ZZTOP SOFT

Now, as I said, I need to change the IO board connector. When start the proyect I did not realize that using the cartridge connector to get the adress and data bus... ¿where I'm going to plug in the cartridge? Now the IO board is plugged in to the parallel port, and I made some changes there, cutting some GND pins, and solder some wires to CCTL, 02 (phi 2) and Vcc. 02 (clock) CCTL And I solder some cables and a new keyboard connector to the playfield switches. As I said before, the table is not longer just a support, now is a door! In the front side you can see, the score display, led bar, ball in play, credits indicator. And in the back side, the Atari board and the O/I board (not shown on the pìcture). Every day more close to finish.

Thanks for all the advices. Well, I'm using Turbo Basic only to win speed. And I didn't using any of his instructions because the compiler does not recognise them (NMG Compiler). I haven't any other option because the program should be loaded from cartridge. I don't wanna fit a 1050 disk drive inside the pinball. Stephen, I've been testing the basic turbo structured programming, and is amazing the difference with normal Basic. Also the instructions. By now the compiled basic runs very accurate, and the processing speed is at the edge, but works perfectly. I already finish the program, mixing gosub´s with goto's, and I have to say that works fine. Now, I change the IO board connector. When start the proyect I did not realize that using the cartridge connector to take the adress and data... ¿where I'm going to plug the cartridge? Now the IO board is plugged to the parallel port, and I made some changes there, cutting some GND pins, and from them's I soldered some wires to CCTL and Vcc. Now I have two 800XL boards ready to drive the pinball.

What a bad luck! My atari pokey chip is dead!! Just yesterday I could get a replacement. I badly needed it, because I want to check some programming details. By the way, here someone wrote 'if the software is less than 8KB it is possible replace it by the BASIC ROM'. Unfortunately, by now the length of my software it's around 11KB and growing, although is just the original pinball version (without any add). But, I'm going to do a modern version, with attract mode, new sounds, and a more exciting gameplay. So, the software will be at least 30KB, maybe 40KB. So, you can choose 'original' or 'modern' holding the start button when turn on the pinball. By the way, due the speed issue, I have a question about. I know I could save KB's using GOSUB's, but I don't know if that is more slow than have the same routine repeated, but more close, in the program. Someone can answer me please.

And I've been working on the backbox. 80's pinball machines, as the cabinet I got, had the backbox almost square, as is the norm. But, on the Centigrade 37 era they have a trapezoidal backbox. So I had to rebuild it, to make a perfect replica. I have to say thanks to my friend Luis Zuñiga, for let me take the measures of his machine. I'm thinking in the Atari and the IO board. ¿what's up if I left them in the back of that table?. Better, if it works as a door to easy repairs.

I have some doubts about make public all the details, because I know who some guys would love to make money copying my idea (with all the details and problems already solved). Over all if there's no patent pending or copyright issues. I want to say, everything I do, now or in the past, is for the hobby, not to make money for me, or others make money thanks to me. This issue really piss me off. So, I'm still thinking about it.

Joey Z When I finish all, take for sure I'm gonna film a more complete video. My problem lies on my internet connection or Youtube, I really don't know. I mean, for the next video, about 1min. of shooting, takes 10 min. or more to upload! Well, now I have to say I do this proyect only for my joy, not to be famous. XD Yeap, I heard about hackaday, and well, maybe I post this there. But is not my principal idea. By now I just want to finish the pinball, who really start on July, but for my job and other concerns I'm just now moving forward as it should have been. Well here is the f... thermometer! http://youtu.be/rONJYUmJBpg For those don't know the 37 centigrade pinball, this has a red tape electromech. thermometer on the backglass, which goes step by step until reach 25. When this happens the light Special is on. To imitate that, I build a small PCB with three serial to parallel chips, which allow me to handle 24 leds with only three bits, one for clock, one for data and one for clear. Here is a picture behind the glass.

Yes, but I don't have the mechanism yet (pendulum and associated parts).

oh boy, oh boy, what a nice thing. At last I can play with all working by itself. The software is running on Turbo Basic and work perfectly, better than I expected. Some friend says me that can be compiled using Turbo Compiler, and using Runtime.com the file could be ready (executable) to fit onto a cartridge. Somebody know if this is true? or say me how to do it please. (I only need the .exe file, because I already have the loader for the cartridge.) And also I need the addr. of the console keys, because when the ball is on the out hole, they stuck all the other keys, so cant start the game or insert coins, so Im goin to use START and SELECT instead START & COIN buttons , so that way the keyboard remains free. I only remember 53XXX or so.

Well, I've been a little busy, but, today I did the first attempt to fire coils controlled by the atari itself. And works! In case wants to know how, I do nothing too fancy or ingenious, I just copy the coil fire method of a Williams pinballs: a darlington transistor. This work like that: the atari send a 1 to turn on the coil and a 0 to off. Easy. Test program: 10 A=0 20 POKE 54612,1 30 A=1^1 40 POKE 54612,0 The instrucción A=1^1 is just to create a small delay between the transition 1 to 0. If I dont put this one, the coil act too weak, because the pulse is too short. So, with this, the coil fire like hell! That is what I try to explain (or say) in the next video. XD For now I have no electric isolation between the atari and this section (something too risky). So, I think very seriously in add some optocouplers to avoid any risk of short between the 24V and the Atari (the amps here are brutal because they feed the coils). Please, ask me any question.

Well, this is the first test, atari keyboard is conected to switchs, IO board works fine, sounds and score OK. Only the coils are not fired yet, but I expect to do it work today or tonight. See it on yt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgu7TJJ4wYk&feature=youtu.be

I just start the reassembly of the parts recently buyed. Me. Posts. Rubbers. Lane guide. Stand up Targets. Bumpers. Flippers. Playfield. Drop targets Special lane, made by me. Upper arch. Thanks, I'm going as fast as possible.

Well, the paint work is finished. And now I build the I/O board. As I said before, I will use LEDs, so I just have to solder them and make the final test.

I buy some parts. I put them up to see how they look. And I think they look nice. More pain-t.

More pain-t.

If I remember well, SAM only runs on regular atari basic. Correct me if I'm wrong please.

Cool! 729,10!! awesome response! thanks a lot, in time I just forgot the addr. This help me a lot in the keyboard scanning routine. I'm already using TB. Just need the right compilator, because I only have NMG compiler (only runs atari basic).

I've been programming a bit and is not too difficult so far. Now, I remember one POKE to control the keyboard repeat speed. Somebody can tell me the addr. please? I very need that. And if does the same as typematic rate on windows. ZZT More paint.

Yeah! POKE 559,0 I tried it on my eprom burner and the speed increase was noticeable. On EM pinballs bumpers are self shoot. I mean, the primary switch turn ON a small relay who activates the bumper coil gives the power needed (I'm copy that). When the coil is fired, part of the mechanism activates a second switch wich turn OFF the relay, score one point and make's a chime. Chime unit. About the sound, EM pinballs have a "chime's unit", which has the ability to makes three tones, TITITITI TATATATA TOTOTOTO. So, I'm going to use sound like: SOUND 1,50,10,10 SOUND 1,100,10,10, 10 and SOUND 1,200,10,10 and maybe other effects that I have not thought yet. I'd love If I could use SAM, but I don't know how make it run on cartridge. ;-(

Sure! There are many methods of interfacing, but we have to think first, in the slow Basic processing speed versus hardware complexity. Both must be the more simple as possible to achive the goal. So, serial output, or multiplexing output, at least in Basic can't be. I'm going to use addressable latchs, so: POKE 54800,1 = some ON POKE 54800,0 = some OFF If the method of interfacing eats many cycles, it's quite possible, the machine does not react to the speed of the ball, losing points or ignoring other actions. In matter of fact, this is one thing very common on EM pinballs, and that is one thing I'm not allow on my design. IE: when the ball pass on a rollover, several things happen: some points, one sound, turn on some light, belive me, Basic is at the edge of its capability. If someone knows, can tell how many mS takes POKE 54800,1: POKE 54800,0 I think something near to 100mS or 200mS. The maximum time between action and action is just 1 second (better if less), so all routines (update display, sound, lights) should be in that range.

I buy components to build a final board for the score display. Yes, I know how make my own boards, but time goes by and I'm getting too lazy to do that way.

Soulbuster: some friends say me ¿why you don't allow to another guys to come and play? Paying for that. Well, you say the answer: playin hours on $1 makes me out of business.

well, engineer I'm not. But I have electronics studies. To attempt this kind of mods, is usefull know how a pinball works, I mean do you REALLY has to be a pinball player to know the interacction between mechanism, points, sounds, ligth, and other stuff. Also know BASIC programming and how to interfacing the Atari with external hardware. Also be good in handy work, (wood, soldering) and a lot of common sense. Yes, I have more pinballs (without Atari inside hahahaha), they are Flash, Firepower, Gorgar, Supersonic, Space Invaders and Xenon. All from the 80's. The problem with gas displays lies in the scanning. They has to be updated constantly (many times per second) and has I say before, Atari Basic is too slow for that kind of work. PS: also have the Star Wars (data east) cabinet (without playfield). So I'm thinkg in the future.

Last Nitght I build a Score Display proto. It works! I wash some old parts I have, to save money. Course, I'll use sand paper... latter. And put them over the playfield, to see how they looks. And paint some red things. ummm, they looks pretty cool. Always is good see how a playfield back to life. I'm thinking in buy all (or some) those things, because its not much money in there.

The cabinet I got its too wide, so... let's cut. done! And last night, I work in the playfield Tracing the missing parts of the artwork.

Yes, I already thinking in the BASIC speed issue, so, everything must be latched, I mean, score display, cpu controlled lamps, and whatever. All the switches are other history, because can be connected directly to the keyboard, taking advantage here, because the keys are already latched by the atari itself. The I/O method I'm going to use are similar to cartridge bank sw, with several type D Flip Flops. So, the Atari Basic only have to scan the keyboard, sent data to the score display, turn on or off some light, and make a beeb ONLY when it's needed. And back to read the keyboard, meanwhile the IO board keeps the data itself. Enough for a machine like this EM Centigrade 37. Stay tuned, this thing will move forward quickly... because will be my xmas gift. PD: A typical electronic pinball, of early 80's, updates displays (4 players), lights and read the switches THREE TIMES!! PER SECOND! In Atari BASIC that is impossible.