Starting AMOS?

[Beowulf]

Is it worthwhile getting into AMOS? The reason im asking is because I have a chance of buying an Easy Amos kit on ebay.

[SamuraiCrow]

Save your money and download it from Back to the Roots.  If you must get a manual for it there is the AmosPro manual at Software Hut but it is $21.95 .

Also be sure to download the AMCAF extension and all of the update disks from Back to the Roots.  That will bring you up to the latest version with compiler: 2.0 .

[benJamin]

Apart from the lack of a physical manual, you should be able to get hold of (the far better) AMOS Pro from Back2Roots (assuming the download is still there, I'll check [ed: checked]).

The online manual is sufficient if you have half a clue, the forums discussed elsewhere here will help you get started.

Generally, AMOS is good to begin getting your head around the BASICs of game development, but I would recommend AmiBlitz (Blitz Basic) if you wish to do more solid Intuition development.

In the end, however, all roads lead to C, so, if you're feeling game, you might start there by downloading GCC and it's associated files from the 'gg' directory of Aminet and looking for some 'Kernal Manuals' on eBay (other people may give you less broad hints, but its only my lunch break and I don't have that much time  :-P )

benJamin
"Spells like teen's on spirits."

[Beowulf]

Thanks Samuri and Ben,

 Checked out the Back to Roots site. I see there is like a tutorial and example disk for one version. Where can I get the online manual Aminet?

[SamuraiCrow]

When you start AmosPro there is a help menu.  When you select from this menu it brings up the online help window with its form of a manual.  It doesn't tell you much, however, so I wouldn't rule out buying a manual if you're new to Amos.

[benJamin]

If you have all seven disks, you should have the examples refered to in the manual.  If you load them and use the 'Monitor' (F5 or summat, IIRC), you can step through the programs and see what each command does.

If you want to really be confused, load in the sprite editor (object editor) and single step through that.

The original AMOS manual was pretty well structured and written, but I generally find the 'hands on' approach more effective.


benJamin
"Wasn't Amos that guy what killed himself in that movie about the old-folks home where the nurse was corrupt?"

[Lonewolf10]

I recommend AMOS Pro 2.X (up to 255 banks, in theory).


As for help, you'll find plenty of AMOS help here and at these sites:


http://www.liquido2.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMOS-LIST



If you have programmed in BASIC before, many of the main commands (PRINT, PLOT, CLS etc.) will be familiar



I do also own a version of Blitz Basic (plus a photocopied version of the manual), but it seemed a little too complicated for my liking.... but by this time I had already been playing with AMOS/AMOS Pro for 4 years.




Regards,
Lonewolf10