🎮DONKEY.BAS: The Game That Shipped With IBM PC DOS in 1982
The game that came pre-installed on your first PC
TL;DR
DONKEY.BAS, a demo game shipped with early IBM PC DOS in 1982, showcases the system's color graphics and sound capabilities. It was written by two individuals, one of whom co-founded Microsoft.
DONKEY.BAS, a demo game included with early IBM PC DOS systems since 1982, demonstrates the machine’s color graphics and sound capabilities via BASICA. This simple lane-switching game, created by two developers including a future Microsoft founder, highlights the system's multimedia potential. The original source code is now available on GitHub, allowing enthusiasts to recreate or modify it in JavaScript while preserving its nostalgic charm.
Key Points
DONKEY.BAS was included with IBM PC DOS starting in 1982 to showcase system features.
The original game was written by two individuals, one of whom co-founded Microsoft.
Version 1.10 of DONKEY.BAS was released in 1982, featuring lane-switching gameplay.
DONKEY.BAS demonstrates color graphics and sound capabilities via BASICA programming.
A JavaScript recreation of the original game is available on GitHub for enthusiasts.
Why It Matters
If you're a retro computing enthusiast or interested in early PC development, DONKEY.BAS's availability online offers insights into IBM’s marketing strategy. The game's source code and modern recreations provide educational value for understanding historical software limitations and capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
If you're a retro computing enthusiast or interested in early PC development, DONKEY.BAS's availability online offers insights into IBM’s marketing strategy. The game's source code and modern recreations provide educational value for understanding historical software limitations and capabilities.
What happened?
DONKEY.BAS, a demo game shipped with early IBM PC DOS in 1982, showcases the system's color graphics and sound capabilities. It was written by two individuals, one of whom co-founded Microsoft.
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