+stupus Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Thanks for scanning, my manual is the same too. With the apollo wording on the front and all victory 3 wording on the inside. Sadly mine looks equally poor to yours...probably worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 Excellent work!!! Didn't realize that the Blackjack game was built-in to the unit. Neat that they were ale to fit it in the system! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLD1985 Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Excellent work!!! Didn't realize that the Blackjack game was built-in to the unit. Neat that they were ale to fit it in the system! Yes Blackjack is in all the clone systems, however if I remember correctly it's a slightly different version (improved version, I assume done by RCA) as you can bet a higher number. (Can compared them in an emulator to check). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Yes Blackjack is in all the clone systems, however if I remember correctly it's a slightly different version (improved version, I assume done by RCA) as you can bet a higher number. (Can compared them in an emulator to check). Andy Modla did mention he also programmed a color version of Blackjack. I've got get that interview... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Yes, the built-in Blackjack on my Conic M1200 displays in different colours and allows you to bet up to 99 dollars (?) per round, while the cartridge version Blackjack (of which I've got two copies, IIRC identical except for the writing on the cover) is monochrome and only takes bets up to 9 dollars per round. It means you can make far bigger scores on the built-in version, but also lose all your money faster. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLD1985 Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 (edited) Does anyone actually know much about the company "Academy"? As scanning in the manuals for the games I have and Biorhythm has Conic's name in a disclaimer. It seems that the Apollo 80 is the laziest/cheapest of all the clones I have seen. It looks like they just got all the resources given to them by Conic and then just printed them without changing anything themselves. None of the game manuals mention "Apollo 80", they most say "Victory - 3". All the game manuals are on thin bits of "toilet paper". Apollo 80: MPT-02 Victory: It is interesting that the example dates on the Academy manual differs from the ones on the MPT-02 Soundic Victory manual. Maybe the Apollo manual is the first/prototype revision (1977) and the Soundic Victory was the final revision (1978) Apollo 80: MPT-02 Victory: Edited August 6, 2015 by TLD1985 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Does anyone actually know much about the company "Academy"? As scanning in the manuals for the games I have and Biorhythm has Conic's name in a disclaimer. It seems that the Apollo 80 is the laziest/cheapest of all the clones I have seen. It looks like they just got all the resources given to them by Conic and then just printed them without changing anything themselves. None of the game manuals mention "Apollo 80", they most say "Victory - 3". All the game manuals are on thin bits of "toilet paper". Apollo 80: MPT-02 Victory: It is interesting that the example dates on the Academy manual differs from the ones on the MPT-02 Soundic Victory manual. Maybe the Apollo manual is the first/prototype revision (1977) and the Soundic Victory was the final revision (1978) Apollo 80: MPT-02 Victory: Those manuals look remarkably similar to the Sheen ones I've seen... Hey, by any chance do you have a Bingo manual that hasn't been scanned yet? I'm curious as to off any mention extra playing tokens, cards, etc. The foreign versions of the Schoolhouse games too, come to think of it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLD1985 Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Those manuals look remarkably similar to the Sheen ones I've seen... Hey, by any chance do you have a Bingo manual that hasn't been scanned yet? I'm curious as to off any mention extra playing tokens, cards, etc. The foreign versions of the Schoolhouse games too, come to think of it... I have never seen any School House I: Computer Quiz for any clone system... it is possible none were made even tho they are listed as releases... might be 1 or 2 "prototypes made". If any were released... I am going to guess that no question booklets were made and they simply said you had to make your own questions.. I've only seen the MPT-02 Victory scan of the Bingo cart. I do not have Bingo for the Academy Apollo, I know one other member on here has a Sheen version of Bingo. I think he would have mentioned if it it came with anything tho. Tennis/Squash is the only other game that's listed for release on clone systems but I have never seen a copy for any clone system. This is what I have scanned so far: One person on here has #4.. so hopefully they can get me scans at some point. Others are MIA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 I have never seen any School House I: Computer Quiz for any clone system... it is possible none were made even tho they are listed as releases... might be 1 or 2 "prototypes made". If any were released... I am going to guess that no question booklets were made and they simply said you had to make your own questions.. I've only seen the MPT-02 Victory scan of the Bingo cart. I do not have Bingo for the Academy Apollo, I know one other member on here has a Sheen version of Bingo. I think he would have mentioned if it it came with anything tho. Tennis/Squash is the only other game that's listed for release on clone systems but I have never seen a copy for any clone system. This is what I have scanned so far: One person on here has #4.. so hopefully they can get me scans at some point. Others are MIA Great info- at least we have most of those. What (or who) is the initial source of information for these checklists- the person who originally claimed that certain titles were released for the various clone systems? I wonder in part because one of my means of tracking down the Tester I and Demonstration Cartridges has been to go back through older websites and the Internet Archives and contact various folks listed on older checklists from the 90's. At some point somebody somewhere had to have had these for them to be added to all of the lists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLD1985 Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 (edited) The manuals for the MPT-02s list the available games for it and one of the Sheen systems list the available games on the box: M1200-01 - School House 2 / Math FunM1200-02 - BiorhythmM1200-03 - BaseballM1200-04 - Fun with NumbersM1200-05 - Star WarsM1200-06 - BingoM1200-07 - PinballM1200-08 - Concentration / MatchM1200-09 - Tennis / SquashM1200-10 - School Hose 1 /Computer QuizM1200-11 - Speedway TagM1200-12 - Space War Intercept M1200-13 - Gun Fighter / Moonship Battle Sadly the Apollo 80 has no such list anywhere. Edited August 7, 2015 by TLD1985 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 The manuals for the MPT-02s list the available games for it and one of the Sheen systems list the available games on the box: M1200-01 - School House 2 / Math Fun M1200-02 - Biorhythm M1200-03 - Baseball M1200-04 - Fun with Numbers M1200-05 - Star Wars M1200-06 - Bingo M1200-07 - Pinball M1200-08 - Concentration / Match M1200-09 - Tennis / Squash M1200-10 - School Hose 1 /Computer Quiz M1200-11 - Speedway Tag M1200-12 - Space War Intercept M1200-13 - Gun Fighter / Moonship Battle Sadly the Apollo 80 has no such list anywhere. So the MPT-02 manuals and a Sheen system box are the origin of the information on the checklists for those two clones? Have all of those titles been confirmed as having been released, or even actually seen by any collectors? Hopefully we're not simply assuming they were all released... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLD1985 Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 the only two games I not seen on any clone system are: "School House I: Computer Quiz" and "Tennis/Squash". All the others have been released on one or more of the systems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLD1985 Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 I got a replacement adapter for the system today and tried it on a TV and it works! So will get some rough video footage soon!. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceman Posted November 16, 2015 Share Posted November 16, 2015 Hi, just caught on this thread as I just acquired a "Victory" from a friend (who found another one in the box!). This thread is a great read, and full unknown facts. But I am left with a few questions. Can the victory be AV modded? Would anyone have the plans to do this? Is the multicart still in progress? Such a project would be compatible with my model as well as other clones right? As you can imagine, I really need one (as many of you, I am sure). I only have the built-in game (Bowling) and I think I have never seen games here for sale (and postage just kill any overseas options. Having all the games (and extra homebrew stuff if possible) in 1 cart would be amazing. Anyway, hope this thread keeps going and that this system will stay alive thanks to the retro community! The Retro Gamer magazine article was surely an eye opener! Thanks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted November 16, 2015 Author Share Posted November 16, 2015 Hi, just caught on this thread as I just acquired a "Victory" from a friend (who found another one in the box!). This thread is a great read, and full unknown facts. But I am left with a few questions. Can the victory be AV modded? Would anyone have the plans to do this? Is the multicart still in progress? Such a project would be compatible with my model as well as other clones right? As you can imagine, I really need one (as many of you, I am sure). I only have the built-in game (Bowling) and I think I have never seen games here for sale (and postage just kill any overseas options. Having all the games (and extra homebrew stuff if possible) in 1 cart would be amazing. Anyway, hope this thread keeps going and that this system will stay alive thanks to the retro community! The Retro Gamer magazine article was surely an eye opener! Thanks The research continues The plan is still to obtain the US Bingo, Demonstration, and Tester carts for dumping and preservation, along with the unique Japanese titles, for inclusion in the Multicart. So far, we're still looking. These are proving to be fiendishly elusive. In addition, a visit to the various repositories that contain all of RCA's archives related to the Studio II, III, and beyond is still in the works. Many answers and surprises surely await there. Interviews with additional personnel from RCA back in the day are also planned. Hopefully there will be more to follow along these lines... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flip Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Hi all, Haven't posted in this thread before, but incredible work being done in this group! I've decided to have a go at building a S2 multicart, based on the info on Paul Robson's page Using a 2764 EPROM that holds two games, the protype is working. It also confirms that Paul's design is correct (as if that was in any doubt)! Next step is to design a PCB to hold a 27c512 that has 16 game-roms, using a hex decoder switch to select the games. flip 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted November 21, 2015 Author Share Posted November 21, 2015 Hi all, Haven't posted in this thread before, but incredible work being done in this group! I've decided to have a go at building a S2 multicart, based on the info on Paul Robson's page Using a 2764 EPROM that holds two games, the protype is working. It also confirms that Paul's design is correct (as if that was in any doubt)! Next step is to design a PCB to hold a 27c512 that has 16 game-roms, using a hex decoder switch to select the games. flip Awesomeness! Put me down for a copy whenever they're available. Would there be a way for more than 16 titles to be played via this method? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flip Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Awesomeness! Put me down for a copy whenever they're available. Would there be a way for more than 16 titles to be played via this method? The initial version is designed for 16 titles - for simplicity, it uses a rotary hex switch with 16 positions (0->F) to select the game you want to play. I might try and expand that in a second version, but I'd like to get this one up and running first... PCBs are ordered. I'll post an update when I get them... flip 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 Awesomeness! Put me down for a copy whenever they're available. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 The initial version is designed for 16 titles - for simplicity, it uses a rotary hex switch with 16 positions (0->F) to select the game you want to play. I might try and expand that in a second version, but I'd like to get this one up and running first... PCBs are ordered. I'll post an update when I get them... flip Two of those switches and you're at 256. That ought to cover it. As cool as on screen menus are, there's something to be said for it remembering your setting. Might also be fun to see what happens if you change the switch in the middle of a game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+stupus Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I am definitely in for 1 when you get them in production! Nice work! Yeah it would be nice if you could go more than 16 slots, because if all known programs get dumped there would be about 23 titles then....more if you added the few homebrew roms that were made... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+stupus Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 (edited) spaceman, on 15 Nov 2015 - 8:21 PM, said: Hi, just caught on this thread as I just acquired a "Victory" from a friend (who found another one in the box!). This thread is a great read, and full unknown facts. But I am left with a few questions. Can the victory be AV modded? Would anyone have the plans to do this? Is the multicart still in progress? Such a project would be compatible with my model as well as other clones right? As you can imagine, I really need one (as many of you, I am sure). I only have the built-in game (Bowling) and I think I have never seen games here for sale (and postage just kill any overseas options. Having all the games (and extra homebrew stuff if possible) in 1 cart would be amazing. Anyway, hope this thread keeps going and that this system will stay alive thanks to the retro community! The Retro Gamer magazine article was surely an eye opener! Thanks yeah the clones can be av modded, I think slydc modded his conic, I know he modded his visicom. Maybe try to contact him for how to do so. I know the clone games don't fit in the rca s2 without taking the cart shell off. I think the rca s2 carts fit in the clone models though....but cant remember for sure now offhand. All the games are cart slot compatible except for the visicom...just the rca s2 cart shells are a bit different shape from all the other clone carts shells. Edited November 22, 2015 by stupus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flip Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 I am definitely in for 1 when you get them in production! Nice work! Yeah it would be nice if you could go more than 16 slots, because if all known programs get dumped there would be about 23 titles then....more if you added the few homebrew roms that were made... If I use an 8Mbit EPROM (27c801 or 27c080), I have 256 slots. Using 2 hex encoders, as BigO suggested, would enable those to be selected. Having so many slots could enable some sort of organisation: 0x00-0x1f (32 slots) would be RCA originals; 0x20-0x2F (16 slots) would be Paul Robson's games, etc. Does that make sense? I guess it would even hold the games for other, compatible systems as well... Is there a definitive list of official & homebrew games somewhere that I can copy and paste from? flip 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+stupus Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 That would be great! Here is a nice chart tld1985 made that lists all the programs for the compatible systems: 23 programs total as bingo is listed twice. Of course some still are not dumped. I don't remember how many homebrew Roms Paul Robson made....maybe 3-4? Someone else might remember and have a list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flip Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 That would be great! Here is a nice chart tld1985 made that lists all the programs for the compatible systems: dumprca.png 23 programs total as bingo is listed twice. Of course some still are not dumped. I don't remember how many homebrew Roms Paul Robson made....maybe 3-4? Someone else might remember and have a list. Thanks - I've put the list + other roms I know of into a Google Sheet The top row would be one of the hex encoders, the left column the other. As it stands, 47 slots would be filled (some with duplicates). Using an 8Mbit EPROM, 209 slot remain empty, which is a lot. So a 4Mbit EPROM would be enough (leaving 81 slots free). One caveat: I've tried contacting Lee Romanow to ask his permission to include his ROMs, but haven't heard back. I'm not looking to make this a commercial product but his license is nevertheless restrictive (e.g. distribution is only allowed in ST2 format). Not sure he's on this forum or if anyone is in touch with him but if you are, I would be grateful if he could get in touch. flip 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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