Let's Make a Space Shooter with Nintendo Family Basic

The article discusses the author's experience with the Nintendo Family BASIC package, which includes a cartridge and keyboard for programming on the Famicom. The author unboxes the package, noting the condition of the items and the presence of a battery backup in the cartridge, which is unusual for that era. After some initial troubleshooting, including cleaning the cartridge and ensuring the keyboard was connected, the author successfully accessed the BASIC interpreter. However, they encountered issues with the program storage, leading to a series of errors and garbage output. The author investigated the circuit and discovered that the battery backup switch was incorrectly labeled, causing confusion in the program-saving process. After replacing some wiring due to corrosion, the author learned the correct procedure for saving programs, which involved toggling the battery backup switch at the right time. The article highlights the challenges of using vintage technology and the intricacies of programming with Family BASIC.

- The author explores the Nintendo Family BASIC package for programming on the Famicom.

- The cartridge features a battery backup, which is rare for 8-bit games.

- Initial attempts to run the BASIC interpreter were unsuccessful until the keyboard was connected.

- The author faced issues with program storage and discovered a mislabeling of the battery backup switch.

- The article emphasizes the complexities of using vintage programming tools and troubleshooting hardware.