View Thirty Tag

Posted Jan 10, 2012 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

Well, the celebration of thirty years since the introduction of the ZX81 is now over. For the last year I've been bringing you an original ZX81 program each month as a tribute to my first computer. It was a lot of fun typing in those old programs or fixing tape recordings I made back in the eighties. I even rewrote one which brought me back to those old programming days. For those that found your way here, I hope you enjoyed my ramblings about the programs. Perhaps you've learned something or I just invoked a kinship from a fellow programmer.

Read more →

2022 reads 0 comments
# celebration¹  # monthly¹⁵⁹  # programming⁶⁷  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Dec 03, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

I can’t believe December is here and the year is almost over. To celebrate the last program of the month, I present Creature, an animation program. Unlike many of the smaller programs submitted throughout the year, this one is the largest weighing in at 14KB. Although Creature isn’t as exciting next to more modern computer animations, I still find it interesting to see what could be done with this little machine 26 years ago. Give it a watch, enjoy the nostalgia, and try not to laugh too much.

Read more →

2842 reads 0 comments
# animation²⁰  # creature¹  # dungeon¹  # graphic²⁰  # master¹  # programming⁶⁷  # star trek⁴  # thirty¹⁵  # tron²  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Nov 03, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

November is here and the year is flying by. This month’s program Lander 2 is an earlier one from 1983. Oddly, the game displays Space Lander. Not very original as I’ve used that name before. I’m using the name I noted in my listing.

Read more →

2454 reads 0 comments
# count¹  # crash¹  # graphic²⁰  # lander²  # point¹  # programming⁶⁷  # space¹⁰  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Oct 03, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

October’s program is one of my later games from 1985 which is aptly named 1985. It has decidedly simple game mechanics. Set in an alternative reality, the Earth is gone in this version of 1985. Humans are colonizing Earth II, but you need to clear the mountains for agriculture needs. Yes, your job is to hit any key to clear the land. Things couldn’t be easier, right?

Read more →

2650 reads 0 comments
# 1985¹¹  # clear¹  # earth¹  # plane¹  # programming⁶⁷  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Sep 03, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

This month I present another simple game, Odyssey. It doesn't include instructions, so here is a quick synopsis. An evil computer has trapped you in a space ship. To escape, you have to remove the memory boards in order to shut down the computer. Sounds familiar? Obviously this program was inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey. To play, use “Z” to move left and “.” to move right. Hit the “M” key to remove a memory card. Try to remove all of them in time to beat the computer.

Read more →

2712 reads 0 comments
# programming⁶⁷  # space¹⁰  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Aug 17, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 3 min read

Okay, this may not be the large program I promised, but I choose Space Lander for a different reason: it's horrible! Okay, maybe it isn’t that bad, but it definitely wasn’t one of better programs. This was from 1983, clearly one of my earlier attempts. Actually, it is kind of refreshing reminder how much better my programming has become. If this helps others learn, then by all means check out the listing.

Read more →

3043 reads 0 comments
# optimization²  # programming⁶⁷  # space¹⁰  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Jul 03, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

Another simple program. Like many that I wrote for the ZX81, Sugar Cube Munch was small with a singular purpose. In this case, the goal is to eat all the cubes of sugar as quickly as possible. Once all the sugar is eaten, the game is over and the number of turns is revealed. You can give it a try by using the ZX81 arrow keys 5,6,7, and 8 to move around.

Read more →

2628 reads 0 comments
# programming⁶⁷  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Jun 06, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

I was searching through my stack of programs and decided to choose a short and sweet program for June. Beo One is definitely short, clocking at just 33 lines of code. Well 35 if you include the two new save and run lines I added. This is a simple talking head graphic program, which is the sweet part.

Read more →

2890 reads 0 comments
# animation²⁰  # demo⁴  # graphic²⁰  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted May 01, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

Can you believe it! First day of the month and I have a program uploaded! Okay, so it is another graphic one and isn't very exciting, or long. But hey, you can't blame me for not trying!

Read more →

6601 reads 0 comments
# graphic²⁰  # logo¹  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Apr 26, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

I’ve been a bit busy this month so I choose a relatively short program in order to not miss my self imposed deadline. To that end, I present to you April’s belated graphic program: Sphere. This program will easily run on a 2K ZX81. With some trimming, if you are so inclined, it will probably run in the original 1K of RAM as well. Although I doubt too many people with a ZX81 have less than 16K of RAM. Take a look at the listing to get a feel for how small this program really is.

Read more →

2640 reads 0 comments
# animation²⁰  # graphic²⁰  # math⁷  # programming⁶⁷  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Mar 26, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

March’s program is Lock £ Fire. I wrote this graphic game in 1985, although I have to admit I don't remember it much. It is a bit hard to play as the keys aren’t very sensitive and the aliens jump around as you try to “lock” onto them. It doesn’t help that I used an odd keyboard layout which adds to the difficulty. The aliens are shooting at your shield and, if they get through, the game is over. Note that you don’t kill the aliens, but they may change their look. When you shoot them enough, the next level starts. Every 10 hits will clear some of your shields as well. Boy, I must have been in one of those moods when I wrote this.

Read more →

2530 reads 0 comments
# basic²⁸  # programming⁶⁷  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Feb 19, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

This month’s program is a simple game of Golf. Although not overly exciting, it does show off a few ZX81 BASIC features.

Read more →

7367 reads 0 comments
# basic²⁸  # golf¹  # programming⁶⁷  # thirty¹⁵  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Jan 22, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 2 min read

I did it! After a lot of recording, cleaning, and tweaking I was finally able to get Water Bug II loaded! Hit the link, wait for it to load, then hit enter to give it a whirl. Then use the 5, 6, 7, and 8 keys to move (left, down, up, right) just as they are on the ZX81 keyboard.

Read more →

2495 reads 0 comments
# emulator⁶  # listing⁴  # monthly¹⁵⁹  # programming⁶⁷  # retro¹¹⁵  # tape³  # thirty¹⁵  # water³  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Jan 01, 2011 by Steven in Mind the Gap 1 min read

This years marks the 30th anniversary of the Sinclair ZX81 home computer. To celebrate, over the next year I plan on updating my ZX81 site with site updates and monthly spotlights.

Read more →

2774 reads 0 comments
# celebrating²  # computer⁸  # first³  # hardware³  # sinclair¹  # thirty¹⁵  # years²  # zx81²⁰³ 

Posted Jan 01, 2011 by Steven in ZX81 Computer 1 min read

This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the ZX81's debut. Hard to believe this little wonder is turning thirty and how much the world has changed. My goal is to celebrate the occasion by continuing to update the site with new content. I’d like to do a monthly showcase of programs as well.

Read more →

2160 reads 0 comments
# anniversary¹  # celebrating²  # retro¹¹⁵  # thirty¹⁵  # years²  # zx81²⁰³