for the Atari 8 Bit system. This week Ill go into a different kind of Game cart ( well sorta ) I can consider this on some level the very first Multi Cart ever made...... In a weird way since like the Atari multi-carts now you still need to put data in so you can use it. Same goes for the good ole BASIC cart. Input programming lines Input frustration and some book throwing when you get mad and Output a working program or a reason to go out and get a drink at the local pub. Which ever way your night turns out This cartridge allows you to tap into games and programs that you would easily miss due to the fact that it wasn't released on cart, cassette or diskette.
How would you rate Atari BASIC as compared to other flavors of BASIC? Personally I've only ever used Sinclair BASIC (via a TS 2068) and Applesoft BASIC via an Apple IIe in junior high, with Applesoft being much easier to use.
I used to do a bit of BASIC programming back on the TI-99/4A and the C64. I only ever had one friend with an Atari computer, and never had much opportunity to do any programming on it.
Ive played around with Atari Basic and QBasic ( found on the older IBM 286/386/486SX model types ). And Honestly I forget how Qbasic was to play around with in Highschool but i do recall using it alot to mod games and such. Both seem to be kinda strait forward ( yet today id have to relearn QBasic all over again ). The manuals I have here seem to be pretty good instructions on how to use Basic. Assembler is a whole nother beast that Im not willing to go into yet.
One day if I get time I should post a few pics of the over sized Atari Basic manual that has most of the commands and what they do. I also have one for RX8035 Microsoft Basic II. ( i know its BASIC but im watching my Caps output this week. lol. But yeah The programs I find in the magazines here really have some interesting games. a Defender style knock off that was kinda fun. I have to look it up again. But BASIC really opened the door to smaller programs that would today be like a freeware , linux underground. You know free programs that are user built compared to big named companies.
I remember the begining of the freeware on AOL where you can download patches for games, game art, even some BASIC style programs.
Ironically my computer Win 7 doesnt have a program for QBASIC. ( I do have it on disc here ). But I think my XP might have QB. Strange they did away with it , but im sure its not hard to get today.
Great this convo has now gotten me wanting to mess with QB again. Hail the great nibbles and Tank Wars master.
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