E.T. and Pac-Man

[E.T. and Pac-Man]

Maybe it's just me....my cousin bought me E.T. (when we were kids) brand new for $0.50. For less than a dollar, I enjoyed the game. :-)

[2600 S-Video problems]

I just added an S-Video mod to my 2600. Looks good but it's REALLY dark.

 

Any clues what I have done wrong?

 

Thanks

 

cb

[Atari 64? Commodore 800?]

Wasn't the Lynx's graphics chip 16-bit?

 

 

What exactly is a 16 bit chip?

 

The 6502 adresses 65536 registers. This is only possible by a 16bit adress-bus.

 

The machines are commonly named 8-bit because the cpu does 8 bit operations.

If you name the Lynx's graphics chip 16-bit, you have to name the SID 16 bit, too. Because it does 16 bit operations.

 

 

16-bit chip refers to the data bus not the address bus.

 

The SID, 6502, etc can only access 8-bits at a time. True, it can scan from 65,536 locations, but only 8 bits at a time.

 

Hence, 8-bit.

 

16-bit machines (like the Amiga) can access 16 bits at a time.

 

cbmeeks

[The BEST full-screen scrolling for the Atari?]

50/60hz fullscreen softscrolling is no big deal on A8.... why are you asking?

 

 

Oh, no real reason. I knew the machine could do it...I just enjoy watching. :-)

[Atari 64? Commodore 800?]

Hope I am in the right area.

 

If you were designing an 8-bit computer and you could take 2 items from any number of 8-bits out there, what would you grab?

 

No more than 2 features though...however, I admit, some are common so they don't count (like 64k is common)

 

Mine, would be:

 

(standard)

 

1) 64k ram

2) cartridge port/printer port/serial/etc

 

 

From the C=64, I would grab:

 

1) Sprites

2) SID

 

From the Atari I would grab:

 

1) DLI....love the control!

2) 4 joystick ports from the 800/400

 

From the Apple I would grab:

 

1) 80 column text card

2) Open bus system

 

hmmm...tired. That's all I can think of...that would be one sweet computer!

 

now, what would we call it?

 

cbmeeks

[The BEST full-screen scrolling for the Atari?]

Demo, game, whatever. Can you give me an example? Full-screen with lots of tiles prefered.

 

Only horizontal or only vertical. Both would be cool but I would like to see one and/or the other.

 

Why? Well, most of the games I have played (not many yet) are static screens. I guess I would just like to see it in action. Just seems like this 800XL of mine should be able to do it. :-)

 

Thanks!

 

cbmeeks

[ATR for coding?]

Cool. Thanks. I will give that a shot.

 

Now, on to some asm programming.

[ATR for coding?]

that would be fine by me....how do I load the binary file? Can you do it with the shareware version?

[ATR for coding?]

I've just started coding my Atari 800XL. I prefer to develop on my WinXP machine and just dump the code over to the XL for testing.

 

I have my SIO2PC going correctly but I can't seem to execute my demos on the real XL.

 

I am using ATASM and when I use the -x:name option to append to to ATR disk (that I created with the APE program) I get an error that says it can only use disks formated with Atari DOS 2.0/2.5 or something like that.

 

I guess I am asking is how do I take the .o files that are generated with ATASM and execute that code on a real 800XL??

 

I can't seem to find any tutorials.

 

Thanks!

 

cbmeeks

[sio2pc -- some games don't work?]

well, especially when you don't know what you're doing :-)

[sio2pc -- some games don't work?]

THAT DID IT!

 

Durrr....I didn't know that.

 

Thanks!

 

cbmeeks

[sio2pc -- some games don't work?]

Thanks. The file size difference is like 50k...so my original file must be bad.

 

But, your file doesn't work either. I see what looks to be like a screen test then to a solid green screen.

[sio2pc -- some games don't work?]

While I've had a sio2pc adapter for a while, I haven't had the time to use it much.

 

Anyway, I downloaded the shareware version of the APE to try out.

 

I have about 34 games that are in .ATR format. In APE, I select which image I want and then boot up the Atari. Games like Tapper work, Frogger works, etc. But some games just won't work. Like Ms. PacMan. It will boot but just goes to a blank, black screen on the Atari. Even the reset button doesn't work.

 

Is there something I am missing?

 

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

cbmeeks

[What technique does Boulderdash use for animation?]

Character Set Animation is what it's called but you could also call it software sprites.

[GTIA schematics?]

I see you found the docs, are you writing an HDL version for an FPGA?

 

Using VHDL or Verilog?

 

I started a Verilog version of the Antic and GTIA... but never finished it.

984016[/snapback]

 

 

Nah. Not for my homebrew. The only modern hardware will be SX microcontrollers and fast SRAM. The CPU is a 6502.

 

My GPU is using an SX52 and some buffers/multiplexers for color.

 

cbmeeks

[So which Atari computer do I buy?]

Or, you can do what I do and get them all! hahaha

 

cbmeeks

[GTIA schematics?]

***EDIT***

 

Nevermind, I found them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello all.

 

I am currently designing my own home-brew computer and my graphics system is shaping up to be very similar to the Atari's.

 

However, I can't quite get my timing/stability to match the GTIA's awesome graphics. Of course, I am a hobbyist and they were pros so that might have something to do with it...lol

 

Anyway, anyone know where (if possible) I can get the schematics, timings, blue-prints, napkin sketches, etc on the GTIA and the ANTIC?

 

Something a little more detailed than pinouts? Of course, I've scanned the books at atariarchives and they take a more programming route when I am looking for a more hardware route.

 

Thanks!

 

cbmeeks

[So which Atari computer do I buy?]

I second that.

 

If you ONLY want to play games, get the XEGS.

 

If you want to do any sort of typing (programming, text games, etc) then get an 800XL. The XEGS has an AWEFUL keyboard. It's that mushy key feeling that I hate. Some may like it though.

 

I have an XEGS, 800XL and a 600XL. I use the 800XL 99.9% of the time. I do this because I like the keyboard better and it's physically smaller which helps because it shares desk space with my C=128.

 

Now, the 800XL normally uses RF which is aweful but I took an extra C=64 A/V cable I had and changed the pins around to work with the 800XL so now my 800XL has as good graphics as my XEGS.

 

cbmeeks

 

cbmeeks

[7800 computer - finally !]

Yes, they're great. I recommend the Mattel Aquarius. Mattel promises to make lots of software and hardware to support it.

 

Allan

982405[/snapback]

 

I have one! hahahaha

 

cbmeeks

[Vertical Fine Scroll - Help?]

Looks pretty awesome to me! Love the fog of war!

 

cbmeeks

[XEGS Display Problems]

Is it just the XEGS? Or will other consoles do it. Sounds like the V-hold (if your TV/monitor has one) is a little off and eventually it corrects.

[Solderless breadboards]

I don't know, that just seems like adding $70 to a $30 breadboard for the PSU. I can build a 5v PSU for nothing. I would rather spend that $70 on another breadboard and some IC's.

 

cbmeeks

[Some source code]

Cool!

 

Has anyone ported this to XASM? I haven't looked at the code yet and was wondering how hard it would be.

[What classic games do you want on the A8]

1) Metroid

2) Metroid

3) Zelda

 

oh, and Metroid would be nice.

[WANT 2 TRADE: WPC54GS Wiressless card for SIO2PC]

I have an almost new WPC54GS PCMCIA wireless card (for laptops) from LinkSys.

 

I would be willing to trade it for a SIO2PC adapter.

 

Here is a link to the card:

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c...FVisitorWrapper

 

The card works just fine. There are no manuals or drivers included but these are easily available on LinkSys's site.

 

If interested please send me an email to:

 

[email protected]

 

thanks!

 

cbmeeks