PICK A PATTERN
By Ron Picardi
Unpublished ARCADIAN Submission


Notes by Adam Trionfo:

PICK A PATTERN allows you to make your own patterns, which works... but I don't 
really know how to choose options that make good patterns.  The random element 
(option 2 on the menu) makes some of the most random, ultra-cool video art that 
I've ever seen on the Bally system!  I let it run for a while now and I snapped 
pictures of the coolest-looking output.

It's too bad that Ron Picardi didn't simplify this program and eliminate 
options 1 and 3, which require LOTS of user input.  This probably would have 
made the program publishable (and much shorter in length).  As it is, it 
stands, I believe, as one of the most interesting (probably THE most 
interesting video art program) on the Bally (in either published or unpublished 
format).  The only issue that I have with it is that some of the art it makes 
takes a long time to finish.  This is because it's totally random for how many 
iteration each drawing cycle runs.  I guess that's also part of the beauty of 
the program.

Ron included rudimentary instructions on how to use PICK A PATTERN with in his 
program submission letter.  Although Ron's documentation may seem long, they 
are basic on the details:

Design your own computer art.

Menu

1. Design
2. Random Pattern
3. Squares

0 Returns to menu

Random pattern is programmed by the computer.
Design and Squares are user-programmed.  The user would need to play with this 
to figure out what it does.

Design

1) 60 to 60 step?
2) 30 to 30 step? Try 10 or 20
3) For 1 to?
4) Box?
5) Step?
6) Repeat?
7) Step?

3-7 - Try various numbers from 1-30.

Color - Input a number from 0 to 32
8) FC
9) BC

Music? 1 or 0 (Yes or No)
1 GO 1 Reset 1 Runs Program
When done 0 Menu 1 repeats 2 gives a print out


Squares

1) FOR 1 TO ? - Try 30
2) STEP ? - Try 2 to 5
3) BOX? - Try 30
4) STEP - Try 2 to 5

1 - Single Box - Will do one square
2 - 2 Boxes - Will do two squares
3 - Rectangle - Will do one rectangle

Music? This sets &(20)
FC - Input from 0 to 32
BC - Input from 0 to 32

When the program is over, E appears.
Input 1, or 2 or 3.  This will re-RUN the boxes to mix your pattern.  Any other 
input returns to menu.

Have fun designing.


Archive Notes:

The BALLY BASIC, 300-baud version of "New Ghost" was converted to "AstroBASIC"
using Jay Fenton's 300 BAUD TO 2000 BAUD TAPE CONVERTER from the "AstroBASIC"
manual.  No changes were made to the original program.  The sound in this 
program may not work properly due to differences in the way that BALLY BASIC 
and "AstroBASIC" handle the sound ports.

I've tested the archived PICK A PATTERN in both Bally BASIC and AstroBASIC.  
The AstroBASIC conversion loses sound, but for what it loses in sound it makes 
up for in its' speed gain.

Three programs were on one tape in the Bob Fabris Collection:

1) NEW GHOST [Revision] - This is a revision of HALLOWEEN GHOST by
   James Wilkinson, originally printed in ARCADIAN 2, no. 10
   (Sep. 17, 1980): 103-104.
 
2) POP ART - This was printed as CIRCLES in ARCADIAN 3, no. 7
   (May 08, 1981): 77.

3) PICK A PATTERN - Unpublished Arcadian submission.

The programs were on the tapes labeled as:

1) New Ghost, Pop Art Pick A Pattern by Dr. Daley (300 baud)(raw).wav - 
contained NEW GHOST.

2) New Ghost, Pop Art Pick A Pattern by Dr. Daley (reverse) (300 baud)(raw).wav 
- Contained POP ART and PICK A PATTERN.
