On Jul 28, 7:36 pm, Ivan X<ivan...@yahoo.com> wrote:
On 7/27/10 1:42 PM, in article
25a9b633-b714-437b-b8b8-d1fdea225...@b4g2000pra.googlegroups.com,
"mojoehand"<mojoeh...@gmail.com> wrote:
I haven't looked at Slammer yet, but this method sounds very similar
to what was used in "Voyage of the Valkyrie!" by Leo Christopherson.
This was a TRS-80 game from 1980. The method was written up in at
least one computer magazine at the time. It was quite unique back
then.
This had me curious, and I found this page which references what you're
talking about:http://www.dnull.com/demon/
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a listing or a more detailed description of
the method, though perhaps I could load the downloadable binary .BAS file
via some kind of emulator. But yes, it sounds similar, with the exception
that the program apparently becomes modified once executed, which is not the
case with Slammer. (Actually, Slammer does momentarily modify the program
with unlistable binary, but then it tidies itself up when done so the user
is none the wiser.) I'd certainly be interested in reading more about the
method if you come across any one of those writeups.
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I can't seem to find any of the details via a Google search, but two
similar methods were used. One was called string packing and the other
line packing. I vaguely recall that if you listed the freshly loaded
BASIC program, most of it looked like either graphics blocks or
garbage. There was a writeup and source code in one of the TRS-80
magazines at the time. I don't remember which, as I used to subscribe
to many computer and electronics magazines. The memories start to
blur. It may have been 80 Micro.
For the time, and considering the primitive graphics and sound of the
TRS-80 Models I and III, these programs were revolutionary. They were
fun and very fast. Not only was Leo's method unique, but he knew what
it took to write entertaining software. BTW, if you Google, you will
find that Leo is still teaching and he has a web site.