https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPCvhLlhMuQ Robin teams up with Ken of Canadian Retro Things for a #SepTandy special about the TRS-80 Color Computer Electronic Book. We learn how the book is essentially a giant keypad, how it works, and how it is read using the JOYSTK() function in Color Computer BASIC. Then we set about writing a one-line BASIC subroutine to do the reading, in C64 BASIC of all things! Ken tests the code on his real CoCo and Electronic Book. And finally we come up with a further refined version. To be continued on Ken’s channel as he further develops an adventure game for the Tandy community.
Watch Ken’s follow-up video where he tests this code:
https://youtu.be/EHPaBltyjfY
Canadian Retro Things: https://www.youtube.com/@CanadianRetroThings
Playlist to Ken’s Electronic Book videos:
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Index:
0:00 It’s #SepTandy
0:38 About the TRS-80 Color Computer Electronic Book
2:38 The JOYSTK() function in CoCo BASIC
4:03 How the Electronic Book uses/abuses the joystick system
5:59 Electronic Book’s workings
9:30 Ken’s programs to read The E. Book
11:12 Using C64 to write and test a CoCo program
15:45 Explaining the Expanded version of the one-liner
22:30 One-line version
25:28 Ken testing on real CoCo and Electronic Book
29:52 New version – explanation
37:03 Thanks to Ken, patrons
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