---
title: "ZX Destroyer"
id: 72052
type: "computer_media"
slug: "zx-destroyer"
url: "http://localhost/computer_media/zx-destroyer/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/zx-destroyer.md"
published_at: "2026-10-20T14:07:36+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-10-20T14:20:43+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ZXDestroyer.png"
excerpt: "A compact shooter where machine code in a REM line runs the action from a domed laser base, with laser sights and a laser counter that starts at five."
category:
  - name: "Archived Media"
    slug: "archived-media"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/archived-media/"
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "TS 1000"
    slug: "ts1000"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts1000/"
model:
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 1000"
    slug: "ts-1000"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-1000/"
indiv:
  - name: "Raymond Fowkes"
    slug: "raymond-fowkes"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/raymond-fowkes/"
genre:
  - name: "Game"
    slug: "game"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/game/"
media_type: "Program"
programmers:
  - name: "Raymond Fowkes"
    slug: "raymond-fowkes"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/raymond-fowkes/"
download_url: "https://archive.org/download/timex-sinclair-software-archive/ZX%20Destroyer%20%281982%29%28Fowkes%2C%20Raymond%29%28TS1000%29%28US%29%28Program%29.zip"
mediadate: "1982"
images:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ZXDestroyer.png"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ZXDestroyer-scaled.jpg"
article_media:
  - id: 24366
    title: "ZX Destroyer"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/zx-destroyer/"
media_type_tags: "Game"
---

# ZX Destroyer

Defends a domed base standing on a strip of ground, with a “LASER 5” counter at the top of the screen. BASIC draws the dome, the figure inside it and the ground from block graphics, then hands control to a machine-code routine that runs the game in `FAST` mode, reading the keyboard directly and using laser sights to aim. When the routine returns, the program waits about five seconds and restarts itself with `RUN`. The whole program fits in about 1K.

This is the hybrid BASIC and machine-code shooter by Raymond Fowkes published in *Sync*, July/August 1982, where it was described as having laser sights and a flicker-free display. The cassette is labeled by hand “ZX DEFENDERS”, but the program’s own REM title is “ZX DESTROYER”.

## Program Analysis

### Program Structure

- Line 1: a REM holding about 400 bytes of Z80 code, starting at 16514. The bytes include `IN A,(254)` keyboard reads.
- Lines 100–170: the playfield, printed once: the dome outline, a figure built from block graphics, and a two-row stippled ground strip.
- Lines 180–200: `POKE`s to 16516, 16519 and 16524 reset values inside the REM code before each game.
- Lines 210–250: `FAST`, `RAND USR 16526` to run the game, `PAUSE 300`, then `SLOW` and `RUN` for a new game.

### Notable Techniques

- BASIC only draws the static scene; all movement, firing and the laser count are handled by the machine code, with the BASIC `POKE`s acting as a reset of its variables.
- Ending with `RUN` instead of `GOTO` makes each game start from a clean state.

## Source Code

```
   1 REM ▘▀ # COPY TO #### ▖<>5▙RNDPEEK  COPYE£RNDACS  UNPLOT ▘3▘Y CLSLN [P]▝F▘▝;Y SCROLLLN [P]▝F▘3▘Y SCROLLLN [P]▝Y#<= RETURN3SQR Y SCROLL<= RETURN▒<>#▝[B]4#▞7/Z<>P 4#<>#▘W<># <>#▀<>#▖▞▘E£RND,,Q ACS F#ACS <;#▄<>#▀Q▌;ACS 7ACS 7;Y#W[Y]▞▖4~~<>#▖ GOSUB #<>#▖▞▘▒#▒<>#▀ACS #4▝LEN £ACS #4▝CHR$ £LEN [=]<>[Y]▌4[C]<>Q▝▘A▘<>#▀)5 ; GOSUB #£RND,,6[▒]RNDQ▌▞1/#)5 E[▒]RND;<>O▝<>ACS ▝#4XY$▞$[Y]Q▌4+ FAST<>Q▌ TO 5▛  GOSUB #£RND,,PY0[Y] LPRINT COS ▞▀( RETURNY:<>[Y]▝▞=4?<>Q▝█E[▒]RND)# RETURN;▞3Q 6[▒]RND/)Q Y[$]▞7<>[Y]▝4 LIST ▞7<>Q▝ ( RETURN[J]<>[Y]~~C#E[~~]RNDQ ) TO  COPY;Y▌▞0[Y]CD6[~~]RND<>O~~Y▞▞-[Y]C6S/Y(▞=<>[Y]~~C)Y$▞<<>[Y]~~STQ▘▞)/NQ <>Q~~ /F▞#2 CLEARQ ;( CLSTAN ▒ACS #▞64;<>Q~~▘<>#▌A COPY) TO  COPY; GOSUB #(RND,,6[~~]RNDQ▘▞/▒( RETURN<>P"▞#48<>Q"▞E£RND)$▘;###7▘*  GOSUB [K]>)4 ;###F:* GOSUB [S]>▞~~( RETURN<>#▌- COPYE(RND;Q )  ▒ACS #4▘.ACS #4▘<;[J][Q]▞<C▞ GOSUB #▞)2 Q$( RETURN<>#▌▄<>#▌#[>]RND
  10 REM "ZX DESTROYER"
  90 CLS
 100 PRINT "LASER 5";TAB 15;"▄▄"
 110 PRINT TAB 12;"▄▀▀  ▀▀▄"
 120 PRINT TAB 10;"▗▀";TAB 20;"▀▖"
 130 PRINT TAB 9;"▗▘";TAB 21;"▝▖"
 140 PRINT TAB 9;"▞     █▌     ▚"
 150 PRINT TAB 8;"▐      ▜▘      ▌"
 160 PRINT TAB 8;"▌     ▗▜▚      ▐"
 170 PRINT TAB 8;"▌      ▞▖      ▐";TAB 4;"▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒";TAB 4;"▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒"
 180 POKE 16516,0
 190 POKE 16519,223
 200 POKE 16524,0
 210 FAST
 220 RAND USR 16526
 230 PAUSE 300
 240 SLOW
 250 RUN
```