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Post by kaos116 on Mar 4, 2006 19:16:24 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I found the podcast about 4 weeks ago and have listen to them all. The only down side is they are once a week! I'd love to have 2 a day! One for the ride into work and one for the ride home. I am happy to hear that there is a show about the TI99/4a coming up. I have always liked that machine. Except for the EXTREMELY slow BASIC. I pulled mine out the last snow storm we had and played 'Defender' for hours! I agree (on a side topic) game play over graphics anyday! Lately I have been playing with the first Macintoshes. The all in ones like the SE and Classics. I am not sure they fit the theme of the show completely as they are 16 bit, built in hard drives on most. They are sure fun to play around on. There is a game called BOLO. It's an overhead view tank game. It is realy meant to play networked, but does have a single player mode. I wonder if it is the first graphical network game? I am wondering if their would be any interest in a 'New' 8 bit retro computer. Kind of an contradiction in terms.... new retro... But I have been playing around the idea of building a classic style 8 bit out of the new PIC microcontrollers. They run at 40mhz and have all sorts of features built in, that it should be a very small part count for a 'full' featured retro. Some even have 256K built in. Easy interfacing to Compact Flash for a 'retro cartridge' slot of sorts.
I have rambled enough. Keep up the great work on the show.!
Todd
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Post by Golan Klinger on Mar 4, 2006 23:09:23 GMT -5
There is a game called BOLO. It's an overhead view tank game. It is realy meant to play networked, but does have a single player mode. I wonder if it is the first graphical network game? Bolo (see www.lgm.com/bolo/) is a legend in the Mac world. My Mac friends were always raving about it so I was excited to try it when I first got a Mac. Unfortunately, I didn't see the appeal. I think it is one of those games that you had to play way back when and grow attached to. Obviously you haven't visited the DTVHacking board yet.
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Post by thurstan on Mar 5, 2006 13:52:15 GMT -5
yes but thats still only a c64, nothing new!
It would be great to see a new 8-bit machine, built from scratch. Then see what people could do with it. Maybe convert some older games onto it to see how it fares.
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Post by Golan Klinger on Mar 5, 2006 15:39:14 GMT -5
I posted about a (relatively) new homebuilt 8 bit computer a few weeks ago (see: jledger.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=retrobits&action=display&thread=1139341316) and if you're looking for something you can buy, hook-up and start hacking away on then take a look at the XGameStation ( www.xgamestation.com/). I think it is intended primarily as a learning tool but what you do with it is your business. I have absolutely no need for one yet I keep coming back to it because it looks like a lot of fun. At $300 USD it fell into the 'cool but no way' category and at $200 it has fallen into the 'hrm' category. If the price drops to $100 it may fall into the 'purchased' category.
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Post by kaos116 on Mar 5, 2006 17:20:32 GMT -5
I did pick up a DTV today. i was in the mall with my son and we stopped in a toy store and they had them on clearance for $10. I couldn't pass that up. Once everyone gets done playing the games on it today. It's getting cracked open tonight.
Yes, my thought for a new 8 bit was completely open source.. Encouraging hacks/mods from anyone and everyone. The big trick is to design it that in a few years there will not be a part that is hard to get. This idea blossomed from interest in the ELF II. I had done most of the collecting of chips from my junk box but 2. The CPU RCA's 1802 and the graphics chip IIRC 1851 pixie chip. Ebay has them now and then. Last one went for a lot more than I cared to spend on a chip. So as cool as the project sounded. The scarceness of the parts has put it on the shelf. My idea is readily available now and in the future parts. One reason that I liked the idea of using the PIC micros is that when they discontinue one, they have another one in their line that is a pin for pin replacement. Minor mods to the firmware might be needed but not a total rewire.
My girlfriend is asking 'Why?' She should know the answer by now. 'Because I have never done it before'
Now it's time for a little 'Winter Games'
Todd
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Post by Jeff Ledger on Mar 5, 2006 20:45:28 GMT -5
I agree, the TI-99 was a great machine. The best part about the machine was the addon voice unit that really enhanced many games.
Jeff
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