So, you want to conjurer up sprites in bAtari basic | Making an Atari 2600 game in bAtari basic pt 1

I've decided to try to make a game for the Atari 2600 using bAtari basic. I have no knowledge of programming on any platform apart from the odd basic "hello world" program, so it should be fun.

In this first part I take a look at sprite creation, colours, animation and simple movement. Over the course if the next few months I'll dig deeper and with a whole lot of luck I might, maybe come up with something playable...

bAtari basic is a way to do what many, until it appeared believed to be impossible. Create great games for the Atari 2600 with absolutely no knowledge or understanding of machine language whatsoever. So, I've decided to try my hand making a game featuring Bob the betenticled hedgehoctopus as he tries to do something (I've no idea what just yet).

Have a whole lot of fun ;)

0:00 Intro
0:47 Background colour cycle
3:57 Sprite theory
6:10 Sprite code
7:34 Bob lives
8:20 Bob wiggles
10:05 Bob moves
11:15 Outro

[domusvita]

I could listen to this guy say "sprite" all day long. Great, great video!

[RetroRepairGuy]

It's alive! Alive! For someone who is "green" to this as you say, you explain it extremely well especially that I'm also used to 10, 20, 30.etc. Very interesting I had to watch it twice! Thanks for the links. You gave me a desire to also create a game. You're a good teacher! Can't wait to learn more!

[minombredepila]

Amazing video mate. That graph sheet to draw a sprite brought delicious memories to me 😀. Cannot wait for the next episode !!!

[viditibi]

pretty interesting video, I didn't know about batari basic and I think it's a strange basic for the time, very weird but very powerful for a child at the time.

[RudysRetroIntel]

Excellent video and work! It's very exciting to see how this works. Thanks for sharing, and I am looking forward to your next video.

[CocoTownRetro]

This is a neat intro to atari basic, which I'd never used before. Thanks for putting together this series!

[dreamvisionary]

I'm looking forward to seeing this develop.

[Etcher]

Bob and Alien Fire Flies has inspired me to write my own 2600 game; these videos are very helpful!

[JosipRetroBits]

Great video Peter! Bob animation looks superb :) I'm starting to like atari basic :) ha ha

[Retrou]

Amazing. Sat at work with graph paper. Can’t wait to have a go at this 😊.

[CanadianRetroThings]

Everything was very well explained, I have one question: When you set the sprite position, where on your sprite is that position (I assume top left corner, but assuming can often lead to problems!).

[mattmyers]

Very cool Peter! Your an Atari 2600 developer now!!

[michaelplzno]

using pen and paper to make art? this is gaga brain stuff, lmao. Great video subbed!

[mytimetunnel]

Great video :) I still got my old Atari Basic Program tech manual :)

[GManmcaoidh]

Interesting...I'm deadly curious about how far you'll get with this. Need to see it on a real cart of course ;-)

[luisnb]

I used to make this sort of programs moving letters and using randomize

[-BitRach]

This looks great, seems to make perfect sense. Makes me want to go out and buy some graph paper! 😂

[jordanschmitt]

You're passionnate and I love watching you. I want to see the end of the game so fast 😭. I hope you're not gonna create DLC at 20€ for a skincolor of Bob 🙃

[AdamBarkerThe]

so could you make an Atari game that plays on console with this program? it looks pretty awesome.

[jlindsey]

I would love to make my own atari 2600 games. I know a guy who can put them on an actual cartridge. Would I be able to use the programs to make the games on a laptop?