"Meteorite" by Kenta Cho (1989)

This is a recode of a game from the NEC PC-6001 computer to the TRS-80 MC-10 using Micro Color BASIC. The original game, published in Mycom BASIC magazine in September 1989, used machine language to move the meteorites, but I just use a large string array, which I scroll through using variables and the MID$ command to create the effect of falling meteorites. Then I use VARPTR to POKE those meteorites out of existence if hit by an explosion.

The keys used to position your explosions are the following:

2 3 4 5 6 7

W E R T Y U

S D F G H J

Z X C V B N

As you can see, the programmer chose (no pun intended) to use a slightly staggered arrangement rather than simply following the diagonal left line of a QWERTY keyboard.  I think this makes more haptic sense as it fits better with the up and down orientation of the grid of shots.

I have played the game a little now. It is easy to settle in to using only the bottom row with 3 fingers from each hand.  I suspect the original game plays a little differently.  It might be faster, but you also seem to have the ability to launch multiple explosions at the same time, a by product of the use of machine language and the ability of the NEC to run sound in the background. So I think my program is not a fully accurate rendition of the original.  But I think it does present some of its challenge but within the limitations of a fully BASIC piece of code.  My version only has 2 levels of ground above the three bases you are trying to protect, rather that the 3 from the original: _ - =

This perhaps makes up somewhat for the lack of speed of my version.  And of course, since you can have only one explosion going at time, it requires the player to perhaps be more selective when choosing one's targets.

The original programmer Kenta Cho seems like a really interesting fellow.  He is described as an "indie programmer" and he has been responsible for some recent phone game hits. Here is some information on the original programmer: https://blog.gingerbeardman.com/2024/02/10/interview-kenta-cho-indie-game-developer/

But his programming career began back in the early 80s on home computers and using BASIC. From the interview, he credits some of his earliest inspiration as a programmer to playing games, originally programmed in BASIC, like Heinkyo Alien, and their creative game techniques and narrative premises.

If you want to see the original being played, look here:

Here is me achieving my highest score to date (and also shows some of the speedups I have added since my first video):