sillyventure2020 Breakout GUI OS for the Atari 2600

[Mr SQL]

BREAKOUT RELOADED 

Conceptualize BREAKOUT as an OS both in form and function on the classic Atari 2600 hardware platform, using an ISAM analog Database created on a looping cassette tape to create a virtual disk up to 1.5 Megabytes.

 

The example attached is an Atari 2600 bootable virtual disk 24k in size with four applications in the directory, the Operating System is one of them and it boots up first from the virtual drive just like a real OS  BREAKOUT_GUI_OS_BETA.bin

 

Since the operating system is also a game and a demo you can either watch the demo or take over and play the OS as the Ball armed with a Laser Beam scrolling around a large breakout board.

 

Launching applications:

 

Scroll to any of the four corners and pin the ball there holding the button down to launch the apps.

 

Clicking Shortcuts:
 

The upper left corner has a shortcut to an app, the upper right corner will take you to the apps Title Screen first. 

 

Returning back to the BREAKOUT GUI OS from the apps:

 

Most apps allow you to return directly to the GUI OS simply by holding the button down.

 

Just like Windows some apps will take through another app first, and the app in the lower left requires that you complete an EULA before returning you to the OS with helpful system prompts and a status report to assist you.  

 

Rebooting the OS:

 

Most operating systems let you reload the OS, BREAKOUT GUI OS can reboot from the lower right corner.

OPERATING SYSTEM FEATURE COMPARISONS 
------------------------------------------------------

Underlying OS Technology -

 

Windows
Microsoft Visual BASIC

 

BREAKOUT GUI OS
Disk Extended SuperCharger BASIC

 

Mouse Pointer -

 

WINDOWS
The Pointer is hard to see

 

BREAKOUT GUI OS
The Ball can never be missed

 

Finding shortcuts on the desktop -

 

ANDROID OS

Tediously page through screen after screen like playing Pitfall to find the treasure, then after the updates the treasure will move to a different page. It's completely random and never where you found it before.

 

BREAKOUT GUI OS
Scroll and click, apps stay in place and the navigation is more intuitive without paging.

 

APPLICATION DEMOGRAPHICS

-------------------------------------

 

BREAKOUT GUI OS:
All applications are Atari games.

 

All other Operating Systems:
Not all applications are Atari games.
 

Edited September 4, 2020 by Mr SQL

[Voxel]

Sounds really interesting.

[+Yurkie]

On 9/4/2020 at 7:48 AM, Mr SQL said:

BREAKOUT RELOADED 

Conceptualize BREAKOUT as an OS both in form and function on the classic Atari 2600 hardware platform, using an ISAM analog Database created on a looping cassette tape to create a virtual disk up to 1.5 Megabytes.

 

The example attached is an Atari 2600 bootable virtual disk 24k in size with four applications in the directory, the Operating System is one of them and it boots up first from the virtual drive just like a real OS  BREAKOUT_GUI_OS_BETA.bin

 

Since the operating system is also a game and a demo you can either watch the demo or take over and play the OS as the Ball armed with a Laser Beam scrolling around a large breakout board.

 

Launching applications:

 

Scroll to any of the four corners and pin the ball there holding the button down to launch the apps.

 

Clicking Shortcuts:
 

The upper left corner has a shortcut to an app, the upper right corner will take you to the apps Title Screen first. 

 

Returning back to the BREAKOUT GUI OS from the apps:

 

Most apps allow you to return directly to the GUI OS simply by holding the button down.

 

Just like Windows some apps will take through another app first, and the app in the lower left requires that you complete an EULA before returning you to the OS with helpful system prompts and a status report to assist you.  

 

Rebooting the OS:

 

Most operating systems let you reload the OS, BREAKOUT GUI OS can reboot from the lower right corner.

OPERATING SYSTEM FEATURE COMPARISONS 
------------------------------------------------------

Underlying OS Technology -

 

Windows
Microsoft Visual BASIC

 

BREAKOUT GUI OS
Disk Extended SuperCharger BASIC

 

Mouse Pointer -

 

WINDOWS
The Pointer is hard to see

 

BREAKOUT GUI OS
The Ball can never be missed

 

Finding shortcuts on the desktop -

 

ANDROID OS

Tediously page through screen after screen like playing Pitfall to find the treasure, then after the updates the treasure will move to a different page. It's completely random and never where you found it before.

 

BREAKOUT GUI OS
Scroll and click, apps stay in place and the navigation is more intuitive without paging.

 

APPLICATION DEMOGRAPHICS

-------------------------------------

 

BREAKOUT GUI OS:
All applications are Atari games.

 

All other Operating Systems:
Not all applications are Atari games.
 

is this something that can be loaded and ran off the Harmony cart?

[Mr SQL]

12 hours ago, Yurkie said:

is this something that can be loaded and ran off the Harmony cart?

Yes this will run on the Harmony and in Stella!

 

The maximum size for a SuperCharger Virtual drive is currently 32K on the Harmony, but it could be expanded to 256K or early Harmonies and 512K on later models with a firmware upgrade from discussion with batari.  The Encore, PlusCart and UnoCart can support 1.5 MB virtual drives.

 

The Harmony is so fast you don't know the virtual drive is there, the PlusCart and UnoCart will make you more aware of the virtual drive by showing loading bar curtain animation whenever the virtual disk is accessed during play.