atari 8-bit programming?

[ac.tomo]

Does anyone still program the atari 400/800/xl/xe anymore? Or is it something nobody does anymore?

 

I'm looking to program it again, I left the atari scene, and infact computers altogether in 1993/4, but am looking to get back into it as a hobby. Only problem is I'm going to have to get a load of utilities again suchlike the tks soundmonitor, xl art, diskey disk sector editor and a few other things, probably even a few musix to include on my demo's!

 

If anyone can help please let me know, thankyou.

[Heaven/TQA]

no...i am not coding anymore... just kidding.

 

- mads.atari8.info

- raster music tracker (forget TKS)

- g2f.atari8.info

- atari800win emu

 

and you are back...

[+Philsan]

Does anyone still program the atari 400/800/xl/xe anymore? Or is it something nobody does anymore?

Yoomp!, for example...

[pps]

Here you can also search for some actual productions: pouet.net

[Tezz]

There's a lot of us coding out there! you'll be pleasantly surprised at the modern cross platform utils around now, it's much nicer to code today. and Atariage is certainly a good place to be for the community. I'd highly recommend using Tebe's MADS assembler.

[classics]

Programming the Atari is something a lot of us still actively enjoy, you will find good company here.

 

Steve

[ac.tomo]

Does anyone still program the atari 400/800/xl/xe anymore? Or is it something nobody does anymore?

Yoomp!, for example...

 

I personally will be programming some routines, as I say, it's just a hobby so I'll probably only make some demo's, but if I get into enough then I might be inclined to write some games or utilities.

[carmel_andrews]

Hello AC Tomo....You're not the same tomo that wrote the Twaug version of 'Mapping the XL/XE' are you

 

We used to correspond together before i found out you (if it is you) were doing this book...you said you were doing a few routines for the British Demo Scene (BDS) Disk

 

If you are the same AC Tomo...do you still have a copy of twaug's 'Mapping the XL/XE' I ask as i am missing a couple of pages (me thinks) from the second volume (namely the program listings)...perhaps you could photocopy them for me

 

Also, I seem to remember that you were handy with a Soldering Iron...or am I getting you mixed up with someone else

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone still program the atari 400/800/xl/xe anymore? Or is it something nobody does anymore?

Yoomp!, for example...

 

I personally will be programming some routines, as I say, it's just a hobby so I'll probably only make some demo's, but if I get into enough then I might be inclined to write some games or utilities.

[ac.tomo]

Hello AC Tomo....You're not the same tomo that wrote the Twaug version of 'Mapping the XL/XE' are you

 

We used to correspond together before i found out you (if it is you) were doing this book...you said you were doing a few routines for the British Demo Scene (BDS) Disk

 

If you are the same AC Tomo...do you still have a copy of twaug's 'Mapping the XL/XE' I ask as i am missing a couple of pages (me thinks) from the second volume (namely the program listings)...perhaps you could photocopy them for me

 

Also, I seem to remember that you were handy with a Soldering Iron...or am I getting you mixed up with someone else

 

I am the very tomo that used to correspond with you and who wrote the complete and essential book, nice to hear from you again, how are you?

 

About that book of mine, well, unfortuneatly I don't have any copies of it, I don't even have the original text files for the book. When I quit using my atari in '93/4 and sold up, I sold up absolutely everything! I'm sorry I can't help you there, I'm actually looking for a copy of my book myself!

 

As regards the british demo disk that was eventually finished by john e (I think), I'm just sorry I never wrote a demo for that. I lost interest in my beloved atari at the time and had some troubles in my life, but alas, no more, one of the routines I originally designed to be incorporated into a demo I have nearly finished re-writing. I've (believe it or not) just re-written it today, although I need a sector editor on an atari format disk in order to feed it in to my 800xl. It's a long time since I've done any coding, so I'll probably have a few bugs to iron out! I prefer using a sector editor than any assembler, it's much better I think.

 

I'm planning on writing a new demo, although I don't have much utilities as of yet, I've asked someone, but he's hunting through his stuff to see what he can help me with, until then I don't know what I need, although I'll probably need a cracked musix! as my demo would be pretty boring without that, eh!?

Anyway, my email address is: [email protected] if you feel like anything to say. ac.tomo.

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone still program the atari 400/800/xl/xe anymore? Or is it something nobody does anymore?

Yoomp!, for example...

 

I personally will be programming some routines, as I say, it's just a hobby so I'll probably only make some demo's, but if I get into enough then I might be inclined to write some games or utilities.

[atariksi]

Does anyone still program the atari 400/800/xl/xe anymore? Or is it something nobody does anymore?

Yoomp!, for example...

 

I personally will be programming some routines, as I say, it's just a hobby so I'll probably only make some demo's, but if I get into enough then I might be inclined to write some games or utilities.

 

If you want to try a new approach: www.mpdos.com.

[ac.tomo]

Hello AC Tomo....You're not the same tomo that wrote the Twaug version of 'Mapping the XL/XE' are you

 

We used to correspond together before i found out you (if it is you) were doing this book...you said you were doing a few routines for the British Demo Scene (BDS) Disk

 

If you are the same AC Tomo...do you still have a copy of twaug's 'Mapping the XL/XE' I ask as i am missing a couple of pages (me thinks) from the second volume (namely the program listings)...perhaps you could photocopy them for me

 

Also, I seem to remember that you were handy with a Soldering Iron...or am I getting you mixed up with someone else

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does anyone still program the atari 400/800/xl/xe anymore? Or is it something nobody does anymore?

Yoomp!, for example...

 

I personally will be programming some routines, as I say, it's just a hobby so I'll probably only make some demo's, but if I get into enough then I might be inclined to write some games or utilities.

 

 

I am the very tomo that used to correspond with you and who wrote the complete and essential book, nice to hear from you again, how are you?

 

About that book of mine, well, unfortuneatly I don't have any copies of it, I don't even have the original text files for the book. When I quit using my atari in '93/4 and sold up, I sold up absolutely everything! I'm sorry I can't help you there, I'm actually looking for a copy of my book myself!

 

As regards the british demo disk that was eventually finished by john e (I think), I'm just sorry I never wrote a demo for that. I lost interest in my beloved atari at the time and had some troubles in my life, but alas, no more, one of the routines I originally designed to be incorporated into a demo I have nearly finished re-writing. I've (believe it or not) just re-written it today, although I need a sector editor on an atari format disk in order to feed it in to my 800xl. It's a long time since I've done any coding, so I'll probably have a few bugs to iron out! I prefer using a sector editor than any assembler, it's much better I think.

 

I'm planning on writing a new demo, although I don't have much utilities as of yet, I've asked someone, but he's hunting through his stuff to see what he can help me with, until then I don't know what I need, although I'll probably need a cracked musix! as my demo would be pretty boring without that, eh!?

Anyway, my email address is: [email protected] if you feel like anything to say. ac.tomo.

[carmel_andrews]

I am on the 'right side of life AC Tomo... Shame you no longer have 'the book', Those missing pages just makes things feel 'incomplete' (I'd wished i'd been a bit more carefull)

 

I do still have some of the disks you sent to me (including the BDS stuff) unfortunately i don't have a 1050 (only dead ones) and a ape/pro sys/sio2pc cable...so that i can convert all my disk collection over to ATR/Emulator format

 

 

Funny you should mention John E...I was corresponding with him per email until 18 months/2 years ago...He told me his secret for hacking xl/xe bank switched games to disk using Digicomm's 'Freezer', though he didn't divulge the specifics of it

 

Could you grace us with an updated version/hack of 'howfen dos'...I still have v 3.08 that you did

 

Or even better a version/hack of howfen dos that has a built in 'file packer' (but better then the old 'super chopper' program), i was thinking something along the lines of 'superpacker/cruncher 5' but for the 2/3 types of howfen file

[ac.tomo]

I am on the 'right side of life AC Tomo... Shame you no longer have 'the book', Those missing pages just makes things feel 'incomplete' (I'd wished i'd been a bit more carefull)

 

I do still have some of the disks you sent to me (including the BDS stuff) unfortunately i don't have a 1050 (only dead ones) and a ape/pro sys/sio2pc cable...so that i can convert all my disk collection over to ATR/Emulator format

 

 

Funny you should mention John E...I was corresponding with him per email until 18 months/2 years ago...He told me his secret for hacking xl/xe bank switched games to disk using Digicomm's 'Freezer', though he didn't divulge the specifics of it

 

Could you grace us with an updated version/hack of 'howfen dos'...I still have v 3.08 that you did

 

Or even better a version/hack of howfen dos that has a built in 'file packer' (but better then the old 'super chopper' program), i was thinking something along the lines of 'superpacker/cruncher 5' but for the 2/3 types of howfen file

 

unfortuneatly I don't have howfen dos either at the moment! Useless ain't I!?

I recall using the 'freezer' for making those bandit boulderdash files and a few other things, quite a useful program that was/is! Speaking of boulderdash, I only noticed the other week that only half of my boulderdash screens were ever uploaded into bandit boulderdash files, I wouldn't mind getting hold of all my screens again, but the only person I know who has them is john e., and his atari is up the attic! Shame.

[Urchlay]

I recall using the 'freezer' for making those bandit boulderdash files and a few other things, quite a useful program that was/is! Speaking of boulderdash, I only noticed the other week that only half of my boulderdash screens were ever uploaded into bandit boulderdash files, I wouldn't mind getting hold of all my screens again, but the only person I know who has them is john e., and his atari is up the attic! Shame.

 

You're the Bandit Boulderdash guy? I owe you one... I know a girl who's a huge Boulderdash fan. Last christmas, I gave her a CD with an emulator and all the boulderdash variants I could find, including the Bandits ones. Her eyes lit up like, well, a christmas tree... said it was the best gift she's ever gotten.

[ac.tomo]

I recall using the 'freezer' for making those bandit boulderdash files and a few other things, quite a useful program that was/is! Speaking of boulderdash, I only noticed the other week that only half of my boulderdash screens were ever uploaded into bandit boulderdash files, I wouldn't mind getting hold of all my screens again, but the only person I know who has them is john e., and his atari is up the attic! Shame.

 

You're the Bandit Boulderdash guy? I owe you one... I know a girl who's a huge Boulderdash fan. Last christmas, I gave her a CD with an emulator and all the boulderdash variants I could find, including the Bandits ones. Her eyes lit up like, well, a christmas tree... said it was the best gift she's ever gotten.

 

I ain't the person who created the bandit boulderdash file itself, that would be 'the burton bandit', but I did create over 400 screens for the game, 200 of which were uploaded to bandit boudlerdash files, the other 200 I'm trying to locate, the game filenames are ACT1 to ACT24 if anybody knows where I can get them? I'm also after my father's game files, they went by the name of BTWO1 to BTWO9 (I think).

 

Anyway, yes I agree with that friend of yours, I think boulderdash was probably one of the best games that came onto the atari, probably the best 'create your own screens' game with mr. robot coming in second.

[pps]

For 'some' sound try the ASMA archive. There should be something to use in your projects

 

http://asma.atari.org/

[ac.tomo]

For 'some' sound try the ASMA archive. There should be something to use in your projects

 

http://asma.atari.org/

 

Wicked. many thanks pps, I haven't had a proper look at the file format yet, but playing on an 8-bit shouldn't be that difficult once I get the necessary transfer equipment.

[carmel_andrews]

Hello Again AC Tomo....

 

Glad to see that you're getting bk. into things A8

 

Re: howfen dos...I think i still have the disk somewhere (v.307 and 3.08) but i've no 1050's or an siopc/ape pro sys thingy...as soon as i get both the latter(s) i might be able to image both howfen disks (to emu/atr format)

 

I have (on a dead pc hard disk) Burton bandits BD files upto number 52 (i think they are on atr format)

 

I also think that most of the burton bandits BD files were put out on 'The Grim Reaper'/TGR (A8 Disk Mag)

 

I noticed something real weird whilst looking at the format of Digicomm's 'Freezer' disks (or programs that have been dumped using the aforementioned utility)...Namely the following

 

The format for 'freezer' dumped disks is exactly the same format as 'Superdump III/IV/V' dumped disks (Superdump was one of the component utilities which came with computerhouse's OS Controller card...I mentioned Superdump V but it wasn't released...But one of the guys at computerhouse told me that it was almost finished)

 

the format is as follows....Sectors 1-3 (Boot), sector 4-104 or 105 (some o/s or program) and lastly sector 105 or 106 to EOD is the dump of user memory (either from Pg 4 or 6, 0400h/0600h to BFFF)...The other weird thing is, is that 'Freezer' dumped disks are incompatible with the superdump menu maker program...even though the format is the same

[ac.tomo]

Hello Again AC Tomo....

 

Glad to see that you're getting bk. into things A8

 

Re: howfen dos...I think i still have the disk somewhere (v.307 and 3.08) but i've no 1050's or an siopc/ape pro sys thingy...as soon as i get both the latter(s) i might be able to image both howfen disks (to emu/atr format)

 

I have (on a dead pc hard disk) Burton bandits BD files upto number 52 (i think they are on atr format)

 

I also think that most of the burton bandits BD files were put out on 'The Grim Reaper'/TGR (A8 Disk Mag)

 

I noticed something real weird whilst looking at the format of Digicomm's 'Freezer' disks (or programs that have been dumped using the aforementioned utility)...Namely the following

 

The format for 'freezer' dumped disks is exactly the same format as 'Superdump III/IV/V' dumped disks (Superdump was one of the component utilities which came with computerhouse's OS Controller card...I mentioned Superdump V but it wasn't released...But one of the guys at computerhouse told me that it was almost finished)

 

the format is as follows....Sectors 1-3 (Boot), sector 4-104 or 105 (some o/s or program) and lastly sector 105 or 106 to EOD is the dump of user memory (either from Pg 4 or 6, 0400h/0600h to BFFF)...The other weird thing is, is that 'Freezer' dumped disks are incompatible with the superdump menu maker program...even though the format is the same

 

freezer is a really useful utility, I remember using that to create the bandit boulderdash files...

[merlin2003]

Hi Tomo, I have the copy of 'The Complete and Essential Map'. It is in single A5 pages as they are the origional copies used to make the book.

I need to know if i can put them into a PDF file and upload to the forum for all to read/use. I was with the origional TWAUG Group consisting of Max, Dave and John(that's me).

[spookt]

Hi Tomo, I have the copy of 'The Complete and Essential Map'. It is in single A5 pages as they are the origional copies used to make the book.

I need to know if i can put them into a PDF file and upload to the forum for all to read/use. I was with the origional TWAUG Group consisting of Max, Dave and John(that's me).

 

Hey Merlin

 

Well it would be great if you can PDF them. I have an original spiral bound copy here in front of me, part 1 and 2. It's a pretty useful resource. Welcome to AA by the way!

[ac.tomo]

Hi Tomo, I have the copy of 'The Complete and Essential Map'. It is in single A5 pages as they are the origional copies used to make the book.

I need to know if i can put them into a PDF file and upload to the forum for all to read/use. I was with the origional TWAUG Group consisting of Max, Dave and John(that's me).

 

hi john, how are you? yes, it's fine I don't mind you uploading my book to pdf files.

One more thing, i wonder if you or anyone can help me get my hands on the "act" boulderdash files, not the bandit boulderdash ones, but the original dos files because there's about 25 (act1 - act25) dos games (20 screens per file), and only half of them have been converted to 'bandit boulderdash files.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thankyou, ac.tomo.

[RetroDiesel]

I just started learning programming on the XL about a week ago. I suck pretty bad right now but just wait... I'll get good soon! Learning little by little every day. Lots of interesting books out there. Soon enough I will advance from rank "n00b poseur programmer" to "rookie programmer".

[AtariGeezer]

I just started learning programming on the XL about a week ago. I suck pretty bad right now but just wait... I'll get good soon! Learning little by little every day. Lots of interesting books out there. Soon enough I will advance from rank "n00b poseur programmer" to "rookie programmer".

 

That's exactly how you do it, day-by-day

Get the compute books, Compute, Antic & Analog Mags on ebay and start typing those programs in. You'll learn to debug your typo's and learn a bunch by reading and typing those in...

 

Jay

[+Faicuai]

I just started learning programming on the XL about a week ago. I suck pretty bad right now but just wait... I'll get good soon! Learning little by little every day. Lots of interesting books out there. Soon enough I will advance from rank "n00b poseur programmer" to "rookie programmer".

 

A few weeks ago I had a chance to find/check my Atari Assembler editor manual, and took a few minutes to read and (just for learning/excercising) and eventually came up with a little program that simply fills your screen with the entire character set, one character at a time. I then coded the exact same tiny program with Atari Basic, just for the heck of it, and then ran each one side by side. The results and differences in performance are brutal, the say the least.

 

Attached are the files. You can simply open them and use the paste function in Altirra (overall best and most advanced Atari-8bit emulator, today). Once in Assembler Editor, just type "ASM"+Enter/Return, then type "BUG", amd then type "G0600".

 

 

Here's the basic code (open file in notepad directly and copy-paste in Altirra):

 

SCRCHR04bas.TXT

 

 

Here's the Assembler version of it:

 

scrchr04ASM.txt

 

 

 

F.

AssemblerEditor.zip