LASER BOUNCE by Frank L. Broadnax Don't let the ball get by you. The longer you can chip away at the bricks, the higher your score. "Laser Bounce" is a game of movement and trajectory similar to some of the earlier videogames. Using only the character set provided with the Commodore 64, it displays a spaceship, the laser balls which rebound from the ship, and the walls of energy you are trying to break through. Played with a joystick plugged into Control Port 2, the game begins...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
GOBLIN by Dan Goff 64 Translation by Patrick Parrish In "Goblin," custom characters are used to create a simple yet entertaining game. The object is to capture the scowling creatures with your goblin while avoiding the many block-shaped obstacles that lie in your path. After obstacles and sad faces have been positioned, "Goblin" begins when the main character appears at the bottom of the screen. As the game progresses, the goblin moves continually upward and the...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
CYLON ZAP by Mark Dudley 64 Translation by Gregg Peele Quick reflexes are what you'll need for this fast-action game. "Cylon Zap" is an arcade-style game. A space station in the center of the screen, which you must defend at all costs, is attacked continually by Cylon ships. You must shoot them before they dive (kamikaze style) into the space station. To defend against the Cylons, you have two weapons. First, the joystick is moved up, down, right, or left to fire lasers...
Topics: c64, commodore 64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
THE VIPER by Dave and Casey Gardner 64 Version by Charles Brannon "The Viper" is a fast-action game with 60 difficulty levels. A joystick is required. The Viper is a fast, furious, hungry snake. It races about, devouring its favorite food -- asterisks! And the more it eats, the bigger it gets. Since snakes have a hard time growing wider, the Viper simply gets longer. Since the Viper has such sharp, venomous teeth, it must not in its haste accidentally run into its own...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
MYSTERY SPELL by Doug Hapeman 64 Version by Eric Brandon This spelling game features lively graphics and sprites. It's also a clever teaching aid for parents, teachers, and students in which spelling lessons can be reviewed and then practiced. If you've ever played Hangman, you won't have any trouble learning "Mystery Spell." Although it's similar in concept, there's a twist. Instead of a gallows, you'll see flying blackbirds, and hear cheerful music. When the game begins, a...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
MOSAIC PUZZLE by Bruce Jordan 64 Translation by Chris Metcalf This adaptation of an old favorite will challenge your reasoning powers. "Mosaic Puzzle" is a computer version of those sliding-squares puzzles that used to drive people nuts before the advent of Rubik's Cube. The object of the game is to arrange the 15 squares into some predetermined order by sliding them around in their frame. The first few moves are easy, but as the game progresses, it gets a lot more...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
DIAMOND DROP by Matt Giwer 64 Version by Eric Brandon Catch the falling diamonds -- if you can. This fast-action game is easy to play. "Diamond Drop" is a game that requires good judgment and quick reflexes. It's fast and easy to play. To insure fast action, it is written predominantly in machine language. BASIC is used only to print instructions, set up the display, select the skill level, and initiate the drop. The game display starts with six rows of objects at the...
Topics: c64, commodore 64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
THE HAWKMEN OF DINDRIN by Esteban V. Aguilar, Jr. 64 Version by Charles Brannon Fly down through the dangerous skies of the planet Dindrin to collect stones. Retrieve enough of them and win the game, but beware of the floaters and lizards. Several special techniques are used in this game, including animation, multicolor sprites, and sound effects, each of which is explained in the article. There's a strange planet named Dindrin where multicolor floaters and a giant sky skimmer drift...
Topics: c64, commodore 64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
INVESTMENT SIMULATION Writing a Simulation Game by Richard Mansfield A simulation is an imitation of life. It can be the most difficult type of game to create. Thought, rather than fast action, is important. Try the short simulation offered here, then see if you can write one of your own. There are three basic types of computer games: arcade, adventure, and simulation games. Let's briefly look at the characteristics of arcade and adventure games and then write a simulation....
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
STATES & CAPITALS TUTOR by Enoch L. Moser "States & Capitals Tutor," in addition to being a useful tool for students who are learning the American states and capitals, also demonstrates the use of arrays in programs and the storage and retrieval of data on cassette. Both of these concepts are important to programmers, but nonprogrammers may use States & Capitals Tutor without delving into the working details. "States & Capitals Tutor" asks a student the...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
OIL TYCOON by Gordon F. Wheat 64 Translation by Chris Metcalf You are P. J. Uing and you are about to make big money in the petroleum business, but drilling for oil is not as easy as it sounds. There are obstacles you must overcome in order to make a profit. There are shale formations that grind away your pipe. You can blast through them, but your dynamite is limited. Pockets of natural gas sometimes collect where you have previously pumped out the oil. Hit one of these and your oil...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
RATS! by Mike Steed 64 Translation by Gregg Peele This impressive game makes you feel that you are inside a maze, not just seeing it from above. Three-dimensional views appear as hallways, doors, and corners as you struggle to find the way out. You must find your way through a maze displayed from a rat's eye view. After you have solved the maze, the program displays the top view and traces your steps. First, you are asked what maze size you want, up to 15 by 15 (you may wish to change...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
Laser Gunner by Gary R. Lecompte 64 Translation by Philip I. Nelson This arcade-style game achieves an impressive graphics animation without the use of any machine language. "Laser Gunner" is an arcade-type action game. The player controls a laser gun which moves up and down on the left of the screen behind a force field and fires at invading enemy spaceships. The invaders also fire lasers and attempt to open holes in the force field. Every hit weakens the force field...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
BLOCKHEAD by Matt Giwer 64 Version by Gregg Peele Here is a challenging game for the whole family. See how many balloons the blockhead can pop in the allotted time. Requires game paddles. "Blockhead" is a colorful game similar to some of the early arcade games. It is simple to play, and will especially appeal to young children, who will like the clever use of sound and color in the game. The program makes good use of the Commodore 64's graphic capabilities, for it utilizes...
Topics: c64, commodore 64, compute, game, basic, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
HIGH CARD Writing Your First Game by Richard Mansfield Richard Mansfield, senior editor of COMPUTE! Publications, explains the details of a simple game. A beginning programmer can learn a great deal studying this short program. If you are tempted to write your own games, go ahead. It's a good way to learn to program. Games are basically the same as any other kind of programming. Computer games fall into two broad categories: 1. imitations of old standards (checkers, Othello) and...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
MINEFIELD by Sean Igo 64 Translation by Gregg Peele In this game, you drive a truck around to gather and defuse time bombs before they explode -- all the while avoiding mines and bomb craters. Your job is to get your trucks in quickly, defuse the bombs (especially the flashing ones which are about to go off), and get out as fast as you can. This game has four skill levels. Playing the Game You find yourself in the center of a small minefield with several bombs, represented by circles,...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
SNAKE ESCAPE by Daryl Biberdorf 64 Translation by Patrick Parrish You'll have to watch out for poisonous mushrooms as you race against the clock towards your goal in "Snake Escape." In "Snake Escape" your goal is to move a snake out of a poisonous garden. There are approximately 150 poisonous plants on the screen after you enter your skill level. The snake appears in the upper-left corner after all poisonous plants have been placed. You then attempt to get the...
Topics: commodore 64, c64, compute, basic, game, vintage_basic_games
Source: Compute!'s First Book of Commodore 64 Games
