A downloadable game

From the original author:

During the Covid lockdown I saw some good demos using C64 emulator and just PETSCII graphics and then I remembered the old Galaga game on the C64. The one using just character graphics and thought it would be interesting to test how difficult it would be to make something similar.

The game is currently in "a sort of finished state" (i.e has a workable game loop) but may never end up completely polished. It's just a hobby project after all. I thought I had reach a point where most of what I consider the fun stuff had been done but it turns out there are always a few more things to tinker with. I still have a short list of features which may eventually be added.

Though I started working mostly with the X16 emulator, over time I've also focused on getting this to run well on the C64. Various optimization of the code and some significant improvements in Prog8 now has the C64 running without noticeable slowdowns.

Prog8 : https://github.com/irmen/prog8
PETaxian : https://github.com/cyborgar/Petaxian

Milasoft Notes:

This game could have fit into the 16k PET with some trimming of the code, but I didn't want to remove too much. It plays well on 3032 and 4032 machines. I ported it from C64 assembly to the PET.  Thank you to Borgar Olsen for permission to publish.

I added sound, Stupid Pet Tricks joystick and could have incorporated ColorPET as well but I will see if there is demand.

This is released as freeware and donations are turned off.


Download

Download
petaxian.d80 (disk version) 520 kB
Download
petaxian.prg (file version) 16 kB
Download
petaxian source code.asm 295 kB

Comments

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Really cool port! 

You write it's basically finished, what a pity. It would be cool if it supported the Colour PET as well ...

Many thanks for supporting the Commodore PET!

I could have, as the original was in colour. However I don't think there are more than 2 colour PET owners??

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Well, at least there are two people that have built colour-PET (-compatible) machines, at least me and Steve Gray. 

I _think_ there are some more who also built Steve's colour-PET version, and I hope to get more traction on with the Ultimate PET model I am in the process of developing...

But you are right, probably only two confirmed owners. I was just very positively surprised to see your colour version of gridrunner for the colour-PET. I am actually demoing it when possible when I show my system.

Anyway, I totally understand avoiding effort for such a small user base. 

Thanks for your reply!
André

Edit: and VICE _does_ emulate the Colour-PET after all :-)

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Excellent game!!

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I know the C64 version, but the PET version is also very nice!  Here's a quick gameplay.

Wow, you have made it to levels with ships I didn't know existed.