Writing a game the hard way - from scratch using C. #1

Join me on a journey as I attempt to write a game for my Agon Light using nothing but raw C programming. In this first episode I figure out what kind of game to make, look at some shareware games of the past and get a basic game engine working, using nothing but C code - no external game engines or modern development tools.

It doesn't matter if you don't have an Agon Light, I'm bringing you along for the ride. We'll be looking at what shareware was, why it existed and how to make your life a bit easier as a developer.

The code for my game library that I'm building is available here

A longer writeup of the game and my ideas is available here

If you like this nonsense, consider supporting the channel

#linux #programming #gamedev #agon #z80 #cprogramming

[RemnantCult]

The bedroom coders of the 80s and 90s were the original members of the indie gaming scene. They were the pioneers and following in their footsteps is a great honour.

[andrewdunbar]

A C compiler, in the '80s? Fancy!!

[eyzake]

you know you want to watch it when even the algorithm recommends this, even though you are trying to focus on android dev.

[laughingvampire]

that is not retrostyle, that is just hardcore style, but the "real man" style would be in assembly like with Roller Coaster Tycoon.

[Pymmeh]

I remember stuffing a fiver into an envelope to purchase a game where you programmed robots to fight each other. All very meta for the 90s!

[bettyswunghole]

"These ideas were nicked from (sorry...I mean 'inspired by"...)"

Love it! 🤣 Anyone with that level of honesty is OK in my book.

[pedrogabrielnogueira]

I fell here out of nowhere, and i like this.

[Bantam]

What about something inspired by 'The Running Man'? You could have tricks and traps in each arena (spikes, fire, trapdoors) with a unique boss and minions for each themed arena. It would fit with the top-down/sci-fi arena shooter theme.

You could maybe take some hints from roguelikes too - random item drops, shops, secret rooms etc.

[callum_monk]

This is very a very cool idea for a youtube series and I am sure I will follow the updates, as someone who is currently making a small shoot em up game in my spare time (though not in C) I find this very interesting and entertaining. Nice one

[ciscornBIG]

Totally here for this. I have the same dream.

[Nice_G]

This is interesting. I'll subscribe and wait for part 2.

[SorFig]

10:15 - "This is what all makes it work. It's awfull." Truer words have never been said with the perfect mix of disdain and acceptance. Take my like, guv.

[linuxrant]

Props for using Kate!!! A wonderful text

[DrIngo]

I like where this is going. I'll join ya for the journey, since I also just started out writing my own game from scratch, albeit for modern platforms, not retro or classic ones. And I am using a similar approach to the whole thing: ignore graphics, sounds, music, etc. for now, just get something on the screen and add game play to see if it is fun. If it is, the rest will come ... eventually.

[cryptocsguy]

Super cool video 😁, i'll check out that sprite editor for any future game ideas I have and I look forward to the next video.

Maybe your game could be inspired by aliens vs predator and your character is stuck on a spaceship fighting off enemies or maybe it's set in a war zone and your character is behind enemy lines or something

[cicakmuhamed]

Nice! Will definitely follow this series, keep it up!

[akashashen]

I was thinking about the sprite naming conventions. Perhaps something to indicate protagonist, antagonist, effect, pickup, collidable object and non-collidable object/effect. Maybe prosprite, antasprite, effingsprite, pickasprite, smackasprite and effingghostsprite.

I love the video and look forward to future videos in a series. I respect programming to constraints, and it sounds like a fun puzzle to work on.

[kbsanders]

Your mention of Crystal Quest led me down a nostalgic trip to discover a game I used to play as a kid but could not remember the name of called XQuest.

[talideon]

That's a Steam library that's been subject to a lot of Humble Bundles!

[vapppour]

I can't wait for an update on this, awesome job man❤️ I'm personally a huge fan of the diablo series, and it's dark Gothic dungeon astethic, it could be a great inspiration for the art of the game!