I don't think Smile BASIC supports head to head online play.

For sprites, use SPOFS sprite, X, Y, Z For backgrounds, use BGOFS layer, X,Y,Z For the graphic layer, use GPRIO Z

You need to use SPSET to define a sprite before you can use any other commands.

Online is out, unfortunately. And without multiple 3DSs to test with, I'm not likely to try local wireless. Multiplayer will just be hot seat.

This takes me back...

Exactly. :) If you want a very clear demonstration, run this program: FOR I=0 TO 7 PRINT I NEXT That'll show you how I changes as it loops and where it ends.

It's the same way generic algebra equations often use X for their variable if the person writing the equation doesn't have a good reason to call it something else.

It's a very neat way of performing a set of instructions FOR every value of I from 0 TO 7. Why is it I? Since the variable often isn't important anywhere outside the loop, programmers just come up with some "throwaway" name for a variable that they're not going to use anywhere else. I stands for "iterator", and it's become sort of traditional for programmers to use it in FOR loops.

FOR/NEXT loops have lots of uses, but they're often associated with arrays because they're a simple way to perform the same operation on every member of the set. Like so: FOR I=0 TO 7 A[I]=2 NEXT In the first line, the variable I is created and given the value 0. When the program reaches the NEXT, it adds 1 to I. If I isn't more than 7, it goes back up to the top and repeats the loop.

I haven't played Pocket Tanks, but the game I have in mind has stationary tanks taking turns firing explosives at each other. Possibly with a variety of weapons to use, if I'm ambitious enough.

Think I'm going to make a Tank Wars. Here's a WIP screen.

Pretty good for a beginner! You're doing some things the hard way, but you have a good grasp on how to read the controls and use LOCATE.

Thanks! And no, I don't have those sorts of contacts right now. But I *am* poking around with a crash course in Smile BASIC. I started writing it for Petit Computer, but I'll need to rework it a bit for this new version.

And here's the source code.

Here's a quick analog clock.

This is actually the sequel to Petit Computer! A lot of the same code works, and it has more features.

Generally easier, I think. It has a lot of native functions and tools for displaying and manipulating graphics and using the 3DS controls, and it has some functions that make general computations easier, like a built-in SORT for sorting through arrays. But once in a while you stumble over a minor snag that PC BASICs don't have.

It's a programming language for the 3DS. You can make your own games and programs and download ones made by other people. Check out smilebasic.com for the whole story.

Well, BASIC is designed to be a beginner's language, but it can still be intimidating. Go to Smilebasic.com and click on Instruction Manual to browse the game's instructions. See if it makes sense.