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Attack of the PETSCII Robots for the C128


RobertB

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     Here we go... a new, commercial game for the Commodore 128!  It is Attack of the PETSCII Robots!  Released earlier for the C64, VIC-20, and PET, the C128 version makes use of the C128's extra memory space, uses burst load with a 1571 or 1581 drive, makes use of the full C128 keyboard, and has dual monitor mode (map screen in 80-columns at the same time as main screen in 40-columns).  Priced from $10 to $50 US (options from digital download to autographed box with physical disks), Attack of the PETSCII Robots C128 is available at
 
 
     Merry Christmas!
     Robert Bernardo
     Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
     Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
     Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class
Edited by RobertB
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  • 2 weeks later...

I have the C64 version, fun little game.  Bought that because I was using a Backbit for disk emulation and it doesn't support FAST mode.  Kind of tempted to also buy the C128 version now that I have an SD2IEC on order...  Is dual monitor required, or can you select one or the other?

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7 hours ago, nadir said:

Kind of tempted to also buy the C128 version now that I have an SD2IEC on order...  Is dual monitor required, or can you select one or the other?

     Well, the C128 version does not seem to support FAST 2 MHz. mode, just 1 MHz. in 40-column and 80-column modes.  If you use it with a SD2IEC, you won't get the benefit of Burst load that a 1571/1581 gives with a C128.  For SD cards, only a 1541 Ultimate with the latest core can give you 1571/1581 Burst load.  Dual monitors are not required.  However, with a 40/80-column monitor and the proper video cables, you can switch back and forth between 40 and 80-columns with the press of a button.  If you have only a composite monitor, you can tap off the C128's RGB pin 7 to get a monochrome composite signal so you can see 80-columns (in monochrome).

 

     Merry Christmas!
     Robert Bernardo
     Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
     Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
     Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class
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4 hours ago, RobertB said:

     Well, the C128 version does not seem to support FAST 2 MHz. mode, just 1 MHz.

That’s cause the VIC chip is rendered useless in fast mode. The 80 column chip is apparently far too slow to run the actual game screen. 

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Yeah, I'd like to have a 1541 Ultimate, but have not been able to source one, so gave up and ordered the SD2IEC.  Loss of burst mode isn't that big of a deal to me.  My current monitor can do 40 and 80, but it's painful to switch, so was curious if I could run the game on one or the other.  Sounding like I'm probably best off just sticking to playing the C64 version and not upgrading to C128.

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6 hours ago, bluejay said:

That’s cause the VIC chip is rendered useless in fast mode.

 

Back in the day I wrote a little raster interrupt that would turn on 2 MHz outside of the 200 visible scanlines that made up the display.  Resulted in an average speed of 1.24 MHz.

 

Quote

 The 80 column chip is apparently far too slow to run the actual game screen.

 

I dunno, I suspect it could be done based on a version of Asteroids I was working on back in the day.  It featured rotating 3D asteroids on the 80 column display.  I preloaded all the graphics into the VDC's 16K of RAM, then used the VDC's block copy feature to update all the graphics. If you know what you're doing you can have the block copy running in parallel with code on the 8502.

 

Sadly I never finished it as I purchased an Amiga 2000HD and lost interest in the 8-bit computers.

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1 hour ago, SpiceWare said:

I dunno, I suspect it could be done based on a version of Asteroids I was working on back in the day.  It featured rotating 3D asteroids on the 80 column display.  I preloaded all the graphics into the VDC's 16K of RAM, then used the VDC's block copy feature to update all the graphics.

     Whoa!  That version of Asteroids would have been good for C128 groupies.

 

          Merry Christmas!
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
          Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class
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1 hour ago, SpiceWare said:

 

Back in the day I wrote a little raster interrupt that would turn on 2 MHz outside of the 200 visible scanlines that made up the display.  Resulted in an average speed of 1.24 MHz.

 

I suspect Elite 128 uses a trick like that.  I'm told it uses fast mode even though all the display is through the VIC.  It definitely crashes on the Backbit which is consistent with FAST mode usage.

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  • 2 months later...

A shareware version of Attack of the PETSCII Robots for the PET and C128 is now available!  See

 

https://www.the8bitguy.com/25753/petscii-robot-shareware-available/

 

Happy Valentine's Day!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
June 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2022 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

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On 2/12/2022 at 6:23 PM, eebuckeye said:

Thank for posting.. The C128 demo link is not working for me.

Works for me.  On the page listed, go down past the robot picture and click on "C128 Robots Shareware."

 

Happy Valentine's Day!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
June 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2022 - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Edited by RobertB
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