3D Maze on a Commodore 64
Free download (disk image .D64, perfect for VICE x64), the file is hosted on GitHub.
Link to the GitHub project page with the source code.
The Commodore 64 has been a very important machine for the diffusion of personal computing between the beginning of 1980's and 1990. My first computer has not been a C64 (I owned a VIC-20), but in 1993 I could save a Commodore 128D, which could perfectly emulate a C64. It was the first machine I could program in assembly language (I studied on the Rodnay Zaks 6502 book).
Do you dare stepping in The Maze?
Around Christmas 2016, I got that machine working again and I spent a certain time to rediscover my old games. Given my tendency to program things instead of playing games very long, the next step was quite naturally to think about a game I could program. I have always been attracted by 3D mazes and I even typed-in one from a review for my old VIC-20. I decided to program a version for the C64 which could be a little more refined, exploiting the high resolution graphic mode.
Try not to have a look at the map too often.
I discover Cc65, an excellent C cross-compiler which could produce executable files which could be load in the C64 (or on an emulator such as VICE). Being able to exploit a powerful language was a good choice for my goals and my life has been made much simpler than working in assembly! The result is C64maze, a little game which can be freely downloaded with its source codes, covered by the GPL v.3. license. The small game is very simple: you start your exploration in a random position of the maze and your goal is to find the way out as soon as you can.
Way out is in sight!
During the game, you can have a look at the maze map and spot your current position. However, be careful: you have a penalty of 30s each time you do this. The way out is not situated in the map: you have to explore the maze by yourself! While playing, the program plays a 3 part reduction of J.S. Bach's BWV578 fugue. The music can be switched off if you wish.
While developing, the C128D with a green phosphor monitor has been very useful for the tests.
More of that, please!
If you liked this program, have a look at the other things I wrote for old computers.
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Silk Dust (En, 2020-2021) for C64, Plus4, VIC-20+24KB, MS-DOS... |
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The Queen's Footsteps (En, 2019-2020) for C64, Plus4, VIC-20+24KB, MS-DOS... |
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Two Days to the Race (En/It, 2018-2019) for C64, Plus4, VIC-20+24KB, MS-DOS... |
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The Innuh pyramid (En/It, 2011-2018) for C64, C128, VIC-20, Plus4, ZX Spectrum |
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Alien Invasion: a VIC20 game written in 2018 for the VIC-20 |
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Cavern Explorer, another modern VIC-20 game (2018) |
Log
January 29, 2017: first version of the page
License
This work is licensed under a CC BY, NC 4.0 licence.