Spectrum Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner


Book Description

First published in 1982, William Tang’s Spectrum Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner is generally considered to be the best introduction to 8-bit machine code programming ever written. With many great game writers crediting this as the book that got them started, there still is no better way to learn the language at the heart of the ZX Spectrum. * * * As the original publisher Melbourne House wrote: If you are frustrated by the limitations of BASIC and want to write faster, more powerful, space-saving programs or subroutines, Spectrum Machine Language for the Absolute Beginner is the book for you. Even with no previous experience of computer languages, you will be able to discover the ease and power of the Spectrum's own language. Each chapter includes specific examples of machine language applications which can be demonstrated and used on your Spectrum as well as a self-test questionnaire. At the end of the book, all this is brought together in an entire machine language program - from design right through to the complete listing of an exciting, original arcade game. * * * Acorn Books is proud to present its Retro Reproduction Series, a collection of classic computing works from the 1980s and 90s, lovingly reproduced in the 21st century. From standards of programming reference no self-respecting microcomputer programmer would be without, to obscure works not found in print anywhere else, these modern reprints are perfect for any connoisseur of retro computing.




ZX Spectrum Games Code Club


Book Description

This book is ideal for beginner coders of 7+ years or ZX Spectrum fans that want to learn or practice building simple games. The book contains 20 fun games to type-in specifically created for this book, from Arcade classics to more wacky game ideas.







The ZX Spectrum on Your PC


Book Description

Thirty years on from its original release, the best selling Sinclair ZX Spectrum is now one of the most emulated computers in the world. Far from dead and forgotten, a thriving community of enthusiasts has kept the spirit of this little machine alive through an enormous range of emulators for just about every modern computer platform there is. For the PC in particular, the complexity of these emulators is simply amazing. Focusing primarily on the two most user-friendly Windows emulators, Spectaculator and ZX SPIN, The ZX Spectrum on Your PC explains all the main features of these applications. Illustrated walk-throughs will teach you everything from how cassettes are emulated to how to print from your virtual Spectrum. In no time at all, you'll find yourself enjoying all the old games and activities of your youth... on your PC! New revised Second Edition includes emulating the Spectrum on your mobile device.




Code the Classics Volume 1


Book Description

Code the Classics Volume 1 not only tells the stories of some of the seminal video games of the 1970s and 1980s, but shows you how to create your own games inspired by them, following examples programmed by Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton. In this book, you'll learn how to run and edit the games in this book by installing Python, Pygame Zero, and an IDE. You'll also: Get game design tips and tricks from the masters Learn how to code your own games with Pygame Zero Explore the code listings and find out how they work You'll meet these vintage-inspired games, and learn from their code in between rounds of play: Boing!: all it took was a couple of lines and a dot, and gamers would be queuing up to play. Cavern: Enduringly popular, the platform game genre is still packed with creative possibilities. Infinite Bunner: Play around with the benefits that a top-down perspective can lend to the classic platform genre. Myriapod: Some shooters confine the gameplay to a single screen while limiting the player's movement. Restrictions can build challenge and difficulty, making for truly addictive gaming. Substitute Soccer: Top-down games of pinball-style soccer built a huge cult following and kicked off a sports genre that's still going strong.




The Micro Kids


Book Description

It is November 1983 and young Billy Twist and his friends are about to discover the exciting new world of microcomputers. A nostalgic story of ZX Spectrums, Commodore 64s, Amstrads and Ataris.




Super Scratch Programming Adventure! (Covers Version 2)


Book Description

Scratch is the wildly popular educational programming language used by millions of first-time learners in classrooms and homes worldwide. By dragging together colorful blocks of code, kids can learn computer programming concepts and make cool games and animations. The latest version, Scratch 2, brings the language right into your web browser, with no need to download software. In Super Scratch Programming Adventure!, kids learn programming fundamentals as they make their very own playable video games. They’ll create projects inspired by classic arcade games that can be programmed (and played!) in an afternoon. Patient, step-by-step explanations of the code and fun programming challenges will have kids creating their own games in no time. This full-color comic book makes programming concepts like variables, flow control, and subroutines effortless to absorb. Packed with ideas for games that kids will be proud to show off, Super Scratch Programming Adventure! is the perfect first step for the budding programmer. Now Updated for Scratch 2 The free Super Scratch Educator's Guide provides commentary and advice on the book's games suitable for teachers and parents. For Ages 8 and Up




Speccy Nation


Book Description

A tribute to the ZX Spectrum and the golden age of British gaming from veteran games journalist Dan Whitehead. Witty write-ups on fifty classic games that helped define the ZX Spectrum.




Help Your Kids with Computer Coding


Book Description

Coding is covered completely in this best-selling guide for kids. Scratch and Python programming soon become child's play, thanks to vibrant visuals, simple steps, and easy explanations. Whether you're an absolute beginner wanting to try your hand at basic programming or already a computer whizz looking to develop further, this one is for you. It starts from Scratch, showing how the programming language works and explaining universal coding concepts. Soon you'll be following numbered steps to create exciting games for you and your friends to play. Next, you'll pass on to Python, building on the basics learned in Scratch to develop and modify new games in more detail. With more than 250,000 copies sold worldwide, Help Your Kids with Computer Coding is the number one resource for clever kids keen to crack coding. Series Overview: DK's bestselling Help Your Kids With series contains crystal-clear visual breakdowns of important subjects. Simple graphics and jargon-free text are key to making this series a user-friendly resource for frustrated parents who want to help their children get the most out of school.




Grand Thieves & Tomb Raiders


Book Description

Gaming: it’s the greatest British invasion of them all. Lara Croft is an international icon and the British-born Grand Theft Auto and its spin-offs have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide. The UK’s games industry is now bigger than either its cinema or its music. Yet the medium’s birth in Thatcher’s Britain was almost accidental. While politicians championed computers like the BBC Micro and the ZX Spectrum as engines of learning, it was left to a grassroots culture of amateur programmers to unlock their true potential. And from bedrooms and classrooms across the country, a brilliant profusion of innovative and idiosyncratic games soon emerged – propelling their young creators to fame, riches and, eventually, a place on the world stage. This is the story of those teenage coders – tracing their journey from the first home computers to the age of the smartphone. A mix of oddball characters, programming miracles and moral panics, Grand Thieves & Tomb Raiders reveals how the unique history of British computing led to some of the greatest games of all time.