Working on a text-mode word puzzle targeting XT/256MB/MDA \ VOGONS

Working on a text-mode word puzzle targeting XT/256MB/MDA

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First post, by 4xtx

Posted on 2023-10-29, 11:19

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During a recent itch.io dos game jam I created xyWords - a simple word game targeting IBM-PC XT and 4-color graphics.
It was a fairly complete project and even managed to stretch in a puzzle editor.
All done in Quickbasic 4.5 - a language I hadn't touched in about 25 years and the first programming project I've done in a decade or so..

Anyway, I felt motivated to give myself another challenge and rewrite the game targeting MDA / text-mode and 256KB of RAM.
So far I've got the game up and running, all the puzzles work and I'm now working on the event handling and collections mode.
As a stretch I'm adding multiple player profiles, record keeping and statistics.

It's been a fun re-acquaintance with this prehistoric programming environment with its odd quirks and limitations.
When I'm done I'll put the source up on github or something so everyone can point and laugh

screenshots below are of the original game in CGA and the new game in MDA both playing the same puzzle
Https://4am.org/xywords/xymda.zip - Download here
https://github.com/techdistractions/xymda - Source here
https://youtu.be/t9bzgmPVmJQ?si=dCZduE-_6SNT12ZV - Video of the game in action

Last edited by 4xtx on 2025-04-23, 12:30. Edited 1 time in total.

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@techdistractions

Reply 1 of 7, by TuesdaysGone

Posted on 2023-11-01, 16:00

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Thanks for sharing and great job¡ Being a programmer myself, I always enjoy seeing what others are creating. Looking forward to the finished product!

Best wishes,

Tony.

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Reply 2 of 7, by Jo22

Posted on 2023-11-04, 13:59

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Very interesting, I second that. 🙂 👍
Makes me wonder if the game will run on early MS-DOS Compatible PCs.
These aren't IBM compatible, but can run text-mode programs using MS-DOS API/ABI.
Some also have a PC BIOS simulator. The original Tetris ran on such PCs, if I remember correctly. And Norton Commander could be patched.

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Reply 3 of 7, by BitWrangler

Posted on 2023-11-04, 15:50

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Nice, reminds me of an android app I used to play a lot called Wordscapes, which used to be decent 5 years ago, but turned into an Ad streaming app that lets you play a word game a few times an hour.

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Reply 4 of 7, by 4xtx

Posted on 2023-11-05, 09:10

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BitWrangler wrote on 2023-11-04, 15:50:

Nice, reminds me of an android app I used to play a lot called Wordscapes, which used to be decent 5 years ago, but turned into an Ad streaming app that lets you play a word game a few times an hour.

I'm glad you mention this 😀
I played the IOS variant for about a decade and am a very big fan.
The game is definitely a nod to wordscapes and in the original CGA game I even wrote as much in the release notes

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@techdistractions

Reply 5 of 7, by 4xtx

Posted on 2023-11-05, 09:16

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Jo22 wrote on 2023-11-04, 13:59:
Very interesting, I second that. 🙂 👍 Makes me wonder if the game will run on early MS-DOS Compatible PCs. These aren't IBM compa […]
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Very interesting, I second that. 🙂 👍
Makes me wonder if the game will run on early MS-DOS Compatible PCs.
These aren't IBM compatible, but can run text-mode programs using MS-DOS API/ABI.
Some also have a PC BIOS simulator. The original Tetris ran on such PCs, if I remember correctly. And Norton Commander could be patched.

Thank you 😀
Well it's just written in QB 4.5 so anything that can run a compiled EXE should be fine.
I've never really looked into what the requirements for a compiled QB 4.5 EXE is but in my experimentation DOS 2.11, 192KB RAM and MDA running SCREEN 0 (80 column text) seems to be all it needs.
One thing to note regarding BIOS is obviously I am using extended ASCII chars heavily, but the game doesn't "need it" to work.
It wouldn't be too difficult to patch in substitute ASCII codes for a BIOS that has some trouble with it.

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@techdistractions

Reply 6 of 7, by 4xtx

Posted on 2023-11-05, 09:17

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TuesdaysGone wrote on 2023-11-01, 16:00:

Thanks for sharing and great job¡ Being a programmer myself, I always enjoy seeing what others are creating. Looking forward to the finished product!

Best wishes,

Tony.

Thank you Tony 😀
This has been just a little distracting hobby, but it has been fun to have a go after many many years

YT: https://www.youtube.com/@techdistractions