PHASE 0: BASIC GATEWAY
Your Foundation for Assembly Programming
Learn C64 BASIC V2 from first principles through 64 focused lessons organized into 4 progressive tiers. Build complete games while mastering fundamentals that prepare you for pure assembly programming. This is your gateway to the metal.
What You'll Learn
Phase 0 teaches complete C64 game development in BASIC V2. You'll start with your first PRINT statement and build progressively to smooth-scrolling arcade games with sprites, AI, and sound. Every tier ends with working games you can play and share.
By Tier 4, you'll understand BASIC's performance limits and be ready to transition to pure 6502 assembly in Phase 1. No prior programming experience required—just curiosity and a C64 (real or emulated).
Fundamentals & Structure
PRINT, loops, variables, arrays, subroutines, text parsing, state machines, error handling
Living Worlds & Sprites
Multi-room systems, data-driven design, VIC-II sprites, animation, collision, HUD, AI
Scrolling & Game Logic
Camera systems, smooth scrolling, 2-axis physics, projectiles, power-ups, persistence
Polish & Performance
Libraries, menus, cutscenes, debugging, optimization, machine-code bridges, performance analysis
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Boot your C64, wait for the "READY." prompt, and let's build something amazing. The journey of a thousand programs begins with a single PRINT statement.
Start Lesson 1: Talk to Me →