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Want to start making games, no luck at all

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 2:00 pm
by danibus
Hi there

I want to learn to make games for Megadrive/Genesis. I know C but before I tried to use Basic to start, remembering my Spectrum days long time ago.

First I tried to install BasiEgaXorz.
First example:

Code: Select all

	print "hello"
When compiling I get error:

Code: Select all

basic.s:1: *** Error:  Illegal opcode 'PRINT' ***
                        	print "hello"
Don't know what to do ( I put a space/tab before print), nothing in google.
Think print is not illegal but, how knows, something is wrong but I don't know what.

So I installed SecondBasic. Ok, it's updated, ok I change config as there are some wrong paths after install program, then I succesfully compile some examples.
But every example I make, always the same in the compiler, black screen and 2 zeros (please see attached).

Seems I have to forget about Basic and go to SGDK :oops:

Re: Want to start making games, no luck at all

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 5:11 pm
by Chilly Willy
SecondBasic has a rather particular way of implementing basic. You need to work from examples. Someone on the discord is doing a Mortal Kombat like fighter for the MD in SecondBasic, so it's pretty powerful - more than enough for many games.

That said, you probably want to learn C and used something like SGDK as it will let you get more from the MD in the long run. SGDK comes with a number of nice examples.

Re: Want to start making games, no luck at all

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 9:20 pm
by danibus
I think SGDK is used today, not sure about Basic scene for MD. I will try C instead.

Thanks Chilly Willy

Re: Want to start making games, no luck at all

Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2019 9:32 pm
by slobu
Both BasiEgaXorz and SecondBASIC have online documentation and forums for community based support. You'll find assembly and C oriented answers here. Not a bad thing but obviously not the primary source for BASIC compiler related solutions.

The original poster has probably moved on but I figure these links will be found by others with similar needs.

BasiEgaXoz Documentation:
http://devster.monkeeh.com/sega/basiega ... _full.html

BasiEgaXorz Forum:
http://devster.proboards.com/board/1/basiegaxorz-forums

SecondBASIC Documentation:
http://www.second-dimension.com/modules/apollo/

SecondBASIC Forum:
http://www.second-dimension.com/forums/secondbasic/

Re: Want to start making games, no luck at all

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 12:39 pm
by danibus
Thanks. Already started with SGDK and making some progress.
This post can be closed :D

Re: Want to start making games, no luck at all

Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2019 12:53 pm
by Chilly Willy
This is a forum, not a bug tracker. Threads can be locked if they get abusive or similar, but otherwise stay open forever. :D

Besides, sometimes threads like this need to be updated, like if new urls with similar info that may help people come along. Or someone really interested in SecondBasic finds this thread and has more questions.

Re: Want to start making games, no luck at all

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 5:09 pm
by slobu
Glad you found (and continue to find) momentum on your project danibus!

What SGDK related stuff did you find that got you farther? IDE's, utilities, documentation kind of stuff? I might follow your lead someday :)