VCS Game Maker - Generate bBasic code with a visual tool.

[haroldoop]

Hello;

 

I am currently implementing a tool named "VCS Game Maker".

 

This online tool is a no-code environment designed to allow someone to create a game for Atari 2600 without knowing much about programming and without installing anything on their computer.

 

You can use it online on itch.io: https://haroldo-ok.itch.io/vcs-game-maker

Source code is available on Github: https://github.com/haroldo-ok/vcs-game-maker

 

It uses Blockly to allow the user to implement the logic using blocks and then, behind the scenes, generates a Batari Basic source code, that is then be compiled using batari-basic-js in order to generate an Atari 2600 ROM, which is then emulated using Javatari.

 

So far, it is a work in progress, with only an event editor with just a few commands. The "if" block and math operations work okay, the joystick reading and access to the players/missiles and balls seem OK so far.

 

Edited July 19, 2021 by haroldoop
Corrected typo.

[KevKelley]

This is awesome. My son has been learning block coding in school and has expressed an interest in making games after seeing the Switch release of Game Builder Garage (he seemed less interested in learning BASIC like I did back in the day). 

 

I look forward to seeing more of this!

[haroldoop]

22 hours ago, KevKelley said:

This is awesome. My son has been learning block coding in school and has expressed an interest in making games after seeing the Switch release of Game Builder Garage (he seemed less interested in learning BASIC like I did back in the day). 

 

I look forward to seeing more of this!

Thanks for the interest!

 

BTW, version 0.2.0 has just been released; not much done here, just a block for collision checking.

[Mr SQL]

This is really cool!  The Blocky visual program editor is a great fit for BASIC. Blocky looks designed to make more modern languages easier to conceptualize, more BASIC like.

 

 

 

 

[haroldoop]

Hello, again;

 

The tool has been updated to 0.3.0, and now the variables work.

[+Philsan]

Awesome, I spread the news!

[haroldoop]

Hello, again;

 

Version 0.5.0 is now available!

 

Updates since the previous release:

• 0.4.0: generated bBasic code is now displayed on its own page; as a side bonus, the action editor now has more space on screen;
• 0.5.0: now, it is possible to import and export projects.

 

[+mksmith]

Wow what a great concept! Well done and keep up the awesome work 👋👋👋

[haroldoop]

Version 0.6.0 has been released!

It now allows the background to be edited. Only supports a single background, for now; future versions will allow multple backgrounds.

[sn8k]

Woah?!!? I'm gonna be able to make Atari games?

 

Because I don't know shit when it comes to programming or coding. 

[sn8k]

Can you put it on cart when you're done?

[haroldoop]

4 hours ago, sn8k said:

Woah?!!? I'm gonna be able to make Atari games?

 

Because I don't know shit when it comes to programming or coding. 

 

Can you put it on cart when you're done?

Yes, you should be able to make simple games, even if you don't know anything about programming.

As for putting into a cart, the tool already allows you to export the game into an Atari 2600 ROM file; it should be able to run on most emulators and, in theory, the ROM file should be able to run on real hardware, too.

Edited July 31, 2021 by haroldoop
Corrected typo.

[+Random Terrain]

I was hoping I could use your info to compile and run programs made with an online DPC+ tool I'm working on, but it seems Javatari still can't run DPC+ programs.

[haroldoop]

9 hours ago, Random Terrain said:

I was hoping I could use your info to compile and run programs made with an online DPC+ tool I'm working on, but it seems Javatari still can't run DPC+ programs.

One workaround would be to compile Stella into WebAssembly using Emscripten, or a similar cross-compiler. Retro JS seems to include a version of Stella ready to compile into WebAssembly, though it is 6 years old, meaning it could need extra work to update to a DPC+ compatible version.

[haroldoop]

Version 0.7.0 has been released!

It now allows the sprite animations to be edited.

[haroldoop]

Version 0.8.0 is now available!

Now, you can add or remove sprite animation frames.

[teh_supar_hackr]

Never thought I'd see code blocks be usable to make 2600 games! 

[haroldoop]

7 hours ago, teh_supar_hackr said:

Never thought I'd see code blocks be usable to make 2600 games! 

Yes, while, in theory, Blockly can be adapted to generate code for any programming language, trying to create a 1:1 correspondence with the target language will create something that's unconfortable to use.

 

The trick is to step back a bit and create blocks that are abstract enough to be used simply, without having to add too many blocks to the program.

[teh_supar_hackr]

2 hours ago, haroldoop said:

Yes, while, in theory, Blockly can be adapted to generate code for any programming language, trying to create a 1:1 correspondence with the target language will create something that's unconfortable to use.

 

The trick is to step back a bit and create blocks that are abstract enough to be used simply, without having to add too many blocks to the program.

Thanks for the tip, even if I'll most likely attempt to learn with VisualbB. I'll probably still give the Blockly based utility a look.