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Everything posted by CatPix
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the official Channel F thread!
CatPix replied to atari2600land's topic in Classic Console Discussion
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What was the worst system ever made?
CatPix replied to jgkspsx's topic in Classic Console Discussion
Wii U does, yes. Last Nintendo console to do so (last major console, too?). In fact at first Nintendo planned for it to only have analog video out, and it's mostly the pressure form Nintendo Europe and USA that made them add HDMI support (hastily, if you remember the fact that early Wii U 1080psupport was basically 720p with added black borders...). I think like their other consoles, depending on the region you'll have composite, component, and either S-video or RGBi. -
What was the worst system ever made?
CatPix replied to jgkspsx's topic in Classic Console Discussion
Tho it's debatable if the Action Max is even a video game system. A somewhat interactive video system, yes... but since it doesn't control the video, is it a game? The Action Max is literally a more fancy version of a click counter... -
Last time I tried, I could run Freedos and play games (like Alleycat from 1984 which doesn't freak out with massive processor speed and RAM) on a modern PC. So at core, current PC are still inheriting from the original IBM PC, since you can still run legacy software on them. The real changer will probably be the arrival of ARM-based computers. Windows run on them and apparently does the work of running x68-64 software on them, but I guess that older OSes and software won't, which will be the "true" end of the IBM-PC standard.
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The Official Soviet Computer Thread
CatPix replied to Cebus Capucinis's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
Neat! I do know that in Warsaw Pact countries (technically not part of the Soviet Union but yeah) there was a more active programming and computing scene. But maybe that's because I never found someone interested in collecting Soviet programming and computer magazines? Yugoslavia was famous for their computing magazine, Računari (computer) which featured (for the era and place) rather raunchy covers... And interestingly, alot of Western computers and software. (not even the most raunchy covers... Look it for yourself 😛 ) For the active scene, you can think about the example of Novotrade (later Appaloosa Interactive) : a Hungarian software company founded in 1983, which became world famous for being the origins of the appearance of Tetris in Europe in 1986 (in the form of a Spectrum port, first) and even more famous for being the programmers of Ecco the Dolphin games. -
The Official Soviet Computer Thread
CatPix replied to Cebus Capucinis's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
For computers, I own a certain share, in various way of workingness and useability. One big issue with them is to source accessories, as basically nothing was made outside of the machine itself. RAM expansions, floppy drive adapters, etc... were all made by enthusiasts. Thankfully modern solutions are made, tho they are usually hard to source unless you know Russian and/or someone to help (which is kinda did but well contact with Russia or Ukraine those days isn't too easy 😕 ) I own an Elektronika BK (which worked until recently... I hope it's only a dead RAM chip...), a Lvov PC-01, a Vector 06C (boots but require a tape to load a ROM which I couldn't find in sound format) a Poisk that doesn't work, and an Orel BK08. The Orel BK-08 is a ZX spectrum clone, with better everything, except for compatibility, as the ROM was expanded to include cyrillic, some games will crash (due to memory adresses being different or something). The Poisk is a XT clone from the late 80's. Unfortunately, RAM has issues (garbled display) and I do not own the floppy expansion, meaning that even if it worked I'be be stuck loading BASIC programs for the IBM XT. Of which there are none but the IBM tape test. Interestingly, the text on the bottom corner seems to say "Computer for education and video games". Yes. Not entertainment, not amusement, but "video games". And the date on the back being 1991, it is a Soviet-era product. Yes, this is a ZX Spectrum clone, with a true (and good, no less) keyboard, a RGB video output, separate output and inputs for tape recorder, and even two extra ports (that i couldn't find how to wire and what standard they may use... But they are here) Fully translated BASIC. Nothing too fancy, the text just says "Basic - System Ver. 2.0" I guess you can notice there is no factory mention nor any copyright. The Vector 06C machine is probably the most powerful 8 bits machine made in the Soviet Union. It is roughly as powerful as a MSX1; and it does feature MSX1 conversions. Unlike every other Soviet computer, it is the only one know to feature a decent sound chip with 3 channels, making it able to play MSX or CPC-like chiptunes. I also own a Soviet non-Soviet machine, that is, a Yamaha MSX2 YIS503IIIR КУВТ . КУВТ (KUVT) stand for Complex of Educational Computer Equipment) and were a series of computers specially designed for schools. They were diverse, including a batch of MSX1 and 2 computers from Yamaha. This one is the easiest to use. Save for a few issues, mostly tied to the Cyrillic keyboard and extra ROM, it is a perfectly standard MSX2 computer, albeit barebone. (I love the fact that a bored child in school "painted" the MSX2 logo in blue pen ink. I could clean that but... Nah, it's too cute) -
The Official Soviet Computer Thread
CatPix replied to Cebus Capucinis's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
Yes. "Branding" was a concept the Soviet Union hardly understood. Identical products made in different factories may be called differently despite being carbon copies (especially true for vehicles), and on the other hand, as with Elektronika, various products manufactured in different factories in different part of the USSR were sold under the same blanket "brand". And yet not all electronic devices were sold under the Elektronika brand. But I have no idea why. And add to that export products that were either sold "blank" (no branding) or under the name of two exporting entities, the older MashPriborIntorg and the newer TechnoIntorg, abbreviated as Tento. (mostly for consumer products. you can add many others like AvtoExport for vehicles, StankoExport for industrial machinery...) -
best classic computer to begin collecting for?
CatPix replied to Frozone212's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
There's that aspect too. Last Speccy clones, sometime with crazy improvements (over 256 Ko of RAM, floppy interfaces) were made as late as 1996, I even heard 1998 but couldn't find if that one was ever made or just something planned that collapsed. There can be confusion as in many cases, people used Soviet computers or parts from kits to made their post-Soviet machines, making them look older than they are. -
best classic computer to begin collecting for?
CatPix replied to Frozone212's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
Many ZX Spectrum clones were made form parts smuggled from Eastern Europe, probably Poland and Yugoslavia which offered more possibilities to travel to Western Europe. So one reason why they are so prevalent is simple : it was more common in Western Europe, thus, parts or old boards were easier to source. Also it meant that if you were to copy a design, you might as well copy a successful one rather than an obscure one that would force you to write more software for it. Also technically, the ZX Spectrum ALU chip producing the graphics can be simulated with a bunch of very cheap logic gate chips (as in the Orel-BK computer) meaning that making a ZX Spectrum was barely more expensive than making a ZX 80 or 81 clone. There's the same logic behind the various PDP-11 clones (produced by the State) which replaced almost all Soviet computer architectures during the 70's, with machines like the Elektronika BK made up to 1994, and even declined as a pocket calculator/computer (yes, you can fit a 70's mainframe in your pocket). The clones made in factories were used for computer education mostly. Nothing was done to prevent Western software to work; in fact many clones simply copied the Spectrum ROM bit to bit, parely just removing the Copyright message. Some clones break compatibility but more "accidentally" by fixing errors in the ROM, or hardware design (the Orel BK for exemple added full cyrillic support, meaning that some Spectrum program using specific memory calls will crash). It may amaze you but the Soviet Union did had "adverts" on television, including for computers : Clearly advertising toward education in schools and clubs : And more amazingly, advertising for home use, where you can see an educational game : -
best classic computer to begin collecting for?
CatPix replied to Frozone212's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
If you implies that the SU produced little cartoon, that is absolutely the opposite of the truth. The SU produced a wealth of cartoons and animations, with quality ranging from execrable to astonishing. Just very few that were exported. After looking a bit, it seems that the Cat Fisher May be from a cartoon, too : The game is apparently available on MAME as well as a few other TIA MC1 titles. How many Western books and authors were allowed is debatable, but the Soviet Union produced wonderful cartoon adaptations of the Jungle Book; they also made a TV series about Sherlock Holmes that is considered as one of the best ever made (haven't watched it fully yet, but I agree. It's well made). Jules Verne was almost as famous in SU than in France. 20th century authors from the West were much less common, that's for sure. I do know that Ray Bradbury was studied and relatively know as well. (if you want to have nightmares tonight, go watch the Soviet adaptation of "There will come soft rains" ) It's a complex topic that I know too little about, tho, but it's not as simple as "anything non-Soviet is banned". -
best classic computer to begin collecting for?
CatPix replied to Frozone212's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
Joke aside, Soviet Arcade machines let us see that... Soviet "official" games (as those arcade machines were produced by the Soviet State) were quite... well. "Atari VCS plain" 😛 The ТИА-МЦ-1 (TIA MC-1, most likely the most advanced Soviet gaming machine made) has those games know for it : Autoracing; Billiard, Star Knight; Fighter Jet; Konek-Gorbunok (1); The fishing cat; Kotigoroshko (2); Dragon Island; Treasure Island (3); The Snow Queen (4); SOS (1)The Humpbacked Horse, a poem/story by Pyotr Pavlovich Yershov (1856 ?) (2) A fairy tale from Ukraine. Couldn't find much info about it, but it seems to be somewhat popular. (3) Apparently not any Treasure Island, but Robert Louis Stevenson 's Treasure Island. I couldn't find a ROM of that game or a video to check. (4) Based on Hans Andersen's tale. Another "multigame" arcade machine are the Фотон (Photon. Really cool name, IMO 😛 ) There are two of them, one based on a Japanese micro-computer(PC8000 ), the other version based on the ZX Spectrum (yes. Really). The Spectrum variant use Western games, the PC8000 may also use Japanese games but the names are so generic it's hard to tell. Games are : Python; Labyrinth or Treasure; Tetris; (PC8000) ZX Spectrum : Brodjaga (1) Black Beard; Cookie / Jetpack / Pssst (2) (1) Inspector Gadget. Yes. (2) This game is actually a 3 in 1 game, so the names aren't variants but rather the names of the 3 games in the program. Actually Soviet "official" games are pretty mundane affairs. It's hard to tell why, but there are probably two reasons : - 1) The Soviet Union in the mid-to late 80's was lagging behind tech wise (what a surprise) but that included chip manufacture. As an example, I remember seeing an IBM PC-compatible computer that had a daughterboard almost as large as the motherboard, entierely populated with 16 or 32 ko chips of RAM to make up the required 512 Ko of RAM. Because the SU simply couldn't manufacture larger RAM chips in a reliable way. Making arcade games in large quantities, even if they were all 8 bits, was simply too costly for what was considered a frivolous activity (the reason why people think Soviet arcade games were military training devices is because until the end, microprocessor/computer manufacture were in "closed cities" heavily in the hand of the Soviet Military) 2) Producing any propaganda product in the SU was a risky business. Even when State-sponsored. As an example, many Soviet filmakers and actors that produced Stalinian propaganda movies were shunned and/or banned from working in the movie industry, simply for doing their job. So, for minor things like video gaming, people stuck to mundane, safe topics whenever possible. But we're straying very off-topic here... SO I'll stop here and just laught at your fertile imagination 😛 And go play a game of Workers & Ressources Soviet Republic. -
best classic computer to begin collecting for?
CatPix replied to Frozone212's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
They are. It's always a surprise. How are they gonna be made? The biggest surprise I got with mine are the keyboards. From the average, to the odd, to the crap, and the utter crap -
best classic computer to begin collecting for?
CatPix replied to Frozone212's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
You'll never find any sort of commercial programs for Soviet computers indeed. It was all "cottage computing" "bedroom programming" call it what you want, but it was a bunch of teenager recording tapes or floppies and selling them in their computer club. Even "official" software was basically non-existant, everything that wasn't copied straight from Western source was developed in-house and shared between universities and governmental services. And finding "original" software is hard. Those computers are rare even in Russia so 90% of your sources for games are gonna contain . rom files to be read on an emulator, not WAV files or . img files to be written on a tape/floppy. -
best classic computer to begin collecting for?
CatPix replied to Frozone212's topic in Classic Computing Discussion
Yes! I have never seen an Agat, those are rare, cost alot and shipping almost as much (as you can expect from a 80's computer made of metal). I read that the AGAT use a "standard television with SCART" so you can assume it uses a regular RGBi output, like the Orel BK (Spectrum clone) and the Eletronika BK (PDP-11) does. Some computers like the Lviv PC-01, Vector 06C and Poisk use RGB TTL (the Poisk being a XT clone, it make sense). Mikrosha were "computer kits" so the best I can say is "probably depends of the one you'll pick" For power supplies, most I've seen use external ones. The AGAT will probably use an internal one. Mikrosha will almost certainly use an external one. AFAIK all Soviet computers I have seen use 5V, 12V+5V power supplies, making them easy to replace. Schools models ( Ш -Sh )may come with a power supply fed with 24V DC instead of 220V AC, making them usable anywhere (if you wanna bother with two power supplies). -
What was the worst system ever made?
CatPix replied to jgkspsx's topic in Classic Console Discussion
If I recall, the clips were to be used only with a Megadrive I, not a Megadrive II. -
The Supervision got a homebrew game so there's hope I think the Game.com is more common than the Supervision. https://jp.sharp/ic/datasheet/micon/pdf/sm8521.pdf Interesting. So apparently, the CPU in the game.com is it's own thing, and it can handle everything, from the LCD display to sound generation.
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What was the worst system ever made?
CatPix replied to jgkspsx's topic in Classic Console Discussion
If it works like other "LCD games consoles" then yes, the brains are in the ccarts and the console is just a fancy gamepad. Modern Chinese LCD games (yes, they are still made) unfortunately doesn't work that way, with game variants in the console and the screens are just screens with a select pin to choose the right "game". Depending on which is which you could make a homebrew, or not. As in the second game, the screen only receive information and select a game, it doesn't send data. -
It's worse, for me. I don't recall reading much about the audio hardware, but that's quite poor when not playing samples. However, comparing with the other released games audio on the site, I feel like it's a case of "did what we could with what he had". Also most of the time, game music is the last thing finalized in a game, so those pieces of music might have been quickly made placeholders. To compare, we have Castlevania on Game Boy : And Duke Nukem on GBC :
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You know those systems that are like, double systems?
CatPix replied to GoldenWheels's topic in Classic Console Discussion
You make it harder to understand than it really is Basic console : CoreGrafx, , CoreGrafx II, Shuttle, TurboGrafx (you can add Turbografx-16 - Yes, the Turbografx name was used for the PAL version, withouth the 16 - and the first version, the PC-Engine) They take HuCARD or Turbocards. (name varies on the region. Much like Famicom is the NES) Portable version : GT, LT The only difference is in the screen. They are literally a full PC-Engine console with an attached battery and screen. CD consoles : DUO, DUO-R, DUO-RX Just redesigns of the same console. Much like how the Genesis spawned the Genesis II and 3. CD add-ons : Interface Unit (AKA IFU-30), Super CD-ROM² All those plug on the classic consoles. They require cards to work : CD-ROM² cards : System Card 1.0, System Card 2.0, System Card 2.1 Are all the same, just updates of the CD-Rom BIOS. One exception : Altered Beast has a bug making it incompatible with all but System Card 1 BIOS. Super CD-ROM² : Super System Card 3.0 Easiest one Only one card for Super CD-ROM². The card is backward-compatible with CD-ROM² games. This card is included in the Duo consoles so it is not required at all for owners of a Duo System. Arcade CD games : Arcade Card Pro, Arcade Card Duo Required to play Arcade games. As the name implies, the Duo is for the Duo consoles, the Pro is for the combo systems. SuperGrafx : SuperGrafx, SuperGrafx HuCARD , RAU-30 It's a different system, like how the Game Boy Color is a different system compatible with Game Boy. The RAU-30 allow to plug a CD add-on to the system. There were no Supergrafx CD games but it will read all CD games with the correct card. TLDR : There is the basic console, the PC-Engine. There are CD-add-ons which can read different CD games with the corresponding System Card (I didn't mentionned it but a few pirate CD games come with their own Hu-Card ) There are combo consoles which read Hu-cards and CD. There are two portable systems that only read Hu-cards. There is a different console, the Supergrafx, entierely backward compatible with the PC-Engine. And minus the Supergrafx, all of those exists in Japanese and US versions. -
"things like Resident Evil. Or Castlevania" Were you aware in 2020 that Castlevania was planned? Funny that the game popped up finally. It's really interesting on many levels. It's amazing how people seems so enthusiast about working there. Also how Tiger basically didn't see an opportunity and just treated the Game.com as one of their LCD game : quickly made, quickly sold, quickly forgotten. And remember, kids : "it was on Allen if it doesn't work. "
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You know those systems that are like, double systems?
CatPix replied to GoldenWheels's topic in Classic Console Discussion
All version of the first model, inclusing those lacking the controller ports. Compatibility was removed with the redesign versions. -
Perhaps a capacitor or a trim pot in the video circuitry going through a warming session. Not unlike the Atari 7800! Is the "auto-fix" permanent, or does it flicker back and forth between normal and green?
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Modding a pong console for better picture
CatPix replied to Johny_lovin_it's topic in Classic Console Discussion
There are mostly 3 kinds of Pong systems : The older, rarer kind uses discrete components to generate a picture (that would be machines built before 1976) Pongs that use the GI AY-3-8500 chip, and the TI TMS1965NLA. All of those systems natively generate composite video that is turned into a RF signal, making composite the natural choice for modded video output. Colour was added either by a variant of the chip, or by adding a second chip that simply coloured the shades of grey of the chip with a palette of 8 colours. https://console5.com/techwiki/images/7/74/AY-3-8915.pdf The colour chip still output composite. In the case of a Pong system using such a chip, you could do a more complex mod replacing the colouring chip with a circuit doing the same task but outputting RGB (I'm not aware of such a mod, but a Frenchman did a similar mod for the SECAM Atari 2600 because it's precisely what the Atari 2600 SECAM does : using the composite video of a PAL Atari 2600 chip and turning it into RGB which is then mixed into SECAM composite). Consoles using the TI TMS1965NLA are harder to mod; unlike the GI chips, the TI ones output raw video signals (not unlike the Atari 2600 TIA) and mixing them into composite is done externally, requiring extra modding; in many cases, a GI-powered Pong can be modded by tapping the video signal at the right place, or may require only a simple transistor to amplify the signal are required levels for a TV. Bottomline : all Pong systems can be modded for composite, more or less easily. Modding for RGB may be impossible as some Pong chips produce game and colour together (so at best you could build an internal composite to RGB converter).- 1 reply
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You know those systems that are like, double systems?
CatPix replied to GoldenWheels's topic in Classic Console Discussion
The IFU-30 doesn't add RAM (well it add RAM but AFAIK it's used as buffer for the CD player). The System Card 3 and Arcade Cards do add RAM. I'm not sure you can count those as different systems tho. The Videopac+ is a different system, but it includes a Videopac 1 inside of it. Games are backward compatible in that most Videopac+ are in fact Videopac games that when inserted into a Videopac+, detect the extra hardware and add better-looking background graphics. Think about it as a kind of PS1 game that when inserted in a PS2 would add extra visuals. (tho not sure it would be possible). It was still a weird and confusing idea that didn't help marketign the system. Tho at that point I think Philips wanted to focus on the MSX so it's possible they did that to gently and quietly kill the Videopac market. -
You know those systems that are like, double systems?
CatPix replied to GoldenWheels's topic in Classic Console Discussion
Blame Nintendo for the confusion. For GB/GBC/GBA games, you have 4 types of games (yes) - Original DMG Game Boy games. Those will work on all the named consoles. - "Improved" GBC"compatible" games. Those games can run on the original GB but when inserted in a GBC (or GBA I guess) they can have improvement varying from having a defined colour palette to displaying more colours and more sprites. - True GBC games. Those games won't work at all on a GB, only on a GBC and GBA. And finally... - GBA games : those will work only on a GBA. You can tell the games form the cart shells : regular GB games (works on all consoles in general) : GB "Colour improved" games usually come in the same cart shell, but in black : GB Colour-only games : Transparent, and more rounded. It makes me realize that technically, the GBA is a triple-compatible system! In the same vein, in Europe, the Videopac+ console is backward compatible with the Videopac : And much like the GB/GBC affair, all but two games for the Videopac+ series are backward compatible with the original Videopac.