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Atari OS - Finished!


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In case you haven't heard i've been working on a GUI of sorts for the atari 2600 using batari basic. Well I've finally finished it and if you don't like it, i've included the source code. Here's the .zip file with EVERYTHING, .bin file, source, read-me (of course) and even a printable label!

 

Atari_OS_v1.0_F.zip

 

You may be wondering what the F is about. Here's a hint. F>Final.

 

I hope you got that.

 

Enjoy, ;)

 

Dragnerok X

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This may be a novice question, but how do I get this onto a cart? I'd like to try it on the real thing.

 

Nathan

 

You can use a supercharger, cuttle cart, or an a26 cart. If you are like me, though, and want a REAL cart, not some contraption like a supercharger, just go to the Atariage store. They sell the Homebrew supplies you would need. Pick up a 2k/4k PCB and a 4k EPROM, burn the game to the EPROM with an EPROM programmer (also called a burner) and attach it to the board. Then find an old cartridge you aren't using (combat, pacman, E.T.) remove the label, take out the old chip, stick in the new one, put it back together, re-label it and your done.

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This may be a novice question, but how do I get this onto a cart? I'd like to try it on the real thing.

 

Nathan

 

You can use a supercharger, cuttle cart, or an a26 cart. If you are like me, though, and want a REAL cart, not some contraption like a supercharger, just go to the Atariage store. They sell the Homebrew supplies you would need. Pick up a 2k/4k PCB and a 4k EPROM, burn the game to the EPROM with an EPROM programmer (also called a burner) and attach it to the board. Then find an old cartridge you aren't using (combat, pacman, E.T.) remove the label, take out the old chip, stick in the new one, put it back together, re-label it and your done.

 

See, Drangerok! I told the whole "logo" idea was a good one! Now you and I can work out how to put simple text in there!!! :D

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ooh, I'm interested but can't scrape a penny right now. And the 2600 doesn't have a power supply for it yet, either :( Would it work with the 7800(it needs a power supply, too)? I deliver pizzas for a living while I go to school (yay) and tips do add up. I'll have to see.

 

As far as application, what would I be able to do with it? It just occured to me that maybe you could run the OS, then run a cart through it as an application of that os. Or am I way off base?

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We offer services in making individual cartridges. Single 4k carts would be $15 plus actual shipping. If interested, pm me. I will be burning a copy tonight to test.

Talk about a coincidence! I was just wondering last night if anyone around here does vanity carts. For a game or two, it's a lot cheaper and easier than trying to get ahold of a CC2 or Krococart! :)

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We offer services in making individual cartridges. Single 4k carts would be $15 plus actual shipping. If interested, pm me. I will be burning a copy tonight to test.

Talk about a coincidence! I was just wondering last night if anyone around here does vanity carts. For a game or two, it's a lot cheaper and easier than trying to get ahold of a CC2 or Krococart! :)

Not to change the subject :roll: if label art is provided, it does include that also. Larger games (8K and bigger are couple dollars more). I do also believe AtariAge does do small runs, but don't quote me.

 

As for the previous post, I haven't tested yet, but I think it is just a concept. You could use this as a kernal say for Minesweep or Solitaire as found on Windows maybe?

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If label art is provided, it does include that also.

Dude, you're reading my mind. Stop that! It's creeping me out. :lol:

 

As for the previous post, I haven't tested yet, but I think it is just a concept. You could use this as a kernal say for Minesweep or Solitaire as found on Windows maybe?

I'm thinking you could use this as an interface to a banked multi-cart. i.e. The windowing interface would provide you a view into the contents of the multi-cart, and allow you to launch the programs old-skool style. Which is to say, the "OS" (really just a GUI shell, but who's counting?) would turn full control of the system over to the running program. If and when the program exits, the system would return to the GUI.

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If label art is provided, it does include that also.

Dude, you're reading my mind. Stop that! It's creeping me out. :lol:

 

As for the previous post, I haven't tested yet, but I think it is just a concept. You could use this as a kernal say for Minesweep or Solitaire as found on Windows maybe?

I'm thinking you could use this as an interface to a banked multi-cart. i.e. The windowing interface would provide you a view into the contents of the multi-cart, and allow you to launch the programs old-skool style. Which is to say, the "OS" (really just a GUI shell, but who's counting?) would turn full control of the system over to the running program. If and when the program exits, the system would return to the GUI.

 

Exactly. ;)

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Dude, you're reading my mind. Stop that! It's creeping me out. :lol:

I am very picky on the art though, at least 200 DPI (preferably 300) and meeting certain dimensions. Otherwise I have to rework the label to fit properly. I do also sell blank label sheets on my site (inkjet and laser).

 

I'm thinking you could use this as an interface to a banked multi-cart. i.e. The windowing interface would provide you a view into the contents of the multi-cart, and allow you to launch the programs old-skool style. Which is to say, the "OS" (really just a GUI shell, but who's counting?) would turn full control of the system over to the running program. If and when the program exits, the system would return to the GUI.

Should work, except i think you would have to have the Atari reset itself instead of dropping back into the OS (unless the game was written for that in mind).

 

Corey

Edited by 8bitclassics
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I am very picky on the art though, at least 200 DPI (preferably 300) and meeting certain dimensions. Otherwise I have to rework the label to fit properly.

I'd probably do it up at 600 dpi and down-size it if you need it. I've done artwork as large as 1200 dpi (intended for professional printing), so I don't think it will be a problem. ;)

 

I do also sell blank label sheets on my site (inkjet and laser).

Yep, I was just looking at those when you commented. Which was why I told you to stop reading my mind. See? You're doing it again! :P

 

Should work, except i think you would have to have the Atari reset itself instead of dropping back into the OS (unless the game was written for that in mind).

Pretty much. That's why I added the "if and when" disclaimer. If you go for a straight-up multicart, you'll need a full power-cycle to restart. However, if the program was designed-for or hacked-for the GUI Shell, then you could make a pretty consistent OS.

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When you get a screenshot, please post! I'd love to see it. Also, since we're talking about an os here, do you think that a later addition to the cart itself could be a ps/2 interface for a qwerty keyboard, for input that way? Or a keyboard to go to the joystick controller (may be out of range right now)? I figger that it would be easier to make one that interfaces directly to the cart, thereby avoiding a hardware hack to the VCS itself (and keeping things inexpensive by not making a really fancy custom keyboard for the controller ports).

 

I dunno, just brainstorming.

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When you get a screenshot, please post! I'd love to see it. Also, since we're talking about an os here, do you think that a later addition to the cart itself could be a ps/2 interface for a qwerty keyboard, for input that way? Or a keyboard to go to the joystick controller (may be out of range right now)? I figger that it would be easier to make one that interfaces directly to the cart, thereby avoiding a hardware hack to the VCS itself (and keeping things inexpensive by not making a really fancy custom keyboard for the controller ports).

 

I dunno, just brainstorming.

 

I've got an idea! why not use the two keyboard controllers attached to each other. 24 keys could go a long way.......

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I love the new opening screen! My only request is, could you have it fade back out instead of suddenly switching? I think it would look even better than it does now. :)

 

Well, maybe.....I'll see what I can do. ;)

 

What happened to the ABOUT screen, though?

 

The icon going to the about screen was a little too flickery for my tastes and I decided to get rid of it until I can find a way WITHOUT flicker to show the extra icon. I also got rid of the about screen because I decided it would be better if I had a game in it's place instead. Any Ideas?

Edited by Dragnerok X
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Update!!!

 

I finally got to tweaking this a little bit more and made use of the color/bw switch for b&w tvs! I also cleaned the code up a bit. I'm starting to fell this will be one of the final releases, but who knows :D !

Here is the .bin file.

 

Rom_Image.bin

 

....and because this is nearly final release anyone with ideas (realistic with Bb) of features I could add please post!

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I finally got to tweaking this a little bit more and made use of the color/bw switch for b&w tvs! I also cleaned the code up a bit. I'm starting to fell this will be one of the final releases, but who knows :D !

Oooo, sounds! :D

 

I don't think the B&W switch is really necessary. In fact, I never really understood it to begin with. B&W TVs generally ignored the colorburst information, so it always seemed kind of redundant. I suppose the programmer could try to tweak the game that way, but by the late 70's B&W for the family television was on its way out. (It still survived in portable TVs and Servalan's televiewer console, however. :P)

 

....and because this is nearly final release anyone with ideas (realistic with Bb) of features I could add please post!

Technically, it's never going to be "done". Presumably, this is going to be a platform for something like a multicart. Which means that you're going to need to publish a lot of documentation on how to interface with it. People will then ask for new features to support their work, and you'll have to decide if you can add them or not. So I think everyone is waiting patiently to see what this will become, not what it is now. :)

 

Oh, and change the cursor color to something visible. White on white doesn't get noticed very well. Perhaps a black cursor over white icons?

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Technically, it's never going to be "done". Presumably, this is going to be a platform for something like a multicart. Which means that you're going to need to publish a lot of documentation on how to interface with it. People will then ask for new features to support their work, and you'll have to decide if you can add them or not. So I think everyone is waiting patiently to see what this will become, not what it is now. :)

 

Good point.... I never thought of that. :) However, it , in a way is becoming an OS. Stick a program or two in the folder (i.e. Basic interpreter, notepad, calculator) and you'll have a fully functional, computer-in-a-cart.

 

Oh, and change the cursor color to something visible. White on white doesn't get noticed very well. Perhaps a black cursor over white icons?

 

Maybe, the only problem is the cursor is a ball, not a player or missile. As such the color is linked to the window color and if I change one, the other will go too.

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