Archive

Author Archive

Yape Plus/4 Emulator v0.84 updated

October 13th, 2009 No comments

From the Yape homepage:

Now the summer hiatus is over, a small update to Yape is ready. Mainly tape related fixes/features but let us not forget the simple external assembler that is now added to the monitor and is available via the A (or .) command, just like for the good ole TEDMON.

It could still be improved but for now it’ll suffice I guess. It also supports illegal opcodes, of course.

But here’s the full log of what’s been changed:

  • Implemented a simple assembler in the external monitor (yay, at last!)
  • Tape head adjust dialog for wave samples.
  • Optionally invert tape sample input signal (soundcards may invert the phase while recording WAV’s)
  • Tape fast forward and rewind in 15 sec steps.
  • TAP’s with non-native encoding now supported (C64, VIC20 frequencies)
  • Bugfixes (sound, tape)

source: yape.homeserver.hu

Sinclair ZX Spectrum+

October 11th, 2009 No comments
Sinclair ZX Spectrum+

Autopsy:

from Wikipedia:

Planning of the ZX Spectrum+ started in June 1984, and the machine was released in October the same year. This 48 KB Spectrum introduced a new QL-style case with an injection-moulded keyboard and a reset button.

Electronically, it was identical to the previous 48 KB model. It retailed for £179.95. A DIY conversion-kit for older machines was also available. Early on, the machine outsold the rubber-key model 2:1; however, some retailers reported a failure rate of up to 30%, compared with a more usual 5-6%.

source: wikipedia

OldSkool Nightfall Party T-Shirt

October 11th, 2009 No comments
Nightfall Party T-Shirt

Nightfall T-Shirt:

Logo by Mrc of Nightfall

Categories: Gallery, Party

Network problems causing downtime on my Server *fixed*

October 10th, 2009 No comments

It looks like the problem was actually with a specific VLAN behind one of our core routers and wasn’t actually the switch itself.

One of our senior Network Administrators trying to  fix the problem and all services should be restored very soon.

source: dreamhoststatus.com

Released EasyProg v1.3 for EasyFlash Cartridge

October 10th, 2009 No comments

EasyProgEasyProg is a program for the C64. It is used to write (“burn”) cartridge image files (*.crt) onto an EasyFlash.

Changes:

  • Add flash driver infrastructure EasyAP (Makes it easy to support different flash memory types)
  • Add “reset and start crt” and “reset and kill”
  • Add BING! sound.
  • Show all file types in directory list.
  • Show directories first, followed by files.
  • Internal directory parser tolerates some malformed directories.
  • Still problems with 1541U.
  • Show message when directory is too long.
  • Torture test is more verbose now.

source: easyflash homepage

Acorn BBC Model B + 1gb HD + 64 KB SideWays RAM + Disk Drive

October 10th, 2009 No comments
BBC Model B

Autopsy:

Download Acorn product brochure.

from Wikipedia:

Acorn LogoThe BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Designed with an emphasis on education it was notable for its ruggedness, expandability and the quality of its operating system. The Acorn Proton was a pre-existing project at Acorn to succeed the Atom home computer.

It was then submitted for, and won, the Literacy Project tender for a computer to accompany the TV programmes and literature. Renamed the BBC Micro, the platform was chosen by most schools and became a cornerstone of computing in British education in the 1980s, changing Acorn’s fortunes. It was also moderately successful as a home computer in the United Kingdom despite its high cost. The machine was directly involved in the development of the ARM architecture which sees widespread use in embedded systems as of 2009.

While nine models were eventually produced with the BBC brand, the term “BBC Micro” is usually colloquially used to refer to the first six (Model A, B, B+64 and B+128, Master 128, Master compact), with the later models referred to as the Archimedes series.

In the early 1980s, the BBC started what became known as the BBC Computer Literacy Project. The project was initiated partly in response[1] to an extremely influential ITV documentary series The Mighty Micro, in which Dr Christopher Evans from the National Physical Laboratory predicted the coming (micro) computer revolution and its impact on the economy, industry, and lifestyle of the United Kingdom.

source: wikipedia bbc games archives bbcdocs.com retroclinic.com

1541 Ultimate Firmware v1.7 Beta released

October 9th, 2009 No comments

1541 Ultimate1541 Ultimate Firmware v1.7 Beta Features:

  • The freezer has been made more robust. (Needs more testing)
  • Minor fixes in the IEC interface. (but not yet satisfactory)
  • SID player has been added.
  • Epyx Fastloader cartridge has been added.
  • Support for custom carts has been added (8K/16K, as well as existing carts)
  • Support for (custom) Ocean and System3 cartridges added.

source: 1541ultimate.net

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

SIDBrowser v2.6.0.5 released

October 7th, 2009 No comments

SIDBrowserA new version of SIDBrowser has been released.

Changelog:

  • New release after a loooong time! – now also use without installing on mobile drive like USB-memorystick / flashdrives – now comes with SID-player and prepared index for HVSC v51.

source: sidbrowser.mathesoft.de

New C64 DTV Demo – Misery 3 by Tristar & Red Sector Inc

October 7th, 2009 No comments

Misery III - Tristar & Red Sector IncThis is a new cool DTV Demo released at the Mainparty 4 in Arles, France last weekend.

source: mainparty.net noname.c64.org

Categories: DTV, News & Rumors, Today

Hoxs64 Commodore 64 Emulator Updated v1.0.5.28

October 4th, 2009 No comments

Hoxs64 is a Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Vista.

The emulator substantially reproduces this legacy machine in minute detail.

Changelog:
2 October 2009 v1.0.5.28

  • Bug fix to correct a 32 bit integer overflow bug that causes incorrect emulation behaviour after 1 hour and 13 minutes of continuous use.

source: hoxs64.net

MUSC-Hires Converter updated – (C) 2009 Algorithm / Algotech

October 3rd, 2009 No comments

musc-hires-converterThis program converts images to a new c64 graphic format known as MUCSU Hires (MUltiColor Sprite Underlay Hires). It is merely a hiresolution bitmap image with an X expanded multicolor sprite underlay. The Hires underlay variant of this mode has been created before (known as extended hires).

After reading a few forum posts mentioning that the multicolor version of this mode was unrealistic and would provide too many restrictions, I decided to produce this converter to prove that this is not the case as well as wanting to use this particular format for my own production.

Changelog:

  • This is the updated version of the MUCSU converter with a major difference. It now supports different spritecolors every raster line with individual colors for each sprite. Ofcourse the usual mucsu mode is also supported.

source: noname.c64.org

1541-III JiffyDos Beta firmware v090914 released

October 2nd, 2009 No comments

1541-iii-jiffyThis beta release of the 1541-III firmware holds lot’s and lot’s of new features. But the most important feature of it all also makes it the most useable version of all 1541-III firmware releases. Why, because it supports JiffyDos. JiffyDos consists of a fastloader that makes all disk acces much and much faster. Making the use of your precious commodore much more fun.

For those who are not familiar with the JiffyDos, just google, otherwise, thrust me. It’s really usefull. JiffyDos speeds up ALL your diskacces. Programs or games without a fastloader used to be slow… but suddenly they become as fast as… “greased lightning!!!”. So enough about JiffyDos.

Why is this release a beta release,  simply because this release holds a lot of changes made to the 1541-III’s firmware, very crucial changes. Most changes are not noticed by the user, and some are never used. But I won’t go into detail.

This release is usefull for those who want to test JiffyDos on the 1541-III. And it needs to be tested. Because it will contain bugs, therefore we need to have it tested by YOU, so YOU can make a list of programs/files that works/fails. If you can supply it with a decent description it helps us in developing/fixing the bugs. Making it into a stable release.

source: jderogee.tripod.com

Categories: Firmware, News & Rumors, Today

(Italian) Retrobright – Come eliminare la patina giallognola

October 2nd, 2009 2 comments

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

C-64 EasyFlash and VC-20 Final Expansion Poster

October 1st, 2009 2 comments

for8bits_posterThe Shop of the website for8bits will open in early October and will be the exclusive seller of the EasyFlash and Final Expansion cartridges.

source: for8bits.com

TomyTronic Shark Attack 3D

October 1st, 2009 1 comment
TomyTronic Shark Attack 3D

Autopsy:

from Modojo:

Back in the old days, and we’re talking pre-1989, pre-GameBoy. The only way to get your handheld fix was from Nintendo’s Game & Watch games, their innumerable clones, and from the not-quite-so-handheld tabletop games.

These compact video games came around in the late 70′s and all kinds of Western and Eastern toy companies got in on the act. By the early 80′s there was, as was the case with the home videogame sector, a glut of samey games, with not a great deal to differentiate the gameplay on offer. So, how does a company make a product stand out of the crowd? Why, gimmicks, of course!

tomytronicThe Tomytronic games were at the time the ultimate in playground prestige, they cost more than other games, and heck, they were about as future as a 6 year old could get their hands on. You felt like you were Luke Skywalker looking through his crazy space binoculars.

They even came with a neckstrap so that you’d never have to physically put the game down in between bouts, which believe me, when you first got one, you didn’t want to do very often.

source: modojo.com