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Basic Programming
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Name:
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Basic Programming |
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| Company: |
Atari |
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Model #:
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CX-2620 |
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Programmer:
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Warren Robinett |
| Year: |
1979 |
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Released?
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Yes
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Notes:
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One of the few games to use
the keypad controllers |
A BASIC language compiler for the 2600?!?! Well not exactly...
While it's true the Basic Programming allows the user to program the
2600 in a very crude way, it uses it's own strange language to do so.
Basic Programming is more of toy than a serious programming tool. Due
to the limits of the 2600 you can only input 9 lines of code (11 if you
use a trick), which as most programmers know isn't enough to do anything
useful. The user enters commands using the keypad controllers, which
hook together to form an awkward little keyboard.
Basic Programming was a novel attempt by Atari to show people that the
2600 wasn't all about games, but ultimately a failed one. Anybody
who bought this cartridge thinking they would turn their 2600 into a computer
was sadly mistaken. Basic Programming is so underpowered it takes
all the available memory to create a simple Pong style game! Basic
Programming also uses a strange set of commands and symbols which doesn't
correspond to the normal BASIC that most people know. Couple this
with the fact that your program is actually broken up between several
regions (Program, Stack, Variables, Output, Status, and Graphics), and
even simple programming becomes a nightmare.
Rumor has it that Atari was forced to create this title
after customers complained that calling the 2600 the Video Computer System
was false advertising (computers were suppose to be programmable right?).
An interesting story, but I haven't been able to verify it.
Chalk it up to another 2600 urban legend...
| Version |
Cart Text |
Description |
| C012020 |
Basic P. C012020 |
Final version |
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to 2600 Software
|
