We will update the game, adding new things to do about once every 2 weeks, it'll be fun and simple, and I hope you all will give it a try when it is ready.

Thanks, and I hope you all will have fun!

Links:
You can download from my website: http://operagn.co.nr/
Or you can just click <a href="http://web.mac.com/wozilla/OGN/SilverQuest_files/Silver%20Quest.zip">here</a> to get the game.

-Wolfgang Wozniak

P.S. Yes, all of it is supposed to look like that. :P
P.P.S. No, I didn't want to make an overly large post.

Some of the progams can also safely be run online from menus displayed.

Gordon

The irony comes in with web sites that are entirely GUI, have RSS feeds, and other stuff that tired old QB must look at like flying cars from the Jetsons.

Of course you won't see me lining up to use that .Net crap myself. I keep hoping it will die and we'll get a new and decent Windows Basic compiler from Microsoft. I wanted to love FB but it is such a pile of 1982 that I can't even be bothered to download newer versions.

Things are so bad I start to wonder if we shouldn't make a tombstone for Basic. R.I.P.

- BVOCS

E.K.Virtanen

Still no internet connect yet I'm afraid. Hopefully, soon.

However, I haven't been just laying around. :) While working on a couple of programs, I decided that I needed an easy to use gui system for FB. Since there really isn't one (that I know of) that is written in pure FB, I decided to write my own. Right now I have the main desk object and menu object working. The desk object is the core gui object that is the container for the menu and window objects. The window object is a container for the different control objects such as a textbox, label, button, etc. The syntax is quite easy to use. For example:

sub MessageHandler (objID as integer, e as EVENT)

'handle message

end sub

dim mydesk as desk = desk([options])

CreatMenu [options]
AddNewMenuItem [options]
…
desk.menu.ShowMenu
desk.ProcessMessage = @MessageHandler
desk.ShowDesk
desk.Run

The run command enters into the gui message loop. The MessageHandler sub is a user defined sub that you would use to handle any messages generated by the system. The objID is the id of the object you used when you created the object and the e as EVENT is the FB ScreenEvent record that is passed from the desk message loop. You pass the address of your message handler to the desk ProcessMessage before you run the desk object.

Next time I can get online I'll post some screen shots.

Just a little note to let you know I am still kicking. I will, hopefully, have my own connection next month some time. I have had a hard time finding an ISP that I could afford down here in Austin.

Even though I haven't been online, I have been working on a few things. I have an ascii (of course) space trading game in the works. Over 500 computer generated star systems to explore, numerous alien races, full economics model including banking and stock market, trade legally or smuggle or both, tactical combat system, create a space corporation or remain small and mobile, with open-ended game play. The object is to gain a least a billion credits but you play the game as long as you like.

I am also kicking around the idea of a book on rogue-like development using ascii. There might be a small market for that type of book since people are still interested in RL development. We'll see how that goes.

I hope everyone is well. See you all soon.

Rick

I am glad now after looking around programming websites around the web. Resources of computers does get better all the time and learning to make 2D and 3D graphics gets easier in same speed.
Still, new ASCII applications does pop-up nearly every week.

How come this is possible? Why newbies does still start with ASCII when simple 2D is easy to do after few weeks of learning?

I have allways thought that ASCII game is like a book. Book cant beat the movie? Maybe because it does leave visual part of the fun for reader? In same way, i think ASCII games does work.
Game is the story and the action, but visual side comes from your own imagination. There is no way 3D can beat that?

E.K.Virtanen

E.K.Virtanen

There's still time, but there's no point waiting for the last day ;-). So get cracking folks (your knuckles that is) and start writing up the goods. The earlier the better.

I have one contribution and planning on a few more. at least.

In that case, just change "2" to "4" in url and you should be ok to go.
Ill try to check everything in this day.

E.K.Virtanen

E.K.Virtanen

 ''' TinyBASIC, by Nicholas Christopoulos '' A SmallBASIC example :) DIM variables(26) '' variables (one for each letter) DIM stack(10) '' executor''s stack (GOSUB/FOR-NEXT/WHILE-WEND) DIM labels(), program() DEF varidx(name) = asc(left(name))-65 ip = -1 '' next command to execute (-1 = none, -2 = error) sp = 0 '' stack pointer CLS print cat(2);"TinyBASIC v1";cat(-2) print "A 450-line (with expression parser) SmallBASIC example" print print "Type HELP for catalog." print "Type QUIT to exit..." print print "READY" print repeat input "> ", inpstr inpstr = trim(upper(inpstr)) cmd = trim(leftof(inpstr+" ", " ")) '' get command name if len(cmd) par = trim(rightof(inpstr, " ")) if isnumber(cmd) '' store command addcmd val(cmd), par else '' execute command execute cmd, par fi fi until cmd="QUIT" end '' Store command to memory sub addcmd(num, cmd) local i, ins, rep ins = len(labels): rep = -1 for i = 0 to len(labels)-1 if labels(i) = num then rep=i:exit if labels(i) > num then ins=i:exit next if rep = -1 '' new record if len(cmd) '' no error, insert (or append) insert labels, ins, num insert program, ins, cmd fi else if len(cmd) '' replace program(rep) = cmd else '' erase delete labels, rep delete program, rep fi fi end '' set value to a variable sub setvar(varname, varval) local idx if len(varname)>1 TBError "ILLEGAL VARIABLES NAME, USE ONE-CHAR NAMES" else idx = varidx(varname) varval = trim(varval) if left(varvar) = chr(34) '' it is a string variables(idx) = disclose(varval) else '' it is an expression variables(idx) = tbeval(varval) fi fi end '' execute a TB command sub execute(cmd, par) local idx, i, var, vstr local parA, tstr, fstr, f, num if cmd in ["END", "NEW"] '' new program or end of program; syntax: NEW or END ip = -1 sp = 0 if cmd="NEW" erase labels, commands '' clear program dim variables(26) '' clear variables print:print "* DONE *":print fi elif cmd in ["QUIT", "REM"] '' do nothing elif cmd="LET" '' assigns a value to a variable; syntax: LET variable = expression sinput par; var, "=", vstr setvar var, vstr elif cmd="LIST" '' prints the program, syntax: LIST if len(labels) for i=0 to len(labels)-1 print using "####: &"; labels(i); program(i) next else TBError "NO PROGRAM IN MEMORY" fi elif cmd="RUN" '' run the program, syntax: RUN ip = 0 while ip<len(labels) last_ip = ip cmd = trim(leftof(program(ip)+" ", " ")) par = trim(rightof(program(ip), " ")) execute cmd, par if ip = -2 print "* ERROR AT ";labels(last_ip);" *" sp = 0 exit elif ip = -1 print:print "* DONE *":print sp = 0 exit else ip = ip + 1 fi wend elif cmd="INPUT" '' get a value form console, syntax: INPUT [prompt,] variable split par, ",", para, chr(34)+chr(34) use trim(x) if len(para) = 0 ip = -2 else if len(para) = 2 idx = 1 input disclose(para(i)); vstr else idx = 0 input "? ", vstr fi setvar para(idx), vstr fi elif cmd="PRINT" '' print to console, syntax: PRINT [var1 [, varN]] split par, ",", para, chr(34)+chr(34)+"()" use trim(x) for vstr in para if left(vstr)=chr(34) '' print string print disclose(vstr); " "; else '' print number (expression) print tbeval(vstr); " "; fi next print elif cmd in ["GOTO", "GOSUB"] '' Syntax: GOTO line or GOSUB line search labels, val(par), idx if idx = -1 TBError "LABEL "+par+" DOES NOT EXIST" else if cmd="GOSUB" stack(sp) = ["R", ip] '' "R" = a ''return'' command must read it sp = sp + 1 fi ip = idx-1 fi elif cmd="RETURN" '' syntax: RETURN if sp > 0 sp = sp - 1 if stack(sp)(0) = "R" '' later you can add code for FOR and WHILE ip = stack(sp)(1) else TBError "STACK MESS" fi else TBError "STACK UNDERFLOW" fi elif cmd="IF" '' IF! what else?. Syntax: IF expression THEN line [ ELSE line ] sinput par; vstr, " THEN ", tstr, " ELSE ", fstr if tbeval(vstr) execute "GOTO",tstr elif len(fstr) execute "GOTO",fstr fi elif cmd="SAVE" f=disclose(par) if len(f)=0 TBError "MISSING: FILENAME" else if isarray(labels) if instr(f, ".TBAS")=0 THEN f=f+".tbas" ELSE f=leftoflast(f, ".TBAS")+".tbas" open f for output as #1 for i=0 to len(labels)-1 print #1; labels(i); " "; program(i) next close #1 print:print "* DONE *":print else TBError "NO PROGRAM IN MEMORY" fi fi elif cmd="LOAD" f=disclose(par) if len(f)=0 TBError "MISSING: FILENAME" else ip = -1 sp = 0 erase labels, commands '' clear program dim variables(26) '' clear variables if instr(f, ".TBAS")=0 THEN f=f+".tbas" ELSE f=leftoflast(f, ".TBAS")+".tbas" open f for input as #1 while not eof(1) line input #1; vstr num = leftof (vstr, " ") par = rightof(vstr, " ") addcmd val(num), par wend close #1 print:print "* DONE *":print fi elif cmd="FILES" print files("*.tbas") elif cmd="HELP" PRINT print " ";cat(2);"TinyBASIC, v1";cat(-2) PRINT print " * All variables are real numbers." print " * There are 26 variables, one for each letter" print " * INPUT return real number (not string)" print " * IF-THEN accepts only line-numbers (IF x THEN line ELSE line)" print " * PRINT uses only , as separator" PRINT print " HELP";tab(15);"This screen" print " NEW";tab(15);"New program" print " RUN";tab(15);"Run program" print " LIST";tab(15);"Prints program to screen" print " SAVE";tab(15);"Saves program to disk" print " LOAD";tab(15);"Loads a program from disk" print " FILES";tab(15);"Prints the list of TB programs" print " REM";tab(15);"Remarks" print " GOTO";tab(15);"Transfers control to ..." print " LET";tab(15);"Assigns a value to a variable" print " PRINT";tab(15);"Prints an expression" print " INPUT";tab(15);"Inputs a value" print " IF";tab(15);" " print " GOSUB";tab(15);" " print " RETURN";tab(15);" " print " END";tab(15);"Terminate the program" PRINT else TBError "BAD COMMAND" fi end '' Run-time error sub TBError(errmsg) PRINT print chr(7);"* ";errmsg;" *" PRINT ip = -2 end '' ==== expression parser ==== '' evaluate an expression def TBEval(expr) local result, rmn, c result = 0 expr = ltrim(expr) if len(expr) then logical result, expr TBEval = result end '' number def valueof(byref expr) local c, i, v for i=1 to len(expr) c = mid(expr, i, 1) if not (c in "0123456789.") then exit next if i < len(expr) v = left(expr, i-1) expr = mid(expr, i) else v = expr expr = "" fi valueof = val(v) end '' operators: ( ) or value sub parenth(byref l, byref expr) local op, vname op = left(expr) if op = "(" expr = mid(expr, 2) logical l, expr if left(expr)=")" then expr = mid(expr, 2) else if op in "0123456789." l = valueof(expr) '' elif, check for function else '' variable l = variables(varidx(expr)) expr = if(len(expr)>1, mid(expr, 2), "") fi fi end '' unary operators: - + NOT sub unary(byref l, byref expr) local op if left(expr,3) = "NOT" op="NOT" expr = mid(expr,4) elif left(expr,1) in ["-", "+"] op=left(expr) expr=mid(expr,2) fi parenth l, expr if op="NOT" l = NOT l elif op="-" l = -l elif op="+" '' ignore it fi end '' operators: * / sub muldiv(byref l, byref expr) local op, r unary l, expr while left(expr) in "*/" op = left(expr) expr = mid(expr, 2) unary r, expr if op = "*" l *= r elif op = "/" if r=0 TBError "DIVISION BY ZERO" else l /= r fi fi wend end '' operators: + - sub addsub(byref l, byref expr) local op, r muldiv l, expr while left(expr) in "+-" op = left(expr) expr = mid(expr, 2) muldiv r, expr if op = "+" l += r elif op = "-" l -= r fi wend end '' returns the logical operator func getlogopr(expr) local idx, op3, op2, op1 op3=["AND"] op2=["OR", "<=", ">=", "=<", "=>", "<>"] op1=["=", ">", "<"] search op3, left(expr,3), idx if idx >= 0 then getlogopr=op3(idx):exit search op2, left(expr,2), idx if idx >= 0 then getlogopr=op2(idx):exit search op1, left(expr,1), idx if idx >= 0 then getlogopr=op1(idx):exit getlogopr="" end '' logical and comparation operators sub logical(byref l, byref expr) local op, r addsub l, expr while getlogopr(expr) <> "" op = getlogopr(expr) expr = mid(expr, len(op)+1) addsub r, expr if op = "AND" l = l AND r elif op = "OR" l = l OR r elif op = "=" l = (l = r) elif op = "<" l = l < r elif op = ">" l = l > r elif op = ">=" or op = "=>" l = l >= r elif op = "<=" or op = "=<" l = l <= r elif op = "<>" l = l <> r fi wend end ' 

http://smallbasic.sourceforge.net/?q=node/139

 // WAR Card Game for yaBasic // E.K.Virtanen 2007 // www.ascii-world.com // Public Domain // ==================================== Main loop of game CanExit = FALSE while(CanExit = FALSE) clear screen print "" print color("red") " --- War ---" print "" print " Card game for yaBasic." print " E.K.Virtanen, www.ascii-world.com" print " Public Domain" print "" print color("yellow") " 1.)"; : print " Play" print color("yellow") " 2.)"; : print " Help" print color("yellow") " 3.)"; : print " Quit" temp$ = inkey$ if temp$ = "1" gosub play if temp$ = "2" gosub help if temp$ = "3" CanExit = TRUE wend print "" print " Thank you for playing." end // ==================================== Play sub label play gosub createDeck // we need to create deck with what we play gosub shuffleDeck // and then we shuffle it gosub playGame // now we play return // ==================================== createDeck sub label createDeck dim cardColor$(4, 2) cardColor$(1, 1) = "red" : cardColor$(1, 2) = "Heart" : cardColor$(2, 1) = "red" : cardColor$(2, 2) = "Diamond" cardColor$(3, 1) = "white" : cardColor$(3, 2) = "Spade" : cardColor$(4,1) = "white" : cardColor$(4,2) = "Cross" // some nifty looping and MOD to get a deck of cards dim cardDeck(52, 2) for counter = 0 to 51 cardDeck(counter + 1, 1) = int(counter / 4 + 1) cardDeck(counter + 1, 2) = Mod(counter, 4) + 1 next counter return // ==================================== shuffleDeck sub label shuffleDeck dim temp(2) for counter = 1 TO 10000 // ten thousand rounds should be more than enough :D tempFirst = int(ran(52) + 1) tempSecond = int(ran(52) + 1) if tempFirst <> tempSecond then temp(1) = cardDeck(tempFirst, 1) temp(2) = cardDeck(tempFirst, 2) cardDeck(tempFirst, 1) = cardDeck(tempSecond, 1) cardDeck(tempFirst, 2) = cardDeck(tempSecond, 2) cardDeck(tempSecond, 1) = temp(1) cardDeck(tempSecond, 2) = temp(2) end if next counter return // ==================================== playGame sub label playGame canExit = false roundNumber = 0 cardNumber = 1 plrTotal = 0 cpuTotal = 0 clear screen print "" print color("red") " --- War ---" print "" print " You can start." while(canExit = false) print " Choose, do you want first or second card?" print color("yellow") " 1.)"; : print " First" print color("yellow") " 2.)"; : print " Second" print " Any other key for Cpu choose." choice$ = inkey$ print "" if(choice$ <> "1" and choice$ <> "2") gosub cpuChoose if choice$ = "1" then print " You take first." plrCard = cardNumber cpuCard = cardNumber + 1 end if if choice$ = "2" then print " Cpu takes first." plrCard = cardNumber + 1 cpuCard = cardNumber end if cardNumber = cardNumber + 2 roundNumber = roundNumber + 1 if cardNumber = 53 canExit = true gosub revealCards gosub whoWin clear screen wend print "" print " War is over and results are:" print color("yellow") " You: "; : print plrTotal; : print " cards." print color("red") " Cpu: "; : print cpuTotal; : print " cards." print "" print " Press any key for back to menu." inkey$ return // ==================================== whoWin sub label whoWin if cardDeck(plrCard, 1) > cardDeck(cpuCard, 1) then print "" print color("green") " You win!" print " You got both cards. "; plrTotal = plrTotal + 2 if cardDeck(plrCard, 1) - cardDeck(cpuCard, 1) > 8 print " You really did crash Cpu!" if cardDeck(plrCard, 1) - cardDeck(cpuCard, 1) < 3 print " So tight!" end if if cardDeck(plrCard, 1) < cardDeck(cpuCard, 1) then print "" print color("red") " You lose!" print " Cpu got both cards."; if cardDeck(cpuCard, 1) - cardDeck(plrCard, 1) > 8 print " Cpu really did override you!" if cardDeck(cpuCard, 1) - cardDeck(plrCard, 1) < 3 print " Close, so close!" cpuTotal = cpuTotal + 2 end if if cardDeck(plrCard, 1) = cardDeck(cpuCard, 1) then print "" print color("yellow") " It's a tie." print " Both got their own card." cpuTotal = cpuTotal + 1 : plrTotal = plrTotal + 1 end if print "" print color("yellow") " Winned cards after round: "; : print roundNumber print "" print " You: "; : print plrTotal print " Cpu: "; : print cpuTotal gosub uselessComments print "" print color("yellow") " Press a key for next round." inkey$ return // ==================================== uselessComments sub label uselessComments if plrTotal > cpuTotal then temp$ = " You are leading here!!!" if plrTotal - cpuTotal > 5 temp$ = " Making a good lead there." if plrTotal - cpuTotal > 10 temp$ = " You trying to escape?" if plrTotal - cpuTotal > 15 temp$ = " HEHE, youre really crushing Cpu here!!!" end if if plrTotal < cpuTotal then temp$ = " You are loosing!!!" if cpuTotal - plrTotal > 5 temp$ = " Cpu leads clearly!" if cpuTotal - plrTotal > 10 temp$ = " Cpu is trying to escape?" if cpuTotal - plrTotal > 15 temp$ = " LOL, Cpu really kicks your ass here." end if if plrTotal = cpuTotal temp$ = " Side by side!" print temp$ return // ==================================== revealCards sub label revealCards print "" print " Your card is..."; print color(cardColor$(cardDeck(plrCard, 2), 1)) cardColor$(cardDeck(plrCard, 2), 2); : print " "; : print cardDeck(plrCard, 1) print " ...and Cpu slowly reveales hes card what is."; for counter = 1 to 2 sleep 1 print "."; next counter print color(cardColor$(cardDeck(cpuCard, 2), 1)) cardColor$(cardDeck(cpuCard, 2), 2); : print " "; : print cardDeck(cpuCard, 1) print "" return // ==================================== cpuChoose sub label cpuChoose choice$ = "1" if ran() = true choice$ = "2" return // ==================================== help sub label help clear screen print "" print color("red") " --- War ---" print "" print " Card game for yaBasic." print " E.K.Virtanen, www.ascii-world.com" print " Public Domain" print "" print " I game of War, a normal card deck is shuffled." print " Then from a top of deck, both players gets an card." print " Who's card is higher (in numerical value) wins and he get's the cards." print " This way, whole deck is revealed to the end. Who has more cards is the winner." print "" print " You opponent is Cpu (computer) so this is one player game." print "" print color("yellow") " Press any key to return for menu." inkey$ return 

E.K.Virtanen

 // Dice game for yaBasic www.yabasic.de // Just having a fun here. Nothing special diceMax = 6 // max value of dice diceMin = 1 // min value of dice CanExit = false // MAIN GAME LOOP while(CanExit = false) clear screen print "" print " Dice Game for yaBasic!" print " ************************" print "" print " Just having fun, nothing special here." print " E.K.Virtanen www.ascii-world.com" print " Public Domain" print "" print " Select:" print " 1.) Play" print " 2.) Help" print " 3.) Quit" temp$ = inkey$ if(temp$ = "1") gosub play if(temp$ = "2") gosub help if(temp$ = "3") CanExit = true wend clear screen print "" print " Thank you for playing." end label play gosub plrPlay if plrTotal < 22 gosub cpuPlay return label plrPlay plrTotal = 0 throwNum = 0 done = false while(done = false) throwNum = (throwNum + 1) clear screen print "" print " This is throw #", throwNum print " Press a key to throw a dice" print "" inkey$ diceVal = int(ran(diceMax) + diceMin) plrTotal = (plrTotal + diceVal) sleep 1 print " You did throw ", diceVal // Now we check few things. if(plrTotal > 21) then print " You go over 21. You lost." done = true end if if(plrTotal = 21) then print " You got it. 21 excatly." done = true break end if print " Your total is ", plrTotal print " Press 's' to stay or any other key for more." if(inkey$ = "s") done = true wend return label cpuPlay cpuTotal = 0 throwNum = 0 done = false while(done = false) throwNum = (throwNum + 1) clear screen print "" print " This is my throw #", throwNum print "" sleep 1 diceVal = int(ran(diceMax) + diceMin) cpuTotal = (cpuTotal + diceVal) print " I did throw ", diceVal // Now we check few things. if(cpuTotal > 21) then print " I did go over 21. I lost." break end if if(cpuTotal = 21) then if(plrTotal < 21) print " You lost, i got 21." if(plrTotal = 21) print" Amazing, we both got 21. You lost since it's tie." break end if if(cpuTotal = plrTotal) then print " I have same result now, in tie so i win." break end if print " My total is ", cpuTotal print " Your total was ", plrTotal print "" if(plrTotal > cpuTotal) print " I just got to throw more to beat you." if(plrTotal < cpuTotal) then print " No need to throw more, i did beat you" done = true end if sleep 3 wend inkey$ return label help clear screen print "" print " Dice Game for yaBasic!" print " ************************" print "" print " In this game, you throw a single six sided dice." print " Result of your throw is counted after every round." print " Idea is to get as close of total 21 as possible." print " Basic idea is same than in BlackJack card game." print "" print " If you go over 21, you loose automaticly." print " After youre done, computer throws too and tries to beat you." print " In tie, computer wins." print "" print " Press any key to return for menu." inkey$ return 

Guess it

 // Do you dare? Version 0.001b for yaBasic // E.K.Virtanen, public domain. // www.ascii-world.com bulletMin = 1 bulletMax = 6 while(exitPrg = false) roundNum = 0 exitPrg = false exitGame = false // INTRO clear screen print color("red", "black") " Do You Dare?" print " E.K.Virtanen, public domain." print " Uberneat game for yaBasic ;D" print print " You are man with no future. You have nothing to lose." print " Wife left you, took your dog and childrens with her." print " You need to sell your house to pay kid's maintenance liability." print " Doctor told you have a bad brain tumor and you will die in few months." print print " So you dont have anything to loose..." print print " Green fairy comes to you, you are life 'WTF?!?" print " Fairy says, that if you take and survive of her challenge..." print " ...she heals your tumor and gives you a billion dollars of money." print print " Fairy has a revolver with a bullet. Point it to your head and pull the trigger." print " After every pull, bullet chamber is rolled randomly if you survive." print " If you survive for ten times, you have passed the challenge." print print color("red", "black") "PRESS A KEY TO ENTER FOR A CHALLENGE!" : inkey$ // ENTER THE GAME clear screen print color("yellow", "black") " Fairy thinks you are a brave man." print bulletIs = int(ran(6) + 1) // THE CHALLENGE repeat roundNum = (roundNum + 1) print print " This is round number: ", roundNum, "." print print " Fairy rolls the bullet wheel"; // BIT DELAY FOR EXCITEMENT for counter = 1 to 5 pause 0.5 print "."; next counter wheelIs = int(ran(bulletMax) + bulletMin) print print " ...and gives the revolver to you which you point to your head." print " Now you only need to pull the trigger and hope for the best." print print color("red", "black") " PRESS A KEY TO PULL THE TRIGGER!!!" inkey$ clear screen if wheelIs <> bulletIs then print color("green", "black") " You survived of this round!!!!!!" print color("green", "black") " There is still hope!!!" end if if wheelIs = bulletIs then print color("red", "black") " You feel shortly how the bullet smashes your brains..." print color("red", "black") " ...and now, you dont feel anything anymore." print color("red", "black") " May your body and soul rest in peace." break end if if roundNum = 10 then exitGame = true end if print " Press a key for next round." : inkey$ clear screen until(exitGame = true) if roundNum = 10 and exitGame = true then clear screen print print color("green", "black") " YOU HAVE SURVIVED THROUGH IMPOSSIBLE CHALLENGE!!!" print color("green", "black") " ***************************************************" print color("green", "black") " You pulled the trigger for TEN TIMES and you are still alive!" print print " Fairy cant believe it. But as for fairy of honor, she heals your tumor." print " She also gives you and briefcase which has a billion dollars." end if print print " Press 'y' to play again. Any other key to quit."; YesNo$ = inkey$ if upper$(YesNo$) <> "Y" then exitPrg = true end if wend 

E.K.Virtanen

Here is a screenshot:
http://www.childrenofmillennium.org/junk/screenshot3.gif

Download the game here, and run Heroes.exe: Ancient Heroes

Would it be worth making a purely ASCII version for upload? The game is of course much smaller without images.

—Mark

Instead of "mid-january", PCopy! #60 is planned to get published before christmas. This places deadline at 15'th December 2007.
All contributions and letters are welcomed :)

PCopy! website; http://pcopy.wikidot.com/
About PCopy!l article in issue #50.
Email pcopy.staff(AT)gmail.com

E.K.Virtanen

 ' ============================================= ' = Countdown = ' = Original program by Mark Chambers = ' = from BASIC Computer Games Vol. II = ' = TRS-80 Edition - page 46 = ' = Creative Computing Morristown, New Jersey = ' ============================================= ' FreeBasic version by Harmon V. ' Public Domain Dim As Integer A, N, T, X, game Dim AS String YesNo, Message Screen 12 Do Cls Color 14, 0 Print : Print Print Tab(30); "C O U N T D O W N" Print Print print Color 15, 0 print tab(10); : input "Hit <Enter> to start";YesNo A = int(10*rnd(1)) N = 0 : T = 0 print print "You have activated the self-destruct sequence" print "in this school. If you wish, you may stop the" print "countdown. To do so, just type in the correct" print "number, which will stop the countdown." print "The number is from 0 to 9." print print "Please Hurry! There is no time to waste!!!!" game=0 while game=0 print : input "What'll it be? "; X if T=4 then game =-1 : exit while if X=A then game = 1 : exit while if X<A then print "Too small !!!! "; if X>A then print "Too big !!!! "; print "Your number does not compute." T = T + 1 print "Please try again !!!" if T=2 then print "Time grows short, please hurry !!!!" if T=3 then print "Hurry, the Count-down is approaching zero !!!!!" end if wend print if game<0 then print ,"\\\\\|/////" print ,"> B-O-O-M <" print ,"/////|\\\\\" print print " You died a hero's death." print "Your funeral was well-attended." else print ,"Correct!!!!!" print ,"The countdown has stopped." print ,"You have saved the school !!" print print " *** Congratulations ***" print "(Have you seen your shrink lately?)" end if Print : Print "Do you want to play again? "; Do : YesNo = Inkey$ : Loop Until YesNo<>"" Loop While Ucase(YesNo)="Y" END 

Bill Gates and
Petals Around the Rose

It was June 1977, the very early days of the microcomputer industry. The founders of Microsoft, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, were amongst those heading home to Albuquerque from the National Computer Conference in Dallas. In the September/October 1977 edition of "Personal Computing" magazine, Henry Gilroy provided the following report on the introduction of the Petals Around the Rose brain teaser to his fellow travelers on the return journey.

for the rest of the story visit …
Bill Gates and Petals Around the Rose

He also has "modified" versions with space between keywords too… Nice!

You'll need to scroll down about half-way to see the links.

For anyone who wants to contribute FB code to the Retro2FB project, this is a great resource.

Regular Columns:

• From Our Editing Desk (E.K.Virtanen)
• Submitting to PCOPY! (Stephane Richard & E.K.Virtanen)
• Letters To The Editors (Mixed Contributors)
• Letters To The Hartnell (Mixed Contributors)
• In The News (Mixed Contributors)
• Exit Issue (E.K.Virtanen)

ARTICLES:

• About PCopy! (E.K.Virtanen)

*The mindset problem (Bill Williams)

• Interview with Eros Olmi (E.K.Virtanen)

Reviews & Presentations:

• VIXEN: An XBLITE GUI Generator (Guy (gl) Lonné)
• Introducing Fatal Method Games (FMG)
• More about smallBasic (Chris Warren-Smith)
• 3D graphics in thinBASIC: (Petr Schreiber)

Tutorials & HowTo's:

• Coding Functions: (Guy (gl) Lonné)

http://www.petesqbsite.com/sections/express/issue25/index.html

This is game number 55 :)

MystikShadows is working with a Learning C the easy way tutorial wich is awesome add in our site. Way to go Myst and Canada rock's. ;)

Python-Forum.Org did deserve a preview, that cool website it is.

On our Menu, you can see new link; Miscalleneous. Two contents allready added in there.
HOWTO: FreeBASIC to ubuntu and HOWTO: FreeBASIC syntax colors to GEdit text editor.

Catloaf: 2600!	Joe King. Open Source.
	Windows/Linux - Screenshot Remake of old Atari classic by Joe King. This was (and still is?) nice puzzle adventure wich is responsible of several sleeples nights back at 1980's.
Crane	ChangeV. Open Source.
	Windows/Linux - Screenshot This is yet another remake from classic MSX game, back at 1980's. Idea is simple, move crane, collect letters in alphabethical order and drop them to truck. For younger ones of family, this is good learning too.

These and lot's of more in our Games section.

Joan Stark page at ASCII-World

Started yesterday, barely any members, make it a better place.

http://yoskillz.com/ascii/

An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen.

The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly."

The other man said, "What is the name of the restaurant?"

The first man thought and thought and finally said, "What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know… The one that's red and has thorns."

"Do you mean a rose?"

"Yes, that's the one," replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?"

Neo ASCIII updated few times after my last link tour.

Maija's ASCII art page Last updated: 9th September 2007

The Hottest babes come in ASCII (ASCII Babes The site you are looking for is not available.
Goin to keep this in link lists until next check time in case there is just some temporal problem.

ASCII Art Farts did publish comic #3000 at Mon, 2007 Sep 10. Now they are at comic #3013.

Jace Masula's QBASIC Lab is not responding. Goin to keeo an eye of this place if it would be come back. At least i hope so.

TEXT ADVENTURES was updated September 7 2007.

Angband version 3.0.9 released on 28th July 2007.

Tome 05/07/2007 T-Engine/ToME/ODE 3.0.0alpha17 aka "Triumph or Agony"

[http://roguebasin.roguelikedevelopment.org/index.php?title=Main_PageRoqueBasin] is updated often. Follow it closely if ruqoe is in your heart.

Freeware Fantasy Dungeon Game Classics Last update: 08.15.07.

E.K.Virtanen

The September issue of QB Express is now available!

This issue features NINE tutorials, FIVE articles and the results of this year's Qlympics.

Read Lachie Dazdarian's review of Lodestar, RubyNL's tutorial on "Time Based Motion & Collision Detection", learn about Wireframes from Mentat, or discover what makes a game great, thanks to Joe King. We've also got comics, the Gallery and all the other QB Express mainstays you look forward to every month.

There's all this, and a whole lot more in QB Express #24!

Remember in July (and probably earlier) when I said that I was going to make it possible to search for games by graphics mode? Well, I finally converted my database to MySQL, and the site is now searchable by genre, publisher, legal status, and year released. Searching by graphics mode (including ASCII) is next, so this is kind of a sneak preview of what's to come. Actually, it's just the tip of the iceberg if my ambitious plans for the site pan out.

Another gaming site offered to buy my website, with the condition that I come to work for him creating content for his own site as an expert on DOS. I declined to sell the site, but I agreed to write content for his website as a way to get some free advertising for my site, and on the condition that I would have carte blanche to blog about whatever I wanted, including non-DOS games. (Remember all of the video game consoles I mentioned in my interview? I have a lot to say about gaming on other platforms!)

I wrote a first article shamelessly promoting my own accomplishments, and have half a dozen articles in my mind that I'm eager to publish, but I haven't heard anything from this fellow in quite a while. At this point, I'm prepared to start my own blog as a way to express the creative energy that I can't normally write about in the brief reviews on my fact-based website, and expose visitors to my personal brand of insanity. I'd like to write about the legacy of ASCII while I'm at it, so we'll see how that goes.

Anyway, I'm done talking about myself. Best regards to everyone at ASCII-World!

blah.mp3……………………(Original filename)

---

Artist - Title - Album.mp3……(New Filename)

All that needs to be done is stick the file bot (MP3_ReNamer.exe / MP3_ReNamer) into a dir with MP3's in it that you wish to rename. The bot will stream though the MP3's and load their trailers, find the right tags and rename it. If the bot doesn't find at least two tags it will skip the file and go to the next with out renaming it. That's about it. =)

([{DISCLAIMER!}])
This is an automated renaming tool. It is not guarantied by any means not to cause damage. Use at your own risk, and make sure you back up any MP3s you wish to rename in case of a failure. I will not be held responsible for any miss use of this program. Now warned, enjoy the software.

Windows: http://file-pasta.com/d/1967.zip
Linux: http://file-pasta.com/d/1986.zip *

*Linux version available thanks to E.K.Virtanen.

-Rattra

E.K.Virtanen

At ASCII Font Examples, you can see two free ASCII font's and if you like them, feel free to use them in any way you want. Public Domain is name of the page.

More to come, stay tuned ;)

E.K.Virtanen

With this one, number of our ASCII Related links increased to 127 total.
Programming etc. links are not counted on this number :)

E.K.Virtanen

http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA008683/english/index.htm

Interesting looking cross-platform basic. It looks to be an old-style basic interpreter for modern computers based on the Ansi-Standard basic.

 #!/usr/bin/python """ Print Snoopy to the Screen""" # Marianne Williams 03 JUL 2007 Toronto, Ontario import sys import random # spacing S = [] S = [' ' * x for x in range(41)] # uppercase letter X X = [] X = ['X' * x for x in range(41)] # asterisk A = [] A = ['*' * x for x in range(41)] # keys to exit the program quitseq = 'q,x,end,quit,stop,exit,halt,off,' quitseq += quitseq.upper() # allow upper case versions quitseq = quitseq.split(',') # change string to list # default phrases defphrase = [] defphrase.append('Curse You, Red Baron!') defphrase.append("Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog!") defphrase.append('My aunt Marian was right, but I forgot what she said!') defphrase.append('My life is full of unsuffered consequences!') defphrase.append("Dead puppies aren't much fun!") defphrase.append("Bring out the comfy chair!") defphrase.append("Your mother was a hamster!") defphrase.append("I don't like Spam!") defphrase.append("I'm more interesting than a wet pussycat!") # over word or maximum number of lines length overword = [] overword.append("I'm a dog, blast you, not a dictionary!") overword.append("Stop trying to suffocate me with words!") overword.append("You have GOT to be kidding!") overword.append('I am NOT going to repeat that, say it yourself!') overword.append("Give me a bloody break you twit!") overword.append("Information overload!!!") overword.append("Yeah, right!") overword.append("Are you nervy? Irritable? Deppressed? Tired of Life? Keep it up!") overword.append("You silly bunt!") overword.append("I wave my private parts at your aunties," + '\n' + "you cheesy lot of second-hand electric donkey bottom biters!") # Prompt for a Phrase to be printed print "Press the Enter key for Snoopy's default phrase" Phrase = '' try: Phrase = sys.argv[1] except: # no Phrase found, prompt for it print Phrase = '' while not Phrase: Phrase = raw_input("Enter an angry phrase for Snoopy to say ") if not Phrase: Phrase = random.choice(defphrase) if Phrase in quitseq: sys.exit() # exit the program # check to make sure the maximum word length is not longer than our line X 2 words = Phrase.split(' ') x = 0 y = 0 for word in words: x = len(word) if x > y: y = x if y > 42: Phrase = random.choice(overword) # Word Wrapping Function stolen from the internet def wrap(text, width): return reduce(lambda line, word, width=width: '%s%s%s' % (line, ' \n'[(len(line)-line.rfind('\n')-1 + len(word.split('\n',1)[0] ) >= width)], word), text.split(' ') ) Line = {} # set to blank dictionary for x in range(11): Line[x] = '' # Check length of phrase if len(Phrase) < 22: if Phrase.count('\n') == 0: Llen = len(Phrase) Line[7] = S[2] + '_' * Llen Line[8] = ' /' + ' ' * Llen + '\\' Line[9] = '( ' + Phrase + ' )' Line[10] = ' \\' + '_' * 4 + S[2] + '_' * (Llen - 6) + '/' if not Line[10]: msg = Phrase[:] NewLine = wrap(msg,21) if NewLine.count('\n') > 8: msg = random.choice(overword) NewLine = wrap(msg,21) NewLine = NewLine.split('\n') NewLine.reverse() Line[10] = ' \\' + '_' * 4 + S[2] + '_' * 15 + '/' LNum = 9 for word in NewLine: if len(word) > 21: word1 = word[21:] Line[LNum] = '| ' + word1.center(21) + ' |' LNum -= 1 word = word[:21] TLine = word.center(21) Line[LNum] = '| ' + TLine + ' |' LNum -= 1 if LNum == 1: break Line[LNum] = ' /' + S[21] + '\\' LNum -= 1 Line[LNum] = S[2] + '_' * 21 # time for Snoopy to head into battle print S[16] + X[4] + S[39] + Line[1] print S[15] + 'X' + S[4] + X[2] + S[14] + S[23] + Line[2] # top of snout print S[14] + 'X' + S[2] + A[3] + S[2] + 'X' + S[16] + X[5] + S[15] + Line[3] print S[13] + 'X' + S[2] + A[5] + S[2] + 'X' + S[12] + X[3] + S[5] + X[2] + S[13] + Line[4] print S[10] + X[4] + ' ' + A[5] + A[2] + ' ' + X[3] + S[5] + ' ' + X[4] + S[5] + S[5] + X[2] + S[11] + Line[5] # top of nose print S[8] + X[2] + S[3] + 'X' + ' ' + A[5] + '*' + S[2] + X[5] + X[4] + S[16] + X[2] + ' ' + X[3] + S[5] + Line[6] print S[6] + X[2] + S[6] + 'X' + ' ' + A[4] + S[2] + 'X' + S[27] + X[5] + S[4] + Line[7] # top of eye print S[5] + 'X' + S[8] + X[2] + S[4] + X[2] + S[5] + '~' + S[22] + X[5] + S[4] + Line[8] print S[4] + 'X' + S[9] + '//' + X[4] + S[7] + '@' + S[22] + X[4] + S[5] + Line[9] print S[3] + 'X' + S[9] + '//' + S[3] + 'X' + S[29] + X[2] + S[9] + Line[10] # top of open mouth print S[2] + 'X' + S[9] + '//' + S[4] + 'X' + S[12] + X[16] + '/' + S[16] + '/ /' print ' ' + 'X' + S[6] + X[3] + '//' + S[4] + 'X' + S[12] + 'X' + S[26] + '_' * 6 + '/ /' print 'X' + S[6] + 'X' + S[3] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' + S[11] + 'X' + S[27] + '_' * 7 + '/' print 'X' + S[6] + 'X' + S[4] + 'X' + S[4] + 'X' + S[10] + 'X' # top of raised fist print 'X' + S[6] + 'X' + S[4] + 'X' + S[4] + 'X' + S[9] + 'X' + S[20] + X[2] print 'X' + S[7] + 'X' + S[3] + 'X' + S[4] + 'X' + S[9] + 'X' + S[17] + X[3] + S[2] + X[2] print ' ' + 'X' + S[7] + X[3] + S[5] + 'X' + S[9] + 'X' + S[16] + 'X' + S[2] + 'X X' + S[2] + 'X' print S[2] + 'X' + S[15] + 'X' + S[9] + 'X' + S[15] + X[2] + ' ' + 'X' + S[2] + X[4] # bottom of open mouth print S[3] + 'X' + S[15] + 'X' + S[9] + X[7] + '\\' + S[7] + X[2] + S[3] + X[2] + S[2] + 'X' print S[4] + X[2] + S[14] + X[2] + S[14] + 'X' + S[7] + 'X' + S[4] + 'X' + S[2] + X[2] # bottom of jaw print S[6] + X[2] + S[14] + X[14] + '/' + S[7] + 'X' + S[4] + X[4] print S[8] + X[3] + S[19] + A[3] + S[12] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' print S[11] + X[17] + ' ' + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[10] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' print S[28] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + ' ' + 'X' + S[8] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' print S[27] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[3] + X[3] + S[4] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' print S[26] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[7] + X[4] + S[5] + 'X' print S[26] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[9] + X[2] + S[4] + 'X' # top of shoulder print S[26] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + 'X X' + S[8] + X[4] print S[25] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + ' ' + 'X' + S[2] + 'X' + S[9] + X[3] print S[24] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[2] + 'X' + S[3] + 'X' + S[10] + X[2] print S[23] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + X[2] + S[2] + 'X' + S[10] + 'X' print S[22] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[4] + '*' + S[2] + 'X' + S[3] + 'X' + S[9] + 'X' # top of lowered fist print S[21] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[4] + A[2] + S[3] + 'X' + S[3] + X[4] + S[5] + 'X' print S[20] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[4] + A[3] + S[3] + X[2] + S[5] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' print S[19] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[4] + A[4] + S[3] + 'X' + S[5] + X[2] + S[5] + 'X' print S[19] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[4] + A[4] + S[4] + X[2] + S[3] + 'X' + S[5] + X[2] print S[19] + '*' + S[3] + '*' + S[4] + A[3] + S[6] + X[4] + S[6] + 'X' print S[18] + '*' + S[3] + A[2] + S[4] + A[2] + S[16] + 'X' print S[17] + '*' + S[3] + A[3] + S[5] + '*' + S[15] + 'X' # top of legs print S[16] + '*' + S[3] + '* ' * 2 + S[5] + 'X' + '*' + S[12] + X[3] print S[15] + '*' + S[3] + '* ' * 2 + S[7] + X[4] + S[5] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' print S[14] + '* ' * 5 + S[9] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' # top of toes print S[14] + '* ' * 5 + S[9] + 'X' + S[5] + 'X' + S[6] + X[5] + 'x' print S[13] + '* ' * 5 + S[6] + 'x' + X[4] + S[6] + X[5] + 'x' + S[5] + 'Xx' print S[14] + '* ' * 5 + S[4] + 'xX' + S[15] + 'Xx' + X[4] + 'x' print S[13] + '* ' * 5 + S[6] + 'xX' + X[14] + 'x' 

E.K.Virtanen