Open Source Programming On The UK PSX2

Anonymous Coward writes: "According to this article at www.ComputerandVideogames.com the demo disc included with PS2 in Europe will come with a fun programming utility called YABASIC (Yet Another BASIC). YABASIC is an open source language that allows for the creation of simple routines, including rudimentary 3D. The programs created will be saved on memory cards. Isn't the purpose of buying a PSX2 so you don't have to play old- looking games?"

Comments

This could be a way to get kids into programming.

[|deity|]

When I was just learning to program I remember the coolest thing was figuring out how to make simple games. Kids today have a hard time making graphical programs under windows or even linux. If this makes it easy to make quick fun programs maybe more kids will become interested in programming.

I support anything that allows people to look under the hood and see how computers are programmed, this could be a good introduction to programming logic. Children could quickly learn the limitations and abilities of computers.

I don't particularly like basic, but it is an easy language to use for beginners.

This is a good thing

[psocccer]

This is definately a good thing as maybe it will get those demo coders off their butts, maybe, just maybe, Future Crew will make a re-appearance. :)

Add kidding aside, this is a good thing, however you look at it. First off, it lets all us geeks play around with the PS2 without getting out a custom burner and forking over thousands of $$. If someone figures out how to pull the programs off the cards, I could easily see some people learning some nifty peeks and pokes to make the PS2 do some tricks and it could build a community.

Which get's me off to the other good thing. Allowing something to be modified by end users has always proven to be good, just look at the popularity of mods among the FPS's out there. I don't know how you would input code on this, but if it's easy then someone's gonna get bored and come up with some cool stuff. And if they've found an easy way to create code on the PS2, then maybe mod development would extend to the consoles. Wouldn't it be cool to be able to reprogram those street fighter characters or the snipers in syphon filter?

Game programmers are learning that scripting brings about easier content creation, leaving more for the artists requiring less programmer intervention, making better games in less time, and with some of the more creative mods, things that the developers probably never dreamed of, and since the power gamers eat this stuff up, it forms more of a gaming community and can only help to push the creativity of gaming further. I just hope other companies see this, and hopefully implement something similar for their games.

10 PRINT "What's the point?" : GOTO 10

[IO ERROR]

The usefulness in this isn't to play old looking games, or even to port classics like Asteriods, even though I'm sure a few people will do just that. Think exposing the next generation of kids to game programming. Or programming in general.
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BASIC's back

[fonebone]

Sell this to sony:

10 PRINT "Pick a number: ";
20 INPUT num
30 PRINT "You typed ", num
40 GOTO 10

the whole point of this...

[confidential]

"The European launch of the PlayStation 2 isn't far away, and in an effort to lower costs to the consumer, Sony Corp is striving to negotiate with the UK to reclassify the PlayStation 2 as a computer, which will put it in a lower tariff category. With it's current classification, the PlayStation 2 will carry a 2.2% levy. Sony is even willing to take this issue to the World Trade Organisation. The UK has already rejected the idea that the PlayStation 2 was a computer, commenting that it was not significantly different from the PlayStation." Think i'm blowing out of my arse, look here... They're doing it to get into the lower tariff's, not to encourage newbie programmers =P. If you can program for it, the more you can make an appeal to call it a computer.