Gunstar
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Posts posted by Gunstar
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10 hours ago, Yautja said:Seems that you are not much into shoot 'em-ups, as *this game* is pretty well-known...
Oh, I'm "into" shooters, I'm just can't be into shooters I've never played on systems I don't own (C64) and don't expect vague references to them like "that game" for other systems in an Atari forum. I've "heard" of Terra Cresta, but couldn't know it had dinosaurs to know your vague reference. I'm sure it's popular on the systems it came out for, and well known to people who own them. Not everyone here owns every system under the sun. I have been planning on getting a C64 eventually and I will definitely check this game out when I do.
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Thanks for answering my questions. I have a full understanding now. I must have missed the channel mode description in the programmer's guide. It's absolutely no problem for me to use D4: I was merely curious as to why it was D4:, it just seemed an odd choice to me and I wanted absolute verification that "D4" text on the config flash screen was indeed referring to D4: drive since it was missing the colon. I do not have a real D4:, I have real floppy drives D1:-D3: on both my Atari's and D5:> are APT partitions. D4:, depending on which of my Atari's I'm using, I reserve for use with SIO2PC, SDrive max on my 1200XL or Fujinet/SIO2BT on my 800, that I can mount core.bin on for use. I only need to not power my floppy drives if I decide to use D1:-D3: with any of these SIO options, no need to mess with cables. Thank you for your help.
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I finally found the link to core.bin that worked and the version 1.1 of Pokeymax config. I'm still wondering about the couple of configuration options I asked about above. And I'm still curious about why the core.bin needs to be in D4...
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Is there an actual guide/readme file explanation or anything for Pokeymax Config beyond what can be figured out with the programmer's guide?
I have a Pokeymax Quad + Covox in my Incognito 800. I want to set-up my Pokeymax and either make it "permanent" by updating the core or at least storing the configuration so I can load it and possibly set it up to be autoload in batch file when booting up SDX. There doesn't seem, that I've found anywhere, to be an actual guide on how to properly use this utility. I have of course figured out what most of the settings do from the Pokeymax programmer's guide. I do want to know what 'Channel mode' is actually for (can't seem to find anything on it in the programmer's guide) and also, while I assume the Restrict option is to restrict one or more of the built-in sound chip/devices, why would I want to do this? Is there some advantage for me to restrict either my Quad Pokeys or my Covox in certain situations? And is this actually "turning off" these chips/devices or what?
But the most important things I want to know are the finishing options of Apply, Store, Update. I assume Applying my configuration is making it work that way until I do a power-cycle. But everytime I store the configuration, though it says it worked, whenever I load up Pokeymax Config everything is back to the default configuration! So how is this storage suppose to work and how to retrieve it?
Lastly, I'd like to just update the core, but I read in the programmer's guide that this is only for versions with flash capability, so how do I know if mine is flash capable? And also, I've gone ahead and selected the option to see if it works, but it tells me to insert core.bin (where can I get it?) into D4 (does this really mean Atari D4: and if so why D4:? I don't even have my system set-up with a D4: partition as I reserve D1:-D4: for real floppy drives or SIO2PC/SDrive max, so I guess I'd have to get core.bin on a floppy disk 4 drive or mounted on D4: SIO2PC/SDrive max? I haven't attempted anything with the updating the core option beyond this...
EDIT: I forgot to mention, and it may be critical, so far I've only loaded and used Pokeymax config via Side Loader on Incognito or my SD card on Fujinet. Should I be doing this from an APT partion or real or emulated floppy drive for it to work properly? I'm pretty sure the answer here is yes, since these are FAT partions, at least about the 'Store config' option.(I hadn't really thought about this until after I posted this topic) I still need answers to the rest though of my questions though...
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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4 hours ago, mdivancic said:Why would you want to? 3D printer, as @MisterOz points out, are not yet appliance level. Even the best need calibration and maintenance. Unless you have a burning desire to prove your Atari can do it it’s just adding another layer of difficulty to something that already takes considerable time and effort.
As many of the gaming friend I know point out, 3D printing is a whole new hobby. Many people don’t want to take time away from their current activities to get into this.
I don't need my Atari to work with my 3D printer, I just want to be able to use ChromaCAD on my Atari for modeling and then have those converted to .STL or Gcode. Sure, I'd love to have a slicer on the Atari too, but I am also realistic in knowing this probably isn't worth all the trouble if it could be done. ChromaCAD is an incredibly advanced CAD program, for it's time and for the machine it runs on and is totally capable of making 3D models that are very detailed for printing. I love using it on my Atari, but besides just making models to display on a monitor and print out, there's no practical use for it. An .STL converter program/module to add to the ChromaCAD suite of programs would make it VERY practical and one more brilliant thing I can do with my Atari: make models for 3D printing! Of course if someone does manage a slicer for the Atari too, I'd love that too, just to get the PC totally out of the equation, but I'd be happy enough to create the models on my Atari, convert them to .STL and then use a slicer on my PC to produce the Gcode.
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On 4/27/2021 at 4:04 PM, Yautja said:So we've got "dinosaurs" like in... that game... 🤐
Dinosaurs would have NEVER come to mind, for me, when seeing the new enemy if you hadn't mentioned it, It looks clearly like a machine to me, not a dinosaur or any other animal. But what is "that game" that you refer too anyway?!? You seem to think what ever you are referring too is widely known enough for people to just automatically know what you are referring too. I've never even seen or played a scrolling shooter with dinosaurs, on any system or arcade and have no clue at all what you are referring too.
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Yeah, I want a deluxe version too, for myself, and a regular version to give to a friend. Hopefully demand for the deluxe version will not force some to miss out on it just because it's so limited.
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It would be incredible if this could be made to work with Fujinet like Plato.
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13 hours ago, Mr Robot said:If you are controlling your 3D printer with Octaprint on a raspberry pi, you can install the Cura slicer engine on Octoprint and it will slice any stl files you put on the Pi. Takes a bit of tuning to get a good slicer profile but it might be a solution if someone could write a ChromaCAD to STL converter.
That was my next thought, considering processing power, that ChromaCAD files could be converted to STL,
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Several members recommended the Creality Ender3/Ender3 Pro 3D printers as good printers for under $300. I purchased an Ender3 Pro clone/knock-off from Sain Smart off of Woot! for less than $200 and have been perfectly happy with it so far, it seems just as quality a build and machine as the original Creality brand.
3D printers need at least a slicer program to turn CAD files into 3D printer files so the chances of using one with an 8-bit Atari are zero unless someone can program a slicer program for the Atari. I think it would be incredible if a slicer program could be used with the incredible ChromaCAD suite on the Atari. ChromaCAD even builds 3D models in "slices" of triangles and would be perfect to use for making 3D models for a 3D printer if a Slicer were written to go with the ChomaCAD suite of programs. It would have to be a very slow process, just like ChromaCAD itself, as it would probably have to manipulate many models from ChromaCAD to piece together into a large one and would require large amounts of ram and virtual memory (SD card). A dream of mine that is probably a pipe-dream, but it would be so cool, ChromaCAD could work wonderfully for creating models for 3D print, if a slicer were possible to program as another extension program for ChromaCAD like the model builder and surface shader and more, programs.
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Very interesting video. Though since this was posted in the 8-bit forum I was expecting to see some use of Atari 8-bits in it. Of course post video, if any 8-bit computers would have been used, being the BBC it probably would have been a BBC micro.
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I agree with the influences you've listed, but I think you left out one important influence; Raiden.
Then there is the level(s) with background graphics of palm trees and sandbag barriers that looked like they were ripped straight from Commando.
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I haven't gotten around to trying it yet, and told @gilsaluki that I'd try it today. I've only gotten 'Your Personal Net Worth' to successfully load with the Reeve Key driver/handler and I tried it with SynCalc and it didn't work so that, which I think has all pretty much been covered by me in this thread so far. I have the files and the ATR you guys posted here and will try them today or this weekend (I'm in the middle of a home improvement project atm, which is why this all stalled for me). I also haven't tried using VisaCalc with the CX85 Master disk when I found out it I could, because right after that, from my perspective, you, @DjayBee attached the files for SynCalc and 180K disks and then with the CX85 handler, all before I had to try any of it yet, and I've no interest in VisiCalc as soon as you gave us the CX85 handler for SynCalc.
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1 hour ago, Stephen said:One thing's for sure - as cool as the software 80 column modes are, 3X5 fonts are really hard on the eyes after a short while so anything that gives a true 8 pixel wide 80 column character is a welcome upgrade.
That is true, but for me, an avid "80" column software user who enjoys the same crystal clear image above for 80 columns, I actually only use 80 columns with TLWP. When using SDX and languages and programs that use E: screen modes, I prefer to use the 64 column mode. It's a far cry from 40 columns and the font is better on the eyes than long-term with 80 columns. A very pleasing and acceptable compromise and alternative and even more of a reason why I'm happy sticking to software "80" column until I end up with a VBXE and hardware 80-columns as a "bonus" since I want VBXE for all the other reasons it has beyond an 80-column screen.
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I have used an RGB-to-VGA converter/scaler for 15 years with the RGB output on A Sega Genesis, Atari Jaguar, and XBOX original. I currently have my Jaguar and Xbox connected this way to my projector. I plan on doing the same when I install a VBXE in my 1200XL.
But I have yet to try an RGB to HDMI converter. One thing I'd make sure of with RGBtoHDMI is that you can still choose 4:3 screen ratio with it or with the TV/monitor you use. I have a cheap S-video/composite-to-HDMI adapter, and the picture is great actually, considering it's a $20 Chinese box, but I don't like to use it because I'm stuck with 16:9 wide screen that stretches everything horizontally with the LCD TV's I own that don't have an option for 4:3 screen either (in HDMI mode, with VGA, Component or video I have the choice of screen ratio). So it sat for a year until I recently hooked up my projector, which does allow me to choose a 4:3 screen. Just make sure the converter or the TV/monitor you use has the ability to select between these screen ratios if you want your vintage stuff to have the right screen proportions.
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The only point in asking about loading the modified DOS and SynCalc from two different drives is merely taking stock of what can be done, seemingly useless or not, in my "quest" to think of a way to make things work in a way I want, even in ways they weren't designed to do so. I'm a avid "out of the box" thinker, and have made software and hardware work together in ways they weren't designed or programmed to work before. And I am attempting to think something up here that I can make work. The more info I have the better chance I can come up with something that works for me.
For one example, I have MyIDE II, which was originally incompatible with SDX and only worked with MyDOS. Being an SDX user, as soon as FJC came up with the driver to use SDX with MyIDE II, I set up my 1200XL system to take advantage as it allowed me to use an internal OS of my choice, instead of MyBIOS and the DOS I prefer. But, I also wanted to be able to use OSS languages like Basic XE, Mac/65 and Action! with my MyIDE II and SDX HDD setup, but the MyIDE II cart only allows one simulated cart at a time, so I use SDX or an OSS language from it's flashrom, but not both. Also, I have Dropcheck's Super SDX cart w/RTC and I wanted the RTC which I didn't have with SDX on MyIDE II. But I figured out a way to use my SSDX cartridge with MyIDE II piggy-backed and then the OSS language on MyIDE II flashrom and all work together. It was purely a procedural thing: I first have my Super SDX cart set to "off," as unlike the normal SDX cart, it has an both on-off and reset buttons on it. Then I turn on the computer which boots to the MyIDE II menu where you choose to enter MyBIOS or load from the FAT partition, etc. I then load the OSS cart into flashrom. I then turn on the SSDX cart, push the reset button on it, and then I use a "cold reset" option that the APE WARP+ OS I like has, which cold boots the entire system, but since the computer wasn't shut off, the OSS language rom is still in the active flashrom memory of MyIDE II, and SDX boots and I can use it with the APT and FAT partions on MyIDE II, with my OS of choice instead of MyBIOS, and an OSS language through SDX too!
So, not being a programmer, but knowing hardware and how the system works, I figured a way to make things work together that aren't suppose too. I hope I can come up with some trick or procedure to do the same with SynCalc here. That's my current thinking process. Maybe it's impossible, but that was told to me by some community "experts," among them FJC and Mr. Atari (I think that's his AA handle) who is the man behind MyBIOS and by Steve at Atarimax when I was trying to get MyIDE II and SDX and OSS language and HDD all working harmoniously together too, and yet I figured it out on my own and succeeded. I've come up with solutions many a time in this way for different things with my Atari's.
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So, @DjayBee, it wouldn't work if everything on the ATR image screen shot above were to be put into it's own sub-folder and run from there with MyDOS or even SDX since it can read DOS 2 files? Does it still have to be loaded from D1: or could you get it booted from D2: on floppy through DOS 2 if it was already loaded up? Or is it that because this is a special hacked version of DOS 2 on the ATR make it incompatible in some way with a standard DOS 2? If so, what about using the patched version of DOS 2 on the ATR loaded previously, could SynCalc then be selected and run from another floppy like D2: from the DOS menu? I'm just spit-balling to see if there's a way around or to "trick" the computer/software into working now that you at least have a file version on floppy that can be viewed with DOS?
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2 hours ago, DrVenkman said:I’m happy with my 80-column device.
Green is my favorite color, except for the awful green monochrome monitors for all the Apple II's in my high school. The first time I ever saw an Amber monochrome monitor I fell in love. I've still never owned an Amber screen though. I went from TV's with RF to TV's with composite video to a CBM 1084S with chroma/luma component and then to LCD TV's utilizing S-video through a VGA or HDMI converter to them, and now Sophia 2, currently to HDMI. I want to get my 1200XL back on my 1084S (I need to fix it) and get 800 with Sophia 2 connected to a CRT VGA monitor but also a second monitor that is an Amber screen CRT still utilizing my Luma out just because I always wanted one and never had one, and relive the nostalgia of the Amber screens I did get to use on occasion back in the day.
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And the mock-up picture done for a possible IBM-Atari PC deal that fell through looks even more like a selectric! EDIT: @Faicuai be me to it by a moment!🤕DOH!
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Well I guess that rules out 80-columns for SynCalc then, without a complete re-write. But I think I can live with 40-column screens now that I can use expanded memory from my upgrades, 180K discs and the CX85. Other than 80-columns which seems to be out of the question now, the only other thing that could make the situation better was if file versions of SynCalc (and all Syn-series apps) could be made to load from a HDD partition. But I'm still an avid floppy drive user, so I can live without that too, if I have to.
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It's great that the XEP80 works through the joystick ports so it does work with all 8-bits, including my 800, but I sure wish Atari Corp, if still supporting the 8-bit line at all, didn't take half measures like I consider this to be. I think they should have made two versions, one for the 800 in slot 3, like the Bit-3, and one for PBI/ECI. Yes, that would have left the 400, 1200XL and some 65XE owners in the cold, though the 400 is probably much less likely a machine that someone wants to use 80-column productivity software on than might be the case for the other two, but I don't like the idea of clogging up the controller port(s) for video (or printing for that matter) that you may want to be able to use with those same programs you want to use with 80-columns. like a joystick for menus or possibly a CX85 keypad or even a mouse. which is likely for some productivity software beyond word processing that make use of them and 80-columns too. And I feel this way about the XEP-80 even though I myself own a 1200XL, but maybe that doesn't mean much since I installed PBI's to both my 800 and 1200XL.
It's certainly nothing against the use of controller ports for hardware I/O in general, otherwise I wouldn't be installing another 4 in my 800! It merely the fact that so programs I want to use with 80 columns have the ability for controlling them through ports one and two. I'm not referring to only legacy necessarily, made for or patched for various 80-column options in the past, but some new productivity software that may take advantage of 80-columns and various controller ports as well, and maybe some legacy software that has never before been patched for 80-column use that may be in the future, that also uses controllers and/or CX85.
I forget, does the XEP80 use one or both controller ports? And if only one, which one? And can it be used through ports 3 and 4 on the 800 instead, or XEP80 drivers patched to do so? If so, that would go a long way in changing my attitude toward the XEP80 connected through controller port(s) for a 80-column video solution. Not that it would make be get one, but if one came my way I would use it if ports 1 and 2 could still be free.
But as things stand (assuming the XEP80 has to use ports 1 and/or 2, if I felt the need for a hardware 80-column solution over my current software solutions, I'd still have to pick a VBXE for my XL and a Bit-3 or similar for my 800. But that's the only reason atm. If I find out I can use ports 3 and 4 instead, then my choice would be based only on availability and price otherwise any would be an acceptable hardware solution. IF I thought I needed one, which I don't.
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in Atari 8-Bit Computers
Posted · Edited by Gunstar
Girl in a Top-hat. 35 colors. Steampunk sexy, this is a horizontally oriented .xex image (look again, I said xex, not sex), tilt your head, your screen or your Altirra window. I have some vertically oriented, cropped versions of this image on the way for those who are horizontally challenged.
And for everyone to get more detailed images of this Hotty.
Of course I'm referring to the girl! You greasy minded robo-sexuals!
GirlInTophatA.xex