[TI Basic] How to make link games in basic

Gert-Jan · Post by **Gert-Jan** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 12:24 pm

Hi, i just tried making a little link-game in basic, but it seems there is some kind of bug in the linking system.
Just try this
Calc 1:
While 1
1->A
End

Calc 2:
0->A
While 1
Get(A)
Disp A
End

What you will see is that calc 2 displays all the time 0, and doesnt get the A from calc one. Is there any way to solve this? or do i have to call for little ASM-progs in my basic prog, that do the linking for me?

threefingeredguy · Post by **threefingeredguy** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 1:13 pm

I was under the impression that Get and Send were used for CBR/CBL apps. GetCalc ought to work.

Gert-Jan · Post by **Gert-Jan** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 2:01 pm

no, i tried it, still doesnt work.

leofox · Post by **leofox** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 4:35 pm

Getcalc only works if the other calc is in idle mode (homescreen or input/prompt)

King Harold · Post by **King Harold** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 4:57 pm

leofox wrote:Getcalc only works if the other calc is in idle mode (homescreen or input/prompt)

That's probebly the most annoying thing in BASIC.
If the other calc is doing anything at all (and it usually is in games) it will fail.

so gert-jan you'll have to use ZCOM or any other asm program that will do the linking for you, or be creative and use omnicalcs LinkGet( and LinkSend( to send 1 byte at a time. (this really isn't the fastest way, but when you only have to send values between 0 and 255 it might be a good idea)

Saibot84 · Post by **Saibot84** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 5:19 pm

actually, i believe executing a "Pause" on one calc is enough for it to be considered in "idle" mode... so you will have to "Pause" in order for the calc to be able to send any data to the other calc

King Harold · Post by **King Harold** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 5:40 pm

That isn't practical in games though. Actually it isn't practical anywhere (well except some sort of BASIC file transfer programs)

Gert-Jan · Post by **Gert-Jan** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 7:08 pm

ye, that isnt possible in games then, what should be the best solution?

King Harold · Post by **King Harold** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 7:42 pm

CLAP, ZCOM, usb8x, or even the Omnicalc sendbyte if you only have to send a few bytes anyway

Gert-Jan · Post by **Gert-Jan** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 8:20 pm

ok, will try this in the morning. TY

Post by **kv83** » Sat 14 Oct, 2006 11:12 pm

I'm moving this to Programming Help, since that's where it belongs.

Gert-Jan · Post by **Gert-Jan** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 7:13 am

ok, sry, didn't know i putted it wrong

Timendus · Post by **Timendus** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 11:11 am

Easiest way is to use something like this in your game loop:

Code: Select all

"SWAP A BYTE IN B BETWEEN 2 CALCS
"EXPECTS CALC# IN A
If A=1
Then
B->W
1->V
Asm(prgmZCLAP
0->V
Asm(prgmZCLAP
W->B
Else
0->V
Asm(prgmZCLAP
B->V
W->B
V->W
1->V
Asm(prgmZCLAP
End
Return

Haven't tested this, but it's the theory that counts, not the implementation

Post by **Dwedit** » Sun 15 Oct, 2006 11:01 pm

Getcalc works if the other calc is at a Pause command, then it resumes the other calc.

thegamefreak0134 · Post by **thegamefreak0134** » Mon 16 Oct, 2006 12:57 pm

I have a nice little tutorial for calc linking, sort of. I lost it and the link, but it basically shows a nice loop between the two where you do nothing on one and it still sends the data. Whenever you getcalc on one calc, if the other is in pause mode and it sends the data, ut un-pauses (resumes as mentioned above) and continues on it's merry way. Think of this as a "wait to send my data" sort of thing. My theorey has always been to send a byte, then get a "confirmation" byte from the other end to make sure the data was recieved.

I also hear that the 83+SE and 84+SE have issues with the link port, unconfirmed of course. Anyone else know of this?