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HDTV1080P

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Posts posted by HDTV1080P

  1. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    QUOTE

    “Expansion module circuitry remains - for SGM and Atari Expansion Module support”

     

    So the Atari Expansion module #1 will be supported with audio, which is great. How about Expansion Module #3 the ADAM computer will that also be supported? I am strongly interested if Expansion module #3 the ADAM computer is supported.

     

    I would like to see a HDMI 480i 4:3 output but that does not appear to be in the design.

     

    Having the ability to flash the internal BIOS with a BIOS file that one downloads from the Internet would be a big positive. Maybe the controller port or a SD cartridge could be used to update the BIOS.

     

    Quote

    “All new parts used - except for VDP and audio, which use NOS (new old stock) parts.”

     

    If most the parts are brand new then in theory this ColecoVision replacement board should be much more reliable when compared to the original 1982 ColecoVision. The big advantage to this ColecoVision replacement will be the component video output. That feature alone is a reason to upgrade.

     

    It would be ideal if someone would make third party ColecoVision cases. Then people could purchase the new Colocovision replacement boards and install them in new ColecoVision plastic cases instead of tearing their old ColecoVision boards out of the old case. Of course one could always sell their old 80’s ColecoVision PCB on EBAY if new cases are not made.

  3. Posted

    The following are select word for word quotes from Mark Gordon of Micro Innovations (an email conversation from 12-23-13).

     

    “I think I’m finished adding files (I’ve now been through all of the boxes) to the MI website, with a very few exceptions (listed below). Here are the issues I’m aware of so far:

    Missing data:

    1) MIB3 schematic – I can’t find one. I suspect that the MIB3 is a re-layout of the MIB2 (same schematic). I’ll check that out as time permits.

    2) Dual Serial Installation Instructions – I haven’t found them. I assume they exist and I’ll continue to look for them.

    3) Press release for the Powermate IDE Hard Drive – I thought there was one but I can’t find it. I’ll continue to look for it.

    4) ADAMnet software (this is the software that is installed inside the ADAMnet drives – floppy and hard drives. I have the files, but I need permission from Tony Morehen (and maybe Guy Cousineau) to release them, as we all co-own the rights to them.

    Disconnect Issues:

    1) The schematic diagram for the 1MB Memory Card does not match the other files. I think I had more than one version. If I can find all of the files for both, I’ll put them up. If not, I’ll have to figure out what to share. Right now, we have a mismatch.

    2) The printer card installation instructions tells me I included a PROM boot socket on the board. But, the firmware file I found does not accommodate one and the photo I found doesn’t show one. I need to figure out which is right. Maybe someone who has one can help me out?

    3) The ADAMnet Double Density firmware file is the file used on the High Density controller when it has a double-density drive installed. I’ll add it to the high density firmware list and look for the right file that was used on the double density controller.

    By the way, I did not discover the disconnects until I did a complete review of the web site today. I’ll correct what I can.”

  5. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    Mark Gordon of Micro Innovations has been adding more and more information into public domain everyday on his website. Mark said people should check the Micro Innovations website daily for the latest updates.

    Micro Innovations designed and holds the copywrite for all their hardware designs, however for some of the software that runs the hardware, Micro Innovations had a business agreement with Tony Morehen. Mark found the software source code for the ADAMnet Floppy Disk Drive and for the ADAMnet Hard Disk Drive, however before he can release the software into public domain he needs Tony Morehen’s permission.

    Can someone send me a private message with Tony Morehen’s current email address so that I can forward the information onto Micro Innovations? Without Tony Morehen’s permission the software source code for some of the Micro Innovation products will not be released into public domain.

  7. Posted

    The following is a quote from Mark Gordon (Name deleted below with *** to offer some privacy to the owner of the ADAMNET Hard drive prototype).

     

    “I actually just finished scanning the ADAMnet Hard Disk Drive controller schematic today. This is the prototype that *** ***** has or had. It connects to the Adam via ADAMnet and runs an IDE hard disk drive in an external case. Here’s the schematic. I will eventually find the board layout and firmware info and share those too. One step at a time.”

    MIHDI2.SCH.PDF

  9. Posted

    Correction to the very first post in the thread

    The sample PDF is for a Powermate Host Adapter which Micro Innovations shipped many. Mark in the original email was thinking about the working prototype HARD Disk Drive that used ADAMNET. The advantage of ADAMNET is that in theory 100% of the ADAM software could run from the Hard Disk Drive like Supergames without any major software patches needed. The only negative of ADAMNET is that the communication interface is slower compared to the Powermate Host Adapter.

     

    The following is a select quote from a email I received from Mark Gordon today

     

    “I just realized that this design is not for the prototype unit I was thinking of. That product was an AdamNet Hard Disk Drive. *** ***** had the only one I ever made (he was evaluating it for me when I decided to call it quits – if he’s still alive, he may still have it). This design is for the interface card for the Powermate Hard Disk Drive. I delivered quite a few of these.”

    • Like 1

  10. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    Merry Christmas from Micro Innovations (everything will be public domain)

    I have been in communications with Mark Gordon of Micro Innovations. Mark Gordon has uncovered several boxes of MI design data. Mark is planning on releasing all the design data into public domain. Mark plans on converting all the data into PDF format. Then he is planning on putting it all up on a website. However, it will take months to get it all up. It will all be free and anyone can use the data in any way they like, including reproducing the products according to Mark Gordon from Micro Innovations.

     

    Mark also mentioned that he will not be getting involved in any redesign or repair operations of ADAM hardware/software. In addition, no support will be provided for the information that is released into public domain.

     

    Micro Innovations was the best 3rd party hardware developer for the ADAM making a wide selection of reliable HARDWARE products. This was very nice of Mark Gordon to announce that he will be spending several months releasing all his Coleco ADAM designs up on a website. Hopefully hardware engineers will be able to use this information to redesign new ADAM products using surface mount components. This information that will be released in the months to come might also contain useful information on repairing Micro Innovations products that were produced in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

     

    As soon as I receive more information from Mark Gordon and his website link, I will update this thread. In the 80's and 90's I lived a few miles from the Mirco Innovations headquarters. I use to drive over and see the ADAM workshop while purchasing Coleco ADAM hardware supplies with my dealers account.

     

    The following attachment contains a sample of the data for the Micro Innovations IDE hard disk host adapter prototype. There was only one working prototype that was made which allowed an external printer and Hard Disk Drive to be attached to the ADAM computer. Permission has been granted by Mark Gordon of Micro Innovations to share this data.

    Coleco_Adam_IDE_Host_Adapter.pdf

    • Like 3

  11. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    Yes when the Supergame module is plugged into the ADAM computer only the sound chip is used on the Supergame module since the ADAM has the needed memory already. Some of the cartridges will work on the ADAM without the Supergame module as long as the game does not use the special sound chip. The cartridges that work on the ADAM without the Supergame module are labeled.

  12. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    Is the program for testing colors public domain or is it an exclusive program that was developed for the Component video mod project?

     

    Could one purchase the component video modification without the printed circuit board cartridge? Many people own an AtariMax Flash cartridge for the ColecoVision that allows them to run public domain cartridge rom images if the rom image is made available online.

     

    If I purchased the component video modification I would be interested in running the program that tests colors from one of the Atarimax flash cartridges.

  13. Posted

     

     

    Why would you need that big of an SD card for 2600 games?

     

    I would not need 32GB but in theory that would be the largest size SDHC card one could use if the Harmony supports FAT32. Was some of the Atari 2600 games 2k and 4k rom images? What was the largest rom file size? It looks like 32K rom images are now available for the Atari 2600 cartridges that use bank switching. Every Atari 2600 cartridge ROM image should fit on one SD card in theory.

  14. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    Thank you very much Kiwi for the Harmony SD cartridge information on the Atari 2600. They also have a miro SD version. The price is only around $59.99 plus shipping or $79.99 for the deluxe edition plus shipping. I wonder if that Harmony cartridge also accepts up to 32GB SDHC cards like the Ultimate SD cartridge. I am guessing that the Supercharger games would be the only games not available with the Harmony SD cartridge, unless a new Harmony cartridge somehow contained the required hardware to play Supercharger games (Also the games would need to be modified into one large ROM image). I own the Coleco cartridge extender that Coleco sent me for free after I purchased a Atari 2600 adapter, so I can play anything from the Atari 2600 adapter including long cartridges like the Supercharger unit.

     

    I see there is a Harmony cartridge forum, if I have anymore questions about the Harmony I better ask it there.

     

    Thanks again for the information, I never knew this Harmony cartridge existed (It appears to be a new product within the last 3 years).

  15. Posted

    Why would you want to play 2600 games on the CV2? The whole point of the CV2 is to move forward somewhere in between (nes and snes) or (Sega Master and Genesis) we are suppose to be evolving. So it should be better than the nes or master system but not as good as the Snes or Genesis.

     

    The main purpose of the ColecoVision II is the following:

    1. Play 99%-100% of existing ColecoVision games on a brand new reliable videogame console.
    2. Play special Supergame module games.
    3. Play exclusive new ColecoVision II videogames.

    If some third party company wants to make a (NES and SNES) or (Sega Master and Genesis) cartridge module adapter for the ColecoVision II, then I am all for it.

     

    If we are suppose to be evolving like you mention then we should all go out and purchase a PS4 or XBOX One since those two system will be the most powerful videogames systems with built in BD-ROM drives. My ColecoVision has been seating around for 31 years and I wish it would evolve into a ColecoVision II but it has not. The videogame systems and videogames are created by intelligent engineers and programmers that keep improving the technology every year.

     

    I am a videogame collector, and since I purchased the Expansion module #1 Atari 2600 adapter for the original ColecoVision back in 1982 or 1983, the result has been I have a huge collection of Atari 2600 games. I was wondering if the ColecoVision II would be powerful enough to emulate Atari 2600 rom images with the Ultimate SD cartridge (pull the cartridge reset and a special Atari 2600 emulator program could run with Atari 2600 rom images played from a SD card). It would be really neat if all kinds of cartridge adapters were made for the ColecoVision II so that one could play Genesis, SNES, Atari 2600, Intellivision, and others. Of course that is just a dream. The Windows PC can emulate just about any videogame system.

  16. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    I own a 1993 Pioneer Laseractive videogame system that will play both SEGA-CD and Genesis titles as well as NEC TurboGrafx games (Also special 12 inch Laserdisc games for the two systems can be played). The game modules for each system slide into the front expansion slot of the Pioneer Laserdisc player. Also the computer interface pack allows one to control a Laserdisc from a computer. In the late 80’s I missed out on purchasing the original Dragon’s Lair Laserdisc from the arcade(I put it off when a mail order company had some in stock). If I would have had that Dragon's Lair Laserdisc I could have plugged the RS-232 port into the ADAM computer and made a program to control the original Dragon's Lair Laserdisc. Of course now Dragon’s Lair and Dragon’s Lair II and others have been released on Blu-ray in HD quality since the scan of the original film negative was done.

     

    The advantage of OpCode’s ColecoVision II is that it has a component video output (I wish it also had a SVGA or HDMI output). My Laseractive system only has a composite video output, and most classic videogame systems only have a RF or composite video output unless one modifies the videogame system to have S-Video or component video output.

     

    OpCode is not interested in turning a SEGA system into a ColecoVision II. However maybe if it was possible to plug in a cartridge adapter on the ColecoVision II then we could have an Atari 2600 emulator from cartridge, or a Sega system from cartridge, etc. I wonder if the ColecoVision II would be powerful enough to do a full software emulation of the ATARI 2600 from a Ultimate SD cartridge. The Atari 2600 rom images could then be played from the Ultimate SD cartridge.

  17. Posted

    If you keep the pin set the same you could still use your old controllers for CV1 games, giving you your overlays and joystick option. Since CV1 came out with a 2600 module do you think coleco's CV2 would have been able to play NES games?

     

    I think doubledown’s controller is also 8 directions if one pushes two arrow keys at once (in fact it would have to be 8 directions to be compatible with all games).

     

    The pin set on the ColecoVision II would absolutely need to be 100% compatible with old Coleco controllers since there is games that require the Coleco Super Action Controller, Roller Controller, and Expansion module #2 Steering wheel (Of course if all those original Coleco controllers were remade then the pin set could be different, however people would be upset if they could not use the original Coleco controllers since the main goal of the ColecoVision II is to play all or most of the classic original 80’s videogame cartridges).

     

    The original ColecoVision also had an Intellivision adapter prototype that was never released. I would have purchased one of those if Coleco would have released the Intellivision adapter. Its all speculation, but possible if Coleco would have made a ColecoVision II it would have had a front expansion module interface to play NES games or Sega games with a optional adapter. The OpCode ColecoVision II to save on cost will not have a front expansion module interface, but instead the OpCode ColecoVision II will offer an internal expansion capability.

  18. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    this system needs to have its own controller, you dont play SNES with nes controllers. I still like doubledown's mod the best it wouldnt be that hard to mass produce these

     

    9u7nyh.jpg

    Another thing to think about is perhaps the new ColecoVision II controller should be based on the Super Action controller with the 4 buttons and spinner. The Super Action controller also had its own custom overlays. However reproducing the Super Action controller might be too costly.

     

    The only thing I do not like about the doubledown’s controller is that the original Coleco overlays cannot be used.

     

    However I really like the look of doubledown’s controller since it looks like a modern controller. I also like the arrow keys on the controller since it’s similar to the arrow keys on a PS/2 keyboard.

    If one or two of these controllers were bundled with the ColecoVision II then we would have a completely new videogame system.

  19. Posted

    NIAD,

     

    The original Coleco roller controller should work fine with the ColecoVision II as long as one uses the original ColecoVision power supply to power the roller controller. I really enjoyed Slither and Victory that made full use of the roller controller. Also I would love to have a USB port on the ColecoVision II to plug in modern controllers like you mentioned, but I do not think that is going to happen.

     

    Maybe I am just having some bad experiences with Coleco controllers. New Coleco controllers are over $50 on EBAY and when I use the Coleco controller my game play quality does not match the game play quality of a PS/2 keyboard with emulation. Using the arrow keys on the PS/2 keyboard has greatly increased the quality of game play over the Coleco controller. Maybe I need to get the 31 year old Coleco controllers serviced so that they operate properly.

  20. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    For simple games like Pacman and Dig Dug I prefer the quality and reliability of the 4 arrow keys on my PS/2 keyboard with PC emulation when compared to the original Coleco controller. If I could connect a PS/2 keyboard up to the ColecoVision II I would use a $5 keyboard as a game controller.

  21. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    Some of the third party Coleco compatible controllers are $70+. The new ColecoVision II controller should have a built in keypad that will allow the original Colecovision game overlays to slide in.

     

    I would love to have a repalcment for the Supergame controller, roller controller, and Expansion module #2 driving controller. Perhaps PC roller controllers and steering wheels could be modified to work with the ColecoVision or ColoVision II.

  23. Posted

    One of the main problems with the 1982 ColecoVision’s is the controllers are around 31 years old and wearing out. If the ColecoVision II ships with no new controllers then this would be a disappointment especially for first time ColecoVision owners. Instead of paying $200 for a ColecoVision II, I would rather pay $250 for a ColecoVision II that ships with at least one new game controller. With each additional game controller costing $50.

     

    Does any third party company currently manufactory a ColecoVision game controller that does not require the old ColecoVision game controllers? If so then maybe Opcode could purchase some of the new game controllers from a third party company instead of developing a controller.

     

    A ColecoVision II with no game controller included will make this a niche product.

  24. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    The I,II,III,IV,V,VI keys on the ADAMnet keyboard were called Smartkeys. To port over games like 2010: The Text Adventure game, Family Feud, and Jeopardy, either a Ultimate SD cartridge or Super Game Cartridge is required since those ADAM games have several read and write functions since they were designed to work from a Digital Data Drive or disk drive. The Supergame Module and ColecoVision II both have 32K of RAM that simulates the ADAM memory mapping already. Walters software even had a ADAM operating system called EOS 9 that installed from cartridge. Those types of game programs would require a lot of work to port over.

     

    The Coleco Expansion Module #2 steering wheel and Coleco Roller controller used external power supply sources since the DB9 controller ports could not provide the power needed for some game controllers (Coleco should have never called the steering wheel controller “Expansion Module #2” since the expansion module interface is never used for the steering wheel controler when connected to the ADAM/ColecoVision). In the 80’s there was a third party company that made a mouse for the ADAM that plugged into the ColecoVision DB9 connector. Since the DB9 connector on the ColecoVision did not provide power, the mouse had a special power cord so that it could operate when plugged into the ColecoVision DB9 connector. With special ADAM software, ADAM owners had a mouse.

     

    So with a $5 PS/2 keyboard and a modified PS/2 to DB9 adapter with a external power supply it would be possible to connect the PS/2 keyboard to the original ColecoVision/ADAM or the ColecoVision II in theory. The only thing one would need to do is write a software PS/2 keyboard driver program that could be used with both the ColecoVision/ADAM and new ColecoVision II. The Super Game Cartridge for Family Feud and Jeopardy would install the PS/2 keyboard driver when the cartridge reset is pushed or pulled.

     

    Perhaps there is a way that the ColecoVision II DB9 connector can provide power to one of the pins on the DB9 connector while at the same time maintain 100% compatibility with Coleco controllers. I would need to look at the Coleco schematics to see if that is possible.

  25. Posted · Edited by HDTV1080P

    Would it be possible to unplug one of the Colecovision game controllers and use some type of DB9 to PS/2 adapter on the ColecoVision II if a game developer wrote special PS/2 keyboard driver? If so then this would add no extra cost to the ColecoVision II.

     

    What I was thinking is that maybe the Coleco ADAM Family Feud game and or Jeopardy game might be able to be ported over to the ColecoVision II with the use of a Super Game Cartirge. Also the keyboard opens up all kinds of new text advaneture games and game show games that could be made for the ColecoVision II. I was only thinking of the PS/2 keyboard as a game controller.

     

    Opcode I like your idea of offering an internal expansion feature on the ColecoVision II. I am guessing that there would be some small top or bottom cover that could be unscrewed that would allow consumers to increase the RAM above 32K or expand the ColecoVision II in some other way to add a internal Supergame II module. That is a good feature to offer internal expansion.

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