The latest Programmer vs World video takes a hands-on approach with the Foenix F256K2. The focus this time is the event command in SuperBASIC. This feature provides a clever way to display timed text, one character at a time—perfect for interactive fiction or stylized output.
The host begins by testing how often an event can trigger. A simple example prints “hi” once per second using event 1. It works perfectly on real hardware, unlike in the emulator. From there, the experiment evolves into something much more creative.
Creating a Typing Effect
To make the text display gradually, the host builds a small procedure. This procedure prints one character at a time with a short delay. The result looks like a human typing. To make it more realistic, a random delay is introduced between each character.
These small additions completely change how a game might feel. For a text-based adventure, the output becomes much more immersive. It adds personality without the need for complex code.
Playing with Multiple Events
The video also explores running more than one event at a time. The host uses event 2 to print a second message, creating an overlapping effect. While unsure whether SuperBASIC is truly multitasking, the system handles it well. This opens the door to multiple timed effects running in parallel.
At one point, the host considers building a Matrix-style text cascade. Though not implemented here, the idea is clearly possible. Custom characters and fast-ticking events could achieve a similar effect with enough creativity.
Figuring Out How event Works
Several tests follow to figure out the event command’s behavior. Different values are assigned to the event timer. The host realizes that the first parameter simply stores the number of ticks since it last fired. This turns event into a makeshift timer—useful when you want delay without sleep functions.
Eventually, the host saves the experiment as “typefun.basic.” This allows future reuse and builds a foundation for later enhancements. There’s also discussion about integrating sound effects later.
The session ends with the sense that this was just the beginning. SuperBASIC might not be flashy, but the event command adds something most BASIC environments lack—precise control over time-based behavior.
