What on earth is this about?!?!In a nutshell, I've always wanted to make a game for the Commodore64 and since I'm not getting any younger, I've decided to do an unofficial sequel to an existing, albeit old, game called 'Chiller', released by budget software publishers Mastertronic in 1984.
I've decided on a sequel because I feel more comfortable not having to worry too much about actual gameplay designing from scratch; I can concentrate on the code, graphics and music and maybe add a few new features to improve on the original.
One of my main aims is to produce something that would have sat well in the Mastertronic range, something that people wouldn't have minded stumping up £1.99 for back in the day.
I'm all very new to this 6510 assembly programming stuff and now that I'm getting older, I tend to forget things a little too easier than I used to. Thus I decided to create this diary as a personal aide-memoire, something I can look back on in the future whether the game gets completed or not. If someone else finds it interesting to read or helpful, that's just a bonus.
Note: if anyone is reading this, please excuse any grammatical errors and/or changes in tense. The diary entries tend to get written quickly during or after coding, pixelling or composing sessions, with minimal proof-reading. Also note that there may be (long) delays between entries because I do have a life, family, job and all those other things that get in the way of a good hobby!
I have left the comments switched on for diary entries, so if anyone happens to be reading that is a much more seasoned coder than novice old me and can spot ways to improve any code I've posted, please feel free to post away in the comments for that entry. It's all about sharing and learning after all!
I will admit that I used to *ADORE* the game diaries that used to be printed in ZZAP!64. The 'Paradroid' and 'Morpheus' diaries by Andrew Braybrook and the 'Citadel' diary by Martin Walker are particular highlights for me and are articles that I reread even to this day. Thus, consider this humble online diary to be inspired by and a 'love letter' to those diaries of old and I dedicate it with respect to Andrew Braybrook and Martin Walker.
If you have never heard of or played the original Mastertronic game (and if you're as old as me I consider that fairly unlikely!), please visit the 'Original Game' page here for information about it.
