Sean's Amstrad CPC homepage

During the 1990s I contributed type-ins and the odd article to Amstrad Action and Amstrad Computer User. In 1993, I wrote the advanced Amstrad Basic programming book 'The Basic Idea'. Now you can download my programs from this website and read the book in full online.

Amstrad emulator and web fun

Download my free Amstrad CPC games and utilities
You can download a disc image which contains nearly all the games and utilities I wrote for Amstrad Action and Amstrad Computer User. It also includes all the demonstration files from my book 'The Basic Idea', which you can read online below. Here's a preview of my disc:

How to use a CPC emulator on your PC
Play popular Amstrad games using a free Amstrad emulator on your PC. Read my instructions for using Winape here.

Free retrogames and Amstrad CPC links
More places to indulge your passion for classic machines and computer games of the 80s, including links to sources of free games.

CPC Software and hardware auctions
If you're looking for tapes or other accessories for your machine, or just want to pick up an old Amstrad computer to start over again, read this digest of the latest online auctions in Amstrad goodies. There are often bargains available for keen retro gamers.

Amstrad CPC Scene map
Leave your mark on the CPC World!

Play my Javascript Games in your browser now
I'm now writing games you can play in your browser using Javascript.

Amstrad book review

Book review: The Apprentice by Alan Sugar
Read my review of Alan Sugar's book accompanying the TV series.

The Basic Idea - Amstrad Basic tutorial

This Amstrad Basic programming tutorial was commercially published as 'The Basic Idea' by Campursoft and was awarded 85% in Amstrad Action's review (May 1994), which concluded "it's difficult to see how Campursoft managed to come up with a tutorial that will not only hold your attention long enough to shove information down your throat, but will be friendly and straightforward enough that you'll want to swallow."

B is for Basic
This article introducing Amstrad Basic appeared in Wacci as part of its 'A-Z' of the Amstrad, and introduces Amstrad Basic and the programming culture that surrounded the machine.

A comedy of errols
How to debug Amstrad Basic programs, including a quick lookup table for each error message.

Downgrading
How to make programs for the Amstrad CPC6128 or CPC664 work on the 464. Includes a table of commands that don't work on the 464, and a routine to add FILL to the CPC.

The protection racket
How to protect your Basic programs, and circumvent some of the common protection methods.

A character building experience
Exploring user defined graphics, used for creating customised typefaces and special effects. This section includes a lookup table of control codes, together with demonstrations of how they can be used for screen layout.

The colour of magic
By using colour swapping, whole screens can be quickly animated. This includes several demonstrations of the technique and full instructions to use it in your own programs.

This is a journey into sound
How to write sound effects and music for your games, including a sound effects editing program.

The road to code
How to integrate machine code with Basic programs. This includes a program for making DATA statements from code and some tips on using CALL and relocating machine code programs.

The sprite idea
A full toolkit for putting machine code sprites into your Basic games is included on the disc. This extends the version which appeared on an Amstrad Action covertape with a more precise and more compact sprite driver.

Misfit
Bringing a lot of these techniques together is our final game, the sliding puzzle game Misfit.

Spanish translation

My Amstrad pages are being translated into Spanish by Andrés Más Torrecillas.