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acadiel

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Posts posted by acadiel

  2. Posted

    I hope that once this is all done that all programs are put on a PC99 or some other format disk that I can download and use... :-)

     

    Even putting the TIFILES programs in a zip file so that I can copy them to a CF7+ volume or PC99 disk...

     

    Yeah, but I want to see a compilation... wouldn't it be cool if you had a README.TXT with all the authors, their info, etc, along with the programs all in one nice little package? (i.e. SSGC 2010.zip). :-)

  4. Posted

    StarshipUK, I'm pretty close to the order number, so please give me a bit and let everything shake out (I still have six folks who haven't paid, three who haven't contacted me yet). Send me an e-mail (e-mail address is at the bottom of www.hexbus.com) with how many you want, etc, and I'll put you on the waiting list.

     

    Thanks :)

  5. Posted

    Also, for reference, here are the 16K and 64K headers I use to adapt E/A programs into a cart. The 16K one is very simple, bankswitch, copy, bankswitch, copy, and execute. The 32K one has the same functionality, however, it also has functionality to copy the lower case character set and set it up, as well as set the keyboard up to where CTRL works. Credit goes to Tursi and Stuart Conner for the help.

    16K-Header-Source.txt

    Header Source.txt

  6. Posted

    I have in my possession, a code snippet from Barry Boone that allows one to run an emulated GPL environment from a non standard memory address. Barry's GPL software, as written, should allow you to run up-to-four GROMs (24K) from upper memory expansion.

     

    My time to learn new coding skills, etc, is rather limited, and I would really like to get this code written to where we can use GROM-only carts in the 64K cartridge board. That way, those of you who want to play with Diagnostic, Demonstration, the MB Games cart, etc, on a real TI-99/4A can do so.

     

    I've created a nice spreadsheet stating which cartridge uses what GROM/ROM: Database of ROM/GROM usage by cartridge

     

    Now, here's what I need help with..

     

    I'd like to get this attached snippet working with a variety of different GROMs. There's a few different ways we can do this:

     

    1) Put the code in the power-up bank on the 64K ROM cartridge. Have it copy the GPL emulator to 32K (either lower 8K or upper 24K), execute itself, and then bank switch the ROM as different GROM bases are called.

    2) Put the code in the power-up bank on the 64K ROM cartridge. Have it bank and copy the GROM code to upper 24K, 6K at a time (obviously, this will mean we can only copy four GROMs), and execute the GPL emulator from the >6000 space.

    3) Your choice here. Bonus points if you make a PC based program that takes a GROM cart for input and spits out the EPROM image. :)

     

    Being that both MESS and Classic99 have built in support for the 64K Cartridge board, both emulators should be able to run what we're trying to do here. You might also want to be able to extend this to 128K, as these cart boards can definitely handle 128K when hacked.

     

    Note that I didn't put into scope us using GROM+ROM carts - as this gets very hairy. The only way I can think of maybe doing it is to use method #1, and maybe remap calls to >6000->7FFF to a 32K segment. This might be impossible to do.

     

    Now, for a little incentive... it's not much, but maybe you guys will have fun with it...

     

    1st place) A multicart Funware cartridge prototype. This is one of the first ones I built with the 16K cart board, that was hacked. Picture here. PLUS a BRAND NEW 64K Cartridge board/case with your choice of EPROM!

    2nd place) A multicart Navarone prototype. This is 16K cartridge prototype #3, so it's the THIRD prototype made of the new cartridge board generation. A really cool thing to have: Picture here

     

    The only things that I'm asking is that if you are interested in helping with this:

    a) Please post in this thread.

    b) Please comment the code so the rest of us can learn, and

    c) I'd like to be informed as you have new proof-of-concept code, etc, to try out. :)

     

    - acadiel

    GPL1.TXT

  8. Posted

    Everyone,

     

    We have received almost enough pre-orders to make a run, and I'm comfortable the investment of keeping the extras on hand until requested (or the TI Faire). So, I will start the process of collecting money in the next week to get the run started. The pre-order form has been locked and is no longer available.

     

    I still need someone to help with sending out invoices, which we will start sending those out shortly. (Does someone have a mail merge program that will take input from a spreadsheet and send out e-mails?)

     

    Most likely, we will just bill everyone for the boards first, and then will bill the shipping/handling fees when it comes time to ship. (Because of the wide variety of shipping addresses, quantities, and locations, it's going to be too hard to estimate shipping weight/cost before we actually get them boxed and weighed.) Both invoices will include a small markup to assist with the fees that Paypal charges, since there really isn't a markup on these boards. The shipping/handling invoice will also include a small charge (a little over a $1) for handling (i.e. box, tape).

     

    Please keep in mind it will take 4-6 weeks for the board house to manufacture and assemble these for us. They will be providing them to us ready to ship in ESD bags. So, if I get them the order (at the earliest) next week, it might be mid April before we start shipping the boards out.

     

    Just for some metrics - we have 43 orders. 33 are from the US, and 10 are foreign orders (Germany, Denmark, Italy, and the United Kingdom).

     

    Stay tuned! :)

  10. Posted

    <sales pitch>

     

    It's a really great time to pre-order a 64K cartridge board if you haven't already!

     

    Retroclouds has just released his Pitfall! source and 32K EPROM image here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/158467-pitfall-binaries-and-source-code/ - Wouldn't you love to make your own Pitfall! cartridge?

     

    The 64K boards, of which we are trying to get at least 200 orders (minimum), have a pre-order deadline of 03/01/10 that is fast approaching. Right now, we have 177 pre-orders! If we get up to 250, the price is $10/ea! If we only reach 200, you'll be paying $12/ea plus shipping/handling. (Still not a bad cost for an assembled board, ready to go - WITH a cartridge case! All you need is an EPROM.)

     

    Speaking of EPROMs, both myself and Bob Carmany can burn EPROMs, including ones such as Arcturus, Never-Lander, RoboTron, SuperStorm, DM2K, CF2K, DU2K, TI Workshop, and Pitfall! We do this simply for time and materials, and are pretty inexpensive. So once you get the board, and figure out what you want, let us know!

     

    You can also hack your board into a multicart thanks to Tursi's Multicart program. The stock 64K board can have up to seven 8K programs on a 64K EPROM. Braver souls can hack the multicart into a 128K multicart, giving you fifteen 8K programs, or even a 512K multicart, giving you almost every 8K ROM ever made for the TI on a cartridge.

     

    Pre-order here!!!!!!

     

    </sales pitch>

  11. Posted

    OK, folks -

     

    I'm assuming (and going to be positive) that we're going to reach the 250 mark. Right now, we have 142 pre-ordered (I bumped up some of the pre-orders that would buy more if we reached the $10/ea tier, to up the count.)

     

    So... 108 more need to be pre-ordered to reach the 250 unit mark. If you haven't pre-ordered one yet (28 people have), please use the URL below to do so! This will likely be the last run, so if you want them, grab them now! :-)

     

    Pass the word along. $10/ea is a steal to get your own assembled 64K ROM cartridge board. You still supply the EPROM (myself or Bob Carmany can burn you one) and cartridge case. (I still might be able to get some cart cases - still waiting on an e-mail from Mike Dudeck.)

     

    These are a great way to play home-brew TI games, such as Never-Lander, Pitfall (when Retroclouds releases the ROM), and future games for the TI in cartridge format. For $10, you can't beat it! These are going to be professionally assembled boards!

     

    Pre-order here!!!!!!

  13. Posted

    Well I hope one of your projects is to make this bad boy a cart.... I'm buyin'

     

    We need approx 125 more cart board orders (qty) to get to the $10/ea range. :-)

     

    I'm hoping projects like this or Pitfall would spur board orders. Hopefully as soon as people get their hands on Pitfall, others will be clamoring for the ability to have a cart as well with Pitfall, Destroyer, etc, on it.

     

    :)

  14. Posted

    Hi, everyone!

     

    We're up to 100 pre-orders for the assembled 64K cartridge board! Thank you! Let's continue to spread the word and see if we can get up to 250. If I order 100, the factory cost is $15/ea, whereas if we order 250, the factory cost is $10/ea. Of course, reasonable shipping/handling is also added to cover overhead (box, postage, handling, tape)

     

    Just to clarify about the pre-order form, the current date I will be looking for the totals is 03/01/2010. If we are on the borderline to getting 250 orders, I will extend the deadline so we can get 250. If we are closer to 100, I will have to close the orders at 100. It will be a tough decision, because I will have to chop off the orders after 100.

     

    I am also still looking for a few good folks to help with the actual billing/invoicing and shipping of these. Let me know if you are interested.

     

    Thanks!!!

  17. Posted · Edited by acadiel

    Filip has released the production Pitfall EPROM to me, and I have a demo now on Youtube. It's still processing, but the quality should get better.

     

     

    Description:

    Filip Van Vooren's adaptation of the classic Pitfall game - for the TI-99/4A. Filip has remade the classic game, and it works in a 32K EPROM! (Sorry I mispronounced your name a couple times, Filip - I corrected myself by the end!) Filip's website, www.retroclouds.de, will tell you more about him and the game. Filip has already made a limited run of these cartridges (with an awesome label), but stay tuned for announcements from him about future games, and future availability of the cartridge. Bare cartridge boards that run this game can be pre-ordered here.

     

    Thanks to Filip for this great remake!!!

    • Like 1

  19. Posted

    Well yes... I agree. However, IIRC, Parker Brothers never received the source code from the programmer. He wrote it, and before it was done, PB discontinued support for the 4/A... And it was right around the time TI shut down as well.... His claim is that, since he wrote it and it was never distributed, he owns the rights to it. But copyright stuff is hard to figure out.... I just think it's a shame that nobody can play it without paying several thousand dollars for it!!!

     

    True - so if this is indeed the case, he can do what he wants with the source.

     

    However, I still find it strange that he wants to horde a 25-year-old game.

     

    This is what I got in December 2008 when I e-mailed him (Steve Zedeck):

     

    "Hi Jon, Yes, I did sell one of my Tut boards to Brian about a year ago. Under contract he is unable to duplicate or sell it. I still have a couple more but they can not be given away. Sorry.

    Steve"

     

    Makes you wonder if it has the nuclear launch codes embedded in it or something.

  20. Posted

    He also resides on the yahoo user group. He has the fully playable

    game... And he paid a TON of money for it from the author. The guy won't release the source, so he is charging an insane amount per copy he sells.

     

    Yeah... I wonder if Parker Brothers would have something to say about their intellectual property (with a NDA) being sold by the guy who sold the cartridge to Bryan. It's their copyrighted property, not the guy who sold it.

  21. Posted

    Yep, you have to burn the EPROM first. Tursi had to help with a lot of 'bugs' in the program to get them all working. A lot of the later work was just hex editing the EPROM and re-burning it.

     

    BTW, I have the new pictures of the finished product up on my website. You can view the pictures starting here: 512K MultiCart pics

     

    I don't really plan on making these, but all of what I did is documented on my website, and Tursi's Multicart program that made it all possible is on my hexbus.com home page. I'm kind of hemming and hawing about releasing the ROM, but I probably will.

     

    Remember, everyone can pre-order the 64K boards here: 64K Board Orders

     

    If you want to make a multicart, you just need a 32 pin socket, a 27C010 (128K)/27C020 (256K) or 27C040 (512K), some wire, tape (Kapton/Electric), potentially some heat shrink, wire, two 2.2K ohm resistors, and an exacto knife. :)

     

    It would help to have an EPROM burner as well or a friend that has an EPROM burner, along with a good hex editor on your PC. (I use 0xED on the Mac.)

  22. Posted

    I also have assembled cartridges from Jon. Magnificent work of the highest grade and quality. I highly reccommend, if you are interested in homebrew carts, to order some of these as soon as possible.

     

    We're up to 52 preorders... keep em coming, folks! :)

     

    I did hack one of the boards.. check out the 512K TI Multicart:

  23. Posted

    The new pre-order form is up.

     

    Order Form

     

    To keep things easy, if we sell <=100 then the price is $15/ea *assembled*. If we sell 250, then the price is $10/ea *assembled*.

     

    Pass this along - I want to see all those folks who were watching the CTIUG UStream video back in October (and asking for these) order these. :-)

     

    I'm still also looking for volunteers to man the form, keep track of pre-orders, etc.

     

    Thanks,

    Jon

  24. Posted

    I put this in the TI-99/4A OLUGs....

     

    Yep, you heard it right.

     

    There will be a few changes this time. So, please read on and send me e-mail if you are interested in doing the following:

     

    I need several people to do particular jobs to get this done. Whether or not you decide to do more than one is up do you. :)

     

    1) Spreadsheet maintainer/counter. I will create a form like last time, and give someone control of the form and resultant spreadsheet. It will be your job to keep track of pre order numbers. For this next order, we want either 100 or 250 - that's our goal. If we take forever to get to 100, we'll order 100. If not, we'll order 250 if we get to it.

     

    2) Packager/mailer - You will be responsible for packing the boards (they will already be in ASD bags, assembled) in a box with peanuts to send out to people (after they have been paid for). You will weigh them, and communicate with the invoicer, below, regarding weights so that the invoicer can determine postage costs. After doing all that, you will mail the packages. The invoicer can work with you to pay you back for postage/boxes/peanuts.

     

    3) Invoicer - someone who will invoice each person via e-mail for their quantity of boards. You will be responsible for sending out invoices to people. Most boards will go out first class mail, and some will be Priority, etc. You will need a Paypal account to make it easy, and will charge people for the board + shipping/handling. The shipping/handling fee includes the mail cost + $1 for the box/peanuts (approx) + a small offset for the Paypal fees.

     

    4) Interface to ACC Electronix - that's me :)

     

    Now, on to the fun part.

     

    ACC Electronix will professionally be making the boards this go-around. The boards will be made by PCBExpress, be RoHS compliant, and be professionally assembled. A test fixture will be made by PCBEXpress to electrically test the PCBs before ACC assembles them.

     

    ACC is charging just about what we were charging before for assembled boards.

     

    If we order 100 from them for this second batch, they will be $1,494, or $14.94/ea. If we order 250 from them, they will be $2,475, or $9.90/ea. That's *assembled*, folks.

     

    If we go through this second batch and order a third batch, 100 will cost around $897, or $8.97/ea assembled. 250 would be $1957.50, or $7.83/ea.

     

    ACC will charge me a $400 fee up front, and then the rest is due within 30 days. So if we don't get this done within 30 days, some folks will have to help with financing.

     

    Bob Carmany and I will still be offering our EPROM burning services. If someone wants to volunteer excess cart cases for the group, we can build that into the cost.

     

    Thoughts, everyone? How's $9.90/ea assembled sound? Get 250 orders and you'll get it! :)

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