Sinclair ZX80 / ZX81 / Z88 Forums

Hi everyone,

just started writing my first 8-bit retro game, and chose the ZX81 as a platform.

As for a genre, you could say 'Space Adventure' maybe - it's set in the Star Trek universe and has dialogue-driven gameplay.

(Technically, I had a very first go at the same concept a couple of years ago on a different platform, but that didn't go very far - so let's hope second time is the charm!)

Attached is the current prototype (you can attain two different game overs already, but no win yet) - would love some feedback before I continue.

Load the game with LOAD "COTB-01" and then RUN. Once the intro has completed, you can select the different menu options with the 1-4 keys and then use the UP cursor to get back to the main menu (= the main four bridge stations). Use UP and DOWN whenever given a choice.

Have about 4.5k of empty memory left so I am hopeful I can complete all intended pathways (three paths to success and three different game overs). (It's not optimised or anything yet either...)

And I also documented the development in a short series of vlogs on YT if anyone is interested:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 9_jDB9wqSo

So, thanks and looking forward to your feedback!

Honestly,

I think you should code in assembly.
On the ZX81 BASIC is tediously slow.

Yeah, well, zero skill, experience or interest - so not gonna happen. Just want to have some fun!

It starts off fun. I like how the writing is timed, as if receiving sub-space communication. For those in a hurry, text adventures are not the right type of game

When it asks a question, how do you respond? Or is it mostly scripted and just press NEWLINE?

The intro is mostly scripted, though you get choice on one occasion (so this is possible). After the intro ends, it's up to you to issue the right commands out of 4x4 options. Sometimes there is just one outcome for a command - in other cases, you again get one (or more) choice(s). What's possible and what outcomes happen is also dependent on your career choice / achievement etc. that you specify at the start.

My eventual goal is to have three pathways to 'win' (mostly depending on your career / achievement, but no combo is unwinnable) and three different game overs.

And yeah, I regard the slow unfolding of the text as a feature, similar how you would listen to someone speak instead of reading the subtitles in one go.