xahmol

Ah, I need to check up on how to do that then…..I have a PAL50 console. sorry, has been 40 years ago since last time I used one…..

And the strange colours of that bootleg, that is because of using NTSC color codes instead of PAL ones I assume?

Hi! Not new to this forum as I was longer active for my TI-99/4a here, but new here in the Atari 2600 section as I recently acquired a TV signal modded Atari 2600 (PAL), so I could also relive my Atari 2600 memories. See attached photo for the set I bought. And bought an Harmony Encore cartridge with it. I always was (and still am) a fan of the River Raid game, played it endless hours on both the Atari as on my other systems (Commodore, Sinclair, TI). So I wanted to but a River Raid cart. I thought I bought one (quite cheap, seller did not know what he sold), but it happened to be a knock-off called Reever Raad. So actually this one: http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-reever-raad_13307.html It works and plays well actually, only colors are all different and the Atari logo is gone. Thought it would be nice to record a video comparing the two: my freshly bought cartridge compared to the ROM version of the original via my Harmony Encore. See this video on YouTube: Is this actually a common knock-off version? Saw none other reference on this forum, only one reference to Reever Raad II, so apparently the sequel knock-off of River Raid 2.

Yes.

Received a nice auction lot Now have a second TI and second speech synth, next t a bunch of cartridges I did not have yet including documentation.

With all kind of respect for the maker, as a project it is a great job, I continue to have the impression it is a sub par solution compared to the best solutions on all of those 13 systems. So it might be an option if you want to economise and buy one solution that works on more than one of your systems. Also might be a good alternative if the more complete option is not available at the moment (which alas is often the case nowadays). But if like me you already have solutions for your different systems it probably does not add anything.

Would choose C with a cross compiler. Mainly because I do all my other 8 bit coding for other machines in C. Edit: oh, sorry, see the question says native, in that case none, prefer to develop on my PC for my retros.

Oh, I know the OSSC. But for it’s price it does not add much to what I own already. The Retrotink 5X Pro however packs some features that are interesting.

First: cool cross development, so kudos for that. But does this actually give benefits over a FinalGROM99 / TIPI / SAMS combo I already own? For same reason, I never bought/tried the Commodore versions (own also C64, C128 and Commodore Plus/4) as also on those machines according to what I read it actually supports less than the Pi1541 and UltimateII+ cartridge I already have (mainly as it does not support cycle accurate disk emulation afaik). But yes, I fully get what others are saying here: alternatives are now very hard to get due to the component crisis (e.g. Raspberry Pis are almost impossible to buy now, as is that UltimateII+ cart for the C64/C128), so if the BackBit actually is the one that is available I can see that getting it might be the best alternative for now.

Thanks! I did not know of this one. Bought my Retrotink from an auction site to avoid the taxes and shipping, and also found a Framemeister xRGB Mini on an auction site, plus the SCART adapter for the TI-99/4a from the Italian user group. So I now connect my TI via SCART to the Framemeister to capture, and simultanously via a scart splitter have the screen on my Sony CRT TV via SCART. See and https://www.idreamtin8bits.com/my-ti-99-4a But good to know an EU source for new ones as well (alltough most Retrotinks are sold out there now, a Retrotink 5X Pro is still on my want list). This site does not sell TIPIs though, but indeed does sell Retrotinks. I bought my TIPI indeed in the end from @arcadeshopper, as the EU one I bought worked but proved to be incompatible with a SAMS from Arcadeshopper (connector was just the other way around male/female). Now that I also have a F18A from Arcadeshopper in pre-order I am pretty much set I guess. Also, the shipping costs from Arcadeshopper were actually not that bad choosing the cheapest option. (and funny to see my topic without any replies suddenly getting respinses a year and a half later )

Thanks. Thought I understood as much from your last post, so you explained well ?just wanted confirmation, also because I saw Gregory posting on Facebook he was now selling those new ROMs, which made me think I might need it. On the other hand, for just USD 5 and with a socketed ROM (so even clumsy me can do it), I might still change ROM anyway.

Just to check after glancing a lot of posts I missed I see the last couple of weeks: Is my understanding correct that changing the TIPI DSR ROM for a new one is only needed for a very small subset of TI programs, s9 probably not worth the hassle for most users / me? And if I would want to change the ROM by using this ( https://www.arcadeshopper.com/wp/store/#!/TIPI-DSR-Rom-upgrade-service/p/104220340/category=115338525? - would that indeed get me this update? - is that ROM socketed? Or is desoldering and soldering needed? (Can’t check as I am on a holiday now do far from my TIPI).

Looks absolutely fantastic! Can’t wait to download and play, so hope ETA is soon ?

Well, I triggered exactly the same bug also using the % operand: https://atariage.com/forums/topic/164295-gcc-for-the-ti/?do=findComment&comment=4785108 Not sure if your variable is a char or an int, but solved in my code by changing from a char to an int. Maybe caused by the CPU being 16 bit instead of 8 bit? Anyway: was to lazy to file a bug as my fix was that simple.

See these excellent instructions on installing GCC-TMS9900 which also includes how to install EA5SPLIT: ### EA5SPLIT This utility will convert the potentially large EA5 file produced by `elf2ea5` into a sequence of 8K PROGRAM image files as is usually required by EA5 loaders. It also converts the files to FIAD in TIFILES format making them immediately usable on a TIPI or HDX, or in classic99 emulation. Download it: ``` cd $WORK wget https://atariage.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=261992 -O ea5split3.zip ``` Build it: ``` unzip ea5split3.zip cd ea5split make ``` It produced executable `ea5split`. Copy that to the same bin directory as the others: ``` cp ea5split ~/tms9900gcc/bin/ ```

Last august. But mind: as I said it was a video card for which the Linux driver officially no longer is supported as it is old. So that did not help. Then again, I heard from numerous people that things like this are also not that uncommon for NVidia Linux drivers. Was this issue for me: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-signed-hwe-5.11/+bug/1939115 See also the official reply on that bug: Sorry but the NVIDIA 340 driver reached end of life (this is something that NVIDIA decided). You can either rely on the nouveau driver (by uninstalling the NVIDIA driver), or switch to an older kernel (such as 5.4, which is also available in Focal). Luckily I found also a solution giving an alternative unofficial build for that driver, but that was cumbersome to find and build at first. Note that that same PC and videocard were still working with supported drivers with Windows 10.

Well, I am still doubting to move to full Linux for development or not. My main PC will definitely remain Windows, but made my old PC an Ubuntu development PC. Especially as many dev tools for retro computers work better in Linux. But on the one hand I had MAJOR issues in Ubuntu when after kernal update suddenly my Nvidia driver did not work anymore (and 640x480 resolution with the default driver is no fun). Solved it by recompiling the driver from the beta stream, but that was some learning curve to take. Got it back working again though. Disclaimer: this is also caused by this PC being from 2009, so the video card is rather old and the last NVidia driver supporting it also. On the other hand, with Windows 11, Windows Subsystem for Linux became so much better. Full integration in File explorer, and now even graphical GUI Linux applications work, offering a seamless experience. So yes, I do still like my Linux toolchains for retro development, like the TMS9900-GCC C compiler for the TI, but now I do not longer have to compromise with me having Linux when I want to but Windows as default for other day to day work and gaming. Also solves my issue that I could not get Classic99 running under Linux or Wine indeed. Just run it under Windows while developing under Linux on the same machine.

Nice! Thanks, great game! True. Started with the feeling, this game is easy, but that quickly changes in level 4.

Well, my humble one. but might be of use for someone wanting to write something in C using TMS9900-GCC: https://github.com/xahmol/ludo This repository is actually multi platform for Commodore 128, Oric Atmos and the TI-99/4a, obviously look in the TI-99/4a folder for the TI code.

Some pictures (and sorry for the mess, as said, serious lack of space): Wide shot of my complete retro setup (at least the connected part). It shows the TI outputting to both my CRT as to the OBS software on my Windows 11 PC (it also shows my other connected retro computers: from left to right an Ultimate64, a Commodore 128D stacked on top of a Commodore 128DCR with a Commodore 1084S-D1 monitor on top, an Oric Atmos and a ZX Spectrum 128 'Toastrack' above my TI-99/4a). Close-up of my TI-99/4a. Photo also shows the RGB to SCART adapter (upper left corner showing the blue light from the power on light), the Framemeiser xRGB Mini that does the conversion to HDMI of the SCART signal and my TI gear: the FinalGROM99, the Speech Synthesizer, and the TIPI with 1MB SAMS card combo. Finally a close-up of the Lotharek Hydra 2 that makes that I do not need to switch SCART cables all the time between the Oric, Spectrum and TI, and also enables that output to go to the CRT and the Framemeister at the same time. Luckily, on one SCART input it has a switch to add synch signal so the Framemeister can handle, so that port is the only one that can handle my TI signal. The Oric and Spectrum are fine on any port.

Not sure what you mean, you suggest other gear? (in that case, mind that the same gear also caters my Commodore 128D, Oric Atmos and ZX Spectrum) Edit: see now you write pic not pick…. ?so assume you are asking for a picture of the gear (sorry, no native speaker here….) Will try, but as my room is very full by lack of space think part of the gear probably does not show well on a picture. Will try anyway.

Sorry, lack of time. But finally made some more close up pictures.

Getting there with capturing video and sound from my real hardware, see Youtube video below of the Don't mess with Texas demo. I still have some SCART signal interference that bugs me, but for now can not get it better than this (use the Italian PAL output to SCART converter, which for some reason always gave fine picture but recently. So guess I have some new interference somewhere against which that cable is not shielded). Equipment used: - real hardware TI-99/4a PAL version with FinalGROM99, 1MB SAMS card, TIPI and Speech Synthesizer; - SCART RGB Interface PHA2037-mini for TI-99/4A EU PAL version ( https://www.ti99iuc.it/web/index.php?pageid=172&pagina=FleaMarket&sezione=5 ) - Lotharek Hydra 2 Revised SCART switcher to switch between my retros and to be able to send signal to both my CRT as my capture solution at the same time ( https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=290 ) - Framemeister xRGB mini to convert and upscale to 1080p 50Hz HDMI ( https://solarisjapan.com/collections/micomsoft/products/eu-tax-free-xrgb-mini-framemeister-compact-up-scaler-unit-eur-scart-adapter ) - Elgato Camlink 4K to capture HDMI signal to PC - OBS software to record Any tips to further improve are welcome just consider though I have a PAL system, not an NTSC one.

You mean like this? Or even closer?

I think that I actually showed both pictures already earlier elsewhere on this forum, but here a photo of both my setup in my youth (with small black and white CRT TV set) as my present setup (showing the recent Hunchback TI port on my Sony CRT next to the C64 Hunchback version).