Task: Assemble a Minimal Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Components listed below and about $200 to $225 for purchasing Time: 60 minutes Introduction I have a colleague at work who I have been helping set up his first ever Atari computer rig. I have been thinking
Read moreUse Strings to Store Assembly Language Code in Memory for Execution from BASIC (10-15 mins)
Task: Use Strings to Store Assembly Language Code in Memory for Execution from BASIC Needed: A BASIC cartridge or Altirra emulator Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I previously demonstrated how to POKE assembly language code into page 6 of memory for execution by BASIC using the
Read moreCall Assembly Language Code from Your BASIC Program (10-15 mins)
Task: Call Assembly Language Code from Your BASIC Program Needed: A BASIC cartridge or Altirra emulator Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction In my previous post on writing, compiling, saving, debugging, and running assembly language programs with the MAC/65 assembler, I referred the reader to Chapter 5
Read moreCompile and Run an Assembly Language Program for the Atari Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Compile and Run an Assembly Language Program for the Atari Computer Needed: MAC/65 cartridge or Altirra emulator Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I dabbled in assembly as a kid but never became a pro. I taught myself 6502 assembly later in life and became good
Read morePurchase a Retron77 Gaming Console for Emulating the 2600 (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase a Retron77 Gaming Console for Emulating the 2600 Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction One of the most frustrating aspects of retrocomputing and retrogaming is getting old hardware to play nice with HDTVs over HDMI. This is especially true for the Atari
Read morePurchase a CRT Monitor (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase a CRT Monitor Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I started out on an Atari 400 and 410 cassette recorder connected to a color television in our family room in the early 1980s. We upgraded to an Atari 800 and 810 disk
Read moreExplore AtariWiki (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore AtariWiki Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction One of the best web resources for Atari 8-bit computers and programming is AtariWiki. The following description is taken from their manifesto: “The AtariWiki is a collection of Information about the Atari 8-Bit computer line
Read moreTry BASIC Programming on the Atari 2600 (15-30 mins)
Task: Try BASIC Programming on the Atari 2600 Needed: BASIC Programming cartridge, keyboard controllers, Atari 2600 Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Programming in BASIC on the Atari 2600 is one of the most interesting things I have done with that machine. The BASIC Programming cartridge was
Read moreLearn How to Make a Game in BASIC XE (30-60 mins)
Task: Learn How to Make a Game in BASIC XE Needed: BASIC XE and extensions Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction My previous posts have demonstrated many of the programming techniques needed to make a game in Atari BASIC. A common theme is how slow BASIC is
Read moreExplore the Antic Software Archive (30-60 mins)
Task: Explore the Antic Software Archive Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction As I mentioned in my last post about Antic Magazine, one of the great features of Antic was the software that came in each and every issue. Most of these were software
Read moreExplore Antic Magazine (30-60 mins)
Task: Explore Antic Magazine Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I very much looked forward to each and every issue of Antic Magazine after we got our Atari 400 and then 800 in the early 1980s. These were the days before the internet, and
Read moreAdd Missiles to Player-Missile Graphics in BASIC (30-60 mins)
Task: Add Missiles to Player-Missile Graphics in BASIC Needed: BASIC Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I have previously demonstrated how to implement player-missile graphics (PMG) in BASIC, and how to combine a player with a background or playfield using redefined character sets. The latter post includes
Read moreAdvice for Planning Atari Projects (10-15 mins)
Task: Advice for Planning Atari Projects Needed: Some decision making Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I aspire to do at least one Atari project each week. I don’t always accomplish this goal, but have been able to do at least 2-3 per month over the past
Read moreCombining Redefined Characters Sets and Player-Missile Graphics in BASIC (30-60 mins)
Task: Combining Redefined Characters Sets and Player-Missile Graphics in BASIC Needed: BASIC Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction It takes time to learn the ins and outs of Atari graphics. This is especially true if you aspire to make a game. I have previously demonstrated how to
Read morePlay Haunted House on the Atari 2600 (15-30 mins)
Task: Play Haunted House on the Atari 2600 Needed: Atari 2600 or emulator Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Last year for Halloween I did a post on drawing pumpkins on the Atari 8-bit computer using re-defined characters sets in BASIC. This year I thought I would
Read morePlay Dark Chambers on an Atari 7800 (15-30 mins)
Task: Play Dark Chambers on an Atari 7800 Needed: Atari 7800 or emulator Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction One of my all-time favorite arcade games is Gauntlet that was produced by Atari games and released in 1985. I enjoyed playing it back in the day on
Read moreInstall an Atari 7800 Emulator (10-15 mins)
Task: Install an Atari 7800 Emulator Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction Emulation software for the 7800 is not as far along as for other Atari consoles and computers. I have tried two emulators that I recommend for those wanting to play 7800 games
Read morePurchase an Atari 7800 (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase an Atari 7800 Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction The Atari 7800 ProSystem was everything the Atari 5200 should have been. Released in 1986, the 7800 was smaller that the 2600 and was backward compatible with the 2600 cartridges and joysticks. This
Read moreWatch the Documentary “Atari: Game Over” (1 hour)
Task: Watch the Documentary “Atari: Game Over” Needed: Web browser Time: 1 hour Introduction One of the great stories of Atari was the “rumor” that they buried tons of E.T. cartridges for the 2600 in a desert landfill after the video game crash of 1983.
Read morePurchase New Power Supplies (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase New Power Supplies Needed: Web browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the need to go through your collection and purge dangerous power supplies that can fail and take your Atari out. Further, you may not trust the ones that
Read moreTry the Diamond Graphical Operating System (10-15 mins)
Task: Try the Diamond Graphical Operating System Needed: Diamond GOS ATR file Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction The command line interface of DOS was cumbersome, but we didn’t mind because we were pioneers in the early days of home computing. It was all we knew and
Read moreReplace Rubber Feet (5-10 mins)
Task: Replace Rubber Feet Needed: New Rubber Feet Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have had several problems with the little rubber feet on the bottom of Atari hardware. First, some of the feet degrade over time and the chemicals damage the finish on my desk
Read moreAttend an Atari Party (1 day)
Task: Attend an Atari Party Needed: Time and travel Time: 1 day Introduction Many of us carry out our Atari projects in isolation due to the rareness of the hobby. As such, we relish those infrequent opportunities to meet with other enthusiasts to celebrate our
Read morePlay Qix on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Play Qix on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Qix cartridge, ROM, or ATR file Time: 15-30 mins Introduction Qix was one of the first cartridges I owned for the Atari 400 and 800. I still love this game. It has simple rules, good graphics,
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