scottm@cavell.UUCP (Scott McPhee) (12/06/84)
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Ever wonder just how close the Atari and Commodore 64 are in architecture?
Well, this month in Compute! (Dec. 84), there is an article and program
that will allow C64 users to type an run BASIC programs written for the Atari
series with the least amount of changes possible. No provisions for
Player/Missile and Sprite graphics, although these are highly POKISH
and not part of BASIC anyway - but can be converted easily.
Since both machines have the same resolution in the graphics modes, the
transition theoretically should be quite easy, and it is - the program
sits in 2K of RAM that is out of the way, and you can even use the DOS
wedge while the emulator is intact.
ALL OF THE Atari graphics commands are supported (except the XIO fill
command which is replaced by a more sensible FILL command):
PLOT, DRAWTO, SETCOLOR, COLOR, GRAPHICS, etc.
- some interesting notes:
* each of the commands are allowed to be entered with and abbr. just as
on the Atari, these abbr.'s are not expanded when listed.
* the features of a text window on the bottom of the graphics screen,
re-enter a graphics screen without erasing, and combinations of the
two are supported by adding +16 or +32 or +48 to the GRAPHICS command
just as on the Atari
* the user of the emulator loses NO BASIC programming space since fill
stacks and graphics screens are "hidden" under OS ROMs and BASIC ROMs
* since the new commands are re-routed through CHARGET, they are all prefixed
with an exclamation mark "!", but this easy to get used to.
PICK UP AN issue to take advantage of this. There are also some other
good articles for C64 graphics, and tools.
Read about the MSX Japanese invation of standardizing the home computer
market - are we doomed?