Donkey.bas, co-written by Bill Gates and Neil Konzen, holds the distinction of being the first ever PC game. Released by IBM and Microsoft in 1981, this straightforward driving game was originally included with early versions of PC-DOS to demonstrate the capabilities of Microsoft BASIC on the new IBM Personal Computer. While visually rudimentary, it represents a foundational piece of computing history.
How to play
The objective is simple: pilot your car along a vertically scrolling, two-lane road and avoid hitting the donkeys that appear in your path. Press the Spacebar to switch lanes and dodge the animals.
The game is controlled by standard DOS keyboard input. For fullscreen emulation, press Right Alt + Enter.
Tips
- The scrolling speed increases as you progress, requiring faster reaction times to dodge the donkeys.
- Keep your focus near the top of the screen rather than on your car. This gives you the maximum possible time to spot a donkey and switch lanes safely.
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