Articles by Steven

Posted Aug 08, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

Whoa, it’s August already? Time for another program of the month. Coming your way is Parachute, a deceptively simple reflex game that uses recognizable graphics to give you an enjoyable causal gaming diversion. I’ve been staring at this program for months now as it was sitting on the top of the stack. The airplane and parachute graphics stand out prominently in the listing, making it hard not to notice. As much as I tried to ignore it, Parachute was calling me to type it in. I finally caved and obliged.

Read more →

501 reads 0 comments
# 1985¹¹  # graphic²⁰  # monthly¹⁷¹  # programming⁶⁷  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Aug 08, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 1 min read

I wasn’t sure in my last post how to remove the extra space from the program listings. Well, I figured it out.

Read more →

2475 reads 0 comments
# css¹³  # listing⁴  # programming⁶⁷  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Aug 04, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

Awhile back I went searching for a decent ZX81 font and ran across ZX81 VDU. I played around adding it to my site’s footer, but I really wanted to do more with it. It’s pretty good and, unlike some other fonts I found, it has all the ZX81 graphic characters. You do have to carefully choose the font size, but that is minor issue. Overall a great font that is easy to use.

Read more →

2656 reads 0 comments
# css¹³  # graphics⁸  # listing⁴  # program¹  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Jul 25, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

I often search around the web looking to see what kind of ZX81 community still thrives. I truly expected to find a community in decline, but a surprising number of nostalgia sites are still out there. I found some dedicated to hardware, some to emulating, and others to software. Some are reference sites offering up tips and how to do things. Others simply have reviews of software from a different era. All of them interesting in their own way.

Read more →

3575 reads 0 comments
# gaming⁵  # link¹  # retro¹²⁷  # sharing²  # sites¹  # web⁹  # writing⁵  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Jul 21, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 4 min read

July is almost half over, but we still have time for our program of the month: Spiders & Flies. You play a growing Venus flytrap that is searching for flies and special bugs. Use the ZX81 arrow keys to move around: 5, 6, 7, and 8. But be careful. Don’t eat the spiders lurking about or accidentally eat yourself. It’s a super easy game so you have no excuse for not trying it out.

Read more →

3668 reads 0 comments
# 1985¹¹  # monthly¹⁷¹  # programming⁶⁷  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Jun 18, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

Blast Off, June’s program of the month, is a simple game that tests your typing skills. You may find it a bit easier to play on an emulator than on a real ZX81. Fortunately, you can try now! It isn’t a very hard game if you are decent typist. It would also work well for those practicing their typing skills.

Read more →

12425 reads 0 comments
# 1985¹¹  # monthly¹⁷¹  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted May 19, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 4 min read

Well it is getting late in the month and I didn’t want to pull another last-minute update. To make things a bit interesting, I used Zed Ex on my Android tablet to enter in this month’s entry. More on that in a bit. Let me first introduce our deliciously short entry for May: Up-Cake. A fast and simple scrolling game that is easy to play and hard to lose at. My kind of game!

Read more →

3157 reads 0 comments
# 1985¹¹  # game⁵¹  # graphic²⁰  # monthly¹⁷¹  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted May 15, 2013 by Steven in LEGO Renders 1 min read

LEGO’s May mini build was a Blue Jay. I thought he’d look better in a tree which I modeled in LDD. I rendered the scene with POV-Ray 3.7RC7.

Read more →

3985 reads 0 comments
# ldd¹⁰  # lego¹²⁹  # monthly¹⁷¹  # povray⁶⁵  # render⁷⁷ 

Posted May 11, 2013 by Steven in Coding and Web Design 2 min read

I happened to load my sites into IE10 the other day and noticed the reflections were broken. Generally, I wouldn’t care much as I don’t use IE except at work. However, I thought it best that things not continue to look different. I updated reflection.js to the latest version. I also updated jquery.js as it was a bit outdated as well. So far things are looking better. I did notice my site was loading a bit slower though. I’m not sure if this is the new code or something else. I’ll keep watch and update you if something else is amiss.

Read more →

4148 reads 0 comments
# chrome³  # css¹³  # explorer⁶  # hyphenator²  # javascript⁷  # reflection⁴  # typography³ 

Posted May 05, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 1 min read

I’m doing a little Spring cleaning and ran across a little problem with my RSS feed that I failed to notice before. In some programs, the article images didn’t display properly because I was using relative paths.

Read more →

2334 reads 0 comments
# feed²  # feedburner⁴  # feedly¹  # google⁶  # rss⁶ 

Posted May 05, 2013 by Steven in Coding and Web Design 1 min read

As part of my periodic check of my userbar code, I found that DISH once again changed their pay-per-view (PPV) web page causing my DISH PPV userbar to break. I’ve fixed it again and it now displays a pretty good choice of featured movies.

Read more →

4439 reads 0 comments
# dish⁶  # ppv³  # userbar¹⁷ 

Posted May 04, 2013 by Steven in LEGO Renders 2 min read

I’m a little behind in sharing some of my recent LEGO renders. One is an updated model, and one is a new one. Let’t take a look.

Read more →

3422 reads 0 comments
# beta²  # lego¹²⁹  # mac³  # minibuild¹⁵  # povray⁶⁵  # render⁷⁷ 

Posted Apr 30, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

Late and last-minute, I present April’s program of the month Star Dodge. A decidedly simple game that requires you to dodge stars randomly placed on the screen. Can you get your Tie Fighter shaped ship, an inverse H, past the increasingly more dense stars? Give it a try to see.

Read more →

3182 reads 0 comments
# 1984¹⁵  # game⁵¹  # graphic²⁰  # monthly¹⁷¹  # programming⁶⁷  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Mar 15, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

In 1984, I moved that Summer from Italy back to the US. As I was Flipping through my old printouts, I ran across one that I had marked as the last program I completed In Italy. How cool is that? Seeing this, I just had to make Raider V my program of the month for March.

Read more →

4313 reads 0 comments
# 1984¹⁵  # daitarn³  # game⁵¹  # graphic²⁰  # monthly¹⁷¹  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Feb 24, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

The old saying “time flies when you’re having fun” is so true of late. This year started with a bang and I feel like I’ve been running ever since. It isn’t that I haven’t wanted to work on my old ZX81 programs, but they often take a back burner to other past times. That said, I did find some time to sit down this weekend to type in another program. For February I present you with ENLARGER.

Read more →

12725 reads 0 comments
# 1984¹⁵  # animation²⁰  # graphic²⁰  # monthly¹⁷¹  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Jan 28, 2013 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

Another year, another month, and now another program to celebrate 2013. January’s program of the month is an old one: Hit Man. From 1983, Hit Man was my attempt at creating a wall dodging program and it is a tough one to play.

Read more →

3093 reads 0 comments
# 1983⁹  # game⁵¹  # graphic²⁰  # january¹  # monthly¹⁷¹  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Jan 11, 2013 by Steven in LEGO Renders 1 min read

LEGO released this set in 1975 in Europe, and in 1976 as 485 Fire Truck in the US. Having grown up with these old sets, I have a special place in my heart for these short-lived LEGO mini-figs. Although I enjoy the great designs of today, I miss how simple these models are.

Read more →

12911 reads 0 comments
# fire³  # lego¹²⁹  # minifig³  # povray⁶⁵  # render⁷⁷  # truck⁴ 

Posted Dec 16, 2012 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

December is upon us and Thyime is the last program of the month for 2012. My how quick the year has passed. Thyime’s elements include moving, shooting, a break through wall, and a moving enemy. It does all this while remaining fast. Thyime provides a decent game to close out the year.

Read more →

2987 reads 0 comments
# game⁵¹  # graphic²⁰  # monthly¹⁷¹  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Nov 23, 2012 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

I couldn’t help it. I updated Bonkers using MCODER II to convert the BASIC code to Machine Language. This improved the speed of the game making improving its playability. If you haven’t played the 1985 version, play it first so you can appreciate the difference. If you have, now give the 2012 version a try. Better?

Read more →

3231 reads 0 comments
# basic²⁸  # game⁵¹  # graphic²⁰  # mcoder⁶  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Nov 19, 2012 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

November’s program is Bonkers! and it may drive you crazy! Simply use the ZX81 cursor keys to move your X around the field, avoiding the O’s and their trails. Can you survive, or will you go Bonkers?

Read more →

3924 reads 0 comments
# game⁵¹  # graphic²⁰  # monthly¹⁷¹  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Nov 18, 2012 by Steven in LEGO Renders 1 min read

Happy Thanksgiving! This is the November Mini Build from LEGO rendered with POV-Ray. I love the Mini Builds as they are quick to render and fun to build.

Read more →

3382 reads 0 comments
# lego¹²⁹  # minibuild¹⁵  # povray⁶⁵  # render⁷⁷  # thanksgiving¹ 

Posted Oct 04, 2012 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

October’s program, PAC-MAN, may leave you a bit confused. Inspired by that iconic arcade game, this version has no graphics. It does have dots, cherries and ghosts. It doesn’t, however, have any pictures of those elements. Give it a try and you’ll see what I mean.

Read more →

2997 reads 0 comments
# game⁵¹  # monthly¹⁷¹  # october¹  # pac-man³  # text³ 

Posted Sep 24, 2012 by Steven in LEGO Renders 1 min read

Blast from the past. This set is one of mine from 1980. I believe one of the last I received while still in Norway. This was rendered with POV-Ray 3.7R6.

Read more →

3289 reads 0 comments
# lego¹²⁹  # povray⁶⁵  # render⁷⁷ 

Posted Sep 01, 2012 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

September’s program, Runner, is nostalgic for me. When I wrote this program I had moved on to my C64. My ZX81 was starting to gather dust as I was busy learning the ins and outs of my new computer. For some reason, something tugged at me to fix my ZX81 keyboard and get it running again. After transplanting the ZX81 brains into a TS1000 case, it surprisingly powered on. I wrote Runner as a test that still worked. It did. That was the last time I was able to use the computer that had been my pride and joy for the previous three years.

Read more →

3100 reads 0 comments
# 1986¹  # animation²⁰  # monthly¹⁷¹  # ts1000²  # zx81²¹⁵ 

Posted Aug 26, 2012 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

Wow, August flew by way faster than I expected! Here we are at the end and I finally got around to uploading the monthly program. This month’s program, PAC-MAN Video, is a bit different. Although I call it a game, it doesn’t really play like one. It is totally random with a slight nod to you. Skill isn't required, just give it a try.

Read more →

3640 reads 0 comments
# basic²⁸  # game⁵¹  # monthly¹⁷¹  # pac-man³  # zx81²¹⁵