The Apollo Moon Lander simulator chronicles the adaptation of a C program into Commodore 64/128 BASIC formats, merging retro computing with space simulation. Its real-time joystick controls enhance gameplay authenticity, mirroring the astronaut experience via communication delays and adaptive algorithms, demonstrating the harmonic evolution of technology and gamification.
Author: George McGinn
George McGinn is a seasoned computer scientist with over 45 years of experience in information and computer science. He holds a degree in Computer Science and is also a science writer, astronomer, and cosmologist. Currently, his work focuses on integrating modern technologies like Linux, AI, and IoT with traditional computing skills. He is passionate about developing applications for single-board computers, such as Raspberry Pi, and exploring the potential of 8-bit systems for secure computing. George has a diverse background in mainframe, web, WAN, and LAN technologies, with expertise in programming languages including COBOL, PL/1, Python, C/C++, and QB64. His projects often involve AI API integration, LLM model training, and innovative uses of AI in IoT applications. In addition to his technical pursuits, George is a member of the IEEE and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). He has worked on various research projects and has experience in data science technologies like data warehousing and big data.
Moon Lander Simulator: A Text-Based Ode to Apollo-Era Engineering
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong's heartbeat doubled as he manually guided Apollo 11's Lunar Module to a safe landing with just 30 seconds of fuel left. Now, developers can relive that tension in an open-source terminal game written in C, Python, QB64, and FreeBASIC. This multi-language project fuses 1960s aerospace engineering with modern physics simulation, offering a unique blend of history, science, and interactive gameplay.
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QB64/QB64PE & Other BASIC Language Support for Visual Studio Code
The QB64/QB64PE language support extension for Visual Studio Code provides enhanced syntax highlighting and language support for QB64/QB64PE and related BASIC dialects, making it easier for developers to work with .bas, .bi, .bm, and .inc files.
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Introducing Vintage BASIC Software
Vintage BASIC and games helped define my career, and today the games I played on my high school math department's computer became the model or template for many of the popular games today.
George McGinn – Computer Scientist, Researcher & Writer 