Musical Memory - Vic20

Title: Musical Memory
Platform: Unexpanded Commodore VIC-20
Video: PAL/NTSC
Interface: Joystick only
Game type: Simon Game clone
Written by: W E de Villiers
Copyright: 2020 eXimietas Software

Ralph Baer and Howard Morrison invented the Simon musical memory game. Baer later also became publically known because he sued Atari for copyright infringement over the game of Pong. He claimed that Pong was a knock-off of the Magnavox Odyssey. The matter was settled out of court with Atari paying an amount to Baer. In retrospect one can argue that although there were superficial similarities, Pong was definitely a superior game compared to the Odyssey. 

Although Baer invented many games and holds hundreds of patents, his legacy can best be demonstrated with the Simon game. Upon release it was an immediate hit and although a simple concept, it provided millions of kids and adults enjoyment for hours on end. The game plays a tune using four notes, which the player then has to emulate. The tune becomes longer in note quantity and eventually the players memory gets pushed to their utmost limits.

This version does not do a full emulation of all the additional game types and is just the standard game for a single player. If you were to look at the cover art for this game you will see the Musical Memory game gliding off a Star Trek original series transporter. This is homage to the Trek episode where an alien computer probe comes aboard the Enterprise and eventually tries to destroy the ship. There is a good reason why this image was made and simply put: This game is an alien!

The code got away from me at some point and got to be rather messy. Since the initial code completion every time I try to optimize or to change the code it breaks. Also the internal logic of the game code has become totally foreign to me. The result is that I have given up and so what has resulted is a bare bones game which resists attempts at alteration. Well so it goes.

Greetings

Huffelduff (User handle on the VIC-20 Denial forum)

Notice: This software is distributed as is without any warranty given or implied. You can copy the software for personal use. The source code remains the copyright of W E de Villiers and eXimietas software and all rights are reserved.