Corina - new cartridge architecture

[nosty]

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 December 6, 2008 by nosty

[+Allan]

Wow! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

 

I'll buy this just for the clock alone.

 

I can't wait.

 

Allan

[Albert]

Sounds great! Some questions:

 

- How much is this cartridge going to cost in quantity?

- Does it fit in a normal Atari cartridge shell?

- Any pictures?

 

Thanks,

 

..Al

[atarian63]

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!

[deathtrappomegranate]

Interesting!

 

Like Albert, I'd be interested to know whether this device will fit into a standard size A8 cart shell.

[nosty]

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 December 6, 2008 by nosty

[deathtrappomegranate]

This is standard size cartridge

[Cybernoid]

Very cool!

[+Allan]

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

[Noelio]

That is AWESOME!!!

Just a hypothetical question...

 

Could you expand the memory of a 600XL to 64 or 128K with this cart?

What I'm thinking that would be neat is have dos running from cart with the expanded memory all in one.

[Heaven/TQA]

You Cool!

 

Cart rules! I will keep that in mind... for my releases...

[nosty]

My English is not so good so I can't clearly explain everything :/

But I asked Kaz for help. He promised me that he will try explain all details and clear misunderstandings about Corina.

So, have patience please

[Jetboot Jack]

Very exciting indeed, it sounds a very flexible platform for delivery - it makes me glad Atari based the A8 from day one around carts as much as cassettes and discs!!!

 

sTeVE

[deathtrappomegranate]

My English is not so good so I can't clearly explain everything :/

Your explanation seems pretty good - I'm sure that this cartridge will be great for software developers.

[Jetboot Jack]

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

[ClausB]

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

[Kr0tki]

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

I think the RAM there is given primarily as an option to simplify porting programs that were written earier with expanded RAM in mind.

[emkay]

Sounds very interesting.

 

what's more interesting to me, whether sometimes a page flipping cartridge will exist which is loading data from an external device.

This would end in a bootable "8Mbit+" transferspeed device. The cartridge port is same on all Ataris...

[mos6507]

That's great. I've been waiting for someone to implement banked RAM on a cartridge. I've heard about that being done before but it never caught on.

[nosty]

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.

[Kaz atarionline.pl]

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 December 6, 2008 by Kaz atarionline.pl

[+Allan]

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

[Kaz atarionline.pl]

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?

 

That's correct.

 

Did they have something particular in mind then when they added this fearture?

 

I think so .

[Heaven/TQA]

i am interested in getting one card... how much do I have to pay the guys to get a dev cart? Beyond Evil would be a good test... not only because of the gfx but for the item generator and for the saving the dropped items and the game world stats...

[peteym5]

I am wondering how the bank switching scheme will work through $D500. I know the ROM banks will be like 0-14 on a 128k cart, and 15 being the ROM for $A000-$BFFF. Does the RAM sections like start at a certain number, like 32 or something?