This looks like the classic fire effect: generate rising flames by averaging pixels below each output pixel, and randomize the last row.
I remember this effect because there was a competition[1] where every entry was a fire effect in 256 bytes, and I was amazed at the simplicity of the core algorithm.
Author answered below, but dithering techniques like these were common on old computers like the C64 and others, due to the limited ammount of graphics colors available ( 16 colors on C64 if I remember correctly), plus there were usually limitations on how many colors you could use within one 8x8 block , commonly 2 - 1 foreground , and one background color. C64 had a multicolor mode with 1 background, and 3 forground color. But that was still just 4 colors (out of 16 available ) usuable for each 8x8 character block. However switching to multicolor mode took you from high resolution ( 200x320 px) to low res ( 200x160 px) - and yes thats for the entire screen (25 x 40 chars)
Originally, sort of. But also to work around limitations in GIF (which is palette-based; but see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIF#True_color) and because people didn't always have true-colour monitors (or ran the monitor in a different mode due to VRAM restrictions) anyway.
In today's context, more for the aesthetic, presumably.
I have an actual original C-64 from around 1986. I got it recapped a few years back and it worked! Now the floppy and tape drives gather dust: it has USB 8)
Oh and I have an original Quickshot II, which still works despite "Daley Thomson's Decathalon".
I'm going to give it to my son in law this Chrimbo - "Attack of the mutant camels" and "Matrix" etc needs new players.
This is very nice, enjoyment-driven, seasonal hacking. Cool.
Brought back happy memories of the much simpler, much less impressive falling snowflakes animation, complete with Silent Night soundtrack, that I laboriously wrote in Basic on my Vic-20 one Christmas back in the 80s.
Fwiw, the c64 is pretty robust, if you don't use the original power supplies.
I'm surprised that people find this to be an example of clickbait. If I cared about views, I'd imagine an honest title like - "I turned my c64 into a digital fireplace" - would have probably been more appealing, no?
I recapped a C64C I bought second hand recently, using premium Japanese 105C capacitors off the shelf on akihabara, minus the huge axial one I ordered a modern, extremely durable replacement for.
I tested every cap I removed, all of them nichicons from the mid 80s. They all measured to spec.
So it was kinda pointless at the end. Sure, it is going to be good for a few more decades, alongside the 1571 Ultimate II-L.
(yes, I replaced the original PSU. I bought separate modern, safe 9vac and 5vdc PSUs and an adapter to join them into the C64 power connector)
Didn't need the click-bait title. I would have read it regardless (and did). I wish there had been a PRG or D64 included for the non-programmers. Fun read!
Author, fwiw, I don't do/care about click-bait, as I never cared about clicks. Since I moved to my bespoke blog system (previously I was on blogspot) I don't even track page views. But I thought it was somewhat funny.
Eh, if only I had one. I have some relatives living next to me through and I think I remember an old TV in their basement, I might check it out, that's a good idea.
This looks like the classic fire effect: generate rising flames by averaging pixels below each output pixel, and randomize the last row.
I remember this effect because there was a competition[1] where every entry was a fire effect in 256 bytes, and I was amazed at the simplicity of the core algorithm.
[1] https://www.pouet.net/party.php?which=1791&when=1996
Note to readers: the heavily dithered websafe thumbnails lead to full-color photos when clicked.
(And, once, also HDR.)
Why is it dithered like this? To save bandwidth? I wasn't on the internet much before 2010, so maybe this is an old technique you don't see anymore.
Author answered below, but dithering techniques like these were common on old computers like the C64 and others, due to the limited ammount of graphics colors available ( 16 colors on C64 if I remember correctly), plus there were usually limitations on how many colors you could use within one 8x8 block , commonly 2 - 1 foreground , and one background color. C64 had a multicolor mode with 1 background, and 3 forground color. But that was still just 4 colors (out of 16 available ) usuable for each 8x8 character block. However switching to multicolor mode took you from high resolution ( 200x320 px) to low res ( 200x160 px) - and yes thats for the entire screen (25 x 40 chars)
Originally, sort of. But also to work around limitations in GIF (which is palette-based; but see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIF#True_color) and because people didn't always have true-colour monitors (or ran the monitor in a different mode due to VRAM restrictions) anyway.
In today's context, more for the aesthetic, presumably.
2 replies →
it seems obvious for nostalgic reasons
only most do
Just in time I received my brand new Commodore 64 Ultimate directly before Christmas. What a lovely made piece of retro hardware.
I have an actual original C-64 from around 1986. I got it recapped a few years back and it worked! Now the floppy and tape drives gather dust: it has USB 8)
Oh and I have an original Quickshot II, which still works despite "Daley Thomson's Decathalon".
I'm going to give it to my son in law this Chrimbo - "Attack of the mutant camels" and "Matrix" etc needs new players.
I'm hoping mine shows up in time for me to get in a little Maniac Mansion. It sounds so good on a real SID chip!
This is very nice, enjoyment-driven, seasonal hacking. Cool.
Brought back happy memories of the much simpler, much less impressive falling snowflakes animation, complete with Silent Night soundtrack, that I laboriously wrote in Basic on my Vic-20 one Christmas back in the 80s.
Why would you put pics with less colors in them than c64 ? They are not even small?! (yes I now I can waste time to click one to see proper one)
Spoiler: nah, he just coded a fire effect on his c64.
There was apparently a demo party a while back where a Tiki 100 actually caught fire.
i thought this was going to involve capacitor plague. rather a retro dive into coding an 8bit digital fireplace.
Definitely a clickbait title. I thought it'd be about those infamous Rifa caps.
Fwiw, the c64 is pretty robust, if you don't use the original power supplies.
I'm surprised that people find this to be an example of clickbait. If I cared about views, I'd imagine an honest title like - "I turned my c64 into a digital fireplace" - would have probably been more appealing, no?
1 reply →
I recapped a C64C I bought second hand recently, using premium Japanese 105C capacitors off the shelf on akihabara, minus the huge axial one I ordered a modern, extremely durable replacement for.
I tested every cap I removed, all of them nichicons from the mid 80s. They all measured to spec.
So it was kinda pointless at the end. Sure, it is going to be good for a few more decades, alongside the 1571 Ultimate II-L.
(yes, I replaced the original PSU. I bought separate modern, safe 9vac and 5vdc PSUs and an adapter to join them into the C64 power connector)
Didn't need the click-bait title. I would have read it regardless (and did). I wish there had been a PRG or D64 included for the non-programmers. Fun read!
Author, fwiw, I don't do/care about click-bait, as I never cared about clicks. Since I moved to my bespoke blog system (previously I was on blogspot) I don't even track page views. But I thought it was somewhat funny.
I think not enough people today have ever seen the message "printer on fire".
Made me think of the IT Crowd screensaver:
https://youtu.be/KH_0uybs93I
Which was a result of:
https://youtu.be/1EBfxjSFAxQ
This is particularly awesome cause I can't imagine anyone thinking of making a fake fireplace with a computer screen in the c64 era.
> https://c0de517e.com/026_c64fire/cozy.jpg
That should have been a real CRT monitor to give this picture a true feeling of the 80s!
Simulated 14" portable TV fascia with tuning knob* and mono speaker grille.
*set to channel 36, natch
> set to channel 36, natch
Was that specific to C64? I recall old consoles and VCRs using either channel 3 or 4.
1 reply →
Eh, if only I had one. I have some relatives living next to me through and I think I remember an old TV in their basement, I might check it out, that's a good idea.
[dead]