Basic programming

[Stormyguy]

Hi all

I am wanting to create a text-based game, rather like the old 'adventure' text-based games that I used to play on my Commodore VIC20 years ago (eeks - that was a long time ago).

I used to be able to program these machines in BASIC language which was exactly what it sounds but perfectly adequate for what I want to do - user inputs, random numbers for different situations, subroutines etc etc etc.....

Can anybody recommend a suitable program or is it perhaps something I could do with Applescript?? If it can cross-platforms to Peecee to (so that I can share it with pals) then that would be much better (guess that rules out Applescript)??

If there is the option to have any graphics or 'buttons' to click on that maybe an enhancement I could build in but my programming skills may not stretch that far!!!!!!

Thanks
Danny

[OSeXy!]

If you want it to be cross-platform, do it in VB (Visual BASIC) or VBA (Visual BASIC for Applications). With VBA You could do the whole thing via a macro in Word or Excel, and anyone on a PC should be able to run it, too. It's fairly easy to pick up if you've done anything Object-Oriented before. Yes, it's M$, so it has it's built in drawbacks, but it does give you the tools to make your own GUI dialogs, etc. and if you're comfortable with BASIC syntax, the learning curve isn't too steep...

There are some good mac-only freeware/shareware BASIC compilers around, if you don't care about using your game on a PC...

Good luck with the project!

[firewire2001]

what osexy said is right.. however theres a basic compiler called "chipmunk BASIC" that will run on both pcs and macs..

http://www.nicholson.com/rhn/basic/

if you look around for a minute youll see that theres a pc version..

good luck!

[ftaok]

Holy smokes! What's this world coming to? They have compilers for BASIC now. Has BASIC become so advanced that they need compiling?

I'm from the old-school. This is the sort of stuff that used to amuse me.

10 LET A=0
20 PRINT A
30 LET A=A+1
40 GOTO 20

RUN

(and watch the fun for hours)

[Stormyguy]

Chortle!

Yes - that's the sort of thing I need to do!! Back to the grass-roots!

Thanks for the above suggestions - I'm going to initially have a crack at the Chipmunk thing - let you know how it goes!!

Danny:D

[Beej]

Originally posted by ftaok
10 LET A=0
20 PRINT A
30 LET A=A+1
40 GOTO 20

RUN

(and watch the fun for hours) LOL :D I'm sure that would be very exciting. Like the C program

int main()
{
while(1) exit(1);
}

[ftaok]

Originally posted by Beej
LOL :D I'm sure that would be very exciting. Like the C program

int main()
{
while(1) exit(1);
} Someone's gonna have to explain this one to me. My programming skills are limited to BASIC, Logo ('member this one), simple HTML, and my VCR.

[Beej]

Originally posted by ftaok
Someone's gonna have to explain this one to me. My programming skills are limited to BASIC, Logo ('member this one), simple HTML, and my VCR. It goes like this...
start program
exit program

Fun, hey? :D

[barkmonster]

It's not strictly basic as such, it's got way more commands than a sinclair spectrum or GFA basic on the Atari ST had but it seems okay for some things like making the text game you're on about.

[Stormyguy]

Yes, it (Chipmunk) seems to have pretty much all the stuff I was looking for and all the old commands I recognise - it's all starting to come back into place - quite nostalgic really, LOL!

Thanks for the pointer firewire.....

[OSeXy!]

Yeah, Chipmunk is great, a real blast from the past. Didn't realise there was a PC version! I used to use it with BBEdit - Chipmunk has a plugin which lets you compile and debug from there. I think it also allows you to choose whether to use line numbers or not... Good for those who like "GOSUB 10053" rather than "CALL MyGreatSub()"... Have fun!

[evildead]

If you did it in RealBASIC you could make exicutable Mac and PC versions of your game. Its a very simple environment to work in and it gives you some GUI tools to work with if you want to make the interface look nicer.


-evildead


#!/bin/bash
#
init 0

[Spelunk]

I know this is totally uncalled for, but might I suggest looking at the Python language. It has the advantages of being interpreted, cross-platform (Mac, Win, Unix, etc), free, easy to learn, and lots of other programatic niceness that you might like if you want to get more involved (very sensible object-orientation, extensive library, can use several GUI interfaces). It is also not BASIC. :D

The homepage is www.python.org.

Hey, I might not be a very good Mac zealot, but at least I can be a Python zealot.

[Stormyguy]

OK guys - thanks for the ideas.

Where do I get RealBasic from?? Tried Versiontracker but only lots of 'extras' for RealBasic.

[Spelunk]

Where do I get RealBasic from?? Tried Versiontracker but only lots of 'extras' for RealBasic.
http://www.realbasic.com/realbasic/index.html

[Stormyguy]

Originally posted by Spelunk

http://www.realbasic.com/realbasic/index.html

Sorry - v.lazy of me to ask - thanks for pointer!

[Stormyguy]

All concerned,

Feedback:
Thanks again for the help - the Chipmunk BASIC seems to be just fine and I'm getting on with the project no worries!

Thanks again
Danny