APF MP1000 mini/maxi etc.

[Judge Mental]

I've mentioned this before, but I thought I'd start a thread about it. There's been a lot of new products being created for old consoles, both obscure and well known by hobbyists/enthusiasts with tech/electronics backgrounds. Is there any interest, albeit small for those hobbyist/enthusiasts to create an APF MP1000 replica with its game Library built-in, as well as RCA Studio II, Fairchild Channel F etc.? I'm sure the creators/rights holders would grant permission, like the people behind the Vectrex have. What do you guys think?

 

Edited October 18, 2020 by Judge Mental

[+cjherr]

I’d like to see replicas of these systems just to keep the fun alive. 

[mr_me]

You don't need anyone's permission to recreate the hardware.  You'd have to track down the owner of the apf m1000 software, or people can add it themselves.  Channel F and RCA Studio 2 have already been created in fpga for the analogue nt mini.

[Judge Mental]

Harry Cox, if you're still out there, I know you programmed most of the APF MP1000 games, but do you own the rights as well, and if you don't, do you know who does? Of course I'm talking to myself, hoping you visit Atariage. BTW, are you related to Charlie? 

Edited October 20, 2020 by Judge Mental

[mr_me]

Probably the Friedman family.  When apf closed, any assets that didn't sell would have stayed with the shareholders.

[Judge Mental]

5 hours ago, mr_me said:

Probably the Friedman family.  When apf closed, any assets that didn't sell would have stayed with the shareholders.

Well, it's about time some of them came out of the APF closet. C'mon people, reveal yourselves and grant permission! ?

[Bill Loguidice]

On 10/17/2020 at 8:15 PM, Judge Mental said:

I've mentioned this before, but I thought I'd start a thread about it. There's been a lot of new products being created for old consoles, both obscure and well known by hobbyists/enthusiasts with tech/electronics backgrounds. Is there any interest, albeit small for those hobbyist/enthusiasts to create an APF MP1000 replica with its game Library built-in, as well as RCA Studio II, Fairchild Channel F etc.? I'm sure the creators/rights holders would grant permission, like the people behind the Vectrex have. What do you guys think?

 

I really don't think permissions are an issue. 

I also don't think there would be much traction for a pure APF M/MP1000 "replica" (very few people even heard of the platform, let alone have an interest in it), but something that also did the Imagination Machine portion would be very cool to tinker around with and certainly could broaden the appeal considerably. Seems like a huge task, though, for little to no return. Such efforts might be best spent trying to recreate it in FPGA and targeting a popular platform like MiSTer.

[mr_me]

Unless someone wants to market a games/software compilation there's no need to dig into it.

[Judge Mental]

10 hours ago, Bill Loguidice said:

I really don't think permissions are an issue. 

I also don't think there would be much traction for a pure APF M/MP1000 "replica" (very few people even heard of the platform, let alone have an interest in it), but something that also did the Imagination Machine portion would be very cool to tinker around with and certainly could broaden the appeal considerably. Seems like a huge task, though, for little to no return. Such efforts might be best spent trying to recreate it in FPGA and targeting a popular platform like MiSTer.

I wish I had the patience for such projects. I'll have to settle on being a buyer/end user, though I still have aspirations. 

[TomW]

It was my understanding that someone had created a "mega-cart" before my "SD Reader" cart , but both were (are) just the cartridges since getting a keyboard to work would mean a PS2/Arduino or a Bluetooth (shush mode engaged). ...