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Post by calcmandan on Sept 8, 2019 23:03:05 GMT
Hey folks. I just joined moments ago. Seems to be strongly appropriate to join but wasn't sure if my C64 talk would be appropriate in this forum.
I recently obtained an original C64 off Ebay and currently brushing up on Basic and Assembly. My goal is to relearn basic and assembly with the intention of writing games and various utilities for the platform. The system is still in the box since the connector for my RF thingie on the tv is being shipped to me, i have no means to see a signal. I do know it works. The system will need some retrobrite action before I do any major work.
I didn't find any specific c64 forums on tapatalk so I joined here. Hoping to make friends while learning from you fine folk.
I can be found on the C64 subgroup on Fidonet and post as calcmandan. My home BBS is digitaldistortionbbs.com. Also on pretty much any echomail service i'm known as that.
At this time, I'm learning to code with pdf ebooks of original print programming guides for basic and assembly. While I do that, I'm working on obtaining a floppy drive, tape drive, and hard drive for the c64. Lowest priority object is a printer, though I don't know how useful it would be considering the ribbons aren't likely made anymore.
I'm a casual retro gamer, though currently my 2600 is out of commission until i get a replacement power brick for it. Instead, i have a atari flashback 7 which collects dust since most the games are either unplayable or too buggy to play thoroughly. Play my PS2 and gamecube. And considering the purchase of an atari flashback handheld that target sells. I'm a fan of the ultima series and just wore out ultima 3, now starting with 4 as of last night.
What else, i'm also a pilot so i spend quite a bit of my time in the hangar cleaning or doing maintenance on the plane. she's my baby.
I work in the IT field. Speciality in security i manage our proxies and fireeye devices, among other things.
Shout out from Sacramento, CA.
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Post by calcmandan on Sept 9, 2019 2:37:42 GMT
It just occured to me that I could pick up the c64 mini at gamestop. i'm practicing basic now. woot.
and now i find out that the company is releasing a full size c64 retro machine with full size keyboard in december.
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Post by robertb on Sept 9, 2019 4:14:09 GMT
I recently obtained an original C64 off Ebay and currently brushing up on Basic and Assembly. My goal is to relearn basic and assembly with the intention of writing games and various utilities for the platform. When you get a C128, you'll be able to do games and utilities for that one, too. Nice! Writing from Portland, Oregon, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
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Post by calcmandan on Sept 9, 2019 5:35:27 GMT
I recently obtained an original C64 off Ebay and currently brushing up on Basic and Assembly. My goal is to relearn basic and assembly with the intention of writing games and various utilities for the platform. When you get a C128, you'll be able to do games and utilities for that one, too. Nice! Writing from Portland, Oregon, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group www.dickestel.com/fcug.htmhave we talked on fidonet?
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Post by robertb on Sept 9, 2019 11:22:04 GMT
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Post by calcmandan on Sept 9, 2019 17:03:02 GMT
Yeah you're the guy. You use the fido-usenet gateway. Gotcha. You responded to my misguided question regarding the video output cable and suggeted a device for me. I think that was last week.
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Post by virtualsky on Sept 12, 2019 6:09:53 GMT
It just occured to me that I could pick up the c64 mini at gamestop. i'm practicing basic now. woot. and now i find out that the company is releasing a full size c64 retro machine with full size keyboard in december. Welcome! I think BASIC is a lot of fun to work with. I'm no expert at programming in BASIC, but even with my limited knowledge of it, I have created a few simple programs that I have found useful. I've come across some very cleaver games and applications others, with some real programming skills, have created with BASIC. The version of BASIC that is found on the C128 is more advanced than that on the C64, but I find that both versions are pretty much cross-compatible with one another. So, if you're writing productivity type apps, rather than games that use sprites and sound, what you come up with would probably work fine on both systems. I've found that the only time I've run in to compatibility issues is when I use POKES and PEEKS (in BASIC 2.0 on the C64). Something like TheC64Mini is an easy way for you to get started learning and tinkering with C64 BASIC. The upcoming full sized version will be even better for that sort of thing, as it will be much better at handling virtual disks/disk images. Right now, with TheC64Mini, you have to do a bit of trickery with the Save Game feature. Anyway, hope you have a great time during your programming adventures! David.
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Post by calcmandan on Sept 20, 2019 23:00:27 GMT
It just occured to me that I could pick up the c64 mini at gamestop. i'm practicing basic now. woot. and now i find out that the company is releasing a full size c64 retro machine with full size keyboard in december. Welcome! I think BASIC is a lot of fun to work with. I'm no expert at programming in BASIC, but even with my limited knowledge of it, I have created a few simple programs that I have found useful. I've come across some very cleaver games and applications others, with some real programming skills, have created with BASIC. The version of BASIC that is found on the C128 is more advanced than that on the C64, but I find that both versions are pretty much cross-compatible with one another. So, if you're writing productivity type apps, rather than games that use sprites and sound, what you come up with would probably work fine on both systems. I've found that the only time I've run in to compatibility issues is when I use POKES and PEEKS (in BASIC 2.0 on the C64). Something like TheC64Mini is an easy way for you to get started learning and tinkering with C64 BASIC. The upcoming full sized version will be even better for that sort of thing, as it will be much better at handling virtual disks/disk images. Right now, with TheC64Mini, you have to do a bit of trickery with the Save Game feature. Anyway, hope you have a great time during your programming adventures! David. yeah that fullsized one is on my xmas list unless they price it above reasonable. it's what i'll be using while i gather my c64 rig. right now, i can't get it to display clean video on the tv so i have to crack it open and see inside. im hoping the contacts just need cleaning. going to amiwest next month since it's in my town and hope i can get in contact with someone who can help me. anyway, the mini is definitely nice for learning. it didn't take much work to get the flash memory working with it, since it's emulated floppy. so, standard commands work. then it creates a file on the flash drive. figuring out the few games i really like on the mini. and trying to get my hands on ultima 3. got ultima 1 for the first time, so i'm going to work up the franchise. the only buggy thing i've found is working with multi=floppy games. also, if the system is left alone in basic for a few hours, the keyboard won't work anymore. as if the system goes into some sort of powersaving mode, but the display still shows the blinking cursor. last night i was in the middle of a rather large basic program when i stepped away. coming back, i couldn't get the keyboard to work. luckily, the joystick saved the day since i was able to save the system state and reboot the device. got my code back. when not relearning basic, i'm spending more time on spreadsheet programs. surprised how powerful microsoft's spreadsheet software was back then. so i iprinted out the manual the other day and noticing how precursor it is to excel. it took a while getting used to initiating formulas without the equal sign. i'm going to challenge myself to attempt reverting my computing needs to the c64 to as many features as possible. i can't really do everything since, well, my tablet's used for flight planning and navigation as well as email and business use. banking... now i'm looking for a word processor that isn't a simple text editor. there are so many. and i definitely want one that'll work with a future printer.
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Post by virtualsky on Sept 20, 2019 23:12:15 GMT
That's great! It still amazes me as to what can be done (with an application like a spreadsheet) on the limited resources of a C64. Multiplan is really good (back when Microsoft could write efficient code LOL).
A couple of other really good spreadsheet apps to look at are TurboCalc and Calc. These were developed by individuals and published on the disk magazines, Loadstar and Uptime. I've written reviews of them on my Commodore blog, if you're interested in checking them out.
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Post by robertb on Sept 23, 2019 7:58:35 GMT
My favorite spreadsheets are Vizastar 64 and Vizastar 128. So many hours using Vizastar 128, Robert Bernardo Fresno Commodore User Group www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
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