Nearly 20 years ago I had embarked on a project - to design my own video game, but not just any video game. I would design a game for an original Atari 2600. After all, how hard could it be to program a game for a 25 year old system?
Well that answer proved to be much more difficult than I had ever imagined. I had thought knowledge of programming various basic languages would help me along the way.
I spent hours combing through my old Texas Instruments 99/4a manuals learning code, I would spend days transcribing program books into the trusty Apple IIc, and when I broke my arm in middle school I sat in the library every day writing lines of code only to go home to enter it into our Packard Bell computer, which came equipped with QBasic.
This love of programming came from a place of creativity. I enjoyed creating worlds of my own. I played numerous simulation software and when not on a computer, I designed boardgames, intrigued by the thought and consideration that went into the mechanics that operated these self-contained worlds.
Only one small problem - while I spent time trying to learn ancient BASIC computer languages, programming decided to get more advanced and while I was able to make various little programs on my own, without sufficient resources my skills stagnated and I stopped programming in high school and took up web design.
Eventually I gained interest in making my own video game again when I purchased some old video game systems. I played my childhood favorites like Atlantis, Dig Dug, or Joust and started to fantasize about designing my own game but where would I start?
I was not quite aware of the Homebrew community at that time and my resources were still those old BASIC books from the late 70s and early 80s. I also thought that because I played around with HTML that combined with my limited programming skills I could surely program an Atari game.
I was wrong.
This second attempt wasn't a complete wash though. During this time (around 2001), I tried to consider what exactly I would make. I had a book of ideas that included everything from game ideas to titles and logo designs. Also, with the expanded resources provided to my fingertips by this thing called the Internet, I became familiar with what was out there. It still was not enough for me to advance and other things, such as college and work, got in my way.
Over the years I became more involved vintage gaming and computing. I loved seeing the creative ways programmers pushed the limits of these older systems. I also found the originality of some of these new homebrews quite amazing. I would always look back at my old notebook and dream about making my games. I would pick up various programming books and applications and toy with the idea of trying my hand at game design again, except this time on a different platform like a phone app or a Commodore 64.
Recently I had discovered bAtari Basic and the companion software, Visual bAtari Basic. I poured through commands, sample programs, and simple tutorials and it felt like I had made a huge leap from those days sitting in a Middle School library. Plus, since I cannot make much noise while my infant is trying to sleep I have decided to take up this quieter hobby.
And so, with all of that background, I have renewed my desire from 18 years ago to design my first Atari 2600 game - Bag Boy!
Well that answer proved to be much more difficult than I had ever imagined. I had thought knowledge of programming various basic languages would help me along the way.
I spent hours combing through my old Texas Instruments 99/4a manuals learning code, I would spend days transcribing program books into the trusty Apple IIc, and when I broke my arm in middle school I sat in the library every day writing lines of code only to go home to enter it into our Packard Bell computer, which came equipped with QBasic.
This love of programming came from a place of creativity. I enjoyed creating worlds of my own. I played numerous simulation software and when not on a computer, I designed boardgames, intrigued by the thought and consideration that went into the mechanics that operated these self-contained worlds.
Only one small problem - while I spent time trying to learn ancient BASIC computer languages, programming decided to get more advanced and while I was able to make various little programs on my own, without sufficient resources my skills stagnated and I stopped programming in high school and took up web design.
Eventually I gained interest in making my own video game again when I purchased some old video game systems. I played my childhood favorites like Atlantis, Dig Dug, or Joust and started to fantasize about designing my own game but where would I start?
I was not quite aware of the Homebrew community at that time and my resources were still those old BASIC books from the late 70s and early 80s. I also thought that because I played around with HTML that combined with my limited programming skills I could surely program an Atari game.
I was wrong.
This second attempt wasn't a complete wash though. During this time (around 2001), I tried to consider what exactly I would make. I had a book of ideas that included everything from game ideas to titles and logo designs. Also, with the expanded resources provided to my fingertips by this thing called the Internet, I became familiar with what was out there. It still was not enough for me to advance and other things, such as college and work, got in my way.
Over the years I became more involved vintage gaming and computing. I loved seeing the creative ways programmers pushed the limits of these older systems. I also found the originality of some of these new homebrews quite amazing. I would always look back at my old notebook and dream about making my games. I would pick up various programming books and applications and toy with the idea of trying my hand at game design again, except this time on a different platform like a phone app or a Commodore 64.
Recently I had discovered bAtari Basic and the companion software, Visual bAtari Basic. I poured through commands, sample programs, and simple tutorials and it felt like I had made a huge leap from those days sitting in a Middle School library. Plus, since I cannot make much noise while my infant is trying to sleep I have decided to take up this quieter hobby.
And so, with all of that background, I have renewed my desire from 18 years ago to design my first Atari 2600 game - Bag Boy!
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