BASIC Zgrass--A ~Ophisticated Graphics Language for the Baliy Home Library Computer
BASIC Zgrass--A ~ophisticated Graphics Language for the Baliy Home Library Computer Tom DeFanti, University of illinois at Chicago Circle Jay Fenton, Dave Nutting Associates Nola Donato, University of Illinois at Chicago Circle Abstract Home computer users are just now discovering arcade units, its projected cost, without color computer graphics. Modest extensions to BASIC al- tv, is about $750.00, including the arcade unit. low plotting but not much more. The Bally Home Zgrass itself takes up 16k bytes of ROM Library Computer, however, has hardware to aid im- storage and has 16k bytes of RAM for user storage plementation of video games. Custom integrated and system use. An additional 16k ROM (referred circuits working on a 160XI02 pixel (2 bits per to as the 'extension' below) plugs into the side pixel) color television screen allow certain forms and provides room for a compiler and other of animation in real time. To give this power to features. Audio cassette storage and modem link- the user, BASIC Zgrass has been designed and im- age to other computers is provided. Software for plemented. It is an extension of BASIC that al- driving optional intelligent floppy disk drives is lows parallel processes, picture objects that also built-in. Further hardware in this unit in- move, scale and group together as well as several cludes four hand controls, a 24-key pocket calcu- drawing modes. There are also software controls lator keyboard, a three-voice sound generator and of a three-voice music synthesizer, interactive an IEEE Bus interface. Zgrass is the operating input devices, a film camera and an IEEE bus in- system for this computer as well.
[Show full text]