Jump to content
IGNORED

Project Prometheus (a new ColecoVision compatible console)


opcode

Recommended Posts

I don't think I need to give you nothing pal. Go find someone else to drag into your crusade against the Chameleon, since that is only reason why you are here. Never saw you giving s shit about the ColecoVision

Nope, but I'm fine whichever way you think and still surprised it may end up in the Jag shells.

I really do not understand the economic reasons behind that choice, so forgive me for "vomiting nonsense here and there".

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

OPcode, I hope you know what you are doing. No OEM Coleco carts are going to fit into that slot without an adapter of some sort. And after that, it's essentially a new 240p "retro" console being pushed down people's throats, with the benefit to early adopters that it will make a nice replacement for a broken or borderline failing original Coleco system. I wish you lots of luck, and if the price is right, I may pick one up in the future just to enjoy Coleco gaming and maybe a handful of homebrews it might support in the future. Just know anyone designing homebrew specifically for the new Coleco clone will be fragmenting the userbase. One needs to look no further than the 7800XM to see how things can go awry. Like I said, I may get one at a future date, but I won't pledge a red cent of money until they are ready to ship (XM contributors are in a kind of limbo given that the project is neither cancelled nor finished six years in). I've got you on my radar, and consider me subscribed to this topic. I would also be weary of repurposing the Jag molds after the Chameleon fiasco. Even though you seem to have your ducks in order, there is a lot of stigma associated with those molds as you are no doubt aware.

 

Cautiously optimistic,

Kosmic Stardust.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OPcode, I hope you know what you are doing. No OEM Coleco carts are going to fit into that slot without an adapter of some sort. And after that, it's essentially a new 240p "retro" console being pushed down people's throats, with the benefit to early adopters that it will make a nice replacement for a broken or borderline failing original Coleco system. I wish you lots of luck, and if the price is right, I may pick one up in the future just to enjoy Coleco gaming and maybe a handful of homebrews it might support in the future. Just know anyone designing homebrew specifically for the new Coleco clone will be fragmenting the userbase. One needs to look no further than the 7800XM to see how things can go awry. Like I said, I may get one at a future date, but I won't pledge a red cent of money until they are ready to ship (XM contributors are in a kind of limbo given that the project is neither cancelled nor finished six years in). I've got you on my radar, and consider me subscribed to this topic. I would also be weary of repurposing the Jag molds after the Chameleon fiasco. Even though you seem to have your ducks in order, there is a lot of stigma associated with those molds as you are no doubt aware.

 

Cautiously optimistic,

Kosmic Stardust.

 

Guys.... Nothing has been decided yet. You guys are assuming we will be using the Jaguar case, and while that would be a viable option for sure, nothing has been decided yet. Prometheus uses a different cartridge format, that is for sure. If we are going to offer two cartridge slots or a single Prometheus slot with a ColecoVision adapter, again that hasn't been decided yet. Too soon for that.

What I can say for now is that the first prototype(s) will have two cartridges slots just for the sake of making backward compatibility testing easier.

 

Finally, while I respect your decision of taking a cautious approach towards the project, I believe everyone should evaluate our past track record, that while not flawless I must admit, is still better than any of the aforementioned projects. Even if we end using the Jaguar case (which isn't without disadvantages for sure neither is my preferable option, and still has costs involved due to the current state of the molds), we shouldn't be associated with other projects which we never had any involvement with.

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

... Even if we end using the Jaguar case (which isn't without disadvantages for sure neither is my preferable option, and still has costs involved due to the current state of the molds), we shouldn't be associated with other projects which we never had any involvement with.

That's plenty fair, no question about it.

I guess I jumped the gun with association by similarity, guilty as charged.

Let's see your actual hardware at work once ready to be revealed at your pace, then the rest would come as it needs be.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A bit of an old discussion on this thread, but...

 

Launch games:

- Nintendo Collection (why stop at the Donkey Kong trilogy? Could also include Mario Bros., Radar Scope, and others from the earliest days)

- Pac-Man Collection Ultimate (almost every Pac-Man released, including a virtual Baby)

- Castlevania 3 DX (more characters, added features, etc.)

- Zookeeper (people have wanted it for quite a while, and from past discussions it'd do much better on this than CV)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

How about DB-9 controller compatibility with a numeric keypad on the console so we can use any Sega Genesis, C64 etc. controller instead of having to track down working CV controllers?

Plug a keypad (any 9-pin variety including Atari keypads) into the 9-pin port and the console smart detects it, or select type from a drop down menu. Then use a higher quality joystick or pad in the other 9-pin port. That means that 4 ports may be necessary to fully enjoy Coleco or Intellivision in dual player mode without hand cramping. A USB dual stick joypad such as HID, PS3/4, or 360/1 (with external keypad) would work for games like 5200, etc. The 16-way Intellivision pad may also benefit from analog stick emulation since no true digital 16-way pad or stick exists.

 

Trying to incorporate a keyboard or keypad into the Zimba3000 would violate the KISS principal when USB or vintage 9-pin controllers can be used as substitutes.

 

EDIT: sorry, I didn't check the thread closely enough. This is about a Coleco replacement, not the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink Kevtris FPGA console. Carry on...

Edited by Kosmic Stardust
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

The final design for the first prototype board. Board is feature complete. Apologies for the size, we need to keep details under wrap for now, malicious people out there unfortunately.

Next step, the first few assembled boards... Prometheus is moving along...

post-1432-0-67814000-1494536673.jpg

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't seen this mentioned, but does Prometheus fix the fundamental design flaw of the Colecovision - the flickering / disappearing sprites when there are 3 or more on the same horizontal line?

 

 

Sent from my Keyboard Component using Jack's Conversational Intelli-talk cassette

Edited by nurmix
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Penguin Land with a slight (25-30 degree) 3-D slant, so you could move forwards and backwards, too! A Donkey Kong like this would be something as well. I'm not sure but I think this would be a lot easier to do than the attempts at a 3-D pac-man.

A Driving Game with Dukes of Hazzard like 4-gear shift and maybe reverse added, but a little less monotonous, like Dukes of Hazzard meets Destructor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I agree if its going to be a whole new system why not a MAME system where you could put MAME Roms on a cart and play them on a home system, something that hasn't been done before. I just don't get creating a whole new system to convert arcade and NES or Sega games to this system when it could easily be done on an existing system like the sega master or genesis or NES or SNES. I love what you do for the colecovision ED and there is nobody better but I just don't see any demand for this I hope I am wrong.

How many Atari Flashback versions have been made and how many sold? This with the fact that some 180 Atari 2600 games were available for other systems and the PC? And, really, the flashbacks are kinda lame, with limited game availability and the makers possibly doing this to keep people from just using old carts instead of buying the next version with 1-3 games added. Eduardo is not limiting game availability at all. A big plus for the fan-base. Atari 2600 and Colecovision flashback just went on Steam, and the Colecovision game selection was kind of on the lame side as well. 80s retro is red hot and I don't want to be overly optimistic, but Eduardo may be laughing all the way to the bank with 80s retro that is 2018 new.

 

I have to add that I think the impact would be much better with a Colecovision-like shell. For instance, the 7800-like games and controllers on the first Atari Flashback were one and done, but after adding the classic, and backward compatible, CX-40 type controllers, they also added the backward compatible paddle controllers.

 

As far as the Expansion Module #1, that thing always added minibars of changing direction across the screen on my 2600 games, although I think people would go nuts for a modern 2600 cartridge slot (that you don't have to solder in and make a hole and brace for yourself). Take that AtGames. :-D

 

It sometimes surprises me how well the flashbacks have done, considering the things that seem to anger gamers the most about new "consoles" is lack of backwards compatibility, not allowing for using resold games (looking at you Microsoft) and poor game support. I think it just shows how much people want the old systems reborn.

Edited by Swami
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

That is something we are really considering. At least C with libraries. And of course we want 3rd party support. Prometheus is a beast graphic and sound wise.

 

BTW, what kind of games or specific titles would you guys like to see? We want 3 or 4 games available day 1.

 

Parasol Stars

 

I really like this game (Electronia)

 

Zoo Keeper (I don't think there is a single home version of this game)

 

Matt Mania

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So will this have both HDMI and composite output (I'm hoping so)? What screen resolutions would be available? If it's HDMI, would you be able to make a widescreen game for it? Would it be possible to have it be compatible with the Atari trackball controllers? It would be really cool have the possibility for arcade quality home ports of Crystal Castles and Marble Madness with the right controls.

 

I agree with others on Zoo Keeper and Temple of Doom (Arcade version). Here are few more rare arcade titles that could use a home port:

 

Chameleon (Jaleco)

Fast Freddie

Jump Bug

Mysterious Stones

Pandora's Palace

Sky Skipper

Wild Western (Taito)

Edited by Ramses
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Zoo Keeper (I don't think there is a single home version of this game)

Probably nothing to do with the original arcade game except in title, but there was a "Zoo Keeper" game for the DS. I had the North American release of this game.

 

Lots of fun, basic "match 3" type addictive gameplay. My mom really enjoyed playing it along with the minigames from Mario 64 and NSMB. I seriously doubt this had anything to do with the arcade game you referenced however, as endless "match 3" style games did not become popular until the late 90s onward into the mobile generation. See also Bejeweled (PC) and Candy Crush (mobile). Tetris Attack / Puzzle De Pon (SNES) was I think the first true "match 3" game that started the whole genre, with later refinements leading to an endless stack and the ability to swap tiles horizontally as well as vertically.

 

EDIT: Not even close!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let's find something else to talk about.

 

At this point, I am most excited for Prometheus , because this represents a future free of C Holdings for me, in all its classic AND 16-bit glory.
In fact let me tell more. This is a monumental achievement in retro gaming, a fully backward compatible console that also goes to the next level, with 16 bit graphics and sound. There no emulation here, this is all technology available around the late 80s. This is how things could have been and this is also a realization of a life time dream.
This isn't aimed for world domination, this is a custom solution create for us, the ColecoVision community (although I am pretty sure retro gaming fans in general can and hopefully will enjoy it too). And the name is more appropriate now than ever, Prometheus will steal the fire from "gods" (or from those who think they are gods) and give to us, the community. Soon you will know the team that helped us create this.

Content for Prometheus is something that has been a topic of discussing internally for the last couple of days and I have decided to throw it here for discussion:

 

What kind of games would you like to see once we release Prometheus? Would you like me to keep focusing on regular SGM games, would you like me to focus on Prometheus' (and remember this isn't the final name) advanced features, would you like to see more original games, more arcade ports? If arcade ports, do you prefer golden age (80-83), later period, or 16-bit stuff. We can go all the way from simple 8-bit stuff to Genesis/SNES level of complexity. Please let me know. :)

 

Someone in the CV Lunatics FB page suggested Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator. I have Moon Patrol in fairly advanced stage. Zaxxon had also received some work, but I found that C Holdings has a trademark for the game. No idea how that is possible if Sega also has a trademark. 1942 is also in development.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The list of games you provided when you announced the SGM Pro on New Years... with the arcade series, the classic series, and the MSX series... had me salivating. Those are the games I want to see.

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Edited by Bry
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...