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Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
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Claude Opus 5.5
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{
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"title": "Magazine"
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}
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title: Magazine
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title: CEO Oric meet (january 2002)
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rubrics:
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- Events
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params:
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image: /media/magazine/articles/11/romuald.jpg
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group: Events
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oc_id: 11
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210806074738/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=11
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date: '2021-08-06'
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---
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**CEO ORIC MEET**\
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Held in Paris, France on the 19th January 2002\
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Review by Romuald\
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Romuald's favorite link : [www.oric.org](http://www.oric.org)
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What! You were not there. Shame on you!
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As usual, the 'Club Europe Oric' Meet took place in Paris on January 19th. Officially beginning at 2:00 pm, the meeting was preceded by a lunch near the meeting place.
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There were less people than it used to be at the CEO, but it was the most motivated ones. The Britons seem to have the same problem with Rhetoric meets. Nevertheless it was a great pleasure to see other oricians and some guy with a T-shirt from the Alternative Party (held recently in Helsinki). Guess who? Jonathan Bristow himself (aka Twilighte).
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\
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Jonathan Bristow presents his new projects
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Here, no loud playing band and after a quick report of the year elapsed, we went to the most interesting part, the projects...
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After Fabrice Francès' portable oric at the last oric meeting, it was hard to compete on the hardware news.\
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Talk a while with other oricians and sooner or later you will hear about problems concerning the reliability of the oric microdisk units. Name it, they do it, and voila, a solution is soon at hand. At the meeting a new floppy disk controller prototype made by Thierry was shown. It's not yet fully working. Still based on the 1793 floppy disk controller, the project aims at being easy-to-do for everybody - yes everybody - not only electronic gurus but even newbies will be able to make it.
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\
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The new floppy disk controller prototype
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Fabrice Francès was not present but his hard drive interface is still a work in progress. His latest release of Euphoric takes his new project into account. I also heard of a new cart for the telestrat but...
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The meeting is also an opportunity to have your oric fixed by specialists. But more important, it's also an opportunity to learn things on your machine. Thierry and Jean fixed an Oric Telestrat. Thierry explained to a new telestrat owner the way the stratos mainboards were modified to become telestrat.
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\
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Thierry is fixing a Telestrat
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Interested? Ok, it's nothing really special (but I did not hear everything): some straps and 2 or 3 pcbs added to adapt to the French standards. What is interesting concerning those mods is that -eg, the pcbs are grounded through the screws which were grounded on the telestrat mainboard. So for those who came out to unscrew it and did not put it back the right way it would lead to ground problem.
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Another point of interest is related to the memory chips. The stratos mainboard memory area, even before being modified to be a telestrat, is filled with 4164 chips. Look into your Atmos, they're the same. But near from the cartridge port you can see a line of solder joint with nothing in it. Originally it was intended to support special RAM. By the time the stratos mainboard went into production, they were some spares 4164 but they had planned to replace those cumbersome and expensive chips by less expensive ones which would be fitted in that memory slot (or directly soldered on the board) near the cartridge port.
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\
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Telestrat motherboard
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You have a telestrat and you can't read your disks? You think your disk unit is dead? Maybe not. It might be a problem with your telestrat itself. As a matter of fact one, common problem is that near the cart trapdoor is a small metal clip (tab) which sometimes falls and then creates a shortcut with some pins of the floppy disk controller chip which is placed just below. Nice design…
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\
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3.5" floppy from a PC and 3" box from an apple II
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Hardware is a thing but there are also some news concerning the software.
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Remember that guy with the Alternative Party t-shirt? Yes Sir, Jonathan 'Twilighte' Bristow was there and apart from explaining some stuff concerning his projects, he also showed some of his work in progress. First of all I've got to tell you that his oric version of Times of Lore really kicks ass. A huge map, a very nice design, some details not yet implemented but gee... A [demo version](http://tol.oric.org/download.php) is available on the internet, go and see it... Times of Lore intro and storybook are also great piece of computing and illustrate his focus on the details. Official site of the game is [http://tol.oric.org/](http://tol.oric.org/)
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\
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Times of Lore screenshots
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We've also seen the new Sonix version, Sonix 4 which allows one to use the Oric 3 channels + a virtual channel to play samples, sounds, music...
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R-Type on the Oric? Not yet, but as soon as Times of Lore is finished, it will be one of Jon's numerous projects.
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We also had the [Vip3](http://www.defence-force.org/computing/oric/dbug/vip_3/index.htm) demo running for those who still hadn't seen it, but who could now say he had never seen it: scrollers, rotozoom, interference... And there was also a nice demo from Twilighte. A lot can be done with the oric, the problem is that there is not that much coders around so come and join the Defence Force demo group...
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\
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Vip3 demo screenshots
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What the Oric also needs is some new games, and a lot of people at the meeting confessed that they had some projects which were not finished because of a lack of time or programming skills.
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\
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Jim Cuomo talking with Jonathan Bristow
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There was also another very interesting guest at the meeting: Jim Cuomo. That guy was using the oric to create music and graphics while playing along with his saxophone in the 80's. He also presented music/theatre events then with orics... A demo was planned but unfortunately due to some problems it was not possible. Nevertheless, Jim intends to use one of his oric picture as the cover of his next music CD which will also include two songs in which the oric was used.
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\
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84' french review about Jim Cuomo's work
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I was then offered to go out with André, Jede and Jon but I had to leave, you know how wives can be... Next time maybe...
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See you at the next CEO meeting and help the oric community by subscribing to the [CEO magazine](http://ceomag.ifrance.com/ceomag/)...
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Romuald
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**Related links:**\
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[Club Europe Oric magazine](http://ceo.oric.org)\
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[www.oric.org](http://www.oric.org)\
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[Defence-Force](http://www.defence-force.org/computing/oric/)\
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[Twilighte's website](http://twilighte.oric.org)
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"title": "Expo 99 in Bordeaux",
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"Events"
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"url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210806074947/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=2",
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"date": "2021-08-06"
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<p><img height="117" src="/media/magazine/articles/2/logo.gif" width="236"/></p> <div><big><big><strong>>> EXPO 99 IN BORDEAUX</strong></big></big></div> <p><strong>This expo was my first one in summer 99<br/> at the AEC Technologic Gallery<br/> Cité Mondiale - Parvis des Chartrons<br/> in Bordeaux - France</strong></p> <p>Click on the pictures >></p> <p><img alt="Many computers" height="273" src="/media/magazine/articles/2/s_image1.jpg" width="70"/> <img alt="Consoles, Hanimex pong and Atari jacket" height="273" src="/media/magazine/articles/2/s_image2.jpg" width="70"/> <img alt="Hanimex TVG-8610 pong" height="273" src="/media/magazine/articles/2/s_image3.jpg" width="70"/> <img alt="TI-99 4/A, C64, Aquarius et VG-5000" height="273" src="/media/magazine/articles/2/s_image4.jpg" width="70"/> <img alt="Il y a l'Alice en bas..." height="273" src="/media/magazine/articles/2/s_image5.jpg" width="70"/></p> <blockquote> <p>Now it's over (of course) but it was cool ! There were some computers and consoles (about 40) from my personnal collection. Each machine was described on a little card and some of them were free to use, such as the the Hanimex TVG-8610 which was used for pong tornaments !</p> </blockquote>
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---
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title: Expo 99 in Bordeaux
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rubrics:
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- Events
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params:
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image: /media/magazine/articles/2/logo.gif
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group: Events
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oc_id: 2
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210806074947/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=2
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date: '2021-08-06'
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---
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**>> EXPO 99 IN BORDEAUX**
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**This expo was my first one in summer 99**\
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**at the AEC Technologic Gallery**\
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**Cité Mondiale - Parvis des Chartrons**\
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**in Bordeaux - France**
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Click on the pictures >>
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> Now it's over (of course) but it was cool ! There were some computers and consoles (about 40) from my personnal collection. Each machine was described on a little card and some of them were free to use, such as the the Hanimex TVG-8610 which was used for pong tornaments !
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{
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"title": "First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival",
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"rubrics": [
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"Computers"
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],
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"params": {
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"image": "/media/magazine/articles/19/compmusicfestival.jpg",
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"group": "Computers",
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"oc_id": 19,
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"source": {
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"url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20220504175433/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=19",
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"date": "2022-05-04"
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}
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}
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}
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<table> <tr> <td><div></div> <p> First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival </p> <p> <img src="/media/magazine/articles/19/compmusicfestival.jpg"/> </p> <p> .The complete audio and liner notes from the rare 1979 album <b>First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival</b> is now available at <a href="http://www.VintageComputerMusic.com">VintageComputerMusic.com</a><br/> <br/> The site includes MP3s of every track, which can be downloaded or played online.<br/> <br/> The First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival was held August 25, 1978. The next year, Creative Computing magazine released the LP record of highlights from the event. The album includes songs performed by an RCA Cosmac VIP, Solid State Music System, Ambilog 200, and other vintage computers. The last track is a 1963 synthesized computer speech demonstration from Bell Laboratories.<br/> <br/> The album has been made available online with the permission of the copyright holder. The site is the work of Kevin Savetz, who also maintains the <a href="http://www.AtariMagazines.com">Classic Computer Magazine</a> Archive which delivers full text from Creative Computing, Compute!, and other classic computer magazines; <a href="http://www.AtariArchives.org">Atari Archives</a> with the full text of 30+ vintage computer books; and <a href="http://www.FlightSimBooks.com/">FlightSimBooks</a>, with the full text of 13 classic books on flight simulation.<br/> </p> </td> </tr> </table>
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---
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title: First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival
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rubrics:
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- Computers
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params:
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image: /media/magazine/articles/19/compmusicfestival.jpg
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group: Computers
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oc_id: 19
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20220504175433/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=19
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date: '2022-05-04'
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---
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First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival
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.The complete audio and liner notes from the rare 1979 album **First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival** is now available at [VintageComputerMusic.com](http://www.VintageComputerMusic.com)
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The site includes MP3s of every track, which can be downloaded or played online.
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The First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival was held August 25, 1978. The next year, Creative Computing magazine released the LP record of highlights from the event. The album includes songs performed by an RCA Cosmac VIP, Solid State Music System, Ambilog 200, and other vintage computers. The last track is a 1963 synthesized computer speech demonstration from Bell Laboratories.
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The album has been made available online with the permission of the copyright holder. The site is the work of Kevin Savetz, who also maintains the [Classic Computer Magazine](http://www.AtariMagazines.com) Archive which delivers full text from Creative Computing, Compute!, and other classic computer magazines; [Atari Archives](http://www.AtariArchives.org) with the full text of 30+ vintage computer books; and [FlightSimBooks](http://www.FlightSimBooks.com/), with the full text of 13 classic books on flight simulation.
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---
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title: Interview of Derek Andrews, programmer of Leap Frog and Munch & Crunch for the Voltmace Database
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rubrics:
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- Interviews
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params:
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group: Interviews
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oc_id: 15
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210802183822/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=15
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date: '2021-08-02'
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---
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**INTERVIEW OF DEREK ANDREWS**\
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**programmer of LEAP-FROG and MUNCH AND CRUNCH**\
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**for the VOLTMACE DATABASE videogame system**
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**How did you come to work for Voltmace?**
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I had just been laid off by Texas Instruments (UK) when the job became available.
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**Where were you based by the way ?**
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Texas Instuments in Bedford, Voltmace in Baldock.
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**Did you program other games before and after? for other systems?**
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No. I didn't even have a particular interest in games. I think it was my enthusiasm for meeting the technical challenges that got me the job. I had done a little Fortran programming at school, another high level language at university (I think it was Cobol) and my final year project was based on a 6800 processor. While at TI I programmed their ATE for memory chips.
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**Were Leap Frog and Munch & Crunch the only games you programmed for the Voltmace database? even prototypes?**
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I worked on a version of Defender, but don't recall whether it went into production.
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**Was it that game ? [http://www.dieterkoenig.at/ccc/it/s_it_games_40.htm](http://www.dieterkoenig.at/ccc/it/s_it_games_40.htm)**
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Same idea, but not that version. As I recall it had a 'radar' area underneath the main play area showing more distant enemy vessels.
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**What else did you do ?**
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I did a little harware design on joysticks, taking the Database bodies and adding electronics to make them compatible with other home computers.
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**That is to say ? Were they analog or digital by the way?**
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They were analog, which of course means more flexibility in terms of being able to control direction (full 360 degrees rather than just 8 ways) and speed. The keypad was also a bonus. The hardware (electronics) was mainly just interfaces for various computers, but again I really can't remember the details. I think one of them was pulse width modulated and required a monostable chip. I think the the biggest seller was for the BBC microcomputer.
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I developed a plug-in and software that enabled zx81 users to program the database in machine code.
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**With a cable going from the expansion port of the ZX-81 to the cartridge slot of the Database?**\
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**Could you program directly the Database this way ?**\
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**Did this was ever produced? Marketed ?**\
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**Was it used by other people than you?**\
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**Do you remember examples made with this addon?**
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The interface was built into a cartridge which had a cable going to zx81 expansion port. The cartridge had a RAM inside which could be accessed by either the database or the zx81. The development process was extremely crude, and required the user to write assembly code on paper, convert it manually to machine code, and type it into the ZX81. The ram would then be switched to the database which could execute the program. Very crude, but the only affordable way for home programmers to be able to design real time games with good graphics and speed. In those days, home computers had very rudimentary graphics capability. This allowed access to the power (haha!) of a graphics chip designed for games rather than text. I would be very surprised if anyone actually had the patience to design more than the most rudimentary game with it. I think we sold only one or two of those systems.
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I also did some design work for an add on to the Memotech home computer, basically adding an analog port for joysticks.
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**Are you talking about the MTX computers?**\
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**Did you work for Memotech too ?**
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Thats the one. I actually owned one of those for a while, but I didn't have any association with Memotech.
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**Were you or Voltmace not upset about legal rights for these games (Pac-Man / Frogger)?**
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My name never appeared on the games:) I don't know the legal issues, but presumably only the name can be protected. I left all that to management to worry about.
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**How did you learn Signetics 2650 assembly language?**
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From the data sheet. As I recall it is quite similar to 6502 in its structure. The biggest hurdle was the graphics chip which was very limited in its capabilities. It only had four sprites to play with and if you needed more they had to be reprogrammed on the fly. Good use of the interrupt system is an important part of programming this system.
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**Were these data sheets given to you by Voltmace? Signetics?**
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I was given them by Voltmace. I don't know how they came by them, but presumably the manufacturer. I found the comments about the military uses of the processor quite interesting. I would be very surprised if they designed the architecture of the processor on a speculative basis just for the military. Plus, why would they design a games chip to go with it?
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Military semiconductors are usually just commercial chips, in a ceramic package (better hermeticity and thermal characteristics) which are then electrically and environmentally tested to rigorous standards (often -55C to +125C), along with destructive tests on a sampling basis. But functionally there is not usually anything very special about them. I certainly doubt that the 2650 had any classified functionality! (PS I was test engineer for 'military' MOS memory at TI)
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**Did you also have the 2636 datasheets?**
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Yes. They were as important as the processor! Understanding that chip and figuring out how to make it dance was key. I found a reference on a bulletin board about this chip, and someone had posted a plie of information about it. But you might be able to get data sheets from Signetics if you ask nice!
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**Would it happen that you still have some of this stuff?**
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I don't think so. I probably left everything behind at Voltmace, and have moved house and emigrated since then, so it is unlikely that I still have anything.
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**What hardware did you use to developp the games?**
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A CPM based system that saved the assembly code to disk and blew machine code into EPROM.
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**Do you remember wich model/system?**\
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**So you had to burn the EPROM each time you wanted to test something?**\
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**You didn't have any kind of emulator?**
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It was a system made specially for Voltmace by a computer consultancy. The development system had a shared RAM which could be read from the Database. Certainly there was no emulator or debugger. It was really not much more than a text editor and assembler.
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I remember doing a lot of work with an oscilloscope checking to see how long various bits of code took to run to make sure all the graphics handling were operating fast enough.
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I was surprised to learn that Signetics had a development system for this processor. I certainly didn't know anyone ever wrote a book about it!
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**Did you know other Voltmace database programmers?**
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There weren't any others. My boss, Tony Pearmain, had a rudimentary understanding of the technicalities.
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**Do you know from who Voltmace licenced the hardware? Was it from Interton? from Signetics/Philips?**\
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**Do you know anything about related systems such as Emerson Arcadia 2001, Interton VC-4000, Hanimex 2650, etc. ?**
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The rest of your questions I really can't answer. All I remember is that Voltmace bought the design from another company. They improved the quality of the boards and video. The mouldings may also have been new, but again I don't remember. At the time it was just an obscure system that I had to figure out how to use.
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**So all other Voltmace games were licenced ones?**
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I couldn't say how the licensing of the harware or software was done.
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**Sorry to take so much of your time, but your memories would be very interesting for a lot of people, and of understand the history of these obscure systems...**
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I was amazed to find it mentioned on the web, let alone find so much interest in all these old games. I never knew I was making history during my time at Voltmace.
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**Related links:**\
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Thanks to Michael Davidson and his website [Obscure Pixels](http://www.retrogames.co.nz/) for the screenshots.\
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[Article about Voltmace Database and compatible systems](/magazine/obscure-systems-interton-vc-4000-clones/)\
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Interton VC-4000 (compatible system) page
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---
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title: Interview of Richard Clayton, founder of Locomotive Software
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rubrics:
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- Interviews
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params:
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image: /media/magazine/articles/16/richard_clayton.jpg
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oc_id: 16
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20220504175433/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=16
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date: '2022-05-04'
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---
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|
||||
**Interview of Richard Clayton, founder of Locomotive Software**
|
||||
|
||||
**by Charles da Silva - july 2003**\
|
||||
**from [http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/)**
|
||||
|
||||
****
|
||||
|
||||
**Could you tell us about the creation of Locomotive Software ?**
|
||||
|
||||
Chris Hall and I founded it in February 1983. We were going to build an add-on board for the IBM PC (which was really new then and we much admired it, but it was too slow!). We raised some money from a Government grant to build a board centred around the National Semiconductor NS16032 (later called the 32016!). But we started the company the day we did (Valentine's Day), because we had a contract from Acorn Computers to build them a Microsoft BASIC clone to run on their add-on board for the BBC Micro.
|
||||
|
||||
What was LS most important projects before Amstrad ?
|
||||
|
||||
The BASIC for Acorn
|
||||
|
||||
What was THE most important project for LS ?
|
||||
|
||||
We did a lot of things, but I think the PCW was the thing we built that really changed people's lives. It was an icon of the 80s
|
||||
|
||||
What was your reaction when Amstrad asked you to work with/for them ?
|
||||
|
||||
When Roland Perry brought round the first unit, at the end of August 1983, I opened it up -- which upset him because he'd obscured the logo on the outside case, but hadn't thought to do that on the PCB. (We were the first people who were interested enough to peek inside...)
|
||||
|
||||
I saw the name and didn't pay it much heed -- I thought they were Japanese :)
|
||||
|
||||
What do you think of how personal computer market has evolved ?
|
||||
|
||||
In the games market, I'm deeply impressed by the amount of silicon used these days to get the graphics to go really fast.
|
||||
|
||||
About the CPC : What did you think of the machine at the time ? And what do you think of it now ?
|
||||
|
||||
We thought we'd done a pretty good job and I still do
|
||||
|
||||
How many time did it take to create Locomotive Basic ?
|
||||
|
||||
We had the main part already, from the Acorn project. All the rest (the commands that accessed the hardware and operating system (timers etc)) we built between September 1983 and very early January 1984
|
||||
|
||||
Then and now, LS Basic for the CPC machine was/is considered as one of the best one ? What is, for you, the explanation ?
|
||||
|
||||
We were very influenced by what Acorn had done with BBC Basic but we wanted to avoid the cryptic \*FX stuff as far as possible, so we added lots of keywords. We also wanted to be able to show off what the machine could do, graphics, sound etc from the BASIC, so you could get fancy things like synchronised music and movement without having to learn to program it in assembler
|
||||
|
||||
Have you known any difficulty at the time with the machine ?
|
||||
|
||||
The hardware worked very well (Mej's firm built an emulator for the ASIC so we had something running for much of the time)
|
||||
|
||||
Have you any funny memory about that time ?
|
||||
|
||||
We did have some problems with recording information on the tape. We had some fancy pre-compensation to get the fastest possible speeds, and we'd found it worked better if we set the pre-comp different for "0" and "1"
|
||||
|
||||
Then we were shipped a new unit from Japan and it stopped working. When we looked into it we found that a Japanese engineer had also spotted the difference between "0" and "1" and had fixed the circuitry to make them more identical. When we set the pre-comp the same, it all worked again!
|
||||
|
||||
What do you think of that period now ?
|
||||
|
||||
I'm amazed we did it in the time we had
|
||||
|
||||
About the PCW : What did you think of the machine at the time and what do you think of it now ?
|
||||
|
||||
We were very excited to build a Word Processor for that price. We had a background of building word processors when they cost 10,000 pounds each and we were going to have something better for just 300 pounds. That was just amazing
|
||||
|
||||
Was it more exciting that the CPC project ?
|
||||
|
||||
I think the CPC was more exciting because it was first
|
||||
|
||||
About your work with Amstrad : What was your relation with Alan Sugar, Amstrad or MEJ electronics ?
|
||||
|
||||
I only met Alan a few times and thought him a very clever man, though he tried hard to pretend that he wasn't :)
|
||||
|
||||
We'd known Mej for years ... he built the hardware for the 10,000 pound word processors!
|
||||
|
||||
What are you most proud of ?
|
||||
|
||||
LocoScript 2
|
||||
|
||||
Which computer company had, as far as your concerned, the best product ?
|
||||
|
||||
It depends when and for what market... after all the IBM PC was remarkable - just a bit slow
|
||||
|
||||
 About you : what is your favorite Amstrad machine ?
|
||||
|
||||
CPC464
|
||||
|
||||
What is the worst Amstrad machine ?
|
||||
|
||||
The 664 was squeezed by events, which wasn't entirely its fault!
|
||||
|
||||
Is there any project which was not finished that you regret ?
|
||||
|
||||
It was a shame not to build the "Ant" -- which was going to be the games machine that shared a lot of hardware design with the PCW ("Joyce"). But we just didn't have the time and effort to do it justice so perhaps it was best that it was cancelled.
|
||||
|
||||
Have you any regret about that time ?
|
||||
|
||||
Not enough holidays
|
||||
|
||||
What do you do now ?
|
||||
|
||||
Currently I'm studying for a PhD in the Computer Security group at Cambridge University (yes, even at my age!)
|
||||
|
||||
What do you think about people collecting old computers and especially CPC machines ?
|
||||
|
||||
Everyone should have a hobby :)
|
||||
|
||||
What do you think of people still developping programs with your creation ?
|
||||
|
||||
Perhaps taking nostalgia too far ... I think you have to see these machines as being of their time, so try and view them in terms of what you could run on them back then
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Click the banner below to visit Charles Da SIlva's website, dedicated to Amstrad
|
||||
|
||||
[](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr)
|
||||
-17
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
+150
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: Interview of William Poel, past director of Ambit and founder of Amsoft
|
||||
rubrics:
|
||||
- Interviews
|
||||
params:
|
||||
image: /media/magazine/articles/17/william-poel.jpg
|
||||
group: Interviews
|
||||
oc_id: 17
|
||||
source:
|
||||
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210802183833/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=17
|
||||
date: '2021-08-02'
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**Interview of William Poel**\
|
||||
**ex-director of Ambit and founder of Amsoft**
|
||||
|
||||
**by Charles da Silva - july 2003**\
|
||||
**from [http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/)**
|
||||
|
||||
****
|
||||
|
||||
What was your role at Ambit ?
|
||||
|
||||
Managing director and joint owner
|
||||
|
||||
 On which Amstrad projects did you work on ?
|
||||
|
||||
All up to and including the PC1512
|
||||
|
||||
When did you left Amstrad / Amsoft ?
|
||||
|
||||
errrr- November 5th in the year of the PCW launch
|
||||
|
||||
Why did you left Amstrad/Amsoft ?
|
||||
|
||||
Founded software companies for PCW and PC (Paperbaack Software UK, NewStar Software UK)
|
||||
|
||||
About the CPC : what was your first reaction when Amstrad asked you to work with/for them on the CPC project ?
|
||||
|
||||
Great interest - it was quite a moment at the start of the home computer buisness - time of the Sinclair Spectrum, Oric, Lynx, BBC Micro and Commodore 64
|
||||
|
||||
What was your reaction when you first saw the 6502 based prototype they had ?
|
||||
|
||||
Start again - it was barly begun
|
||||
|
||||
Does it mean that you have kept absolutely nothing about the work that has been done ? And why did you go for the Z80 instead of keeping the 6502 ?
|
||||
|
||||
We kept the plastic mouldings, nothing else. Everyone I knew was a Z80 specialist and the Z80 was gaining ground at the time.
|
||||
|
||||
How was the CPC known by then (code name) since there's a polemic on this matter (was it IDIOT or ARNOLD) ?
|
||||
|
||||
ARNOLD - (an anagram of Roland)\
|
||||
IDIOT was the disk based version - CPC664/6128 (Insert Disc Instead Of Tape)
|
||||
|
||||
What did you think of the machine ? And what do you think of it now ?
|
||||
|
||||
We thought it was pretty neat - certainly the best of its era in terms of design and documentation and completeness of package. Reliability compared to the competition was great - Sinclair and the rest sufffered over 20% warranty returns, the CPC was under 4%. It could have used hardware sprites, but we were on a tight deadline. The CPM thing was a bonus. Looking back, it was still probably the best combination of ideas of its time at the price.
|
||||
|
||||
Is it true that you came with the idea of the 664 by making a mix of the 464 and the DDI-1 floppy unit ?
|
||||
|
||||
I can't remember who came up with it - it was pretty obvious
|
||||
|
||||
The 664/6128 story had and still has a negative impact about Amstrad. What do you think of all that's been said about Amstrad giving up the 664 ?
|
||||
|
||||
Evolution happens and there are occasionally irritated people - but you can't take your Peugeot 104 back and moan when the 204 comes out, can you?
|
||||
|
||||
About your work at Amstrad: what was your relation with Alan Sugar, Amstrad and MEJ electronics ?
|
||||
|
||||
AMS was the boss, the other Amstrad people were all HiFi people and a bit bemused by it all, and MEJ was Roland's contact - extremely capable and understood exactly what was needed - and did it.
|
||||
|
||||
What was your relation with Roland Perry ?
|
||||
|
||||
I have known Roland since we were at school together. I tended to be the "translator" of AMS raw ideas into a technical primer- Roland took it from there
|
||||
|
||||
Are you still in touch with him ?
|
||||
|
||||
Yes - but he moving to the US where his wife came from
|
||||
|
||||
Which software company was the more enthusiastic about supporting the CPC ?
|
||||
|
||||
Spectrum and BBC were big dsitractions for the software developers at the time - most wanted to wait until the CPC sold in numbers before boithering - but HiSoft with their Z80 tools development suit got the developers going; some of the first people were Indescomp - the spanish games developer, Virgin games
|
||||
|
||||
How was it at Amsoft ?
|
||||
|
||||
How was what? A fairly simple user club
|
||||
|
||||
What did you do at Amsoft ? What do you think of the experience today ?
|
||||
|
||||
Mostly tried to start the software effort and set up a user magazine to start the support process that regular publishers would not until they saw a critical user mass. There were several BBC, Spectrum and Commodore titles already out there.
|
||||
|
||||
What was the more interesting project you worked on when working at Amstrad/Amsoft ?
|
||||
|
||||
The PCW8256 was the most "ground breaking" project
|
||||
|
||||
What do you think of what has happened to Amstrad ?
|
||||
|
||||
It's a pity they got too involved with Intel and Microsoft and lost the innovative edge - but they never really understood why they were successful - however, there is a new surge at Amstrad and I think there could be some very interesting new ideas and products shortly
|
||||
|
||||
What do you think of today's personal computing landscape ?
|
||||
|
||||
I wish Linux applications to appear in sufficient numbers to undermine Microsoft.
|
||||
|
||||
Have you or any relative still got a CPC or other Amstrad machine ?
|
||||
|
||||
Still got one in the loft somewhere
|
||||
|
||||
Were you in touch with Amstrad France or Indescomp ?
|
||||
|
||||
I knew of both at the time - but lost touch long since
|
||||
|
||||
Did you know of the existence of the CPC 472 ?
|
||||
|
||||
No - you got me there. What was that supposed to be?
|
||||
|
||||
Why do you think Amstrad didn't meet success in the US ?
|
||||
|
||||
No one but the yanks themselves are successful in the US with technology products - and plenty of yanks fail utterly and completely anyway - but generally speaking, the cost of entry is too high. And even if someone like Wal-Mart decides to stock a product, I guess the costs of financing production are quite scary..
|
||||
|
||||
About you : what is your favorite Amstrad machine ?
|
||||
|
||||
The PC1640
|
||||
|
||||
What is the worst Amstrad machine ?
|
||||
|
||||
The transportable PC with the awful LCD, PC6640 (I can't remember the name)\
|
||||
(Note from old-computers.com : it was the PPC-512 and PPC-640)
|
||||
|
||||
Is there any project which was not finished that you regret ?
|
||||
|
||||
A follow up to the PCW, based on a PC but with big A4 screen and integral ethernet - when hardly anyone took LANs seriously. A genuine office workstation.
|
||||
|
||||
Have you any regret about this period ?
|
||||
|
||||
Not cashing in my share options at the right time
|
||||
|
||||
What is your job today ?
|
||||
|
||||
I am the founder and MD of [www.usp.net](http://www.usp.net) - we are about to launch a raft of new ISP services so I am pretty busy at present. Maybe we should offer special terms to all the Amstrad fans?
|
||||
|
||||
What do you think about people collecting old computers and especially CPC machines ?
|
||||
|
||||
It's inevitable I suppose - and I hope it's worthwhile - although I wonder if any computer will achieve true antique status, since the value of antiques is that they are used and cherished on an everyday basis. There is no point in using an old PC unless you are a complete masochist and have endless time and patience.
|
||||
|
||||
And I still hear about too many PCWs still in use to believe there is any rarity value just yet!
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Click the banner below to visit Charles Da SIlva's website, dedicated to Amstrad
|
||||
|
||||
[](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr)
|
||||
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: 'Obscure systems : RCA Studio II and clones'
|
||||
rubrics:
|
||||
- Consoles
|
||||
params:
|
||||
image: /media/magazine/articles/5/titre_studio2.jpg
|
||||
group: Consoles
|
||||
oc_id: 5
|
||||
source:
|
||||
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210806072416/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=5
|
||||
date: '2021-08-06'
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
**> DESCRIPTION**
|
||||
|
||||
This is one of the smallest group presented here as only 5 compatible systems are known to exist. The original system is the RCA Studio II released in 1977. It would have had the distinction of being the first programmable game system, but Fairchild's Channel F beat it to the market by mere months. So this is a very early system and graphics are very poor, just like a pong system but with different games...
|
||||
|
||||
Unfortunately for the Studio II, Atari released its VCS-2600 some months later the same year... it meant the end for this black & white system.
|
||||
|
||||
But some years later color clone systems appeared in Europe, clearly marketed as cheap systems for people who couldn't afford "modern" systems like the Colecovision or the Vectrex...
|
||||
|
||||
**> HOW TO RECOGNISE THEM ?**
|
||||
|
||||
> **>THE CONTROLLERS**\
|
||||
> The controllers are very special to these systems since they consist of only **2 numeric keypads** with numbers ranging from 0 to 9 on each controller. Their function are different for each games, but their are usually used for the 8 directions.
|
||||
>
|
||||
>   
|
||||
>
|
||||
> While the RCA Studio 2 paddles are on the unit itself, those of the Hanimex MPT-02 can be removed. This is quite particular to this system since the other clones have not removable controllers...
|
||||
>
|
||||
> 
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Something even more surprising : the Soundic MPT-02 Victory controllers can be interchanged with real joysticks depending on the game you want to play !
|
||||
>
|
||||
> 
|
||||
>
|
||||
> **>** **THE CONTROL PANEL**\
|
||||
> This is the most simple of all the control panels you could encountered, since there is only **1 button : CLEAR**.\
|
||||
> There is not even an on / off switch !
|
||||
>
|
||||
>  
|
||||
>
|
||||
> There is also a power indicator light.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> **>** **THE CARTRIDGE SLOT**\
|
||||
> The cartridge slot is very special too ! It is unique since it has two rod that insert into holes in the cartridge. This is common to all systems of this group and this means too that the cartridges are physically compatible.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> 
|
||||
>
|
||||
> 
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Note that MPT-03 systems (Arcadia 2001 clones) use this system too, but they are complete different systems.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Another singular feature is that the cartridges only have connectors on one side of the circuit board.
|
||||
|
||||
**> THE SYSTEMS**
|
||||
|
||||
<table> <tr> <td><p><b>Name</b></p></td> <td><p><b>Brand</b></p></td> <td><p><b>Country</b></p></td> <td></td> <td><p><b></b></p></td> <td><p><b></b></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Studio 2 </p></td> <td><p>RCA</p></td> <td><p>USA</p></td> <td><p><img height="22" src="/media/magazine/articles/5/s_rca_studio2.gif" width="50"/></p></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"><p></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>MPT-02 Victory</p></td> <td><p>Soundic</p></td> <td><p>Hong-Kong</p></td> <td><p><img height="24" src="/media/magazine/articles/5/s_soundic_victory.gif" width="50"/></p></td> <td><p><img alt="Box" height="21" src="/media/magazine/articles/5/s_soundic_victory_box.gif" width="50"/></p></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"><p></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>MPT-02 Jeu TV programmable </p></td> <td><p>Hanimex</p></td> <td><p>France</p></td> <td><p><img height="22" src="/media/magazine/articles/5/s_hanimex_mpt02.gif" width="50"/></p></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"><p></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Mustang 9016 Telespiel Computer</p></td> <td><p>Mustang</p></td> <td><p>Germany</p></td> <td><p><img height="25" src="/media/magazine/articles/5/s_mustang_mpt02.gif" width="50"/></p></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"><p></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Sheen 1200 Micro Computer</p></td> <td><p>Sheen </p></td> <td><p>Europe ? </p></td> <td><p><img height="25" src="/media/magazine/articles/5/s_sheen_micro_computer.gif" width="50"/></p></td> <td></td> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3"><p></p></td> </tr> </table>
|
||||
|
||||
**> THE GAMES**
|
||||
|
||||
> There were 10 cartridges produced by RCA for the Studio 2 but maybe some more games were developed later for its clones... The "Concentration Match" cart for example is a game that uses more than 2 colors and doesn't exist for the RCA Studio 2. Thus, it is possible that other games are to be found.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> There were also 5 games built-in the RCA Studio 2. Although the MPT-02 seems not to have these built-in games, the Mustang has them (so the Sheen must have too) !
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Though the RCA Studio 2 is only black & white, the other systems are in color ! And when RCA Studio 2 cartridges are used with the MPT-02, they play in color (black & white are then coded into 2 colors) !
|
||||
>
|
||||
> \
|
||||
> Bowling on the Mustang 9016
|
||||
>
|
||||
>  
|
||||
>
|
||||
>  \
|
||||
> Tennis / Squash played on the MPT-02\
|
||||
> Black & white are coded in 2 colors
|
||||
>
|
||||
>  \
|
||||
> Space War Intercept played on the MPT-02\
|
||||
> Black & white are coded in 2 colors
|
||||
>
|
||||
>  \
|
||||
> Concentration Match is color game !\
|
||||
> Left screenshots are from the MPT-02\
|
||||
> and right ones from the Mustang.\
|
||||
> We notice that the colors are coded differently.
|
||||
>
|
||||
>   \
|
||||
> Kriege Der Sterne (Space War) played on a MPT-02\
|
||||
> Black & white are coded in 2 colors
|
||||
|
||||
<table> <tr> <td><div>RCA Studio II games </div></td> <td> <p><b>MPT-02 games </b></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p> Bowling (built-in the RCA Studio 2)</p></td> <td> <p> MG-201 Bingo<br/> </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Doodles (built-in the RCA Studio 2) </p></td> <td>MG-202 Concentration Match</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Freeway (built-in the RCA Studio 2) </p></td> <td>MG-203 Star Wars</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Math (built-in the RCA Studio 2) </p></td> <td>MG-204 Math Fun (School House II)</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Patterns (built-in the RCA Studio 2) </p></td> <td>MG-205 Pinball</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Gunfighter/Moonship Battle (TV Arcade) </p></td> <td>MG-206 Biorythm</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Space War (TV Arcade I) </p></td> <td>MG-207 Tennis/Squash</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Fun with Numbers (TV Arcade II) </p></td> <td>MG-208 Fun with Numbers</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Tennis/Squash (TV Arcade III) </p></td> <td>MG-209 Computer Quiz (School House I)</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Baseball (TV Arcade IV) </p></td> <td>MG-210 Baseball</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Speedway/Tag (TV Arcade ?) </p></td> <td>MG-211 Speedway/Tag</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Blackjack (TV Casino I) </p></td> <td>MG-212 Spacewar Intercept</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Bingo (TV Casino II ?)</td> <td>MG-213 Gun Fight/Moon ship</td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Math and soical studies (TV School House I ) </p></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Math Fun (TV School House II) </p></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Biorhythm (TV Mystic Series) </p></td> <td> </td> </tr> </table>
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks to Jean-Felix Monin for the MPT-02 games list
|
||||
|
||||
  
|
||||
|
||||
**> LINKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS**
|
||||
|
||||
> **RCA Studio II :**\
|
||||
> [How to build your own switchbox](/magazine/rca-studio-2-build-your-own-switchbox/)\
|
||||
> [The RCA Studio 2 emulator home page](http://www.classicgaming.com/studio2/) (very complete information !)\
|
||||
> [Jack Spencer Jr's RCA Studio II FAQ](http://www.classicgaming.com/studio2/faq.htm)\
|
||||
> [Computer Closet Collection](http://www.computercloset.org/RCAStudioII.htm) (thanks for pictures)
|
||||
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|
||||
---
|
||||
title: 'Obscure systems : SD-2xx systems'
|
||||
rubrics:
|
||||
- Consoles
|
||||
params:
|
||||
image: /media/magazine/articles/6/titres_sd290.jpg
|
||||
group: Consoles
|
||||
oc_id: 6
|
||||
source:
|
||||
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210806072916/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=6
|
||||
date: '2021-08-06'
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
**> DESCRIPTION**
|
||||
|
||||
This is the smallest group presented here, since only 3 different systems are known (Soundic SD-200 and Hanimex HMG-7900 are the same).
|
||||
|
||||
These systems were produced circa 1983, and were sold in Europe. There were clearly marketed as cheap systems and were surely produced by Soundic in Honk-Kong as all the systems have code-names in "SD-2xx" (where SD would mean Soundic) on their electronic board. This SD code, is something I have encountered several times when opening all these obscure systems (not only SD-2xx systems).
|
||||
|
||||
Anyway, these SD-2xx systems were not very powerful as even the Videopac systems were better, but 5 years before !!
|
||||
|
||||
What is strange about these consoles, is that there are not clones of famous systems... The only system which is quite close in many points, though more powerful, is the japanese Cassette Vision from Epoch. The games plastic boxes are the same and the blocky graphics are very similar...
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
**> HOW TO RECOGNISE THEM ?**
|
||||
|
||||
> **>THE CONTROLLERS**\
|
||||
> Each system is sold with only 1 controller. Each controller has :
|
||||
>
|
||||
>  a joystick screwed on a disk,\
|
||||
>  a knob to play breakout type games for example,\
|
||||
>  and one fire button (the Hanimex has 2 buttons but they have the same function).
|
||||
>
|
||||
>   
|
||||
>
|
||||
> The three consoles have a socket for a second controller but none of the games were for two players, so the second controller is never used.
|
||||
>
|
||||
> **>** **THE CONTROL PANEL**\
|
||||
> The buttons available are very "classic" :
|
||||
>
|
||||
> ON/OFF - RESET - SELECT -START
|
||||
>
|
||||
> **> THE CARTRIDGE BOXES**\
|
||||
> The plastic boxes of the cartridges are very typical to these systems. They are a good way to identify these systems. Note that the Epoch Cassette Vision (Japan) use the same type of plastic boxes.
|
||||
|
||||
**> THE SYSTEMS**
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
SOUNDIC Soundicvision SD-200
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
HANIMEX HMG-7900 (Model SD-200)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
ROLLET VIDEOCOLOR (Model SD-270)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
ITMC SD-290
|
||||
|
||||
**> THE GAMES**
|
||||
|
||||
> There have been around 10 cartridges produced and some two-players games planned but never released (see list below). Graphics are very blocky, and the playability is very bad !!
|
||||
>
|
||||
>   
|
||||
>
|
||||
>  
|
||||
>
|
||||
>   
|
||||
>
|
||||
>   
|
||||
>
|
||||
> 
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Here are the list of games found, known to exist or planned but never released. Names differ for each system...
|
||||
|
||||
<table> <tr> <td><p><b>Number</b></p></td> <td><div><b>Name</b></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>201</p></td> <td> <p> Chaser / Gobeur</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>202</p></td> <td><p>Space Smash / Météorites / Invasion de l'espace</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>203</p></td> <td><p>Saucer attack / Les envahisseurs</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>204</p></td> <td><p>Raging turtle / Course à la tortue / Labyrinthe</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>205</p></td> <td><p>Breakaway / Mur de briques / jeu de desctruction</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>206</p></td> <td><p>Martian / Attaque aérienne </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>207</p></td> <td><p>Outworlder / La rivière sauvage </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>208</p></td> <td><p>Expedition / Trésor du pharaon</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>209?</p></td> <td><p>Le chevalier du jeu</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>210</p></td> <td><p>Space Scout / Les aventuriers de l'espace</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>???</p></td> <td><p>Evasion extra-terrestre</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Planned</p></td> <td><p>Soccer</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Planned</p></td> <td><p>Ski</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Planned</p></td> <td><p>Ice skating</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Planned</p></td> <td><p>Road race</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Planned</p></td> <td><p>Tennis</p></td> </tr> </table>
|
||||
|
||||
**> LINKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS**
|
||||
|
||||
> **Hanimex HMG-7900 :**\
|
||||
> [French description of the console and some games](http://www.multimania.com/toxicmag/toxic14/articles/hmg7900.htm)
|
||||
>
|
||||
> **Epoch Cassette Vision :**\
|
||||
> [Japanese page with pictures](http://my.reset.jp/%7Etoragiku/game_ma/c_vis.htm)\
|
||||
> [Odyssey's Cassette Vision page](http://www.ne.jp/asahi/cvs/odyssey/videogames/cassettevision/index.html) (excellent, many pictures)
|
||||
>
|
||||
> **Soundic Soundicvision SD-200:**\
|
||||
> [pelikonepeijoonit.net](http://pelikonepeijoonit.net/page.cgi?pkpcode=sd200) (excellent web site)
|
||||
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+12
-15
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|
||||
---
|
||||
title: Pianeta Amiga 2001
|
||||
rubrics:
|
||||
- Events
|
||||
params:
|
||||
image: /media/magazine/articles/10/daniele.jpg
|
||||
group: Events
|
||||
oc_id: 10
|
||||
source:
|
||||
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210806073911/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=10
|
||||
date: '2021-08-06'
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**PIANETA AMIGA 2001**\
|
||||
Held in Empoli, Italia on the 21st October 2001\
|
||||
Review by Daniele Forsi
|
||||
|
||||
Ciao!
|
||||
|
||||
Today I went to "Pianeta Amiga" with a friend.\
|
||||
"Pianeta Amiga" stands for "Planet Amiga" and it's the only Amiga two-days show held in Empoli, Italy. For the past five years, I have never missed it.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
At 10.30 we buy the tickets, but there are no gadgets this year. We get in and our first feeling is sadness (like for last 3 years...). Fewer stands, fewer people and all the speeches were held yesterday !
|
||||
|
||||
We start our first round with the big stand of Virtual Works with their usual big stock of CDs (a little smaller than last year) and among them, the software development kit and assorted hardware with an A570 in the corner. I get the price list and ignore the A570... On the same stand they have the Amiga XL OS, CrossDos, CrossMac, software for DTV and some high level hardware (both technicaly and in terms of price) such as PCI slots for A1200, GVP SIMMs and daughter boards that I don't know...\
|
||||
Then there is Haage & Partner stand presenting hybrid mother boards with Zorro/PCI slots put in a tower case (the man from H&G is interviewed by a local TV). I ask nothing because he will answer me in English (reading and writing is different from listening and speaking, isn't it?). Sadly, there are no leaflets for us "only english-readers".
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Then along the second wall of the exposition room we find :\
|
||||
\- a small stand with Cloanto (empty at this time)\
|
||||
\- a stand with a well known man (I saw him there before, but I can't remember the name of his company). He presents some "untested" hard disks at 10,000 lire, a new 30 GB HD at 233,000 lire an A500 power supply at 30,000 lire and an A1000 for which I don't ask the price... Later I heard that he asked 200,000 lire plus some other hardware stuff.\
|
||||
\- a small stand with mainly new (not second hand, I mean) software\
|
||||
\- a small stand with a boy and a girl from Massa, who try to sell us a feet stand but I put my feet on the Pentium III case, honest :-)\
|
||||
\- another small stand with a boy with colored hair (a light colour I don't remember, maybe yellow, but my Workbench has only 4 colours, so it might have been remapped to another colour in my mind :-) ). He demonstrates some "educational" cards to be used with satellite decoders\
|
||||
\- and finaly, the small stand of the Italian magazine "Enigma Amiga Life" with back issues... The editor is there.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Along the third wall, dividing the expo and the conference area, there is an area for second hand trades, including 4 or 5 items proposed at "collectors" prices.
|
||||
|
||||
Along the fourth wall we find :\
|
||||
\- a big stand with PPC G3/G4 computers. Later they ran a demo with loud music and woke up the sleepy audience, gathering some people, just like at SMAU (you make noise and people come to see what's happening)\
|
||||
\- a big stand with software and hardware (Italian people)\
|
||||
\- another big stand with software and hardware (Fa.Amiquipment from Germany) with the white Amiga International mouse at 20,000 lire, Zorro II IDE controller (Buddha) at 99,000 lire instead of 109,000, and an A1200 M/B in a tower case with software for 449,000 lire.
|
||||
|
||||
On my second tour, I ask the German man info about the Buddha IDE controller (which I understood), and about the A1200 tower (which I didn't understand, they don't have literature to read or take away, what a pity).
|
||||
|
||||
On my third tour, I am about to ask Virtual Works if they Amiga Forever 4 in stock but I resist :-). Then we walk to the Cloanto stand : they have Amiga Forever 4 and I can't resist (I try to buy it but they are giving it away for free !)
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Finaly, we return to the German man and I buy myself a white Amiga mouse and an IDE controler. As a gift, the guy gives me 3 CDs with demos and games.
|
||||
|
||||
Then we go again to Virtual Works to ask about the A570. Expecting a 100,000 lire price tag I get a 40,000 answer with an offer for the SCSI module at 86.000 and the 2 MB ram expansion at 40,000 (IIRC), with a price cut if buy everything. Mmmmh... I decide to try to use the RAM I alreadly have and I buy the A570 with the SCSI module for 100,000. But since I have only one A500 I don't think I would buy some more A570s (maybe next year).
|
||||
|
||||
At 12 o'clock we leave the exposition, and after some brain storming, we go to the Chinese restaurant, exactly as we did the last 3 years :-)
|
||||
|
||||
In the end, I spent more money this year and less time than ever. There were less stuff and less people, but I am more satisfied (maybe because I bought something). There also was less stuff but most things were of a higher level. There were not any retrocomputers either (except the A1000 for sale), but there were some retrogames (but nothing really good, apart A320 Airbus in German at 20,000, but as I don't understand German...)
|
||||
|
||||
Let's hope that Pianeta Amiga 6th edition will take place next year !
|
||||
|
||||
Daniele Forsi.
|
||||
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: 'RCA Studio 2 : build your own switchbox!'
|
||||
rubrics:
|
||||
- Consoles
|
||||
params:
|
||||
image: /media/magazine/articles/14/rca_studio2_witchbox.jpg
|
||||
group: Consoles
|
||||
oc_id: 14
|
||||
source:
|
||||
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210806072255/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=14
|
||||
date: '2021-08-06'
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
**THE RCA STUDIO II SWITCHBOX**\
|
||||
**& HOW TO BUILD ONE YOURSELF**\
|
||||
**by Mike Pelletier**
|
||||
|
||||
The RCA Studio II game has a unique 'Switch Box'. This Switch Box is an input/output device that allows to connection to:\
|
||||
1\. The TV\
|
||||
2\. Game Console\
|
||||
3\. Power Supply.
|
||||
|
||||
The Switch Box has not been built since the late 1970's. There is no easy way to buy a Switch Box off the shelf due to its unique characteristics.
|
||||
|
||||
Here is a picture of the Switch Box. Note the TV hook up on the bottom side is for older style TV sets. A simple $2 coax cable 'balun' can be used to plug into a modern TV coax on the back of your TV set. The power supply input in on the face (looking at you) and the game console input in on the left hand side. On the top of the Switch Box, you can see a little black lever poking out. This is a switch that allows one to go from TV to Game mode without having to unhook all the connections.
|
||||
|
||||
I have seen many RCA Studio 2 games bought and sold without the Switch Box. They are a fairly rare find to buy on various internet sites. I had to buy mine for $30 in early 2002. What I did find out once I bought mine and took it apart is that one can build their own pseudo Switch Box with some basic electrical components.
|
||||
|
||||
Based on the importance of the RCA Studio II Switch Box to the operation of the system, we need to explore how it actually works.
|
||||
|
||||
The internal components of the Switch Box are made up of simple capacitors, inductors (coils), Input/output terminals and a switch. These items can be obtained from a local Radio Shack or electronics hobby store.
|
||||
|
||||
In making your own switch box, I made several attempts. The easiest way to build the box was to forget about the 'switch'. That is, when I want to use the RCA game, I just hook it up and when I am done, I un-hook it. The implementation of a switch just made the design more difficult with little improvement to using the game.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Using the schematic diagram: (pick 1977, RCA Studio 2, Schematic Switch Box) found at [http://videogames.org/html/](http://videogames.org/html/) and this parts list one can build their own:
|
||||
|
||||
> C1 = 100 pf orange ‘disk’ with ‘101J’ Radio Shack # 272-1015 printed on it $1
|
||||
>
|
||||
> C2 = C3 = 0.002 uF but I used 0.001uF Radio Shack catalog # 272-126 $1
|
||||
>
|
||||
> C4 = 47 uF at 16 Volts Radio shack # 272-1015 $0.50
|
||||
>
|
||||
> T1 = five leaded transformer with ‘Red Eye’ dot out of Radio Shack PK30 kit, Catalog # 273-1601 $2.69
|
||||
>
|
||||
> RFC1 = RFC 2 = brown-two leaded coils in same package as above for T1
|
||||
>
|
||||
> DC input Terminal = Coax Power Jacks 2.1. Radio Shack catalog # 274-1565 $2
|
||||
>
|
||||
> DC Power Supply = input 120v (wall outlet) to 9V dc at 300mA (or you can use 250mA)female socket. $3.50
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Phono Jack = (Console’s 18 ft cord into here ) Radio Shack catalog # 274-346 $2.99
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Two copper wires= $0, go to input on TV. You may need a balun if Coax only on TV $2
|
||||
>
|
||||
> Total component cost = $13 to $15
|
||||
|
||||
The system above DOES NOT use a ‘switch’ to easily go from TV to Video Game. If you want to play the game, you need to hook the above unit up to the power, TV and Console. When you are done playing, you need to unhook the unit. DON’T LEAVE THE UNIT HOOKED TO POWER UNATTENDED. I don’t know what could happen !
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
The home made Switch Box was made to be very simple. The componenets came from Radio Shack. As you can see in the picture, the 'holding cell' for all these parts soldered together was a $1 Tupperware plastic container. My hands could not fit in anything smaller.
|
||||
|
||||
For the input/output terminals for power, TV and consule, I simply melted the plastic on the side of the container with my soldering iron. Try to do this outside !
|
||||
|
||||
The toughest component to find was the 5 leaded balun, coil or transformer (whatever you want to call it), item listed as T1 on the schematic and parts list. I found it in a Radio Shack Coils/Transformers mixed bag of parts. I called it the 'red eye spider' since it has a red dot in the middle of the 3mmx3mmx2mm insulating material. I have no idea what the value of this thing is, but it seems to work great. Hard to see in the picture of the home made device, but it is right in the middle of the whole mess!
|
||||
|
||||
I also used the brown coils/transformers in the above Radio Shack mixed bag of parts as item RFC1 and 2. No idea of values, but they work. And, they are more numerous to find than the red eye spiders.
|
||||
|
||||
If you have any updates, questions, comments, complaints or whinings, please let me know.
|
||||
|
||||
Mike in NH\
|
||||
mikpel@hotmail.com
|
||||
|
||||
ps: thanks to Scott and Mark for helping me with the project
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
File diff suppressed because one or more lines are too long
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
|
||||
{
|
||||
"title": "Vieumikro 2001",
|
||||
"rubrics": [
|
||||
"Events"
|
||||
],
|
||||
"params": {
|
||||
"group": "Events",
|
||||
"oc_id": 9,
|
||||
"source": {
|
||||
"url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210806074908/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=9",
|
||||
"date": "2021-08-06"
|
||||
}
|
||||
}
|
||||
}
|
||||
|
||||
<table> <tr> <td><p><img height="239" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/vm2001.gif" width="180"/>VIEUMIKRO 2001</p> <p>Vieumikro is THE french meeting for old computers and videogames collectors and enthusiasts. Now once a year, it takes place in a little village near Toulouse, called Bon-Repos-sur-Ausonelle, and is organised by the <a href="htpp://www.silicium.org/">Silicium</a> association. </p> <p>This year event was once again a success with more visitors and more systems exposed !</p> <p>_________</p> <p>If you want to see more pictures :<br/> <a href="http://perso.club-internet.fr/nicogil/index.html">http://perso.club-internet.fr/nicogil/index.html</a><br/> <a href="http://pocket.free.fr/html/vm2001/vm2001_e.html">http://pocket.free.fr/html/vm2001/vm2001_e.html</a><a href="http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/%20"><br/> http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/ </a></p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/vm2001_1.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Overview 1</p> <p><img height="267" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/vm2001_2.jpg" width="200"/><br/> Overview 2</p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/vm2001_3.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Overview 3</p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/amstrad_demos.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Amstrad coders corner with impressive demos</p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/bigscreen_saturn.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Playing Sega Saturn on the big screen</p> <p><img height="252" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/msx_1.jpg" width="200"/><br/> MSX collection - part 1</p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/msx_2.jpg" width="250"/><br/> MSX collection - part 2</p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/ob_collection.jpg" width="250"/><br/> PET-2001, Sanyo PHC-25, Alice 90,<br/> DataVue 25, Yeno SC3000H...</p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/pockets_1.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Pockets collection - part 1<br/> (with Canon X-07 video interface !)</p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/pockets_2.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Pockets collection - part 2<br/> (notice the Quick Disk Drive in the center)</p> <p><img height="146" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/next_network.jpg" width="250"/><br/> There were even a Next network !</p> <p><img height="188" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/exotic_comps.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Exotic computers</p> <p><img height="138" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/jet.jpg" width="250"/><br/> JET - weird eastern spectrum clone<br/> (mounted in a telephone plastic case)</p> <p><img height="140" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/oc2000.jpg" width="250"/><br/> The mighty rare OC-2000<br/> (Interton VC-4000 clone)</p> <p><img height="124" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/max_machine.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Commodore MAX machine,<br/> only sold in Japan</p> <p><img height="231" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/amstrad_demo_system.jpg" width="200"/><br/> Amstrad GX-4000 demo system</p> <p><img height="101" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/mk90.jpg" width="250"/><br/> Impressive MK90 russian pocket computer</p> <p><img height="267" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/winner_1.jpg" width="200"/><br/> And the winner of the "beauty" contest is Mr Pocket<br/> with its MK90 pocket computer !</p> <p><img height="267" src="/media/magazine/vm2001/winner_2.jpg" width="200"/><br/> R.Speranza, president of the Silicium association,<br/> offers the contest's prize to the winner :<br/> a superb "apricot" C64 !</p> </td> </tr> </table>
|
||||
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: Vieumikro 2001
|
||||
rubrics:
|
||||
- Events
|
||||
params:
|
||||
group: Events
|
||||
oc_id: 9
|
||||
source:
|
||||
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20210806074908/http://www.old-computers.com/magazine/view.asp?a=9
|
||||
date: '2021-08-06'
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
VIEUMIKRO 2001
|
||||
|
||||
Vieumikro is THE french meeting for old computers and videogames collectors and enthusiasts. Now once a year, it takes place in a little village near Toulouse, called Bon-Repos-sur-Ausonelle, and is organised by the [Silicium](htpp://www.silicium.org/) association.
|
||||
|
||||
This year event was once again a success with more visitors and more systems exposed !
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
If you want to see more pictures :\
|
||||
[http://perso.club-internet.fr/nicogil/index.html](http://perso.club-internet.fr/nicogil/index.html)\
|
||||
[http://pocket.free.fr/html/vm2001/vm2001_e.html](http://pocket.free.fr/html/vm2001/vm2001_e.html)[http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/](http://8bits.scriba.net/vm2001/%20)
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Overview 1
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Overview 2
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Overview 3
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Amstrad coders corner with impressive demos
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Playing Sega Saturn on the big screen
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
MSX collection - part 1
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
MSX collection - part 2
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
PET-2001, Sanyo PHC-25, Alice 90,\
|
||||
DataVue 25, Yeno SC3000H...
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Pockets collection - part 1\
|
||||
(with Canon X-07 video interface !)
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Pockets collection - part 2\
|
||||
(notice the Quick Disk Drive in the center)
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
There were even a Next network !
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Exotic computers
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
JET - weird eastern spectrum clone\
|
||||
(mounted in a telephone plastic case)
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
The mighty rare OC-2000\
|
||||
(Interton VC-4000 clone)
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Commodore MAX machine,\
|
||||
only sold in Japan
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Amstrad GX-4000 demo system
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
Impressive MK90 russian pocket computer
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
And the winner of the "beauty" contest is Mr Pocket\
|
||||
with its MK90 pocket computer !
|
||||
|
||||
\
|
||||
R.Speranza, president of the Silicium association,\
|
||||
offers the contest's prize to the winner :\
|
||||
a superb "apricot" C64 !
|
||||
Reference in New Issue
Block a user