Getting Acquainted With Your VIC 20 (GB/US)
Tim Hartnell
Interface Publications, 1981 (GB) / Creative Computing Press, 1981 (US)
Download all programs from this book on one disk:
 Getting Acquainted.d64 |
54 programs (100% complete)
| Program | Author | Requirements | Files | Info |
Random Numbers Pages 7-11. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | random numbers.t64 Screenshot |
Displays some random numbers on the screen. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Simple Decision Makers Pages 11-13. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | decision maker.t64 Screenshot |
Simple decision maker. Uses a random number to display yes, no or maybe. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Russian Roulette Pages 13-18. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | russian roulette.t64 Screenshot |
Three slightly different versions of the game. You have a revolver with one bullet and five empty chambers. How many times can you pull the trigger and survive? Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Pattern Makers Pages 18-20. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | pattern makers.t64 Screenshot |
Four programs that display patterns. For programs 1-3, you enter a short string of graphic characters and they are repeated on the screen. Program 4 displays a random pattern. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
For/Next Pages 21-22. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | for-next.t64 Screenshot |
Programming demo showing how to use FOR/NEXT loops. The third program displays your name in lights. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Flipping a Coin Pages 23-26. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | coin flip.t64 Screenshot |
Five programs that use random numbers to flip a coin. The final program counts how many flips came up heads & tails. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Number Crunching Pages 26-27. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | maths demo.prg Screenshot |
How to perform mathematical calculations. Enter three numbers, and the computer will multiply the first two numbers and then divide the answer by the third number. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Number Juggle Pages 27-29. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | number juggle.t64 Screenshot |
Number guessing game for one or two players. You think of a number and answer the questions, and the computer will work out what your number was. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Extra-Sensory Perception Pages 31-33. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | guess number.t64 Screenshot |
Number guessing game. The computer selects a random number from 1-100. Can you guess what it is? Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Kill the Chopper Pages 34-36. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | kill chopper.t64 Screenshot |
Number guessing game. The deadly chopper is hiding behind one of 16 trees. You have only got six shots, can you find the correct tree? The second program displays a list of graphic characters with their CHR$ codes. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Days of Our Lives Pages 36-38. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | days of lives.t64 Screenshot |
Calculates your age, then works out how long you might have left to live and how many weeks will be spent sleeping. Life Expectancy (p. 107-108) is a more advanced version of this program. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Toying with the Muse Pages 39-42. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | toying with muse.t64 Screenshot |
Generate random poems about various places. There are four programs: Seaside Poetry, Salzburg Poetry, Poems of London Town, Black Sabbath Poetry Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Hunting on a Grid Pages 43-44. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | hunting on a grid.t64 Screenshot |
Two games where you must find an object that is hidden somewhere on a grid. Hunt the Spider lets you enter your own grid size. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Slot/Fruit Machines Pages 45-47. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | slot machines.t64 Screenshot |
Two slot machine games, spin the reels and try to win as much money as you can. Program 1 has two reels, program 2 has four reels. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Lost in Space Pages 48-49. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | lost in space.prg Screenshot |
Another 'Hunting on a Grid' game, with three dimensions. The astronauts are adrift in space. Can you enter the correct height, width and depth to locate the space capsule? Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Arrays Pages 49-51. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | arrays.t64 Screenshot |
Demonstrating how to use arrays in programs. Programs 1 & 2 demonstrate numerical arrays, the 2nd program intentionally stops with a 'bad subscript' error. Program 3 demonstrates string arrays: input ten characters to store them in an array. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Dim Spider Pages 51-53. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | dim spider.t64 Screenshot |
A spider is hiding somewhere on a 4*4 grid. Can you find it? Controls: Dim Spider: type your guess in the format X,Y (two numbers separated by a comma). Dimmer Spider: type two numbers for each guess, pressing Return after each one. |
Pesky Piksy Pages 53-54. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | pesky piksy.prg Screenshot |
Piksy is hiding on a 7*7 grid, can you capture him? If you take too many guesses then you may get a clue, or he could move to a new location and force you to start again. Controls: Type two numbers for each guess, pressing Return after each one. |
Aliens and Asteroids Pages 55-56. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | aliens asteroid.prg Screenshot |
Ten aliens are hiding in a 4*4 grid, sometimes with more than one alien in the same square. You only have eight shots, how many can you find? Controls: Type two numbers for each shot, pressing Return after each one. |
Colour Pages 56-58. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | colour.t64 Screenshot |
Demonstrating how to use colours. Programs 1 & 2 change the screen colour, programs 3 & 4 change the character colour. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Strings and Ladders Pages 58-60. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | snakes ladders.prg Screenshot |
Snakes & ladders game, for two players. The computer randomly decides if each move lands on a snake or a ladder, and adjusts your score accordingly. Controls: Press Return after each round. |
Roadrace Pages 60-62. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | roadrace.prg Screenshot |
Text-based car race for two players. The computer randomly decides if each car will move forward or be delayed by punctures, cops, oil problems, etc. Controls: Press Return after each move. |
52 Bluff Pages 62-63. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | 52 bluff.prg Screenshot |
Card game. Three cards are dealt. You are shown the first two cards, and you must bet that the third card is between thr first two. A score of 200 will break the bank. Controls: Enter the amount you want to bet (0 to skip that round). |
Hot Sauce Pages 64-65. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | hot sauce.prg Screenshot |
The computer choose a random number between 1 and 100, can you work out what it is? This time you get told that each guess is cold, warm or hot etc., depending on how close you are. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Draughts Pages 66-73. |
Tim Hartnell & Toni Baker | Unexpanded | draughts.prg Screenshot |
Minimalist draughts game, that doesn't support kings or multiple jumps. The board uses an unusual numbering system, explained on page 67 of the book. Use these numbers to work out your moves. Controls: Type the 'from' and 'to' squares for each move, i.e. two numbers separated by a comma. |
First Steps Towards the Stars Pages 73-74. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | timewarp.prg Screenshot |
Star Trek-style game. Enter the treasure that you are seeking and the names of two alien species. The computer randomly decides what happens in each move. Controls: Press Return after each move. |
Frenzy Pages 74-76. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | frenzy.prg Screenshot |
Frantic typing game. You must re-type each number that is shown on the screen. Can you do all 8 numbers in the time limit? Controls: Type each number. |
Music Pages 76-77. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | music.prg Screenshot |
Programming demo, showing how to produce sound using the POKE command. Controls: None. |
Read and Data Pages 76-77. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | read and data.t64 Screenshot |
Programming demo, showing how to use the READ and DATA commands. Program 1 displays some numbers on the screen, and intentionally stops with an 'out of data' error. Program 2 plays a tune. Controls: None. |
Maestro Pages 79-80. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | maestro.t64 Screenshot |
Three programs that generate a computer-generated tune. Programs 2 & 3 also flash the border. Controls: None. |
Doing it in Your Head Page 81. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | unicorn griffin.prg Screenshot |
Mental arithmetic game, to practice your addition and subtraction skills. The unicorn's number is displayed, and you must work out how much the griffin needs to add to make the unicorn's number equal to the requested amount. Controls: Type your answer. |
Echo Chamber Pages 82-83. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | echo chamber.prg Screenshot |
Memory game with five difficulty levels. A number between 0-99999 is briefly shown, then the screen is cleared. Can you correctly remember & type the number? Controls: Type the number. |
Cave Master Pages 89-90. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | cave master.prg Screenshot |
Simple text adventure. You must battle with wizards and witches while looking for the fools gold. Controls: Press Return at each prompt. |
Alpha Pages 90-91. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | alpha.prg Screenshot |
Guessing game. The computer randomly selects a letter of the alphabet, can you work out what it is? Controls: Enter your guess (A-Z). |
Turning the Tables Pages 91-93. |
Trevor Sharples | Unexpanded | mystic.prg Screenshot |
You think of a number between 1-100, and the computer will work out what it is. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Nine Lives Pages 93-94. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | hangcat.prg Screenshot |
Hangman-style game for two players. One player inputs a six-letter word, which the second player must guess before they run out of lives. Controls: Player 1: Enter the word one letter at a time, pressing Return after each letter. Player 2: Type your guess. |
Nim Pages 95-96. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | bun fight.prg Screenshot |
Nim-style game. The computer bakes a random number of buns, which you & the computer take it in turns to eat. There is a limit to how many buns you can eat at a time, and the person who eats the last bun loses. Controls: Enter how many buns you want to eat. |
Life Pages 96-97. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | life.prg Screenshot |
John Conway's Game of Life, simulating the birth, growth and death of cells on a randomly generated 8x8 grid. Controls: After each generation, type a letter to continue or press Return to exit. |
Cubik Pages 97-98. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | cubik.prg Screenshot |
Two-dimensional Rubik's cube puzzle. Rotate the Cubik back into order. Controls: Enter the number of the square that you wish to rotate. Squares are numbered 1-16, where number 1 is the top-left corner and number 16 is the bottom-right. |
Outsmart Page 99. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | outsmart.prg Screenshot |
The computer picks a random number from 1-200. Can you work out what it is? The 'clue' after each guess is the square root of the difference between your guess and the computer's number. Controls: Type your guess. |
Logica Pages 99-100. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | logica.prg Screenshot |
You need to find the missing RAM chip on a 15x15 grid, using only your RAM-detector. Controls: Type two numbers (1-15), pressing Return after each one. |
Blackjack Pages 100-102. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | blackjack.prg Screenshot |
Card game played against the computer. Try to score as close to 21 as possible but don't go bust. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. A 'blank' prompt requires you to Press return to continue. |
Kalki the Mind Reader Pages 102-103. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | kalki.prg Screenshot |
Mathematical trick. You think of a number and follow the instructions, and the computer tells you the end result of your calculations. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Chemin de Fer Pages 103-105. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | chemin de fer.prg Screenshot |
Dice version of the casino game that is usually played with cards, related to Baccara. Five dice are rolled, and any die that comes up 2 or 5 must be rolled again, where a 2 or 5 the second time counts as zero. The pips are added up, and the aim is to get as close to 9 as possible or a 2-digit number ending in 9. Nine games are played against the computer, and the winner is the player who wins the most games. Controls: Press Return at each prompt. |
Craps Pages 105-107. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | craps.prg Screenshot |
Dice game. You win if you throw 7 or 11, lose if you throw 2, 3 or 12, and if you throw anything else then you must re-throw that same number before getting a 7. Controls: Press Return at each prompt. |
Life Expectancy Pages 107-108. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | lives.prg Screenshot |
This program asks questions about your age, weight and alcohol intake etc, then calculates your life expectancy. This is a more advanced version of Days of Our Lives (p. 36-38). Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Bird Cage Pages 108-110. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | bird cage.prg Screenshot |
Dice game. Three dice are rolled, and you bet on the likelihood of a particular number coming up. Controls: Enter the amount you want to bet, followed by the number (1-6) that you are betting on. |
Seventh Heaven Pages 110-111. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | seventh heaven.prg Screenshot |
Dice game. Two dice are rolled, and you bet that the total will be either (a) under 7, (b) exactly 7, or (c) over 7. Controls: Enter the type of bet (A-C), followed by the amount you want to bet. |
Lunar Landing Pages 113-115. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | lunar landing.prg Screenshot |
Lunar Lander-style game. Using only your thrusters, try to land your ship on the lunar surface. Too slow and you will run out of fuel & oxygen, too fast and you will crash. Controls: Input the amount of thrust (-50 to 50), and for how many seconds. |
Labyrinth Pages 115-118. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | labyrinth.prg Screenshot |
Text adventure. You must travel through a twisty maze battling wart-faced woggles and other strange creatures. Make sure you have got at least 20 pieces of silver to pay the minotaur when you find the exit. Controls: Follow on-screen prompts. |
Teacher Pages 118-119. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | multiplication.prg Screenshot |
Educational program, displays the times tables for any number. Controls: Enter the times table that you would like to see. |
Conversion Pages 120-121. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | conversion.prg Screenshot |
Displays a look-up table for converting temperatures from Fahrenheit into Celsius and Kelvin. Controls: Enter the lower and upper temperatures required, and degree step. |
Multiplication Quiz Pages 121-123. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | multiply quiz.prg Screenshot |
Mathematics quiz, test your multiplication skills. Controls: Type the answer to each question. |
Squares Page 123. |
Tim Hartnell | Unexpanded | squares.prg Screenshot |
Displays a look-up table of numbers and their squares. Controls: Enter the lower and upper values required. |
