Author: bulb

Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ Versus Commodore C64C

VS

8-bit fiercest rivals side by side. Each side is using the revised edition: ZX Spectrum+ model from 1984 and C64C model from 1986. Spectrum uses DivIDE 2k14 to load tape images and game snapshots from CF card, while C64 uses 1541 Ultimate-II to load programs from micro SD card. Both machines are further modified, Spectrum features just a simple composite video out, while C64 has all kinds of hacks applied for better audio and visual experience.
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Bet

At the beginning of 2011, I hacked C64DTV that was gathering dust in my closet for years. After I flashed much better games from the fixed DTV games repository, I proudly presented the hack to my co-workers. We fell into the discussion about how the games were made in the old days and how their creators were the real programmers, using dirty tricks in assembly to overcome the restrictions of the early gaming hardware. Soon I made a bet with a junior co-worker to create a game in assembly.
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Procedural Terrain Generation

I wanted to implement basic procedural terrain generation ever since I took the AI classes at the university, where we used Prolog and console output for the implementation of AI algorithms. Needless to say, everything looked very unimpressive and lame. Several years later, I revisited the basic AI algorithms in Flash and applied them to the concept of the classic 2d platform game. I’ve used three algorithms to generate a terrain for a side-scrolling game:
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