SYNTAX’s video Christmas card for the ZX80. It draws a tree of random graphic characters row by row, widening toward the bottom, puts a trunk under it and prints HAPPY HOLIDAYS with a signature line and SYNTAX ZX80. Every RUN gives a different tree.
The signature “AZ KO EO” is the initials of the SYNTAX staff on the masthead: editor Ann L. Zevnik, publisher Kirtland H. Olson and technical consultant Eric K. Olson.
The strings in lines 450-640 spell out the greeting and signature; change them to make your own card.
Published in Syntax December 1980 (Season’s Greetings).
Image Gallery
Source Code
49 GO TO 100
50 FOR I=1 TO LM
60 PRINT " ";
70 NEXT I
80 RETURN
99 STOP
100 FOR N=2 TO 16
110 LET M=2*(N/2)-1
120 LET LM=16-M
130 GO SUB 50
140 FOR J=16-M+1 TO 16+M-1
150 LET Y=51+RND(M)
160 IF Y=52 THEN LET X=Y
170 IF Y>52 THEN LET X=Y-51
180 IF Y>62 THEN LET X=222
190 PRINT CHR$(X);
200 NEXT J
210 PRINT " "
220 NEXT N
400 LET LM=15
410 GO SUB 50
420 PRINT "U"
450 LET A$="Z"
465 LET D$="TAX"
480 LET K$="O"
485 LET N$=" "
500 LET LM=9
510 GO SUB 50
520 PRINT "HAPPY HOLIDAYS"
530 LET LM=12
540 GO SUB 50
560 PRINT "A";A$;N$;"K";K$;N$;"E";K$
580 LET LM=13
590 GO SUB 50
600 PRINT "SYN";D$
620 LET LM=14
630 GO SUB 50
640 PRINT A$;"X";5*4**2Note: Type-in program listings on this website use ZMAKEBAS notation for graphics characters.