BASIC computer games

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Lettering from volume 1

Basic Computer Games (originally Basic Computer Games ) is a series of books published by David H. Ahl , the first title of which was published in 1973 by Digital Equipment . The content consists of many program printouts (listings) in the BASIC programming language . The editor was the later founder of the computer magazine Creative Computing .

There were sequels and editions for various platforms ( microcomputers , DEC mainframes and TRS-80 ) as well as translations into German, Danish and French.

Basic Computer Games was the first computer book to sell more than a million copies.

overview

The books contain tips for adapting to system-specific BASIC dialects as well as the respective trial runs. The game programs can be typed individually and stored on an external data carrier z. B. be saved by datasette . They can run on most home computers . Such listings from books and magazines are considerably cheaper than single commercial titles, e.g. B. on cassettes or modules . In addition, the programmer receives a learning effect and has the option of adapting the program.

The German editions, about DIN A4 format, are normally bound, but printed across, as the translators always folded up the original. The book is rotated 90 ° to the right. The listings thus extend on both sides, with these being divided into 2 columns. First the left column / half is read down on both sides.

Game title

ELIZA (here in EMACS)
Star Trek (similar version)

The games range from simple quizzes, card and board games to simulation games and programs with artificial intelligence .

The graphic, if available, only exists as ASCII art so that it can run on all systems. With some effort, however, this can be improved, since the BASIC routines and formulas are crucial. The maximum number of columns that the computer can display must also be taken into account. Usually 40 characters per line are assumed. Some large games require more than 5  KiB of RAM . Here are some popular games:

For sports games and simulations, various parameters such as target direction, club selection or angle must be entered. The edition appears as a German text with partly human comments. In graphics games, the graphics are updated accordingly after each move.

The games can be run on modern computers with, for example, Vintage BASIC without major adjustments .

expenditure

101 Basic Computer Games

This collection of programs, edited by Ahl, was published by Digital Equipment Corporation in July 1973 . Ahl had been employed by Digital since 1970 and was convinced that users would be interested in such a game collection. In 1971 he started a call to all customers to send in game programs. Ahl selected 90 games from the entries and added 11 games that he had programmed himself. The programs were written in six different basic dialects.

  • 101 Basic Computer Games. Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Massachusetts 1973, 249 pages, illustrated, no ISBN

Basic Computer Games - Microcomputer Edition

This expanded two-volume edition appeared from 1978 onwards. Volume 1 essentially contains the programs from 101 Basic Computer Games. Volume 2 with the prefix "more" contains 84 new game programs and an introduction by Chris Cerf.

When Ahl left Digital in 1974, he received permission to republish the collection of programs as long as it was done under a different title. Almost all programs were ported by Steve North to Microsoft's Altair BASIC Revision 4 and tested on an Altair 8800 with 16K RAM. The programs that could not be converted to Altair-BASIC, or for which the effort was not worthwhile, were replaced by new programs. The listings were printed out on a Teletype Model 43 terminal . This type of terminal has a dot matrix printer that outputs text in non-proportional font with a character matrix of 7 × 9 points and a character density of 13.2 characters per inch. These printouts have been reduced to 64%.

The volumes were illustrated by George Beker. Many of his drawings take up specific game content and implement them with humorous anthropomorphic robots. At least the first volume appeared in a variant illustrated by Sandy Dean.

The books were published in largely identical versions by two publishers: Creative Computing Press and Workman Publishing.

  • Basic computer games. Microcomputer Edition.
    Copyright 1978. First Printing October 1978. Workman Publishing: New York. ISBN 0-89480-052-3
    Creative Computing Press: Morristown, New Jersey 1978. ISBN 0-916688-07-0
  • More Basic Computer Games. Microcomputer Edition.
    Copyright 1979. First Printing June 1980. Workman Publishing: New York. ISBN 0-89480-137-6
    Creative Computing Press: Morristown, New Jersey 1979. ISBN 0-916688-09-7

Basic Computer Games - TRS-80 Edition

  • Basic computer games. TRS-80 edition. Illustrated by Sandy Dean. - Hours of entertainment from 102 programmable games designed for use with the Radio Shack TRS-80
    1979. Radio Shack Catalog No. 62-2005
  • Basic computer games. TRS-80 edition. Volume 2. - Hours of entertainment from 84 programmable games designed for use with the Radio Shack TRS-80.
    Creative Computing Press: Morristown, New Jersey, 1980. Radio Shack Catalog No. 52-2004. ISBN 0-916688-19-4

Translations

Translations began in 1982 and all use George Beker's illustrations.

English: Basic computer games

German editions: Volume 1 opened, above volume 2 (back) and a Reclam book for comparison

A two-volume German edition with 101 and 84 games was published in 1982 and was translated by Wolfgang J. Black. The translation is comprehensive and includes screen texts and some of the program names. The units of measurement used in programs are also converted into the metric system.

The programs were printed out with a TRS-80 model 80 using OK Microline 80 . The printout was then also reduced to 64 percent.

French: Jeux d'ordinateur en BASIC

A two-volume French edition appeared in 1982. Volume 1 contains 100 games and has been translated by Bernard Besse, Isabelle Boyd and Virginie Sumpf. Volume 2 with the prefix “nouveaux” contains 84 games and was translated by Jacques Gourlet.

  • Jeux d'ordinateur en BASIC. Sybex France, Paris, France 1982, XIV-173 pages, ISBN 2-902414-46-3 .
  • Nouveaux jeux d'ordinateur en BASIC. Sybex France, Paris, France 1982, XI-185 pages, ISBN 2-902414-47-1 .

Danish: Basic computerspil

The first title was published in Denmark in 1986, divided into three volumes. Translation, editing and programming: Christian Borup.

Other media

In addition, some games for different systems appeared directly on cassettes and floppy disks .

more publishments

Big Computer Games

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Anderson, JJ Dave tells Ahl - the history of creative computing. Creative Computing v. 10 (November 1984) pp. 66-8 +
  2. ^ German edition, Volume 1, 3rd edition 1983, p. 3
  3. ↑ a b David H. Ahl: The Story behind .. Advertisement, in: Info World, May 11, 1981.
  4. ^ David H. Ahl: "The Basic Language." In: Basic Computer Games. Microcomputer edition. Fourth printing, Creative Computing Press 1979. p. xii.
  5. ↑ a b David H. Ahl: "About this Book." In: Basic Computer Games. Microcomputer edition. Fourth printing, Creative Computing Press 1979. p. xi.
  6. ^ David H. Ahl (editor): Basic Computer Games. Program conversion by Steve North, illustrations by Sandy Dean. Creative Computing Press, Morristown NJ 1978, ISBN 0-916688-07-0 . Evidence in the Library of Congress: LCCN 78050028
  7. ↑ LCCN 78017624 and scan of the bibliographical information (page vi) at atariarchive.org
  8. ↑ LCCN 80057619 and scan of the bibliographic information (page iv) at atariarchive.org
  9. ↑ Scan of the front cover at atariarchives.org. The ISBN 0-916688-40-2 stored in the LoC under LCCN 81147050 is identical to the ISBN of "Big Computer Games"
  10. ↑ Scan of the front cover on TRS-80 Revived (trs-80.com) by Ira Goldklang; Retrieved July 29, 2010
  11. ↑ References in the French National Library: Volume 1 , Volume 2 (French) accessed on August 6, 2010
  12. ↑ References at bibliotek.dk: Volume 1 , Volume 2 , Volume 3 (English) accessed on August 6, 2010