QBASIC Game Development

Game development has always been a thrilling part of computer programming. QBASIC, a straightforward language, was once used to make enjoyable and addictive games. It gave aspiring game developers a platform to demonstrate their skills and create interactive experiences that captivated players. Let’s remember the time when QBASIC game development was booming for new game creators.

The Magic of QBASIC Game Development

QBASIC had simple syntax and easy-to-use commands, making it a great choice for aspiring game developers. Its text-based interface was ideal for creating straightforward, yet addictive, games that worked well on early PCs. When making a game with QBASIC, developers typically dealt with keyboard input, graphics, sound, and game logic all within one program.

Let’s dive into some code examples to see how QBASIC games were developed:

Example 1: Guess the Number

REM Guess the Number game
RANDOMIZE TIMER
TARGET = INT(RND * 100) + 1
PRINT "Welcome to Guess the Number Game!"
DO
    INPUT "Guess a number between 1 and 100: ", GUESS
    IF GUESS < TARGET THEN
        PRINT "Too low! Try again."
    ELSE IF GUESS > TARGET THEN
        PRINT "Too high! Try again."
    ELSE
        PRINT "Congratulations! You guessed the number!"
    END IF
LOOP UNTIL GUESS = TARGET

This simple game generates a random number between 1 and 100, and the player has to guess the correct number. QBASIC allows for easy input handling, making this a fun and interactive game.

Example 2: Dodge the Asteroids

SCREEN 12
WIDTH 640, 480
COLOR 15, 0
CLS

DIM SHARED x, y, dx, dy, ax, ay

x = 320
y = 400
dx = 0
dy = 0
ax = 320
ay = 100

DO
    x = x + dx
    y = y + dy
    CLS
    CIRCLE (x, y), 20, 14
    CIRCLE (ax, ay), 15, 4

    IF x - 20 < ax + 15 AND x + 20 > ax - 15 AND y - 20 < ay + 15 AND y + 20 > ay - 15 THEN
        PRINT "Game Over! You crashed into an asteroid!"
        SLEEP
        END
    END IF

    IF x < 20 OR x > 620 OR y < 20 OR y > 460 THEN
        PRINT "Game Over! You went out of bounds!"
        SLEEP
        END
    END IF

    IF INKEY$ = "a" THEN dx = -5: dy = 0
    IF INKEY$ = "d" THEN dx = 5: dy = 0
    IF INKEY$ = "w" THEN dx = 0: dy = -5
    IF INKEY$ = "s" THEN dx = 0: dy = 5

LOOP UNTIL INKEY$ = CHR$(27)

“Dodge the Asteroids” is a classic space-themed game where the player controls a spaceship using the arrow keys and avoids colliding with incoming asteroids. QBASIC’s simple graphics commands, like CIRCLE, are used here to create the game’s visuals.

The Legacy Continues

QBASIC game development was popular in the past, but modern technologies and advanced languages now dominate game development. QBASIC’s influence, however, lives on in the memories of early programmers and its impact on modern tools. It played a crucial role in inspiring developers and contributing to the thriving gaming industry today. You can still experience QBASIC’s nostalgia with emulators and compilers on modern computers, keeping its legacy alive.

Conclusion

In summary, QBASIC game development was a delightful starting point for numerous aspiring game developers. Its simplicity and user-friendliness made it enjoyable to create entertaining and addictive games, leaving a lasting impression on the gaming community. As we celebrate the growth of the gaming industry, we must remember QBASIC’s role in inspiring the creativity of countless developers and laying the foundation for the immersive and captivating world of gaming that we have today.