|
Post by Jeff Ledger on Jul 3, 2008 13:22:08 GMT -5
Looking at the spec sheet for the CIA in another thread has me marveling just how far forward technology has really come at a chip level.
I know that the Cone and the DTV have been created, but I can't help but think that we should be at a point where a modern Commodore 64 computer could be created using current technology.
We have already seen a couple SID replacements done on Amtel processors. How much work would it take to replicate the 6502 and the VIC chip?
Thanks to Jim Brain and others, we have wonderful replacements for Commodore modems, IEC drives, but we are still using the original 1mhz boxes which are getting older by the second.
Perhaps a modern version (64 compatible) should be the next goal. It's a shame that the DTV ASC chip is end-of-life thanks to poor handling by folks with lack of vision.
Jeff
|
|
|
Post by David Murray on Jul 3, 2008 21:32:37 GMT -5
I have suggested this many times, but I think the only way the unit would be worthwhile is if it were distributed on such a large scale that it generated enough public interest to really bring in a new fan base and programmers. The DTV was heading in that direction. For a while there we had several projects at once gonig and there were several new threads on this board every day. But once it was canceled, it dwindled down. After all, not many people want to develop software for a very small userbase (see the C=one for another example)
At one point I had been told by Simon Jones that they were going to build a DTV with a keyboard and disk drive port and all that on it. I believe that unit would have been very successful for this purpose, but unfortunately, never materialized.
If a kit of some kind were produced to replace a C64, I think it needs to be an upgraded C64 sort of like the DTV. But it can't be too upgraded or at some point it is no longer challenging and fun to develop for (might as well develop for the PC) But if it only matched the original specs of the C64 then it would be a hard sell considering a real C64 can still be purchased for $10 on ebay. Besides, we have to have something new to interest us. When I was programming for the DTV, it was cool because I was one of the first to explore new features of the product. Eventually better programmers came in behind me and put me to shame, but the motivation was there because it was something a little better than a standard C64.
Besides.. I think some of the best games were made on the C64 and the Amiga. When you get too much power such as modern systems the games are all 3D and just don't have any charm or challenge to them. But 64K is a tad too small for some types of games. I think the 2MB available in the DTV was just about right. keep it at 256 colors. The sound was perfect. That is a perfect platform for making interesting games.
|
|
|
Post by henrik51 on Jul 22, 2008 20:25:57 GMT -5
My true wishlist would be a single board solution that had the needed interfaces to be jammed into a laptop. The DTV board is so thin, I could probably squeeze it into a Macbook Air. However, with only composite video, you need an extra board to translate composite to LCD, and those boards always seem bulky.
Ben Heck does laptops, yes, but they're very thick due to the choice of hardware he has for the display. I think a Commie laptop would kick butt. Some internal flash emulating a disk drive, that would be sufficient.
If you were to enhance it.. dude.... 65816. At least the instruction set support. Otherwise, I was very excited about the promise of the DTV.
|
|
|
Post by knoeki on Jul 23, 2008 7:47:58 GMT -5
I beg to differ.... the SID in the DTV lacks some important features, like, for example filters and ADSR... somewhat related to this thread: at the moment someone is busy with mapping the SID die, so if someone manages to get a factory... ;_)
|
|
|
Post by David Murray on Jul 23, 2008 9:55:26 GMT -5
I know the SID emulation in the DTV is supposed to be lacking certain things.. but honestly I've never been able to tell the difference. Then again, I've never tried listening to it side-by-side with a real SID either. Maybe I could tell then.
Then again, i could never tell the difference between the SID used in the original C64 and the later ones used in the 64C and 128. In VICE I can swap the two and hear a minor difference.
Still, an ASIC solution would be the best, like the DTV only open-sourced.
If that never pans out, then the next best solution would probably be a real 65816 with some custom microcontrollers or ASICs to emulate the various hardware like video and audio.
|
|
|
Post by youki on Sept 16, 2008 6:17:08 GMT -5
My dream would be , a machine like a C65 with 256 color 32 or 64 sprites. and said 1 Mega of ram with a SD Card reader and USB ports.
I think it would enough to make "old school" fantastic games. I would love program on that kind of machine.
|
|
|
Post by David Murray on Sept 16, 2008 12:28:44 GMT -5
My dream would be , a machine like a C6 5 with 256 color 32 or 64 sprites. and said 1 Mega of ram with a SD Card reader and USB ports. I think the existing DTV comes close to that.
|
|
|
Post by paradime on Sept 16, 2008 21:48:24 GMT -5
I think it would enough to make "old school" fantastic games. I would love program on that kind of machine. Why not just use a PC and something like DarkBASIC? ;D
|
|
|
Post by The Dude on Jun 22, 2009 23:52:17 GMT -5
I dont think i would like seeing a 64 any other way then the way it was originally made (FANTASTIC!!)
Boy it has to be one of the BEST ever from the 80s!
|
|
|
Post by shadyman on Nov 13, 2010 18:38:14 GMT -5
*bump*
So perhaps even a number of PICs performing various outward-facing jobs, and communicating with each other over an SPI bus?
|
|