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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 21m

Fun fact: The first #shareware program I wrote was a blackjack game for the #Amiga. It was distributed using Fred Fish disks in computer clubs and BBS’s and people would send me money in the mail for the deluxe version and I would mail the game to them. Pre-Internet times seem like a lifetime ago.

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 6h

I am this years old. #Amiga Fred Fish disks.

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 4d

WIP: This week for my @circuitpython.org game running on the @adafruit.com #FruitJam, I worked on some physics, created a ship graphic, added text to the display and updated the screen graphics. I think it is coming along nicely.

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 6d

WIP: New project. Starting simple, I'm working on the mechanics/physics of a re-imagined #retro game from the past. @circuitpython.org @adafruit.com #FruitJam

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 11d

Fun fact: text stored in a story file for a #ZMachine game (i.e. #Zork) is encoded as 5 bits, so 3 characters could be stored in 2 bytes(16 bits). Every byte counted back in the day. Didn't know there was a history using 5 bits for text. Thanks @anneb.bsky.social !
blog.adafruit.com/2025/09/30/s...

blog.adafruit.com

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 11d

My college years saw big changes in computer technology. As a freshman we used punch cards for computer assignments. Later years we switched to terminals and in my senior year the Apple Macintosh 128K arrived on campus.

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 12d

I wrote a brief history of the making of the CPZ Machine. #Zork #ZMachine @circuitpython.org @adafruit.com #fruitjam.

danthegeek.com/2025/09/29/c...

Using CircuitPython For Running a Z Machine? Yes!

For several years I have been thinking about how cool it would be to have a CircuitPython-based Z Machine for running Zork and similar adventure games. Unfortunately, no one had written one that I kno...

danthegeek.com

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 12d

I have fixed all the known bugs to date and I have all the initial features I want so I have released the first production (i.e. non-beta) version of the CPZ Machine. #Zork #ZMachine @circuitpython.org @adafruit.com #FruitJam

github.com/ZContent/CPZ...

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 17d

FYI if you are looking for a maze algorithm, I wrote a learn guide about one here:

learn.adafruit.com/epaper-maze-...

Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 17d

Fruit Jam now runs #Zork with the CPZ Machine emulator.
github.com/ZContent/CPZ...

GitHub - ZContent/CPZ_Machine: A native Z Machine for the Adafruit Fruit Jam running Circuit Python for playing Zork and similar games

A native Z Machine for the Adafruit Fruit Jam running Circuit Python for playing Zork and similar games - ZContent/CPZ_Machine

github.com

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 18d

Airbnb

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 18d

Working for a value added reseller at the time, we sold a few of these for use with AutoCAD. We affectionately called it "the pizza box". A few years later, Sun came out with the SPARC classic, which we affectionally called it "the personal pizza box".

Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 19d

Finally I have a video captured screen shot of my CPZ Machine playing #Zork. The font can be changed in the program. The included fonts allow screen sizes from 64x22 (this screen shot) to 106x40 characters.

Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 19d

Use this link for the latest version (the version in the post is already outdated):
github.com/ZContent/CPZ...

Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 19d

My next t-shirt. #Zork

Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 19d

Lots of updates and fixes recently for the CPZ Machine, the #ZMachine emulator for #CircuitPython and the
@adafruit.com #FruitJam. Latest version is 1.0.5. If you have had trouble running it, download the latest version here:
github.com/ZContent/CPZ...

Releases · ZContent/CPZ_Machine

A native Z Machine for the Adafruit Fruit Jam running Circuit Python for playing Zork and similar games - ZContent/CPZ_Machine

github.com

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 19d

A blinking cursor adds a retro look to my #Zork #ZMachine running on #CircuitPython and the @adafruit.com #FruitJam

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 22d

New version is now out to fix a bug, recommended. github.com/ZContent/CPZ...

Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 22d

Version 1.0.1 of my CPZ Machine project was just released to fix a bug where the program would no longer listen to you after entering a blank line (how rude!).Recommended update. @circuitpython.org @adafruit.com #FruitJam #Zork #ZMachine
(edit: link now shows all versions)
github.com/ZContent/CPZ...

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 22d

Did you know that the CPZ Machine has 5 retro color themes to choose from for your #ZMachine #Zork adventures? This one is called “Amiga”. @adafruit.com @circuitpython.org

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 23d

Yes, version 3 games should work. I was not sure of the copyright issues so I only included one game. You can copy more games to the "stories" folder and then select the game when the program starts up.

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 23d

More details at the Github repository. github.com/ZContent/CPZ...

GitHub - ZContent/CPZ_Machine: A native Z Machine for the Adafruit Fruit Jam running Circuit Python for playing Zork and similar games

A native Z Machine for the Adafruit Fruit Jam running Circuit Python for playing Zork and similar games - ZContent/CPZ_Machine

github.com

Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 23d

I just published the first release of my @circuitpython.org Z Machine emulator for the @adafruit.com Fruit Jam. It can run #Zork and other version 3 #zmachine games. Works with Fruit Jam OS too. Download the release here:
github.com/ZContent/CPZ...

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Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · 25d

My epaper weather station project from a few years ago was mentioned today in the @adafruit blog.
blog.adafruit.com/2025/09/12/w...

blog.adafruit.com

Dan Cogliano @cogliano.bsky.social · Sep 4

Hey @adafruit.com , if you are looking for ideas for a quad-color #eink image, this Maryland native has one...

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