COMMODORE 64 BASIC
From "Hello, C64!" to Complete Games
Learn to program the Commodore 64 using BASIC V2. This complete 64-lesson course takes you from absolute beginner to building sophisticated games with graphics, sound, and sprite animation. Every lesson is hands-on, practical, and ends with a working program you can actually run on real hardware or emulator.
Why Learn C64 BASIC in 2025?
The Commodore 64 was designed to be programmed. Turn it on and you're greeted with "READY." — the computer is literally waiting for your instructions. BASIC V2 might be 40+ years old, but it teaches fundamental programming concepts better than many modern languages because you see results immediately and have complete control over the hardware.
This isn't a history lesson—it's a programming course that happens to use a system where you can't hide behind frameworks and abstractions. You'll learn loops, conditionals, variables, arrays, functions, and data structures. You'll manipulate memory directly, control hardware, and understand what's actually happening when your code runs.
By Week 8, you'll have built a complete game from scratch. Not a tutorial that you follow blindly, but a real program that you understand completely, can modify, and can show off.
Your Learning Journey
Week 1: Fundamentals
PRINT, loops, colours, variables, keyboard input, IF/THEN. Build a number guessing game.
Weeks 2-3: Structure
FOR loops, arrays, strings, sound basics, data storage. Build animation and interactive programs.
Weeks 4-7: Systems & Motion
Sprites, scrolling cameras, states, AI bursts, menus, power-ups, optimisation. Build arcade scenes that feel alive and connected.
Week 8: Limits & Reflection
Feel tuning, optimisation, machine-code bridges, retrospectives. Decide what moves to assembly next.
Course Curriculum
BASIC Fundamentals
PRINT, screen control, loops, colours, variables, keyboard input, conditional logic
Structured Programming
Arrays, subroutines, strings, DATA statements, nested loops, functions, state machines
Living Worlds
Screen memory, color memory, PETSCII art, sprite basics, movement, SID sound, collision
Game Systems
sprite primer, motion, animation, collision, HUD, random events, AI, Circuit Run mini-game
Maps & Motion
Paging cameras, DATA-driven levels, smooth scrolling, vertical control, AI, collision layers, Scroll Runner
Game Logic
Finite states, random AI, projectiles, power-ups, difficulty curves, high scores, Cosmic Clash
Under the Hood
Libraries, title flows, menus, multi-level loaders, cutscenes, debugging, optimisation, Galactic Miner
Hitting the Limits
Feel tuning, advanced optimisation, machine-code bridges, performance thresholds, course retrospective
📚 Pattern Library
33 battle-tested patterns extracted from all 64 lessons. Copy-paste ready code for sprites, input, game loops, state machines, HUD, menus, sound, data loading, and performance optimization. Each pattern includes 5-6 variations, common mistakes, and complete integration examples.
Ready to Code Like It's 1982?
Turn on your Commodore 64 (or fire up VICE emulator), see that friendly "READY." prompt, and let's start programming. No installation, no configuration, no package managers—just you, the computer, and the joy of making something work.
Begin Week 1: BASIC Fundamentals