CV Super Expansion Module "reservation" list

[+opcode]

Hi!

 

Ok, it isn't really a reservation list yet, but more of a thread to gauge interest, as we are reaching a critical time for this project, when I will need to invest a lot of money on hardware production and prototyping.

So question is: would you be interested on buying this thing?

 

What you are going to get? The SEM will be sold in two pieces, the base module, which will include the memory and disk sub-systems, and the A/V module, which will include the video and audio sub-systems. You need to have the base module in order to use the A/V module.

The memory subsystem adds 48KB of RAM memory to the base CV unit, plus 32KB of NVRAM (non-volatile RAM) to save game data. The disk system will add a floppy or CD-ROM, still not decided. The video system is backward complatible with the original CV video IC, plus add a lot of new bitmapped modes, configurable color palettes, hardware scroll, better sprites, A/V outputs and much more. The audio sub-system includes a separated Z80 co-processor, FM sound syntesis and ADPCM sampling.

The base module will come with a Super Game Loader in disk, so any CV rom image could be loaded into the system RAM and executed. It will also allow changes in the game palette (from the 512 available colors) and cheat codes to be entered, which would add infinite lives, stage skip, etc.

 

Games: Plans are to have 3 games finished when the module launchs, Akumajou Dracula (Castlevania), Metal Gear and Pac-Man Collection EX. The first two would require the A/V module, while the last would run on both the base module or the upgraded A/V module (the games will be presented in two different versions).

Games will be sold in disk format only, packaged in nice DVD like cases.

Future: future plans are to port Mr Do's Wild Ride, Wizard of Wor, Donkey Kong 3, Knightmare, Goonies, King's Valley and more.

 

FAQ:

Q: May I use my original CV cartridges with the SEM?

A: Sure, the cartridge slot is still there! Even SEM games can be created in cartridge format, no problem at all. The difference is now you can tweak the color palette for any game, enter cheat codes, and, more important, you will get a better image and sound from your old games, thanks to the A/V outputs.

 

Q: Can the SEM help developers creating new games?

A: Yes, it can. In addition to easing the testing process, the disk format (floppy or CD, no matter) is cheaper to produce than cartridges. Programmers producing hacks can easily distribute your creations with no cost at all. In fact it is even possible to produce hacks without violating copyrights, though ROM "patching".

 

Q: How much each module will cost?

A: Difficult to say right now. We are making everything possible to have it bellow the $100 mark.

 

So even if you are skeptical about the project, I would like to ask you the question: "IF" the SEM is released as described above, would you be interested?

 

Please email me the answer ([email protected]), or post your questions and suggestions here.

I don't forget to check this topic: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=67086

 

Many thanks!

 

Eduardo

[Tempest]

I'm intersted!

 

Tempest

[+opcode]

I'm intersted!

 

Tempest

854782[/snapback]

 

Great! First to came, first to be served...

[SS]

If it can come in at under 100 clams, I don't see how I could pass the thing up!

[ventrra]

If it can come in at under 100 clams, I don't see how I could pass the thing up! 

854792[/snapback]

I'll agree with that.

If it has a version of BASIC availiable, it would even be a decent programming machine for me. (I never learned any other programming languages.)

[+Allan]

I'm defintely interested in both modules!

 

Allan

[Bill Brasky]

No. I'm a huge CV fan and I think this is the worst idea ever. You're devoting tons of time and energy into a bad, destined to fail project when you could've been porting a bunch of games to CV in the meantime. People collect game cartridges because they are cartridges. I know there are "players" and there are collectors but from what I've seen from other systems fan bases, having a boxed cart is very important to sales. I just don't see games on floppy disk having any appeal beyond a very, very small group. If this thing allowed you to play all MSX games on your CV, that would be awesome but from what little info you've given out about the hardware, it appears MSX games need to be manually ported. This will be a great way to bankrupt yourself though. I know you're very determined to make this hardware and probably will anyway. Stop now before you've invested any more time or money into this. It's failure will completely destroy any enthusiasm you have for the CV/game development. This was a bad idea when you first proposed it way back on DP and it still sounds like a terrible idea. You're trying to sell enough CV carts to cover your costs when there are millions of CV's out there globally and hundreds/thousands of potential customers, if you can reach them, and now you want to reduce your market to a tiny percentage of that. I'm interested in developing CV games but I will never/would never work on a game for this. What's interesting to me and others is seeing what can be accomplished on the CV's 1982 hardware. Plus the CV has a relatively large user base as classic systems go. Who wants an audience for their game measured in the tens, worldwide? A new, spiffy machine with plenty of ram and features isn't interesting. It's not the CV. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

[J.Max]

I'm VERY interested in this! Put me down for one!

 

Why is this a "disaster waiting to happen"? Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it's a failure! There are a lot of people interested in this, and I think it will help CV homebrew development, since you can play CV games off of floppy discs with it.

 

Personally, I think it's a great idea.

Edited May 13, 2005 by J.Max

[Cobra Commander]

I dont play a lot of CV but that sounds real cool, I'm in for a $100 bucks or less.

[Breakpack]

I'm DEFINATELY interested!!

[Brad2600]

I don't normally play my Colecovison, due to my dislike of the controllers.

 

But, if it would allow me to have A/V capability instead of a RF switch and the ability to play games that I've never seen/played, why not? I already have a healthy, but small CV cart collection that could be played.

 

So, I'm interested. Hell, if the end product looks good and plays good and you have to sell it for $100, I'd be more than glad to pay even that.

 

[Breakpack]

I don't normally play my Colecovison, due to my dislike of the controllers.

 

But, if it would allow me to have A/V capability instead of a RF switch and the ability to play games that I've never seen/played, why not? I already have a healthy, but small CV cart collection that could be played.

 

So, I'm interested. Hell, if the end product looks good and plays good and you have to sell it for $100, I'd be more than glad to pay even that.

 

855003[/snapback]

 

And if those Colecovision joystick controllers are still in the works...........................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cimerians]

I'll buy one too as long as its not too pricey.

[King_Salamon]

Although I would like to get a better understanding of what this will look like (perhaps a simple drawing of what these 2 items are and how they will be used would help immensly!) and how everything will work, I am still in for this! In fact, I would like to send a deposit in to show my interest!

 

I'm in the process of getting a modded Colecovision from DoubleDown and I'm curious how this Super Module will work with my new system?

 

The debate about cart vs disk has been discussed all over for years and my only concern is if you are going with floppy disks I'd hope they'd be 3.5 inch and not 5.25 inch disks... It'd be nice to find them in stores etc. BUT CD-Roms would be even better as they'd allow for easy use with a DVD-Rom case for new game distribution... that would be great. (It works very well for PS2. XBOX, and GameCube... it'll work well for this unit!)

 

When (2005... 2006) can we expect to be getting the first units? (A target month would be great as well! )

[Ralph3]

I'm in! Bring it on!

[Rockin' Kat]

...suddenly I find myself wishing I had a colecovision to buy this for.. maybe I'll try to do something about my lack of a colecovision in the next few months...

Edited May 14, 2005 by SuperPsycho

[Bruce Tomlin]

No. I'm a huge CV fan and I think this is the worst idea ever. You're devoting tons of time and energy into a bad, destined to fail project when you could've been porting a bunch of games to CV in the meantime.

(etc. etc.)

 

While I don't think this is a great idea, I don't think it's exactly doom and gloom either. He'll sell what he makes, because there is clearly a "build it and they will come" sort of interest. But the result is going to be a very niche product. In a way, it almost seems like cheating. Sure, I could come up with some custom expansion to just about anything that might be fun to program for. And it would be really nifty to drop a 6809 CPU into a 7800. But the point is to write for something that is common as dirt. If a given system isn't powerful enough or you don't want to program around its flaws, go to a later system, like the NES or SMS.

 

I'm also concerned about how reliable that expansion port is. I seem to recall hearing that it was a source of problems to ADAM owners. I also would expect problems with it, having started on a TRS-80 Model I and knowing all the fun they had getting that expansion connector to work right.

 

But I really don't care either way. I don't want one because it just doesn't seem all that useful to play a few games that only one person is porting, no matter how nice the conversions may be. On the other hand, if this was a Colecovision equivalent of the CC2, I'd be all over it.

[ozyr]

Count me in. I'd buy this CV expansion unit(s). Sounds really great!

[Lost Monkey]

On the other hand, if this was a Colecovision equivalent of the CC2, I'd be all over it.

855074[/snapback]

 

I got the idea that it was (actually more like a CC) - opcode mentioned that you would be able to load any CV rom with the expansion...

[yuppicide]

It interests me, I'd probably buy one, but I don't know how it's going to work out. I'd like to see a lot of games coming out for it, yet I don't see that going to happen. If I was a CV programmer I'd like to make cartridges.

[Bruce Tomlin]

I got the idea that it was (actually more like a CC) - opcode mentioned that you would be able to load any CV rom with the expansion...

From a floppy maybe. Ick. What makes the CC2 so great is the MMC card. And the serial port. Small and self-contained.

[GrizzLee]

I'm interested

 

-Lee

[sku_u]

It depends on the final price for me.

[jesusc]

It sounds very interesting to me. I'd most definitely buy buy both modules.

I've certainly paid more for other consoles that I have no interest in.

[killersquirel]

I'm definitely interested in both modules. In fact, this is more exciting to me than the xbox 360.

 

-mike