Homemade games for Coleco Telstar Arcade

[Serguei2]

Since Coleco Telstar Arcade is a console, I wonder if it possible to make new games on this system?

 

 

[stupus]

Possible yes, but definitely not easy since it doesnt use roms.

[fiddlepaddle]

My cursory research shows each cartridge contains a MOS Technology MPS-7600-00X chip, which is apparently a microcontroller.

Could you maybe modify an existing game cartridge with a new microcontroller (assuming you could find one or emulate one)?

I'm sure you could control it with a pi or similar.

[Serguei2]

Sounds like Odyssey 1 except there is a chip in each cartridge.

 

Introduced in 1977, I was thinking Telstar Arcade cartridges has roms since this kind of cartridge was introduced in 1976 with Fairchild Channel F.

[stupus]

Totally different than odyssey 1.

Odyssey 1 uses a simple card with jumpers and all processing is already contained in the console so homebrews are easier to make for it than any other system.

The telstar arcade has a unique processor in every cart, so you would have to create a whole new processor that could also be read into the telstar.

Telstar was also obsolete tech when it came out and also why it failed.

[Serguei2]

Let me see ...

 

If Colecovision was like Telstar Arcade, we would find a Z80 in each cartridge?

Edited October 18, 2020 by Serguei2
typo

[Mikebloke]

The coleco telstar arcade is similar to the pc 50x series. Making homebrew is theoretically possible, it just isn't very practical. Basic early arcade games would be the most you could get out of using parts similar to originals, but in theory the "console" is just a box for input and output ports. You could probably wedge a wii in it with enough know how. 

[+Swami]

1 hour ago, Mikebloke said:

The coleco telstar arcade is similar to the pc 50x series. Making homebrew is theoretically possible, it just isn't very practical. Basic early arcade games would be the most you could get out of using parts similar to originals, but in theory the "console" is just a box for input and output ports. You could probably wedge a wii in it with enough know how. 

I would like to see the glitches in the existing games fixed at least. Also, it would be fun to see how far it could be pushed (could you make a basic breakout, duck hunt or death race, etc.?)