electrotrains Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 (edited) Hi All, The Ultimate Cart is an SD-card based multicart for the Atari 8-bit, which I've been developing for the last few months. It allows you to browse the SD card on the atari and launch cartridge images from ROM and CAR files from the menu. The PCB is designed to fit in a standard grey cartridge case (after a bit of modification with some clippers and a file). It supports most ROMs up to 1 megabyte in size, including standard 8k and 16k cartridges, XEGS, AtariMax 1 & 8mbit ROMs, SIC! Cart, Bounty Bob, OSS, SDX & Williams. ROM dumps can be easily converted into CAR format with my conversion utility. To learn more about the hardware and development, the original thread is here. The project is open source. PCB files, programming files and source files will be available on github shortly, and I'll open a technical thread for discussion when this has been done. The hardware includes an FPGA and could be used for a lot more than a multicart - co-processor & SD-card based hard disk are two possible future avenues for development. There is a JTAG header to allow the cartridge firmware to be reprogrammed in the future. Now that I've assembled and tested the second board I think its probably time to open a pre-orders thread so I can get some idea of interest. The price will be £70 (+postage) for the cartridge board (ready to use, but uncased). If you are interested in one, please reply to this thread. At the moment, this is only to give me some idea of numbers and to reserve your place in the queue. It is not a commitment to buy or for me to supply one. I'm not sure how many of these I'm prepared to make, and it may take me some time, so I will contact people as I make the boards, and check they are still interested. Since its open source, I'm hoping some others may make the boards too, and might be able to charge less than me. Initially, I've got 3 more PCBs on the way, and I will prioritise any UK or European orders, since it will be easier to post/return if there are any unexpected teething problems. Beyond that I'll see how much interest there is. Robin Edited August 18, 2015 by electrotrains 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foft Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Looks great, please add me to the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Excellent, I'm down for one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyperboy Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I will take 2 please. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMartian Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'll take one! I'll probably also take a look at producing some for other Canadians, once I see the plans.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg2600 Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'm still interested in one, yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defender II Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 (edited) 2 for me. Thank you for all of your work. I wish it was designed to fit the brown cases with the metal back, but there isn't a screw hole in the middle, so I guess that is out, unless you haven't finalized the PCB yet. As long as I'm wishing... a micro-SD version or a USB drive version would be nice too. Edited August 18, 2015 by Defender II Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gozar Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'm in for 2. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corkentellis Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'll take 1 plz. Been looking forward to this since conceived Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+CharlieChaplin Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Interested in one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FULS Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 (edited) I'll take 2. Do you have a menu(software) screen image you could post? Thank you Edited August 18, 2015 by FULS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 please add me also Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam242 Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'm in for one, please. Is it possible to move the SD card slot down any further, or is the design finalized? My concern is that this doesn't look like it will work in an 800 with the lid shut. If not, I'm still interested, but 800s are my daily drivers. I would prefer a cart that works with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roydea6 Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Yes add me to the wish list for ONE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyperboy Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'm in for one, please. Is it possible to move the SD card slot down any further, or is the design finalized? My concern is that this doesn't look like it will work in an 800 with the lid shut. If not, I'm still interested, but 800s are my daily drivers. I would prefer a cart that works with them. Answer is here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?/topic/239287-In-development---SD-card-based-Multicart/page__view__findpost__p__3301452 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
playsoft Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Ideally I'd like two please. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam242 Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Answer is here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?/topic/239287-In-development---SD-card-based-Multicart/page__view__findpost__p__3301452 Thanks, I (obviously) hadn't read the entire development thread. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eebuckeye Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 1 for me please! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Do you have a menu(software) screen image you could post? As soon as it's finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLund1 Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Looks Great!!! I will take 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electrotrains Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 I'll take 2. Do you have a menu(software) screen image you could post? Thank you The built-in menu is basic, but functional. It allows navigation, selection and reboot with the cartridge disabled, from the keyboard. flashjazzcat is working on a funkier, more colourful version of the menu which also allows joystick control. It hopefully be ready soon and I'm sure he or I will post screenshots when done. The menu can also be updated without re-flashing the fpga - its simply a case of copying an 8k ROM file to the SD card and giving it a special name. Since everything is open source, it will be easy for people to customise the menu if they know a bit of 6502 or even just want to change the colours. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Put me in the queue for one please. I really hope my wife is back to work once my spot comes up ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Zeptari Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Very excited for this. If I have the cash when this is offered I'll definitely buy one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morelenmir Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 Emphatically put me on the pre-order list please!!! Could we pay a tenner extra to get it cased perhaps? I do not rate my fabrication skills in the least. I have been looking forward to this since you mentioned it was coming. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattlacey Posted August 19, 2015 Share Posted August 19, 2015 One for me please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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