BASIC
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This first non-DEC printing drops the game's six-character tags and uses the game's full title in the table of contents, which is no longer organized alphabetically, but rather by game category -- e.g. Introductory Fun; Educational; Plotting and Pictures; Number and Letter Guessing; Remove an Object; Matrix Manipulation; Logic; Space; Sports Simulation; Gambling Casino; Card and Board; Combat; etc. Perhaps these categorizations relate to later, well-recognized computer game genres. But it would be hard to fit 10 PRINT into any category except "Introductory Fun" or (as ''RUN'' did) "One-Liner." | This first non-DEC printing drops the game's six-character tags and uses the game's full title in the table of contents, which is no longer organized alphabetically, but rather by game category -- e.g. Introductory Fun; Educational; Plotting and Pictures; Number and Letter Guessing; Remove an Object; Matrix Manipulation; Logic; Space; Sports Simulation; Gambling Casino; Card and Board; Combat; etc. Perhaps these categorizations relate to later, well-recognized computer game genres. But it would be hard to fit 10 PRINT into any category except "Introductory Fun" or (as ''RUN'' did) "One-Liner." | ||
| − | No doubt aware of the momentum building in the growing community of users of the BASIC language, Ahl encouraged his the programmers who were reading his book to submit games for publication in books and future issues of his magazine, ''Creative Computing''. He urged those who wish to submit programs to "Please send the following: program listing, one or two sample runs, descriptive notes, paper tape and self-addressed stamp envelope. The listing and run should be on white, unlined paper and should be done in fresh black ribbon. The paper tape should be wrapped in kitchen plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent oil seepage from damaging other enclosures. The descriptive notes should be double-spaced." | + | No doubt aware of the momentum building in the growing community of users of the BASIC language, Ahl encouraged his the programmers who were reading his book to submit games for publication in books and future issues of his magazine, ''Creative Computing''. He urged those who wish to submit programs to "Please send the following: program listing, one or two sample runs, descriptive notes, paper tape and self-addressed stamp envelope. The listing and run should be on white, unlined paper and should be done in fresh black ribbon. The paper tape should be wrapped in kitchen plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent oil seepage from damaging other enclosures." |
Later in 1978, Workman Publishing took on further publication of Ahl's evolving compilation under the title of ''Basic Computer Games, Microcomputer Edition. 101 Great Games to Play on Your Home Computer. By yourself or with others. Each complete with programming and sample run.'' The lengthy title arguably reflects the publisher's attempt to reach always for broader audiences. It further translation into German, as ''Basic-Computer-Spiele Bd. 1. 101 fantastische Spiele für Ihren Mikrocomputer in BASIC geschrieben mit Listing und Probelauf'', in 1982 (and reprinted in 1983) also suggests that the apparatus of a major publisher helped disseminate games in BASIC abroad. | Later in 1978, Workman Publishing took on further publication of Ahl's evolving compilation under the title of ''Basic Computer Games, Microcomputer Edition. 101 Great Games to Play on Your Home Computer. By yourself or with others. Each complete with programming and sample run.'' The lengthy title arguably reflects the publisher's attempt to reach always for broader audiences. It further translation into German, as ''Basic-Computer-Spiele Bd. 1. 101 fantastische Spiele für Ihren Mikrocomputer in BASIC geschrieben mit Listing und Probelauf'', in 1982 (and reprinted in 1983) also suggests that the apparatus of a major publisher helped disseminate games in BASIC abroad. | ||
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Another significant volume was Bob Albrecht's large-format ''What To Do After You Hit Return, or P.C.C.’s first book of Computer Games,'' first published in 1975 by People's Computer Company. It was handed off to a series of other publishing entities and underwent several printings. Hayden Books began printing it in 1977; its 5th printing in 1979 was still printed inexpensively on newsprint paper. | Another significant volume was Bob Albrecht's large-format ''What To Do After You Hit Return, or P.C.C.’s first book of Computer Games,'' first published in 1975 by People's Computer Company. It was handed off to a series of other publishing entities and underwent several printings. Hayden Books began printing it in 1977; its 5th printing in 1979 was still printed inexpensively on newsprint paper. | ||
| − | Given the growing popularity of BASIC and computers among hobbyists, it is not surprising to see other, even simpler presentations of BASIC such as ''The Little Book of BASIC Style. How to write a program you can read'', which was written by John M. Nevison (and self-published by John M. Nevison Associates, 1978) and seeks to echo the simplicity of the ''Elements of Style'' by E. B. White, whom the author invokes in his preface. | + | Given the growing popularity of BASIC and computers among hobbyists, it is not surprising to see other, presentations of BASIC such as ''The Little Book of BASIC Style. How to write a program you can read'', written by John M. Nevison and self-published by John M. Nevison Associates in 1978. This book insists that programs have human readers and, as the preface explains, evokes the simplicity of the ''Elements of Style'' by E. B. White. |
On the other hand there are introductions to BASIC that make extensive use of BASIC as the language of choice: ''Programming for Poets. A Gentle Introduction Using BASIC'', written by Richard Conway and James Archer and published in 1979 by Winthrop Publishers of Cambridge, MA., which is a simplified textbook; and ''BASIC With Style. Programming Proverbs'' by Paul Nagin and Henry F. Ledgard (Hayden Book Co., 1978). Among these are also many more typical textbooks. | On the other hand there are introductions to BASIC that make extensive use of BASIC as the language of choice: ''Programming for Poets. A Gentle Introduction Using BASIC'', written by Richard Conway and James Archer and published in 1979 by Winthrop Publishers of Cambridge, MA., which is a simplified textbook; and ''BASIC With Style. Programming Proverbs'' by Paul Nagin and Henry F. Ledgard (Hayden Book Co., 1978). Among these are also many more typical textbooks. | ||
