● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
DONKEY.BAS, an early IBM PC DOS game, is 45 years old
Key points
- DONKEY.BAS shipped with early IBM PC DOS.
- It was a demo for color graphics and sound in BASICA.
- Written by Bill Gates and Neil Konzen in 1981.
- The game is 45 years old.
Origin and Purpose
DONKEY.BAS was included with early versions of IBM PC DOS. Its primary function was to serve as a demonstration of the color graphics and sound capabilities available through BASICA on the IBM PC platform. This showcased the potential of the new hardware and software to early users.
Development and Authorship
The game was co-written by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Neil Konzen. The initial version was released in 1981, with an updated version 1.10 following in 1982. This highlights the direct involvement of key figures in the early personal computing era in creating foundational software.
Gameplay and Legacy
DONKEY.BAS features simple gameplay where the player controls a car and must switch lanes to avoid donkeys. Despite its simplicity, the game represents an early example of interactive software on personal computers. Its 45-year anniversary marks a milestone for one of the earliest games to ship with a major operating system.
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Primary sources
GitHub jkrauska/DONKEY.BASReporting from
DONKEY.BAS, a game written by Bill Gates and Neil Konzen, shipped with early IBM PC DOS as a demo for color graphics and sound in BASICA. The game, which involves avoiding donkeys, is now 45 years old. This historical software demonstrates early capabilities of PC graphics and programming.