markmoxon - Network

I recently hacked #Elite on the #Acorn #Archimedes to send scores to a live scoreboard across an #Econet network.I've just published a...

I recently hacked #Elite on the #Acorn #Archimedes to send scores to a live scoreboard across an #Econet network.

I've just published a short article that explains how I did this.

I hope you like it!

https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_over_econet_acorn_archimedes.html

#retrocompting #retrogaming #riscos

I've just released !EliteNet, my first #RISCOS application in 30 years.It allows #Archimedes #Elite to transmit to an #Econet...

I've just released !EliteNet, my first #RISCOS application in 30 years.

It allows #Archimedes #Elite to transmit to an #Econet multiplayer scoreboard (see Yoda’s score in the second screenshot, for example).

I’ve loved every minute of this little side project!

Here's the repo: https://github.com/markmoxon/elite-over-econet-acorn-archimedes

If you want to see this in action, we’ll be playing multiplayer Elite at the National Museum of Computing’s LAN Party on 7-8 June.

You can find more information about the party here, including ticket details: https://www.tnmoc.org/events/econet-lan-party-2025-1

See you there!

#retrogaming #retrocomputing #tnmoc

Sometimes it's the small projects that are the most enjoyable.Case in point: this month I'm building !EliteNet, which connects the...

Sometimes it's the small projects that are the most enjoyable.

Case in point: this month I'm building !EliteNet, which connects the #Archimedes version of #Elite to the Econet multiplayer scoreboard, so ArcElite players can compete against #BBCMicro players.

I last wrote a RISC OS application in 1995. That's 30 years ago! Turns out that BBC BASIC V is still a great language to code in.

And I've never written a RISC OS relocatable module before, so even now, this old dog is learning new ARM-based tricks.

And… ArcElite! ❤️

I absolutely love this hobby.

#retrogaming #retrocomputing #riscos

In anticipation of June's Econet LAN Party at the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley, I've updated Elite over Econet.It now...

In anticipation of June's Econet LAN Party at the National Museum of Computing in Bletchley, I've updated Elite over Econet.

It now supports flicker-free graphics, up to 100 players in multiplayer, better server support and more. Game on!

For more details and downloads see https://elite.bbcelite.com/hacks/elite_over_econet.html

For tickets to the LAN Party on 7-8 June, see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/econet-lan-party-2025-tickets-1244748870379

And for discussion on Stardot about the event, see https://www.stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30405

See you there!

#bbcmicro #retrocomputing #retrogaming #elite #econet

New deep dive: Drawing pixels in Apple II #EliteFor my final Apple II Elite deep dive, I look at the Apple's high-resolution graphics...

New deep dive: Drawing pixels in Apple II #Elite

For my final Apple II Elite deep dive, I look at the Apple's high-resolution graphics screen mode and how Elite copes with its... interesting approach to screen memory.

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/drawing_pixels_in_the_apple_ii_version.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #apple

Elite on the Apple II contains code by Ian Bell and David Braben.No surprises there.But did you know it also contains code by Steve Wozniak,...

Elite on the Apple II contains code by Ian Bell and David Braben.

No surprises there.

But did you know it also contains code by Steve Wozniak, Randy Wigginton and Rob Northen?

Find out why in my latest deep dive.

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/file_operations_with_embedded_apple_dos.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #apple #elite

Another new deep dive: Making the Apple II's keyboard work in #EliteRead about how the Apple II's keyboard fits into the codebase in...

Another new deep dive: Making the Apple II's keyboard work in #Elite

Read about how the Apple II's keyboard fits into the codebase in Elite, and how different it makes the game feel compared to the other 6502 versions.

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/working_with_the_apple_ii_keyboard.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #apple

New deep dive: How the Apple II version of #Elite was developed on a #BBCMicroIn which I pick through the clues on the source disk, and try...

New deep dive: How the Apple II version of #Elite was developed on a #BBCMicro

In which I pick through the clues on the source disk, and try to piece together the original 1986 development pipeline for Apple II Elite.

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/developing_apple_ii_elite_on_a_bbc_micro.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #apple

Oops. In compiling the #Elite source code family tree, I omitted Elite-A, arguably the poster child for a forking history of Elite.So...

Oops. In compiling the #Elite source code family tree, I omitted Elite-A, arguably the poster child for a forking history of Elite.

So I've added it to the tree and updated my article. That's better!

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/the_elite_source_code_family_tree.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #bbcmicro #c64 #apple #nes

New deep dive: Sound effects in Apple II EliteFind out how Bell and Braben coaxed the sound of lasers and hyperdrives from nothing more than...

New deep dive: Sound effects in Apple II Elite

Find out how Bell and Braben coaxed the sound of lasers and hyperdrives from nothing more than a single loudspeaker click. This is bare-metal coding at its most elemental!

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/sound_effects_in_apple_ii_elite.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #apple

Last year, Ian Bell released the source disk for Elite on the Apple II.My latest guide shows how you can assemble the source in your browser...

Last year, Ian Bell released the source disk for Elite on the Apple II.

My latest guide shows how you can assemble the source in your browser and see exactly what Bell and Braben's build process looked like back in 1985.

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/building_apple_ii_elite_from_the_source_disk.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #apple #elite

New: I've analysed the source code for all 9 versions of Elite on the 6502, and I've put together a family tree showing the...

New: I've analysed the source code for all 9 versions of Elite on the 6502, and I've put together a family tree showing the decade-long forking history of the source.

Software archaeology in action! 😀

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/the_elite_source_code_family_tree.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #bbcmicro #c64 #apple #nes

Next up I'm going to write a few deep dives into the unique aspects of Apple II Elite, linking to the relevant bits of code on the...

Next up I'm going to write a few deep dives into the unique aspects of Apple II Elite, linking to the relevant bits of code on the website so you can follow along.

And then my Elite project will be pretty much finished... for now, anyway. 😀

I hope you've enjoyed it!

https://elite.bbcelite.com/

Last week I released fully documented source code for #Elite on the #Apple II.I've now added it to my Elite site, where it's...

Last week I released fully documented source code for #Elite on the #Apple II.

I've now added it to my Elite site, where it's syntax-coloured, cross-referenced, indexed and categorised.

So that's every 6502 Elite - done!

https://elite.bbcelite.com/apple/

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #c64 #bbcmicro

I've taken the original, extremely terse source files from the disks on Ian Bell’s site, and have converted them into a fully...

I've taken the original, extremely terse source files from the disks on Ian Bell’s site, and have converted them into a fully buildable source with a full and detailed commentary.

That's 57,000 lines of heavily commented 6502 assembly that explain how this classic game works... on 1977 technology.
My next step will be to add the commentary to my https://elite.bbcelite.com/ website.

When that's done, the site will cover all the official 6502 versions of Elite: BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, 6502 Second Processor, Commodore 64, Apple II, BBC Master, NES…plus Elite-A.

Full house! It’s only taken 5 years. 🫡

I'll also be writing some deep dives into the Apple version, as there are some really interesting aspects to this codebase.

Right on, Commanders!

I'm really proud to present my fully documented source code for #Elite on the #Apple II.This is the original 1986 source, recently...

I'm really proud to present my fully documented source code for #Elite on the #Apple II.

This is the original 1986 source, recently released by Ian Bell, with every single line of code explained.

It’s fascinating code. Enjoy!

https://github.com/markmoxon/elite-source-code-apple-ii

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #8bit #appleII

I am an #Elite fan, and I am an #Apple fan.I am documenting Apple II Elite.This bit saves commander files.Big chunks of it are taken...

I am an #Elite fan, and I am an #Apple fan.

I am documenting Apple II Elite.

This bit saves commander files.

Big chunks of it are taken straight from Apple DOS 3.3. The source code for Elite is on the left, the equivalent source code for DOS is on the right.

So this code is a proper mash-up of Bell and Braben with Woz and Wiggington.

I love this hobby!

#retrocomputing #retrogaming

Aleksi Eeben's conversion of #Elite for the #VIC20 has just been released, and it is absolutely fantastic!Find out more at...

Aleksi Eeben's conversion of #Elite for the #VIC20 has just been released, and it is absolutely fantastic!

Find out more at https://vic20elite.wordpress.com

When I annotated the #C64 source, this was exactly the kind of thing I hoped would happen. Right on, Commander! 🫡

#retrogaming #retrocomputing

I’m very close to finishing my 100% commentary of the source code for #Elite on the #Apple II (to reach a full house of all #6502 Elite...

I’m very close to finishing my 100% commentary of the source code for #Elite on the #Apple II (to reach a full house of all #6502 Elite disassemblies). Just some dashboard and disk routines to go - maybe done in 1-2 weeks?

Follow along at:

https://github.com/markmoxon/elite-source-code-apple-ii

#retrocomputing #retrogaming

New Elite deep dive: All about the BBC Micro disc versionFind out how Bell and Braben harnessed cutting-edge 1980s floppy disc technology to...

New Elite deep dive: All about the BBC Micro disc version

Find out how Bell and Braben harnessed cutting-edge 1980s floppy disc technology to make Elite even fancier.

(For the rich kids, anyway. Lucky sods!)

https://elite.bbcelite.com/deep_dives/docked_and_flight_code.html

#retrocomputing #retrogaming #c64 #apple #nes #bbcmicro #elite