Introducing Vision BASIC 1.1 - 2-Button Game Controllers, Joysticks, Gamepads, Commodore 64 vs. Sega

[@BobbyCharlz]

I’m so glad I purchased this some time ago. Now, to make time to make some of these great possibilities come to life! Thank you for the video and inspiration.

[@visionbasic]

Keep me posted on your endeavors! :)

[@BobbyCharlz]

@@visionbasic thank you, will do!

[@endwigast5212]

MORE GAMES with 2-Button Controller Support: - A Pig Quest (2023, Piggy 18 Team). - Briley Witch Chronicles (2021, Witchsoft - Sarah Jane Avory). - Briley Witch Chronicles 2 (2023, Witchsoft - Sarah Jane Avory). - Zeta Wing II (2023, Witchsoft - Sarah Jane Avory). - Rocky and Co (2023, Psytronik Software).

[@visionbasic]

Thanks for adding to the list!

[@zeedee3929]

I think you may be incorrect about THEC64 Max/Mini. It is able to read two independent buttons. Sam's Journey for example uses one button to jump and another to pick up items(rocks etc) and other actions. It works well with my THE GAMEPAD and the Bulky joystick that was included. Hope this info is useful and thanks for the updates. I just need to download it and hopefully some printable pages that would update my manual. Perhaps the shipped firmware wasn't readable but the newest firmware build 1.6.1 (build date 12-17-2021) certainly does support multiple buttons.

[@visionbasic]

I wonder if the game uses a different technique to read those other buttons -- instead of the POTX and POTY lines. There are other protocols out there. Something to look into for sure...

[@zeedee3929]

@@visionbasic I believe THEC64 uses a modified version of Vice, if true then that would make it likely and or possible for THEC64 using the same or similar method that Vice uses.

[@visionbasic]

@@zeedee3929 The version of VICE that THEC64 uses is an older version that doesn't read POTX/POTY lines from an attached joystick (this is what I'm told). When I read the manual for THEC64 just now, it seems that the joystick buttons can be reconfigured to resemble key presses. This might be what Sam's Journey does. A "CJM" file is supposed to be used to reconfigure the joystick buttons. Does the Sam's Journey folder for THEC64 contain a CJM file? Honestly, I'm wanting THEC64 to support a second and third button via the POTX and POTY lines, but I'm not finding any useful information about this on the internet. Perhaps a request in their forums might be the way to go, but I don't know if they are actively supporting THEC64 anymore. Maybe they could incorporate ID's in the likes of PX and PY for POTX and POTY in the CJM file.

[@johnsmith1953x]

Some games had you press down or press the joystick in some other direction AND press the fire button to emulate a 2nd fire button click. The switches in the joystick each had their own on/off bit so this was doable too.

[@visionbasic]

I've always been super simple when playing games, so a simple joystick with a button or two is my kind of joystick. Today's controllers have too many buttons for my brain to handle, LOL.

[@milesdyck]

I had no idea it was possible to use two buttons on the C64. Would have been useful for throwing grenades in Commando!

[@endwigast5212]

To Commando fans: There's a modified version of Commando that provides 2-button support as shown in the list in the video. It's available for download at the repository provided in the video description above.

[@visionbasic]

Yeah, those paddle lines had been there all along. But I guess nobody thought to use them for the longest time (for extra buttons). But that needed delay certainly complicates things a little.

[@MarcFROMENT]

Hi ! I just ordered a Neoram this morning. I am very impatient to be able to install Vision BASIC on it :) Can I ask you to write us a small operating mode to show us how to install (and update) Vision BASIC from the floppy disk to this cartridge? What hardware do we need ? (Ultimate 64 ?) Thanks in advance from France :)

[@visionbasic]

You don't need any additional hardware -- you simply need to run Vision BASIC 1.1 with the GeoRAM cartridge in the C64 cartridge slot. Vision BASIC will copy itself to the GeoRAM's memory and use the rest for program space. This is all done automatically (when GeoRAM is the selected expanded memory). Keep in mind that GeoRAM memory is RAM, so it can always become corrupted via errant pokes. Don't use the GeoRAM with GEOS, for example -- Vision BASIC might be overwritten. But if the RAM gets overwritten or if the battery dies (make sure to replace it), just run Vision BASIC again and it will install itself to the cartridge. I recommend removing the cartridge when you're not using Vision BASIC, otherwise, important registers might be written over, causing the SYS57000 not to work. It's not the same as having everything in ROM chips, but it can save a lot on the Vision BASIC loading time, and having your last program still in memory is cool (though I recommend verifying the program just to be safe, especially near the end of the battery's life). I hope you got the battery-backed version of NeoRAM -- kind of important. Anyhow, if I'm misunderstanding the question, please let me know.

[@networkg]

Will their be an manual update we can download and add to our current manuals?

[@visionbasic]

All the new information is included in the download! I'll try to get the download ready tonight or tomorrow night by the latest. I wanted to get the video out sooner (I finished it maybe a week ago) but I had to get other things ready behind the scenes (including getting the new site graphics ready and updating the product descriptions, etc.).

[@knoxth]

@@visionbasic My download section in my account still only shows 1.0. Any ETA on when 1.1 will be ready to download? Thanks!

[@visionbasic]

@@knoxth I replaced the original files, so try again. The version number you see in the link will be changed as soon as I can get to it, but the actual download should be new. You can contact me in the forums if you have further issues.

[@RacerX-]

1.1 looks to be a good update. Thanks for the work you do on this it is a neat project.

[@visionbasic]

Thank you! I kept adding more stuff to this update, so it's definitely bigger than originally intended. I want to start work on a version 1.2 as soon as I can get the momentum going for that. The changes coming for that version won't be as "splashy" (stuff like adding an AUTO command and possibly revamping the RENUM command). Mostly changes "under the hood".