Assembled a bit more of the #kim1 MTU motherboard (don't have the full component set for this one, so every time I get a new piece or find a scrap board with what I need, it gets added).
Now drawing mazes (literally, on paper) for the "AMAZE!!!" game.

About to go to the vet with Benny, my black cat, that is sneezing in a suspect way.

And then, in the evening, I have to pickle some duck eggs.

Might even sleep later.

I now have a working "loader" for the "AMAZE!!!" #kim1 game.

It starts, shows something on the display, waits for a selection from the keypad, copies the selected maze data (only one for now, need to design a few more) in the appropriate memory zone, then hands the control over the tape load routine in the monitor.

The "player" can then push play on the tape reader and allow the main game to load.

The end result sits in a single audio file with the two programs.

BTW, before today I never used dosbox in a makefile.

I actually took the time to type in the whole program on my #KIM1 clone, and it worked!

So, I've decided to release it for everyone: https://codeberg.org/hkzlab/AMaze_KIM-1

I've called it "AMAZE!!!".

It's currently raw binary only. I plan to look into a tape conversion. Once done (and tested) I'll release that also.

Hell, I'm also tempted to release this on itch.io just for shit and giggles. Like, maybe if you pay me 1€ I'll provide the pre-drawn map of the labyrinth to you in addition to the free game.

You save in pencils and papers. It's the greatest deal.

As usual ☕ on ko-fi if you think it's worth I spend my time doing these absurdities

I decided to have some fun.
Given that I designed a simple maze exploration game for the #KIM1, why not also design a leaflet to go with it while I have it on at the expo?

I decided to use old magazines as an inspiration for the style. It's still unfinished, but is more or less true to what I had in mind.
Hope you like it.

You know what I think my maze-exploration game for the #kim1 lacks?

A magical compass to help the player find the key and the exit door.

I need to take care of some chores now, but I think I'll have a shot a it.

I still have a few bytes free, even after I moved the maze data inside the main application space, out of the RRIOT memory.

I'm writing a small """game""" for the unexpanded #kim1, for people to play around at the next expo.
The player gets thrown in a labyrinth with a paper map (but they do not know where they start) and a lighter (use your imagination!) so they can see the walls around them.

Armed with the map and a pencil they need to search for a key and an exit door.

Right now I've written movement code, and the code to "display" the walls of the current labyrinth cell. The player is moving inside an empty 8x8 square here.

I reworked the keyboard module on the 3 #kim1 clones I built. It is now flush to the board.

Given that every trace is topside, I decided that having it easily removable was not worth the aesthetic annoyance of seeing it raised from where it should be.