Jump to content
IGNORED

Corina - new cartridge architecture


nosty

Recommended Posts

I have the honor of informing you that a new Atari cartridge called CORINA has been designed. Well known Atari cartridge specialist Zenon Rakoczy has created CORINA especially for GR8 Software.

 

CORINA was designed for the latest most demanding games being developed for the Atari 8-bit in modern times. It's main impressive feature is onboard SRAM memory meaning that the latest games normally requiring extended memory will no longer require an Atari with expanded memory!

 

The progess of the work has been very fast: Zenon passed to the prototype stage within a few days! We now know that the prototype tests are successful.

 

CORINA may include:

- EPROM memory for code: 128kB or 512kB or even 1MB (without SRAM). In this large ROM you can put also movies or sprites animation frames.

 

- EEPROM memory of the size of 8kB. This memory is writable and non-volatile memory, which means that the data in the memory does not disappear after you turn off your computer! It is intended to store saves, high score, etc.

 

- SRAM memory of the size of 128kB or 512kB. This memory (rewritable but volatile) can be used by games which normally would require a major enlargement of memory. Access to this memory is obtained simply by switching banks.

 

- Real-time clock (RTC) with battery, acting exactly the same as RTC in SpartaDOS X. Programs can always know what the current date and time is.

 

Cartridge architecture is universal and flexible: We can make a cartridge with components exactly as a specific game requires. For example: only 128kB EPROM, or 1MB EPROM + EEPROM, or 512kB EPROM + 512KB SRAM + EEPROM. This is very cost-effective solution.

 

I plan to prepare a few special development cartridges for programmers containing only rewritable SRAM memory in place of ROM. This solution enables programers to test their programs on a real Atari.

 

Waldek "Laoo" Pawlaszek offered me help by adding a new cartridge emulation to the Atari++ emulator. He is working on the emulation now.

 

So, if you work on a new great but demanding Atari game and would like to publish it on cartridge, GR8 Software has perfect cartridge for you :)

 

PS. Tezz, thanks a lot for help with English translation of this news.

Edited by nosty
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have the honor of informing you that a new Atari cartridge called CORINA has been designed. Well known Atari cartridge specialist Zenon Rakoczy has created CORINA especially for GR8 Software.

 

CORINA was designed for the latest most demanding games being developed for the Atari 8-bit in modern times. It's main impressive feature is onboard SRAM memory meaning that the latest games normally requiring extended memory will no longer require an Atari with expanded memory!

 

The progess of the work has been very fast: Zenon passed to the prototype stage within a few days! We now know that the prototype tests are successful.

 

CORINA may include:

- EPROM memory for code: 128kB or 512kB or even 1MB (without SRAM). In this large ROM you can put also movies or sprites animation frames.

 

- EEPROM memory of the size of 8kB. This memory is writable and non-volatile memory, which means that the data in the memory does not disappear after you turn off your computer! It is intended to store saves, high score, etc.

 

- SRAM memory of the size of 128kB or 512kB. This memory (rewritable but volatile) can be used by games which normally would require a major enlargement of memory. Access to this memory is obtained simply by switching banks.

 

- Real-time clock (RTC) with battery, acting exactly the same as RTC in SpartaDOS X. Programs can always know what the current date and time is.

 

Cartridge architecture is universal and flexible: We can make a cartridge with components exactly as a specific game requires. For example: only 128kB EPROM, or 1MB EPROM + EEPROM, or 512kB EPROM + 512KB SRAM + EEPROM. This is very cost-effective solution.

 

I plan to prepare a few special development cartridges for programmers containing only rewritable SRAM memory in place of ROM. This solution enables programers to test their programs on a real Atari.

 

Waldek "Laoo" Pawlaszek offered me help by adding a new cartridge emulation to the Atari++ emulator. He is working on the emulation now.

 

So, if you work on a new great but demanding Atari game and would like to publish it on cartridge, GR8 Software has perfect cartridge for you :)

 

PS. Tezz, thanks a lot for help with English translation of this news.

Sounds great, I would ike one when they are ready!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's misunderstanding! This is standard size cartridge not a "device" :)

 

But we don't plan to sell this cartridge empty. I think there's no sense in doing this...

This cartridge architecture is a proposition for programmers - we can use it to publish new demanding games (like Bomb Jack).

 

I don't have pictures cause we have a prototype only now.

Edited by nosty
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's misunderstanding! This is standard size cartridge not a "device" :)

 

But we don't plan to sell this cartridge empty. I think there's no sense in doing this...

This cartridge architecture is a proposition for programmers - we can use it to publish new demanding games (like Bomb Jack).

 

I don't have pictures cause we have a prototype only now.

Since you have a real time clock built in, would you sell one with Spartados X on it?

 

Allan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One question I have:

 

- SRAM memory of the size of 128kB or 512kB. This memory (rewritable but volatile) can be used by games which normally would require a major enlargement of memory. Access to this memory is obtained simply by switching banks.

 

Why does the cart need this RAM - given the huge ROM size and the 64K in the host machine?

 

Having developed carts back in the day for the A8, there were 2 approaches in use - one used the RAM on the host for screen, scratchpad and temporary data - everything else was in ROM. Some later carts dumped into RAM and ran from the system host RAM - just as if they had been loaded from disc.

 

Is the intention here to support both ways of developing, or am I missing something as to why one would need lots of RAM?

 

sTeVE

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One question I have:

 

Why does the cart need this RAM - given the huge ROM size and the 64K in the host machine?

 

sTeVE

 

Good question. RAM is an option only. Cartridge don't need RAM but maybe programmers can need RAM. For example: Bomb Jack. This game needs 2 RAM banks. Other new games (in developing) needs 512kB ROM. XXL asked about EEPROM for high score and saves.

I thought: "every one of programmers needs something else so we must put all components into one universal cartridge as options. One schematic diagram, one PCB design, everything configurable by a few jumpers. This solution is flexible, handy and cheap."

 

This is a reason.

 

Are tech specs available? Memory map, banking schemes, register definitions, etc.?

 

Of course! But not now. Zenon is still working on cartridge prototype. I design PCB.

All specification will be published soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nosty asked my to clarify some points:

 

1. This is working protype designed to serve NEW games. Thus, it is mostly for developers who plan to release interesting games need extended memory, with state save option, etc. Don't mix it up with a simple RAM-expansion cart (as RAM-CART for example). You can't just write existing programs on it and use as usual.

 

2. Is it possible to use it as a cartridge for existing utils or games? Well, if you will rewrite their code to fit cart... Cartridge SRAM memory takes other place and addresses than extended memory. Even clock addresses have been shifted to be not disturbed for SpartaDOS X programs, so actual software can't use RTS without reprogramming too. What you have to adept existing software to Corina? Nothing special, it is quite easy. After small maintenance all programs need extra memory can run on Atari 64kB.

 

3. GR8 Software doesn't plan to sell empty cartridges. However, GR8 Sofware is interested in Atari games development and it plans to sell games on this cartridge. It means that Nosty (founder of GR8) plan to release for free some cartridges for Atari coders, who are engaged in Atari programming and want to cooperate with GR8 (all programmers are very welcome). He also asked Laoo to implement Corina cartridge handling into Atari ++ emulator. All these things will help Atari coders to develop new, better software.

 

4. It is not nessesary to deal with GR8 Software to get this cartridge and to develop new games fit cartridge. Zenon, main designer of Corina, and Nosty, designer of PCB, promised to release all schemes and docs related to this project. Atari++ is freeware anyway.

Edited by Kaz atarionline.pl
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2. Is it possible to use it as a cartridge for existing utils or games? Well, if you will rewrite their code to fit cart... Cartridge SRAM memory takes other place and addresses than extended memory. Even clock addresses have been shifted to be not disturbed for SpartaDOS X programs, so actual software can't use RTS without reprogramming too. What you have to adept existing software to Corina? Nothing special, it is quite easy. After small maintenance all programs need extra memory can run on Atari 64kB.

 

I'm not a programmer so bare with me. As I understand it, the internal clock can't be read by existing programs like Spartados, but just programs that are specificlly programmed to read the clock? Correct? Did they have something particular in mind then when they added this fearture?

 

Allan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...