To build or not to build?

[JohnPCAE]

Just putting this poll out there because I'm curious. Is anyone planning to build this?

Edited February 13, 2022 by JohnPCAE

[+cmadruga]

Is there a TLDR description of what it does?

[JohnPCAE]

It's an add-on that plugs into the cartridge port. It's main ability is that it generates video that gets overlaid on top of the existing Intellivision video, and the Intellivision can control it. It supports high resolution text and/or graphics and extra sprites. It also provides 128kb RAM, an emulated coprocessor, and a parallel port. Take a look at the thread titled "Bird's Nest" to see more.

Edited February 13, 2022 by JohnPCAE

[walldog1]

3 hours ago, JohnPCAE said:

Take a look at the thread titled "Bird's Nest" to see more

I spent quite some time reading this thread. Very interesting, but way outside of my scope of knowledge. But I like learning new things all the time so I read things like this to keep my brain from shriveling up as I age.?

Edited February 13, 2022 by walldog1
typo correction

[mr_me]

4 hours ago, JohnPCAE said:

It's an add-on that plugs into the cartridge port. It's main ability is that it generates video that gets overlaid on top of the existing Intellivision video, and the Intellivision can control it. It supports high resolution text and/or graphics and extra sprites. It also provides 128kb RAM, an emulated coprocessor, and a parallel port. Take a look at the thread titled "Bird's Nest" to see more.

When I first saw this, I thought you were making a Keyboard Component emulator on a cartridge.

[JohnPCAE]

6 hours ago, mr_me said:

When I first saw this, I thought you were making a Keyboard Component emulator on a cartridge.

Graphics-wise, it's the Keyboard Component on steroids. It can do everything the Keyboard Component can do and much more. Its coprocessor is an extended CP-1600 instead of a 6502, so you'd have to port Keyboard Component software over to it, but that only scratches the surface of what it can do. For instance, it could handle a port of Petscii Robots easily.

[+BBWW]

Any chance of making this a semi-viable release to the general public? I would be interested in possibly funding a few games that utilize it if a commitment is made. Over several years it could be as ubiquitous as the LTO Flash Cart. 

 

I don't have the skills or patience to build one.

[+cmadruga]

29 minutes ago, BBWW said:

Any chance of making this a semi-viable release to the general public? I would be interested in possibly funding a few games that utilize it if a commitment is made. Over several years it could be as ubiquitous as the LTO Flash Cart. 

 

I don't have the skills or patience to build one.

Ditto.

 

15 hours ago, JohnPCAE said:

It's an add-on that plugs into the cartridge port. It's main ability is that it generates video that gets overlaid on top of the existing Intellivision video, and the Intellivision can control it. It supports high resolution text and/or graphics and extra sprites. It also provides 128kb RAM, an emulated coprocessor, and a parallel port. Take a look at the thread titled "Bird's Nest" to see more.

You had me at “extra sprites” ?

[Sinjinhawke]

We would need a lot more Original, Sears, Tandyvisions, Slyvannia's, Bandai's, Super Pro and Intellivision III's with the System Changer mod as well as it's limited to the Intellivision II if I read correctly.  Also is it limited to RF output?  Still it looks very promising.

[JohnPCAE]

48 minutes ago, Sinjinhawke said:

We would need a lot more Original, Sears, Tandyvisions, Slyvannia's, Bandai's, Super Pro and Intellivision III's with the System Changer mod as well as it's limited to the Intellivision II if I read correctly.  Also is it limited to RF output?  Still it looks very promising.

It works with composite-modded Intys as well.

[JohnPCAE]

23 hours ago, BBWW said:

Any chance of making this a semi-viable release to the general public? I would be interested in possibly funding a few games that utilize it if a commitment is made. Over several years it could be as ubiquitous as the LTO Flash Cart. 

 

I don't have the skills or patience to build one.

I don't think I have it in me to manufacture these en masse, but I've cobbled together an extra unit with the parts I have (except for the parallel port connector; that hasn't arrived yet). I'm not sure if I have enough parts for a third unit. I've tested the extra unit (except for the parallel port, of course) and it works.

Edited February 14, 2022 by JohnPCAE

[+DZ-Jay]

If someone were to produce this, I would purchase at least one.  Unfortunately, I am not a hardware person, so I cannot build this. :(

 

    -dZ.

[+DZ-Jay]

On 2/14/2022 at 1:21 PM, JohnPCAE said:

I don't think I have it in me to manufacture these en masse, but I've cobbled together an extra unit with the parts I have (except for the parallel port connector; that hasn't arrived yet). I'm not sure if I have enough parts for a third unit. I've tested the extra unit (except for the parallel port, of course) and it works.

I'd be willing to pay for the parts and service of getting one unit built.  PM me if you are interested. :)

 

    -dZ.

[First Spear]

I would buy 3 of these if fully built, but I cannot do the assembly myself.

[JohnPCAE]

I have an extra unit that I offered to DZ-Jay but then he disappeared. I'd like to send it to someone who would be interested in developing for it.

[+Gemintronic]

You could get more devs active by getting support for IntyBASIC in there.

 

Sadly, I just barely soldered together a sega genesis homebrew once.  I don't think I could piece one of these together.

[overgrouth]

This is my kind of Awesomeness. I love the Intelivision and it has Lots more potential especially with a device like this.

[+DZ-Jay]

11 hours ago, JohnPCAE said:

I have an extra unit that I offered to DZ-Jay but then he disappeared. I'd like to send it to someone who would be interested in developing for it.

I'm really sorry, and I truly appreciate the offer.  I actually meant to respond sooner, but I've been very busy with $DAYJOB.  It may be best to offer it to someone who has the time to develop for it, for I may not be able to get to it for some time.  I would happily aid anybody who picks this up.  I could also assist in IntyBASIC integration.

 

     -dZ.

Edited March 3, 2022 by DZ-Jay

[JohnPCAE]

I've started on another spare unit using my last spare cartridge board (I had a total of three cartridge boards and five mainboards: the cartridge boards were from OSH park for the gold-plated contacts and the main boards were from JLC PCB for the much lower cost). At present assembly of the unit is on hold until I can recover from an acute neck strain issue (I'm typing this in a great deal of pain).

[JohnPCAE]

Still working on a second spare unit, though it's been going slow due to this neck injury (had an MRI today and yeah, there's a problem, including pinched nerves). When it's done I'll have two units that I can send for free to anyone who's interested in developing for them (I don't want them to just sit on a collector's shelf).