New to the CoCo3

[arcadegeek23]

I have just purchased my first CoCo3!! I have very fond memories of hanging out in my neighborhood Radio Shack and playing on the Tandy computers. I started with a Vic 20 and then moved to PC. I have been collecting many of the vintage computers I followed but never owned and I am looking forward to spending time learning the CoCo. What I have seen of the CoCo games it looks to have a fun library.

 

I have a CoCo3 with the 512k upgrade. Looking for suggestions on additional equipment I would pick up.

 

Wondering what SD and multicart options exist. What’s the best joystick options? I have been hearing about OS9.

 

Recommended Good books, YouTube Channels etc. I have been catching up on the CoCo Crew podcast and enjoying it very much.

 

Thanks for any suggestions

[arcadegeek23]

Update: I apologize for the redundancy on the request and found some good tips. I have ordered a Deluxe joystick as well as a Atari/Genesis adaptor, an RGB to scart cable for running to my framemiester. I have an email request in to order an SDC. Super excited to start my CoCo adventure.

[Osgeld]

Brush up on how drivewire 4 works it took me some head hitting desk before I got it going

 

There is a few as solutions out there some emulate disk drives (so you don't have to cut a with a computer) some emulate carts I dunno if one does both or not

 

 

Since that machine doesnt have a disk controller or did in rom you will have to bootstrap it from the tape port which doesnt take that long and it generally stays there even after reset as long as you don't cycle power

Edited July 28, 2018 by Osgeld

[ColorComputerStore]

>I have just purchased my first CoCo3!!

Nice machine.

 

>I have very fond memories of hanging out in my neighborhood Radio Shack and playing on the Tandy computers.

That's how many of us got started.

 

>What I have seen of the CoCo games it looks to have a fun library.

The port of Donkey-Kong and Pac-Man are the exact arcade versions. They were transcoded.

Watch Original Gamer Stevie on YouTUbe for many game demos. To explore more games.

 

>I have a CoCo3 with the 512k upgrade. Looking for suggestions on additional equipment I would pick up.

The stock 512K upgrade makes the machine run very hot. Consider getting a modern 2MB upgrade and sell the 512k off.

>Wondering what SD and multicart options exist.

 

CoCo SDC. Ed Snieder has production rights. Google Zipster Zone.

 

>What’s the best joystick options?

You must experience the pain of the analogs.. which are good for Polaris... Missile Command

I don't like the Deluxe Joystick. They break easy

Get a Atari or Genesis adapter. And then a good WICO joystick.

 

>I have been hearing about OS9.

It's the most advance 8bit OS. Like Unix on 80s hardware of 8bit. Look for the modern version called NitrOS.

 

>Recommended Good books,

For what? Check out CoCo Archive. Most books there for BASIC, Assembly, etc.

 

>YouTube Channels etc.

As mention, Steve's YouTube channel and his CoCO After Dark... and COCO Talk.

 

And get the CoCo Crew Podcast. Start on episode 1.

 

Join the CoCo facebook group. There are about 6 different ones.

 

>I have been catching up on the CoCo Crew podcast and enjoying it very much.

Ah, that's good.

 

Buy the Rainbow magazine, Hot CoCo and Color Computer Magazine for more fun.

 

>I apologize for the redundancy on the request and found some good tips. I have ordered a Deluxe joystick as well as a Atari/Genesis adaptor, an RGB to scart cable for running to my framemiester. I have an email request in to order an SDC. >Super excited to start my CoCo adventure.

RGB to Scart to HDMI is wonderful. But a CoCo 2 for kicks too. Buy Ed' multi-pak. Multi-pak is a device that you can plugin multiple carts. His version will feature a sound card built-in.

 

You will find a few things about the CoCo

1. There is alot of activity for new software and hardware

2. It has a very rich history

3. It is excellent for programming

4. With the exception of a few grumpy people, the community is VERY helpful

5. The CoCOFest show is a blast

6. We wil constantly learn an explore new things on this platform

 

 

Have fun (new) CoConut

 

Carlos

[Nebulon]

DriveWire is good for most things:

https://www.frontiernet.net/~mmarlette/Cloud-9/Software/DriveWire3.html

https://www.frontiernet.net/~mmarlette/Cloud-9/Hardware/Cables.html

Then there's the CoCoFlash product. I find this one to be very difficult to load programs onto. So far, requests for real-world examples of how to get data onto this unit have gone unanswered for over a year. It does come with a manual, but it'll take some extensive digging and experimenting to get things working. At the very least though, it makes a good way to provide the CoCo 3 with the DOS that it needs so that it can more quickly make use of DriveWire (CoCoFlash includes DriveWire DOS pre-installed). I'm pretty sure there's also a dedicated cartridge out there that includes the DriveWire (HDB-DOS), so that's also an option.

http://store.go4retro.com/cocoflash/

Another product (and one that I've heard a lot of good things about) is the CoCo SDC (not sure if it's still available though):

http://www.cocowares.com/item.php?nombre=CoCo%20SDC

And I'd highly recommend a joystick adapter so that you can use Atari and SEGA style controllers:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2359462640/permalink/10154171148002641/

Additionally, here are some resources that you might enjoy:

http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/coco/Documents/Manuals/Hardware/

https://archive.org/details/rainbowmagazine

http://www.cocowares.com/search.php?Vendedor=Ed%20Snider

[arcadegeek23]

Thanks for excellent direction. Hope to get in some CoCo hours this weekend

[Nebulon]

I forgot to mention games.... Here are some that I really like:

Games that are specific to the Color Computer 3:

Space Quest II

King's Quest IV

Donkey Kong (Sockmaster arcade conversion)

Pac-Man (512K)

Rogue

Gantelet II

The following are Color Computer 2 games. Many will work

on the CoCo 3. Most of the ones that don't have patched

versions available with a bit of searching:

Dungeons of Daggorath

Time Bandit

Lunchtime

Cashman

Cyrstle/Ice Castles

Shock Trooper

Tut's Tomb

Dragon Slayer

Buzzard Bait

Calixto Island

Trekboer

Dallas Quest

Galagon

Rommel 3D

Gantelet

Demon Seed

Color Car

Gold Runner (Tom Mix)

Hall of the King series

Speed Racer

Marble Maze

Qiks (Spectral)

Phantom Slayer

Sailor Man

Sam Diamond

Varloc

Trapfall

Pooyan

Astro Fighter

F-16 (Diecom)

Whirlybird Run

Pitstop 2

Lunar-Rover Patrol

Maui Vice

Brew Master

3D Brickaway

And just in case you're not used to RS-DOS disk commands, here's a quick command list with examples:

https://www.blitter.com/~nebulous/coco.html

 

There's a nice program called Disk Utility by Spectrum Projects that makes life easier. It's listed on the following two sites:

ftp://outwestbbs.com/coco.-.color.co/COCOUTIL/00index.html%3Fext=on$jezytihg

 

http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/coco/Disks/Utilities/

[polyex]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OweBK5TVPdo&list=PLY1djKUzaK83lg_Hd6rVc4uNwkj5Hu4b8