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Most recents (3)
Since we discussed isometric games in a previous post, let's briefly mention one of the big #devs of this style: Chis Sawyer.
Most retro gamers think Chris' first isometric game was Transport Tycoon, but his journey started 10 years before.
So, let's dive in!
[1/15] 🧵...
Most retro gamers think Chris' first isometric game was Transport Tycoon, but his journey started 10 years before.
So, let's dive in!
[1/15] 🧵...
In 1984, Chris programmed QOGO.
QOGO was a clone of the popular arcade game #QBert that ran on the Memotech computer.
QBert is one of the most popular arcade games to carry the isometric look. If you are a retro gamer, you probably played (or at least heard of) QBert.
[2/15]
QOGO was a clone of the popular arcade game #QBert that ran on the Memotech computer.
QBert is one of the most popular arcade games to carry the isometric look. If you are a retro gamer, you probably played (or at least heard of) QBert.
[2/15]
Now, we mortals usually coded for these machines using some sort of BASIC. But we have to remember that BASIC is an interpreted language, meaning every high-level BASIC command needs to be translated to low-level machine code.
And for 8-bit machines, that means *slow*!
[3/15]
And for 8-bit machines, that means *slow*!
[3/15]
Passion project time! I love the HP-45 #calculator. It's beautiful on the outside, but I wanted to show people that it's beautiful on the inside, too. So, as a #coding & #retrocomputing challenge I wrote a simulator, & I'm now making it available to all. (Retweets welcomed.) 1/7
The simulator was designed for the Z80-MBC2, a computer designed by @Just4Fun_J4Fun with a #Z80 processor running CP/M. (If you like #retrocomputing, do try it.) But after some tedious wrangling, I was able to write code which also compiled for Windows, Linux & MacOS. 2/7
I like the sense of retro-tech and (unfulfilled) futures which the terminal application provides: it's a #hauntological calculator. It's also flexible: you can change what's shown on the display &, for slower machines (say, an 8MHz Z80), you can run in minimal mode for speed. 3/7
Time to finally assemble the RC2014 Micro - Single Board Z80 Computer Kit that I received from @ZxSpectROM !! Thank you again 🤩😎😁
tindie.com/products/semac…
tindie.com/products/semac…
Assembly of the RC2014 going well so far.
Soldering up the @ZxSpectROM RC2014 Micro #Z80 was pretty easy. I'm glad the enclosed printed instructions clarified the A14 and A15 soldered jumpers to GND (not as clear on web). A13 has selectable jumper for MS BASIC or SCM Monitor.
