lbaeza

Check out JD Casten's list of games on Atarimania: http://www.atarimania.com/list_games_atari-400-800-xl-xe-casten-j-d_team_218_8_G.html JD wrote several Basic games for Antic, like Escape from Epsilon. Regards, Louis BQ

That Maplin catalog art seems to be inspired on the works of Chris Foss. Regards, Louis BQ

Hi As a Roklan games fan, yes, I'd like to know more about this company. Roklan games were great, not in terms of graphics and sound effects, but in the way they immersed me on a completely different alien world. Journey to the Planets is my favorite Roklan game. Regards, Louis BQ

Hi Gunstar You made me think twice about going back to the 80s in Chile. Those were hard times, dictator Pinochet was ruling the country with an iron fist, and in 1985 we were hit by one of those earthquakes. Although Atari was #1 in Chile, few people were able to afford a microcomputer. I never had one back in the day. Disk drives were very scarce because of their price, cassettes were the primary source for programs here. Obscurantism was the rule back then, information on assembly programming was very scarce also. And in retrospective, we were years late. When the ST line was being unveiled in the US, we were still playing River Raid on our 800XL computers. Anyways, I keep very good memories from back in the day: the challenge of learning to type, devising ways to duplicate tapes and contraband them at school, establishing social networks in order to exchange programs and information, backing up program listings by writting them by hand on notebooks, walking several blocks in order to find a place where to photocopy some pages from that only american magazine available at school, going to the atari centre and playing Star Raiders for the first time without reading the manual and finding out how to play by trial and error, looking for a very long time that Atari Store Demo cartridge running at the store, trying to figure out how did they mix those graphic modes, and many many more. Today I really miss the passion that technology made me feel back in the day. Today I tend to not get impressed by it, and sometimes I tend to avoid it. For instance, no game today can make me feel the adrenaline running on my veins like Defender or Tron did back then at the arcades. Kind regards, Louis BQ

Guys, thanks for the answers so far. Rybags, I totally forgot about Atari UK and the famous compilation tape containg the Glenn-The-5200-man's port of the 5200 Centipede. Regarding this compilation...do you know if these games were loaded using custom loaders? Or maybe the plain "!" loader? Michael, that's interesting. I noticed both titles are BASIC, so I pressume those are loaded using the CLOAD command. Kind regards, Louis BQ

I meant errors on listings Kind regards, Louis BQ

Thanks for sharing this, MrFish. We all know listings on magazines and books where very common back then. This will save us a lot of unpleasant debugging. Kind regards, Louis BQ

Hi there I know Space Invaders was officially released on cassette by Atari in the US. What other games have been officially released by Atari US on cassette? I know SCRAM, Kingdom and Juggle's Rainbow where released on cassette also, but these are listed under the Utility or Educational category (I don't remember that correctly, though...) on Atarimania. My question is more related to arcade games... Regards, Louis BQ

Hi Allan That was fast! Muchas gracias, señor. Kind regards, Louis BQ

Does any one know where to find a online manual for the 1029 printer? Gury's 1029 entry points to this manual: http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/pub/Infothek/AtariTenZwentynine/Atari1029Manual.pdf But currently it's not available. Kind regards, Louis BQ

Ha! So you were the guy that outbid me! Glad to know it is in good hand now :-) Regards

Hi Blues76 Here I am, currently living for 10+ years in Santiago, although I was born in San Antonio. While I was at school I had the chance to play with some Atari 600XL and 1010 tape recorders (circa 1985, I remember because that was the year of that big earthquake), but previously I used to play games on a school mate's 2600 VCS. I remember visiting my local official "Centro Atari (Atari Centre)", the only resource for original Atari software. Everywhere else, you could only find pirated software. Now that I recall, I even remember buying a TDK C60 pirate tape on that Centre too! Those were the days...were you could buy pirate tapes on big retailer stores like Falabella and Paris. Atari was #1 in popularity here, seconded by the C64 and Sinclair computers. Regards, Louis BQ

Ascrnet You don't have to rename the binary file, you have to convert it from BIN to CAR. I used this webpage to convert it: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/241615-easy-rom-to-car-utility/ Regards, Louis BQ

Atari 800 box only I already have an 800 with its styrofoam. Currently on its way, so I have not been able to check if everything fits nice. Regards, Louis BQ

Sorry for this shameless plug, but here you go: http://www.atariware.cl/aw/foro/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2169 It's in spanish, though....but at least you can see the pictures. Regards, Louis BQ

Hi there Page 59 of the Hackerbook lists the hexdump of the EPROM Burner software. Here it is: 4C30ACC957D0034C 10ADC945D0034C8B ACC956D0034C2DAF C953D0034C76A9C9 4DD0034CFBADA9FD 20A4F66C0A00A97D 20A4F62073A8200A A857484943482045 50524F4D20444F20 594F552057414E54 20544F204255524E 20BFA9088554A90A 8555200AA8412920 323533B22073A8A9 0A8555200AA84229 20323733B22073A8 A90A8555200AA843 2920323731362C32 3531B62073A82073 A8A90A8555200AA8 57484154BA20F0AE 4820A4F66885FCC9 41D006A90085FDF0 12C942D006A98085 FD3008C943D078A9 C085FD2073A82073 A8200AA853455420 5357495443482054 4F20504F53495449 4F4EA0A5FCC941D0 0A200AA8323533B2 18901EC942D00A20 0AA8323733B21890 10C943D032200AA8 323731362C323531 B62073A82073A8A9 0A8555200AA84E4F 5720494E53455254 204550524FCD20D7 AB208FAA4C03A8A9 FD20A4F64CEDA920 73A8A90A8555200A A850524553532053 50414345204241D2 20F0AE602073A8A9 0A8555200AA84F4B 2028592F4EA920F0 AE4820A4F668C94E F003A90060A90160 484A4A4A4A20DBAA 68290FC90AB00409 30D0031869374CA4 F6A90085F285F385 FEA90485FC20F0AE 48C99BF00320A4F6 68C9303025C94710 21C93A3007C94130 191869090A0A0A0A A0042A26F226F388 D0F8A98085FEC6FC D0CB60A9308D02D3 A9FF8D00D3A9348D 02D360A9308D02D3 A9008D00D3A9348D 02D3602073A820FD AEA90A8555200AA8 46524F4DBA20E9AA A5FE300DA5F120D0 AAA5F020D0AA4C79 ABA5F285F0A5F385 F12073A8A90A8555 200AA8544F2020BA 20E9AAA5FE300DA5 F520D0AAA5F420D0 AA4CA4ABA5F285F4 A5F385F5A5FB302E 2073A82015AFA90A 8555200AA8494E54 4FBA20E9AAA5FE30 0DA5F920D0AAA5F8 20D0AA4CD6ABA5F2 85F8A5F385F960A9 0185FEA90385FCA9 0985FFA5FD1021A9 041865FE85FEA904 1865FC85FCA90418 65FF85FFA5FD2940 F006A5FE290F85FE 60A5F085F2A5F185 F3A5F2D002A5F3F0 16A5FC8D01D3A5FE 8D01D3C6F2A5F2C9 FFD0E6C6F310E260 A98085FAA90085FB 203BAB204BAB20AC AAD0F820D7AB2009 ACA000202CA891F8 A5F1C5F59004A5F0 C5F4F019E6F0D002 E6F1E6F8D002E6F9 A5FC8D01D3A5FE8D 01D31890D42073A8 A90A8555200AA54C 4F414445C4205FAA 4C03A8A98085FB55 FA203BAB204BAB20 ACAAD0F820D7AB20 09ACA000202CA5C9 FFD039A5F1C5F590 04A5F0C5F4F013E6 F0D002E6F1A5FC8D 01D3A5FE8D01D315 90D82073A5A90A85 55200AA845524153 45C4208FAAA90085 FB4C03A82073A8A9 0A8555200AA84E4F 5420455241534544 20494EA0A5F120D0 AAA5F020D0AA208F AAA90085FB4C03A8 A90085FB85FA202B AB204BAB20ACAAD0 F820D7ABA5F885F2 A5F985F32011ACA0 00B1F08D00D320A9 ADA5F1C5F59004A5 F0C5F4F013E6F0D0 02E6F1A5FC8D01D3 A5FE8D01D31890D7 2073A8A90A855520 0AA850524F475241 4D4D45C4208FAA4C 03A82073A8A90A85 55200AA843454C4C A0A5F120D0AAA5F0 20D0AA200AA8204E 4F542050524F4752 414D4D45C4208FAA 4C03A8A0FF88D0FD 60A5FF8D01D320A3 AD290E8D01D34820 DDAD6809018D01D3 A5FE8D01D320A3AD 203BAB202CA8A000 D1F0F00568684C72 AD202BAB60A9FF85 F6A90B85F7A5F6D0 02A5F7F00DC6F6A5 F6C9FFD0F0C6F718 90EB6020F0AE4820 A4F668C952D006A9 0085FAF012C945D0 06A98085FA3008A9 FD20A4F64CFBAD20 3BABA98085FB204B AB20ACAAD0F820D7 AB2037AE4C03A8A5 FA10032009ACA97D 20A4F6A90085F620 73A8A90085F7A5F1 85F320D0AAA5F085 F220D0AA20DBAEA5 FA100620E0AE1890 04A000B1F020D0AA E6F7A5F7C908F00B 20DBAEE6F0D002E6 F1D0DCA90085F720 DBAEA5FA3021A000 B1F2C9209004C97A 9002A92E20A4F6E6 F7A5F7C908F008E6 F2D002E6F3D0DBA5 F1C5F59004A5F0C5 F49006208FAA4C03 A8E6F0D002E6F1E6 F6A5F6C914F0034C 47AE208FAA20D7AB 4C3EAEA9204CA4F6 202CA848A5FC8D01 D3A5FE8D01D36860 20E2F6C958D00568 684C03A860A90485 55A5FA1009200AA8 4550524FCD60200A A85241CD60A90485 55A5FA1007200AA8 5241CD60200AA845 50524FCD60A98085 FAA90085FB203BAB 204BAB20ACAAD0F8 20D7AB2009ACA000 202CA848D1F8D03E 68A5F1C5F59004A5 F0C5F4F019E6F0D0 02E6F1E6F8D002E6 F9A5FC8D01D3A5FE 8D01D31890D02073 A8A90A8555200AA8 56455259464945C4 208FAA4C03A82073 A8200AA844494646 4552454E54204259 544553A06820D0AA 20DBAEA000B1F820 D0AA200AA820494E A0A5F920D0AAA5F8 20D0AA208FAA4C03 A800000000000000 Can you give me a hand converting from hexdump to source code? What is the procedure to accomplish this? Kind regards, Louis BQ

Hello santosp Please count me in, I will send the $40 prepayment ASAP. Thanks in advance. Louis BQ

Hi there Found this program called "Label Maker (19xx)(Jones, Matthew)(US)[bASIC].bas" on atarionline.pl: http://atarionline.pl/v01/index.php?ct=utils&sub=1.%20Biuro&tg=Label%20Maker&PHPSESSID=ac69e155ba601253be600dd52e0154f4#Label%20Maker I tried it on Altirra: ...but the printer output emulation is text only. Any ideas how to set up Altirra in order to correctly display the underlined and enlarged text? Kind regards, Louis BQ

Hi Larry Do you have the name for any of those label printing programs from back in the day? I have access to an Atari 1029, and a Seikosha GP500 printer. Windows font is an option. I googled for some dot matrix fonts, found some but I was not able to locate on with the double width feature. Do you know any? Kind regards, Louis BQ

Hi there Please take a look at the label on the picture. Was this label printed using an Atari program? Which one? Note that some letters are printed on double width...Any ideas? Kind regards, Louis BQ

Coool... Thanks for your answer, Bryan. I pressume amps will be distributed even between the +12V and the +5V... Kind regards, Louis BQ

Hi there Recently reading at past topics on the subject, I was able to learn that although the Atari 1050 disk drive uses an external 9 VAC 31 VA 3.4 A power adaptor, internally the 1050 uses both +5V and +12V. How is this accomplished? Page 1-8 of the Field Service Manual explains: And shows this picture next: Looking at the schematic, I am clear about the +5V part: However, I am not clear on the +12V part: How is this accomplished? I mean, somehow the voltage is raised and fed to that 7812. 7812 datasheet says it should be fed with at least 14.5 volts in order to have +12V. How is the voltage raised from 9V to 14.5 or more? What is that "12V Doubler"? Is this a capacitor? Which one? Please clarify. Thanks in advance, Louis BQ

Hello Nir Thanks for your comments, I will proceed as recommended and let you know how it goes soon. Kind regards, Louis BQ

Hi Guys I always wanted to know how Atari cartridges were dumped. I had this idea that an eprom programmer must have been used for this purpose. However, I never tried to implement this idea, until now. I know there are cartridge dumps on the net, and that it is very likely all my cartridges have already been dumped. I also know atarimax.com sells a hardware that will allow me to dump cartridges. However, this experiment is only for fun, for the knowledge and for the satisfaction of being able to accomplish the task. I have a Needham's EMP-10 EPROM programmer, exactly like the one pictured here: and a Donkey Kong Junior cartridge I want to dump: Looking at the standard 16K cartridge schematic by Jerzy Sobola, you can see it consists of two 8K ROM chips, and that they share their data and address lines: Pins #S4 of the cartridge connector enables or disables the first 8k ROM, and pin #S5 enables or disables the second 8K ROM. So the idea is to use the EPROM programmer and configure it to read a 8K EPROM, like the 2764, and by using an adapter and a switch (to select which of the two 8K ROMs to read), to be able to read the contents of a standard 16K cartridge. I built this adapter. On one end, you have pins that will be inserted on the EPROM programmer, and on the other end, there's a cartridge connector. The adapter has a swith in order to 'activate' #S4 or #S5: #S4 and #S5 are activated on active low, I.E., at 0 volts. On the EPROM side, #CE has the same behavior and purpose, so this is what I used to enable #S4 or #S5. After I built the adapter, I put my Donkey Kong Junior cartridge on it, configured the EPROM programmer to read a 2764 EPROM.Then with the switch in the #S4 position, I read the contents of the cartridge. Then, with the switch on the #S5 position, I read the cartridge again. As a result, I got two binary files: DK-L.BIN and DK-H.BIN: DK-L.BIN, 8.192 bytes, CRC-32: 47E6F535 DK-H.BIN, 8.192 bytes, CRC-32: D66659F0 In order to check if the dumps were OK, I downloaded the 16K dump of the Donkey Kong Junior from Atarimania, and split it: DonkeyKongJr-A.bin, 8.192 bytes, CRC-32: 47E6F535 DonkeyKongJr-B.bin, 8.192 bytes, CRC-32: 7A815945 As you can see, only the first 8K are OK. I then compared the files DK-H.BIN and DonkeyKongJr-B.bin, and this is what I found: As you can see, on my 8k dump, when I put the switch on the #S5 position, the first 8 bytes are not read OK, the next 8 bytes are read OK, and the next 8 bytes are not read OK, and so on. Clearly there's a problem on how the #S4 and #S5 lines are being activated. There's very little information on how these #S4 and #S5 signals work, here's an excerpt of the information I found on the Pixel Past's 16K PCB documentation: Should I activate both #S4 and #S5 at the same time in order to enable or disable the first or the second 8K segment of the cartridge, instead of activating #S4 or #S5, as I am currently doing it? Any advices will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Louis BQ

Excellent, Bill. Keep up the good work. Kind regards, Louis BQ