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Showing results for tags 'commavid'.
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For those who don't know, Commavid's Magicard is a cartridge (initially only sold as a bare board without a case) that allowed to write programs in machine code on the 2600. It has 1Kb of RAM, a 2Kb Monitor program in rom which allows to enter programs using two keyboard controllers and, by building an interface described in the manual, to save and load them using a tape recorder. There are subroutines in the rom to easily generate a 40x42 pixel graphic display, or 7 lines of text with 10 characters each. A reduced ascii charset was also stored in rom. The monitor includes a simple disassembler, an hex dump of memory and a function to calculate relative addresses for branch instructions on the fly. I learned a bit of assembly after joining AtariAge and discovering the homebrew scene. From that I also became interested in the early microcomputers like the KIM-1 or the Cosmac ELF, and got fascinated by Commavid's Magicard which shares a lot of similarities with them. At the time I first discover it, the repros were already out of productions and the original was (and still is) rare and way too expensive for me, so the only way I could try it out was through emulation. I remapped the keyboard controllers in Stella so that they are layed out next to each other and attached little labels on a spare keyboard to make it easy to use. I downloaded and printed the scans of the Manual available here on AtariAge, tried programming it and I LOVED it! Later I disassembled the code (that wasn't too hard, because the monitor is described in detail in the manual, including ram usage and address and function of every subroutine) and I hacked it to work on a supercharger. The hack was a little buggy but it worked and I could run all of the example programs on the manual (with some screen roll due to the slow access to supercharger RAM). With the advent of the Harmony cart, I could finally run the original bankswitch scheme on real hardware and I started again working on it. I made a Pal version and a slighty enanched version with a few bugfixes. Here they are if anyone is interested (Although I'm probably the only one... ) ------------------------------------------------ PAL conversion: magicard.asm Magicard_PAL_conversion.bin Like the original but with color correction and 50Hz display (without black bars on top and bottom of the image: the display is actually stretched to fill the screen, so the aspect ratio is the same as on the NTSC version). Here is a pdf version of the manual and overlays for the keyboard controllers you can print Magicard_Manual.pdf Magicard_Overlays.pdf ---------------------------------------------------------- Magicard+: magicard+_WIP_NTSC.bin magicard+_WIP_PAL.bin changes: - Fixed "JSR" addressing mode in disassembler (The original lists it as "absolute Y", instead of "Absolute". There's a note on chapter 4.3 of the manual) - Different font - RIOT RAM $A2 to $A9 isn't zeroed anymore upon reset. - Debounced RESET switch - The left four digits are now blanked while typing hex codes (The original shows garbage data instead) - "Unshifted" and "Shifted" mode (see Chapter 4) are now indicated by a different background color - Using of "Fetch", "Hex dump" and "Disassembly" functions in write area doesn't cause unwanted writes anymore. I couldn't make the cassette interface to work with any tape recorder, computer soundcard, mp3 player or anything else. I think old tape recorders used stronger audio levels and I'm not able to design a new interface that can work with modern devices. That's the main reason I left it in WIP state. If someone will come up with a functioning interface maybe I'll start working on it again and add some other features I had in mind.
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It looks like we entered the area of rare and expensive Atari games which are difficult to collect but that is only true for CommaVid. The other 2 are completed, Konami with 2 restored labels and Epyx with even 3 replaced new labels. Very proud of these... Lot of work!
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I’ve recently come across an in box copy of Video Life by CommaVid and I’m hoping someone will have some information about the value of the game along with how I can go about selling it. I’ve seen projected values of the game ranging from $2500 to $10,000, however many of these articles are old and I’m hoping to get an updated value of the game on the current market. The box and cartridge are both in great condition, but I am missing the game manual. Any help as to how I should move forward with selling the game would be greatly appreciated.
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I am looking to sell my in box copy of VideoLife. The cart is in pristine condition and the box is in good condition. I am asking $5000 or best offer for the cart and box. For security reasons, any deals will be done either in person, in cash, at a video game resale shop here in the Midwest, or by shipping via certified and insured mail, negotiable with the buyer. IMG_0447.MOV
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From the album: My Collection
It's funny how the Atari 8-Bit is both the smallest and largest, how greedy. -
From the album: My Collection
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From the album: My Collection
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Like most of us, I've always loved the Atari 2600 artwork used on the boxes/labels. Tim Lapetino's book was a major event when it came out - shedding light on so many artists and their work. One publisher's artist seems to be a mystery though - that being Commavid. The early artwork (Video Life, Cosmic Swarm) is nothing to write home about but I love the style of later games like Mines of Minos (a real hidden gem game in my opinion) and Cakewalk etc. Searching around the internet I can't find any mention of the artist though. Looking at the signature on some of the boxes gives some pointers, but I'm not particularly good a deciphering these. Probably the clearest example is on Minos below: Does anyone have any info on the artist or want to take a stab at guessing the name ? I'm pretty certain the first name is 'Jack' but the second is not clear enough - maybe 'Bray' or 'Berry' ?
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Hello, actually I sell some of the doubles from my own collection. In the case of this fine looking rare game I will first ask for interest in the our community. If you have any questions don´t hesitate to ask. See photos for details. If you want to make an offer ... please as PM. Thanks! Cheers, Lars
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For trade: Odyssey 2: Power Lords (loose cart) Atari loose carts: Mr. Do's Castle R8 Rubik's Cube R8 Atari Video Cube R7 Cosmic Swarm (NTSC) R6 Cosmic Swarm (PAL/Australian) R? Demolition Herby (B&W label) R6 Frogger II: Threedeep R6 Marauder R6 Mines of Minos (PAL/Australian) R? Pengo (bad end label) R6 Pengo (good label) R6 River Raid II R6 Room of Doom (NTSC) R6 Room of Doom (PAL/Australian) R? Tapper R6 Threshold R6 Crypts of Chaos R5 Double Dragon (bad end label) R5 King Kong (missing end label) R5 London Blitz R5 Miner 2049er R5 Mr. Do R5 Pigs in Space R5 Private Eye R5 Snoopy and the Red Barron R5 Strategy X R5 Tax Avoiders R5 Kool-Aid Man R4 Krull R4 Masters of the Universe (black label) R4 Pick n Pile (PAL) R4 Sub Scan R4 Spiderdroid R3 Tapeworm R3 Atari VCS CIB: River Raid II (sealed) Intellivision: Demon Attack CIB + sealed Nintendo 64: Backup Z64 CIB (256 Mbit version) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z64 ------------------------------------------------------------- Wanted: Atari 2600 games boxed (or empty box and manual where specified). Alien (box and cart) Earth Dies Screaming (box and manual) Spacemaster X-7 Beamrider Cosmic Swarm (2nd version artwork only) Mines of Minos Room of Doom Front Line Mr. Do (box) Roc'n Rope (box and manual) Smurfs: Rescue in Gargamel's Castle (box) Time Pilot (box) Subterranea Burger Time Thunderground Spy Hunter (will take a loose cart) Stargunner (box) Jawbreaker (box) Marauder (box and manual) Threshold (box) Sub Scan (box and inserts) No Escape (Black box) Demon Attack (Silver box) Moonsweeper Quick Step Subterranea Laser Gates Atari 2600 games loose carts or otherwise: Boulder Dash (loose or CIB) Quadrun Subterranea Alien Q-Bert's Qubes Atari accessories: Questar joystick KY Enterprises FingerTip Controller Supr Stick Professional Joystick TVS/Total Video Supply Game Safe Any commercially-produced carrying-case type storage for Atari 2600 cartridges in very good condition Odyssey 2 games: Power Lords Atlantis Frogger Popeye Q-Bert Super Cobra Tutankham Commando Nocturno Mage treasure chest version Any homebrew games besides Amok and Revival Studios releases (already have them) Brazilian games (unreleased in U.S.) Multi-carts Other Items: Imagic dealer catalogs, shirts, or other merch Odyssey Adventure magazines Electronic Games magazines Atari Age magazines Power Lords toys and accessories Tron action figures (original 80s) Tron Legacy PS2, Xbox, Wii controllers Atari Force mug, t-shirt Activision patches Centipede Championship patch Demon Attack poster PM me if interested.. Serious inquiries only, please..!
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