Author Topic: Days of BASIC... (Read 6762 times)

curtking · « **on:** April 24, 2008, 08:33:13 AM »

Back in the day (1983?) when I was learning to program BASIC, I discovered a book at my library titled "More BASIC Computer Games". This was at a time when entire working programs could be transcribed onto three or four book pages.

I remember one game fondly: "Dealer x 5", which was a take-off on the Jack Clark show "Dealer's Choice" -- it even made mention of the show in the book.

Someone has taken time to scan the entire book (and its predecessor) and posted the results on the AtariArchives site:

"Dealer x 5" from More BASIC Computer Games

Enjoy!

Curt

tvwxman · « **Reply #1 on:** April 24, 2008, 09:14:16 AM »

Holy Smokes! I remember this book! What a find!

clemon79 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2008, 11:47:08 AM »

I had an app for my Apple II that was a BASIC-based reworking of the board game Gambler. Not QUITE a game-show, but it very much had game-show trappings, especially when I tweaked the code a little to make game selection (you stopped a cursor randomly on a game a la PYL) a little less drawn out.

Sigh. I miss Gambler.

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2008, 11:57:57 AM »

Now THIS is something cool. BASIC was the only computer language I ever learned. I was pretty good at it too, but went in a different direction for a career. I think this deserves a mention on the Game Show Home Game Home Page.

Steve Gavazzi · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2008, 11:59:03 AM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'184738\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 11:47 AM\']I had an app for my Apple II that was a BASIC-based reworking of the board game Gambler. Not QUITE a game-show, but it very much had game-show trappings, especially when I tweaked the code a little to make game selection (you stopped a cursor randomly on a game a la PYL) a little less drawn out.

Sigh. I miss Gambler.[/quote]
Good Lord, I remember that...in fact, I think I had two different versions of it.

I'd love to get my hands on that thing again.

mmb5 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2008, 11:59:42 AM »

I threw this book away last summer. Didn't notice the game, though. Oh well, whoever still has the book just noticed it's value slightly increase.

clemon79 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2008, 12:50:00 PM »

[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'184741\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 08:59 AM\']
Good Lord, I remember that...in fact, I think I had two different versions of it.

I'd love to get my hands on that thing again.
[/quote]
A cursory check of Ebay confirms that there were indeed two different versions (I had the later one) and that it's not exactly hard to pick up. I'd think about if if my recent and upcoming video game purchases weren't so excessive.

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2008, 01:09:37 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'184738\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 11:47 AM\']
I had an app for my Apple II that was a BASIC-based reworking of the board game Gambler. Not QUITE a game-show, but it very much had game-show trappings, especially when I tweaked the code a little to make game selection (you stopped a cursor randomly on a game a la PYL) a little less drawn out.[/quote]
Interesting that Parker Brothers had a game about gambling at about the same time that a different company had a game based on Dealer's Choice -- which they couldn't CALL Dealer's Choice, because of a different Parker Brothers game that had nothing to do with gambling.

Steve Gavazzi · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2008, 01:44:58 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'184747\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 12:50 PM\'][quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'184741\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 08:59 AM\']Good Lord, I remember that...in fact, I think I had two different versions of it.

I'd love to get my hands on that thing again.
[/quote]A cursory check of Ebay confirms that there were indeed two different versions (I had the later one) and that it's not exactly hard to pick up. I'd think about if if my recent and upcoming video game purchases weren't so excessive.

[/quote]
I was wondering why that would be on eBay...then I realized you were still talking about the board game.

I had two different versions of the computer game.

I think I'll pass on the Gambler's Pork & Beans, though...

clemon79 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2008, 02:03:03 PM »

[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'184751\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 10:44 AM\']
I was wondering why that would be on eBay...then I realized you were still talking about the board game.

I had two different versions of the computer game.[/quote]
Ah yes, I see now. Yeah, the Apple game I had was called "Casino", I think.

"Gambler's Pork and Beans" is a slightly different definition of "gambler," I think.

BrandonFG · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2008, 02:20:57 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'184756\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 02:03 PM\']
"Gambler's Pork and Beans" is a slightly different definition of "gambler," I think.

[/quote]
Yeah, but only if you light a match...

TimK2003 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2008, 08:35:05 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'184747\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 12:50 PM\']
[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'184741\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 08:59 AM\']
Good Lord, I remember that...in fact, I think I had two different versions of it.

I'd love to get my hands on that thing again.
[/quote]
A cursory check of Ebay confirms that there were indeed two different versions (I had the later one) and that it's not exactly hard to pick up. I'd think about if if my recent and upcoming video game purchases weren't so excessive.

[/quote]

I also had the 1977 Gambler board game as well...I pitched the game out last year in our most recent move (more tape than cardboard on the box) but I held on to the dice-roller-paddle-thingy -- which can double as a Yahtzee-on-a-stick game.

davewalls · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2008, 09:26:03 PM »

I stopped by my parent's house last week on a trip through Delaware,
and found my old board games, including a copy of Gambler in reasonably
good condition. Excellent game.

I loved that dice shaker, too. How would one utilize that for Yahtzee on a stick, as suggested above? It's not like you can reach in and grab the dice..

TLEberle · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2008, 09:35:46 PM »

[quote name=\'davewalls\' post=\'184786\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 06:26 PM\']I stopped by my parent's house last week on a trip through Delaware, and found my old board games, including a copy of Gambler in reasonably
good condition. Excellent game.

I loved that dice shaker, too. How would one utilize that for Yahtzee on a stick, as suggested above? It's not like you can reach in and grab the dice..[/quote]That was the part I didn't get. Unless you had a rule like "The N rightmost dice are the frozen ones and don't count," but there was a perfectly serviceable travel Yahtzee thing where you would "roll" the dice around in their little compartments, and push up on a flap underneath to "freeze" them.

clemon79 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2008, 10:08:32 PM »

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'184789\' date=\'Apr 24 2008, 06:35 PM\']
but there was a perfectly serviceable travel Yahtzee thing where you would "roll" the dice around in their little compartments, and push up on a flap underneath to "freeze" them.
[/quote]
If by "perfectly servicable" you mean "dog-ball slurping," then sure. I had that, and it was horrifyingly unfunctional.

It's Yahtzee. Want it to be Travel Yahtzee? Stick the five dice in a freakin' Crown Royal bag. Voila. Travel Yahtzee.