Help!

[PitfallHarry2600]

I have an idea for a game... but I don't know anything about 2600 programming

Can somebody help me?

I have a Mac OSX and a Windows XP on Parralels Desktop, so do atari 2600 programming tools exist on mac?

Edited November 26, 2010 by PitfallHarry2600

[+GroovyBee]

Try batari Basic.

[tokumaru]

Try batari Basic.

That seems to be the default answer these days...

 

I have an idea for a game... but I don't know anything about 2600 programming

But do you have any programming knowledge at all? If you already have solid knowledge of any other kind of programming (game programming would be even better, of course), learning a new language for a new platform is much easier, because you already know the basic concepts.

 

If you don't have any programming knowledge, I have to tell you that starting with the 2600 will be tough, even with batari Basic. But if you are really up for the task, that would probably be the best way to start.

 

I have a Mac OSX and a Windows XP on Parralels Desktop, so do atari 2600 programming tools exist on mac?

I'm not sure how you can run batari Basic on a Mac, but if you decide to program in good old assembly, all you need is a 6502 assembler and a 2600 emulator, and I'm sure you can find something that will work on a Mac.

Edited November 27, 2010 by tokumaru

[PitfallHarry2600]

 

I have an idea for a game... but I don't know anything about 2600 programming

But do you have any programming knowledge at all? If you already have solid knowledge of any other kind of programming (game programming would be even better, of course), learning a new language for a new platform is much easier, because you already know the basic concepts.

 

If you don't have any programming knowledge, I have to tell you that starting with the 2600 will be tough, even with batari Basic. But if you are really up for the task, that would probably be the best way to start.

 

I have a Mac OSX and a Windows XP on Parralels Desktop, so do atari 2600 programming tools exist on mac?

I'm not sure how you can run batari Basic on a Mac, but if you decide to program in good old assembly, all you need is a 6502 assembler and a 2600 emulator, and I'm sure you can find something that will work on a Mac.

 

I don't know anything about programming at all

[jwierer]

I'm not sure how you can run batari Basic on a Mac, but if you decide to program in good old assembly, all you need is a 6502 assembler and a 2600 emulator, and I'm sure you can find something that will work on a Mac.

There is a build that runs on a Mac.

 

-Jeff

[+GroovyBee]

I don't know anything about programming at all

 

In which case I think that you'd be better off writing code and learning what goes into making games by developing on a PC using any high level language of your choice. If you want the retro development feel develop on an Atari 800XL, ZX Spectrum, TI99 e.g. whatever floats your boat. Developing in an emulator is pretty much hassle free unless you are into cycle accurate stuff. Once you get your game going using a machine with more resources than a 2600 you can scale/modify your idea to fit.

 

If you don't think you'd be a good programmer you could always put out a proposal and hope that a programmer comes along to champion your cause.

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/82555-to-all-non-programmer-idea-peddlers/

[Brian O]

I don't know anything about programming at all

 

In which case I think that you'd be better off writing code and learning what goes into making games by developing on a PC using any high level language of your choice. If you want the retro development feel develop on an Atari 800XL, ZX Spectrum, TI99 e.g. whatever floats your boat. Developing in an emulator is pretty much hassle free unless you are into cycle accurate stuff. Once you get your game going using a machine with more resources than a 2600 you can scale/modify your idea to fit.

 

If you don't think you'd be a good programmer you could always put out a proposal and hope that a programmer comes along to champion your cause.

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/82555-to-all-non-programmer-idea-peddlers/

 

PitfallHarry2600,

 

GroovyBee is right. I learned the hard way that even if you have a great idea, and are also willing to flesh out the concept, your chances of finding someone to develop the game are slim to none. I, too, am not a programmer, so I'm in the same boat as you. I had what I believed, and still do, to be a good idea for a game. I created a label, manual, box art, and screenshots to accompany my concept. Although I received a lot of positive feedback, and a lot of great recommendations/insights, I could not find one person to code the game for me (I even offered to pay!).

 

The reason being is that most, if not all, the developers on these boards are busy with their own projects. And even these projects sometimes never get finished. So, you can imagine getting someone to not only get excited, but also stay excited, about a project/idea that's not theirs. Not likely.

 

However, from what I have seen, most developers will be more than happy to offer insights, and assist in any way that they can to help you get started. The guys on this board are great people, and are filled with TONS of information.

 

While it never hurts to put your idea out there, don't be surprised if you don't have 20 developers knocking down your door to code it. Take it from someone who learned that the hard way

 

-B

[JPjuice23]

 

If you don't have any programming knowledge, I have to tell you that starting with the 2600 will be tough, even with batari Basic. But if you are really up for the task, that would probably be the best way to start.

Hmm. What do you recommend a good zero-experience programmer should start with?

 

I know I could google it, but I'd rather ask someone who can compare it to Atari 2600 programming.

[+JAC!]

For coding 6502 assembler on different platform, you might have a look at my WUDSN IDE. But using assembler as the starting point for your programming career is not a good idea. Especially not with 2600 as platform

[Riddler]

I'd say start with 6502 self teaching guide