My week with the Atari 800XL is over. I’m writing up my thoughts and some things I learned. In the meantime, this one is next. #octaci #PETober
Was just thinking “it’s 3pm and I’ve been super productive today, I wonder why…”. Oh right, that’s why.
Diving into Atari 8 Bit: Horizontal movement is pretty straightforward. Vertical is a little more tricky. Using an ML program and calling it via USR() makes it MUCH faster. Still having fun(ish). #octari
This chip is still on my desk. Even though I’m one of the people who has the thermal printer it goes in. The mystery was cooler than the reality. #commodore
Diving into Atari 8 Bit: XIO is completely new to me. Combined with joystick inputs to draw a “road”. Pretty fun. #octari
Diving into Atari 8 Bit: More graphics learning and using TRAP which is very nice. Pretty impressed at how well graphics work even in BASIC. #octari
Diving into Atari 8 Bit: I’m actually off today, but always 5 minutes to learn something. Quick color and plotting. Atari BASIC makes this stuff really easy. #octari
Diving into Atari 8 Bit: Getting a handle on CTIA chip capabilities. Shading is a pretty cool feature #octari
Diving into Atari 8 Bit: Reading joysticks is really easy, and Atari BASIC is good enough to make joystick movements smooth in BASIC. Neato #octari
