Written by me in 1988 for the Archimedes (just a BBC Basic program launched from the filer, not a true app) following the BBC B version that I originally wrote, which I will also share.
![Image]()
(Runs in MODE13 on Acorn Archimedes - 256 colours 320x256). On the BBC version it was MODE1 and character based rather than sprites, I will update when I find it with a screenshot of that.
Code: https://github.com/empirebuilders/java- ... mpire/docs
Notes:
- The above is a link to a text *SPOOLed dump of the BBC Basic. I think I need to find the small number of sprite files to add for a fully functioning game that could be run by someone else.
- In 2001 I ported the game to J2ME (early Java on mobile) in just a week for a job application at a little mobile games studio in Eastleigh for mobile games development (I didn't get it LOL), but a great exercise. Back in the days before even 3G, or maybe it was just coming out. I think 2.5G / GPRS was more commonplace. The J2ME binary was 66K I think in size.
- The J2ME code is reachable via the above link, as indicated in the URL, the BBC Basic code is placed in the docs folder for when I needed to refer to the game logic when doing the port
- After git came out and I got into learning it I put all the code in git and pushed to github, so the timestamps don't reflect the original conception of the game in 1988!
The object of the game, as per documentation embedded in the code:
https://github.com/empirebuilders/java- ... 0Notes.txt
Recent events around the world, with regards conflict aren't lost on me when I think about the simple object of this game. So if I ever think about another port, e.g. Android or iOS and "market" it, I would need think about sensitivity. I remember a game that came out around Piper Alpha disaster and it had to be postponed or rebranded. Certainly worth respectful consideration. Mind you, there's loads of games out there with weapons, Doom etc, so I guess there's some thought about context and association too, as to how much careful placement is actually needed.
An interesting observation was the random number generator for the dice that gave each player their number of moves. It seemed to be a bit biased towards the red player.
I built the 7-segment LED from scratch as sprites and all the other graphics from scratch. I think I used one of the paint apps on Arthur and then RISC OS to make them.
The game was written from scratch by me. But the original idea came from a school friend who had a ZX Spectrum and their uncle wrote the game by the same title there. It had additional features like teleport and more 2 players if I recall, which hadn't implemented on my version. I didn't have access to the code, so none of it was used.
P.S. It runs fine on RISC OS on my Raspberry Pi 1, recently looked at in 2018![:)]( "Smile")
Aiming to revisit for mobile app development learning at some point. On the web, it would be well suited to HTML5 canvas as a bitmapped game I think.
(Runs in MODE13 on Acorn Archimedes - 256 colours 320x256). On the BBC version it was MODE1 and character based rather than sprites, I will update when I find it with a screenshot of that.
Code: https://github.com/empirebuilders/java- ... mpire/docs
Notes:
- The above is a link to a text *SPOOLed dump of the BBC Basic. I think I need to find the small number of sprite files to add for a fully functioning game that could be run by someone else.
- In 2001 I ported the game to J2ME (early Java on mobile) in just a week for a job application at a little mobile games studio in Eastleigh for mobile games development (I didn't get it LOL), but a great exercise. Back in the days before even 3G, or maybe it was just coming out. I think 2.5G / GPRS was more commonplace. The J2ME binary was 66K I think in size.
- The J2ME code is reachable via the above link, as indicated in the URL, the BBC Basic code is placed in the docs folder for when I needed to refer to the game logic when doing the port
- After git came out and I got into learning it I put all the code in git and pushed to github, so the timestamps don't reflect the original conception of the game in 1988!
The object of the game, as per documentation embedded in the code:
Code:
2830DATA "The object of the game :" 2840DATA " " 2850DATA "You must try to cover 150 squares on the" 2860DATA "landscape." 2870DATA " " 2880DATA "You can either be red player, or green" 2890DATA "player - it's your choice." 2900DATA " " 2910DATA "When you cover a square, it changes to" 2920DATA "your colour - red or green." 2930DATA "the other player cannot move over you," 2940DATA "or your squares." 2950DATA " " 2960DATA "But both of you can move over the sea." 2970DATA " " 2980DATA "You must stop your opponent from getting" 2990DATA "150 squares. Your own squares act as" 3000DATA "walls that the other player cannot pass" 3010DATA "through." 3020DATA " " 3030DATA "Press the SPACE bar to see game objects"Recent events around the world, with regards conflict aren't lost on me when I think about the simple object of this game. So if I ever think about another port, e.g. Android or iOS and "market" it, I would need think about sensitivity. I remember a game that came out around Piper Alpha disaster and it had to be postponed or rebranded. Certainly worth respectful consideration. Mind you, there's loads of games out there with weapons, Doom etc, so I guess there's some thought about context and association too, as to how much careful placement is actually needed.
An interesting observation was the random number generator for the dice that gave each player their number of moves. It seemed to be a bit biased towards the red player.
I built the 7-segment LED from scratch as sprites and all the other graphics from scratch. I think I used one of the paint apps on Arthur and then RISC OS to make them.
The game was written from scratch by me. But the original idea came from a school friend who had a ZX Spectrum and their uncle wrote the game by the same title there. It had additional features like teleport and more 2 players if I recall, which hadn't implemented on my version. I didn't have access to the code, so none of it was used.
P.S. It runs fine on RISC OS on my Raspberry Pi 1, recently looked at in 2018
Aiming to revisit for mobile app development learning at some point. On the web, it would be well suited to HTML5 canvas as a bitmapped game I think.Statistics: Posted by therobyouknow — Thu Jul 18, 2024 10:40 am