Atari 2600 Graphics Programming - Wil Lindsay

Atari 2600 Graphics Programming - Wil Lindsay
A presentation at Vintage Computer Festival East - October 8 2021
This class looks at how graphics are created using the Atari 2600’s subset of 6502 assembly language.

[@stephenwhite506]

"The more constraints the more opportunity for creativity". I agree. First time in my life I have heard an artist say and teach that. Usually I hear "Don't stife my creativity with your constraints".

[@vcfederation]

Nice insight!

[@stupossibleify]

Please can we have access to the files used in this fantastic presentation?

[@poorman-trending]

You mention a book at the end by Steve Hudd but don’t say the name. Can you let us know the name of the book?

[@matthewlister3755]

It's a book called Making Atari 2600 Games by Steven Hugg. You can find it on Amazon.

[@dellagustin]

Honestly, the TIA is too much brainf*ck for me. Counting CPU cycles to show a sprite in the right horizontal position is nuts. I'll never see an Atari game the same way again...

[@vcfederation]

Yeah. It's pretty crazy how it is done!

[@longdongsilver4719]

Maybe you should prepare your stuff before making a presentation. It would make everything more fluid and less painfull to watch/listen to.

[@stefanocrespi5424]

if you overcome the embarass of the pauses you're able to metabolize and put in line all the notions you've just heard. A good class also have to have good students.

[@longdongsilver4719]

​@@stefanocrespi5424 There are no bad students. Only bad teachers. And btw, I don't want to "metabolize" anything that sounds like ta piece of sh*t.

[@longdongsilver4719]

@@stefanocrespi5424 I'm doing technical conferences since 1992 and I would NEVER come in front of my audience unprepared like that. I'ts just a question of respect against my audience.

[@kingforaday8725]

Agree its disorganized. However, I dont know the circumstances of his presentation. As a presenter I have been ask at the last minute to do a presentation with no opportunity for preparation and had to make do with with I had at the moment. Very uncomfortable situation to be in but when you are ask by your employer or organization you work with you do the best you can.

[@dellagustin]

For me it was quite ok to follow, actually admired how much good the flow was even with the chaos of pulling content directly from the file manager.

[@stalepalemale]

So this guy is a teacher and doesn't even prepare or use a slide deck? Terrible. Real shame as its interesting content but annoying to watch.

[@talideon]

If you're relying on a slide deck, you probably aren't a good presenter.

[@vcfederation]

He had a great talk!

[@vcfederation]

Yeah. Slide decks are for support. Just look at Burger Becky. She does a great talk and doesn't use slides.